press you down and the sin that doth so easily beset you Heb. 12. 1. If you will set your affections on things above you must first take them off from things beneath Col. 3. 2. He that sets his face towards Heaven must turn his back upon the world Phil. 3. 13. Forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things that are before The world is one of those things Christians must leave behind them if ever they think to reach Heaven b Debebamus magno animo contemnere vitam mundum pleno pectore anhelare ad futuram gloriam aeternae vitae Luther in Gen. We should saith Luther with a certain greatness of mind contemn this life and world and with a large heart breathe after the future glory of an Eternal Life Till you are brought to a contempt of this world and can count it as dross and dung you can never value Heaven or pursue things above with an even and uninterrupted heart That soul which designs to make Religion its work must be ready to attend it at all times and to have the heart composed and fitted to all the instructions that lead to it which an earthly heart cannot do A light and mutable spirit now for God and then for the world is unfit for this great employment He that puts his hand to the plough and looks back is unmeet for the Kingdom of God Luke 9. 62. And such is a heart under the command of earthly things 't is never stedfast with God the things of this world fill the soul with wind and make it light and trifling about the things of God The heart of man is like that Jewel I have read of that one gave to Alexander that while it was kept bright weighed down the choicest gold and most precious stones but if once it fell into the dust and took rust it was lighter than a feather And so is the heart if it falls into the dusty things of this world The Church cloathed with the Sun hath the Moon under her feet Rev. 12. 1. The more a soul is filled with the pure knowledge of God and shining in its conversation the more it is lifted up above the world The nearer Heaven the farther from Earth The more separate from the world saies Mr. Greenhill on Ezek. 3. 23. the more fit for communion with God Ezekiel must leave his house and go into the plain and there the Lord will talk with him The King's daughter must forget her own people and her Father's house ere the King would greatly desire her beauty Psal 45. 10 11. And Abraham must leave his Countrey and pleasant habitation before he could get into a way of frequent communion with God and so must a soul in heart and affections sit loose from the ensnaring things of this world if ever he thinks to drive this Heavenly Trade c Tanto magis adhaeret Deo quilibet quanto minus diligit proprium By so much the more saith Augustine doth any one cleave to God as he ceases from loving his own interests Direct 6. You must resolve on this also To submit to all the instructions the Lord Jesus gives you to go thorough all the labours and bear all the burdens that this Heavenly Trade calls you to every Art and Calling have their principles and rules by the knowledge and obedience of which they are attain'd to and so hath Religion And as Piety is the highest and noblest profession so are its principles more pure and mysterious and with greatest difficulty attainable Acquired knowledge furnishes men with light sufficient for all earthly undertakings but to this Heavenly Trade both infused and acquired understanding is needful both rules and an eye to discern them must be given if ever this Art be obtained For this end the Lord Jesus is given for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes that they may see Isa 42. 6 7. and for a Prophet to teach and instruct them the way they should go and to hear and obey him as such is the absolute duty of all that have given themselves up to his conduct and government Acts 3. 22. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you He hath undertaken to inwise them that obey him and to shew them what they must do Acts 9. 6. And if they go on to know they shall know the Lord if they sit at his feet and hear his Word Deut. 33. 3. he will shine out to them and send out a fiery Law for them In order to which instruction your duty is to hear him to watch daily at his gates and to wait at the posts of his house Prov. 8. 34. when he calls say with Samuel Speak Lord for thy servant heareth 1 Sam. 3. 10. And whatsoever he saith said the Mother of our Lord unto you do it John 2. 5. Slight no directions stick at no difficulties in comporting with his pleasure 't is for the life of your souls obedience is so necessary in the Disciples of Christ as that without it no true knowledge can be attained here John 7. 17. if any man doth his will he shall know the Doctrine nor salvation hereafter Heb. 5. 9. he became the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him His yoke is easie and his burden is light Prov. 8. 5 6. Prov. 3. 17. He enjoyns you nothing but what is needful profitable excellent and pleasant Hear and your souls shall live Isa 53. 3. Shall the servants of men come go do this or that when they are bidden Matt. 8. 