Commandements as David speakes Psal. 119. 21. whether they be young or olde Not onely the curse of the Prophet but the curse of the great God is readie to seize upon them O then let us set our selves to serve God in our youth and we may have the blessing of God upon us both in our youth and age Thus you see also the necessitie of it CHAP. VI. Containing the second branch of the Vse of Exhortation SEcondly Seeing time spent in Gods service is the best spent time This serveth to exhort us that have once begun to serve God that we should be constant in it It is to no purpose to begin to serve God unlesse wee resolve to hold on and persevere left we be justly charged with that of the Apostle Galathians 5. 7. Ye did runne well who did hinder you that ye shuold not obey the truth i. e. How commeth it to passe that yee did not persevere and for this they were justly called O foolish Galathians Gala. 3. 1. Time spent in Gods service is fitly resembled unto a race Let us runne with patience the race that is set before us saith the Apostle Hebrewes 12. 1. It is a meere folly for any man to begin a race unlesse he resolve to persevere and bee constant in it and therefore faith the Apostle 1 Cor. 9. 24. So runne that ye may obtaine that is begin speedily without delay and hold on constantly without intermission This was holy David's pious resolution Psalme 119. 33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keepe it unto the end There was constancy and perseverance Now for the perfecting of this point I purpose to runne this course 1. I will shew you the Motives that may perswade us to it 2. The chiefe Meanes that we must use to attaine it 1. The Motives that may perswade us hereunto are especially these three 1. In regard of the equity of it 2. The Vtilitite 3. The Necessity of it 1. Now the equity of the dutie appeareth in this sc. because the God of heaven is our chiefe Lord and Master and we are his servants in many respects and therefore in all equity it is fit that we shuold be constant in his service For. 1. We are the Lords professed servants 2. His vowed or sworne servants 3. His made servants 4. His bought servants And lastly His obliged or hired servants 1. We are Gods servants by profession wee doe all professe our selves to bee Gods servants yea we should take it ill from any that should speake or repute us otherwise We are all ready to say with David Psalme 116. 16. Behold Lord how that I am thy servant c. We we are Gods Livorie it appeareth by our very profession that we would be esteemed to be Gods servants hence we come to Church we depend upon his Ordinances yea no doubt but if we should be questioned the most of us would be ready to say to God as the Elders of Israel said to Iehu 2 Kings 10. When Iehu had slaine his Master hee sendeth this message to the Elders of Israel Verse 2. Seeing your Masters sonnes are with you and there are with you Chariots and Horses a fenced City also and armour Looke even out the best and meetest of your Masters sonnes and set him on his Fathers Throne and fight for your Masters house But they were exceedingly afraid saith the Text Verse 4. and said Behold two Kings stood not before him how then should wee stand But they sent unto Iehu saying we are thy servants and will doe all that thou shalt bid us Loe they were Iehu's servants by profession And the most of us no doubt are ready to professe no lesse to God Behold we are thy servants and will doe that which thou shalt bid us O then let us bee constant in Gods service because we are his servants by profession Secondly Wee are his vowed or his sworne servants as appeareth by the promise and solemne vow that wee made to God in our Baptisme which was That we would not only become but also continue Gods faithfull servants and souldiers untill our lives end Yea this vow we have renewed since so often as we have received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper How often have we publikely and solemnly dedicated our selves wholly to Gods service saying Here Lord wee offer unto thee our selves soules and bodyes c. How can we then for shame flinch from his service and be inconstant having so often solemnly protested and sworne the contrary This made David constant in Gods service because he had sworne to be constant in it Psalme 119. 106. I have sworne and will performe it that I will keepe thy righteous judgements We have vowed and sworne as well as David and therefore must needs be perjured persons if we be not constant in his service Offer unto God praise or thankesgiving and pay thy vows unto the most High Psalme 50. 14. Wee are the Lords sworne servants and therefore it standeth with equity that wee should bee constant Thirdly We are the Lords made servants it is the very speciall end of our Creation we were made on purpose to doe God service And therefore the consideration of our creation doth strongly binde us to bee constant in Gods service Psalme 100. 2 3. Serve the Lord with gladnesse come before his presence with singing and marke the reason of it verse 3. Know â—â—e that the Lord he is God it is he that hath â—ade us and not we our selves How can we choose but chearefully and constantly â—oe service to our Maker And so againe Psalme 95. 6. O come let us worship and â—all downe and knele before the Lord our Maker c. And no marvell for it is the very end of our Creation and comming into this world sc. to doe God service and thereby to advance his glory He made all things for his owne sake yea even the wicked for the day of evill saith the Wiseman Proverbs 16. 4. It is for his owne sake and service to advance his glory and glory will he have of us one way or other one time or other if we doe not honour him by doing his pleasure here on earth we shall perforce glorifie his justice in suffering his pleasure for ever in hell the Lord will attaine his owne end in one kinde or other For my glory have I created him saith God I have formed him yea I have made him Another Motive to be constant Fourthly We are the Lords bought servants redeemed and purchased at a very great rate to this purpose only to doe God service Suppose a man should meete a poore man going to prison for debt whence hee was never like to come out and should pay the summe and set him at liberty upon condition that hee should bee constant in his service as long as he lived Oh with all my heart would the poore man say how much better is
