The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 14

The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant · Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 14

p. 674CHAP. XIV.

2. Doctr. THat the people of God are to make progreſs, to proceed on, to continue, Gods people muſt perſevere in their obedience to God.and perſevere all their dayes in an obediential obſervation of Gods ſtatutes: (Ye ſhall walk in my ſtatutes, and ye ſhall keep my judgements, &c.)

To walk in Gods ſtatutes is a Metaphorical expreſſion, taken from thoſe who do walk in a journey, who are ſtill moving on in their path or way from place to place, untill they come to their journeys end: So the people of God, they are not only to enter into the way of obedience, but they muſt hold on their whole life, they muſt go from ſtrength to ſtrength, from ſtep to ſtep, untill they come unto the end of their life: Job 17. 9. The righteous ſhall hold on his way; and he that hath clean hands ſhall be ſtronger and ſtronger.

A threefold continuance is required of our obedience.

Firſt, For the matter; ſtill doing the work of our Maſter, ordering all For the matter.our ſteps by his Word; exalting his rule, keeping to his paths, not weary, wandering or revolting.

Secondly, For the manner, not abating or decaying at any time; in

1. Our integrity of intention.For the manner.

2. Our lovelineſs of affection.

3. Our diligence of action.

4. Our watchfulneſs of obſervation.

5. Our forwardneſs and delight.

6. Strictneſs in our obedience.

7. In our valour and reſolution.

Although we do … meet with

1. Much intrinſecal oppoſition.

2. Much extrinſecal diſcouragement and dangers, yet ſtill to hold on; none of theſe things move me, ſaid Paul, neither count I my life dear unto my ſelf, ſo that I may finiſh my courſe with joy, Acts 20. 24. through the Red Sea, and through the wilderneſs to Canaan.

Thirdly, In a further advancing, as to our graces, and as to our ſervices, being more zealous, more ſtedfaſt, more abound…ng in the work of the Lord; In a farther progreſs.bringing forth more fruit in our old age: Prov. 4. 18. The path of the juſt is as the ſhining light that ſhineth more and more unto the perfect day. The p. 675ſun riſeth in the morning, and it holds on its motion or courſe untill it comes to the height: And ſo the juſt man goes on in his courſe, further and further, untill he comes to perfection, which is his end and reſt. The Apoſtle calls this the running of a Race, 1 Cor. 9. 24. and Heb. 12. 1. Let us run the Race which is ſet before us: when men do run a race they make no ſtop or ſtay, but they are ſtill paſſant in their motion, never reſt untill they come unto the goal for, &c. Therefore he ſaith of himſelfe, that he was following after it, Phil. 3. 12. And reaching forth, ver. 13. And preſſing forward, ver. 14. So David, Pſal. 119. 33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy ſtatutes, and I will keep it unto the end. And ver. 44. I will keep thy ſtatutes continually, for ever and ever. Ver. 112. I have inclined mine heart to performe thy ſtatutes alwayes even unto the end. We read of Job, (that upright man, who feared God, and eſchewed evil) that he offered Sacrifice and Burnto-fferings for his ſons, and thus did Job continually, Job 1. 5. The ſame we ſay of our obedience to Gods Statutes; it is not a tranſient work, but it is a continued courſe; it is not the work of a day, or of a year, but it is the work of a life; we muſt ſerve God in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs all the dayes of our life, Luk. …. 75.

Now I will give you ſome Reaſons why they ſhould do ſo, why they Reaſons for it▪ſhould continue and perſevere unto the end in doing the will God, in walking in his ſtatutes.

The Reaſons are theſe.

Firſt, The Bond of the Covenant twixt God and them, wherein there is, From the mutual Covenant.1. A mutuall Agreement. 2. The date of the Agreement. The Agreement is that God will be their God, And that they will be his people: God will be theirs, and they will be his: They will ſerve him and he will bleſs them. The date of this Agreement is Everlaſting, I will make an Everlaſting Covenant with you, I will never turne a way from them to do them good, and I will put my fear into their hearts that they ſhall never depart from me: Jer. 32. 40. Pſal. 48. 14. This God is our God for ever and ever, he will be our guid even unto death.

Hence I infer two things.

1. If the Relation 'twixt God and his people doth ſtill continue, then the obligation The relation betwixt God and his People ſti…l continue…. The Covenant takes hold of God to bleſs them.ſtill continues; if they do ſtill own him for their God, they muſt ſtill obey and ſerve him as their God.

2. If the Covenant takes hold of God to bleſs them and do them good, it doth by the ſame reaſon take hold on them ſtill to ſerve and obey their God: It were abſurd to think that the obligation ſhould be only on God's part, and not on our part; or that it ſhould be at all times on Gods part to do us good, and only at ſome time on our part to do him ſervice.

There are three things conſiderable in the Statutes or Commands of God.What conſiderable in Gods Statutes. A Bredth in them. A Hight in them. A Length in them.

1. There is a Bredth in them; for they are many and do require manifold duties, and our hearts and lives muſt have a reſpect unto them all.

2. There is a Height in them. they are Laws of perfection, and we ſhould ſtrive to come up fully unto them, to the utmoſt of them.

3. There is a Length in them, they extend in their Authority and power from the firſt day of life to the laſt minute of breath; and our obedience unto them ſhould be conſtant unto them: ſaith the Apoſtle Rom. 7. 2. The woman that hath an husband▪ is bound by the Law to her husband ſo long as he liveth: So ſay the people of God who are in Covenant with him and take him for their Lord and Husband, they are bound to obey his laws, and walk in his ſtatutes preſcribed to them as long as the husband lives, at leaſt as long as they ſhall live. Thus you ſee that the people of God are to hold on and to continue unto the end in the duties of obedience; it muſt be the work of their whole life to walk in God's ſtatutes.

Secondly, The force of Gods Law: The morall law of God (for of that … p. 676From the force of Gods Law.only ſpeak) it is an Eternal law, it is not Temporary, and Ceſſant, ſet up to be of force for a time only: No, it is a fixed and ſtanding Rule, and hath authority over us, not for ſome part of our life, but for all the dayes of our life: and we are to order not only ſome part of our converſations, but our whole converſations according unto it; order my ſteps in thy word, Pſal. 119. 133. We do finde that the laws or Commandements of God, ſome of them are affirmative, and ſome of them are negative; the affirmative do binde us Semper, and the negative do binde us Semper & ad Semper. There is no time diſpenſed with to ſin againſt God, no time to take the Name of God in vain, no time to commit adultery, no time to kill or ſteal, &c.

And though the affirmative precepts do not bind us at all times as to particular acts, yet they do ſtill bind us to ſome acts of obedience: As though God will at ſome times diſpence with ſacrifice, yet then it is in caſe of mercy: As if a fire ſhould break out on the Sabbath day, God ſuffers us to omit his own worſhip; but this is that we might obſerve him in acts of mercy at this time: Well then! the Law of God is never out of date, and therefore our obedience ſhould be never out of date. This Command lies upon us for our whole life, and therefore obedience lies upon us for our whole life.

Thirdly, There is ſtill an imperfection upon us, and therefore ſtill there is need Whilſt we live we are imperfect.of further obedience. Take me the beſt Chriſtian on earth, there is ſtill imperfection upon him; and there is nothing which he doth, but ſtill he may do it better. He doth not ſo beleive on God, but he needs ſtill to believe, and ſtill to believe better. He doth not ſo love his God, but he needs ſtill to love his God, and to love him more. He doth not ſo ſanctifie a Sabbath, but he needs ſtill to keep the Sabbath day holy, and to keep it more holy. He doth not ſo pray and hear and mourne, but he needs ſtill to pray and hear, and to pray and hear better. He doth not ſo mortify his ſins, and reform his heart and life, but he needs every day to be mortifying his ſinfull luſts, and reforming and mending his heart more and more, further and further. Simile. Artificers who are building of an houſe, they have work enough every day for them to do, untill the houſe be finiſhed: So the Chriſtian who is building up for Heaven, he hath work ſtill to do untill he comes to heaven; he is not perfect, nor are his works perfect, he is but doing, he hath not done his work till he hath done his life. 4. Progreſſive and Progreſſive obedience is true obedience.continued obedience, that is the true and right obedience; that is the obedience.

1. Which comes indeed from love of God: A friend (ſaith Solomon) loves at all times: They who do truly love their God, will ſtill obey their God:

2 Which comes from the Law written in the heart, ſet up there, and delighted It proceeds from love to God.in there.

3 Which as it agrees wholly with Gods will, ſo it tends altogether to Gods From the Law written in the heart. It agrees to Gods will and tends to Gods glory.glory: God hath more diſhonor by the Apoſtate who turns away from the Commandements, then ever he had honor by his temporary walking in the Commandements. A faithfull Chriſtian who walks with God all his dayes, his whole life brings glory to God.

4. Which God delights in: he takes pleaſure in it; the upright are his delight; And he loves the faithfull, but if any man draw back, my Soule ſhall have no pleaſure God delights in it.in him. Heb. 10. 38.

5. Which God will Reward, Rev. 2. 10. Be thou faithfull unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Math. 10. 22. He that continueth unto …he end ſhall be God will reward it.ſaved. It is a pious expreſſion of Chryſoſtome, Non cepiſſe, but perfeciſſe, virtutis est; Nec incipientibus ſed perſeverantibus Corona tribuitur.

6. Which anſwers to the obedience of Chriſt; Chriſts obedience was Satisfactory, and herein we cannot imitate him: and his obedience was exemplary, a It anſwers Chriſts obedience.pattern for our obedience, and herein we are to imitate him.

And there are three things in his obedience, to which our obedience ſhould p. 677be anſwerable. 1. Willingneſs and readineſs. 2. Fulneſs. 3. Steadfaſtneſs untill Three things in Chriſts …bedience for our imitation.he had finiſhed the work which his father gave him to do: And thus ſhould we do, not only begin, but alſo finiſh and work to the end. 2. Tim. 4. 7. I have finiſhed my courſe, ſaid Paul.

We ſhould perſevere or continue our obedience unto the end, ſtill walk on in Gods Statutes; becauſe of that exceeding loſs which will befall us, if we ſhould give over our obedience, and turn away from Gods Statutes.

There are three unſpeakable loſſes which will follow to Apoſtates, who break What Apoſtates loſe.off with God in duties of obedience.

Firſt, A Loſs of Honor: Saith Chriſt to the Church of Philadelphia, Rev. 3. Honor.11. Hold that faſt which thou haſt, that no man take thy Crown: Intimating that the Crown were loſt (which is the greateſt dignity, and honor, and reputation) if ſhe were not ſteadfaſt; Demas hath forſaken us, and embraced this preſent world; what a diſhonor was this to Demas? The Apoſtle Peter ſpeaking of Apoſtates who turned away from the holy Commandements delivered unto them. 2 Pet. 2. 21. That it is hapned unto them according to the proverbe, the Dog is turned to his vomit again, and the Sow that was waſhed to her wallowing in the mire: What a ſhame is it to be like a dog, or a ſow? &c.

Secondly, A Loſs of all the Duties and good works that hitherto they have All their duties and good works.done. Apoſtates make ſhipwrak, 1. Of Faith. 2. Of Conſcience. 3. Of all their former obedience: All the Prayers which they have made are loſt; and all their Hearings are loſt; and all their Religious ſervices and performances. Ezek. 18. 24. When the Righteous turneth aw…y from his Righteouſneſs and committeth iniquity, all his righteouſneſs that he hath done ſhall not be mentioned, and in his ſins that he hath ſinned, in them ſhall he dye.

Thirdly, A Loſs of their Souls and Happineſs. Apoſtates loſe all their ho…es, Their ſouls and happineſs.of Heaven; there are dreadfull places for the proof of this. Eſa. 1. 28. They that forſake the Lord ſhall be conſumed. 2. Cron. 24. 20. Becauſe ye have forſaken the Lord, he hath alſo forſaken you. Heb. 10. 26. If we ſin wilfully after that we have received the knowledg of the truth, there remaines no more ſacrifice for ſin. Ver. 27. but a certaine fearfull looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation which ſhall devour the adverſaries.

