Consider whether you endeavour to do any thing for Christ without expostulating, and indenting with him. Whether you are ready to do all things freely to him, without consulting with another about it. Amicitia non est revocanda ad calculos. A friend must not be strict in taking his account, for then he plays but the Huckster, he doth but buy and sell. When thou art trying and expostulating then whether such a duty be necessary or no, whether another will not serve the turn; this is a sign thou dost want love. A Minister that hath this love, when he is to take a Living, will not so much enquire what reward he shall have, as what service he may do to God in it. If you did love the Lord you would not stand, saying, is it necessary to keep the Lords day so strictly? You would be ready to do what ever hath but a shadow of pleasing him. Oh how you would be glad of such a day, so free ⟨p. 40⟩from other business, wherein you might sequester your selves from the world, to attend upon God, and to enjoy him? So for a family prayer, thou wouldest not ask, can it not be omitted without sin? This questioning will not stand with this love: for the person thou servest is the Lord, and thou must not be as a mercenary servant. A wife will be devising things to please her husband. So, what shall I render to the Lord (saith David.) So Paul was abundant in labours and sufferings. If Paul would have done nothing but out of necessity, he had never done half so much, say then, I will even go do my duty, perform my task, If I must pray in my family, then I will: If I must keep the Lords day, I will make a shift to wear out the day; This I say argues a heart void of this love. We must know that Christ hath died to purchase to himself a people zealous of good works: such as do good works with desire or dear delight; that would fain do a great deal more then they do. Would you then do no more then just will bring you to heaven as you think? Do you set limits to your performances? you have not this love. Why? you pray that you may serve Christ on earth as the Angels do in heaven, and yet will you say such a man goes faster, it is no matter, this pace will bring me to heaven, and so never mend it? This is a sign of no love to the Lord Jesus.
Consider whether you endeavour to doe any thing for Christ without expostulating, and indenting with him. Whether you are ready to doe all things freely to him, without consulting with another about it. Amicitia non est revocanda ad calculos. A friend must not bee strict in taking his account, for then hee plaies but the Huckster, he doth but buy and sell. When thou art trying and expostulating then whether such a duty be necessary or no, whether another will not serve the turne; this is a signe thou dost want love. A Minister that hath this love, when he is to take a Living, will not so much enquire what reward he shall have, as what service he may doe to God in it. If you did love the Lord you would not stand, saying, is it necessary to keepe the Lords day so strictly? You would bee ready to doe what ever hath but a shadow of pleasing him. Oh how you would be glad of such a day, so free ⟨p. 40⟩from other businesse, wherein you might sequester your selves from the world, to attend upon God, and to injoy him? So for a family prayer, thou wouldest not aske, can it not be omitted without sinne? This questioning will not stand with this love: for the person thou servest is the Lord, and thou must not be as a mercenary servant. A wife will bee devising things to please her husband. So, what shall I render to the Lord (saith David.) So Paul was abundant in labours and sufferings. If Paul would have done nothing but out of necessity, he had never done halfe so much, say then, I will even goe doe my duty, performe my taske, If I must pray in my family, then I will: If I must keepe the Lords day, I will make a shift to weare out the day; This I say argues a heart void of this love. We must know that Christ hath died to purchase to himselfe a people zealous of good workes: such as doe good workes with desire or deare delight; that would faine doe a great deale more then they doe. Would you then doe no more then just will bring you to heaven as you thinke? Do you set limits to your performances? you have not this love. Why? you pray that you may serve Christ on earth as the Angels doe in heaven, and yet will you say such a man goes faster, it is no matter, this pace will bring mee to heaven, and so never mend it? This is a sign of no love to the Lord Iesus.
