I know it is a hard trial for a man to be put to such a strait; for the Lord to advance the price of his Ordinances at that high rate, that all must be parted with for the enjoyment of them. But yet notwithstanding, he is for ever unworthy to have the Lord Jesus to rule him, that shall therefore make him a King as they did, John 6. He was their Cooke, therefore they made him King. Therefore this I say, take heed of disputing against, or denying, or nullifying, not only outwardly, but in thy very heart secretly, any of Gods Ordinances: for that the Lord complains of his people, that their hearts went after their wickedness. Oh take heed of doing thus against any one of Gods Ordinances, because straits do attend on them: It was the speech of David, Ps. 119. Thy law is pure, therefore thy servant loveth it. Suppose thou shouldest never get any good by any of Gods Ordinances; yet thy law is pure, the fault is in thy own heart; and certainly the Lord he will remember, as there he speaketh, Jerem. 2.2. I remember the love of thine espousals, when thou didst follow me in a land ⟨p. 67⟩of barrenness, in a land where there was no water. Thy life shall be precious to the Lord, that shalt follow the Lord in all afflictions; yet thy heart doth cleave to the Lord, and follow the Lord in all his Ordinances; therefore this is that I would say, there are many wants now in the country; But yet notwithstanding, let the people of God get near to Christ; speak often one to another, and find out ways and means to pay your debts, and lie down at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and be content if the Lord will have it so, to be nothing, be content thus; and though thou dost not find any benefit from the Ordinance of the Lord as yet, yet notwithstanding loath thy own heart, but love them; yet seek after the Lord, and look to the Lord in them▪ And this is certain, the Lord hath blessings for his people; not only in this life, but as he there speaketh to his Disciples, when they say to him, Lord, what shall we have? saith the Lord to them; You that have followed me, you shall sit on thrones. But take heed of this, if once ye come to slight Ordinances, and cast off Ordinances, because of these straits and wants, and so forth: And what are your Ordinances, &c?
I know it is a hard trial for a man to be put to such a strait; for the Lord to advance the price of his Ordinances at that high rate, that all must be parted with for the enjoyment of them. But yet notwithstanding, he is for ever unworthy to have the Lord Jesus to rule him, that shall therefore make him a King as they did, John 6. He was their Cooke, therefore they made him King. Therefore this I say, take heed of disputing against, or denying, or nullifying, not only outwardly, but in thy very heart secretly, any of Gods Ordinances: for that the Lord complains of his people, that their hearts went after their wickednesse. Oh take heed of doing thus against any one of Gods Ordinances, because straits do attend on them: It was the speech of David, Ps. 119. Thy law is pure, therfore thy servant loveth it. Suppose thou shouldest never get any good by any of Gods Ordinances; yet thy law is pure, the fault is in thy own heart; and certainly the Lord he will remēber, as there he speaketh, Jerem. 2.2. I remember the love of thine espousals, when thou didst follow me in a land ⟨p. 67⟩of barrennesse, in a land where there was no water. Thy life shall be precious to the Lord, that shalt follow the Lord in all afflictions; yet thy heart doth cleave to the Lord, and follow the Lord in all his Ordinances; therefore this is that I would say, there are many wants now in the countrey; But yet notwithstanding, let the people of God get neer to Christ; speak often one to another, and finde out wayes and meanes to pay your debts, and ly down at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and be content if the Lord will have it so, to be nothing, be content thus; and though thou dost not finde any benefit from the Ordinance of the Lord as yet, yet notwithstanding loath thy own heart, but love them; yet seek after the Lord, and look to the Lord in them▪ And this is certain, the Lord hath blessings for his people; not only in this life, but as he there speaketh to his Disciples, when they say to him, Lord, what shall we have? saith the Lord to them; You that have followed me, you shall sit on thrones. But take heed of this, if once ye come to slight Ordinances, and cast off Ordinances, because of these straits and wants, and so forth: And what are your Ordinances, &c?
