and so is the time the day Thou hast Gods hand and seal to the duties he commands thee to pray hear sing meditate receive the Sacrament and thou hast also Gods hand and seal to the day Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 Revel 1.10 It is considerable that in the fourth Command God doth not say Remember the seventh day to keep it holy but Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy this Zanchy takes great notice of further the seventh or a seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God so then the morality of that Command is one day of even The Jews seventh day was buried in Christs grave though its shadow walked a little while after Take heed how thou observest this day Gods eye is very much upon thy behavior in his house therefore in the Tabernacle the place of publike worship it was commanded Ne putes te in domo Dei male posse conversari occultari Oleaster Exod. 25.37 Thou shalt make seven lamps and they shall light the lamps that they may give light to teach us that nothing there escapes his sight for in his house there is always light His eye beholds all thy commission of evil and all thine omission of good there In his Sanctuary thou canst not sin in secret there are seven Lamps to discover thy miscarriages in the Lords house and therefore it behoves thee to be very pious in that place Afterwards when the Temple was built and became heir to the Tabernacle as that succeeded this in the Celebration of Gods Worship so also in Gods observation of all the works done there Mine eye saith God shall be there perpetually 1 Kings 9.3 There is a threefold eye of God present in the Assemblies of his people 1. There is the eye of observation and inspection God seeth what uprightness and seriousness there is in thy prayers and performances God eyeth and takes notice what integrity and fervency thou hast in thy services and sacrifices Mine eyes are upon all their ways Jer. 16.17 Whether thou art praying or reading or hearing or singing his eye is upon thee and whether thou performest thy duties slothfully and sluggishly or dutifully and diligently he observeth thee His eyes behold and his eye-lids try the children of men 2. There is the eye of favour and benediction Gods eye can convey a blessing as well as his hand I will set mine eyes upon them for good Amos 9.4 And Gods eye can speak his good will as well as his heart Mine eye and my heart shall be there that is in my house 2 Chron. 7.16 The affection of the breast is seen at the brows Mine eye shall be upon the faithful of the Land Psal 101.6 Gods eye is in his house to approve and bless thee if thou sanctifie him in Ordinances Friend keep the Lords Day with care and conscience perform thy duties with suitable graces and Gods eye will be upon thee thou shalt see his love in his pleasant and gracious looks Jesus Christ beholds and approves the gracious performances of his people he seems to say to them as Paul to the Colossians Though I am absent from you in the flesh yet am I present with you in the Spirit joying and beholding your order Col. 2.15 3. There is the eye of fury and indignation Gods looks will speak his anger as well as his blows His fury is visible by his frowns Mine eyes shall be upon them for evil Gods sight can wound as deeply as his Sword Job speaks of him He sharpneth his eyes upon me Job 16.9 Wilde Beasts when they fight whet their eyes as well as their teeth An Enemy enraged looks on his Antagonist as if he would look through him He sharpneth his eyes upon me as if he would stab me to the heart with a glance of his eye so an Expositor glosseth on it If thou wait on God irreverently Worship him carelesly and prophanest his Day either by Corporal labour or Spiritual idleness thou mayest not expect his eye of favour but of fury If ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath then will I kindle a fire which shall devour the Palaces of Jerusalem and none shall quench it Jerem. 17. ult Ezek. 22.26 31. Gods severity hath been remarkable on the Prophaners of his Sabbath The first blow given the German Churches was on the Lords Day which they carelesly observed on that day Prague was lost When men disturb Gods rest God doth usually deprive them of rest The day of the Lord is like to be a dreadful day to them that despise the Lords Day Truly God is as jealous in his Courts under the Gospel as he was under the Law Christ whose eyes are as a flame of fire walks in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks throughout the World He observes how holy duties are performed and how his holy day is sanctified When two or three are gathered together in his name he is in the midst of them Mat. 18.20 He is in the midst of us to behold our inward and outward carriage in his Courts he observeth in praying what confessions are made of sin with what confusion of face and contrition of heart what petitions are put up for grace and pardon with what integrity of spirit and fervency of affection He observeth in hearing whether men hear with attention sutable to that word which is able to save their souls whether men receive the truth in the love of it whether they resolve on subjection and to give themselves up to that form of Doctrine which is given down to them or whether men hear Sermons as Children turn over books meerly for the gays that are in them He goeth down into the garden of Nuts to see the fruits of the Valley Cant. 6.11 He seeth the rotten bough of Hypocrisie the leaves of profession without the fruits of an answerable conversation He seeth all thine unripe sowre indigested duties Reader If I were to counsel thee how to spend a Market day so that thou mightest gain much wealth and treasure I doubt not but thou wouldst hearken to me I am now to advise thee how to spend the Lords day the Market day for thy soul so that thou mayst get the true treasure durable riches and righteousness I pray thee to hear and obey the directions which I have to deliver thee from the Lord for that end First Make preparation for the day There is scarce any work which admits of any considerable perfection but require some previous preparation In works of nature the ground must be dunged dressed plowed harrowed and all to prepare it for the seed In works of Art the Musitian tuneth his Viol screwing up some of his strings higher letting some down lower as occasion is and all to prepare it for his lesson and indeed without this he would make but sad Mâ—sick Truely Friend thus it is with us in matters of higher moment hearts like soil must be prepared for the seed of the Word how
my meditation all the day Psa 119. The reason why some men profit so little by the word is want of meditation If a man eat his food and as soon as it is in his stomach vomit it up again it is no wonder if he get little strength by it or if he pine and consume away Truly if Sermons enter in at one ear and out at the other making no stay with thee I shall not marvail if they work no change in thee CHAP. XXII Brief Directions for the Sanctification of the Lords day from morning to night REader beside those general directions which I have largely insisted on I shall annex here some short directions how thou mayst spend a Lords day from the begining to the end of it as may be most for the honour of God and the furthering thine own everlasting good 1. Be sure thou takest some paines with thy heart the afternoon or evening at least before to prepare thy soul for the ensuing Sabbath As our whole life should be a preparation for death yet the nearer we draw to the night of our dissolution the more gloriously as the setting Sun we should shine with holiness so in the whole Week we should be preparing for the Lords day but the more the day doth approach the more our preparation must increase The bigger the Vessel is the more Water may be carried from the Fountain According to the measure of the Sacks which the Patriarchs carried to Joseph so were they filled with Corn by Joseph preparation doth not onely fit the heart for grace but also widen the heart that it may receive much of the Spirit of God Some Servants when they are to bake in the Morning put their Wood in the Oven over night and thereby it burneth both the sooner and the better Men make much the more riddance of their work who being to travail a great journey load their Carts or put up their things and lay them ready over night If thou art a Christian thy experience will tell thee that after thou hast on a Saturday called thy self to account for thy carriage on the foregoing Week bewailed thy miscarriages before the Lord in particular thy playing the Truant on former Lords days when thou shouldst have been learning those Lessons which Christ hath set thee in his Law and hast been earnest with God for pardon of thy sins and a sanctified improvement of the approaching Sabbath I say thy experience cannot but teach thee that thy profit after such preparation will make thee abundant amends for thy pains and that thou hast the best visits the sweetest kisses when thy lips thy heart are thus made clean beforehand 2. If the weakness of thy body do not hinder rise earlier on the Lords day then ordinary When the Israelites were encompassing Jericho on the seventh day they rose early in the morning and according to many Expositors it was on the Sabbath day the walls of Jericho fell down Josh 6.15 One main work which thou hast to do on a Lords day is to batter down the strong holds of sin to conquer those Canaanites which would keep thee out of the promised land do thou rise early for this end He that riseth and setteth out early goeth a considerable part of his way before others awake It s sordid to lie lazing and to turn upon thy bed as a door on the hinges and never the farther off upon any day butmost sad and sinfull on a Lords day 3. When thou first awakest turn up thy heart to God in praise for his protection the night past for the light of another day especially of his own day and in Prayer for the light of his countenance and for assistance in every duty and his direction throughout the day As thou art rising if no other more profitable Subject offer it selfe to thy thoughts Meditate how the night is spent the day is at hand it concerneth thee therefore to put off the works of darkness and to put on the armor of light When thou thinkest on the nakedness of thy body how unseemly it would be for thee to walk up and down without raiment do not forget the nakedness of thy soul by sin and how uncomely thou art in the sight of God without the robes of Christs righteousness and the graces of the Holy Ghost 4. When thou art drest let nothing hinder thee from thy secret devotion When thou art in thy closet consider of the price which God hath put into thy hand the value and worth of a Lords day the weight and concernment of the duties therein and the account thou art ere long to give for every Sabbath and season of grace These thoughts as heavy weights on a clock would make thee move more swiftly in the work of the day After some time spent in meditation in some short yet reverent and hearty petitions intreat Gods help in the present and subsequent duties of the day After which read some portion of the Scripture and pour out thy soul in prayer Get thy heart effectually possessed with this truth That God must work his own work in thee and for thee or it will never be done that as the Spirit moved on the waters at first and then the living creatures were formed so the Spirit must move upon the waters of Ordinances before they can produce or increase spirituall life Hereby thou wilt be stirred up to more fervent supplication for and more importunate expectation of help from heaven In thy prayers remember all the assemblies of the Saints that they may see Gods beauty power and glory as they have sometimes beheld them in his sanctuary Intreat God to cloath his ordinances with his own strength that they may be mighty through him for the bringing in and building up many souls In speciall when thou art at prayer think of the Preachers of the Gospel Conceive that thou hearest every one of them speaking to thee as Paul to his Romans I beseech thee for the Lord Iesus Christs sake and for the love of the spirit that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me Rom. 15.30 Their work is of infinite weight it is God-work Soul-work Temple-work Not one of them but may say with Nehemiah on a Lords day upon much greater reason O I am doing a great work Nehem. 6.3 Their opposition is great The Devill will do what may be to hinder them the world hates them their own hearts will distub them Their strength is small their graces are weak Alas what can they do O therefore pray for them 5. After thy secret duties thou mayst if nature require refresh thy body with convenient food Thy God alloweth thee to cherish though not to overcharge thy outward man I shall speak to thy carriage about eating and drinking in the twenty third chapter and therefore omit it here Vide Family duties in Cap. 27 6. In the next place it will be fit that thou call thy family together and
