sabbaths to be a sign between me and them that they may know that I am the Lord that sanctifie them The singular blessings that the right sanctifying of the Sabbath will bring upon us are 1. Spiritual they that conscientiously sanctifie the Sabbath they shall see and know the work of God the work of Grace upon their own Souls There are many precious Christians that have a work of God a work of Grace upon their own Souls who would give ten thousand worlds were there so many in their hands to give to see that work to know that work Oh but now they that sanctifie the Sabbath they shall both see and know the work of God upon their own Souls And they shall find â—he Lord carrying on the work of Grace and Holiness in their Souls they shall find the Lord destroying their sins and filling their hearts with joy and with a blessed assurance of his favour and love Isa 56. 6 7. Also the sons of the stranger that joyn themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love the Name of the Lord to be his servants Every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold on my Covenant Even them will I bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon my Altar for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people So Isa 58. 13 14. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord. Now in the second place the other blessings that the right sanctifying of the Sabbath will invest us with are temporal blessings for so they follow in the Scripture last cited And I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth here is honour and esteem and safety and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father Now the Land of Canaan was the Inheritance Gen. 28. 13. And Chap. 48. 4. which God promised to Jacob. Hereby is noted that comfortable provision that God would make for them that sanctified his Sabbaths Such as make the Sabbath their delight they shall never want protection nor provision God will be a Wall of fire about them and a Canaan to them But Fifthly Consider that our Lord Jesus who is the Lord of the Sabbath and whom the Law it self commands us to Math. 12. 8. Deut. 18. 18 19. hear did alter it from the seventh day to the first day of the week which we now keep For the holy Evangelists note that our Lord came into the midst of the Assembly on the two first days of the two weeks immediately following his Resurrection and then blessed the Church breathing on them the Holy Ghost Joh. 20. 19-26 Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews came Jesus and stood in the midst and saith unto them Peace be unto you And after eight days again his disciples were within and Thomas with them then came Jesus the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said Peace â—e unto you Look as Christ was forty days instructing Moses in Sinai what he should teach and how he should govern the Church under the Law so he continued forty days teaching his Disciples what they shoult preach and how they should govern the Church under the Gospel Acts 1. 2 3. Vntil the day in which he was taken up after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the Apostles whom he had chosen To whom also he shewed himself alive after his Passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God And it is not to be doubted but that within those forty days he likewise ordained on what day they should likewise keep the Sabbath and 't is observable that on this first day of the week he sent down from Heaven the Holy Ghost upon his Apostles Acts 2. 1-4 And when the day of the Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance So that on that day they first began and ever after continued the publick exercise of their Ministry Christ who was Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2. 28. had a soveraign right to change and alter it to what day he pleased But Sixthly Consider that according to the Lords mind and Commandment and the direction of the Holy Ghost the Apostles in all the Christian Churches ordained that they should keep the holy Sabbath upon the first day of the week 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. Now concerning the collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches â—â— Galatia Even so do ye upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gathering when I come In which words you may observe these five things First That the Apostles ordained this day to be kept holy therefore 't is of a Divine institution Secondly That the day is named the first day of the week therefore not the Jewish seventh or any other Thirdly Every first day of the week which sheweth its perpetuity Fourthly That it was ordained in the Churches of Galatia as well as of Corinth and he setled one uniform in all the Churches of the Saints therefore it was universal 1 Cor. 14. 33. For God is not the Author of confusion but of peace as in all Churches of the Saints Fifthly That there should be collections for the poor on that day after the other Ordinances were ended Now why should the Apostles require collections to be made on the first day of the week but because on that day of the week the Saints assembled themselves together in the Apostles time And in the same Epistle he protesteth that he delivered them no other Ordinance or Doctrine but what he had received from the Lord 1 Cor. 11. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread 1 Cor. 14. 37. If any man think himself to be a Prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the Commandments of the Lord. Now mark he wrote to them and ordained among them to keep their Sabbath on the first day of the week therefore to keep the Sabbath on that day is the very Commandment of the Lord. But Seventhly Consider the Apostles on that day ordinarily dispensed the holy Ordinances
staff nor shoes nor to spit in it nor when they went away to turn their backs upon it but go sidelong But doubtless the great thing God points at and expects from his peoples hands on this day is that they do worship him with inward reverence seriousness and spiritualness All other Worshâ—p abstracted from this will neither pleasure God nor profit us 1 Tim. 4. 8. For bodily exercise profiteth little Oh labour to be very spiritual in all the duties of this day Christ the Luke 1. 35 36. Matth. 3. 16. John 1. 32. Chap. 6. 36. Heb. 7. 26. Chap. 9. 14. 1 Tim. 3. 16. Lord of the Sabbath was spiritual in his conception in his life and conversation in his death and passion in his resurrection and ascension he was spiritual in his words in his works in his wayes and in his worship and therefore let us labour to be very spiritual in all we do on that day Again all the Ordinances of the day are spiritual viz. the Word Prayer Sacraments singing of Psalms c. and therefore we had need to be spiritual in all the services of that day Again the ends for which the Lords Day was appointed are all spiritual viz. the glory of God the illumination conversion and salvation of sinners and the edification confirmation consolation of Saints And therefore we had need be spiritual Ephes 6. 