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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	serve_v	young_a	youth_n	38	3	7.9015	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02741	Tvvo treatises I. The purchase of Grace, shewing the excellency of Christ, and the graces of his spirit. II. The soules delight in Gods tabernacles, shewing the excellency of time, spent in duties of God's solemne service. Instances in the chiefe, viz. prayer, word, and sacraments. Motives and directions for right performance. Lastly, the chiefe usurpers of time discovered, with apt remedies against each of them. The contents of the booke are methodically exprest in the margent, which to the diligent reader may serve instead of a table. By William Harrison, Mr. of Arts, and minister of the Gospell at Canwicke neare Lincolne.	Harrison, William, minister at Canwick.	1639 (1639)	STC 12871; ESTC S103879	208,196	400

fearefull token of Reprobation to bee a persecuter in that case Fifthly and lastly It is a fearefull signe that a man belongeth to the Devill This is a speciall worke of the devill to hate and maligne and persecute men for their piety If a man therefore resolve to goe on in this case it is a fearefull signe that a man is even a very childe of the Devill Thus our Saviour disputeth the case with the Pharis●es Iohn 8. 1. They bosted that Abraham was their father nay saith our Saviour yee goe about to kill me a man that hath told yee the truth that did not Abraham saith hee verse 40. why then say they we have one father even God verse 41. No saith our Saviour verse 44. Yee are of your father the Devill and the workes of your father ye will doe All that persecute Gods people for their piety are of their father the devill in that case see Acts 13. 8 9 10 c. CHAP. V. Containing the third Vse of the point viz. for Exhortation THirdly Is it so that time spent in Gods service is the best spent time This serveth then to exhort us to sundry duties 1. In regard of our selves 2. In respect of others 1. This Doctrine serveth to exhort us to a threefold duty For seeing time spent in Gods service is the best spent time let us then 1. Begin betime to serve God 2. Be constant 3. Be abundant in it and spend as much time in it as we can possibly 1. This serveth to exhort every one of us that speedily and without delay we set our selves to the duties of Gods worship and service How can we spend our time better All time is even wholly mispent that is spent in the neglect of this Oh therefore old men young men all men let us speedily set our selves to the duties of Gods service Now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation 2 Cor. 6. 2. Seeke the Lord whilest he may be found and call upon him while he is neere Isaiah 55. 6. Why should we deferre any longer considering that one day nothing will vexe and grieve us more then that wee began no sooner Art thou an old man Then thou hadst need to begin with all speed lest thou be prevented by death Art thou young Oh then begin speedily to prevent mispending thy precious time in the service of sinne and Sathan I write unto you young men to exhort you to begin to serve God betime in the flower of your youth How can you spend the flower of your youth better than in the service of your Maker Give me leave therefore to perswade and presse every one of you in the words of the wisest Salomon Eccles. 12. 1. Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before the evill day come It is a young mans greatest honour to bee religious betimes Oh what an honour to young Salomon to be vertuously instructed even from his child-hood with Know thou the God of thy fathers 1 Chron. 28. 9. So an everlasting credit for young Samuel to be trained up in the duties of Gods service of a childe Samuel ministred before the Lord being a child saith the Text 1 Sam. 2. 18. And againe The child Samuel ministred unto the Lord before Ely 1 Sam. 3. 1. Yea this was so famous and admirable a thing that all Israel tooke notice of it for they all knew that Samuel was established to be a Prophet of the Lord saith the Text 1 Samuel 3. 20. verse This set such a Crowne of glory upon his head that it is not forgotten to this day Hee that setteth himselfe to serve and honour God in his youth shall have the honour and credit of it for ever So for Iosiah What glorious things are spoken of him to this day even in this respect See how the Spirit of God reporteth it in 2 Chron. 34. 3. In the eight yeare of his reigne while he was yet young he began to seeke after the God of David his father young indeed for he was but eight yeares old when he began to reigne verse 1. So that he could bee but sixteene yeares of age at the most when this was reported of him O what an excellent patterne is here for young men let them all learne of this young Saint to bestow the flower of their youth upon God it will set an everlasting crowne of glory upon their head To the same purpose is that of famous Timothy of whom it is said That he knew the Scriptures of a child which was able to make him wise unto salvation 2 Timothy 3. 15. Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way and become religious Surely by imitating and following the example of such rare young men as these are Now the better to stirre up young men hereunto I have two generall Motives to propound unto them besides the honour of it viz. 1. The Vtilitie 2. The Necessity 1. The Vtility Hearken to this O yee young men for it is for your profit heare it and doe it for your good Behold here I will shew you the good and right way sc. feare the Lord and serve him in your youth First seeke Gods kingdome and the righteousnesse of it as our blessed Saviour himselfe adviseth Matthew 6. 