it would be but a further aggravation of them and provoke the Lord to Anger and not to Compassion If thy Fast be private confess all the evil thou knowest by thy self till thou canst say with a good Conscience I have kept nothing back Now this pressing Sin upon thy Soul is called a renting of the Heart Joel 2.13 Rent your Hearts and not your Garments An Afflicting of the Soul Lev. 16.29 In it you shall Afflict your souls and do no work at all Lev. 23.29 Whatsoever Soul shall not be Afflicted in that same day he shall be cut off from among his People Consider the Corruptions of thy Heart thy Natural Corruptions consider the Number of thy by-past sins and the weight of thy present remaining Corruptions the wrath of God is kindled against thee for them and the danger thy Soul is in of Hell by reason of them Consider sin in it's own Nature is the worst of Evils and the cause of all other Evils 't is the foulest thing in the World yea fouler than the Devil himself for that made him foul and could he be stript of his sin he would return to his Angelical Glory Consider it in the Causes it had it's Original from the Devil himself he was the first Sinner and the cause of sin in Men and the Child very much resembles the Father Consider the Law of God of which sin is a transgression 't is Holy Just and Good and no reason can be given why it should not be Obeyed Consider the Person against whom thou sinnest and it is against God himself who is the chiefest Good yea the Fountain of all thy Mercies One to whom thou owest thy self and all thou hast he that is thy Creator and made thee 't is he that maintaineth thee at his own Cost and Charges One that is able to save thee or destroy thee Consider it in the woful Effects of it 't is the Cause of all thy Judgments felt or feared yea of Spiritual Temporal and Eternal Judgments For the Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life Consider it in the price that was paid to free thy Soul from the Guilt and filth of it and that was the precious Blood of the Son of God who lost his Life to Ransom Souls from the slavery of Satan and his Blood to wash away their scarlet sins The serious Consideration of these things will much further thy Humiliation and Soul-Affliction And when thou hast thus made thy Heart to bleed for thy sins go to God for a Plaister but what good will a Plaister do before there is a Wound Beg of him the Pardon of thy sin and not only so but power against it Renew thy Covenant with him of better Obedience not only purpose but promise amendment of Life resolve against sin for the time to come Every sin thou confessest let it be with a strong resolution to meddle no more with it This is that Spiritual Fast from sin which is every Christians Duty to Fast from Food and not from filthiness from pleasure and not from profaness from sleep and not from sin is the Devils Fast such Fasts he keeps and such will be kept in Hell But the contrary was David's humbling of his Soul with Fasting Psal 69.10 In which there must be a confession of sin an Accusation for it a detestation of it and also self-condemnation And though Prayer at all times should be fervent yet especially now in such a Duty this is called a Crying mightily unto God Joel 1.14 Jonah 3.8 And thou shouldst bring Faith along with thee believing thou shalt prevail which may be grounded upon the many promises made to this Duty and the Experiences we have in Scripture of the success Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Esther Niniveh and many other may witness nay where was it ever in Scripture faithfully performed without success Alms-deeds also should be added Isa 58.6,7 Yea we should testifie our Humiliation by our ready forgiving of others and assisting those that stand in need Beg also those many things that are wanting for thy self the Church or State and as in the Law Sacrifices and Offerings were given to God Sacrifice thy sin to him and Offer to him the Calves of thy Lips Prayer and praise Dedicate thy self a Living Sacrifice and devote thy self to his Service 5. Direct The next thing considerable is the time when this Duty is to be performed and in this as in other things the Papists differ from us They prescribe set times for Fasting as necessary to be kept and sinful if not observed We hold that there are no such fixed times to be observed But the Duty is incumbent on us as Occasions are offered 'T is true there is mention made of a day Lev. 16.29 but this was Ceremonial and ended with the rest of the Typs and Shadows and there is mention also made of the Fast in the fifth and seventh Moneth Zach. 7.5 And of the