12. in all the duties of the day Again the grand enemies that we are to encounter with on this day are spiritual sin within and Satan without and therefore we had need be spiritual in all we do For there is no way to conquer spiritual enemies but by spiritual weapons and by spiritual 1 Cor. 10. 13. exercises Again grace thrives most and flourishes best in their souls who are most spiritual in their duties on the Lords Day Again the more spiritual any man is in his duties on the Lords Dayes the more secured and armed he will be against all spiritual judgments which are the sorest and dreadfullest of all judgements Again the more spiritual any man is in the duties of the Lords Day the more that man acts like the Angels in Heaven and like the Spirits of Heb. 12. 22 23. just men made perfect Again this will dâ—fference you from hypocrites formalists and all prophane persons An external observation of the Sabbath will difference you from Heathens but a spiritual spending of the Sabbath will difference you from hypocrites An hypocrite never rises so Luke 13. 14 15. high as to be spiritual in the Sabbaths of God Mark Sabbaths spiritually spent are a sure sign of a sincere heart and of a saving estate Now Oh that all these considerations Exod. 31. 13. might greatly provoke you and mightily encourage you to be very spiritual on the Lords Day and in all the duties of that day But Tenthly You must sanctifie the Sabbath by being spiritual 10. tual in all natural actions and holy and heavenly in all 1 Cor. 10. 13. earthly enjoyments It is reported of a Scotch Minister that he did eat drink and sleep eternal life Luther tells us that though he did not alwayes pray and meditate but did sometimes eat and drink and sometime sleep yet all should further his account That 's a Christian worth Gold that hath learned that heavenly art so to spiritualize all his natural actions as that they shall turn to his account in the great day Zach. 14. 20 21. In that day shall there be upon the Bells Calâ—â—â— renders it stables of hoâ—ses which are the most stinking and contemptible places and yet these should be holily used or Bridles of the Horses Holiness unto the Lord. And the pots in the Lords house shall be like the bowls before the Altar Yea every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of Hosts Here is holiness written upon the bridles of the horses they ride on and holiness written upon the cups and pots they drink in A holy and heavenly heart will be holy in the use of the meanest things that are for common use Something of sanctity should run through every piece of your civility Something of the spirit life and power of Religion you should shew in all parts of your common conversation on every day but especially on the Lords Day Tâ—rtullian speaking of the carriage of the Primitive Christians Teâ—tul Apollog at their meals saith 1. Our Table resembleth an Altar and our Supper a Sacrifice 2. Our Table hath nothing savouring of baseness sensuality or immodesty we feed by measure we drink by the rules of temperance 3. We speak and converse as in the presence of God every one repeateth what he knoweth out of the holy Scriptures and his own invention to the praise of God 4. As prayer began the Banquet so prayer concludes it If you beheld us you would say that we were not at Supper but at a Lecture of holiness Should not the practice of these Primitive Christians put all such Christians to a blush in our day who on the Lords Day are so carnal in the use of spiritual things and so earthly in the use of heavenly things That is a memorable expression that you have in Exod. 18. 12. And Aaron came and all the Elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses Father-in-law before God Now mark in See Deut. 12. 5 7. 1 Chron. 29. 21 22. The word Bread is used for all meat Gen. 3. 19. Chap. 31. 14. these words you have 1. The greatness of their courtesie for though Jethro was a stranger and no Israelite yet the Elders honoured him with their company And Aaron and all the Elders came to eat bread with Moses his Father-in law 2. The graciousness of their carriage They came to eat bread with him before the Lord. That is saith Calvin on the Texâ— in gloriam honorem Dei to the honor and glory of God Grace must spice every cup and be sauce to every dish or nothing will rellish well with him whose heart is set to sanctifie the Sabbath Aaron and all the Elders of Israel eat bread before the Lord that is they eat bread as in the presence of God Whilst they were eating of bread their hearts were under a reverential awe of God Dianâ—es Temple was burnt down when she was busie at Alexanders birth and could not be at two places together But God is present both in Paradice and in the wilderness at the same time he is present both at board and bed both in the family and in the Closet at the same time O that in all your natural civil Psalm 139. and common actions you would carry it as becomes his eye his presence that fills Heaven and earth with his glory But Eleventhly You must sanctifie the Sabbath by managing all the duties of the Sabbath with a spirit of holy joy and delight There is no garment that so well becomes the upright Psalm
and that they serve God for a Livery for loaves and not for love and that they are Mercenary Joh. 6. 26. in all they do having more in their eye the hedge that he has made about them and the gold and silver that he has bestowed upon them then the honour and glory of the great God Just as the Devil objected against Job Now God Job 1. 9. to convince these men these men these monsters of the integrity and sincerity of his people he breaks down the hedge that he had made about them and turns the wheel upon them and breaks them with breach upon breach he stripes them of all and turns them out of house and home as he did Job and Job 20. 21. yet this people with Job will still worship the Lord and bless a taking God as well as a giving God They will still keep close to the Lord and his ways whatever God doth with them or against them Psal 44. 17 18 19. All this is come upon us 't is a terrible All as you may see from the 9. to the 17. verse yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsely in thy Covenant our heart is not turned back neither have our steps declined from thy way though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons and covered us with the shadow of death In spite of all the wrath and rage of Antiochus Epiphanes that cruel and bloody Persecutor of the Saints these Servants of the Lord shew their sincerity by their constancy in keeping close to the Lord and his ways in the face of the greatest opposition and hottest persecution that they met withal When the Emperor sent to Basil to subscribe Hist Tripart lib. 7. cap. 36. to the Arrian Heresie the Messenger at first gave him good language and promised him great preferment if he would turn Arrian to which Basil replied Alas these speeches are fit to catch little children withal that look after such things but we that are nourished and taught by the holy Scriptures are readier to suffer a thousand deaths then to suffer one syllable or tittle of the Scripture to be altered The same Basil affirms that many of the