A Key of Heaven, Petition 3
The third Petition.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. That the Name of God might be hallowed, it was needfull that God ſhould make his holy Name knowne; therefore requeſt was made, that he would make himſelfe knowne by the comming of his kingdome. Secondly, to the hallowing of his Name, it is requiſite that it be acknowledged to be holy: which is done when men doe his will on earth. Ioh. 17.4.For then God is glorified on earth, when thoſe under him finiſh the worke he hath ſet them to doe. Which is, when the wils of all the ſubjects of his kingdome are ſubject to the will of their Lord and King. Wherefore that this ſubjection may bee yeelded, prayer is made in this third petition. Concerning which ſubjection, this petition directeth unto
the matter of it, Thy wil be done, in earth,
the manner how, as it is in heaven.
In the matter of ſubjection, the thing to which, and the perſons who, and the place where they muſt be ſubject, is expreſſed. The thing to be ſubmitted unto is Gods will, implyed in a ſpeciall emphaſis in the particle (thy) importing thus much, not the will of Satan, or the will of men, but of God, whoſe will is
ſecret, this pertaineth not to us to prie into, onelyonly thus much wee are to pray concerning it in generall, that he will bee pleaſed to do whatſoever hee hath determined to do; and that we may ſubmit to it, and give him the glory of it when it is done.
revealed, this belongeth to us, and to our children, Deut. 29.29. That we may do all the words of his Law.
Will, doth here chiefly ſignifie all his revealed will,Deu. 12.32 be it revealed by his word, or by the event of things by his worke, whether it be of things to bee done or ſuffered. The act deſired touching Gods will, is, That it be done; as if he ſhould ſay, Let thy truths bee beleeved, thy Commandments obeyed, and, whatſoever thou doeſt, let it be acknowledged, and ſubmitted unto, as unto that which muſt needs bee beſt done, becauſe thou Lord didſt it. Gods will is done by man two wayes, in two degrees,
truly, and in endevor ayming at perfection; this is Evangelicall obedience.
perfectly; this is Legall obedience.
This latter is aymed at, and is the white, and rule of obedience. The former is prayed for, as the meanes of following after, and attaining more and more to the perfection of the Law, which is the rule of obedience, preſſing hard after that obedience in this life, which hereafter ſhal perfectly be done in heaven.
The perſons who ſhould do this will, are noted forth by the place where they live, & where this will muſt be done, viz. all men on earth muſt deſire that Gods will may bee done on earth. For (be done) is put imperſonally, importing thus much; Let it bee done both by me, and by all other perſons whoſoever.
The manner of doing this will, is taken from a patterne and ſampler of the heavenly perſons manner of doing Gods will. Theſe perſons are pointed at by the place where they are, and where they do Gods will, viz. heaven, which can bee meant of no other but of the Angels and ſpirits of Saints departed, who do in heaven ſhew readie, faithfull, and conſtant ſubjection unto God.
The particle (as) in which the force of this ſentence doth lye, is not here a note of paritie, equalitie, or like quantitie of degree, but a note of ſimilitude and likeneſſe of qualitie. His meaning then is:Pſal. 103.20 21. Thy will be done by men on earth readily, faithfully, unfainedly, as the heavenly Angels and ſpirits do it in heaven. The ſenſe of this petition may be thus expreſſed: O Lord and King, ſith that unfained obedience to thy holy will, doth truly honour and glorifie thy Name, and doth manifest that thy kingdome is come, and is a due debt to be performed of all thy people: may it pleaſe thee to cauſe me, and all thy people to know thy wil, and to ſubmit their wils to the ſame in all things, alwayes, in all faithfulneſſe upon earth, as thy holy Angels and Saints do thy commandments in heaven. And farre be it from me, or any other to rebell, or mutine againſt thee.