fourth fifth seventh and tenth Moneth Zach. 8.19 but this was during the Captivity and so just occasion was offered for Publique Humiliation but what is this to our business We had the like every Moneth in times of War and publick Calamity And it is fit we should have upon such Occasions But what is this to our stated times whether Occasion be or no When there is some great Judgment lying upon us or some Eminent Danger hanging over our Heads then 't is a suitable time for this Exercise We find in Scripture that there were Fasts kept by Believers in all Ages upon emergent Occasions thus Samuel and the People Fasted and besought the Lord in their danger 1 Sam. 7.6,7 And thus David besought the Lord by Prayer and Fasting for the Life of his Child when it was Sick 2 Sam. 12.16 And thus he besought the Lord for Jerusalem when a sore Judgment from God was upon it 1 Chron. 21.16 The Inhabitants of Jabish Gilead Fasted and humbled themselves when Saul and Jonathan were Slain and Israel put to flight 1 Sam. 31.15 And Jehosophat in his Fear Proclaims a Fast when he knew not what to do yet had he his Eyes up to God 2 Chron. 20.3 And Nehemiah when he heard of the Destruction of Jerusalem humbled himself by Fasting Nehem. 1.4 And Esther and the Jews when the Writings were Signed and the time was set when they should all have been destroyed Esther 4.1,2 c. And Ezra when he apprehended danger at hand Ezra 8.21 Yea this is the Course which the Lord himself Adviseth to in times of danger or Publick Calamity Joel 2.12,13 having threatned a sore Judgment he adds Therefore now saith the Lord turn ye unto me with all your Hearts and with Fasting and with weeping and with mourning and rent your Hearts and not your Garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and Merciful c. And this Course the Ninivites did take and it succeeded Jonah 3.5.8 Yea Ahab humbled himself when
will effect the cure If thou art troubled with Satans Temptations here is Armour of proof the Sword of the Spirit for thy defence with which Christ himself broke the Serpents head Mat. 4.4,7,10 In a word here is that way to life pointed out unto thee that will never fail when all the learning in the World and all Humane Policy and good Meanings and Intentions will deceive now that thou maist hear with profit take these directions following 1. Direct If thou wouldst hear with Profit resolve then to break through all the difficulties and oppositions that lye in thy way for doubtless there will be many snares laid for thee and thou wilt find many hinderances to this duty many Enemies will appear and without a strong Resolution to go through what ever danger lyes in the way thou wilt hardly hold out I do not mean that the cursory hearing of the Word is thus opposed but the practising of it when heard The Devil is a sworn Enemy and therefore expect he will do his worst Thou shalt find that if he can have his will there shall never Godly Minister be setled Do you not see what oppositon is rais'd what contention breaks out before a faithful Pastor can be setled what Instruments doth he use to hinder the work Who will neither spare Cost nor pains in the business Or if they be setled how oft doth he raise one or other to worry them and make them weary of their places if not of their Lives For he knows such as these Discover his wiles and hinder his Trade and if he can but stop their Mouths and drive them out into the Wilderness he may Rule without controul It be not the Drunken Debauched Clergy that he fears these bring Fish to his Net If this will not prevail he endeavours then to work such a prejudice in the Hearers Hearts to their Ministers that they seldom profit by them if they can have nothing against them but concerning the Law of their God yet he perswades them they are Phanaticks because more serious in Religion than some others are and so diverts what he can from hearing them and then he thinks himself sure of them Sometimes he sets them about their Worldly business or to go to Fairs c. He knows there is no danger to him in that or perswades them to drouse or sleep out their time or sit idly at home or spend the Sermon time at Dice or Cards or other unlawful Games For others he hath a Companion at the Ale-house door to call them he knows there they are secure If thou break through these difficulties he will endeavour to lull thee asleep in the Congregation or if awake to distract thy thoughts with Worldly business that when thy Body is in the Congregation thy mind shall be in the shop or Fields or perhaps he may let thy Eyes wander upon this Beauty or that new Fashion and thus divert