SLAKING LIGIIT OF CHRIST. 609 much as inquire of those that should teach you, nor use the means which Christ bath established in his church for your help, your own consciences shall one day witness that you were such as made light of Christ and salvation. If any of you doubt whether it be your duty thus to ask counsel of your teachers, as sick men do of their physicians,let your own necessities resolve you, let God's express word resolve you ; see what is said of the priestsof the Lord, even before Christ's coming, when much of their work did lie in ceremonials ! "My covenant was with him of life and peace: and I gave them to him (to Levi) for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips ; he walk- ed with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priests' lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth ; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts;" Mal. ii. 5, 6. Nay, you must not only inquire, and submit to their advice, but also to their just reprehensions, and church censures ; and without proud repining submit to the discipline of Christ in their hands, if it shall be used in the congregations whereof you are members. 4. Will you, for the time to come, make conscience of daily and earnest prayer to God, that you may have a part in Christ and salvation? Do not go out of doors till you have breathed out these desires to God ; do not lie down to rest till you have breathed out these desires ; say not, God knoweth my necessity without so often praying ; for though he do, yet he will have you to know them, and feel them, and exercise your desires and all the graces of his Spirit in these duties: it is he that bath commanded to pray continually, though he know your needs without; 1 Thess. v. 17. Christ himself spent whole nights in prayer, and en- courageth us to this course ; Luke xviii. 1. Ifyou will not be persuaded to this .much, how can you say that you make not light ofChrist and salvation? 5. Will you, for the time to come, resolvedly cast away your known sins at the command of Christ? If you have been proud, or contentious, or malicious, and revengeful, be so no more. If you have been adulterers, or swearers, or cursers, be so no more. You cannot hold these, and yet set by Christ and salvation. What say you? Are you resolved to let them go?, If not, when you know it is the will ofChrist, and he bath told you such shall not enter into his kingdom, do not you make light of him? 6. Will you for the time to come serve God in the dearest as well as in the cheapest part of his service ? Not onlywith your tongues, but with your purses and your deeds ? Shall the poor find that you set more by Christ than this world? Shall it appear VOL. I. 77
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