if he cannot hold it with Gods fauour That is a treasure for which a man will be content to sell all that euer he hath Matth. 13. 44. to loose all things and to count them but dung in comparison of it Phil. 3. 8. This made all Gods people in Israel to leaue their dwellings and possessions there and to come to Ierusalem where God was purely worshipped 2. Chron. 11. 16. This made Moses willing to forgoe all his honours and pleasures and hopes he had in Pharaohâ—… Court and to ioyne himselfe vnto Gods afflicted and despised Church Heb. 11. 24. 25. 2. It moderateth the affection of a man to earthly things and teacheth him to vse them with more sobriety and indifferency so as he doth neither so greedily desire them nor is so discontented in the want of them nor so lifted vp in the abundance of them as others be it makes him able to say with the Apostle I haue learned in whatsoeuer state I am therewith to bee content I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound euery where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need Phil. 4. 11 12. He vseth them as the traueller doth his good lodging he findeth in his Inne for his necessity and the better enabling him to goe forward in his iourney homeward but setteth not his heart vpon them Psal. 62. 10. And thus he professeth that he is but a stranger and pilgrime vpon earth and seeketh for another country Heb. 11. 13 14. 3. It so taketh vp a mans heart specially in his first conuersion in his first loue as it maketh him very carelesse and forgetfull of all things else As Peter and Andrew Iames and Iohn straitway left their ships their net and their father and followed Christ Matth. 4. 20. 22. This made Christs hearers Mar. 8. 2. so carelesse of their meat for three daies together and Mary to neglect her huâ—…wifry in the entertaining of Christ and leauing all to sit her downe at Christs feet to heare his words Luke 10. 39. The Reason of this Doctrine is this that they haue found another treasure and where the treasure is there will the heart be Matth. 6. 21. He that once counteth Religion his treasure cannot set his heart on the world the heart can no more be deuided betweene them then it is possible for a man at the same time to looke with one of his eyes towards heauen and with another vpon the ground These two things the loue of the world and the loue of God are of a masterfull disposition Into what heart soeuer they enter they will be commanders and rule alone which is the reason of that speech of our Sauiour Matth. 6. 24. No man serues two masters 1. To instruct vs what to iudge of such Christians as vse not onely on the Sabbath day but on the weeke dayes also to goe to Sermons and Exercises of Religion worldly men thinke of these men that they doe more then they need yea more then they ought to doe that this will bring them to beggery Yea many are afraid to be religious or to frequent the Ministry of some men for feare least they should be drawen to doe thus as they see many of their hearers are In handling this point I will shew 1. What is to be said for the warning and admonition of these men 2. What is to be said for the encouragement and defence of them 1. It is indeed a great sinne in any professour to neglect his calling vpon pretence of following Sermons and seruing God specially if he haue a charge and want other meanes to liue by and that many of the better sort of Christians are too much inclined to this sinne appeareth by Pauls beating on this point so much in his Epistles to the Thessalonians Study to be quiet and to doe your owne businesse and to worke with your owne hands as wee commanded you 1. Thess. 4. 11. We heare that there are some which walke among you disorderly working not at all but are busie-bodies Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Iesus Christ that with quietnesse they worke and eate their owne bread 2. Thess. 3. 11 12. but this is a great sinne For 1. Euery Christian should desire to liue of himselfe that he may not be chargeable vnto others 1. Thess. 5. 11 12. When he had charged them to follow their owne businesse and to worke with their hands he giues this for a reason that nothing may be lacking to them 2. If a man haue a family and prouide not for it he is worse then an Infidell 1. Tim. 5. 8. Therefore Paul saith 1. Cor. 7. 33. The marryed careth and that lawfully for the things of the world 3. Say a man could prouide for himselfe and his family sufficiently yet he must also haue a care to follow his calling that he may haue to giue others that need Rather let him labour working with his hands the thing that is good that he may haue to giue to him that needeth Ephes. 4. 28. And this reason the Apostle giueth why himselfe did at Ephesus with the labour of his owne hands minister vnto his owne necessities and to them that were with him and why according to his example others in the like case of necessity and for the auoiding of scandall should doe the like euen the remembrance of the words of the Lord Iesus how he said it is a more blessed thing to giue then to receiue Act. 20. 24 35. 