33. Acquaint your selves with God even in your youth and serve him for hereby good shall come unto you as one of Iobs friends speaketh excellently Iob 22. 21. 1. For. 1. The Lord will take it exceeding kindly we shall please him exceedingly yea the Lord will be so much affected with it that he will never forget it To sacrifice our youth unto Gods service is as it were to sacrifice our Isaac to him now see how kindly the Lord tooke Abraham's purpose in that case Genesis 22. 12. By my selfe have I sworne because thou hast done this thing that in blessing I will blesse thee He that dedicateth his youth unto Gods service shall be remembred with a blessing in his age So when Israel was newly come out of Aegypt no marvell if they were much affected with his admirable mercies towards them they could not choose for the present but love him entirely and even set the dearest of their affections upon him Now see how kindly this was taken and remembred a long time after yea notwithstanding their manifold infirmities their murmurings their infidelity c. yet see how lovingly the Lord maketh mention of it a long time after Ieremy 2. 2. Thus saith the Lord I remember thee the kindnesse of thy youth the love of thine espousals when thou wentest after me in the wildernesse c. The kindnesse of their youth is kindly remembred With such sacrifices the Lord is well pleased This is the first benefit Secondly If we set our selves to serve God in our youth it will be an excellent meanes to prevent the lustes of youth which if they be not prevented will be bitter and terrible in the time

and faithfull servant because thou hast beene faithfull in a few things have thou authoritie over ten Cities Yea who must have the odde Talent but he that had ten before Ver. 24. And he sayd unto them that stood by Take the Talent from him and give it to him that hath ten Talents They said unto him v. 25. Lord he hath ten Talents i.e. he hath enough alreadie now observe the answer ver 26. For unto every one that hath shall be given c. He that hath most grace to spend most time in Gods service on earth shall have the greatest reward and the most glorie in heaven Oh therefore beginne betime to get grace that thou mayest have the more glorie in heaven Fifthly The sooner we beginne to spend time in Gods service the sooner shall we beginne to requite our Parents love and to affoord them comfort The childes well-doing is the Parents comfort Yea many Parents that are not so religious themselves rejoyce yet to see their children zealous and forward that way A wise Sonne maketh a glad Father sayth Salomon Prov. 10. 1. A wise Sonne that is a religious childe one that setteth himselfe to serve God in his youth he rejoyceth the heart of his Father But a foolish Sonne that is an ungodly Impe is the griefe of his Mother Vngodly children like a viperous brood do eate out the very hearts of their parents and doe stab their hearts with sorrow and heavinesse It is a strange speech of Salomon 17. 21. He that begetteth a foole that is an ungracious child for that is Salomons foole doth it to his sorrow and the Father of a foole hath no joy I marvaile not more that old Ely brake his necke with his fall at last then that his sonnes had not broken his heart long before with their vicious courses Oh let us therefore serve God in our youth that it may be a comfort to our Parents in their age Here is the fifth Benefit But besides the Vtilitie let us in the second place consider the Necessitie For besides the expresse charge that wee have from God to this purpose see the dangerous consequences and inconveniences that follow upon the neglect of it So that wee must needs doe it or we must doe worse Now the mischiefes that doe especially flow from the neglect of Gods service in our youth are principally five First If we doe not serve God in our youth we shall serve worse Masters sc. the Devill the world and the flesh He that serveth not God must serve the Devill it is unavoydable observe it Ephes. 2. 2. Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the ayre the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience But how came this to passe See Ver. 12. At that time yee were without Christ c. without God in the world He that is without Christ and without God will not nor cannot be without his lustes Vntill we become the servants of God we are all the vassals of Sathan and slaves to our own filthy lustes Titus 3. 3. For wee our selves were sometimes foolish serving diverse lustes and pleasures c. Loe our woefull Masters untill we set our selves to serve God Living in malice hatefull and hating one another sayth the Apostle there Yee cannot serve God and Mammon sayth our blessed Saviour Mat. 6. 24. As if he had sayd Yee cannot but serve one of them He that committeth sinne is the servant of sinne a wofull Master See what lamentable wages such Masters usually give their servants in the end The wages of sinne is death sayth the Apostle Rom. 6. 