called .srraphims, from an Hebrew word which signifies to bum, to show how the an- gels are all on fire, Ps. civ. 4., they burn in love and zeal in doing God's will ; grace turns a saint into a seraphim ; Aaron must ))ut burning coals to the incense, Exod. xvi 12. : incense was a type of prayer, burning coals of zeal, to show that the fire of zeal must be put to the incense of prayer. For- mality starves duty ; when we serve God dully and coldly, is this like the angels? Duty without fervency is as a sacrifice with- out fire; we should ascend to heaven in a fiery chariot of devotion.
6. We do God's will as the angels in hea- ven, when we give God the best in every service. Num. xviii. 29., " Out of all your gifts, ye shall offer all the best thereof." Num. xxviii. 7., " In the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the Lord for a drink-offering " The Jews might not offer to the Lord wine that was small or mixed, but the strong wine, to imply, that we must offer to God the b'est, the strongest of our affections ; if the spouse had a cup more juicy and spiced, Christ should drink of that. Cant. viii. 2., " I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate." Thus the an- gels in heaven do God's will, they serve him in the best manner, they give him their se- raphic high-stringed praises; he who loves God, gives him the cream of his obedience. God challenged the fat of all the sacrifices as his due. Lev. iii. 16. Hypocrites care not what services they bring to God; they think to put him off with any thing; they put no cost in their duties, Gen, iv. 3., " Cain brought of the fruit of the ground." The Holy Ghost took notice of Abel's offer ing, that it was costly, " He brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof," Gen. iv. 4. ; but when he speaks of Cain's offering, he only saith, " Pie brought of the fruit of the ground." Then we do God's will aright, when we do offer pinguia, we dedicate to him the best. Donntian would not have his image carved in wood or iron,
490
OF THE THIRD PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYt^R.
case, but as soon as tlicy liave tlicir cliarj^e aiifl eoinmission from God, they immediate- ly obey; and, to sliew liow ready tbey are to execute God's will, the cheriibims, re- presentini^ the angels, are described with winjjs, to show how swift and forward they are in their obedience, — it is as if they had wings, Dan. ix. 21., " The man Gabriel (that was an angel) being caused to lly swiftly." Thus should we do God's will as the angels ; as soon as ever God speaks the word, we should be ambitious to obey. Alas ! how long is it sometimes ere we can get leave of our bcarts to go to a duty ! Christ went more readily ad cnicem, than we to the throne of grace. How many disputes and excuses have we ? Is this to do God's will as the angels in heaven do it ? O let us shake off this backwardness to duty, as Paul shook off the viper ! Nescit tarda moUmina Spiritus Sancli gratia ; Zech. v. 9., " I saw two women, and the wind was in their wings." Wings are swift, but wind in the wings is great swiftness ; such readiness should be in our obedience. So Peter, as soon as ever Christ commanded him to let down his net, at Christ's word he presently let down the net, and you know what suc- cess he had, Luke v. 4. It was prophesied of such as were brought home to Christ, Ps. xviii. 44., " As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me."
8. We do God's will as the angels in hea- ven, when we do it constantly ; the angels are never weary of doing God's will, they serve God day and night. Rev. vii. 15., thus must we imitate the angels, Ps. cvi. 3., " Blessed is he that doth righteousness at all times." Constancy crowns obedience. Noil ccpis.te, sed perfecissc, virtutis est, Cvph. Our obedience must be like the fire of the altar which was continually kept burning, Lev. vi. 13. Hypocrites soon give over do- ing God's will ; like the chrysolite which is of a golden colour, in the morning it is very bright to look on, but towards evening it grows dull, and hath h>st its sploiidour. AVe should continue in doing God's u ill, because of that great loss that will befall us if we give over doing God's will.
(1.) A loss of lumour : Rev. iii. II,, " That no man take thv crown ;" implying, if the church of Philadelphia left off her obedi-
ence, she would lose her crown, vi«. her honour and reputation. Apostacy creates infamy ; Judas came from an apostle to be a traitor, that was a dishonour.
(2.) If we give over our obedience it is a loss of all that hath been already done ; as if one should work in silver, and then ])ick out all the stitches. All a man's prayers are lost, all the sabbaths he hath kept are lost, he doth unravel all his good works, Ezek. xviii. 24., *' All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned." He undoes all he hath done ; as if one draw a curious picture with the pencil, and then come with his spunge and wipe out all again.