Sixthly, We cannot be better imployd then in a conſtant and continued Its our beſt impolyment to walk in Gods wayes.walking in Gods Statutes: It is an impolyment like that in Heaven. This is indeed to live, and rightly to improve life; It is the Honor of life, and Comfort and Safety of life.

Firſt, Our Honor; ſaith David, Pſal. 16. 8. I have ſet the Lord alwaies before Its our honor.me. And Pſal. 73. 23. I am continually with thee. Fidelity in ſervice is an honor to any man, much more in his ſervice unto God.

Secondly, Our Comfort. Pſal. 106. 3. Bleſſed are they that keep judgment, Our comfort.and he that doth righteouſneſs at all times. Upright and conſtant obedience brings in a revenue of conſtant peace in confidence thereof, and affords unto us a conſtant confidence towards God. Pſal. 119. 165. Eſa. 32. 17. The work of righteouſneſs ſhall be peace. 1 Joh. 3. 21. If our hearts condemne us not, then have we confidence towards God: Ver. 22. And whatſoever we ask we receive of him, q. we keep his Commandements, and do thoſe things that are pleaſing in his ſight.

Thirdly, Our Safety. You are never more ſafe then when you are in Gods Our ſafety.way: The path of obedience is the path of Safety. Prov. 13. 6. Righteouſneſs keepeth him that is upright in the way, but wickedneſs overthroweth the ſinner. 16. 17. He that keepeth his way preſerveth his ſoul: 19. 16. He that keepeth the Commandements, keepeth his own ſoul: But he that deſpiſeth his wayes ſhall dye. Eccle. 8. 5. Whoſe keepeth the Commandements ſhall ſee no evil things. But look on the very imployment of life in the whole courſe of it, can it be better imployed or ſpent then in an obediential walking with God? There cannot be a better maſter then p. 678God, nor a more choice imployment of our life than in his ſervice: Communion with God is our happineſs in this life, and in the life to come. Pſal. 84. 1. How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of hoſts! Ver. 2. My ſoul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord. Ver. 3. Bleſſed are they that dwell in thy houſe, they will be ſtill prayſing thee. Ver. 10. A day in thy courts is better than a thouſand; I had rather be a door-keeper in the houſe of my God, &c.

Seventhly, The further you proceed in walking in the paths of Gods Commandements, The farther we go in theſe wayes, they are the better. We ſhall have the clearer knowledg of them.the better you ſhall finde it to walke in them.

There are four things which may demonſtrate this:

1. Becauſe the farther that you proceed in the wayes of God, the clearer knowledge you ſhall attain to, both of God and of his wayes; the more we do obey him, the better we ſhall know him, and love him, and be beloved of him. Joh. 14. 21. He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me ſhall be loved of my father; and I will love him, and will manifeſt my ſelf unto him.

2. Becauſe the further we proceed in the wayes of God, the further teſtimony ſhall we have from conſcience that our hearts are upright. There is (you know) And fuller teſtimony from Conſcience.much of our happineſs or unhappineſs, in the teſtimony of conſcience; and upright walking gives a great advantage unto conſcience to ſpeak on our behalfe. Pſal. 119. 1. Bleſſed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the way of the Lord, and ver. 2. Bleſſed are they that keep his teſtimonies, and ſeek him with the whole heart. Now affectionate walking, and ſtedfaſt walking, do ſhew that our hearts are upright in walking.

3 Becauſe the farther we do proceed in walking in Gods ſtatutes, the more And the more ſweet experiences.ſweet and heavealy experiences ſhall our ſoules meet with. Still you meet with promiſes, but if you make farther progreſs, you ſhall meet with the fruits and effects of thoſe promiſes. Pſal. 25. 10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto ſuch as keep his covenants and his teſtimonies.

4. Becauſe the further that you do proceed to walk in Gods Statutes, the And the neerer we are to our journeyes end.neerer you are to the journies end, and to the crown of life: It is but one ſtile more, and then I am at my fathers houſe; but a few ſteps more, and then Well done good and faithfull ſervant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Math. 25. 21.

Object. Thus you ſee the point demonſtrated; that the people of God are to make progreſs; they are to move on, they are to perſevere all their dayes in the path of obedience or in walking in Gods Statutes.Many of Gods children are ſometimes out of the way.

True, will ſome ſay, thus they ſhould do; but who of them ever did thus? There are none of them but we finde them ſome time or other out of the way.

I Anſwer.

Sol. Firſt, Although it be ſo, yet it ſhould not be ſo; all their ſteps ſhould be in the Yet it ſhould not be ſo. All that are ſincere, do walk on.wayes of life.

But Secondly, All that are ſincere, they do ſo, they are ſtill walking on in the Statutes of God. I told you lately, that particular actions do not denominate any eſtate; it is the courſe of actions which doth denominate our walking. Though a wicked man doth ſometimes a particular good, yet this man ſtill walks in his iniquities, becauſe the courſe of his life is ſpent in the path of ſin. So though a good man, doth ſome times a particular evil, yet this man may be ſaid ſtill to walk on in the Statutes of God, becauſe that path takes up his courſe of life. When Simil….a man is travailing a journey, though he doth ſome times ſtumble and fall into the dirt, yet he is ſaid to be a travailer, and to go on in his journey, becauſe he lies not in the dirt, but gets up and away he goes; ſo &c.Infirmities are paſſed by of God. How deviations are the fruits of weakneſs.

Thirdly, The aberrations of weakneſs do not nullify or evacuate a continued progreſs in walking: Infirmities God paſſeth by, and puts them not into the account. Now therefore things which ſhew that the deviations of Gods people are the fruits only of weakneſs:

p. 6791. One is, that they do principally depend upon the ſubtilty and ſuddain power of Satans temptations.

2. A Second is, that they would not do any evil: The evil that I would not do, I do, ſaith Paul.

3. A Third is, their cries, and tears, and complaints: They are in this particular like the loſt Sheep, or a loſt Child.

4. A Fourth is, that they muſt and do returne into the right way again.

SECT. I.

Uſe 1 SHould the people of God walk in Gods Statutes (i. e.) make progreſs in them, and move forward and hold on, and perſevere in the obedience of them all the dayes of their life? Againſt this duty foure ſorts of men deeply offend; e. g. 1. All Inconſtant Profeſſors. 2. All Declining Profeſſors. 3. All Non-Proficients. Who offend againſt this duty. All inconſtant Profeſſors.4. Eſpecially all Revolters, and Apoſtates.

Firſt, All Inconſtant Profeſſors; to whom that may be applied, ſpoken of in Hoſea 6. 4. O Ephraim, what ſhall I do unto thee! O Judah, what ſhall I do unto thee! for your goodneſs is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. You have many Profeſſors like unto Ephraim and Judah, who in their diſtreſſes enquired early after God; they take up duties, and then they will pray and hear, and reform, and obey the voice of the Lord: O how many hollow-hearted Chriſtians are there who in their ſickneſs and troubles of Conſcience, and outward ſtraits and fears, will ſeek unto the Lord and ſerve him, and walk in his wayes; but as ſoon as fears, and ſtraits, and ſickneſs, and dangers are off, they fall preſently from God, and from his wayes, and from walking in his Satutes! The Simil….ſun conſumes the morning cloud, and dries up the early dew: So when eaſe and proſperity and ſafety appears, then an end of praying, of mourning, of repenting, of doing for God and walking in his wayes.

Secondly, All Declining and luke warme Profeſſors: Such I mean that have been forward, and high and zealous in holy duties; but they are fallen low, and All lukewarm Profeſſors.flat, and careleſs, and negligent of them. The time was that they were full of cares and deſires, and of ſpirituall fervor and vigor: O how they have prized the ordinances! How did they abound in duties of obedience! How much of their time did they lay out in meditation, in praying, in reading, in hearing in reforming themſelves, in inſtructing their families, in watching over themſelves and their wayes! O they durſt not neglect their duty, any opportunity, nor come neer any iniquity. But now the caſe is altered with them, there is not that fear of God in them, nor tenderneſs of conſcience, nor forwardneſs of obedience; their wine is turned into water, and their fervor into deadneſs; they have no regard, nor minde, nor heart to walk at all in Gods Statutes and wayes; they ſhut up the Church dores, and caſt away Bibles, and renounce all duties, regard not Scripture, regard not ordinances, regard not duties: O the Lord work upon thine heart in time, for thou regardſt not thine owo ſoul.

Thirdly, All Formal Non-proficients; ſuch I mean who keep ſtill to their All non proficients.circle, and move like a horſe in a mill; ſo much as they have taken upon them of Religion, ſo much they will ſtick unto; they will neither abate nor riſe, neither go backward nor go forward, they know enough already: Some outward duties they do: but if you will preſs them a jot higher, then you are preciſe; you cannot poſſibly perſwade them to proceed on to humble their heart, to mortify their luſts, to yeild to God in inward ſanctity, &c.

Fourthly, But above all they offend moſt, who turn Apoſtates and Revolters; All Apoſtates.who like Hymeneus and Alexaender, make ſhipwrack of faith and a good Conſcience.

p. 6801 Tim. 1. 19, 20. Or like the Galatians, begin in the ſpirit, and end in the fleſh▪ Galatians 3. 3. Or like thoſe in Peter, who after that they knew the way of righteouſneſs, did turn away from the holy Commandements delivered unto them. 2 Pet. 2. 21. Beloved, there are three ſorts of men in the world.

1. Some never would endure to look or walk in Gods Statutes, but reſolve to walk in their own ſinful wayes; theſe are prophane Atheiſts.

2. Some will take upon them to walk in Gods Statutes ſo far as conſiſts with their own wayes and luſts; theſe are hypocrites.

3. Some make an enterance and a little progreſs, but do after a while renounce them, and fall off to their own luſts.

Now here give me leave to open three things unto you.

1. The principal cauſe, why ſome men hold not on in walking in Gods Statutes, The cauſe why ſome Apoſtatize.but break off and turn Apoſtates.

2. Their great ſin in ſo doing.

3. The great danger and judgment.

1. The principal cauſe why, &c.

Becauſe of the ſtrictneſs of Gods Laws.Firſt, The Spiritual ſtrictneſs which they do meet with in Gods Statutes, which they did not preconſider, and which their looſe hearts cannot bear. Simile. It is with many profeſſors as it is with many lazey and idle ſervants, who frame unto themſelves a reputation and benefit to be in ſuch and ſuch great mens families, but meeting there with diligent and conſtant paines, they preſently give up their place and ſervice. So many Chriſtians fancy unto themſelves, an eaſie obedience to God, and think that any kind of ſerving God will ſuffice, but when they come to finde that God will not be pleaſed with eaſie and formal performances, but he will be ſerved in Spirit and in truth, that we muſt mortify every ſinfull luſt, and that we muſt ſeek and ſerve him with our whole heart, and come up to all the duties of obedience, though croſſing our profits and delights; now they complain and murmur, as they in Joh. 6. This is a hard ſaying, and turn away from the Commandements, as too heavey a yoak for them to bear, rather likeing their old wayes of wickedneſs and looſeneſs.

Secondly, Secret Hypocriſie of heart, this is another cauſe why men do not Secret Hypocriſie.continue and perſevere in the way of obedience, but do revolt and fall off. Job 27. 10. Will the Hypocrite delight himſelf in the Almighty? will …e alwayes call upon God? Some times he will call upon God, but alwayes he will not, for his delight is not in God.

There are foure things in every Hypocrite:Four things in every Hypocrite.

1. His ſinful heart was never changed by Grace.

2. His Soul was never mortified to all ſin.

3. His Heart could never comply with all which God requires.

4. He never did Obey God out of love to God, intending only the Glory of God, but ſtill had an eye unto himſelf, ſeeking his own praiſe and advantage in the world.

And every one of theſe is a ſufficient ground of revolting; and what principle is there of perſeverance in the wayes of God, where no grace at all …s planted in the heart? Is it poſſible that the Commandements of God ſhould be ſure of us, when ſin hath the dominion over us? Or can he hold out in obedience, whoſe heart did never like obedience? and of neceſſity his heart muſt break with God, who doth prefer himſelf before God.