24. It shall come to passe that when they call I will answere and while they are yet speaking I will heare Doest thou see Luk. 15. how readie the old man was to cloath the tattered Prodigall God is so readie to helpe his children Christ is so readie to cloath and refresh his poore members Yea for thy farther comfort consider the fidelitie of this Chapman assure thy selfe he will not deceive thee he cannot deny himselfe thou mayest safely repose thy confidence in him for matter and measure and time assure thy selfe he will deale kindly and faithfully with thee yea he will never faile thee nor forsake thee This for Comfort and Consolation Fourthly and lastly For Exhortation and Direction If any lacke wisedome let him aske it of God sayth the Apostle Iam. 1. 5. so say I If any lacke true saving grace let him buy it of Christ goe to Christ for grace at the first yea and goe to Christ for a farther increase of true grace see thy want of grace labour to know the worth of grace hunger and thirst after it frequent the Ordinances c. and assure thy selfe the God of all grace shall be with thee But of this in the first use But that which I especially desire to presse at this present is to exhort and direct such as desire grace not onely for themselves but also even for others godly neighbours that would have others religious as well as themselves godly masters and parents that would put away iniquitie from their tabernacles and desire to have saving grace wrought in the hearts of their children and servants This was godly Iosuah's care and pious resolution Iosh. 24. 15. I and my house will serve the Lord. Now for Direction to such as are thus graciously affected and lovingly disposed towards others in generall I say Let such consider that they must buy it of Christ for themselves and their families What they should doe for themselves I have alreadie shewed and what they should doe for their families I will now endeavour to manifest Thus then First In the generall you must have a care to bring them to the market When some of your familie want new things you usually take them to the market that they may be fitted for the purpose This is the generall Direction bring them to the market see that thy children and servants doe constantly frequent the Church assemblies Isa. 55. 1. Hoe every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters Doest thou thirst after the salvation of thy wife or children or servants O then bring them to the waters pray earnestly to God for them but withall bring them to the publike Ordinance It is the safest buying things eyther for our selves or our families in the publike Market place Bring thy children and servants to Gods house and Ordinances It is not enough to be constantly there our selves unlesse we bring our children and servants with us See upon what proofe I speake it Deut. 31. 11 12. When all Israel shall come to appeare before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose Thou shalt reade this Law before all Israel Gather the people together men women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates that they may heare and learne to feare the Lord thy God c. So then this is the first thing in the generall doe not content thy selfe to come alone to Gods Ordinances but also bring thy children and servants with thee for God will not say unto thee in that case as he did to Adam Where art thou but as unto Cain Gen. 4. Where is thy Brother So where is thy wife and where are thy children and servants What make they abroad about foolish vanities when they should be present here in the Church assemblies When they should be making markets for their soules Command them to keepe the way of the Lord as Abraham did Gen. 18. 19. When thou commest out of thine owne house with a purpose to goe to Gods house say unto thy familie as Isa. 2. 3. Come let us goe up to the house of the Lord and he will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his pathes This is sweet musicke in the eares of God Almightie when we thus stirre up one another to love and unto good workes Thus in the generall Secondly Doe thy best endeavour to fit and prepare them before they come to Gods publike Ordinances labour to plow up the fallow ground of their hearts Jer. 4. 3. When you have a purpose to take your children abroad to market you cause them to make preparation and to put on faire cloathes and not to come abroad in nastie or filthie apparell Doe so in this case helpe them to put on the wedding garment of due preparation have a care to pray with them and for them Thus Paul Rom. 10. 1. My hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved Doe thy best to prepare and fit them for according to the measure of our preparation will be for the most part our profit Oh therefore take paines with them in private by godly advise and counsell catechise and instruct them teach them before they come to the market how to lay out their money especially forget not to pray with them and for them that they may speed well and prosper in making holy markets for their soules Thirdly bring them along with thee and neither send them before nor let them stay behind thee For alas children and youth being sent to the market alone will play by the way and trifle away their time untill the market be done And therefore saith David Psal. 42. 4. When I went with the multitude I led them to the House of God Not as the practise of some is that say well I will goe to Church wife make haste and come away she stayeth a great while before she be ready and the children and servants as long after her that the market is almost done ere the whole family come in No thou shouldest rather say Isa. 2. 3. Come let us goe up to the house of the Lord and labour to see that thy children and servants may be ready as soone as thy selfe that they may say unto thee as some did to David Come Sirs let us goe up to the House of the Lord Psalm 122. I was glad when they said unto mee let us goe up to the house of the Lord this did him good at heart to bee so excited and exhorted Fourthly See that they minde their businesse and ply their markets when they are come let them not stand and looke about them or laugh or talke as too many doe sleepe as some doe have an eye to your children and servants while they are present in the Church assemblies that their cariage may bee such as becommeth those that are in the speciall presence of God Almighty You know children are apt to trifle away their time
night or a Masters returne home who hath set no time but commandeth his servants to watch Watch ye therefore for yee know neither the day nor the houre saith our Saviour Mat. 25. 13. But blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he commeth shall finde so doing watching and working with all diligence Luk. 12. 43. Thirdly After wee once begin to serve God we had need to use all diligence and spend as much time as wee can that way because wee are long before wee spend any time at all to this purpose Some stay twenty thirtie fortie fiftie yeares before they doe God any service at all to any purpose all such had need to worke hard when they have once begun Yea and such as begin betime they stay long before they enter our child-hood and youth are a great part spent before we enter into Gods Vineyard Matth. 20. 1. There were some that began early in the morning but it was the third houre our nine of the clocke before any more came verse 3. and some stayd untill the eleventh houre five a clocke at night an houre before Sun set and therefore such had need to worke hard Generally we spend time for our selves for the world for Sathan before we spend any time for God for ye are all the children of wrath by nature Ephes. 2. 3. serving diverse lusts and pleasures Tit. 2. 3. So that for the most part it is long before we serve God Marke that speech of the Apostle to this purpose Romans 13. 