Thirdly, that in all we do, we have respect to the glory of God in all our performances, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Gal. 2.20. The just shall live by his own faith. As if he should say, he no further puts forth a work of spiritual life, further then he denies his own ability, so far he lives by his faith, and depends upon Christ for supply in every duty he goes about, whether he pray, preach, or receive Sacraments, or be diligent in his Calling, or in his carriage towards any that stand in relation to him, so far as we are sensible of our own failings, and therefore do depend upon him for strength; these are not such as come from common graces,1 but do accompany sanctification to life. It is true, if men be invested with common gifts, they may be acted and moved to many duties in their places, and put out very sweet affections to the duty, and yet do it rather out of the power of their own strength, and rather for their own glory and applause, then from any dependence upon Christ; so that spiritual life hath the Lord Jesus for its root, and the Word for its warrant, and for its rule to walk by, Psal. 119.6. Then shall I never be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy Commandments. All such actions will be acceptable to God, and serviceable to men; and also aim at the glory of God for the end, that is, their last end, and all such other ends as are sub-ordinate unto that, the building up of Gods Kingdom, Zach. 7.5, 6, 7. When ye did eat, did ye it unto me, saith the Lord? nay, did ye not do it to your selves? Hos. 7.14. They have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds. Did you desire in your prayers to bring in any service to God, to tend to his honour and glory? And did you debase your own souls before him, that you might find help from him? Or, did you not this to your selves, or for your own deliverance, and redemption, and freedom from such bondage and other miseries that lay upon you, so that if God see men go about such duties merely for themselves, they are wanting of this spiritual life. So then, do but lay these things together, ⟨p. 131⟩do you find a man that is desirous to be doing good duties, but is it to please others, or is it out of the bonds of authority that lies upon him? Do you see them have affection to duties, but out of their place and calling, or in their calling;
Thirdly, that in all we doe, we have respect to the glory of God in all our performances, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Gal. 2.20. The just shall live by his owne faith. As if he should say, he no further puts forth a worke of spirituall life, further then he denies his owne ability, so farre hee lives by his faith, and depends upon Christ for supply in every duty he goes about, whether he pray, preach, or receive Sacraments, or be diligent in his Calling, or in his carriage towards any that stand in relation to him, so farre as we are sensible of our owne failings, and therefore doe depend upon him for strength; these are not such as come from common graces,1 but doe accompany sanctification to life. It is true, if men be invested with common gifts, they may be acted and moved to many duties in their places, and put out very sweet affections to the duty, and yet doe it rather out of the power of their owne strength, and rather for their owne glory and applause, then from any dependance upon Christ; so that spirituall life hath the Lord Jesus for its root, and the Word for its warrant, and for its rule to walke by, Psal. 119.6. Then shall I never be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy Commandements. All such actions will be accpptable to God, and serviceable to men; and also aime at the glory of God for the end, that is, their last end, and all such other ends as are sub-ordinate unto that, the building up of Gods Kingdome, Zach. 7.5, 6, 7. When ye did eate, did ye it unto me, saith the Lord? nay, did ye not doe it to your selves? Hos. 7.14. They have not cryed unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds. Did you desire in your prayers to bring in any service to God, to tend to his honour and glory? And did you debase your owne soules before him, that you might finde help from him? Or, did you not this to your selves, or for your owne deliverance, and redemption, and freedome from such bondage and other miseries that lay upon you, so that if God see men goe about such duties meerly for themselves, they are wanting of this spirituall life. So then, doe but lay these things together, ⟨p. 131⟩doe you finde a man that is desirous to be doing good duties, but is it to please others, or is it out of the bonds of authority that lyes upon him? Doe you see them have affection to duties, but out of their place and calling, or in their calling;
- 1Common gifts.
