Lord doest thou wash my feet this he seemed to say as fearing it had been too much dishonour for Christ the Son of the immortal God to wash a sinners feet not then fully understanding as after he did 1 Peter 1.19 that he came to redeem us with his own pretious bloud in effect he said O my Lord dost thou wash my feet with those sacred hands with which thou didst open the eyes of the blind heal the sick and raise the dead c. I am unworhty to perform this office to thee and wouldest thou do it for me Christ told him verse 7. What I do thou knowest not now c. as if he had said Peter thou doest not as yet understand the reason of this act of mine thou shalt in due time know upon what ground I do it but in the mean time it behooves thee to submit thy self with all humble obedience to this work I have in hand for if I wash thee not thou hast no part with me the meaning is if I do not wash thee both by my bloud shed for the expiation of mans sin and by the sanctifying power of my Spirit which I would represent unto thee by this washing thou canst have no part of glorious comfort with me no interest in me no benefit by me afterwards verse 12. Christ sat down with his Disciple to the Passover where by the way observe That Christ celebrated four Passovers The first was mentioned in John 2.23 which as the learned conceive was celebrated on the sixt day of April The second Passover they conceive is mentioned John 5.1 The third they conceive is in John 6.4 The fourth here mentioned in this chapter and in Math. 26. Mark 14. Christ kept his Passover the fourteenth day of the first moneth called in the Hebrew Abib Exod. 13.4 in the Chaldee tongue Nisan Esther 3.7 containing part of March and part of Aprill for that indeed was the proper time first appointed by the Lord Exod. 12.6 he did not tarry the other two dayes as the Jewes did before they kept it The tenth day every one was to begin to prepare and so Christ did by coming to Jerusalem for he came thither six dayes before the Jewes kept their Passover the first of which answered to our Monday and the fourth to Thursday That the Jewes kept not their Passover till two dayes after it is plain because he being taken by them that night and brought to the judgement Hall next morning being Friday it is said that they would not go in because it was their preparation to the Passover John 18.28 so they kept not the Passover till the next day being our Saturday but their Sabbath That Christ kept his Passover before the Jewes kept theirs is expresly noted in this chapter for his last Supper is said to be before the Passover but this by the way These words in my Text contain two parts 1. A Supposition If I wash thee not 2. A Position Thou hast no part with me Doct. From hence observe this Doctrine That if Christ wash us not we have no part with him that is no part of grace glory comfort or spiritual benefit with him what he spake to Peter he spake to us all This Point hath two branches The first is That Christ washeth us and that he doth five wayes 1. By the Sacrament of Baptisme Math. 3.11 I indeed baptize you with water c. but he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire that is with the holy Ghost like to fire in operation and effect Titus 3.5 But according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost that is by the renewing of the holy Ghost which is like a bath of water whereby our filthy sins are washt away Ezek. 36.25 26 27. whereof Baptisme is a sign and a seal in the original it is by the laver of regeneration he alludes to the laver of brass Exod. 30.18 in which the Priests washed themselves when they ministred in the Tabernacle 2. By his blessed Word John 15.3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you that is the Word which I have spoken to you was accompanied with such power of the Spirit that like water it cleansed you from corrupt affections 3. Christ washeth us by the merit and efficacy of his pretious bloud 1 John 1.7 And the bloud of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin namely by the merit and efficacy of it 4. Christ washeth us by the saving graces of his holy Spirit Titus 3.5 and renewing of the holy Ghost Ezek. 36.25 Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you that is the saving graces of the holy Ghost 5. Christ washeth us by his gentle corrections and trials sanctified to us afflictions are compared to water Psalm 66.12 We went through fire and through water Psalm 42.7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water spouts all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me as if he had said one affliction like so many waves comes in the neck of another and in a miserable succession as it were cals for the next upon the predetermination of these my adversities which do as it were gush out from thee by those conveiances which thou hast ordained now the fruit of these afflictions sanctified is set down in Isaiah 27.9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin Reas Because God ordained and sent him for this end John 6.27 For him hath God the Father sealed that is ordained and authorized him to be the onely meanes to wash and cleanse us such as seek by other meanes to get their sins washt away and not by his bloud will loose their labour and such as seek to have them washt away by his bloud shall certainly enjoy this mercy because God hath ordained him to this work and he will