$erm.How muli we make Religion, our bufsnefs ? 527 From this example of our blefï'fd Saviour in making his Fathers work hit bufinefs, we learn this great Truth, That it is the duty of every Chrißian to make Religion hù bufinefs. Dour. Religion is not a 77.1fEWP or thirg by the bye, proper only tor fpare hours, but it mutt be the grand bufinefs of our lives; St Pawl made it fo, his great care was to know Chrift, and to be found in Chrift, Phil. 3.9,10. how abundantly did he lay out liimfelf for God, i Cor. 15. I o. mietc4se9v U07/1107:4, 1 laboured snore abundantly than they all, &c. Saint Pau 1 moved heavenward, not flow'y as the Sun on the Dial, but as the Sun in its hamifphere with a winged fwifencfs ; he made Religi- on his bufinefs. For the illuftrating and unfoleing of this, there are three Quefli- ons to be refolved, a. What is meant by Religion. 2. Why we mutt mE,keReligion our bufinefs. 3. What it is to make Religion our bufinefs. r. What is meant by Religion ? I anfwer, the Latine word religió 14efl, r, quali religatio , it fignifies a knitting together ; fin bath loofned Larla+rtiKQ,t.4. us from God, but when Religion comes into the heart, it doth re- div. inßit. ligare, fatten the heart to God again; as the members are knit to the head by feverall nerves and ligaments : Religion is the fpir ituafl finew and Lgzment that knits us to God. The Greek word for Religion s,vngc -ia *,. fignifies a right wor/bipping. This is Religion, whFn *Ab ; , air we no only worfhip the true God, buz in that manner which he goNxt. bath prefcribed.; by a right rule , from a right principle, to a rig'ìt end. 2. The fecond Qzeflion i, Why we mull make Religion our ue/l, 2. bufinefs? I anfwer, liecaufe R-ligon is a matter of the highefl na- ture ; while we are ferving God we are doing Angels Work : the bufinefs of Religion doth infinitely out.ballanc:. all things betides; pleafure, profir, honour, (the Trinity which the world adores) are all of an inferior alloy, and muff give way to Religon. The fear of God is Paid to be the whole duty of man, Ecclef. 12. 13. or as it is in the Hebrew c-77,nt.4n ' the whole of man : other things may de- light, Religion doth fatiate ; other things may make us wife to àdeni' ration, Religion makes us wife to (alvatin, 2 Tim.3. 15. 3. The third , What it is to make,R_ ligion our buti- ,91.4.3. nets? I anfwer : It confifls pri pally in thefe feaven things : I. We make Religion our bufinefs, tr i'en we wholly devote our``;; felves to Religion : Pin/. 119, 38. Stablifh thy word unto thy ¡frvant oho
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=