11. And that knowing the time that it is high time to awake out of sleepe It is high time to serve God for the night is farre spent that is the time of this life is farre spent it is high time to fall to worke Now lay these together the time of this life is the only time that wee have to serve God it is very short and uncertaine at best and withall it is very farre spent before we begin therefore wee had need to ply our worke with all diligence This is the Apostles chiefe Argument to perswade us to spend much time in Gods service or according to his will 2 Peter 4. 2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God Why so see verse 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles i. e. it is enough and too much alas that wee have mispent so much of our precious time already it is now high time to redeeme time to spend in Gods service Hee that hath but a small stocke in all and mispendeth some part of that too had need to bee sparing and frugall with that which is left here is our very case our time that we have to spend in Gods service the whole time of our life is but short wee have mispent much already wee had need to spend all the rest if it were possible wholly in Gods service Fourth Motive to perswade us to spend much time in Gods service is drawne from the consideration of the excellency of that Master whom wee serve Behold Lord how that I am thy servant saith David Psalme 116. 16. Ye call me Lord and Master saith our Saviour and yee say well for so I am Iohn 13. 23. Yea Lord so thou art absolutely the best and most incomparable Master in heaven and earth This I will strive and endeavour to manifest in sundry particulars which will be so many severall Motives to perswade us to spend as much time in his service as we can possibly First Our heavenly Master is a most potent or Almightie Master able to defend us from dangers able to provide for us he is God Almightie as we professe in the first Article of our Creede So 2 Cor. 6. last Thus God himselfe encourageth Abraham to doe him service Gen. 17. 1. I am God Almightie or the Strong God walke before me and be upright He is able to bring to passe what he pleaseth in heaven or earth Psal. 115. 3. Is any thing too hard for the Lord sayth God himselfe Gen. 18. 14. He is able to defend us from all dangers that may befall us and to supply us with all necessaries so that we neede feare nothing if we be carefull to serve God Gen. 15. 1. Feare not Abraham I am thy Shield therefore nothing can hurt thee and I am thy exceeding great reward therefore make no question of thy wages let no man thinke or say it is in vaine to serve God for we serve such a Master as is both able to defend us and pay us our wages to the full that we neede never repent our worke For he is able to doe for us exceeding abundantly above all that we can aske or thinke sayth the Apostle Ephes 3. 20. there is his power This made the three noble Iewes sticke to Gods service they would by no meanes change their Master because they knew his power and abilitie both to defend and reward them Dan. 3. 17. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us and he will deliver us out of thine hands O King So that if we serve this Master we neede feare nothing in regard of his power Secondly He is such a Master as is alwayes present with his servants to defend them If a Master be able yet what are his servants better for him in his absence â—ow our heavenly Master is ever present 〈◊〉 us to defend us his eye is continually 〈…〉 Psal. 33. 9. Thus God encouragetâ—â— â—â—uah Chap. 1. 9. Have not I commanded thee Be strong and of a good courage be not afraid c. for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest Now if God be with us we need not feare who are or can be against us Rom. 8. 31. Especially we never set our selves to serve God in the duties of his publike worship and service but he is present with us in a speciall manner Mat. 18. 20. Mat. 28. 20. Loe I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world This is an excellent argument to perswade us to spend much time in Gods service how difficult or dangerous soever it may seeme to be because wee may be sure of Gods presence with us Isa. 41. 10. Feare not I am with thee be not afraid I am thy God I will helpe thee c. What if we passe through the fire or water afflictions yet we need feare nothing so long as wee are sure the Lord is with us Now see what a promise wee have for this Isa. 43. 1 2. Feare not sayth the Lord I have redeemed thee thou art mine i. e. thou art my servant by purchase or redemption What then Ver. 2. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame
kindle upon thee neither fire nor water can hurt us if God be with us This made Ioseph prosper so exceedingly in all his dangers He was first cast into a pit then sold into Aegypt then cast into prison put in the Stockes the iron entred even into his soule but in all these extremities the Lord was with him Gen. 39. 21. Yea and at last made him Ruler of all Aegypt This made Hezekiah prosper so exceedingly in all his enterprises see how the Text reporteth it in 2 Kings 18. 5. He trusted in the Lord God of Israel and clave unto him and served him ver 6. Then see the event ver 7. And the Lord was with him and prospered him whithersoever he went and therefore see how he could encourage his Souldiers against the invasion of the King of Assyria in 2 Chron. 32. 7. Be not afraid of the King of Assyria be strong and couragious for notwithstanding all his multitude there is more with us then with him Now see how he proveth it ver 8. both by way of confession and by direct affirmation With him indeede is an arme of flesh but with us is the Lord our God to helpe us and to fight our battells Yea thus the Lord encouraged Paul to an unwearied painfulnes in preaching the Gospel Act. 18. 9 10. Be not afraid but speake and hold not thy peace for I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee This will make a man couragious even in the strongest dangers in the very jawes of death Psal. 23. 4. Though I walke through the valley of the shadow of death I will feare no evill sayth holy David for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me Let us therefore be couragious and abundant in the duties of Gods service for the Lord is ever present with us to defend us and to provide for us This is Davids reason in the verse immediately following the words of this Text ver 11. of this Psalme For the Lord is a Sunne and a Shield he will give grace and glorie and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke uprightly in his service So Jer. 1. 19. Thirdly He is a pitifull and tender-hearted Master full of compassion marvellous readie to lay to heart the afflictions of his servants In all their afflictions he is afflicted Isa. 53. 9. Excellent to this purpose is that of St. Iames 5. 11. Yee have heard of the patience of Iob and ye know the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pitifull and of tender mercie As if he had sayd yee may clearely see in Gods dealings with Iob that in conclusion he approved himselfe to be very pitifull and of tender mercie A strange place to this purpose is that we have Judges 10. Though he seemeth to reject them and hold them at staves end for a time yet upon their repentance see how sweetly he approveth and manifesteth his compassion towards them Ver. 16. They put away their strange gods and served the Lord and his soule was grieved for the miseries of Israel though he may shut up his bowells for a time yet at last his compassions will finde a vent his very soule is grieved for our miseries So Ier. 31. 