Heathens seeing the Heroick zeal courage and constancy of the primitive Christians in the face of all oppositions and persecutions turned Christians Justin Martyr confesseth that the constancy of the Christians in their sufferings was the chief motive thaâ— converted him to Christianity for I my self saith he waâ— once a Platonist and did gladly hear the Christians reviled but when I saw they feared not death nor any of those miseries which most frighten all other men I began to consider with my self that it was impossible for such men to be lovers of pleasures more then lovers of piety and that made me fiâ—st think of turning Christian Now by these means and methods God convinceth the blind world of the integrity and sincerity of his people When they see that those whom they have severely judged for Hypocrites shall owne the Lord and his ways and cleave to the Lord and his ways and continue to follow the Lord and his ways and hold on in a high honouring of the Lord and his ways when their hedge is broken down and God has stript them as naked as in the day wherein they were born O now they begin to Dan. 3. 26. Acts 16. 17. change their note and to conclude surely these are the Servants of the most high God these are no Hypocrites nor Dissemblers but true Nathanaels in whom there is no guile Joh. 1. 47. How have the people of God in London been judged Hypocrites Dissemblers Deceivers Factious and what not Now God by burning up their substance and by turning them out of house and home and destroying all their pleasant things doth certainly design to give those that have so deeply censured them a proof of their integrity and sincerity by letting them see that all the changes that have past upon them can never work them to change their Master Christ nor to change his ways for the ways of sin nor to change his Worship for the Worship of the world nor to change their Religion for the Religion of Rome Certainly those that love the Lord that delight in the Lord and that highly prize the Lord for those infinite Perfections Beauties Glories and Excellencies that are in him they will owne him and cleave to him and follow after him when they have little as Josh 24. 15. Math. 19. 27. Rev. 14. 4 5. 1 Pet. 3. 16 Chap. 2. 12. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifies to muzzle or halter or tye up or to button up their mouths as we say when they had much yea when they have nothing of the world as when they had all the world and by so doing they put a Pad-lock upon the lying lips of such they button up the mouths of such who asperse and calumniate them as a Generation that only serve God upon the account of a worldly interest There is nothing that doth more amuse amaze and astonish wicked men then to see the people of God keep close to him and his ways when they are in a suffering estate yea when they have lost all but their God and their integrity The fire trys the gold as well as the touch stone and diseases try the skill of the Physitian and tempests try the skill of the Pilot and so do fiery tryals try both the truth and the strength of a Christians graces Paulinus Nolanus when his City was taken by the Barbarians prayed thus to God Lord let me not be troubled at the loss of my Gold Siâ—ver Honour City c. for thou art all and much more then all these to me Here was an Heroick Spirit here was grace in strength yea in triumph The spirits of the men of the world usually sink under their losses Menippus of Phenicia having lost his goods strangled himself Dinarcus Phiton at a certain loss cut his own throat to save the charge of a Halter Another being turned out of his Estate ran out of his wits And another for the death of his Son threw himself head-long into the Sea Augustus Caesar in whose time Christ was born was so troubled and astonished at the relation of a Foyl and Overthrow from Varus that for certain months together he let the hair of his beard and head grow still and wore it long yea and otherwhiles Suetonius he would run his head against the doors crying out Quintilius Varus deliver up my Legions again Quintilius Varus deliver up my Legions again Henry the II. who was none of the best of Princes hearing that his City Mentz was taken used this blasphemous speech I shall never saith he love God any more that suffered a City so dear to me to be taken from me Now by all these instances you may clearly and plainly see the different temper and carriage of wicked
Joh. 20. 19-26 Acts 20 7. And upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech until midnight 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. 1 Cor. 11. 23. But Eighthly Consider such things as are named the Lords in Scripture are ever of the Lords institution As the Word of the Lord 1 Tim. 6. 3. The Cup of the Lord 1 Cor. 11. 27. The Supper of the Lord 1 Cor. 11. 20. And so the Lords Day Rev. 1. 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lords day Now why does John call it the Lords day but because it was a day known to be generally kept holy to the honour of the Lord Jesus who rose from death to life upon that day throughout all the Churches which the Apostles had planted which St. John calls the Lords day that he might the better stir up Christians to a thankful remembrance of their Redemption by Christs Resurrection from the dead But Ninthly Consider that a right sanctifying of the Sabbath is one of the best signs in the Bible that God is our God and that his sanctifying work is past in power upon us Ezek. 20. When the primitive Christians had this question put to them Servasti Dominicum Hast thou kept the Lords day answered Christianus sum omittere non possum I am a Christian I cannot but keep it 20. And hallow my sabbaths and they shall be a sign between me and you that ye may know that I am the Lord your God So Exod. 31. 13. Speak thou also unto the Children of Israel saying Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctifie you Look as Circumcision and the Passeover were signs that the Jews were in Covenanâ— with God so likewise was the Sabbath Ezek. 31. 13. and because it was a sign of the Covenant between God and them Vers 16. Wherefore the Children of Israel shall keep the sabbath to observe the sabbath throughout their generations for a perpetual Covenant God tells them that they must observe it for a perpetual Covenant and hence it was that when they violated the Sabbath God accounted it the violation of the Covenant between him and them The sanctifying of the Sabbath in the primitive times was the main Character by which sincere Christians were differenced from others they judged of mens sanctity by their sanctifying of the Sabbath And indeed as there cannot be a greater argument or evidence of a prophane heart then the prophaning the Sabbath so there cannot be a greater argument or evidence of a gracious heart then a right sanctifying of the Sabbath But Tenthly Consider a right sanctifying of the Sabbath will 10. be a most sure and certain pledge pawn and earnest of our keeping of an everlasting Sabbath with God in Heaven Heb. 4. 9. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God Gr. a sabbatism an eternal rest a sabbath that hath no evening Now mark if this Sabbath be a sign and pledge of Heaven then we must keep it till we come there For if we lose the pledge of a benefit we lose the evidence of that benefit whereof it is a pledge A man that is in the Spirit on the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. he is in Heaven on the Lords day there cannot be a more lively resemblance of Heaven on this side Heaven then the sanctifying of the Sabbath in a heavenly manner What is Heaven but an eternal Sabbath And what is a temporal Sabbath but a short Heaven a little Heaven on this side Heaven Our delighting to sanctifiâ— Gods Sabbath on Earth gives full assurance to our faith grounded upon Gods infallible promise that we shall enter into Gods eternal Rest in Heaven for so runs the promise Isa 58. ult Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it The former part of the verse relates to earthly blessings but these words I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father that is with a heavenly inheritance for what is the heritage of Jacob but Canaan in the Type and Heaven it self in the Antitype But should I thus sanctifie the Sabbath should I be sure of going to Heaven yes for so it roundly follows in the next words The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it But Eleventhly Consider that of all days God hath put the highest honour upon his Sabbaths by appointing his precious Ordinances in a special manner to be used on those days The Sabbath is a gold Ring and the Ordinances are as so many costly sparkling Diamonds in that Ring All the works of the new Creation are commonly wrought on this day this is the joyful day wherein ordinarily God gives spiritual sight to the blind and spiritual ears to the deaf and spiritual tongues to the dumb and spiritual feet to the lame That Exod. 12. 42. is here applicable It is a night to be much observed to the Lord for bringing them out from the Land of Egypt this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the Children of Israel in their generation Those that are new-born are commonly new-born on this day and therefore 't is a day to be much observed to the Lord. Those that are converted are ordinarily converted on this day and therefore 't is that day of the Lord that ought to be observed by all the converted Israel of God Those that are edified are commonly most edified on this day O the sweet communion O the choice converse O the singular discoveries O the blessed manifestations O the excellent enjoyments that Christ vouchsafes to his people on this day O the discoveries of Grace O the exercise of Grace O the increase of Grace the progress in Grace O the comforts of Grace that God vouchsafes to his Chosen on this day Experience shews that the right sanctifying of the Sabbath is a powerful means under Christ to sanctifie us and to increase our faith and raise our hope and inflame our love and to kindle our zeal and to enlarge our desires and to melt our hearts and to weaken our sins But Twelfthly and lastly Consider this that a right sanctifying of the Sabbath will cross Satans grand design it will spoil his plot his master-piece Satan is a deadly enemy to the right sanctifying of the Sabbath witness the many temptations that many Christians are more troubled with on this day then they are on any other day in the whole week and witness the many vain wandring and distracting thoughts that many precious Christians are more afflicted with on this day then they are on all the days of the week beside and witness that high and hot opposition
or else a waiting upon the Lord in his publick Ordinances Fire in thâ— night is terrible to all but mostly to such whose spirits and bodies were tired out in the preceding day Wasting and destroying Judgements are sad any day but saddest when they fall on the Lords Day For how do they disturb distress and distract the thoughts the minds the hearts and the spirits of men So that they can neither wait on God nor wrestle with God nor act for God nor receive from God in any of the duties or services of his day And this the poor Citizens found by sad experience when London was in flames about their ears Certainly the anger and wrath of God was very high and very hot when he made his day of rest to be a day of labour and disquiet When his people should have been a meeting hearing reading praising praying For the Lord now to scatter them and to deliver them their substance and habitations as a prey to the devouring fire what dos this speak our but high displeasure That the fire of Gods wrath should begin on the day of his rest and solemn Worship is and must be for a lamentation In several of those Churches where some might not preach there God himself preacht to the Parishioners in flames of fire And such who loved darkness rather than light John 3. 19. Exod. 19. 16 17 18. because their deeds were evil might now see their Churches all in a flaming fire What a terrifying and an amazing Sermon did God preach to his people of old in Mount Sinai when the Mount burned with fire And so what terrifying and amazing Sermons did God preach to the Citizens on his own day when their Temples and their habitations were all in flames Instead of holy rest what hurries were there in every street yea in the spirits of men Now instead of takeing up of Buckets men in every Street take up arms fearing a worse thing than fire The Jealousies and Rumors that fire balls were thrown into several houses and Churches by such that had no English tongues but out-landish hands to make the furious flames flame more furiously were so great that many were at a stand and others even at their wits end Now relations friends and neighbours hastened one another out of their houses as the Angels hastened Lot out of Sodom Gen. 19. 15 16 17. Such were the fears and frights and sad apprehensions that had generally seized upon the Citizens Not many Sabbaths before when men should have been instructing of their families what bonfires what ringing of Bells and what joy and rejoycing was there in our Streets for burning the Dutch Ships in their Harbour where many English and others were highly concerned as well as the Dutch little did they think who were pleasing and warming themselves at those lesser fires that the great God would in so short a time after kindle so great a fire in the midst of their Streets as should melt their Bells lay their habitations in ashes and make their Streets desolate So that those that were so jolly before might well take up that sad lamentation of weeping Jeremiah The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob and hath not pittied he hath thrown down in his Lam. 2. 2 3. wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Jâ—dah he hath brought them down to the ground He burned against Jacob like a flaming fire which devoureth round about May we not soberly guess that there were as many strict observers and sanctifiers of the Lords Day who did turn away their feet from doing their Isa 58. 