X rf d Jl ^ ^ University of California Berkeley The "Mercbancfife of a People HOLINESS TO THE LORD. A SERMON, Preached in part at the TubHc^LeUure in *Bofton, July I. I 7* ^ In part at a private Meeting for Chanty to the Poor, March 6. 1726. And now publifhed as A Than/tO/ering to GOD for repeated furprifing Bounties from LONDON for Ufcs of Piety and Charity. By Benjamin Colman> D. D. And Paftor of a Church in Bojlo*. 2 Cor. ix. 9. He bath differed abroad, he hath given to the Poor, bis Rigbtewfrcfs remaineth fo B O S T O N) n e Printed by J. Draper, in Ncwbury-^rect, x 7 3 6. To the HONOURABLE Samuel Holden, Efq; of LONDON: S I R, ejenerous Things You have been doin s from Ycar to Ycar for y Co - rr ^^ f' 01 ' m any of the Churches of Cbrift in if > whom You have, cnrich'd with Means of /;?oW Knowledge and pratti* cal Religion and for the^ ^/>/ Puarterly Meetings for Collections for the P#$r in QornhilL Gentlemen, H E N the following Difcourfe was prea . ch ' d tor ^ a p^ rc .^ fic at thc \V : />^/zV Letture, and a part in your more private Meeting, You were then ad- drefs'd in the Clofc of thofe Sermons in the following #W/, which I think good WOT^ to bring to your Remembrance, and alfo to lay before Others. " I fpeak unto a Trading Town, and I thank God c unto a Peep/* us'd to Charities and //'for*/ Things. [[ Need I provoke you to Emulrtu* by what is B " written ISOlJAD () " written of the Men of Tyre ? And God forbid ^V P^/or^ have Af^f fuffichnt and Clothing. For with what Face and 7 a 5 B ^ e 3 as becometh Holinefs in holy Man- " ner, with holy Frames, from holy Principles, for holy Ends, to the Increale of holy Fruits in our Hearts & Lives, to the Glory & Praife of God. cc " cc Write now., if you pleafc, Holinejs to tie Lord on thefe Doors (|, here opened to us for the fake of " Charity and Devotion which two will never fail, " no not when Faith and Hope (hall ceafe,, within cc the Ho/y of Holies. The 7?;V/& are invited hither, c not for their own fo much as for the Poors fake. Cf 73&^ Low els of the Poor are refrefaed by Thee, Kr other, c in your calling the Rich to your Hottfe : It is to feafl c the poos, the maimed, the lame and the blind,and Thou " Jhalt be recom fenced at the Refurretfio* of the Juft. e get this Labour of Love, which you are Rowing to 6 his Name, in miniflring to his Saints. " We have had a hard and long Winter t, which " fome may think has impoverifhed the Town, but |J Deacon WUi*m and Re- nown for Trade and Wealth, fcituate on the Me- diterranean ?./, near to the Lot of the Tribe of After. It was built by fome Colony of the Zidonians, and is therefore in our Context called the Daughter of Zidon. In David and Solomon's rime we find the Tynans faithful Allies and Friends of IJrael. And as one well obferves, a Trading Cities feldom prove dan- " gerous Enemies to their Nei'bours $ for they ac- " quire and maintain their Grandeur, not by the " Conqueft of others,,but byCommerce with them. The Inhabitants of Tyre were now grown the mft skilful in Sea Affairs of any in the World. A- bout the ninth Year of Hez,ekiab, Salmane&er the ^Jjyrian invaded and befieged them both by Sea and Land. By Sea they beat the AJJyrian and Hanician Fleet of fixty Sail, with twelve Ships only This gave 'em a Name for War as well as Riches, and made ? em the Terror of the Ocean. The AJJyrian Army then block'd 'cm up by Land ; for Old Tyre was built upon the Cent in ent y and the City after- ward upon an Ifland ; which Siege they bare for five Years, and were at laft delivered by the Death of Salntanez,er. Upon this Succefs they were pufFd up with new Pride, and grew hau'tier than ever, which provoked the Holy God to utter the Burden and Prophecy againft them, in the Chapter before us, wherein is foretold, i. The miferable Overthrow of the Tyrians by Nt-buchadneZt&ar and the Chaldean Army ; and 2. Their Reftoratien, like their Nei'bours the Jews^ after feventy Years ; when they fhould recover their ancient Liberty, Trade & Ricbts again This is the Danger and Mifery of Places cf Qomme rce, that as they grow rich and ofulwt they alfo to the Lord. $ alfo grow fcnfual, propbane and Infolent, unjuft and unrighteous , and io forfeit the Bleffings of Provi- dence, and Incur its dreadful Judgments j as Tyre did. Nebuchadnezzar found it a hard peice of Work to conquer Tyre *. He began its Siege about two Years after the Deftrudion of JcrufaUm and the Captivity of Judah. It held him thirteen Years be- fore it was taken, when he took a terrible Revenge and utterly ras'd it. An Account of this is given us by the Prophet Ezektel, Chap. xxix. i/. 18. Son of Man, Neluehadnezzer King of Babylon caufcd his Army to ferve a great Service again ft Tyre ; every Head- was made I'M and every Shoulder was peeled jet had, he no Wages nor his Army for Tyre, for the Strvice that he (erved agalnfl it. The fhort Account of this Mat- ter is, " That the Tyrlans h'ndmg him too hard for them by Land, while yet they were Mailers by Sea, they built themfelves a new City on an Ijland about half a Mile diftant from the Shore, into which they removed the moft and beft of their Effects ,- Io that when Nebuchadnezzar enter'd the old Clrj y after his long Seige and hard Service of thirteen Years, he found no Riches, no Spoil in the Place, to repay him for his vaftExpence or to reward his Soldiers the Inhabitants having pafs'd with their Scores into the ntw City, which was afterwards a moft mighty Maritime Power and Mart of the Nations, ftill caN led TYRE; riling as a Phtsmx from the Aflies of her Dam. It is probable, fays the noble Hlfto- rian, that after the King of Babylon had deftroy'd the Old 7ou>n, thole that rctir'd into the mw one came into 7'erms and fubmitted to him and fo * See the learned Dr. Prieleaux's Connexion of the Old and New Teflt.