The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 1 · Chapter 4 · Section 14
SECT. XIV.
UNto this I adde a Uſe of inſtruction, which reſpecteth the people of God in Covenant.Ʋſe 3. Inſtructions for the people of God in Covenant. Thankfully bleſſe your God for bringing you into Covenant.
The inſtructions for them who are the people of God, and do enjoy him for their God in Covenant.
1. You cannot do leſſe than thankfully to bleſſe your God for bringing of you into Covenant with himſelf: This is ſuch exceeding grace, and exceeding mercy, and exceeding love, and exceeding favour, and exceeding honour, and exceeding happineſſe, it cannot be but your ſouls muſt bleſſe him for this bleſſing. If one ſhould meet with a poor man, and tell him I have ſet my love upon you, and I will ſettle upon you ſuch a Lordſhip worth ſo many thouſands a year; nay, and I will ſettle ſuch a Mannor which hath all ſorts of accommodations upon you, which is worth many thouſands more, &c. O how our hearts would melt at this kindneſſe, and this bounty. Met we ever with ſuch a friend in all our life, we would ſpeak of him, and praiſe him, &c. The Lord hath choſen you for his people, he hath ſet his love upon you, he is entred into Covenant with you, and is become your God: he hath beſtowed himſelf upon you, and engaged all his glorious Attributes unto you, and given his Chriſt, and his Spirit unto you, and ſetled grace and glory upon you, and all his promiſes: and all Spiritual priviledges, and the good of Heaven and Earth; ſurely your ſoules muſt needs adore this riches of grace, it cannot be but you muſt be enlarged with bleſſings and praiſes, &c.
2. Have ye ſuch a God to be your God in Covenant? Then make uſe of your God, Make uſe of your God in all your occaſions, wants, troubles.and go unto him in all your occaſions, in all your wants, in all your troubles, and ſtraits, Pſal. 63. 1. O God thou art my God, early will I ſeek thee. Beloved, Gods relation unto you, and your propriety in him, are choice grounds, and ſtrong engagements for prayers, and for confidence; you find the Saints improving their intereſt in God both theſe wayes.
For Prayers, Pſal. 13. 3. Conſider and hear me, O Lord my God, Pſal. 109. 26. Help me, O Lord my God.
For confidence that their prayers ſhall have ſucceſs, and be anſwered, Mich. 7. 7. I will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my ſalvation: my God will hear me.
There are but two things on which you can poſſibly fix, and faſten any ſcruple, or doubt in reſpect of God: one is, whether he be able to help you: the other is, whether he be willing ſo to do: and as to both theſe your hearts may eaſily be ſatisfied. For
Becauſe he is a God, therefore he is able to do you any good. And becauſe he is your God, therefore he is certainly willing, and moſt …eady to do you any good. There are four things which (if you did ſeriouſly conſider of them) would be of ſpecial help unto you, againſt your fears, and would ſtreng then your hearts in all your approaches unto God.
1. That Gods relation unto you, as your God, is a relation of the deareſt love, and kindneſſe, and grace, and mercy, and peace, and bowels of compaſſion.
2. That Gods Covenanting with you to be a God unto you, it is the higheſt engagement which God can lay upon himſelf, and the fulleſt aſſurance which he can give unto you, that he will be your God. His Covenant engagement unto you hath all his glory and Attributes pawned in it, and the higheſt ratification, even his Oath, and the blood of Chriſt to ſeale it.
3. That as far as your God ſtands engaged unto you in his Covenant, ſo far may you go unto him, and confidently reſt upon him, that he will do you good; be your wants never ſo many, yet if your God hath undertaken the ſupply of them, you may be confident.
4. That ſo long as God remains and continues to be your God; ſo long may you (who are his people) draw near unto him, and beſeech him, and be confident of all the good for which he ſtands engaged unto you in his Covenant. He remaines and continues to be your God for ever and ever, and therefore all your dayes may you go to him and expect good, and help from him.
3. Is it ſuch an exceeding and compleat happineſs to have God to be our God in Encourage your ſelves in the Lord your God.Covenant? Then the people of God ſhould encourage themſelves in the Lord their God, and make up themſelves in their Covenant intereſt againſt all the diſcouragements which they meet with in the world. There are the Creature intereſts, and there are the Covenant intereſts; you are many times deprived of the former. The world loves his own, and the world hates you, and deals hardly and deceitfully with you. The world ſlights, and contemns, and reproaches, and withdraws, and oppoſes, and troubles you, and perſecutes you! Now in ſuch caſes you ſhould not ſuffer diſcouragements to ſink and tear your hearts: you ſhould remember
1. That you are not of the world, but are choſen out of the world.
2. That you have a Covenant intereſt (God is your God in Covenant) and by vertue of that Covenant intereſt, you ſhall find that in your God, which is denyed you in the world: As the Church ſpake, Iſa. 63. 16. Doubtleſſe, thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Iſrael acknowledget us not. Thou, O Lord art our Father, our Redeemer, &c. You ſhall finde it better in your God, then it can ever be found in the world: You cannot find love, and kindneſs, and favour, and good dealing, and faithfulneſs, and help from the world; O but you ſhall find at that time love, and kindneſs, and favour, and tender dealing, and faithfulneſſe, and help from your God. Though men will not love you, yet your God will love you; though men will curſe you, yet God will bleſſe you; though men forſake you, yet your God will help you; Yea and you ſhall find the love of your God in Covenant, and his countenance, and his preſence, and his gooneſs a thouſand thouſand times more ſweet, and refreſhing, and comforting, then all the comforts could be to you, which are denied unto you by the weake Creature.
O Chriſtians! Be not ſo dijected upon Creature with-drawments, and upon Creature failings, or upon Creature oppoſitions: there is enough in your God, and there is better in your God; There is fulneſs in him, and a living fulneſſe: you have all, and abound by enjoying God to be your God. Though you have not the Candle, yet you have the Sun: though not the dirty puddles, yet you have ſtreams and fountains. Reckon the enjoyment of God for your God, reckon this as ſomething reckon on it as your beſt and fulleſt good. Aſſuredly it is enough to make up your happineſſe, and that which is enough to make you happy. It is enough to countervaile all other things which can never make you happy.
4. Give diligence to make out unto your ſoules this Covenant relation twixt God Make out your Covenant-relation.and you; as you have a real intereſt in God, ſo reſt not untill you do attaine unto a perſonal evidence that God is your God, and that you are his people: untill you can ſay as the Church in Iſa. 64. 8. But now, O Lord, thou art our Father. verſe 9. Behold, ſee we beſeech thee, we are all thy people.
Two things I would briefly ſpeak concerning this duty.
1. You may attain unto this perſonal evidence, and certainty of knowledge; That You may attain to this perſonal evidence.God is your God, and that you are his people for aſmuch as
1. You have expreeſſe promiſes for this in Zach. 13. 9. They ſhall call upon my Name, and I will hear them, I will ſay It is my people, and they ſhall ſay, The Lord is my God. So Ezek. 34. 30. Thus ſhall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the houſe of Iſrael are my peaple, ſaith the Lord God.
