Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	father_n	jesus_n	lord_n	17,123	5	3.7490	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62465	The saints great duty in time of the dangerous afflictions, persecutions, and oppressions, they may meet with in the troublesome and tempestuous sea of this world, either by spiritual or temporal enemies. Preached in a farewel-sermon by Mr. George Thorne, of Weymouth in Dorset-shire. From Psal. 37. 34. Wait on the Lord, and keep his way. Published by a friend.	Thorne, George, of Weymouth.	1664 (1664)	Wing T1057B; ESTC R220883	31,965	67

to the Fathers hand he willingly submits to what sufferings came upon him That you may keep the Way of the Lord in the midst of all the sufferings you are like to meet with herein following the Lord Jesus Christ eying the hand of your gracious Father in all the sufferings that come upon you of what nature soever and by whomsoever inflicted and whatever may be the ends of those by whom you suffer yet that they are all ordered by him in accomplishment of his VVord Do ye not believe this I know that ye do believe it by Faith therefore improve it for the quieting of your hearts in all your sufferings This is that the Apostle presseth the Saints unto in the 12th of the Hebrews where he taketh for granted that all kind of sufferings more especially such as come upon us by the contradiction of sinners are fatherly corrections from the Lord and so in accomplishment of the VVord of God according unto that Psal 89.30 31. and therefore humbly to be submitted to so Heb. 12.9 10. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live for they verily for a few dayes chastened us after their own pleasure but he for our profit that we may be partakers of his Holiness Seeing therefore whatsoever befalls you in the Way of the Lord is by your Father's ordering in accomplishment of his VVord for your profit that ye may be partakers of his Holiness submit your selves to him eye your Fathers hand and end and be quiet 3. It was the practice of Jesus Christ in his state of humiliation to give unto Civil Magistrates and Rulers what was their due yea to forgo somewhat of his Civil Right rather than to offend them For giving unto Civil Magistrates their due notable is that of Mat. 22.21 Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and unto God the things that are God's And as he taught them so he practised himself for he was not of those who say and do not but his practice was alwayes conformable to his Doctrine VVhen therefore they that received Tribute-money at Capernaum came and demanded of him he will rather recede from his Civil Liberty than offend them Mat. 17.25 26 27. Now go ye and do likewise If ye will keep the VVay of the Lord give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars be subject unto the King and all that are in Authority Let the exhortation be that 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake VVhat is here meant by Ordinance of man is clear from what follows whether to the King as supream or unto Governors c. Be ye therefore subject Saints not only for wrath but for Conscience sake for the Lord's sake and as Rom. 13.7 Render to every one their due Tribute to whom Tribute Custom to whom Custom is due c. Such subjection to Magistrates as thwarteth not our obedience unto God lies within the Way of the Lord Yeeld therefore active obedience unto the King as far as Conscience towards God will give leave Fear God and honour the King 1 Pet. 2.17 Give all that honour to the King that is consistent with the true Fear of God Let nothing but Conscience towards God hinder you at any time from yeelding active obedience to all the King's Laws And here Beloved I shall take occasion to open my heart sincerely to you You know what is required of me if I will continue a publick Minister in this Kingdom I hope no sober persons can think me such a humerous perverse Phanatick as to throw away my Maintenance much lesse my Ministerial Capacity which is much more dear to me than Livelihood yea than Life out of a proud humor and vain-glorious fancy In brief therefore as I shall answer it before the great God the searcher of all hearts and the righteous Judge did not Conscience towards God forbid me I would willingly and readily do all that the Act requires But seeing I cannot declare an unfeigned Assent and Consent as the Law requires As from the fear of my God I dare not so from the love you generally have to me I know you would not have me dissemble with God and men I do therefore humbly choose to submit to the Penalty rather than by a hypocritical conformity for such it must be in me if any to dishonour my God wound my own Conscience and dissemble with men knowing assuredly that my God hath no need of my sin And if he have any work for me in the publick Ministry he will encline the King's heart to grant Liberty and Encouragement therein to me with the rest of those who desire to be faithful in preaching of the Gospel which that the Lord will grant I promise my self the help of all your prayers who have been savoured with any spiritual blessings through my Ministry 4. It was the practice of Jesus Christ to be so far from making resistance by the sword to keep himself from suffering that he refused such help