8. Power and dominion of the truth over hearts is a far greater evidence of our sincerity than curious speculations or highflown notions : 1 Cor. iv. 20, ' The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power ;' James ii. 17, ' Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.' Be warmed, be clothed ; or, I have faith, relieving, comforting ; this is best. A doing and giving is more than a bare attendance upon Grod in his worship : Isa. Iviii. 5, 7, ' Is it such a fast that I have chosen ? a day for a man to afflict his soul ? Is it to bow down his head, as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes upon him ? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are casb out to thy house ? when thou seest the naked, that thou covet him ; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh ? ' Acts of charity are much better than formalities of worship.
Use 4. To press us to this self-denying way of serving God. I shall do it by these considerations —
1. How much wicked men can deny themselves for their lusts. There is not a verier drudge in the world than a carnal man. What cost is he at to satisfy his lusts ? nothing is too good for back and belly ; he can ransack the storehouses of nature for their supply, and all seemeth little enough to gratify those pleasures and delights which he fancieth. The world and the flesh engross his whole time and strength, he beginneth betimes ; the flower and freshness of his youth and strength is employed this way ; so that if God should break in upon him, and bring him to any sense of his everlasting interest, there is nothing but the dregs of age left for God ; the flesh and the world have his health and strength. If he promise anything to his Creator, whom he should remember in the days of his youth, Eccles. xii. 1, it is only his weakness and sickness. Carnal vanities have his first-fruits, and scarce his gleanings can be reserved for God and religion. In his age, how little is he reduced ! what commands doth the devil lay upon men ! and how laborious and grievous and difficult soever they be, this is no impediment. But in religion a little thing is grievous ; all proveth too much. It is a costly thing to feed any lust ; what large ofiers do they make ! Micah vi. 6, 7, ' Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God ? shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves of a year old ? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil ? shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul ? ' They had rather be at any pains than quit their bosom corruptions ; are more willing to promise what is impossible or sinfully cruel than kill one lust. How can a christian but blush at this, that he began with God so late, and that the best of his days weie ])ast before he thought of God ; and when he seeth the devil's martyrs, how they ventui-e reputation, estate, life, soul, and all, for a base pleasure, and he can do so little for God ?
2. AVhat a change it would make in the christitm world if christians
SERMON UPON 2 SAMUEL XXIV. 24. 93
of all sorts would put this question seriously to their souls, Shall I serve God with that wliich cost me nothing?
[1.] In ministers. Oh, how jnstly may God put us out of service, ■who have so often served him with what cost us nought ! Surely, did we oftener think of this, we wouUl he otlier manner of ministers than ever we have been. When we are entering into this sacred function and office, we would think what skill and industry is required to be able to guide souls unto their eternal rest ; we would be more careful to get ministerial graces ; that is to say, such zeal for God, such sound belief of the things whereof we speak, tiiat we might not seem to speak of them in jest, and for fashion's sake. Such compassion over souls, for which Ciirist died, that we would warn every man, instruct every man, teach every man, that we may present every man perfect in Jesus Christ, Col. i. 27, 28. We would be more careful to get ministerial abilities and sufficiencies, such a stock of knowledge, speculative and experimental, that our lips might preserve knowledge, Mai. ii. 7 ; that we might be able to resolve cases, to answer doubts and scruples, obviate errors, convince gainsayers ; not only fodder the sheep, but hunt out the wolves. We would not come to this work raw and unfledged, as many ministers, who are for the main sincere, do ; we would not think that a few natural parts, or a little slight eloquence, would serve the turn. No ; saith the conscientious man, ' I will not serve God with what cost me nought.' Every time we are meditating upon a word of exhortation, or thinking of attending God's throne, we would seek to find out acceptable words, and think we hear poor souls crying to us. Good sir, study for us. Certainly we would not serve God Avith what costs us nought. As the psalmist saith, Ps. xlv. 1, ' My heart in- diteth a good matter,' baketh a good matter. It is an allusion to the mindah, or meat-offering. We would not come with a little dough- baked stuff, some raw, crude, and indigested eructations. Yea, we would deal reproofs more freely, as John Baptist told Herod plainly, Mark vi. 18, 'It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.' The flesh will be apt to say, This will be ill taken, this will procure displeasure or danger ; but conscience will reply, Let him take it how he will, 'shall I serve God with what cost me nought ? ' The minister's conversation would be better, such as may be an example to others, such as may keep up the full value of his testimony in the consciences of men. He would aim at that singular holiness which becometh his station ; for, saith he, ' Shall I serve God with what costs me nought ? '