time of this distresse did he trespasse yet more against the Lord This is that King Ahaz XLV PROPOSITION As the sanctifying and religious observing of the Sabbath day doeth not exempt and excuse Christians from the performance of some religious duties upon the sixe working daies as it hath beene shewed and proved above Proposit 7. so neither doeth the performance of some religious duties on the sixe working daies morning and evening usually and at other times of the day or whole daies occasionally give any exemption or liberty unto them from their sanctifying oâ— the Sabbath day wholly But they are bound to keepe the Sabbath day holy both in a forbearance of all civill works recreations and also in an applying of themselves to pious services throughout the day either in publick or private or secret as occasion and opportunity serveth PROOF This is the maine scope of the fourth commandement of the Decalogue Exod. 20.8 10. Remember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy In it thou shalt not doe any worke thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter nor thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant c. And thus the godly have been wont to approve themselves both in the old and new Testament See this in the religious Eunuchs and sons of strangers who kept Gods Sabbath and did not pollute it Isaiah 56.4 6. The Apostle John being in the Isle called Patmos was in the spirit or spiritually exercised on the Lords day Revel 1.10 The disciples at Troas observed the first day of the weeke or Lords day comming together to the word and Sacrament and conversing therein throughout the day I. REAS. Because the Lord hath blessed and hallowed the Sabbath day unto religious exercises and propounded his owne example to be a president herein See Exod. 20.11 And he rested the seventh day Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it II. REAS. Because such families as keepe the Sabbath day holy doe thereby declare themselves to be the people of God forâ— hallowing the Sabbath is an indicant signe of acknowledgment of respect unto the affirmative parts of the three first commandements of the first Table viz. of having the Lord to be ones God and worshipping and honouring him c. See Ezek. 20.19 20. I am the Lord your God walke in my Statuteâ— keepe my Iudgments doe them And hallâ—â— my Sabbaths and they shal be a signe betweeneâ— and you that ye may know that I am the Lorâ— your God III. REAS. Because the Lord hath made very precious promises to all such as doe conscionably keepe and sanctify the Sabbath day See Isa 58.13 14. If thou turne away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine owne waies nor finding thine owne pleasure nor speaking thine owne words Then shalt thou delight thy selfe in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth anâ— feede thee with the heritage of Jacob thâ— father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it This goodnesse of God shoulâ— prevaile with his people to feare him anâ— keepe his commandements See Hos 3.5 IV. REAS. Because of the severity of God against profaners and breakers of the Sabbath day manifested by his threatning and executing of punishments See Jerem. 17.27 But if you will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath day and not to beare a burden even entring in at the gates of Ierusalem on the Sabbath day then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof and it shall devoure the palaces of Ierusalem and it shall not be quenched Exod. 35.2 Whosoever doeth worke therein shal be put to death Numb 15.36 And all the Congregation brought him the Sabbath breaker without the campe and stoned him with stones and he died as the Lord commanded Moses This terrour of the Lord should perswade men See 2 Cor. 5.11 I. OBSERV The law of the Sabbath day is one of the ten commandements Exod. 34.28 It is one of the lawes of nature written in mens hearts that sufficient time be taken unto Gods solemne worship which God according to his infinite wisdome hath appointed determined shal be one of seven See Rom. 2.14 15. Eccles 3.1 compar Exod. 20.10 11. Act. 20.7 II. OBSERV The doing of the works of piety mercy and necessity on the Sabbath day in a due way are not any breach or profanation of the day but rather such duties as ought to be done which doe also tend to the sanctifying thereof as being agreeabâ—â— to the minde of God who is the Lord 〈◊〉 the Sabbath day and will have mercy anâ— not sacrifice inasmuch as he made the Sabbath for man and not man for the Sabbath See Math. 12.