5Let us come yet to another expostulation. In the first place therefore, if you love the Lord, you will find in your selves a readiness to please him in all things, you will do it naturally: As the Apostle speaks of Timothy, I know no man like minded, who will naturally care for your matters. So if you love the Lord aright, you will do it with a natural affection, you will love him naturally: For what is this love to the Lord, if it be right, but that which himself hath planted in us? we are taught of him to love him. It is like the natural affection which parents have to their children, such a kind of affection will it be if you love the Lord, you will do that which is good in his sight with a kind of naturalness and readiness, you will be carried to the duties of his service as the fire is carried upwards, and not as stones are carried upwards with the force of another, but you will do them readily, and cheerfully; you will not do good duties as being haled to them, and put on to do them, but you will be zealous of good works, that is, you will ⟨p. 129⟩have a burning desire in your hearts, longing after them, you shall not need to have them forced upon you, but you will be forward to do them, you will be affected to good works as you are out of self-love to your own business. You know when a man naturally loveth himself, when he is to do something that concerns his own good, how solicitous is he about it, and how provident forecasting how to bring it to pass, and if any rub be in the way it troubleth him, if there be any fair passage, and likelihood of achieving it, he rejoiceth. Now, if you love the Lord naturally and truly, you will go about his business as you go about your own, if there be any business to be done: Magistrates in their place, Ministers in their place, and every man indeed shall find some business to do, wherein he may bring glory to Gods name, and advantage to his cause. Consider now how you are stirred about it, do you go about this business, are you so industrious and laborious, do you project it, do you mind it as your own? you will not stand expostulating the matter, to say must I do it? and is it of necessity? But if it be a thing that tends to the advancing of the glory of God, you will do it with all readiness, you will not so much stand upon this, what wages shall I have?
5Let us come yet to another expostulation. In the first place therefore, if you love the Lord, you will finde in your selves a readinesse to please him in all things, you will doe it naturallie: As the Apostle speakes of Timothy, I know no man like minded, who will naturally care for your matters. So if you love the Lord aright, you will doe it with a naturall affection, you will love him naturally: For what is this love to the Lord, if it be right, but that which himselfe hath planted in us? wee are taught of him to love him. It is like the naturall affection which parents have to their children, such a kinde of affection will it be if you love the Lord, you will doe that which is good in his sight with a kinde of naturalnesse and readinesse, you will be carried to the duties of his service as the fire is carried upwards, and not as stones are carried upwards with the force of another, but you will doe them readilie, and chearfullie; you will not doe good duties as being haled to them, and put on to doe them, but you will be zealous of good workes, that is, you will ⟨p. 129⟩have a burning desire in your hearts, longing after them, you shall not neede to have them forced upon you, but you will be forward to doe them, you will be affected to good workes as you are out of selfe-love to your owne businesse. You know when a man naturallie loveth himselfe, when he is to doe something that concernes his owne good, how solicitous is he about it, and how provident forecasting how to bring it to passe, and if any rubbe be in the way it troubleth him, if there be any faire passage, and likelihood of atchieving it, he rejoyceth. Now, if you love the Lord naturallie and trulie, you will goe about his businesse as you goe about your owne, if there be any businesse to be done: Magistrates in their place, Ministers in their place, and everie man indeede shall finde some businesse to doe, wherein he may bring glorie to Gods name, and advantage to his cause. Consider now how you are stirred about it, doe you goe about this businesse, are you so industrious and laborious, doe you project it, doe you minde it as your owne? you will not stand expostulating the matter, to say must I doe it? and is it of necessitie? But if it be a thing that tends to the advancing of the glorie of God, you will doe it with all readinesse, you will not so much stand upon this, what wages shall I have?
- 5Trial.Tryall.
