terrae non capit Lips Wilt thou contain that man whom the whole World cannot contain Alas what will the whole World be to thee when thou comest to die let it seem no more to thee now who art dying every day do every thing as strangers and pilgrims here Heb. 11. 9. 13. and as if you heard a voice every day saying Awake and come to judgment Jerome thought whatever he did he still heard that voice Surgite mortui venite ad judicium Arise ye dead and come to judgment When you are travelling to this Market and the other Fair think Sure I am journeying to the grave and I know not what dust I shall shortly be shovell'd into when you are about your work think I am hastening to eternity and shortly these hands must rot in the grave When you promise your selves great things as the fruit of your labours and hope for this gain and the other comfort say Death may come between me and my enjoyments and crop off the hopes of all my labours What can be great to him that accounts the World nothing or long to him that counts his life but a span Mr. Dod When thou findest thy heart running out too greedily after this World ready to lye cheat oppress undermine others to greaten thy interest think on this For all these things God will bring thee to judgment and render to thee according to all thy works Secondly Then do you your earthly work in an heavenly manner when you do it with an heavenly heart As is the heart so is the action in God's account the Lord was much pleased that it was in David's heart to build him an House though he never did it 1 Kin. 8. 18. and displeased with all that Israel did in his service because their heart was not right with him Psal 78. 37. Israel did many good works they sought him they returned and enquired early after God they remembred that God was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer ver 34 35. but all this was nothing in God's esteem because their heart was not upright in it they had an earthly carnal selfish backsliding heart in all they did If thy heart be heavenly though thy work be earthly yet it puts an excellency on it but if thy work be heavenly and thy heart earthly God doth reject and despise it the heart is the root of every action and if the root be good the fruit will be good also Mat. 12. 33. Rom. 11. 16. If the fountain be sweet the streams will be sweet also and if thy heart be heavenly thy work is heavenly A heavenly heart like the Bee turns all it doth to heavenly uses when the Lord Jesus had put his hand upon the Spouses heart and left some myrrh upon her bowels presently her hands dropped myrrh and her fingers sweet smelling myrrh Cant. 5. 4 5. A heavenly heart perfumes thy earthly work and makes it wonderfully taking with the heart of Christ Quest How might I know when my heart is heavenly in my earthly work Sol. First A heavenly heart is a heart enlightned to see heavenly things a heart beam'd over with heavenly light to discern things invisible An earthly heart is a dark heart it sees nothing in God his Word and Works so as to draw up his heart to Heaven an earthly heart sees nothing but earth in heavenly things and an heavenly heart sees Heaven in earthly things The Patriarchs saw the heavenly City in their earthly Countrey Heb. 11. 13 14 16. They saw the promises that is the things promised afar off and confessed that they were strangers on earth they sought a Countrey desired a better Countrey that is an heavenly and all that as the product of their heavenly sight they saw heavenly things in earthly Abraham had an heavenly eye to see Christ's day Joh. 8. 5 6. and Moses a heavenly eye to see him who is invisible Heb. 11. 27. A heavenly heart doth not only see heavenly things but sees an infinite worth and excellency in them it sees them to be the best things it sees a greater glory and desirableness in things above in one glance of his eye in one day within his Courts in one hours communion with him than in all the World besides Mary saw more advantage in sitting at Christ's feet than in the many things Martha's heart was taken up about Luke 10. 41 42. Cursed be that man saith the noble Marquess Galeacius that accounts not one hours communion with Christ above all the World Secondly A heavenly heart is a heart that savours heavenly things Rom. 8. 5. Nothing goes down so sweet with a heavenly heart as heavenly things every thing rejoyces in its like An earthly heart delights in earthly things the Merchant in his Trade the Husband-man in his Field Houses Husbandry and fruits of the earth the voluptuous man in his pleasures as he that sold his City for a draught of water crying out when he had done O that for so short a pleasure of a King I should be made a Slave The proud man in his greatness Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the Kingdom Dan. 4. 30. So doth the heavenly heart relish greatest sweetness in heavenly things How sweet are thy words to my taste yea sweeter than honey to my mouth Psal 119. 103. His fruit was sweet to my taste his mouth is most sweet Cant. 2. 3. and 5. 16. My meditation of him shall be sweet Psal 104. 34. We took sweet counsel together Psal 55. 