We must therefore, in all Christian duties, propound this unto our selves, as our principal and main scope, that the will of God, and 1not our own, may be done in them; according to the example of our Saviour Christ, who did not his own will, but the will of him that sent him. We must labour after Regeneration, not as the act of our own will, but ⟨p. 422⟩of Gods. For we are borne again, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor 2of the will of man, but of God. We must labour to be sanctified, because this is the will of God, even our sanctification; that we may live no longer the rest of 3our time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. We must pray, and in all things give thanks, because this is the will of God in Jesus Christ. Yea, 4whatsoever we do, we must do it, not as our own will, but as the will of God. The which is not only to be observed in the high and excellent duties of Gods immediate service, but even in the basest and most servile actions, even in the duties of the poorest and meanest servants, who must, in performing service to their Masters, propound unto themselves as their main scope, not their own profit, nor the doing of their own or their Masters will, but the will of God which requireth it at their hands. For so the Apostle exhorteth servants to be obedient unto their Masters, and to 5serve them with fear and singleness of heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. And as in our doings, so likewise in our sufferings, we must with the Apostle, and our Saviour Christ himself, chiefly aim at this, that the 6will of the Lord may be done in them. For those only that suffer according to Gods will, receive the promise; and such alone can with confidence commit 7the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator, 8as the Apostle Peter speaketh. Now that we may be moved thus to seek, that Gods will may be done in all our actions, let us consider, that there is no true obedience which hath not this as the main scope of it; that if we thus do, we shall be accepted of God, and with David be approved, as men according to Gods own heart. That we shall hereby be advanced to 9great honour, and be made of Gods own Privy Council, by the illumination of his Spirit;
Wee must therefore, in all Christian duties, propound this vnto our selues, as our principall and maine scope, that the will of God, and 1not our owne, may bee done in them; according to the example of our Sauiour Christ, who did not his owne will, but the will of him that sent him. We must labour after Regeneration, not as the act of our owne will, but ⟨p. 422⟩of Gods. For we are borne againe, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor 2of the will of man, but of God. We must labour to be sanctified, because this is the will of God, euen our sanctification; that we may liue no longer the rest of 3our time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. Wee must pray, and in all things giue thanks, because this is the will of God in Iesus Christ. Yea, 4whatsoeuer we doe, we must doe it, not as our owne will, but as the will of God. The which is not onely to be obserued in the high and excellent duties of Gods immediate seruice, but euen in the basest and most seruile actions, euen in the duties of the poorest and meanest seruants, who must, in performing seruice to their Masters, propound vnto themselues as their mayne scope, not their owne profit, nor the doing of their owne or their Masters will, but the will of God which requireth it at their hands. For so the Apostle exhorteth seruants to be obedient vnto their Masters, and to 5serue them with feare and singlenesse of heart, as vnto Christ; not with eye-seruice, as men-pleasers, but as the seruants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. And as in our doings, so likewise in our sufferings, we must with the Apostle, and our Sauiour Christ himselfe, chiefly aime at this, that the 6will of the Lord may be done in them. For those only that suffer according to Gods will, receiue the promise; and such alone can with confidence commit 7the keeping of their soules to him in well-doing, as vnto a faithfull Creatour, 8as the Apostle Peter speaketh. Now that we may be mooued thus to seeke, that Gods will may be done in all our actions, let vs consider, that there is no true obedience which hath not this as the maine scope of it; that if we thus doe, we shall be accepted of God, and with Dauid bee approoued, as men according to Gods owne heart. That we shall heereby be aduanced to
- 1Joh. 5. 30. and 6. 38.Ioh. 5. 30. and 6. 38.
- 2Joh. 1. 13.Ioh. 1. 13.
- 31. Thes. 4. 3. 1. Pet. 4. 2.
- 41. Thes. 5. 18.
- 5Eph. 6. 6.
- 6Act. 21. 14. Mat. 26. 39, 42.
- 7Heb. 10. 36.
- 81. Pet. 4. 19.
- 9Act. 13. 22. Joh. 7. 17. Mat. 12. 50.Act. 13. 22. Ioh. 7. 17. Mat. 12. 50.
