The Covenant of Grace, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Two other uses of this property.
NOw followeth the second doctrine. For if we be enabled to worship the Lord without servile feare, as being freed from the terrour and coaction of the law; then it followeth, that we are to worship the Lord with willing mindes, as David exhorteth his son Solomon. 1 Chron. 28. 9. and promiseth for himselfe, Ps. 119. 32. I will runne the way of thy commandments when my heart is set at liberty. For therefore hath the Lord freed us from the servitude of sinne, and bondage of the law, that we might serve him with free and willing minds. The people redeemed by CHRIST, become a voluntary people, psalm. 110 3. or, as Paul speaketh, his peculiar people, zelous, or studious of good workes. Tit. 2. 14.
Thus the duties both of piety towards GOD, and charity to our brethren, are to be performed with willing mindes and cheerfull hearts. In the duties of piety we are to serve the Lord with gladnes. Ps. 100 2. I rejoyced (saith David Ps. 12. 21.) when they said unto me, let us goe into the house of the Lord. More particularly,
The Word of God is to be preached foreign, willingly, 1. Pet. 5. 2. that we may say with the Apostle, Rom. 1. 15. foreign, as much as lyeth in me I am willing to preach the Gospel, for it must be done in love to CHRIST, and zeale to GODS glory, Iohn 21, 15, 16, 17. Act. 20, 28. in love and zeale of our brethrens salvation. 2 Cor. 11. 2. It is to be heard with willingnes, after the example of the Beraeans, Act. 17. 11 who received the Word foreign with all readines of minde, desiring 1 Pet. 2. 2. and longing after it, Ps. 119. 131. To be conversant therin. should be our delight Ps. 1. 2. the Word ought to be sweet unto us, even as the hony, and the hony combe, Psal. 19. 11. 109. 103. and we should rejoyce in it as in all manner of riches. This affection towards Gods Word David expresseth, psal. 119. 14, 15, 16, 24. 47. 72. 111. 127. 143. 162.
We must give our selves to prayer, as devoted thereunto, Psal. 109. 4. taking delight to conferre with God in prayer; and offering up our prayers and thanksgivings, as a willing sacrifice, Psal. 119. 108.
We must praise God with joyfulness, and give thanks with chearfulness, Psal. 9. 2. 95 2. 95. 1. 2. 63. 5. for as foreign, which is thanks, cometh of foreign. to re…oyce; so it must be foreign, that is, with joy, Phil. 1. 3. 4. we must esteeme it a blessed thing, wherein we resemble the blessed Saints and Angels in heaven, Psal 84 4.
We must call the Sabbath our delight, Esay 58. 13: And we must esteeme one day spent in the house of God as better then a thousand, Psal. 84. 10. Psal. 26. 8. 27. 4. 84. 1, 2, 3, 4. 10.
The duties of charity are also cheerfully to be performed, Rom. 12 8. he that sheweth mercy let him doe it with cheerfulnesse, drawing forth his soule to the hungry and afflicted▪ Esay 58▪ 10. id est, ex animo liberaliter hilariterque communicans ejus necessitatibus. For the Lord loveth a cheerfull giver, 2 Cor. 9. 7.
Finally in doing the will of God, wee are to imitate the holy Angels, according to our daily prayer, that we may doe the will of God upon earth, as it is done in heaven, that is willingly, readily, cheerfully; following also the example of all examples, our blessed Saviour, whose delight it was, Psal. 40. 8. and whose meat it was to doe the will of his heavenly father, John 4. 34.