14. We talked of the mysteries of godliness saith Ainsworth of the exercises of Religion saith another which I suppose the Prophet meaneth by going into the House of God as companions consulting as it were how they might prepare themselves to his service Thirdly A heavenly heart is a heart that longs and desires after heavenly things Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none that I can desire on Earth in comparison of thee Psal 73. 25. When shall I come and appear before God My soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is to see thy power and glory as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary Psal 43. 2. Psal 63. 1 2. My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God Psal 84. 2. Desires are the natural motions of the heart and the best character and truest lineaments saith one y Reynold's Treatise of Passion that can be drawn of the minds of men Practices may be overrul'd by ends but desires are alwaies genuine and natural Hence good men have had most confidence in approving themselves to God by their affections and the inward longings of their souls after him as being the purest and most unfeigned issues of love and such as have least proximity and danger from forein and secular ends It is an unquestionable
me from evil that it may not grieve me and God granted him that he requested Prayer brings down the Spirit sometimes insensible and almost intolerable measures thereof When that precious Servant of the Lord Mr. Bruce in Scotland of whom King James said he was worthy of the half of his Kingdom had sadly represented the Churches case then under eminent danger there was such a sensible down-pouring of the Spirit that they could hardly contain themselves yea an unusual motion on those who were in other parts of the house not knowing the cause of it at that time O what great things did Abraham Jacob Moses Jehoshaphat Samuel Elijah and other Servants of God get out of the hand of God! Luther was a mighty man in Prayer 't is said of him he could get of God what he would n Ille vir potuit quod voluit nothing is too hard for Faith and Prayer because it seeks nothing but what God is willing to spare and hath promised to give Labour to get a mighty Spirit of Prayer the gift of Prayer will not do it must be the Spirit of Prayer which is a pure and heart-cleansing Spirit and cannot dwell with the least regarded Sin Gifts of Prayer with natural affections may be mighty on the Spirits of men but are no way prevailing with God for the Blessing 'T is said of Naaman He was a mighty man in valour but he was a leper 2 Kings 5. 1. So there are some that seem mighty men in Prayer and can wonderfully raife the affections of others pray like Angels but all the while are Lepers under the ruling power of some secret lust pride passion covetousnness uncleanness and the like which they hide vnder their tongue but such are far from this mighty power of prayer which brings down the Spirit on their own hearts or others Ah Christians if you would prosper in grace get and improve the Spirit of Grace and Supplication Thirdly Another thriving way is to engage God with you in all your undertakings 'T was this made Joseph so prosperous in all he did God was with him Gen. 39. 23. Because the Lord was with him and that which he did he made it to prosper 2 Sam. 5. 10. And David went on and grew great and the Lord God of Hosts was with him 'T was not his wisdom valour nor any means he used but the gracious presence of God with him that made him to grow so great This made Solomon to prosper 2 Chron. 22. 11. Now my Son the Lord be with thee and prosper thee When persons lose the gracious presence of God they soon find an alteration and begin to wither and decay in their soul-comforts and prosperity Thou did'st hide thy face and I was troubled Psal 30. 6. Troubled like a withered flower that loseth sap and vigour Mr. Leigh Jonah soon found a change in his soul it ceased to be with him as before when once he fled from the presence of God He never had a good day after he lost the presence of God but storms tempests shipwrack of peace safety and prosperity and a casting into the deeps of distress and ruining dangers Jonah 1. 3 10. Ah Christians as you love your souls and your spiritual welfare take heed of losing God's gracious presence whose company soever you lose keep the Lord's presence with you abide with him and he will abide with you 2 Chron. 15. 2. The Lord is with you while you be with him and if you seek him he will be found of you Put away the unclean thing and he will dwell in you and walk in you 2 Cor. 6. 16. Love him and keep his commandments and he will take up his abode with you Joh. 14. 23. Content not your selves with any priviledg except you have God with you If thy presence go not with us carry us not up hence Exod. 33. 15. I protest saith Mr. Bruce when wrestling for the presence of God with him in his going to preach I will not go except thou go with me Fourthly Follow the counsel of God if you would thrive in the work and way of God Josh 1. 8. This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success Jer. 38. 20. Obey I beseech thee the voice of the Lord which I speak unto thee so it shall be well unto thee and thy soul shall live One cause why men prosper no more in Religion is that little conscience they make of doing the will of God men hear but forget the word others know their Lord's will but prepare not themselves to do it We live in an age of notions not of motion after God like men that see Countries in a Map but care not to travel into them bare knowledg pleaseth most Mens zeal after truth is like Absalom's love to his Father David only to see him not to serve him 2 Sam. 14. 