Thirdly, External Difficulties and troubles: The Apoſtle ſaith, that all who External troubles.will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, ſhall ſuffer perſecution. 2 Tim. 3. 12. We may ſay of walking in the way of Gods Statutes, what they ſpake to Paul of the way of Chriſtianity, it is every where ſpoken against. Acts 28. 22. There is no travailer in the way to Heaven, but ſhall meet with barking curs, with many ſcoffes, reproaches, contempts, indignities, injuries, hazzards, loſſes: But many men p. 681neither can, nor will ſuffer theſe things: they ſet a higher value upon their own names, and eaſe, and liberty, and plenty and ſafety, than on their Souls and Gods Commandements. When the young man heard of ſelling all, and taking up the croſse, and following of Chriſt, he took his leave of Chriſt, and of the way to Heaven. Simile. Many travailers are taken from their joruney when foule weather appears, although they were forward when the ſun did ſhine forth, &c.

Fourthly, Sordid unbelief; There are three things which ſome men do not Sordid unbeliefe.believe.

1. That the way of obedience is a neceſſary path to life.What ſome men do not believe.

2 At leaſt, that much obedience, and conſtant or continued obedience is that path; ſome little ſervice, for a little time (if men have any to ſpare) perhaps is; but to ſpend a whole life in holy walking, &c.

3. That God is true in his promiſes of protection and benediction, in caſe of conſcientious and conſtant obedience; they do verily think that by this courſe they ſhall be loſers: If they did not ſome times worke and ſell on the Sabbath day, why they ſhould loſe their cuſtome; and if they ſhould deny viſits on that day, they ſhould diſpleaſe their friends, &c.

O theſe unbelieving hearts of ours! Not without cauſe ſaid the Apoſtle, Heb. 3. 12. Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. Tell men ſeriouſly who is the God of bleſſings, and God of mercies; in whoſe power is it to make great. Is it not God who bleſſeth, and the man ſhall be bleſſed? And who curſeth, and the man ſhall be curſed? And read you not expreſly of his bleſſings promiſed to the obedient, and his curſes to the diſobedient? And is not God faithful in his promiſes, and true in his threatnings? Hadſt thou faith, God ſhould have better obedience; and didſt thou give to God more upright and ſtedfaſt obedience, God would give unto thee more plentiful and abundant bleſſings: If thou couldeſt ſay that latter part with David, I will dwell in the houſe of the Lord for ever, then mayſt thou confidenly ſay with him, Surely goodneſs and mercy ſhall follow me all the dayes o… my life. Pſal. 23. 6.

2ly. Their great ſin in Revolting, and giving over walking in Gods The great ſin of Revolters.Statutes.

There is a Queſtion which I have read ſomewhere of Infidels, and Hereticks, and Apoſtates, which of them do ſin more heinouſly? And it is Reſolved, that the Apoſtate is the greateſt ſinner of them: defection is a greater ſin, then the negation of ſubjection; becauſe in defection or Apoſtaſie,

1. More of God is rejected, and the Apoſtate ſins more againſt God;Why Apoſta…es are ſuch great ſinners.

2. Having received the knowledge of God and his wayes.

3. And likewiſe breaks aſunder more bonds which lay upon him to continue his obedience.

And indeed the Apoſtle ſpeaking of Apoſtates, delivers three things concerning them, which do ſet out their ſins unto amazment, Heb. 6. 6.

Firſt, One is, that its impoſſible to renew them againe unto repentance: How great Its impoſſible to renew them.is that ſin which doth ſo harden the hearts of men, that he doth never repent of it, nay can never repent of it, nay that it is impoſſible to renew him again to repentance!

A Second is, that they crucify to themſelves the Son of God; they deal with They crucify to themſelves Chriſt a f…eſh.Chriſt as the Jews did, who rejected and crucified him: O what a ſin is this to crucify the Son God, and to crucify him a freſh, to pierce his heart and to ſhed his blood the ſecond time!

The third is, that they put him to open ſhame; they themſelves do put a reproach They put him to open ſhame.and contempt upon Chriſt, and cauſe others ſo to do; as if Chriſt were not a maſter fit to be followed, and his wayes were not worth our regarding, and that the poor wo…ld and our baſe ſins are rather to be regarded and emb…aced, p. 682and followed then the Lord Jeſus, and his precepts, and his wayes. And take one thing more; that never did any fall off, or turn away from walking in Gods ſtatutes, but he grew far more wicked then ever he was before, and likewiſe a deſperate enemies to the wayes of God.

3ly Their great danger and judgement.

This I ſhall ſhew unto you in three Particulars.

Firſt, Revolters or Apoſtates are judicially given up to the great power of Satan: The great danger and judgement of Apoſtates. They are given up to Satan.The Lord doth in his juſt judgement give them over unto Satan that he ſhould rule them, and that they ſhould be his ſworn ſervants who will break off with God, and refuſe to ſerve him any longer: Mat. 12. 44. That unclean ſpirit returned unto his houſe from whence he came out. ver. 45. and takes with him ſeven other ſpirits more wicked than himſelf, and enter they in and dwell there, and the laſt eſtate of that man is worſe than the firſt.

Secondly, They are judicially given up to the power of their ſinful luſts, they And to the power of their luſts.grow worſe and worſe; they having caſt away the cords, and all fear of God there is no wickedneſs but they are ready to obey it, and they do now go on in their daring wayes of bold profaneſs with ſeared conſciences.

Thirdly, They are judiciouſly given up to the powers of damnation; therefore And to the power of damnation.it is ſaid that they draw back unto perdition, Heb. 10. 39. And the ſoul of God hath no pleaſure in them, Ver. 38. O what a dreadful condition is this, to forſake the path of life and heaven, and to turn back to walk in the path of death and Hell!

Fourthly, They are many times (in their life) given up to exceeding terrors They are oft given up to terrors of conſcience and deſpair.of conſcience and deſpair: You may read this in Judas, who turned back, and what horror did that poor creature fall into? he forſook his Maſter, and left the path of life for a few pieces of ſilver, but what got he by this! he lept out of the ſhip into the Sea, he could never meet with reſt or peace afterwards, but conſcience brake in pieces, and did ſo purſue him with guilt and terror, that thereupon he fell into abſolute deſpair, and made an end of himſelf: Simile. The like you read of Spira, who revolted from the truth, and the path of Evangelical obedience after clear convictions, and ſecret warnings of Conſcience; but what befell him? O he preſently fell into terror of conſcience and deſpair, and never could recover the leaſt hopes of mercy to his dying day.

Fifthly, They are many times puniſhed by ſome extraordinary judgement here They are oft puniſhed with extraordinary judgements.on earth: Take an inſtance in Iſrael and Judah, they gave up to walk any longer in Gods ſtatutes and wayes, they forſook God and his Laws, and what came of this? why, God forſook them, and gave them up to their own hearts luſts, and at laſt overthrew them with an utter deſtruction, and ſcattered them over the face of the earth. So you read of Joaſh, who did that which was right in the ſight of the Lord all the dayes of Jehoiada the Prieſt, 2 Chron. 24. 2. But afterwards, Ver. 18. He left the houſe of the Lord and ſerved Groves and Idols; but what befell him for this? you read of two great judgements that did befall him, one in verſe 24. That the Syrians came in with a ſmall company of men, and the Lord delivered a great Hoſt into their hand, becauſe they had forſaken the Lord; ſo they executed judgement againſt Joaſh: The other is in ver. 25. His ſervants conſpired againſt him, and ſlew him.

SECT. II.

2. Uſe SHould the people of God continue, proceed on, and perſevere in walking in Gods ſtatutes? then you who are the people of God, give me leave to offer unto you

1. A few Cautions about your walking.

p. 6832. A few exhortations concerning our walking.

3. A few encouragements for your walking (continued walking) in Gods ſtatutes.

1. The Cautions about your walking.

You ſee that it is your duty to walk on, to proceed, to perſevere in walking in Gods ſtatutes; therefore take heed unto your ſelves and beware of four Cautions about our walking in Gods ſtatutes Beware of ſlothfulneſs.things.

Firſt, Beware of ſlothfulneſs and careleſneſs at any time in doing the will of God, or in walking in his wayes: Rom. 12. 11. Be not ſlothful in buſineſs, but fervent in ſpirit, ſerving the Lord. When a man doth a buſineſs ſlothfully, he doth it with a ſlight ſpirit, he doth not put out himſelf, not his ſtrength, he hath no care in doing of it, he doth it not with a ſerious and diligent ſpirit, but remiſly, and indifferently, as one not affected about what he doth, nor addicted unto it; ſaith the Apoſtle, Heb. 6. 11. We deſire that every one of you do ſhew the ſame diligence unto the end. And Ver. 12. That ye be not ſlothful. Here he oppoſeth diligence unto ſlothfulneſs, &c.

Now there are theſe Reaſons why you ſhould beware of ſlothfulneſs in any act Reaſons againſt ſlothfulneſs. Becauſe it is Gods work, and his eye is upon us. Its a work for God.of obedience, or in any work which God commands you.

1. Becauſe it is the work of God; a work that the great God enjoynes you, and in which his eye is upon you; will not the ſervant eye and mind his work when his maſter commands, and his Maſters eye is upon him?

2. Becauſe it is a work for God; it is to he done not only with a reſpect of congruity as may beſt anſwer his will, but alſo with a reſpect of ſincerity, as may beſt advance his glory; ſhould we be ſlothful, negligent, careleſs, indifferent in any work of ſuch a nature wherein we are imployed of God? &c.

3. Becauſe you do but loſe time; little or nothing will be done if you be ſlothful; Such do but loſe time.Solomon ſaith in Prev. 18. 9. He that is ſlothful in his work, is brother to him that is a great waſter: the great waſter brings a fair eſtate to nothing; ſo a ſlothful perſon brings a good work to nothing; at beſt, your work can never be well done if you do it with a ſlothful heart.

4. Becauſe in all holy working and walking you ſtill go forward: Pſal. 24. 3. In all holy walking there is a going on.Who ſhall aſcend into the hill of the Lord? ſin ſtill remains and works ſtrongly againſt us; ſo doth the world, and Satan, and unbelief, and carnal fear, and arguments againſt tide and wind; and you will be carried back if you be remiſs and ſlothful; any difficulty that you meet with will diſcourage you, and take you off; difficulties and oppoſitions you will meet with, and they will prevail if you be ſlothful: Prov. 15. 19. The way of a ſlothful man is as an hedge of thorns, but the way of the righteous man is made plain: (i. e.) when a ſlothful man is to do a work, there is ſtill ſome rub or offence in the way, and he cannot carry it on, but finds it too ſharp and painful and troubleſome; whereas were his heart righteous, his way would be plain, it would appear more free, and open, and eaſie: Prov. 22. 13. The ſlothful man ſaith There is a Lion without, I ſhall be ſlain in the ſtreets.

5. Becauſe you will never be able to held out in walking in Gods ſtatutes, but will The ſlothful is prone to Apoſtacy.certainly revolt and apoſtate if you give way to ſlothfulneſs; indeed an accidental ſlothfulneſs may befall the child of God in his way to heaven; but if you give way to a willing and habitual ſlothfulneſs, it is a ſign that your hearts are wicked, that really you are not for God, and cord ally you have no delight in him, or in his wayes, but there is ſome other object which your hearts do more mind and regard.

Secondly, Beware of ſlowneſs in vvalking on in Gods ſtatutes; ſome of you Beware of ſloth in Gods wayes.need many arguments to avvaken and ſtir up your hearts unto duties; and others do need many Goads to quicken their hearts unto a greater ſpeed and forvvardneſs in duties: The Apoſtle ſpeaks of ſome, that when for the time they ought to be teachers, yet they had need that one teach th…m again which be the first Principles p. 684of the Oracles of God, theſe went on very ſlowly. Many Chriſtians are too blame in this, they move on but ſlowly.

1. In points of knowlege, they know but a very little more of the myſteries of Some move ſlowly in point of knowledg. Some in point of practice.ſalvation, (of Chriſt, of the Covenant of Grace, of regeneration, of the objects of faith) after twenty or fourty years hearing, then they did before.