4. Say a man haue enough for all this yet must he haue care of his estate for this cause because if he decay in it he shall be a scandall to his profession and alienate others from the truth Pro. 14. 20. The poore is hated euen of his owne neighbour Therefore Paul maketh this one reason for this 1. Thess. 4. 11 12. Doe your businesse and worke with your owne hands that yee may walke honestly to them that are without 5. Say a mans estate were so plentifull that no decay could be discerned in it to the scandall of his profession yet is he bound to liue and take paines in some calling wherein he may be profitable to others else can he haue no true comfort in any of Gods blessings that he doth enioy for thus runneth the promise Psalmeâ—…28 â—…28 2. When thou eatest the labours of thy hands thou shalt bee blessed and it shall bee well with thee 2. Thessalonians 3. 12. They onely eate their owne bread that labour in a calling 2. It is to be granted that there is not the like necessity of frequenting the publike exercises of Religion on any other day as there is on the Sabbath for that there is an expresse commandement on that euen the poorest is bound to keepe an holy rest vnto the Lord for the commandement bindeth all men and none is exempted from it Exod. 20.
10. which on the other daies they are not 3. It is not to be denyed but some Christians may and ought to spend more time in the exercises of Religion then other some Such as are of wealth and ability to liue of themselues are more bound to frequent the publike exercises on the weeke day then poorer men Such as by their callings haue more leisure and freedome from worldly employment then such as haue more necessary and important businesse Of rich men it may be said There is a price put into their hands to get wisedome Pro. 17. 16. That maketh the Apostle speake as he doth of the priuiledge that the single person hath aboue the marryed the vnmarried man careth for the things that belong to the Lord how hee may please the Lord The vnmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord that shee may bee holy both in body and in spirit 1. Cor. 7. 32 34. and the widow also shee that is a widow indeed and desolate trusteth in God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day 1. Tim. 5. 5. Whereas verse 14. Other women haue other imployments Such a widdow was Anna Luke 2. 37. she departed not from the Temple but serued God with fasting and prayer night and day Lecture the one and fiftieth Aprill 24. 1610. IOHN IIII. XXVIII XXIX IT followeth that we come now to shew what is to be said for the defence and encouragement of those men that not contenting themselues to serue God vpon the Sabbath do vpon the weeke daies leaue their worldly businesse and spend much time in Gods worship And that I will deliuer for the better helpe of your memory and mine owne in fiue principall and chiefe points 1. Euery Christian is bound to serue God not vpon the Sabbath onely but to spend some part of euery day in Gods worship This was signified in the Law 1. When God commanded there should be a morning and euening sacrifice offered euery day Exod. 29. 39. And the King is commanded notwithstanding all his weighty imployments to reade some part of Gods Word euery day Deut. 17. 19. and that we should pray euery day it is euident by the fourth petition of the Lords pray Therefore we reade that Gods seruants did set themselues certaine times for prayer euery day and obserued them precisely Psalme 55. 17. Dan. 6. 16. and yet both these were men that had much businesse Reasons for this are these 1. Though the Sabbath in a speciall sort be called the Lords day yet is euery day his too Psal. 74. 16. Therefore as the Apostle prooues we must glorifie and serue God with our bodies as well as our soules because they are both his 1. Cor. 6. 20. so may we prooue that God is to be serued euery day as well as on the Sabbath day because euery day is his 2. If we do not by this meanes euery day stirre vp quicken and nourish Gods grace in our selues The deceitfulnesse of sinne and Sathan and worldly occasions will by little and little harden vs and steale away our hearts from God security will creepe vpon vs before we be aware Heb. 3. â—…3 And the more dealings a man hath in the world the greater cause he hath to feare this That is the reason that is giuen why the Lord will haue the King to read euery day Deut. 17. 20. That his heart bee not lasted vp and that he turne not from the commandement 3. The little time spent in Gods seruice euery day will bring Gods blessing vpon the whole day and vpon the businesse and occasions of that day As the first fruits that Gods people gaue to him brought his blessing vpon all the rest Deut. 26. 10 11. It is that that giueth vs a sanctified vse of the day and of all the comforts of it of our owne labours and of the labours of our seruants 1. Tim. 4. 5. So that when a man shall remember how many houres in euery day he hath spent in sleeping eating drinking and sporting and how few houres yea minutes of the day he hath bestowed on the Lord and on his owne soule he shall haue cause to complaine as Iob 7. 