13. pleasure on Gods holy day and that did call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord and honourable within the Walls of London as in a great part of the Nation besides Now for the Lord of the Saâ—bath to kindle such a devouring fire in such a City and that on his own day O what extraordinary wrath and displeasure dos this speak out When God by his Royal Law had bound the hands of his people from doing their own works for him now to fall upon his strange work and by a flaming consuming fire to turn a populous City a pious City an honourable City and an Ancient City into a ruinous heap what indignation to this indignation O Sirs it highly concerns us to take notice of the Judgements of the Lord that fall upon us on any day but especially those that fall upon us on his own day because they carry with them more than a tincture of Gods deep dâ—splâ—asure In the Council of Paris every one labouring to perswadâ— unto a more religious keeping of the Sabbath Day When Concil Paris lio 1. cap. 50. they had justly complained that as many other things so also the obsâ—rvation of the Sabbath was greatly decayed through the abuse of Chrâ—stian lâ—bâ—rty in that men too much followed the deligâ—â—s of the world and their own worldly pleasures both wicked and dangerous They further add For many of us have been eye witnesses many have intelligence of it bâ— the relation of others that some men upon this day being about their husbandry have been strucken with Thunder some have been maimed and made lame somâ— have had their bodies even bones and all burnt in a moment with visible fire and have consumed to ashes and many other Judgements of God have been and are daily inflicted upon Sabbath Breakers Stratford upon Sluon was twice on the same day twelve moneth being the Lords Day almost consumed with fire The Theatre of Gods Judgements pag. 419 420. chiefly for prophaning the Lords Day and contemning his word in the mouth of his faithful Minister Feverton in Devonsâ—ire whose remembrance makes my heart bleed saith my Author was oftentimes admonished by her godly Preachers that God would bring some heavy Judgement on the Town for their horrible prophanation of the Lords Day occasioned châ—efly by their Market on the day following Not long after his death on the third of April 1598. God in less than half an hour consumed with a sudden and fearful fire the whole Town except only the Church the Court-house and the Alms-houses or a few poor peoples dwellings where a man might have seen four hundred dwelling houses all at oâ—â—e on â—ire and above fifty persons consumed with the flames And on the fifth of August 1612. fourtâ—en years since the former fire the whole Town was again fired and consumed except some thirty houses of poor people with the School-house and Alms-houses Now certainly they must be much left of God hardned in sin and blinded by Satan who do not nor will not see the dreadful hand of God that is lifted up in his fiery dispensations upon his own day But Tenthly and lastly Consider That the burning of London 10. is a National Judgement God in smiting of London has smitten England round the stroke of God upon London was When one member in the natural
shall put them to a full improvement of that blessed stock of grace that he has intrusted them with The fire that came from Heaven was to be kept continually burning that it might never go Levit. 6. 13. out God loves to see the graces of his Children in continual exercise Neglect of our graces is the ground of their decrease and decay Wells are the sweeter for drawing anâ— grace is the stronger for acting we get nothing by dead and useless habits Talents hid in a napkin gather rust the noblest faculties are imbased when not improved in exercisâ— 2 Tim. 1. 6. Stir up the gift of God which is in thee 'T is an Allusion to the fire in the Temple which was always to be kept burning All the praise that God has from us in this life is from the actings of grace 'T was Abrahams acting of faith that set the Crown of Glory upon the Lords Head O Sirs look narrowly to it that you fail not in the activity and lively vigoâ— of your graces Look to it that your graces be still acted exercised and blown up that so they may be still flaming and shining the more you exercise grace the more you strengthen it the more you increase it Repeated The more a man plays upon an Instrument the more dextrous he grows Math. 25. 27. Prov. 10 4. acts strengthen habits t is so in sin and 't is so in grace also The more the little child goes the more strong it grows by going Money is not increased by lying in a Chest but by trading The more any member is used the stronger ' t is As the right hand is most used so 't is commonly strongest The diligent hand â—akes rich A little stock well husbanded will daily increase when a greater stock neglected shall decay and come to nothing The exercise of grace will best testifie both the truth and the life of your graces Grace is never more evident then when 't is in exercise When I see a man rise and walk and work and exercise his arms I know he is a real man a living man The more the fire is blown up the sooner 'tis seen to be fire There are many precious Christians who are full of fears and doubts that they have no love to God no saith in God no hope of Glory c. but the best way under Heaven to put an end to these fears and doubts is to be fervent in exerting actâ— of love of faith of hope c. The non-exercise of grace cast Adam out of Paradise it shut Moses and Aaron out oâ— Numb 20. 12. Caanan it brought Jacob into fourteen years hard service and bondage for had he exercised faith hope patience c. â—s he should have done he would never have got the blessing by indirect means as he did it provoked the Lord to strike Luke 1. 18 19 20. Heb. 3. 17 18. Zacharias dumb it shut thousands of the Jews out of the Land of Caanan I dare not be so harsh so rash and so uncharitabâ—e as to think that none of those that died in the Wilderness had the habits of faith the seeds of grace in their souls but 't was their non-acting of faith that kept them out of the holy Land as it did Moses and Aaron according to what I hinted but now Beloved by these instances among many others that might be produced you see that God hath dealt very smartly and severely with his choicest Servants for their not exercising of their graces as they ought to have done And though I dare not upon many accounts say that for the Saints not exercising and improving their graces God has turned London into a heap of Ashes Austin write upon that day wherein he shewed no acts of grace diem perdidi I have lost a day Oh how many days have we lost then for which God might justly visit us yet I dare say that this neglect of theirs may be one thing that added fuel to that Fire Well Sirs you had not long since many outward comforts to live upon but the Lord has now burnt them up that so he might lead you forth to live in a daily exercise of grace upon himself upon his power upon his all-sufficiency his goodness his faithfulness his fulness his graciousness his unchangeableness his promises And if this fiery Dispensation shall be so sanctified to us as to work us to a further activity of grace and to a further growth and increase of grace we shall be happy Citizens though we are burnt Citizens But Thirdly By severe Providences and by fiery Tryals God designs the growth of his people in grace Usually the graces of the Saints thrive best when they are under a smarting Rod. Grace usually is in the greatest flourish when the Saints are under the sorest tryals The snuffing of the Candle makes it burn the brighter God beats and bruises his links to make them burn the brighter he bruises his spices Rom. 5. 