be fed and increased in us as the Word Sacraments and Prayer The Word Psal. 119. 102. I have not departed from thy Iudgments for thou hast taught me Then Prayer suing out of our Right John 11. 24. Ask and ye shall receive that your Ioy may be full So for the Sacraments Baptism Acts 8. 39. When they were come up out of the Water the Spirit caught away Philip so that the Eunuch saw him no more and he went on his way rejoicing The Lord's Supper it is our Spiritual Refection 4. Sincerity of Obedience 1 Cor. 5. 8. Therefore let us keep the Feast not with old Leaven neither with the Leaven of Malice and Wickedness but with the unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth Practical Delight is the chiefest above that of Contemplation a more intimate sense We come now to the last part of a Christian's Character And have no Confidence in the Flesh. To understand it consider there are two things called Flesh in Scripture 1. External Privileges belonging to the worldly Life such as Wealth Greatness and worldly Honour Now to glory in these is to glory in the Flesh and to trust in these is to trust in the Flesh which should be far from Christians Jer. 9. 23 24. Let not the wise Man glory in his Wisdom nor the mighty Man glory in his Might Let not the rich Man glory in his Riches But let him that glorieth glory in this that he knoweth me that I am the Lord c. Where the Prophet laboureth to beat them off from their vain Confidences that they might not rely upon their Power Policy and Wealth but a saving Knowledg of and Interest in God whose Goodness and Faithfulness could only secure them against all Evils and procure them all manner of Blessings 2. The outward Duties and Performances of Religion especially the Ceremonies of Moses Those consisting in External Observances are called Flesh And to have confidence in the Flesh is to place our Confidence in External Privileges and Duties For the Apostle explaineth himself Vers. 4. Though I might also have Confidence in the Flesh if any other Man thinketh he may have confidence in the Flesh I more He was not any whit inferior to any of the Judaizing Brethren in outward Privileges and Duties yea had greater cause of glorying in the Flesh than any of the Pretenders among them And then instances in his Jewish Privileges Circumcision his Family his Sect a Pharisee his Partial Obedience or External Righteousness as to the Law blameless To rest on these things then for our Acceptance with God is to have Confidence in the Flesh. And elsewhere he saith Gal. 3. 3. Having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect in the Flesh. When they reverted to the Ceremonies of the Law This is called Flesh because they consist in outward things Corrupt Nature is pleased with such things and doth plead and stand for them Doct. That a good Christian doth not place his Hope and Confidence of acceptance with God in External Privileges and Performances In the first Character a Christian is described by his Worship in the second by his Joy in the third by his Confidence In handling this Point I shall shew you 1 st What are these Externals which are apt to tempt Men to a vain Confidence 2 dly That naturally Men are for a meer external way of serving God and place their whole Confidence therein 3 dly Why a good Christian should have no Confidence in this External Conformity to God's Law 1 st What are these Externals in Religion which are apt to tempt Men to a vain Confidence They may be referred to two heads They are either commanded by God or invented by Man God 's Externals or Man's Externals 1. God's Externals Such as he hath instituted and appointed either in the Law of Moses or in the Law of Christ. In the Law of Moses such as Circumcision with all the appendant Rites these are called Heb. 9. 10. Carnal Ordinances imposed on them till the time of Reformation These were to be observed while the Institution of them was in force and stood unrepealed which was done at the coming of Christ Iohn 4. 23 24. The hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth These made great trouble in the Infancy of the Church for the Jews and Judaizing Christians were loth to depart from the Rituals under which they were bred and brought up Though Christ fully evidenced his Commission from Heaven to repeal those Laws and his Apostles strongly pleaded the Ancient Prophecies which foretold it But these are no more of concernment to us except to direct us how to behave our selves in like cases 2. There are Externals in the Law of Christ such as the Sacraments Baptism and the Lord's Supper Hearing of the Word External Prayer and the like Now the Rule is that they must be used but the outward Act not rested in as a sufficient ground of our Acceptance with God used they must be in Faith and Obedience because God hath justified them under great Penalties As Circumcision while the Command was in force Gen. 17. 14. The Man-child whose Flesh is not circumcised shall be cut off from his People He hath broken my Covenant So Baptism Mark 16. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Not want but neglect or contempt Therefore all these Duties must be used as Means of Salvation and as Expressions of the inward Truth of our Faith in God and Obedience to him we must not cast off Ordinances but yet they must not be rested in as sufficient Grounds of our Acceptance with God While Circumcision was in force they relied on it as it distinguished them from other Nations as the genuine Seed of Abraham and so reckoned to be within the Covenant But the Servants of God did always disprove this vain Confidence Rom. 2. 28 29. He is not a Iew which is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Iew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose praise is not of Men but of God They rejoiced in a shadow when they wanted the thing signified if there were no mortification of Sin or putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh. But not only the Apostle but the Prophet long before disproveth their vain Confidence Jer. 9. 25 26. Behold the days come when I will punish them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised Egypt and Edom with the Children of Ammon and Moab are uncircumcised in Flesh and all the House of Israel is uncircumcised in Heart God would proceed against wicked Persons and People circumcised as well as uncircumcised
