The Holy Arbor, Chapter 6 · Section 14
XIV.
OBedience, is that whereby a man being endued with Faith and Repentance, doth accordingly to the meaſure of Grace received, endeavor himſelf to yield Obedience to all Gods Commandments, from all the powers and parts both of his Soul and his Body. And this is called New-Obedience, becauſe it is a Renewing of that in man whereto he was perfectly enabled by Creation. This Obedience much conſiſteth in obſerving the Works of Chriſt; which we muſt not underſtand of doing them according to the rigor of the Law, but of a purpoſe and endeavor to keep them: For this is a Priviledge belonging to all that are in Chriſt, That God accepteth their wills and endeavors of Obedience for perfect Obedience it ſelf, whereupon they who have but little knowledge, if they have care to get more knowledge, & make conſcience to obey that which they know, ſhall alſo have the Reward promiſed; for true Religion ſtands not in Knowledge, but in Obedience; and this is true Obedience, to make Conſcience of every ſin in our own perſons, to take heed of the infection of ſin in others, and to abſtain from the appearance of evil: and all this not for a day or a year, but from time to time in all; I ſay, all our thoughts, words and works, through the whole courſe of our life, to the end of our days. And this our Obedience muſt not onelyonly be in doing this or that, but alſo in ſuffering the Miſeries laid upon us, to the Death; neither in keeping this or that Commandment, but impartially keeping them all; yea, and it muſt be ready and chearful, without any deliberation or conſultation with fleſh and blood.
True Obedience, which proceedeth from true faith hath theſe Heads & Branches viz.
1. It muſt be a Fruit of the Spirit in Chriſt.
2. It muſt be the keeping of every Commandment of God.
3. The whole man muſt endeavor to keep the whole Law in his Minde, Will and Affections, and all the Faculties of Soul and Body.
4. He muſt deny himſelf, and take up the Croſs, Luke 9.23.
5. He muſt believe all things that are written in the Law and Prophets, Acts 24.14.
6. He muſt have and keep a good Conſcience: for wch theſe means are very requiſite; viz.
1. In the courſe of his life he muſt practiſe the duties of the general Calling, in his particular Calling.
2. In all events that come to paſs, in patience and ſilence he muſt ſubmit himſelf to the good will and pleaſure of God.
3. If at any time he fall, he muſt humble himſelf before God, labor to break off his Sin, and recover himſelf by Repentance.
7. He muſt prove what is the good will of God, Rom. 12.2.
8. He muſt reſtrain his life from outward offences, which tend to the diſhonor of God and Scandal of the Church, 1 Theſſ. 5.22. 1 Pet. 2.11, 12.
9. He muſt mortifie the inward Corruptions of his own heart.
10. He muſt labor to conceive new motions agreeable to the Will of God, and thence bring forth and practiſe good Duties, ſo performing both outward and inward Obedience unto God.
Rules of ordering & directing our Obedience; viz.
1. We muſt be aſſured that we do thoſe things that are warranted in the Word of God, and that they be done according to his Will, Iſa. 29.14.
2. We muſt perform our Obedience heartily; not for outward ſhew and faſhion, to be ſeen of men, but as in the ſight of him that looketh upon the heart, Prov. 23.26.
3. It muſt be done with all our power chearfully and willingly; which dependeth upon the former, but diſtinguiſhed from it, 2 Cor. 8.12.
4. It muſt be done freely out of love to him that commands it, and purely and ſimply for his ſake; not mercinarily for the Reward, yet in hope thereof.
5. We muſt perform tht fruits of our Obedience entirely, not by halfs; ſincerely, not parting ſtakes between God, and the Devil, and our ſelves, Jer. 7.9, 10.
6. It muſt be a conſtant Obedience, not by fits, for a day, or a ſhort and ſet time; there is no promiſe made but to ſuch as perſevere unto the end, Mat. 10.22.
7. Our Obedience muſt not be delayed from time to time, Heb. 3.7, 8. Mat. 25.10.
God requireth a full and entire Obedience, and it is our Duty to yield Obedience to all the Commandments of God, for theſe Reaſons; viz.
1. God in his own nature is perfect in himſelf, and perfect in all goodneſs towards us; we muſt therefore anſwer him in Duty and Obedience.
2. Chriſt Jeſus is a perfect Savior, a perfect Redeemer, a perfect Mediator; it followeth therefore that we ſhould follow after all Righteouſneſs, and make Conſcience of all ſin.
3. In reſpect of the Commandments themſelves, which are ſo knit together, that the knot cannot be looſed, but all are diſſolved.
4. There is nothing done in this fleſh, but God will bring it into Judgement, Eccl. 12.14.
5. All things commanded of God from the greateſt to the leaſt are moſt juſt and equal, and therefore to be obſerved diligently, without all parting or partiality.
That our Obedience may be in ſome good degree towards Perfection,
1. We muſt labor to have pure and upright hearts, which giveth life to all our actions, and is very much accepted of God, who looks eſpecially to the heart.
2. We muſt be free from any purpoſe to live in any known ſin, and muſt be enclined to every thing that is good, leſt we be unawares enſnared by the contrary.
3. We muſt all take notice of our own wants and imperfections, and earneſtly bewail and mourn for them, ſtriving with all our power againſt them.
4. We muſt make Conſcience of the leaſt ſin, that we may be afraid of the greateſt.
5. We muſt ſtill go forward from good to better, evermore growing in Grace.
6. It is our duty to pray unto God to give us upright hearts, which in themſelves are crooked and corrupt, prone to nothing but what is evil.
This Doctrine of Obedience is uſeful to Reprove
1. Thoſe that waſte themſelves and ſpend their ſtrength chiefly about the things of this world, and never labor after Regeneration and the things of the Lord.
2. Such as content themſelves with a ſmall meaſure of Knowledge and Obedience, of Faith and Repentance.
3. Thoſe that do halt with God, and yield a maimed Obedience unto him.
4. Such as think it ſufficient to ſerve God outwardly to be ſeen of men, and worſhip him through Hypocriſie.
Obedience is moſt lovely in Gods eyes;
Obedience better is then Sacrifice:
It makes us welcom to the Lord, when we
In Faith, in Love, and true Humility
Petitions ſend, and our Addreſſes make
In JESUS Name, and all for JESUS ſake.
Without this Grace, all other Graces are
But as a Glo-worm-light or falling Star.
Who knows his Maſters will, and not obey,
Shall for his knowledge ſmart another day.