A Demonstration of Family Duties, Proposition 50
L. PROPOSITION. The performance of religious worſhip & ſervice in the family, or otherwhere, may not be reſted on, or truſted unto, as if the work done, or duty performed, did, or could commend any one to God for the worke ſake: but God is to be depended on only, and his bleſſing is to be waited for in his ordinance, and his providence to be ſerved in the uſe of the meanes which he hath ordained to … walked in.
PROOF. This Propoſition may be … ferred from an intimation given by the … poſtle Paul in another caſe, 1 Corinth. 3… So then neither is he that planteth any thing ne… he that watereth: but God that giveth the inc… And thus alſo Solomon obſerveth in his p… verbs: See Prov. 10.22. The bleſſing of … Lord, it maketh rich.
I. REAS. Becauſe whatſoever religi… duties and ſervices the people of God … performe unto God according to his w… it is no more then their duty enjoyned … them: For ſo our Lord Chriſt teacheth … confeſſe and acknowledge. See Luk. 17.… Yee when yee ſhall have done all thoſe things wh… are commanded you, ſay, We are unprofitable … vants, we have done that which was our duty to …
II. REAS. Becauſe many and great … the weakneſſes and polluted imperfect… which doe adhere and cleave unto the … ſervices and performances of the people … God: So that they ſtand in need of par… and remiſſion of ſuch miſcariage, as hath … tended and accompanied them therein. T… is implied in that advertiſment for Aaro… and the people, Exod. 28.38. That A… … may beare the iniquity of the holy things, which … children of Iſrael ſhall hallow, in all their holy gifts. Yea thus the people of God in their ſerious & ſolemne confeſſions have beene wont ingenuouſly and freely to acknowledge. See Iſaiah, 64.6. But wee are all as an uncleane thing, and all our righteouſneſses are as filthy rags, &c. See this alſo in that deprecation of worthy Nehemiah, who having done that which for the matter of it was right in the fight of the Lord, yet being conſcious of his imperfections therein, doeth therefore crave pardon and mercy from God. Nehem. 13.22. Remember me, O my God, concerning this alſo, and ſpare me according to the greatneſſe of thy mercy.
III. REAS. Becauſe ſo farre as any duty and ſervice is performed unto God, which for matter and manner is wel-pleaſing to his divine Majeſty, by any of his ſervants, the ſame ought not to be attributed unto themſelves, but to the Lord, who graciouſly acteth and worketh for them, and in them; as may be ſeene, Iſa, 26.12. Lord, thou wilt ordaine peace for us: for thou alſo haſt wrought all our works in us, or, for us. See alſo 1 Cor. 4.7. For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what haſt thou that thou didſt not receive? Now if thou didſt receive it, why doeſt thou glory as if thou hadſt not received it?
OBSERV. Every good performance and diſpoſition thereunto ought to be referred and attributed to Gods gracious diſpe… tion; as may appeare in ſome inſtances.
1. The will & the deed are both wrou… by God. See Philip. 2.13. For it is God wh… worketh in you both to will, and to doe, of his g… pleaſure.
II. The preparation of the heart unto … religious duty is of God. See Pſal. 10.1… Lord, thou haſt heard the deſire of the hum… thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cauſe th… eare to heare.
III. The utterance and wel-ordering … what is religiouſly expreſſed and ſpoken, … likewiſe from the Lord. See Pſal. 51.1… O Lord open thou my lips, & my mouth ſhall … forth thy prayſe.
IV. Helpe and aſſiſtance againſt infirmiti… that doe uſually aſſault, and diſfit to reli… ous duties, is from the Lord; even from … Spirit. See Rom. 8.26. Likewiſe the Sp… alſo helpeth our infirmities: for wee know not … we ſhould pray for as we ought: but the Spiri… … ſelfe maketh interceſſion for us, with groa… which cannot be uttered.
V. The faculty and ability to profit … any religious courſe is given by the Lord. See Iſaiah, 48.17. I am the Lord thy God whi… teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by … way that thou ſhouldeſt goe.
VI. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt graciouſly pe… fumeth the religious ſervices of his people, that ſo they may become acceptable to God our Father. See Revel. 8.4. And the ſmoke of the incenſe which came with the prayers of the Saints, aſcended up before God out of the Angels hand.