1 We should acknowledge him, and confess that Jesus is the Lord, for no man can make this confession, but by the holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 12. 3. But because Hypocrites may say so in words, let us labour from our hearts to yield our selves unto Christ, as to our only Lord, to be ruled and governed by him all our days, to be wholly at his disposing, even to live to him that dyed for us, and by the sound Covenant of our hearts to yield our selves as servants to obey him in all righteousness, 2 Cor. 5. 15. To say Lord, Lord, will not serve turn, Mat. 7. 21. unless we say it with our hearts, and prove it by our obedience: which if we do, then it is from the holy Ghost, as the Sanctifier: whereas the general outward confession is but from the common grace of the Holy Ghost, which may be found in Hypocrites. Let us then with Thomas from our hearts say unto Jesus, My Lord, and my God. Yea, let us give our selves to the Lord, as the Macedonians did, 2 Cor. 8. 5. For why should we any more serve strange Lords. Have we not reason to confess, that we have served sin, and Satan, and the world all this while, and it did not profit us? Job 33. 27. What greater preferment can we have then to serve the Lord of Lords? Did David, a great King, account it his greatest glory to be the servant of this Lord, Psalm 36. 1. Was it not his comfort to call him his Lord? Psalm 110. 1. Have we not tasted how bountiful the Lord is? 1 Pet. 2. 3. Did our hearts ever feel any thing more sweet then the entertainment he hath given in his Word and Sacraments and Prayer? Have we not bound our selves by solemn Covenant, when we received the Sacrament? What then should hinder us, but that we should with all ⟨p. 244⟩our hearts consecrate the rest of our lives to his service: which if you mean to do, by the way take notice of these rules.
1 We should acknowledge him, and confesse that Iesus is the Lord, for no man can make this confession, but by the holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 12. 3. But because Hypocrites may say so in words, let vs labour from our hearts to yeeld our selues vnto Christ, as to our onely Lord, to bee ruled and gouerned by him all our dayes, to be wholly at his disposing, euen to liue to him that dyed for vs, and by the sound Couenant of our hearts to yeeld our selues as seruants to obey him in all righteousnesse, 2 Cor. 5. 15. To say Lord, Lord, will not serue turne, Mat. 7. 21. vnlesse we say it with our hearts, and proue it by our obedience: which if wee doe, then it is from the holy Ghost, as the Sanctifier: whereas the generall outward confession is but from the common grace of the Holy Ghost, which may be found in Hypocrites. Let vs then with Thomas from our hearts say vnto Iesus, My Lord, and my God. Yea, let vs giue our selues to the Lord, as the Macedonians did, 2 Cor. 8. 5. For why should we any more serue strange Lords. Haue we not reason to confesse, that we haue serued sinne, and Satan, and the world all this while, and it did not profit vs? Iob 33. 27. What greater preferment can we haue then to serue the Lord of Lords? Did Dauid, a great King, account it his greatest glory to bee the seruant of this Lord, Psalme 36. 1. Was it not his comfort to call him his Lord? Psalme 110. 1. Haue wee not tasted how bountifull the Lord is? 1 Pet. 2. 3. Did our hearts euer feele any thing more sweet then the entertainment he hath giuen in his Word and Sacraments and Prayer? Haue we not bound our selues by solemne Couenant, when wee receiued the Sacrament? What then should hinder vs, but that wee should with all ⟨p. 244⟩our hearts consecrate the rest of our liues to his seruice: which if you meane to doe, by the way take notice of these rules.