2. In points of practice; after many years their ſinfull luſts are no more mortified, and their graces are no more ſtrengthned, and their abilitie (to deny themſelves, and to live by faith, and to ſuffer afflictions, and to be more heavenly and profitable in their converſation) is little or nothing raiſed and improved. I would have theſe to conſider,

Firſt, That this ſlow walking, is very diſproportionable to the means which Slow walking is very diſproportionable to the means.God vouchſafes unto them, and to the expectations of God; for to whom much is given, of them much ſhall be required; the greater means and helps ſhould be anſwered with the greater fruits and returns.

Secondly, it is very uncomfortable unto your own ſouls; little fruit differs but a little from no fruit: and it is a thouſand to one, but your hearts will be often Is very uncomfortable.ſhaken and puzzled about the truth of your Spiritual condition, that you never had grace in the truth and power of it, which works ſo weakly and ſo ſlowly, that almoſt all your life long you have got ſo little ground over your ſins, and hardly advanced to one grace more then you had before.

Thirdly, It is very unanſwerable to the courſe of humble, and ſolid and ſerious Its unanſwerable to the practice of ſound Chriſtians.Chriſtians; David made haſte and delayed not. Pſal. 119. 60. And ſaith he, Ver. 32. I will run the way of thy Commandements, when thou ſhalt enlarge my heart: And Paul was preſſing and reaching forward. Phil. 3. 13. And the kingdom of God ſuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force, ſaid Chriſt. It is ſhamefull unto us, Math. 11. 12.Younger Chriſtians will leave us behind them.

Fourthly, Nay look on many Chriſtians behind us in time of their calling, ſetting out after us, yet as Ahimaas out-went Cuſhy, or as John out-ran Peter to the Sepulcher: ſo theſe of later ſtanding than our ſelves in Chriſt and grace, have left us far behind them, in Knowledg, in Faith, in Love, in Tenderneſs, in Exactneſs, in Zeal, in Fruitfulneſs, &c. As the Apoſtle to the Hebrews, lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, Heb. 12. 12. ſo ſay I unto you, ſtir up the heart, and drive not on ſo heavily, (as if this were the way you had no pleaſure in) but Motives to make more haſte. We are in the way to heaven.put on with more life, and care and ſpeed: For this purpoſe remember five things.

Firſt, Are you not in the way to Heaven? O how our ſouls ſhould fly thither! Indeed there is reaſon why we ſhould be ſlow unto what is evil, becauſe that leads to Hell: And ſo on the contraty, there is all the reaſon in the world, to be ſtill ſetting forward and foremoſtly walking on in the Statutes of God, for they are the way to Heaven, where all your happineſs and all your treaſure, and your deſires or hopes are laid up for ever.

Secondly, It was a long time before you ſet your foot in the path of Gods Its long before we began.Commandements, and therefore you had need to make haſte.

How many years did you walk in the vanity of your mindes, and in darkneſs, and in wantonneſs and rioting? Why it is but of late dayes that God hath changed your hearts and turned your feet; you had a long time to diſhonor God; and will you not therefore improve the preſent time the more to honor him? In your times of ſin and death you laid out all your years with all greedineſs to damne your ſouls; and ſhould you not now be as quick, as enlarged in improving, and contending, and ſtriving, and haſting how to ſave your ſouls!

Thirdly, It may be but a very ſhort time (yet a little while ſaith Chriſt) that We have but a ſhort time to live.you have to walk in Gods Statutes, and therefore ſerve him with all your ſtrength, and run the race that is ſet before you.

Queſt. Some may put the Queſtion, why God is pleaſed to conceale the length of a Chriſtians walk …r journey to heaven, and never makes it known to any one whether long or ſhort?

p. 685Sol. Surely one reaſon thereof may be to ſtir up our care, to put on with all our might, and to work and walk whiles we have day.

We have much work to do.Fourthly, Eſpecially conſidering that as the time is ſhort, ſo we have much work to do in that time. Simile. O how the Factor beſtirs himſelf, riſes early, and goes to bed late, caſts up; carries out, orders this, looks to that, when he hath but a little time before he muſt go home and give up his account! This is our condition; ere long we muſt go home to our Maſter, and we have much work lying on our hands, and but a very little time; I ſay much work to do for our God, and for our ſouls, and all this work is of eternal conſequence Ergo, we had need to double our diligence, and to mend our pace; a ſlow pace will rid but little ground.

Fifthly, Make all the haſte you can, you will hardly fulfil your work, and get When we make moſt haſte, we ſhall hardly finiſh all we have to do.over all your ground: You ſhall find that the beſt Traveller of us all when he comes to dye, he ſhall find very much work lying on him which he ſhould have done, but now cannot: O I ſhould have been more watchful, more humble, more believing, more zealous; redeeming more time, done more for God, done better for my ſoul, done more good in my place.

Thirdly, Beware of unevenneſs in walking in Gods ſtatutes. O let me not wander from thy Commandements, ſaid David, Pſal. 119. 10. And Ver. 117. Hold Beware of uneven walking.thou me up and I ſhall be ſafe, and I will have reſpect unto thy ſtatutes continually: order my ſteps, and let no iniquity, &c. Ver. 133. So Solomon in Prov. 4. 25. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eye-lids look strait before thee. Ver. 26. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy wayes be eſtabliſhed. Ver. 27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.A twofold unevenneſs.

Beloved, there is a twofold unevenneſs in our walking in Gods ſtatutes.

1. One is habitual and general; and this is when a perſon pretends to walk in Habitual, and general.Gods ſtatutes, and ſometimes in ſome particular actions doth walk therein, but then, look on this man in the General courſe of his life; and ſo he walks not in the wayes of God, but in the wayes of ungodlineſs; of this man I ſpeak not.

2. Another is particular and actual, and this is when a perſon is even and right Particular, and actual.as to the courſe of his walking; but in this or that particular of life he doth ſtep aſide and wander; he breaks out into ſome great tranſgreſſion or other, as you read of David, and Lot, and Noah, &c. into leſſer irregularities: this is not a total revolting or Apoſtacy, but it is a particular ſinful deviation and aberration, from which they return again by repentance: Nevertheleſs let all the people of God beware of all and every particular unevenneſs in their walking; for this is not to proceed and hold on in walking in Gods ſtatutes.

There are three things contrary to our going on, &c. viz. 1. A ſtanding ſtill. Three things contrary to our going on.2ly A going over. 3ly A going aſide, though it be but a ſtep into another contrary path, yet this one ſtep is oppoſite to going, and it is a hinderance to our going on; we looſe ſo much of our progreſs, as we ſtep aſide from the right path.

Secondly, There is not the leaſt ſin which a man commits, but firſt it is a leaving The leaſt ſin puts us out of the way.of the right way; and next it will coſt him ſome time to get out of that wrong way, and to return again into his right way: That one ſinful aberration perhaps may draw and entice him further out of the way, or if it doth not, it muſt coſt him much humiliation of heart, and many tears and prayers to recover and reduce him again.

Thirdly, It is a very folly to be at any time uneven in our walking: for either you intend to go on in your error, or to come off from it; if you will go on in your Its folly to walk unevenly.ſin, you will be damned; if you ſee reaſon to return from it, why did you at all embrace it? Nay the folly appears yet more; for whiles you did ſtedfaſtly walk on in the paths of God, you did unqueſtionably poſſeſs and enjoy peace, and by ſtepping out of thoſe paths, you loſe your peace, and muſt paſs through much bitterneſs before you can poſſeſs that peace of which you by ſinning have diſpoſſeſſed your ſouls.

p. 686Fourthly, The Chriſtian Traveller hath no ſufficient cauſe to miſplace one ſtep, We have no cauſe to ſtep aſide.or to ſtep aſide to any unſinful action; and my reaſon is this, becauſe he may find enough in the paths of God: In my Fathers houſe there is bread enough, &c. ſtill to ſatisfie him, and much better than in any ſinful or irregular way.

1. Here he hath protection and ſafety enough; The Lord himſelf is his guide In our way we have protection. And pleaſure.and ſhield.

2. Here he hath pleaſure enough, even the joyes of the Holy Ghoſt, unto which the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon are not to be compared.

3. He hath profit and benefit enough; for in keeping Gods Commandements there is great reward: No man gets any things by any ſin, but as God loſeth by And profit.it much honour, ſo he himſelf loſeth much of his dignity, and of his comfort, and of his ſafety, and of his integrity, &c.

Fourthly, Beware of wearineſs and faintineſs in your walking in Gods ſtatutes: There is a twofold wearineſſe as to a walking in the paths of God.Beware of wearineſs in this way.

1. One ariſeth from contrariety of Spirit and diſlike of thoſe wayes: Mal. 1. 13. Ye ſaid alſo, Behold what a wearineſs is it! and ye have ſnuffed at, it ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. Iſa. 43. 22. Thou haſt not called upon me, O Jacob; thou haſt been weary of me O Iſrael.

2. Another ariſeth from diſpondency of ſpirit, by reaſon of the many diſcouragements and troubles befalling us for our walking in Gods ſtatutes, and faithful keeping of them: As you read of Elijah when Jezebel threatned to take away his life, 1 King. 19. 2. the good man hereupon did faint, and was diſcouraged, and therefore ſaith he, Ver. 4. It is enough O Lord, take way my life, for I I am not better than my Fathers. Jer. 20. 8. The Word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a deriſon daily. Ver. 9. Then I ſaid I will not make mention of of him, nor ſpeak any more in his name, but his words were in my heart as a burning fire, &c. Now though this kind of wearineſs be apt to put it ſelf upon us, yet we ſhould put it off by prayer, and by faith: we ſhould not be weary in well doing; the Apoſtle preſſeth it twice, Gal. 6. 9. and 2 Theſ. 3. 13. And I will give you four Reaſons why we ſhould not be weary, and faint, and diſcouraged, although we ſee little good of all the pains which we take, and although Why we ſhould not be weary.we meet with evil for good, reproaches, ſcorns, and croſſes, when we are moſt careful to walk with God.

Firſt, becauſe the Lord doth appoint theſe things; he will have them to befall Becauſe God appoints them.us, to try our love, and faithfulneſs unto himſelf, and true zeal for him, and to exerciſe our faith and patience, and to do us good: If evil men did know how much good the people of God do get by their wicked words and carriages towards them, I am perſwaded that they would forbear much more in this kind; little do they think that the people of God (upon theſe occaſions) do more ſearch their hearts and wayes, and do the more humble their ſouls, and are more in prayer, and are more watchful over their wayes, &c.

Secondly, Becauſe nothing that you meet with from men can make the leaſt diminution of any true comfort unto you, e. g.They cannot diminiſh our comfort.

1. It cannot abate one jot of your happineſs: Your happineſs conſiſts in the fruition of God to be your God in Chriſt; and this ſun doth ſhine in the midſt of all ſtorms; let men diſgorge themſelves and throw out all the filth they can; yet God is your God and Father, and loves and owns you, Rom. 8. 35. to 39.

2. It cannot hinder any peaceable teſtimony of your conſcience: let mens ſpeeches and cenſures, and dealings be never ſo bitter and baſe, yet you have ſtill the Teſtimony of conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity you have had your converſation, 2 Cor. 1. 12. all is well and chearful here.

3. It cannot prejudice any acceptance of your holy walkings or workings with your God at all; God doth not accept of you, becauſe men do approve and commend you; nor doth God diſreſpect and diſapprove, becauſe men do diſapp…ove p. 687and condemn you; but as Peter ſpake in Acts 10 34. I perceive that God is no reſpecter of perſons. ver. 35. But in every Nation he that fears him and worketh righteouſneſs, is accepted of him.

4. It cannot deprive you of your reward of well-doing: whatſoever hard entertainment you may find with men, regard it not, your reward is ſure from the Lord: 2 Tim. 4 7. Iſa. 49. 4. Then ſaid I, I have laboured in vain, I have ſpent my ſtrength for nought, and in vain, yet ſurely my judgements is with the Lord, and my work with my God.They all come from wicked perſons.

Thirdly, Becauſe all theſe diſcouragements come only from wicked perſons, and the baſeſt ſort of them, who watch for your halting, and would rejoyce to ſee you turn away from walking with your God; Obſerve and conſider ſeriouſly who they are that ſet themſelves againſt you, and ſtill ſtrive to make your hearts weary, and your hands faint, and would baffle you in your holy walking in Gods ſtatutes; why, they are either Papiſts, or Popiſhly affected, or Hypocrites, or ſome Apoſtates, or a company of Whores, or Whoremongers, or drunkards, or ſwearers; and ſhould your hearts faint for theſe men whom God abhors, and a civil perſon would ſcorn to be a companion unto them? Should ſuch a man as I flee? ſaid Nehemiah, Chap. 6. 11. I will be yet more vile, ſaid David, 2 Sam. 6. 22.They are the common …ot of Gods people.

Fourthly, Becauſe all theſe diſcouragements are the common lot and portion of all the people of God, yea of Chriſt himſelf: Therefore ſeeing we are compaſſed with ſo great a cloud of witneſſes, &c. Heb. 12. 1. let us run with patience the race that is ſet before us. Ver. 2. looking unto Jeſus the author and finiſher of our faith, who for the joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, deſpiſing the ſhame, and is ſet down at the right hand of the throne of God.

SECT. III.

Secondly, NOw follows the Exhortation to the people of God concerning their progreſſive walking in Gods ſtatutes, to uſe all the means.

1. Of continuance and perſeverance in walking in Gods ſtatutes, that they may How we may be enabled to perſevere.ſtedfaſtly hold out unto the end.

If you would hold out unto the end in a right walking in the paths of Gods Commandements; thenGet you hearts crucified. To every ſin.

Firſt, Be ſure that you get your hearts to be really and ſoundly mortified and crucified. But unto what will you ſay? I anſwer,

1. Unto every ſin, that you hate it with a perfect hatred, with ſuch a hatred as will never admit of Reconciliation and friendſhip, with ſuch a hatred as will make you to contend againſt it, and delight in the deſtruction of it; Simile. if there be any one ſin in you which you will allow, favour, connive at, ſpare, and deal gently with you ſhall never be able to contiue ſtedfaſt in a right walking: That one ſin will be a withdrawing byas, and a corrupt humor which will break out and make you to halt and ſlip aſide.Unto the world

2. Unto all the world, you muſt be able to ſay with Paul, The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world, Gal. 6. 14. or elſe you will never continue and perſevere in, &c. The Apoſtle Paul ſaith that the love of money is the root of all evil, which whiles ſome coveted after, they have erred from the faith, 1 Tim. 6. 10. And the Apoſtle Peter ſpeaks of ſome who forſook the right way, and were gone astray, following the way of Balaam the ſon of Boſer, who loved the wages of unrighteouſneſs, 2 Pet. 2. 15. And Solomon ſpeaking of the man who makes haſte to be rich, that man ſhall not be innocent, Prov. 28. 20.Unto ſelf.

3. Unto ſelf, ſelf-ends, ſelf-delights, ſelf-eaſe, ſelf-advantages, ſe…f-confidences, ſelf-reſpects; or elſe believe me, that polity will prevail with you above conſcience; you will walk elſe only ſo as the ſun ſhines.

p. 688Secondly, Lay in ſolid and effectual convictions concerning the paths of Gods Commandements;

1. That it is certainly the way to life.

2. That there is a peremptory neceſſity incumbent on us to walk in that way.

3. That to leave or deſert that path, is aſſuredly to deſert our happineſs.

4. That you your ſelves are at preſent in that way of life.

5. That it had been better for you never to have know the way of righteouſneſs, than after that ye have known it, to turn from the holy Commandement delivered unto you.

Thirdly, You muſt maintain an entire love of God, and of his wayes: if Be convinced of the paths of Gods Commandements. Get intire love to God.your love be faithful, your walking with God will be conſtant and ſtedfaſt: There are four effects of entire love.

1. It knits the heart very faſt to God, makes us to cleave unto God.

2. It finds ſufficient ſatisfaction, and full delight in God alone, Pſal. 73. 25.

3. It will ſtrive to walk in all welpl-eaſing before God.

4. It can endure all and part with all for God; and many waters cannot quench it, Cant. 1. 8. O get this entire love of God, the love of God for God! you cannot be found ſure untill you be held faſt in the bonds of love; hold out in love, and you will hold out in obedience.

Fourthly, Preſerve a tender conſcience; a tender conſcience is a ſpring to uprightneſs, Four effects of entire love.and a guard unto ſtedfaſtneſs; when a mans conſcience is kept tender, his foot will be kept even: For

1. Whether the ſin be great or ſmall, open or ſecret, he dares not venture on it: A tender conſcience binds when God binds, and reſtrains when God forbids; How can I do this great wickedneſs, and ſin againſt God, ſaith Joſeph!

2. A tender conſcience looks at, and exalts the will of God above all outward loſs and gain; and outward ſafety and danger are no arguments to a tender conſcience. But doth God command or forbid it? is this work pleaſing or diſpleaſing to God? will it bring honor or diſhonor to God? theſe are the only prevailing Arguments and Motives to a tender conſcience: Acts 20. 23. The Holy Ghoſt witneſſeth in every City, ſaying, that bonds and afflictions abide me. Ver. 24. But none of theſe things move me, neither count I my life dear unto me, ſo that I might finiſh my courſe with joy.

3. A tender Conſcience will preſerve Gods favour, and its own peace: O the favour of God, the manifeſtations of his love, the enjoyment of him in kindneſs and peace; theſe are precious hours and dayes unto a perſon of a tender conſcience, he would not willingly part with them, nor forfeit them for all the worlds profit, nor for all the pleaſures of ſin; and therefore he is very ſerious, and very ſtudious to walk in Gods ſtatues alwayes, even to the end, knowing that any voluntary ſwerving, or ſinful wandring will loſe him the joy of his ſalvation, &c.

Fifthly, Keep up a daily fear: Be in the fear of the Lord all the day long, Preſerve a tender conſcience. Keep up daily fear. A twofold fear neceſſary.Prov. 23. 17. Bleſſed is the man (ſaith Solomon, Prov. 28. 14.) that feareth alwayes.

There is a twofold fear neceſſary to make us continue ſtedfaſt in Gods ſtatutes.

1. A fear of our ſelves, of our own ſufficiency to maintain our walking: O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himſelf; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps, ſaith the Prophet. Jer. 10. 23. This humble fear will make you to be much in Prayer, and be much in a watchful jealouſie over your hearts, and to be much at the Ordinances, and all theſe will make you more conſtant and ſtedfaſt in walking, &c.

p. 6892. A fear of God, a reverential fear of his preſence; O what care and diligence will this work w…thin us? not to offend in any thing, not to neglect his▪ will at any tim…: Job 31. 4. Doth not he ſee my wayes, and count all my ſteps? Prov. 5. 20. Why wilt thou my ſon be raviſhed with a ſtrange woman, and embrace the boſom of a stranger? Ver. 21. For the wayes of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings? If we could keep up this reverential fear of Gods continual preſence with us, that his eyes are ſtill upon us, this would keep in us, 1. A real and cordial walking; we would act in all our duties with our very hearts and ſouls. 2. A conſtant care to walk in all well-pleaſing before him.

Sixthly, Keep up a continual life of faith, and this would carry you on to your journeys end: The Apoſtle ſaith that we walk by faith, and that we ſtand by Keep up the life of faith.faith: you cannot ſtep one ſtep without faith (without me ye can do nothing, Joh. 15. 5.) And could you exerciſe faith, you would finiſh the whole courſe of obedience: Therefore every day ſet faith on work, ſtill remember the Covenant of your God, Jer. 32. 40. I will not turn from them to do them good, but I will put my fear into their hearts, and they ſhall not depart from me: And Ezek. 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walk, &c. Zech. 10. 12. I will ſtrengthen them in the Lord, and they ſhall walk up and down in his name. Iſa. 40. 31. They that wait upon the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrength, they ſhall mount up with wings as Eagles, they ſhall run and not be weary, they ſhall walk and not be faint; and your intereſt in Chriſt, who is your Head, and is filled, that he may fill his Members with continual grace, and with continual ſtrength by his Spirit for all their works and ſervices which they are to perform.

7. Hold faſt to your firſt choice and reſolution: when you did chuſe God to Hold to your firſt choice and reſolution.be your God, and his wayes to be your wayes, you did diſcern ſuch a ſuperlative excellency and happineſs in them, that you became fully reſolved to wlak in th…m, whatſoever danger and loſs ſhould befall you; yea you ſaw with Moſes that the very reproaches of Chriſt were greater riches than all the treaſures in Egypt, Heb. 11. And with Paul, that the ſufferings of this preſent time were not worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us, Rom. 8. 18. That there was enough in God, and in his ſervice, and in his reward, infinitely to recompence all your afflictions, loſſes, and ſufferings whatſoever. Hereupon you reſolved (in the ſtrength of Chriſt) to go through thick and thin (come favour or diſhonour, come good report or ill report, come liberty or bondage, come life or death) to cloſe with God and his wayes, to walk in them, to live and die in them: O keep up this reſolution ſtill, faint not at all. God is the ſame God, his wayes are the ſame for excellency, neceſſity▪ and peace; his promiſe of reward the ſame; often think of theſe▪ and they will quicken and ſtrengthen your heart to walk on, …nd to hold out to the end.

2. The ſecond part of the Exhortation is not only to hold on with conſtancy in walking in Gods ſtatutes, but to move on with more exactneſs, and with more fruitfulneſs, and more diligence and induſtry: Pſal. 92. 12. The Righteous Move on in Gods wayes with more exactneſs.ſhall flouriſh like the Palm tree, he ſhall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon. Ver. 13. Th…ſe that are planted in the houſe of the Lord, ſhall flouriſh in the courts of our God. Ver. 14. They ſhall bring forth fruit in old age, they ſhall be fat and flouriſhing: This was the ſpecial commendation of the Church of Thyatira, Rev. 2. 19. I know thy wor…s, and charity, and ſervice, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and the laſt to be more than the firſt. Theſe Chriſtians are choice and precious Chriſtians who walk more holily, more humbly, and more accurately, and more vigorouſly in their courſe and journey to heaven, who the nearer they come to the center, do move with more ſpeed and zeal, renewing and doubling …eir care, and pains, and ſervices, ſhining more and more unto the perfect day.

p. 690How we may attain to growth. Compare your wayes with Gods Word.Queſt. But now the Queſtion is, What ſhould we do that we may attain to this?

Sol. I would propound ſome helps for this, viz.

Simile. Firſt, Be often comparing your wayes or walkings, and Gods word together; your work and your rule together: The Scholler who eyes the copy much, and compares his writing with that, he will much mend his writing thereby: So the Chriſtian, who eyes the word of God much, and compares his daily walking with that rule, he will ſee daily reaſons to reform his heart and mend his walkings. As for the doing of any work, it is the ſafeſt courſe firſt to conſider what warrant we finde in the word of God for the doing of it; ſo when we have done any work, it is beſt to bring the work back to the word of God again, and obſerve wherein we have anſwered the word, commanding and directing of us for the matter and manner of our obedience.

O how much weakneſs? How many faylings? How many wandrings ſhall we then finde out? How little of prayer in praying? How little of hearing in hearing? How little of Godly ſorrow in mourning? How little of faith in believing? Enough ſhall we finde ſtill to humble our ſouls; enough ſhall we finde ſtill to provoke us to more integrity, to more affectionateneſs, to more exactneſs and diligence.

Secondly, Often compare your preſent walking with your former progreſſes: So many years a go (I took it) that God called me by his grace, and then I became ſenſible, and mournful, and diligent, and watchful; ſo and ſo much I got Compare your preſent walking with your former progreſs.of Chriſt, and ſo much faith, and ſo much love; ſo and ſo did I put forth my ſelf in the ſeveral wayes and ſervices for Gods glory; ſuch and ſuch delight did I take in himſelf, in his word, in his ordinances, in his people: ſo much power againſt ſuch a ſin, and ſo much victory over the world, and ſo much ſtrength for ſuch a duty. But O my ſoul! what is thy preſent ſtanding? and what is thy preſent growth? the time is gone much forward, art thou gone more forward? It is a griefe to be no more then thou waſt; but it is a ſhame to be leſs then thou waſt. God hath vouchſafed thee more helps to farther thee, more opportunities to advance thee, more mercies to encourage thee, more experience to quicken thee, more afflictions to minde thee; and yet, alaſs! thou art ſo far from exceeding thy ſelf, ſo far from out going thy ſelf, ſo far below and behind thy ſelf, that I finde thee more hampered with corrruptions, and more intangled with the world, and more flat in thy affections, and more dull and careleſs in thy ſervices, and leſs circumſpect and fruitful in thy walking.