18 19 20. Consider the estate of repenting Ephraim the Lord seemeth angry with him and speaketh against him yea and it may be smiteth him too but no sooner doth Ephraim truely repent and smite upon his thigh and fall out with his sinnes but then see how God is affected with him when he thinketh worst of himselfe then God thinketh the best of him see ver 20. Is Ephraim my deare childe It may be Ephraim thought himselfe scarce worthy the name of a servant and yet God even then calleth him his childe yea his deare childe Well how shall this appeare Surely by the Lords gracious pity and compassion towards him now he is sorry for his sinnes God is sorry that he did so much as speake against him For since I spake against him I doe earnestly remember him still therefore my bowells are troubled for him I will surely have mercie on him sayth the lord Oh who would not serve such a Master that is thus full of compassion thus readie to lay to heart and be affected with his servants miseries yea his very bowells are troubled his soule is grieved for them O let vs be plentifull and abundant in the service of such a Master Fourthly The Lord is readie to manifest this tender mercie and this gracious disposition of his in pardoning the wants and weaknesses of his servants in subduing their corruptions and in keeping covenant with them I must lap up many things together because I have not time to expresse them severally First He is sinne-pardoning Master yea he alone can doe it no man hath power on earth to forgive sinnes but God alone Mat. 9. Blesse the Lord O my soule forget not all his benefits who forgiveth thine iniquities and healeth thy diseases sayth David Psal. 103. 2 3. Here is a sin-pardoning Master yea he taketh no notice many times of our infirmities but graciously passeth by the weaknesses of his servants Numb 23. 21. He hath not beheld iniquitie in Iacob he hath not seene perversenesse in Israel or if he doe see he freely forgiveth it and spareth his servants as a man spareth his own sonne that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. And then he is a Covenant-keeping Master All his promises are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. Daniel giveth him this title Dan. 9. 4. O God the great and terrible that keepest Covenant with them that love thee he is alwayes as good as his word and often better Faithfull is he that hath called you 1 Thes. 5. 24. namely to his service he will keepe Covenant with you Nay see a place that hath all these together in it Mich. 7. 18 19. Who is a God like unto thee The Lord is a most incomparable Master there is none like him in all the world Why so Surely for those three things whereof I have now spoken first He is a sinne-pardoning secondly a corruption-killing thirdly a Covenant-keeping Master See all these in this Text That pardonest iniquitie and passeth by transgression c. there is a sinne-pardoning Master secondly He will subdue our iniquities and heale our back-slidings as Hosea 14 4. there is a corruption-killing Master Thou wilt performe thy truth to Iacob and mercie to Abraham and therefore he is a Covenant-keeping Master If this be rightly considered this will make us spend much time in Gods service Fifthly The Lord is a soule-saving Master yea he alone is able to doe this no Master under heaven is able to doe this An earthly Master may be kinde to his servants and give them many good things but he cannot save or redeeme their soules he must let that alone for ever Even they that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the
multitude of their riches these seeme to be very powerfull Masters yet marke what the holy Ghost sayth of such Psal. 49. 6 7 8. None of them can by any meanes redeeme his brother nor give to God a ransome for him for the Redemption of the soule is precious and ceaseth for ever All the men in the world with all the wealth in the world are not able to save one soule And what is a man profited if he could winne the whole world if he loose his soule sayth our Saviour Mat. 16. 26. But now this our heavenly Master is able to save a soule from death and cover a multitude of sinnes Thou hast delivered my soule from death sayth David Psal. 116. 8. Yea he is the author of eternall salvation to them that doe obey him Heb. 5. 9. Here is a Master worth serving that is able to save the soules of his servants with an everlasting salvation Psal. 3. 8. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord i. e. it is his peculiar Sixthly He is readie to accept and take in good part the poore endeavours of his servants yea their desires if sincere and fervent doe finde acceptance with him God doth indeed set his servants hard taskes many times such as they are never able to performe of themselves He commandeth us to love him with all our hearts and keep all his Commandements but his meaning is according to the mitigation of the Gospell onely that we should earnestly desire and doe our best endeavour to doe so and then it is sufficient in Gods account A loving Father that would try the willingnesse of his childe biddeth him goe sirrah runne and fetch me such a great piece of wood which it may be is as much as five or six men could carry but if he finde him willing and readie to doe his best endeavour it contenteth the Father so dealeth God with his servants He spareth them as a man spareth his owne sonne that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. Yea if there be but first of all a willing minde it is accepted according to that we have and not according to that we have not sayth the Apostle 2 Cor. 8. 12. Yea sincere desires are graciously accepted See how Nehemiah propoundeth his case Neh. 1. 11. O Lord I beseech thee let thine eares be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayers of thy servants that desire to feare thy Name especially if these be seconded and accompanied with earnest and sincere endeavours Thus Abrahams resolution to offer his Sonne Gen. 22. 12. was accepted as if he had actually done it and therefore by faith Abraham when he was tryed offered up Isaac sayth the Holy Ghost Heb. 11. 17. and yet we see in the Storie that actually and really he did it not no the Lord himselfe withheld him by a voyce from heaven and yet in this place yee see it is said that he did offer Isaac when he was tryed that is he was readie to have done it it was his purpose if God himselfe had not granted him a dispensation and therefore in Gods account it was done Yea sayth the Lord himselfe Gen. 22. 13. Because thou hast done this though indeede he did it not yet because he was willing to have done it it was done in Gods account and in his gracious acceptance Oh who would not be constant and abundant in the service of such a Master Seventhly This gracious disposition of our Master doth farther shew it selfe in that he is readie to helpe and assist his servants in doing that worke which he requireth of them he affoordeth them helpe and strength to doe their worke and therefore though Paul when he looketh upon his own weaknesse and inabilitie is readie to cry out 2 Cor. 2. 