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Concision who instead of circumcising themselves did cut asunder the Church of God But the sound Believers were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Circumcision indeed as being circumcised by the Circumcision made without Hands in putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flâ—sh by Christ Câ—ll 2. 11. They were the true Children of Abraham who did indeed perform that for which Circumcision was intended For we are the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Iesus and have no confidence in the Flesh. In the words we have a three-fold Description of the True Circumcision How they stand affected To God Christ Self I. They worship God in the Spirit II. They rejoice in Christ Jesus III. They have no confidence in the Flesh. I. They worship God in the Spirit This Clause may be interpreted 1. In opposition to the Legal Ordinances So 't is taken Iohn 4. 23 24. But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth For the Father seeketh such to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth The Jewish Worship is in a sense called Carnal the Christian Spiritual Heb. 7. 16. A Carnal Commandment Heb. 9. 10. Carnal Ordinances imposed on them till the Time of Reformation And Shadows Heb. 10. 1. Now the Lord would have a Spiritual Worship and the Truth of what was in these Shadows these external Forms he allowed instituted in the Infancy of the Church so that they worship God in the Spirit is they have embraced the true Worship of the Gospel and serve God not by the Carnal Rites of the Law but by the pure rational Worship of the Gospel This is part of the sense 2. It implieth worshipping God with the inward and spiritual Affections of a renewed Heart Heb. 12. 28. Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved Let us have Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with Reverence and Godly Fear Worship flowing from Grace engaging the Heart in God's Service is that which God prizeth Therefore a Christian should not rest in an External Form God is my Witness whom I serve with my Spirit Rom. 1. 9. 3. It doth also imply the Assistance and continual Influence of the Holy Spirit Ephes. 6. 18. Praying always with all Prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints And Iude v. 20. Praying in the Holy Ghost The Doctrine is this That a True Christian is known by his Worship or is one that doth worship God in the Spirit Here I shall shew you 1. What is Worship 2. What a true Christian 1. doth worship 2. Why in the Spirit 1. What is Worship 'T is either Internal or External The Internal consisteth in the Love and Reverence we owe to God The External in those Offices and Duties by which our Honour and Respect to God is signified and expressed 1. Internal The Soul and Life of our Worship lieth in Faith and Reverence and delight in God above all other things Psal. 2. 11. Serve the Lord with Fear and rejoice with Trembling Such a delight as will become the greatness and goodness of God Worship hath its Rise and Foundation in the Heart of the Worshipper there it must begin In our high thoughts and esteem of God especially two things Love and Trust. 1. Love Deut. 6. 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart with all thy Soul and with all thy Might We worship God when we give him such a Love as is Superlative and Transcendental far above the Love that we give to any other thing that so our respect to other things may sâ—oop and give way to our respect to God 2. The other Affection whereby we express our esteem of God is Trust which is the other Foundation of Worship Psal. 62. 8. Trust in the Lord at all Times pour out your Hearts before him Delightful adhesion to God and an intire dependance upon him if either fail or be intermitted our Worship faileth If Delight Job 27. 10. Will he delight himself in the Almighty Will he always call upon God Isa. 43. 22. But thou hast not called upon me O Jacob but thou hast been weary of me O Israel They that love God and delight in him cannot be long out of his company They take all Opportunities and Occasions of being with God So Dependance and Trust Heb. 3. 12. Take Brethren lest there be in any of you an evil Heart of unbelief in departing from the Living God James 1. 6 7. Let him ask in Faith nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a Wave of the Sea driven with the Wind and tossed For let not that Man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Dependance begets Observance They that distrust God's Promises will not long keep his Precepts If we look for all from him we will often come to him and take all out of his hands Be careful that we do not offend him and displease him 2. External In those Offices and Duties by which our Honour and Respect to God is signified and expressed As by Invocation Thanksgiving Praises Obedience God will be owned both in Heart and Life In all these prescribed Duties by which our Affections towards him are acted If God did not call for outward Worship why did he appoint the Ordinances of Preaching Praying singing Psalms Baptism and the Lord's Supper God that made the whole Man Body and Soul must be worshipped of the whole Man Therefore besides the Inward Affections there must be External Actions In short we are said to worship God either with respect to the Duties which are more directly to be performed to God or in our whole Conversation 1. With respect to the Duties which imply our solemn Converse with God and are more directly to be performed towards him such as the Word Prayer Praise Thanksgiving and Sacraments Surely these must be attended upon because they are special Acts of Love to God and Trust in him And these Duties are the ways wherein God hath promised to meet with his People and appointed us to expect his Grace Exod. 20. 24. In all places where I record my Name I will come unto thee and bless thee And Mark 4. 24. 'T is a Rule of Commerce between us and God With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you and unto you that hear shall more be given 2. In our whole Conversation Luke 1. 74 75. That we should serve him without Fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our lives A Christian's Life is a constant Hymn to God or a continued Act of Worship ever behaving himself as in the sight of God and directing all things as to his Glory He turneth Second-Table Duties into First James 1. 27. Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the
