Burgess - Houston-Packer Collection BT715 .B85 1652

S s c r. XI. GadsStatutes, wadkeepinghaPeeigernents. 555 ting in the Law of God day and night. That phrafe doth not imply, we fbould giveover our Callings, and readnothing elfe but the Bible, it only (hewed] that we make it our chief bufinefTe and imployment to attend to than rule. Therefore the Rabbintook it too litterally,whenbeing asked, whether a man may read Greek Authors, or any humane books but the Bible ? He fwered, If there were any time,that was not part of day, or night; he might an rake that time and fpend it in reading fuch Books: but this was too aria ; it commands us to give the Principality, to give the far, as it were, co the matters of God Oh, but who then is converted , if this -be Co? Where is the man that makesGodtineufehis main work and bulmneffe ? VVho rifech up early, and goeth tobed late to get this bread of life? Look into Perfons, into Families, are not the matters-of the world prefer- red before thematters of godlineffe ? Doe not earthly things makeyou pray, as if you prayednot , fern theLord, as if you ferved him not? You that are godly think of thistruth, and mourn; it is a twoedgedrword: Doth not thy own neaec tell theeoften, that thou doff not make godlincflc thy main buftnef e; The cares, the fnares,and the temptations ofthe world makesthee many times reek the things of the earth in the ficft place. Secondly, It implyeth voluntarineffe, delight; andpleafure in theWayet of gadli- neffe, Its not onely our imploimeeì, and labour, ( for we may be haled to that) but it is our delight, our joy, of r greateft pleafure we have in this life. To walk is a voluntary aPion, and frequently ufed for the expreffion of a mans delight. He is gone to walk, or He walketh inhis Garden. Thus God to expreffe his procee4ion, and delight hebath in us, he promifeth towalk with us, or amongftus,& fee hisTa- bernacle acnongftus,z Cot, 6.15. So that thofewhoare converted, finde it more than honey,riehes,or all,advantages, to be doing the will of .their Father. Hence Plat. t to. they are called awilling people,or willingneffes.David cloth many times exprcife that great delight and pleafurehe takes in the Commandments of God; And Taut. Rom, 7. Idelight in the Lan, of god,, in the inward man. If there- fore'Grace and Godlineffe be thy walk, how great will t'he joy and gladnefie of thy heart'be in all approaches near tohim ? Evetie dude will be like the Mount of Transfiguration , of which thou wilt fay, Its.goodto be here, As our Savi- our,laid, h1e that drink! of the old Wine, would not care for the sew. And thus the godly. man that bath tailed of the goodneat of God, and the lwcctneffe ofgrace, will forget his earthly pleafures, This _Manna will make a man defpife Egyp- tian Garlick : This fatted Calf will makea man regard nomore any Husks: So that you who look upon all godly duties conftantly as a wearit'omneffe, a burden, how can you lay Godhack wrought this new heart to you? Indeed the dulneffe, fluggifhneffe , and partial wearifomneffe that furprizeth even the godly many rimes, doth argue Converlion is but in part, and 'imperfee : and therefore they Mould he in an holy manner grieved , and framed to foul to hear and think of theft things, laying. 'There holy truths have too much linter and dazeliag in them, more thenmy weakinfirm eyesare able to behold,Oh thenhunger and thirft more after this fweetnefteandpleafure, which is tobe had in holineffe. This will be Oil to the wheels ; yea like the fpíric in Ezekiels wheels to makethe foul move fwifdy_ Thirdly,To WalICdenotethdiligence,fregnency and C'uffomarinefa. There is a great. difference between felting a mans foot accidentally or occafionally in a path, and walking in it : eAl,ab occafionallyhumbled himfelf, but it was not his way. Ba. lawn debred todye thedeath of the righteous ; but did he ever doe fo before? He did root walk. lis the Way of righteoufneffe, To walk is a conflant, frequent, cafto- maryexereife of a man, and Bothnot fignifie what a man in Come fits, or tome oc- eafons,maydoe, but what he is accuftomed to : Even as the godly man, he fume- times turns slideout ofthe path of righteoufnefie intowayes of wickedneffe : Da- vidand Peter did fo : yet we doe not fay, they did walk in wickedneffe ; wicked. clefs wasnot their conftant cuftonary praftice : fo it is withthe wicked man, they Bbbb z fome-

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