Remember this, that seeing we are made, seeing we have an higher cause, and that to be without cause belongs to God alone; therefore we must carry our selves as creatures; as it is said of David, he served his time; he did nothing for his own end, but he carried himself as a servant, he ⟨p. 153⟩did not say; I will have so much pleasure, and then serve God; he did not cut the Lord short, but he served his time, he gave the Lord the whole day. It was the comfort that JESUS CHRIST had, when he was to go out of the world, John 17.4.1 I have glorified thee on earth, I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do; that is, I was as a servant, and I chose not my work, but it is that which thou gavest me, and I have not done it by halves, but I have finished it; therefore glorify thou me. So, if thou canst say it, when thou goest out of the world, that will be thy comfort at that day; but if not, remember that it is the Lords manner of dealing, when men will seek themselves, and their own end; he lays them aside, as we do broken vessels, fit for no more use, and he takes another. If there be any here, that can say so, that the Lord hath laid thee aside, and taken thy gifts from thee; remember, consider with thy self, that hadst thou used them to his glory, and made him thy end, be sure that he would not have laid thee aside, but that he would have used thee. Beloved, we see it by experience, that men of small parts, yet if they had humble hearts, and did use them in the simplicity of their spirits to Gods glory, then he hath enlarged them, and used them in greatest employments. Again, on the contrary side; men of excellent parts, they have withered, because they did not use them to Gods glory, therefore he hath laid them aside as broken vessels.
Remember this, that seeing we are made, seeing we have an higher cause, and that to be without cause belongs to God alone; therefore wee must carry our selves as creatures; as it is said of David, he served his time; hee did nothing for his owne end, but he carried himselfe as a servant, he ⟨p. 153⟩did not say; I will have so much pleasure, and then serve God; he did not cut the Lord short, but he served his time, he gave the Lord the whole day. It was the comfort that IESVS CHRIST had, when he was to goe out of the world, Iohn 17.4.1 I have glorified thee on earth, I have finished the worke that thou gavest me to doe; that is, I was as a servant, and I chose not my worke, but it is that which thou gavest me, and I have not done it by halfes, but I have finished it; therefore glorifie thou me. So, if thou canst say it, when thou goest out of the world, that will be thy comfort at that day; but if not, remember that it is the Lords manner of dealing, when men will seeke themselves, and their owne end; he layes them aside, as we doe broken vessels, fit for no more use, and he takes another. If there be any here, that can say so, that the Lord hath laid thee aside, and taken thy gifts from thee; remember, consider with thy selfe, that hadst thou used them to his glory, and made him thy end, be sure that he would not have laid thee aside, but that he would have used thee. Beloved, we see it by experience, that men of small parts, yet if they had humble hearts, and did use them in the simplicitie of their spirits to Gods glory, then he hath enlarged them, and used them in greatest imployments. Againe, on the contrary side; men of excellent parts, they have withered, because they did not use them to Gods glory, therefore he hath layd them aside as broken vessels.
- 1Joh. 17.4.Ioh. 17.4.
