Gospel-Worship

The Sixth & last reason hath a great deal in it,¹ which I beseech you consider of; we find that the Scripture doth make the uprightness of the heart much to consist in preparation for worship; and doth make the falseness of the heart to consist in this, that men do not prepare. Perhaps you have not so much thought of this, but yet it is of excellent use unto you. We shall find the Scripture doth make the very uprightness of the heart to consist in the preparation for duty; and the falseness of a mans heart to consist in this, that he makes not conscience to prepare his heart for God and his worship. And this I will show unto you very plainly and clearly, take these two examples. The first of Rehoboam, and the second of Jehoshaphat, one a wicked man whose heart was false, and the other a godly man whose heart was right with God. The falseness of the heart of the one is in 2 Chron. 12. 14. there you have what Gods thoughts of Rehoboam were in the verses before: but now he brings the reason of his sentence upon him, and saith the text, he did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord; there were many good things that Rehoboam did; I might show you some things; as how he did obey the Prophet of God when he was seeking to avenge himself upon those that did rend themselves from his obedience: the Lord did but send his Prophet, and though he had an army ready to revenge himself upon those that in a way of Rebellion did rend themselves from under his government, & he obeyed the word of the Lord but for all that he did evil in the fight of the Lord God looked upon him as a man that had no uprightness in him, why? for he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord, saith God, I look upon all Rehoboam did as nothing; I look upon his ways as evil and himself as a wicked man, Why? Because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord if his hart had bin upright with me he would have prepared his heart to seek me. I beseech you now lay this text to your hearts do you prepare your hearts to seek God? when you go to prayer can you say that you take pains in preparing your hearts for it? and in hearing the word, and so likewise for receiving the Sacrament.

The Sixt & last reason hath a great deal in it,¹ which I beseech you consider of; we find that the Scripture doth make the uprightnes of the heart much to consist in preparation for worship; and doth make the falsenesse of the heart to consist in this, that men do not prepare. Perhaps you have not so much thought of this, but yet it is of excellent use unto you. We shall find the Scripture doth make the very uprightnesse of the heart to consist in the preparation for duty; and the falsenesse of a mans heart to consist in this, that he makes not conscience to prepare his heart for God and his worship. And this I will shew unto you very plainly and cleerly, take these two examples. The first of Rehoboam, and the second of Jehoshaphat, one a wicked man whose heart was false, and the other a godly man whose heart was right with God. The falsenesse of the heart of the one is in