you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak, Heb. vi. 9. And although some of those who come to prayers only now and then when they have nothing else to do, may perhaps be the devil's drudges in this matter; yet I cannot imagine how they should be so who make it their business to serve God publicly every day. For that must needs give check to any evil motions, and leave such a tincture upon their minds, that will break and shew itself in all holy conversation and godliness. And therefore I speak this only to shew how much it concerns you to take care how you live, and for that purpose how you pray: that your lives may in all points be such as becometh the gospel of Christ; that you may adorn your profession with all virtuous and good works; that you may shine as lights in the world; so that men may see there is more in going every day to Church, than they are aware of, and so may be persuaded to follow you thither at the hours of prayer. But for that purpose, whenever ye go thither ye must be sure to do the work you go about as well as possibly you can. For the better you serve God there, the better you will do it every where else; the more serious and hearty you are at your public devotions, the more righteous and holy you will be in all manner of conversation both towards God and towards men. For as these are in themselves some of those duties which we owe to God, so they are the means too which which he hath appointed whereby to give us grace to perform all the rest. And the more carefully we use the means, the more grace we shall get by them. So that by this means we may add to our faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity, 2. Pet i. 5, 6, 7. Neither shall we only add one grace to another, but also one degree of every grace unto another. We shall go from strength to strength, till we come in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, Eph. iv. 13. This is a great truth. But I would not have you take it only from me, but from yourselves. And for that purpose make the experiment. Take all occasions you can get of going daily into the house of God, at the hours of prayer, and to his table when his supper is there administred, and perform the several duties which are there required of you, with all the care and diligence that you can. Do but this, and you will find all that I have said to be not only true, but short of what you yourselves will feel; and so will be soon convinced by your own experience, that weekly sacraments, and daily prayers, are the greatest blessings you can have on this side heaven, and the best way to bring you thither, through the merits of Jesus Christ, to whom, &c. |