THese are the words of Ioshua , once the Servant , afterward the Successor of Moses , a great Man , and good too , and this is an excellent pair , how sweet and amiable in a conjunction , like pure White and Red , they make a curious complexion , and render a person indeed Noble and Illustrious . Goodness with Greatness is like a rich and sparkling Diamond sett in a Ring of Gold . This good and great Man had followed the Lord , not halting nor by halves , but fully ; and it pleased God , who takes special notice of his faithful Servants , to reward him by exalting him ; Moses having , as an Instrument in the Divine hand , brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt , and carried them through a wast and howling Wilderness to the very Borders of the promised Land : God called him off , having no more for him to do , commanded him to go up to Mount Nebo , and die there , in order to his happy Transportation to a better Countrey , the Celestial Canaan , the Inheritance of the Saints in Light , and chose Ioshua for the Man that must compleat that great and glorious work , and put that beloved People into the actual possession of that good Land .

This being done , and Ioshua now grown old , and finding himself after so many tedious Journeys and hard Labours sit and ready to go to his Long home , to his Everlasting Rest , He gathered all the Tribes of Israel , and the Chief Men among them unto Sechem ; if any ask why thither ? I answer ; it is by some conceived , and not without an appearance of reason , because after that Abraham had in obedience to the Divine Command , gone out of his own Countrey , and from his Fathers house , God did there first appear to him , and gave him the Promise of the Land of Canaan , and upon that he did there first build an Altar unto the Lord , as you may read in Gen. 12.6 , 7. And also because not long after their entrance into the Promised Land Ioshua himself had in Mount Ebal , which was near unto Shechem , built an Altar unto the Lord God of Israel , and wrote upon the Stones a Copy of the Law of Moses , and so renewed the Covenant between God and them , as we find , Iosh. 8.30 , 31 , 32. But that may suffice to be spoken as to the reasons of his gathering them unto Shechem .

Having there assembled them , He began with giving them in the Name of the Lord , a very short , but pithy Narrative of those great and wonderful things which had been by God done for them all along from the mercy that had been shewn unto Abraham their Father to his giving them the Land of Canaan according as he had promised . And then in his own Name He followed that Relation with a very serious and warm Exhortation grounded thereupon ; verse 14. Now therefore fear the Lord , and serve him in sincerity and truth , and put away the Gods which your Fathers served on the other side of the Flood , and in Egypt , and serve ye the Lord . He knew what an uncertain and fickle People they were , and so did endeavour to fix them ; and if they had any ingenuity ▪ any sense of kindness , to bind them to God with these Silken Cords of Love and Goodness .

In this 15th verse He bids them chuse , in case they did not like what he had propounded , then think of one under whose Government and Protection they might promise themselves a secure and comfortable Being . If it seem evil to you to serve the Lord , chuse you this day whom ye will serve , whether the Gods which your Fathers served that were on the other side of the Flood , or the Gods of the Amorites , in whose Land ye dwell ; which you must not look upon as a permission or allowance , or leaving them to themselves , as in a matter indifferent , whether they would worship the true God , or turn Idolaters : For in the preceding Chapter he had earnestly persuaded and charged them , vers. 6. to be very couragious to keep and do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses , not turning aside therefrom , neither to the right hand nor to the left : And vers. 7. That they come not among the Nations , that remain among them , neither make mention of the Name of their Gods , nor cause to swear by them , neither serve them , nor bow themselves to them . But vers. 8. cleave unto the Lord Jehovah their God : And v. 11. to take good heed unto themselves , that they liv'd the Lord their God . And again in this Chapter , v. 14. Fear the Lord , and serve him in sincerity and truth . But in this way he endeavours sweetly to insinuate , and to get within them , and by an holy Art prevail with them to oblige and bind themselves to God : very well knowing that People care not for doing what they are forc'd to do ; but without a blush depart from that which they were brought to by meer constraint ; whereas they are pleas'd with their own choice , and are most likely to stand firm to that unto which they have in Judgment , and upon due deliberation engag'd themselves . In order therefore to a wise Election , which they may never have cause with sorrow and shame to reflect upon , he doth on the one hand set before them the greatness , excellency and glory of God , together with those many and singular advantages that will accrue to them who are his faithful Servants ; and on the other hand he sets before them the vanity and baseness of Idols , the folly of those that own and serve them , and the mischiefs which do pursue them , and will for certain overtake them ; and hereupon after a due weighing and comparing of things he would have them make their choice of one or the other , being guided therein by right reason , and their true Interest . He knew , that God would have his People serve him out of choice ; as he chuseth them , so he would be chosen by them . And for a motive and inducement , he acquaints them with his own fixed and unalterable resolution , whom they had by long experience found to be a gracious and holy Man , a prudent and loving Governour , a valiant and successful Warriour . And we may conceive him speaking thus to them ; O ye seed of Abraham ! if ye be given to change , so am not I : If after all that God hath been to you , and done for you , you will be so ingrateful as to forget and forsake him , so will not I. He hath all along been so gracious a God to us all , that he shall be my God for ever and ever : I am so well , so happy with him , that I cannot mend my self : I can be no where better , no where so well , therefore I will abide with him ; as in the Text , I and my house will serve the Lord .

This was his holy resolve , and to this he would stand , there could be no reason to the contrary ; and as for the example of Apostates , it should wi●h with him be of no significancy , nor would he be carried down by the stream . He was , and would be for God , be they for whom they would . In the words there are these things observable .

First , The thing he resolved upon , which he had in his heart and purpose ; that was , to serve , while others of towring and ambitious spirits are altogether for commanding and Lording it , this good Man was for serving . Though he was a Prince , a great General , yet did he not look upon it as a disparagement and below him to be a Servant . No more did holy David afterward , the King of Israel , even when he had been called from following the Sheep , and placed upon the Throne , he knew how still to serve , and lov'd to do it ; the King of Israel thought it no dishonour to serve the God of Israel , and therefore he with joy took upon him the name , Servant ▪ reckoning it his highest and most honourable Title , Psal. 116.16 . O Lord , truly , I am thy Servant , I am thy Servant . This service is made up of Acts of Worship performed to the Divine Majesty , and a Life of Obedience to the Divine Will . In it there is Liberty , yea most perfect Freedom ; those that are strangers to it are the worst of Slaves ; in it is the highest honour . To be one of God's Servants , is more noble than to be one of the World's Monarchs : And in it is the greatest comfort , Isa. 65.13 , 14. Thus saith the Lord God , Behold , my Servants shall eat , but ye shall be hungry ; behold , my Servants shall drink , but ye shall be thirsty ; behold , my Servants shall rejoyce , but ye shall be ashamed ; behold , my Servants shall sing for joy of heart , but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart , and shall howl for vexation of spirit .

Secondly ; Here is the Person to whom the Service is to be performed ; not to Idols , not to Devils , not to Sin , the wages of which is death ; not to divers Lusts , which are tyrannical and cruel , but Iehovah , that is the word in the Original , the Lord , the Lord of Lords , the Lord of Life and Glory , the God of Abraham , Isaac and Iacob , the Lord God of Israel , whose Commandments are not grievous , but his Yoke is easie , and his Burden is light , his Yoke being lin'd with his Love , and his Burden having Wings .

Thirdly ; Here are the Persons , by whom this Service is to be performed unto this God ; We , i. e. I and my house ; I my self , not only call others to the work , but also set my own hand to it , lead them the way : I will serve the Lord , and all that are mine shall do it together with me . Rather than not serve God at all , he would serve him alone . Ioshua would leave Israel if they would leave God . But he would not serve God alone so long as he could have company , so long as there were any that he could influence , any that he could rule and command ; they that will live in my house shall serve my God ; they that would enjoy the comfort of my house , shall joyn in the work and duty of my house ; We will serve the Lord . Exemplum proponitur Gubernandae Familiae , saith Masius . Here is set before us an excellent Pattern , or good Example for the ordering and governing of a Family . Oh that it may be followed by all those who call themselves Christians , and own Iehovah for the Lord their God! That a Christian Profession and Practical Atheism may not meet in them . The Doctrine which I raise from these words , and offer to your most serious consideration as the Truth of God , to be believed by you , received in Love , and obeyed from the Heart , is this .

Doct. It is the great duty of all those whom God hath made Heads or Governours of Families , to set up Religious Duties and the Worship of God in their respective Families .

Oh that God would so assist and succeed me in the handling hereof , and accompany what shall delivered with such power upon your Consciences and Hearts , as by that time I have finished these Discourses , there may not be one Prayerless Family belonging to this numerous Congregation ! How greatly then would my Soul bless God , and with what comfort and joy should I look upon you !