Thy laſt works and walkings are ſo far from being more then thy firſt, that indeed they are far leſs then they, Why? Here is leſs ſenſe of ſin; and leſs ſorrow; and leſs fear; and leſs deſires after Chriſt; and leſs delight in the ordinances of Chriſt; and leſs watchfulneſs over thy ſelf; and leſs done for God and for thy ſelf, and for thy family; thou art now more dull, and more dead and weak in grace; longer in time and leſs in growth. O Lord, pardon me, and heal me; awaken and quicken me: I am aſhamed; make me as good, nay make me better then ever I was; O that I could go, that I could run, that I could out run, that I could move faſter, and better (for the time to come) in the wayes of thy Commandements, &c.

Thirdly, Be much in the remembrance of four things.Remember God in his goodneſs.

1. Of your God in his goodneſs to you every way; He hath been good unto your ſouls; how much mercy and grace hath he ſhewn to them? of his great mercy they are quickned, and they are pardoned, and they are upheld, and they are comforted; think of theſe fruits of mercy, and then provoke your ſouls to more love, to more obedience, to more chearfulneſs, to more forwardneſs, to more fulneſs of holy and heavenly walking: He hath been good unto your bodies and outward eſtates; your life is ſtill preſerved, your portion is ſtill maintained, your table is ſtill ſpread and your cup runs over: O who would not, and who p. 691ſhould not be endeared and be enlarged in the ſervice of ſuch a God: he is willing and ready, and delights to do men good; he is conſtant in love and mercy, faithful in his promiſes, abounding in compaſſion, faints not nor is weary, but rejoyceth over me to do me good with all his heart, and with all his ſoul; will never leave me, will be my God and guide to death: And ſhall not I anſwer much love with much love, infinite mercy with abundant duty, freeſt kindneſs with exacteſt ſervice; more bleſſings with more obedience! ſhould I be ſtraitned when he is enlarged!

2. Of your ſelves as to your wants and imperfections: do not minde ſo much Your ſelves a… to your want and imperfections.what you have attained, but what as yet you fall ſhort in, and have not attained; forgetting thoſe things which are behind, and reaching forth unto thoſe things which are before (ſaith Paul in Phil. 3. 13.) I preſs toward the marke, ver. 14. O there are many miles yet more to go than ever yet thou haſt gone; and much more to be done, than ever thou haſt done; and much more to be attained, than ever yet thou haſt attained. How many meaſures in every grace are yet wanting! how many corruptions need yet to be mortified! how much ſtrength, how much ſtability in knowledg and faith, how much evidence, and certainty, and peace, doſt thou ſtill need? how much is wanting in every duty, in every ſervice, in every work? Did you remember and conſider theſe things, your hearts would beſtir themſelves, would put forth themſelves with more vigor and activity, &c.

3. Of your great accounts; we are but ſtewards, and we muſt every one give Your great accounts.an account to God of our ſtewardſhip, of what we have received, and of what we have done. If we have been ſtanding all the day idle, if we ſhould be found unprofitable ſervants, what ſad accounts ſhould we give up? All the time that God hath given us, we muſt be accountable to God for; for the long time of life, and for the long time of grace; and how we have redeemed time, and how we have paſſed the time of our ſo journing here; what helps we have had, and what progreſs we have made. Certainly we would give up a good account, and a full account, and a comfortable account, our accounts with joy. Think much of this, and this will make you more ſerious in all your walking; more watchful over your words, more accurate in all your doings, more conſcientious and compleat in all your duties. For we muſt give an account for every ſermon, and for every prayer, and for every ordinance, and for every work, and for every ſtep of our life; did we believingly remember this, we would be more faithful, and more fruitful.

4. Of the great reward at laſt; of the exceeding and eternal weight of glory: The great reward at laſt.of that crown of life; O how would this put life and quickneſs, diligence and forwardneſs into us! 2 Peter 3. 12. Looking for, and haſting unto the coming of the day of God. 2 Cor. 4. 16. For which cauſe we faint not, but though our outward man periſh, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. Ver. 18. For we look not at the things which are ſe…n, but at the things which are not ſeen; for the things which are ſeen are t4mporal, but the things which are not ſeen are eternal. 1 Cor. 9. 25. They ſtrive to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

Fourthly, Look on the fore-runners, on the people of God, ſet forth Look on the forerunners:for examples unto you in the Scriptures, what progreſs they made; how laborious they have been, and how they have gone from ſtrength to ſtrength. Pſal. 84. 7. What fruits they brought forth from the day that they hard and knew the grace of God in truth. Colloſ. 1. 6. What carefulneſs, wh… diligence, what zeal, what exactneſs, what forwardneſs, what laboriouſneſ… …o you ſee in them!

Set the example of a David before your eyes, and the example of a Paul before your p. 692eyes! who did fulfil the whole Law of God, rejoyced to run their race, &c. Yea and ſet the examples of your preſent Chriſtians, who are alſo forerunners as to you, many of whom you ſee to live with much faith, to walk with much integrity, to act with much fear and zeal, to ſpend and to be ſpent in the ſerv…ce of their God: Do not look on thoſe that are behind you, but on thoſe that are before you. O what exactneſs is there in their obedience! O what joy in conſcience! O what joy in death! ſuch examples will ſerve to quicken, and enlarge, and encourage you.

Fifthly, Embrace and improve the ſociety of perſons truly godly: I am a Improve the ſociety of the godly.companion (ſaid David, Pſal. 119 63.) of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. And ſaith Solomon (Prov. 13. 20.) He that walketh with wiſe men, ſhall be wiſe.

There are three things in the ſociety of godly perſons which may advance us to Benefits by good company. Good inſtructions.a better walking in Gods ſtatutes.

1. One is the goodneſs of their inſtructions and exhortations; the lips of the wiſe diſperſe knowledge, Prov. 15. 7. Exhort one another daily, Heb. 3. 13. Let us conſider one another to provoke unto love, and to good works, Heb. 10. 24. And theſe are of great force to work upon us: See Eccleſ. 12. 11. The words of the wiſe are as goads, and as nails faſtened by the Maſters of Aſſemblies: And they are edifying, they build us up in Knowledge, and Faith, and Fear, and Love, and Zeal.

2. Another is the efficacy of their prayers; they do ſtrive and wraſtle for one The efficacy of their prayers.another with God in Prayer: Col. 4. 12. Epaphras who is one of you, a ſervant of Chriſt, ſaluteth you, alwayes labouring fervently for you in prayers, that you may ſtand perfect and compleat in all the will of God.

A third is, the vertue and power of their converſations; as in wicked company The vertue of their converſation.there is ordinarily an infecting vertue to dead and poiſon our hearts, and to corrupt our manners; ſo in godly company, there is ordinarily a perfecting vertue to better our hearts and lives. One may ſee much humility, and ſee much meekneſs, and ſee much tenderneſs of conſcience, and ſee much love and fear of God, and ſuch a ſerious and careful ordering of every work and way of carriage, ſuch bewailing of their wants, ſuch endeavourings after more perfection, as leaves an impreſſion upon our hearts to go home and do ſo likewiſe.

3ly The encouragements to walk on in the ſtatutes of God, with uprightneſs Encouragements to walk conſtantly in Gods wayes.and ſtedfaſtneſs all our lives.

Firſt, As God requires a life of obedience, ſo he promiſeth a reward of eternity of bleſſedneſs: Rom. 2. 7. To them who by patient continuance in well doing ſeek for glory, and honor, and immortality, eternal life. Chap. 6. 22. But n…w being made free from ſin, and become ſervants to God, ye have your fruit unto holineſs, and the end ever laſting life. How ſhould this encourage all our hearts to abound and perſevere in all the paths of obedience! never to think of going back to Egypt, but to go ſtrait on, ſtill to walk in Gods ſtatutes, and to put forward with all our ſtrength, ſeeing at the end of our journey there waits for us no leſs than eternal life and bleſſedneſs.

The travellers to heaven do meet with a double bleſſedneſs.A double bleſſedneſs. In their way.

1. One is in their way or journey: Pſal. 119. 1. Bleſſed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Law of the Lord. And ver. 2. Bleſſed are they that keep his teſtimonies.

2. The other is as the end of their journey: Rev. 14. 13. Bleſſed are the dead At the end of their journey.which dye in the Lord. Beloved! admit your lives to be long, and your duties of obedience to be many and hard, yet two things may ſtill encourage you, viz.

1. You are but doing ſtill your Maſters work.

p. 6932. You ſhall …re long receive your Maſters reward: A ſhort time of life in the date of your ſervice, but eternity is the meaſure and date of your recompence: We ſay that finis dat amabilitatem mediis; a corruptible crown makes men to run a race that they may obtain it, 1 Cor. 9. 25. How much more ſhould an incorruptible Crown draw forth all our ſtrength, and earneſtneſs, and perſeverance …o enjoy it? Fugi…tum (ſaid Cicero) ad chariſſmam and patriam; ibi pater, ibi omnia; we ſhould even fly to our heavenly Country where our Father is, and all bleſſedneſs: Aetorna requies Aeterno labore; Eternal happineſs is worth Eternal pains: And ſhould we think much to take a little more pains to be poſſeſſed of it! A right Chriſtian will take a great deal of pains to gain but a ſmall glimpſe, a ſight of Gods gracious love and favour; and ſhould not we inſiſt with all our power on all the wayes of obedience, that we may at length come to a full, and perfect, and eternal ſight and fruition of our God in heaven?

Secondly, Though your work be much, yet your helps for that work are more: 1 Cor. 15. 10. I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the Our helps are more than our work.grace of God which was with me. Here was more abundant labour, but here was alſo more abundant grace which enabled him for that labour; the work which we are to do, is for God, and the ſtrength to do the work by, is from God. It matters not how great, nor how long our duties of obedience muſt be, as long as we have ſufficiency of aſſiſtance ſtill to aid us, and ſtill to carry us on.

Obiect. Helps! will ſome ſay, what helps have we for our walking in the ſtatutes of God?

Sol. I will tell you what helps you have.Helps for our walking in Gods ſtatu…es. Helps of …l Chriſts Ordinances.

1. You have all the helps of the Ordinances of Chriſt which are of power ſtill to direct, and ſtill to quicken you, and ſtill to reſolve you, and ſtill to ſtrength…n you, and ſtill to comfort you, and ſtill to uphold you, and ſtill to enlarge and perfect you, and ſtill to root and eſtabliſh you: How often are your hearts refreſhed by them? how often are your hands a…de ſtrong by them? how often have your ſouls been ſatiated and repleniſhed, and reſtored, and as (as it were) renewed and revived by them?

2. You have all the helps of all the people of God on earth; all their prayers Helps of all the people of God.every day are trading for you: Thou art ſtill preparing for every one of the people of God, and all the people of God are ſtill wreſtling for thee; Lord help them! Lord keep them! Lord forſake him not! Lord ſtrengthen and uphold him! Lord carry him on to the end! Lord keep him by thy power, through faith unto ſalvation! And let me tell you that the prayers of the righteous and faithful are mighty and prevalent with God.

Thirdly, You have all the helps of Jeſus Chriſt: I can do all things (ſaith Helps of Jeſus Chriſt.Paul) through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me, Phil. 4. 13. You have the help of his prayers, for he ever lives to make interceſſion for you, Heb. 7. 25. Of his Spirit, who helps your infirmities, Rom. 8. 26. Mortifies your ſins, ver. 13. Quickens your hearts, Joh. 6. 36. Ʋpholds your ſouls, Pſal. 51. 12. Guides and teaches you, ſtrengthens and enables you, as you have heard lately when I diſcourſed of the works of the Spirit.