2. Both the graces of the Spirit, and the teſtimony of the Spirit can make the Covenant relation evident unto you. The graces in you are the infallible characters that God is indeed your God, and that you are indeed his people. The Spirit of grace is given only unto the people of God, and unto every one of the people of God; and beſides that you have the testimony of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 15. Yea have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Gather. Verſe 16. The Spirit it ſelf be…eth witneſſe with our ſpirit, that we are the Children of God.You ſhould ſtrive to attain to this evidence. The advantage of it. For the ſetling of the heart.
2. You ſhould strive to attain unto this perſonal evidence of your relation: Next to your being in the Covenant, I do not know any one thing of that advantage unto you, as the knowledge (upon ſure grounds) that God is your God in Covenant.
It is of ſingular advantage and benefit unto you.
1. For the ſetling of the heart. If this Covenant relation were known of you, you may ſay as David, Return unto thy reſt, O my ſoule, Pſal. 116. 7. Your ſouls cannot be ſetled by knowing what is happineſs, but by knowing your propriety in happineſſe, whiles your propriety is unſetled, all is unſetled within you; and if that be obtained, all is peace, and at peace; I know that this God is my God.
2. For the Comfort and joy of your hearts: It is fruition joyned with knowledge For the comfort of your hearts.which is the Spring of all delight and comfort: You have heard the precious comforts which belong unto the people of God, who have God to be their God, and yet none of them have made comfort within your ſoules, becauſe you are doubtful whether God be your God: it is certain you cannot taſte the comforts, whiles you fear your title and intereſt: But if your intereſt were clear, your joy would be full: happineſſe known to be ours, is a neceſſary cauſe of joy. The Saints in glory have moſt joy, becauſe they have the fulleſt knowledge of the enjoyment of their happineſſe.
3. For your confidence in approaching unto God, and in the application of the ſeveral For your confidence in approaching to God.promiſes of God, your wayes to God would be alwaies open and faire; in all your duties, and in all the Ordinances you might ſay I am now going to my God and Father to help me: and that promiſe is my portion, and this promiſe is my hope; They are all of them mine, for God himſelf is mine: He hath given them (every one of them) unto me, (2 Pet. 1. 4.) That I might not fear, that I might have ſtrong hope, and conſolation, and encouragement. I will ſay no more unto you, but this, the knowledge of your Covenant-relation unto God, it is the life of your lives, and the life of your prayers, and the life of your confidences, and the life of your hope, and the life of your comforts, it is your Paradiſe, and your Heaven here on earth.
5. Maintain and juſtifie your Covenant-relation (when once it is made manifeſt Maintain and juſtifie your Covenant-relation. Four things we ſhould alwayes maintain. The unchangeableneſs of out Covenant-relation.unto you) againſt all the ſuggeſtions of Satan, and againſt all the riſings and oppoſitions of your own unbelief.
I here are four things eſpecially which you ſhould ſtill maintain, and make good, for at them doth Satan moſt ſtrike at.
1. The unchangeableneſſe of the Covenant-relation: This God is our God for ever and ever. He will be our Guide even unto death, Pſal. 48. 14. For I am perſwaded that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature ſhall be able to ſeparate us from the love of God which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord. You are many times under Spiritual ſ…ences (God ſeems not to regard your prayers) and many times under Spiritual delaies (God puts you off from day to day) and many times under Spiritual deſertions (God hides his face from you) and Satan in ſuch caſes puts it upon you to queſtion and diſown your Covenant-relation; If God were your God, it would not be thus.
But notwithſtanding all theſe, or any other trials of your ſelves, yet God ſtill maintains his intereſt in you, and your relation to himſelf. God hath not caſt away his people whom he foreknew, ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 11. 2. I am the Lord, I change not, Mal. 3. 6. I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the houſ… of Jacob, and will look for him, Iſa. 8. 17. But Zion ſaid, the Lord hath forſaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me; Can a woman forget her ſucking child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the Son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee! Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me. So Hoſea 2 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever, and Heb. 13. 5. I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee.
2. The tenderneſſe of your Covenant-relation. The tenderneſſe of Gods love The tenderneſs of your Covenant-relation.unto you, and the tenderneſſe of Gods care over you; Do not ſuffer Satan to raiſe jealouſies, and do not you nouriſh any jealouſies about theſe; if you do ſo, you diſhonour your God by them, and make your ſoules to ſerve him with bitterneſs; your God loves you with as tender love as ever Father loved his deareſt child, Is Ephraim my dear ſon? is he a pleaſant childe? my bowels are troubled for him, Jer. 31. 20. His love is ſet upon you, Deut. 7. 7. And he doth reſt in his love, Zeph. 3. 17. He loves you with an everlasting love, and therefore draws you with loving kindneſſe, Jer. 31. 3. And your God hath a moſt tender care over you, as a man hath over his jewels, (which are his chiefeſt treaſures) I will make up my jewels, Mal. 3. 17. and as a man hath over the apple of his eye; he led him about, he inſtructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye, Deut. 32. 10. And as an Eagle ſtirreth up her neſt, fluttereth over her young, spreads abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings, verſe 11. So the Lord, &c.
3. The goodneſſe of the Covenant relation; that God ſtill is, and will be The goodneſſe of the Covenant relation.good unto you, that he prepares of his goodneſſe for, and he prepares mercy and truth for you, and layes up exceeding goodneſſe for you, reſerves it for you, and is never weary, nor will ever turn away from you from doing of you good.
4. The graciouſneſſe of your God in Covenant; that as at the firſt when he took The graciouſneſſe of your God in Covenant.you into the Covenant, this was the work of his own grace, ſo all along in the diſpenſations of the Covenant, the Lord ſtill acts in a way of grace towards you alwayes, and altogether upon free termes; he freely loved you, and he freely choſe you, and he freely called you, and ſtill he freely bleſſeth you, and doth good unto you, and upon gracious termes he deals with you all the dayes of your life, in all things for which you have to deal with him.
6. Walk and live like a people who have ſuch a God to be your God in Covenant; Walk and live like a people in Covenant with God.as your relation is different from all other peoples relation, ſo your converſation ſhould be different from the converſation of all other people; as your condition is now higher than the condition of other people, (for God exalts you by making you to be his people, ſo the word avouching ſignifies in Deut. 26. 18.) ſo your walking muſt be better than that of other people; and as your enjoyments and hopes tranſcendently exceed all other mens, ſo your returns muſt be in ſome proportion anſwerable unto your great intereſt in ſo good a God; and as God by becoming your God makes you high above all Nations, which he hath made in praiſe, and in name, and in honour, Deut. 26. 19. ſo hath he formed you for himſelf, that you ſhould ſhew forth his praiſe, Eſay 43. 21. You are a choſen Generation, a royal Prieſthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar People, that ye ſhould ſhew forth the praiſe of him who hath called you out of darkneſſe into his marvelous light, 1 Pet. 2. 9. Which in time paſt were not a people, …ut are now the people of God, which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy, verſe 10.
Queſt. If any of you demand how that people ſhould live and walk who have How a people in Covenant ſhould walk.God to be their God in Covenant.
