reducible to four heads 1. Reading in the Book of the Lord. 2. Prayer 3. Praise 4. Instruction 1. For reading the holy Scriptures That this is a family-duty doth appear from that of Moses Deut. 6.6 9. where we are commanded to have the Law of God wrote upon our posts and the gates of our house From that of the Apostle Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you a Metaphor drawn from members of Families which dwell together For the further proof of this duty we commend you to an excellent Book called Family Religion further revived by Mr. Philip Goodwin Printed at London 1655. and to a Book of Mr. Whites for the profitable reading of the Scriptures Chap. 9. 2. For Prayer We are commanded to pray alwayes and who so considereth that the Law of God requireth it of single persons and of the first and least society that of a man and his Wife 1 Pet. 3.7 cannot think 1 Pet. 3.7 that a man is excused from it with his children and servants It is the blessing with which the Superiours in families ought to bless their infeririours 3. For Praise by singing of Psalms As praising of God is a natural duty so the doing of it by Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs which are the three titles of the Psalms of David is commanded by the Apostle In the same place where God saith I will be the God of all the families of Israel Col. 3.16 and they shall be my people Jer. 31.1 2. he also ver 7. saith O shout with joy and sing amongst the Nations 4. Instruction is a general duty God commendeth Abraham for it Gen. 18.17 For the matter of it in our present discourse it is In the things of God Now this may be done several wayes 1. By Catechizing which is by experience found the most plain and familiar way of teaching and that by which the Papists confess the Protestant Religion hath been highly advantaged in the world We therefore urge this in a more especial manner upon all the heads of families as the nearest way to bring those under their roof to the knowledge of God and the establishing of them against the errors of the sinful times wherein they live 2. By repeating of Sermons to them an antient and profitable duty wherein every Christian is a fellow-worker with and a preparer of the work of the Holy Spirit of God Joh. 14.26 whose work it is saith our Saviour To bring to remembrance the things we have heard of God By opening the word of God read unto our families which though it be not a work to which every private Christian is fit yet may be profitably performed if any Christian will but take the pains to spend a little time before duty in fitting himself for it by reading the Annotations upon the Chapter or any of those profitable Notes wrote by Mr. Ainsworth on the five Books of Moses Mr. Jackson upon all the Historical Books of Scripture Mr. Dickson upon the Psalms Mr. Calvin on Job and Deuteronomy and Daniel Dr. Willet on Genesis Exodus and Leviticus Mr. Hutchinson on the small Prophets Mr. Dickson on Matthew Mr. Hutchinson on John Mr. Fergusson on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians and many others 4. By occasional discourses of Religion and applying Scripture unto our relations according to the Precept Deut. 6.6 7 8 9. 5. By examining their children and servants what they remember upon hearing Chapters read or Sermons preached or repeated 2. Particularly we commend unto Christians A more extraordinary care to inform their families concerning the true Nature of Worship in general concerning the several acts of Gospel Worship and the right way and method of performing of them as well the external as internal manner by which means they will not only be armed against temptations to Superstition and Will-Worship which is abomination to the Lord but also kept from a formal and perfunctory slighty service of the great and living God And the better to enable Christians to do this we do by the blessing of God intend to contribute our pains to the utmost in some exercises of this nature 3. If any one ask us how often these duties are to be performed We answer that we have in this no stated rule but as we are sure they cannot be too often and reason teacheth that they should be so often as to reach their ends So the Scripture doth not obscurely hint some kind of Instruction and Prayer to be used Morning and Evening Deut. 6. We are commanded to talk to our children of the Law of the Lord when we lye down and when we rise up God of old required a Morning and Evening Sacrifice David Psal 55.17 and Daniel Chap. 6. v. 10. prayed thrice a day which possibly may hint to us that those who have more leisure from the world than others ought to spend more time than others in this worship But we should press upon our Brethren 1. That none of them would omit praying and reading the Scriptures or some other way of instructing their families twice each day viz. in the morning and evening The morning is an excellent time 1. Because no excuse can be for the omitting it It may be done and is fittest to be done before the world calleth us off 2. It is the time when our spirits are most refreshed and fit for duty when worldly occasions have not seized on our thoughts 3. We are bid to say Prosper thou the works of our hands upon us and that is the time when the works of our hands begin 4. It is commended to us by many Scriptures Psal 5.3 Psal 59.16 Psal 88.13 Psal 92.2 Psal 119.147 The Evening is also a proper time 1. To beg pardon for the sins of the day and to give thanks for the mercies of the day and to beg the Protection and sleep of the night 2. The work of our hands is done and it is reasonable to beg Gods blessing upon it 3. Our sleep is the image of death and many never rise from their beds it is reasonable we should therefore commend our spirits and the spirits our of relations to the Lord. 4. It is commended in Scripture Psal 141.2 Psal 55.17 2. That if possible these constant duties may be performed before we be disadvantaged for them Either 1. By intermedling with the world or 2. By inclinations to rest and sleep which usually make the performance of religious duty late at night or after supper a very slightly perfunctory serving of God 3. We commend the Reading of the Scripture repeating a Sermon or singing of a Psalm before prayer not only as duties in themselves but as excellent means to call home the thoughts prepare the heart and fix the mind to a more steddy contemplation of God and devotion toward him in prayer 4. We commend to our brethren the repeating of Sermons and Catechizing to be at least once performed every week besides on the Lords Day 5. For
