A help to holy walking, or, A guide to glory containing directions how to worship God, and to walk with him in the whole course of our lives / by Edward Bury.

7. Direct. If thou wouldst have a Blessing of God accompanying this Ordinance; or, if thou wouldst Sing Psalms profitably, then do it in God's way, as well as to a right End; 'tis not the bare

performance of the Duty will serve the turn. Ma∣ny content themselves with the Husk, without the Kirnel, and think a little Lip-labour sufficient; and come with no more Reverence, nor so much, into God's Presence, than they would come into a great Mans Presence, to Sing a Prophane Song. If such Service would please, God would have many Servants. But 'tis the Heart that God re∣quires, or he will have none of their Service. Trust not, therefore, with the Papist, Opere Operato, in the Work done, for God must have it done in his own way, or he will not accept it. A good Duty may be spoyled by the ill doing it, as well as a good Tool by ill handling. The Duty we Treat of is not so easie, as many think it is: Many care∣lesly performing it, and finding little benefit by it, have mistrusted the Duty, rather than themselves; like the Maid in Pliny, that being suddenly struck Blind in the Night, blames the Sun the next Morn∣ing for not Rising. Men are apt to accuse any thing; yea, God himself, rather than themselves: Because they themselves feed upon the Husks, they think there is none that taste the Kirnel; and so lay it aside, and plead against it. But upon the same grounds many of them plead themselves a∣bove Ordinances, and rest not, till they plead perfection; and look upon Ordinances as beggar∣ly rudiments; but to leave these to their self-de∣lusion. When thou approachest to God in this Ordinance, being part of his Instituted Worship, be sure to bring thy Heart along with thee, and ingage it in the Duty. God saith of the Heart, as sometimes Joseph did of his Brother Benjamin; you shall not see my Face, if your Brother Benja∣min be not with you: You shall not see his Face, if

the Heart be absent. Heart and Voyce must joyn together, or it will make no pleasing Melody in the Ears of God: He is a Spirit, and must be Worship∣ped in Spirit and in Truth. For, as Fervent Prayer may prevail, where cold Petitions are denyed: So hearty Praises are acceptable, when others are esteemed but as a mocking of God. We must sing with the Affection, and with the Understanding also: The whole bent of the Soul must be set upon the work; the Blind, and the Lame, and the Heart∣less Sacrifice is abominable unto God. My Son, saith he, Give me thy Heart. Whatever thou of∣ferest without the Heart, he will have none of it: The more of the Heart is in the Duty, the better he loves it. Thou must sing with the Spirit, 1 Cor. 14.15. Thus David, when he began to sing, lift up, not only his Voyce, but his Soul to God, Psal. 25.1. and calls upon all that is within him to bless the Lord, Psal. 103.1. And we have Exhortati∣ons to this Duty, Col. 3.18. Eph. 5.19. The Lowing of an Ox, the Grunting of a Hog, make as Melodious an Harmony in God's Ears as a Heartless Prayer, or Praise. God is a Spirit, and must be Worshipped in Spirit, and in Truth: Nay, it must not be only with the Heart, but with the Heart rightly Qualified: An ungracious Heart cannot but savour strong in the Nostrils of God, worse than a stinking Carrion doth in ours: we must sing with Grace in our Hearts, as the former Scriptures plainly testifie. Sincerity is necessary; approach not near him, without the Wedding-Garment: Hypocrisie spoyls all thy best Actions; we may as well expect sweet Water in a dirty Channel, or stinking puddle, as a good Duty from a rotten Heart. The Graces of the Spirit must

adorn that Soul, that must be welcom into God's presence: Neither is it sufficient, that they be there in the Habit, but they must be drawn forth into the Act; for, as we must Pray, and Sing with the Understanding, and Affection, so we must Pray, and Sing with Faith, believing those Pro∣mises made by God, and those Petitions put up, that they shall be in Time Answered. Bring Hope along also, to wait for the Accomplishment, and Love to God, and Delight in his Service, and de∣sire of his Glory, and other suitable Graces: And thus doing, expect a Blessing upon the Ordinance, and benefit by it.