thy mind from thy Duty And those that would be very attentive at a Stage-Play are very heartless at a Sermon as if it did not so much concern them or if thou dost hear attentively yet he will make thee a forgetful Hearer and pick up the Seed as fast as 't is sown Mat. 13.4.19 How often do men leave all behind them at the Church door and that man cannot give an Account of one passage in a whole Sermon that can give you a large account of a Stage-Play or idle Tale or Story or if any thing be remembred it must be some mis-expression or something that must render the Preacher contemptible and so bring him into Question And if they remember any thing that is good the Devil perswades them they shall never practice it or at least defer it till hereafter or if they practice any it must be the light and cheap and easie part of Duty and so as good never a whit as never the better These and a thousand such are the wiles of the Devil to keep thy Soul in bondage which if he do thou art undone for ever He hath Instruments also which he sets on work wicked men some to draw and some to drive some by one means some by another to hinder thee Oh! take heed what you do says one you will run your self upon the pike of danger you 'l make your self contemptible to the World saith another you 'l hazard your Estate or Liberty crys a third our Fore-Fathers saith another were honest men yet never followed these Courses Others on the other hand will load you with scoffs and scorns and if this serve not with down-right Persecution and which is most dangerous thy own deceitful heart will side with Satan and help to betray thee Carnal reason is ready to suggest what need so much ado there was never good World since there was so much Preaching when alas the cause is not in the much Preaching but in the little practice Now having so many Enemies you must come with a full Resolution to break through or never begin 2. Direction If thou wouldest profit by the word Preached be sure to propound to thy self right ends take heed of the by ends w ch many bring 't is the end that makes or marres the action many glorious works have been spoiled by a bad end Let the duty be never so excellently performed if the end thou aimest at in the performance be not right the duty is abominable in Gods account thus the Fasting Prayer and Almes deeds of the Pharisees though all commanded duties were by God rejected because it was popular applause they aimed at Mat. 6.1,2,3 c. Thou maist hear all the daies of thy life to no profit as too many do if thy ends be not good ask thy self therefore this question when thou comest to the Ordinance What do I here or what errand come I about what is my end in coming or what do I desire or would get by hearing and get thy Heart and Conscience to return an answer and if thy ends arise no high-than thy self they are false and deceitful if every man would speak out or if we could hear the voice of Conscience speaking within them we should find many false hearted that neither perform the duty in obedience to God neither take they pleasure in the duty it self may not some of you say 't is not love to God or his Word but for Customes sake we come We and our Fathers before us were alwayes good Churchmen but if this be all thy ends are low and base others might say we come to hear of some easier way to Heaven wherein we might go with our Sins in our hearts and the World upon our backs but these Men cannot endure Soul-seeking Sermons but cry out of such Preachers as Ahab of Micajah he never Prophesies good of me but evil and therefore they hate them as Herodias did John Baptist and delights in those that daub with untempered Mortar and cry peace peace when there is no peace
Foundation for thy Faith And when thou art come before him set thy self as in his Presence and let thy Heart be affected with awful Reverence of him who is the Searcher of the Heart and Tryer of the Reins There 's many that come to him in prayer and little consider with whom they have to do Come also with a full purpose and Resolution or else never come to leave and forsake all those sins thou shalt confess For if thou regard Iniquity in thy Heart God will not hear thy Prayer Psal 66.18 'T is a vain thing to think to get pardon for those sins thou wilt not leave or a dispensation to Sin Meditate before hand of the Number Nature and Quality of thy Sins Of the Purity of God's Law the Justice of God his Threatnings against Sin and Sinners and the punishments he hath brought upon the World for sin the little Good that Sin hath done thee and the great hurt c. These Considerations may work in thee a