Ver.4. the I,thChapter of St: J O H N. 5 the great end for which we were made, and new made ; but that we might be fruitful in all Holinefs, and (hew forth thofe imprefíìons which God hath left upon us : In the lmprefüon we are Patfive, in (hewing it forth, Alive. When we are altive for his Intereft in the World. Our Lord took notice of it h his Difciples, John 17. 7. `aw they have known, that all things whatfoever to haft given me, are of thee. If we are Agents for his Kingdotit, he will be our Advocate in Heaven. This is the Method of the Lord's Prayer, Hallowed be thy Name; and then, Thy King- dom rowe This is the firtt Means of promoting the great End. Jefus Chrift himfelfeel- leth us this was the end of his coming into the World, John x8. 37. To this end teas I born, and for this carafe came I into the World, that I fliauld bear witnefi unto the Trr;th. It belonged to him in a more efpecialway, as the great Prophet of the Church ; he Came out of the Bofom of God, to reveal the Secrets of God : and for the fame end we all came into the World. Ifa. 43. to. Teare my witnefi, faith the Lord, and my Servant whom I have chufen ; that ye may know and believe me, and underfland that I am he. They that felt the comfortable effe &s of his Promifes, and his Truth, can belt witnefi for hire. A Report of a Report is little valued ; we are all to witnef to God, by entertaining it in our Hearts, and (hewing forth the fruit of it in our Lives ; this is a witnefs to an un- believing and carelefs World. John 3. 33. He that hash received his Teflimony, hathf t tó his feat, that God is true. Pleb. r r. 7. By Faith Noah, being warned of God of things not feen as yet, moved with Fear, prepared an Ark to the Paving of his Houle, by which he con- demned the World. Phil. 2. I 5. That ye may be blanlelefa and harmlefs, the Sons of God, without rebuke, in the midi of a crooked and perverfe Nation, among whomye Thine as Lights in the World. When you are diligent in Holinefs, patient and joyful under the Croft, full of hope and comfort in great Strait's, meek; fell - denying, mortified, you fan&ify God in thelikes of others : You propagate the Faith by an open Profeflion. Mar. I T. rg. LVifdom is juflifed of her Children. When we fuffer for it in times of great Dangers and frai it with our Blood; it is a great Glory to God. John 2 T. 19. This Paid he, fig - nifying by what Death he fhouldglorify God. It is an honour to God,when in the midit of Temptations and Dilcouragements we are not afhamed of his ways. '6. By doing that work which he bath given us to do. But what is that work which Jie bath given us to do ? (r.) The Duty ofiour Relations (2.) The Duty of our Vocations and Callingsi (1.) The Duty of our particular Relations : They that are not good itt their l elati= ODs, are no where good. This is a Rule, that whatfoever.we are, we mutt be that to God. An Heathen could fay, Si of m lofcini,s; canerem ut lufcinia, &c. If I were a lark, i would foar as a Lark; if a Nightingale, I would fing as a Nightingale. As á Man, i Ihould praife God; as fach a Man, in fuch a Relation, RilI I Ihould glorify God in the condition in which.he hath let me. If Poor, I glorify God as á poor Man, by my Diligence, Patience, Innocence, Contentednefs : If Rich,1 glorify God by an hum- ble Mind : If Well, I glorify God by my Health : If Sick, by meeltnefs under his Hand: Ifa Magifirate, by my Zeal, improving all advantages of Service, Nelem. I..1I. If a Minifler, by my Watchfulnefs: if a Tradesman, by my Righteoufnefs. From the Ring to the Scullion, all are to'work for God ; every Man is Cent into the World, to ad that part in, the World which the great Mailer of the Scenes bath appointed to him. Tit. 2. t ò. That ye may adorn the Dnïlrine of God our Saviour in all things. As to Husband and Wife, Prov.18. 22. He that findeth a Wife, findeth a good thing, and obi ainetb favour of the Lord. Cod eapeileth that in the Catalogue of our Mercies, we Ihould bleS God for our Relations. Our Relations are the Sphere of our Aélivity. (2.) The Duty of our Vocation and Calling. Every Chritian háth his wily and placer Come work which God gave him. [But of this fee more by and by.] . 7: When God is the great Scopeand Did of our Lives and Actions ; of all that we are, all that we do, all that we delire, God mat be the ultimate End. In our ordina= ry A &ions, t Cor. to. 3i. 14'hether ye eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the Glorf of God : Not offer a Meat - Offering and Drink.Offering to Appetite. The Apofle fiances in there things,partly, becaufe in thefe natural A &ions we are moll apt to offend. Such is the unthankful Nature of Man, that we forget God, when he remembers us moll ; when he is moll prefent in the fruits of his Bounty, then he is ufually banifhed from our Hearts : Corruptions are moll Rirring, then we are warmed with the liberal ufe of the Creatures; Job facrificed, when his Children £fated. Job r. Q.' And it was fo, when the DJ's oft heir Feafiing were gone about, that Job feet and facilifuèd them, anti G g g 2 rojé
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