_Sixthly_, They that would maintain a holy walk with GOD, must walk with him in ordinances as well as providences, &c. It is, therefore, recorded of _Zachary_ and _Elizabeth_, that “They walked in all GOD’s ordinances as well as commandments, blameless.” And all rightly informed christians, will look upon ordinances, not as beggarly elements, but as so many conduit-pipes, whereby the infinitely condescending _Jehovah_ conveys his grace to their souls. They will look upon them as childrens bread, and as their highest privileges. Consequently they will be glad when they hear others say, “Come, let us go up to the house of the LORD.” They will delight to visit the place where GOD’s honour dwelleth, and be very eager to embrace all opportunities to shew forth the LORD CHRIST’s death till he come.
_Seventhly_ and _lastly_, If you would walk with GOD, you will associate and keep company with those that do walk with him. “My delight, says holy _David_, is in them that do excel” in virtue. They were in his sight, the excellent ones of the earth. And the primitive christians, no doubt, kept up their vigour and first love, by continuing in fellowship one with another. The Apostle _Paul_ knew this full well, and therefore exhorts the christians to see to it, that they did not forsake the assembling of themselves together. For how can one be warm alone? And has not the wisest of men told us, that, “as iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance of a man his friend?” If we look, therefore, into church history, or make a just observation of our own times, I believe we shall find, that as the power of GOD prevails, christian societies, and fellowship meetings prevail proportionably. And as one decays, the other has insensibly decayed and dwindled away at the same time. So necessary is it for those that would walk with GOD, and keep up the life of religion, to meet together as they have opportunity, in order to provoke one another to love and good works.
Proceed we now to the Third general thing proposed, To offer some motives to excite all to come and walk with GOD.
And _First_, Walking with GOD, is a very honourable thing. This generally is a prevailing motive to persons of all ranks, to stir them up to any important undertaking. O that it may have its due weight and influence with you, in respect to the matter now before us! I suppose you would all think it a very high honour to be admitted into an earthly prince’s privy-council, to be trusted with his secrets, and to have his ear at all times, and at all seasons. It seems _Haman_ thought it so, when he boasted, _Esther_ v. 11, that besides his being “advanced above the princes and servants of the king; yea, moreover, _Esther_ the Queen did let no man come in with the King unto the banquet that she had prepared, but myself; and to-morrow am I invited unto her also with the King.” And when afterwards a question was put to this same _Haman_, chapter vi. 6. “What shall be done unto the man whom the King delighteth to honour?” he answered, verse 8. “Let the royal apparel be brought which the king used to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head; and let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the King delights to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour.” This was all then, it seems, that an ambitious _Haman_ could ask, and the most valuable thing that he thought _Ahasuerus_, the greatest monarch upon earth, could give. But alas, what is this honour in comparison of that which the meanest of those enjoy, that walk with GOD! Think ye it a small thing, Sirs, to have the secret of the LORD of Lords with you, and to be called the friends of GOD? and such honour have all GOD’s saints. “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him:” and “Henceforth, says the blessed JESUS, call I you no longer servants, but friends; for the servant knoweth not the will of his master.” Whatever you may think of it, holy _David_ was so sensible of the honour attending a walk with GOD, that he declares, “He had rather be a door-keeper in his house, than to dwell even in the tents of ungodliness.” O that all were like-minded with him!