-aent* C continued 4 Merchandise and Hire continued in a ftate of Reftraint and Servitude to the B ibylonians and Perjians for Seventy Years ; al- the/ they were not captivated and difperfed, were not earned away to kabylon andCkaldea, as the Jews were. \ Such was the Accomplifhment of the Burden of Tyre utter'd by Ifaiab\ So it was laidwafte, at which all her Sbifs are call'd to hoivl. This was the End of the joyous City, whofc Antiquity -was of ancient Days, her own Feet carry 7 d her an>ay \ her Pride and High- xefs of Spirit, the Sin of rich and thriving Places did it I for it preiently runs a Place intolrreligion, Senfuality and Unrighteoufnefs. The fame Pride, thai caft down the Angels ; and deftroy'd Sodom ia her Fulneis of Bread, leaving the polluted Cities as the Iwagc on Earth of everlafting Burnings laid Tyre, tbe crowning City, defblate whole Merchants were Princes , and ber "Traffickers rbe honourable of the Earth: The LORD OF HOSTS did it tofttin tbe Tride of all Glory. Thefe things are written for our Warning for a warn'ng to the Maritime Powers of Europe, to Eng- land and Holland in particular, on \vhvmtheEnds of tht World are ewe. ^Q criminal is the Pride of Life in the Eyes of a Holy God, and odious ! 'Sec it in the Judgment of Tyre, as the moft eminent In- ftance, E^ckiel xxviii- ink. " SVw of Man, fay to tbe Prince of Tyre, Thus faitb tbe LORD GOD, Bccaufe thine Heart is lifted up, And thou h&Jt fa id, I am a God, (a kind of Ncvtune, God of the Seas) I fit in tbe Seat of God, in the mid'} of the Seas : Tet thottart a Man and 9tot a God, tb& J thou fet thine Heart as tbe Heart of God : Beheld tbou art wi/er than Daniel (who had it feems fuch a Name and Fame for Wifdom, thro' the King- doms and Provinces of the */, that it might pa^s tor ffolinefs to the Lore?. y for a Proverb among them, cc as -wife as Daniel) and, with thy H'ifflom afidUnderJtanaing thou haft gotten thee. Riches, Gold and Silver into thy Treasuries, and thy Heart Is lifted up ; (art a. golden God in thy own Eyes, ma- king thy Gold thy Hope, and faying to it, " Thou an my Confidence ! ") Therefore thus faith the Lord God, Be- hold I witt bring Strangers upon thee, the fernble of the, Nations, and they foatt draw their Sivords againft the Beauty of thy Wifdont, and they fiall defi 'le thy Rrigh^ nefs ; they fliall bring thee down to the Pit, and thou jl alt die the Deaths of the Slain in the midft of the Ssas : thott Jbsilt be aMan and no God in the Hand of him that flayetb thee. All this God bro't on proud and hau'ty fyre for her Sins. But in the Clofeof the Chapter, where my fcxt is found, we have " a firne fix'd for the Con- tinuance of her Judgment, and a Prophecy of the Re- covery of her ancient Glory, " v. if. 2jre {hall be forgotten feventy Tears, according to the Days of one King after theEnd of feventyTears Jh*ll fjre {ing as an Harlot : by the Days of one King we mult underftand the Succeffion of one Family of theMonarchs of Babylon, Nebtichadnez J '&ar, his Son and Grandfon ^ and by her Jinging again as an Harlot,\ve muft underftand, " her if Return to her State of former Vrofperity, Mer- " chafidife and Traffic , and her ufing all Arts and cc Means (as (he had done before) to draw Trade cc and Cuftomers to her : Like as an Harlot that ra, ot Mtat and Drink, and Oil given to them of Zldun and o* fjre, to bring Cedar-^Trees from Lebanon to the Sea of Joppa i according tv the Grant by the Hand of Cyrus King of Perfia. Chap. iii. 7. So early was the Merchandiie of new 3j*e Holinefs to the Lord, for the rebuilding of his f*mfle, and for the furnifhing of his Priefts and Worfl^perr. And it is greatly to be obferVed to the Honour of tne Syrians, 1 hat as the Fathers in old fj re had a fpe- cial Hand in Materials for building the/r// Tem- ple, fb had their Pojterity in the fecond. "Butfecondfy, The Prophecy in my fext looks to be fure to fome Time long after the Return of the J< ws from fitibylon even to the Days of the Mjfiah and the Converfien of fome in fjrt by the freached Go/pel* The Prophecy plainly iuppoies that fjre would for a /ow^Term of Years return into her old Courie and Way of living, and continue Pagan; tho ; in a Way ef&ttfch it might be friendly to the Jews their Nei'- bours. In this there was little or no Religion , their Idol Gain and worldly Wealth was ferved in It. But in the Day of the Converfion of the Nations to the Chriftiaa Faith 3 fyre alfo received the Gof- pel. And then it was that her Merchandife and Hire became Holinefs to the Lord, being ufed by a Number of Gods choicn and called there in the Services of true Religion *nd Godlinefs, the Support of his Worfhip, Minifters and Poor. In Nehemiafrs Time we read of the Men of Tyre ^wetting at Jerufakm, and