And therefore seeing the Lord, who hath absolute authority over us, and full right unto us, doth in these and innumerable other places command and exhort us to perform the duties of holiness and righteousness, and thereby to serve him in the whole course of our lives, who is our Creator, Preserver, & Redeemer, we must carefully endeavour to yield our obedience, unless we would rather show our selves stubbornly rebellious, and enemies both to his glory and our own salvation. And that we may be encouraged to serve God in all Christian duties with more diligence and cheerfulness, let us remember that if we do our best endeavour, we and our service shall be accepted, though it be full of imperfections and stained with many corruptions. For he doth not deal with 1us as a severe Judge according to the rigour of the Law, but like a gracious Father, he passeth by our infirmities, and accepteth the will for the work. And though nothing as it is stained and imperfect, can be pleasing unto God, whose exact Justice and pure eye can endure no blemish; yet the duties which we perform unto him, respectively do please him, and move him also to delight in us. For they please him not as they are tainted with the corruption of our will, but as by them we do his will, who hath commanded us to do them. Not as they are done by us who are defiled with sin, for how can any thing 2clean, come out of us that are unclean? But as they are done in Christ, in whom he is well pleased, and fruits of this Vine which we bear, being ingrafted in him by a true and lively faith. Not as they are imperfect and stained, but as their imperfections are covered with Christs perfect righteousness, and their corruption washed away by his blood. Not as they are done by us, but as they are the fruits and effects of his own holy Spirit, working in, and by us. They do not please him in their own worth, but because our persons are accepted and please him, being justified by faith in Jesus Christ, reconciled unto him, and children by adoption and grace, whose poor endeavours are accepted of our gracious Father for perfect obedience; and the rather, because howsoever we fail through weakness and infirmity, yet the main end which we propound in them unto our selves is, that we may, by performing our duty, glorify our heavenly Father;
And therefore seeing the Lord, who hath absolute authority ouer vs, and full right vnto vs, doth in these and innumerable other places command and exhort vs to performe the duties of holinesse and righteousnesse, and thereby to serue him in the whole course of our liues, who is our Creator, Preseruer, & Redeemer, we must carefully indeuour to yeeld our obedience, vnlesse we would rather shew our selues stubbornely rebellious, and enemies both to his glory and our owne saluation. And that we may be incouraged to serue God in all Christian duties with more diligence and cheerefulnesse, let vs remember that if we doe our best indeuour, we and our seruice shall be accepted, though it be full of imperfections and stained with many corruptions. For he doth not deale with 1vs as a seuere Iudge according to the rigour of the Law, but like a gracious Father, he passeth by our infirmities, and accepteth the will for the worke. And though nothing as it is stained and imperfect, can be pleasing vnto God, whose exact Iustice and pure eye can indure no blemish; yet the duties which we performe vnto him, respectiuely doe please him, and moue him also to delight in vs. For they please him not as they are tainted with the corruption of our will, but as by them we doe his will, who hath commanded vs to doe them. Not as they are done by vs who are defiled with sinne, for how can any thing 2cleane, come out of vs that are vncleane? But as they are done in Christ, in whom he is well pleased, and fruits of this Vine which we beare, being ingrafted in him by a true and liuely faith. Not as they are imperfect and stained, but as their imperfections are couered with Christs perfect righteousnesse, and their corruption washed away by his blood. Not as they are done by vs, but as they are the fruits and effects of his owne holy Spirit, working in, and by vs. They doe not please him in their owne worth, but because our persons are accepted and please him, being iustified by faith in Iesus Christ, reconciled vnto him, and children by adoption and grace, whose poore indeuours are accepted of our gracious Father for perfect obedience; and the rather, because howsoeuer we faile through weaknesse and infirmitie, yet the mayne end which we propound in them vnto our selues is, that we may, by performing our duty, glorify our heauenly Father;
- 1Mal. 3. 17. 2. Cor. 8. 12.
- 2Joh. 14. 4. Math. 3. 17. & 17. 5.