of God in Ordinances but also the Marrow of his day that no Lords day may satisfie me without the Lord of the day Alass what is the best time without the Rock of eternity what is the best day without the Ancient of days what are the Ordinances of God without the God of Ordinances what are Sabbaths Sermons Sacraments and Seasons of Grace without the dearest Saviour but as broken Cisterns glorious Dreams or guilded nothings I have read of a good soul who answered his Friend Speak to me while you will no words can satisfie except you mention Christ write to me what you will it will not satisfie except in your Letters I may read Christ O that in no Sermon I might be contented till I hear Christ and that in no Chapter I might be pleased till I can read Christ that as the Needle touched with the Load-stone never resteth till it turn to the North so my heart may be reâ—â— less in holy duties till it turneth to and hath fellowship with the Lord of Heaven The Lords day is an excellent resemblance of my future blessedness wherein I shall enjoy my Saviour fully and my God shall be all in all to me Lord let never this day pass without some taste of those celestial pleasures Meditation on the Works and Word of my God being a duty most in its prime and season on a Sabbath day I beg that what time I spare from publique private or secret performances I may imploy to this purpose that I may behold my God to be infinite in wisdom power and goodness in his foot-steps of creation and stand amazed at that rare Workmanship those curious contrivances of his which Angels look into with admiration that appear in his Master-peice that work of Redemption and for his word let my heart be able to say with David O how love I thy law it is my meditation all the day I wish that I may watch over my thoughts words Watchfulness and actions all the day long in special that as when the holy things belonging to the Sanctuary were to be removed they were covered all over lest any dust should soil them so I may cover my heart with such circumspection that no dust of sin may cleave to it O that I might be so wise and watchful that there may not be the least minute of the day wherein I may not either do or receive some good Lord let no Sabbath pass without some saving good to my precious soul I desire Finally Conclusion of the day that I may not lose the heat of the day in the cool of the Evening I mean that what good If gain from my God through his Ordinances in the day may not be lost by my negligence at night but that as a wise Commander I may then double my Guard and expect with much importunity some evening dews of comfort and grace O that I might so keep the Sabbath of my God chuse the things that please him and take hold of his Covenant that I might so turn away my foot from the Sabbath from doing my pleasure on his holy day Is 56.4 5. and 58.13 and call the Sabbath my delight the holy of the Lord that I may have with the Eunuch within the House of my God a name better then of Sons and Daughters even an everlasting name that shall not be cut off Amen A Good Wish to the Lords day HAil thou that art highly favoured of God Luk. 1.28 thou map of Heaven thou golden spot of the week thou Market-day of souls thou Day-break of eternal brightness thou Queen of days the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among days I may say to thee what the Angel said to Daniel Dan. 9.23 O day greatly beloved Psa 45. Thou art fairer then all the Children of time grace is poured into thy lips God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of gladness above thy fellows Of the Jewish Sabbaths and other Festivals in comparison of thee it may be spoken They perish but thou remainest and they all wax old as a Garment Heb. 1.11 12. And as a vesture hast thou folded them up and they are changed but thou shalt maugre the malice of men and Devils continue the same and thy years shall not fail As the Temple succeeded and exceeded the Tabernacle this was fleeting that was fixed so dost thou all former Sabbaths they were but morning stars to usher in thee the Sun and then to disappear Other Festivals in all their Royalty are not arrayed like unto thee All the graces triumph in thee all the Ordinances conspire to enrich thee the Father ruleth thee the Son rose upon thee the Spirit hath overshadowed thee Thus is it done to the day which the King of Heaven delighteth to honour Thou hast not onely a common blessing with other days by the law of nature but a special blessing above all other days from the love of thy Maker Let thousands mark thee for their new birth-day Exod. 12.42 be thou a day as it was said of that night to the Jews much to be Remembred much to be observed to the Lord for bringing many out of worse then Egyptian bondage Esther 8.16 be thou to them a day of light and gladness of joy and honour and a good day On thee light was created the Holy Ghost descended life hath been restored Satan subdued sin mortified souls sanctified the Grave Death and Hell conquered O how do men and women flutter up and down on the Week-days as the Dove on the waters and can find no rest for their souls till they come to thee their Ark till thou put forth thy hand and take them in O how do they sit under thy shadow with great delight and find thy fruit sweet to their taste O the mountings of mind the ravishing happiness of heart the solace of soul which on thee they enjoy in the blessed Saviour They are sorry when the days shorten for thy sake they wish for thee before thou comest they welcome thee when thou art come and they enjoy so much of heaven in thee that thence they love and look and long the more for their eternal Sabbath Go forth O thou fairest among Women and be thou fruitful in bringing forth Children to thy Maker and Husband Gen. 24.60 Be thou the Mother of thousands and of millions and let thy seed possess the Gate of them that hate them Do thou like Rachel and Leah build up the House of Israel do thou worthily in Ephratah and be thou famous in Bethlehem Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O thou mighty and gracious day and in thy Majesty ride prosperously because of meekness righteousness and truth let thy right hand teach the terrible things let thine arrows be sharp in the hearts spiritual enemies whereby the people may fall under thee Psa 132. The Lord hath chosen thee he hath desired thee for his habitation
so dreadful but its certain and therefore calls for the more caution 2. By the season of it In the latter times When the world groweth old it will dore and decline when it comes to the bottom it will run dregs Its last days which should be best will be its worst days 3. By the causes procuring it Seducing spirits and Doctrine of devils Satan and his Emissaries will like Sampsons Foxes carry firebrands abroad to set the world in a hellish flame Secondly The Remedy is prescribed in reference to himself Something he must forbear Refuse prophane and old wives fables 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rejice Piscat Beza Excommunica alii If thou wouldst not swim down with the tide of those apostatising times take heed of steering thy course by prophane though ancient customs Refuse them with scorn reject them with anger let thy spirit rise and thy stomack turn at the very sight of such sins One way to prevent Apostacy is to refuse ungrounded antiquity The will of the Father of spirits not the ways of the fathers of our flesh is to be the rule of our walking It is well observed that God in no command but the second which forbids his Worship in any way not appointed by his Word threatneth to visit the sins of the fathers upon the children because superstitious Worshippers are of all men most strengthned by the Traditions of their Fathers They will tell us Shall we be wiser then our Fathers Now because they are resolved to sin with their Fathers God is resolved they shall suffer for their Fathers They that will follow their forefathers in sin for ought I know must follow their forefathers to hell If Timothy would not share in others declensions he must forbear others traditions Refuse prophane and old wives fables Something he must also follow after Exercise thy self unto godliness This is the special help which the skilful physician appointeth his beloved patient in those infectious times to preserve his soul in health As a pestiferous air is very dangerous to the body yet for a man to get and make it his work to keep a sound constitution will be an excellent means to prevent infection So an Apostatizing place or people is very dangerous to the soul spiritual diseases are more catching and killing then corporal but a spiritual habit of a real sanctity with a constant care to continue and increase it will be a soveraign means to preserve it in safety Bodies without life quickly corrupt and become unsavory not so living creatures Running waters are sweet and clean when standing ponds putrifie and abound in vermine He that is ever trading and thriving in godliness need not fear that he shall prove a bankrupt Carts overthrow not going up hill Timothy is considerable in his twofold capacity 1. As a Minister of Christ or in his particular calling in this respect he must exercise himself to godliness Non tan tum sana doctrina sed etiâ—m pia religâ—ola vita mâ—â—iâ—ri verbo opus â—st Beza in loc A Pastor must not onely some days give precepts but every day give a pattern to his people he must not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely divide the word rightly but also order his conversation aright He must as Nazianzen said of Basil thunder in his doctrine and lighten in his life Singular holiness is required of those that minister about holy things as Painters they must teach by their hands by their lives as well as by their lips Ministers must exercise themselves to godliness that is do their duties with the greatest diligence They are sometimes called the Salt of the earth Matt. 5 13 14 because they must waste themselves to prevent corruption in others Sometime the light of the world they must consume themselves to direct others in the way to heaven Greg in 1. cap. lob Gregory observeth that the Spirit of God appeared in two shapes in the shape of a Dove signifying innocency in the shape of Fire signifying activity The zeal of Gods house not the rust of idleness must eat the Minister up he must be a burning shining light if ever he would thaw the frozen hearts of his hearers Quic quid dâ—cit Lutherus quicquid scribit id in aâ—in as peâ—etrat mirificos relinquit aculâ—os in cordibus â—o minum Melch. Adam in vit Luther our Chappels must not be turned into Chappels of ease Christ neglected his food spent his strength wrought so hard that he was thought to be beside himself We are called Fishers Labourers Souldiers Watchmen all which are laborious callings We are compared to clouds the clods of the earth lye still but the clouds of heaven are ever in motion and dissolve themselves to refresh others But alas how many fleece their flocks Sacerdotum nomiâ—a acceâ—imus non ad quietâ—nâ— sed ad laboreâ—â— ut inver amuâ— in operâ— qâ—od sigâ—amur in no mine Greg. l. 4. ep 8. but never feed them as if their Benesices were Sine cures The Green-sickness is the maids and laziness many Ministers disease Who is instant in season and out of season It was a notable speech of Boniface the Martyr to one that asked him whether it was lawful to give the Sacramental wine in a wooden cup. Time was when we had wooden cups and golden Priests but now we have golden cups and wooden priests CHAP. II. The opening of the Text and the Doctrine 2. TImothy is to be considered as a member of Christ or in his general calling and so this Exhortation belongs to every Christian In it we may observe these three parts 1. The act Exercise 2. The subject of that act Thy self 3. The object about which it was to be conversant Vnto godliness Exercise thy self unto godliness I shall briefly open the terms in the Text and then lay down the Doctrinal truth Exercise The word signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exercei semetiâ—sem ad pietatem qui diligerter intambit action bus qui bus deus servitur Est in loc strip thy self naked it s a metaphor from Runners or Wrestlers who being to contend for the prize and resolved to put forth all their strength and power lay aside their cloaths which may hinder them and then bestir themselves to purpose as if Paul had said O Timothy let godliness be the object of all thy care and cost Follow thy general calling with the greatest industry pursue it diligently do not loiter but labour about it lay aside what may hinder lay hold of what may further and mind it as the main and principal work which thou hast to do in this world Thy self A Christians first care must be about his own spiritual welfare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Religion commands us to be mindful of and helpful to our neighbours and relations The Sun rayeth out his refreshing beams and the Spring bubleth up her purling streams for the