loathing of sin when thou seest that it is the cause of all thy Miseries then wilt thou put up real desires to have it Mortified and till then thou wilt but dally with God Study well before-hand what are thy wants which thou wouldst have supplyed by God Let it be thy daily work to think what Sin and Corruption is strong in thee and what Grace is weak or wanting and what thou wouldst beg at God's hands and have not thy Errand to seek when thou shouldst do it Study well also what Mercies thou hast received and forget not to render to God the Tribute of Praise Thankfulness for one Mercy is a real Petition for another Many like the Lepers will come in a Petition for Mercies they want but few in Thanksgiving for Mercies received Most men are like the Swine under the Tree they eat the Crabs or Acorns but look not up from whence they come And where as 't is a Commanded Duty to Pray one for another 't is necessary that we sympathize one with another Mourn with those that Mourn and Rejoyce with them that Rejoyce It was Nehemiah's practice and he should herein be our President when all went well with him in his own particular the Afflictions of the Church could wring Tears from his Eyes Nehem. 1.4 And if any jarr be between thee and another be Reconciled this is Christ's Counsel Mat. 5.23 Mark 11.26 Come thus prepared and there is great hopes of speeding 3. Direct Wouldst thou put up a prevailing Prayer See that thou make it to God alone and not to Saints or Angels or any Creature whatsoever This is that Homage which he hath reserved to himself and that Honour that he will not give to another Many are the Commands which are in Scripture for this Duty Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of Trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt Glorifie me And Christ bids us go to our Father in Secret and our Father which seeth in Secret will reward us openly Mat. 6.6 This was the Refuge which the Godly run to in all their streights Hither Abraham Isaac and Jacob went Gen. 18.27 28.3 32.11 Hither Moses goes when God threatned Israel Exod. 39.11 Yea Joshua Hannah Samuel David Solomon Elijah Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Peter and Christ himself and thus he taught us to do Mat. 6.9 Our Father which art in Heaven Many are the Promises which are made to those that go to God in the Name of Christ and many are the Experiences which Believers have had of the Return of Prayers made to God But in the whole Book of God there is not one Precept for or approved Example of any one that sought either to Saint or Angel nor any Promise to any that do so or any Experience that any have had any Return to their Prayer no nor encouragement to provoke us to believe that God approves it but the contrary There is nothing in Scripture to ground our Faith upon and what is not of Faith is Sin We may find God himself stiled A God Hearing Prayers A Title given to no Creature in Heaven or in Earth God is Omniscient and knows all things the very thoughts and wishes the sighs and breathings the longings hungrings and pantings of a broken Heart are known to him and he knows when Prayers proceed from unfeigned Lips he is Hoker Lebh Scutator Cordis The Searcher of the Heart Jer. 17.10 And 't is a Priviledge that no man on Earth can claim neither have we any assurance that Saints or Angels in Heaven can do it Again he is every where present at all times and in all places which the Angels themselves are not being finite Creatures and therefore is always in a readiness to help We know he hears our Prayers but have no assurance that the others do He is Omnipotent and able to help us he is El shaddai God All-sufficient Gen. 17.1 Able to remove all rubs out of the way but the Creature cannot help us they are but the Cistern he is the Fountain they have no more than what he puts into them Yea all Religious Worship is due to him alone whereof Prayer is a principal part and cannot be given to another without offence 'T is from him that we receive every good and perfect gift James 1.17 and therefore unto him we should go to beg it who keeps the dispose of them in his own hands and will be sought unto before he part with them God is the Object of our Faith and should be of our Prayers for How can we call upon him upon whom we have not believed Rom. 10.14 The very Heathen by the Light of Nature acknowledge this Priviledge this Duty was due to God alone they put up their Petitions to those they esteemed gods as the Mariners in Jonah's Ship called every man upon his god and advised Jonah to do so also Jonah 1.5 And God himself threatens the Families that call not