Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v6

Chap. 19. An Expsfitim upa the B»k )f I O 3. Verf r6 feeing the Aponte infifteth fo much upon that poynt, Purely there is much of the will and glory of God in it, elf the Spi- rit of God would not have left fuch frequent and plentifull admonitions about it. Hence as Paul ufeth a negative confide. ration in Timothy, provoking fervants to obedience, that the name ofGod be not blafphemed, fo he ufeth an affirmative in dire& oppofition to that in hisEpiftle toTitus ( Chap. z. r a. ) That they may adorn the doc7rineof Godour Savour inall things. Holineffe being moil vifible in our relations, relational! holi- 'neffe mull needs be the chiefeft ornament of our profeflìon. Whereas ?ob faith, his fervant would not anfwer, though he intreatedhimwith his mouth. Obferve. Toßíl againft the condefcention of thole who are above us, high. tens ourfinne. It is a fault. for a fervant not to anfwer when he is barely calledor commanded, but for a fervant not to anfwer when he is intreated, is exceeding finfull. Every Matter is above his fer- vaöt, but when he entreats, he puts himfelfe below his fer- vans. Andby howmuch theMailer goes out of his place, in gentlenef e to entreatehis fervant, by fo much doth a fervant go the more out ofhis place in ftubbornneffe, by not obeying his Mailer. Now, if it be fuchan aggravation ofa fervants undu- tifulnefhe not toheare when his Mailer entreateth ; how finfull is it when man dothnot heave at Gods entreaty ? We are all fervants toGod, how oft dothGod call, and we doe not an- fwer, yea, how often bath he intreared us with his mouth, and yet we have not yeelded. God befeecheth man to be reconci- led to him, andhe refufeth, God befeecheth man to obey him, and he either denieth or delayeth obedience. No mancould beare that at a fervants hand, which God bearethat ours. We are careleffe and negligent, we are ftúbborne and unfaithful!, yet God is patient, DidMailers refleft ontheir fervices toGod, they would fee little caufe to complalne of, or much ,caufe to be patient towards their moil unprofitable fervants. Weare very fenfible ofa fervants failing in dude tous; when'fhall we befeufble as we ought ofour failings in dutyto God ? When we are troubled that fervants doe not come at our call, nor doe at our bidding, we _fhould confider how many calls we -M m have 26 Cum irisutfer. viat tibi fetvxs tuas tu non visfe, vire dee, faces deo quod tu pari non vii, Augutk,

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