26. Who is sufficient for these things yet when he considereth the helping hand of God then he can say I am able to doe all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. And indeed most true is that of our Saviour Joh. 15. 5. Without me yee can doe nothing so by his assistance we can doe all things that he commandeth so as he is pleased to accept of them for the Lord himselfe putteth to his helping hand Psal. 37. 24. Isa. 41. 10. Feare not Iacob I am with thee c. I will helpe thee He will helpe us pray his Spirit shall helpe our infirmities Rom. 8. 26. and helpe us preach and heare and in a word is readie to worke all our workes for us As we deale with a young Scholler that beginneth to write his hand is guided so doth the Lord deale with us Isa. 26. 12. Thou hast wrought all our workes for us Eighthly Let us be abundant and spend much time in Gods service for he is a good pay-master we are not onely sure of our wages because he is constant and faithfull in keeping Covenant as yee heard before but also he is exceeding bountifull and liberall See one expression of his bounty in this Psalm 84. 11. He will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke uprightly As he himselfe loveth a bountifull giver so he is such a one himselfe sc. bountifull and liberall He giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not sayth the Apostle Iam. 1. 5. He doth even daily load his servants with benefits Psalm 68. 19. Blessed be God even the God of our salvation who doth dayly loade us with his benefits Oh who would not be diligent in the service of such a bountifull Master Yea he rewardeth all his Servants with no lesse then a Kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdome So Mat. 25. 34. Come yee blessed children of my Father inherit the Kingdome provided for you from the beginning of the world Yea such a kingdome that consisteth of an eternall and exceeding weight of glory 2 Co. 4. 17 Even such as eye hath not seen neither hath eare heard nor hath ever entred into the heart of man to conceive the worth of 2 Co. 2. 9. O how can we thinke all our time sufficient to spend in the service of such a Master that is thus beneficiall unto his servants Consider also his bounty in giving raine from heaven Act. 14. 17 with Ier. 5. 24. Let us now feare the Lord c. I omit to shew further how slow he is to anger how ready to forgive to be reconciled He doth even beseech us to be reconciled unto him as the Apostle speaks 2 Co. 5. 20 Ninthly He is such a Master that taketh pleasure in the prosperitie of his servants and is constant in his love towards them earthly Masters are changeable and fickle and doe often envie the prosperitie of their servants but the Lord hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his seruants and his love towards them is constant and unchangeable For the first observe it Psal. 35. 27. Let them say continually let
of diverse sorts 1. Sort. 1. Such as can finde time for every thing but onely for Gods service 2. Sort. Are such as spend more time in idle pleasures and recreation then in Gods service Remedies against this 1. Remedie 2. Remedie 3. Sort. Are such as stay long before they beginne to spend any time at all that way Simile Antidotes against this Gods command Consider that the time wee have to spend is very uncertaine The longer we are before we beginne the more difficulties wee shall meete withall Consider how just it is for God to reject such as doe turne at last 4. Sort. Such as spend some time in Gods service but not enough 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 The stronger our assurance of salvation Wee shall bring credit to our profession 5. Sort. Such as spend more time in the Devils service then in Gods Preservatives 1. Remedy Whilest we live thus we are children of wrath 2. Remedy God wil not heare their prayers that doe so 3. Remedy All such are at utter enmity with God 4. Remedy Consider that the devill is the worst Master that we can serve 6. Sort. Such as will neither spend Time in Gods service themselves nor suffer others Luk. 11 52. See the wofull estate of all such Guilty of the bloud of soules Ezec. 33. 6. A sinne of a large extent reacheth up unto heaven The wrath of God is ready to fall on them to the uttermost A fearefull signe of reprobation A signe they belong to Sathan Vse 3. sc. For Exhortation to sundry duties especially three 1. Duty That wee begin betimes and set our selves ever speedily to serve the Lord and without all delay Motives 2. 1. The utility as appeareth in sundry benefits which flow from hence Benefit The Lord taketh it exceeding kindly if we set our selves to serve him in our youth 2. Benefit It will prevent the Lustes of youth which will else lie heavie upon us in our age Service of sinne bitternesse in the end 3. Benefit Quo semel est imbuta c. It will make us constant in Gods service in our age 4. Benefit The more comfort for the present the more glory hereafter 5. Benefit Hereby wee shall comfort our parents and requite their love 2. Motive 2 Necessity Eccles. 12. 1. Sundry mischiefs which flow from the neglect of it 1 Mischiefe Wee shall serve worse Masters 2 Mischiefe The more difficult Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit 3. Mischiefe God hath just cause to reject such in their age See their Histories Mr. Harris Abs. Funerall Mischiefe As none can be saved except he repentâ— so none can repent unlesse it be given him from above Men may dye three wayes 1 Suddenly 2 Sullenly 3 Desperately Qui dat misericordium poenitentibus non dat semper poenitentium petentibus Aug. Vt vera poenitentia nunquâ—m est sera sic sera poenitentia raro vera Bis dat qui citò dat Sen. Proverbe 5. Mischiefe Bringeth Gods wrath upon children Vse of Exhortation 2. Branch sc. To bee constant in Gods service when wee have once begun Motives Which are threefold The equity God is our Master and wee his servants many wayes Wee are Gods servants by profession 2 His sworne servants We are his made servants His bought servants or by way of Redemption Simile We are his hired servants Psal. 105. last 2. Motive From the Vtilitie as appeareth by sundry benefits 1. Benefit It will assure us 〈◊〉 when wee dye we shall goe to heaven 2. Benefit This will be our crowne of glorie in our age 3. Benefit This will also assure us that we 〈◊〉 Christs Disciples 4. Benefit That God will heare our prayers 5. Benefit All such shall bee taught of God and directed in his truth 6. Benefit This will afford us comfort in the greatest troubles that can befall us yea even in death 3. Motive The necesâ—itie of it Constancie in Gods service is necessarie Arguments Els we loose all the pains we have taken in Gods service heretofore Danger of backsliding It is a thing most odious and hatefull to God Necessary to bee constant because the devill seeketh continually to doe us mischiefe and bring us backe to his kingdome Meanes Generall A right disposition of the heart shewing it selfe In sundry specialties 