Sol. I anſwer; Such a people ſhould walk,
1. By faith, in a continual dependance upon their living and giving God.
2. In a ſingular love and delight in their good and merciful God.
3. With holineſſe before their Holy and Omnipreſent God.
4. With uprightneſſe before their Omniſcient and All-ſufficient God.
5. Without inordinate cares before their Faithful and Never-failing God.
6. Without inordinate fears before their Almighty God.
7. Without offence or grieving of their Loving God.
8. With all contentedneſſe and well-pleaſedneſſe of Spirit before their Wiſe and gracious God.
9. With all humility before their Great and Merciful God.
10. With all cheerfulneſſe and gladneſſe of heart before their Bleſſing and Bleſſed God.
11. In all conſtancy of obedience before their Eternal God.
12. In all the kinds of zeal for the honour of that God who hath ſo much honoured them as to be their God.
1. You who are the people of God, and have God to be your God in Covenant, Live and walk by faith, in dependance upon the living God.you ſhould live and walk by faith in a continual dependance upon your engaged, and promiſing God. 2 Cor. 5. 7. We walk by faith, not by ſight. Hab. 2. 4. The juſt ſhall live by his faith. Pſal. 115. 9. O Iſrael truſt thou in the Lord, he is their help and their ſhield. ver. 10. O houſe of Aaron truſt in the Lord, he is their help and their ſhield. ver. 11. Ye that fear the Lord, truſt in the Lord, he is their help and their ſhield. And mark the reaſons annexed, why every one of theſe ſhould truſt in the Lord, ver. 12. The Lord hath been mindful of us; (you have had experience of his goodneſſe for the time paſt, and therefore truſt in him, and you ſhall every one of you finde him to be your good God ſtill for the time to come, therefore ſtill truſt in him) he will bleſſe us, he will bleſſe us, He will bleſs the houſe of Iſrael, he will bleſſe the houſe of Aaron. ver. 13. He will bleſſe them that fear the Lord both great and ſmall.
There are ſix Arguments to perſwade you unto this one duty. viz. to depend Arguments for it.upon your God by faith.
1. Becauſe he is your God and your Father, and this comprehends within He is your God and Father.it all the foundations and grounds for your faith and dependance.
He is an infinite all-ſufficiency and goodneſſe, and he undertakes all your helps and ſupplies, and ſtands engaged unto you for whatſoever is neceſſary to life and godlineſſe, and gives unto you ſo many promiſes as ſo many bonds and aſſurances that he will do you good; and beſides all this he is able to performe them, and likewiſe faithful in his word; yea, and beſides all this, he loves you above all the people in the world, and looks on you with tender compaſſions … loving kindneſſes, and aſſures you that he will do you good for his own Names ſake: What can there be more? and what can he ſaid more to draw and perſwade any to depend on a God, and to rely upon him?
2. Becauſe you are his people: Should not a people ſeek unto their God? You are his people.ſaith the Prophet, Eſay 8. 19. Whether ſhould children go but to their father? I am a Father to Iſrael, and Ephraim is my firſt-borne, Jer. 31. 9. And wilt not thou cry unto me My Father? Thou art the guide of my youth, Jer. 3. 4. Upon whom ſhould the wife depend but upon her husband? why! The Lord is married unto you, Jer. 3. 14. Thy Maker is thy husband, Eſay 54. 5. And how is he married unto you? why! In righteouſneſſe, and in judgment, and in loving kindneſſe, and in mercies, and in failhfulneſſ…, Hoſea 2. 19, 20. Truly even this alone that you are his people, lays bond enough upon you to depend and truſt upon your God; for what is it to be his people, but to chooſe him alone to be your God, and for to acknowledge him by truſting upon him, and loving of him, and obeying of him? if he be a God not worthy of your truſt, you are a people not worthy of his love and care.
3. Becauſe your God hath given unto you that choice grace of faith for this God hath given faith for this end.end, to act all along upon the Covenant of grace; that he hath given faith unto you, it is unqueſtioanble; otherwiſe you were not his people; now your faith is given unto you for foure ends.
One is for entrance, that you might become his people, and chooſe him for your God.
A ſecond is for acquaintance, that you as ſuch a people might hold communion with ſuch a God.
A third is for diſcovery, that you might be able to finde out and behold all the undertakings and promiſes of your good God.
A fourth is for relianc…, that you might be able to truſt upon him for all that good which he hath promiſed unto you.
Faith is the eye which is given for to ſee our good, and it is the feet which are given us to carry us to the fountaine of our good, and it is the hand which is given to lay hold, to take, to receive all the good which our God hath promiſed us.
4. Becauſe it concerns you above all people to honour your God; And how can you It concerns you above all people to honour your God.honour him, if you will not truſt him? faith hath (if I may ſo expreſſe my thought) all the glory of God in its hand; you cannot poſſibly put more honour upon God than by believing and depending on him; this is indeed to ſet him up as a God, as the original of all, &c.
5. Becauſe you know his Name; How often have you found it good for you You know his Name.to draw near to God? And when you have laid the whole burden on his promiſes by faith, you have alwayes found him a very faithful and helpful God: Now ſaith David, They that know thy Name will truſt in thee.
6. Have you any other to depend upon? Every creature (naturally) is in a You have no other to depend upon.ſtate of dependency; it is weak and wanting, and an inſufficiency to it ſelf, and therefore it muſt lean upon ſome ſtronger prop than it ſelf. And do not you finde it ſo with your ſelves? finde you no wants at all? can you be a ſufficiency unto your ſelves under thoſe wants? will any or can any but God ſupply the wants of the people of God? Moſt of your wants are above all Creature helps.
2. You who are the people of God, ſhould walk in an exceeding love of your Walk in an exceeding love of your loving God.good and loving God. Matth. 22. 37. Jeſus ſaid unto him, Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy ſoul, and with all thy minde. 1 John 4. 19. We love him becauſe he firſt loved us. Deut. 11. 1. Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God. Pſal. 31. 23. O love the Lord all ye his Sairts.
There is a love of deſire: O God, thou art my God, my ſoul thirſts for thee, Pſal. 63. 1.
Of delight: Delight thy ſelf in the Lord, Pſal. 37. 4. In thy preſence is fulneſſe of joy, Pſal. 16. 11.
Of Admirat…on; who is a God like unto thee? Micah 7. 18.
Of Satisfaction; I ſhall be ſatisfied when I awake with thy likeneſſe, Pſal. 17. 15. Lord, ſhew us the Father and it ſufficeth us, John 14. 8. Thy favour is better than life, Pſal. 63. 3.
Of Adhaeſion; never to part with God nor forſake him: I held him faſt, I would not let him go, Cant. 3. I and you ſhould love as with the choiceſt kinde of love, (Foederal love) ſo with the higheſt degrees of love; you ſhould love him more than all the world, and more than all your friends, and more than all your kindred, more than father or mother, ſiſter or brother, and more than your neareſt relation, than husband or wife, and more than all your poſſeſſions, and more than your own ſafeties, and more than your own lives, yea, and more than your own ſouls; you ſhould love your God ſine omnibus, & ſuper omnia, without all, and above all, &c. And verily there are moſt choice, and moſt ſtrong reaſons for all this in the Covenant alone, becauſe he is your God; for becauſe he is your God, thereforeFor,
1. He loves you with an unutterable love, the pureſt and higheſt love, with a fatherly He loves you.love, with a faithful love, with a tender love, with an everlaſting love. The Schoolmen diſtinguiſh of amor gratuitus, and of amor debitus; our love is but of debt which we owe to God; Gods love is a gracious gift unto us; we love him, but can adde nothing to him; he loves us, and his love makes us up for ever; he begins in love o…ly from his love; and we love when he ſheds abroad his love into our hearts; he loves, and receives nothing from us; we love, and receive all from him.