32. Let me see the King's face which he no sooner did but conspired against him So most care for no more than to behold truth not to dwell with it and hence 't is that prosperity is such a stranger to them 'T was not directions could heal Naaman of his leprosy but obedience he was never the better till he followed the Prophet's counsel and washed in Jordan that which made the ground rain'd upon to be nigh to cursing was not bringing forth fruit meet for them by whom 't was dressed Heb. 6. 8. Do not only seek after but walk after the truth if you think to prosper in Religion Jam. 1. 25. The doers of the word shall be blessed in their deed Object 'T is the desire of my soul to live in the exercise of every grace and discharge of every duty and some weak endeavours I have had though too too short with many cries for this soul-prosperity but cannot yet attain unto it Methinks I am like a wither'd arm a dry tree and barren womb nothing doth me good no food seed or showers make me thriving and fruitful I fear I shall be at last cut down and bundled for the fire Sol. First Thou mayest thrive in Religion and not know it for a season thy profiting may be though not appear The Tradesman may bring home gain in his purse though untold men know not their gettings till they cast up their accounts thy prosperity may be as a casked Jewel and friend under disguise If you would estimate your advantage survey your selves compare your present with your former state what were you what are you speak out soul was there not a time when thou wert blind thou could'st see no evil in sin nor excellency in grace but now thy eye is opened and things appear otherwise to thy soul than they did Now there is nothing so vile as thy wicked
subject of this Heavenly Trade Let those be Judges who know the worth of things call in Wisdome's Lapidaries let God Saints and Angels speak in this matter their verdict will be Wisdome's wares weigh down all as to their innate excellency I shall onely propose three evidences to determine this case and they are of unquestionable verity and a sufficient proof of this truth They are 1 Scripture 2 Experience 3 Reason First The Scriptures will tell you there are no wares like heavenly wares Deut. 32. 32. Their Rock is not as our Rock even our enemies themselves being Judges His loving-kindness is better than life Psal 63. 3. And the light of his countenance than the encreases of corn and wine and oyl Psal 4. 6 6. The Law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver Psal 119. 72. Tryed faith much better than gold that perisheth 1 Pet. 1. 7. One day in God's Courts better than a thousand elsewhere Psa 84. 10. None in Heaven like to God nor any on earth in comparison of him Psal 73. 25. To make provision for the soul is the one thing needful to enjoy Christ and spiritual things is the better part that shall never be taken away Luk. 10. 42. The Kingdom of God is the chiefest thing to be sought for in the first place Matth. 6. 33. first in affection and first in time Multitude of testimonies might be produced from Scripture to attest this truth the Heavenly Trade is the best Trade no goods like heavenly goods what do you trade for here is it for more than life you plot you work for you gain no more here than meat drink rayment money land credit and the like which onely tend to life but the favour of God is better than life one gracious look one whisper of peace from God weighs down all those riches pleasures honours do not make a happy man or woman the Scripture never reports such blessed as have the abundance of these things but rather miserable and unhappy obnoxious to more snares and dangers but godliness makes a blessed man and pardon of sin a happy man in God's account Psal 1 1 2. and 32. 1. whose testimony is truth it self and to be relied on beyond all the grounds of blinded opinion and false hopes Secondly Experience assures men of this truth that heavenly things are the best things come to a Soul that hath tried both one who hath had all that the World could afford on the one hand and hath also experienced the favour of God and spiritual things and he will tell you of spiritual things as David did of Goliah's Sword There is none like them 1 Sam. 21. 9. And as Solomon of the vertuous Wife These things above excel them all Prov. 31. 29. And wisdom is much better than Gold and to get understanding rather to be chosen than Silver Prov. 16. 16. This was Solomon's experience who had the largest trial of any man he had Houses Vineyards Gardens Servants Silver Gold the peculiar treasures of Kings Greatness Pleasure Musick and whatsoever his eyes desired and upon all gives this verdict That wisdom excelleth folly as far as light excels darkness Eccles 24 13. Piety transcendeth Pravity Heaven the World Purity out-passeth Pleasures as Light doth Darkness When he speaks of things below he tells you These are all vanity and vexation of spirit he that labours for these labours for the wind Eccles 5. 16. and what he seeks finds not but when he speaks of wisdom and spiritual things he is as one that wants words to express their worth Wisdom is better than Rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it Prov. 8. 11. David was a man who had tried various conditions in the World he knew what trouble and comfort was what youth and age was what poverty and riches were he had pleasures honours treasures with the hearts of his people and command of a Kingdom and yet he tells you he had seen an end of all perfection and that the light of God's countenance was better than all and to be a door-keeper a mean place in the house of God was more eligible than to abide in the tents of wickedness Psal 119. 96. Ps 4. 6. and 84. 10. He chooses it as his one thing To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple Psal 27. 4. Moses knew what honour was and the pleasures of sin and yet upon choice preferr'd poverty with godliness on the side of truth before all the treasures of Egypt He refused to be called Pharaoh ' s Son rather choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt Heb. 11. 24 25 26. He knew the Nobles of Egypt and grandeur of Pharaoh's Court and yet could value a poor persecuted people that own'd God and cleav'd to him beyond them all Happy art thou O Israel who is like to thee Deut. 33. 20. He counts God the none-such Who is like to thee O God Ex. 15. 11. and Religion the best interest Set your hearts unto all the words I testify for it is not a vain thing for you for it is your life Deut. 32. 46 47. Ask of Paul and he will tell you what the fruit of sin and driving furiously against Christ and his interest was when the Lord Jesus came to reckon with and to pay him off in the way to Damascus Act. 9. 3 4. whose blow he felt many years after in Conscience twitches now and then 1 Tim 1. 13 15. And upon the sense of that change Grace made on his heart and condition he tells you that whatever he counted gain before he saw now to be loss for Christ Phil. 3. 6 7 8 9 10. There was a time when he thought his letter-knowledg blind zeal birth-priviledges legal duties popular applause Rulers favour and protection by Power to be great things but now he alters his reckoning and values the knowledg of Christ and interest in him and grace derived from the power of his death and resurrection to be an excellency that stain'd all his former glory The Jaylor once thought it his greatest interest to swim with the stream and sail by the compass of the times he lived in to run down the ways and servants of the Lord Jesus to obey his warrant and secure the Saints feet in his stocks Act. 16. ver 24 to 34. but when once Grace takes him in hand and plucks him through the strait-gate of conscience terrors and repentance into a state of regeneration then he corrects his errors and sees it his chiefest concern to espouse Christ and to come over into the way of persecuted godliness then to believe in the Lord Jesus to be kind to his servants and to drive the Trade of
the place of children but are strangers who climb up as the thief to steal but comes not in by the door to dwell with God they are retainers to Christ's House that now and then do some service for him and have some scraps and favours but are no abiding members of his house like the Apricot that leans on the wall but is rooted in the earth There is a temporary Relation also as of a Servant to a Master where there is a propriety for a time The servant comes into the house enjoys priviledges and protection and doth some service is very useful for the family and it may be beloved too as a servant And such is the relation of some to Christ but this differs vastly from that union which entitles to the person and purchase of the Lord Jesus he is mercenary in all he doth and hath by-ends in his entrance and continuance he does not any thing from pure love to Christ but for self-respects and advantage his welfare is not wrapt up in the welfare of the family to stand or fall with it to embark his All in the prosperity of that house he lives in the family and upon his Lord but to himself and is as the Planets which are carried about with the primum mobile but yet have a distinct motion and course of their own he is in the family but not of the family and as his relation is but titular so his station is but temporary he abides not in the house for ever Joh. 8. 35. And when he goes away he carries off nothing but his own not a jot of the inheritance is his he hath fared well and had a great deal of credit and comfort for a time but goes as he came and is the same person as he was There is also a Concubine-Relation to Christ which gives the soul some use of his kindness but no right to his person b Concubina a concubo Beza de repud divort p. 249. A Concubine is one that is contented with ones bed but hath no conjugal love to his person neither doth she pass into the husband's family or are her children counted legitimate She is one that either by constraint or consent comes over into an external communion with another for his use and bed but is never married to his person or hath chosen him for her husband to become one flesh with him to take up her delight in him and to do all from a principle of love to him And as she hath not the properties so she hath not the priviledges of a wife for intimacy and entertainment in respect of power and maintenance Such is the relation that many have to Christ they consent to have some enjoyment of Christ but have no marriage-union with him he is not theirs by choice but either for necessity or advantage to enjoy their own pleasures by him and receive some profit from him they never saw an excellency in him or were ever unhearted by him as he is by his Spouse Cant. 4. 