2. Speciall 1 It must bee a faithfull or beleeving heart A loving heart An heart fraught with the true feare of God A sound and upright or a good and an honest heart An heart yeelding obedience in lesser matters Dike Deceitf of heart page 191. Lastly an heart â—tored with courage and paâ—â—ence 3. Dutie To spend as much time in Gods service as wee can possibly Motives Time present is the only time for this purpose 2. Motive This time is short Ars longa vitabrevis 3. Motive Wee stay long before we begin 4. Motive The excellency of our Master Almightie Master able to defend his servants and to provide for them He is ever present with them Very pitifull and full of compassion Readie to pardon the wants and weaknesses of his servants A soule-saving Master Accepteth the will for the deed Helpeth his servants in doing their duties to him A good pay-master and bountifull Taketh pleasure in their prosperitie Heareth pâ—avers and revengeth the wrongs and injuries that are offered to them * Rom. 10. Meanes And directions how to spend much time in Gods service 1. An heart rightly fitted and prepared for this purpose 2. Direction Sc. Constancy in the private duties and exercises of Religion 3. Direction 1. Beginne each day with the private duties of Religion 4 Direction Wee must labour to have our hearts fraught with the love of Gods house and Ordinances Motives To perswade us to the love of Gods house and Ordinances 2. Motive The worth and excellencie of Gods Ordinances 3. Motive The singular use and benefit of them 1. Benefit Of the Word preached it is the Word of God 2. Benefit The Word of Health 3. Benefit The Word of Comfort 4. Benefit The Word of spirituall consolation 5. Benefit The word of eternall life and salvation 5. Direction Redeeme the Time Whately Redemption of Time All mispenders of time must be suppressed Let. 1. 1. Sinnc Quest. Resp. 1. Remedy Sinne must be discovered and found out 2. Remedy Smite it with the two edged sword of the Spirit Heb. 4. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Super â—mnem gladinm ancipitem 3. Remedie Flâ—e unto Heaven for aâ—de bâ—â—ervent prayeâ— Whateley's Husbandry pag. 8 Ibid. p. 8â— M. Bernard Isle of man pag. 165. 4. Remedie 1. Medit. Iam. 1. 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Medit. 3. Medit. 2. Let. Excessive sleeping or sluggishnes 1. Rule or Remedie To habituate or accustome our selves to timely rising 2. Rule or Remedy Take heede of immoderate use of the Creatures 3. Let. Immoderate carking and caring for the things of this life The great hurt that this thiefe will doe us It keepeth us from the performance of holy duties Or
our Saviour Mat. 13. 44. Let no man thinke it deare because he must sell all that he hath before he can buy it of Christ for alas what doth our Saviour meane by All that he hath but that which he hath of his owne not his wealth nor his wit nor his life save onely in some cases but all that he hath that is all his sinnes all his lusts all his earthly members his corrupt and vicious affections his actuall transgressions these he must needs sell these he may well spare nay these will be his utter ruine if he sell them not See how the Lord expoundeth it himselfe Ezech. 18. 31. Cast away from you all your transgressions and make you a new heart and a new soule Why will ye die O house of Israell We must not stand dodging with Christ but part with our sinnes freely and we shall have a most blessed and happie exchange Sixthly To the making of this bargaine there is another thing necessary and that is That wee must prepare a vessell to put it in When a man hath bought his commoditie and payed the price of it then he looketh for his wallet or basket or something to carie it home in so that all that come to this spirituall market to bargaine with Christ for this jewell of true saving grace they must bring hearts emptie and ready to receive it Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it sayth the Text Psal. 81. 10. Come hither sayth God let me see thy heart open the mouth of thy heart that it may be fit to receive and cary away this precious commoditie See the practise of Gods people for this this was David's practise Psal. 119. 11. I have hid thy Word in my heart that I might not sinne against thee So the Baereans They received the Word with all readinesse of minde Acts 17. 11. This was Lydia's practise God opened the heart of Lydia that shee attended to those things that were spoken by Paul Acts 16. 14. This was a piece of Maryes good housewifery Luk. 2. 51. Shee kept these sayings and pondered them in her heart When we come to Gods Ordinances we must have a speciall care to prepare our hearts to that purpose that we may be able to say with David Psal. 108. 1. O God my heart is prepared or my heart is readie My sonne give me thine heart sayth Salomon Pro. 23. 26. Yea see how expresly the Lord required it of old Deut. 32. 46. Set your hearts unto all the words that I command you this day i. e. here is saving grace offered to thee in this Ordinance let me see thine heart what hast thou else to put it in trust not thy memory alone with it but hide it with David in the middest of thy heart Seventhly There must be a speciall care to keepe it from loosing when we have it If a man goe to market on purpose to buy some precious jewell which costeth him all that he hath he is undone if he loose it by the way Heb. 4. 1. Take heed of loosing the grace of God let it not run out as the word importeth Proove all things and keepe that which is good sayth the Apostle 1 Thes. 5. 21. Blessed are they that heare the Word of God and keepe it It is not the hearing of Gods Word but the keeping of it that is the way to true happinesse If a man buy never so good a peny-worth if he loose it by the way it will never enrich him Therefore after we have bought the commoditie there must be a care to keepe it let us knit up the mouth of our vessell by prayer and meditation that wee loose not our treasure Eighthly and lastly A care to make a right use of it both in regard of our selves and others This last direction divideth it selfe into two branches First He that hath bought true saving grace must labour to make use of it for his owne particular Commodities are bought to be used cloathes to be worne meate to be eaten c. so when we goe to the market of Gods Ordinances to get grace we must have a care to practise what we know Jam. 1. 22. Be yee doers of the Word and not hearers onely deceiving your selves He that contenteth himselfe with bare hearing leaveth his markets undone or at least hath lost his commoditie If yee know these things happie are yee if ye doe them sayth our Saviour Ioh. 13. 17. See the use that David would make of this precious commoditie Psal. 119. 11. I have hid thy Word in mine heart that I might not sinne against thee To make grace an Antidote or preservative against sinne is the right use of it indeed Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for the meat that endureth sayth our Saviour Joh. 6. 