we to serve him with fear and trembling in every ordinance In a word Let us have grace whereby we may serve him acceptably with reverence and godly fear for our God is a consuming sire Heb. 12.28 29. Mark the way to serve God acceptably is to serve him reverently As the Quaver addeth a grace to the Musick and makes it more acceptable to us so an holy trembling graceth our performances and makes them more acceptable to God 2. Perform religious duties with Faith as well as Fear Fear will keep the heart awful and Faith will make it chearful in the service of God Let us draw nigh to God with full assurance of faith Heb 10 2â— In Ordinances man draweth nigh to God but if he would do it with acceptance he must do with affiance with faith By Faith Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice then Cain Heb. 11.4 Faith doth instrumentally justifie both our persons and performances because it looks up to and lays hold on Christ who justifieth both meritoriously God is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity now there are many sins in our best services we must therefore carry all our sacrifices as the Israelites did Exod. 28.38 to our High Priest who will take away the inuqitie of our holy things and procure their acceptance with the Lord He shall purge them as gold and silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness then shall the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord Mal. 3.2 3 4. It is a prophefie of Christ He shall purge away the dross from our duties and then they shall be pleasing to God It was a sacred Law among the Molossians that whosoever came to the King with his son in his arms should be pardoned whatsoever offence he were guilty of The Athenian General therefore when banished his Country fled to Admetus King of the Molossians his deadly enemy and prostrated himself before him with his Son in his arms and found favour God and man are enemies there is no appearing before this dreadful King without his Son in our arms and with him there is no fear of a repulse In him we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him Ephes 3.12 As God and man are angry Christ is medium reconciliationis he makes them friends as God and man are reconciled Christ is medium communionis he is the means of their fruition of each other Therefore Reader whatever thou dost whether thou prayest or hearest or singest or readest do all in the name of Christ Col. 3.17 Consider thy admission into Gods presence is by Christ No man cometh to the Father but by the Son Joh. 14.6 Through him we have access unto the Father Eph. 2.18 It is his blood which hath purchased thee this gracious priviledge He alone hath turned the seat of Justice into a Throne of Grace When thou approachest God he would be a fire to consume thee not a Father to imbrace thee were it not for his Son Consider also thy assistance in duties is from Christ Without him thou canst do nothing Joh. 15.3 O how dull and dead is thy heart in the most solemn duty unless this Lord of life quicken it Though thou hast a real principle of spiritual life yet unless Christ draw thee give the quickning and enciting Grace thou canst not run after him in a duty Further Thine acceptance in the Ordinances of God is through Christ O how unsavoury would thy best duties be were it not for the odors of his most sweet sacrifice The golden Censor and the Incense under the Law typified that all our performances must be perfumed and presented by Christ before they can be accepted with God The smoke of the Incense must ascend with the Saints prayers before they can be pleasing The incense which signified the merits of Christ is the pillar of smoak in which the beleevers performances mount up to Heaven Rev. 8.3 4. No wonder that David begged so hard Let my prayers come before thee like incense The Priests when they went into the Tabernacle to sacrifice were commanded to put off their own and to put on the holy garments provided for them Exod. 28.43 intimating that none must approach God in the rags of their own but in the robes of Christs Righteousness The Ark which was a special type of Christ without of Shittim wood speaking his Humanity within of wrought gold typifying his Deity did signifie thus much to us it covered the two Tables so Christ the Law there God gave his gracious answers and was propitious to his people so God accepteth the persons and prayers of men in Christ Ephes 1.6 If the Patriachs were welcome to Pharoah it was for Josephs sake and if the people of God are welcome at any time to him it is for Jesus sake Faith in Christ is the eye which ravisheth the heart of God Thou hast stoln away mine heart with one of thine eyes Cant. 4. Of all the Virgin-Graces none find such favour in his sight This this is the Hester on whose head he sets the Crown when she appears before him though it be contrary to the Law of Works he constantly holds out the golden Scepter of Grace He is so delighted with her beauty so ravished with her comeliness that he granteth her request be it to the half or whole of his Kingdom Therefore Reader when thou goest to God be sure to take Christ along with thee as ever thou wouldst speed Let thy prayers and petitions be in his name with an eye to his promise Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name I will do it Joh. 14.13 Let thy Prayses and thankâ—givings be in his name according to his precept Giving thanks always and in all things unto God and our Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephes 5.20 To be short As an holy Priest offer up all thy spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Thirdly If thou wouldst make Religion thy bufiness in holy duties Perform them to give God glory by them and to receive grace through them Ordinances must be used both as a testimony of our subjection to God and as the way of communion with God God is present in his Ordinances 1. In majesty and beauty and in that respect our end in them must be to give him glory 2. In communication and bounty and in that respect our end in them must be to receive Grace from him Psal 27.4 Rev. 2.3 6. Exod. 20.24 Gods eye is very much on our ends in duties he takes notice when he is neglected and self exalted When ye fasted and mourned even these seventy years did ye all fast unto me even to me And when ye did eat and when ye did drink did ye not eat for your selves and drink for your selves Zich 7.6 7. God seeth when self-credit or self-profit is the end of a performance Matth. 6 1 2. Hos 7.14 He weigheth all our actions by
our aims Now as duties are considerable in a twofold respect so a Christian must have in them a twofold end 1. Duties are considerable as services in relation to the command and so a Christian must mind them that he may testifie his obedience to God and his dependance on him Thou hast commanded me to keep thy precepts diligently O that my ways were directed to keep thy commandments Psal 119.5 6. Warn the unruly comfort the feeble minded support the weak be patient towards all men rejoycing evermore pray without ceasing in every thing give thanks For this is the will of God concerning you 1 Thess 5.14 15 16 17 18. God required the Israelites to bring a sheaf in a Ghomer about a pottle for all their increase of the fruits of the earth Lev. 23.10 whereby they acknowledged that they receive all from him Though man be unable to satisfie Gods Justice by all his devotion yet God will be owned and acknowledged in holy duties Copy-holders though they have the profiâ—s of their Houses and Lands to themselves yet pay some small Quit-Rent and at certain times do suit and service to the Lord â—f their Manor acknowleding thereby that the Fee-simple is his and they enjoy theâ— through his favour The earth is the Lords and thâ— fulness thereof He is the mighty possessor of heaven and earth and though he gives the earth by leases for lives as it were and copies to the children of men yet the Fee-simple and original right is still in himself and he hath appointed seasons daily and weekly for duties wherein Christians should acknowledge that they hold all of him and enjoy all through his grace and good will The worshipping of God in his Ordinances is the homage which as creatures we ow to our Maker and as Christians we owe to our Redeemer God alloweth us the comfort of our mercies but he reserveth to himself the credit of our mercies and hath appointed the hours of prayer to be the set times for the payment of this small Quit-rent infinitely inferior to our engagements to his sacred Majesty Truly Reader This end must be minded in thine attendance on the means of grace namely to give God glory by acknowleding his Soveraignty over thee and bounty to thee or else when thou bendest the bow of thine heart and shootest thy spiritual arrows thou wilt never hit the mark 2. Duties are considerable as means in relation to the Promise and so they are channels cut out by Christ to convey grace into the hearts of men therefore thine end in this respect must be to derive grace from the God of all grace through the means of grace The place of Ordinances is called by some The door of Heaven because there Christ gives his alms his dole Others call it The Celestial Exchange between God and his people God doth there exchange mercies for duties and they exchange Glory for Grace At the Tabernacle saith God I will meet with the children of Israel and it shall be sanctified by my glory And I will dwell a-among the children of Israel and will be their God Exod. 29.43 45. When God comes to his house he never comes empty handed If Paul comes with the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ with what clusters of blessings is the true Vine laden with what a train of Graces and Comforts is this great King attended I will meet with the children of Israel there When Jacob met Joseph they kist and wept Gen. 46.29 But when God meets the Beleever they have a merrier meeting they kiss and rejoyce And I will dwell among them Who can imagine the house which God keeps where he dwells the dainties the delicates which he provides for his friends and Family Great Princes have great provision in their Courts answerable to their quality but what provision doth the great God make surely answerable to his infinite majesty The table in the Tabernacle was furnished with so many loaves as there were Tribes in Israel Moses unveyled c. 27. p. 10 signifying that God keeps a constant and plentiful table in his Church for all Beleevers Ordinances are canales gratiae Conduit-pipes whereby the water of life is derived from Christ into the hearts of Christians As the light and beams of the Sun is the vehiculum or chariot to convey the heat and influence of the Sun to the world so the Ordinances of God are the chariots whereby God conveyeth the heat of his Grace and the influences of his Spirit to men and women Saints behold his face in the glaâ—â— of Ordinances and are changed into his image from glory to glary 2 Cor. 3.18 Those Divine graces which are for meat to satisfie and for medicine to heal the soul are found growing onely upon the banks of the waters of the Sanctuary Clark Mâ—r. part 2. p. 213. therefore go to Ordinances as the Viemaâ— lim a bird in America flieth to the fields for the dew which falls down from Heaven thereupon which it liveth Socrates one day meeting Zenophon the Son of Corillus in a certain Port Town â—â—og of aeâ— in viâ— stopt him with his staff and asked him Where was the place where several commodities were to be had He answered readily In such a place Then saith Socrates Where is the place that a man might be made good Zenophon answered he could not tell Then follow thou me saith Socrates and thou shalt learn and from that time he became Socrates Schollar The Ordinances of God are the places for both there true riches and vertue may be had the Temple is both the Exchange for traffique and a School for learning The good Mastâ—r teacheth his Schollars there those lessons which make them wise to salvation Reader the Ordinances are the food of the soul milk for babes and meat for men do thou feed on them to get spiritual health â—nd strength It is a shame for a Christian to be like an Anâ—â—busie about a molehil never to grow greater Goâ—o those wells that the vessels of thy soul may be filled with living water David longed as a Woman with Child so the word signifieth to see the beauty of the Lord and receive of his bounty in the Sanctuary Psa 84.2 and 63.1 2. and 27. Thou goest to the Market to supply thy bodily necessities and art ashamed to come home empty Dost thou not come to the Ordinances of God for the releif of thy soul indigencies and art thou not greived to come away poor and beggarly Merchants take in some goods from one part some from another part and at last come home richly laden do thou get some true riches at prayer some from the word and then how comfortably mayst thou conclude thy duties Do not rest in the formal performance of duties as the Harlot that cryed out Prov. 7.14 I have had my peace-offering to day and therefore all must be well but as the people when Moses went to speak to