Thy will be done: The doctrine which followeth from the matter of this petition, is this:
Every Christians deſire unto God, and endeavour in this life muſt be, that Gods wil be obeied, and ſubmitted unto in all things. 1. Sam. 3.18. 2. Sam. 15.26.Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God, ſaith David, Pſalm. 143.10. When the Chriſtians of Caſarea ſaw that Paul was not to be diſſwaded from going up to Ieruſalem, they ſaid, The will of the Lord be done. Act. 21.14.Our Saviour ſaith,Ioh. 5.20. I ſeeke not mine owne will, but the will of my Father which hath ſent me. And elſewhere in his prayer he ſaid: O my Father, if this cup may not paſſe away from mee except I drinke it, thy will be done.
Reaſon 1 God is an abſolute Soveraigne, good reaſon therefore that his will ſhould be the law of his creature, eſpecially of his familie.Mal. 1 6. If I be a maſter, where is my feare? It is the Lord, let him do what ſeemeth him good, ſaith good Eli, 1, Sam. 3.18.
Reaſon 2 Gods will (take it of things to be done, or ſuffered) beſides that it is ſoveraigne and abſolute, Rom. 7.12.it is holy, equall, and good. And good is the word which thou haſt ſpoken, ſaith Hezekiah, Iſa. 39.8. Whereas on the contrarie, the will of Satan, and of the fleſh, is ſtarke naught. Great cauſe therefore why Gods will ſhould be done, and be preferred before all other wills.
Reaſon 3 The end why God doth make knowne his will unto the ſonnes of men,Deut, 6.1. is that that they ſhould do it, and ſubmit unto it.
Chriſt did therfore redeeme Reaſon 4 man, that (as Peter ſaith) they ſhould no longer live the reſt of their time in the fleſh, according to the luſts or wil of men, but according to the will of God. 1. Pet. 4 2.
The chiefe heads to which the will of God may bee reduced, are theſe.
Firſt, that men ſhould perfectly know his will.
Secondly, that they ſhould perfectly obey it, thus much the Law of pure nature taught before the fall.
Thirdly, ſith all have ſinned, and, even after converſion, do in many things ſinne, it is the will of God that men ſhould be convinced of their ſinne,Act. 2.38. be penitent for it, confeſſe it, and aske him forgiveneſſe through Chriſt Ieſus.
Fourthly, when men have done this, his will is,1. Ioh. 3.23. that they ſhould beleeve what Chriſt hath done and ſuffered for them, beleeving in him, and relying upon him for pardon, for obtaining of grace, and for everlaſting ſalvation.
Fiftly, his will is that all that beleeve in him, and that endeavour to live holily, and righteouſly, ſhould hope ſtedfaſtly, and be aſſured that they through Chriſt ſhall be for ever glorified.
Sixthly, that in the meane time, they bee thankfull for Gods goodneſſe towards them in everie condition; and that they, patiently, fruitfully, and comfortably beare whatſoever afflictions they ſhall meete with in the way; waiting when God ſhall accompliſh all his promiſes to them in Chriſt, unto their everlaſting glory.
Vſe 1 The greater number of Chriſtians in name come here to be reproved, becauſe they are willingly ignorant of Gods will, and wilfully diſobedient: nay, as if that were not bad enough, they cannot abide any that ſtrive to walke according unto the ſtrict rule of Gods holy commandments: but are all for following the courſe of this world, the wil of Satan,Eph. 2.2.3 and luſts of the fleſh, in all manner of diſobedience of Law and Goſpell. Theſe may ſee how contrarie they are to their profeſſion, which in word can ſay,Diſſwaſives from diſobedience to Gods will. Thy wil be done, but indeed do the contrarie. God cannot brooke this abhominable diſſembling: howſoever they thinke of themſelves, theſe remaine yet children of wrath, Ephe. 2.3. Ephe. 5.….becauſe they remaine children of diſobedience. They are yet in the power of ſinne:Rom. 6.16. for his ſervants they are whom they obey. Theſe men cannot ſcape without puniſhment. He that knoweth not his maſters will is worthy of ſtripes, ſaith our Saviour: But he that knoweth his maſters will, Luk. 12.47.48.and yet prepareth not, neither doth according to his will, ſhall be beaten with many ſtripes. Diſobedience is a diſhonour to God; ſo ſaith the Apoſtle to the hypocriticall boaſters of the Law:Rom: 2.23.24. Through breaking the Law diſhonourest thou God? For the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you. And it doth exaſperate God exceedingly; he could not elſe have beene ſo much provoked by Adams