Hieron - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.H54 S4 1624

338 ThePlatformeof Obedience. sitaroarfelsesvmte him. Let vs'confider what theApoífle faith, As many asare p ftomó.r4. led6y the Spirit ofGod, they are thefennel of God P. Only theyare the Lords, who fubmit themfelues to hisguidance : He who maketheither cuflome, orLaw, or Time, or his owneprofit, orhis vaine delight,orhis idleand fuppofed efti- mation,to be the rule ofhis courfe,the fame is none of Gods. Ic is laidby the lfa.3e.zr. Prophet 4, that the E,±res of Godspeoplefhaflheavea word behindthem, laying; This icthemay'make in it, &c. All who are the Lords,heare thisdire&ion, and make confcience to follow It to tbeveinofi. And thus muchfor the&Itpart ofChrillian obedience,Galeyawfe lies mite God: which(as wee hauefeen)dinf- deth it fclfe into twojranches; the one , willingneffe tobe employed in the Lordsbulneffes:the other,contentedneffetobe orderedby him in ehe follow. Mg-of-his bufineffes. I cometo thefecoed deg tzofobedience, which is, re gate oar membersas Weapprdne htessfnefe veto ,mod. This degree doth efpecially concerne the prattle o duties. Theformer is but(as itwere)ateflificationofamans purpofe to doe God fesuice ; this is the very at and perfedhion ofObedience. The manner of (peaking here viedby theApoltle, is quickly vnderflood , if weer( rt.éñ 4r *haPhath been (aid befnYe,,in the opening of the former part; For as hee is laid to lime hie membersas Weapons of Varighteoafeefsvnto firme, who errployeth all his 'powers and faculties in the furtherance and executionof thatetyill, whereuntothe edrruption ofhisowne heartfecretly doth encline; fo hedis faid,togiae bii members at Weapons afRighteosfnefe vote Ged, who letshitnfelfe by all manes tobee a prat of that good,towhich theSpirit of God dwelling in him, priuilydoth perfwade. This is the true meaning. The3.Doli. The Infiruftionwhich the piace affords, is this: That it it. thedatiofemery obedient Chrsian to tamebb whole f rength, toemployallthat oar it inhim, eitherin foale , or body, in the performanceefthatrsghseetsfneQewhich the Lard bathresealed andmadekmownenotavo inhis Word. This is the fumme of that which wee are taught hence: How good reafon there is lotit, irisnohard thing todifcouer. rr Cor.4.7. TheApofilefaith'; 'That rhatfeesermeehase ,wee boos rereisedit. It is the Lord whohathfurnifhed vs with Vnderflanding, Will, Memory, andAffe&ions. It is }Ire whohath giuen vsbodies adorned with lsrrdry faculties, of Seeing, Hearing, Goinng; (peaking, &c. It is bee which continueth the flrength and tnei.being ofalrthefefor our vie and benefit. Now in reafon , that which is receiuedfrom him, ought to bee employed forhim: Our conceitand vnder- flandingtoknow hiswill; our memory, to hold fail the matterswhichdoe concerne Iris Ksr'gdame; ouraffe&ions to embrace that whichhecommands, and toabhorrethat which hee forbids:oureyes tobeholdhis creatures, there- by to befilmed vp toglorifie him;our cares to liflen tohis Word: our tongues to foundout the prailes ofhisName, to pray to him, to giue thankes for his bleffings: oar hands to reach ostro thenecefiîties of ourbrethren; ourfeete to carry vs tothe places ofGods fcruice: fo that (I fay) menincommon rea- fon, feting allour powers and parts arefromhim , theyare to be giuenvp to him,and to bethoughtthenbeft employed, whenany thing isvndertaken by them,which may tend totheadnuncement and furtherance ofhis glory. Wee . know the tenor ofthe commandement; Theit¡hait loose rho Lord thy Godwit/I all fLuk.ro.s7. thine heart , andwithallthyfosle, and withall thylirength, e.ec. TheLord bath gruel; all, he hath reafon torequire all : and lookewhat treacheryit welt for afouldíerin thefield, hauingregiflredhis name,and takers wages, andfurni- flredhimfelfewithweapons,toflietotheaduerfepart,and tovfe thofevery weaponssgainff him,fromwhom he fidt receiued them; the fame is it inhim, whohailinggiuen his namevatoChrift in Baptifine , and there promifed to fight manfullyvnderhis bannetagainfl fsnme,yet after fallethbacke,anddiuer- teth

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