3 4. 2 Cor. 1. 3 4 5 6. to make them send forth the greater aromatical savour Fiery tryals are like the Tezel which though it be sharp and scratching it is to make the cloth more pure and fine God would not rub so hard were it not to fetch out the dirt and spots that be in his people The Jews were always best when they were in their lowest condition Well-waters arising from deep Springs are hotter in the Winter then they are in the Summer Stars shine brightest in the darkest nights and so do the graces of the Saints shine brightest in the darkest nights of affliction and tribulation God will sometimes more carry on the growth of grace by a Cross then by an Ordinance yea the Lord will first or last more or less turn all fiery tryals into Ordinances for the helping on the growth of Heb. 12. 10. Jam. 1. 3 4. 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. grace in his peoples souls Look as in the lopping of a tree there seems to be a kind of diminution and destruction yet the end and issue of it is better growth And as the weakning of the body by Physick seems to tend to death yet it produceth better health and more strength And as the ball by falling downward riseth upward and as water in pipes descends that it may ascend So the Saints spiritual growth in grace is carried on by such divine methods and in such ways as might seem to deaden grace and weaken it rather then any ways to augment and increase it We know that winter is as necessary to bring on harvest as the spring and so fiery tryals are as necessary to bring on the harvest of grace as the spring of mercy is Though fiery tryals are grievous yet they shall make us more gracious Though for the present we cannot see but that such and such severe providences and fiery tryals as the loss of house estate trade friends will redound much to our prejudice and damage yet in the
hath hewen out her seven pillars Wisdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chakmoth the Hebrew word is Plural wisdoms Wisdoms hath built her a house By Wisdoms some understand the Trinity of persons but most Col. 2. 3. conclude that by wisdoms is meant our Lord Jesus Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge The word is Plural for honour sake As Princes write we command the Lord Jesus Christ is said to be Wisdoms in the Plural number to note that he is the soveraign and supream wisdom and that he is instead of all wisdoms and comprehends all wisdoms in himself all the world being â—ools in comparison of him Wisdoms hath built her a house 1. Some take this house to be the Humane nature of Christ but that was not then built 2. Others understand it of the work of Grace in mans soul but this Gal. 5. 22 23. the Spirit commonly works in this house by the Ministry of the word 3. Others by this house understand Heaven that upper house that house of State in which Christ saith there are many Mansions but this can't because the house in the Text is such a house to which Wisdom doth immediately invite and call all her guests But 4. and lastly Others by house understand the Church of Christ on earth for the Church Militant is a house built up of many lively stones 1 Pet. 2. 5. and with these I close Now by these Scriptures it is very plain that Gods house is his Church and his Church his house Now if you were enemies to Gods house if you hated his house and designed and endeavoured to pull down his house no wonder that the Lord has laid your Mat. 23. 37 38. Zech. 12. 2 3 6 9. houses desolate Such who cry out concerning his house rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof Psal 137. 7. may one day want a house to live in It is observable that in private houses Christ his Apostles and particular Churches and Primitive Christians frequently used to meet when the times were dangerous Joh. 20. 19. Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week Luke 24. 33. when the doors were shut where the Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews came Jesus and stood in the midst and saith unto them Peace be unto you Verse 26. And after eight dayes again his Disciples were within and Thomas with them then came Jesus the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said Peace be unto you This was the usual manner of salutation among the Jews whereby they wâ—shâ—d one another all happiness and prosperity The doors of the room where they were together were shut for the more secrecy and security to avoid danger from the Jews saith Dâ— Hammond on the words Acts 1. 13 14. And when they were come in they went See the Dutch Annotations up into an upper room where abode both Peter and James and John and Andrew Philip and Thomas Bartholomew and Matthew James the Son of Alpheus and Simon Zâ—lotes and Judas the brother of James These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary thâ— Mother of Jesus and with his brethren Acts 20. 7. And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together tâ— break bread Paul preached unto them ready to depart on thâ— morrow and continued his speech until midnight Verse 8. And See the Dutch Annotations and Diodation on Acts 20. 7 8 9 10 11 12. here were many lights Gr. many Lamps in the upper chamber whither they were gathered together Verse 9. And there sate in a window a certain young man named Eutychus being fallen into a deep sleep and as Paul was long preaching he sunk down with sleep and fell down from the third loft and was taken up dead Verse 10. And Paul went down and fell on him and embracing him said trouble not your selves for his life is in him Verse 11. When he therefore was come up again and had broken bread and eaten and talked along while even till break of day so he departed Verse 12. And they brought the young man alive and were not a little comforted Acts 5. 42. And daily in the Temple and in every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ Acts 12. 12. And when he had considered the See Dr. Hammond on the words the English Annotations things he came to the house of Mary the Mother of John whose surname was Mark where many were gathered together praying or where many thronged to pray as it runs in the Original Acts 20. 20. And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publickly and from house to house Acts 28. 30 31. And Paul Vide Dr. Hammond of Acts 28. 30 31. dwelt two whole years in his own hired house and received all that came in unto him Preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence no man forbidding him Luke 10. 