do it perfectly 2. Because he onely can do it he hath infinite merit and efficacy in him it belongs to his priestly office to wash our sins away Hebr. 9.14 How much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall Spirit that is his Godhead offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works c. all doctrine belongs to his Prophetical Office all merit belongs to his Priestly Office all efficacy belongs to his Kingly Office 3. Because Christ purchased and procured pardon of sins and peace with God for us therefore he is said 1 Corinth 1.30 to be made to us wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemption God the Father is every true beleivers portion Christ by his bloud hath purchased this portion for them and the holy Ghost seales this portion to them Ephes 1.13 Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise that is which Christ promised to send to his Elect in John 14. and 16. chapters The second branch is If Christ wash us
thou shalt find him whom thy soul loveth 2. Be very humble be nothing in thine own eyes fot God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble 3. Pray earnestly to God for his spiritual graces as the Apostles prayed Lord increase our faith and David prayed Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Luk. 11.13 If ye then being evill know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him When our dear Saviour was upon earth he was bountiful to such as earnestly desired his Spirit but afterward he ascended on high to give gifts to men he is now in his glorification and is no niggard of his divine graces and comforts but will be very bountiful to thee if thou beggest them earnestly at his hands SERMON II. Text GENESIS 5.24 And Enoch walked with God THese words are a brief but yet a sweet relation of that dear servant of God Enoch the seventh from Adam as may be seen by the genealogy of the Patriarchs from Adam unto Noah here in this chapter the memory of the just is blessed saith Solomon so is it here in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews Enoch is there recorded to his everlasting honour that he had this testimony that he had pleased God Jude also in his Epistle recordeth his prophecy concerning the day of judgement to come for the comfort of the righteous and for the terror of the wicked here in my Text observe these parts 1. The person mentioned viz. Enoch 2. His commendation in the latter words he walked with God His practise and life is here propounded as a president for us to imitate For those examples in Scripture which the Spirit of Christ commends are obligatory his commendings are virtual commandings and we ought to follow whatsoever is praise-worthy especially in Gods account Those examples in Scripture are obligatory likewise whose ground reason scope or end are obligatory and of a moral nature and as much concern one Christian as another so here Enoch his walking with God is of a moral nature and necessarily concerns us all he is here propounded as a pattern for us that we should do the like there is in Scripture sometimes the example of caution 1 Cor. 10.5 6 11. such as were punished for sin and thus we must learn to improve the bad examples of such and make the best use of their fals and miseries for our good There is also the example of imitation such as are recorded in holy Writ for us to follow so here Enoch is set down for an example of walking with God Doct. Hence observe That all true Children of God must walk with God verse 22. of this chapter its said Enoch walked with God Genes 17.1 God said to Abram walk before me and be thou perfect Isaiah 38.3 Remember now I beseech thee O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight In handling this point I shall observe this method 1. I will shew how many wayes a Christian must walk with God 2. I shall give reasons 3. I shall teach you how to use this Point For the first head A Christian walks with God eight wayes 1. By acquainting himself with God and making his peace with him Job 22.21 Acquaint now thy self with him and be at peace thereby good shall come unto thee Amos 3.3 Can two walk together except they be agreed and the more inward with God any Christian is the closer he walks with God 2. A Christian walks with God by doing all his actions as in Gods sight and presence Psal 16.8 I have set the Lord alwayes before me Acts 2.25 I foresaw the Lord alwayes before my face whereas an Atheist thinks God sees him not and thinks to commit his wickedness close from the all-seeing eye of God 3. A Christian walks with God by referring all his actions to the glory of God 1 Corinth 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God for God made all things for his glory now when you aim at this you walk with him in aiming at the same end 4. A Christian walks with God by a strict invitation of God according to the rules of his holy Word Ephes 5.1 Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children thus he walks step by step with God and the more he resembles God the closer he walks with him 5. A Christian walks with God by daily observation of the passages of his providence towards him whether they be passages of mercy or of justice Psalm 77.11 12. I will remember the work of the Lord surely I will remember thy wonders of old I will meditate also of all thy works and talk of thy doings when a mercy comes he observes it and saith this the Lord hath sent me or if a correction be inflicted on him he saith God hath laid his hand on me 6. A Christian walks with God by having his conversation in heaven Philip. 