God for them Exod. 33.8 they all looked after him to see what speed what success After thine attendance on Ordinances long and look for the fruit of them If a man present a Petition to a King he gives attendance to see whether it will be granted or no. It is a contempt both of Gods Majesty and Mercy for thee to throw down thy prayers before him and then to run away not caring what becomes of it When thou hast been speaking to God hearken what God will speak to thee for he speaketh peace to his people and to his Saints that they return no more to folly Let down thy Net into the Waters and expect to catch somwhat which may feed thy soul if thou fish all night and as the Disciples catch nothing look for the coming of Christ in the morning and that purposely to give thee a good draught of fish Reader remember thine errand at ordinances is to get grace thou hast Gods promise to them and his power and faithfulness both ingaged for its performance and it s thy fault and folly if thou goest hungry from a full table and empty from a free and large treasure Be as wise for thy soul as others are for their bodies The Country Tradesman wants commodities he goeth to London where is a Merchant that hath variety and abundance when he comes there he doth not spend his time in seeing fashions and visiting friends but in going to this and that Ware-house as his occasions require to buy Wares and you see sometimes what considerable quantities he sends home Go thou and do likewise Thou complainest that thou wantest grace go to Christ who hath variety and sufficiency for thy supply but do not go to see men or to be seen of men but to see God and to be transformed into his likeness go to this and that duty as shops where Christ sits and sels and buy Wine and Milk without Money and without price little dost thou know were this but thy business how certainly how liberally he would satisfie thee Why should the Tradesman be a better Husband for corruptible wares then thou art for durable riches Alas alas Christ is more willing to sell then thou canst be to buy to give then thou art to ask Balaam as bad as he was when he had prepared seven Altars and offered seven Sacrifices could expect to meet God and canst thou O Christian contentedly miss him surely he is a pittiful beggar that can go to the gate of a bountiful Peer where is plenty of provision for the poor and come away willingly without his Almes A good wish about religious Duties in general wherein the former Heads are Epitomized THe immediate Worship of the infinite God being a work of the greatest weight that ever I did or can possibly undertake yea that men and Angels are capable of I wish therefore that I may never enter rashly upon it but may ordinarily take some pains before hand The Introduction to the directions analised to aw my heart by a serious apprehension of the unconceivable greatness jealousie and holiness of that God to whom I am approaching how he is resolved to be sanctified either actively or passively Preparation in every one that draweth nigh to him and by a savoury consideration of the unspeakeable consequence of the duty in which I am ingaged how it concerneth the unchangeable welfare of my never dying soul in the other World I wish that all the time of the duty I may look as narrowly to my heart Attention as ever keeper did to that prisoner for whose escape he was to dye and bind it to the Altar as they of old their Sacrifice with the strongest cords of all watchfulness and circumspection imaginable Acting grace I wish that I may perform each part of the duty with sutable grace and to this end that all my graces may be upon the wing ready upon the least call to mount up to Heaven as several strings of a Vial wound up to their due height and pitch each in their place upon the least touch as occasion shall be to make Mâ—siâ—k in the ears of the Lord my God O that while my beloved sitteth at his Table my Spikenard may send forth a pleasant smell In particular Fear I wish that I may be so sensible of the infinite distance which is betwixt the incomprehensible Lord of Heaven and me a poor worm who lie groveling here on earth that I may both in my carriage and language affections and expressions behave my self throughout the ordinance with all godly fear humility and reverence I wish that I may be so truely affected with the sins and unworthiness of my person and performances and my Saviours infinite meritoriousness that I may carry all my Sacrifices to the High-Priest of my profession beleiving assuredly that they being perfumed with the odours of his death Faith and presented by his hands shall be Offerings of a sweet smelling savour to my God The end of duties Finally I wish that all ends of pride merit and self set a side I may therefore attend on duties that I may by my poor Peppercorn acknowledge those millions of eternal obligations by which I am bound to my God and also that by those Buckets O that they might never come up empty to me I may draw water out of the Well of Salvation Amen CHAP. XII How a Christian may exercise himself to Godliness in Prayer And first of Prayer in general and of the antecedents to it THe infinite and glorious God though be be so high that he humbleth himself to behold things in Heaven and so holy that the Heavens are unclean in his sight is yet so gratious that he condescendeth to and converseth with poor sinful dust and ashes amongst all those ways which he hath appointed the children of men to walk with him in Prayer is one of the fairest and pleasantest In this duty the children of God whisper him in the ear open their minds and unbosom themselves to him as his intimate friends and favourites He hath been pleased to command it not onely out of his Dominion over them and for his own glory He that offereth praise glorifieth me but also out of his compassion to them and for their good that by prayers as men far distant do by letters there might be a constant and uninterrupted intercourse and correspondence betwixt Heaven and earth Men by discoursing together come to be acquainted at first and continue their acquaintance by sending to and hearing from one another Prayer which is the speech of man with his Maker is a special means whereby he comes to be acquainted with God as also to increase and continue this acquaintance Prayer indeed bringeth Heaven down to man and prayer carrieth man up to heaven It is the chief duty wherein all the graces meet they shine brightly like so many glorious Stars in this Firmament Of all graces faith
not their hearts touched They hear and do not vers 33. Such go to Church just as they who go to a noise of Musitions onely for the pleasant sound for nothing but to hear Reader take heed of these and other finful ends least God answer thee according to the Idols of thine heart Children go to Fayrs for babies and rattles but men go for some serviceable commodities for the supply of their own and their Relations necessities Though foolish men go to Church to quarrel with the Person teaching or to admire at some fine cadencies or allusions in the Doctrine taught do thou go to the word for the releif of thy spiritual wants As a new born babe defire the sincere milk of the word that thou mayst grow thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 Here is a good end of a good action not to gaze upon the people or Pastor but to grow by his Preaching Some men go to Gardens to gather Gilly-flowers or Roses meerly to smell to them or look on them and in a short time throw them away when a good house-wife goeth to her garden for a better end she gathereth them to make a precious conserve or syrrup of them which she keeps constantly by her to comfort her in a time of sickness Though too many go to a Sermon meerly to look on the gaudiness of its dress or to sente the wit and fancy of the preacher which sight and sente are quickly gone do thou gather those flowers which grow in Eden the garden of the Lord that thou mayst by faith make such a cordial of them as may be ever ready at hand to revive thy spirit in each fainting fit whether of death or any civil or spiritual danger whilst thou livest Lastly If thou would prepare thy self to hear or read the word rightly leave thy Worldly thoughts behind thee It is written of Bernard that when he came to the Church-door he would say Stay there all my earthly thoughts Say to the cares of this life when thou art about reading or hearing as Abraham to his Servant Abide you here and I will go yonder and Worship Gen. 22.5 If thou shouldst suffer those weeds they would hinder the springing up of the good seed the word They are like Theeves never dogging thee at this duty but to do thee a mischief either to steal thy comforts or to wound thy conscience Christ sharply reproveth the Jews for turning his Fathers house which should be called an house of prayer into a Den of Theeves but how did they do this By buying and selling and changing Mony in the Temple If thou Reader shouldst in thine heart be buying in thy provision or selling out thy commodities or hankering after thine hoards and heaps of Corn or Wares or Money when thou art in Gods House thou turnest the House of prayer into a Den of Theeves therefore thy best way is to keep them out and if they come in afterwards as Christ did to whip them out When men hear with their Harvest ears meditating and musing on their flocks or shops or fields no wonder if the word be ineffectual to them If the wits of men be a wool-gathering the Word of God will be like water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again Some Garden Seeds are mingled with Ashes when they are sown and thereby they spring up the better but this Seed must not be mixt with Dust and Ashes if it be it will not spring up at all It is reported of one of Englands Lord Treasurers some say Cecil others say Burleigh that though by reason of his Office he was crouded with business all day yet when he was going to rest at Night he would throw off his Gown and say Lie there Lord Treasurer What he did going to Bed we must do when we go to this heavenly Banquet though the concernments of our families and callings throng us at other times yet when we go to hear or read the uncomparable word we must lay them by with Lye here all my thoughts of this lower beggerly World Thus I have dispatched the first particular Preparation for the Word CHAP. XVI Of the Christians duty in hearing SEcondly I come now to the second which is thy carriage at the word in reference to which I shall commend to thee these three things 1. When thou art hearing or reading set thy self seriously as in the presence of God God setteth before thee in his word and offereth to thee life or death blessing or cursing his infinite favour or fury Heaven or Hell and friend are these things to be jested with Imitate Cornelius in his carriage when he was to hear Peter We are all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God Act. 10.33 The piety of this Centurion appeareth in the ground and motive of his hearing he came not to hear men but God to hear all things which are commanded thee of God 2. In the gracious manner of his hearing he doth not say we are all here present before thee but we are all here present before God When the heart is awed with the apprehension of a Divine presence the iron gates of the ears will fly open of their own accord and give the Word a free passage The Creature dares not but hearken diligently to the speech of that God on whose breath depends his life and death when he seeth him immediately before his eyes I can speak it by experience saith Erasmus that there is little good to be got by the Scriptures if a man read or hear it cursorily and carelesly but if a man do it out of conscience and as in Gods presence he shall finde such an efficacy in it as is not to be found in any other Book This setting thy self seriously as in Gods presence is like the Masters eye to his servant which will make him ply his work whether he would or not or rather like the fire to the Smiths bar of iron which doth so mollifie it that he striking whilst it is hot may beat it into what form and mould he pleaseth This temper of soul in the Thessalonicans was so great a favour that Paul thought he could never praise the Author of it sufficiently For this cause thank we God without ceasing that when ye heard the word of God ye heard it not as the word of man but as it is indeed the word of God 1 Thess 2.13 The Apostle knew his children could not but thrive when they received their meat in such a manner as the Word of God It is the speech of Seniclaeus concerning Diarius the Martyr Methought when I heard him speak I heard the Holy Ghost himself preaching to me Truly the want of this is one main cause why the Word of God doth so little good The Devil is very diligent at duties he is every Lords Day the first at Church The Children of God never gather together but Satan is amongst them His great design is to
