346 The Profit of 4ffïidions, or, Tropof. r. I begin with the firft, and the more general point. You fee the Text imported) God is pleafed it plain enough; that GodAlmighty is gracioufly fet, for toprocure, and promote, to fet himfei( andfurther the good, and benefit, and profit of his people, of fuch as fear his name, to procure the of filch as he is leafed to receive for hisown : his heart I fa is fet upon them to profit his do themgoods he is ftudious of their profit,he hath a duerefecho their benefit in people. all his dealings and adminiftrations to them. p Next to his-own glory, (which is dearth to himof all thingselfe, and good rea- fon too, for that is better than falvation and eternal happinefs. But I fay next to hisovtlpglory ) and theglory ofhis beloved Son Jefus Chrift ; the main thing that he aimeth.at,is,thathe might make his people happywith him; and that theymight be every way profited , and advantaged both in foul and body; andfurthered to . eternalhappinefs. Proved by in- This will appear to us, if we confider firlt, .Nantes. Theordinancesof God, which he bath appointed inorder to his peoplesgood. Secondly, ifwe confider his commandments and impofitions. And, Thirdly, ifwe confider all his various adminiftrations toward them. All which will clearly manifeft to us, that Gods aim in all, is, at the profit andbe- nefit ofhis people. I (hall touch but upon fome particulars s and on them neither I (hall but only glance ; becaufe I would keepmy felfwithin the compafsof the time. I. In his inlli- Firft, confiderthe Lords ordinances that he hath provided for his people ,. and tasting otdi- calleth them out togive attendance upon they arc all vvith refpeft to his peoples Church. the profit, and an eye to that. As for inftance; ,.Thcpreach. That great Ordinance which God hath fet up in his Church, namely, that of ing of the preaching, and difpenfing of the facred myfteries of the Gofpel; it is with re(peEk. Word. to his peoples profit ; To open their eyes, and to tarn them from darknefi to light, Aft. t6. is. and from the power of Satan onto God, that they may receive forgivenefi offins, and an inheritance among them :rich are fanilified by faith in (hrifl ; That they might be brought into thefellow/hip of this myl`ïery, and be inriched with all thenea- r Tim. I. t6. fures of the Gofpel. And the Apofllefaith, that all Scripture (which this'ordi- nance ofPreaching is to be converfant about, that Scripturewhich.we are to break abroadamong you this way) it is profitable; Profitable for Dollrine, for reproof, forinfirtsElìon,for correflion ; and it will make theman ofGod perfell ; So profitable, as that it is able to pa-fed a man, to make him wife tofalvation ; and we need no more wifdome. s. The sacra- The like might I fpeak concerning theSacrament of the Lords Supper ; It is in- men, of the ftitutedofGod with an eye to his peoples benefit, that they may come tobe made supper. partakers of that profitable fells andblood ( for fo I may juflly call it ) ofthe Lord fefus. It is not the blond of B asandofGoats ; it isnot the blond ofall the men in the world,that isprofitable for fuch purpofes, as the pacifyingof the wrathof God, the quenching of the flames of his difpleafure , the purging of the confciencefrom deadwork! ; of thofe we may fay as David in another cafe , what profit oie there in my blond) But there is profit in the bloodof Chrift, and with refpedhtothat, this ordinance is provided in the Church,tliat the people ofGod,attending thereon ac- cording to his inflitution may come to be made partakers ofthe venue and benefit thereof; having the remiffionof their fins, thereby fealedup to their confciences,I through faith in that blond. 3. Prayer. The like Inftance might T give ofPrayer, and the rest of thofe holy ordinances which God bath letup in his Church ; but l.will namenomore,left I be prevented. Only bytheway confider this: Moft unworthilydo we deal withGod,with Prcaeh_1 ing, with the Sacrament, and with all theft holy ordinances, if`fo be we do not reap profit, andbenefit by them : A foul that liveth unprofitably under the difpenfation Unprofitable of thefe, doth but take the name of God in vain : Every time wecome to hear the living under Word preached, and to attend upon the Sacrament, and go away from them, no the ordihan better thanwe were when wecamero them,we coke the name cfGodon vain; and ces, ametóf deal unworthilywith theft holythings They are given to profit with,and we fhall the Godin vain. but encreafe our own guiltinefs,if we-be notprofited by them. But
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