2. He bleſſeth you, provides for you, beſtows all upon you, enricheth you, He bleſſeth you.gives Chriſt, and Mercy, and Grace, and Peace, and Glory. Who would not love a God who is Goodneſſe it ſelf? and Love it ſelf? and Bleſſedneſſe it ſelf? who would not but love a God who is his God, who delivers from hell, who quickens from death, who pardons all ſins, who cleanſeth from all iniquity, who makes us near unto himſelf, who puts his Name upon us, who ſpeaks peace to our conſciences, who bleſſeth us with all bleſſings, who guides and keeps, and feeds us all our dayes, who will give eternal life at laſt!Walk in all manner of holineſſe before your holy God. In holineſſe of dſpoſition.
3. You who are the people of God, you ſhould walk in all manner of holineſſe before your Holy and Omnipreſent God.
There is an holineſſe,
1. Of Diſpoſition, which is the renewing of the heart by the Holy Ghoſt. Lev. 11. 44. I am the Lord your God, ye ſhall therefore ſanctifie your ſelves, and ye ſhall be holy, for I am holy. ver. 45. I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the Land of Egypt, to be your God, ye ſhall therefore be holy, for I am holy. Lev. 19. 2. Ye ſhall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.Of Converſation.
2. Of Converſation: 1 Pet. 1. 15. Be ye holy in all manner of Converſation. 1 Theſſ. 2. 10. Ye are witneſſes, and God alſo, how holily and juſtly, and unblameably we behaved our ſelves amongſt you that believe. Eſay 35. 8. And an high-way ſhall be there, and a way, and it ſhall be called the way of holineſſe. Luke 1. 74. That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might ſerve him without fear. ver. 35. In holineſſe and righteouſneſſe before him all the dayes of our life.Which conſiſts▪
This holineſſe of Converſation conſiſts partly,In a ſeparation from all ſinful wayes.
1. In ſeparation from all ſinful and polluted wayes, and courſes of the world; Come out from among them, and ſeparate your ſelves, 2 Cor. 6. 17. Having theſe promiſes, let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſſe of fleſh and ſpirit, 2 Cor. 7. 1. Walk not as other Gentiles walk, Epheſ. 4. 17. Have no fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſſe, Epheſ. 5. 11.In exerciſing our ſelves in all holy duties. In doing our civil works with holy hearts, and to holy ends. Reaſons why ſuch ſhould walk in holineſſe. Holineſſe ſuits with the end of the Covenant
2. In the exerciſing of our ſelves in all holy duties and works, and that after an holy manner with godly fear and reverence.
3. In the managing of the civil works and employments of our ordinary callings with ſpiritual and holy hearts, and for ſpiritual and holy ends; ſo that whither we deal with God, or with men, whither you deal in heavenly buſineſſes, or in earthly, ſomething of holineſſe flows out and appears in them bo…h. Eſay 23. 18. Her Merchandize ſhall be holineſſe to the Lord. Now that the people of God (who have him to be their God) ſhould be holy, and ſhould live very holy lives, it may be thus demonſtrated:
1. If you conſider the ſcope and end of the Covenant, or of taking us into Covenant; the end of the Covenant is to glorifie the riches of Gods mercy and grace; (for the praiſe of the glory of his grace) and the end of taking us into Covenant, is, that we might glorifie God who is ſo rich in mercy and grace unto us. See 1 Pet. 2. 9. upon either of theſe accounts his people muſt be holy, and live holily; for ſhould they live profanely and unholily, this would pollute the Name of their God, and extreamely diſhonour it, Ezek. 36. 21, 22. and cauſe his Name to be blaſphemed, Rom. 2. 24. It is the life of holineſſe which makes his Name to be glorified openly amongſt men, as it is the life of faith which makes it to be glorified ſecretly in the heart. Ma…th. 5. 16. Let your light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good works, and glorifie your Father which is in heaven.
2. You are taken into Covenant, that there might be a near relation 'twixt Holineſſe fits for communion with God.you and your God, and that there might be a delight ful communion between God and you; but holineſſe is neceſſary to both theſe; you muſt be ſanctified if you will be near unto him; for unholineſſe is the greateſt diſtance from God, who is holineſſe it ſelf; neither will he have fellowſhip with you without holineſſe, becauſe ſimilitude is the foundation of communion; there can be no fellowſhip 'twixt light and darkneſs, nor 'twixt God and Belial, 2 Cor. 6. 14. All your communions with God are in acts of holineſſe, as a…l his communions with you are by his holy Spirit.
3. The people of God are made high above all Nations, in praiſe, and in name, and in honour. Deut. 26. 19. They are the exc…ll…nt on the earth. Pſal. 16. 3. Holineſſe is our praiſe and honour.A precious people. Jer. 15. 19. A peculiar treaſure unto the Lord, Exod. 19. 5. But then he addes in verſe 6. And ye ſhall be unto me a Kingdome of Prieſts, and an holy Nation. Why; How can you be above all other in praiſe, and in name, and in honour, if your hearts and lives continued in the ſame inglorious condition, and courſe of wickedneſſe and ſinfulneſſe with others? Or how could you be ſaid to be the excellent on earth, if your hearts and lives, were as baſe and common as the vileſt on earth? No certainly, but it is holineſſe which raiſeth your natures, and it is holineſſe which raiſeth your lives; As God is ſaid to be Glorious in Holineſſe, Exodus 15. 11. ſo his Church (or people) is ſaid to be glorious, when it is holy and without blame, Epheſ. 5. 27.
4. You have certainty and Testimony from your holineſſe, that you are indeed Holineſſe is the character of Gods people.the people of God. As Jeſus Chriſt was declared to be the Sonne of God, when with power he was raiſed from the dead by the Spirit of holineſſe, Rom. 1. 4. So are we really manifeſted or declared to be the ſonnes of God, when we are regenerated and renewed by the holy Ghoſt, Titus 3. 5. Holineſſe is as it were the mark of Chriſt, and ſeal of the Spirit, and the Character of all the people of God.
4. You who are the people of God, ſhould walk with uprightneſſe before the Walkwith uprightneſſe before the omniſcient God.Omniſcient and Al-ſufficient God. This is that which the Lord himſelf preſcribed, when he made a Covenant with Abram, Gen. 17. 1. I am the Almighty God, walk before me and be thou perfect. And David preſſeth it upon Solomon, 1 Chron. 28. 9. And thou Solomon my ſonne, know thou the God of thy Father, and ſerve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing minde. So Deut. 18. 13. Thou ſhalt be perfect with the Lo…d thy God. Beloved! This is a ſpecial duty which concernes you who are the people of God; the Lord your God doth inſiſt upon this; and though he beares with you in many things, yet aſſuredly he expects this from all his people, To be upright, and to walk uprightly.
Queſt. But you may demand, What is it to be perfect or upright and to walk ſo To walk uprightly, isbefore God?