3.20 Our conversation is in heaven for God is in heaven and he that would walk with him must ascend thither in affection and set his heart on things above 7. A Christian walks with God by frequent and fervent prayer expecting an answer to his prayers David prayed seven times in a day and Daniel three times prayer is a sweet talking with God though God be in heaven and a true Beleiver upon earth yet he can talk with God as if he was in heaven with him Yea prayer is a corner of heaven to a gracious walker with God likewise he expects a return of his prayers Psalm 85.8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak and this is a cheif part of walking with God 8. A Christian walkes with God by the life of faith Hab. 2.4 the just shall live by faith for faith is a resting upon God and his gracious promises now the faster a man adheres to God the closer he walks with him Reas The first reason is because if we walk with God then he will take us to himself when we die so it s said Enoch was not for God took him that is to heaven at our death we shall change our place but not our company walking with God is the way to heaven such as are strangers to him how can they hope to be with him its better being with God in heaven then here below David accounted that a day in the Lords Courts were better than a thousand elsewhere Oh then how infinitely far sweeter is it to be in heaven eternally then to be here on earth a few dayes as ever you desire to go to heaven when you shall depart this world walk with God whilest you live upon earth 2. Because this will be an extraordinary comfort and honour to us both here and hereafter Hebr. 11.5 By faith
of heaven gates to unlock them this is a sign of Gods great favour to you when he graciously heares and grants your suits it s a sure sign of an upright heart hating all sin Psalm 66.18 If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me verse 19. But verily God hath heard me therefore he might safely conclude he regarded not iniquity in his heart friends will say to one another you shall prevail with me sooner than others shall I will do more for you than for others doubtless its a sign you are good friends when you find good hearing and granting your prayers so our Saviour cals them friends Iohn 15.14 15. 2. You shall abide in the love of God Iohn 15.10 If ye keep my commandements ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commdements and abide in his love what greater happiness can you desire in this world you need not fear the malice and fury of devils and wicked men you need not fear famine sword pestilence poverty nor death it self whilest you abide in the love of God his loving kindness will be better to you than life for in his love is life yea it is better than wine his love will make every thing work together for your good it will sweeten crosses and want to you what if you loose your outward estate your liberty your favour with the world yea your bodily life for Christ yet your continuing in Gods love will make amends for all it will repair your losses renew your comforts establish your hearts in grace and promote you to glory you cannot be in a better condition than to abide in the love of God 3. Christ will present you glorious to God Ephes 5.26 27. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish as if he had said that he might sanctifie and cleanse it by his holy Spirit working in us by his Word and by his Sacrament of baptisme as the meanes thereof that he might present it to himself a glorious Church c. Christ presents his Church to God at three several times The first time was when he was upon the cross 1 Peter 2.24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree c. for he died for all the elect and the Lord said upon him the iniquities of them all the merit of his bloud then shed and the power of his death extends to all the elect from the beginning of the world to the end of it and God looks upon them washt with that bloud and reconciled to himself by his death The second time is from his death to the end of the world now he is interceding in heaven Rom. 8.34 Who also maketh intercession for us Christ is our intercessour four wayes 1. By appearing for us in the sight of God Hebr. 9.24 he is gone before us to prepare a place for us John 14.2 and Hebr. 6.20 Whether the fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus c. 2. By the force of his sacrifice once offered to make full satisfaction to Gods justice Hebr. 10 12 14. Christ presents his merits as a publick satisfaction for the debt of sin and as a publike price for the purchase of glory for the justice of God was not to be intreated or pacified without a satisfaction and therefore where Christ is called an Advocate he is called a propitiation too 1 Iohn 2.1 2. because he intercedes for us in the right and vertue of the price which he payed for the Lord spared not his Son Rom. 8.32 but dealt in the full rigour of his justice with him 3. By his constant will that for the merit of that sacrifice God would be pacified to wards the elect Hebr. 10.10 Iohn 17.24 4. By the assent and agreement of the Father resting in this will of his Son for us Iohn 11.42 Math. 17.5 The third time is at the day of judgement