Fourthly, What ſhall I ſay more? you have the help of God himſelf: Zech. Helps of God himſelf.10. 12. I will ſtrengthen them in the Lord, and they ſhall walk up and down in his Name. Phil. 2. 13. It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleaſure. And Phil. 1. 6. It is he that hath begun a good work in you, and will perform (or finiſh) it untill the day of Jeſus Chriſt.

Thirdly, If you fail not in obedience on your part, you ſhall never faile of If you fail not of obedience, you ſhall not fail of comfortcomfort on Gods part: A conſtant expence of obedience, will bring in a conſtant revenue of joy and comfort: Acts 9. 31. The Churches walked in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghoſt. Pſal. 119. 165. Great peace have p. 694they that keep thy Law. There is no man living, who hath true comfort, or who meets with more comfort, than he who walks cloſely and ſtedfaſtly in the wayes and ſtatutes of God.

1. He hath comfort in his God: Pſal. 50. 23. To him that ordereth his converſation Comfort in God.aright, will I ſhew the ſalvation of God. And Iſa. 64. 5. Thou meeteſt him that rejoyceth and worketh righteouſneſs, thoſe that remember thee in thy wayes. And Pſal. 11. 7. The righteous Lord his Countenance doth behold the upright.

2. He hath comfort in his conſcience: 2 Cor. 1. 12. This is our rejoycing, Comfort in Conſcience.the teſtimony of our conſcience, that in godly ſincerity we have had our converſation. Iſa. 38. 3. I have walked before thee in truth with a perfect heart, &c. A looſe diſobedient perſon, though his mouth be filled with laughter, yet his conſcience is filled with gall and wormwood; but the conſcience of an upright and faithful perſon is filled with peace and joy.

3. He hath comfort in the hardeſt and ſharpeſt of all his ſervices; Matth. 5. Comfort in all ſervices.11. Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall revile and perſecute you, and ſhall ſay all manner of evil againſt you, falſely, for my ſake. Ver. 12. Rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven. 2 Cor. 1. 4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulations. Ver. 5. For as the ſuffering of Chriſt aboundeth in us, ſo our conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt.

4. He hath comfort in the worſt of times; when troubles, and fears, and deſolations Comfort in the worſt of times.over-ſpread the world, Jer. 16. 33. yet even then can he find peace and reſt in Chriſt, and can joy in the God of his ſalvation. Hab. 3. 18. Ʋnto the upright there ariſeth light in darkneſs. Pſal. 112. 4. God is his ſanctuary and refuge, Pſal. 46. 1, 2.

5. He hath comfort in death itſelf: The righteous hath hope in his death, ſaith Solomon, Prov. 14. 32. Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we Comfort in death.dye, we dye unto the Lord; whether therefore we live or dye, we are the Lords, Rom. 14. 8.

Fourthly, though your weakneſſes in obeying are many, yet ſincerity of obedience is ſtill accepted, that which God principally looks at in our ſervices of him, is our Sincerity is ever accepted.heart (My ſon give me thy heart, Prov. 23. 26.) and the uprightneſs of our hearts; his eyes are upon the truth; and he is a God that takes pleaſure in uprightneſs, 1 Chron. 23. 19.

A man is ſincere in obedience, when 1. He intends the glorifying of God Who are ſincere in obedience.in what he doth. 2ly, When he ſerves God with a willing heart. 3ly, When he puts out all the preſent ſtrength and might of his ſoule in doing the will of God.

Now although this perſon falls very ſhort of perfection in his works of obedience, and many failings accompany his duties, yet God paſſes by them, and God is the Father of ſuch as are upright.takes no notice of them, will not reject, but will accept of them, and of his weak ſervices. And there are three Demonſtrations of this.

1. God (whom he ſerves with his ſpirit) is his Father, and of a very merciful and gracious nature: Pſal. 103. 13. Like as a Father pities his children, ſo the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Mal. 3. 17. I will ſpare them as a man ſpareth his own ſon that ſerveth him.

2. He hath made many indulgent promiſes to him: Iſa. 30. 19. He will be God hath made many promiſes to ſuch.very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he ſhall hear it, he will anſwer thee. Chap. 56. 7. Even them will I bring to my holy Mountain, and make them joyful in my houſe of prayer, their burnt-offerings and their ſacrifice ſhall be accepted upon mine Altar, &c.

3. Jeſus Chriſt bears away all the iniquities of our holy offerings, and by his Chriſt bears away all the iniquities of ſuch.merits procures the acceptance of all our ſervices: Rev. 8. 3. He is that Angel that ſtood at the Altar having a golden cenſer, who had much incenſe given unto him, that he ſhould offer it with prayers of all Saints, upon the golden Altar which is p. 695before the Throne. Ver. 4. And the ſmoke of the incenſe which came with the prayers of the Saints aſcended up before God out of the Angels hand. Now this is a ſingular Encouragement unto us to hold on ſtedfaſt in our walking in Gods ſtatutes, never to be weary in well doing; For our labour is not in vain in the Lord; not any work of obedience is loſt, not a Prayer, not a tear, not any one work performed with ſincerity of heart, but it is graciouſly accepted.

Fifthly, There is no ſafety in going back from walking in Gods ſtautes, and there is no hazard in going forward, and holding on unto No ſafety in going back.…e end.

Firſt, There is no ſafety in going back from walking in Gods ſtatutes: For …s only is the path of life, and the path of ſalvation; he that turns from it …iſeth his own ſoul; he is loſt, he is out of protection, out of bleſſings, out … promiſed good, and ſhall be ſure to meet with curſe, and wrath, and …ction▪

…condly, There is no hazard in going forward, and holding out un to the … end: You cannot hazard

1. Your ſouls by it; for he that keepeth the Commandement keepeth No hazard in going forward.his ſoule.

2. The recompence you expect by it; for he that continues to the end ſhall be ſaved.

3. Your ſafety by it; for God is a Sun and a Shield unto them that walk uprightly, Pſal. 84. 11. The Lord is with you whiles you are with him, 2 Chron. 15. 2.

4. Your honour by it: Thoſe that honour me I will honour, 1 Sam. 2. 30.

5. Any outwardly bleſſing by it: For Prov. 3. 23. The curſe of the Lord is in the houſe of the wicked▪ but he bleſſeth the habitation of the juſt. Prov. 28. 10. The upright ſhall have good things in poſſeſſion. And ver. 20. A faithful man ſhall abound with bleſſings: There is no death, but life; no curſe, but bleſſing; no danger, but ſafety; no loſs, but gain in walking in, &c.

Sixthly, Though we meet with many oppoſitions in the ſtedfaſt walking, Many higher encouragements.yet you have higher and greater encouragements to the certainty of that way.

There are four things which do ſhew that the walking on in Gods ſtatutes is the true way to heaven.

1. The holineſs of it.

2. The warrantableneſs of it.

3. The aim of the traveller.

4. The univerſal oppoſition made againſt it by Satan, by all ungodly men, and by the remaining corruptions in every mans heart; it is the oppoſed and diſcouraged way.

Nevertheleſs you have higher and greater Encouragements to hold on your walking in the way of Gods ſtatutes, e. g.

1. The excellency of the way itſelf, it is the way of God, and the way Its an excellent way.of life, and the way of holineſſe, the way of Chriſt, the way of peace and reſt.

2. The company of travellers: The beſt men that ever were upon earth, did The company of travellers.chuſe this way to walk in; Enoch walked with God, ſo did Noah, and ſo did Abraham, and ſo did all the excellent Kings mentioned in Scripture, David, Jehoſhaphat, Hezekiah, Joſiah; and ſo did all the faithful Prophets of God, and ſo did Chriſt, and all the faithful Diſciples, and ſo do all the Saints of God who are the excellent on earth, and ſo did all the ſouls which are now glorified in heaven; ſhould not this encourage you to hold on your courſe in walking in Gods ſtatutes! all that are now in heaven have gone on in this courſe, and all that ſhall come to heaven do ſo: It is the path of the juſt, ſtill the living walk in it.The delight of God.

3. The delight of God: The Lord himſelf loves you, and owns you, and takes p. 696pleaſure in you, approves of you, and commends you; there was no King like Joſiah, &c. Seeſt thou my ſervant job? &c. Pſal. 147. 11. The Lord taketh pleaſure in them that fear him. And 149 4. The Lord taketh pleaſure in his people. And Prov, 11. 20. Such as are uprigh in their way are his delight.

4. The promiſe of God: O how many, and how choice, and how ſweet! The promiſe of God.Iſa. 41. 10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not diſmaid, for I am thy God; I will ſtrengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteouſneſs. Ver. 11. Behold, all they that were incenſed againſt thee, ſhall be aſhamed and confounded, they ſhall be as nothing, and they that ſtrive with thee ſhall periſh. Rev. 3. 8. Thou hast a little ſtrength, and haſt kept my word. Ver. 9. Behold, I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan, behold, I will make them to come and worſhip before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

5. The actual comforts, encouragings, and refreſhings from the Lord, Acts Actual comforts from God.23. 11. And the night following the Lord ſtood by him, and ſaid, Be of good cheer Paul, &c. Pſal. 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my ſoul. Ver. 18. When I ſaid my foot ſlippeth, thy mercy O Lord held me up.

Seventhly, You cannot ſerve a better Maſter than your God; therefore continue ſtedfaſt, walking in his ſtatutes, and doing of his wo…k: Mich. 7. 18. We cannot ſerve a better Maſter than God. Four Maſters.Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, &c. Hoſe. 2. 7. I will return to my firſt husband, for then it was better with me than now.

There are four Maſters; and of neceſſity we muſt ſerve one of them: 1. Satan. 2ly The world. 3ly Our ſin…ul luſts. And 4ly God himſelf: Are you not aſhamed to compare theſe Maſters unto God? and their ſervice unto his? God is the beſt Maſter.

1. For authority. 2ly For dignity. 3ly For liberty. 4ly For the ſervice God is the beſt Maſter; and why.commanded. 5ly For privil…dges. 6ly For preſent benefit. 7ly For future reward. Other Maſters are baſe and cruel, and their ſervice is bondage, and their pay is deſtruction; but God is a gracious Maſter, and helpful, and beneficial, and bleſſed, and therefore, &c.

Eighthly, Although you do many times halt, and are drawn aſide, and go aſtray, yet your God (whom you ſerve) will be merciful unto you; he will God will pardon our weakneſſes.not forſake you, nor caſt you off, but will recover and pardon you.

There are three unſpeakable mercies which the Lord ſhews unto all his people in Covenant.Three mercies which the Lord ſhews his people in Covenant. He pardons all their old ſins. He looks after them when they wander.

1. One is, that he pardons all their old ſins in which they walked before they came into Covenant with him; he blots them all out, and will never remember them any more, caſts them all into the depth of the Sea.

2. A ſecond is, that he will look after them, and ſeek, and find them, and bring them home again, when they loſe themſelves by ſinning, and wander from him: Pſal. 119. 176. I have gone aſtray like a loſt ſheep, ſeek thy ſervant. And did not the Lord indeed ſeek and find David, when he exceedingly ſtrayed in the ma…ter of Ʋriah! he ſends Nathan after him with ſuch a meſſage as convinced▪ and humbled, and turned him again; and ſo when Peter went aſtray, Chriſt lookt back upon him; he did not leave him, but toucht his heart and turned him; as he in Luke 15. 4. that had an hundred ſheep, when he had loſt one of them, he went after that which was loſt, untill he found it: Thus is it with the Lord; if any of his ſervants ſhould loſe themſelves, yet the Lord will not loſe him, he will not caſt him him off (The Lord, ſaith Samuel, will not forſake his people for his great Name ſake, 1 Sam. 12. 22.) but will ſend after him ſuch a meſſage by his Word, or by afflictions, or by conſcience, or by his own Spirit, that he ſhall come back again: Hoſe. 2. 6. I will hedge up thy way with thorns, &c. Ver. 7. Then ſhall ſhe ſay, I will go and return to my firſt husband, &c.

p. 6973. A third is, that he will accept of them again into love and favour: Hoſe. 14. 4. I will heal their back-ſlidings, I will love them freely; for m…ne anger is God will accept of them.turned away from him. Jet. 31. 19. Surely after that I was turned, I repeated; &c. Ver. 20. Is Ephraim my dear ſon,! is he a pleaſant child! for ſince I spake againſt him, I do earneſtly remember him still; therefore my bowels are troubled for him, I will ſurely have mercy upon him, ſaith the Lord.