Sol. I anſwer, it is
1. To walk without guile. This is the periphraſis of an upright man, that To walk without guile.he is one in whoſe ſpirit there is no guile, Pſal. 32. 2. (that is) his heart is ſound and real, there is truth in his inward parts; he is one who loves God with his very heart, and hates ſinne with his very ſoul: and ſo, to walk uprightly, it is to walk plainly; To walk before God in truth, as H…zekiah expreſſeth it in Iſa. 38. 3. Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, &c. It is not to make a ſhew, a pretence, as if we would follow the Lord, as if we would obey his voice, as if we would order our converſation according to his Word; but it is unfeignedly to endeavour this, to walk in all well-pleaſing before God; He that walks uprightly, he doth chuſe the wayes of God for his wayes, and ſets up the Will of God (revealed in h…s Word) as the rule of his courſe, and cordially ſtrives to come up unto that Will of God.
2. To wa…k with a ſingle reſpect unto God, without mixture of wayes, and mixture To walk with a ſingle reſpect to God.of ends; upright men are therefore ſtiled ſimple men, Matthew 10. 16. That is ſimple which is without mixture; which is not partly one thing, and partly another thi…g; partly gold, and partly droſſe; partly honey, and partly wax, pattly mire, and partly water; but it is Homogeneal, all alike to the ſubſtance of it: So upright men are ſingle or ſimple men; they have but one heart, and but one object, and but one way or path, and but one end or aim. God only is t… great object of … and Gods way only is the path of their life; and Gods glory is only the end of their working and walking; It is not ſinne and God, it is not the world and God, it is not a trade of ſinne and a trade of holy profeſſion, it is not their own praiſe and Gods glory, their own benefit and Gods honour that they mingle together; This is hypocriſie: But it is God only whom they ſet up, and his waies only wherein they walk, and his glory only which they ſeek: And therefore the courſe of all their actions, hath a ſincere reference and ſubſerviency thereunto, ſo that God may have glory.
3. To walk uprightly, is to walk fully and wholly with God. Beloved, this is a very truth, To walk fully and wholly with God.That when a mans heart is falſe and unfound, there is then aninequality and diſproportion 'twixt the Will of God and his hear… this heart cannot poſſibly extend it ſelf to the extent of Gods Will, nor raiſe it ſelf to the height of Gods will: the will of God ſeems too large, and too ſtrict; ſome one thing or other it requires too much, and ſomething or other it forbids too much; but if a perſon be upright, his heart and Gods will be commenſuerable; though the act be ſhort, yet the heart is not ſhort; the heart of an upright man is as full of obedience, as Gods Commands are of righteouſneſſe: and he ſtrives to come up fully and wholly to the Will of his God. Mr ſervant Caleb hath followed me fully, Numb. 14. 24. They ſeek him with their whole heart, Pſal. 119. 2. They are perfecting holineſs in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7. 1. Let us go on to perfection, Heb. 6. 1. They go from ſtrength to ſtrength, Pſa. 84. 7. I ſtrive if by any means, &c. Phil. 3. 11.
O Chriſtians! This perfect walking with God, this becomes the people of God; and this is moſt pleaſing to God, when your hearts indeed are ſet on God, and let out for God, and continually ſet on the Word of God; when your wayes are ſtill the wayes of God, and your works the works of God, and your paths the paths of God: when there is no way of wickedneſſe wherein you may be found: and when there is no path of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe wherein you are not to be found: when you love your God with all your hearts, and ſerve your God with all your might: when you would not willingly do the leaſt evil, but fear it; nor knowingly omit or neglect the greateſt duty, but aſſay and comply with it: when your weakneſſes are your griefs, and the higheſt pitches of holineſſe are your deſires and aimes: when though you fall, yet you will riſe; and when you have got ſome ground, you muſt ſtill go further: when you are exactly careful to do your utmoſt in the fruits of righteouſneſſe, and give glory to God alone; when you ſtudy your ſervices, and his praiſes alone, this is to walk uprightly, this is to be perfect with your perfect God, this is to be wholly his, as he is wholly yours; this is to beſtow all on him, who beſtowes all on you; this is to value the enjoyment of your God alone, as a ſufficient portion and ſatisfaction that you need not at all to ſwerve from him, and this is to count your God moſt worthy of your hearts, and of your lives; this is the honour of your Covenant-Relation, the delight of your God, the beauty of your lives, the path of your peace, the joy of your conſcience, and the fore-runner of your glory.
5. You who are the people of God, ſhould walk without inordinate care before Walk without inordinate care before your faithful God.your careful, faithful, never-failing God. Matth. 6. 31. Take no thought, ſaying, What ſhall we eat? or what ſhall we drink? or wherewithal ſhall we be cloathed? Verſe 32. For your heavenly Father knoweth you have need of all theſe things. James 5. 7. Cast all your care on him, for he careth for you.
I will tell you what your inordinate cares for the things of this life Inordinate cares are Your burdens.are.
1. They are your burdens: David calls them ſo, Pſalme 55. 27. They ſit more heavy upon your ſpirits, than your wants do; they are like the guilt of ſinne in the conſcience, which makes us to go heavy all the day long.
2. They are vexations. They pierce us through with many ſorrows. 1 Tim. Your vexations.6. 10. Scratching, tearing, wounding thornes, as our Saviour calls them.
3. They are vanities: As the King of Aſſyria diſtreſſed Ahaz, but helped him not at all: ſo our inordinate cares are are fruitful troubles, but fruitleſſe They are vanities.helps; They cannot adde one cubit to our ſtature, Matth. 6. 27.
4. They are Indec…rums; fit for Heathens who know not God; nay, unfit They are Indecorums.for Chriſtians who know and alſo enjoy God for their God.
5. They are diſhonours unto you and unto your Relation; As if God were worſe than an Infidel, that he will not provide for his own They are diſhonours.houſhold.
6. They are very ſins; they juſtle aſide the glory of the Covenant, and the fidelity They are very ſinnes. Twelve things in reſpect of God to remove our cares. His ſufficiencyand ſufficiency of divine providence.
But to let theſe things paſſe, I beſeech you who are the people of God, to remember and conſider twelve things in reſpect of your God, to remove your cares.
1. His ſufficiency. He is able to ſupply all your wants, and to ſuccour you in all your diſtreſſes.
2. His Omniſciency: He knowes every want and ſtrait that lies upon you; as Omniſciency.all his works, ſo all your wants are known unto him; He knows that you have need of all theſe things.
3. His Authority: The earth is the Lords, and the fulneſſe thereof; Authority.All the creatures, and all your helps are in his hands, and depend on his Command.
4. His Willingneſse: He is willing to do you good, or elſe he had never promiſed Willingneſſe.all good unto you; he is your Father.
5. His Engagement: He binds himſelf by Covenant to ſupply you. He muſt Engagement.wrong himſelf if he ſhould forget you.
6. His tenderneſſe: His love (as you have often heard) is more to you than Tenderneſſe.all the world.
7. His Bounty: He hath given you Chriſt, and grace, and will give you glory; Bounty.and how ſhall he not with theſe give you all other things!
8. His Fidelity: He is faithful who hath promiſed; he never yet brake his Fidelity.word, or did fail his people.
9. His extent of undertaking for all your life long: I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee, Heb. 13. 5.His extent of undertaking for us all our life. The accounts of his careful proyiſions. His undertaking for our poſterity.
10. The accounts and reports of his careful proviſions, by his own people, and their opinion of him. Gen. 48. 15. The God which fed me all my life long unto this day, ſaid Jacob. Pſal. 37. 25. I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not ſeen the righteous forſaken, nor his …eed begging bread.