as was offered him that way So Mat. 26.52 Then said Jesus unto him Put up again thy sword into his place for all they that take the sword shall perish by the sword 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 't is not all that use but all that take the sword without a lawful call So John 18.11 Put up thy sword into thy sheath the Cup which my Father will have me to drink shall I not drink it If you would keep the Way of the Lord herein follow Christ so as not to resist those that are in Authority however unjustly you may suffer from them for 1 Pet. 2.19 This is thank-worthy if a man for Conscience-sake toward God endure grief suffering wrongfully 5. It was the practice of Jesus Christ to be so far from avenging himself as to render good for evil to forgive his enemies to seek their good and welfare So in Luke 23.34 Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do Thus follow Christ according to that he teacheth in Mat. 5.34 Love your enemies Blesse them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you And what the Apostle exhorteth in Rom. 12.19 20. Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger feed him if he thirst give him drink c. 6. The Lord Jesus Christ had great compassion for poor wandering sinners Mat. 9.36 Great love for his Saints John 13.1 with tender pity towards them in all their sorrows and afflictions Isa 63.9 Herein also be ye followers of Christ according to that Col. 3.12 13. Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humblenesse of mind meeknesse long-suffering

Testimonies When the wicked smite and oppress the people of God they are the Lords Rod Isa 10.5 wherewith he chastiseth his people And that of the Apostle holds in this as well as in other chastisements Heb. 12.10 He for our profit that we might be partakers of his holinesse as also what follows in v. 11. Now no chastisement for the present seemeth joyous but grievous nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of Righteousness to them which are exercised thereby so as that they wait on God in the Way of his Judgments and keep the Way of his Commandments Thus I have cleared it to be the safest Way 3. This is the most honourable Way though it were a safe way yet if it be not an honourable way it is not the best Way That proved a safe way that David took in 1 Sam. 27.1 2 3. but it was a dishonourable way and however under the power of temptations he concludes it best yet afterward he finds by woful experience his mistake It was a safe way that they advised Nehemiah to in Nehem. 6.10 but because it was dishonourable he would not take it vers 11. And he said Should such a man as I fly and who is there being as I am would go into the Temple to save his life I will not go in He would not so dishonour his place To run hazards in an honourable way hath always been more eligible to Spirits truly noble then sneekingly to provide for safety in a base dishonourable way Now the way that is before you is the most honourable way as will appear in these following Particulars First 'T is the way of true valour and courage When the wicked watcheth to mischieve you when the wicked even your Enemies and Foes come upon you to eat up your flesh as Psal 27.2 then to wait on the Lord to stand your ground to follow the Lord to keep his way This is an argument of a brave and gallant Spirit Was it not a proof of a heroick and brave Spirit in Paul when he says to them Acts 21.13 What mean you to weep and to break my heart for I am ready not to be bound only but to dye at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus When men are bold and daring in a wicked way and will resolutely keep on whatever difficulties or opposition they meet with this is not true valour but a mad hardiness and desperate stoutness of spirit But when men are couragious and undaunted in following the Lord stedfastly keeping and walking on in his Way maugre all opposition that Satan and wicked Men make against them this is true valour and gallantry of Spirit Such brave and heroick Spirits were they mentioned Heb. 11.35 36 37. who have this honourable Testimonial of the Lord ver 38. of whom the World was not worthy Persons whereof every one was more worth than a world or too excellent to abide in the world being worthy of better and greater honour than the world could give them 2. 'T is the way by which you shall most victoriously triumph over all your enemies Wait on the Lord and keep his Way and you shall go on conquering and to conquer over Sin Satan the World and Antichrist over all your enemies Through God you shall do valiantly for he it is that shall tread down all your enemies Psal 108.13 For this is the victory that overcometh the world even your Faith 1 John 5.4 Through Faith whereby we wait on God and keep his way we shall overcome the world that is Satan and all his wicked crew with all the instruments of mischief they make use of against us Hence that Rom. 8.37 In all these things we are more than Conquerours through him that loved us And this honour have all they that wait on the Lord and keep his way 3. 