The Christians Daily Sacrifice, Chapter 4 – Chapter 5
CHAP. IIII.What this daily course is, namely a constant purpose to serue God.
ANd this is, first a purpose of th… hart, to serue God, as God: who…ly and continually. Heb. 13. 18.
2 This purpose is setled and ro… ted in the heart, and bringeth forth some constant fruite of obedience eueryevery day. Col 1. 23. Col. 7. 23.
3 It is also sincere, and generall, hauing respect vntounto all Gods commandements, in all things desirous to please him daily, & to be fruitfull in eueryevery good worke. Psal. 119. 6. Colos. 1. 10.
Fourthly, it respects the ends, which are two:
1 Gods glory, not any worldly or vaine respects. 1. Cor. 10. 31.
2 The eternal saluation of my soule, not any transitorie or outward blessing. Phil. 3. 8. 1. Pet. 1. 9.
5 It enioynes these so farre as God shall inwardly enable, and outward meanes permit, rather to put vsus in mind what we should be, then what we can be in this life. 1. Cor. 8. 12.
Hence it followeth,
First,Sect. 1. This course to be known though impossible to be keept. that though this course were impossible, yet were it necessarie to be knowne, and indeauored of vsus.
1 That it might be a daily rule of our life.
2 That it might continually humble vsus vnderunder the mightie hand of God.
3 That it might daily driue vsus to Christ.
4 That it might weane vsus from th… world, and fit vsus to eternall happinesse.
Hence it followeth
Secondly,Sect. 2. It is not impossible That it is not impossib… in some good measure, to keepe suc… a course and trade of holines:
1 Because it presumes not absolute perfection; which indeede we… folly for any to dreame of in th… life, but is only a following hard … the marke, and furtherance to perfection. Phil. 3. 13.
2 It is no harder a taske, the … what the Saints of God doe desi… to attaine, Psal. 90. 12. hauehave voluntarily vndertaken, and in most comfortable measure performed. Gen. 5. 22.
3 It may stand well with our ordinarie callings. 1. Tim. 4. 8.
4 Neither doeth it exclude our lawfull comforts. 2. Tim. 4. 8.
Hence it followeth:
Thirdly,Sect. 3. It is necessarie. That it is no more th… needes must to take this course:
1 Because hereby we shew our selues obedient to Gods commandement. Gen. 17. 1.
Secondly, We doe also approue the soundnes of our obedience: as
1 That it is hearty, not hypocriticall.
2 Not by halfes, but generall.
3 Not temporary, but continuall.
4 Not indifferent, but conscionable.
5 Not enforced, but free & cheerefull. Deut. 28 47.
6 Not vncertaine, but constant.
7 Not carnall, but spirituall.
Thirdly, Heereby wee encrease in righteousnes and holines: as being
First, Confirmed in well doing, and that
1 By the knowledge of our healy thrift. 1. Thes. 4. 10. Mat. 25. 16.
2 Thankfulnesse vntounto God for it.
3 Commending the successe to God.
4 Crauing his further supplie.
Secondly, Recouered also we shall be out of euill:
1 By seeing our escapes. Ieremie 3. 13.
2 Iudging them. 1 Cor. 11. 32.
3 Denying our selues. Mat. 16.
4 Casting our selues vponupon Christ Matth. 11.
Fourthly, Hereby also our outward callings are furthered, as
1 Being sanctified by this spirituall exercise. 1. Tim. 4. 5.
2 Moderated, lest we be drunken with them. Deut. 17. 18.
3 Ordered to the right end, lest they misleade vsus. 1. Cor. 10. 31.
4 Seasoned, lest we be weary of them.
5 Blessed, in seeing a happy returne by them. Psal. 128.
Hence it followeth:
Fourthly, that this duety is most conuenient for all sorts.
Both for all persons, aswell 1. babes in Christ, as 2. strong men.
And for all estates, as well in prosperity as in aduersity.