upon his Name Jer. 10.25 And in their distress threatens to send them to the gods they serve How much then are those to blame that Pray to Saints and Angels as the Papists or offer up Religious Worship to any other but to God alone but till they can prove it a Duty by direct precept or approved Example till they can prove they are Omnipresent always at hand Omniscient and know all things Omnipotent and can help us in all our straits which they will never do lets us never leave the Fountain that is all this and go to the Cistern that cannot help us 4. Direct If thou wouldst speed in Prayer then go to God in the Name of Christ if thou take him not along with thee thou wilt not be welcom if thou come not cloathed in thy Elder Brothers Garments thou wilt return without the Blessing We are by Nature Enemies to God and he is a consuming Fire to his Enemies and Christ must be the Skreen to keep us from burning 't is he alone that can
have found a Comfortable return and that which could not otherwise be obtained hath been gotten by Prayer and Fasting But our Pharisaical or Papistical Fastings our loose careless mock-fasts never did nor never will prevail with God for any Mercy or the removal of any Judgment 7. Direct In the last place look to thy Carriage after the Duty that thou demean thy self well for thy work is not done when the Exercise is ended Take heed of resting in the Duty or trusting to the work done this is Popish this will make thee lose all thy Labour 'T is not the hanging down the Head as God saith like a Bulrush for a day will serve thy turn This as other Duties are to be used as Boats or Bridges to help thee over to Christ Men do not make Boats or Bridges for their own sakes or to look upon but to make use of for the End they are suited to make not Prayer the end of Prayer or Fasting the end of Fasting Use them not for their own sakes but for Christ's sake to get nearer to him by them play not with the Stile or Ladder but Climb up Climb over by them Take heed of Priding in the Duty this is very inconsistent with it if it be performed with enlargement beware lest the Devil Fly-blow it Pride is a Worm which breeds in the best Fruits of the Spirit yea in â—…e Ruine of other Sins even in Humility it self Men may be proud of their Humility the Devil like the Spider can suck Poyson out of the choicest Flowers If thy Duties be thus fly-blown they will not down with God they stink in his Nostrils whatever conceit thou maist have of them Examine also at the close of the Duty how thy Heart hath demeaned it self in the Duty if bad thou hast cause to be humbled and make thy Heart smart for it ' most Men if they Examine any thing 't is the External part of the Duty and are troubled more at a mis-expression in the Duty than at the straying wandring of the thoughts or the deadness of the Heart But a Christians work lies most within he looks as God doth most upon the Heart though the other be not to be disregarded If thy Heart hath carried it self well there is cause of thankfulness none of Pride for who made thee to differ And what hast thou that thou hast not received View but thy failings and this may make thee vail thy Peacocks Plumes Hast got any strength by the Duty hold it fast and let it not go art got any thing nearer to God keep thy station and go not back lose not the ground thou hast gained by thy Duty If thy Heart be heated take heed of letting it cool again the wind of the World will quickly do it though the Exercise be over let not thy Spiritual Fervour and Heat be over Elijah walked in the strength of a meals meat forty days a Christian should exceed him in such extraordinary meals What good will it do a Man to work hard all day and have his work at Night as he found it in the Morning and to travel hard and at Night be where he set out Maintain the ground thou hast gotten in the Fight Hast thou put up Petitions to the Throne of Grace mark how they speed that thou maist behave thy self accordingly Most Men lose their Prayers as Boys do their Arrows they mark not where they light many know not whether God Answers them or no nor scarce what they have asked But those that are burthened with the Sins they confess and feel the want of the Mercies they desire take better heed An Hungry or a Thirsty Man that begs for Meat or Drink can easily perceive and tell you whether they had a Grant or a Denial Another that begs out of wantonness not wants heeds it not A Man that desires to have his Sores Cured he observes how the Plaister suits with it when a Beggar that gains by his Sores matters it not though they never are healed If God seem to