11. God undertakes even for your children and poſterity alſo, and is it likely that he will fail your ſelves? The generation of the upright ſhall be bleſſed, Pſal. 112. 2. I will be thy God, and the God of thy ſeed after thee, Gen. 17. 7.
12. He doth good to his enemies, therefore he cannot forget his friends; If he feeds the dogs, ſurely he will feed his children; If he provides for the Ravens, His doing good to his enemies.ſurely he will provide for his people.
6. You who are the people of God, ſhould walk without inordinate feares, Walk without inordinate fears.even upon this account, becauſe you have God to be your God. Gen. 15. 1. Fear not Abram, I am thy ſhield, and thy exc…eding great reward. Iſa. 41. 10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee; Be not diſmayed, for I am thy God; I will ſtrengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will u… hold thee with the right hand of my righteouſneſſ…. Iſa. 43. 1. Fear not, for I have Redeemed thee, I have called thee by name, Thou art mine. Verſe 2. When thou paſſeſt through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they ſhall not overflow thee; when thou walkeſt through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flames kindle upon thee. Verſe 3. For I am the Lord thy God, the holy One of Iſrael thy Saviour.
There are ſeven fears againſt which the Covenant-Intereſt ſhould ſecure the Our Covenant intereſt ſhould ſecure us againſthearts of the people of God.
1. A fear what man can do.
2. A fear what Satan can do.
3. A fear what God will do.
4. A fear what we our ſelves ſhall do.
5. A fear what ours ſhall do.
6. A fear what the Churches of Chriſt ſhall do.
7. A fear what death may do.
1. Your Covenant-intereſt and relation ſhould ſecure you againſt the fear what The fear of what man can do.man can do; Pſal. 118. 6. The Lord is on my ſide, I will not fear what man can do unto me.
We are ſometimes afraid of the power of man, and why are we ſo? I, even I am he that comforteth you; who art thou, that thou ſhouldeſt be afraid of a man that ſhall die, and the ſonne of man, that ſhall be made as graſſe? And forgettest the Lord thy Maker, Iſa. 51. 12, 13.
Of the rage and fury o… man! and why are we ſo? Thou haſt feared continually, becauſe of the fury of the oppreſſor, as if he were ready to de…roy; And where is the fury of th… oppreſsor? Iſa. 51. 13. Surely the wrath of man ſhall praiſe thee, and the remainder of wrath ſh…lt thou reſtrain, Pſal. 76. 10.
Of the plots and combinations of men! and why are we ſo? Say ye not a confederacy to all them to whom this people ſhall ſay a confederacy; neither feare ye their fear, nor be afraid! Sanctifie the Lord of Hoſts himſelf, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread; and he ſhall be for a Sanctuary So in verſe 9. Aſſociate your ſelves, O ye p…ople, and ye ſhall be broken in pieces, &c. Verſe 10. Take counſel together, and it ſhall come to naught, ſpeak the word, and it ſhall not ſtand, for God is with us.
2. Your Covenant-intereſt and relation ſhould ſecure you againſt the feares Againſt the fear of what Satan can do.of what Satan can do. You are many times exceeding afraid of the dreadful power of Satan, as if he might command you, and force you to ſuch ſinful thoughts, and ſinful acts which make your hearts to tremble; you think he is too ſtrong for you, and you ſhall never be able to withſtand him any longer, and your hearts are almoſt cruſhed and ſunk with fear of Satans power; but what … Satan do? Nil poteſt diabolus …iſi miſſus vel permiſſus, He is but a creature, and he is a wicked creature, and he is a conquered creature, and he is a chained creature, and he is a curſed creature. Chriſt hath conquered him, and therefore you ſhall conquer him: all the victories of Chriſt do reach unto you; God doth chain him, and reſtrain his power and working, Thus far he ſhall go and no farther; God will give you grace ſufficient to reſiſt, and withſtand him, and will not ſuffer you to be tempted above your ſtrength, and at laſt, yea ſhortly, will bruiſe Satan under your feet. Grea…er is he that is in you, than h… that is in the world. He Rules the world which troubles and tempts you, but your God will not ſuffer you to be led into temptation.
3. Your Covenant-Intereſt and Relation ſhould ſecure your hearts againſt the Againſt the fears of what God will do.feares of what God will do; You ſee ſometimes great changes and alterations, and judgements in the earth, how terrible God is to the inhabitants thereof, what deſolations he makes, how he ſhakes the mountains, and makes the hills to fall down at his preſence, his fire burnes and conſumes and goes on, and no man knows the power of his wrath, nor can ſay, when or where his indignation will end and ceaſe; But in all the dark and dreadful diſpenſations of Gods providence, the people of God have no cauſe to fear, for he hath an hiding plac… from the ſtorm for them, and his chambers of protection for them, untill the indignation be over; His eyes are over …e righteous: it ſhall ſurely be well with them that fear before him: every thing ſhall work for good unto them: and ſhould publique calamities involve you with other people, yet your God will either ſupport you under them, or deliver you out of them, or tranſlate you into a better place and condition, free from all ſin and miſery, and trouble, into the place of eternal reſt and happineſſe.
4. Your Covenant-Intereſt and Relation ſhould ſecure your hearts from the Againſt the fears of what our ſelves ſhall do.fear of what we our ſelves ſhall do: what will become of us in the latter end! we oft times fear that we ſhall never hold out, and perſevere in the paths of righteouſneſſe, and we feare that providence will not hold out, that we ſhall not have enough to ſuſtain us all our dayes; But why do we fear theſe fears? is not Chriſt the Finiſher of our Fath, who is the Authour of our Faith? and will not God perfect the work which he hath begunne? and are we not kept by his power through Faith unto ſalvation? and hath he not promiſed that he will never depart from us? and to put his feare into our hearts, that we ſhall never depart from him? And as for an outward enough and ſufficiency for all our dayes; alas, why do we fear future ſupplies, who live every day upon preſent mercies? Our God hath ſaid that he will never leave us nor forſake us, and that bread ſhall be given us, and our waters ſhall be ſure; Jeſus Chriſt yeſterday and to day, and the ſa…e… for ever: ſo your God is an al-ſufficiency for all times, in all times, and unto all times; there is no end of his goodneſſe, nor of his care, nor of his love.
5. Your Covenant-Intereſt and Relation ſhould ſecure your hearts againſt Againſt the fears of what ours ſhall do.the feares of what yours ſhall do, and what will become of them when you are dead; you have but little your ſelves, and ſhall leave leſſe unto your children; But O that we had more faith, for then we ſhould have leſs fears! but remember a few things.
1. Be more careful what good you may do your childrens fouls, than fearful what good God will do for your childrens bodies; if your children be only your children, they are then heires of vanity and ſinne, and miſery; but did you take care to make them Gods children, they ſhould be heirs of mercy and bleſſing.
2. Though you die, yet your God ever lives, whoſe care and bounty is not reſtrained to one perſon, or to one generation, but extends unto believers, and unto their ſeed after them. Gen. 17. 7. And thou art the helper of the fatherleſſe, Pſal. 68. 5. In thee the fatherleſſe findeth mercy, Hoſea 14. 3.
3. Though you cannot finde proviſion for your children after you, and therefore fear, yet you may finde promiſes for your children, and therefore you ſhould not fear; if you cannot leave them with a portion, yet if you can leave them with a promiſe of God, it may very well quiet and ſatisfie you: and this you may; Pſal. 112. 2. The generation of the upright ſhall be bleſſed. Pſal. 102. 28. The children of thy ſervants ſhall continue, and their ſeed ſhall be establiſhed b… fore thee.