when he will say Behold I and the children which thou hast given me then the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord then Christ will say to his true Members Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world then shall true Christians have boldness in the day of judgement 1 Iohn 4.17 because as he is so are we in this world that is our hearts tell us that we desire to be every way conformable to his will labouring towards that holiness and perfection which it in him we are as Christ was in this world when by the mortification of our sins we represent Christ dying for us and by true brotherly love we come as neer to him as we can 3. I told you in the third place that Christ washeth us with his precious bloud This Use still serves to comfort all that be so washed these blessed priviledges belong to you First it s a sure sign that Jesus Christ hath loved you Revel 1.5 Vnto him that hath loved us and washed us in his own bloud If he had not loved thee he would not have washt thee this is thy great honour and comfort to be beloved of him it is a true proverb he is rich whom God loves and poor who God hates the love of Christ is better than wine it s the ground of all other comforts thou needest not fear the malice of devils and wicked men for the love of Christ can do more for thee than their malice can do against thee devils are mighty wicked men are mighty and sinnes are mighty but Christ is Almighty for he is God over all blessed for ever neither can any thing separate thee from his love Romans 8. last 2. A second priviledge is thou art a spiritual King and a Priest Revel 1.6 And hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father that is as he redeemed us by his bloud so he hath regenerated us by his Spirit 1 Iohn 5.6 and made us Kings to rule over the devil the world and the flesh and priests to offer up to God the personal sacrifice of our selves Rom. 12.1 the verbal sacrifice of praise and reall sacrifice of almes Hebr. 13.15 16. what though thy outward estate be mean and low thou art nothing set by yet thou art honourable because thou art precious in Gods sight Eccles 10.7 I have seen servants upon horses and Princes walking as servants upon the earth yet they are Princes still for the righteous though he be low and contemned is better than his rich neighbour that is wicked and leud though the world look upon thee with scorn and hatred yet God and his glorious
and abillity he makes Gods will the rule of his and his word the rule of his life God puts every godly man into a general and particular calling and teacheth him how to behave himself in these callings this makes him a man after Gods own heart as David for this cause was so called Acts 13.22 4. Because every godly man is Gods factour he lies ligier for God as Merchants have their factors beyond sea to lie ligier for them to truck and barter for them so doth every godly man for God he trades for him all he can Rom. 14.8 For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord Phillip 1.21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain that is the end and scope of my life is to honour and exalt Christ 5. Because a godly man is best fitted and prepared for Gods work and service he is one of Gods peculiar people zealous of good works Titus 2.14 Gods work is a pure and cleanly work and should be done with pure hearts and clean hands in the time of Moses Law the Priests onely might offer sacrifice and before they did it they might wash their bodies so a godly man is washt with the bloud of Christ and the grace of the holy Ghost by vertue whereof he is the fittest to do Gods work it is not for slovenly clowns to wait upon great men the work of the devil is filthy nasty and beastly wicked men delight in it and are the fittest for it 6. Because onely the heart of a godly man will bow and bend to Gods work it is a work requiring much labour and self-deniall one must stoop low to take up this burden he that loves God truly loves him with all his heart and strength onely the godly man doth this he that serves God truly is fervent in spirit serving the Lord onely the godly man doth this he that keeps Gods Commandements aright hath respect to all his Commandements and Gods Commandements are not grievous to him onely the godly man doth this The Jews say there be three hundred sixty five negative precepts in the Law according to the number of dayes in the year and two hundred forty eight affirmative commanding precepts according to the number of bones in a mans body whereby they would signifie that we must no day do those things which God hath forbidden and that with all the bones and members of our body we must do all those things which God hath commanded onely the godly man endeavours and desires to do this 7. Because God can trust none but the godly man for the godly man is the faithful man let an hypocrite have excellent parts of knowledge he will set up himself and seek his own ends as the Pharisees Mat. 6. gave almes prayed and fasted but did all to be seen of men like an idle unfaithful servant that works one hour for his master and two for himself but the godly man resolves to defend Gods cause to the utmost of his power and to bring all the glory he can to God Numb 12.7 Moses was said to be faithful in all Gods house the Martyrs would not for fear or favour of the world betray Gods cause but parted with their lives