see men advanced to worldly honours that they enjoy such honours and dignities or if they see people beautifull or gorgeously apparel'd they cannot it may be say they have so faire a face or rich cloaths c. Saints think they are rich enough honourable enough that they are very faire and gallant if like Jesus Christ In respect of many worldly injoyments that the sons of men possessed 't is probable the sons of Zion could not say they were like them yet this was their comfort that they had the witnesse of the spirit Rom. 8.16 that they could say they were like God they were holy souls like the holy God union with God brought forth likenes to God 1 John 4.15 16 Deus charitas est quid pretiosius Et qui manet in charitate in Deo manet quid securius Et Deus in eo quid jucundius Haec gloria christianorum magna est a blessed God dwelling in them makes them blessed souls Exceeding blessed and ever happy are they that from in-dwellings of Father Son and Spirit in them can say God is holy Christ is holy the Spirit holy and we as Saints delight to be holy and so to be like Father Son and Spirit The Apostle speaks largely in his own and Saints commendation in uttering a few words saying As he is so are we in this world He had spoken much of God and of the Son of God 1 Joh 4.16 and of Gods dwelling in Saints and of Saints being born of God 1 Joh. 4.7 and knowing God and having laboured with his Divine and Heavenly Rhetorick he endeavoured to give God the honour due unto him and he would not let slip an opportunity of magnifying the grace of God in Saints 1 Joh. 3.1 1 Joh. 5.12 and how much they were dignified by enjoying God and as to extol their greatnesse and goodnesse in the world so to chear up themselves that had received such kindness of God and that they might with boldnesse stand up pleading their own dignity and blessedness 1 Pet. 4.14 against all the reproaches disgraces and scorns of the world he holds out God and then himself and Saints As he is so are we in this world We shall look upon the Text as it hath relation mainly to God as making out himself to us in Jesus Christ Loquitur hic de conformitate in puritate innocentia vitae Hem. 1 Pet. 1.15 2 Cor. 5.21 Luk. 6.36 and to Saints through grace enjoying God within and by that enjoyment striving to be like God in holinesse righteousnesse mercy love patience longsuffering goodnesse gentlenesse c. And although 't is impossible for Christians to be such as God for purity and perfection Haec conformitas nostri cum Deo in imitatione conaâ—u omni puritate perfectione posita est Rom. 8.29 yet through the Spirits help may they imitate God and for the manner of living holily strive to be conformable to the Lord So that as God is a God of love Christians are Christians of love that love that is in a Christian to God it is but a son it is but a fruit of the love that is in God to a Christian 't is but the springing forth of somewhat of God himself planted within in the soul Eccles 1.7 't is but a stream running back to that Sea from whence it came returning God his due like for like love for love a Saint knows love deserves love Gods love is love 1 Jo. 4.19 In this way of love he acts freely 1 Pet. 5.2 and so is like God it is as ordinary for a Christian to love as to live for what maintains his being as a Saint produceth love to the ornament of his being As it rejoyceth in having the life of a Saint Gal. 2.20 Act. 4.20 Psal 40.8 so it is pleased in doing the work of a Saint laying out it self in what is pleasing to the Lord Joh. 7.18 God cannot but act what is good and what tends to his own glory take a Saint as having God living in it 1 Joh. 3.18 19. and from that living of God in it acting it doth what is good and also tends to the glory of God 1 Cor. 15.58 It knows 't is not lost labour to be doing for God and that it is not in vaine There is infinite good in God and there is some good in a Saint Infinitnesse in God enables God for infinite worke God is able to do like himself beyond what a soul can think or conceive A soul that enjoyes somewhat that this all-good-God gives out in his love through Christ 1 Cor. 15.10 is in his actings according to what he receives and as that receiving springs and sprouts out Omnia gratiae divinae tribuit A spark of fire will do what a spark can do and a drop of water what a drop may indeed it cannot do so much as the Sea or Element of fire can do 'T is a Christians joy that of Christs heavenly fulnesse it receives some grace Joh. 3.34 Christ hath what he hath without measure a Christian in measure a Christian is glad that it finds Christ saying 1 Cor. 15.48 As is the heavenly such are they that are heavenly and that by the spirits work 't is fashioned to be like Christ now 't is in the world and so chang'd into the same Image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3.18 And though it live in a wicked world amongst wicked men yet it is not like them but it is like him that is heavenly it is not conformable to those it lives withall without in the body but to him that lives within in his soul Dearly beloved what are you what can you now say for your selves can you say you are like Christ have you a life like Christ have you a conversation like Christ are you cloath'd like Christ Col. 3.12 have you put on