And to love their enemies to do good to them that hate them c. So more especially to be careful of it in these times That whereas men speak evil of them 1 Pet. 3.16 as evil doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse their good conversation in Christ 1 Pet. 2.12 yea they may by your good works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation 3. That above all even to the worst men They render their dues fear to whom fear honour to whom honour owing no man any thing but to love one another and remembring that Love worketh no ill to his neighbour according to that of the Apostle Rom. 13.7 8. 4. That they do not give holy things to Dogs nor cast pearls before Swine but wisely watch all advantages where they may meekly and acceptably and seasonably apply any word to their neighbour to convince him of any sin or duty forbearing it where they see any in any madness of passion or the like 5. That if God calleth them to suffer any thing in the doing of his will they remember to do it with meekness and patience and also with Christian courage and boldness committing themselves to him that created them and who will judge righteously 6. That they Remember their Brethren who are in bonds as if they were bound with them considering that themselves also are in the body Heb. 13.3 Hebrews 10.34 Coloss 4.18 Phil. 1.7 7. That if they discern any of their Brethren overtaken in a fault they would endeavour to restore such a one in the Spirit of meekness considering themselves also lest they be tempted according to that Gal. 6.1 and if need be they further acquaint some godly Ministers with it 8. That especially at such a time as this is they cover and conceal the weaknesses of each others and avoid all manner of exceptions one against another or reproaches of each other for any particular differences of perswasion in the things of Religion as to such who are agreed in the two main things 1. The Doctrine of faith 2. A joint study to promove practical Godliness 9. That they take especial heed that no particular provocations from any of their brethren upon civil accounts be a temptation to them to turn Persecutors of them i.e. to seek a revenge upon them for matters concerning their God it being certain that none can deserve a persecution from his Neighbour These things our dearly beloved Brethren are all which at present we shall commend to you The nature and reasonableness of them is such as we are assured they have an evidence to all your consciences either as necessary or highly useful only as we are prone to make excuses in any duty and especially where the revival of it may seem to condemn our former neglect so we are afraid least as to that part which relates to the order and worship of families we should hear some excusing themselves Either 1. From want of time or 2. From want of fit matter in their families or 3. From want of parts and abilities or 4. From the want in the world of servants that will be brought under such discipline 1. As to the first we know there is a great difference of men as to leisure and therefore as we said before we believe more of this nature is required from a Daniel or a David than from a private person but 1. This cannot be pleaded as to Sabbath Dayes Service 2. It cannot be pleaded as to Morning duties there the time may and ought if need be be redeemed from sleep 3. So that all the dispute is about one half hour at night and we leave it to every Christian that is serious and conscientious to think whether this plea will not argue a greater want of a good heart Besides if this duty be necessary we hope that our brethren who let their trade and business be what it will will find a time to dine and sup because they are naturally necessary will also find a time for these duties which are spiritually necessary 2. As to those who complain that their families neither do nor can consist of fit matter for these duties It only reacheth to Catechism and that too only as to servants for surely Parents can command their children As to them we say Servants are either Apprentices or hired by the year or by the day for the latter sort they are not properly members of our families For the former doubtless Masters have a great power over them and though if they be stubborn they cannot directly force them to this yet they may keep them to such a strictness in labour that they will be glad to purchase some relaxation there by a complying in this with the desires and endeavours of Governours for the good of their souls For yearly servants it is true they are but transient members of our family but for their hired time Governours have the same power over them as over Apprentices and there is no question but better may be provided if they will not comply Besides Servants that shall thus refuse must be 1. Either such as have some particular different Perswasion in religion who it may be understand much of the Principles of Religion or 2. Such stubborn refractory persâ—ns as will be kept under no better Civil Government than Religious and so unfit to be continued in our houses But we are verily perswaded that they are very few who by fair and gentle treating with them might not be brought to this order however as to children the duties may proceed 3. For those who complain for want of parts to discharge this work The plea only holds as to prayer and set discourses on Scripture