38 39. Now it came to pass as they went that he entered into a certain Village and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house And she had a sister called Mary which also sate at Jesus feet and heard his word Beloved by these Scriptures â—is most evident and clear that our Lord Jesus Christ and his Disciples and Apostles and those Christians that lived in their times did frequently meet in private houses and there performed acts of publick Worship viz. such as preaching hearing praying breaking of bread c. How the primitive Christians in those hot times of persecution met in the nights and in woods and houses and obscure places they best understand who have râ—ad the writings of Tertullian Cyprian Chrysostome Theodoret Austin Eusebius Justin Martyr Pliny c. But this to some being an unpleasing Theam I shall not enlarge my self upon it Only remember this that there was never yet any Town City oâ— Country Kingdom or Common-wealth that did ever fare the worse for an holy praying people Frequent and fervent prayer be it in publick or in private in a Synagogue or in an upper Room never did Jam. 5. 17 18. nor never will bring misery or mischief upon those places where such exercises are kept up Such Conventicles of good fellowship as some call them where there is nothing but swearing and cursing and carousing and gaming and all manner of filthiness and prophaneness are the only Conventicles that bring desolating Judgements upon Princes People and Nations as is most evident throughout the Scriptures Take two texts for all 1 Sam. 12. 25. But if ye shall still do wickedly ye shall be consumed both ye and your Kings When Several hundred Scriptures might be produced to make good the Assertion Remember what one Achan did and what one Manasseh did 2 Kings 21. 11
This is spoken of the King of Babylon who though he had gathered to him all Nations and people yea and all their vast Treasures also Isa 10. 13. I have robbed their treasures ver 14. And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of his people and as one gathereth Eggs that are left have I gathered all the earth and there was none that moved the wing or opened the mouth or peeped And yet for all this was his desire enlarged as Hell and could not be satisfied The desires of worldlings are boundless and endless and there is no satisfying of them 'T is not all the Gold of Ophir or Peru nor all the Pearls or Mines of India 't is not Josephs Chains nor Davids Crowns nor Hamans Honours nor Daniels Dignities nor Dives his riches that can satisfie an immortal soul Tenthly The little that the righteous man hath is more stable durable and lasting than the riches of the wicked and therefore his little is better than their much his mite Job 5. 20 21 22. is better than their millions Psal 34. 9 10. O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him The young Lions do lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing Such as are separated from the worlds lusts can live with a little Such as set up God as the object of their fear have no cause to fear the want of any thing When David was a captive amongst the Philistins he wanted nothing Paul had nothing and yet 2 Cor. 6. 10. possessed all things A godly man may want many good things that he thinks to be good for him but he shall never Heb. 13 5 6. Prov. 10. 3 want any good thing that the Lord knows to be good for him We do not esteem of Tenure for life as we do of freehold because life is a most uncertain thâ—ng Ten pound a year for ever is better than a hundred in hand All the promises are Gods Bonds and a Christian may put them in suit when he will and hold God to his word and that not only for his spiritual and eternal life but also for his natural life his temporal life but so can't the wicked The temporal Prov. 10. 3. Psalm 37. 34 35 36. Jer. 17. 11. Job 20. 20. ult estate of the wicked is seldom long-liv'd as you may see by comparing the Scriptures in the Margent together Alexander the Great Conqueror of the world caused to be painted on a Table a Sword in the compass of a Wheel shewing thereby that what he had gotten by the Sword was subject to be turned about the wheel of Providence There is no more hold to be had of riches honours or preferments than Saul had of Samuels lap They do but like the Rainbow shew themselves in all their dainty colours and then vanâ—sh away There are so many sins and so many crosses and so many curses that usually attend the riches of the wicked that 't is very rare to see their estates long-liv'd Hence their great estates are compared to the Chaffe which a puff of wind disperseth to the Grass which the scorching Sun quickly withers to the tops of Corn which are soon Job 24. 24. cut off and to the unripe Grape Job 15. 33. He shall shake off his unripe Grape as the Vine and shall cast off his flower as the Olive Every dayes experience confirms us in this truth But Eleventhly and lastly The little that the righteous man hath is better than the riches of the wicked in respâ—ct of his last reckoning in respâ—ct of his last accounts God will never call his childrâ—n in the great dâ—y either to the book or to thâ— bâ—r for the mercies that he has given them be they few or be they many be they great or be they small Though the Mercer brings his Customer to the book for what he has and for what he wears yet he never brings his Child to the book for what he has and for what he wears Though the Vintner or Inn-keeper brings their guest to the barr for the provisions they have yet they never bring their children to the barr for the provisions they make for them In the great day the Lord will take an exâ—ct account of all the good Matth. 25. that his children have done for others but he will never bring them to an account for what he has done for them Christ in this great day will 1. Remember all the individual offices of love and friendship that hath been shewed to any of his members 2. He will mention many good things which his children did which they themselvâ—s never minded Verse 37. 3 The least and lowest acts of love and pity that have been shewed to Christs suffering servants shall be interpreted Verse 40. as a special kindness shewed to himself 4. The recompence that Christ will give to his people in Verse 44 46. that day shall be exceeding great Here is no calling of them to the book or to the barr for the merciâ—s that they were entrusted with But O the sad the great accounts that the wicked have to give up for all their Lands and Lordships for all their Honors Offices Dignities and Riches To whom Luke 12. 48. much is given much shall be required Christ in the great day will reckon with all the Grandees of the world for every thousand for every hundred for every pound yea for every penny that he has entrusted them with All Princes Rev. 6. 15 16 17. Luke 16. 2. Eccles 12. 14. Nobles and people that are not interested in the Lord Jesus shall be brought to the book to the barr in the great day to give an account of all they have received and done in the flesh But Christs darlings shall then be the only welcome guess Matth. 25. 34. Then shall the King say to them on his right hand come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Before the world was founded the Saints were crowned in Gods eternal counsel Here is no mention made of the book or the Some of the more refined Heathen have had some kind of dread and fear in their spirits upon the consideration of a day of account as the writings of Plato and Tully c. do sufficiently evidence barr but of a Kingdom a Crown a Diadem Now by these eleven Arguments 't is most evident that the little that the righteous man hath is better than the riches of the wicked the righteous mans mite is better than the wicked mans millions But The eighth Maxim that I shall lay down to put a stop to your too eager pursuit after the things of this world is this viz. That the life of man consists not in the enjoyment of these earthly things which he is so apt inordinately to affect Luke 12. 15. And he said unto