6. Your Covenant-Intereſt and Relation ſhould ſecure your hearts againſt the Againſt the fears of what ſhall become of the Churches of Chriſt.feares of what ſhall become of the Churches of Chriſt, eſpecially in times of hereſies and ſeducements, and of threatenings, and endeavours to ſubvert the Ordinances, and all Goſpel Miniſtrations; And truly many do fear (in reſpect of theſe) at this time; but we ſhould not inordinately fear in reſpect of them: for there are no people in the world, that have Chriſt ſo near them, and God ſo engaged unto them, as the Church. The foundation of the Church is too ſtrong for the gates of hell; and the Church of God will alwaies be found a very burdenſome-ſtone for all people; All that burden themſelves with it ſhall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together againſt it, Zach. 12. 3. And as for the Ordinances and Miniſtrations of Chriſt in his Churches, they ſhall continue as long as Chriſt hath a Church on earth; as long as the Covenant abides, a people of the Covenant ſhall abide, and as long as the people of the Covenant abides, the Ordinances for thoſe people ſhall abide; no not all the corrupt opinions of men, nor powers of men ſhall ever be able to pluck the Sunne out of heaven, nor drive out the everlaſting Goſpel from the earth. If any thing ſhould make us to fear the continuance of thoſe amongſt us, it is only our unthankfulneſſe, and our unfruitfulneſſe, and our contempt, and ſcorn of them.
7. Laſtly, your Covenant-intereſt and relation, ſhould ſecure your hearts againſt Againſt the fears of death.the fear of dea…h; you ſhould not fear to live, not yet to dye, who have God to be in Covenant; for the ſting of death is gone; it is taken out by the death of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 15. Death ſeparates ſoul and body, but it can never ſeparate you from the love of God, Rom. 8.
The Covenant holds beyond death; it doth not bring you only into a preſent enjoyment of God, but it is to bring you into a fall, perfect, and everlaſting enjoyment of God in glory; the Covenant yields you the leaſt part of your good, of your portion, of your happineſſe in this life; the greateſt and fulleſt portion of good promiſed unto you by God in this Covenant, lies in the arrears, in the reſerves, in the full poſſeſſion of the inheritance after death; and then why ſhould you fear to dye, and go to take a full poſſeſſion? why ſhould you fear to dye, and to enter into the joy of your Maſter? why ſhould you fear to dye, and go home to receive all the deſires of your hearts, and all the eternal preparations of glorious bleſſedneſſe for your ſouls?
7. You who are the people of God, and have him to be your God in Covenant, Walk without offending God.you ſhould walk without offending of him, and without diſpleaſing or grieving of your good God. Mal. 1. 6. A ſonne honoureth his Father, and a ſervant his Maſter. If then I be a Father, where is mine honour? And if I be a Maſter, where is my fear? friends in Covenant carefully avoid mutual offences and provocations, you ſhould fear the Lord and his goodneſſe, Hoſea 3. 5. Thou ſhalt fear the Lord thy God, Deut. 10. 20. Seeing that Thou our God haſt given us ſuch deliverance as this, ſhould we again break thy Commandments! &c. Ezra 9. 13, 14. ſo ſeeing that the Lord is become our God, and hath delivered us from wrath, and made us to be his people, ſhould we grieve him by ſinning againſt him! Grieve not the Spirit of God by whom ye are ſealed unto the day of redemption, Eph. 4. 30. Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleaſing, Coloſ. 1. 10. It were an excellent height if we could ſay unto God, as he ſpake unto his people in Micah 6. 3. O my people, what have I done unto thee, and wherein have I wearied thee? So if we could ſay, O our God what have we done againſt thee, and wherein have we diſpleaſed and grieved thee!
There are nine ſinnes which if they be found in the people of God, they do extreamely Sins much diſpleaſing God. Groſſe tranſgreſſions.offend and diſpleaſe their God.
1. Groſſe tranſgreſſions; when their ſpots are not the ſpots of his children, Deut. 32. 5. Davids adultery diſpleaſed the Lord, 2 Sam. 11. 27.
2. Murmuring complaints againſt the dispenſations of their God, Numb. 11. 1. Murmuring complaints againſt his diſpenſations.When that people complained, it diſpleaſed the Lord; … the Lord heard it, and his anger was kindled. ver. 4. They f…ll a luſting, and wept again, and ſaid Who ſhall give us fleſh to eat? ver. 10. And the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly.
3. Their manual diviſions and contentions, and envyings, and evil-ſpeakings, Mu…ual diviſions.and reproachings of one another, theſe diſhonour themſelves, and grieve the Spirit, and offend their Father.
4. Spiritual pride, and loftineſſe of heart, being vainly puffed up with knowledge, Spiritual pride.or any ſpiritual attainments and enjoyments, fooliſh boaſtings.
5. Carnal ſecurity, and careleſneſſe of their hearts and wayes, and turning Carnal ſecurity.the grace of God into wantonneſſe.
6. Ʋnfruitfulneſſe and barrenneſſe under the Goſpels Ordinances and Unfruitfulneſſe.helps.
7. Conformity unto the world, faſhioning themſelves thereunto, and complying Conformity unto the world.with the ungodly.
8. Lukewarmneſſe of ſpirit in the cauſe of God, and of the truths of Chriſt, and of the power of godlineſſe, ſuffering all theſe to be oppoſed and blaſphemed.Lukewarmneſſe.
9. Particular unbeliefs and diſtruſts, as in Moſes caſe, &c. when their faith Particular unbeliefs.hath a ſpecial call to honour God amongſt people in difficulties, &c. Theſe and ſome other ſinnes, if found among the people of God, do exceedingly diſpleaſe and grieve him; and therefore be you very watchful againſt them, yea, and againſt all Reaſons why we ſhould be watchful againſt all ſinnings.ſinnings whatſoever; becauſe,
1. Your God hath ſhewed you exceeding riches of grace and mercy: There is mercy with thee, therefore ſhalt thou be feared.
2. Your relation to ſo holy a God, ſhould make you to fear all unholy actions; you ſhould be holy, as your heavenly Father is holy.
3. Your receipts have been high, and your returns ſhould be anſwerable; you have received favour, and Chriſt, and the Spirit, and hopes of heaven, and ſhould you offend your God after all this! O what ingratitude (worſt of ingratitude) were this!
4. You will extreamely darken your communions with God by it, and your heavenly relation by it, your Sun will ſet at Noon day.
5. You will break up the peace in conſcience, and conſcience will lay hold on you from all your intereſt comforts received.
6. God doh uſually correct and chaſtiſe his people in this life very ſeverely and ſharply for their diſobedience.
8. You who are the people of God, ſhould walk with all contentedneſſe and Walk with all contentedneſſe and well-pleaſedneſſe.well-pleaſedneſſe of ſpirit, for you have God to be your God; ſaith David, Pſal. 16. 5. The Lord is the portion of mine in eritance; and ver. 6. I have a goodly heritage: That man will be contented with nothing, who cannot finde contentment in the enjoyment of all things.
