Exposition of Colossians, Sermons · Chapter 3 · Verse 20
VER. 20. Children obey your Parents in all things for that is well-pleaſing to the Lord.
The Apoſtle doth heere vrge vponupon children, their ſpeciall duty towards their Parents, and that is obedience, he exhorts them to it, propounding his exhortation indefinitely, in theſe words, (Children obey your Parents) then he ſets downe how farre foorth they are to obey them, (namely) in all things, and hee doth further ſtrengthen and preſſe his exhortation by force of argument, taken from the Lords good liking of childrens obedience to their Parents, that ſuch obedience is pleaſing, yea, exceeding acceptable, and highlie well pleaſing vntounto the Lorde, theſe are the generall things contained in this ſame verſe.
Come wee to the wordes of it, (Children) the word children in Scripture hath many acceptions, I will not ſtand to remember them, heere it ſignifies, ſuch as are children by naturall generation,Interpretation. begotten and borne of naturall Parents, and by (Parents) wee are heere to vnderſtand Parents by nature, Parents in reſpect of naturall procreation (obey) the originall worde heere vſed doth properly ſignifie to liſten or hearken to another, as the inferiour doth to the ſuperiour, the meaning is, to bend downe your eares, and encline your hearts, and yeelde vntounto, & obey the ſayings and doings of your Parents, that concerne you, euen that which they ſay or doe to you (in all things) wee are to expound theſe words, by thoſe Eph. 6.1. children obey your Parents in the Lord, and ſo the meaning is in all things honeſt, lawfull and agreeable to the word of God (for that is wel pleaſing to the Lord (that is) ſuch obedience is exceeding well pleaſing, and in high degree acceptable vntounto the Lord, thus then conceiue wee the Apoſtles meaning in this verſe, as if hee had ſaid.
You that are children by naturall generation bend downe both inwardlie and outwardly to yeeld obedience to that which is ſaide or done to you by your naturall Parents, and yeelde to them intire obedience, obey them in all things honeſt and lawfull, for ſuch obedience is exceeding honeſt and pleaſing to the Lord.
Now firſt of all, the ſpeciall duty heere vrged vponupon children Doct. 1 comes to bee conſidered, and touching that duty,The ſpeciall duty of children to their Parents, is obedience. I will ſtill holde my former methode and order in handling of it.
Firſt, I will ſhewe what this obedience heere required is.
Secondly, wherein it conſiſteth.The order obſerued in handling this duty.
Thirdly, the extent touching the perſons that are to yeeld it.
Fourthlie, how farre foorth it is to bee yeelded by children to their Parents, and then after ſome application of things deliuered, I will bring ſome motiues to ſtirre vp children to the practiſe of it.Childrens obedience to their Parents deſcribed.
Firſt therefore knowe that this obedience is a voluntary and heartie yeelding (ſo farre foorth as children are able) to the voyce and willes of their Parents, a yeelding from the heart willingly (as they are able) to that which is ſaid by Parents to children, and by Parents, willed to bee done or ſuffered of their children. I ſay a voluntary and hearty yeelding, for that is the condition of all true ſound and ſincere obedience both to God and man, and ſo it ought to bee qualified, if it be forced, it is no true obedience, it is then but as the obedience of Deuils and reprobates, who, will they, nill they, are ſubiect to the will of God, yea both doe and ſuffer what the diuine prouidence hath appointed, and if it be a yeelding with grudging, murmuring, or the leaſt repining, it is no ſound obedience, and therefore childrens obedience to their parents muſt be a voluntary and hearty yeelding (as they are able) to that which is ſaid and willed by them to be done or ſuffered of their children.
Now this willing and hearty yeelding of children vntounto the voice and will of their parents, ſtandeth in two things.Childrens obedience to their Parents, ſtands in two things.
Firſt in a cheerful yeelding to that which parents teach, counſell, & command, though the things commanded be neuer ſo baſe or painefull Prou. 1.8. My ſonne ſaith Salomon, heare thy fathers inſtruction, and forſake not thy mothers teaching, and that children are to yeelde to the commandements of their parents, it is cleere from the generall, that eueryevery ſoule is to bee ſubiect vntounto the higher powers, Romans the thirteenth and firſt, parents hauehave their authority from God, and as they are parents they beare Gods image, and their commandements, not contrarying the word of God, carry the print of Gods commandements.