as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindnesse humblenesse of mind meeknesse long suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any Christus non tantum nobis est donum verum etiam exemplum Miraculosae actiones Christi mentem nostram de veritate doctrinae ipsius confirmabunt Peculiares actiones quae sunt ipsius officii propriae hae ut expiatoriae peccati nostri fuerunt ita salutis fiduciam in nobis alent confirmabunt even as Christ forgave you so also do yee The actions of Christ should be instructions of christians yet consider rightly of Christs actions some were miraculous as fasting forty daies raising the dead c. these are not to be immitated because they cannot yet these may help to strengthen our faith and confirme us concerning the truth of the Doctrine of Christ Some are peculiar actions belonging to his office as to redeem or make intercession c. these also are
proper to Christ onely Morales actiones quibus legi morali satiisfecit hae nostram vitam mores ad dilectionem Det proximi excitabunt Some are morall these last are onely imitable you may take all thus some actions there are of Christ which he did as God some as Mediator some as man The last are binding to us to follow every action of Christs is for our instruction some way or other and carefull ought we to be to make use of it as we should that so none of Christs doings do not passe by us un-observ'd and taken notice of but that we rightly ponder them Omnis Christi actio nostra est instructio sed diversimode c. that what is to be admired and wondred at we may admire and wonder what invites to praise let them have it and what is to be imitated let them be set before us and strive to imitate and though we cannot act to perfection yet let us act with affection and though we cannot do as we should yet let us desire to do it and though the bodies pace be slow yet may your souls be nimble Paul though he could not take hold on yet did he reach out to those things that were before And be sure to send love to Christ and let that tell him that all of soul and body is following after And that whatsoever your doings are yet your desires are right for they are to please him and glad would you be to be comprehended in that saying of the Apostle As he is so are we in this world Blame none for desiring this to be like Christ He that is like Christ is very excellent and the more this likenesse is perfected the nearer is the soul to glory 'T is an excellent discovery of a vertuous soul to see it continue good let the times places and people be never so bad and so doubtlesse it manifests a heavenly excellency within when a soul that lives in this wicked ungodly world appears in life and conversation heavenly shines out in a dark world though not with so clear a light as Christ yet is his light shining out like Christ A handsome imitation from some is as pleasing as great action from others Lord thou art not strict to mark what is done amisse look not on our actings which are imperfect but Lord consider what our desires are how we desire to conform to thee and help Lord with thy spirit As thou art a loving God let us be loving christians as thou art a glorious Husband let us be a glorious Spouse as thou art a soul-pittying-Saviour let us be soul-obedient Saints As thou art a fountaine a Sea let us be streams at least drops and though we are not of such worth as thou O Christ Quantum unusquisque est inâ—oculis Dei tantum est c. yet let us be true coine and as pounds and pence may have one stamp and the least though not of so great a value as the best yet of some value Mark us sweet Jesus for thine though the mark be never so small that so what the Pharisees messengers answered thee concerning the Image and superscription upon the Tribute-money saying it is Caesars so Lord let the Image and stamp upon our souls be Christs That so our life our love our actions may be such as Christs Christ and us may have one way one will one affection one mind our bent and purposes the same with Jesus Christ Now the work goes on now is the mirth now thriving when all agree in one when all the Souldiers do like the Captaine all the servants like the master all the followers like the leader all the members as the head directs and that there are no divisions commands answere with obedience examples sutable to the pattern learners like the teacher Saints like the Saviour As he is so are we c. Doct. Obs True Saints are such that are very like Jesus Christ There is some speciall singular thing in Saints that is not in men of the world there is a singular vertue in a Jewell that is not in another stone which makes it esteemed there is a peculiar choice excelling in Saints that makes them so extold there is somewhat in them that others have not seen nor known 1 Cor. 2.10 which is manifest to them by the spirit they are begotten of God and so come to be like Christ as children of one father are like one another A holy Christ the Son of God and holy Saints children of God Heb. 2.11 all of one for which cause Christ is not ashamed to call Saints brethren and from this brotherhood it is that Christ and christians are good friends that there is so much union peace and affinity that they can speak together confer together dwell together feed together lodge together and live together the God of Christ the God of Saints the Father of Christ the Father of Saints 't is the words of Christ the soul-delighting words of the Elder brother to the Younger sent by Mary as a message of comfort to the Disciples Ad perturbatos Discipulos accurre Io. 20.17 Go to my brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father and to my God and your God Here 's a cordial the Disciples were troubled at their Masters being crucified and 't is likely were very much grieved Christ forgets them not but sends them news of his Resurrection and of his Ascending into glory and that they should ascend likewise for his Father would not entertain him alone but them also The inheritance of glory belongs to Saints as well as Christ all Gods children shall partake in this kingdom Rom. 8.17 The spirit it self beareth witnesse with our spirit that we are the children of God Donorum patris caelestis sunt participes And if children then heirs heirs of God and joynt-heirs with Christ Christ had bled freely for them and his message is sweet to them willing his should know what glory is provided for them 1 Joh. 3.2 Phil. 3.21 Rev. 3 21 and therefore tels them they should be like him their vile bodies made like his glorious body and sit with him in his Throne those that are like him in grace shall be like him in glory they that are partakers with him in bearing the crosse shall be partakers with him in wearing the crown Christ is fashioning his daily for himself and when he hath brought his work to that perfection here that they come unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ and to perfect man Eph. 4.13 he will remove them to glory for the church is heavens nursery and as Christ sees fit he draws out those precious plants that are like himself and sets them with himself Small pieces of gold are look'd to and kept safe if like Christ you are well enough souls 't is no matter who you are unlike if
state and also honourable c Ans I may say because they have not receiv'd of the heavenly gift are not by heavens hand polished Besides 't is not the fashion of the world To be holy is exceedingly out of fashion in these times to be holy is to be singular the last is to be wondred at if not disdain'd it sets all men a wondering to behold the assemblies of Saints Psal 38.5 Some-times besides wondring they are enrag'd against them Reges terrae inito inter se consilio congregati sunt contra hanc Dei civitatem ejusque cives pariter ad nos expugnandos convenerunt I shal spare any further discourse upon such that differ so much from Christ I am sure if they never be made like Christ they will wish they had if they be chang'd into the like Image I need not bid them their own graces will quicken them to praise the Lord. The first Doctrine is left to your meditation I desire you may be as like Christ as the Doctrine is like truth the next thing to present to your soules is this Doct. 2 They that know Jesus Christ may know Saints I know many questions might be propounded about this Doctrin but I omit them what may be said of two men that are much a like he that knows one may know the other so he that knowes Christ may know Saints I know no one surer way to try men by then this looke well upon Christ consider his graces and all his endowments â—mor Dei est illud sigillum quo Deus electos credentes obsignat taste his sweetnes smell his savour where you find that is like what you find in Christ conclude they are Saints Men know their goods by the mark their leases by the seale servants by their livery so may Saints be known by Christ Study Christ well and thou wilt say such are Saints let their appearances bee what they will let them be by name Jew or Gentile circumcis'd or not circumcis'd if Saints their graces will discover what they be Christians judge not according to the flesh and formes but according to the Spirit a gracious soul is lovely to a gracious spirit let it be of never so different judgement in some low things that are subject to vanish They are children of one Father Reas descended of one Royal stock Know the Eldest child well you may know the Younges consider of Christs comlines the Saints 〈◊〉 may the better appear know the righteousness of Christ and you may know holy Saints the voice of Christ and the voice of Saints God gifts and cloths his children much alike what the eldest hath the youngest hath the same indeed the eldest is larges and the difference is onely in the measure not in the manner Al grace is in Christ and some in Saints There 's grace in al head and members have life every part of the body its ornament so whole Christ and this in holines Their employment is a like Reas Do you know the busines of Christ can you say this is the work of Christ and herein he is excercis'd Consider who acts like him and then judge Compare things together the holy and heavenly work of Christ let that be the pattern esteem and commend those souls whose workings are most like the pattern Children are commended that write most like the Copy and so is the Limner whose draught is most like the body whose picture agrees best with the life Suffer a word of exhortation Eph. 5.1 Be ye therefore followers of God as deare childien and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour Christ yeel'ds a sweet savour in his love and in his obedience 2 Cor. 2.15 so do Saints they are unto God a sweet savour Study Christ soundly and when you have done see how men agree with Christ and accordingly let them have the repute of Saints Be not partial in your judging but judge righteous judgement Vuse You may now hint whence it is that Saints are no better known I conceive it is because Christ is not known Ignorance of Christ effecteth an ignorance of Saints 1 Cor. 2.8 Christ was kild by such that knew him not and so are Saints How many precious Jewels have been taken for drosse and so cast out how many gracious souls esteem'd not worthy to live and why because like Christ Act. 22.22 both Christ and they taken for evil doers for disturbers of the places where they come yea sometime for blasphemers you seldom see any reverence godly souls that yield not reverence to the God of souls Joh. 16.2 3. that respect Saints that honour not Christ Men that are farthest from Christ are the lap-children of wicked men if any have their respect they are such that are like themselves ungodly Good men you complain of your slightings wrongs and divers sufferings in the world and complain you may your sorrows are ungodly mens musick they never rejoyce more then when the Saints tears run down fastest This hath and will be the worlds pastime even good-mens sufferings Christ sufferings pleas'd the Jews heartily so doth the sufferings of Christs people Jewish natures to this day Men do they know not what in wronging the deare jewels of God and pluck on themselves a most heavy wrath from the God of Saints The works of wicked men now are such as the wicked generations that went before 1 Thes 2.15 for they killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted Saints and all was because they were blinded of Satan and the glorious Spirit of holines shone not into their souls to give them the knowledge of Jesus Christ How were it possible that men should be enemies to Christ or to Saints the friends of Christ did they know what he hath suffered and undergone for souls Amor è caelo ad terram eum traxit ad columnam ligavit cruciaffixit sepulchro clausit ad inferos atâ—raxit how out of love and pitty he came down from heaven underwent many a gracious suffering and all to do poor wretched man good but here is a sad sight al is slighted of many Is it not strange to hear a groaning Christ and sinners mocking a Christ wounded to the heart and souls mad at heart against him to see the everlasting Father dying and yet the children of that Father abus'd and that by such for whom the Father is suffering It was an ungratful act of Joash to slay the child of Johoiada that had holp him to the Kingdome but as the sufferer prayed God acted punished the wicked doer God is just wait his time and then see what he wil do to Christ and christian wrongers You have need of patience you Christ-like souls you are sufferers you will be so in this world you are not known neither is your
was imputed that all believers may be reputed before God by vertue of Christs righteousnesse holy and perfect as righteousnesse it selfe Thus you see how souls may be said to be sinners take them as in themselves and in the flesh so sinners take them as reconcil'd to God as having Christs righteousnesse imputed to them and beheld of God in that so without sin without guile no sinners but holy pure undefiled beloved of God blessed Saints 3. They are precious souls precious in this filthy ungodly sinful wicked world that from grace coming in act in wayes of grace and holines without that let the inhabitants of the world be wicked follow their Prince the Devil yet they wil walke in holines following the Lord Jesus Christ the Prince of peace and King of righteousnesse God in all ages hath some to witnesse to his glorious truths so in this age some that are taught of the Spirit led of the Spirit that minde the things of the Spirit that have the Spirit of God dwelling in them and by the power of that Spirit in dwelling doe mortifie the deeds of the body and are raised up and quickned by the Spirit of God within to walke in righteousness true holines to serve God and own his cause though the world with them that dwel therein oppose they are excellent souls that appear for God in bad times in the worst of times yea when 't is not alone a hazarding their names to disgrace and shame but their bodies to be torne in pieces to be burnt to ashes You that are acquainted with scripture and history may see every age every yeare bring forth some such gallant spirits that were ready to lay down their lives to undergoe any cruel vile shameful death for the name of Christ and the testimony of Jesus 4. They are precious for they that are faithful and chosen that are such as Christ is continue good let all the world be bad A precious soule is an excellent Theophilus and wil appeare so let others be never so bad let them be enemies to God fighters against God Times are bad now and like for a while to be worse yet there are pretious Christans so some there wil be as long as the world continues that shal shine out as lights in the world Phil. 2.15 that wil be without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverss nation that wil run right on towards glory let whose wil run crosse that wil keep their garments white though others be soyl'd I commend such to you souls for precious Christians for precious Saints that abstaine from all appearance of evil that in heart and soul and life clear to and follow after what is good Vse 3 Love those precious souls that Christ esteemes precious nay that Christ hath made precious that are before God precious that are the dearely belov'd of his soul that are honourable ones that are borne of the wil of God that are attended on by Angels that are for a short time plac'd in the world and shal ere long be received into glory let your delight be plac'd on those excellent ones let your eyes be on them that Gods eyes are on your heart towards those that Gods heart is towards good children are apt to respect those they see their parents love if you be true children rightly descended of the Royal line of heaven you wil eye the outgoings of your fathers love and as Bees settle where the Queen settles so wil you where God upon what family or soul the Lord hangs his love you wil hang yours where God delights to be you wil delight to be all so Consider I pray who you love what sort of people it is you most affect whether it be carnal worldly unregenerate men or holy heavenly regenerate Saints Do you now desire to know Gods jewels Vse 4 to be able to discern of these precious ones to say such are Gods children such are the friends of Christ like Christ you must have the life spirit wisdome knowledge of Christ you must be taught of God to know who are Gods like God Paul persecuted the precious Saints of Christ and was a deadly foe and enemy to them til such time as he was endued with wisdome from on high til God shone upon him yea into him and then knowing Saints he associated himself with them and was no longer hurtful but helpful Many a soul is a sore and grievous enemy to the people of God I am perswaded much of their enmity ariseth from this because they know not Saints they are ignorant what glorious ones they are in what a high esteem they are with God how God wil punish them that wrong them Ignorance of Saints makes them slighted reviled defam'd accounted as the filth of the world and the off scouring of all things T is want of knowing the worth of a Jewel that makes it not prized so of a Saint that is a member of Christ a child of God The God of wisdome give you wisdome to know such that are holy that are Princes of the bloud-Royal of heaven and to give them such respect that is due and reverence as belongs to them This none can do but such as have the spirit this you wil do if the Lord give out the spirit of truth to guide you in all truth if heavenly light shine into you that light shining in wil discover and manifest to you the children of light and whosoever you can find walking heaven-ward you wil be glad of their company Ignorance had a hand in killing Christ and it hath some hand in all the wrong is done to Saints the Lord free you all from it least ye should through ignorance harme the darlings of God and bring swift damnation on your selves God hath grievous threatnings in Scripture against Saint-wrongers and there are recorded some heavy punishments that have been inflicted on them that harme the righteous God keep you from the sin and so from the suffering I might ad how beneficial 't is for you to know who are Saints and how much for your souls advantage to be acquainted with them but I omit it Happy are you that are of the number of these jewels of God of these preciout Vse 5 ones I do not know what your condition is in respect of outward things and creature-enjoyments but I can safely say you are a happy people if precious if such as Christ you shal all be laid up in glory shortly God wil not lose one of his jewels for a world Heaven and earth shal perish but no Saint never a precious soul not a jewel that belongs to the crown Royal of glory These rare souls these souls to whom Angels do service that are carried in the armes in the bosome in the heart of God that are singular souls chosen out from among thousands by royal favour sâ—ch in whom the eye of God can see nothing amisse no defect no excesse no presence of sinne no
cold in frost and snow Non timent fulgura tempestates in cendia aquarum â—astiates tristes planetarum configurationes luminarium coelestium obscurationes quia super naturam evecti Christo in recumbunt in Christo vivunt Non abstrahitur blanditiis seculi quia audit in suavio rem vocem Christi so some souls alwaies like Christ Let the times be what they wil let the face of the world alter yet they change not let the world be turned upside down yet they stand upon their legs they are right let all the world be wrong they like Noahs arke float upon the waters let all be under water Let there be troubles below in the world here on earth they care not Let there be terrible apparations above and starry messingers portending sad events they are not afraid of such evil tidings they have a resting place in Christ Christ is to them for safty for preservation every way a defence and a comforter they change not they alter not Let the ship turne which way it wil the needle of the compasse wil stand North let the world turne about never so much they stand directly towards Christ and look heaven-ward when other trees are without leaves and fruit they