We should therefore commend to Christians 1. That no heads of families be patient till they have learned to read the want of this being a most inexcusable sin in these dayes wherein are so many means for it 2. That as many as possible would learn to write and practice writing and as many as can would learn to write Characters writing by Characters being of infinite use in this work 3. Though we cannot commend Christians tying themselves to forms of prayers made by others Yet rather than not pray at all that Christians would read a Prayer Morning and Evening to their families out of some good Book such as the Practice of Piety c. at least at first setting up such a Reformation 4. That no Christian would rest here but being assured that the gift of prayer is attainable by any Christian that will take pains that they would use all means to attain unto it and to that end we shall not only be ready our selves to give such as come to us Directions but we earnestly commend unto them the reading and study of Dr. Wilkin's Book concerning the gift of prayer 5. As to opening the Scriptures and from them speaking to people Though we could wish that as many as have time and leisure would apply themselves to get such knowledge as might enable themselves by study to find out the sense of a Text. Yet in regard that all cannot do that we have before commended to our Brethren some such English Books as may in this be helpful to them And in regard every one hath not an ability to purchase such Books we shall only offer it to our Brethren whether four or five might not joyn together in buying such an English Library as they shall be advised to each sharing in it that so the whole number may be amongst them all and ready to be mutually Aent and if they please they may so agree as when any one dyeth the others may purchase his share at a certain rate The most of these things Brethren especially which concern the Worship of God in their families and the private Sanctification of the Sabbath though we believe them to be in a great measure the practice of many of you and from your Parents you have been instructed in the practice of them yet considering the great moment the reviving of Religion in families is of at such a time as this and the great neglect in many families occasioned possibly for that some had not such good examples in the families of their education we have thought good to use the Apostle Peters expression 2 Pet. 3.1 To stir up your minds by way of remembrance Thus we conceive God may be glorified our own souls and the souls of all under our charges highly advantaged Religion would be revived preserved and propagated and much of the glory of the Professors of England recovered and the Adversaries of Religion and Godliness would gnash their teeth to see every family become a Church and the Nursery of that Religion and lively practice of Godliness which by so much profane scoffing they endeavour to discourage and by so much activity they labour wholly to extirpate FINIS
A WORD IN SEASON OR Three Great Duties of Christians in the worst of Times Viz. Abiding in Christ Thirsting after his Institutions and Submission to his Providences The first opened from 1 John 2.28 The second from Psal 42.1 2. The third from Jer. 14.19 By a Servant of Christs in the Work of his Gospel To which is added by way of Appendix the Advice of some Ministers to their People for the reviving the Power and Practice of Godliness in their Families Gal. 1.8 Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel than that which we have preached let him be accursed Ver. 9. As we said before so say I now again if any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that you have received let him be accursed London Printed 1668. To all CHRISTIAN READERS More especially such Who either occasionally or more fixedly have at any time sate under the Authors Ministery AND by it being dead yet speaketh saith the blessed Apostle of Abel either by his faith by which he offered up to God a more excellent Sacrifice or by the witness which he obtained that he was righteous God testifying to his gifts or by both By the first he spake unto all Believers to instruct them in their duty by the latter he spake unto them instructing them in the success of duty by both he speaks unto us to go and do likewise There are this day many eminent servants of God that must be reckoned amongst the dead the greater the lamentation and not in the Gospel sense as the Apostle saith the woman that lives in pleasures is dead while she lives no they are persons known to you not to have lived in Ale-houses in rioting and luxury but in a daily keeping under of their bodies that they might be in subjection to their spirits that whiles they preached to others themselves might not become reprobates according to the Apostles rate of living 2 Cor. 9.27 But they are legally dead dead as to you though alive to God alive to the world or rather in the world Most of these being dead yet speak their former pains amongst you their holy conversation while they went in and out before you speak Their lives their labours their present patience speaketh It speaketh what they were what they are what you should be Yea and some of their written Books yet speak to you you have some milk from the bottle though not from the breast The Author of the following sheets is one of those thus dead your importunity hath made him thus to speak Something you would have him say And when you had brought him to a resolution in this to listen to you he knew not better what to say than Brethren abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed at his coming You are his witnesses that when you heard him in the Pulpit he used not to say to you Come to me to my opinion or party but only Come unto Christ that you may have life He pleaded then for his Master and insisted upon the one thing necessary having a latitude of charity though not an indifferency as to his own practice for any parties