First, Christ began early to work for God. He took the morning of his life, the very top of the morning to work for God. How is it (said he to his Parents when he was but a child of about twelve years) that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business? Reader, if the morning of thy life be not gone, oh devote it to the work of God, as Christ did. If it be, ply thy work the closer in the afternoon of thy life. If a man have any great and necessary business to do, it's good doing in the morning; afterwards a hurry of business and diversion comes on.
Secondly, As Christ began betime, so he followed his work close. He was early up, and he wrought hard; so hard, that he forgot to eat bread, Joh. 31, 32. So zealous was he, in his Fathers work, that his friends thought he had been besides himself, Mark 3.21. So zealous, that the zeal of Gods house eat him up. He flew like a Seraphim, in a flame of zeal, about the work of God. O be not ye like Snales.1 What Augustus said of the young Roman, well becomes the true Christian; whatsoever he doth, he doth it to purpose.
Thirdly, Christ often thought upon the shortness of his time, and wrought hard because he knew his working time would be but little. So you find it, Joh. 9.4. I most work the works of him that sent me whilst it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work. O in this be like Christ. Rouse your hearts to diligence with this consideration. If a man have much to write, and be almost come to the end of his paper; he will write close, and pack much matter, in a little room.
⟨p. 489⟩Fourthly, He did much work for God, and made little noise. He wrought hard, but did not spoil his work when he had wrought it, by vain ostentation. When he had expressed his Charity in acts of mercy and bounty to men, he would humbly seal up the glory of it, with this charge; see ye tell no man of it, Matth. 8.4. he affected not popular air. All the Angels in Heaven could not do what Christ did, and yet he called himself a worm, for all that. Psal. 22.6. O imitate your pattern. Work hard for God, and let not pride blow upon it when you have done. It's hard for a man to do much, and not value himself for it too much.
Fifthly, Christ carried on his work for God resolvedly. No discouragements would beat him off, though never any work met with more from first to last.
First, Christ began early to work for God. He took the mornning of his life, the very top of the morning to work for God. How is it (said he to his Parents when he was but a child of about twelve years) that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business? Reader, if the morning of thy life be not gone, oh devote it to the work of God, as Christ did. If it be, ply thy work the closer in the afternoon of thy life. If a man have any great and necessary business to do, it's good doing in the morning; afterwards a hurry of business and diversion comes on.
Secondly, As Christ began betime, so he followed his work close. He was early up, and he wrought hard; so hard, that he forgat to eat bread, Joh. 31, 32. So zealous was he, in his Fathers work, that his friends thought he had been besides himself, Mark 3.21. So zealous, that the zeal of Gods house eat him up. He flew like a Seraphim, in a flame of zeal, about the work of God. O be not ye like Snales.1 What Augustus said of the young Roman, well becomes the true Christian; whatsoever he doth, he doth it to purpose.
Thirdly, Christ often th•ught upon the shortness of his time, and wrought hard because he knew his working time would be but little. So you find it, Joh. 9.4. I most work the works of him that sent me whilst it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work. O in this be like Christ. Rouze your hearts to diligence with this consideration. If a man have much to write, and be almost come to the end of his paper; he will write close, and pack much matter, in a little room.
⟨p. 489⟩Fourthly, He did much work for God, and made little noise. He wrought hard, but did not spoil his work when he had wrought it, by vain ostentation. When he had exprest his Charity in acts of mercy and bounty to men, he would humbly seal up the glory of it, with this charge; see ye tell no man of it, Matth. 8.4. he affected not popular air. All the Angels in Heaven could not do what Christ did, and yet he called himself a worm, for all that. Psal. 22.6. O imitate your pattern. Work hard for God, and let not pride blow upon it when you have done. It's hard for a man to do much, and not value himself for it too much.
Fifthly, Christ carried on his work for God resolvedly. No discouragements would beat him off, though never any work met with more from first to last.
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