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  THE OUTWARD DRESS AND GARB OF RELIGION
  by Thomas Brooks
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Summary: The sermon warns against focusing too much on minor aspects of
religion and neglecting the main things, which is a characteristic of
hypocrites and a design of Satan.

Topics: "Hypocrisy", "True Religion"
Scripture References: 1 Samuel 16:7, Micah 6:8, Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 3:2, 2 Timothy 3:5, James 1:27

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DESCRIPTION
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Thomas Brooks emphasizes the danger of focusing on trivial aspects of
religion, as illustrated by the Pharisees who meticulously tithed their
spices while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness. He warns that
such distractions are a tactic of Satan to keep believers from engaging
in the weightier matters of faith. Brooks calls for a deeper examination
of one's spiritual life, urging Christians to prioritize the essence and
power of their faith over mere outward appearances and ceremonies. He
highlights that true hypocrisy lies in being preoccupied with minor
details while ignoring the core principles of Christianity.

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CONTENT
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"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you

have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice,

mercy and faithfulness." Matthew 23:23

Take heed of spending too much of your precious time about

circumstantials, about the minor things of religion, as "mint,

dill, and cummin," or in searching into the circumstances of

worship, or in standing stoutly for this or that ceremony, or

about inquiring what fruit it was which Adam ate in paradise,

or in inquiring after things which God in His infinite wisdom

has concealed.

It is one of Satan's great designs to hinder men in the great

and weighty duties of religion, by busying them most about

the lowest and least matters of religion. Satan is never better

pleased, than when he sees Christians puzzled and perplexed

about those things in religion, which are of no great consequence

or importance. Such as are more busied about ceremonies than

substances, about the form of godliness than the power. Such are

more taken up with the outward dress and garb of religion,

than they are with the spirit, power, and life of religion.

There cannot be a surer nor a greater character of a hypocrite,

than to make a great deal of stir about little things in religion, and

in the meantime neglect the great and main things in religion.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/the-outward-dress-and-garb-of-religion/
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