8. Yea shall the Devil's slaves do the greatest drudgeries run most desperate adventures throw themselves from pinacles yea damn their souls at his bidding and the servants of Christ so disobedient when 't is for their own concerns their mercies and advantages are wrapt up in it and that to so rational and easie injunctions The consideration of this prevailed with a Heathen to obedience when against his inclination 2 King 5. 13. His servants came near and said My Father if the Prophet had bid thee do some great thing would'st thou not have done it seeing it is for thy life and health how much rather then when he saith to thee wash and be clean If his commands seem grievous let love sweeten them If his yoke seem heavy let his rest at the end of it render it easie when duties seem burdensom to flesh and blood his burdens heavy losses for the Gospel's sake great think thus better smart once than ever to undergo troubles in the way than at the end to have my bad things here rather than be tormented hereafter Luke 16. 25. and what pains and hardships will men undergo for gold that perisheth 1 Pet. 1. 7. yea for counters that cheat them and shall not I for an inheritance that fadeth not reserved in
cleanse his heart Jer. 4. 14. The heart is the nest where these Wasps fly out and trouble the soul the root that feeds these luxuriant branches briars and thorns that wound the conscience and the strong fort of Sion where these Jebusites hide themselves and issue out to prey upon the gracious soul Till these nests be spoiled the Ax laid to the root of the tree and this strong Tower attach'd and these blind and lame removed souls will never be freed from irruptions of sin in their thoughts and conversations This Christian is busie and hard work and part of thy daily employment in this Heavenly Trade to sweep wash drain and cleanse thy filthy heart by sound repentance and faith in the promises death and blood of Christ Heart-quickening work The heart is the primum mobile the great wheel in the watch that sets all a going if that stop all faculties are still A lively heart makes a diligent hand to rid away soul-work and a nimble foot to run in the waies of God's commands when the heart is quickened then every duty inward outward publick private goes on such a soul needs no spur to quicken it nor pully to draw it to its duties O what a burden are some to their Christian friends to keep them up and draw them on in the way of God and all because their hearts are dead and that liveliness which once seem'd to be in them is departed The spring that at first made them so active is weakened or broken the waters that set their Mills a going fail and that temporary love and common grace like standing pools having no fountain to maintain them are dried up by consuming lusts and scorching temptations so that now they wither in all their branches and become weak cold and indisposed to every work of God and their souls Some of these dangerous symptoms of decayed grace are found also in sincere souls for not looking after their hearts betimes and keeping them close to a quickening Jesus by a lively faith in the promises Christian mind this also every day to maintain thy spiritual life by fresh quickenings and reviving influences from the fountain of life on thy weak and dying heart making use of all instituted helps for soul-strengthening as hearing reading meditation holy conference and the like Heart-teaching and enlightening work A light head and a dark heart may dwell together and it seems to be the condition of too many under the Gospel this day A spiritual eye to look into the mystery of truth and believing affectionate discerning of excellent things is not easily found even while Christ is read a veil is on mens minds and their foolish heart is darkened And this is one reason souls walk not as children of light 't is because they are not light in the Lord Psal 40. 8. The Law of God is not within their hearts they have no inclination or power upon their hearts to do the will of God they know for want of this heart-knowledge Be earnest with God to beam over your hearts to make that the Hemisphere where the Sun of Righteousness may daily arise with healing in his wings Cry with David Psal 119. 36. Incline my heart to thy Law Let my heart lean and stay upon thy Law as a man doth upon a staff tobear him up Get a greater nearness in your hearts to truth that the Word may be wrought in and incorporated into your hearts that it may be a Goshen a Land of Vision and full of the understanding of the Lord. Heart-keeping and Heart-watching work The heart is bent to backsliding if it be not kept and held fast to the Lord and his waies 't is still turning aside and winding off from its proper duty The Lord complains of Israel Psal 78. 8. They did not set their heart aright and their spirit was not stedfast with God They did not prepare adapt dispose their heart to God neither was it constant and stedfast with him but on every occasion did start aside So false a thing is man's heart if not under a watchful eye and strong hand holding it fast to God Prov. 4. 