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We have to regret, beloved, that when our hearts should be present, and should be lifted up, to the praise and honor of God, and to the comfort of our own souls, that then we should find them to be blind, senseless, and unbelieving, in the receiving of spiritual things: when we look unto them, ofttimes we find them astray off these things; and when they are present, we cannot get them lifted up as they ought to be. And yet nevertheless of all this, we must not leave off the work, because we find it to be so; ay, if we have but an honest purpose, let us be going on in doing as we can. I will not go now to anticipate the doctrine of thanksgiving which is to be declared to you after noon.1 Only a word of that which lies next unto my text, which I was handling to you.
When the apostle has taught these people to be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer, with thanksgiving, to make their requests known to God, and tells them that upon that they shall have the peace of God to possess their hearts and minds; yet he has some more to say after that, and he says, “furthermore.”2 And this may teach us this far, let the Christian have said what he will, yet there is still more to say; for it is never enough said, that is not enough learned. And what says the apostle then: “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,” etc, “think on these things: and those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, do.” So that, if you will ask what is the duty that is now required of you, I answer that it is required of you to do all, whatsoever is the will of God. And all these things be rendered to us in two sorts: First, as appertaining to God, that is, in truth in our speeches, and to be just in our actions. Secondly, we must also strive to carry ourselves honestly, in love, and in good respect, among men. And this was the apostle’s own practice, for he says, in Acts 24:16, “In this I am exercised always to keep a good conscience toward God, and toward men.” And, indeed, this is the best exercise that ever man gave himself to: and this was the apostle’s exercise; it was his study. Never any of your clergymen3 studied any point they were to teach better, either in philosophy or divinity, than he did this point, how to honor God, and how to keep a good conscience toward men.
Beloved, it would be a good thing for you to study to walk with God, and to have this sentence always written into your hearts, “All my ways are before thee, O Lord;” and to learn to watch always over your ways, and be always and often trying yourselves. For when we watch all our best, some enemies will enter; and the best heart that is, and these that watches most circumspectly, they will find that many enemies enters in upon them, and that they are greatly defiled; and therefore we must set to to purge and cleanse ourselves often. If we could set ourselves to watch, to try, and to purge always, it would be good for us; and one of these we ought to be always exercised in. And if we were exercised in this, then whenever death should come and arrest us, or Christ should call us to judgment, we would make them welcome, as being prepared for them; and there is no way to be so, but for us to endeavor to walk as in the sight of God.
And, beloved, I must exhort you that you take heed to yourselves what you do, and that there be no defection, or falling away, among you from what you have done. For, then, what will others who behold you say but this, When St. Andrews, where the clergy of the kingdom is, goes on into such a course, why may not we follow it? And, therefore, as you have been a bad example to others in former times, in drawing back from the truth, strive now if you can be foremost in bringing them to the profession of the truth again; and be, as it is written, in Jeremiah 50:8, like the he-goats going before the flocks, to draw others on to it, and not to be hinderers of them. And withal, there is one particular that I would have you to take heed unto, and that is, that you deal not wickedly against the covenant of God; that when you have once entered in a covenant with God, that you depart not from it again. The prophet Daniel, he chooses this same very word.4
There has been great business about our covenant, and we cannot get men satisfied concerning it. First of all, they would had it destroyed, and no subscribed copies thereof to be kept.5 Then when they could not get that done, they would have some special clauses put out of it.6 Then when that could not prevail, they would have us making a declaration close against the meaning thereof.7 And then, last of all, the enemies brought in another Covenant among us, as their last and deepest policy, to see whom they can draw away thereby from it.8 And therefore, however others deal with this covenant of God, I would exhort you to take heed that you deal not wickedly with it. It is a pitiful thing, albeit there were no other difference but this, that when we have given our oath and set our subscription to particulars, that then we shall take ourselves to generals again. This were a grief that we had condemned the Service Book and the Book of Canons, as smelling of Popery. And therefore, albeit that you should be tempted to the subscribing of this new covenant by the commandment of authority, see that you do it not, but stand by your covenant that you have already subscribed and sworn, and9 …