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PART II. Of the qualifications of an acceptable prayer. (Book 2)
ALbeit the levitical Priesthood and mate∣rial sacrifices did cease, and those sha∣dows(a) 1.1 evanish, after the(b) 1.2 high Priest of our profession had once made his(c) 1.3 soul an off••ring for sin, and by that one oblation,(d) 1.4 perfected for ever, all that are sanctified; yet the Lord will have a spiritual Priesthood to continue, and his people still to(e) 1.5 offer up to him their daily sacrifices, and that(f) 1.6 en∣graving that was on the plate upon Aarons forehead, to be written upon our hearts, Holiness to the Lord. The pagan, pharisaical and popish way of worship, is an abomination to him; he(g) 1.7 valueth not whited sepulchres and a(h) 1.8 clean out-side, he will not be mocked with fair professions, though accompanied with specious performances; if the heart be wrong all is naught, if it be not(i) 1.9 renewed and consecrated to the Lord in holiness, to what purpose is the multitude of sacrifices? they are but vain oblations: Ah! Who hath re∣quired these things at your hands? saith the Lord, Isa. 1.11, 12, 13. His Israel must be holiness to him, holiness with∣in and without; every pot in Judah and Jerusalem must be holiness to the Lord, Jer. 2.3. Zech. 14.21. I would ask after no other evidence of a false Church then, with Papists, to plead for the opus operatum, the work done, however it were done, the meer carcasse of a performance void of all heat and life; as if it were acceptable service to him who must be(k) 1.10 worshiped in spirit and truth, who calleth for(l) 1.11 heart-service as too little, and without which he will accept nothing from our hands; though we did bestow all our goods to