of any perswasion whom he saw walking in the path of Justification by the righteousness of Christ alone and in paths of holiness suted to that faith He thought railing and smiting of little value to the soul that neither hears the one nor feels the other and judge the Scottish Horning and the English Significavit of equal value for the reformation of mistakes in the understandings of Christians And that the rational soul forfeited its name that day that it should be thus conquered This made him though he could have wished all as he was excepting the obloquy which men of his perswasion were subjected to from those who speak evil of the things that they know not yet in his preaching to pursue a nobler design and to call you to come to him who without respect of persons receiveth men of all perswasions holding the foundation In him he trusteth he hath left many of your souls set upon the Rock that is higher than he is having your faith not standing in the wisdom of men but in the power of God builded upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone He being now dead yet speaketh and speaketh the same language after the beloved Apostle abide in him He desires this of you that if the way of worship wherein you together with him formerly walked appear less according to the pattern of the mount the rule of holy Scripture than some other you would forsake it and adhere to what you see most conformable to the rule of Scripture the example of Christ and his Apostles He assures you he would himself do it and if in any thing he differs from you this is the reason He sees or thinks he sees what he embraceth most according to the will of God revealed in Scripture He would in this point say more to you if he did not think the holy Scriptures perfect as to a rule of Worship and as able in that as in matter of Doctrine to make the man of God wise to salvation and were not afraid of making himself wiser than his Master one piece of whose errand to earth was to reveal his Fathers will This hath made him repeat to you the Apostles words Abide in him thinking it the onely thing necessary for you and a seasonable word whiles so many tempters envy you that happy station As a means in order to this he hath also fubjoyned something to preserve and quicken your appetite to Gospel-institutions He knows that Union is maintained by Communion and that communion with God is much in and by those appointments of Worship which Christ hath instituted This is the substance of the following sheets Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ the great Shepheard of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen 1 Joh. 2.28 And now little children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming THE first words of my Text speak the Pen-man to be some aged spiritual Father whose years and authority might justifie him in so relative and familiar a compellation So indeed he was not Paul but John the aged the beloved Disciple 1 Joh. 1.1 who had seen and heard what he declared and this Epistle is judged to have been wrote by him in his extreme old age at Ephesus The true Shepherds this treat their Masters Lambs The world can find no nick-names harsh and infamous enough for Saints the beloved Disciple calls them Little children The words of an aged
best of souls are growing but â—â—ver come to their full growth Now the â—â—titutions of God are the souls food and â—â—ment in order to this growth The mark which is set in a Christians eye is The fulness of the measure of stature which is in Christ Perfection Being holy as Christ is holy perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect These are high marks every good Christian levels at them none hits them St. Paul himself had not attained but this one thing he did forgetting what was behind he pressed on to what was before A good Christian never standeth still but is always moving adding to his faith vertue to vertue temperance c. Growing in grace and in the knowledge of Christ Going on from strength to strength Now the institutions of God are the means of growth they are the souls food and nourishment 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born habes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby Psal 119.130 The entramâ— of thy word giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple They make wise the simple enlighten the eyes By them the servants of God are warned c. As well then can a growing child not hunger and thirst after food the propâ—â— nourishment of its body as soon mâ— a man not hunger and thirst for his mâ—â— and drink by which his soul is keptâ—â— life as a Christian not hunger and thirâ—â— after the institutions of God by which he groweth and by which he is preserved in his spiritual state 2. Though the weakest of Gods childrâ— be in a better state than the best unregâ—â— rate man yet none of their souls are in persect health Now the Ordinances of God are their spiritual physick The child of God while he lives on this side heaven is like a man or woman that hath a weak crazy constitution he is not always alike ill disposed nor always complains of the same distempers but 't is seldom that he is not complaining of one distemper or other One while of an hard heart another while of an heavy â—ull and dead spirit one while of a sad and dejected spirit another while of a diâ—racted vain spirit c. some ailment or other he always carries about with him and will do while his body of death abides in him the fountain of all spiritual diseases One while he is buffeted by â—â—atan another while he is pressed with â—s own corruptions Now the Ordiâ—â—nces of God are the leaves of the tree of life appointed for the healing of the Nations David was sadly distempered with a temptation from the prosperity of the wicked while he was in adverfity till he went into the sanctuary Psal 73.13 Hannab was of a troubled spirit till she went into the tabernacle to pray then her countenance was no more sad Psal 119.81 