and Eve's tranſgreſſing his will, by eating the forbidden fruit (a thing for matter, ſmall) as to curſe the whole world in ſuch ſort, that it groaneth under the burthen of it unto this day; and alſo to damne all men in eternall flames, had not the very Sonne of God by taking the curſe upon himſelfe, ſaved a choſen number of them. How did Sauls diſobedience provoke the Lord againſt him? who becauſe he rejected the word of the Lord, 1. Sam. 15.23.the Lord rejected him. Yet his fact was ſuch, as carnall reaſon could, and did ſay much in excuſe of it: but it was diſobedience. Yet who more readie to preſume that the wrath of God ſhall be farre from them in the evill day, than ſuch as will not do the will of God, but take pleaſure in iniquitie, and are workers thereof? They will crie, Lord, Lord, Luk. 13.26.27.haſt thou not taught in our ſtreets? and Lord, Lord, open unto us. The Lord abhorreth this ſcraping of acquaintance with him, ſaying,Mat. 25.11.12. Depart from me, I know yea not ye workers of iniquitie, there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. Wherfore, let no willing tranſgreſſour of Gods will, deceive himſelfe, nor ſuffer any man to deceive him: for,Ephe. 5.6. for ſuch things ſake, commeth the wrath of God upon the children of diſobedience. For this is moſt certaine, that Chriſt commeth in flaming fire, to render vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. 2. Theſſ. 1.8.
Vſe 2 Let all that profeſſe the Name of God ſtudy to know, and endeavour to ſubmit their will to Gods will in al things: let them bewaile the ignorance and rebelliouſneſſe of their owne, and other mens evill hearts; that with David they may ſay,Pſal. 119.136. Rivers of waters runne down their eyes, becauſe they keepe not Gods Law. Motives unto obedience to Gods will.(1) Nothing pleaſeth God more, than to ſee his children to order their converſation aright, and to finiſh the works he giveth them to do: he hath not ſo much delight in burnt-offerings as in obeying the voyce of the Lord: Behold, ſaith Samuel, 1. Sam. 15.22.to obey is better than ſacrifice: and to hearken is better than the fat of rammes.
Secondly, the Lord is much glorified when his ſervants and children ſubmit themſelves to his will both in doing and ſuffering.Ioh. 17.4. I have glorified thee on earth, ſaith Chriſt to his Father; this he maketh to appeare thus. I have finiſhed the worke which thou haſt given me to doe. The Apoſtle having reſolved to keepe a good conſcience, ſaith, be knoweth Chriſt ſhall bee magnified in his body,Phil. 1.20. whether by life or death.
Thirdly, this is the way to gaine the reputation and honour of wiſe men.Eph. 4 17. Be not unwiſe, ſaith the Apoſtle, but underſtand what the will of the Lord is. Deut. 4.6.And this is your wiſedome and underſtanding in the ſight of the nations.
Fourthly, by doing Gods will wee ſhall come to more knowledge of his will.Ioh. 7.17. If any man will doe his will, hee ſhall know of the doctrine, ſaith Chriſt, whether it be of God or no. Act. 13.22To fulfill Gods will, is to be a man according to Gods owne heart.
Fiftly, it is to approve a mans ſelfe to bee Gods childe, and Chriſts brother;Mark. 3.35 Hee that doth the will of God, the ſame is my brother, ſiſter, and mother, ſaith Chriſt.
Sixtly, God will heare their prayers:Ioh 9.31. If any man will doe his will, him he heareth.
And ſeventhly, to ſuch belongeth the ſalvation of God, Pſalm. 50.23. Be ye intreated therefore by the mercies of God, to give your ſelves both in bodies and ſoules to GOD. Prove what is that good, Rom. 11.1.2.that acceptable and perfect will of God. Thinke thus with thy ſelfe: It is ſufficient, nay too much, that I have ſpent the time paſt of my life, according to the will of men, and of the fleſh, in all manner of wickedneſſe: but now that I am quickned, and profeſſe better things: now that I am redeemed from my former converſation; I will therefore ſtrive, and pray, that I may live according to the holy will of him that hath redeemed me. Thinke thus; God will have his will fulfilled by me in obedience: or hee will have it fulfilled upon mee in his juſt vengeance. Let every man therfore uſe all meanes to know and doe the will of God. And, as much as in us lyeth, we muſt cauſe others to know, and to doe it. We have Chriſts example, who alſo ſpeaking of mans duty ſaith,Ioh. 13.17 If yee know theſe things, happy are yee if yee doe them.
