atever
the members act for God in religious duties, it must be also abominable;
for will God take prayers from such a mouth, that cursing cometh out of?
Isa. iii. 10, 11, 12. Shall sweet water come out of one fountain with
bitter? Or can a fig-tree bear both thistles and grapes? Certainly,
profane conversation must make unclean profession; and therefore your
coming to the church and ordinances, your praying in your families, or
such like, must of necessity be defiled, since out of the same mouth
cometh cursing, railing, lying, filthy speeches. Your tongues are so often
employed in God's dishonour, to blaspheme his name, to slander your
neighbours, to reproach the saints, that all your prayers must be of the
same stamp, and as bitter as the other stream of your actions. When you
stretch forth your hands to make many prayers, to take the bread and wine,
shall not God hide his face from such hands as are unclean with many
abominations, some murdering, some abusing their neighbours, some sabbath
breaking, some filthiness? How oft have your hands and feet served you to
evil turns? And therefore, your good turns will never come in remembrance.
Nay, believe it, you cannot be heard of God, while you cover any offence.
And this I may say in general, even to the saints; any known sin given way
to, and entertained without controlment, without wrestling against it,
hindereth the acceptation of your solemn approaches. If your heart regard
iniquity, shall God hear? Psal. lxvi. 18. No, believe it, the least sin
that you may judge at first venial, and then give it toleration and
indulgence, shall separate between God's face and you. Your prayers are
abomination, because of such an idol perked up in the heart beside God,
that getteth the honour and worship due to him, and God must answer you
according to it, Ezek. xix. 1, 3, 4. God will not be inquired of such as
give allowance to sin, Ezek. xiv. 2-4. And, on the other hand, no sin, how
great and heinous soever, can hinder God's gracious acceptation, when
souls fly unto Jesus and turn their back upon sin, or giveth it no heart
allowance. And to the multitude I say, all that you do or touch in a duty
must be defiled, because your whole way is unclean, Hag. ii. 12-14. Think
you to sin all the week through, and worship God on the Sabbath? Will you
lie, swear, commit adultery, rail and curse, and come and stand before me,
saith the Lord? No, certainly, you cannot be accepted. And will you hate