The Third Rule

The Third Rule.

And now demean your selves in all things as the servants of God ought to do.

There is a fourfold concernment that will now lie upon you.

First. Be studious to know what service God calls for. Lie at His feet, and say as Paul of old, Lord, What would you have me to do? Or like Samuel once, Speak Lord, for your servant hears. Be daily reading of the Word, be daily thinking on the Word: upon every opportunity say, I will hear what God the Lord will say. To all, add that, as your daily petition to God; in Psalms 119:115. I am your servant, O Lord; give me understanding that I may know your testimonies.

Secondly, be ready to do what service God calls for. Never object, never cavil against any of God's commands; never dispute anything that He requires; but own, 'Tis all holy, and just, and good. Be not more undutiful to God, than the servants of the Centurion were to him, if He say, Go, then go; if He say Come, then come; if He say, Do this, then do it, without any grumbling at it. Say not, I won't, although there be hard sayings pressed upon you. Albeit God may enjoin this, Pluck out your right eye, cut off your right hand; and albeit the injunction of God may be; Take up your cross; yet comply, yet conform, without any reluctancies; and say with him in Psalms 119:128. O Lord, I esteem all your precepts concerning all things, to be right.

Thirdly, be greatly contriving how to be most serviceable to God. Ponder well, what you are, what you have, what you can; and ponder how all may be improved in the service of the Lord. Thus be zealous of good works. Never be satisfied unless you can say, I am at work for God. Let even your eating, your [illegible], your visiting, be done as a service for the Lord; and let your time, your strength, your estates, all the powers of your spirits, and all the members of your bodies, be ingeniously laid out in that service. Often ask your own souls, What is there that I may do for God? Even court, and hunt advantages to be serviceable; say like the Prophet, in Isaiah 6:8. Say Lord, if [illegible] has any service to be done; here am I.

Fourthly, be sweetly contented with all the allowances of the Lord. John Baptist gave this counsel to the servants in the Roman garrisons (Luke 3:14), Be content with your wages. The servants in God's household have the same counsel (Hebrews 13:5), Be content with such as you have. Though you should have but short commons, and straw lodgings in the world; though you should be without many flesh-pleasing curiosities and conveniences, let this quiet you, I am a servant. Don't complain of the Lord, as the slothful and wicked servant once, He is a hard Master. Let your wills be moulded and melted into His; and cheerfully leave Him to judge, what may be food convenient for you. Count that you have enough, when God says, you shall have no more; and always have a good opinion of God's disposals. Learn Paul's lesson, In whatever state to be content. It is not for beggars, nor servants to be choosers.

This, this it is to be a servant of the Lord. Blessed is the servant, whom his Lord, when he comes, shall find so doing.