I answer, To serve God, or the service of God is sweet, pleasant and easy in a twofold respect. Fi•st, comparatively, to the service of sin and the world, of lust and the devil; that's a weariness indeed as well as a baseness. Secondly, It is easy also if we consider the help we have in it. The people of God serve him in a Covenant of Grace, which, as it calls them to work, so it gives them help to work. The New Covenant doth not call us (as Pharaoh did the children of Israel) to make brick and deny us straw; yea, under that Covenant, we have not only straw afforded us to make our brick, but we have strength afforded us to make our brick; that is, the very power by which we serve our Master is given in by our Master. The Masters of this world set us a work, but they give us no strength, but what work soever God sets his Covenant-servants about, he gives them strength to do it. Then, O how sweet is it to serve him, and how readily should our hearts come off in his service! Let me add one thing more (which brings us to the next words) serve him, for his is not a lean service, not an unprofitable service, there is a ⟨p. 241⟩reward promised to those who serve him; yea, his very service is a reward, his work is wages. Therefore what calls soever we have from him let us answer and serve him. There are two things which should be the daily meditation of Saints, or they should be continually acquainting themselves with them. First, The Cross of Christ, that they may know how, and be willing to suffer for him. Secondly, The Yoke of Christ, that they may know how, and be willing to serve him. If they obey and serve him, What then? even that which was the last consideration prove king us to his service, there is a reward in i•, If they obey and serve him, They shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures.
I answer, To serve God, or the service of God is sweet, pleasant and easie in a twofold respect. Fi•st, comparatively, to the service of sin and the world, of lust and the devil; that's a weariness indeed as well as a baseness. Secondly, It is easie also if we consider the help we have in it. The people of God serve him in a Covenant of Grace, which, as it calls them to work, so it gives them help to work. The New Covenant doth not call us (as Pharaoh did the children of Israel) to make brick and deny us straw; yea, under that Covenant, we have not onely straw afforded us to make our brick, but we have strength afforded us to make our brick; thar is, the very power by which we serve our Master is given in by our Master. The Masters of this world set us a work, but they give us no strength, but what work soever God sets his Covenant-servants about, he gives them strength to do it. Then, O how sweet is it to serve him, and how readily should our hearts come off in his service! Let me add one thing more (which brings us to the next words) serve him, for his is not a lean service, not an unprofitable service, there is a ⟨p. 241⟩reward promised to those who serve him; yea, his very service is a reward, his work is wages. Therefore what calls soever we have from him let us answer and serve him. There are two things which should be the daily meditation of Saints, or they should be continually acquainting themselves with them. First, The Cross of Christ, that they may know how, and be willing to suffer for him. Secondly, The Yoak of Christ, that they may know how, and be willing to serve him. If they obey and serve him, What then? even that which was the last consideration prove king us to his service, there is a reward in i•, If they obey and serve him, They shall spend their dayes in prosperity and their years in pleasures.
