Two Funeral Sermons, Sermon 1
TWO Funeral Sermons OF THE Uſe and Happineſs OF HUMANE BODIES.
Preached on 1 CORINTH. vi. 13. Now the Body is not for Fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the Body.
WITH A brief Account of the Life and Death of Mr. G. Lorimer, Merchant; upon the occaſion of whoſe Death the ſecond Sermon was Preacht.
By Edward Lawrence, M. A. Miniſter of the Goſpel.
London, Printed by J. R. for T. Parkhurſt, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapſide, 1690.
TO THE READER.
Reader,
THou haſt many Diſcourſes of the Souls of Men: And here I offer thee one Plain and Short Diſcourſe of Mans Body, yet alſo with reſpect to the Soul: It will cost thee but a very little Time to read it, and but a very little Money to buy it; If it may be of any uſe to preſerve thee from wasting thy Time at the Door of Eternity, and from loſing thy Soul in a vain Religion, and to ſave thee from a ſtinging Death, and tormenting Eternity, I have my end.
Febr. 17th. 1689/90. Thy Servant for Jeſus ſake, Edward Lawrence.
THE BODY FOR THE LORD.
1 COR. 6.13.
—Now the Body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the Body.
IT is ordinary for Nations and Cities, Families, and Perſons, to be in a ſpecial manner inclined to ſome particular ſins. The Cretians were branded for a Lying People, Tit. 1.12. The Cretians are always Lyars: And the Jews alſo to whom St. James writes, ſeem by his Epiſtle, to be much addicted to the Sins of the Tongue; and this is exemplified in the Corinthians, which were much given to Fornication; and therefore we read that in Corinth there was a Temple erected for this Sin! One reaſon of the prevalency of this Sin amongſt them, was an Opinion of the Gentiles which prevailed in Corinth, that Fornication was no ſin, but a thing indifferent. Hereupon the Apoſtle in this Chapter pleads againſt this Sin; the argument he uſes againſt it is, That this ſin is againſt the right uſe of the Body of Man. Now ſaith he, The Body is not for Fornication, &c.
The words ſhew us the true and proper uſe of Mans Body; And this is expreſs't
(1.) Negatively the Body is not for Fornication.
(2.) Affirmatively: But for the Lord: And this is amplified by another propoſition, which ſhews why the Body is, and ought to be for the Lord, viz. The Lord is for the Body: By the Lord is here meant the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; as appears by his being mentioned with God the Father, ver. 14. and hath both raiſed up the Lord. The words chiefly teach us Two Doctrines.
I. The Body of Man is for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
II. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is for the Body of Man.
I. The Body of Man is for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Method,
1. What is meant by the Body of Man?
2. What is it for the Body of Man to be for the Lord.
3. The reaſons of the Doctrine.
4. Uſe. By the Body of Man is meant, that viſible and eſſential part of Man which is diſtinct from the Soul and Spirit, this is that part of Man, which was at firſt form'd out of the duſt of the ground. Gen. 2.7. and at death, returns to the Earth, when the Spirit returns to God that gave it. Eccleſ. 12.7. This is viſible may be ſeen and felt; and therefore Chriſt demonſtrates his Body by this, Luke 24.39. Behold my hands and my feet, handle and ſee, for a Spirit hath not Fleſh and Bones, as ye ſee me have.
3. This is diſtinct from the Soul, as appears, verſe the laſt of this Chapter, Glorifie God in your Body and in your Spirit, viz. In your Body and Soul. Now this Body is for the Lord which implies Four things.
1. The Body with all the Members of it in particular are for the Lord. The Eyes, Ears, Tongus, Hands, Feet, are for the Lord. They have all work to do for the Lord Chriſt. And its a great piece of Skill to underſtand what is the main uſe we are to make of our Senſes, and of the Members, and Limbs of our Bodies. What is the chief work theſe are to be employed in, they are to be uſed for the Lord, they are to work for the Lord Chriſt.
2. The Life, Health, Strength and Activity of all theſe is for the Lord, Rom. 14.8. Whether we live, we live unto the Lord: If we have better Health and Strength than others, it is that in the uſe thereof we may do more for the Lord than others.
