Milk for Babes, Questions · Question 7
7. Q. How oughteſt thou to ſerve him?
A. As he hath commanded in his lawes.
Herein thou ſayeſt right alſo. For God ſaith, Deut. 12.32.Whatſoever I command thee take heed to doe it: thou ſhalt put nothing thereto, nor pull ought therefrom. God would have us punctuall in performing all our ſervice to him as he appoints. Therefore as David did take notice, that God had commanded to keep his precepts diligently: ſo we muſt practiſe.Pſal. 119.4.
Remember therefore, firſt, We muſt ſeek how God muſt be ſerved.that thou muſt enquire how God muſt be ſerved. For, naturally, thou knoweſt not, by reaſon of that ignorance that is in thee. As a ſervant, that comes newly to an houſe, is a ſtranger to that ſervice which will be required; ſo art thou to the ſervice of thy good God. Yea, God hath a peculiar ſervice from all falſe gods; and therfore Balaam ſaid, Num. 23.9.the people ſhall dwell by themſelves, and ſhall not be reckoned among other nations: they ſhall have a Religion; and Lawes apart. Other gods will be content with ſervice ſutable to their natures; but God will be ſerv'd above the power of nature. Yea, they that have performed Gods ſervice for matter, have failed in manner, Eſa. 1. Pſal. 50. Eſa. 5.and have been curſed. Experience teacheth that good meate may be marr'd in dreſſing: and ſo may the ſervice of God in performance.
Vſe. Therefore thou may'ſt juſtly lament the careleſneſſe of our ſoules, who either never, or with no delight, doe enquire after the ſervice of God. Moſt may ſay, as thoſe ancient Heretiques, In this faith I was borne, in this I will dye. Moſt take up the ſervice of God by tradition, and cuſtome, without further enquiry. But doe thou (my child) ſtand in the wayes, Jer. 6.16.and behold, the good old way, that thou may'ſt learne to ſerve him as thou ſhouldeſt. Thy ſoule is like water, or other fluid ſubſtances which can never be at reſt till it be bounded; and nothing can bound it, but God, and his word, which is thy perfect directory.
Marke next, God muſt be ſerved by his law. Exod. 25.40. Heb. 8.5.that Gods ſervice must be of Gods commanding. Moſes did every thing about Gods worſhip according to the patterne, to the very pinnes, and ſnuffers, and beſomes, and baſins. And God forbids us in his worſhip, Num. 15.39. Deut. 12.8. Ezek. 20.18. Matt. 15.9. Eſa. 29.13. Col. 2.23.to follow after our owne hearts, and eyes; or to teach his worſhip, and fear, by the precepts of men; or to walk in the ordinances of our forefathers: and condemns all voluntary Religion, though it have a ſhew of wiſdome, and humbleneſſe of mind. Nature teacheth this equitie, that God ſhould have that ſervice which beſt pleaſeth him. If thou ſerve a Maſter or Miſtres, thou muſt, in all of it, reſpect their pleaſures. As they are beſt acquainted with their owne natures and diſpoſitions, ſo is God: and becauſe he is a Spirit, he will be worſhipped in ſpirit, and truth, Joh. 4.which is moſt ſutable to his nature, wherewith he onelyonly is beſt acquainted.
Vſe. Therefore (my child) take thou heed of will-worſhip, whether it iſſue from thy owne will, or from the will of others. Eſa. 1.Of this God will ſay, Who hath required this at your hands? Wilt thou leane unto mens directions? They may deceive, and be deceived in what is pleaſing unto God. Wilt, thou follow good intentions? The end of an action is not ſufficient to make it good as thou may'ſt fee in Nadab, Levit. 10.1, 2. 1 Sam. 15.15. Judg. 8.27. Rom. 8.7.and Abihu, Saul, and Gedeon: Wilt thou leane unto thine owne wiſdome? It is not onelyonly an enemy, but enmitie against God. Wilt thou follow thy affections? That which is done without Gods warrant is not of love: for love is the fulfilling of the law. Gal. 5.14. Rom. 12.9.Therefore let all thy ſervice be reaſonable, that is, ſuch as whereof thou canſt give a reaſon from Gods word, then ſhalt thou do it of faith, and with good comfort.
Now, take a ſhort ſight of how farre we are come: and to this end tell me
Q. What is God?
A. He is that Almighty one, who maketh, and governeth all things.
Q. What doeſt thou meane by Almighty?
A. One mighty to doe all.
Q. Wherein doth his Almightineſſe ſtand?
A. In skill, in will, in power.
Q. How in skill?
A. In knowing all things.
Q. How in will?
A. In willing all things that are good.
Q. How in power?
A. In doing all things according to his will.
Q. How hath he ſhewed himſelf to be Almighty?
A. By making, and governing all things.
Q. What is it to make all things?
A. To give all things their being.
Q. What is it to governe all things?
A. To guide all things and actions to a good end.
Q. Wherefore did God make you?
A. To doe him ſervice.
Q. What is it to ſerve God?
A. To doe his work.
Q. How ought you to ſerve God?
A. As he hath commanded in his lawes.
Q. Why muſt you thus ſerve him?
A. Becauſe not we, but he, knows beſt what will pleaſe him.
Thus (my child) we have briefly ſumm'd the three laſt Queſtions, and Anſwers: now let us proceed.
Tell me therefore,