lawfull and not gainsaid by higher authority and shall we refuse to obey the Divine and heavenly precept of the Lord whose will the creatures readily fulfill although it thwart and crosse the order of nature fire ceasing to burne lions laying aside their ravening disposition waters becomming unpaflable an asse speaking ravens officiously serving a Prophet and those swift runners in the firmament standing still the one upon Gibeon the other in the valley of Aijalon and shall we disobey an edict so just and profitable of a God so gracious and powerfull 2. Will the adventurous Merchant seeke for pearles the resolute souldier for honourable conquest hardly if ever attained And shall we neglect to seeke the Lord so easily found if rightly sought 3. Are all such lyable to the dreadfull wrath of God who neglect this duty And shall we incurre such fearefull plagues 4. Are the Lords gracious promises so ample and rich His rewards graunted to such as seeke him unspeakable for number and valuation And shall we refuse them No no since the Lord hath commanded us by his authority then which none more Soveraigne to do a thing neither impossible nor difficult the neglect whereof being perillous the performance whereof being very profitable we resolve hereafter through the assistance of his grace although worldly men with desires insatiable as hell seeke for either new-fangled toyes as the fantastique fashion-monger excessive dainties as the gourmandising glutton undeserved renowne as the ambitiously insolent earthly pelfe as the dunghill Mammonist or such like idle and unprofitable if not hurtfull things to seeke the saving knowledge of God of absolute necessity of excellent dignity and unspeakable utility to seeke the love and favour of God being both free and great tender everlasting and unparalel'd by obeying him So will we seeke that we may know him that knowing we may obey him that knowing and obeying we may enjoy him That thus seeking to please to pacifie and possesse we may obtaine and enjoy this fellowship with the Father CHAP. XII The seventh Meanes and Duty is sanctifying the Lords Day HAve we or desire we fellowship with the Father If 7. Meanes Duty we have declare it if we desire it seeke it By keeping Gods Sabbath choosing the thing which pleaseth God taking hold on his Covenant serving the Lord c. That all these are markes and duties of such who have fellowship with the Father and meanes for such to use who desire to get or keepe communion with the Father The Lord himselfe by the mouth of his servant Isaiah doth sufficiently declare 56. 3. In which chapter is contained a pre-occupation or removing of a secret objection or inward temptation made by the pious Proselites and godly Eunuches against themselves the former objecting separation from Gods people the latter their miserable estate the Law cursing the impotent and childlesse To which objection the Lord himselfe makes answer in which he plainely doth prohibite such reasonings and disputings and interdict such imaginations and collections let them not say and promise better and greater prerogatives then those which they wanted So bee that these strangers and Eunuchs were such who had joyned themselves to the Lord ver 3. and declared this conjunction by these practises of piety ver 4. 6. and therefore I may safely and warrantably adde to those former meanes markes and duties these following The keeping therefore of the Lords Sabbath is a signe and meanes of mans communion with God Although then there were many Sabbaths of the Lord called his to shew Justin cals it the day of the sunne because he writes to the Gentiles saith Wallaus Instinus diem solis appellat quia ad Gentiles scribit Wal. cap. 7. p. 147. Qui dies solis a profanis Dominicus a Sanctu dicebatâ—r Beza in 1 Cor 16. 1. Qui oliâ— dies solis nunc dominicuâ— dicitur Jdem Iun. Trem. bib who was the author of them and to what end and use ordained and to distinguish them from Idols Sabbaths or feasts of false gods or divels viz. 1. Eternall celestiall and glorious 2. Temporall and typicall which were shaddowes of the other Which temporall were some of yeares some of weekes and some of dayes yet in regard that onely of daies of the temporall is now remaining I purpose to confine my selfe to that And passing over those ceremoniall and Iewish Sacrifices which are wholly ceased as 2 lambes of a yeare old without blemish 2 tenth deales of fine floure mingled with oyle and one drinke offering thereof Numb 28. 