3. All things that are for the uſe and ſervice of the Body, are to be uſed for the Lord, that with them you ſhould ſerve him. What Chriſt appointed his Diſciples to ſay in a ſpecial caſe concerning the Aſs, and the Colt, Mat. 21.3. The Lord bath need of them, is true in ordinary caſes. The Lord hath need, or uſe for them, your Money, Cattel, Corn, Goods, and Apparel; that with them you ſhould ſerve him, your Meat and Drink, Preferments, and Eſtates, Houſes, and Lands are for the good of your Bodies; but you muſt eat and drink to the Lord, 1 Cor. 10.31. You muſt honour the Lord with your ſubſtance, Prov. 3.9. When you buy or ſell, or build, be able to ſay, I get this Money for the Lord, I trade in this Shop for the Lord, I build theſe Houſes for the Lord. The Lord Jeſus ſhall have all at his ſervice, and for his Glory. The Heavens, Earth, Seas, &c. muſt praiſe the Lord by your Mouths.
4. All the time of Bodily Service. The time wherein we are in the Body is for the Lord. Pſ. 148.12, 13. Both young Men and Maidens, old Men and children, let them praiſe the name of the Lord. A young Boy or Girl hath work to do for the Lord. You ſhould make all your Works, and Recreations ſerviceable to the Lord. There is no time, but you may find ſomething to do for God.
2. What is it for the Body to be for the Lord? Account in ſeven particulars.
(1.) It is for the Lord chiefly: This doth not exclude our Natural, much leſs our Spiritual Self: Neither doth it exclude our Families, Relations, or the Publick, the Body is for all theſe in their places, but chiefly for the Lord, and for all theſe things in, and to the Lord. The Body is for Food and Raiment, for to get Money and Wealth, &c. in their places, but the Body with all theſe muſt be for the Lord, as the laſt end. You may take all the good God hath put in any Creature, for your uſe and ſervice, but you muſt honour and ſerve God in the uſe of it. And its moſt certain that any Creature is beſt to you, and you have moſt of the Comfort and ſweetneſs of it, when you do honour, and ſerve God with it: You will eat and drink with as true gladneſs of Heart as any Man alive, when you eat to the Lord, and drink to the Lord; and you may get, and keep riches with as much diligence, and care as others; and you will take as much pleaſure in your Houſes and Lands, and Silver, and Gold, as any when you look on your eſtates as the Lords and improve them for him, and are ready to forſake them for him.
(2) That our Bodies are not our own; we are not the chief and abſolute Lords and Maſters of our ſelves, ver. 19. of this Chapter: Ye are not your own: Rom. 14.7. None of us liveth to himſelf: They were ignorant Atheiſts that ſaid, Pſal. 12.4— Our Lips are our own. VVe cannot according to our own VVills and Pleaſures diſpoſe of ſo much as a glance of our Eyes, or a word of our Tongues.
(3.) Our Bodies are not for Sin. The Body is not for Fornication, ſaith the Text. Thy Body was not made for Whoremongers, and Harlots, thy Tongue was not made for Oaths, Lyes, and evil Speaking. Thy Eyes are not for wanton looks, to be gazing on Spectacles of Uncleanneſs. God did not make the Body to diſhonour himſelf. The Apoſtle tells us, Rom. 8.12. We are Debtors, we owe our ſelves, but not to the Fleſh; we owe Sin and the Devil no ſervice, we are not to go a ſtep in their Work; God-did not ſo curiouſly frame that Head, and thoſe Limbs of thine for the Devil, and Sin, Rom. 8.12. Let not ſin reign in your mortal Bodies. The meaneſt Finger or Toe in thy Body is too good to be an Inſtrument of Sin.
(4.) The Body is not for the VVorld; ſo as to be employed for it as its Chief Maſter, or its chief end, Mammon was not made for your Maſter, but your Servant: The VVorld is for you, and not you for the VVorld. The body of man was made for a higher buſineſs, than only or chiefly, to gather and heap up the Riches of the World; and therefore when the Body is employed about the World, we muſt ſee we are for God therein, this is the true goodneſs of the World, that it's good to make a Man more uſeful for God, and more ſerviceable to him. For a Man to be buſied about Silver and Gold, and about Houſes and Lands, and Goods and Cattels, except he can thereby do ſome ſervice for God, it is not worth the Labour of a Man, Prov. 14.24. The Crown of a wiſe Man is his Riches: Riches are a Mans Crown and Glory; when Men are ſo wiſe as to uſe them for God, otherwiſe they are their ſnares, curſe, and ſhame.
