A77360:485
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation. : Gods return to the soul, or nation; together with his preventing mercy. : Delivered in ten sermons, (viz.) 1. Christs personal excellencies, the object of our love. 2. Christ crucified, the object of our faith. 3. The new covenant of grace opened. 4. Christ the mediator of the new covenant. 5. The way and spirit of the new covenant, or New Testament. 6. The blood of sprinkling. 7. The sweetness and profitableness of divine meditation. 8. The work and way of this meditation. 9. Gods return to the soul and nation. 10. Preventing mercy. / By W.B.
London: printed for N. Ranew, 1667
Sermons › Sermon 5: The Way and Spirit of the New Covenant, or New Testament. SERM. V.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Why, a Servant serves for wages, and a Son serves out of love and duty: And are there not many in these times of the Gospel, that do serve God only, or mostly, upon the account of wages and reward. Ye know what men ordinarily say, What need ye be so strict in your life, you may go to Heaven with less ado. So then it seems, 'tis Heaven that is their measure of obedience— Why— because men are legal, and serve God upon the account of wages: 'Tis Heaven, and Reward, and Wages, that's the business. Why, because men are legal.
Why, a Servant serves for wages, and a Son serves out of love and duty: And are there not many in these times of the Gospel, that do serve God onely, or m•stly, upon the account of wages and reward. Ye know what men ordinarily say, What need ye be so strict in your life, you may go to Heaven with less ado. So then it seems, 'tis Heaven that is their measure of obedience— Why— because men are legal, and serve God upon the account of wages: 'Tis Heaven, and Reward, and Wages, that's the business. Why, because men are legal.
I grant, It is lawful to have an eye to the recompense of Reward, Christ himself had. All love of reward is not Mercenary: But for a man to serve God, mostly, chiefly, only, upon the account of wages, and for reward, this is plainly Legal. A man of a Gospel spirit, knows that he lives upon a better Purse, ⟨p. 363⟩than all his own earnings can amount unto. But,
I grant, It is lawful to have an eye to the recompence of Reward, Christ himself had. All love of reward is not Mercenary: But for a man to serve God, mostly, chiefly, onely, upon the account of wages, and for reward, this is plainly Legal. A man of a Gospel spirit, knows that he lives upon a better Purse, ⟨p. 363⟩than all his own earnings can amount unto. But,