As for that obedience, or service, which is extorted from men by servile feare, because it is forced, it is but momentany; For no violent thing is of continuance, and being mome…tany, it is but counterfeit, whereas true piety is constant and permanent, Such is the obedience and repentance of hypocrites: who when they are affrighted with Gods judgements, or afflicted with his heavie hand pretend repentance, and promise amendment: but when the hand of God is removed from them, they returne to their former courses, and are so farre from learning obedience by that which they have suffered, or feared, that like anviles with often striking they are more and more hardned; according to that, Esay 1. 5. why should you be shricken any more you will adde revolt. A notable example hereof we have in Pharaoh, who, as upon the inflicting of the severall judgements, promised obedience, Exod. 8. 8. 25. 9. 27. 10. 16. 12. 31. so upon the removing of the plagues, he returned to his former obstinacy, Exod. 8. 15. 32. 9. 34. 10. 20. 14. 5. Yea in the Israelites themselves; who, when God slew some of them, they sought him, and they returned, and enquired early after GOD, &c. Nevertheles they did but flatter him with their mouth, and with their tongues they lied unto him, for their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant, Psal. 78, 34, 36, 37. This therefore ought to teach men not to put off their repentance to the time of sicknesse or old age, or to the houre of death; lest the repentance which then they hope to performe, prove counterfeit. Now, that our obedience may be voluntary and cheerfull, and our service of God without servile feare, we are to be adorned with the three Theologicall Vertues, Faith, Hope, and Charity: for according to the measure of these three graces, in the measure of our spirituall security and assurance, which is the ground of our cheerfulness. Faith; for no man can worship the Lord with a willing mind, and cheerfull heart, that is not by Faith perswaded, that his service is accepted of him. The perswasion of Gods love shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, that is to say, Faith, maketh us to love him againe, and in love to serve him willingly; to whom much is forgiven, they love much, Luke 7. 47. That charity wherby the whole law is fulfilled, proceedeth from Faith unfained, 2 Tim. 1. 5. and without Faith it is impossible to please God, Heb. 11. 6. Hope, for they that have fastened their anchor of hope in Heaven, performe the duties of piety and righteousness with a comfortable expectation of everlasting happiness. The hope whereof maketh them easily to swallow all the difficulties and troubles of this life, for the joy that is set before them, and with cheerfulnes to serve the Lord, and to finish their course with joy, Act. 20. 24. whiles we hold fast this hope, nothing shalbe able to discourage, or to with-draw us from the voluntary worshippe of GOD. Not the desires of this world, which to him that hath this hope seeme meer vanities in comparison of the happines hoped for. Not the terrours or bugg-beares of this world, which are not worthy of the glory expected. (see Rom. 5. 2. 3.) Consider the example of Moses, who, when hee was come to yeares, refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of GOD, then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ (in his members) greater riches then the treasures of Egypt: the reason of all which is this, for he had respect to the recompence of reward Heb. 11. 24, 25, 26.
Charity, (1 John 4. 18.) which expelling fearfulness, causeth cheerfulness. To him that loveth, the commandments of God are not grievous, 1 Iohn. 5. 3. nor the yoake of CHRIST tedious. Nothing is hard to him that loveth Iacobs 7 years of hard service for the love of Rachel seemed to him but a few dayes, Gen. 29. 20.
The third use, is a singular comfort, which from hence ariseth to the Faithfull. For whereas the Lord in other places, when he would comfort his servants, bideth them not to feare, as Esay 43. 1. feare not, for I have redeemed thee, Luke. 12. 32. feare not little flocke, for it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdome: Here in this covenant of grace, he promiseth, and that by oath, that hee will give us to worship him without feare, or at least without cause of feare, so Esay 54. 4. which must needes be a singular consolation unto us, whether we respect our condition by nature or by grace. For by Nature we are obnoxious to our enemies, subject to the terrour of the law, and to the feare (Heb. 2. 15.) of death and damnation; And though we be in the state▪ of grace, yet are we infirme and weake, not able by our owne strength to resist our enemies; The ground therefore of this our being without feare, is not any confidence of our owne strength: but first of all, the truth of God, (Heb. 6. 17, 18.) who by oath hath promised that wee shall worship him without feare.
2. Secondly, the power of God, whereby he is able to make good his promise 2 Tim. 1. 12. 1 Pet. 1. 5.
3. Thirdly, his fidelity, in regard whereof he is also willing to performe his oath, 1 Cor. 10. 13. 1 Thess. 5. 23, 24.
4. Fourthly, his Fatherly providence▪ Esay 54. 17. Rom. 8. 28. and protection, Psal. 91.
5. Fiftly, CHRISTS protection of us as our King, who having vanquished all the enemies of our salvation, and deliveder us out of their hand, none shalbe able to hurt us, Esay 54. 14. 17. and much lesse to pluck us out of his hand, Iohn 10. 28.
6. Sixtly, his intercession for us, as our Priest, Rom. 8. 34. 1 Iohn 2. 2.
7. Seventhly, his union with us as our Head, with whom our life is hid in God, Col. 3. 3. Now as whiles the head (as they say) is above the water, the members cannot be drowned, so whiles our Head is in glory, sitting at the right hand of his Father, none of his members can perish; but as himselfe hath promised, because I live, you shall live also, Ioh. 14. 19. wherefore we are to thinke of our selves, as of the members of CHRIST, whom the Lord hath quickened together with CHRIST, and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in CHRIST JESUS. Eph. 2. 5, 6.
8. Eightly, the testimony of the Holy Ghost the Comfortor, who shedding (Rom. 5. 5.) abroad the love of God in our hearts, & testifying with (Rom. 8. 16.) our spirits, that we are the sonnes of God, becometh the earnest (1 Cor. 21. 5. 5.) of salvation, sealing us (Eph. 1. 13. 14.) untill the day of our full redemption, and not only freeth us from the spirit of bondage and of feare, as being the spirit of adoption, by whom we cry (Gal, 4. 6.) in our hearts Abba father; but▪ also worketh in us peace of conscience, (Gal. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 15. Rom. 5. 1. 5. 14. 17.) and joy in the Holy Ghost. which St. Peter calleth unspeakable and glorious. 1 Pet. 1. 8.