A Word to Sinners and a Word to Saints, Part 1 · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Of performing good duties after a right manner.
III. ANother singular duty incumbent upon the Regenerate, is, To be carefull of the manner of performing good duties. Not only to be conscionable in the use of Ordinances, but likewise to work up their hearts to a conscionableness in the manner of doing them.
1. For therein especially is our respect to God manifested. As for the duties themselves, many respects may induce us to the outward performance of them: as obedience to authority, desire of a good name, hope of meriting thereby, or the like. But it is respect to God (who searcheth the heart) that moveth men to do the good duties they take in hand, after a right manner, so as they may be pleasing and acceptable unto him.
2. The most holy duties we take in hand are clean perverted and depraved through our failing in the manner of performing them. Yea holy duties are thereby turned into sin,Isa. 66.3. as the Prophet Isay implyeth, He that killeth an Ox, for Sacrifice, is as if he slew a man: he that Sacrificeth a Lamb, as if he cut off a dogs neck. Though the Sacrificing of Oxen and Lambs, were good, and commanded by God himself: yet because they failed in the manner of performing them, they were no more acceptable to God, than the killing of men, or cutting off a dogs neck, which things were forbidden by the Law, and abomination to the Lord.
3. Failing in the manner of performance makes God not only to reject our duties, but to pronounce a woe and a curse against the performers of them. Jer. 48.10.Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently. Though it be the work of the Lord, that work which the Lord appointeth to be done, yet notwithstanding if it be done negligently, not after a right manner, cursed is he that doth it.
4. It is the right manner of performing duties, that obtaineth a blessing from God. It may be thou hast heard much, and prayed much, and fasted much, and yet hast found little good, or benefit thereby. Examine whether thou hast not been dead and dull, formal and perfunctory in them, doing them as if thou didst them not. If so, no marvail that thou hast received so little good by them. As therefore thou wouldst be loth to pray in vain, or hear in vain, or fast in vain: as thou wouldst be loth to lose the things which thou hast wrought, see to it that thou be as carefull of the manner, as of the matter of them: how thou dost them, as that thou dost them. Do what thou dost with all thy soul, yea and with all thy might, and then thou maist expect a plentiful and gracious return.
For the right manner of performing good duties, take these few directions;
I. Be sure you take Christ with you both for assistance, and acceptance.
1. For assistance. For without me, saith Christ, you can do nothing. That is, without Union with Christ, and Communion with him, you cannot perform any acceptable service unto God. You may fall upon the duty of prayer, and attend upon the Ministry of the Word: but without assistance from Christ, you can neither do the one, nor the other as you should. Whensoever therefore you set upon any good duty, in the first place beg strength and assistance from Christ, and rest and lean upon him for his help, go not to pray or hear but in the strength of the Lord.
2. Take Christ with you for acceptance both of your persons and services. Christ is the beloved Son of God, with whom he is so well pleased, that likewise in him he is well pleased with all those that come to God by him? and look for neither audience nor acceptance, but upon his account alone. The truth is, as our persons are vile and wretched, and all as an unclean thing: so our Services, even our most holy Services are all polluted and tainted, with the corruption of our natures: and therefore they are odious and abominable in the sight of God, who may justly reject both us and them: and will do it, unless covered with the worthiness of our Lord Jesus Christ; but in him we shall not fail to obtain gracious acceptance.
Whensoever therefore we go unto God in prayer, or in any other ordinance, let us carry Christ with us in the arms of our faith. Plut arch in the life of Themistocles reports, that it was the usual custome of some of the Heathens, namely, the Molossia…s, that when they would seek the favour of their King, they took his Son in their arms, and so went unto him. And questionless it would be the wisdom of Christians, in seeking the face and favour of God, who is the King of Heaven and of earth, to take the holy Child Jesus with them, without whom they may not see his face.
II. Stir up thy self and all thy strength, put forth thy self to the uttermost, strive to be lively, active, and stirring in Spirit. Get the Spirit of faith, and of power, this will be oyle to the wheels, and wind to the Sails, which set all a going: let this be wanting and thy best services will be lifeless and dead Services, in which the Lord takes no delight.