Sabbaths more and dutiâ—s more you would then be more early in your communion with God as the Spouse was Mary Magdelen loved Cant. 7. 11 1â— Christ much Luke 7. 47. And she came early to the Sepulchre to seek him She came to look after Christ as soon as it began to down Matth. 28. 1. Mark 16. 1 2. Luke 24. 1. Joh. 20. 1. Men that love the world can rise early to gain the world Now shall nature do more than grace Shall the love of the world out-do the love of Christ the Lord forbid And thus I have done with those Considerations that should quicken you up to sanctifie the Sabbath by rising as early in the morning as your age health strength ability and bodily infirmities will permit But Fifthly You must sanctifie the Sabbath by a Religious performance of all the duties of the day What are they Quest 1. Publick Answ 2. Private What are the publick duties that are to be performed on that Quest day Fiâ—st To assemble your selves with the people of God to Answ hear his Word Neh. 8 1 -9 Mâ—tth 13. 54. Joel 1. 13. 14. Chap. 15. 16. Luke 4. 16 17. John 20. 19 26. Acts 2. 1. 44. 46. Acts 5. 12. 1 Cor. 11. 20. Secondly Prayer Psalm 5. 7. Psalm 42 4. Psalm 118. 24 25 26. Isâ— 56. 7. Matth. 21. 13. Acts 1. 13 14. Acts 2 46 47. Acts 16. 13. Heb. 13. 15. Thirdly The Administrations of the Seals Acts 2. 46. Chap. 20. 7. 1 Cor. 11. 20 33. Fourthâ—y Singing of Psalms Hymns or Spiritual Songs Psalm 92. 1. Matth. 26. 30. 1 Cor. 14. 15. James 5. 13. Heb. 2. 12. Fifthly Works of Mercy and Charity Nehemiah 8. 9 10 11 12. 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. Sixthly and lastly The Censures of the Church as casting out of communion the obstinate and in receiving such into communion as the Lord hath received into communion and fellowship with himself 1 Tim. 5. 20 21. 1 Cor. 5. 4. 2 Cor. 2. 6 7. Rom. 14. 1. Chap. 15. 7. c. What are the private duties that are to be performed on that Quest day First Prayer in our Families and Closets Colossiâ—ns 3. 17. Answ Luke 18. 1 2. 1 Thess 5. 18. Ephes 6. 18. See my Treatise on Closet Prayer c. Secondly Reading of the Word Joshuah 1. 8. Deut. 6. 6 8 9 10. Chap. 11. 19. and Chap. 4. 10. John 5. 35. Col. 3. 16. Rev. 1. 3. Thirdly Meditation Psalm 1. 2. Psalm 119. 97. 1 Cor. 14. 5. 1 Tim. 2. 11 18. But on what must we meditate Quest 1. Upon the holiness greatness and graciousness of God Answ 2. Upon the person natures offices excellencies beauties glories riches fulness and sweetness of Christ 3. Upon the blessed truths that we either hear or read 4. Upon our own emptiness nothingness baseness vileneâ—s and un worthiness 5 Upon the works of Creation and Redemption 6. Upon our spiritual and internal wants 7. Upon that eternal rest that is reserved for the people of God Heb. 4 9. Fourthly Instructing examining and preparing of your famâ—lies according to the measures of grace you have received Deut. 6. 7. Deut. 11. 18 20. Gen. 18. 19 20. Joshuah 24 15. Fifthly Singing of Psalms James 5. 13. Coloss 3. 16. Ephes 5. 19. Sixthly Holy Conference upon the Word Luke 14 8 9 10 11 12 15 16. Chap. 24. 14 17 18. Col. 4. 6. Mol. 3. 16 17 c. Seventhly Visiting and relieving the sick the poor the distressed afflâ—cted and imprisoned Saints of God Matth. 15. 34 -40 James 1. 27 c. Now mark when the Publick Ordinances may be enjoyed in Christs way and in their liberty purity and glory it will be your wisdom so to manage all your family duties and closet duties as that you do not shut out more publick Worship It is more observable that the Sabbaths and publick service are joyned together Lev. 19. 30. Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my Sanctuary I am the Lord. Now what God hath solemnly joyned together let no man put assunder Every Christian should make it his great care that private duties do not eat up publick Ordinances and that publick Ordinances do not shut out private duties More of this you may see in my Discourse on Closet prayer But God is totus â—culus all eye As the eyes of a well-drawn Picture are fastâ—ed on the which way soever thou turnest so are the eyes of the Lord. Sixthly You must sanctifie the Sabbath by managing all the duties of that day as under the eye of God Gods eye is very much upon his people whilst they are in Religious duties and services Therefore in the Tabernacle the place of Gods publick Worship it was thus commanded Exod. 25. 37 Thou shalt make seven Lamps and they shall light the Lamps that they may give light To teach us that nothing there escapes his sight for in his house there is alwayes light and so when the Temple was built Mine eyes saith God shall be there perpetually It was an excellent 1 Kings 9. 3. saying of Ambrose If thou canst not hide thy self from the Sun which is Gods Minister of light how impoâ—sible will Ambros Offic. l. 1. c. 14. it be to hide thy self from him whose eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the Sun Subjects will carry themselves sweetly and loyally when they are under their Soveraigns eye and children will carry themselves dutifully when they are under their Pâ—rents eye and servants will carry them selves wisely and prudently when they are under their Mâ—steâ—s eye Gods eye is the best Tutor to keep the soul in a gracious frame It is good to have a fixed eye on him whose Job 31. 5 6. Prov. 15. 9. Cha. 5. 20 21. eye is alwayes fixed on thee The best way on earth to keep close to Gods Precepts is alwayes to walk as in his presence no man on earth by day or night can draw a curtain between God and him There is a threefold eye of God that is present in the assemblies of his people As First There is the eye of observation and inspection God seeth what uprightness and seriousness what inâ—egrity ingenuity and fervency you have in his services Mine eyes are upon all their wayes Jer. 16. 17. Psalm 16. 8. I have set the Lord alwayes before me Psalm 119. 168. I have kept thy precâ—pts and thy Testimonies for all my wayes are before thee Jâ—b 31. 4. Doth not he see all my wayes and count all my steps O Sirs whether you are praying or hearing or reading or meditating or singing or receiving the Lords Supper or Mal. 3 17. conferring one with another The eye of the Lord is still upon you But Secondly There is an eye of favour and benediction Amos 9. 4. I will set mine eyes upon them for good 2 Chro. 7. 16. Mine eye and my heart shall be there that is in my house Gods eye is here to approve and to bless and to