My soul fainteth for thee but I hope in thy word verse 50. And so in many other Texts As soon therefore may one labouring under daily pain weakness and distempers not desire deliberately what shall heal him as the child of God noâ— thirst after the institutions of God which are All-heal to his soul The greâ—â— and easie means for his spiritual cure Thirdly The gracious soul is alway looking after God but never in this liffully seeth him Gods institutions are aâ— glasses to the soul by which it hath a cleareâ— and fuller sight of God The power and glory of God are seen in the Sanctuary Psal 63.3 Next to the beholding oâ— God face to face it this beholding of him in duties of communion with him Oâ— what a communion with God doth the soul of a godly person oft-times enjoy in a Prayer in a Sacrament in the hearing of the Word and every sighted God is exceeding sweet Thus I have opened to you the second thing which is the cause of this singular spirituâ— thirst 3. A third is The Saints experiences God in Or dinances There is no gracious soul but at one time or other in Prayer in hearing the Word in receiving the Sacrament hath tasted and seen how good the Lord is Now it is of our nature having tasted that which we have found good and excellent the more to long for it But I shall adde no more to the Doctrinal part of this discourse I shall now come to the Application In the first place we may learn what to judge of those 1. Vse In truct who either despise Gods institutions or at least are very indifferent to them 1. There are too too many that despise them they mock at Preaching at Sacraments at Prayer they like a Play better or see no need of them at all some out of a principle of profaneness fordid souls that savour nothing of heaven and heavenly things nothing of that noble end for which man is created or to which he is obliged to direct his actions whether they have souls or no they scarce understand or if they have whether they differ from the sensitive souls of Dogs or Swines they consider not What the natural and animal life means they understand but what the spiritual life meaneth they understand not The drunkard thirsts after his cups of wine or other liquor the voluptuous man after his pleasures the covetous man after wealth but for those holy institutions of God which are pabulum animae those precious things by which mens souls live they understand them not they trample them under foot and it may be rend them who bring them to them Others there are that are not altogether thus bad but yet are very indifferent as to these things they can hear a Sermon and they can let it alone whether ever they be at one or no whether ever they sit at the Lords Table or no whether ever they pray or no they are very mdifferent O how unlike is the spirit of these men to the spirit of holy David What would you say to a child that should be born and never cry for food would not you sit it had nothing in it of humane nature or that it would not live longâ— You may as certainly conclude conceming such souls as these that they have nothing in them of the Divine Nature and they do not live at all the life of grace nor ever will live the life of glory There is no sadder sign either of a dead soul dead while it lives dead in trespasses and sins or of a decaying perishing soul than the want of this spiritual appetite this hungring and thirsting after the institutions of God Hence secondly observe 2. Br. How necessarily precious the true able faithful Ministers of the Gospel must be to gracious souls They are the earthen vessels which bring this heavenly treasure It was said of old Blessed is he that comes unto us in the name of the Lord. And Rom. 10.15 Rom. 10.15 How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of peace The Ordinance of the Ministry in this hath the preheminence of other
which is betwixt the soul and body is preserved by the souls communication of its self to the body in various influences Eternal life will be maintained by Gods communications of himself to the souls of his people glotified and their communications of themselves unto him His shining upon them with glory their beholding him with love and satisfaction The spiriâ—â—al union that also is maintained by Christs communication of himself to the soul and the souls reciprocal communications of it self to Christ God upholds strengthens quickens comforteth the soul the soul eyeth God adereth to him trusteth and hopeth in him and fetches down what is in Christ home to it self by these exercises of grace 3. All communion betwixt Christ and a soul is either by secret impressions acts and influences or else by Ordinances By secret impressions acts and influences and these are more ordinarily on Gods part and more especially on our parts in and by Ordinances It is true the soul hath its soliloquies and silent acts of communion with God it may and that out of an Ordinance meditate on him exercise an act of faith love hope c. All which are acts of communion with God but those are more eminently performed in duties of Worship and infinitely helped and advantaged by them It is true also that God sometimes out of a more publick and open act of Worship may communicate himself to a soul and doubtless doth it may be by night while it is upon his bed while it sits alone in the house but most eminently in Ordinances David saw the Lords power and glory in his Sanctuary It was his promise of old Wheresoever I record my name to dwell there will I meet my people and bless them God of old you know was wont to appear betwixt the Cherubims when Christs Disciples were met together once and again after his resurrection then Christ came in amongst them and said Peace be to you The Promise under the New Testament is Where two or three are gathered together in my name I will be in the midst amongst them Hence 4. The soul spiritually united 〈◊〉 Christ must as naturally thirst after â—ivine Institutions as the body after the â—â—ans of preserving the