2. The Reasonableness of the Duty. 1. How loving God is to us. 2. He upholds us, Ack in. 18. 4. He protects us. 5. He purchased us. 7. And all because he loves us, Deut. vi. 7, 8. 2. How lovely he is in himself. Infinite. 1. In Wisdom. 3. Mercy. 3. The Happiness of thofe that perform it. 2. They have an infallible Evidence of 3. They fhall enjoy and live with God to Eternity, Cor. 11. 9. DEUT. vi. 13. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and ferve him. IT is our Duty to serve GOD. I. What is it to ferve GOD? 1. To Dedicate our felves wholly to Him. 1. Our Souls, 1 Cor. vi. 20. Understandings. Wills. Affections. 2. Our Bodies, 1 Cor. vi. 20. 3. Eftates, Prov. iii. 9. 4. Gifts. 5. Authority. 6. Time, Eph. v. 16. 2. To make his Laws the Rule of our Lives. Obeying the Commands, Eccl. xii. 13. 3. Of the Firft and Second Table. To endeavour to please him in all Things, and glorifie him, 1 Thef, iv. 1. Rom. xii. 1. In all our Natural, 1 Cor. x. 30. Civil, II. Why ferve GOD? 1. He is our Maker, Pfal. xcv. 6. 4. Mafter, by Covenant, Deut. xxvi. 17. USE. USE. Reproof to fuch as, 1. Serve the Devil. 2. Themselves. 3. The World. 4. Sin, Rom. vi. 16. and not God,Matt. vi.24. II. EXHORTATION. Serve GOD. DIRECTIONS. 1. Scripturally. 2. Obedientially, 1 Sam. xv. 22. 3. Willingly, 1 Chron. xxix. 17. 4. Chearfully, Rom. xii. 8. I 5. Faithfully, Rom. xiv. 23. 6. Understandingly, 1 Cor. xiv. 15. Pfal.xlvii. 7. 7. Wholly, with all your Power, Eccl. ix. 10. 8. Conftantly. 9. Humbly, Luke xvii. 10. 10. Thankfully. MOTIVES. 1. This is the End of your Creation by God. 2. Of all God's Mercies to you. 3. What a good and glorious Mafter he is, the King of Heaven, Jer. x. 7. 4. There is nothing thou haft but what thou receiveft from him, 1 Cor. iv. 7. 5. To ferve God, is not only thy Duty, but thy Privilege, Pfal. xix. 11. 6. Unless thou ferveft God, thou must serve the Devil,a Servant thou wilt be, Matt. vi.24. Rom. vi. 16. 7. It is the Work of Heaven. 8. What Wages God will give to his Servants, Rom. vi. 23, Grace and Comfort here, D 2 2. Set 2. Set about his Service now. 1. You have a great deal to do for him. 3. You know not how foon He may call DEUT. xiii. 4. Te fall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, &c. ALK with GOD,, Gen. V. 22, 24. WALK ויתחלך חניך אתאלהיב 2. Before GOD, Gen. xvii. 1. 194. Evæghsnos Ty Os, Heb. xi. 5. 3. After GOD. 1. So as to have him for our God, Jer. vii. 6. 2. To imitate him, 1 Pet. i. 15. 3. To frequent the Places of his publick Worship, Pfal. cxxii. 1. Ecclef. v. 1. To walk in his Ways, Dem. viii. . DAUT Our Hands have not shed this Blood,&c. T is not enough that we be not guilty of a 1. Commit no Sin thy felf: For, 1. It will bring a Blot upon thy Name. 1. By Reproofs, Luk. xix, 17. 3. By Example, Matt, v. 16. 18 3. Partake not with others in their Sins. 1. That it tranfgreffes God's Law, Pfal. 2. Eclipfes his Glory, Ifa. iii. 8. 3. Incenfes his Wrath. 4. Endangers thy Brother's Soul, 5. With Thankfulnefs that thou didst not 1. Thou haft the Seed of it in thy Heart. 3. It is only of God's Grace and Mercy USE. 1. Deteft the King's Death. 2. Be forry for it, DEUT. |