23. Keep thy heart with all diligence Keep it as under lock and key bolted against sin and bound by cords of love to every duty And what a hard province is this O the work that a child of God hath to keep his heart in order one moment to keep down sin to keep it from the power of corruption and prevalency of temptation to keep up grace in the heart to maintain its desires after God and things that are excellent to preserve its affections to things above to hold the thoughts on God and things eternal that they start not away to continue its integrity to perform its purposes to secure its frames experiences and enjoyments And he that will thus keep his heart must watch it constantly never have his eye off from it or suffer his jealousie concerning it to cease He must be alwaies making it over to the Lord Jesus for security and be still imploring help from Heaven faithfully following all the instructions he gives towards its securing This is heart-work and the first part of this heavenly work that concerns your selves Secondly You must carry on mortification-work every day Col. 3. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence and covetousness which is Idolatry The Apostle having assur'd the believing Colossians of their future happiness doth thence infer their duty and necessity to press after utmost holiness here as the way to this blessedness The first part of which holiness lies in this great work of mortification there is no greater motive for Believers putting off sin than well-grounded hopes of interest in Christ and glory if Heaven be yours hereafter holiness must be yours now There is no place for sin in Heaven nor unclean thing can enter there Then hasten away sin now that 's his Argument Mortify your members Get your selves rid of sin put to death weaken and destroy the whole body of sin with all the parts and issues of it the head and ruling power of sin had its mortal wound before vers 3. Ye are dead habitually dead to sin the world and self they have got their deaths-wound the stab is at the heart and can never be healed more but they are not actually dead more blood must run and spirits be spent and this monster be weakned every day Practical mortification is wanting and must be promoted daily This spiritual death to sin a Mors naturalis est pura privatio nec admittit in subjecto aliquid contrarii sed mortificatio spiritualis non est pura privatio nam dum corpus hoc mortale gestamus relinquitur aliquid de contrario fomite quod oppugnandum magis magisque mortificandum est Daven saith Davenant is not as the natural death for that 's a pure privation and admits of nothing
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
symptome of approaching ruine If men are not given up to a spirit of blindness they must needs see that wasting destructions are upon us gray hairs are here and there and we see it not Hos 7. 9 10. Strangers have devoured his strength and he knoweth it not yea gray hairs are here and there yet he layeth it not to heart and the pride of Israel doth testifie to his face and they do not return to the Lord their God nor seek him for all this * Sentit quidem dolores sed non agnoscit causam fontem sui mali Confirmat esse Israelem desperatum incurabilem quia convictus non tamen redit ad Dominum Zanch. They felt the pain but did not acknowledg the cause and fountain of all those evils saith Zanchy and this shew'd they were desperate and incurable in that they were convicted of their evil case and yet would not return to the Lord. No spot more dangerous than continuance in sin under utmost means of reformation and confessed danger of ruine If our transgressions and sins be upon us and we pine away in them how shall we then live Ezek. 33. 10. VSE IV. If the Heavenly Trade be the best Trade c. Then this offers counsel and exhortation to five sorts of persons 1. To such as are strangers to this Heavenly Trade Counsel 1. Such as are strangers to this Heavenly Trade you that never were acquainted with this high Calling but have spent all your time about things that perish trafficking about Hell and Damnation Be you exhorted to set about this choise rich and blessed Trade There are four Arguments that usually sway with rational persons in their choice of earthly Callings which are also weighty inducements unto all not yet concern'd to speed upon this Heavenly Trade Arg. 1. First Necessity puts men on employments and none are greater than theirs who are without this Divine Calling Sinners you that are yet without God in the World you are miserably poor and ready to perish you are worth nothing but sin and misery He is a poor man that hath nothing to live upon and such are you while without this line of communication and strangers to these supreme concerns You are spiritually poor and have nothing as yet for your Souls to live on here or to all eternity Rev. 3. 17. And knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked Poverty is one of the miseries of all unchanged souls and that which aggravates it is this that they think themselves rich and yet have nothing no Food to fill them but empty husks and swines meat no Rayment to cover them but filthy rags and confusion no House to shelter them from the storms of Divine wrath or any Habitation to receive them but an infernal Lake of Fire and Brimstone and a receptacle with damned Devils not a friend to help them not an eye to pitty them There are none so poor in the World but they have something or other to help them something in hand or something in hope something of their own or something of others if they can't dig yet they can beg if they have not interests to maintain them yet they find pitty to relieve them But a Christless Sinner hath nothing to supply his immortal part nothing in hand nothing in hope nothing of his own nothing of others that can contribute the least good to his undone Soul whatever he lives on is nothing but wind and emptiness He feeds on ashes a deceived heart turns him aside Isa 44. 20. He crams his starved Soul with filthy dung and excrements so loathsome are all the pleasures of sin he lives on Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel strangers from the Covenants of Promise having no hope and without God in the World Eph. 2. 12. This is your condition Souls while without this Heavenly Trade you are miserably poor what-ever you have in the World you have nothing in God what-ever your Bodies and Families have your Souls have nothing †Vniversa inutiliter habet qui unum illud quo universis utatur non habet 'T is little profit to enjoy all things and miss that one thing by which only we come to use them Aug. You labour for vanity and lie down in sorrow and have you not reason to look out after some course to help you and to embrace this overture of a Calling that will maintain and enrich you here and for ever The Lepers case is thine if thou sit still in thy condition thou diest In the World's fulness is famine in thy security and false hopes is death also If thou adventure an offer'd grace it may save thee however thou can'st but die 2 Kin. 7. 3 4. Again you are not only poor but Bankrupts your poverty is of your own procurement and the issue of your prodigality you had once a fair Estate but lost it God Grace and Glory was yours by the first Covenant Luke 15. 30. but you have trifled it away for forbidden-fruit and spent all you had on Harlots you have consum'd your Lord's goods also in riotous living and wasted a large stock committed to your trust and now must give an account of your Stewardship were it only your personal wants that your folly hath brought upon you though that be heavy yet 't is comparatively tolerable but restitution must be made and that is unconceivably distressing A dreadful word sinners lies against you how can you bear it how can you eat drink talk or sleep in peace much less rejoyce when the hand-writing is against the wall 't is this Give an account of thy Stewardship Luke 16. 2. A review of thy past time must be expected by what means thou did'st reduce thy miserable Soul to this low estate and an account of thy Stewardship will be required and then when too late thou wilt say with the Steward What shall I do ver 3. and is it not more advisable now to take this counsel of Eliphaz to acquaint thy self with God and be at peace thereby good shall come unto thee Job 22. 21. to return to that Trade which thou hast left and recover the Treasure which thou hast lost that so thy account may be comfortable in the day of Christ Nay further you are not only poor and bankrupts but deeply in debt debtors to God to whom you owe your selves and all that you have by the Law of Creation and Covenant-obligation but never yet discharg'd that due to this very day You are in debt to God for all your mercies in Creation and Providence patience-mercy preservation-mercy preventing-mercy bounty-mercy there 's never a moment but God is laying out some new mercy upon thee of which thou hast never made retribution to this day Debtors to the Law of God which hath its full and just claim on you a Law that is just righteous and good and to which you owe obedience by just and unquestionable
ties and yet have never yielded any right subjection to it all your days but have violated all its righteous commands every day and moment of your life both in thought word and deed For he that keepeth the whole Law and yet offendeth in one point or iota is guilty of all Jam. 2. 10. Debtors to Conscience whose Law is in force against you and by which you shall be judged Rom. 2. 14 15. These having not the Law are a Law to themselves which shew the works of the Law written in their hearts their Consciences also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another and yet you have broken these Conscience-bonds casting its cords from you how many ties hath Conscience laid upon you which you have broken going against the light and dictates thereof Debtors to all the World to whom in some respect or other you are obliged There are duties you owe to all men to love them and pray for them to all your neighbours and acquaintance to do them good as you have opportunity and to seek and endeavour their Salvation to your power which you have not done to this day There are duties you owe to your relations friends and family which you have neglected and have been encreasing your Original debt by running on new scores every day which can never be cancell'd or a power obtained to discharge your duties acceptably till you come to Christ and enter your souls into his new and everlasting Covenant setting upon those great and Evangelical duties of it Your slavery is also great till you come over to this blessed work You are in bondage unto Satan Know ye not that to whom ye yeild your selves servants to obey his servants ye are whom ye obey Rom. 6. 