A Body of Practical Divinity

Use 4. Exhortation: Let us every one in our place make this our chief End and Design, to glorify God: 1. Let me speak to Magistrates; God hath put much Glory upon them, Psal. 82.6. I have said ye are gods; And will not they glorify him whom he hath put so much Glory upon? Magistrates should be zealous for God's Worship and Day, they should not let the Sword rust in the Scabbard, but draw it out for the cutting down of Sin. 2. Ministers, how should they study to promote God's Glory; God hath entrusted them with two the most precious Things, his Truths and the Souls of his People. Ministers are by virtue of their Office to glorify God: 1. They must glorify God by labouring in the Word and Doctrine, 2 Tim. 4.1. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead: Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, &c. It was St. Augustine's Wish, That Christ at his coming might find him, Aut Precantem aut Praedicantem, either Praying or Preaching. 2. Ministers must glorify God by their Zeal and Sanctity: The Priests under the Law, before they served at the Altar, did wash in the Laver. Such as serve in the Lord's House, must first be washed from gross Sin in the Laver of Repentance. 'Tis matter of Grief and Shame, to think how many who call themselves Ministers,¹ do instead of apparently bringing Glory to God, Dishonour God; their Lives as well as Doctrines are Heterodox, they are not free from the Sins which they reprove in others. Plutarch's Servant upbraided him, It is not as my Master Plutarch saith, he hath written a Book against Wrath, Anger, Et ipse mihi irascitur, yet he falls into a Passion of Anger with me. So this Minister preacheth against Drunkenness, yet he will be drunk, he preacheth against Swearing, yet he will swear; this reproacheth God, and makes the Offering of the Lord to be abhorred. 3. Masters of Families do you glorify God, season your Children and Servants with the Knowledge of the Lord, your Houses should be little Churches: Gen. 18.19. I know that Abraham will command his children, that they keep the way of the Lord. You that are Masters, know you have a Charge of Souls under you; for want of the Bridle of Family-discipline Youth runs wild: Well, let me lay down some Motives to glorify God: