Enoch was a great prophet, and a great preacher, and a great patriarch; yet in his deliverance and translation there is no respect had unto these things, but only unto his walking with God. And this is that wherein you, who are neither prophets, nor preachers, nor of any great signification in the world, may be like unto him; and without which no other privileges whatever will avail us. Wherefore here is a commonruleand duty expressed untoall, as the meansand condition of a safe deliverance one way or other, which the meanest, the poorest, may have as good an interest in as the greatest and wisest in the world.
572 ENOCH'S WALK WITH GOD.
Two things, therefore, I design to do: — 1. To show you what it is to walk with God, or wherein this walking with God doth consist, or what is required thereunto. 2. How this walking with God will be the means of our deliverance from the calamities of a general apostasy drawing towards destruction.
It is the first of these which I shall principally insist upon ; wherein I shall endeavour to declare the true nature of a Christian's daily walk with God, and what is required thereunto.
The great, comprehensive duty of walking with God, which expresseth the whole ohedience of the new covenant, hath been treated of and spoken unto by many, whose labours have been of great use in and profit unto the church of God ; yet am I not dis couraged from casting rny mite also into the same treasury; and that partly because I have apparently observed some useful glean ings yet to be made after their vintage, and partly because I more particularly understand the state and condition of them unto whom I speak than any other can do, whence many directions may be taken for the directions which I shall give; for it is not so much walking with God absolutely and in general, as your walking with God in particular, which I design to guide and pro mote.
Two things herein I shall carefully avoid : — 1. Such a prolixity in handling of particulars, or the introduction of less necessary con siderations or of such as may more properly be handled on other heads and occasions, as should weary or divert you, or turn you aside from being always in the consideration of what is offered, intent on this one thing of walking with God. Diversions and digressions may be useful and profitable on their proper occasions, where they be to the confirmation of doctrinal points, or the confirmation of truth in controversy, or the full declaration of the nature of particular duties; but when a man's only business is to attend unto his way and walk therein, it is not expedient to attend unto them. It is no part of his duty who undertakes to show and guide another in his way, for to speed his course, to lead him out of it, that he may see this or that pleasant town or place, though desirable, and though he brings him into his way again; but it is so to attend continually unto the way wherein he is. I shall therefore only insist on such things as belong directly, immediately, and necessarily, unto our duty, as it is formally walking with God, and not on any thing that may be reduced thereunto. 2. Such brevity must be avoided as would occasion an omission of any important duty necessarily belonging hereunto, and that either absolutely or in the especial relation or circumstances wherein we may stand; yet I shall reduce all into as narrow a compass as I am able.
ENOCH'S WALK WITH GOD. 573
Now, unto the directions which I have to give unto this purpose some few things must be premised; as, —
1. They are professed believers alone whom we consider in this matter, — those, I mean, who pass for and are esteemed as true be lievers in the church of God, upon the profession they make of faith and obedience. It may be some, it may be many, such there are who are not truly and savingly interested in that condition. But these directions, though not intended for them, yet may be of use unto them ; for when they shall see what is the indispensable duty of all believers herein, finding themselves to come every way short thereof, it may be a means of discovering unto them their own self- deceiving, and so of a delivery from their ruinous condition. But hence it is that I shall give no directions about our first general re pentance, conversion to God, regeneration, and the like ; all which are supposed here, as also I have handled them at large elsewhere.1
2. Whereas this walking with God respects the acting of our faith and obedience, we do suppose the nature of faith, obedience, and holi ness in general, with their necessity and arguments for it, to be al ready received or admitted ; and this part also of their great duty, wherein the foundations of it do lie, hath been elsewhere discoursed and declared. The principles whereby and the duties wherein we do or ought actually so to walk do alone now fall under consideration ; and those we shall handle, both as unto the constant frame of our spirits and the daily acts of obedience that are required of us.