A glimpse of God, or, A treatise proving that there is a God discovering the grounds of atheism, with arguments of divers sorts against atheists : shewing also, the unity of the Godhead, and the trinity of the persons ... / by ... Mr. Thomas Byrdall ...

CHAP. VI.

THis informs us, why God throws away, and loatheth the duties, sa∣crifices, and performances of the wick∣ed, viz. because they are done with rotten, unsound, and wicked hearts. He being a Spirit, a perfect God, looks at those that serve him with perfect hearts, and where the heart is found or imperfect. He regards no more the wicked man's praying, than he doth the blessing of an Idol; yea, he hates his most glorious duties, as wilful mur∣der, Malac. 1. 8. It was a great sin in the time of the Law, to offer up the lame, and the blind of the flock to God, who

required the best of the herd, and of the flock for sacrifice: It is no less an evil, to offer up lame or blind prayers, or any act of lame or blind obedience. What makes your duties so lame, so blind, but your rotten and imperfect hearts? Your imperfect hearts, make your duties and persous abominable. It is said of Amaziah King of Judah, that he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart, 2 Chron. 25. 2. the good duties of the wicked, are sins to them; both they and their services are rejected: This will cut the unsound heart to the quick, when he shall hear Christ say to him; It is true, these and these good works thou hast done, these duties and such like thou hast performed; but yet he will say to them, as sometime he did to the Angel of the Church in Sar∣dis, I have not found thy works perfect before God, Rev. 3. 2. therefore all thy works are but lost labour.

2. If God be a most perfect God, this infinite perfection of God should make

us the more to humble our selves be∣fore God, to be low and base in our own eyes, and that in diverse Re∣spects.

1. In respect of our great imperfec∣tions: God is light, we are darknesse; God is Almighty, we Impotent; God is Eternal, we Mortal; God is Good, we Evil; God is Holy, we Impure; God only Wise, we Foolish; we are very Beasts before him; God hath all perfections, we all imperfections in us.

2. In respect of the very graces in us, the consideration of Gods infinite perfe∣ctions, should make us be base and low in our own eyes, though we were full of the graces of Gods Spirit, because our very perfections have much imperfec∣tion in them; our faith is mingled with much unbelief, our repentance with impenitency, our patience with impa∣tience, and our obedience with much disobedience: If the most perfect God should observe the imperfections of our perfections, the defects of our graces,

the ungodlinesse of our very godliness, (as I may so speak) who then could stand before him? yea, had we our cre∣ated perfection, and were as perfect as Adam in innocence, yet still we should be base in our own eyes, looking to Gods infinite perfections. The glorious Angels, who are the most perfect crea∣tures, yet cover their faces standing be∣fore God, as being unworthy to be∣hold the infinite perfections of so glo∣rious a God.

3. Be humbled in respect of all your Services and duties, that ye do to God, and for God, and that in three respects.

1. In that all we do, is but little in comparison of what God requireth at our hands: We do not bring in that full Tale of bricks, of prayers, of du∣ties, of works which God requireth at our hands, and which we are bound to perform to our God. He that doth most, is very deficient; therefore we should be humbled, considering what perfection God requireth at our hands.

2. In respect of the manifold im∣perfections that adhere to all our servi∣ces and duties: As we said but now of graces, so of duties, if God should mark the imperfections of them, woe unto us, woe unto us for our praying and hearing, &c. woe unto us for our duties and services; considering what perfection of duties the perfect God requireth, how God commandeth us to pray, to hear his Word, to meditate upon it, to examine our selves, than he that prayes and heareth, and medita∣teth most and best, may be in his own eyes, as if he had not prayed, nor heard, nor done any thing at all.

3. In this respect, that he doth all that he can do, yet is he an unprofitable servant, because God being most per∣fect, is no whit the better, and more perfect by all our duties, by all our o∣bedience all our goodnesse, righteous∣nesse and performances extend not to him; therefore never pride your selves in your duties, but go on in a course of obedience, and be humbled still.

4. How should we be base and low in our own eyes before this perfect God, considering his infinite perfection of holiness, righteousness, purity, and then look back upon our sins, our pride, filthiness, and all manner of imperfec∣tions: There is an infinite disproporti∣on between us as creatures, and God as Creatour; but the consideration of the vast disproportion between a most pure and perfect, most holy God, and such impure creatures as we are, the thoughts hereof should make us ashamed, and make us base in our eyes, and to walk humbly with our God.

Notes

• Use 1.
• Use 2.