Secondly, the yeelding of children to their Parents ſtands in a quiet and patient ſuffering of that which Parents inflict and lay vppon them in worde or deede, bee it admonition, reproofe or correction, yea, though the correction bee with iuſt cauſe, or more exceſſiue then it ought to bee, Prouerbs the thirteenth and firſt, A wiſe ſonne will obey the inſtruction of his father, but a ſcorner will heare no rebuke, Prouerbs 15.5. A foole deſpiſeth his fathers inſtruction, but hee that regardeth correction is prudent, Hebrewes the twelfth and ninth, wee hauehave had the fathers of our bodies which corrected vsus, and wee gaue them reuerence.
And againe, Parents are bound, yea, it is a duty lying on them to rebuke and correct the children offending, and therefore it is a duty of children to ſubmit themſelues to their rebukes and chaſticements: that is one part of their obedience.
Now the extent of obedience to Parents, touching the perſons that are to yeelde it, is implied in the firſt worde (children) the Apoſtle ſpeaking heere alſo without limitation, not ſaying children that are yoong, children that are vnmarried,All children without ex…eption are to yeeld obedience to their Parents. or that liue in their fathers houſe, or yee ſonnes or yee daughters, but yee children, indefinitely, hee giuegive vsus to vnderſtand that this duty of obedience to Parents, belongs to all children whatſoeuer, and it is neither age, nor place, nor condition that exempteth ſonnes or daughters, from yeelding obedience to their Parents.
Heere therfore by the way are the Papiſts iuſtly to be taxed as the Phariſies were,Popiſh doctrine touching childrens wiues directly contrary to Gods word. Mat. 15.6. they make the cō mandements of God of no authority touching childrens obedience to their Parents, by their owne inuention, for they hold and teach that in caſe of vowing, a Mayd once out of her nonage, that is (ſay they) at twelue yeeres old or aboue, may vowe her ſelfe a Nunne; and a yoong man out of his nonage, likewiſe (ſay they) at fourteene yeeres or aboue may vowe himſelfe a Monke with conſent of Parents, yea, directly contrary to the expreſſe will and commandement of Parents, this is a diuelliſh doctrine, and directly contrary to the expreſſe commandement of God; a childe, ſonne or daughter, is not exempt from obedienee to Parents at anie age, and wee finde it directly ſayd, numbers 30.6. that the father may make voyd the vow of his child, thogh pertaining to Gods worſhip, much more a vow made without warrant of the word of God, nothing at all pertaining to his worſhip, but rather irreligious and tending to the diſhonour of God.
Yet heere two queſtions are to be reſolued. Queſt.
Firſt, whether the ſon being a Magiſtrate, and the father none, or inferiour vntounto him, ought to obey his father.
Anſwer: Anſw. in things that concerne not that place, the ſon ought to obey his father.
And againe:
In things that may further him in the execution of his office, the ſonne is alſo to obey his father, thus did Moſes, Exodus the eighteenth and twenty foure verſe, the text ſaith, hee obeyed the voice of his father in Law, and did all that hee ſaid, but if the father councell or command any thing againſt that place and office, then the ſon is not to obey him.
A ſecond queſtion is this, whether a good childe is to obey a wicked father.
Anſwer, a good childe is to obey a wicked father as hee is a father, not as hee is a wicked man and commandes wicked things, for a difference is to bee made betweene the office and calling of a father, and the perſon that bears that office, and a good childe is to obey his wicked father, as he beares the office of a father, for ſo hee beares the image of God, but not as a wicked perſon commanding wicked things.
Now the fourth thing propounded to bee ſpoken of, namely, how farre foorth obedience is to be yeelded by children to their parents.How farre foorth children are to obey their Parents.
That is layd before vsus in theſe wordes (in all things) vnderſtanding them as before they were expounded, namely) in all things honeſt and lawfull, and agreeable to the word of God, children are ſo farre foorth to obey their earthly Parents, as may ſtand with their obedience to God their heauenly father, if parents would pull their children from God, from his trueth or from their obedience to him, children are then to ſhake off naturall affection, and as one ſaith well, they are to reſerue to the Father of Spirits, holineſſe and freedome of ſoule, but if Parents command their children things lawfull or indifferent, therein they are (as they are able) to yeeld obedience, though the things commanded bee moſt painefull Philip. 2.8. the Apoſtle ſayth, Chriſt was obedient to his father to the death, yea, to the moſt painefull and ignominious death of the croſſe.