is one that eats the word now as meat eaten becomes one with the body and takes the same form with it the body and meat are so much the same that they are one and you cannot know them asunder So the Word is well heard when it becomes one with the Christian when they are both of the same form the hearer is delivered up into the likeness and form of the Scripture the Word of God may be read in every leaf in every line of the volume of his life Our blessed Saviour describing good hearers tells us they are such as bring forth fruit some thirty some sixty some an hundred fold Mat. 13.23 And elsewhere he compares the obedient hearer to the man who built his house upon a Rock which stood firm and immoveable in the midst of all winds waves and weather and the man that heareth and doth not practice to him who built upon the sands which house quickly fell when the winds blew and the waves beat Mat. 7. latter end His meaning and intention Reader was to quicken thee and me to minde subjection to the Word without which we must perish Suppose thou art never so great an hearer yet if not a doer thou deceivest thine own soul Alas what will become of the frequent hearer when the non or negligent doer shall be thrown to hell I have read a story of two men who walking together found a young Tree laden with fruit they both gathered and satisfied themselves at present One of them took all the remaining fruit and carried it away with him the other took the tree and planted it in his own ground where it prospered and brought forth fruit every year so that though the former had more at present yet this had some when he had none They who hear the Word and have large memories and nothing else may carry away most of the Word at present yet he that possibly can remember little who carrieth away the tree plants the Word in his heart and obeys it in his life shall have fruit when the other hath none The practical memory is the greatest mercy It is reported of a good man that coming from a Lecture and being demanded Whether all were done he should fetch a deep sigh and say All is said but all is not done Reader when thou hast heard the word consider though the Sermon be at an end yet there must not be an end of the Sermon Practice which is the heart of hearing is still behinde Observe the properties of those persons to whom and their posterity God will be propitious The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting and his righteousness to childrens children To such as keep his Covenants and remember his Commandments to do them Psal 103.17 18. They are described by their act they lay the word up they remember his Commandments and by their end to lay the word out in their lives to do them A good husband having received a bag of money locketh it up safe that none may rob him of it and as occasion is fetcheth it down and layeth it out some for food some for cloathes some for rent some for servants wages some for this some for that as his necessities require So Friend do thou lay up the precious Treasure of the word safe in the Cabinet of thine heart and bring it out as thy occasions call for it in thy life Art thou in adversity fetch out the Promises for thy comfort broach that strong liquor which was purposely tunned up for thee against a groaning hour This is my comfort in mine affliction for thy word hath quickned me Psal 119.15 Art thou in prosperity bring forth the precepts for thy carriage Look to that Card and Compass by which thou mayest sail eavenly and trim notwithstanding those high winds and swelling waters Thy Word is a light to my feet and a lamp to my paths Psal 119.4 Wouldst thou resist and conquer Satans Temptations The word is a Shield which as they say of Vulcans Armour is full proof against all thrusts and darts By the words of thy mouth I have kept my self from the pathes of the destroyer Psal 17.4 Nay fetch but this Sword of the Spirit out of Gods Armory and the Devil will run like a Coward he is more afraid of it then Leviathan his name-sake is of the Sword-fish which some write he dreadeth more then all the fish in the Ocean Thy Saviour gave Satan such a wound with the Sword of the word that he feeleth it to this day If thou wouldst overcome the worlds insinuations dâ— but feed on the word and thou wilt scorn thâ— scraps of the world As the Greeks in their sailing to fetch the Golden Fleece when the Syrens endeavoured to inchant them with their Songs found help against those assaults by hearkning to Orpheus pipe So when that Harlot the World striveth to bewitch thee with her pleasant voyce and poysonous breath thereby to hinder thy pursuit of the Golden Crown of Righteousness do but hearken to those Spiritual Songs that ravishing Musick those high and noble delights which are in the Gospel and thou wilt finde assured help That thy corruptions within thee may be subdued let still the Word of God be consulted Thou mayest finde in it such a bit and curb as will bridle thy youthful most headstrong lusts By what means may a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word Psalm 119.11 If thine evil humors be never so many and filthy yet the Word like the Catholicon Drug is instead of all purges That thy Relation duties may be performed the holy Scriptures must be fetcht out and minded Whether thou art an Husband or Wife or Parent or Child or Master or Servant to defray the charge of all those duties thou mayest take enough out of the Word of God It is a well drawn Picture that looks on all that look on it and it guides thee by its eye how to order and govern thy feet on what ground soever thou standest whether on the higher ground of a Superior the plain even ground of an equal or the lower ground of an Inferior He that layeth up the word for these purposes and bringeth it out in these practices is the right profitable hearer for he Remembreth the Commandments of God to do them Some hear and jear they go to a Sermon as to a Stage-play to laugh and be merry Others hear and fret and fume as those that live under the Torrid Zone curse the very Sun Others hear and forget what would do them most good their memories are true to the flesh but treacherous to the spirit they are like Vessels made of Ivy which some say if wine and water be poured into them will leak out the wine and keep in the water Others hear and admire but Reader if thou wouldst not have the word to witness against thee when thou shalt be judged by it for thine everlasting life or death
may not quench this love but rather like Snuffers make this lamp to burn the brighter Beasts love them who feed them Wicked men love their friends and benefactours My very cloaths warming me are warmed by me again and shall not I love him who hath loved me and washed me in his own blood O that I could groundedly cry out with Ignatius My love was crucified and meet this Lord of Heaven as Elijah went up to Heaven in a Chariot of fire in a flame of love Repentance I desire that I may follow Christ at this Ordinance as the Women did to his Cross weeping considering that my sins were the cause of his bitter and bloody suffering and O that as Saul eyed David I might eye them all from that day forward to slay and destroy them When my soul hath been thus feasted with Marrow and fatness After the Sacrament Thankfulness Lord let my mouth praise thee with joyful lips Ah what am I and what is my Fathers house that when others eat the bread of violence and drink the wine of deceit I should eat the flesh and drink the blood of thine own Son What is man that thou art so mindful of him and the Son of man that thou dost thus visit him I wish that I may shew my thankefulness to my God and dearest Saviour for these benefits the worth of which men and Angels can never conceive by the love of my heart the praises of my lips Faithfulness and the exemplariness of my life At the Sacrament Christ gave his body and blood to me and I gave my body and soul a living Sacrifice to him and that before God Angels and Men the Sacrament was Beersheba the Well of an Oath Shall I pollute that heart which was solemnly devoted to God and prophane that Covenant which I have seriously contracted with the most High Should I like Sampson break those bands asunder and fetch that Sacrifice away from the Altar which was tyed with such strong cords of Oaths and Covenants must I not expect to bring the fire along with it O let me never start aside from my vow like a deceitful bow Lord I have sworn and will perform that I will keep through thy strength thy righteous judgements Lastly I desire that I may not onely differ from them who like the Habassiness In Prester Iohns Country will not fpit on a Sacrament day but will spue the next day deny sin at present but afterwards Deifie it that I may not onely be faithful to my Oath of Allegiance but also fruitful in obedience that as Elijah walked in the strength of one meal forty days I may walk in the strength of that Banquet serving my Saviour and my Soul all my days In a word I wish that I may ever after walk worthy of my birth having Royal Heavenly blood running in my veins worthy of my breeding being brought up in the nurture of the Lord fed at his own Table with the bread of Heaven cloathed with the Robes of his Sons Righteousness and that my present deportment may be answerable to my future preferment O that I might in all companies conditions and seasons walk worthy of him who hath called me to his Kingdom and glory Amen CHAP. XXI How to exercise our selves to godliness on a Lords Day BEcause the Lords Day is the special time for Religious Duties I shall therefore Reader give thee here some particular directions for thy Sanctification of it and Edification by it As of all actions none call for more care then holy duties so of all seasons for those actions none commandeth so much caution and Conscience as the Lords Day The first Command teacheth us the object of Worship the second the matter of Worship the third the manner of Worship the fourth the time of Worship That God is to be worshipped Time of worship is juris naturalis one of seven is juris positivi that some time must be set apart for that work is Moral Natural and written on the Tables of all our hearts but that one day of seven must be consecrated to this end is Moral Positive and written on the Tables of stone All Nations have had their seasons for Sacrifice even the Heathen who worshipped dumb Idols had their Festivals and Holy days It is reported of Alexander Severus Emperor of Rome that he would on a Sabbath Day lay aside his Wordly affairs and go into the Capitol to Worship his gods Among those that acknowledge the true God the Turks have their Stata tempora set times of devotion nay they have their Fryday Sabbath But to keep the Lords Day upon a conscientious ground and in a religious manner is peculiar to the true Christian In the primitive times the observation of this day was esteemed the principal sign of a Saint Indeed our Sanctification of it is by God himself counted a sign that he hath sanctified us Exod. 31.13 It is observable that God hath fenced this Command with more hedges then ordinary to prevent our excursions 1. It is markt with a Memento above other commands Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy partly because of our forgetfulness and partly because of its concernments 2. It s delivered both Negatively and Affirmatively which no other commands is to shew how strongly it bindes 3. It hath more Reasons to enforce it then any other Precept Its Equity Gods Bounty His own Pattern and the Days Benediction 4. It s put in the close of the first Est caput Religionis totum Dei cultum continet Willet in Exod. 35.1 and beginning of the second Table to note that the observation of both Tables depends much upon the Sanctification of this day It is considerable also that it is more repeated then other of the Commands Exod. 20.31 14.34 and 24.35 1.19 Levit. 3.28.30 God would have Israel know Omni tempore Sabbato debere cessare Aug. in Exod. quaest 160. in those fore-quoted places that their busiest times earing and harvest and the very building of the Tabernacle must give way to this Precept On the Lords Day we go into Gods Sanctuary and his pleasure is that we reverence his Sanctuary Levit. 19.30 The Jews indeed made a great stir about their outward reverencing the Temple Willet in loc They tell us they were not to go in with a staff nor shoes nor to spit in it nor when they went away to turn their backs upon it but go sideling Ezek. 8.16 but certainly Gods meaning is principally that we do with inward reverence and seriousness worship him in his Sanctuary Reader I desire thee to take notice that the more holy any action is the more heedful thou oughtest to be about it Upon which account the duties of this day require extraordinary diligence for they have a double die of holiness upon them they are double gilt Thy task on that day or the exercises thereof are of Divine Institution