First, For babes in Christ: that
1 They may beginne well.
2 They may goe forward without griefe, vncertainty, wearisomnes.
3 That they may obtaine a more glorious crowne.
Secondly, For strong men and that
1 To keepe them constant from backsliding. Colos. 2. 7.
2 To make them more able to winne and hold others. Rom. 14. 1.
3 To acquaint them with the deepenes of Satan. Apoc. 2. 24.
4 To prepare them to greater glory. Dan. 12. 3.
5 To humble them in the sense of their extraordinary graces. 2. Cor. 12.
Thirdly, it is fit for men in prosperity: and that
1 To preuent security. Esai. 5. 12.
2 To humble them in regard of those temporall things. Luc. 12. 48.
3 To teach them how to vse them to Gods glorie, their owne and their neighbours good. 1. Tim. 6. 17.
4 That they may part with them willingly. Pil. 4. 12.
5 That all may be counted as dung in respect of heauen. Philip. 3. 8.
Fourthly, this practice also will be very necessary in the time of affliction: And that
1 To prepare vsus thereunto. Pro, 28. 14. Iob 3. 25.
2 To qualifie the sharpenes of it.
3 To be conquerors in our troubles and ouer them. Rom. 8.
4 To be deliuered finally from them. Psal. 34.
And therefore though doe what wee can,Sect. 4. And profitab…e. some corruptions shall still remaine, yet this labour is not vnprofitable:
1 Because God accepts herein the purpose of our hearts. 2. Corrinth. 8 12.
2 The Lord will hauehave some infirmities still left in vsus to humble … withall. …. Cor. 12.
3 Our hatred of sinne shall bee perfited hereby, though it remain… in vsus.
4 The strength of sinne shal also much be abated in vsus.
5 Our edge to eternall happines shall be still sharpened, and ou… desire enflamed to fit vsus thereto. Rom. 7.
Neither is this labour vncomfortable,Sect 5. And pleasant. For,
1 We encrease hereby an assurance of our saluation.The benefite of constant godlines, and therein the Priuiledge of Christians. 2. Peter 1. 9. 10.
2 Wee grow more setled, and resolued in godlinesse, and get the masterie of inconstancie. Ephes. 3. 18. 19.
3 We performe holy duties more easily. Ps. 119. 32. Ioh. 4. 34. Mat. 11. 24.
4 We hauehave more neere & sweete fellowship with our blessed God, and his holy spirit 1. Tim 4 10. Mat. 10. 30. Ps. 1. 3. Rom. 8. 31. Ps. 2. 12.
5 We preuent many noysome lusts which otherwise would fasten on vsus. Psalme 119. 10. 11. Iohn 15. 15. Exod. 19. 5. Pro. 19. 23.
6 We are freed from many temporall iudgements which vnstaied soules are subiect to. Psalme 91. 11. Psal. 32. 10. 11.
7 Our score shall be the lesse, and our reckoning more easie at the day of iudgement.
8 Hereby wee shall hauehave our conuersation in heauen. Philip. 3. 21.
9 Our heart and the inordinate lusts thereof shall be keept at a bay.
10 We shall be armed against all temptations, and secured in the midst of them. Ephes. 6. 13.
11 We shall be weaned from the louelove of this wretched world.
12 Yea led forward constantly to obtaine the end of our faith, which is the saluation of our soules. Ephes. 6. 2. Tim. 4.
13 We shall approue our selues not to be of the world by our contrary fashion to it. Rom. 12.
14 We shall recouer our first Image, in being holy as God is holy. 1. Pet. 1.
15 And readie to meete our Sauiour whensoeuer hee shall come. Ephes. 6. Math. 24 25. &c.
16 We shall see our daily weaknesse and inability to serue God, and so acknowledge vnfainedly our vnworthines of the least mercies, and so happily preuent spirituall pride.
17 We gaine hereby a certaine knowledge of our estate in grace, and by the light hereof we know whither we walke. 1. Iohn 3. 1.
18 Wee shall be raised vp from our fals into sinne. 1. Ioh. 2. 2.
19 Wee shall vse prosperity aright. Iob 3. 1. 24. Ier. 8. 4. 6.
20 And ouercome all troubles. Rom. 8. 36.
21 Yea we shall be fitter to win others. Gal. 6. 1.
22 And so grow forward to perfection. Col. 1. 9. Ioh. 7. 52.
23 And happily be continued to the end.
CHAP. V.
IT being now apparent that there is a daily sacrifice of obedience to be performed vntounto God:What are the particulars of this daily sacrifice. And that it is neither impossible nor vnprofitable, but very necessary, fit and behoosefull vntounto vsus; let vsus consider further these two points:
1 What duties we are necessarily bound in conscience to performe daily.
2 How we are to entertaine the seuerall occasions of the day as vsually they fall out, in this holy and constant manner.