Now heere alſo comes a queſtion to bee anſwered, it may bee demanded, whether a childe that is marriageable, if the father command him or her to marrie, is to obey him?
Parents indeed hauehave power to diſpoſe their children in marriage, and they are not to marry without their conſent; and the Father commanding the childe to marry, the child is to obey two things concurring with the commandement of the Father.
Firſt if the child be willing.
Secondly, if the Father command the child only thus farre (namely) to marry with a perſon thus, or thus well quallified, as with one of honeſt life and conuerſation with one of ſound religion, as Iſaac commanded Iacob, Gen 28 1.2. and not with this, or that particular perſon, the child hauing no minde there to match, if theſe two thing meet with the commandement of the Father, then doubtleſſe, the child is to obey his commandement.
Now if children trie themſelues by the thing deliuered, Vſe. alas how far ſhort and defectiue ſhall they find themſelues in duty towards their parents?Childrens failings in their dutie to their parents, diſcouered. Where is the child to be found, that yeelds to that which is ſaid, or done by his parents willingly? Doe not many children doe that which they are bidden, with a backward looke, with murmuring, whiſpering, and much repining? Doe not ſome except againſt it, as too baſe, or to painfull? And are there not many children who cleaue to their owne will and wiſdome and thinke they knowe well enough how to carry themſelues, and ſo deſpiſe the counſell of their parents, eſpecially in matters of marriage, & calling, and things of greateſt moment? Where is the child that doth quietly and patiently beare the rebukes and chaſtiſements of his parents? Doe not many children in that reſpect, euen oppoſe againſt their parents, and reſiſt them, eſpecially if they be growne to any ſtrength and yeeres? Yea, ſome thinke that when they are growne to yeeres, when indeed, they ought to bee moſt obedient, that then they ought not to bee ſo much as once rebuked by their parents for any fault, then carnall reaſon teacheth them to ſay, they are fooles that will digeſt reproofes and checkes, and ſuffer themſelues to bee cenſured, yea they ſhall hauehave others to put it into their heades, that they are now paſt children, will you bee thus vſed? Will you beare this? Why, you are now 21. yeeres old, you are paſt a childe, and heereupon many children take heart to themſelues to be ſtubborne, and diſobedient to their parents, and many waies beſides theſe, doe children ſhew themſelues vndutifull, and diſobedient to their parents. Well, thou art a child, examine thy ſelfe by that which hath beene deliuered, and finding thy ſelfe wanting in obedience to thy parents,3 motiues to ſtirre vp children to yeeld obeidience to their parents bee humbled for it, and now knowing thy dutie, learne to make conſcience of it.
And that thou maieſt bee ſtird vp ſo to doe, conſider theſe three things.
Firſt, nature it ſelfe teacheth vsus, that our parents hauing taken, and happily ſtill taking ſo great paines, and cares for vsus, and hauing ſhewed, and ſtill ſhewing ſo great louelove to vsus, ſhould hauehave this recompence in all honeſt and lawfull things to be obeied, and if thou yeelde not obedience vntounto them, thou goeſt againſt the Law and light of nature, and canſt thou then perſwade thy ſelfe thou ſtandeſt in grace? That thou haſt grace or ſtandeſt in the fauour of God? Wilt thou ſay, thou ſtandeſt in the ſtate of grace, and yet wilt not doe that which nature requires of thee? If thou doe, thou deceiueſt thy ſelfe.
Againe, diſobedience to parents is highly diſpleaſing, to God, we find an heauy iudgement threatned againſt it, Prou. 30.17. The eye that mocketh his Father, and deſpiſeth the inſtruction of his Mother, let the rauens of the valley picke it out, and the young Eagles eat it. The meaning is, let ſuch a one come to ſome vntimely death, and let his body be caſt out vnburied, and bee deuoured and eaten vp of the beaſts of the field, and the foules of the aire; yea, diſobedience to Parents seales vp the fearefull wrath, and heauy diſpleaſure of God. 1 Sam. 2.25. The text ſaith, Notwithſtanding they obeyed not the voice of their Father, becauſe the Lord would ſlay them, the Lord was angrie with the Sonnes of Ely for their wickedneſſe, and was purpoſed to ſlay them, and in his iuſt iudgement hee made their diſobedience to their Father a puniſhment of their former ſins, and meanes to bring downe his heauy wrath vponupon them.
And laſt of all, conſider the Apoſtles argument, obedience to parents is well-pleaſing to the Lord, in obeying thy parents thou ſhalt doe a thing not onelyonly pleaſing to thy parents, but greatly liked and accepted of the Lord himſelfe, and his approbation is better then the approbation of all the world; thy obedience to thy Parents ſhall be as a comely ornament, Prou. 1.9. it will grace and beautifie thine heart and life, in ſuch ſort, as thou ſhalt ſeeme amiable both to God and men; if then thou wouldeſt not make it cleare to the diſcomfort of thine owne ſoule, that thou art not yet in the ſtate of grace; if thou wouldeſt not ſeale it vp that the Lord is highly diſpleaſed with thee, and hath a purpoſe to deſtroy thee; and if on the contrary thou wouldeſt doe that which is exceeding pleaſing to the Lord, then be thou ſtird vp, of what age or ſexe ſoeuer thou art, to yeeld obedience to thy parents in all honeſt and lawfull things; euen willingly yeeld thou to that which they ſay, or doe to thee, and quietly and patiently ſubmit thy ſelfe to their rebukes, admonitions and chaſticements.
Hauing thus ſeene the ſpeciall dutie heere vrged vppon children, let vsus proceede to ſome other things that yet remaine to bee obſerued in this verſe, and in the next place, its not to bee paſſed by without obſeruation, that the Apoſtle ſaith not, children obey your Fathers onlie, or children obey your Mothers alone, but hee vſeth a word common to both, and ſaith, obey your parents, as Doct. 2 if he had ſaid, obey both him that hath begotten you, and her that hath borne you.
We ſee then that obedience is required of children to both their parents, children are to yeeld obedience,Children are to yeeld obedience both to father and mother. both to Father and Mother, the firſt Commandement expreſlie ſaith, honour thy Father and thy Mother. And Prou. 10.1. expreſſe mention is made of the Mother aſwell as of the Father, A wiſe Sonne maketh a glad Father, but a fooliſh Sonne is an heauineſſe to his Mother. So againe, Prou. 15.20. A wiſe ſonne reioiceth the Father, but a fooliſh man deſpiſeth his mother. We find it expreſſely commanded by the Lord, that children ſhould feare both Father and Mother, Leuit. 19.3. Yea, there the Mother is put before the Father: Yee ſhall feare eueryevery man his mother and his father, ſaith the Lord. Touching the practiſe of this duty, wee hauehave an example without all exception, euen of Chriſt himſelfe, Luke 2.51. Its there ſaid, He came downe from Ieruſalem to Nazaret, and was ſubiect, or obedient to his Father and mother.
Now this ſerues to diſcouer the wickedneſſe and ſinne of ſuch children as pretend to yeelde, and happily doe yeeld obedience to their Fathers, and yet notwithſtanding, make ſmall account of their Mothers,The wickedneſſe of children who yeld obediēce to their Fathers, but lightly regard their mothers, diſcouered. and lightly regard their commandements, or their chaſtiſements, in word or deed; this is the fault of many graceleſſe children and of ſonnes eſpecially; and eſpecially, when they beginne to grow to yeeres, then they ſeeing and noting the mothers infirmities, the weakeneſſe of their ſexe, and how vnable they are to puniſh them for their diſobedience, and their inferiour authority in the familie, and chiefely in this, that they hauehave little or nothing to doe in diſpoſing of lands or goods, they eaſily grow to ſome contempt, or at leaſt, neglect of duty and obedience to theit mothers: but let all children that hauehave any care to pleaſe God, ſet againſt all theſe things Gods Commandement, that bindes them to yeeld obedience to their Mothers, aſwell as to their Fathers, and know it for a truth, thou doſt not yeeld obedience to thy Father for conſcience towards God, but in ſome other ſiniſter and by-reſpect, becauſe he can reward thy obedience, or puniſh thy contempt, if thou yeeld it … not alſo to thy mother; and withall remember that obedience to thy parents, not to thy father alone or mother alone, but to both Father and mother is the obedience that pleaſeth God, if thou thinke to pleaſe God by obeying the one, and denying obedience to the other, thou deceiueſt thy ſelfe, and if theſe things moue thee not to this dutie, yet at leaſt conſider with thy ſelfe, the great paines of thy Mother, peculiar to her, what it coſt her in thy breading, bearing, and bringing foorth, ſhee bare thee in her wombe with much ſorrow and griefe, and at laſt, with great paine and danger brought thee foorth, and beeing brought foorth, her paines and care intending of thee, far ſurpaſſed the paines and care of thy Father, and it may bee her louelove was euer greater towards thee, then the louelove of thy Father, and ought not theſe things to preuaile with thee, to yeeld her reuerence and obedience, as well as to thy Father? If they doe not, ſurely it argues, thou art either exceeding blockiſh and void of vnderſtanding, or elſe altogether vnnaturall to thy mother.