many a Sermon hath been lost because this was wanting and the Viols of our souls must be tuned to praise God or otherwise they will sound but harshly in his ears The Priests were to wash in the Laver when they went into the Tabernacle and when they came near to the Altar to Minister upon pain of death Exod. 30.19 20. Signifying that to holy performances there is required holy prepartion Sutable to which is Davids speech I will wash my hands in innocency so will I compass thine Altar Psa 26. When the Temple was to be built the stones were hewn and the timber squared and fitted before they were brought to the place where the Temple stood there was neither ax nor hammer nor any use of them in the Temple And what doth this speak but that the Christian must be pollished and prepared to be a spiritual Temple an habitation for the God of Jacob and also fitted for his worship which was then in the Temple There is no duty but requires some previous dispositi on A little break-fast quickens the appetite to a good dinner duty fits the heart for duty Consider prayer The Christian must be poor in spirit that would prevail in prayer for spiritual riches The vessel must be empty before it can be fil'd O Lord thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear Psa 10.17 for hearing the weeds must be pluckt up before the grain be thrown into the ground Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and Hypocrisies As new born born babes desire the sincere milk of the word 1 Pet. 2.1 2. In singing the lungs must be good the inwards clean before the voice will be sweet and clear O God my heart is fixed my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise Psa 57.7 So for the Lords day the Israelites had their preparation It was the preparation that is the day before the Sabbath Mark 15.42 The preparation for the Lords day consisteth partly in care so to order Worldly businesses that they may not incroach on the Sabbath Some expositours observe that the word Remember in the fourth Command enjoyneth a provident foresight and diligent dispatch of earthly affairs on the day before that nothing may remain to disquiet us in or disturb Gods day of rest There is an observable place If thou keep thy foot from my Sabbath Isa 58.13 that is from treading on my holy ground with the dirty feet of earthly affairs or affections The Jews preparation began at three of the clock in the afternoon Inritibus Pagan which the Hebrews called the Sabbath Eve The antient Fathers called Caena pura from the Heathen say some whose Religion taught them in their Sacrifices to certain of their Gods to prepare themselves by a strict kind of holiness at which time they had a Supper consisting of meats holy in their opinion The Jews were so careful in their preparation Buxtoâ—â— Syna gog Iud. c. 10. extalmâ—d that saith mine Author to further it the best and wealthiest of them even those that had many servants and were Masters of Families would chop hearbs sweep the house cleave wood kindle the fire and do such like things The marriner that intendeth a voyage putteth his Ship off from Land so truly Friend if thou woulst lanch Heaven-ward upon a Lords day there is a necessity that the Vessel of thy heart be put off from the earth When our blessed Saviour was teaching the people he was disturbed by one that told him Behold thy Mother and thy brethren standwithout desiring to speak with thee Mat. 12.47 So when thou art hearing or praying or about any Religious Ordinance what an hinderance what a disturbance will it be for thy heart to suggest to thee Man thy calling thy companions or such and such things which lye upon the spoil through thy negligence in the week-days they all stand without desiring to speak with thee If thou wouldst avoid distraction prevent the occasions As Isaiah said to Hezekiah Set thine house in order against thy deaths day So I say to thee Set thy house in order and thy heart in order against the Lords day The main preparation of the heart for a Sabbath lyeth in removing the filth of Sin Accedentiad divina mysteria deique contemplationem deponenda sunt calceamenta i.e. passiones affectiones simul rationes humanae terrenae Cor. a Lapid in Exod 3. and in quickening and awakening grace sin must be removed If the stomach be foul it must be purged before it be fed or the meat will nourish and strengthen not nature but the ill humours If a man purge himself from these It is true of evil affections as well as evil persons he shall be a Vesselunto honor sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work 2 Tim. 2.21 Superfluity of naughtiness must be laid aside before we can receive the word with meekness James 1.21 When the Vessel is unclean it sowres quickly the sweetest liquors powred into it when the heart is unclean it loseth the good it might receive by the truths of God As sin must be cast out so grace must be called up Grace is like fire apt to be deadish and dull thy duty is before-hand therefore to blow it up Most people upon a Sabbath adorn their bodies with their best cloaths but Alass who almost attireth his soul as he ought on this day when he is going to meet the blessed Redeemer Reader Suppose thou wert a person of great quality and estate and the King should send thee word that he would dine with thee to morrow what preparation wouldst thou make for his entertainment would not thy first work be to cleanse thy house by causing the dust to be swept out the flores to be washt nay rubd every thing to be neat and cleanly Wouldst thou not put up thy choicest Hangings lay on thy richest Carpets bring out thy best plate adorn thy room with thy costliest furniture endeavour that all things should be in print somwhat suitable to the dignity of so great a Prince I tell thee that the great King of all the World doth give thee notice in his Word that on such a day being the Sabbath he intends to sup with thee Now friend what preparation wilt thou make to testifie thy respect to this blessed and onely Potentate Canst thou beforehand do less then sweep out the dust of sin and wash the room of thine heart clean adorn it with the best furniture the Graces the embroidery of the Holy Ghost Truly unless this be done Christ will not think himself welcome nay all thy pretended entertainment of him will be not onely infinitely unworthy of but also provoking to so jealous and glorious a Prince Believe it thy profit by a Sabbath depends not a little upon thy preparation for the Sabbath till the matter be prepared how can it receive the form Job 11.12 13. Thou hast enjoyed many Lords
Days and it may be got little soul-saving good Thou goest to the House of God where a table in the preaching of the Gospel is set before thee spread with all the dainties of Pardon Love Grace Peace and Eternal Life at which others sit and feed their Souls are fill'd with Marrow and Fatness and their mouthes praise the Lord with joyful lips but thou hast no stomack canst eat little and savour nothing I dare be the Physician to tell thee the cause cure of this the cause is Thy stomack is foul thy heart is unclean and therefore as a man that hath a cold or some disease predominant cannot rellish his meat but complains sometimes of the meat sometime of the Cook when the fault is in himself so thou canst taste no goodness in the best meat neither Prayer nor Scripture neither Sermon nor Sabbath are savoury to thee yet it may be thou blamest the Preacher he doth not dress the meat to thy mind when the fault is in the foulness of thy affections Thy cure must be to purge out this old leaven to take some pains beforehand in cleansing thy heart When the stomack is clean as after purging or fasting how sweet is a piece of bread So if thou wouldst but in secret search thy soul vomit up thy filth by a penitent confession cleanse thine heart by sincere contribution and wouldst then frequent the publique Ordinances thou wouldst finde prayer sweet preaching sweet the Sacrament sweet every service sweet O how wouldst thou love the habitation of Gods House and the place where his honor dwelleth Prepare to meet thy God O Christian betake thy self to thy chamber on the Saturday night confess and bewail thine unthankfulness for and unfruitfulness under the Ordinances of God shame and condemn thy self for thy sins entreat God to prepare thy heart for and assist it in thy Religious performances spend some time in consideration of the infinite Majestie Holiness Jealousie and Goodness of that God with whom thou art to have to do in sacred duties ponder the weight and importance of his holy Ordinances how they concern thy salvation or damnation thine everlasting life or death how certainly they will either further thine unchangeable welfare or encrease thine endless wo meditate on the shortness of the time thou hast to enjoy Sabbaths in how near thy life may be to an end how speedily and how easily God may take down thine earthly Tabernacle how there is no working no labouring no striving in the other World to which thou art hastning and continue musing and blowing till the fire burneth thou canst not think the good thou mayest gain by such fore-thoughts how pleasant and profitable a Lords Day would be to thee after such a preparation The oven of thine heart thus baked in as it were over night would be easily heated the next morning the fire so well raked up when thou wentest to bed would be the sooner kindled when thou shouldst rise If thou wouldst thus leave thine heart with God on the Saturday night thou shouldst finde it with him in the Lords Day morning Secondly Possess thy soul in the morning with the greatness of thy priviledge in the enjoyment of a Sabbath and such seasons of grace Look upon thy work that day as thy reward thy duty on that day as thy greatest Dignity O what a favour what an honor what happiness doth God vouchsafe to thee in affording thee such a golden season David though a King the Head of the best people in the World esteemed it an honor to be the lowest Officer in Gods House to be a Door-keeper there to fit at the threshold as it is in the Hebrew Psal 84.10 If the Queen of Sheba could say when she saw the wealth and heard the wisdom of Solomon Happy are these thy men happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee and that hear thy wisdom and blessed be the Lord God of Israel which delighted in thee to set thee on the Throne of Israel because the Lord loved Israel for ever therefore made he thee King 1 Kings 10.8 9. mayest not thou when thou beholdest the beautiful face of thy Saviour in the glass of Ordinances and hearest the sweet delightful voyce of Jesus Christ a greater then Solomon when thou seest the delicate and plentiful provision the feast of fat things of wine on the lees well refined which he makes for his people upon better ground say Blessed are thy servants that hear thee daily watching at thy gates waiting at the posts of thy doors Prov. 8.34 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will be still praising thee And blessed be the Lord God of Israel which delighted in thee to set thee on the Throne of Israel because he loved Israel for ever therefore hath he made thee King The Ordinances of God are called an appearing before God the fruition of them is a seeing his face Capernaum because of them was said to be lifted up to Heaven Who can tell what honor it is to appear in the presence of this King or what happiness it is to see his comely countenance Those that enjoy this are lifted up to Heaven Israel was an unparallel'd people because of this incomparable priviledge For what Nation is there so great which hath God so nigh unto them Deut. 4.7 In the Ordinances of God the Christian hath sweet communion with ravishing delight in and enflamed affection to the blessed God in them he tastes God to be gracious hath the First-fruits of his Glorious and Eternal Harvest Well might the French Protestants call their place of publique meeting Paradise Well might David cry out Psal 84.1 2. 27.4 How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts At the Tabernacle God did meet David Who can tell what joyful greeting there was at that holy meeting what sweet kisses what loving embraces God gave his soul As the Ordinances are Heaven in a glass so the Lords Day is Heaven in a map This is to be valued at an high rate because therein we enjoy all the means of communion with God in the highest degree and measure without interruption The Hebrews call thee Week days prophane days but this is an holy pious day The Greeks call them working days but this is a day of sweet rest Other days are common and ordinary handmaids but this is fitly termed by the Jews the Queen of days Many Daughters have done wisely but thou hast excelled them all Many days as Lecture-days Fast-days Thanksgiving-days have done vertuously have done valiantly but thou O Queen of days hast excelled them all They like Saul have slain their thousands of Spiritual Enemies but thou hast slain as David thy ten thousands They like the people must worship afar off but thou like Moses mayest draw near go up into the mount There is none like thee whom God knoweth face to face Well may other days say to thee as the people to David Thou art
