First, they do it readily, they are pressed, and ready at hand to do the good will of the Lord upon all occasions; they do not withdraw themselves, but presently upon every occasion do what the Lord requires. We read, Job 1. that the sons of God appeared before him, they are ever in his sight to give attendance upon him, as the handmaid is ever at the hand of her Mistress: So that of Isaiah, the Text saith, they cover their faces before the Mercy Seat; they cover their faces in token of awfulness and reverence, and cry Holy, Holy. They are ever before him as a dutiful servant is ever at his Masters beck. They are at hand in this readiness of theirs to do the will of the Lord; we should imitate them, to be ever prepared and at hand to do the will of God; not to have our affections straggling, but with Ananias we must say, Here Lord; with Abraham, Behold thy servant is at hand. Thus it should be with the soul; the Lord saith, you must not have this sin, and that corruption; we must reply, Thy will be done, LORD; we must not say as Moses when the Lord commanded him to go to Pharaoh, saith he, Who am I, Lord? send another: 1No, it should not be thus with us, we should be ready at hand, Here Lord, speak Lord, for thy servant heareth, Acts 9. Go to Paul, saith the Lord to ⟨p. 32⟩Ananias, and he went though he had been a persecutor. Contrariwise, Jonah will go to Tarshish rather then to Nineveh: We should not do thus, but as the Angels, and as Cornelius, when he sent for Peter, Acts 10. saith he, we are all here before thee to take notice of whatsoever it shall please God to reveal to us by thee. Let our Lamps be light and prepared, that whether the Bridegroom come at midnight, or at any other time, all may be in readiness at a push, that we may go when the Lord calls; when the Lord saith, here is a sin to be sorrowed for; here Lord, saith the soul. We must not let God stay for us, nor be haled as a Bear to the stake in any duty: No, but we must attend the will of God; neither must we stout it out, I will be wicked, and I will walk in my own way, &c. so you may, and perish; and so you may and be damned, and go to Hell too when you have done. It is nothing what a man hales out whether he will or no, that is nothing. This is not to do the will of God as it is in Heaven, but we must always be fitted and ready to do what God requires.
First, they doe it readily, they are prest, and ready at hand to doe the good will of the Lord upon all occasions; they doe not withdraw themselves, but presently upon every occasion doe what the Lord requires. We read, Job 1. that the sonnes of God appeared before him, they are ever in his sight to give attendance upon him, as the handmaid is ever at the hand of her Mistris: So that of Isaiah, the Text saith, they cover their faces before the Mercy Seat; they cover their faces in token of awfulnesse and reverence, and cry Holy, Holy. They are ever before him as a dutifull servant is ever at his Masters beck. They are at hand in this readines of theirs to doe the will of the Lord; we should imitate them, to be ever prepared and at hand to doe the will of God; not to have our affections stragling, but with Ananias we must say, Here Lord; with Abraham, Behold thy servant is at hand. Thus it should be with the soule; the Lord saith, you must not have this sinne, and that corruption; we must reply, Thy will be done, LORD; we must not say as Moses when the Lord commanded him to goe to Pharaoh, saith he, Who am I, Lord? send another: 1No, it should not be thus with us, wee should be ready at hand, Here Lord, speake Lord, for thy servant heareth, Acts 9. Goe to Paul, saith the Lord to ⟨p. 32⟩Ananias, and he went though he had been a persecutor. Contrariwise, Jonah will goe to Tarshish rather then to Nineve: We should not doe thus, but as the Angels, and as Cornelius, when he sent for Peter, Acts 10. saith he, we are all here before thee to take notice of whatsoever it shall please God to reveale to us by thee. Let our Lamps be light and prepared, that whether the Bridegroome come at midnight, or at any other time, all may be in readinesse at a push, that we may goe when the Lord calls; when the Lord saith, here is a sinne to be sorrowed for; here Lord, saith the soule. We must not let God stay for us, nor bee haled as a Beare to the stake in any duty: No, but we must attend the will of God; neither must we stout it out, I will be wicked, and I will walk in my owne way, &c. so you may, and perish; and so you may and be damned, and go to Hell too when you have done. It is nothing what a man hales out whether he will or no, that is nothing. This is not to doe the will of God as it is in Heaven, but wee must alwayes be fitted and ready to doe what God requires.
- 11 Sam. 3.