27. What should we doe with meat but eate it The best meate in the world will never nourish unlesse it be eaten and therefore sayth the Prophet Come buy and eate and let your soule delight it selfe in fatnesse Eating and digesting is the end of buying food and practise the end of hearing The want of this was the fault of Ezechiel's hearers they came to the market and seemed to buy good provision but they wanted good stomackes to digest it They heare thy words but they will not doe them their stomackes were cloyed before they had gotten a surfet of covetousnesse Ezech. 33. 31. Secondly A care to make a right use of it in regard of others Men do not buy commodities for their owne use onely but also for their families and neighbours the master of a familie buyeth provision not onely for himselfe but for his wife and children and servants yea if he be a kinde man indeede he will invite his neighbours and make them partakers of his good provision Vnto him that hath this care to employ it shall be given and he shall have abundance Mat. 25. 29. But he that layeth it up in a napkin and maketh no use of it neither for himselfe nor the good of others shall have it taken from him at last and himselfe be punished for want of making a right use of it ver 30. But every good man is of a quite contrary disposition observe it in Psal. 37. 30 31. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdome and his tongue will be talking of judgement Whence cometh this The Law of God is in his heart and none of his steps slide He that hath the law of grace setled in his owne heart will not onely take heed to his owne wayes but will labour also to be an instrument of benefit and good to others See an experiment of this in two famous examples for this purpose 1. That of David Psal. 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee So see what the Lord sayth of Abraham Gen. 18. 19. I know Abraham that he will command his children and servants to
and faithfull servant because thou hast beene faithfull in a few things have thou authoritie over ten Cities Yea who must have the odde Talent but he that had ten before Ver. 24. And he sayd unto them that stood by Take the Talent from him and give it to him that hath ten Talents They said unto him v. 25. Lord he hath ten Talents i.e. he hath enough alreadie now observe the answer ver 26. For unto every one that hath shall be given c. He that hath most grace to spend most time in Gods service on earth shall have the greatest reward and the most glorie in heaven Oh therefore beginne betime to get grace that thou mayest have the more glorie in heaven Fifthly The sooner we beginne to spend time in Gods service the sooner shall we beginne to requite our Parents love and to affoord them comfort The childes well-doing is the Parents comfort Yea many Parents that are not so religious themselves rejoyce yet to see their children zealous and forward that way A wise Sonne maketh a glad Father sayth Salomon Prov. 10. 1. A wise Sonne that is a religious childe one that setteth himselfe to serve God in his youth he rejoyceth the heart of his Father But a foolish Sonne that is an ungodly Impe is the griefe of his Mother Vngodly children like a viperous brood do eate out the very hearts of their parents and doe stab their hearts with sorrow and heavinesse It is a strange speech of Salomon 17. 21. He that begetteth a foole that is an ungracious child for that is Salomons foole doth it to his sorrow and the Father of a foole hath no joy I marvaile not more that old Ely brake his necke with his fall at last then that his sonnes had not broken his heart long before with their vicious courses Oh let us therefore serve God in our youth that it may be a comfort to our Parents in their age Here is the fifth Benefit But besides the Vtilitie let us in the second place consider the Necessitie For besides the expresse charge that wee have from God to this purpose see the dangerous consequences and inconveniences that follow upon the neglect of it So that wee must needs doe it or we must doe worse Now the mischiefes that doe especially flow from the neglect of Gods service in our youth are principally five First If we doe not serve God in our youth we shall serve worse Masters sc. the Devill the world and the flesh He that serveth not God must serve the Devill it is unavoydable observe it Ephes. 2. 2. Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the ayre the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience But how came this to passe See Ver. 12. At that time yee were without Christ c. without God in the world He that is without Christ and without God will not nor cannot be without his lustes Vntill we become the servants of God we are all the vassals of Sathan and slaves to our own filthy lustes Titus 3. 3. For wee our selves were sometimes foolish serving diverse lustes and pleasures c. Loe our woefull Masters untill we set our selves to serve God Living in malice hatefull and hating one another sayth the Apostle there Yee cannot serve God and Mammon sayth our blessed Saviour Mat. 6. 24. As if he had sayd Yee cannot but serve one of them He that committeth sinne is the servant of sinne a wofull Master See what lamentable wages such Masters usually give their servants in the end The wages of sinne is death sayth the Apostle Rom. 6. 23. See then how necessary it is to serve God and that speedily for till then we must of necessitie serve wofull Masters for wofull wages But O the happinesse of such as spend time in Gods service Ver. 22. But now being made free from sinne and become the servants of God yee have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life There is excellent wages Secondly The longer we stay before we set our selves to serve God the more difficult and hard we shall finde it if we doe returne to God at last He that posteth the contrary way is still the farther from his journeys end and will have the lesse minde to returne Continuance in evill breedeth a custome in sinne which is not left without great difficultie Ier. 13. 23. Can the Aethiopian change his skinne or the Leopard his spots then may yee also doe good that are accustomed to doe evill It is exceeding difficult When a man hath gotten a custome of swearing or drinking or gameing how hard is it for such to be reclaimed A twig is easily dealt with which is immoveable if it grow till it become a tree How tractable was Joash in his youth but in his age intolerable He that was guided by Jehojada in his youth killed his sonne Zachariah afterward Much more he that is bad in his youth may be worse in his age Thirdly How just is it with God to reject them in their age which have rejected his service in their youth Men thinke any thing is good enough for God the rotten old age the blinde and the lame and the sicke but how much they are deceived the Prophet sheweth Mal. 1. Offer it now to thy Prince or thy Governour sayth the Lord would he accept it at thy hands Suppose that a Souldier should spend all his youth in service against his Soveraigne and then in his old age should offer his service to his Prince How justly might such a base offer be rejected Why should we spend the flower of our youth in vanitie and yet thinke that God should accept of us in our age He that runneth from God the greatest part of his life God may hide himselfe from him at his death witnesse Spira and the Kentish Apothecarie how wofully did God hide himselfe from them in death that had neglected his service in their life When the Father seeth the childe readie to play with every toy or feather and not to minde his way he steppeth behinde a bush and hideth himselfe a good while before the childe can finde him so dealeth God with his children Verely thou art a God that hydest thy selfe O God of Israel the Saviour Isa. 45. 15. If Gods children will walke so neare hell mouth the greatest part of their life no marvell if at the time of death the Lord take them by the heeles and make them beleeve he will throw them in So I conceive the Lord dealt with Spira and the Apothecarie I love them that love me sayth Wisedome and they that seeke me early shall finde me Pro. 8. 17. To intimate unto us that it is possible for a man to come too late There is a time when God will not be found as is intimated Isa. 55. 6. See an experiment of such as come