(5.) The Body is for the Lord, ſo as to be an Inſtrument of Obedience to the Lord. Its to be employ'd in the Lords work in that which he ſets it about, Rom. 6.10. Yield your Members Servants to Righteouſneſs, unto Holineſs. Our Bodies are at the Command of God, and ſhould be alwayes doing the Will of God. Whatever we do, we ſhould be able to ſay, We are doing the Lords Work, and with our Saviour we are about our Fathers buſineſs.
(6.) The Body is for the Lord, i. e. for the Honour and Glory of the Lord. So verſe the laſt of this Chapter, Glorifie God in your Bodies and Spirits: Phil. 1.20. That Chriſt may be glorified in my Body. We ſhould give that account of all our actions, as David did of his dancing before the Ark: 2 Sam. 6.21. It was before the Lord: And it ſhould be ſaid of us, as Rom. 4.6. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord: Every Member of our Bodies may be uſeful in its place to bring Glory to God: And we often ſee, how very much God is glorified by one Holy and Sanctified Body, Oh what a bleſſed place London would be, if all the Bodies which you ſee in the Houſes, Shops, and Streets were employed for the Glory of God.
(7.) Our Bodies are for the Lord, ſo as to be at the Lords diſpoſal. He may chuſe which way he will ſerve himſelf of our Bodies: He ſets us the bounds for the Habitations of our Bodies, Acts 17.26. that we may fill our places with the Name and Glory of God. He appoints us our Work and Callings, Mark 13.24. To every Man his Work: A Miniſter hath his Work, a Tradeſ-man his Work, a Maſter his Work, a Servant his Work, and whatſoever a Mans Calling, Work and Way is, he ſhould work for God therein, and labour to have Communion with God therein; 1 Cor. 7.24. Brethren, Let every Man wherein he is called therein abide with God; He meaſures out to us our outward Eſtates, and Conditions. Some are to be rich for God, and others to be poor for God; to ſome he gives Healthful, Strong, Comely Bodies; to others Sick, Diſeaſed, Lame, Blind Bodies; and however he diſpoſeth of them, they have their Way, and Work for the Lord. And we often ſee to the ſhame of others, how the Blind, Lame, and Deformed will find Work to do for God, and that in many Families a Blind or Lame Child becomes a Member and Spouſe of Chriſt, when perhaps their Brothers, and Siſters, that have their Sight, and Limbs, and are comely, and do greatly diſhonour God, and make their handſom Bodies inſtruments of Sin, and Firebrands of Hell.
Two Reaſons of the Doctrine.
I. Becauſe the Body is the Lords.
II. The Body hath much work to do for the Lord.
I. The Body is the Lords: He is the chief Lord and Owner of your Bodies, as well as of your Souls. See verſe the laſt of this Chapter, Glorifie God in your Bodies, and Spirits, which are Gods. So in the Text, The Lord for the Body. This ſeems to be the reaſon of the Text: Or as ſome turn the Phraſe, The Lord is the God of the Body. God is the Lord of the Body, by a five fold right, all which ſhew the Body is for the Lord.
1. He is the Maker of the Body, as he made all other things, ſo alſo did he make the Bodies of Men, for himſelf. Therefore ſaith David, Pſal. 139.14. I will praiſe thee, for I was fearfully and wonderfully made: He hath made the Bodies of Men capable of doing him more Service, and bringing him more Glory than any other Bodies are capable of. He hath given Man a Tongue to call on God, and to fill the World with the praiſes of God.
2. Our Bodies are the Lords by purchaſe. He hath bought them with a great price; verſe the laſt of this Chapter, Ye are bought with a price. Obſerve, Your Bodies are bought with a price, therefore they are Gods to glorifie him. God hath bought, and paid for every good word thou canſt ſpeak, for the uſe of every Finger or Toe in thy Body: He hath bought all theſe for his Service, 1 Pet. 1.17, 18. God did not purchaſe us at ſo dear a rate, to leave us to live the Lives of Slaves to the Devil, the World, and Sin, but that we might live the Lives of the Sons and Heirs of God, and of Chriſt.
