That we may love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our might,⁷ so farre above that natural affection which we do bear to those other things, whether father or mother, wife or children, brethren or sisters, (Luk. 14.26) yea and our own lives also, that we may be said to hate, and despise them in comparison of him. (Phil. 1.9, 10) That our love may abound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all judgement, that we may approve the things that are excellent; That we may delight in all those holy duties, whereby we may enjoy communion with him. That we may earnestly long and thirst after the enjoyment of him, (Psal. 42.2) when we shall come and appear before him.

(Zeal)That he would make us Zealous, and fervent in all holy duties; resolute, and couragious in standing to the truth, (Tit. 2.14) not to be deterred by hopes or fears: Not wronging any good cause, either by our cowardize or indiscretion. Not resting our selves in a luke-warm profession, being neither cold nor hot,⁸ but being valiant for the truth, and fervent in spirit; Alwayes zealously affected in a good thing: Not being ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, which is the power of God to salvation, considering what he hath said; That if we shall be ashamed of him in this adulterous generation, he also will be ashamed of us when he comes in the glory of his Father, (Mar. 8.38) with his holy Angels.

⁹That we may rejoyce and glory in the LORD, placing our chief happinesse in a spiritual communion with him; Serving him with joyfulnesse and gladnesse of heart; Delighting greatly in his Commandments; Finding more happinesse in the light of his countenance, then in the increase of corn and wine: preferring his loving kindnesse before life it self.

That he would make us more heartily sensible of those many great favours which are continually multiplied upon us. (Gratitude) That he would draw up our hearts to heaven, in the acknowledgement of his bounty and goodnesse; that our souls may blesse him, and our desires may be alwayes towards him; (Ps. 40.10) that we may be ready to talk of his loving kindnesse, and to speak good of his name; endeavouring to expresse our gratitude, by the readinesse, and cheerfulnesse of our obedience; Seeking to glorifie his name by bearing much fruit unto him. (Joh. 15.8)

That we may be patient under his afflicting hand, (Patience) as considering that he is the Author as well of the evil we suffer, as of the good we enjoy. And shall we receive good from the hand of God, (Job 2.10) and shall we not receive evil? The greatest judgement that can befal us in this life, is farre lesse then our deserts; ‘Tis the Lords mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions faile not: (Lam. 3.22) And then besides, he hath promised that all things shall work together for the good of them that love him. And though the cup may be bitter, (Rom. 8.28) yet it proceeds from the hand of a Father. That we may count our selves happy in what we suffer for righteousnesse sake; because the Spirit of God,¹⁰ and the Spirit of glory resteth upon us. That we may rejoyce and glory in our tribulations; (Rom. 5.3, 4, 5) as knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed. Reckoning with our selves, that the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. (Rom. 8.18) That in all our sufferings we may trust in the living God; committing our souls unto him, (1 Tim. 4.10) who is their faithfull Creatour, and righteous Judge.¹¹

That we may accept the punishment of our iniquity; waiting upon God in the way of his judgements. Being willing to put our mouths in the dust, rather then to open them in murmuring against him. Considering how unjust and unreasonable it is for a living man to complaine, (Lam. 3.39) a man for the punishment of his sins. And that it is rather meet to be said unto God, (Job 34.31, 32) I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more; that which I see not teach thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more; I will bear the indignation of the Lord, (Mich. 7.9) because I have sinned against him. (Ez. 9.13) He does punish us lesse then our iniquities deserve. Not dealing with us after our sins, nor rewarding us according to our iniquities; and we have no reason to repine at kinde and moderated corrections. Though in some respects he hath chastened us sore, yet he hath not given us over to death. (Ps. 118.18) He doth not afflict willingly, (Lam. 3.33) nor grieve the children of men; and therefore we have great reason totally to submit and resigne up both our selves and affaires, to be governed by his wise providence;¹² and to let the Lord do with us what seemeth good unto him.

That we may be constant, universal, sincere in our obedience; Walking before him in truth, and with a perfect heart; and may do that which is good in his sight. That in the generall course of our lives, we may demean our selves in a setled, regular way of submission, and obedience; having respect to all Gods Commandments; Obeying from the heart the forme of doctrine delivered to us;¹³ Following the Lord fully, walking exactly, and precisely before him. That we may have not only the forme of godlinesse, but the power also.

That we may sanctifie the Lord God of Hosts, making him our fear and our dread;¹⁴ considering that the end of all things is at hand, when we must all appear before his dreadful tribunal, (2 Cor. 5.10) every one to receive according to that he hath done in his body, whether it be good or bad. That we may be lesse afraid of other matters that cannot hurt us, men that shall die, and the sons of men that shall be made as grasse;¹⁵ but may chiefly fear him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell. Behaving our selves, as being alwayes in his sight and presence; as considering that our most secret, bosome-sins, which with such Art and care we have endeavoured to conceal from men, are all of them naked and open in his sight, before whom we must be judged at the last day.

That we may be humble before him, (Humility) ascribing nothing to our own power, or merit. That our hearts may not be lifted up to forget the Lord,¹⁶ nor our mindes hardened in pride; as considering, that his soul which is lifted up, is not upright in him. And that if any man think himself to be something, when indeed he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Gal. 6.3) That we may be clothed with humility; counting it our safest defence, and most comely ornament. (1 Pet. 5.5) That we may not mind high things, (Rom. 12.16) nor be wise in our own conceits. Considering the basenesse of our Originall, the many diseases and miseries which our bodies are liable unto, the sinful and slavish condition of our souls, our nothingnesse as creatures, our vilenesse as sinners.

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Footnotes

1. Gal. 5.22 1 Tim. 6.11 Tit. 2.12 ↩

2. Knowledg. Prov. 19.2 Prov. 2 2. ↩

3. Psa. 55.22 Psal. 91.1. Psal. 37.5. Phil. 4.6. ↩

4. Rom. 5.5. 1 Pet. 3.15 ↩

5. Heb. 6.18 Vers. 19. ↩

6. Heb. 10.35 2 Pet. 1.10 ↩

7. Love. Deut. 6.5. ↩

8. Rev. 3.16 Jer. 9.10. Rom. 12.11. Gal. 4.18. Rom. 1.6. ↩

9. Rejoycing in him. Psal. 37.4. Jer. 9.24. Deut. 28.47. Psal. 4.6, 7 Psal. 63.3. ↩

10. Joh· 18.11. 1 Pet. 3.14. ↩

11. 1 Pet. 2, 23.4.9. Levi. 26.41 Isa. 26.8. Lam. 3.29 ↩

12. 2 Sam. 15.26. 1 Sam. 3.18 Obedience. 2 Kin. 20.3 ↩

13. Psa. 119.6. Rom· 6.17 Num. 14.24· 2 Tim. 3.5 ↩

14. Feare. Isa. 8.13. 1 Pet. 4.7. ↩

15. Isa· 51.12. Mat. 10.28 ↩

16. Deut. 8.14 Dan. 5.20. Hab· 2.4. ↩