deny thy Request 't is time to Examine what is the matter see whether it be Lawful or Convenient and if so follow thy Suit give God no rest he will first or last grant thy desire Sometimes he deferrs to make his People Cry the louder if it be a necessary thing take no denyal thy importunity will not Offend God as we see in the Parable of the Importunate Widdow Many Christians are short-winded they can Pray but a turn or two and then are out of breath like the Bethulians soon ready to faint If thou pray against Sin fight against it also hate it and detest it 'T is a vain thing to Imagine that God will subdue it without our endeavour If thou pray for Mercy work for it also this is the way And enter into Covenant with God to Live more Holily and more humbly and perform thy Covenant better not to Vow than to Vow and not perform Eccl. 5.5 If God grant thy Request return thanks Live thanks as well as speak thanks If he seem to deny wait upon him in the use of means and he will Answer in due time CHAP. XIV Directions for Days of Tanksgiving or Holy Feasting THE next Duty which I shall mention is Holy Feasting which is no part of God's Worship but is helpful to the Duty of Thanksgiving as Fasting is to Humiliation it hath been in use in the times of the Law and is not useless in the times of the Gospel where there is just Cause for such Spiritual Rejoycing God in the Time of the Law appointed several Feasts to be Observed by the Jews upon several Occasions Some Daily as the Morning and Evening Sacrifice some Weekly as the Sabbath in Commemoration of the Work of Creation and to Typifie out our Eternal Rest in Heaven Some Occasionally as the Thanksgiving of Moses Deborah and Barak c. Some Yearly and these either greater or lesser Feasts the greater Feasts were three the Passeover appointed to be kept in Memorial of Israels Deliverance out of Egypt which Typically holds out our Deliverance by Christ who was the true Pascal Lamb slain for the sins of the People of this Feast we may read Exod. 12.1 c. 23.15 Ezek. 42.21 and elsewhere The next was Penticost which was observed fifty days after wherein every Family Offered two Loaves of the first Fruits This is called the Feast of Harvest Exod. 23.16 The third was the Feast of Tabernacles Instituted in Memory that the Children of Israel Lived forty Years in the Wilderness and had no certain Dwelling Houses but Lived in Tents and yet God made Provision for them and hereby they were Taught and we may Learn if we are Strangers and Pilgrims here and have no constant abiding City but expect one in the Spiritual Canaan we may find this Feast mentioned Deut. 16.13 Josh 7.2 Exod. 23.16 where 't is called the Feast of In gathering at the end of the Year
his Ends are their Reformation not their desolation Zach. 1.15 I am sorely displeased with the Heathen that are at ease for I was but a very little displeased and they helpt forward the Affliction There is a Prophetick Prayer put up against Edom which in Jerusalem's Troubles Cryed Rase it Rase it even to the Foundations thereof Psal 137.7 God made the King of Assyria a Rod in his Hand to Correct his People but he intended to destroy them but God threatens when he hath done his work upon Mount Sion to punish the stout Heart of the King of Assyria Isa 10.5 c. When Afflictions lye upon the Church of God do not with the Wicked cry Aha so would we have it Psal 35.25 These are mourning Times and God expects that thou shouldest sympathize with them in their Suffering When one Child is beaten the other should not Rejoyce they know not but their turn may be next If Judgment begin at the House of God where shall the Wicked and ungodly appear Isa 22.12,13 In that day did the Lord of Hosts call to weeping to mourning to baldness and to girding with Sack cloath and behold Joy and Gladness slaying Oxen and killing Sheep c. But this Iniquity shall never be purged off till they dye saith the Lord. God also threatens those that Rejoyce in mourning times Amos 6.4,5,6,7 Let the manner of the performance of this thankfulness be what it will never so specious in the Eyes of Man if the ground of thy rejoycing be the Ruine of the Church the Affliction of the People of God the extirpation of the power of Godliness or the Liberty of Prophaness or Increase of it 't is abominable in the sight of God and thy Feast will please God no better than Jezebels Fast where God's Laws were broken under pretence of his Honour The like pretence we may read Isa 66.5 Hear the Word of the Lord ye that tremble at his Word your Brethren that hate you and cast you out for my sake said let the Lord be Glorified but