Now, heere happily it may bee demanded, Quest. to which of the Parents the child is moſt bound? Whether the child be more bound to the Father or to the Mother?
For anſwer to this, we muſt know there be three things that a child doth owe to his Parents, (namely) reuerence, obedience, and releefe and maintenance, if the Parents be in any want: and the third and laſt of theſe,The vnnaturalneſſe of children who denie reliefe to their poore and diſtr…ſſed, and helpeleſſe Parents. the very light of nature teacheth, (and by the way to touch it) If a child denie to ſuccour and releeue (according to his power) the poore, old, diſtreſſed, and helpleſſe Father or Mother, he is worſe then ſome bruit creatures: its ſaid of the Storks that when they are olde they keepe the neſt continually, and their young birds (by the inſtinct of nature) prouide for them, and feed them till they die. Thinke on this, thou that thinkeſt thy poore Father, or mother, a burden and a clog to thee, and thinkeſt eueryevery day a yeere till they bee dead, art thou woorſe then an vnreaſonable creature? and canſt thou then thinke there is any grace in thee? Certainly no, it cannot bee that there is any dramme of grace in the heart of that childe who denies reliefe to his poore helpeleſſe parents, yea, who ſpares it not from his owne backe, and from his own belly, to releeue his poore old Father or Mother (but that by the way.)
Anſw. Now to the queſtion propounded, I anſwer, that reuerence is equally to bee yeelded, to the Father and to the Mother, as they are parents, but if any perſonall gift, or grace of wiſdome, or vertue bee more eminent, and appeare in the one, then in the other, bee it in the Father, or in the Mother, in that reſpect more honour is there to bee yeelded touching reliefe and maintenance, that is alſo equally to be yeelded to the poore Father and to the poore Mother, they beeing both one, they are to bee fed at one table, and no difference to bee made betweene them in that repect, but concerning obedience, becauſe man is the head of the woman, and maſter of the familie, that is rather to be giuen to the commandement of the father then of the mother, if the father and mother command diuers, or contrary things.
Queſt. Some may further demand, whether obedience is to be yeelded to the Father, or Mother in law?
Anſw. Anſwer: It is, euen as to there naturall parents; wee hauehave the example of Moſes, Exod. 18.24. Ruth to Naomi, her mother in law, Ruth 3.5. Yea, Chriſt our Sauiour was obedient to his ſuppoſed Father, Luke 2.51. And the Prophet Micah 7.6. reckons it vp among the great ſins of his time, that the daughter in law roſe vp againſt her mother in law; therefore doubtleſſe, children are to yeeld obedience, not onelyonly to their naturall parents, but alſo to their fathers in law, and to their ſtep-mothers.
Obſerue we further that the Apoſtle vrging children to yeelde obedience to their parents; hee ſaith, Children obey your Parents in all things, for that is well-pleaſing vntounto the Lord: that thing (namely) obedience to parents is wel-pleaſing to the Lord.
Hence comes a queſtion to be diſcuſſed, (namely) this, Queſt. whether obedience to Parents, yeelded by children vnbeleeuing, and vnregenerate, bee well-pleaſing to God, or no?