Now that wee may doe the will of God,Meanes inabling men to do Gods will. wee muſt firſt be ingrafted into Chriſt, and muſt abide in him, drawing grace and vertue from him by the exerciſe of our faith, as the branch doth from the Vine;Ioh. 15.5. then wee ſhall doe Gods will, bringing forth much fruit in him.
Secondly, we muſt deny our owne wiſedome, and our own will:Pro. 3.5. Pro. 23.4. and we muſt not conſult with fleſh and bloud, but with the word of God, and the inward man in which dwelleth the Spirit of God.Gen. 22.3. Thus Abraham became able to doe as hard a piece of ſervice as any man can be put unto, in offering his onelyonly ſonne Iſaack, the ſonne of his hope:Rom. 4.19.20.21. who as he beleeved in God in a thing impoſſible to reaſon, without reaſoning againſt it: ſo did hee performe a commandement of killing his ſonne (in naturall reaſon ſeeming unnaturall, unreaſonable, and impious:) this he did by reſting onelyonly upo the word of God, to which he was obedient, Heb. 11.19.
Thirdly, wee muſt doe our utmoſt, that we may know the will of God, elſe how can wee doe it? to this end wee muſt heare, reade, and meditate on the holy Scriptures, which have the power of God working with them, to inlighten the minde with knowledge, and to incline the will to obedience.
Fourthly, pray unto God, who onelyonly can and will informe the underſtanding,Phil. 2 13. and give both to will and to doe, at his good pleaſure. Thus Paul prayed that the Coloſſians might be filled with the knowledge of his will, Col. 1.9.and that they might walk worthy of the Lord in all well-pleaſing. David likewiſe prayed, ſaying,Pſ. 119.8…. Quicken me after thy loving kindeneſſe; ſo ſhall I keepe the teſtimony of thy mouth. And the Church ſaith,Cant 1.4. Draw mee, and we will runne after thee. If we will pray, and ſeeke with all our might, as we would for hid treaſure:Pro. 3.4.…. then ſhall we underſtand the feare of the Lord: and then ſhall wee know, Hol. 6.3:if we follow on to know the Lord. Then ſhall we alſo be able to doe the will of God:Phil. 2.13. For he will worke all our workes for us; and we ſhall be bleſſed in our deed, Iames 1.25.
As in heaven. Obſerve here that the patterne of perfect obedience is taken from heaven: whence we may collect,
Doct. 2 In heaven is all perfect obedience, there is no failing there, no not in the leaſt circumſtance.1 Cor. 13.12. Now I know but in part, ſaith the Apoſtle: but then (that is, when hee ſhould come to heaven) I ſhall know as I am knowne. Peter ſpeaking of the new heavens ſaith, that therein dwelleth righteouſneſſe, 2 Pet. 3.13.
Reaſ. 1 1 Cor. 6.9.For heauen is the holy place, into which no unrighteous perſon can enter: for when there were diſobedient perſons in heaven, namely the divell and his Angels, which kept not their firſt eſtate, heaven did vomit them forth, never to be burdened with them or the like againe.
In heaven there are no tempters; Reaſ. 2 for there are none but God, Angels, and the ſpirits of juſt men, made perfect; Heb. 12.23.therefore alſo no temptations unto ſinne.
The thoughts of this, will moderate griefe for thoſe our Vſe 1 friends which die in the Lord. For the place whitherto death hath made a paſſage for them, is the heaven ſpoken of in the Doctrine, which doth ſecure us, that they are there where they are made perfect, where they ſhal neither offend, nor be offended.