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Mark 2 2â— Luk. 13.15 16. III. OBSERV It is a vaine sinfull pretence of Anabaptists and Libertines that iâ— these daies of the Gospell our Christian lâ—berty freeth us from the strict observation of any one day of the weeke unto the Lord more then any other of the sixe pretending that every day ought to be a Sabbath day to Christians alledging and objecting Coloss 2.16 Hebr. 4.10 in defence of their errour and so for want of understanding learning and stability doe wrest these other places in the Apostle Pauls Epistles to their owne destruction as the Apostle Peter sheweth 2 Pet. 3.15 16. The text Coloss 2.16 Let no man therefore judge you in meate or in drinke or in respect of an holy day or of the new Moone or of the Sabbath daies is to be understood of Jewisâ— festivities in their severall kindes and not of the morall Sabbath day But if the morall Sabbath day be at all meant then it is only in respect of observing the last day of the weeke sith the first day of the weeke was now appointed to be observed for the Sabâ—ath day in the daies of the new Testament â—ee Act. 20.7 1 Corinth 16.2 Revel 1.10 The text Hebr. 4.10 For he that is entred â—nto his rest he also hath ceased from his owne â—orke as God did from his is to be understood â—ouching the state condition of the people â—f God that did live and were under the old Testament aswell as of their state that doe â—ive and are under the new Testament and â—herefore ought not to be restrained unto â—hese daies and times of the Gospell For so â—he scope and coherence of the text doeth â—asily and plainly make manifest to any considerate and judicious reader thereof XLVI PROPOSITION The religious duties and services which Christian families ought to observe and attend on the Sabbath day are cheifly those which ought to be performed conversed in in the publick and solemne assemblies of the Church or Congregation assembled together to such end PROOF The members of the Church at Troas and other brethren occasion there assembled on
on thy Name This propheticall imprecation is as a prediction 〈◊〉 way of threatning and it implieth that families that call not on Gods Name are like unto the heathen and shall with them partake in the sense of Gods wrath and displeasure Now it wil be found a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God who is a consuming fire See Hebr. 10. vers 31. 12. vers 29. I. REAS. Because a neglect or contempt of calling on the Lords Name and serving him is a signe and token of atheistic all folly and wickednes See Psal 14. vers 1 4. compared together viz. The foole hath said in 〈◊〉 heart there is no God They call not upon 〈◊〉 Lord. Yea such neglect and contempt aâ—gueth not only some guiltinesse but also 〈◊〉 high degree of atheisme and desperate pâ—â—fanesse as may be observed in Pharaoh Kiâ—â— of Egypt See Exod. 5.2 And Pharaoh sâ—â—â— Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice II. REAS. Because such families as câ—â— not on Gods Name are most pernicioâ—â— hurtfull enimies to the Church and Sâ—â—â— in which they doe abide and inhabite 〈◊〉 being meanes what in them lieth of thâ— ruine and destruction thereof and so dâ—â— expose themselves to the deserved punishments of destroyers and murtherers Jereâ— 10.25 Powre out thy fury upon the fâ—milies that call not on thy Name for thâ—â— have eaten up Jacob and devoured him and consumed him and have made hâ—â— habitation desolate OBSERV All Christian families are 〈◊〉 alike convinced perswaded touching thâ— necessity nature and maner of performanâ—â— of family-duties every day both morniâ—â— and evening as it may fare with them iâ— other cases through their dulnesse of heâ—ring See Hebr. 5.11 12. Yet such as are perfect ought to be minded according to thâ— demonstration above declared if in soâ—â— particulars therein some families are otherwise minded God shall reveale this unto them walking by the same rule and minding the same thing so farre as they have already attained See Philip. 3.15 16. But if any family among the people of God have a â—oot that beareth gall wormwood whose hearts turne away from the Lord and it commeth to passe that albeit they have beene convinced by the word of their duty herein they doe neverthelesse blesse themselves in their hearts saying Wee shall have peace though we walke in the imaginations or stubbornesse of our hearts in a neglect and contempt of calling on God The Lord will not spare them but his anger and jeaâ—ousy shall smoke against them yea and his curses denounced in the Scriptures shall lie upon them c. See Deut. 29.18 19 20 c. LII PROPOSITION Moreover such families doe â—ustly deserve and incurre blame â—nd reproofe who doe performe religious duties services amisse â—n any kind PROOF The Apostle James taxeth and â—eprehendeth the brethren of the twelve â—ribes for their faultinesse and miscariage in performance of prayer See James 4.3 〈◊〉 aske and receive not because yee aske amisse â— I. REAS. Because every transgreâ—â—â— doeth draw on a guilt with it whether it 〈◊〉 in matter manner end or circumstancâ—â— See James 2.10 For whosoever shall keep 〈◊〉 whole law and yet offend in one point he is gâ—â—â—â—â— of all II. REAS. Because the Lord God â—â—counteth and judgeth services performâ—â— amisse to be a grand violation of the thâ—â—â— commandement of the first table which 〈◊〉 will therefore severely punish See Eâ—â—â— 20.7 Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lâ—â—â— thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold 〈◊〉 guililesse that taketh his Name in vaine OBSERV Religious services and duâ—â— are performed amisse when they are doâ—â— either 1. Ignorantly not knowing what is saâ—â— or done Herein the Papists are grosly saâ—â—ty who make use of an unknowne languâ—â—â— in their prayers and service both publicâ—â— and privatly Such errour the Apostle Pâ—â—â—noteth 1 Corinth 14.14 For if I pray i◠〈◊〉 unknowne tongue my spirit prayeth but my â—â—derstanding is unfruitfull II. Superstitiously as the Papists likewâ—â—â— transgresse in saying onely a set number 〈◊〉 words on their beads without reverencâ—â—â— feeling understanding c. much like the babling heathen See Math. 6.7 But when yee pray use not vaine repetitions as the heathen doe for they thinke they shal be heard for their much speaking III. Hypocritically regarding iniquity in the heart albeit there be a faire outward deportment Such performance was prophecied of by Isaiah and practised in the daies of our Saviour Christ See Math. 15.7 8. Yee hypocrites well did Esaias prophecie of you saying This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth honoureth me with their lips but their heart is farre from me IV. Profanely when such as doe seeme to draw nigh to God doe live notwithstanding in a course and practise of grosse and notorious transgressions See this Isaiah 1.15 And when yee spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you yea when yee make many prayers I will not heare you your hands are full of blood V. Deceitfully or negligently See Jere. 48.10 Cursed be hee that doeth the worke of the Lord deceitfully See the margent there in the N. translat VI. Unconstantly for so was the failing of King Joash See 2 Chron. 24. vers 2 17. compared together Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all tâ—â— daies of Jehojada the Priest Nâ—â— after the death of Jehojada came thâ— princes of Juda and made obeysance 〈◊〉 the King then the King hearkened uâ—â—â— them c. LIII PROPOSITION Neither can such families excuse themselves before the Lord when he commeth to jugdment who having opportunity and capacity to learne to reade and ability and meanes to procure a Bible in their native language yet cannot reade nor have any Bible in their families PROOF Solomon doeth thus describâ— his foole who is the wicked man Prov. 17.16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of 〈◊〉 foole to get wisdome seeing he hath no heart to it I. REAS. Because they are in no wise answerable to Gods expectation in the colâ— and meanes he hath bestowed on them so that it is a righteous thing with him to be provoked and to come against them as it is declared in the parable Luk. 13.6 7. A certaine man had a figtree planted in his vineyard and he came and sought fruit thereon and found none Then said he to the dresser of his vineyard Behold these three yeeres I come seeking fruit on this figtree and finde none cut it downe why cumbreth it the ground II. REAS. Because unanswerablenesse unto Gods mercies and meanes vouchsafed unto any people doeth greatly aggravate their sinne and infallibly seale their punishment This argument is evidently drawne from our Saviour Christs upbraiding the cities in which he had frequently powerfully preached and wrought his miracles to confirme his doctrine and yet they were unanswerable through unfruitfulnesse See Math. 11.21 Woe unto thee
17.3 This is life eternall is they might know thee the only true God 〈◊〉 Now that this is of grand concernment may be gathered from Moses his solemâ— attestatioÌ„ mentioned Deut. 30.19 I call haven earth to record this day against you the have set before you life death blessing cursing therefore choose life that thou thy seede may live III. REAS. Because ignorance of God or a not knowing him to be the Lord will expose people to everlasting destructioÌ„ from the presence of the Lord from the glory of his power at the latter day As it is writteÌ„ 2. Thess 1.7 8 9. The Lord Iesus shal be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God c. So that the terrour of the Lord should perswade men to looke seriously after the knowledge of God 2. Cor. 5.11 For what is a man profited if he shall gaine the whole world and loose his owne soule Or what shall a man give in exchange for â—is soule Math. 16.26 Observation for better understanding the meaning of the 1. Proposition Albeit the nature of the Majesty of God is infinite incomprehensible therefore cannot perfectly be knowne of any people As it is most excellently argued Iob 11.7 8 9. Canst thou by searching finde out God Canst thou finde out the Almighty unto perfection It is as high as heaven what canst thou doe deeper then hell what canst thou know The measure thereof is longer then the earth broader then the sea And 1. Timoth. 