An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

To serve God, (as to love God) is a very comprehensive word, 'tis the sum of all the duty of Man. To serve God is to submit both to what he commands us, and to what he layeth upon us. To serve God is to submit to what he would have us do, and to whatsoever he is pleased to do with us; and so we serve him particularly under sufferings: We should always serve him actively, and we are called sometimes to serve him passively. All Believers are free, and yet they must serve; and they are made free on purpose to serve: We are purchased by the blood of Christ, that we might serve him. Because we are bought with a price, we must not be the servants of men, saith the Apostle, (1 Cor. 7.23.) Whose servants then? Surely the servants of God.¹ We are conquered that we might serve. The Latins say, that a Servant is one that is saved in War, taken and saved. So it is with all the people of God, they are taken in the holy war, they are taken prisoners, and so made servants to Jesus Christ. Yet Believers are servants, not only by conquest, but compact and covenant; every godly man hath, as it were, sealed Indentures with God, he hath (upon the matter) put his ear to the Lords post to be bored through, (as you read, Exod. 21.6.) that he may be his servant for ever. The Lord expects service.

To serve God, (as to love God) is a very comprehensive word, 'tis the summe of all the duty of Man. To serve God is to submit both to what he commands us, and to what he layeth upon us. To serve God is to submit to what he would have us do, and to whatsoever he is pleased to do with us; and so we serve him particularly under sufferings: We should alwayes serve him actively, and we are called sometimes to serve him passively. All Believers are free, and yet they must serve; and they are made free on purpose to serve: We are purchased by the blood of Christ, that we might serve him. Because we are bought with a price, we must not be the servants of men, saith the Apostle, (1 Cor. 7.23.) Whose servants then? Surely the servants of God.¹ We are conquered that we might serve. The Latines say, that a Servant is one that is saved in War, taken and saved. So it is with all the people of God, they are taken in the holy war, they are taken prisoners, and so made servants to Jesus Christ. Yet Believers are servants, not only by conquest, but compact and covenant; every godly man hath, as it were, sealed Indentures with God, he hath (upon the matter) put his ear to the Lords post to be boared thorow, (as you read,