23. See then how necessary it is to serve God and that speedily for till then we must of necessitie serve wofull Masters for wofull wages But O the happinesse of such as spend time in Gods service Ver. 22. But now being made free from sinne and become the servants of God yee have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life There is excellent wages Secondly The longer we stay before we set our selves to serve God the more difficult and hard we shall finde it if we doe returne to God at last He that posteth the contrary way is still the farther from his journeys end and will have the lesse minde to returne Continuance in evill breedeth a custome in sinne which is not left without great difficultie Ier. 13. 23. Can the Aethiopian change his skinne or the Leopard his spots then may yee also doe good that are accustomed to doe evill It is exceeding difficult When a man hath gotten a custome of swearing or drinking or gameing how hard is it for such to be reclaimed A twig is easily dealt with which is immoveable if it grow till it become a tree How tractable was Joash in his youth but in his age intolerable He that was guided by Jehojada in his youth killed his sonne Zachariah afterward Much more he that is bad in his youth may be worse in his age Thirdly How just is it with God to reject them in their age which have rejected his service in their youth Men thinke any thing is good enough for God the rotten old age the blinde and the lame and the sicke but how much they are deceived the Prophet sheweth Mal. 1. Offer it now to thy Prince or thy Governour sayth the Lord would he accept it at thy hands Suppose that a Souldier should spend all his youth in service against his Soveraigne and then in his old age should offer his service to his Prince How justly might such a base offer be rejected Why should we spend the flower of our youth in vanitie and yet thinke that God should accept of us in our age He that runneth from God the greatest part of his life God may hide himselfe from him at his death witnesse Spira and the Kentish Apothecarie how wofully did God hide himselfe from them in death that had neglected his service in their life When the Father seeth the childe readie to play with every toy or feather and not to minde his way he steppeth behinde a bush and hideth himselfe a good while before the childe can finde him so dealeth God with his children Verely thou art a God that hydest thy selfe O God of Israel the Saviour Isa. 45. 15. If Gods children will walke so neare hell mouth the greatest part of their life no marvell if at the time of death the Lord take them by the heeles and make them beleeve he will throw them in So I conceive the Lord dealt with Spira and the Apothecarie I love them that love me sayth Wisedome and they that seeke me early shall finde me Pro. 8. 17. To intimate unto us that it is possible for a man to come too late There is a time when God will not be found as is intimated Isa. 55. 6. See an experiment of such as come

too late and were rejected Pro. 1. 28 29. Then shall they call but I will not answer they shall seeke me early but shall not finde me Why so Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the feare of the Lerd See what it is to put off the service of God to the last Let Esau admonish every one of us to beware of comming too late Heb. 12. 16 17. Lest there be any fornicator or prophane person as Esau who for one morsell of meate sold his birth-right Why so For yee know how that afterward when he would have inherited the blessing he was rejected for he found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with teares He that prophanely preferreth a messe of pottage before a birth-right is justly rejected when he would inherit the blessing He that hateth to be reformed in his youth is very likely to be rejected in his age Because I called and yee refused sayth Wisedome Pro. 1. 24. I will therefore laugh at your destruction and mocke when your feare commeth ver 26. He that laugheth Wisedome to scorne when she reproveth is justly derided of Wisedome in his greatest extreamitie Fourthly If a man were sure to escape this mischiefe and that he should certainly be accepted of God at last if he doe repent yet a man is not sure that he shall or can repent Repentance is the gift of God as well as remission of sinnes so that as none can be pardoned unlesse he repent so none can repent but those to whom it is given If God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth sayth the Apostle 2 Tim. 2. 25. He that is so often called to repentance in his youth and neglecteth it God may justly deny to give him repentance in his age Except yee repent yee shall perish sayth our Saviour Luk. 13. 5. and except God give it you cannot repent Oh therefore whilest God calleth to repentance and offereth the meanes embrace it lest yet be denyed it afterward Men may dye three wayes at last without repentance which have rejected it which have rejected it in time of their youth First They may dye suddainely 1 Thes. 5. 3. When they shall say peace peace then shall suddaine destruction come upon them c. Or else secondly They may dye desperately at least in their owne sense and feeling as Cain and Judas Or thirdly They may dye sullenly and sottishly like Naball Qualis vita finis ita 1 Sam. 25. Bruitish in life and bruitish in death after God smote him his heart dyed within him and he was even like a stone he had a long time to repent in but he wanted an heart his heart was dead within him and he was like a stone If a man were sure to repent at last and that his repentance should surely be accepted he might the farre more safely deferre and put off his repentance and serving of God till age or death but a man can be sure of neither of these for as true repentance is never too late so late repentance is seldome true sayth St. Augustine And againe He that alwayes giveth mercy to the penitent doth not alwayes give repentance to them that aske it To day if yee will heare his voyce harden not your hearts sayth the Psalmist Psal. 95. 