heart to spiritual joy and delight therein Holy alacrity and joy is not onely a crown and credit to but also a special part of Christianity The Kingdom of God consisteth not in meats and drink but in righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 Gods ways are not so bad but that the Travellers in them may be chearful His work is good wages and therefore it s no wonder that his Servants are so joyful Because beleivers have ever cause of comfort therefore they are commanded always to rejoyce Phil. 3. Whether their sins or sufferings come into their hearts they must not sorrow as they that have no hope In their saddest conditions they have the spirit of consolation There is seed of joy sown within them when it is buried under the clods and appears not above ground But there are special times when God calls for this grain to spring up They have some red letters some holy days in the Calendar of their lives wherein this joy as Wine at a Wedding is most seasonable but among all those days it never relisheth so well it never tasteth so pleasantly as on a Lords day joy sutes no person so much as a Saint and it becomes no season so well as a Sabbath Joy in God on other days is like the Birds Chirping in winter which is pleasing but joy on a Lords day is like their warbling Tunes and pretty notes in Spring when all other things look with a sutable delightful aspect This is the day which the Lord hath made he that made all days so especially of this day but what follows we will rejoyce and be glad therein Psa 118.24 In which words we have the Churches solace or joy and the season or day of it Her solace was great We will rejoyce and be glad Those expressions are not needless repetitions but shew the exeuberancy or high degree of their joy The season of it This is the day the Lord hath made Compare this place with Mat. 21.22.23 and Act. 4.11 and you will find that the precedent verses are a prophetical prediction of Christs Resurrection Sic. Arnob. and so this verse foretels the Churches joy upon that memorable and glorious day And indeed if a feast be made for laughter Eccles 10.19 Then that day wherein Christ feasteth his Saints with the choicest mercies may well command his greatest spiritual mirth A thanksgiving day hath a double precedency of a fast day On a Fast-day we eye Gods anger On a Thanksgiving-day we look to God favour In the former we specially mind our own corruptions In the latter Gods compassions therefore a Fast-day calls for sorrow a Thanksgiving day for joy But the Lords day is the highest thanksgiving day and deserveth much more then the Jewish Purim to be a day of feasting and gladness and a good day On this day we enjoy the Communion of Saints and shall we not delight in those excellent ones Psa 16.3 On this day we have fellowship with the blessed Saviour and shall we not fit under his shadow with great delight Cant. 1. On this day we are partakers of the Ordinances of God and shall we not be joyful in the House of prayer Isa 56.7 On this day we have special converse with the God of Ordinances and who would not draw water with joy out of the Well of Salvation Isa 12.3 Surely whilst we are in the midst of so much Musk we must needs be perfumed Who can walk where the Sun shines so hot and not be warmed It is Gods precept as well as thy priviledge to make Gods day thy delight If thou call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord Isa 58.13 Delights Tremel reads it Thy delicate things according to the Septuag Whether thou art meditating on Gods works or attending on Gods Word which are the two principal duties of the day they both call for delight and joy If on this day of rest thou considerest the work of creation and Gods rest it behoveth thee to follow Davids pattern Thou Lord hast made me glad through thy works I will triumph in the works of thy hands Psa 92.4 If thou considerest the work of Redemption and Christs rest surely out of the carcass of the Lion of the tribe of Judah thou mayst get some Honey as may delight thy soul and force thee to sing My soul doth magnifie the Lord my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour Luk. 1.46 47. The babe in the womb leapt for joy of him before he was born The heavenly host sung at his birth and wilt not thou at his second birth his resurrection from the dead O let the Primitive Christians salutations be thy consolation The Lord is risen If thou meditatest on glorification and thine own rest canst thou do less then rejoyce in hope of glory what Prisoner shackled with Satans temptations and fettered with his own corruptions in the dark Gaol of this World can think of the time when his Irons shall be knockt off and he enjoy the pleasant light and glorious liberty of the Sons of God and not be transported with joy What heir in his minority banisht from his kindred and country can think without comfort of his full age when he shall have the full fruition both of his estate and friends doubtless friend the Sabbaths of the holy are the Suburbs of heaven In heaven there is no buying no selling no ploughing no sowing nothing but worshiping God communion with him fruition of him and delight in him There remains a rest for the people of God There they rest from their labours If thou on a Lords day turnest thy back upon the World and goest up into the mount conversing with and rejoycing in the blessed God what dost thou less then begin thine eternal Sabbath here Such a Lords day can be no less then Heaven in a looking glass representing truly though darkly thy future eternal happiness There is no perfume so sweet to a Pilgrim as his own smoak When thou art attending on the word truely that Aquavitae that hot water may well revive thy spirit Thy testimonies are my delight saith David I have rejoyced more in thy testimonies then in all manner of riches Psa 119.24 77. The Word of God is sometimes called a treasure and what beggar would not rejoyce in a treasure sometimes fire and truly Reader thine heart is frozen to purpose if this fire do not heat it Salomon tell us As cold water to a thirsty soul so is good news from a far Country Prov. 25.25 The Word of God contains the best news that ever ears heard Peace on earth good will towards men and the glad tidings of the Gospel come from Heaven a far Country What canst thou say then why they should not be as welcome and refreshing to thee as cold water to a thirsty soul Variety of things that are excellent is not a little ground of complacency in them Variety of choice voices please the ear variety
art a good Husband for thy soul I doubt not but thou esteemest thy time in the week days at so high a rate that thou darest not sqander it away in doing nothing or in that which is worse then nothing but O what worth what price wilt thou set upon an opportunity upon a Lords day How diligent wilt thou be to improve the least peice of that day God giveth thee six whole days for thine own works do not deny to him one whole day in seven Let thy conscience be Judge Is it not unrighteousness to buy by one measure which is greater and sell by another measure which is lesser when the day is consecrated to God as the goods of Ananias it is dangerous to keep back any part of it for our own use Do thou all the day long live and walk as it were in the other World Make it a Sabbath a day of rest 1. From sin and wickedness this is thy duty every day but especially on this day Every sin on a Sabbath is double the season is a great aggravation of the sin The wicked indeed are like the raging Sea which cannot rest but every day bubble up mire and dirt Isa 57.20 2. From the World and the works of thy calling Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore for it is holy unto you Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death for whosoever doth any work therein that soul shall be cut off from among his people Exod. 31.14 The Jews were to rest from works of least importance as gathering sticks he that fetched in sticks was sent out of the World with stones and of greatest concernment as building the Tabernacle and though the Christian now hath more liberty yet he hath no leave at all to pollute the day by wickedness or to prophane the day by any earthly work which might have been done before the day or may be done as well after it May I not say to thee of this day as Elisha to Geehezi Is this a time to receive money and garments and sheep and oxen and men-servants and maid-servants 2 Kings 5.26 Is the Sabbath a time for civil affairs The Sabbath day is therefore called a day of restraint Deut. 16.8 because then men are forbidden all work saith Junius As none were ever losers by laying afide their own works to attend Gods Worship he took care of Israels safety whilst they were in his service that none of their Neighbours though bitter enemies should so much as desire their Cities Exod 34.24 so none I am confident were ever gainers by inching in some part of their callings unnecessarily at the end of Gods day and by setting God aside to serve themselves the very time will be a Canker to consume their estates And as they that take Crocus into their stomachs bring up not onely ill humours but that also which would prove good nourishment So some have had experience that their prophanation of Gods day to increase their estates hath forced them to vomit up the whole God hath given thee days enough for thy calling space enough to mind it in thou needst not trespass upon his holy day upon his holy ground It was no small aggravation of Adams sin that though he had choice of fruits he would eat of the forbidden fruit so it will much increase thy sin if when thou hast choice of time for thy trade thou shouldst meddle with it on a Sabbath Reader Debet totus dies festivus à Christiano expendi in operibus bonis Grostead in precept as thy duty is to rest the whole day from wickedness and worldly work so also to imploy the whole day in Gods Worship be either praying or reading or hearing or singing or meditating or discoursing with others about the Works or Word of God Be always taken up either with publique Hoc sensu loquitur propheta Sià primo mane incipimuslauda re dâ—um continuandas esse ejus laudesad ultimam noctis partem Calvin in loc private or secret duties In the 92. Psalm that Psalm for the Sabbath v. 1 and 3. we are exhorted to shew forth Gods loving kindness in the morning and his faithfulness at evening Now we know that in Scripture sense the morning and the evening are the whole day The whole day is Gods by ordination and why should not it be his by observation God hath dedicated this day wholly to hsi own Worship now every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord. Lev. 27.28 The Pope and Church of Rome have half holy days as St. Blacies day which is holy in the forenoon onely but God and the Church of Christ have no half holy days Observe how exact God is in expressing a whole natural day From evening to evening you shall keep the Sabbath Lev. 23.32 Their days were reckoned from evening to evening from the creation but ours because Christ rose in the morning from morning to morning If thou hast any sincere delight in God and esteem of the true riches I cannot but think that thou wilt be covetous of the smallest part of Gods day and wish as R. Jose Iewish Antiq. l. 3. c. 3. Ex Buxtorf Comment mas that thy portion may be to begin the Sabbath with those of Tiberias because they began it sooner then others and to end it with those of Tsepphore because they continued it longer then others If thy soul ever met God on a Sabbath thou wilt surely be ready to say with Joshua Thou Sun stand still in Gibeon Iosh 10 12. and thou Moon in the vallies of Ajalon O that the day were longer that I might have more time to fight the Lords battels against my spiritual enemies Eightly If thou wouldst make Religion thy business on a Lords day Meditate therein on the word and works of God Consider his works This is part of the work of the day David in that Psalm for the Sabbath gives thee a pattern O Lord how great are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep Psa 92.5 Is a dishonour to a workman to make excellent peices and to manifest abundance of Skill and Art and ingenuity and then not to have them taken notice of God hath done his mighty works to be remembred and wondred at It s said of Pythagoras that he lived sequestred from men in a cave for a whole year together that he might meditate on the abstruse points of Philosophy I wish thee to an easier and pleasanter task to sequester thy self some time every Lords day to ponder the infinite perfections which appear in the operations of his hand God will be both admired and magnified by his people on earth as well as in Heaven which none can do but those that seriously consider his works Men have been much wondred at for some peculiar rare works though in them a Christian should look farther even to God the Author of their skill and wisdom The very Greeks acknowledged somewhat like this that all
