The Use of the first point is. I. By this doctrine, all persons are taught, but specially governors of others, as Masters of families & Parents; never to use, either meats or drinks or any other blessing, that they receive at the hands of God, but with praise & thanksgiving. For this which is said of meats and drinks, must be enlarged also to the use of any benefit, blessing, or ordinance, that we take in hand, to use or enjoy. II. Though we do not simply condemn, but allow of Hallowing of Creatures, yet we detest Popish consecration of salt, cream, ashes, and such like. First, because Papists hallow them for wrong ends, as to procure by them remission of sins, to drive away devils, &c. Secondly, because they sanctify creatures without the word; yea though they do it by prayer, yet it is prayer without the word, which giveth no warrant thus to use the creatures, or to these ends; and therefore of the same nature with magical enchantments. Thirdly, if the creature must be sanctified for our use, before we can use it, then we our selves must be sanctified both in soul and body, before we can be sit for the use and service of God. Look as the creature, by the hand and providence of God, is presented before us to serve us; so must we being strengthened and nourished by the same give up our-selves, souls, and bodies, to serve and honour him. Yea our sanctifying ⟨p. 547⟩of the creature to our holy use, should put us in mind of sanctifying our selves to his glory. So soon as the Prophet Isaiah was sanctified by God unto his office, then he addressed himself and not before, and said, Lord, I am here, Esa. 6. 8. and so we our selves, before we can perform any acceptable duty unto God, must be purged and cleansed. The sons of Aaron would not do this honour unto God, by sanctifying his name before the people, and therefore God glorified himself in their death, and temporal destruction, Levit. 10. 2. And when Moses the servant of God, failed in the sanctification of his name, by the circumcision of his son; Gods hand was upon him to have destroyed him. This point is duly to be observed of all, but principally of such as are appointed to any public office; if they will serve God therein with comfort and encouragement, they must first labour to be sanctified before him, both in their souls and bodies.
The Vse of the first point is. I. By this doctrine, all persons are taught, but specially gouerners of others, as Masters of families & Parents; neuer to vse, either meates or drinkes or any other blessing, that they receiue at the hands of God, but with praise & thanksgiuing. For this which is said of meates and drinkes, must be inlarged also to the vse of any benefite, blessing, or ordinance, that we take in hand, to vse or inioy. II. Though we doe not simply condemne, but allow of Hallowing of Creatures, yet we detest Popish consecration of salt, creame, ashes, and such like. First, because Papists halow them for wrong endes, as to procure by them remission of sinnes, to driue away deuills, &c. Secondly, because they sanctifie creatures without the word; yea though they doe it by praier, yet it is praier without the word, which giueth no warrant thus to vse the creatures, or to these endes; and therefore of the same nature with magical inchantments. Thirdly, if the creature must be sanctified for our vse, before we can vse it, then we our selues must be sanctified both in soule and bodie, before we can be sitte for the vse and seruice of God. Looke as the creature, by the hand and prouidence of God, is presented before vs to serue vs; so must we beeing strengthned and nourished by the same giue vp our-selues, soules, and bodies, to serue and honour him. Yea our sanctifying ⟨p. 547⟩of the creature to our holy vse, should put vs in minde of sanctifying our selues to his glorie. So soone as the Prophet Esay was sanctified by God vnto his office, then he addressed himselfe and not before, and said, Lord, I am here, Esa. 6. 8. and so we our selues, before we can performe any acceptable dutie vnto God, must be purged and clensed. The sonnes of Aaron would not doe this honour vnto God, by sanctifying his name before the people, and therefore God glorified himselfe in their death, and temporall destruction, Leuit. 10. 2. And when Moses the seruant of God, failed in the sanctification of his name, by the circumcision of his sonne; Gods hand was vpon him to haue destroied him. This point is duely to be obserued of all, but principally of such as are appointed to any publike office; if they will serue God therein with comfort and incouragement, they must first labour to be sanctified before him, both in their soules and bodies.