9. A ninth Encouragement for you is this; the Lord (in whoſe wayes you walk) God ſtands by us to ſtrengthen us in his wayes.doth ſtand by you, to ſtrengthen you, his eyes are upon you for good, he doth behold all your works, and labours, and pains, and is ſenſible of all your injuries, and ſufferings, and troubles: 1 Pet. 3. 12. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers. Ver. 13. Who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good? 2 Pet. 2. 9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations. Rev. 2. 9. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty; but thou art rich; and I know the blaſphemy of them which ſay they are Jews, and are not. Ver. 10. Fear none of thoſe things which thou ſhalt ſuffer, &c. 2 Cor. 4. 17. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

10. Laſtly, Your time of walking, and working is almoſt at an end; your day Our time of working is almoſt at an end.is ending, and it is but a little time more, and then he that ſhall come will come; your life is near expiring, and your reward is haſtning: Rev. 22. 11. He that is righteous, let him be righteous ſtill; and he that is holy, let him be holy ſtill. Ver. 12. And behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work ſhall be.

SECT. IV.

3. Uſe THe laſt Uſe from this, That the people of God are to walk in his ſtatutes, and to hold on in that courſe all their dayes, ſhall be of perſwaſion unto us all in general, unto three things.

1. To repent of, and to forſake our ſinful walkings.

2. To approve of, and to like of this walking in Gods ſtatutes.

3. To yield up your hearts to God, and to make ſome eſſayes of walking in Gods wayes.

Firſt, To repent of, and to forſake all our former ſinful walkings: It is high Three things we are exhorted to. Repent of our former miſwalking. Arguments to perſwade us hereto. Such ſhall have mercy.time to awake out of ſleep, Rom. 13. 11. The time paſt of our life may ſuffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles when we walked in laſciviouſneſs, luſts, exceſs of wine, revellings, banquettings, and abominable idolatries, 1 Pet. 4. 3. I will preſent four Arguments to perſwade you to harken unto this counſel.

1. You may have mercy if you do ſo: Iſa. 55. 7. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pa…don. So Ezek. 18. 21. If the wicked will turn from all his ſins which he hath committed, and keep all my ſtatutes, &c. Ver. 22. all his tranſgreſſions which he hath committed, they ſhall not be mentioned unto him; in his righteouſneſs which he hath done he ſhall live.

2. You will certainly periſh if you do not ſo: Prov. 1. 29. For they hated knowledge, If they do it not, they ſhall periſh.and did not chuſe the fear of the Lord. Ver. 30. They would none of my counſel, they despiſed all my reproof. Ver. 31. Therefore they ſhall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own deviſes. Ver. 32. The turning away of the ſimple ſhall ſlay them. Gal. 6. 7. Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatſoever a man ſoweth, that ſhall he alſo reap. Ver. 8. He that ſoweth unto the fleſh, ſhall of the fleſh reap corruption; but he that ſow…th to the Spirit, ſhall of the Spirit reap life everlaſting.

p. 6983. You live under the Goſpel, which teacheth us to deny all ungodlineſs, and We live under the Goſpel which teacheth it.worldly luſts, and that we ſhould live godly, ſoberly, and righteouſly in this preſent world, Tit. 2. 11, 12. It is enough for Heathens to walk wickedly, and profanely; This I ſay and teſtifie in the Lord (ſaith Paul, Epheſ. 4. 17.) that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their minds. O how unworthy is this of the Goſpel! and what an aggravation of guilt is this, to walk in whoredom and drunkenneſs, in, &c.

4. The farther and the longer you walk in your ſinful wayes, the more do you The longer we continue in ſin, the more we diſhonor God.diſhonour God, ſhame the Chriſtian Religion, harden and fear your Conſcience, make way to be given up to a reprobate mind, and encreaſe your own dreadful damnation! Therefore remember your ſelves, and conſider your wayes; do not venture your ſouls deſperately, but take time to make a right judgement of the wayes wherein you walk.

1. Compare them with the Word of God; what God ſaith of them, how he Compare your wayes with the Word of God. Obſerve whether they tend. Behold them in their woful effects.forbids and theatens them.

2. Obſerve them in their proper tendencies, whether theſe ſinful wayes do carry you; what will be the end and wa…es of them; Rom. 6. 21. The end of all theſe things is death.

3. Behold them in the woful effects of them; in wicked men dying, what horrors, and terrors, and deſpairs they have raiſed in their conſciences! O that we had never been born! O that we had never lived! O that we had never lived thus! what will become of us! &c.

4. Take notice of their fruits in your own conſciences; many times when Take notice of …heir fruits.you have been ſick, when you have been alone, what bitter things have they ſpoken unto you? what dangers? what fears? what preſages of wrath? what terrible condemnations? and thereupon fall down and beſeech the Lord to turn your hearts and feet from theſe paths of death.

Secondly, get a clearer knowledge, and better liking of the wayes of God: Get a clear knowledge of the wayes of God.Scientia non habet inimicum praeter ignorantem; if you knew God a right, you could not but love him; and if you knew his ſtatutes and wayes a right, you could not but approve of them. Do not take teſtimony from the enemies of God and of his wayes, nor from your own carnal and unregenerate heart which is at enmity with the Law of God: But be ſo far perſwaded as to believe God himſelf who cannot lye, concerning thoſe ſtatutes of his, and our walking in them, how he comm…nds, commends, approves, bleſſeth, and rewards all that do walk in them; yea give ſome credit unto thoſe who have experimentally travelled in them, what they have found of, and in them; whether ever they found the like comfort, peace, delight, ſafety, bleſſing, and happineſſe: At leaſt give credit unto their death-bed-teſtimony (when men are moſt ſolemn, and ſerious, and conſciencious) how much ſweetneſs they then do find; what rejoycings in Conſcience, and what hopes and confidences towards God, &c.

Thirdly, Reſolve (at leaſt) to make ſome aſſay and attempt, ſet a foot in this way, lay aſide ſin, and take up holineſſe, reject wicked company, fall At leaſt attempt to walk in this way.in with good ſociety; leave off profaneſs and vanity in thy perſon and family, and ſet up the practice of godlineſs in both, and try what will come of mourning for ſinne, of forſaking of ſinne, of calling upon the Name of God, of conſcientious keeping of one Sabbath, of one dayes enjoyment of Chriſt, &c. thou ſhould'ſt find that of David to be true, one day in thy Courts is better than a thouſand, Pſal. 84. 10.

1. Object. But men ſay, that if we walk in Gods ſtatutes, we ſhall meet with This is an afflicted way.many croſses, and afflictions; nay the Scriptures ſay ſo.

Sol. True; He that will be my Diſ…iple (ſaith Chriſt) muſt take up his croſs and follow me, Matth. 16. 24. But

p. 699Firſt, This is a part of the way to life: Strait is the gate, and narrow is Yet its the way to honor. Chriſt bore the Croſs for us. Its better to meet with croſſes in our way than with curſes. They are but outward croſſes. But then farewell all mirth. They are but ſinful pleaſures that we loſe.the way that leadeth to life, Matth. 7. 11. there's Heaven at the end of it.

Secondly, Chriſt himſelf endured the croſs for you, why ſhould you not bear it for him?

Thirdly, It is better to meet with croſſes in the wayes of God than with curſes in the wayes of ſin, here, and hereafter; affliction is nothing to malediction, and moleſtation is nothing to damnation.

Fourthly, They are but 1. Outward croſſes and troubles. 2ly Temporary; not inward in conſcience, nor eternal in hell. 3ly Such as conſiſt with peace in Chriſt, Joh. 16. And joy in conſcience, Rom. 5. 3.

2. Object. But men ſay, We ſhall loſe all delight, and mirth, and pleaſure, &c.

Sol. 1. Only ſinful pleaſures, which 1. Are unlawful. 2ly But for a ſeaſon. And 3ly Bitter in the latter end. And 4ly Many times mixt with terror in the enjoyment.

2. You may ſtill enjoy any outward lawful enjoyment, delight, and pleaſure.

3. But you ſhall meet with better delights, and pleaſures, and joyes; with divine pleaſures, delights in God, comforts of the Holy Ghoſt, aſſurance of mercy, experience of Gods loving-kindneſs, joy unſpeakable and glorious, and peace that paſſeth all underſtanding.

4. You ſhall meet with other delights, 1. More Prayers for your ſouls. 2ly More powerfull that enter into the Conſcience. 3ly More ſafe and laſting.

3. Object. But we ſhall not enjoy that liberty which once we did, to do, and But then we ſhall loſe our liberties.ſpeak, and walk as we pleaſed?

Sol. 1. You mean, that you may not be ſo wicked as you were! no marvel!

2. That was not your liberty, but your bondage and ſlaviſhneſs to your own luſts, and to the luſts of men; you are ſhrewdly hurt indeed that you are forbidden and reſtrained, ſo that you may not be ſuffered to diſhonour God, and wound your conſciences, and undo your ſouls, and run to hell.

3. If you would enjoy liberty indeed, then become the ſervants of God, and walk in his wayes: If the Son ſhall make you free, then are you free indeed, Joh. 8. 36. Now your ſhackles, and fetters, and priſon doores are broken open: we are freemen in a ſpiritual ſenſe, when we are freed from ſin: Rom. 6. 18. Being then made free from ſin, we became the ſervants of Righteouſneſs: We are freed from all ſlaviſh fears by reaſon of ſinne; when we receive the free ſpirit of liberty, we become a voluntary people to ſerve the Lord with newneſs of ſpirit, and freeneſs of ſpirit: Dſal. 116. 16. O Lord, truly I am thy ſervant, thou haſt looſed my bonds.

4. Object. But men will diſeſteem us, neglect us, caſt us out of their favour, and But then we ſhall be diſeſteemed.reproach us, if, &c.

Sol. 1. It is their ſin to do ſo; but it is our duty to walk as God would have us to walk.

2. What men will do ſo? none but ungodly men who speak evil of us, becauſe 1. we run not with them to the ſame exceſs of riot. 2. A goodly converſation is a reproach to their ungodly life, and ſhames them.

3. Regard not the praiſes of men, but the praiſe of God; this you ſhall be ſure to meet with; he will own you, and honour you, though men do not: Pſal. 27. 10. When my Father and my Mother forſake me, then the Lord ſhall take me up. The Phariſees reviled and caſt out the blind man cured by Chriſt; but Chriſt met with him, and owned, and ſaved him, Joh. 9. 35, 36, &c.

p. 7004. You will give a fair account to God that you feared man more than God: Lord, I ſhould have walked in thy wayes, but, &c.

5. Object. Then I will walk in theſe ſtatutes hereafter.Then I will do it hereafter.

Sol. 1. Hereafter may be too late: Gods command is for all our dayes, and for the ſet time whiles it is called to day, &c.

Secondly, Continuance in ſinful wayes will harden your hearts in them, keep up the love of ſinne, and render the wayes of God more diſtaſtful unto you.

Thirdly, And God may in judgement give you up to your own hearts luſts, to walk in the counſels of them, becauſe you do not hearken unto him: See Pſal. 81. 11, 12.

6. Object. But I have aſſayed, aad can make no work of it.But I find I cannot do it.

Sol. Firſt, Becauſe you aſſayed ſlightly, and not with all your heart.

Secondly, And becauſe you aſſayed in your own ſtrength.

7. Object. But it is a great work however to walk in Gods ſtatutes, and How ſhall we get power to do it?what ſhall I do for power to enable me to walk in them?

Sol. God who requires us to walk in his ſtatutes, doth promiſe to give us power; I will cauſe you to walk, &c.

Ezek. 36. 27.

And cauſe you to walk in my Statutes, and ye ſhall keep my Judgements, and do them.

THeſe words (as I have heretofore obſerved) contain in them two parts.

1. The work or duty which concerns the people of God; (viz. to walk in his ſtatutes, &c.) this Subject I finiſhed the laſt Lords day.

2. The help or ſufficiencies for all that work and duty (I will cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes) whence obſerve.