BookiV. SAINTS coMPAR ED TO CHILDREN. 709 CH I L D RE N. VIII. A dear Child is very ten– der of his Farher's Honor, and is much trut~bled to hear any fpeak arrainfr hin1, or any way rrproach him. IX. A dear Child is greatly gr~evt'd, when his F~nher is offend– ed ,.,·ii.h him 1 and will endeavor to obrain his Favor again. PAR ALL EL. VIII. So a dear Child of God is forely troubled, to hear the facred Namt of God reproached and blafphemed, and his holy Laws (lefpifed. Rivers of WaJers run down m-ine Eyes, bect~uje Meu keep not thy Law, Pfal. cxix. I 36. How much were JV!ofes and Jojhua concerned for the Honor of God's holy Name! Jofh. vii. 9· IX. So a dear Child of God is grieved, when he bath difpleafrd his heavenly Father: 'Thou hideft tl.ry Face, aad I was troubled, Pfa!. li. 4· How did Da·vid mourn for his Sin, and {hive to obtain the Love and Favor of God again: Againfl (bee, thee 011/; bave I filmed, anddone this Evil in thy Sight, .&c. . . X . A dear Chi:-1 w1ll not be at X. So a precious Samt of God will not be abundue Times om of his Father's fenr from the Church, or ht'a~,o·enly Family, at any 1-Jou\e, but take up his !'lace Time when his l'refmce is expeftcd there, it it be there, efpecially when he knows pofiible, efpecially when God calls his l'eople to his Father and Mother c.dl for l'rayer and Humiliation, or when facred Ordi– him, and require his Prefcnce. n:tnces a:-e adminiftered, or any V\Tork is to 1:-e X I. A dear Child deGreth ra– ther to dwell in hie. Father's Houfe, than in any other f'lz.ce whacfoever. done, which eminently rends to the Glory of God, and rhe Church's Goorl. XI. So a dear Child of God had rather be a Door-keeper in tbe !::-uf< of God, than to dwell in the '[eitts of Wickedncjs. One 'J:bing have I dejired of the Lord, and that will I J<ek ~Jter, that 1 may dwell in tbe lloufe of the Lord all the Days of my Life, &c. Pfcd. xxvii. + XII. A dear Child will !hive to XII. So a dear S.t;nt takes care to follow God: inmate his Father, and walk in his Be;·e Followers of God as dear Chiidrm, Eph. v. 1. Seeps, in all Things that are jufl Be ye bo!)·, for· I am hc{v. That is the Precept, and and ri::?ht. Thus Solomon was exa ftncere Soul labors fo to be; ic is his gieat De.. hortt·d tO f(Jilow th•: good Example fire tO be like God and Chri!t as near as he can. of h1s Father David. Be ;·e Fcl!owers of me, as I amof Chrifl Jefus. I. A Sunt flrivestofoliow God andChril1: in Love: ff/e are taught of God to lo·ve o;te anotlmr, 2 In H umility. What a Pattern harh God in Chrifl laid before us herein! Learn of me, f.tirh our Savior, for I am meek and lowly in 1-lcart, &c. Matt. xi. 28. Let the fame Mind be in you, which was a!Jo in Chrifl 'jefus, Phi/. ii. 5, 6. 3· In being merciful ar.rl kind tO all. Be )'e merciful, as )'our Father that is in Heaven is merciful, 111latt. v. 45, 48. + In hating and abominating that which is eviL God loathes Sin, and fo doth every Gnccre Chriltian. · 5· In Forgivenels; they fhive to he like God in this. He is ready to parclon, for– give, and forget Injuries done to him, and to ought his Children. //nd be )'e kind o•e to another, and tender-beartcd, forgiving one anotbtr, as God for Chrifl's fake bath fur– given you, Eph. iv. 34· God forgivcth freely, univerfally, and for ever; to muft rht·y. N F E R E N C E S. I. L ABOR to fo:low God, as dear Children. r. Sincerelv, not in 1-Iypocrify, not for Loave~. 2. Speedily; do not defer ": I made hafle, fatth Da'"id, &c. 3· In whatfoever he commands _YOU. 4· Diligently. 5· Follow him through all U:fficulties and Han1fh1ps, Cale/J as dtd, &c. and as Rutb followed Naomi. 6. Follow him hum. bly. 7· Follow hirnjoyfully. 8. Follow him, when others leave him. 9· Follow him conflant!y, even to the End. IO. And la!tlv, f(>llow none but him; forfake all thofi: that would lead you aflray. Ch:ifl's Sbeep.will not follcw Strangers; they wtll follow God, and not Baal. II. From hence every one may perceive, whether they arc God's Children, yea or no. !I[. This fhews alfo what great Dignity God hath conferred upon llelieve;< Behold, <vhat manner of Love the Father hatb beflowed upon us, that we fho•ld be called the Sons of God, l John iii. I, 2. If David thought it no fma1l Thing to be Son-in.\aw to an earthly King, what an Honor hath God conferred on tJs! . 8 S IV. Saints
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=