Doth not the meditation Ʋſe 2 hereof worke in Gods children, not onelyonly contentment, but a longing to lay downe this tabernacle, to be tranſlated hence when the Lord ſhall pleaſe: ſith the exchange will be ſo happy? It is but a parting with a ſinfull miſerable earth, for this heaven, wherein dwelleth perfect righteouſneſſe. It is leaving mortality for life, ſinne for grace, and miſery for glory, in that place, where they ſhall neither bee actors, nor beholders of ſinne: where there is no ſinne, either to infect, or vexe them.
Vſe 3 When we are wearied, and almoſt fainting in our combat againſt ſinne and this wicked world, if we would but conſider, that ere long, if we do hold out manfully a while, this ſinne and fleſh ſhall annoy us no more. For when death commeth, it is the portall to this heaven ſpoken of in the text: which death doth as certainely ſeparate ſinne from ſoule and body for ever, as if doth the ſoule from the body for a while. For our place is this heaven, where are the Angels, the patternes of our obedience; and when we come there, we ſhall be as the Angels. Luke 20.36. and ſhall ever be with the Lord.
As in heaven. Here Chriſt doth ſend us to the beſt and perfect examples: whence note.
In propoſing examples for imitation Doct. 3 men muſt propoſe the beſt, ſuch as are perfect and heavenly. The examples of Angels and thoſe that be perfect muſt bee imitated of men on earth. Therfore when Paul would have the Corinthians follow him, it was with this condition, as hee followed Chriſt: or becauſe he followed Chriſt, 1 Cor. 11.1.
In the following ſuch examples, Reaſ. 1 men ſhall alwaies have cauſe to proceed on, and grow better and better: and ſhall ſtill be going forward towards perfection, for ſuch examples are perfect.
Reaſ. 2 When men looke upon theſe perfect copies, the ſight of how much they come ſhort of what they ſhould doe, taketh downe pride, which elſe would ariſe from the ſenſe of what they hauehave done.
Reaſ. 3 Heaven is the place into which all Chriſtians hope to enter, and where they hope to dwell for ever: good reaſon therefore that they ſhould accuſtome themſelves to the manners of that place before hand.
Ob. Theſe examples cannot bee knowne.
Sol. Anſwer, they may, becauſe God hath revealed in his word how the Angels obey him. And in what manner Chriſt obeyed his Father on earth, in the ſame manner the Saints his members doe in heaven.
Ob. Theſe examples are of ſuch perfection, that no man can attaine to the like.
Anſwer: Sol. though men on earth cannot bee as perfect as their copie, yet the better the example is, the nearer they may learne to come to perfection. Once, man could have obeyed, and againe ſhall obey perfectly. And it appeares by the examples propoſed, that it is poſſible that creatures may doe the will of God perfectly.
Whereas man is moſt prone Vſe 1 to imitation, let him learne hereby to follow examples to ſome purpoſe. Imitate the Angels and Saints. As Chriſt obeyed on earth, and as the Scriptures report that the Angels have done; in like manner muſt every one of us do. The particulars hereof ſee in the next point. Let every one therefore, unto the precepts and rules of well-doing, preſent to their thoughts the actions of thoſe that have done according to thoſe rules. By this meanes we ſhall better underſtand the rule, and be heartened to put it in practiſe, becauſe it ſheweth a poſſibility that it may be done. In doing thus, we ſhall every day grow better, and yet not be proud: for we ſhal daily ſee ſomething before us, to which we muſt aſpire, to which yet we have not attained.
VſUs 2 Here is an Apologie for all thoſe good Chriſtians, which ſhun the examples of the worſt men, not onelyonly making the beſt men on earth their patternes, but goe one ſtraine higher, they looke unto the obedience of the Angels in heaven. This Scripture is their warrant, which muſt alwaies bear them out againſt the ſcoffes of prophane and looſe men, that content themſelves vvith a meere form and outvvard face of godlineſſe: vvho if they be moved to an exacter courſe of practice, they anſvvere vvith a ſcoffe: What, would you have us Saints and Angels on earth? Anſwer them againe with this point: They muſt be as Angels here; or they do not underſtand what they ſay, when they ſay (in earth as it is in heaven.) If they underſtand what they ſay, they mocke God, in that they meane not as they ſpeake: and deale prophanely to mocke at the performance of that by another, for which they themſelves did ſeeme ſolemnly to pray. They may be told, they muſt obey God like Angels and Saints upon earth, or they ſhall never be Saints, and as the Angels in heaven.