the praise of all that Wisdom Glory and Power which is seen in the things that are made Now you should make one among the Worshippers of God 2. Let me reason with you as Christians Are you a Christian and have such Advantages to know more of God and will you be dumb and tongue-tied in his Praise Have you the discovery of the Wonders of his Love in your Redemption by Christ and do you see no cause to own and acknowledg him Have you no Necessities to bring to the Throne of Grace In Christianity you know his particular Providence and Redemption by Christ and should you eat and drink and trade and sleep and never think of God Have you no Pardon to sue out no Grace that you stand in need of that you should live like a brute Beat go on in the circle of Trade Business Comforts and never think of God! You profess you know him but in your Works you deny him and sin doubly both against the Light of Reason and Christianity All that are not avowed Athâ—ists must have some Worship 2. It cutteth off their Conâ—idence that worship him by halves They are of many sorts 1. Some worship him in publick but never in private and secret though Christ hath given us direction to enter into our Closets Mat. 6. 6. And surely every Christian should make Conscience of secret Duties There are many Disputes about praying in Families though those that take their daily Bread should seek God together but there can be no dispute about praying in Secret for the Precept that requireth Prayer first falleth upon single Persons before it falleth upon Families and Churches 1 Thess. 5. 17. Pray without â—easing This cannot concern Families and Churches they are done at stated times when they can conveniently meet but every Man in secret is to be often with God Christ was often alone Mark 1. 35. He went â—ut into a solitary place and there prayed Surely Christ had not such need to pray as we have nor such need of retirement his Love to God being always â—ervent and so in no danger of distraction God poured out the Spirit that we might go apart and mourn over Soul-Distempers Zech. 12. 10 11 12 13 14. Now God's precious Gifts are not given in vain So Acts 10. 2. Cornelius prayed to God alway Therefore certainly secret Prayer is a necessary Duty of God's Worship to be observed by all that acknowledg God to be God and the World to be ruled by his Providence or themselves to have any need of his Grace and Pardon or hope for any thing from him in the World to come Therefore if you have any sense of Religion or think you have any need of particular commerce with God you should make Conscience of secret Prayer 2. Others that make Conscience of External Worship Prayer Hearing Reading Singing of Psalms but not of Internal Worship Faith Love and Hope The External Forms were appointed for the acting or increasing of Internal Grace and so they superficially are conversant about the Means and never mind the End External Worship is sensible and easily done but Internal Worship is difficult External Worship may procure us esteem with Men but Internal Acceptance with God External Worship satisfieth blind Conscience but doth not better the Heart External Worship may puff us up with a vain Confidence but Internal Worship maketh us lament Spiritual Defects We have not that purity of Heart that deep sense of the World to come that absolute dependance upon God which may quiet our Souls in all Exigencies Surely they are better Christians that have the Effect of the Ordinances than they that have only the Formality of them The External Duty may procure us toil and wearisomness to the Flesh but the Internal Worship bringeth us Comfort and Peace The more Faith in Christ and Love to God and lively Hope of Eternal Life the more is the Soul comforted Therefore if you will always lick the Glass and never taste the Hony go on in a Tract of Duties but you will have no comfort in them In short They that go on in External Duties may be said in some sense to serve God but they do not seek after him In pretence they make God the Object of their Worship for they do not worship an Idol but they do not make him the End of their Worship A Man maketh God the End of his Worship when he will not go away from God without God when he looketh to this that his delight in God be quickned his dependance upon God strengthned his hatred of Sin encreased and by every Address to God is made more like God 3. It reproveth and disproveth those that put on a garb of Devotion when ministring before the Lord but are slight and vain in their ordinary Conversation A Man should be in some measure such out of Duty as he giveth out himself to be in Duty For his whole Life should be as it were a continued Act of Worship Prov. 23. 17. Let not thy Heart envy Sinners but be thou in the Fear of the Lord all the day long We should still live in a dependance upon God and in subjection to him Psal. 16. 8. I have set the Lord always before me He is at my right hand I shall not be moved In Point of Reverence and in point of Dependance because we are in danger to miscarry both by the Delights of Sense and the Terrors of Sense If a reverence of and a dependance on the great God do still possess our Hearts we shall carry our selves more soberly as to the Comforts of the World and not be easily discouraged and daunted with the Fears of the World This is our Preservative and maketh us true and faithful to our great End 3. Those that do not serve God in the Spirit You should worship God so as it may look like Worship and Service performed to God and due to God 'T is Spiritual Worship God requireth and is ever pleased with all He seeketh such to worship him as worship him in Spirit and in Truth Iohn 4. 23. And this is most agreeable to his Nature Iohn 4. 24. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth When Hearts wander when Affections do not answer Expressions Is this like Service and Worship done to an All-seeing and All-knowing Spirit Is there any stamp of God upon the Duty of his Majesty Goodness and great Power Vse 2. For the Comfort of good Christians Here is their Carriage towards God briefly set down They worship God in the Spirit A Christian is described by his proper Act Worship and by the prâ—per Object thereof God and by the proper part and seat thereof In the Spirit Do you worship him with Reverence and with Delight and Affection with a Trust Hope and Confidence 1. With Reverence Considering God's Majesty and our own Vileness The Majesty of God Mal. 1. 13. For I am a great