union betwixt â—â—e soul and it The decay of this thirst must needs â—â—gue a decaying soul for as Hezekiah â—â—id Isa 38. either of Promises or Afâ—â—ctions I know it is variously interâ—â—eted By these things men live By â—â—se things the union betwixt the soul 〈◊〉 Christ is maintained And as the â—â—t of appetite in the body to proper food argues the stomach filled oâ— cloyed with noxious and perniciouâ— humours so the want of this Spiritual appetite speaks a soul clog'd with some pernicious lusts and corruptions But I have insisted too long upon this brancâ— of Application I shall finish this discourse with onâ— word of Exhortation Exhort That you would keep alive this spiritual thirst after thâ— Institutions of God and that under thoâ—â— circumstances which you have heard Yoâ— have heard and I hope I need not repeat it to you how great an evidence it is of a gracious heart how much 〈◊〉 was the temper of the Saints of God who have lived before us I need noâ— speak more by way of Argument in the case I shall only prescribe some directions in order to it and I have done 1. Keep alive in your souls the true notion of them The true notion of them is this They are appointments of Christ soâ— our salvation and in the performance 〈◊〉 which he hath promised to meet the soul that seek him So long as Ordinance are apprehended as Institutions of Christ they will be pretious to all those 〈◊〉 whom Christ is precious The soul â—eareth concerning the Sacrament of the Supper Do this in remembrance of me and it is presently enflamed with a deâ—â—re to the Ordinance Should I not 〈◊〉 saith an honest soul remember him that died upon the cross for me I will remember his death untill his coming again Go preach the Gospel to every creaâ—â—re He that believeth and is baptized â—â—ll be saved And again He that hearâ—â— you heareth me The gracious soul â—adeth this Should I not hear Jesus Christ saith the soul Indeed if the â—â—eacher instead of preaching Christ â—â—eacheth himself or preacheth contraâ—â— to what is apparently the revealed â—â—th and will of Christ the case is â—herwise but it is impossible an Orâ—â—ance should be administred according to the institution of Christ but a â—acious soul retaining a true notion of â—â—se institutions must thirst after it â—ecially when he considers them as â—itutions for the good of a soul 〈◊〉 in the performance of which he 〈◊〉 promised to meet it Indeed the 〈◊〉 is otherwise if it once falls under a mistake in the due notion of Ordinances If it once fancieth that Preaching is nothing but making anâ— Oration an exercise of parts or witâ—â— and therefore the quibbling Sermons are best The soul of a gracious person doth not lye so near the air as to desire to be delighted in such pleasing sounds If once a Christian comes to apprehend religious performances but as politick constitutions for keeping people in some awe or under some such other mean notion Its thirst after them is spoiled Though it be something to an honest heart that the Politick State under which it liveth hath need of them to keep people from degenerating to Beasts yet it is more to it to consider It s immortal soul hath need of them to keep it from everlasting burnings from troubles oâ— conscience c. But 2. Secondly Keep but a watchful eyâ—â— upon your own hearts Know your selves your own wants and weaknesses and you need no more considering what I said under the former head to bring you to an appetite or to preserve in your souls a due appetite to Gospel Institutions he that observeth the proneness of his heart to wax hard will easily understand the need he hath of the word to soften it he that considers his own forgetfulness of what his Lord hath done for him will thirst after the Sacrament of the Supper that he may in it remember the Lords death untill he come Whoso observeth his own weakness to spiritual duties to resist strong corruptions will thirst for the Word and Sacraments to strengthen him he that considers his daily need of Divine influences will thirst after an hour of prayer that he may beg them from God In short there 's no soul is indifferent to Ordinances but he who never tasted how good the Lord is who either knoweth nothing of God or nothing as he ought to know it study thy self understand thy own state that 's enough 3. Keep your selves under the purest and most lively administrations I call those the purest administrations where there is nothing or least of mans mixture where Ordinances are administred most exactly according to the Divine Rule The Doctrine of the Perfection of the Scriptures is a
singing of Psalms It is proper for the Sabbath but never out of season we leave that and occasional instruction of families out of the Scripture to private Christians as God shall give them opportunities and an heart thereunto Only commending them as duties fit to be sometimes done and not wholly omitted by any 2. Having thus far offered you our thoughts for the Family-Worship of every day We come in the next place to commend to you the special sanctification of the Lords day where we shall not speak to the more publick solemn sanctification of it but keep our selves within the bounds of the private house We know our Brethren understand that by the fourth Commandment God hath reserved a seventh part of our Time to himself That what should be the seventh part under the old dispensation of the Covenant to the Jews was determined by God to be the seventh day from the Creation That our seventh part is determined by the practice of the Apostles who were wont to meet and sanctie the first day of the Week counting the seventh from our redemption when the world was as it was created anew That we are tied to the sanctification of this day by the fourth Commandment none can doubt but he must question whether there be ten Commandments or no or whether the fourth be a Moral Law Nor can any sound reason be given why the fourth Commandment should not concern Christians as much as any of the other