The holy arbor, containing a body of divinity, or, The sum and substance of Christian religion collected from many orthodox laborers in the Lords vineyard, for the benefit and delight of such as thirst after righteousness / ... by John Godolphin ... vvherein also are fully resolved the questions of whatsoever points of moment have been, or are, now controverted in divinity : together with a large and full alphabetical table of such matters as are therein contained ...

XIV.

OBedience, is that whereby a man being endued with Faith and Repentance, doth accordingly to the measure of Grace received, endeavor himself to yield Obe∣dience to all Gods Commandments, from all the powers and parts both of his Soul and his Body. And this is called New-Obedience, because it is a Renewing of that in man whereto he was perfectly enabled by Creation. This Obedience much con∣sisteth in observing the Works of Christ; which we must not understand of do∣ing them according to the rigor of the Law, but of a purpose and endeavor to keep them: For this is a Priviledge belonging to all that are in Christ, That God accept∣eth their wills and endeavors of Obedience for perfect Obedience it self, whereupon they who have but little knowledge, if they have care to get more knowledge, & make conscience to obey that which they know, shall also have the Reward promised; for true Religion stands not in Knowledge, but in Obedience; and this is true Obe∣dience, to make Conscience of every sin in our own persons, to take heed of the in∣fection of sin in others, and to abstain from the appearance of evil: and all this not for a day or a year, but from time to time in all; I say, all our thoughts, words and works, through the whole course of our life, to the end of our days. And this our Obedience must not onely be in doing this or that, but also in suffering the Miseries laid upon us, to the Death; neither in keeping this or that Commandment, but im∣partially keeping them all; yea, and it must be ready and chearful, without any de∣liberation or consultation with flesh and blood.

True O∣bedience, which proceed∣eth from true faith hath these Heads & Branches viz.

• 1. It must be a Fruit of the Spirit in Christ.
• 2. It must be the keeping of every Commandment of God.
• 3. The whole man must endeavor to keep the whole Law in his Minde, Will and Affections, and all the Faculties of Soul and Body.
• 4. He must deny himself, and take up the Cross, Luke 9.23.
• 5. He must believe all things that are written in the Law and Prophets, Acts 24.14.
• 6. He must have and keep a good Consci∣ence: for w^ch these means are very re∣quisite; viz.
  • 1. In the course of his life he must practise the duties of the general Calling, in his particular Calling.
  • 2. In all events that come to pass, in patience and silence he must submit himself to the good will and pleasure of God.
  • 3. If at any time he fall, he must humble himself before God, labor to break off his Sin, and recover himself by Repentance.
• 7. He must prove what is the good will of God, Rom. 12.2.
• 8. He must restrain his life from outward offences, which tend to the disho∣nor of God and Scandal of the Church, 1 Thess. 5.22. 1 Pet. 2.11, 12.
• 9. He must mortifie the inward Corruptions of his own heart.
• 10. He must labor to conceive new motions agreeable to the Will of God, and thence bring forth and practise good Duties, so performing both outward and inward Obedience unto God.

Rules of ordering & direct∣ing our Obedi∣ence; viz.

• 1. We must be assured that we do those things that are warranted in the Word of God, and that they be done according to his Will, Isa. 29.14.
• 2. We must perform our Obedience heartily; not for outward shew and fashion, to be seen of men, but as in the sight of him that looketh upon the heart, Prov. 23.26.
• 3. It must be done with all our power chearfully and willingly; which de∣pendeth upon the former, but distinguished from it, 2 Cor. 8.12.
• 4. It must be done freely out of love to him that commands it, and pure∣ly and simply for his sake; not mercinarily for the Reward, yet in hope thereof.

• 5. We must perform tht fruits of our Obedience entirely, not by halfs; sincerely, not parting stakes between God, and the Devil, and our selves, Jer. 7.9, 10.
• 6. It must be a constant Obedience, not by fits, for a day, or a short and set time; there is no promise made but to such as persevere unto the end, Mat. 10.22.
• 7. Our Obedience must not be delayed from time to time, Heb. 3.7, 8. Mat. 25.10.

God requireth a full and entire O∣bedience, and it is our Duty to yield Obedience to all the Command∣ments of God, for these Reasons; viz.

• 1. God in his own nature is perfect in himself, and perfect in all goodness towards us; we must therefore answer him in Duty and Obedience.
• 2. Christ Jesus is a perfect Savior, a perfect Redeemer, a perfect Mediator; it followeth therefore that we should follow after all Righteousness, and make Conscience of all sin.
• 3. In respect of the Commandments themselves, which are so knit together, that the knot cannot be loosed, but all are dissolved.
• 4. There is nothing done in this flesh, but God will bring it into Judgement, Eccl. 12.14.
• 5. All things commanded of God from the greatest to the least are most just and equal, and therefore to be observed diligent∣ly, without all parting or partiality.

That our Obedi∣ence may be in some good de∣gree to∣wards Perfecti∣on,

• 1. We must labor to have pure and upright hearts, which giveth life to all our actions, and is very much accepted of God, who looks especially to the heart.
• 2. We must be free from any purpose to live in any known sin, and must be enclined to every thing that is good, lest we be unawares ensnared by the contrary.
• 3. We must all take notice of our own wants and imperfections, and earnestly bewail and mourn for them, striving with all our power against them.
• 4. We must make Conscience of the least sin, that we may be afraid of the greatest.
• 5. We must still go forward from good to better, evermore growing in Grace.
• 6. It is our duty to pray unto God to give us upright hearts, which in them∣selves are crooked and corrupt, prone to nothing but what is evil.

This Doctrine of Obedience is useful to Re∣prove

• 1. Those that waste themselves and spend their strength chiefly about the things of this world, and never labor after Regeneration and the things of the Lord.
• 2. Such as content themselves with a small measure of Knowledge and Obedience, of Faith and Repentance.
• 3. Those that do halt with God, and yield a maimed Obedience un∣to him.
• 4. Such as think it sufficient to serve God outwardly to be seen of men, and worship him through Hypocrisie.

Obedience is most lovely in Gods eyes; Obedience better is then Sacrifice: It makes us welcom to the Lord, when we In Faith, in Love, and true Humility Petitions send, and our Addresses make In JESUS Name, and all for JESUS sake. Without this Grace, all other Graces are But as a Glo-worm-light or falling Star. Who knows his Masters will, and not obey, Shall for his knowledge smart another day.