9. Thou hast ravished my heart my Sister my Spouse thou hast ravished c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Incordiastime my heart with one of thine eyes with one chain of thy neck Thou hast unhearted me or snatcht away my heart These never consented to all his proposals in order to union with him they never heartily gave up themselves to him nor entred into covenant with him and became his And as they are strangers to an espousal-state so are they to a Spouse-like disposition they have not the temper and carriage of a wife nor the priviledges that such use to have they are not acquainted with his secrets nor the openings of his heart and those amorous embracements peculiar to such a relation they are not invested with any Authority or Rule they have no power over their corruptions nor command of their spirits and affections that should be in subjection to them Grace bears no sway in them sin and self does all in their souls neither were they ever enrolled in his family or owned by the Lord Jesus as his Hephzibah's nor have the allowance and special provisions of the King's Bride and Lamb's Wife and as to their conceptions and those births they seem to have by Jesus Christ they are spurious and illegitimate and never owned by the Lord Jesus as the genuine products of his own Spirit This is the case of those that have not marriage-union with Christ they have no right to him or his Treasures Try then your Espousal-relation to Christ Quest How may I know whether I am married to Christ or no Answ 1. First If you are married to Christ you are such as have special acquaintance with Christ you know him as none else do The wife hath the most peculiar and distinct knowledge of her husband of any Others may know something yea much of him but none knows him so much as the wife she hath acquaintance with all his excellencies and all his infirmities she has the largest tasts of his love and experience of his sweetness and intimate converses with him of any in the world So 't is with the Spouse of Christ she dwells in his presence and lodges in his arms she sees him within the veil uncloath'd of those coverings that stand between him and the eyes of strangers and conceals his amiableness from common beholders He puts aside his glorious Robe and shews her his naked breast and layes her hand upon his tender heart she is much alone with him in his chambers where he expresses intimacy with her as Isaac did with Rebekah and discloses the secrets of his heart and the greatest unveilings of his love He tells her what thoughts he had upon her from all eternity when he was in his Father's Kingdom his heart was working after her and he thought the time long till he came down to see her and no sooner did he cast his eye upon her though then she lay polluted in her blood and cast out into the field to the loathing of her person but his heart did burn within him towards her and it was the time of love He tells her all the time of his hard labour in the world for her seem'd but a few daies and the unsupportable burden of her sins and the Father's wrath upon him for her sake seem'd but as nothing for the love he bore unto her In these converses he assures her of his Love Person and Kingdom and however he may seem in his carriages yet his heart is fixt upon and faithful to her and swears he will never never leave her but after a little absence come and receive her to himself and she shall be for ever with him Thus he manifests himself to her as he doth not to the world by reason of which she becomes so well acquainted with him and knows his voice and by faith sees his sheep she can tell by experience who and what her Beloved is and how far
eternal glory he hath prepared for you 2 Tim. 2. 10. A Crown incorruptible an Inheritance that fadeth not away a Kingdom that cannot be shaken Upon this very argument the Apostle presses the Saints to unweariedness in present work Gal. 6. 8. Think how disingenuous 't is thus to requite the Lord that hath dealt so bountifully with you to with-hold your time from him who first gave it to you and hath denied it to others and will shortly close up your troublous time with eternal rest in blessed mansions of purest pleasures with himself Let this love of Christ shame you for misimproved time and constrain you for the future to lay out all possible time for God Secondly Lay out your strength for God he is the God of your strength he hath right to it and use for it Psal 43. 2. He hath work for you which calls for all your strength His works are great greatly to be sought out of all that have pleasure therein Psal 111. 2. His mercies are great and greatly to be praised Psal 86. 13. His anger is great and greatly to be feared 2 King 23. 26. His trials and rebukes on his own children are many times great which need great faith and patience to bear up under them and the strength of grace to make a right use of them Psal 71. 