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1. Because the matter of keeping Gods precepts doth not only fall under his authority, but the manner also. God hath not only required service, but service with all its circumstances: 1 Cor. 9. 24. I so run that I may obtain. It is our duty not only to run, but so run, not as in
jest, but as in good earnest. Rom. 12. 11. Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord: Not only ser∣ving the Lord, but seething hot in spirit, when our affections are so strong that they boil over in our lives. And Iam. 5. 16. The servent effectual prayer; that prayer which hath a spirit and a life in it; not only prayer is required, but fervency, not dead and drowsie devotion. So Luk. 8. 18. not only it is required that we hear, but to take heed how we hear, with what reve∣rence and seriousness. And Act. 26. 7. The twelve Tribes served God instantly day and night, with the uttermost extention of their strength, so the word signifies. And for Charity, it is not enough to give, but with readiness and freeness: Be ready to communicate, like life-honey it must drop of its own accord.
2. The manner is the great thing which God requires, it is very valuable upon several grounds, Prov. 16. 2. The ways of man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits. What doth God put into the ballance of the Sanctuary when he comes to make a judgment? When he would weigh an action he weighs the spirits; he considers not only the bulk, the matter of the action, but the spirit, with what heart it was done. A man may sin in doing good, but he cannot sin in doing well; therefore the manner should be looked to as well as the matter.
3. It's a good help against slightness; We are apt to put off God with any thing, and there∣fore we had need to rouze up our selves to serve him with diligence. Josh. 24. 19. You cannot serve the Lord for he is a jealous God, &c. It is another matter to serve the Lord than the world thinks of, why? for he is holy and jealous; he is holy and so hates the least failing; and very jealous, sin awakens the displeasure of his jealousie, he will punish for very little fail∣ings. Ananias and Saphira struck dead in the place for one lye. Zacharias struck dumb for an act of unbelief. Moses for a few rash words never entred into the land of Canaan. David for a proud conceit in numbering the people lost seventy thousand men with the Pestilence. The Corinthians many of them died for unworthy receiving. God is the same God still, he hates sin as much as ever, therefore we should not be slight.
4. It is a dishonour to God to do his work negligently, Mal. 1. 14. Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flock a male, and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing, for I am a great King saith the Lord: Implying that it is a lessening of his Majesty, it is a sign we have cheap thoughts of God when we are slight in his service. Christians, we owe our best to God, and are to serve him with all our might, Deut. 6. 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might. It is a lessening of his excellency in our thoughts when every thing serves the turn.
5. Keeping the Commandment, 'tis a great trust. God hath left this trust with us that we should keep his precepts, therefore it is to be discharged seriously. A man is very careful that hath taken a trust upon him, to preserve it. No men that have given up their names to Christ, but they have taken up this trust upon them to keep his precepts, therefore we should do it with all diligence and heedfulness of soul.
6. We have no other plea to evidence our sincerity; we are guilty of many defects, and can∣not do as we would, where lyes our evidence then? when we set our selves to obey, and aim at the highest exactness to serve him with our best affections and strength. A child of God he doth not do all that God hath required, but he doth his best, and then that's a sign the heart is upright. For what is this diligence, but our utmost study and endeavour after perfection, to avoid all known evils, and to practise all known duties, and that with as much care as we can? Now this is an argument of our sincerity, and then our slips are but failings which God will spare, pity, pardon: Mal. 3. 17. I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him, &c. Where a man is careless, and failings are allowed, then they are iniquities. A father out of indulgence may pass by a failing when his son waits upon him, suppose when he spills the wine and breaks the glass; but surely will not allow him to throw it down carelesly or will∣fully. We have no other plea to evidence our sincerity but this.
Use. It presseth us whatever we do for the great God, to do it with all our might, Eccles. 9. 10. There is no weighty thing can be done without diligence; much more the keeping the Commandment. Satan is diligent in tempting, and we our selves are weak and infirm, we can∣not do the least thing as we should. And the danger of miscarrying is so great, that surely it will require all our care. Wherein should we shew this diligence and exactness? when we keep all the parts of the Law, and that at all times, and places, and that with the whole man.
1. When we strive to keep the Law in all the points of it; this was Paul's Exercise, Acts 24. 16. To keep a good Conscience void of offence both towards God and man. Mark, here was his great business; this is to be diligent, when a man labours to keep a good Conscience always. And saith he herein, or upon this do I exercise my self, (that is) upon this encouragement, upon hope of a blessed Resurrection, (for that's spoken of there.) There are wages and recompences enough in Heaven, therefore we should not grudg at a little work, that we may not be drawn willingly from the least part of our duty.
2. When we do it at all times and places, and in all company, then it's a sign we mind the work, then are we diligent, Psal. 106. 3. Blessed is he that doth righteousness at all times. Not only now and then, but 'tis his constant course. We do not judg mens complexions by the co∣lour they have when they sit before the fire. We cannot judg of men by a fit and pang when they are under the awe of an Ordinance, or in good company; but when at all times he labours to keep up a warmth of heart towards God.
3. When he labours to do this with his whole man, not only in pretence, and with his bo∣dy, or outward man, but with inward affections. Rom. 1. 9. My God, whom I serve in the spirit. And the true people of God are described, Phil. 3. 3. To worship God in the spirit. When they labour to bring their hearts under the power of Gods precepts, and do not only mind conformity of the outward man, this is to keep the precepts of God diligently. All this is to be understood, not in exact perfection; but it is to be understood of our striving, la∣bouring, watching; of our praying, and of our exercising our selves hereunto, that we may with our whole man come under the full obedience of the Law of God, and may manifest it upon all occasions, at all times, in all companies and places; and this is an evidence of our sincerity.