nine Hence it is plain that it must be kept as a day of holy rest from labour and recreations at other times lawful and to spiritual services publick and private These being the confessed general duties of Christians as to the sanctification of the Sabbath we shall only offer some Propositions for particular practice in reference to these general ends 1. That all heads of families take care that no kind of civil labour necessary to be done which can be done before be left to be done in any part of the Sabbath For no work can be justified on the Sabbath as a work of Necessity which though necessary to be done might yet have been done before that day cometh 2. That all Christians would endeavour but those especially whose callings in the world do not so much hinder them the Evening before the Sabbath to direct their family-family-duty as much as they can both as to Instruction and Prayer to prepare the several persons of their family for the Sabbath 3. That all heads of families would take care that on the Morning of the Sabbath they their children and servants rise up from their beds either as soon as on other dayes or at least so soon that the necessary business of the family may be dispatched and family duties performed before they go to the publick service 4. That those of their families who are not employed in any necessary work of the family whiles all the rest be ready employ their time being once ready in reading the Scriptures or other good Books 5. That the heads of families so order the rising of their families that morning that they may have full time to do their houshold necessary business and also to attend family duties In which we conceive it is the duty of Christians that day to spend some more time than on other dayes because it is a day wholly dedicated to the Lord. 6. We commend to our brethren as part of their family duty that morning to instruct their families in the Nature of Worship the several acts of it The true manner both of the outward and inward performance The morality of the Sabbath the true way of sanctifying of it To which purpose we recommend to them Mr. Sheppards Treatise of the Sabbath clearing the morality and Mr. Bernards threefold Treatise of the Sabbath 6. After the publick service in the morning and dinner which we think that day should be moderate we recommend to our brethren if they have time the calling of their family together repeating the Sermon heard to them or examining them about it and prayer and the like we again recommend to them after Evening Sermon and before Supper 7. We commend singing of Psalms to our Brethren as a special duty of the Sabbath we find that David composed Psalm 92. on purpose for the Sabbath We desire that our Brethren would not omit it at least to do it once every Lords Day 8. Finally We beseech our Brethren that they take especial care of all within their gates on the Lords Day that they profane not the Sabbath by unnecessary work sleep or recreations It is a day of rest but of holy rest A day of rest and therefore profaned by labour that is worldly and unnecessary An holy rest and therefore profaned by excessive sleeping which is natural rest idleness or recreations which are but a Civil rest 3. Having thus far offered to our Brethren our thoughts in reference to their families we conclude with a word or two in reference to their personal conversation 1. We suppose our Brethren conscientious in matters of Justice to remember to do in their callings to all as they would be done to to take heed of all gross and scandalous evils and shall only mind them of some things which God requireth of them wherein they are to do more than others as having received more from God and being under a more special Covenant and Obligations as also of some duties specially to be practiced with reference to these times wherein if ever Christians are by the Providence of God called out to a more winning conversation and to a more prudent conversation fulfilling that of our Saviour Be you wise as Serpents and innocent as Doves 1. In reference to the first We seriously commend to our brethren 1. Private prayer in their closets according to our Saviours precept Mat. 6.6 at least to be performed once every day 2. Private reading the Scriptures the example of the Eunuch Acts 8. shews how much God hath owned it and is pleased with it 3. Private self-examination 2 Cor. 13.5 Psal 4.4 4. Private Meditation commended Gen. 24.63 Josh 1.8 Psal 1.2 Psal 63.6 Psal 119.15 23 48 78 148. Psal 104.34 Psal 119.97 If Christians would be particularly instructed in this duty we commend them to Mr. Joseph Symmonds Three excellent Treatises Printed at London 1653. one of which is upon this subject 2. As to the prudent conversation of Christians and something of their farther duty in these times we recommend to our Brethren 1. As much as in them lyes to avoid all meetings of people at feasts or otherwise Where they foresee they may probably be engaged in discourses which will either tempt them to any thing that is sinful or to discover their opposition to such courses of others in a place where probably their speaking will but make them odious 2. As it is their duty at all times to do good to all though more especially to those of the houshold of faith