Learne here with, what honour the Angels and Saints departed ſhould be honoured by men on earth: namely, with the honour of admiration, and imitation of their graces. As for adoration of their perſons, both God forbiddeth it, and they themſelves do abhorre it, with See thou do it not, Revel. 22.9.
In earth as in heaven. This pointeth to an heavenly manner of doing Gods wil: whence we learne,
Doct. 4 Prayer muſt be made, and care had that Gods will be done in an holy manner. The heavenly manner, as well as the lawful matter of doing Gods will muſt be obſerved. Eph. 6.6.Servants are exhorted to do the will of God from the heart. Not onelyonly to do Gods will, but from the heart. Our Saviour inſtructeth his diſciples in the right manner of giving almes, and of faſting, and prayer, in this ſixth of Matth.
Reaſon 1 Gods commandments do require as well the right manner as the matter of obedience: for ſuch is the tenour of the Commandment, Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, with all thy ſoule, and with all thy minde. Matt. 22.37.
The good or evill manner of Reaſ. 2 doing a good deed, proveth or diſcovereth the ſincerity or hypocriſie of the heart, which is the chiefe thing which God hath an eye unto in everie action.
Before uſe can well be made, it muſt bee conſidered what is requiſite in the right manner of doing Gods will, wherefore obſerve theſe directions.
1 Firſt, if a good thing bee well done, it muſt be done wittingly and purpoſely, not as bruit creatures, or wicked men, who may fulfill Gods wil, but are not aware that they do it.
2 In faith, beleeving that it is lawfull for them to do it, elſe it is ſinne, Whatſoever is not of faith, is ſinne. Rom. 14.23.
3 In integritie of heart, from an habite and true diſpoſition to keep all the commandments, as well as that one which actually he doth keepe for the preſent; elſe if he allow himſelfe in the breach of any one,Iam. 2.10. God holdeth him guilty of all. And it is the propertie of a good conſcience, to will to live honestly in all things. Heb. 13.18.
4 In ſinceritie: which is, when a good thing is done unfainedly,Eph. 6.6. Doing the will of God from the heart, and from right grounds, not for ſelfe reſpects onelyonly or chiefly, or for by ends, but with ayme at pleaſing of God, and bringing honour to his Name. For all things muſt be done to the glory of God, 1. Cor. 10.31.
5 Conſtantly: a good conſcience will endeavour to do well alwayes, Act. 24.16.
6 In humility, reverence, and holy feare of God, whoſe work they do. As the Angels obſerve all the former rules, ſo do they this alſo. For the Seraphims cover their faces with their wings, Iſa. 6.2. and the foure and twenty Elders fall on their faces, and caſt their crownes before the Throne, Revel. 4.10. and 5.8.
7 Speedily,Pſal. 18.44 Dan. 92. making no delay. This was taught by the wings of the Seraphims, wherwith they did flie, Iſa. 6.2. David ſaid, I made haſte, and delayed not to keepe thy commandments. Pſal. 119.60.
8 Laſtly,Pſal. 110.3 Pſal. 40.8. the will of God muſt bee done with a willing minde, cheerfully, and with delight. David ſaith, It was his delight to walke in the paths of Gods commandments, Pſal. 119.35. And it was our Saviours meat and drinke to do the will of him that ſent him, and to finiſh his worke, Ioh. 4.34.
By theſe particulars it appeareth, what is further to be prayed for, and ſtriven after; what alſo is to be prayed againſt on the contrarie, and avoyded, according to the purpoſe of this third petition. The uſes follow.