we may iuppofe from that Time to the Day of Cbrift many a Gift and Offering from Tyre to the Altar of God at Jerufa- lem wherein the Words of David in the xlv T faint might be fulfilled., as they doubtlefs were in his own Day [[ The Daughter of Tyre flail be there with a Gift. In Holiness to the Lord. 9 In drift's Time we find many of Tyre and Zldon better difpofed to have received Him and his Gofpel than the Men of Ifrael ; for if his mighty Works bad been done among them they would have repented in Duft and A^es. In the Days and Mis of the dfoflles we find Cbriftians&t Tire, Chap. xxi. 3, f. with whom Paul tarried fevtn Days, and who thro 7 the Spirit warn'd him of his Danger and Sufferings if he went up to Jeruftlem $ and when he departed from them they brot him on bis Way with their Wives and Children, fo reverend and fervent was their Love to him for the Gofpels lake, till be was out of the City, where they kneeled down on the Shore and prayed, and took Leave one of another. After this Chriftianity flourifticd in this trading City, and then her Merchandise became , in part; to the Worfhip and Glory of Chrif- So that we plainly find in my Text, i. A Pro- phecy of the Converfion of the Tynans. 2. How they fhould then u[e their Wealth that it would be con- fecrated toGod in piousUies^ and holy to his Worihip. 3. This Spirit and Example of the Tyrians is for the Learning and Imitation of other Places, Cities and Countrys, among the Gentiles. Let the Chriftians of Tyre teach us, that where ever the Gofpel is re- ceived, in the Love aud Power of it, it will bring forth this good Fruit ; the Merchandife and Hire of the People will be Holinefs to the Lord. " So " Cbnftians ihould ufe their Eftates in the Service of God, and unto pious Ufes, and count thatbeft " laid tfp,which is fo laid out. Both the Merchan- e loved. Mai ii. n. Otherwife, In their fet Office ( fc in the Diicharge of their Office to which they were fet apart ") they fanttlfed themfelves in Holinefs. 2 Chron. xxxi. 18. Then, and then only, were they Hollnefs to the Lord, in Deed and in Truth. And fo are we to Cbrift, if we are holy in Heart and Life if we live to Him In all holy Confer fat f on 9 as in pur bdptlfm we have bound our Selves. 4. And laftly. This Motto, Hollnefs to the LorJ, lias a more particular Regard to thtM^orjhip of God, his Minfjtry&vd Sanffuary, his Ordinances and In ft I- tutions. So Ifrael as Worfhippers, and Aaron as a Prieft, and the Sabbath as the Day of weekly Wor- {hipj and the Firft-fmlts as offered in Worfhip,were Dignified with this Style of Holy to the Lord. So when u>e by the Grace of Gbd devote, ufe and ifri- ploy our Souls and Bodies, our Gifts and Powers^ pur Time and Eftate, in the Services of Religion, and for promoting his Worfliip, they become Holl~ 'weft 19 the Lord We become in our ferfcns as "fJo linefs to the Lcrtf. 1 5 es of the living God, and God is fanttifed in us as in them that draw nigh to Him and our Powers of Mind and Body, with the Fruit of our Bodies, our Time and Eftate, our Inttreft in the World and our Influence among Men, are as fo manyOfferivgs to jGod at his Altar, which confecrates the Gifts. Having thus enquired into the Meaning of the Phrale Hotincfs to the Lord, I come now to enquire, II. When the Traffic *nd Wealth, Merchandise and Bufinefs of a Peribn or People may be fo called ? To which I anfwer in three general Heads, i. When Men ferioufly devote, dedicate & con- fecrate, firft Themfelves and then of their worldly Subftance, a due Part, to the Glory and Service of God. 2. When what is fo confecrated to God out of our Eftates is abtually ufed and implcyed in hisSer- yice, according to his Will, In Afts of Piety and Cha~ rity. 3. Always provided that what we fo devote and ufe is acquired honeflly & righteoufly inGod'sFear and Way, and is given by us with a fpfritual Mind and Heart. I Then is our Merckandtfe and Trade, Wealth and worldly Bufinefs, Hollnefs to the Lord y when we fe- rioufly devote, dedicate and confecrate, a due Part of our Subftance, together with our Selves, to the Glory tnd Service of God. Firft, I muft fay our Selves, for the Perfon muft be facred and dedicated to God before his Eflate will be fo,- the Perfon is firft holy and then hisG//>, This is the Order of Nature and of Grace * : for which * a Cor, viii. j. Matth, xxiii. 17. is I 6 Merchandise and Hire is greater, the Gift or the Giver ! how much lefs is a Mans Eftate before God, than the Man himfelf ? according to the Apoftles juft Eftimation of the Ma* eedonlans and their mini firing to the Saints, c Who fir ft gave their own Selves to tke Lord. God looks to a Mans Heart and Soul in all his Offerings to Him, whether of Praife or Alms. It is the Perfon who wears upon his Forehead the Infer iption, Holme fs to the Lord. If the Perfon be unholy before Him, Us Sacrifice Is an Abomination. He profanes and pol- lutes his own Gift , asCain did his Offering, bring- ing it with a wicked Mind. If we have not given our Selves, our Hearts to God, we may give all eur Goods to feed the Poor, or give it to the Church, (for Them that dwell before the Lord) and yet there will be nothing of Holinefs in the one or in the other [|. Yet the Eftate muft go with the Perfon, as it is in Marriage ; and it has pleafed God to efpoufe un- to Himfelf the Soul that gives it felf to him j / Z am married to y OH } faith the Lord. The /r/ Offering from Man that we read of, ac- ceptable to God, was the Perfon with a part of his Eftate I mean Abets Offering. C// alio bro't of the Fruit of the Ground, but God had no Refptfl to his Offering becaufe he had not firft given hlmftlftQ Him. Abraham having refigned up Himfelf to the Divine Will and Call, gave his Tytbe of till unto tfa frleft of the moft Hlph God ; the famous Type of his Lord and' Saviour, after whofe Order Chrift is a Trleft forever; and he was blejfed by him. So Jacob vowed, firft that the Lord foould be his God, and then a Tenth of all that God fhould give him. So David having firft render'd his Heart to God in Flames of Cor. xiii. 4. * Jererji. iii. 44. Pevotioq Holinefs to the Lore?. 17 Devotion, then gathered jaft Stores which he con- fecrated for a Temple to theName of the Lord ; and his Princes followed his Royal Example., i Chron. Xxix. 1 6. 17. " O Lord our God, all this Store that we have prepared cometh of thine Hand, and It if all thin* ewn : I know alfo my God, that Thou triefl the Heart and haft Pleafure In Uprightness : As for me In the Uf- rightnefs of my Heart have I willingly offer d all thefe Ih.ngs, &c. Here was rhe Offering 0f the Man af- ter G y and is always a Part of it, in their Self -Dedication to God But God's Part is holy to Him whether we confider it or no j and if we re-nder Him his Part, the whole is lan&i- fied unto us. There is not Holtnefs to God written ! Ecclcf. v. 4) f> & P&lin on to the Lore?. on our Perfons, Faculties and Powers, nor on our Eftate, till both one and the other are ufed to holy Ends and Purpofes, in actual Miniftrations to the Glory of God. But if we are actually honou- ring God with our whole Man, Soul and Body, the Powers of the one, and the Endowments of the other, the Sfirit of the Living God dwells and rules in us, and has graven en us, as in Letters of Gold, Holinefs to Himfelf. And if we are honouring the. Lord with our Sub fiance, and with the Firft-fruits of our Increafe, we may read with Pleafure the fame I* fir if* tion on our Eflates, & others may fee it on us, 2 Cor. iii. 2. Te are our Epiftle written In our Hearts, known and rtad of all Men : 71? are manifeftly declared to be the. Epiftle of Chrift, miniftred by us, written not with Ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God $ not in Tables of Stone, but inflefoly Tables of the Heart \ Now if it be ask'd, Wherein a Part of our worldly Eftate is to be uid to the Glory of God t it is eafily anfwer'd in the two general and known Inftancet, Works of Piety and Charity. The frjt is the very Thing in my Text, and the other is like unto It, and never to be feparated , the /r/ is a more direct Ex- preflion of Love to God, the other to our Neibour on which two hang all the Law and the Prophets, and confequently the whole of Holinefs to the Lord is contained in them. :# Firfi then, Our Wealth and worldly Bufincfs is Holinefs to the Lord, 'when with a true and right Heart it is ufed and imployed in Works ofPitty to- ward God, for the Support of his Worflrip. When it is for them that dwell before the Lord to eat fitfficiently, and for durable Clothing. That is to fay, When Men make Conference of giving unto God a due Pro- portion out of their Eftates for the Support of Re- E so Merchanc/ife and Hire ligion and the Maintenance of God's Mlnlfters, to feed and clothe them, and that fufficiently and ho- nourably ; eno' to eat of plentifully, and to clothe their Families decently, and leave fomething to them when they die . The Tithes of old were fuch aProvifion for the Levites. And as they that ferved at the Altar liv'd of it, fo has the Lord ordained that they -who preach the Gofpel JhoM live of the Gofpel, i Cor. ix. 14. The Bread of Mlnlfters is the Bread of God, and we muft allow Him to be a good HoufhoUer, & to keep a good Table. He does not feed his Houlhold by Miracles, but by his reler- ved Dues out of the Eftates of his People. He will have it done by their Hands,that they may do Him Duty and Homage, and pay him Tribute. There is always a part of your Moneys, whereof he fays to you, cc Wbofe Image and Sttperfcription is this ? and you muft anfwer, It is Gods. Then render to Go A the Things that are his. Matth. xxii 21. Do it by mi- niftring out of your Eftates to his Houfe and Wor- ihip, according to the Ability which he gives you. When People expend prudently and pioufly for the letting up, and carrying on, the Worjhip of God where they live, or in other Places j or in fending the Gofpel to People deftitute thereof, and perifh- ing for lack of Knowledge ; and in making Provi- fion for a more private Inftru&ion of Children in fuch Places theirWealth in thisU/e of it becomes Hollncfs to the Lord. It comes into a Relation to di- vine Worfhtp, even as Aaron and the Holy Things of old belonging to the Tabernacle. - . But unto fuch Works of Piety for the Support of God's Worjhip, we muft add Secondly, Works of Charity and Mercy, which are as much in themfelves, and render us as much, Ho- ltne/4 Holinefs to the Lorcf. 21 llnefs to theLord, as the other. Thcfe belong to the fecond Table of the Law, as thofe to the frft- Pity to the poor and needy, in Obedience t^ God & Con- formity to Him, is Piety and Sanftlty in his Sight. They are the Lord s Receivers as well as his Priefts, and we have them always with us. And the pious foor are among his fplritual Prie/ts, rich in Faith, chofen of God and catted. He that gives to them, for their comfortable Eating and Clothing, with a right and charitable Frame of Spirit, lends to the. Lord, And honours Him with his Subftance. Thefe are fpiritual Sacrifices with which God is well fleafed. There is Worfhip and Incenfe, an Odour of * fweet Swell in them, as well as in Offerings at the Altar of God. The Alms of Believers go up for a Memo* rial before God, with their Prayers ; as did thofe o Cornelius. The Great High Prieft, at the Gulden Altar within the Fail, prefents the one and the other in the Cloud of Incenfe 3 his own Merits & Interceffion. He, the Holy One of God, was Holinefs to the Lori above all the Sons of Men , and his Miracles of Mercy were like his Prayers and Devotions beyond number, and alike honorary to God. God will have his foor fed, as well as his Mlnlfters. And why not ? are they not together Heirs of his K'n^dom ? and has hCfnot put them together again and^again, the Levite and the Poor *, in his Peoples rejoicing before him on hisfolewn But give me leave more particularly to prove, by three or four Arguments, that Works of Chanty to the poor are proper Holinefs to the Lord. I. They are Obedience to the Law of God which is moft holy. The Wort of God is the Rule of Holi- ! Deut. xvi. Jfi, 14, *jm. u. 13, E z Rft| 22 Merchancfife and Hire nefs, and one of its grand Rules and Laws to us i$ jllws-dteds, and a6j:s of Charity. Theie arc an e- roinent Branch of that Holimfs which the Lord re- quires, ech vii 9. Thus faith the Lord, Shew Mercy every one to his Brother. Only let what we do be done in Obedience to God, for his Glory, and with a pure Kefped: to his Will, not to befeen of Men ; ha- ving true Compajfion one of another, loving as Brethren, fit if #1, courteous, tender-heart ed\\ $ otherwise there is no Hollnefs to the Lord, nor Reward frpm our Fa- ther that is in 2. T> give to the poor out of our Eftates is Holt- Ttefs to the Lord, becaufe it is ourConformity to God and, Cbrift in their Bounties and Mercies to tfje indigent anel wiferable. Conformity to (he Holy God is Hollnefs, but Covif*]Ji',n and Mercy to the poor is Confor- mity to God , "who maketh his Sun to rife and bis Rain to fall on the evil and on the good , Be ye therefore per- feft as your Father in Heaven is perfett. Mat.v. 45^48. So Cbrift approvedHimfelf to be the Holy One in the Days of his Flefh, by filling up his Life with Ads Of God-like Chtrity andMercy. They cried after Him, laid themfclves in his Way, and he heakd them all. This was Hvlinefs to his father, and in the Sight of Men., and we Ihould lay up in our Hearts his me- iporable Words, Ads XX. 35-. It is mere blejjed to give than to receive. * A right and charitable Difpofition is the Fruit tf the Holy Spirit in us, & therefore can be no other than Holinefs to the Lord. " The Ftuit of the Spirit is Love t. There is much of the Spirit of God in Bpwels pf Pity to one another. " If there be any Matth. vi. i. i Pet. Hi. 8. Ephef. iy. 32. f Gal. V. 32. Phil. ii. j. Col. iij, is. Holinefs to the Lord. 23 Fettowflrip of the Spirit, If any Bow eh and Mercies. Communion of the Holy Ghof, and thcCommunion of Saints j.s experienced & exhibited in thefeBowels, which we are therefore exhorted to put on, as the Elctf of God, holy and beloved ^ and becaufe this Cha- rity is the Bond of~Perfettnefs. Sec the Argument and Demon/lration of the Apome James on this Head, Jam. ii. iy, 16. If a Brother or Sifter be naked, an deftitute of daily Food $ and one of you fay unto them 9 Depart in Feace^be you 'warmed & fitted : notwithftand* ing ye 'give them not thofe Things which are needful to the Body ; -what doth it profit ? q. d. WhatFruit,what Evidence of any true Holinefs is there, in a Soul or Life deftitute of the Fruits 4. Is the Sabbath and its Worfoif Holinefs to the Lord ? So are Charities and Mercies. There is fuch uStnttity in theie, that they belong to & are a Part pt the S*ntfipf*tio* of the Sabbath. Yea fuchRegard is had by God to an A& of Mercy to our poor Nei'bour, that He has made his own Worfhip to vail and give place thereto for the Time *. cc Go ye and learn this, I witt have Mercy and ntt Sacrifice. Which of you having an Ox orAfs fallen into a Pit, will not ftraightwty full him out on the Sabbath day ? And if a good and devout Man muft fhow this Mercy to Jiis Brute-Creature on the Sabbath day, the Holinefs of God dire&ing him io to do how much more muft fcot A&s of Companion and Mercy to our poor and needy Brethren, and to the neceffitous Members of Jefus Chrift, be efteemed by the Lord of the Sabbath to be Holinefs to himfelf? The Zealfot God'sHoufe and Day eat up our Holy Saviour, but more his Zeal for an A& tf' Mercy to a poor Woman ; Luke xiii. I o 3 17. He was teaching in one of the Synagogues on * Mat A. xii. 7. Luke xiy. 5. the Merchandise and Hire the Sabbath-day, and behold there was a Woman which bad A Spirit of Infirmity eighteen Tears y and was boweA tevether, and could in no wife lift upberSelf: An A when Jefus faw her. he