7. As if he had sayd if yee reject or neglect to heare the voyce of God to day your hearts may be so hardened that yee cannot heare it to morrow Say not to thy neighbour goe and come againe to morrow sayth Salomon Pro. 3. 28. How much lesse is it meete to be said unto a God when he commeth unto thee and wooeth thee to give him thy heart Pro. 23. 26. My Sonne give me thy heart put him not off till to morrow thou knowest not what a day may bring forth therefore boast not of to morrow thy heart may be farther of from God to morrow then it is to day Oh therefore what thou resolvest to doe doe it speedily the sooner the better He giveth twice that giveth quickly He that will not serve God in his youth is in danger not to serve him at all and looke how thou doest thy worke so assure thy selfe God will pay thee thy wages and the Proverbe is often true An old naught will never be ought Fifthly It is a dangerous thing to neglect the service of God in the time of our youth and to mis-spend it in the service of sinne and Sathan Let no man say it is no matter for youth no great matter for children what they say or doe O yes brethren it is very materiall he that sinneth in his youth unlesse he repent is like to smart in his age It doth not extenuate our sinnes but aggravate them rather that they are the sinnes of our youth See how ironically the Wise-man speaketh to the riotous young man in Eccles. 11. 9. Rejoyce O young man in thy youth c. But remember that for these things God will bring thee to judgement This was one thing that aggravated the sinne of Sodome that young and old were guiltie of it they were generally beastly and filthy both young and old Gen. 19. 4. Did at any whit excuse or extenuate the sinne of Eli's sonnes that they were young men No it did aggravate it rather 1 Sam. 2. 17. Wherefore the sinne of the young men was very great before the Lord sayth the Text. An odious thing for a young man to be old in wickednesse for a young man to be an old drunkard or an old adulterer c. that is a man of a long standing in viciousnesse doth aggravate the sinne very much Yea God cannot endure prophanenesse no not in children and therefore let no man say it is no matter for children how prophane they be or how ungracious no matter if they be mockers and swearers c. O yes beloved God is a God of such pure eyes that he hateth prophanenesse even in children See an experiment of this in those children that mocked the old Prophet Elisha 2 King 2. 23 24. As he was going up by the way to Bethel sayth the Text there came forth little children out of the Citie and mocked him saying Goe up thou bald-head Goe up thou bald-head now see the event of this The old Prophet turned backe and looked on them and cursed them in the Name of the Lord and there came forth two shee Beares out of the wood and tare fortie and two children of them God will not suffer the prophanenesse of children to goe unpunished O how much better had it beene for these children that they had been employed in the worship and service of God that the Prophet might have blessed them in the Name of the Lord Now the estate of all that neglect the worship and service of God is a most cursed estate whether they be young or old For cursed are all they that erre from Gods

the lesse in this case in regard of that which I have already said as also in respect of a Treatise written to this purpose called The Redemption of time Yet because I would not leave the point imperfect I will briefly insist upon some few particulars 1. Therefore all men must very carefully and watchfully subdue and suppresse all those great mispenders of time which like so many gracelesse spend-thrifts doe wast and consume many precious houres and much golden time that was farre better spent in Gods worship and service which are especially sixe 1. Sinning 2. Sleeping 3. Carking and caring 4. Sporting or recreations with immoderate feasting 5. Foolish thinking 6. And lastly idle speaking which is usually a fruit of the former because Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh whereof some of these must bee mortified and put to death and others againe restrained and regulated or bound as it were to the good behaviour 1. The first and the worst and chiefe mispender of precious time is Sinning when we spend time in doing that which is directly naught as lying swearing drunkennesse wantonnesse and such like works of the flesh and of the Devill this is the worst spent time of all as being directly contrary to that which is spent in Gods service as I have already shewed in the first use of the point Now this thiefe is utterly to be mortified and put to death imprisoning or binding to the good behaviour will not serve the turne for indeed this is a desperate ruffian or swaggerer that is not capable of any good behaviour and therefore must needs be put to death and wholly suppressed We must endeavour as much as in us lyeth that wee spend no time in sinning but carefully mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirit this is the Apostles rule Colossians 3. 1 2 5. If ye then be risen with Christ seeke those things which are above be heavenly minded set your affections upon things above Let your conversation be in heaven Phil. ● 30. But what course must wee take to this end That the Apostle sheweth verse 5. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth Where wee see this truth most clearely manifested that all that would spend much time in Gods service and holy performances must carefully mortifie their members here on earth and put sinfull lusts to death For this horrible thiefe and great mispender of precious time is like some mischievous person or desperate ruffian that flyeth in a mans face and will either kill or bee killed and therefore must needs be killed that hee doth not kill us for the wages of sinne is death Romans 6. 23. So that wee must either kill our corruptions or they will bring our sonles to death Rom. 8. 13. For if yee live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit doe mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Where you see that our precious soules cannot live but by the death of our corruptions the life of the one is the death of the other as Ahab lost his owne life for preserving Benhadads Thy life shall goe for the life of him in 1 Kings 20. 42. so our soules must eternally perish if we suffer our corruptions to survive But how should we so mortifie our lusts that we may spend little or no time time in vicious courses and so consequently more time in Gods service An. 1. Let us diligently search that we may plainly discover and finde out that speciall sinne wherewith we have beene formerly most pestered It is impossible to execute a malefactor untill he be found out and apprehended diligent search is first made and Hue and cry sent after him to finde him out so wee must deale with those lusts wherein formerly wee have spent too much time Lamentations 3. 40. Let us search and try our wayes and turne to the Lord our God This was Davids practise Psalme 119. 59. I examined or considered or thought on mine owne wayes and turned my feete unto thy Testimonies yea because he knew his heart was deceitfull and fraudulent Ier. 17. 9. Hee doth beseech God to assist him in it and to doe it for him Psalme 26. 2. Examine me O Lord and prove me try my reines and my heart Like a man that heareth proclamation for the apprehension of such and such a Traytor hee not only searcheth his owne house himselfe but he setteth open the doore and intreateth the officer to enter and make what diligent search he can that if there be any traytor lurking there hee may bee found out and executed so David search me ô Lord examine my heart and house and see if there bee any sinfull lust there and let them bee all mortified To the same purpose is that we have Psal. 139. 23 24. Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting Loe here was sincerity and this was the best way to finde out our most secret lusts and hidden corruptions O therefore let us not be strangers at home but examine our owne hearts as the Psalmi●● speaketh Psalme 4. 4. A sweet place for this purpose is that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whither yee bee in the faith or no prove your owne selves know you not your owne selves i. e. what an absurd thing is it for you to bee skilfull in others affaires and neglect your owne to know other men and not your owne selves what greater hypocrisie The Hypocrite is sharpe sighted abroad but blinde at home He can see a mote in the eye of another but doth not discerne the beame that is in his owne it is our Saviours character of an hypocrite Matthew 7. 5. But on the contrary the advise of the Apostle is excellent Galathians 6. 4. But let every owne prove his owne worke seeke to finde out his owne lusts then shall hee have rejoycing in himselfe and not in another Secondly When we have found out this waster and apprehended this Traytor then let us directly smite it with the two edged sword of the Spirit upon the head which is the Word of God a speciall part of a Christians armour and so much the more excellent in this case because it is a weapon both defensive and offensive Ephesians 6. 16. And take the Helmet of salvation and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Wo●d of God See what admirable worke our Saviour made with this spirituall weapon in the single combate that he had with Sathan hand to hand Matthew 4. Scriptum est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 4. And againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 6. And see the event of this combate v. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then the Devill left him c. This put him utterly to flight And no marvell for the Word of God is quicke and powerfull

confessed his owne guiltinesse and the justice of God 2. Vindicated the innocency of Christ. 3. Was affected with the judgement and brought to feare God 4. Earnestly desired to worke upon his fellow servant Doest thou not feare God c. i.e. ô feare God consider what a wofull estate thou art plunged into Reasons or Motives io perswade us hereunto are foure 1. In regard of God 2. In regard of our selves 3. In regard of others 4. In regard of the excellency of Gods Ordinances 1. In regard of God because the Lord is much honoured and his Name is highly magnified and therefore hereby we shall shew our zeale for Gods glory and our ●ove unto his Majesty Gods glory in all things should be respected in the first place Whether ye eate or drinke or whatsoever ye doe doe all to the glory of God saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 10. 