To this I anſwer: Anſwer. Obedience to Parents yeelded by children vnbeleeuing and vnregenerate, as it is their perſonall obedience, and conſidered in the concrete that is together with their perſons, and as comming from them its not pleaſing to God: for as the Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 8.8. They that are in the fleſh cannot pleaſe God: and it is a true rule, that the perſon muſt firſt pleaſe God,Note. before his perſonall actions, as they are his actions can be pleaſing vntounto him, but as that obedience is an action, and a duty conſidered in the abſtract that is by it ſelfe apart from the perſon, its pleaſing to God, becauſe its a thing commanded of God, and ſimply good in it ſelfe, in it owne nature, as is hearing of the word, praying and ſuch like, as theſe things conſidered in themſelues, and by themſelues are good, and pleaſing to God, though not as they come from vnregenerate and vnbeleeuing perſons, ſo is obedience to Parents, yet know we thus much further, that howſoeuer obedience to Parents, yeelded by children vnbeleeuing, as it is their perſonall obedience, cannot pleaſe God; yet no doubt, the Lord of his exceeding bounty doth ſometimes vouchſafe temporall good things, and bleſſings,Note. euen to ſuch obedience.Note. Such is the rich goodneſſe of our good and gracious God, as of his aboundant mercy, hee doth ſometimes giuegive outward bleſſings, euen to the ciuill obedience and outward good carriage of hypocrites and vnbeleeuers.
Will we ſee ſome examples of it? No doubt Iehu King of Iſrael was but a carnall man, he departed not from the ſinnes of Ieroboham who made Iſrael to ſinn; yet becauſe he diligently executed that which was right in the eies of the Lord in ſome things, the Lord promiſed him that his poſteritie to the fourth generation ſhould ſit on the throne of Iſrael, 2. King, 10.30. Ezechiel 29.30. Wee finde that Aegypt is promiſed to Nebuchadnetzar, King of Babel, (a man without queſtion vnbeleeuing) for his ſeruice againſt Tyrus. Oh then the exeeeding rich bounty of the Lord our God.
How ought this to ſtirre vp children to yeelde obedience to their parents? That is a thing to which the Lord no doubt, will ſometimes of his rich bounty, vouchafe temporall bleſſings, though it bee performed by children vnbeleeuing, Therefore this ought to ſtirre vp all children to this dutie, and if thou bee a childe within Gods couenant, and a true beleeuing member of Chriſt, let it moſt of all encourage thee to yeeld obedience to thy Parents, and euer remember thou to thy comfort, that if the Lord carrie his eie of bounty towards them that are without, and ſtrangers from his fold, much more will he of his rich merciemercy, reward thee that art one of his owne choſen, and a ſheepe of his owne paſture: thinke on it, and remember it.
Conſider wee yet further, the ground of the Apoſtles reaſon in this place; he ſaith, Children obey your Parents in all things, for that is wel-pleaſing to the Lord: What is the ground of this? How knew the Apoſtle that Obedience to Parents is a thing well-pleaſing to God? Surely, hee knew it from the Commandement of God, becauſe ſuch obedience is commanded in the 5. Commandement, and he knew it to be in an high degree well-pleaſing to God, becauſe that comandement is as the Apoſtle ſaith, Eph. 6.2. The firſt Commandement (namely) of thoſe that concerne our duty to men, and the firſt Commandement with promiſe, with a ſpeciall promiſe annexed to it, that thy daies may bee prolonged vponupon the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee. Hence it was that our Apoſtle knew this duty of obedience to parents to be wel-pleaſing, yea, better pleaſing to God then any other dutie of the ſeconde Table, and this reaſon thus conſidered with theſe groundes of it dooth affoord vntounto vsus this concluſion.
That Gods good lykinge of any thinge, is to bee gathered from his will reuealed,Gods good liking of any thing, is to be gathered frō his will reuealed. we muſt gather the good liking, and aprobation of the Lorde, that hee likes, and that hee approues, this or that thing, from his word.