called her to him and f aid to her, WQ- wan thoti art loofed of thine Infirmity ! And he laid his Hands on her^ and immediately (he was made ftralght^mel glorified God. Tell me now which was molt Holi- vefs to the Lord, the Sermon of Chi lit on that biefled Sabbath, or this his Ad: of Healing the poor Wo- man ? truly both alike. Moreover, Offerings out of our Eftates, and CH~ tual and heavenly. cc From Men of the World which cc have their Portion in this Life -As for me, I will c behold thy Face in Right eoufnejs ! I foal I be fat is fad e when I awake in thy Likenefs. C( Many there be that fC f a j) Who will jhew us any Good ? Lord, lift Thou up I! the Light oftkj Countenance upon us / Thou haft put F 2 << Gladneft go Merchandise and Hire (C Gladnefs In my Heart, mwe than in the 'Time that tkeir c: Corn and their Wine Increased *. . Again, We mult be ready, thro' Grace, to part with, andfubmit to the Will of God in the lofs of all worldly Things ; learning In what fatter State -we are therewith to be con- tent, both how to be abafed and to abound^ to be full and to be hungry. Let this be our Frame and Temper in the Acquifkion andUfe of our worldly Eftate, and .G od will write Holinefs unto Himfelf on us and it. Only it mult be added, to the Glory of Chrift, That our Per fins and our Efiate are Holinefs to the Lord only by Faith In his Holinefs and Right eoufnefs 9 who is our Great High-PrieJt within theHolj of Holies, ever living to make Inter ceffion for us, in whom and for whofe Sake it is that repenting believing Sin- ners are accepted as Holy in the Sight of God. Aaron within theyail was the eminent^/u? of Jefus entring *by his own blood. He is of God made to us Holinefs, and we the Holinefs of God in Him. He y the Holy One of God was made / for us, that we Sinners may by Faith in Him become Holinefs to the Lord. With the Heart Man believeth in Him untp Righteouf- jiefs, and God is f an ft i fed therein while his Mercy abounds unto the Chief of Sinners. Coming to Him, we are built up a fpiritual Houfe^ a holy Priefthood. As He went to the Crofs, he faid, cc For thtir Sakes I janffify my Self, that they 'may be ftn&ifed. He was ftp xr ate from 5/X tnat we nia Y corne boldly to the Throne *f Grace (|. Bear this in Mind, That no Saint is Hp- linels to theLord from any lnhercntHQ\ii\t($ in him, nor /or any Works of Rigbteoufnefs done by hint, but for the peried and glorious Holinefs of Chrlft Beckon 'd to him. * Pfalm Iv. 6. xvii. ult. Phil. iv. rr. J! Hebrews x. Jp, a j i Cor- v. :i- J Pet. ii. 4, 5. Heb. vii. 26. Phil. iii. 9. And mm Holiness to the Lord. 31 And having thus faid, When theTraffic& Wealth of a People is Hoiinefr to the Lord, I come (as was propofed) in the third and laft place to enquire, III. Why it muft be fo ? Why our Mtrclandife and Hire fhould be bro't, with our Selves, under a holy Consecration to God, and Uft for Him. I might eafily enter into, and enlarge on, many Reafons of this Duty, which are alfo Motives to it, and muft pray you to give 'em a juft Confederation, and fo make th explication of all that has been faid every one to himielf. I.It is the bigheft End & be ft Ufe of Man and of all that belongs to him, his fr(t and /^/End, to be Holy 1o God. " The Earth is the Lord's, and theFidneft there- of, the World and they that dwell therein. The Hea- vens, with all their bright Inhabitants, ferve to no higher End. " Angels are miniftringSp irits, fent forth te mini ft tr to the Heirs of Salvation from this Earth of ours. Thofe Watchers and Holy Ones on High ufe and imfley all their Powers and Riches, in Boun- ties to the poor and needy Children of Men, the poor Saints below. And can we do better than They to ferve the Ends of Holiness, and the Glory ofGod ? fc Whether they be Thrones,or Dominions or Principalities y or whether we be higher or lower in Rank andE- ftateon Earth, all are created by Him and for Him $ t& Whom be Glory for ever *. 2-Thi s is therefore the prefer it ed, cemwanded Ufe of our worldly Riches,that they be holy to God. "This is the Witt of God in Chrifl Jefus concerning us, and Our * Pfalna >xiv. a. Heb, i. 14. Daniel iv. 13. Col. i. 16 SanAificatioa, 3 2 MerchanJife and Hire San&ification. God cannot will letter concerning ns ? than that we and all that belongs to us be My to Him. This is hh good and acceptable, his royal anel ferfett Witt. Let us put our Amen to it and fay, " Father, thy Will be done on Earth as It is in Heaven [| **" ;. It is the greateft Honour and 'Dignity put on us, and our worldly State, that we and that \>t Holinefs to the Lord. cc This Honour have all the Saints, and only They ; pralfe ye the Lord \ The Glory of God is his Holiness. He is the High and Lofty One, whole Name is Holy *. A Ray from his excettentGlory fhines on Angels above,, and on Saints on Earthed makes them Stars in his Firmament. This was the peculiar Honour of Ifrael, " Te Jhall be a holy "People unto Me. God has not a brighter Stone in his ownCrown than his Holinefs, nor a brighter Crown for the Head of Creatures than to make them holy. But it is remarkable, and the World may well wonder at the Bcaft, That the vaineft and -proudeft Creature on Earth affe&s this facred & lofty Style, His Holinefs ! He takes the Name of God in vain, in the moft horrid and monftrous manner, and the Lord will not hold him guilt lefs. The Man of Sin calls himfelf HisHolinefs 1 was ever any thing more ab(urd, and yet more natural ? Only the Man of Sin durft take the molt bleilcd and incommunicable Name. The jealous God will confume that wickedOne. Nothing on this fide Hell can be further from the Holinefs of God. t The Scarlet Whore, drunken with the Blood of Saints, impudently and biafphemoufly calls hcrfelf His Holinejs ! Monftruw, lnforme y ingens! \\ i Thef. v. 1 8. iv. 3. Rom. xii. 2. Jam. ii. 8. i Pet. ii. 9, * Ifai.lvii. 15. Dan. xii. 3. Deut. ii. 21. t 2 Thef. ii. \Holinefs to the Lore/. No, the Honours of Heaven go with the poor In Spi- rit, the meek and lowly and merciful. All the Riches and Dignities of Kings are below thefe poor of Chrift's little Flock, to Whom it is the Pleafurc of the Father to give the Kingdom. 4. Our worldly Goods will be vilely abufed to the Difoonour of God, and the Hurt of our Selves and o- thers, if they be not holy to God. They are the Mammon of Unrlghteoufnefs for want of this,and gen- der to all UngddUmft. They become a Provifion for the Flcfato fulfil tbcLufts thereof '; the Fuel of Pride and Vanity, Gluttony and Drunkennefs, Lewdnefr and Uncleannefs. Or thro' Co'vetoufnefs they be- come Idolatry. The Love of Money Is the Root of all Evil, Sin and Sorrow, to our Selves and others ; ruinous to our own Families,and alfo to our Nei"- bours, by Diftioaefty and Unrighteoufnefs, Deceit and Fraud, Extortion and Oppreffion. For where Charities and Mercies fail, and Works of Piety,the forenamed odious Vices grow up in their ftead, of- fcnfive to God and Man , Roots of Rltternefs, bearing Gall and Wormwood, all manner of Corruption and Iniquity,Calamity and Mifchief. But let ourMer* chandife and Hire be holy to God> and all this is pre- vented, and our Goodnefs extendeth to the needy and the excellent of the Earth, In whom jheuld be all our De- light and we become Eyes to the blind, and Feet to the lame, and Fathers to the poor, and abundant Mlcf- fings in our Generation *. $. The Merchandife and Hire of Perfons and Places fhould be Holinefs to the Lord, that the Lord their God may blefs them In att the Works of their Hands. * P&Un xyi. 2. Jobxxix. u, it. Philem. v. 7. The 34 Merchanctife and Hire The Way of Holinefs is the Way of BkJJlng. Goi has promifcd to blefs hisPcople in this his required Way. It is He chat gives us To-wer to get Wealth. Read his Promifes to an Obedient holy People, Deut. xxviii. " All thefe HkJJings flail come upon thec, Bleffed fialt thou be in the City and in the Field ^C. He has threatned to curfe an unholy People in the famelnftances. If he blow upon 'em they are blafled. God juftly iwpoverifoes the Places that rob him of his Offerings and Alms. To with-hold his Dues tends to Poverty. But prove me now y faith the Lord,if I do not pciur out a, Blejfing, when you pay to Me and mine my Part out of your Eftates f. " Alas ! fays * c an excellent Divine, that Men have generally fo cc little Faith in God's Providence or Promifes ! " Few believe Him when he fays, " Let there be e.f in worldly Things, and reaps in Spiritual : Like the Woman of Samaria who gave Chrift a Uttle common Water,and received of Him. f Deut. xxviii. 15, 16, 17* Hag, j. 9, Proy. *i. 24, Mai. iii. 8, *2* a jHolinefsto the Lord. a Well of living Water, within her Self, ff ringing up into everlafting Life. i 7. Let your Merchandife and Hire be Holinefs to the Lord, And you fly all have Riches in Heaven. So our Lord propofed to the yeung Man that came to him. The Promifc is, (C He that (oweth to the Spirit , Jhall of thsSpirlt reap Life Everlafting. The Promifes of this Nature are multiplied (| in the Book of God, becaufe our carnal Minds are fo averfe to the Be- lief of them. But will Chrift fail us in aPoint that he has fo often repeated ? He has faid, " Thy Father cc which fees In fecret will reward thee openly. Thou. " foalt be recompenfed at tke Refurreliion of the Juft* " Make to your felvcs Friends of the Mammon of Un~ Cff right coufncfS) that when ye fail they m*y receive you. " into everlafting Habitations. Provide Bags which u wax not oldy a Treasure in Heaven that faileth nof 9 cc where no Thief approacheth, nor Moth corrupteth. . * Thefe are true Sayings of God, He is faithful ihat hath.promifid. Both in our Devotions and Cha- rities we mould have Refpect unto the Recompenfe of Reward : Knowing (fays the Apcftle) that in Heaven ye have a better and mere enduring Subjtance Cafl net away therefore your Confidence which hath great Recom* pence of Reward. You muft be juft to God and your Selves, and make theie Riafons of your Duty fo many Motives: to it. You fee i. That the meanefc Things may be of good and great Ufe to the Glory of God - and the moil contrary Things be made to turn to our Salva- tion. We may (o ferve God and our Selves o * John iv. 14. Prov. xi. 25. Gal. yi. 8, [I Luke xiv. 14 xvi. 9. xii. 33, Heb. x. 24. Merchandise and Hire as to make it a Friend to Him and our Souls. We may extract Holiness out of the Dirt and Clay of this World, the thick Claj wherewith fo many load themfelves and bury themfclves. God 'fits as a Refiner and does this for us. Grace turns all it touches into Gold. It is a Stone thatattrads arid