3. By Union with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he is the Owner of his whole ſelf, and every Member of his is for himſelf: With this reaſon the Apoſtle proves, that our Bodies are for the Lord; ver. 15. Know ye not that your Bodies are the Members of Chriſt, and thence he infers, Shall I take the Member of Chriſt, &c. VVe ſhould do nothing with our Bodies, but what is fit to be done by a part of Jeſus Chriſt. Shall I ſwear, or lie with the Tongue that is a part of Chriſt. Shall I make any part of Chriſt drunk or unclean, or worldly, no certainly, our Bodies being Parts and Members of Chriſt, ſhould be moved at the VVill and Pleaſure, and for the Honour of our Head in Heaven.
4. By Dedication, Our Bodies are dedicated to the Honour and Service of God, ver. 19. What know you not that your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt, which is in you, and is of God. And therefore, ſaith he, Ye are not your own, ye are for the Lord, whoſe Temples you are. Theſe Temples ſhould be kept Holy and Pure, and for the Uſe and Service of God. You may eaſily conceive what a horrid thing it would have been to have ſeen a Company of People VVhoring, and Drunk, and Swearing, and Fighting in the Temple of God. What make the Temple of God a Bawdyhouſe? No, The Temple of God is to be a Houſe of Prayer, a place Devoted to the Service of God; ſo it's a very horrid thing that our Bodies which are the Temples of God, ſhould be filled with all manner of Sin. Eyes full of Adultery, Mouths full of Lies and Oaths; and the whole Temple of God filled with all manner of Sin. Beloved we know the Glory of God was ſeen in the Temple; his Glory did ſhine in the Temple, and indeed we may ſee the Glory of God in the very Looks, Countenances, and Languages, and Behaviour of the very Bodies of Holy Men, which ſpeak their Bodies to be the Temples of God.
5. By Covenant This is one great uſe of Baptiſme, and the duplicate page duplicate page Lords Supper, that we do therein bind our ſelves, our Souls and Bodies to be for the Lord. So that it may be ſaid of us, as in Deut. 26.17, 18. Thou haſt avouched the Lord this day to be thy God. Or, As ſome read it, Thou haſt made the Lord ſay this day that he will be a God to thee. verſe 18. The Lord hath made thee ſay this day, That you will be a peculiar People unto him: And every time we ſtand before God to worſhip him in the uſe of any Ordinance: We do profeſs our Bodies to be the Lords, and for him.
II. Reaſ. Becauſe there is much work for the body to do for the Lord. The Commands of God bind the body to Obedience, as well as the Soul. Jeſus Chriſt lived here in the body, and left us an Example of bodily ſervice, and ſufferings. Our profeſſion of Religion muſt be by the body, Rom. 10.10. With the heart man believeth, and with the mouth confeſſion is made to Salvation. We muſt by the uſe of our bodies confeſs Chriſt before Men, that he may confeſs us before his Father in Heaven, Matth. 10.32. We muſt with our bodies worſhip God in all the Ordinances of Worſhip. We muſt pray with our bodies as well as our Souls. We cannot hear or read the Word but in the uſe of our bodies. The Sacraments are bodily Signs, that by them we may with our bodies as well as our Souls Worſhip God. We cannot eat or drink in the Lords Supper without the Body. Water in Baptiſme is to waſh the Body: Our Bodies are to be employed in our particular Callings for the Lord. The Graces of Gods Spirit come into the Soul by the Body, Rom. 10.17. Faith cometh by hearing: And all the Graces are exerciſed by the Body. I believed, therefore have I ſpoken. The Soul ſets the Body on work, Pſ. 45.1. My Heart is inditing a good matter, &c. and my Tongue is the Pen of a ready Writer, Matth. 12, 34, 35. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh. A good man out of the good treaſure of his heart bringeth forth good things.
ƲSES.