16. You serve incomparably the worst Lord a cruel Lord who hath no mercy but delights in the misery of fal'n man A roaring Lion that goes about seeking to devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. A cursed one cast out from God cursed above all creatures reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day Gen. 3. 14. Jude verse 6. Thine implacable enemy that hates thee with a perfect hatred An Accuser that never speaks well of any A Murderer he was from the beginning Rev. 12. v. 10. and the original cause of all the destruction in Earth and Hell A false and deceitful creature that never kept his word with any A Lyar and the Father of Lies Joh. 8. 44. one that will be too hard for you and cheat your souls into destruction A miserable poor creature one that hath lost all his glory and excellency and hath nothing to give you for all your service but some of the same flames in which he must fry for ever This sinners is your Lord whom you have chosen and served all your daies And as you serve the worst Lord so you do the worst work base filthy shameful cursed work Such are all thy actions whiles in an unchanged state you do hard work no service like it you work and have no food to refresh you which is the cruellest bondage Israel in Egypt wrought hard and yet had flesh-pots Onions and Garlick to relieve them but you have nothing to feed your hopes and affections but lies and vanity you work and have no rayment to cover you all your employment makes you naked you labour and have no rest weary and heavy laden and yet feel it not Gen. 3. 7. Other Labourers have their successive quietudes but you have none the hireling hath his shadow the labourer hath his evening to give over his work his bed to sleep on but your work admits of no rest 't is never done you do the Devil's work day and night waking and sleeping nay while you eat and drink your work still goes on O sad servitude You work and have no wages All earthly Labourers have their penny something or other to compensate their pains money or maintenance but you have nothing in hand or hope here or hereafter but death and damnation the fruit of your labours here is more bitter than death and the wages at the end of your day wrath and vengeance worm and There can be no mirth saith Latimer where weeping is served in for the first course and gnashing of teeth for the second fire Mark 9. 44. And is not this bad employment and is it not time sinners to change your calling and to accept this offer made you of this excellent Trade Arg. 2. Secondly The danger that attends your present state should put you on a timely relinquishment of it You are poor and that exposes you to scorn and contempt to oppression treading down and crushing to devouring and destruction you are not safe from ruine one moment the next knock at thy door may be a call to Judgment Prov. 17. 5. Amos 4. 1. Hab. 3. 14. Prov. 10. 15. When thou liest down thou mayest make thy bed in Hell when thou awakest thou mayest see God on the Throne thy Soul at the Bar thy Accusers at thy right hand the Evidence in thy own breast the Sentence written in capital letters Go ye cursed Under thy feet a bottomless lake of fire and brimstone round about thee cruel Devils ready to seize upon thee and lodge thy guilty condemned soul in thine eternal home Matth. 24. 51. You have been Prodigals wasting what is not your own and are in danger every day of a charge against you You are deeply in debt and in danger of an arrest every hour when you go forth death may be at your heels when you return destruction may enter with you O the uncertainty of thy time sinner the danger of thy eternity the absolute ruine of thy immortal soul if thy reckoning begin before thy work and hast thou not reason then to hasten about thy great concern and to burn no more day-light in works of darkness Arg. 3. Thirdly Thy duty should quicken thy undertaking in this great employment Religion is not your Liberty but your manifold debt The Law of Creation binds you unto God you will confess you were made by him and God will profess you were made for him Isa 43. 21. This people have I formed for my self that they should shew forth my praise Your fall from the Covenant of Works is not your liberty from the essential duties of it neither is your incapacity to perform it a dispensation of your obedience 't is still your duty to return from whence you fell to take the Lord to be your God to love him with all your heart and with all your might to trust in him to fear and obey him A draught of these Covenant-duties did God place in your conscience by which you shall be judged Rom. 2. 12. 15. though the counterpane you have defaced yet the Original Deed is with God and will be brought forth in the day of Christ against such as have not taken the Lord for their