6. My dayes are swifter then a Weauers shuttle and are spent without hope 2. It is lawfull to haue publike assemblies to keepe Lectures and Exercises not on the Sabbaths onely but on other daies also and for Gods people to frequent them This is euident in the practise and example of the Primitiue Church and of our Sauiour himselfe It is spoken to the praise of Gods people in the Primitiue Church that they continued daily with one accord in the Temple Acts 2. 46. And Luke 19. 47 Christ taught daily in the Temple and had a great audience verse 48. All the people hanged on him and 21. 37 38. In the day time he taught in the Temple and at night hee went out to the mount of Oliues and in the morning all the people came to heare him in the Temple Mar. 8. 13. We read that a very great multitude had followed him and continued with him three daies and some of them came from farre so that besides those three daies they spent some good time in comming to him and going backe If it had not beene lawfull to keepe Lectures and exercises vpon weeke dayes doubtlesse he would not so vsually and often haue preached on those dayes and if it had not beene lawfull for Gods people of all sorts to frequent them surely he would not haue suffered them to doe it he would haue reprooued them for it So that he that shall reprooue or deride or blame Gods people for this out of doubt he hath not the spirit of Christ in him 3. Though no man be so expresly and particularly commanded to goe to Sermons on the weeke day as on the Sabbath yet all that are able to doe it whose necessities will permit them are as well bound to goe to Sermons on the weeke day as on the Sabbath God requires more seruice of euery man then he hath expressely and particularly commanded Besides the sacrifices that God had expresly commanded there were free offerings vnder the Law which men of their owne voluntary will did bring vnto God Leuit. 1. 3. and 7. 16. None were expresly commanded to goe vp to Ierusalem at the three feasts but onely the males Exod. 34. 23. nor among the males any that were vnder 20. yeares of age for such onely were wont to be numbred Exod. 30. 4 and yet we finde that Elkanah was wont to take with him all his family his wiues his sonnes and daughters euery yeare to those feasts 1. Sam. 1. 4. 21. So did the blessed Virgin euery yeere keepe the Passeouer at Ierusalem with her husband And our Sauiour himselfe when he was but twelue yeares old was wont to goe with them Luke 2. 41 42. If any shall obiect and say that God alloweth no will-worship but hath straightly charged vs in his worship
by such in whom they discerne any infirmity 365. Remedies against this corruption 371 Temperance It is necessary euen in our diet 92. Temples Our Churches need not to be stately and glorious as the Temple of Ierusalem was 119. Neither is there that holinesse to be ascribed to or reuerence due to our Churches as was to that Temple 119. 154. Neither is there that necessity of temples now as there was vnder the law 119. Yet is it fit we also should haue places set apart for Gods publique worship and hauing such it is no where so well done as in them 119. 129. Euen our Churches should be decently kept 120. 127. The temple of Ierusalem was a Type of Christ and how 155. Tentation We must carefully shun tentation 89. Tentations incident to our lawfull calling God will preserue vs in 89. Terror Wicked men haue cause to be in continuall terror 33. Testament See Ceremoniall worship Though in temporall things Gods people had more particular direction then we now yet not in spirituall 207. The Ministry of the New Testament is more fruitfull then that was vnder the law 287 Vnder the law God reuealed himselfe to his people moresensibly and bodily then vnder the Gospell 196. The estate of sinners is far more damnable now then it was vnder the law 291. Thankesgiuing Of Sacrifices of Thankesgiuing 187. Thoughts Conscience to be made euen of them 91. Trouble of minde All men must looke to be brought one day to a painefull sight and sense of sin and of Gods anger due vnto it 42 43. No wordly thing can content or comfort the heart in that case 44 45. Meanes wherby they that haue lost the assurance of their saluation may recouer it 346. 347. V. Vnity Vnity in all points among Gods seruants in this life is not to be expected 302. Vowes We should in our affliction vow amendment performe it when we are deliuered 405. W. Walking with God We should labour to walke with God how we may know whether we do so or no 70. Will-worship No worship is to be giuen to God but such as he likes of and delights in euen such as is done by the direction of his Word and in obedience to it 160. 