I. Of Dehortation.
II. Of Exhortation.
I. For the Firſt: Of Debortation. In reſpect,
1. Of the Bodies of others.
2. Of our own Bodies.
(1.) If the Bodies of Men are for the Lord, do not debauch or corrupt any Perſons by enticing them to bodily Sins: Do not draw them to Whoredom and Drunkenneſs: They have a better Maſter to ſerve, and better work to do; they may be honouring and ſerving God whilſt they are ſerving thy Luſts. Their Bodies may be better employed, than by Drinking and Whoring with thee; entice no body to any thing, but what their bodies were made and purchaſed for: Draw them to nothing but what is fit for a Spouſe and Member of Chriſt to do.
(2.) Do no wrong to the bodies of any Perſons, by unjuſt beating them, or hurting them. How dareſt thou diſable any perſon for the ſervice of God. You Maſters, be not cruel to your Apprentices, their bodies are for the Lord: You would not ſtarve or overwork or abuſe a dear Horſe that coſt many Pieces. Look on thy Apprentice, he is a dear Child, do not abuſe that body which was bought with the blood of God; prize it and cheriſh it for the Owners ſake.
(3.) Do not cheat any of their bodily Wealth, by Theft, by Over-reaching them in buying or ſelling; by withholding the juſt Debts which thou oweſt. They and their Eſtates are for the Lord, and the Lord will concern himſelf to take vengeance on thee, 1 Theſs. 4.6. It may be ſad to many to think that they have conſum'd that on their Luſts, for which many Parents and their Children would be bleſſing God for▪ And here I may warn Husbands and Wives, and Parents, that they conſume not the bodily Wealth which is for the good of their Yokefellows and Children. Oh what a cruel Husband or Wife art thou who haſt conſum'd that on thy luſts which would have maintained thy Yokefellow: And how can Parents endure their Children ſhould cry. We might have been better Scholars, or might have had better Trades or Portions, had it not been for our Fathers and Mothers Luſts.
II. Dehortation. In reſpect of your own Bodies. Do not abuſe your own Bodies by Sin. This ſets all the Members of the Body againſt the Lord, which ſhould be for the Lord: Let not your bodies be us'd as Inſtruments to execute or bring forth the ſins of your hearts; Remember the Apoſtle, Rom. 6.12. Let not ſin reign in your mortal Bodies. More particularly keep your Bodies clean from theſe four ſorts of Sins.
(1.) All manner of Whoredom and Uncleanneſs. Mark the Text, The Body is not for Fornication, but for the Lord, ſee ver. 18. How the Apoſtle pleads againſt this Sin as being more againſt the Body than other Sins: Flee Fornication, ſaith he: The reaſon follows: Every ſin that a man doth is without the Body, but he that committeth Fornication ſinneth againſt his own Body, i. e. Although the Body be the Organ or Inſtrument to execute other ſins, yet the matter which by ſin is abus'd, lies more without the body. The Drunkard hurts this body, but he abuſes Wine, and Drink which is without the body; but in Whoredom the body is the Inſtrument of ſin, and that which is abuſed by ſin: But theſe things are ſpoken comparatively; the words ſhew what a wrong Whoredom is to a mans body: See ver. 15. how the Apoſtle pleads againſt it as a moſt loathſom thing to take a part & member of Chriſt, and make it a member of an Harlot, to joyn any part of Chriſt to a Harlot. This is a ſin rots the Name, rots the Body, by this the fleſh and the body are conſum'd, Prov. 5.11. and brings body and Soul to Hell, ver. 9, 10. of this Chap. Fornicators and Adulterers ſhall not inherit the Kingdom of God: It's matter of grief and aſtoniſhment that this ſin ſhould be practiced with ſuch horrid Impudence by a people that profeſs their bodies to be Members of Chriſt, and in a Land where the Bible is read that tells them, Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge, Heb. 13.4. And that people will not believe how little a way it is between the defiled Bed, and the Fire of Hell.
(2.) Drunkenneſs, to which may be added gluttony: Theſe things ſet the body in a readineſs to do any thing for the Devil and Sin, but render it unfit for the ſervice of the Lord. A Drunkard in his drink may ſwear, blaſpheme, and Whore, and Murder. But can a Man pray when he is drunk, hear Sermons, or receive Sacraments, or have Communion with God in any thing when he is drunk? When a Man is drunk, he is not fit Company for a Man, how then can he at that time be fit for Communion with God? Pray therefore that nothing may enter into thy Mouth which may defile thy Soul, diſeaſe thy Body, unfit thee for the ſervice of God, or waſte the Creatures on thy craving and conſuming Luſts.