Ʋſe 1 All formall and hypocriticall Chriſtians, alſo all meere civill honeſt men, which thinke they bee good men, and that they have done God good ſervice, when they have done onelyonly the matter and outſide of ſome good works, may ſee, that they do palpably deceive thēſelves. If they preach, pray, heare, receive the Sacrament, keepe the Church, pay everie man his owne, and ſhew now and then ſome ſcraps of merciemercy, though there was neither integrity, ſinceritie, nor conſtancie at all in thoſe actions; they thinke God muſt take thoſe deeds for currant pay, when they are but meere counterfeit ſtuffe, if they trie their deeds by the touch of the directions before given. Yet none ſo readie to upbraid God, and hit him in the teeth (as we ſpeak) with, How good they are, and what ſervice they do him: as theſe kinde of men, who will challenge God, like them in Iſaiah, Iſa. 58.3.Wherefore have we fasted, and thou ſeest us not? wherefore have we afflicted our ſoule, and thou takeſt no knowledge? No men preſume that God ſhould ſave them more than theſe. They will ſay, Lord, Mat. 7.22.Lord, have not we prophecied in thy Name, and in thy Name caſt out devils? But he will anſwer, I never knew you, depart from me, ye workers of iniquitie. For actions which are good in the matter thereof, yet do ſtinke, and are very iniquitie in Gods account,Iſa. 1.13. if they be not done aright. For what is not done with a good conſcience, and in truth of heart, is not done at all in Gods account: for he looketh to the heart, and manner how all things be performed.
Let it be every mans prayer Vſe 2 and endevor to do good things well: to fulfill Gods will in an heavenly manner, viz. upon good ground, with good conſcience, and good affections. This is the heart, life, and verie ſoule of every good action. And though there may happen to be ſome failings in the matter of what is done, (which alſo is not to bee allowed) yet if the heart be upright in the manner, God doth beare with much weakneſſe, and doth accept of truth and uprightneſſe.
As in heaven. The patterne of the right manner of doing Gods will, is a perfect one, taken from heaven. Chriſt would have all men ayme at this: whence note,
Doct. 5 Christians must ayme at perfection. They muſt alwayes preſſe hard forward to attaine it. Now the God of peace make you perfect, to do his will, ſaith the Apoſtle, Hebr. 13.20, 21. Let us go on unto perfection, Heb. 6.1. Let us perfect holines in the feare of God, ſaith he, 2. Cor. 7.1.
Naturall things do affect, Reaſon. and in their manner, long after the perfection of themſelves. An infant is ſtill growing in the wombe, untill it come to a perfection. Light bodies are not quiet, if they be not above, and in their place. So that it may juſtly be doubted, there is not truth of Chriſtianity, if there be not a deſire and longing after perfection of Chriſtianitie.
This blameth all that thinke Ʋſe 1 they know enough, and have made progreſſe farre enough in the race of Chriſtianitie. But what ſaith the Apoſtle?1. Cor. 9.24 Not all that runne, receive the price. If men fall back, or ſtand at a ſtay, they can never finiſh their courſe. Wherefore hee would have others do as he did, So run that they might obtaine; and ſo fight, that they might get the maſterie, and win the crowne. Hee that puts his hand to the plough, and looketh backe, he is not apt for the kingdome of God. Luke 9.62.
Vſe 2 Meanes of growing towards perfectiō.The thoughts of heaven, and of the patternes for imitation which are in heaven, and the ſtate of perfection in which we ſhall be when we come to heaven, ſhould be load-ſtones to draw us to heaven-ward, and to perfection. Be perfect, ſaith Chriſt,Mat. 5.48. as your heavenly Father is perfect: in everie thing, and everie way perfect. The way to attaine this, is firſt to convince the heart that we ought to bee perfect:Phil. 3.12.13. then ſee with the Apoſtle, that wee are not alreadie perfect. Thirdly, let us not look on what wee have done, and what is behinde, but on that which is before to bee done. Fourthly,2. Cor. 7.1. be daily purging our ſelves from filthineſſe of fleſh and ſpirit, and ſo perfect holineſſe. Fiftly, that we may do all theſe, be daily converſant in the reading, hearing, and meditation of the holy Scriptures: for their end is,2. Tim. 3.17. to make the man of God perfect. Laſtly, give al diligence, and preſſe forward, Phil. 3.14.as the Apoſtle did, toward the marke and price of the high calling of God in Christ. Thus do, and the rather, becauſe he that doth not ayme at perfection of degrees, hath not the perfection of truth and of parts.