'T is the way by which you shall bring most honour to God to the Lord Jesus Christ the Captain of your Salvation That the People of God are imployed in service whereby God is honoured that reflects honour upon them and the more God is honoured the more honour have they that serve him The Queen of Sheba counted Solomon's servants happy who waited continually upon him 1 Kings 10.8 how much more honourable is it to wait on the Lord in that a greater than Solomon is here Now wait on the Lord and keep his way herein you will greatly honour the Lord. As they that dissert and forsake the Lord and his wayes when it comes to any hard service do greatly dishonour him as if there were not enough to be had to make amends for all their hardships they endure So they that follow the Lord and keep his way through sharp oppositions and sufferings they greatly honour him in the world To cleave to the Lord and follow him when all the world are about our ears for his sake to keep his Way when that his way is every where spoken against to continue faithful in his Service when nothing but bonds and persecutions attend us for it this commends his Service and tendeth much to the honour of his Name and Wayes 4. This is the ready way to true Honour As the wise man hath it in that Prov. 27.18 He that waiteth on his master shall be honoured So wait on the Lord and keep his Way and you shall he honoured and that with true Honour even that honour that is of God In that John 5.44 our Saviour distinguisheth between that Honour that is of men and that Honour that is of God and that is the true Honour that is of God For as they say Honor est in honorante non in honorato in him that honoureth and then that is true and highest honour that is from the onely true God that high and onely One. Now this honour have all they that waiting on the Lord and keeping his Way do honour him 1 Sam. 2.30 Him that honoureth me I will honour and sayes our Saviour John 12.26 If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall my servant be and what honour that is you may gather from that Col. 3.4 And it further follows If any man serve me him will my Father honour Thus it appears to be the most honourable way 5. Lastly This is the most comfortable way It must be granted 't is a way that is attended with sufferings tribulations and distresses 2 Tim. 3.12 and yet it is the most comfortable way as will appear In that 1. It is the ready way to have peace inward peace the best peace in the midst of all the trouble the world can bring upon you In that John 16.33 The Lord Jesus saith to his Disciples that in the world they should have tribulation but in him they should have peace And to wait on the Lord and keep his Way is the ready way to attain this Peace as appears from Isa 26.3 Thou shalt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on

in the Text. So in that Psal 27.14 he complains of his enemies and of false witnesses that were risen up against him that did breath out cruelty vers 12. and then by the spirit he commends to himself and others suitable advice in such a case vers 14. Wait on the Lord. So Exod. 14.13 there Pharaoh and all his Hosts are at the heels of the poor Israelites he counts of nothing but of destroying them Exod. 15.9 and they for their parts knew not how to escape Now sayes Moses to them Fear ye not stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord. So that whatever distress the People of God are in this is the way the VVisdom of God directs unto for what the Word of God in the Scripture directs to that the Wisdom of God directs as is clear from that Luke 11.49 2. This is the way that the wisest men have taken David was a wise man we read of him in 1 Sam. 18.30 that David behaved himselfe more wisely than all the Servants of Saul so that his name was much set by Now this was the way that he took as you have him speaking in that Ps 18.21 I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God for all thy Judgments were before me and I did not put away his Statutes from me c. So Psal 119.110 The wicked have laid a snare for me yet I erred not from thy Precepts Daniel was a wise man hence that Proverb Ezek. 28.3 Wiser than Daniel and he took this course when that his Enemies had laid a snare for him to take away his life yet Dan. 6.10 he declined not from the way of the Lord but waited on the Lord and kept his way as aforetime as you may there read Yea Jesus Christ the Wisdom of God he took this course as you may read Luke 13. where when certain of the Pharisees came saying to him Get thee out and depart hence for Herod will kill thee vers 31. He answered vers 32. Go ye and tell that Fox Behold I cast out Devils and do cures to day and to morrow that is I will do the work of my Father I will follow what he hath sent me about and keep his Way whatever becomes of me Thus you see it is the wisest way 3. This is the safest way when a man is beset with the wicked that seek to mischieve him 't is a time to look after the safest way now to wait on the Lord and to keep his Way is the safest course a man can take Pro. 10.9 He that walks uprightly walks surely And 28. 18. Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved I know carnal wisdom thinks otherwise and mocks at this But I am speaking to the People of God who are capable of receiving and understanding what I shall offer and to them this will appear to be the safest way by these two Particulars First This is the readiest way for the People of God to escape that mischief which the wicked devise and intend against them Prov 18.10 The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous fly to it and are safe But how do they fly to this strong hold but upon the wings of Faith and Hope whereby they wait on the Lord and being fled for refuge to this strong hold they are sale and continue safe by abiding there which is by keeping the Way of the Lord Hence that Prov. 16.7 When a mans wayes please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him Now for those whose wayes please him who wait on him and keep his way he maketh even their enemies to be at peace with them these several wayes 1. Sometimes by changing their hearts and by making them even of Enemies to become Friends So we find he changed the heart of Ahasuerus that whereas his enmity was so enflamed by the mis-information of Haman as that he had signed the Decree for the utter destroying of the People of God yet afterwards he grants unto the Jews to gather themselves together and stand for their lives to destroy slay and cause to perish all the power of the people of the Province that should assault both little ones and women and to take the spoil of them for a prey So he changed the heart of Nebuchadnezzar with respect to the three Worthies whom in the heat of his fury be commanded to be cast into the fiery Furnace heated seven times hotter than aforetime yet afterwards his heart is so turned towards them as that he greatly promotes them in the Province of Babylon as you may read Dan. 3. So the Lord changed the heart of Paul who of a persecuting Saul became a preaching Paul Gal. 1.23 abounding in love to Christ and his Members as he did before in rage and cruelty against them 2. By restraining sometimes their envy and fury so that though their hearts continue as full of bitterness malice and revenge as formerly yet he bindeth up their hands so as that they cannot execute the mischief they intend against his People So Psal 76.5 The stout-hearted are spoiled or disarmed they have slept their sleep and none of the men of might have found their hands All which expressions tend to shew the restraint that is laid upon them and by whom you may see vers 6. At thy Rebuke O God of Jacob both the Chariots and the Horses are cast into a dead sleep Hence that vers 10. Surely the wrath of men shall praise thee that is as much of it as he suffers for to break forth for the remainder of wrath wilt thou restrain We have a notable example of this in Laban Gen. 31. who is not only rebuked by the Lord in his not pursuit after Jacob with a charge not to hurt him but is over-ruled to tell Jacob how the God of his Father spake to him as you may read vers 29. whatever be the fury and rage of the enemy he can say unto it Thus far shalt thou go and no farther as Job 38.11 3. He maketh their enemies to be at peace with them sometimes by enclining them to use his People well and to treat them peaceably after that they have them in their power and under their hand Jer. 15.11 The Lord said Verily it shall be well with thy remnant verily I will cause the enemy to treat thee well in time of evil and in the time of affliction So we read Psal 106.46 He made them to be pityed of all them that carryed them away captives 4. Alwayes by over-ruling what they do against them so as that it shall not hurt them So Isa 54.17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper But of whom is this spoken it follows there This is the heritage of the Servants of the Lord It may prosper to put them to smart but not to hurt them As the Lord promised Paul Acts 18.10 I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to

therefore the Apostle said unto them 2 Pet. 3.17 Ye therefore Beloved seeing ye know these things before beware least ye also be led away with the errour of the wicked and fall from your own stedfastness So say I seeing ye know the VVay of the Lord and approve of it beware lest being led away with the errour of the wicked and your own Judgments being thereby corrupted and your Consciences defiled you fall from your own stedfastnesse And I the rather press this for that as the Apostle hath it 2 Cor. 11.3 I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 3. Keep the VVay of the Lord in your Profession I am speaking unto those who as Rom. 10.10 with the heart believe unto righteousness and with the mouth make confession unto salvation And you have the Exhortation in the words of the Apostle Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the profession of the Faith without wavering Be not ashamed of your Profession as our Saviour speaks Mark 8.38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my Words in this adulterous and sinful Generation of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the Glory of his Father with his holy Angels with Mat. 10.32 33. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven But whosoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven 4. Keep the VVay of the Lord in your hearts and affections loving rejoycing and delighting in the VVay of the Lord The keeping of it in your Memories Judgments and Profession will be but in vain unless you keep it in your hearts Lay up and hide the VVord of God in your hearts let the desire and delight of your Soul be in the VVay of the Lord with the Psal 119.111 Thy Testimonies have I taken for mine heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart 'T is the Character of the Godly man Psal 1.1 2. He delighteth in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night 5. Keep the Way of the Lord in your lives and conversations walking therein conscientiously observing the Commandments of God to do accordingly I am speaking to those who have chosen the way of the Lord to walk in and they may read what the Lord saith in that Deut. 5.32 You shall observe to do as the Lord your God hath commanded you You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left you shall walk in all the Wayes that the Lord your God hath commanded you And to as many as walk according to this Rule peace shall be upon them and upon the Israel of God Having thus opened this Duty take these few Directions among the many that might be given 1. Let the Spirit of Christ be your guide and principle I am speaking unto such as have the Spirit of Christ Now if you consult that Ezek. 36.27 you shall find that the Lord promiseth his People that he will put his Spirit within them and to what purpose viz. both to encline enable and guide them to walk in his Statutes and to observe his Commandments to do them There is no entring into the VVay of the Lord but by the Spirit Joh. 3.3 we all naturally being gone astray wander from the way of the Lord and 't is the Spirit only that can and doth reduce men into this way and the best being but lame and having not only a principle of halting in but declining from it there is no walking in this VVay but by the assistance and guidance of the Spirit Let therefore the Spirit of God be your guide it is promised that he shall lead you into all Truth John 16.13 Let the Spirit be your principle walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.16 then you shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh but shall keep the Way of the Lord. 2. Make the Word of God your Rule I have heretofore from that John 6.39 and 1 Tim. 3.15 and several other places cleared to you that it is given of God for this end to be the Rule both for Faith and Practice Keep therefore unto this and by no means depart from this if you would keep the VVay of the Lord. Here you have the Lord revealing his Way and that clearly and plainly so that the most simple that apply themselves to it may understand it the Scriptures are a perfect and a constant Rule Therefore as in that Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word 't is because there is no Light in them There are some that make the Light within their Rule and that in opposition to the VVord but the Light in such is Darkness for if they speak not according to this VVord if it be but diverse from though not directly opposite unto it then there is no light in them Indeed the Light within that is Conscience enlightned is a Rule but it is Regula Regulata a Ruled Rule There is Regula Regulans and Regula Regulata A Ruling Rule and a Ruled Rule The former is a Rule to the latter by which it is to be tryed and approved The Word of God is a ruling Rule and Conscience is a ruled Rule which is to be obeyed as far as it speaks according to the Word and no further If therefore you would keep the Way of the Lord do not despise Conscience do not neglect the Light within but make it not thy Rule make the VVord of God thy Rule admit not of any thing that is belonging to the VVay of the Lord that is not grounded upon or not warranted by his Word If you would keep the Way of the Lord hold fast to what is written stick to the Word That saying of Austin is famous Sive de Christo sive de Ecclesia sive de quacunque alia re non dico si nos sed si Angelus de caelo vobis annunciaverit praeterquam quod in Scripturis accipistes Anathema sit Not to say If we but if an Angel from Heaven shall preach any thing of Christ or of the Church or of any other thing besides what ye have received in the Scriptures let him be accursed Like to that Gal. 1.8 9. The Word is the heavenly compass whereby we may be directed to steer our course aright to the Haven of happiness Keep you to the Word while one says this is the way and another that Try all things by the Rule of the Word and make that your Rule to walk by Hence when Paul was taking his leave of the Church at Ephesus in that Acts 20. In his Farewel-Sermon that after his departure they might keep the Way of the Lord you may read what he commends to them vers 32. And now Brethren I commend you to God and the Word