There is a threefold strength we should labour to put forth in all our holy duties,
1. Strength of Intention.
2. Strength of Affections.
3. Strength of Body.
1. We must intend our work, as if it were for our lives, for so it is, whether it be the work of praying, hearing, meditating, or the like. We must put forth the strength of our intention, as well as of our attention, not giving way either to drowsiness of body, or distractions of mind. But oh what light matters are apt to steal away our minds and thoughts in the performance of holy duties? If one of our superiours were talking with us, he would expect that we should mind what he saith, and not turn aside to talk with every one that passeth by us. But when God is speaking to us in the ministry of his Word: or we are speaking unto him by prayer, how ordinarily do we turn aside to every vain thought, and trifling business, which offereth it self to us! Intend God more earnestly, and this will fire your thoughts.
2. Strength of affections is required in every good duty.Eccl. 9.10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, saith the Wise man. This may especially be applyed to the duties of Gods worship and service, that we do them vigorously, with all the strength of our affections. Which the Apostle requireth, where he bids us,Rom. 12.11. be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. The word in the Greek notes an ebullition, or boyling up of our spirits to the height. foreign. Psal. 69.9.There is nothing in the World more unbecoming the Worship of God than flatness of spirit, and coldness of affection, when a man serves God as if he served him not. It was Davids commendation, that the zeal of Gods house did eat him up. Which expression sheweth the vehemency of his zeal, and strength of his affections, as in reforming Gods house, so in performing the duties of his Worship and service. For this was Iacob honoured, and called Israel, because he prayed with the strength of his affections, Gen. 32.28.and is therefore said to wrestle with God in prayer, whereby he prevailed. As thou desirest to prevail with God in Prayer,Hos. 12.3, 4. thou must with Iacob, wrestle with him, putting forth the strength of thine affections which will be a special means to keep away vain wandring thoughts. So long as honey is boyling hot, flies will not venture on it. So if the heart and affections be boyling hot in prayer, vain thoughts are not apt to enter in.
3. Strength of body must likewise be put forth in every good duty. For Col must be worshipped as with our spirits, so with our bodies. And blessed is the strength which is put forth in the service of God. Carnal men are apt to lay out the strength of their bodies upon their lusts. Why then should not we be as ready to lay out the strength of our bodies in the Service of God? Then may we have occasion to bless God, and say, Lord, thou mightest have left me to have spent my strength in sin, in the gratifying my carnal lusts; but blessed be thy name, who hast made me willing to spend, and be spent in the service of my God.
III. Labour to keep close to God in holy duties. It were well if in the performance of holy duties we did keep close to the duties themselves: few go so far. But it must be our care not only to keep close to the duties, but likewise to keep close to God in the duties. We must labour not only to mind what we are about, but likewise have an eye upon God, and to hold communion with him therein. In the use of every ordinance let our main desire, care and endeavour be, to find God therein: and not to rest satisfied without meeting him, and conversing with him. Let us never go from God without God. Never go from the ordinance of God, without some special communion with God therein, without finding our hearts raised and affected in the duty, and revived and refreshed in his presence.
IV. In regard of our great inability, and insufficiency for the performance of any spiritual duty after a right manner, In the first place, let us beg of God, that by his Spirit he would enable us thereunto. For it is the Spirit of God only that can help our infirmities: he can soften our hard hearts, quicken our dead hearts, enlarge our straightned hearts, &c. And in praying for the assistance of the Spirit, let us plead the promise of God, saying, Lord thou hast promised in thy Word, that thy Spirit shall help the infirmities of thy Servants; Oh make good that promise unto me; let me feel and find the sweet breathings and actings, the lively quicknings and enlargements of thy Spirit upon my heart, carrying me forth with much life and vigour in the duty I am now going about. This pleading the promise of God puts a strong ingagement upon him, to perform what he hath said.