6.16 dwelling in the light which no man can approch unto whome man hath seene nor can see Yet the Lord haâ—â— made manifest in his works that whicâ— may be knowne of God Rom. 1.19 20. Yeâ— and he hath so revealed declared himself in his word by his only begotten sonne Iohâ— 1.18 Hebr. 1.1 that his people may in theâ—â— measure attaine unto all riches of the fuâ—â— assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God Colos 2.2 II. PROPOSITION Such people as doe know beleeve that the Lord is God oughâ— to performe religious worship service unto his divine Majesty PROOF Moses the servant of the Lord inferreth this second Proposition from thâ— proofe alledged to confirme the former or of Deut. 4.39 concluding thus ver 40. The shalt keepe therefore his statutes and commandments c. Now this is one of his commandements that he be worshipped for so oâ— Saviour Christ expoundeth Moses Math. 4.10 It is written thou shalt worship the Lord tâ—â— God In like manner the Psalmist having occasionally shewed how it was made knowne to Iudah Israel that God is the Lord inâ— dispensation of his word ordinances works Psal 76.1 2 3. inferreth thence vers 11. Vow pay unto the Lord your God let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared that is to say Let Gods people that doe know and beleeve that the Lord is God performe religious hommage and worship to him I. REAS. Because the Gentiles who have not the use of the holy Scriptures are convinced by the light of the law of nature their consciences bearing witnesse Rom. 2.14 15. that he that is God ought to be religiously worshipped and accordingly have beene wont albeit superstitiously to order their course as is evident not only froÌ„ their owne books but also in sundry passages of the Bible See for this the Apostle Pauls testimony touching the Athenians when by occasion he sojourned at the University of Athens Act. 17.22 23. Yee men of Athens I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious For as I passed by beheld your devotions I found an Altar with this inscription TO THE UNKNOWNE GOD whom ye therefore ignorantly worship him declare I unto you II. REAS. Because a knowledge beleefe that the Lord is God implieth a knowledge in some measure of his Name Attributes Works how great how gracious how dreaded and how glorious they are the worth and excellency whereof doe châ—â—lenge and call for hommage and worship 〈◊〉 due thereunto For even so the holy servant of God in Scripture doe argue See Ieren 10.6 7. Forasmuch as there is none like unto the O Lord thou art great and thy Name is greatâ— might who would not feare thee O king of nations c. Psal 95.6 O come let us worship 〈◊〉 fall downe kneele before the Lord our Make Revel 4.11 Thou art worthy O Lord to receiâ—â— glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things c. OBSERVAT. It is an infallible signeâ— profane folly and of abominable Atheist in heart notwithstanding any professor otherwise with the lips when God is noth prayer worshipped and served This is demonstrated Psal 14.1 vers 4. being compared together The foole hath said in his hee there is no God They call not upon the Lord. III. PROPOSITION The religious worship and service which people should performe unto God ought to bâ— such as God himselfe doeth instâ—tute and appoint PROOF The scope and summe of thâ— affirmative part understood in the second commandement of the Decalogue Exod. 20.4 is that God ought to be worshipped according to his owne institutioÌ„ appointment Moreover likewise the summe of the commission given by our Saviour Christ in the new Testament to the Ministers of the Gospell is that they doe only teach his commandements as it is expressed Math. 28.19 Goe ye teach all nations Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you I. REAS. Because God himselfe is the onely Lawgiver and soveraigne King of his Churches as it is both taught and aknowledged in the old Testament and also in the new See Isa 33.22 For the Lord is our Iudge the Lord is our Lawgiver or statute-maker the Lord is our King Iam. 4.12 There is one Lawgiver who is able to save to destroy II. REAS. Because such religious worship and service as is tendered unto God which is not according to his owne institution and appointment is a vaine worshipping of him notwithstanding any pretence whatsoever either of antiquity custome seeming reasonablenesse or humane authority c. For so our Saviour Christ alledgeth approveth out of the prophesie of Esaias Mat. 15.9 In vaine they doe worship me teaching for doctrines the commandements of men Year hence it is that the Lord God in high displeasure hath sometimes executed fearfull punishment on transgressors in such kind as 〈◊〉 to be seene in his proceedings against the sonnes of Aaron very remarkably Levit. 10.1 2. Nadab and Abihu the sonnes of Aaron tooâ—â— either of them his censer put fire therein pâ—â— incense thereon and offered strange fire before tâ—â— Lord which he commanded them not And theâ—â— went out fire from the Lord and devoured them and they died before the Lord. OBSERV Like as Monarchs kings oâ— the earth are wont to take just