the Lord be magnified which hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his servants He loveth to have them merry at meate and at worke and sing for joy of heart Isa. 65. 14. And withall he is constant in his love towards them if he be angry it is but for a moment but his love and mercie is everlasting towards them See a singular place for this purpose in Isa. 54. 7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee and ver 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercie on thee sayth the Lord thy Redeemer If he be wroth if he seeme to forsake or hide himselfe from his servants it is but for a moment but his love and kindnesse is everlasting his mercy endureth for ever having loved his owne which were in the world he loved them unto the end sayth our Saviour Ioh. 13. 1. not for a time but for ever his love like himselfe is constant and unchangeable it is an everlasting love Ier. 31. 3. With an everlasting love have I loved thee therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawne thee sayth the Lord. Yea his love to his servants is so constant that nothing shall be able to diprive them of it nothing can finally doe it and for ever Rom. 8. 37 38. For I am perswaded sayth the Apostle that neither death nor life nor Angells nor height nor depth nor things present nor things to come nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yea sinne it selfe that is the most dangerous enemy of all for your iniquities have separated between you and your God Isa. 59. 1. cannot doe it yea rather then so your sinnes shall be pardoned and that for his owne sake Isa. 43. 25. for I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake will not remember thy sinnes Here is a gracious and a constant loving Master Tenthly and lastly This heavenly Master of ours is readie dayly to manifest and expresse his love towards his servants in hearing their prayers and revenging all such wrongs as are offered unto them See the proofe of this priviledge in both the branches of it First For his hearing prayers it is one of his titles of honour to heare prayers Psal. 65. 2. Especially the prayers of his servants and such as feare him Joh. 9. 31. If any man be a worshipper of God and a doer of his Will him he heareth Yea he will fulfill the desires of them that feare him he will heare their cry and save them Psalm 145. 18. And if any man delight in Gods service he shall have his hearts desire Psal. 37. 4. Delight thy selfe in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart What greater priviledge Yea he is many times found of them when they doe not seeke him Isa. 65. 24. It shall come to passe that when they call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will heare O how open is his eare unto their complaints when they are wronged by their adversaries and how readie is the Lord even speedily to avenge their wrongs Heare what the unjust Iudge sayth sayth our Saviour Luk. 18. 7. And shall not God avenge his owne Elect which cry day and night unto him I tell you that he will avenge them speedily True it is he will not allow his servants to be their own carvers and avenge themselves But what need they when he is ready to doe it for them Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Ro. 12. 19. He that toucheth Gods servants to hurt them doth touch the aple of his eye Zach. 2. 8 Hee taketh all their wrongs and injuries as done to himselfe and he will certainely and wisely avenge their wrongs 2 Kings 9. 7. Iehu shall smite Ahab and Iezabel but to what end Iehu's end was to get the kingdome but what was the Lords end that yee shall see in the place forenamed That I may avenge the bloud of my servants the Prophets and the bloud of all the servants of the Lord at the hands of Iezabell they must pay deare that shed the bloud of Gods servants the Lord himselfe will bee avenged of them Another place to this purpose is that we have Deut. 32. 41. If I whet my glistering sword and my hand takes hold on judgement I will render vengeance to mine enemies c. and I will make my arrowes drunke with bloud and my sword shall devoure flesh c. But whose bloud and flesh shall thus goe to wracke That ye shall see verse 43. Surely they that have shed the bloud of his servants for hee will avenge the bloud of his servants saith the Text. Who would not be abundant in his service that will not suffer his servants bloud to be unavenged CHAP. VIII Containing the three first Directions or meanes how to spend much time in Gods service FIrst If wee would spend much time in Gods service we must labour to have our hearts rightly fitted and prepared for that purpose There is a price in the hand of many a foole to get wisdome but he wanteth an heart to get wisdome saith Salomon Pro. 17. 16. How many blessed opportunities have we of spending time in Gods service which are let slip because wee want hearts rightly prepared for that purpose Hereupon it is that in the first place God requireth our hearts Proverbs 23. 26. My son give me thy heart and Ier. 14. 4. O Ierusalem wash thy heart from wickednesse A prophane heart can never endure to spend much time in God service but straight cryeth out behold what a wearinesse is it Mal. 1. 13. Hence it is that the Lord cryeth out most of all for want of a right and fit disposition of heart in the duties of his service Isaiah 29. 13. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouthes and honour me with their lips but their hearts are farre from me Here was the defects of Ezechiels hearers Ezech. 33. 31. ver They come unto thee as my people commeth and they also sit before thee as my people and they heare my words but they will not doe them where was the chiefe fault Surely in the heart for with their mouthes they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousnesse A covetous and a vicious heart will soone make a man weary of time spent in Gods service and therefore when any man setteth himselfe to doe God any service the Lord looketh directly with what heart he doth it It is an excellent speech of God to Samuel when hee was to choose Israel a King 1 Sam. 16. 7. the Lord said to Samuel Looke not on his countenance nor on the height of his stature c. For the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord