'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — November 1

Godliness should be every man's main business. This is God's chief end in sending him into the world. Liberty is the freedom to act at one's own pleasure, but a slave is a living instrument to serve his master. When the master's right is absolute, obedience is unconditional. God has a perfect sovereignty over his creatures, and a complete right to their services. His will and commands must be obeyed, and the great purpose for which God has designed man is to exercise himself to godliness. God created the fabric of the world for man, and man for himself. He has designed a particular purpose for all his creatures— birds, beasts, bees, sun, moon, stars, flowers, trees, and fruits—all are appointed to act according to their nature. Flowers refresh us and trees give us shade and fruit. Rivers run along their course to the ocean, and the mighty sea ebbs and flows. Man is designed for a nobler end, suitable to the excellence of his being: to worship the glorious and blessed God, and to exercise himself to godliness. The Lord made all things for himself. Man was made to worship him actively and affectionately. He is predestined and created for this purpose (Isa. 43:1, 7). How absurd to conceive that God would so carefully form us (Psa. 139:13), and enliven us with a spark of his own fire and a ray of his own light, to send us into the world merely to eat, drink, sleep, buy, sell, sow, and reap! Surely he had a higher purpose in forming man with so much care and cost? Man is a spiritual being that he might seek heaven and be serviceable to the Lord of heaven. The Jewish Talmud presents this question: 'Why did God make man on the eve of the Sabbath?' and gives this answer: "That he might begin his life sanctifying the Sabbath, and worship God, which was the chief reason and purpose that life has been given.'

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
George Swinnock, Works, 1:46-50
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