(3.) Sins of the Eyes. A great deal of Sin or Grace is ſeen in the Looks or Countenances of People: There are proud Looks, wanton Looks, envious Looks and angry Looks; but when the Soul and Body is ſerving the Lord, it puts another Face and Countenance on Men. It makes them look with a holy, humble, chaſte, loving, and chearful countenance
Laſtly, Sins of the Tongue, Jam. 3.6. How would it tame our Tongues, if we conſider'd our Tongues are for the Lord: And what a great deal of Honour one wholſome Tongue brings to the Lord; and we ſhould not ſpeak a word, but it ſhould be ſome way or other for the Lord.
Ʋſe 2. Of Exhortation, which refers.
1. To others.
2. To our ſelves.
For the Firſt, Is the Body for the Lord: Thence infer three Duties to others.
(1.) Put a true value on the very bodies of all Men. Look on them as for the Lord, and prize them accordingly, 1 Pet. 2.17. Honour all Men: Wherever you ſee the body of a Man, Woman, or Child, be they never ſo poor, or weak, or deformed, yet conſider theſe bodies were made for the Lord, bought for the Lord, and may be Members of the Lord, and therefore love and eſteem the bodies of Men for the Lord's ſake.
(2.) Do all the good you can, not only to the Souls, but to the Bodies of Men: This is the great duty of the Sixth Commandment, which binds you to your power to endeavour to preſerve the Life, Health, Liberty and Chearfulneſs of Men: Therefore do them good on this reaſon, becauſe their bodies are for the Lord; and you may fit them, and make them more capable of ſerving and praiſing him.
(3) Lament to ſee the horrid abuſe which moſt make of their bodies. When you ſee how moſt uſe their own bodies, can you think they uſe them for the Lord. What are Men Swearing, and Curſing, Whoring, and Drunk for the Lord; are they Lying, Cheating, and oppreſſing for the Lord? You may ſee Streets full of Sin, Shops full of Sin, Houſes full of Sin; moſt people eating and drinking, talking and working for the Devil, the Fleſh, and the World; but very few doing any thing for the Lord.
2. To our ſelves. Frame your Lives according to the belief of this Truth. That your bodies are for the Lord. I ſhall preſs this with a few Motives, and conclude with Directions.
Mot. 1. Conſider the great account you are to give to God for your own Body, Rom. 14.12. Every one of us muſt give an account of himſelf to God: God will queſtion us what we have done with our ſelves, VVhat uſe we have made of our own Souls and bodies, 2 Cor. 5.10. We muſt all appear before the Judgment Seat of Chriſt, that every one may receive or carry away the things done in his Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or evil. Obſerve, VVhen we appear before Chriſt at the day of Judgment, every one ſhall carry away his weight. Sinners ſhall carry away their Oaths and Lies, &c. viz. the Wrath due for them. Saints ſhall carry away a weight of Glory I charge you Chriſtians as you will anſwer it to the Judge before the door, when in that fleſh and body you muſt ſtand before him, when he will call you to account for your Lives, Health, Eaſe, for your Speech, Sight, Hearing, and for the Members and Limbs of your bodies, for your Meat, Drink, Sleep, Eſtates; that you then be able to ſay, I have uſed this body for the Lord: remembering that of the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 3.17. If any Man defile the Temple of God, (meaning his own Soul and Body) him will God deſtroy.
2. Conſider God accepts and will reward all that with your bodies you do for the Lord? Not ſo much as a good word ſpoken ſincerely for God, nor a loving look upon a Child of God, nor a Cup of cold Water given to a Diſciple of Chriſt, ſhall loſe its reward.
