A. 3. If you would stand acquitted at the last day, then trade your talents for God's glory; lay out yourselves for God, honour him with your substance ; relieve Christ's members ; this is the way to be acquitted. He that had five talents traded with them,
and made them five talents more, "his lord said unto him, well done good and faithful servant," INIat. xxv. 21.
A. 4. If you would stand acquitted at the day of judgment, get an entire love to the saints, 1 John iii. 14., " We know we are passed from death to life," &c. Love is the { truest touch-stone of sincerity. To love grace for grace, shows the Spirit of God to be in a man. Doth conscience witness for you ? Are you perfumed with this swjct spice of love ? Do you delight most in those in whom tlic image of God shines? Do you reverence their graces ? Do you bear with their infirmities ? A blessed evidence that you shall be acquitted in the day of judg- ment. " We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren."
OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S REVEALED WILL.
Deut. xxvii. 9, 10. Take heed and hearken^ O Israel, this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God ; thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments.
Quest. XXXIX. WHAT is the duty that God requirelh of man ?
Axs. Obedience to his revealed will.
It is not enough to hear God's voice, but we must obey. Obedience is a part of that honour we owe to God, Mai. i. 6., " If I be a Father, where is my honour ?" Obedi- ence carries in it the life-blood of religion. " Obey the voice of the Lord God, and do his commandments." Obedience without knowledge is blind, and knowledge Avithout obedience is lame. Rachel was fair to look upon, but, being barren, said, " Give me children, or I die :" so, if knowledge dotli not bring forth the child of obedience, it will die, 1 Sam. xv. 22., " To o])ey is bet- ter than sacrifice." Saul thought it w;is enough for him to offer sacrifices, though he disobeyed God's command : no, " to obey is better than sacrifice." God disclaims sacrifice, if obedience be wanting, Jer. vii. 82., " I spake not to your fathers concern- ing burnt-offerings, but this thing com- manded I them, saying, obey my voice." INot but that God did enjoin those religious
rites of worship ; but the meaning is, God looked chiefly at obedience, without which, sacrifice was but devout folly. The end why God hath given us his laws, is obedi- ence, Lev. xviii. 4., " Ye .shall do my judg- ments, and keep my ordinances." Why doth a king publish an edict, but that it may be observed ?
Quest. 1. What is the ride of obedience ?
Ans. The written word ; that is proper obedience which the word requires ; our o- bedicnce must correspond with the word, as the copy with the original. To seem to be zealous, if it be not according to the word, is not obedience, but will-worship. Popish traditions, which have no footing in the word, are abominable ; and God will say, Qi/is qua:sivit hacc ? " Who hatli re- quired this at your hand ?" Isa. i. 12. The apostle condemns the worshipping of an- gels, which had a show of humility. Col. ii. 18. The Jews might say they were loath to be so bold as to go to God in their own persons, — they would 1>e more humble, and prostrate themselves before the angels, and
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OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S REVEALED WILL.
desire tliem to present tlieir petitions to God : this sliow of humility was lutteful to God, l)ecause there was no word to warrant it.
Quest. 2. Jlliat are the rigid ingredietits in our obedience to make it acceptable ? How must it be qualified ?
Arm. \. Obedience must be cum animi prolubio, — free and clieerful, else it is pe- nance, not sacrifice, Isa. i. 19., " If ye be willing and obedient." Though we serve God with weakness, let it be with willing- ness. You love to see your servants go clieerfully about your work. Under the law, God would have " a free-will offering," Deut. xvi. 10. Hypocrites obey God grudg- ingly, and against their will ; they do J'a- cere bomun, but not velle. Cain brought his sacrifice, but not his heart. 'Tis a true rule, Quic(/uid cor nonjacit, non fd^ — ' what the heart doth not do, is not done.* Wil- lingness is the soul of obedience ; God some- times accepts of willingness without the work, but never of the work without will- ingness. Cheerfulness shews that there is love in the duty; and love doth to our ser- vices, as the sun doth to the fruit, mellow and ripen them, and make them come off with a better relish.