31. Now surely the more people and the greater the company is that joyne together in the duties of Gods service the more glory must needs hereby redound to God for the enlarging of Christs kingdome is a chiefe meanes of advancing Gods glory This our Saviour teacheth in the very mould and course of the Lords Prayer it appeareth in the very order of the petitions 1. Hallowed be thy Name to shew that in all things in the first place Gods glory must be respected 2. Thy kingdome come there is the chiefe meanes to shew that the comming of Gods kingdome is one chiefe meanes for the hallowing of his Name and the enlarging of Christ's kingdome is a chiefe meanes for the advancing of Gods glory Matth. 6. 10 11. certainely much glory must needs hereby redound to God when we are not content only to serve God our selves but also exhort and excite and stirre up others hereunto Secondly There is another Motive to perswade us which is drawne from our selves Hereby we shall manifest the work of grace wrought in our own hearts This is a good testimony that we are truely religious indeed when wee are not content to serve God our selves but are ready to provoke and stirre up others hereunto for goodnesse is a spreader of it selfe it is ready to disperse and communicate it selfe for the good of others Yee heard what the Holy Ghost said of Barnabas Acts 11. 23. That he exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord ver 24. for he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost A good man and one that is full of the Holy Ghost is and will be ready to excite and stirre up others unto that which is good When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren said our Saviour Luk. 22. 32. He that is truly converted himselfe will be ready to be a meanes to convert and turne others to God See it in David Psalme 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee Where there is abundance of grace in the heart it will manifest it selfe in our gracious speeches and holy communication Psal. 37. 30 31. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisedome his tongue will bee talking of judgement the Law of his God is in his heart c. for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh saith our Saviour Matth. 12. 34. I have hid thy Word in my heart saith David Psalme 119. 11. See the fruit of this Psalm 95. 6. O come let us worship and fall downe and kneele before the Lord our maker c. True grace maketh a man ready to doe good offices for others especially to perswade them to serve God and be religious Thirdly In regard of others For hereby we shall best manifest our love and respect to others yea we doe not know how much good we may doe them this way for by this we may come to save a soule from death and cover a multitude of sinnes Iam. 5. 20. Hereby we may come to be acquainted with the wayes of God our selves and others whom we perswade may be hereby converted to walke in his pathes for Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule c. See how confidently David assureth himselfe of the conversion of others upon his best endeavour to teach them Gods wayes Psal. 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee How much more if we come to the house and Ordinances of God and bring others with us This argument Gods people have used to perswade others to goe with them to Gods house Come let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord for he will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his pathes Isa. 2. 2 3. This is the way to bring others to the true feare of GOD as well as our selves if we can perswade them to accompany us in the constant and frequent use of Gods Ordinances Observe an excellent place to this purpose Deut. 31. 11 12. When all Israel is come to appeare before the Lord in the place that he shall choose thou shalt reade this Law before all Israel in their hearing Gather the people together men women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates Why so What good will they get this That they may heare and that they may learne and feare the Lord your God to doe all the words of this Law Where we see that the house or place of Gods worship and service must be constantly frequented and that it is not enough for us to come thither our selves but we must also bring our whole families men women and children yea the very stranger that doth but occasionally come unto us we must bring all to Gods Ordinances And lastly that hereby we are likely to be instruments of working the feare of God in the hearts of those whom we bring and so to bring them to obedience Let no man say What neede we trouble our selves with others Is it not enough for every man to looke to himselfe and to have a care that he spend time himselfe in Gods service though he doe not meddle with others For though Christian charitie begin at home yet it doth not end there but he that is truely carefull to serve God himselfe will be readie to exhort and admonish others especially those of his familie and such as are committed to his charge And if any thinke much at this yet let him know that it is no more then his dutie Heb. 3. 13. But exhort one another dayly while it is called to day Nay no man can have any good assurance that he draweth nigh to God with a true heart himselfe if he doe not doe his best endeavour to excite and stirre up others to doe so too See an excellent passage to this purpose Heb. 10. 22. 24. c. Let us draw neare with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our