3. It's but a little while, that your bodies will be fit to do any thing for the Lord. I would have thoſe who have yet Youth, and Health, and Strength to ſtudy the 12. of Eccleſiaſtes, where young Men are required to ſerve the Lord, ver. 1. Remember thy Creator, and the way the Holy Ghoſt uſeth to move them hereunto, is this, he ſets before them an old man with an hoary head, dim eyes, ſhaking hands, Feeble Limbs, with his Teeth rotted away, Faltring Speech, and bow'd Back, ſuch things as theſe are ſet out by thoſe Metaphorical Expreſſions, ver. 3, 4, 5, 6. and they ſerve to teach the Young and Healthful, that whenever they ſee an Old, Lame, Withered Man or Woman, ſitting in the Houſe, or creeping about the Streets: They ſhould conſider that they ſhould do all the ſervice they can for God, now becauſe they will do ſo little, when they are in the condition of ſuch aged Perſons.
4. Conſider, if your Bodies are employed for the Lord now, it will yield you ſweet comfort, when you can ſerve God no longer, or at leaſt do him but little ſervice, Pſ. 71.17, 18. God will never forſake an Old Servant, or a Sick Servant.
Laſtly, When ſickneſs and death comes, thou canſt have no comfort, if thou haſt not employed thy Body for the Lord. It will be fad parting with the Body and Soul, when thou muſt leave a curſed Body to the Earth, and go with a Damned Soul to Hell, and more ſad will be their meeting at the Reſurrection to Condemnation.
7. Directions.
1. See that the whole Manbe-Sanctified, and made holy, 1 Theſs. 5.23. The very God of Peace ſanctifie you wholly, Heb. 10.22. Our Bodies waſhed with pure water, i. e. by the powerful Operation of the Spirit, which cleanſeth the heart from ſin, as Water waſheth the Body from Filth. When the Soul is made Holy, there will be a Holy Tongue, Holy Hands, &c. all will be Holy.
2. Preſent your bodies to the Lord, Rom. 12.1. I beſeech you Brethren by the Mercies of God, that you preſent your Bodies a living Sacrifice, Holy, acceptable to God, which is your reaſonable ſervice. The word foreign, rendred, preſent; is an alluſion to the Sacrifices which were ſet before God at the Altar as ready to be offered to him; ſo we muſt ſet not only our Souls, but our Bodies before the Lord as his due. Say, This Tongue, and theſe Eyes and Hands are for the Lord. Pray him to take them, and uſe them for himſelf.
3. In all places you are in with your bodies, conſider what Work is to be done for the Lord, you can be no where but you may find work for the Lord, Prov. 27.8. As a Bird that wandreth from his Neſt, ſo is a man that wandreth from his place: And this I think is the intent of that Scripture, Eccleſ. 11.3. In the place where the Tree falleth (or hapneth to be) there it ſhall be, for the benefit and advantage of them to whom it falls. The Context ſeems to juſtifie this ſenſe, teaching us that every Man ought to labour to be a bleſſing in his place.
4. Whatever you do for your Bodies, do it as for the Lord: Take care of your bodies: Do not wilfully bring Diſeaſes on your bodies: Preſerve your bodies for the Owners ſake: When you are feeding and cloathing your Bodies, ſee that you do it for the Lord: Do not eat and drink, ſo as to make you unfit for the Lord, to put your bodies out of frame for the Lord.
5. All that you do with your bodies, do it to the Lord, and for the Lord: Obſerve Rom. 14.6. He that regardeth a day, regardeth it to the Lord; he that eateth, eateth to the Lord. When you are employed in your Callings, if your Working, Buying, and Selling, were only to get Money, and to have great Eſtates: This were not worth the Care, and Thoughts, Words, and Time of a Man; but ſee that you and yours are for the Lord. So when you are chearful, be ruled by theſe Principles, in your Laughing, Jeſting, and Mirth: Have no Mirth, but what you can bleſs God for, and have no Mirth but what you can part with, 2 Cor. 7.30. And they that rejoyce, as though they rejoyced not.
6. Keep a Guard on your Bodies, and on all the parts of them. Job made a Covenant with his Eyes, Chap. 31.1. Feed not your Luſts with wanton Objects. Bridle your Tongues: Pſal. 39.1. Keep your whole Bodies in ſubjection to the Will of God.
Laſtly, Give up thy Body to the Lords diſpoſal. Submit to the Lord in bodily Sickneſs, Poverty, Impriſonment; be ready to ſuffer any thing for the Lord, and ſo leave thy Body to ſleep in Jeſus when the Lord calls for it.