fixes the very Iron to its Pole, which is Hollnefs, Heaven and God. AsPfylofcpby has found out the richer! Virtues in the meanett Herbs and Plants, fo pivinity teaches us how to improve^and ufe the mean Things of this World to the rnoft fpiritual and heavenly Ends : And when we ferve God and our Souls of earthly Things, then are they indeed wifely and rightly ufed. 2. Let us be humbled for the 111 Ufe we have wade, of our worldly Bufinefs and Gains, our si I? ufe of them unto Unbolinefs and Sin. What is more" Enmity to God and our Selves than this ? Mens worldly Af- fairs engrofs and eat them up \ eat out the Heart of that little Religion they profefs. The Cares of the World .find the Deceitful fie ft of Riches choke the Word. Men go, one to hlsFarm and another to his Merchzndife. God, and the poor, and their own Souls are forgotten and negleded by them. They trup In uncertain Riches, and renounce thtlMngGed* They fall in- O Temptations, and Snares, and many foelijl) and hurt- ful Lufts^hich drown them inDcftruttlon and Perdition. They are filled, and they fill the World, with allUn- r'igititeoufnefs, Fornication, Wickednefs, Covet ON fnefs t \Vhat a fhamcful Abufe is this of the Bounties of Providence ! and a turning his Glory Into Shame ! 3. See the Honour &nd Happiucfs of a religious People. They and all that belongs to them are Hellnefsto the, \ Luke viii. 14. Matth. xxii-5. J Tim.vi.p, 17. Rcm. f. Holiness to the tord. 37 Lord. Bleffed & holy is He that hath part in this. They are in God's Church here in the Image of Jefus, the great High Prieft of their Profeffion. They are a holy Priefthood,* fpiritttal Heufe, the Houfe- hold of Faith. What can Angels be, and what can Heaven be more than this, Holinefi to the Lord ? Jefos is this, within the Holy cf Holies, at the right Hand of God. He calls his cholen into Ftlbw/kif -with Him, and with his Angels. His People are a King- dom ofPrie/ts, a holy Nation. There are Garments of Glory and Beauty provided for them, wherein fhortly to enter the Holieft of all So the Afoftle falutes and fuperfcribes , * " To the Church of God fc which is at Corinth, (anttifiedin Jcfus Chri ft, called f to be Saints with all that in every Place call upon the cc Name of fefus Qhrifc our Lord, bcth theirs and ours / cc I thank my God always on your behalf, for the Grace of fc God that is given youby Jefus Chrift. 4. andlaftly, I befeech you brethren, by the Mer- cies of God, that you prefent your Selves, Children, Families, Sub fiance, Gifts, Talents, all you are and have, as living Offerings to God, holy and accepta- ble thro Jefus Ghrifl. How fhould an unholy Perfon offer to v God in a holy manner ? The Perfon is more than his Eftate. Chrift feeks not yours but you. The Soul is his, and all Souls are fo. There are the Riches of Souls, their noble Faculties and Powers with every natural and acquired Gift ; and what fliould be thy Gift to God but The.fe \ thy whole Self ; Body, Soul and Spirit, which is your reafonable Service. Prov. xxiii. 26. My Son, give me thy Heart. Next to thy */fare thy Children : Give theft to God as thy beft Riches, thy richeft Jewels. They are holy to Him by Covenant, as the Family of Abra- Ccr. i. :. i Pet. ii, 5, 9. Exod, xix. 6. ham g 8 and Hire haw was. This Bkjfing is come upon us Gent.L thro Faith in that BleJJ'ed Seed, In Whom the Familis* of the Earth are blejfid : and thro' Whom the Offerings f the Gentiles are acceptable to God, being fan&ified by the Holy Ghoft. What can a Man give to God in Ex- change for his Soul and the Souls of his Houfe ? will he give his EJtate, and think it will be accepted ? I trow not. God values our Hearts and Spirit's above all our Silver or Gold, our Herds and Flocks. If a Man would give all tkeSubftance of his Houfe injtead of Love , the Loves of his Soul and the Souls ok his Houfc, it would be contemned. Thoufands of Rams were a Jo?s-neck in lieu of the Lwe of one Soul. "We owe the firft and greateft Piety and Charity to our Selves and at Home. We and ours are mad* for ever, if we are holy to the Lord : But we are profane and miferable without it. The rich and the foor equally owe Them / lives to God, and are equally able to render it. The Lord Is the Maker of them both, and they are alike acceptable to Him. The one muft be rich in gotd Works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate ; and the other rnuft be rich in Faith, Heirs of the Kingdom. It is a holy Thing to givs unto fucb as the fc, from .Faith and Love 'which is 'in Chrift Jejus. 1 will read you, the be ft Offering that any Man can make to God ! read it and bUt&e it, and I have done: Gen, xviii. -19. I know Abraham, that he will command his Children and his Houfoold after him y and they Jhall keep the Way of the Lord ; that the Lord way bring upon Abraham that which He hath fpokcn cf him. FINIS. ERRATUM. Page io line 20. for dstidentally read o o 14 DAY USE RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED LOAN DEPT. This book is due on the last date stamped below, or on the date to which renewed. Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. u. LD 21A-50m-8,'61 (Cl795slO)476B General Library University of California Berkeley e mercnandise of a M1806O5 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY