The second reason in the text is, He is the Saviour of his Church, he hath saved them already from 1the guilt and power of their sins, and he is so continually, and thy safety consists in being obedient ⟨p. 81⟩to him: look how many acts of disobedience, so many steps from under thy shelter into the storm, from out of the shade into the scorching Sun-shine. All the commandments we 2have from him, are things, by which our lives are maintained: as fishes live in the water, so we in the commandments, for they are our elements: so as withdrawing thy self from the commandments and going out of them, tends to destruction; and it is as if a man should see a fish going out of the water: every such motion tends to death. If therefore a man would consider when he is about to commit a sin, that this act tends to death, and that to be subject to the commandment is my safety, he would certainly keep within compass: if the commandments tended to destruction, we ought to do them; for what are we but Gods vassals? he hath bought us. As they in the old Law might do what they would with their servants they had bought with their money, so might God: but when every commandment shall tend to thy good, so as thou canst not devise a better way for thy self than to obey them, wilt not thou much rather be subject? 10. Deut. 13. In 3the former verses he had shown that God had done great things for them, and therefore might do as other masters, that command their servants that which is for their own advantage, and not for their servants; and so God might do, and thou oughtest to be subject to him: but says he in the thirteenth verse, what doth the Lord require of thee, but to keep the commandments ⟨p. 82⟩of the Lord which he commands thee for thy good? Thou mayest think that to sanctify the Sabbath is not for thy good, but now thou mayest think happily by thy travel on that day, and plotting thy business to further thy wealth: or suppose that God bid thee be bold for him, and stand out for the profession of the truth, thou thinkest it may be thereby thou shalt loose much; and that by stepping out of his way, thou mayest take in some convenience, or balk some cross, which for doing his will would befall thee; but thou art deceived, thou shalt find that this shall be for thy ruin, and though thou canst not see how this should be for thy good;
The second reason in the text is, Hee is the Saviour of his Church, he hath saved them already from 1the guilt and power of their sinnes, and hee is so continually, and thy safety consists in being obedient ⟨p. 81⟩to him: looke how many acts of disobedience, so many steps from under thy shelter into the storme, from out of the shade into the scorching Sun-shine. All the commandements wee 2have from him, are things, by which our lives are maintained: as fishes live in the water, so wee in the commandements, for they are our elements: so as withdrawing thy selfe from the commandements and going out of them, tends to destruction; and it is as if a man should see a fish going out of the water: every such motion tends to death. If therefore a man would consider when he is about to commit a sin, that this act tends to death, and that to be subject to the commandement is my safety, hee would certainly keepe within compasse: if the commandements tended to destruction, we ought to doe them; for what are we but Gods vassals? he hath bought us. As they in the old Law might doe what they would with their servants they had bought with their money, so might God: but when every commandement shall tend to thy good, so as thou canst not devise a better way for thy selfe than to obey them, wilt not thou much rather bee subject? 10. Deut. 13. In 3the former verses he had showne that God had done great things for them, and therefore might doe as other masters, that command their servants that which is for their owne advantage, and not for their servants; and so God might do, and thou oughtest to be subject to him: but sayes hee in the thirteenth verse, what doth the Lord require of thee, but to keepe the commandements ⟨p. 82⟩of the Lord which hee commands thee for thy good? Thou maist thinke that to sanctifie the Sabboth is not for thy good, but now thou maist thinke happily by thy travell on that day, and plotting thy businesse to further thy wealth: or suppose that God bid thee be bold for him, and stand out for the profession of the truth, thou thinkest it may be thereby thou shalt loose much; and that by stepping out of his way, thou maist take in some convenience, or balke some crosse, which for doing his will would befall thee; but thou art deceived, thou shalt find that this shall be for thy ruine, and though thou canst not see how this should be for thy good;
- 12 Reas. He is the Saviour of his Church.
- 2His commandments for our good.His commandements for our good.
- 3Deut. 10. 13