liberties and estates to glorifie Jesus Christ 8. Because none will doe Gods work so well as the godly man none have so much care to please God as he hypocrites slubber over the Lords work in prayer they draw near to God with their lips but their hearts are far from him when they hear his Word their hearts goe after their covetousness in receiving the Lords Supper they discern not the Lords body but receive onely the outward signs but a godly man prayes in prayer as Elias did James 5 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his heart is fixed with David trusting in the Lord in hearing the Word his heart burnes with holy zeal in him he will be careful and studious both to hear the Word and do it in receiving the Lords Supper he will examine himself before he eat of that bread and drink of that cup he will doe Gods work according to Gods will Vse The Uses I shall spin out of the Reasons the first reason is Because every godly man is a god-like man the first Use springing out of this Reason will be for consolation to all that be truly godly its ground of great comfort to thee that thou art like to God now thou mayest be assured of Gods dear love that he hath loved thee with an everlasting love which is better than life likeness is the cause of love this godliness is an infallible fruit of thine election and once elected alwayes beloved as earthly parents most affect those children which resemble them most so will thy heavenly Father exceedingly love thee for being so like to him the world derides and hates thee for godliness but be not dejected for godliness will be thine eternal honour and comfort 2. It may serve for admonition take heed of despising any man for being like to God for in despising him for godliness you despise God because godliness is his image Many excuse themselves and say they hate not a godly man for his godliness but for his hypocrisie I answer 1. Why doest thou not hate hypocrisie in thy self and in others who make no shew of godliness but live in hypocrisie and openly declare it 2. Godliness with some hypocrisie is better than hypocrisie without any godliness at all as corn with chaffe is better than chaffe without corn gold with dross is better than dross without gold you have more reason to love and honour them for their godliness than to hate them for hypocrisie because they hate hypocrisie and strive against it but they love godliness and labour to grow in it 3. It may serve to exhort you all to endeavour to be like to God in godliness both in heart and life Consider 1. what an honour it will be to you it will make your memories blessed when the names of the wicked shall rot very honourable and precious to this day are the names of Abraham for faith Moses for meekness Joseph for chastity Job for patience David for zeal Daniel for integrity of life Paul for love to Christ Peter and Magdalen for godly sorrow 2. Consider what a comfort it will be to your consciences when you follow God as dear children so that God is in you of a truth it was a greater comfort to blessed Hezekiah that he had walked before God in truth with a perfect heart than that he was honourable and wealthy none have so much cause to rejoyce and to be of good chear as the godly man for he is the friend of God his sins are pardoned Christ is his treasure the holy Ghost is his Comforter and heaven is his inheritance Psalm 32.11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in
heart Vse 2. I told you the second reason was because every godly man sets his heart upon God The Uses arising out of this Reason serve first for information to let us see the reason why Gods children enjoy such precious peace of conscience and rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory namely because they set their hearts on God and their entire love to him will assure them of his eternal love to them Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me now this is the principal ground of true peace and joy worldly favour makes carnal people merry outwardly and feeds them with vain hopes it makes them build Castles in the air and puts them into a fooles paradise but the assurance of Gods love fills the heart of the upright with such joy as no man can take from them John 16.22 wicked men may take their lives from them their estates from them their liberty from them but true peace and joy they cannot take from them for they set their hearts on the God of hope who fills them with joy and peace 2. It may inform us one reason why Gods children will not be drawn away from him and his wayes because their hearts are set upon God and they account it their best way to draw near to God all the wealth and honour of Egypt could not draw Moses from God and his People the King of Babylon with all his power terrour and pollicy could not make the three Children worship his Idol nor restrain Daniel from praying to God 3. It serves to exhort you all to get your hearts fixed on God let out all your love to him in as ample a manner as you can let your love be so hot as many waters cannot never quench it nor flouds drown it To move you to it consider first how infinitely amiable and perfect God is when you understand that from everlasting to everlasting he is God without beginning mutation and end strive to love this eternal God when you consider that God fils heaven and earth yea inhabiteth eternity no place can comprehend his incomprehensible essence set your selves to love this omni-present God when you see how easily powerfully and wisely God made heaven and earth with all things else strive to love this omnipotent God when you see how God pitties releives and succours his people in their misery and gives them help in their time of need O set your heartiest love upon this merciful God 2. Consider how eternally and unchangeably he hath loved thee Jerem. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love before thou wast born he loved thee yea when thou wast his enemy he loved thee and he will love thee for ever nothing in this world nor in the world to come shall separate thee from his love 3. Consider what comfort thou shalt have by loving God 1 John 4.16 God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him happy is that soul that hath such a guest for God will make any place a heaven to it Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me thy true love to him will assure thee of his love to thee which worldly wealth and honour cannot do Psalm 91.14 Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him God will be thy defence against danger he will be a wall of fire about thee Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God nothing shall fall out amiss to thee but God by his wisdom and power will give thee an holy comfortable use of all mercies with an holy use of and a comfortable issue out of all miseries Vse 3 I told you the third Reason was because the godly man indeavours to do every thing that God commands him The Uses springing out of this reason serve first to inform us the reason why the godly man is a man after Gods own heart namely because he sets himself to do all Gods will for this cause David was so called Acts 13.22 I have found David the son of Jesse a man after mine own heart which shall fulfil all my will O that every one of us had an heart to do all Gods will then we should be such as God would have us to be a hypocrite doth but some part of Gods commands therefore he is not a man after Gods own heart 2. It informes us one Reason is why God so willingly heares and grants the prayers of his people that is because they indeavour to do all Gods commands 1 John 3.22 And whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandement and do those things which are pleasing in his sight Humanity teacheth friends to grant one anothers suits when they please one another much more will the God of nature grace and glory graciously answer the prayers of his people that study to please him 2. It serves to exhort us to endeavour to do all that God requires us to do Motives 1. All his commands are holy just and good Rom. 7.12 Prov. 30 5. Every word of God is pure though carnal nature may cavil against some of Gods commands because they crosse it yet there is no defect in them but the Law of the Lord is perfect 2. To do all Gods will is the ready way to prosperity Job 36.11 If they obey and serve him they shall spend their dayes in prosperity and their yeares in pleasures God is the best Master to serve his work is the best and his pay is the best And above all Gods commandements I exhort you all to keep the Lords day holy because he in the fourth Commandement bids us remember to keep it holy 2. Because in Isaiah 58.13 14. he makes it an excellent way of honouring him and promiseth spiritual and temporal prosperity to such as do it but if that place be meant of an extraordinary Sabbath that is a fast appointed by man then doubtless the Lord would have us much more keep holy the ordinary Sabbath appointed by God If any object Col. 2.16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an holy day or of the new moon or of the Sabbath dayes verse 17. which are a shadow of things to come c. I answer he meanes he would not have them observe the Jewish ceremonial Sabbaths of dayes as the three great feasts Passover Pentecost and Tabernacles and the feast of blowing the trumpets and the feast of expiation he would not have them observe the Sabbath of yeares which was every seventh year Levit. 25,4 5 6. nor the Sabbath of sevens of years the Jubile verse 8 9 10 11. which returned every fiftieth year but he speaks not here of the Sabbath day that is morall 1. Because the word is in the plural number Sabbaths 2. If he had meant the moral Sabbath and consequently the Lords day now observed then it would follow that it is unlawful to observe the
Lords day now under the Gospel for an holy Sabbath to God because he saith Let no man judge or condemne you in meat or drink c. where Paul shews that we are delivered from the bondage of the observation as of meats so now of Sabbaths But such as oppose the morality of the Sabbath hold it not unlawful to observe a Sabbath now but onely indifferent and arbitrary likewise the Apostles kept the Lords day John 20.19 Acts 20 7. 1 Cor. 16.2 therefore the Sabbath day was mutable from the last day to the first day of the week and that by the authority and power of Christ for he is Lord of the Sabbath and he onely hath power to appoint and change it which it is like he opened to his Disciples Acts 1.3 or if the Apostles altered it they did it by authority and direction from him for Christ promised John 16.13 the Spirit should guide them into all truth therefore into this truth the Sabbath was not cerimonial for the word ceremony comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cherem which is a thing consecrated and devoted to God typifying something to be accomplished in the new Testament but the Sabbath day was no type of the Lords day Paul said the Jewish Sabbaths were shadows but the body is of Christ Col. 2.17 or else the word ceremony comes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because ceremonies were to indure but for a time therefore remember to keep holy the Sabbath day now called the Lords day and God will blesse you with great prosperity and comfortable success the week following Vse 4. I told you the fourth Reason was because every godly man is Gods factor the Use arising out of this Reason serves to exhort you all to lie ligier for God be his faithful factors Motives 1. Consider God hath few godly servants in many places Psalm 12 1. Help Lord for the godly man ceaseth for the faithful fail from among the children of men and where they be wanting Satans followers sow the tares of errour and impiety from the dayes of the Prophet Malachy until the birth of Christ were four hundred and fifty yeares during which time the Jews had no extraordinary holy Prophet to guide them then sprang up the three sects of Pharisees Sadduces and Essenes 2. Consider how many trade for Satan in most places many swear oathes few fear oathes many prophane the Sabbath few keep it holy many hate and persecute holiness in Christians few do love and honour them for it Christ hath been persecuted three wayes 1. In his person when he lived upon earth we read how his enemies abused him many times 2. In his name for three hundred yeares after his ascention such as bare the name of Christians suffered much misery during the ten persecutions under those bloudy Emperours of Rome 3. For the power of godliness is Christ persecuted in his members and that is now adayes for our enemies Papists and Protestants at large put on a form of godliness and would be accounted Christians but the life of God the power of godliness they hate in the righteous and persecute their persons for it 3. God gives you gifts of knowledge and grace for this end to trade for him imploy your talents diligently for your heavenly Masters honour and at your death he will say Well done good and faithful servant c. Vse 5. I told you the fift Reason was because the godly man is best fitted and prepared for Gods work The Use springing out of this Reason serve first for comfort to the truly godly For first you shall find God ready to save succour and defend you in time of distress Psalm 32.6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found surely in the flouds of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him and though thine enemies be mighty to wrong thee yet God is Almighty to protect thee Three kinds of afflictions Gods children meet with here first corrections or chastisements which God inflicts upon them for their sins next are trials which God inflicteth on them to try the truth of their graces as he dealt with Job Last are persecutions when God suffers wicked men to abuse them for holiness yet God in his wisdom useth these three kinds of afflictions to drive them farther from sin as Ionathan shot three Arrows to warn David to beware of Saul 1 Sam. 20.20 2. You have the promises of this and a better life you are heires of them and they are your portion Hebr. 6.17 and they are a worthy portion 1 Tim 48. Godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 2. It may serve to exhort you all to labour to be fitted for your heavenly Masters use and prepared to every good work the way and meanes is in 2 Tim. 2.21 If a man therefore purge himself from this c. that is from these cursed heresies and corrupt teachers and keep himself unspotted from the world by the grace of the holy Ghost dwelling in him then he shall be a vessel unto honour be like the Sun whose body stayes in the heaven yet his light shines upon earth neither can any stinking dunghil on which it shines infect it live so purely that such as be without may in time honour and affect thee for thy vertue not infect thee with their vice Vse 6. I told you the sixt Reason was because onely the heart of a godly man will bow and bend to do God his work The Uses arising out of this Reason serve first to reprove the pride and stubbornness of such hearts as will not bow and bend to do Gods work but say as the Jews to Ieremiah Jer. 44.16 As for the word that thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee these pray in the Lords Prayer Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven yet in their lives they set themselves to do their own wils and to cross Gods will what cursed dissembling hypocrites are these they cry out of Gods service what a weariness is it they think his service an irksome yoke an intolerable burden but these that will not obey Gods word shall feel his power 2. It may serve to exhort you all to bow and bend heartily to do Gods work withdraw not your shoulder from it but be forward to do it with all your might think it not too mean for it is the work of God think it no loss or prejudice to do it for God will reward thee Directions to help you 1. Set your love exceedingly upon God and it will be your meat to do his will and finish his work love makes labours light indeavour to be able to say truly as the Prophet Psalm 73.26 My flesh and my heart faileth that is for love of the Lord of the same sense with the Churches speech in Canticles