SERMONS upon Serm. 5. rofe up early in the Morríing, and oféred BurntOférings according to the number of them all: For Joblaid, It may be that my SonAthave finned, and curled God in their Hearts. The Devil bringeth his Difh ufually to our Tables, Difdain of the flendernefs of our Provi- fion, Ot arrels, Contentions, Cenfures of the People ofGod, &c. Partly, for. greater Emphafs : If in common A&ions we are to defign God's Glory as our End, much more in fuch A &ions as we make a bu(inel of: So in Al}s of Grace, the Creature cannot be the ultimate End, and God's Goodnefs only a Means thereunto. There is a great deal of learned Folly and Atheifm vented, branding thofe as myftical Divines, that call up- on Men to mind things as God minded them, who aims at his own Glory as his ultimate End; Eph. 1.6. They fay, Man's ultimate End is his own Happinefs; Come cry up the Principle of Self-Low : then belike all the Goodnefs of God is to be eftimated by the Fe- licity of Man; this were to make Man his own Idol, and to meafure all good and evil by his own Intereft. The fulfilling of God's Will, and promoting his Glory, fhould be the end ofallObedience ; otherwife we make not the Creature tor God, but God for the Creature, and fo make the Creature better than God,. as being the ultimate End of God himfelf, at leaft to us, as if the higheft End of all his Goodnefs were the Felicity of the Creature. Secondly, Vbi ? Where? On Earth, I have glorified thee .on Earth. t. Where fo few mind God's Glory, where all feek their own Things, their own Ho- nour, their own Profit, their own perfonal Contentment. A Chriftian Ihould walk in counter - motion to the generality of the World. Phil. 3. 20. But oar Converfation s in Heaven. Mal. 4. t, 2. -lhe day cometh that 'hall burn as an Oven, and all the proud, yea and all that do wickedly "sail be Hubble, &c. But untoyou that fear the Lord, .8.;c. He is an Exception from the common.ufe and pra &ice of Mankind. t, 2. On Earth; which is the place of our Trial, where there are fo many Difficulties and Temptations to divert us : We mutt glorify him on Earth, if ,we expel} that he fhould glorify us in Heaven. Many expel} to glorify God in Heaven, but take no care to glorify God here on Earth. The Saints in Heaven glorify God, but without any Difficulty, Strife and Danger, it coils them no Shame, no Pain, no Trouble, no lot`s of Life, or Limb; but here where the Danger is, there is the Duty and Trial.' Mat.io.32. Whofoever therefore fbiall confefs me before Men, him will I confe# alfo beforemy Father which is in Heaven. Chrift will remember them,and their jabour of Love : When he cometh in his Majefty, he is not afhamed of his poor Clients and Friends; thefe owned me in my Abafement, and I will own themin my exalted State. You cannot honour Chrift fo much as he will honour you ; Mat. 19.28.1e which havefollowed me in the Regeneration, when the Son of Mon (ball fit in the Throne of his Glory, ye Mfr.' (ball ft upon twelve Thrones, judging the twelve Tribes of lfroel Ye who are here expofed to Sorrows and Sufferings for his Sake. It is fond to think of glorifying God in Heaven, and finging Hallelujahs to his Praife, when thou dolt not (land to his Truth on Earth. Efe bonum facile eft, ubi quid vetat e/ remotem. The Trial of Duty is Self- Denial. Thirdly, uomodo ? I have finijhed the work which thou haft given me to do. 1. It is Work that glorifieth God : It is not Words and empty Praifes,but an holy Con- verfation. Job 31. 20. If his Loins have not bleed me, and if he were not warmed with the Fleece of my Sheep. Mat. 5.16. Let your Lig/t fib Aisle before Men, that they may fee your good Works, and glorifyyour Father which"is,in Heaven. Pfal. 50.23. Whofo oretbpraif, glorifceth me ; andto him that ordereth his Converfation aright, will I fliew the Salvation of God. John 15. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much Fruit, fo fballye be my Difeiples. A godly fruitful Life is the real Honour, the other is but empty Prattle. It is our Work and A &ions, not our bare Profeffion only ;you may pollute God elfe, Enek, 36. 20. You may exalt him in Profeffion, and pollute him in Converfation : Many Chriltians Lives are the Scandal of their Religion. Again, it is not Wifhes that glorify God, but Pra &ice. We would have God glórified but do not glorify him: We would have him glorified Paffively, but do not glorify him Ahively, and are more careful of Events than Duties. We are troubled about God's Name, and are more ready to ask, Lord, what wilt thou do for thy great Name ? than, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? A Chri(tian Ihould rather be troubled about what he fhould do, than about what he Ihould fulfer. 2. That every Man bath hit Work, Life was given to us for fomewhat 5 not meetly that we might fill up the number of Things in the World, as Stones and Rubbifh not
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