192. In will-worship men serue not God but the diuell 161. God requires more seruice of euery man then he hath expressely particularly commanded him yet this is no will-worship 242 243 He that hath an vpright heart will make conscience of such things onely as God hath commanded or forbidden 473. Women How iust causes they haue to be humbled in themselues 225. How they may adorne the Gospell 226. Word of God No man can know God aright but by his Word and the difference betweene the knowledge gotten so any other 160 161 It is the saluation of men 1â—…8 169. All that haue it are not saued by it 169. Saluation not to bee ascribed to any vertue that is in it 169. By it all other meanes of grace are made effectuall 169 170. It is exceeding powerfull and effectuall to saue men 170 171. We ought highly to esteeme it 172 173. Notes to trie whether we esteeme and loue it indeed 173. The wicked hardens himselfe in sin euen by it 98 99. It is to bee esteemed a high fauour of God that we enioy it 162. It is the onely ground of true faith and assurance of saluation 338. The faith and Religion of Gods Elect is not grounded vpon any thing but the word only 348 349. 418. 419. Seeke good ground in the word for that thou holdest in Religion 429. Dangerous to doubt of the truth of it see Infidelity The word to be heard on weeke daies 241. The word to be examined 467. Rules thereto 499. Word to be heard with heart prepared 486. How that may be 489. The word ought to bee receiued for the senders sake 313. Difference betwixt the good workes of regenerate and naturall men 476. Good Workes That only is a good worke that is commanded of God 474. Workes of God Men may be prepared vnto faith and much confirmed in it by the workes of God 417. We should obserue the workes of God and how God doth by them ratifie his Word 417. 497. What vse we should make of the strange workes of God 379. World By this word sometimes the Elect onely are meant and why Christ is called the Sauiour of the world 329 330. Worldly things No worldly thing can satisfie or comfort the soule in distresse 44 45. It is great folly to set our heart vpon or esteeme too much of any worldly comfort 390. 438 439. He that is truely conuerted makes not that reckoning of worldly things as he did before 238. Worship of God See Adoration Ceremoniall Law Exercises of Religion Reuerence Most men worship not God according to his Word 163. Reasons for the altering of the manner of Gods worship at Christs comming 190. 191 No seruice pleaseth God but that which is spirituall 191 192. He requires spirituall worship more vnder the Gospell then he did vnder the Law 19â—… 197. All the parts of Gods worship may in some cases be vsed in priuate houses 120. 129. And are as acceptable to God in one place as in another 156. Christ himselfe did diligently vse to worship God in religious duties and why 163 1â—…4 The difference betweene Gods worship vnder the Law and vnder the Gospell â—…87 1â—… 189. God requires bodily worship of vs as well as spirituall but not so much as vnder the law 189 190. Euen the wicked est men that liue are bound to worship God 195. Y. Young men The sins that they must chiefly take heed of 224. Z. Zealous Both Magistrates and priuate men should shew their zealous hatred to sin 78. Zeale is required of all Christians and what the notes and properties of true Zeale are 260 261 263. 267. Zeale in the people warmes their Ministers 295. True Zeale will make a man to forget and neglect himselfe 275. Seuerall places of Scripture opened and applyed in this Treatise Booke Chap. Verse Folio Genesis 17 18 391 Genesis 18 12 30 Genesis 19 9 106 Genesis 29 18 80 Genesis 32 26 402 Genesis 45 28 3 Genesis 50 19 370 Exodus 4 24 452 Leuit. 19 2 196 Leuit. 23 10 9 Leuit. 26 11 12 166 Num. 12 14 403 Num. 23 21 452 Deut. 12 32 161 Deut. 14 26 92 Deut. 25 3 117 Iosh. 1 8 20 1 Sam. 2 12 470 1. Sam. 2 30 368 1. Sam. 15 29 6 2. Sam. 6 20 22 116 2. Sam. 12 20 24 c. 441 2. Sam. 21 1 404 1. King 8 6 473 1. King 12 28 161 2. King 17 33 41 36 1. Chron. 16 29 129 2. Chron. 16 9 484 2. Chron. 26 18 19 21 359 Nehem. 1 11 8 Nehem. 2 1 493 Nehem. 8 1 123 Iob. 3 13 14 43 Iob. 5 7 388 Iob. 6 24 424 Iob. 20 11 80 Iob. 29 4 220 Iob. 31 1 91 Iob. 32 23 395 Iob. 36 8
men after them such as the Apostles were poore Fishermen of Galilee such as were commonly esteemed ignorant and vnlearned men Acts 4. 13 3. Such a kinde of preaching as is plaine and without all ostentation and shew of humane gifts as the Apostle protesteth his was 1. Cor. 2. 4. his speech and his preaching was not with the entising words of mans wisedome 2. Yea we shall finde he hath beene wont to worke more mightily by very weake and vnlikely meanes then by such as haue beene farre more excellent and likely to doe good As he fed fiue thousand with fiue loaues and yet twelue baskets full of the fragments remained Matth. 14. 17. 21. and but foure thousand with seuen loaues and yet but seuen baskets of fragments remained Matth. 15. 36. 38. And this poore woman preuailed more with a great company of Samaritans then either Mary or the two Disciples could doe with the eleuen Apostles Marke 16. 11 13. Yea she drew more to Christ at one time then we reade either the twelue Apostles that were sent forth to preach Matth. 10. Or the seuenty Disciples that were sent forth to preach Luke 10. Or Iohn the Baptist did at any one time Ioshua though a person farre inferiour to Moses in gifts and but his seruant yet was his gouernement blessed farre aboue Moses and the people much better in his time then they had beene in the dayes of Moses Insomuch as he in his age giues that testimonie of them Iosh. 23. 8. that they had stucke fast to the Lord euen to that day And there were many more conuerted by the Ministry of the Apostles then by Christ himselfe yea many that despised him while himselfe preached by their Ministry were conuerted to him Iohn 8. 28. When yee haue lift vp the Sonne of man then shall yee know that I am he 3. Yea we shall finde that God hath beene wont to prepare such of his seruants as by whom he hath intended to do greatest good to his Church by making them see how weake and insufficient they haue beene and by bringing them to a base conceit of themselues So dealt he with Moses Exod. 4. 10. with Esay Esay 6. 5. with Ieremy Chap. 1. 6. and with Paul 1. Cor. 2. 3. and 2. Cor. 2. 16. Would you know the reason why God giues the meanes to some and denyeth them to others more worthy then they why he blesseth the meanes to some and not to others why he vseth to worke by such weake meanes and more by them oft then by stronger Surely the reason is this that his glory might the more appeare in them whom he doth saue For if all should haue the meanes of grace or if all should profit by them that haue them Gods mercy should not so much be magnified in the conuersion of the Elect or if the Lord should vse to worke by strong meanes onely the glory of the worke would be ascribed to the meanes and not vnto him whereas now the whole praise redounds to the Lord himselfe 2. Cor. 4. 7. The excellency of the power is of God and not of vs. Matth. 21. 16. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise 1. To perswade all men if they want the meanes to seeke to God for them yea to perswade vs that haue the meanes to pray for them that want the meanes and cannot feele their owne want nor pray for themselues for 1. There is no hope God will saue men without meanes Rom. 10. 14. How can they beleeue vnlesse they heare 2. It is the Lord onely that withholdeth the meanes from them and who onely must giue them the meanes whoeuer be the instrument Matth. 9. 38. He is the Lord of the haruest and he only must send forth labourers into his haruest 3. Why doth he withhold the meanes because he hath no respect to them nor care of their saluation Act. 17. 30. The times of this ignorance God regarded not If men were perswaded of this they would not liue vnder a dumbe Ministry themselues yea they would pitty them more that doe 2. To persuade such as enioy the means yea the best meanes not to rest in this or to thinke it sufficient that they frequent the meanes but to seeke earnestly to God both before they come and after for his blessing and to carry themselues with that reuerence and deuotion while they are in the vse of the meanes as they may approoue themselues to him for 1. The best Ministry shall neuer doe thee good vnlesse the Lord worke with it as the water of Bethesda though it had vertue in it to heale all infirmities yet it cured none vntill the Lord had sent his Angell to stirre the water Iohn 5. 4. so though the Ministry of the Word haue a great vertue in it and be able to saue our soules Iam. 1. 21. yet can it conuert none vnlesse the Lord worke with it 1. Cor. 3. 7. Neither is he that planteth any thing nor hee that watereth but God that giueth the increase 2. If it doe thee no good it will doe thee hurt 2. Cor. 2. 16. It is a sauour of death where it is not a sauour of life 3. The true cause as thou hast heard why thou profitest not is because the Lord fauoureth thee not the Lord hath no respect vnto thee those whom the Lord loueth shall profit by the meanes yea by very weake meanes Thou hast enioyed great and excellent meanes a long time and canst not profit by them Consider the true cause of it Iohn 8. 47. Yee therefore heare not that is profitably for they all heard because ye are not of God If men were perswaded of this they would be troubled for their great vnprofitablenesse they would be more earnest with God for his blessing vpon his ordinance 3. To admonish Christians not to despise the Ministry of the meanest of Gods seruants but to reuerence Gods ordinance euen in the weakest Ministry I speake not this to countenance and iustifie the Ministry of euery one that taketh vpon him to preach or to tye Gods people to rest vpon them For I know well 1. There be many that runne before they bee sent Ier. 23. 2â—… 2. It were as intollerable bondage and tyranny to binde Gods people to rest vpon the Ministry of such as cannot instruct them as it were to compell infants to abide with such nurses as haue neither sucke nor food to giue them I dare not condemne such Christians as hauing Pastours in the places where they liue of meaner gifts do desire so they do without open breach or contempt of the Churches order to enioy the Ministry of such as haue better gifts and sometimes do leaue their owne to heare the other so they do it without contempt of their own Pastours and without scandall and offence to thâ—…mand their people Because 1. That though sundry of the hearers not of the Scribes and Pharisees onely but of Iohn