And indeed, if
thou do not in this act thus, thou wilt stumble at some of thy duty
and work thou hast to do; for some of the commands of God are in
themselves so mean and low, that take away from them the name of God
and thou wilt do as Naaman the Syrian, despise instead of obeying.
What is there in the Lord's supper, in baptism, yea, in preaching
the word and prayer, were they not the appointments of God? His name
being entailed to them makes them every one glorious and beautiful.
Wherefore no marvel if he that looks upon them without their
title-page, goeth away in a rage like Naaman, preferring others
before them. "What is Jordan? Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of
Damascus, better than all the waters in Israel? May I not wash in
them and be clean?" saith he. This was because he remembered not
that the name of God was in the command. Israel's trumpets of
rams'-horns, and Isaiah's walking naked, and Ezekiel's wars against
a tile, would doubtless have been ignoble acts, but that the name of
God was that which gave them reverence, power, glory, and beauty.
Set therefore the name of God and "thus saith the Lord" against all
reasonings, defamings, and reproaches that either by the world or
thy own heart thou findest to arise against thy duty; and let his
name and authority alone be a sufficient argument with thee, to
hehold the beauty that he hath put upon all his ways, and to inquire
in his temple.
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