have both when others coole they continue hot when others sparkes goe out their light shines When the hypocrisie of others to their shame is manifested and they perish The sincerity of the Saints appears and they flourish Christs people have a marke by which they are known let them be never so much disguis'd and mis-nam'd by the world Christ was God when the world abus'd him though the world knew it not Saints are like Christ though under great sufferings As he is so are they in this world Christ is unchangable so are Saints Reas 1 Christ is the same to day and for ever so are Saints so far as Saints enjoying Christ Their light life holinesse c. in respect of Christ the root continues other mens light shal go out but the light of Saints shal never go out it shal shine more and more unto the perfect day The light in them is everlasting 't is Christ in them they shal ever live because Christ their life shal live for ever in them Nothing is able to deprive them of Christ and therefore not of life Christ is in christians Sin law wicked men Devils all the principalities powers of darknesse spiritual wickednesses that are in high places cannot pluck him out nor destroy the habitation of Christ Now Christ makes his dwelling like himself every soul is holy like Christ in whom Christ dwels Let it be wheresoever Christ pleaseth it wil be holy holy in prosperity holy in adversity holy in a Palace holy in a Prison holy every where take it according to the spirit and as it hath Christ within Reas 2 Because they that are Christs have another self in them their old self is done away they have a new self a spiritual self that is God himself in Jesus Christ there is a discovery and removing of the rottennesse of old self and another self is tendred yea reveal'd given in to souls which is God himself and he is the Saints righteousnesse they are possess'd of God and have God dwelling in them Now I pray is not God the same in all places and wil not God who is the life and righteousnesse of Saints make them appear the same let them live in times and places that are never so subject to change This is that which is worthy admiration that God should become the life and righteousnesse of such creatures as men are and men by this means should be such excellent creatures that their excellency cannot be done away Reas 3 Because times of suffering times of tribulations Rev. 7.14 times of persecutions are to them but as purging times clensing times washing times The body may be purg'd yet continue a body stil the man may have an il humour remov'd yet remaine a man A house may be clens'd yet be a house clothes may be wash'd the filth taken away and the clothes be clothes gold may be cast into the fire the drosse consum'd yet the gold be never the worse so Saints may be Saints Aurum probat ignis fidem tentatio and like Christ though they suffer many tribulations Christ in troubles apprares to them and from that appearance that they have of him they appear his Saints glory is hidden it this follows not that therefore they have no glory We must not say there is no Sunne because the clouds hide it from our sight They that have Christ have glory and they doe and shal appeare glorious Clouds viz. afflictions persecutions and tribulations shal fly away and then shal their glory more clearly appear Now there is much of Christ appears in Saints in a low condition in the world as long suffering patience strength to undergo trials and the like Times may a little change somewhat of the outside of a Saint but it cannot take away the substance of a Saint Let what hath been said be ground for reproof to such that are apt to blame times and places for making them bad c. O say they we had not been so bad we had not run into this evil nor into that had we not liv'd in such a wicked place had we not been acquainted with such vile company it was such and such that were the occasions of our running into that bad course of life of our taking such headlong waies and leaping into such a gulfe of mischief We will not much question such complaints whether just or unjust I confesse 't is dangerous living in bad places and in being familiar with naughty people much mischief may they occasion to souls yet it makes not people blamelesse to lay the fault upon the times or places they have to do in this frees not from Gods displeasure Adam laid the blame on his Wife shee on the Serpent yet this freed neither from suffering A Thief that hath stolen may plead his poverty and say he was in need yet may he be punished and suffer what by law is to be inflicted upon one guilty of such a crime So an unclean person may say had he not been guilty of folly had he not been entic'd and sollicited We might speak in infinitum in this case and after this manner and yet wil not the offendor be found innocent It were more just for faulty persons to lay the blame on their own corruptions and evil hearts for times and places would not make them bad were not they bad Joseph had a faire bait cast before him yet not taken Much grace may preserve men from evil in the worst times and places Cast gold into mud yet wil it keep its colour and worth so a jewel in a coal-heap yet wil it retain its vertue A Saint wil be a Saint let him be amongst Devils Gods people ought to keep a daily watch