For in deede, what hee willeth in his worde, that hee liketh, his will there reuealed being the rule of all our holineſſe and goodnes: nothing done by vsus, is holy & good & pleaſing to him, but that which he there willeth. And hence it is, that the Apoſtle puts them together. Ro. 12.2. that wee may proue what is the good will of God, and acceptable and perfect, what God willeth, being good becauſe hee wils it, and being willed by him and ſoe good, is alſo acceptable and pleaſing to him. Micha. 6.6.7. The prophet bringes in man thus demaundinge, where-with ſhall I come before the Lord, and how ſhall I bowe my ſelfe before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, and calues of a yeere old? will the Lorde be pleaſed with thouſands of rams, or with ten thouſand riuers of oyle? ſhall I giuegive my firſt borne, for my transgreſſion: euen the fruite of my body, for the ſinne of my ſoule? will theſe thinges pleaſe the Lord? and then verſ. 8. The prophet anſweres, hee hath ſhewed thee ô man what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee; ſurely to doe iuſtlie, and to louelove merciemercy, and to humble thy ſelfe to walke with thy God: as if hee had ſaide, that which the LORD hath ſhewed, and reuealed to thee to bee good, and that which hee requires of thee in his word, that is the thing that is pleaſing to him.
Now then is it ſoe that the LORDES good likinge, and approbation of any thinge, & that hee likes this or that, and is pleaſed with it, is to bee gathered from his will reuealed.
I might then apply this to diſcouer the folly of the Papiſts, who thinke they doe things highly pleaſing to God, yea, meriting at his hands and deſeruing heauen, when they doe things that can finde no footing in the word of God, and are not grounded on any commandement or example or promiſe in the word of God, but are meerely Idolatrous and ſuperſtitious, but not to ſpend time in ſhewing their folly.
Vſe. Conſider wee the doctrine as it may concerne vsus to this purpoſe,A direction touching things done pleaſing to God. it may ſerue to guide vsus that we be not deceiued, touching things done pleaſing to God, wee are not to conclude things to bee pleaſing to God from our owne fancie and our owne opinion, becauſe wee conceiue and think them to be liked of God and pleaſing vntounto him, but from the word and promiſe of God, manie deceiue themſelues in this reſpect, they thinke they doe things highly well pleaſing to God, and ſuch as hee doth greatly like and approoue of, when indeede and truth there is no ſuch matter, for example, doe not many thinke that their true and iuſt dealing with men, their giuing euerie man his owne, and the like things done by them, are things exceeding well pleaſing to the Lord, though thoſe deedes come not from anie ſanctified heart, nor from the roote of a ſound iuſtifying faith, nor yet are done with anie regard of Gods glorie?
Doe not manie thus thinke? it is too euident, they do, and in reſpect of doing ſuch things, they thinke they are greatlie in Gods fauour, indeed it cannot bee denied, but that ſuch things for the ſubſtance of them, and conſidered in themſelues, & by themſelues are grounded on the commandements of God, but thou muſt further know that they muſt alſo bee done in ſuch manner as the word hath preſcribed, they muſt proceed frō faith purging thine hart from the naturall corruption of it, & they muſt be done in louelove to God,Heb. 11.6. Rom. 14.23. & with reſpect of his glory, els its vnpoſſible they ſhould pleaſe God, & therfore do not thou gather & conclude that God is well pleaſed, with the things thou doeſt only becauſe the things done are good in thēſelues, if thou doe, thou deceaueſt tby ſelfe, thou gathereſt Gods acceptance & good liking only from thine owne fancy, & the deuill and thine owne corrupt heart deceiue thee, and thus are many thouſands deceiued, it was Pauls caſe before his conuerſion, when hee was in the worſt caſe, hee thought himſelfe in the beſt, and before he knew the meaning of the law, he made no doubt but hee was aliue, but when hee ſaw the ſence and ſtrict iuſtice of the commaundement hee found ſinne aliue in him, and himſelfe dead, and ſo thouſands in the world beeing as yet in their naturall corruption, thinke they doe things highly pleaſing to God, but alas they deceiue themſelues, and therefore if thou tender thine owne good, take thou heed of it,Rom. 7 9.10. and remember that thou muſt not onelyonly doe good things, that is, things warranted by the word of God, but in that manner that the word hath preſcribed with an heart purged by faith, with a louelove to God, and a due reſpect to his glory, that thou maiſt gather Gods good liking and approbation of things done by thee, and if it be otherwiſe with thee, ſurely the good things done by thee are hatefull to God, and they bring in the end but euerlaſting death vponupon thy ſoule.