Uses.
The instructions,* which hence may be ga∣thered, are these.
1 If there need a way to lead us unto God, then we are absent from God. God is in∣deed in Himself infinite, and therefore al∣waies every where necessarily present after a generall manner, Psal. 139.7, 8, 9, 10. Act. 17.27, 28. More specially also He is sayd many waies to be present; as in courts of ju∣dicature 2 Chron. 19.6. Psalm. 82.1. Al∣so, to come neare to the wicked to judge∣ment Mal. 3.5. &c. But according to our purpose here He is specially present by the manifestation of grace and glory. Now in respect of His glorious presence in heaven, whilest we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord, 2 Cor. 5.6. Grace He Page 143manifests in the fruits either of His first love, and so He is present to all men, especially in the visible Church; or of His second love, and so he is farre from the wicked, Prov. 15.29. and is present onely to the godly, 2 Chron. 15.2. Seeing then we are by na∣ture the children of wrath, dead in sinnes be∣fore our regeneration, so we are absent from God. And seeing there is not a just man up∣on earth that doth good and sinneth not, Eccles. 7.20. Jam. 3.2. and how much we sinne, so much we are absent from the God of pure eies; therefore whilest we are in this world, we never so enjoy the gracious pre∣sence of God, but that still we have need daily more and more to draw neare unto Him. This our condition (I say) that we are altogether absent from Gods glorious presence, and from His gracious presence (in respect of the fruits of his second love) totally before our regeneration, and in part even to the end of our life, we may ga∣ther from hence, viz. in that there needs a way to lead us unto Him; which needed not, if we were already present with Him.
2 Such is the love of God to mankind, that He hath not left us in this misery destitute of all hope, but hath made known unto us His waies, which will most certainly and directly Page 144lead us unto Himself, both to His gracious and glorious presence.
3 See part of that depth Rom. 11.33. viz. that in the time of the Old Testament God out of all nations chose the Israelites (whose Doctor or teacher was Moses) to be a pecu∣liar people unto Himself Deut. 10.14, 15. He left not Himself without witnesse among the heathen, but revealed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the ef∣fect of the Law, affording them some meanes of seeking Him, if haply they might feel af∣ter Him and find Him. But this was but litle in respect of his waies in His Word, which He made known unto Moses, and by him to the children of Israel.
4 Behold our privilege above the old Is∣raelites. They had the waies of God made known to and by Moses: We have those al∣so (the Morall law, for a perpetuall rule of life; the Judiciall law, out of which we may take constitutions, if expedient for us; and the Ceremoniall law, to strengthen our faith in Christ, in whom all those shadowes had their due accomplishment) but not onely those. God hath moreover spoken to us by His Sonne the Mediatour of a better Testa∣ment Hebr. 8.6. Who coming forth out of the bosome of His Father (where He was admitted to the most intimate knowledge Page 145of His secrets) revealed the Gospel to us, which farre excells the Law of Moses. See the comparison of them largely handled 2 Cor. 3. Briefly, Moses (as Saint Peter the Apostle of the Jewes confesses, Acts 15.10.) put on such a yoke as neither their fa∣thers nor they were able to beare. But Christ saith, Come unto me &c. for my yoak is easie, and my burden is light, Mat. 11.28, 29, 30.
And if Gods word be His way,* then sure∣ly they are much out of the way, who so live as if there were no word of God at all, ac∣cording to which they ought to walk. As concerning Gods precepts many are like unto them, Hos. 8.12. accounting the great things of Gods Law as a strange thing. For whilest they goe on obstinately in such things as please them, they think it strange that any rule of religion should be pressed upon them, other then the fashion of the countrey, the sway of the times, the custome of foresa∣thers, and their own devises. What? do they think there is no word of God at all prescribing men their duties? But the text here demonstrates the contrary. Doe they pretend ignorance of it? But that excuse will help no man; seeing God both in Adam after the fall, and in Noah revealed the word Page 146of His grace unto all, denies the word to no people or man, but either for their own or their forefathers sinnes, Amos 8.11. But least of all will it help them, who live a∣mongst us, where we all either see the way by which we ought to walk (that is, the word of God) or els we shut our eies. Let such men know that it very ill agrees with the nature of God and their own condition, that they should prescribe the rule of His worship: and what cost or paines soever they so bestow upon it, their reward shall be a check, Who required these things at your hands? In vaine do they serve me &c. Whatsoever is not of faith (that is, of a perswasion, that it is either prescribed or per∣mitted by God) is sinne &c. As concerning Gods promises, some men giving way to the temptations of Satan, melancholy doubt∣ings &c. judge of their estate out of I know not what apprehension (which they call feeling) and so sometimes greatly torment themselves without any just cause: as if there were not promises in the word (confirmed by Gods oath and the death of Christ) upon which we ought to depend, but we must measure all things according to the suggesti∣ons of the father of lies and our own foolish imaginations. Lastly as concerning Gods Page 147threatnings in His word, many lightly estee∣ming them, and relying upon their own pre∣sumptuous conceits, goe on securely in their sinnes and yet promise themselves all good things. Such men shall one day know whose word shall stand, Gods or theirs, Jer. 44.28.*
But let us be exhorted to acquaint our selves with, and guide our selves by the waies of God in all the parts thereof.
Motiv. 1 It is simply necessary for us (unlesse we will be eternally miserable) to enjoy Gods gracious (according to His se∣cond love) and glorious presence. 2 Onely the waies of God lead us thereunto. In o∣ther journeys though a man erre from the right way, yet he may come to the place he intended by some other way, though lesse compendiously. But unlesse we insist in the waies prescribed by God, it is impossible e∣ver to come unto Him. For all other waies (though for the present one be much diffe∣rent from another) at last meet in the broad way of destruction. 3 He that undertakes an earthly journey, may be in the right way and yet ignorant of it. But so we cannot be in Gods waies: if we doe not know our selves to be in the way, we are certainly out of it. It is a part of Gods waies, to know Page 148His waies; God requiring of us, not onely that we walk according to his prescript for the substance of our actions, but that we doe it out of certain knowledge that He hath pre∣scribed it: otherwise we walk not of faith, and therefore sinne.
Meanes. 1 For preparation, Come 1 with humble reverence in respect of God, Who makes known His waies. 2 With a firme purpose and resolution to beleeve whatsoe∣ver the Scripture teacheth, to performe and omit whatsoever it commands and for∣bids.
2 For the more immediate actions, After Gods blessing implored, 1 Read the Scri∣ptures privately, meditate upon them, and as occasion is offered, conferre thereabout with others. 2 Seeing private persons can not herein do much without some man to guide them (Acts 8.31.) the knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures is to be sought at the priests mouth (Mal. 2.7.) 1 by attending to him in the publique preaching. 2 by consulting him private∣ly, as need and opportunity shall be.
