3. I shall not need to insist upon the explication of the meta phor of " walking with God/' or walking before him, which is com monly spoken unto and generally understood by all who concern themselves in these things. The Scripture doth variously express it unto us. It is " the life of God/' which wicked men are " alienated from/' Eph. iv. 18 ; that life which is from God, and whereby we live unto God : "Not living unto ourselves, but unto him that died for us/' 2 Cor. v. 15. To "walk with God," is to live to him in an especial manner, in and through Jesus Christ, who died for us, that we might have grace, power, and wisdom, so to do. It is " instantly to serve God day and night," Acts xxvi. 7 ; that is, to serve and obey him in the continual, intent performance of all the duties which he re- quireth of us. It is the " ordering of our conversation aright," so as that we may " see the salvation of God," Ps. 1. 23; wherein we have " our conversation in heaven," Phil. iii. 20; or it is so to walk as " to please God " in all things, 1 Thess. iv. 1.
Concerning this walking with God, I shall give these rules, which may both declare wherein it doth consist and also give directions how we may be always found in the path thereof; as, —
1 In the author's treatise on the Holy Spirit, voL iii. of his works.— Eu.
574 ENOCH'S WALK WITH GOD.
FIRST, Be sure that the general, prevailing design of our whole souls be to live unto God. It is not enough that we perform the duties which are required of us, but our whole course is to be managed with design and purpose of heart. Every agent that doth any thing according to reason hath some scope and design in what he doth, which both influences and guides him therein. To live unto the satis faction of present desires, appetites, lusts, pleasures, and to subor dinate various contrivances unto them, is the life of brutes, and brutish, unreasonable men only. And if no man can lead this natural, or a civil life as becometh a rational creature, but he must guide it by design, much less can any one otherwise live unto God in a due manner.
So Barnabas exhorted the first Christians, that " with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord," Acts xi. 23. To "cleave unto the Lord" is to "walk with him" or "before him" in faith and obedi ence. So Moses expresseth it, Deut. iv. 4, " Ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive;" that is, who by faith in his promises yielded obedience unto his commands, and so " walked with God." Now, this is to be done "with purpose of heart;" that is, with the full design and resolution of our souls. David carries it up unto the highest solemnity of expression, Ps. cxix. 106, " I have sworn." He respecteth his solemn covenant-engagement that he had made to God for universal obedience, with his resolution for its performance. This is that which I intend by this design, an express engagement of heart and soul constantly to pursue such an end. And this is that which God looketh on as such an eminent duty, Jer. xxx. 21, "Who is this that hath engaged his heart to approach unto me?" It is not merely approaching unto God, but the engagement of the heart to do so in all instances of duty, that is so acceptable unto God.
The Lord severely threatens those persons that "walk contrary unto him," and that with a multiplication of plagues upon them, Lev. xxvi. 21. The word is, and so is the meaning of the place, that " walk at all adventures with him." They will walk with him in the perform ance of duties, it may be of all known duties, public and private; but they will do it " at all adventures," — without design, or scope, or end, — without that reverent consideration that becometh those who walk with God ; so that every occasion will either turn them out of the way or put a stop and end unto their walk. As two men may be walking together in the field, and they may both go the same way and at the same pace : but one of them hath a journey to go, a de signed place that he would be at and must come to, or he utterly fails in his purpose ; the other only walks for his health, or re creation, or diversion, or good company, without any certain design of an especial end; — that is, "at all adventures." If a storm arise, if
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the rain fall, if weariness come on, the latter person either immedi ately turns out of the way for shelter, or returns quite back unto his own habitation ; but the former, knowing that he hath a journey to go, an end proposed, which he must pursue, or it may be he shall be undone, the difficulties and oppositions which he meets with do but occasion him to fortify his resolution, and to stir up all his strength for its accomplishment. So it is with him that "walketh with God at all adventures," — difficulties, temptations, occasions of life, do easily turn him out of the way, or put a stop unto his progress ; but he that hath a fixed design, that " cleaveth unto the Lord with purpose of heart/' is prepared to conflict with all difficulties, not to faint on any discouragements, but still to press forward towards his course and end, the mark of the high calling set before him.