There are three things which I deſire you to take notice of.For,
1. That God is the portion of his people: Thou art my portion O Lord, Pſal. God is the portion of his people.119. 57. All the world is too low and too little to make up a portion for any one holy or godly man; he ſets not out any eſtate as your portion but himſelf: If the Lord ſhould ſay to a godly man I will give you all the world, and that ſhall be all your portion; O Lord, would he ſay, let others have that portion, but I beſeech thee give me thy ſelf.
2. That God alone is portion enough; all-ſufficiency is (queſtionleſſe) a ſufficient God alone is portion enough.portion; as Joſeph ſaid unto his brethren, Gen. 45. 20. (by the command of Pharaoh) Regard not your ſtuffe, for the good of all the Land of Egypt is yours; ſo may we ſay to all the people of God, Regard not, be not troubled ſo much for the poor ſtuffe of earthly revenues, for the all-ſufficient God is yours. The Lord is my Shepherd, therefore I ſhall not want, Pſal. 23. 1. He that wants nothing hath enough: I am thy ſhield, and thy exceeding great r… ward, Gen. 15. 1. H… …ho is ſecured from all evil, and is bleſſed with all bleſſings, certainly this man hath enough.
3. That your fruition of God for your God, ſweetens any outward portion, be Out fruition of God ſweatens any outward po…tion.it never ſo little; the little of earth with the enjoyment of God as loving, as reconciled, as accepting of us in Chriſt, as ſhining in his favour on our ſouls, as our God in Covenant; how ſatisfying, how delightful a portion is this! The ſmall Ring with the rich Diamond, cannot that delight and pleaſe you!
Object. O but I have very little of theſe outwards.
Sol. A little of them is enough, much is but a ſuperfluity, and is like the water that runs beſides the Mill.Though but a little, yet It is enough. It is bleſt.
2. Your little is bleſt, it is the cluſter of grapes with the bleſſing of the Lord; a little wholſome food is better than a feaſt that is poyſoned; ſo, &c.
3. Your little will laſt. As the Widows Oyle ran out ſtill, and ran out ſo much It will laſt.as ſerved to ſuſtain her all the time of Famine, ſo God by little and little will preſerve you all your dayes.
4. Though little in hand, yet ſtill ſufficient, and of the beſt in promiſe, which will There is ſufficient in the promiſe.rain Manna down upon you all the time of your journying and travelling, untill you come to Canaan.
9. You who are the people of God, ſhould walk with all humility before God, Walk with all humility before God.Micah 6. 8. What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do juſtly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
There are four goodly ſights.
1. To ſee a pardoning God, and a mournful ſinner.
2. To ſee a promiſing God, and a believing ſinner.
3. To ſee a good God, and a thankful ſinner.
4. To ſee a gracious God, and an humble ſinner.
No people are raiſed ſo high as the people of God, and no people with ſuch lowlineſs and humbleneſs as theſe.
To walk humbly, is to walk
1. With a ſenſe of our own unworthhyneſs; I am not worthy of the leaſt of all the With a ſenſe of our own unworthineſſe.mercies, of all the truth, which thou haſt ſhewed unto thy ſervant, ſaid Jacob, Gen. 32. 10. Who am I, and what is my houſe, that thou haſt brought me hitherto? ſaid David, 2 Sam. 7. 18.
2. With a ſenſe of our own inſufficiencies: we are not ſufficient of our ſelves to With a ſenſe of our own inſufficiency.think any thing as of our ſelves, but our ſufficiency is of God, 2 Cor. 3. 5. O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himſelf. It is not in man to direct his ſteps, Jer. 10. 23.
3. With a full acknowledgement of the grace of God, as the reaſon and cauſe of With a full acknowledgement of the grace of God.our all: By the grace of God I am what I am: And I laboured more abundantly then they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me, ſaid Paul, 1 Cor. 15. 10.
4. With a low opinion of our ſelves, as 1 Cor. 4. 6. That not one of you be puffed up With a low opinion of our ſelves.for one againſt another, verſe 7. For who maketh thee to differ? and what haſt thou that thou didſt not receive. Now if thou didſt receive it, why doſt thou glory, as if thou hadſt not received it?Why they ſhould walk humbly. Becauſe They are ſaved by mercy. Their enjoyments are the gifts of grace.
And there are five Reaſons which the people of God have to walk humbly.
1. Becauſe they are all ſaved by mercy, and brought into their high relation by the meere love of their God: In his mercy he ſaved them; and in your blood he ſet his love upon you, and ſaid unto you, live.
2. Becauſe all the great enjoyments which they have, they are the meere gifts of grace: Ye are called by grace, and juſtified by grace, and adopted by grace, and renewed by grace, and ſaved by grace.
3. Becauſe you continually live in a dependance upon God. All your actings are in his ſtrength, and all your communions with him are by his preſence, and by his power; They live in dependency upon God.your graces, and your comforts, and particular abilities, would die in your hands, if he ſhould but withdraw and leave you.
4. Becauſe your God is a great God, and you are but Duſt and Aſhes before him: Their God is a great God.And beſides that, he knows ſo much of you, that you have cauſe to be vile in your own eyes, and to lie low before him.
5. Becauſe you do ſo little for ſo good a God: You make but poor returns in proportion They do ſo little for ſo good a God.to your exceeding great receits: your beſt performances and acts of obedience, are ſo ſhort to his mercies, that you need mercy ſtill to paſſe you by.
You ſhould walk with all chearfulneſs, and gladneſſe of heart, before your bleſſing Walk with all chearfulneſs.and bleſſed God, Pſal. 100. 2. Serve the Lord with gladneſſe, Deut. 28. 47. Becauſe thou ſervedſt not the Lord thy God with joyfulneſſe, and gladneſſe of heart for the abundance of all things. O how chearful ſhould your life be, who enjoy ſuch a God to be your God: This enjoyment ſhould be like a good conſcience, which is a continual feaſt: yet God is my God, and Chriſt is my Chriſt, and mercy and glory are mine: Yea, it ſhould make you exceeding forward and chearful in the ſervices of your God: not calling them your burdens, but delights: you ſhould rejoyce in him, and rejoyce to obey him, and delight to do his will, account it your meat and drink, and you ſhould a bound in the work of the Lord.
11. You ſhould be conſtant in walking before him: you ſhould never be weary of him, nor of his works: you ſhould think a ſhort life too ſhort for the ſerving, Be conſtant in walking before him.and the honouring of ſuch a God: as the Martyr was troubled becauſe he had but one life to part with for Chriſt; ſo ſhould we, becauſe we have no more lives, or no longer time of life to bleſſe and praiſe our good and gracious God: you ſhould ſerve him in holineſs, and righteouſneſs all your dayes, Luke 2. Surely goodneſſe and mercy ſhall follow me all the dayes of my life, and I will dwell in the houſe of the Lord for ever, Pſal. 23. 6.
12. You who ate the people of God, ſhould walk before him in all zeale, for the honour of that God who hath ſo much honoured you, as to make you his Walk before him in all zeal.people. What ſhall I do for my God! you ſhould deny your ſelves, and extend your ſelves, and improve all your gifts, and graces, and powers for the ſervices of his glory; you ſhould not count your time, nor riches, nor honours, nor lives dear unto you, ſo that you might honor and glorifie ſuch a God as your God is, and is to you: you ſhould ſpeak, and pray, and ſtudy, and act, and enact for him, who is ſo good a portion, and will be your everlaſting and bleſſed God.