he shall appear to your Joy and their shame Some think God is Glorified when indeed he is dishonoured Men shall kill you saith Christ and think they do God good Service Oh the mischie of Ignorance and Superstition But the Godly in all Ages have made the Flourishing of the Church and the down-fall of implacable Enemies the Cause of such Rejoycing and not when one part of the Church ruins another and imbrues their Hands in one anothers Blood this is Cause of Lamentation When Israel had destroyed their Brother Benjamin though in a just Quarrel and by God's appointment yet they lift up their Voyce and wept because one Tribe was Cut off Judg. 21.2.6 And 't is said they Repented for their Brother Benjamin's sake 'T is Cause of mourning when Protestants shed each others Blood and the Enemies laugh at it in their Sleeves And for Personal Mercy see it be such as God hath really given thee and not like the Pharisee for those thou hast not As for Election Redemption Vocation Justification Sanctification and the hopes of Glory these well deserve thy greatest praise but boast not of them before thou hast some good ground to believe thou hast them God will not thank that Man that thanks him for Gifts and Graces which he never did and perhaps never will bestow upon him 4. Direct As for thy Carriage upon such a day it should not be such as Men Ordinarily use upon their Festivals or Holy-days loose Propane Idle or Careless but such as is suitable to the Work in Hand and helpful in the Praising and magnifying God which is the main Work of the day Remember therefore into whose Presence thou comest and with whom thou hast to do apprehend him by the Eye of Faith taking notice of thee and deport thy self accordingly he knows thy Heart and tries thy Reins and knows thy Ends and Motives better than thy self Do nothing therefore un-beseeming his Presence or which thou wouldst not have him take notice of And having as before is directed Treasured up the Experiences of God's Mercies in thy Memory and warmed thy Heart by Meditation upon them and by this means Tuned thy Heart to his praises When the day is come which is set apart when thou wakest in the Morning and it should be betimes for thou hast a great work to do Consecrate thy first thoughts to him and let not the Devil the World nor Sin Rob him of that Honour but begin the day by some warming Meditation suitable to the Occasion or by some Laudatory Ejaculation Discourse with him before thou Discourse with the World and raise thy Heart hereby to the highest pitch thou art able for having disposed thy Worldly business as much as possible and set it out of thy way that it interrupt thee not in thy Duties behave thy self as if thou hadst nothing to look after but thy God and thy Soul Entertain not a thought if possible of them till thy Work be done 'T is impossible to serve God as we ought in such a Duty in a Croud of Business the whole Man is little enough and too little for the Work for thou wilt find it a harder Duty than Prayer Thy own Necessities self-love and self-Interest may animate a Man to Prayer but Praising God is a self-denying Duty and though in some things thou maist take more Liberty than in a Fast as in the Liberal use of the Creature and in some things more than on a Sabbath as in outward expressions of Joy yet thy Heart should keep as close to God in this as in any other Day or Duty and be as much inlarged to God And though thou maist adorn thy self and 't is fit thou shouldest yet beware of Priding in thy Cloaths this is unsuitable to a self-denying Duty And though thou maist eat the fat and drink the sweet and eat thy Bread with Joy and drink thy Wine with a Merry Heart yet immoderation is unlawful Thou maist drink to chearfulness not to excess to help thee in the Work not to hinder thee in thy Duty Prepare thy Heart in the Morning as by Meditation so by Prayer for Direction and assistance in the Work to gather in thy scatter'd thoughts and affections and sequester them from the World for the Service of the Day and forget not to praise him for private and particular Mercies which thou hast Received for returns of Prayer c. Jacob did thus for Temporal as well as Spiritual Favours Gen. 32.10 God would have us sensible of these as well as Church or State Mercies Call also thy Family together in due time Read some Scripture suitable to the occasion let them understand that they also are concerned in the Duties of the Day Sing some Psalm of praise to this purpose Let him that is merry sing Psalms James 5.13 Praise God with them and for them and re-count to his Praise the many Family Mercies thou hast