It is both a wicked and miserable thing for any to be without God in the World , Ephes. 2.12 . He is so great , so necessary a good , that nothing can possibly supply the want of him . Notwithstanding Moon and all the Stars , it is night with us when once the Sun is departed off our Horizon . God is absolutely necessary for us , and our All is due to him . Single persons must know it to be their duty and interest to serve and worship God in their Capacities , as Publickly in the Gates of Sion , which God loves , in the Assemblies of the Saints , unto which they ought to joyn themselves as followers of the same Lord , and Members of the same Body ; so singly and alone , let their Chambers and Closets be Witnesses for them that they do not live in an ingrateful and wicked unmindfulness of God . Let Children begin betimes with God . Let young Men and Maids have early converses with God , waiting upon him , and walking with him : And when they come to alter their condition , and to have Yoke-fellows and Families , let them be careful to set up the Worship of God in them ; though let them still remember to keep up their retirements . It is not enough for them to worship God in their Families , but they ought to do it in their Chambers too ; nor is it enough for them to worship God in their Chambers , but they ought to do it in their Families too . Let not these jostle nor exclude one another , but as Sister-duties live sweetly together under the same Roofs . In private Duties the holy Soul hath the greater liberty , from Family-duties God hath the greater Honour . Secret duties are plainer Evidences of Sincerity , Family and publick duties are of larger influence and usefulness . As for me and my house , we will serve the Lord : We will unite in his Service , not only approve of it , or consent to it , but joyn in it . Take here with you these two things .

First ; The Service of God should begin as soon as the Family begins . This I desire Young ones to consider of , who are entring into the World , and setting upon House-keeping ; lay this down as an undeniable Maxim , that it is best beginning with God ; so to do is both duty and wisdom . That Man who doth not carry God along with him , is like to miscarry by the way , and at last lie down in sorrow : He opens his door to the Devil ( that will bring very bad company along with him ) who at his first entrance upon House-keeping shuts God out , and turns his back upon him , or at least doth not invite him . It is not feasting , not eating and drinking together ( tho' that is lawful and friendly ) but Prayer that will prove the best House-warming .

Secondly ; As it is good beginning with God , so it is as good holding on : To be weary of well doing argues a bad temper of Soul ; to throw up duty is sin , and shews plainly that a person was never upright in it , never hearty to it , never really tasted the sweetness of it , Iob 27.10 . Will the Hypocrite delight himself in the Almighty ? will he always call upon God ? No , neither ; and because not the former , therefore not the latter , because God is not his delight , Prayer will not be his constant business ; he hath in his heart no suitableness to God , and therefore no pleasure in his Service ; but such as have been sincere in it will be stedfast , and indeed they will never find any reason for the giving of it over . God is as full and free as ever he was , the Trade of Godliness as safe and sure , and the returns as considerable . God can with as much cause and boldness appeal now to those that shall desert him , and throw up Religious Exercises , as formerly he did to ungrateful Israel , Ier. 2.5 . What iniquity have your Fathers found in me , that they are gone far from me , and have followed after vanity , and are become vain ? He well knew , tho' he could charge vanity and folly upon them , and make good the charge , yet they could not justly charge iniquity upon him . And so again , verse 37. Have I been a Wilderness unto Israel , or a Land of Darkness ? No , no , not a Wilderness , but a fruitful Field ; not a Land of Darkness , but a Goshen , a Sun of Righteousness ; and such as have been indeed his Servants , have continued firm and faithful , liking him too well , and loving him too dearly to leave him . Will ye go away ? said Christ to his Disciples ; Peter desired not time to consider of it , but had his Answer ready , which he immediately returns in the names of them all , Ioh. 6.68 . Lord , to whom shall we go ? thou hast the words of Eternal Life . Ioshua had served and followed God for a great many years : He was now grown old , and his Experiences of God's care and goodness had more multiplied and encreast to a far greater number than his days , and thereupon he saw abundant reason for resolving to continue in his Service . And so did holy Polycarp the Disciple of St. Iohn , for being tempted to deny Christ , and return to Heathen Idolatry , he briskly replied , I have served my Master Christ now these fourscore years , and all along found him a good Master to me , therefore I will not leave him now . And if you will believe David , he assures you they are all of the same mind , Psal. 84.4 . Blessed are they that dwell in thy house , they will be still praising thee ; they are and will be so , always delighting in his Work , and always commending and glorying in their Lord . But yet for the further opening to you the duty it self , I must acquaint you with two things which are incumbent upon the Governours of Families , and which they are bound carefully to look after ; viz. 1. That God be served in their Families . 2. That they and their Families do together serve him .

First ; It is the duty of Family-Governours to take care that there be the Service and Worship of God in their Families ; that they themselves do serve the Lord , and that their Children do serve him , yea and that also their Servants do serve him . That as the precious Ointment poured out upon the Head of Aaron ran down to the skirts of his Garments ; so Religion , and at least , the outward practices of Piety , may sweetly descend from the Head of the House to the inferiour and meanest Members of it . You , Masters , Mistresses , and Parents , ought to take care , not only that your Children be respective and obedient to you , nor only that your Servants be faithful to you , and industrious in their working for you ; but likewise that both the one and the other do perform their duty to God as well as to you , and be far more ready to pass by a failure in them with respect to your selves , than to bear with a contempt and neglect of God . Do not only see to the feeding and cloathing of your Children and Servants , but as they are capable of receiving it , do you feed their Minds with Knowledge , and exercise them unto Godliness ; and let it not be your desire only or chiefly that they may live well and comfortably , but that they may live holily ; that they may live like Christians , as well as like Men. The Apostle's charge is this , Rom. 12.17 . Provide things honest in the sight of all men . Now I will appeal to your Consciences , wh●●her it be not so to fear and serve God , to pray and seek God , to worship God , to perform duty to God ; this cannot but be honest , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , good , very good , amiable and becoming in the sight and account of all men , except those that are Atheists , and because of their being Atheists , do not deserve the name of Men , but have forfeited the name , since they contradict the very Light of Nature , and run counter to the dictates of Reason , and are sit to herd only among the Beasts . And if that notion be true ( which some have embrac'd , and I do not reject ) that it is not Reason so much as Religion which is the specifical Difference , and doth distinguish between a Man and a Brute , because there is something of Reason to be found in Brutes , at least , call it by what name you please , some shadow of Reason , some Resemblance , something that may claim a little Kindred , whereas there is not to be found in them any thing that looks like Religion , no appearance nor footsteeps of it ; then we may very well say , without being guilty of injustice , or doing a real injury , That Atheists do deserve , with Nebuchadnezzar , to be driven from among Men , until they have with him learnt to own , praise , extel and honour the King of Heaven , all whose works are Truth , and his ways Iudgment , and those that walk in Pride he is able to abase ; but at the present they are degenerate , and no better than Beasts in the mapes of Men. For they deny a Being to him by whom all things are , to him who is the Fountain of all Being , and the Author of their own ; they do not only cast off a Religious Life , and live without all acts of Divine Worship , but also they do , as much as in them is , take away the Object of it , in whom they live , and move , and have their Being , and by this one thing open a wide and effectual door to Villanies of all sorts .

But from the Scripture last named , it is evident to all those that do believe the Scripture , that it is your duty to provide things honest ; such things as are good and lovely . See that all in your Families be honest , that they be honest to you and to one another , and to the Great God ; that they give unto every one their due , unto God his due ; that they do not rob God , nor with-hold from him that which is meet , and that is , Worship . Honour is not so due to Parents , nor Service to Masters as Worship is to God , Ier. 10.5 . Who would not fear thee , O King of Nations , for to thee it doth appertain . The fear of God is there put not only for the Holy Affection of fear , which we should keep up all the day , and carry with us into every place ; but likewise for all Divine Worship , which upon all accounts he may challenge at our hands : It appertains to him , he hath an undoubted right to it . For God to crown Man at first with Glory and Honour , and make him have Dominion over the works of his hands ; was an Act of Goodness : For God to spare fallen sinful Man , to keep him out of Hell , and afford him any comforts of Life ; is an Act of Mercy , Lam. 3. It is of the Lords Mercies we are not consumed . But for Man to Own and Honour God , to Fear , Seek , Serve and Worship God ; is an Act of Iustice . And let men provide what they will for their Families , for their Wives , Children and Servants ; let them see to it that they have all things richly to enjoy : Yet if in this one particular they be negligent and careless , if they do not see to it , that those who Live with them do Serve and Worship God ; they do not provide that which is Honest.

Observe the Resolution of Holy David and imitate his Example , Psal. 101.6 . Mine Eyes shall be upon the Faithful of the Land . i. e. Good Men , that will be every way faithful to me , and to my God as well as to me . Men that do not only profess him , but will be true to that Profession . Men that call him Master , and will serve him as such , that they may dwell with me ; he would delight in their company , and count them the Ornaments of his House . He that walketh in a perfect way , he shall serve me . The perfect way is the way of God's Commandments , the Scripture way , the way of Holiness and Duty , the way Everlasting . He that walketh in such a way is a Man for me , such an one I like , and such an one I will chuse ; such an one shall serve me as will serve my God as well as me . And he had said before , verse 4. that He would not know a wicked person . You must not understand it of a common ordinary knowledge , a nuda scientia , bare naked knowledge , for in that sense he did , and could not but know many , too too many ; but he would not know a wicked person so as to countenance him , not so know him as to make him his choice , and have fellowship with him . He that doth not fear God , that will not mind , serve and worship God , that is without God in the World , may well be branded for a wicked Man ; in all companies let him go for such an one : And , saith David , I will have nothing to do with that sort of men ; such a person shall be none of my Familiars , none of my intimate Acquaintance ; he shall be none of my Family , none of my Court. And it would be well for the World , if all Princes would say the same , and be as good as their word ; if they would not know wicked persons , fewer wicked persons would be known : Were there no wicked men in Favour at Courts , there would be fewer in the Cities , and fewer in the Countreys . But when they swarm at a Court , they flie about , and like Locusts overspread and cover the face of a Land .