the propagation of it in the power thereof is and having observed some decays thereof in present Professors from the life zeal and power thereof in our fore-fathers and withall how many temptations are daily offered to the corruption which yet remaineth in the best to divert them from the streight and narrow way which leadeth to the Kingdom of God That through our negligence the study and powerful practice of godliness wherein England hath been famous above any other sort of Christian people may not abate and Religion evaporate into a meer formality and the souls of you our Brethren might not be hindred of that joy and peace which usually attendeth a strict and close walking with God have thought fit to propose our serious thoughts unto you for the revival and preservation of Religion wherein we shall rather give you a copy of the conversation of our fathers who walked with God in their generation than propound any new thing unto you There are three things in Religion observed as the glory of England wherein our Church hath exceeded other Reformed Churches 1. The diligent practice of Family-Worship 2. The strict sanctification of the Christian Sabbath 3. The severe personal strictness in the Conversation of Professors And as these things have been the the beauty of England so we doubt not but they have been the strength of it We therefore as Ministers of Christ do beseech you and so much the rather by how much our condition in respect of publick communion is more sad than in former times that you would joyn with us in your particular places so much as in you lies to recover unto God an England that antient Revenue of his glory which he hath formerly had from our fathers in these things 1. The first thing which we commend unto you is the promoving of Family Religion and that both in reference to the week-day and to the Lords day Families are the lowest Societies and such wherein we have further advantages to propagate Religion than in any others and that not only in respect of our daily converse in them but of the authority with which God hath there cloathed superiours They are the Societies in which alone every private person who is the Head of the family is a King Priest and Prophet And he that cannot rule his own house well is by the Apostle determined unfit to rule the Church of God In order to which we propound 1. That every one who is Head of a family would by a constant deportment to his or her children or servants vindicate the honour which God in the Fifth Commandment hath reserved for him neither by too much familiarity divesting himself of his authority nor by too much severity estranging the hearts of his Relations from him but by a wise gravity so deporting himself that while his relations fear him as being in the stead of God unto them they may also love him for his tenderness to them both in their temporal and eternal concernments In order to which we desire Christians to consider That he or she is rarely dishonoured by his child or servant who have not by too low and unhandsome carriage dishonoured themselves before them God ordinarily vindicating the honour of superiours till themselves have unduly prostituted it that they may read their sin in their punishment 2. That being cloathed with this authority from God you would make it your business to vindicate his glory not enduring any in your families who after due admonition and the use of other means to reclaim him or her shall live in the practice of any moral vice or what shall have an evident appearance of it If any therefore in your families shall be given to drinking swearing lying prophaning the holy Name of God reviling of his people any species of uncleanness or any other scandalous sin if they be such as you can turn away if they will not be reclaimed remember the resolution of David Psal 101.6 7. If they be such as either by natural obligation or moral contract you are obliged to keep let it be your business to endeavour all possible ways by instruction admonition correction begging the help of others to reclaim them that their sins may not be laid to your charge Consider with what face he can blame the Magistrate for not punishing these offences who neglecteth it in his own family where the body to be ruled is less and his authority as to some kind of punishment far greater than the Civil Magistrates is And as a means in order to this we desire That giving your children and servants all due liberty of recreation especially with such company as you shall commend to them you would restrain them as much as may be from Plays Fairs Meetings for Dances and others Revels and from Recreation at undue hours 3. That seeing an ability to read the Scriptures and other good Books is the foundation of all knowledge you would not only see to the bringing up your children to this capacity but if the providence of God casts any under your roof that cannot read you would exhort encourage and by all means help them till they attain this faculty What knoweth the Master but he may thus be a means to save the soul of his servant by bringing him to the knowledge of God We urge this rather because we observe divers well disposed persons grown up miserably disadvantaged for the want of this 2. The family being thus ordered and disposed is prepared for a joint communion with God And surely if there were no Scriptures evincing Worship a family-duty such as that of Joshua resolving with his house to serve the Lord. Cornelius fearing God with his whole house and praying there about the ninth hour of the day Davids walking in his house in a perfect way Abrahams instructing his houshold The Prophet Jeremy's imprecation upon the families which call not on the name of the Lord. The mutual prayers of husband and wife 1 Pet. 3.7 which the Apostle hinteth that he would not have hindred Daniels praying in his house thrice a day which we cannot tell how it should have been proved against him had he done it alone We say that were there none of these evidences from holy Writ yet every Christians reason can tell him that the providence of God hath cast us into family societies not meerly for natural and civil ends but for to be joynt blessings each to other in those things which he hath commanded us first to seek Now if any desire to be more particularly instructed concerning those duties which God expecteth from families we answer We know no act of divine Worship but may be performed in so small a society as that of a family if a lawfully ordained Minister be the Head of it or assumed into it for that time But we shall only speak to those duties which God expecteth of every family without any respect to a Minister in it c. Those we conceive are