10. Which hath shewn me great and sore troubles You do not know what need you may have of all the strength your hearts and graces are capable to receive to carry you through your remaining trials and troubles you have not yet resisted unto blood or been brought to fiery trials nor seen such days as never yet were or shall be And therefore you had need be girded with strength and to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and one way to it is to use what you have for God Heb. 5. 14. God's service also calls for expended strength Luke 10. 27. Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy strength 1 Chron. 26. 8. The strength of thy heart laid out inward strength for God in his service the strength of your whole souls and outward strength the strength of your bodies also in the work of God So did our Lord Jesus he wasted his strength in the service of his Father that at thirty four years old he was taken to be neer fifty he was weary in his work And Paul did spend and was spent for Christ 2 Cor. 12. 15. And David cried out My knees are weak through fasting Psal 119. 24. Glorify God in your bodies and in your spirits which are the Lord's 1 Cor. 6. 20. In labours more abundant 2 Cor. 11. 23. Striving for the faith of the Gospel Religion is no easy work Ministers saith Mr. Burroughs must venture their strength for Christ and so must all that are Christ's 2. Cor. 11. 27. In weariness in painfulness in watchings Religion is worth all your labours and exhausted strength men tire themselves for the world how much more should they for God and Glory Thirdly Lay out your gifts and graces for God and the good of souls 1 Cor. 12. 7. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal that 's God's end why he gives gifts to any that every one who hath them should improve them to his glory and the good of others A capacity of serving God and furthering his Kingdom in the World is such a priviledg as the Saints in Heaven enjoy not and the Angels when employed in any subserviency towards it readily and chearfully prosecute it Angels are vigilant creatures and wait for opportunities and when they come will not lose them Greenh Yea 't is such a prize as being once lost can never be enjoyed again nor gracious souls ever more return to their stewardship when once 't is given up and therefore should be heedfully regarded and faithfully used whiles continued God gives not talents to be napkin'd up nor lights to be hid under a bushel none of us liveth to himself Rom. 14. 7. All the characters of Saints and those relations they stand in engage to usefulness They are the lights of the world set in a candlestick that they may cause their light to shine forth before men Mat. 5. 14 15. They are the salt of the earth of purpose to savour others Mat 5. 13. If salt hath lost its savour 't is good for nothing but the dunghil They are stars in God's firmament to communicate their light and influence unto others 1 Cor. 15. 41. Vessels in God's house to be meet for use 2 Tim. 2. 20 21. Stones in his building which have a mutual usefulness to bear up each other and toward preserving the whole Eph. 2. 2. Branches in the Vine that yield their fruit for the cheering the hearts of men Judg. 9. 13. Trees in God's garden full of sap Psal 104. 16. Members in the body to impart their nourishment to each other Eph. 4. 16. and discharge their respective duties of sympathy care and helpfulness to their fellow members 1 Thes 5. 14. We exhort you brethren to warn them that are unruly comfort the feeble minded support the weak be patient towards all men Use all your capacities for God while you have them lest he take them from you or opportunity to improve them Fourthly Lay out your earthly interests for God Prov. 3. 19. Honour the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of thy encrease Give God his due in maintaining his Messengers and keeping up his worship alluding to those first fruits of Israel's encrease which were the Lord 's by special appropriation to his service Exod. 22. 29. and supply of his ministry among them Lev. 23. 20. the equity of which obliges in Gospel-times though their ceremonial and judicial respect cease and this duty is reinforc'd under the Gospel by more ample arguments taken from the light of Nature the law of Moses and will of Christ 1 Cor. 9. from ver 9. to 15. To this head is referr'd that command Gal. 6. 6. Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth in all good things for God will not be mocked as they do who pretend Religion and yet are defective in this manifest duty pressing them to unweariedness in this expensiveness for God whatever discouragements they meet with upon the assurance of the blessed fruit of obedience to the will of Christ herein ver 7 8 9. 'T is not the maintaining or welfare of a few men in the World that is the design of this great command of Christ but the tendency this hath to the promulgation of the Gospel and keeping up the instituted worship of God the conversion of Sinners and edification of Saints successively in every generation to which these supplies are necessary that the servants of Christ might attend on their ministrations without distraction and whoever a subject of Christ and sharer of this priviledg draws back from this duty he is