9 â—0 I will onely point at some of these substantiall and morall duties which God once commanded and never since forbad Call the day what you please neither am I scrupulous or contentious about words 1. Either Sunday which is an ordinary Name of the day Dies Luâ—â— Diâ—s Maâ—tâ— name of the day as Munday c. for the rest of the daies Saint Luke calling a certaine hill in Athens Mars hill Acts 17. 19. 2. Or the first day of the weeke as Saint Paul doth 1. Cor. 16. 1. 3. Or the Lords day because the Lord then Cannon 13. Tertul. lib de corona â—ilitis c. 3. Cyprian Epist 36. ad Fidum de infanâ—ib bab p. 231. Priâ—us dominicus Propterea quod Dominus a morte ad vitam redierit dominicus appellatur T. 1. p. 105. 5. in Psal 118. rose as Saint Iohn Rev. 1. 9. The Canons of our Church our pious statutes made concerning this day in the reigne of our gracious Soveraigne King CHARLES This day was called the day of the sunne by the prophane the Lords day of the Saints saith Beza It was in time past called the day of the sun now it 's called the Lords day saith Beza So Tertullian saith Cyprian and others and the ancient Fathers as Chrysostome because the Lord in it returned from death to life it is called the Lords day 4. Or the Sabbath which name is used and is not Iewish 1. The name being morall not ceremoniall 2. It lively expressing the nature of the day 3. The rest being perpetuall therefore the name may although our Lords day hath not that name in the new Testament For 1. our Saviour could not speake of it at all it not being till his Resurrection And the Apostles called it the first day the Lords day for distinction sake the better to be understood not abolishing it therfore I hope I taxing no man for calling it by the name of Sunday none will fault me if I stile it the Lords day I having Statute Canon and divine law to warrant me And be intreated to keepe the day holy by doing such duties which remaine to be performed of us under the Gospell This keeping being a meanes of mans communion with God In that it is an occasion and meanes of hearing Gods Word whereby faith commeth and also of receiving the Sacraments and using of Prayer whereby we draw neere to God I will onely
and that concisely point at some of the Lords daies duties I handling them now onely by way of use to another doctrine That we may keepe the Sabbath or the Lords day we must observantly take notice of the negative and affirmative precepts Negative precisely prohibiting the doing of any manner of works 1. Servile wherein we serve our selves not God therefore all sinfull actions of body and soule for although these are strictly forbidden euery day yet it is a greater sin to do them upon this day it offering fewer vrging or alluring provocations and affording more helps and Per voceâ—â—pus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non intelliguntur directè opera hominum vitiosa quia ea nunquam conceduntur sed opera servilia a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 servirâ— per qua scilicet â—â—â—squisque pro ratione vocationis suae victum exâ—rcet c. Wallaeus de 4. precep pag. 7. meanes against them 2. All workes of minde or body needlesse or unnecessary By the word Thou shalt doe no manner of worke are not understood the vitious workes of men because they are never permitted but servile workes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying to serve by which every one by reason of his vocation doth pursue his living saith Wallaeus But least I should wander in so wide and spacious a field I will therefore shew you what others which I have read say and then give mine answer onely to some questions Omnis Christi amator Dominicum celebret Diem Diem resurrectioni consecratum Dominicae Reginam Principem Dierum omnium in quà vita c. Epist 3. ad Magnefianos Die vero qui Dominicus vocatur quem Hebraei primum vocant Graeci autem Soli distribuunt qui ante septimum est sancivit a judicijs alijsque causis universos habere vacationem in eo tantum orationibus occupari Honorabat sc Constantinus autem Dominicum Diem quia in eo Christus resurrexit à mortuis Sozomen Histor Eccl. Tripart lib. 1. Cap. 10. pag. 275. Dominicum ergò Diem Apostoli Apostolici viri ideò religiosâ solemnitate habendum sanxerunt quià in eodem