CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Name: CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
Author: Anthony Burgess

CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...

Anthony Burgess d. 1664London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656

[31], 672 [i.e. 702], [24] p. · 465k words · Wing B5651 · ESTC R13734

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Sermon 20: Showeth who they are that cannot at the close of their days take comfort in this, That…Sermon 20: Sheweth who they are that cannot at the close of their daies take comfort in this, That…

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

[ Earlier:506–521 of 3,471

:506p. 111¶4

4.¹ This will allay our comfortable account, when though we have done the work of God, yet we did it upon constraint and slavish fears, not from filial and voluntary principles. As the heart hath been free and willing, so commonly will thy joys be. When the people offered so willingly about the Temple, how joyful and glad is David, blessing God, Who are we that we should be able to offer thus willingly, 1 Chron. 29.14. and Lord keep this always in their hearts; so that a ready willing mind God doth accept of and fills with consolation, He hath not sowed sparingly, and therefore shall not reap sparingly. Woe is me, saith Paul, if I preach not the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9.16. If I preach the Gospel willingly, I have a reward, but if not, the dispensation of the Gospel is committed to me, As if be had said, If I preach the Gospel and do my duty from a ready willing mind, I shall have an overflowing reward; but if not, there is a necessity laid upon me, it is my duty, I cannot put it off, God will require his trust; Oh then do not lose the comfort of all thy duties, to do from constraint, from fear, because of a slavish conscience, this will not produce that consolation, which a voluntary free spirit will; therefore as the Apostle spake concerning Ministers, Heb. 3.17. people should obey them, that they might give their account with joy and not with grief, the same is to be applied by every one; oh let me with delight and willingness do Gods work, that I may lift up my head when death appeareth! He that is haled to his duty, will be haled to his account, in neither will he have any joy, I did such things indeed, but it was mere fear of hell and torment, I had no delight in God or approaches to him.

4.¹ This will allay our comfortable account, when though we have done the work of God, yet we did it upon constraint and slavish fears, not from filiall and voluntary principles. As the heart hath been free and willing, so commonly will thy joyes be. When the people offered so willingly about the Temple, how joyfull and glad is David, blessing God, Who are we that we should be able to offer thus willingly,

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SERMON XXI. Of Gods being Glorified by Mans Salvation; That Christs chief end in what he did for man, was the Glory of God, which bespeaks both our Imitation and unspeakable Consolation.