of his Grace which is able to build you up and give you an Inheritance among those that are sanctified He recommends the Word of God to them So Beloved now that I may no more speak to you from this place for the teaching of you the right and the good Way I recommend to you the Word of the Lord which will be a Light to your feet and a Lanthorn to your Paths to guide you in the Way of the Lord till you attain the end of your Faith the Salvation of your Souls What knowledge I have of the Way of the Lord what I have taught you of the VVay of the Lord I have been taught by the Spirit of the Lord through the VVord and though you want the great help of a plain powerful and faithful Ministry for the future yet let not those that are sincere in desiring to walk in the VVay of the Lord be discouraged by those who would make them believe that the VVord is hard to be understood for that as it is more from malignity in us than difficulty in the Scriptures that the most do not understand them so they are easie to be understood by them that sincerely endeavour it being not only most plain and clear in teaching the Way of the Lord but also appointed to enlighten the eyes and make wise the simple Psal 19.7 8. Yea the entrance of it giveth Light it giveth understanding to the simple Psal 119.130 And how weak and simple soever any of the Saints may be in worldly matters and in the VVorlds account yet of them all is that spoken 1 John 2.27 But the Anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in Him Though they corrupt and pervert this Text that make use of it to the disanulling of all Ministerial teaching for if John had meant so to what purpose did he write this Epistle yet when God depriveth us of this help this Scripture affords support and comfort to the Saints that by the Spirit in them they shall be enabled to understand what he teacheth in the Word so as to abide in the Lord and in his Way as they have been taught Having then the Spirit for your principle and guide let the VVord be your Rule and you shall keep the VVay of the Lord according to that promise Isa 35.8 The way faring-men though fools shall not err therein 3. Let the example of Christ be your pattern that you may keep the Way of the Lord set this copy alwayes before you He alwayes kept the Way of the Lord as he came down from Heaven to do the VVill of his Father John 6.38 so he did alwayes those things that did please him John 8.29 He never departed in the least from the VVay of the Lord He knew no sin neither was guile found in his mouth If then you would keep the VVay of the Lord learn of him follow him walk even as he walked Indeed in the things that are proper to Christ as God or as Mediator therein he is not to be imitated by us but in the things that he did or suffered as man he left us an example or pattern that we should follow his steps 2 Pet. 2.21 Hence that exhortation of his Mat. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart That then you may be directed as well as encouraged to keep the VVay of the Lord look to Jesus and walk as you have him for an example Indeed the Apostle exhorts to walk as you have Him for an example Phil. 3.17 But knowing that he could give them but an imperfect copy he exhorts in that 1 Cor. 11.1 Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ It may be of good use to us to mind the Examples of the Apostles and faithful Ministers of the Gospel that have walkt on in the VVay of the Lord before us But forasmuch as there is none of them even Peter himself but went awry more or less Therefore make the example of Christ your pattern Time will not permit to prosecute this at large I shall only offer some few particulars from the example of Christ to you such as may be most seasonable to further you in keeping the VVay of the Lord. 1. It was the work and business of the Lord Jesus Christ to do the VVill of his Father to do what pleased him As he came down from Heaven to do his Fathers VVill as you before heard from John 6.68 so he made it his work and business To this purpose is that Luke 2.49 How is it that ye sought me wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business with that John 4.34 Jesus saith unto them My meat is to do the Will of him that sent me and to finish his work If then you will keep the VVay of the Lord herein be ye followers of Christ let it be your work and business to do the VVill of the Lord and to walk in all well-pleasing before him Let the Exhortation be in the words of the Apostle 1 Thes 4.1 Furthermore then we beseech you Brethren and exhort you That as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more 2. It was the practice of the Lord Jesus Christ to look on all the sufferings that came upon him as coming from the hand of his Father in accomplishment of his Word and therefore quietly to submit to them To this purpose is it that he tells Pilate in John 19.11 Thou couldst have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above He looks beyond Pilate to him that was above So John 18.11 The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it He over looks the instruments and looks on his sufferings as a cup put into his hand by his Father And as he observed the hand of his Father in the sufferings that came upon him so he takes notice that they are in accomplishment of Scripture Mat. 26.53 54. Thinkest thou that I could not now pray to my Father and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of Angels but how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be and he takes notice that the Scriprure had foretold that thus it must be and that he must suffer and enter into glory as he clears it in that of Luke 24.25 26. Therefore though he prayed if it be possible as Mathew hath it and if thou be willing let this Cup pass from me as Luke hath it yet he quietly submits to his Fathers VVill with a Not my will but thine be done And as Mat. 26.42 If this cup may not pass away except I drink it let thy will be done Thus you see how by looking