Redemptor noster à mortuis resurrexit quique ideò Dominicus appellatur ut in eo à terrenis operibus vel mundi illecebris abstinentes tantuÌ„ Diviniâ— cultibus sErviamus ipse est primus dies seculi in ipso formatasuÌ„t elementa muÌ„di in ipso creati sunt Angeli in ipso quoque resurrexit à mortuis Christus c. Serm. 251. dâ— tempore Videâ—mus ne sed diâ—i dominici sequestrati a rurali opere ab omni negotio soli divinâ— cultui vacemus Ibid. Neque venatione se occupet diabolico mancipetur officio cirumvagando campos sylvas clamorem cachinnum ore exaltans Ibid. Tunc ipsi foris aut causas dicere aut diversis student calumnijs impugnare aut videlicet in alea vel in jocis inutilibus insidiari quatenus unus punctus diâ—i ad dei officium reliquum diurnum spatium cum nocte simul ad eorum deputetur vâ—luptates Idem Ibid. Melius vtique toto die foderent quam toto die saltarent Con. 1. part 1. in Psal 32. Melius enim arare quam saltare in Sabbato illi ab opere bono vacant opere nugatorio non vacant in titul Psal 91. Non hoc autem solum ratione aptum est tempus ad benignitatem prompto alacri animo exercendam sed quod habet quietem remissionem immunitatemque vacationem a laboribus Chrys Tom. 4. pag. 545. in 1. Cor. Homil. 45. Primo die qui dominicus appellatur celebres Magistri ac doctores Sancti patres nostri nobis canendum Psallendum centesimum decimum octanum Psalmum tradiderunt T. 1. Pag. 1055. Ignatius that ancient Bishop of Antioch in his 3. Epistle which is none of his 5. counterfeit Epistles saith Let every one that loveth Christ keep the Lords Day which is the Queene of dayes in which death is overcome and life is sprung up in Christ Renowned Constantine ordained as followeth That day which is called the Lords Day which the Hebrewes call the first day which the Grecians attribute to the Sun which is before the 7. day he ordained that all should cease from suits and other businesses and to be only occupied in prayers upon it and indeed hee did honour the Lords Day because in it Christ rose from the dead St. Augustine saith the Lords Day the Apostles and Apostolicall men have ordained with religious holinesse to be kept because in the same our Redeemer rose from the dead and therefore is called the Dominicall or Lords Day that in it we may onely attend on the Divine Service this is the first Day of the world in it were created the elements and the Angels upon this Day Christ rose and the holy Ghost was given Manna first descended from heaven upon this day And againe Being sequestred from all rusticall works and businesse wee give our selves wholly to the worship of God Neither let him busie himselfe in hunting and enthrall himself in any devillish work in wandering about the fields and woods making a loud noise and laughter c. And in the same Sermon reprooving certaine disorders on the Lords day hee saith Then scil in the time of the publique worship of God without doores they tel tales or study to fight against others by slanders or to take great paines at dice or other unprofitable sports as if one period of the day was set apart to the service of God and the rest of the day and the night to their own pleasures The same father saith thus in one place They might better digge all the day then dance all the day And in another place It is better to plow then to dance upon the Sabbath they rest from a good worke rest not from a vaine and triffing work And S. Chrysostome speaking of the fitnesse of this day for workes of mercy saith It is a fit time to practise liberality with a ready and willing mind not only in this regard but also because it hath rest ceasing freedome and vacation from labours And in another place he saith Our reverend teachers and instructers our holy fathers have given us the 118. Psalme to sing the first day which is called the Lords day Leo the first commanded Sunday to bee kept holy And that all Christians should behave themselves godly and vertuously all the day long in preaching hearing and remembring the Word of God visiting the sicke and poore and comforting the comfortlesse Leo the third at a Counsell in Ments decreed that Sundaies should be kept holy with all reverence and that all men should abstaine those daies from all servile worke and worldy businesse and that there should be no faires markets or any buying or selling on the Sundaies I have read that in a Counsell at Nice order
for a seeming heaven as the cooke who exacted of a poore man money for being refreshed by the smell of his meates was awarded to heare the chinking of silver in a bason for payment Man cannot abide unfaithfull dissemblers much lesse can the searcher of all hearts Sincerity is commanded 1 Tim. 1. 5. And highly commended He who doth Gods will for by-respects offereth beautifull sinnes He Splendida peccata who doth any thing to satisfie his own will serves himselfe He who doth any thing commanded by God dissemblingly offereth hypocriticall and damn'd obedience His rich almes not worth the widowes two mites His Pharisaicall prayers not comparable to one publicans groane This is but a livelesse carcasse or a breathlesse painted picture Be not therefore dissembling hypocrites in doing the will of God like roguish Players who oft are Kings in countenance knaves in condition Or like painted Idols which looke like men being but senselesse wood or stone Dissembling hypocrites by their jugling tricks of dissembling professe themselves Gods servants yet are the Divels factours serving the world and Sathan in Gods stead and therefore an hypocrite is altogether a seemer of that he is not seeming to have grace which he wants not to have vice which he hath But do the will of God faithfully and sincerely and declare the same 1. By doing all you do for Gods sake sc because he hath commanded them and doth approve them avoiding evill for the Lords sake because he hath forbidden it and detests it not for by-respects or sinister aimes 2. By being universall in your obedience In regard of matter doing all good commanded shunning all evill forbidden In regard of time not altering with the times In regard of company and place remaining the same in all societies like Ioseph in Aegypt Daniel in Babylon and Paul in bands and in all places at home as abroad in private as in publique 3. Timely so Salomon commands Eccl. 12. 1. And this you shall find needfull if you ponder advisedly That 1. God requires the nonage aswell as the dotage the wine of our time aswell as the lees as we may see tipified to us in the first fruits which were dedicated to the Lord Exod. 13. 2. 22. 29. And good reason for if the Prophet must be served before the widow although her owne 1 Kings 17. 13. Then it must needs be fit and reasonable to serve the Lord before even our selves we our time and what we have being all his 2. Sinne by continuance will disable from doing Gods will Iob 11. 20. His bones are full of the sinne of his youth which shall lie downe with him in the dust Ierem. 13. 23. Can a Leopard change his spots Spots are deeper rooted by continuance Wooll once throughly blacke is capable of no Quo semel est imbut recent servabit odorem Testa diù Hot. Ep. 2. ad Lolium lib. 11 other colour 3. Timely is profitable Prov. 22. 6. Traine up a child c. Lam. 3. 27. Good to beare from youth Marc. 10. 21. Christ loved him 4. The contrary is hurtfull For 1. Meanes now injoyed may be missing 2. And how can such looke for love from God Can a husband embrace that wife in old age who all her young time hath followed strangers Will a master at night give daily pay to him who all the day hath serv'd his enemy If we reserve the dregs of our dayes for him how can we but expect that he should reserve the drogs of the cup of his wrath for us 3. Sin may prevent it growing stronger deeper rooted by continuance and more lovely and sweet by customary acquaintance 4. And death may prevent you You are resolved to do Gods wil before you die doe it therefore to day for you may die before tomorrow You are now alive and lives like but what know you how neare death is to you Perhaps you shall not live till Isaacs age untill your eyes waxe dimbe through yeares for you may die in your young time aswell as the young man in the Gospell the children of David and Ieroboam Perhaps you shall not die upon your beds like old Iacob calling your friends about you For you may die in the field aswell as good Abel In the Temple aswell as great Senacherib Vpon your seates aswell as old Ely Delay not therefore And why would you reserve such old lame and sicke sacrifices for God Your old Seuen instituere est mortuum cur are Diog. An age I man is but a moving Anatonne or a living mortuarie age onely which is not teachable Your old age when you shal be men and no men having eyes yet scarce seeing eares yet scarce hearing feet yet scarce able to go Is it because young Saints prove old Divels soone ripe soone rotten too hote cannot continue If these occasion you thus to doe they deceive you Young seeming Saints onely prove old Divels And it is absurdity to desire temperance of mediocrity M. Nath. Brent Hist Trent pag. 667. in the best things which are so much the better by how much the bigger saith a learned Writer 4. Continually thus we are commanded counselled and to this we are incouraged in holy Scripture Mat. 24. 13. Ioh. 8. 31. Ro. 2. 7. 2 Tim. 4. 7 16. Rev. 2. 10. What dost thou meane thou wretched Apostate who hast beene but now art not a doer of Gods will Thy good beginnings not being continued benefit not Math. 10. 22. Sathan was an Angell of light Saul Demas Iudas and Iulian began well And thou hast lost all thy former labour Ezek. 18. And made thine estate worse then if thou hadst never knowne the way of righteousnesse 1 Pet. 2. 21. Heb. 8. 9. 10. Math. 12. 45. What dost thou meane thou time-server whose goodnesse Religion and worship of God is pin'd upon other mens backs Like the Israelites whose piety depended upon their Elders Iudg. 2. Or young King Ioash whose devotion was much led by good Iehojada 2 Kings 12. 2. These Elders and this Iehojada dying the Religion of the forenamed much decayed So thou wilt seeme good with the good be bad with the bad an Atheist Si sueris Roma Romano vivito more Si sueris alibi vivito more loct Aug. Ep 86. with Atheists a Papist with Papists religious with the religious Like the Starre Mercury applying it selfe to the Planet next it Or like a tree which is reported to open and spread its leaves when any comes to it and shut them at their departure from it Thou mutable Camelion and turning weather-cocke certaine in nothing but uncertainty Little dost thou consider that such aguish fits betoken a sicke soule these flashes are notes of a darke heart backwards and forwards up and downe will never get to thine intended journeyes end To be driven about with contrary winds will not obtaine a safe arrivall at the wished haven But ô you holy ones the children of our Father doe you avoid
and from former signes and sense of Gods favour Of graces some are principall and absolutely necessary to salvation as faith hope love these may be lessened decayed and covered in regard of operation Psal 51. 10. Create in me a new heart Some are lesse principall yet requisite and very profitable as the feeling of Gods favour chearefulnesse in prayer joy in the Holy Ghost which lesser graces may be quite lost for a time Me thinkes such like considerations as these following may sufficiently incourage all of this society against feare of not continuing in the love and favour of God 1. Such are the gifts of God the Father to his onely Sonne Christ Iesus Which Donatives he will not lose Iohn 6. 39. Neither shall any take them out of his hands 10. 28. 2. Such are the precious purchase of the invaluable bloud of the immaculate Lambe the Sonne of God more worth then millions of worlds Acts 20. 28. Things dearely bought are dearely beloved dearely beloved are carefully kept and not willingly lost 3. Such have Christ Iesus praying for them Luke â—â— 32. That their faith faile not Iohn 17. 9. That his Father would keepe them Verse 11. from the evill one Verse 24. Heb. 7. 25. That they may be with Christ 4. Such are kept by the invincible power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. 5. To such the Lord hath promised and his promises are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. eternall life 1 Iohn 2. 24. 6. Such are sealed by the Spirit of God to the day of redemption Eph. 4. 30. Therefore it is as possible 1. For Iesus Christ that invincible Lion of the Tribe of Iuda victoriously conquering sinne Sathan death and damnation 2. For the Lord of Hosts whose hosts and armies are all creatures from the most contemptible flyes and lice to the mightiest Angels whose omnipotencie is such that he effecteth what he will all things being alike possible to him It 's as possible I say for the Sonne and Father to be overcome as for the Saints being kept and preserved by them both 3. It 's as possible for Gods decree to suffer mutation and change and so for that Lambes Booke of Life for so is the Decree of Gods Election called continually to be mutilate subject alwayes to defacing by having the names of some of Gods Elect blotted out of the same and yet there is no variablenesse with the Lord nor the least shadow of changing Iam. 1. 17. 4. For the ingraven seale of Gods sanctifying Spirit to be blotted out and so to be more uncertaine then those of the Medes and Persians 5. For the inestimable bloud of the immaculate Lambe Christ Iesus to be as water spilt upon the earth 6. For the purest and most prevailing prayers that ever ascended to the Lord of Sabbaths the meritorious petitions of Gods owne Sonne to be of no force and yet the Prayers of one righteous man availeth if it be fervent Iames 5. 17. 7. For Gods promise to be unfaithfull as for those who have fellowship with the Father to fall from grace finally totally But the one therefore the other are altogether impossible I know the Prophet Ezek. 18. 24. saith when the righteous Ob. c. But as Mr. Yates and others say well Those words are a commination or warning to keepe the elect from falling to make the reprobate inexcusable 2. The words are generally spoken to all in the Church therefore the worser part may fall away â—his ad Casarem pag 110. Zanch. Tom. 7. page 340 341. Contra Rem in Collat. Hagien Thes 5. 3. They are conditionall like Rom. 8. 13. Luke 19. 40. Scriptures and reasons against this are learnedly answered by Mr. Bernard in his Rhens against Rome When therefore that roaring Lyon who seekes by all meanes to devoure shall use such like temptations against the assurance of thy perseverance as these following O thou who hast fellowship with the Lord and so furnished with true saving faith thou art mutable fraile and weake 2. Thou art uncertaine of thy salvation 3. Thy first parents in Paradise could not stand 4. Their strongest Children have fallen witnesse David Salomon Paul Peter c. and dost thou thinke to continue Thine enemies are not few but many not meane but mighty not malecontent alone but also malicious not tractable but truculent not lither but laborious not simple but subtile not negligent but vigilant and dost thou dreame of perseverance Enliven thy selfe after this or the like manner I confesse mine owne imbecillitie the fall of my first parents in Paradise in their innocency and their posteritie neither am I ignorant of the number nature and properties of mine enemies What then Must I therefore of necessitie fall away No such matter 1. I am weake and seeble True But I doe not rest upon my selfe but upon the Lord who keeps me who is greater then all neither is any able to pluck me out of my Fathers hands Iohn 10. 29. 2. I am uncertaine But how In regard of my selfe but God hath established me in Christ 2 Cor. 1. 21. 3. Neither did Adam stand in innocency nor Sathan in glory True they stood by their owne strength so do not I by Christ I stand and am kept by the power of God to salvation 4. The strongest of Adams posterity have fallen yet not finally Peter was winnowed Paul buffeted But they rose againe their faith did not faile Gods grace was sufficient for them Winnowed I may be buffeted I may be overcome can I not be for my life is hid with Christ in God 5. Mine enemies are many yet more with me then against mee 2 Reg. 6. 6. They are malicious But God is mercifull They are not so strong but God is more strong and although they are watchfull yet I know to my comfort that he that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleepe and therefore I shall continue Moreover 1. Since it is Gods will to save me Iohn 6. 39. 2. And Gods will shal be done Psal 115. 3. For he can do what he will although he will not doe all he can 4. Since the faithfull formerly beleeved this 2 Tim. 1. 12. For I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I have committed to him against that day 4. â—8 Will preserve me c. 5. And warrantably The Apostles and Prophets preaching it 2 Tim. 2. 10. The foundation of God standeth sure having this seale the Lord knoweth who are his 6. Since the gifts and callings of God are without repentance Rom. 11. 29. And so the graces of God are irrevocable in regard of the seed substance and habite of them although not in regard of the actions fruits feeling measure and degrees Psal 51. 9 10 11 12 1â— 7. Since the Lord will finish and perfect his workes of grace once begun Phil. 1. 6. 8. Since in a word I have fellowship with the Father and so intimate that he vouchsafeth to dwell