enter upon family duties Namely to read the word of God to call upon the name of God and to sing to the prayse of God 7. Let as many of thy family as can convâ—â—â—enny be spared accompany thee to publick Ordinances Vide more of this in Cap. 27. Remember the command Thou thy Son thy daughter thy man-servant and maid-servant and all within thy gate Do not pamper their bodies and starve the souls of thy houshold It is Recorded of Dr. Chaterton Mr. of Emannel Colledge that he never caused any of his Servants to stay at home on a Lords day barely to dress meat be able to say with Cornelins who feared the Lord with all his house we are all here present before God 8. As thou art going to the place of publique Ordinances consider with thy self that thou art going to converse not with men but with God even with that God who searcheth the heart who will not be mocked and who is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity that thou mayst hereby be quickened unto uprightness and seriousness and to dart up some ejaculatory prayer to God for aid and assistance 9. In every part of publique worship carry thy self with reverence humility love faith and sincerity Hear sing pray receive the Sacrament as one that doth all in Gods sight as one that is working for his immortal soul and as one that within a few days shall enter the gates of death and never have a season more for such sacred duties Depart not from the Church till all be done In a Court of civil Judicature thou willt stay till the Court riseth If thou wouldst have Gods blessing with thee do not leave it behind thâ—â—â—â— As thou comest from the Church meditate on what thou hast heard chew that meat which the Minister hath put into thy mouth thereby thou mayst get much spiritual nourishment 10. When thou art come home usually let nothing hinder from prayer either in thy family or closet wherein I would advise thee to turn the heads of the Sermon and Chapters read into Petitions as also to beg pardon of thy wandrings in the Worship of God and beseech him who with his own hand wrote the Law in two Tables that he would write the word Read and Preached in the Tables of thine heart 11. At Dinner take heed of excess whereby thy body will be unfitted to serve thy soul yet do not pinch or punish thy body because the day is a day of joy and delight I would wish thee to watch thy heart and tongue all the day long but especially at meals that thou mayst not think thine own thoughts nor speak thine own words If thy self or others start any unseasonable or earthly discourse at Table give conscience leave to speak to thee as Judas to the Apostles What needeth this wast What needeth this wast of precious time of so rich a treasure as every part of this day is Let the first dish at Table be Gods I mean when a blessing is desired let presently some savory discourse be offered hereby fin may be prevented The Jews had two notable defeats on the Sabbath day because they would not defend themselves Iosephus l. 12. c. 8. l. 14 c 8 the first defeat was by Antiochus the second by Pompey the Great Reader if thou wouldst not have Satan to foil thee on a Lords day keep a strict watch over thy thoughts words and works After Dinner as time will give leave either Sing or Pray with thy family or repeat what thou hast heard or busie thy self in Godly conference chiefly about what was Read or Preached that morning 12. Neglect not afternoon Ordinances Some Persons are like some Physitians Fore-noon men they must be sought to in the morning onely if you would find them about Religious duties Friend If thy soul ever met thy Saviour in publique duties thou canst not but love and prize them at an high rate In the close of the day sometimes God sendeth in the cheif blessing of the day A Sabbath Tide hath brought in many a good draught of Fish Be present at serious in publique Ordinances As an error in the first concoction can never be mended in the second so an error or carelesness in publique cannot be mended by carefulness in private 13. When thou returnest from publique Ordinances take some time to meditate on the word or Works of God thou mayst read over the eighth particular in the twenty one Chapter to help thee therein 14. Do not lessen thy secret or private duties on that day let them rather be increased then diminished The Offerings under the Gospel were Prophesied to be greater then under the Law Under the Law one Lamb was to be offered Under the Gospel six Lambs Numb 28. Ezek. 46. 15. Call thy Children and Servants to account what they have learned that day and explain what they understand not hereby thou wilt benefit both thy self and others Chemnitius observeth that our blessed Saviour in the 4. of Mark and 14. of Luke Examen de dieb fest after he had instructed the people as a publique Preacher on the Sabbath day did examine and teach his Apostles as a private Master of a Family 16. At Evening Sing Pray and if thou canst repeat the heads at least of both the Sermons Plutarch reporteth of a River which runneth sweet in the morning and bitter at night Let it not be said of thee that thy Morning was like Nebuchadnezzars Image of Gold and thy evening like the feet of it of clay 17. Before thou goest to rest examine thy self what thou hast got or lost that day Reflect upon the carriage of thy heart in the several duties as also what welcome thou hadst at the Throne of grace what covered dishes were brought thee by the spirit from Gods own Table that accordingly thou mayst beg pardon or return praise If thou hast been melted with Gods affection obtained any strength against thy corruptions or received any degree of grace take heed of ascribing the glory to thy self In Justinians law it was decreed That no Work-man should set up his name within the body of that building which he made out of another mans cost If thou didst pray or hear or sing or read or meditate with any life or delight seriousness or sincerity in any measure agreeable to his Word and Will all was from God there was not a stone used by thee towards this spiritual building but it was taken out of his Quarrey As he is the Author so let him have the honour 18. Be watchful over thy self at the latter end of the day with all imaginable circumspection that the last part of the day may be the best part of the day Some Souldiers prevail in the day but lose all again at night because they are slothful when their Quarters are beaten up by their Enemies Some lose at night what they got in the day like Hannibal they know how to obtain a
this Strabo Geog. The Metapontines after a plentiful Harvest which had much enriched them dedicated an Harvest cut in gold to Apollo their God Praise the Lord O Jerusalem praise thy God O Zion For he maketh peace in thy borders and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat Psal 147.12 13 14. When God sendeth thee in profit thy duty is to give him praise Do not bury Gods mercies as the barren earth the seed that when once it s thrown into the ground we hear no more of it God expecteth as the trees by their leaves in Autumn pay their tribute of thanks to the Earth the Mother of their fruitfulness so that we should honor him when he heapeth favours on us Some men are like Fishermens weels wide to receive in mercies but there is no passage out for the returning of praises Those places where the Rivers are shallowest make the greatest sound those where they are deepest are most silent Men while they are poor sound with prayers make a great noise for mercies but when God blesseth them with wealth they are silent in regard of thanks they are lifted up with pride but look not up to God with praise It is reported of Willigis a Wheelers son Calius lect Antiq lib. 13. c. 1. that being made Archbishop of Mentz and one of the Prince Electors in Germany he did constantly acknowledge Gods great providence in his great preferment and therefore gave in his coat of Arms three Wheels with this Motto written in his bed chamber in great letters Willigis Willigis Recole unde veneris Willigis Willigis remember from whence thou camest Thus holy Jacob in his prosperity remembred both his former poverty and his present plenty to its Authors praise O God of of my father Abraham I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies and all thy truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant for with my staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two bands Gen. 32.9 10. So do thou Reader when God blesseth the work of thy hands ponder his goodness that thou mayest give him his praise and think of thy own unworthiness thereby thou mayst be preserved from pride It is reported of that noble Captain Iphicrates that being enriched he should cry out From how small to how great an estate am I raised Sixthly Labour for contentedness and an holy composedness in all conditions Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. Thy duty is to have the scales of thy minde equally poized in all providences not rising in prosperity through lightness nor sinking in adversity under the heaviness of the load As the tree bendeth this way and that way with the wind but still keepeth its place so thou mayest yield according to the gales of providence but still retain and keep thy standing thy piety If thine estate decrease let not thine heart despair if the World flow in let not thine heart flow out O it was an excellent Lesson which Paul had learned I know in what state soever I am to be content I know how to be abased and I know how to abound I know how to be full and how to be empty Phil. 4.11 Paul was not like a musical Instrument out of tune with every change of weather but like the Cypress tree which no storms Naturalists tell us can alter and like the Hill Olympus above all winds and weather Some men are like the leaves of a tree which every wind sets a shaking and trembling or like a bone out of joynt which a man cannot stir without pain if the World do but frown upon them you may see it in their faces they are quite dejected with sorrow O how heavy presently are their hearts as if they had lost their Heaven It is to be feared that bough is rotten which breaketh if but a little weight be hung upon it A godly man should be like a Rock immoveable though high winds and boisterous waves of Providence blow and beat upon him and like a Die however he be thrown always to fall upon a square The Traveller need not murmure though his Inn afford him but mean fare and an hard bed when he knoweth that he must be gone next morning The Ox is not happier which hath two or three mountains to graze on then the Bee which feedeth upon that dew which falleth daily from the store-house of Heaven If thou hast secur'd thine ever lasting estate the boundless God is thy portion and surely then thou mayst be like a spring full under the most scorching Providence It was a worthy speech of Mr. Bradford the Martyr to one who asked him whether he should petition the Queen for his life If the Queen will take away my life I will thank her if she will give me my life I will thank her if she will banish me I will thank her if she will burn me I will thank her let her deal with me how she pleaseth I will thank her So Reader thy heart will be in an excellent frame indeed if thou canst thank God when he enricheth thee and thank him when he impoverisheth thee if thou canst thank him when he smiles on thee with the light of his countenance and thank him also if he frown by some sad Providence if thou canst thank him when he is at Addition and thank him when he is at Substraction thank him giving to thee and thank him taking from thee O here is an heart worth gold indeed Truly the want of this calmness and composedness of minde is a great impediment to Christians Alas when their spirits are like some mens flesh no sooner razed with a pin but they rankle and fester no sooner touched with a light affliction but they faint and are dejected how unfit are they for Religious actions as men in extremity of pain they rather chatter then pour out a prayer Either men must use the World as if they used it not or they will serve the Lord as if they served him not He who knoweth that nothing can befal him whilest he is diligent in his calling but what is the fruit of bottomless love and the result of infinite wisdom may certainly be steady in the greatest storm Thrice happy is that soul who hath so much care of doing his work and such an eye to the recompence of reward that the allurements and affrightments of the World though they may assault the outworks can never surprize the Royal Fort of his heart The onely way Reader to finde thine own will is to lose it in Gods will Those that grumble at his doings and quarrel at his dealings do but like a Bull in the net and the silly Bird among the lime-twigs by strugling intangle themselves the more Unsubmissiveness to Gods will is the fountain of all mans wo the quiet resignation of our persons
this and hast thou not abundant cause to be heedful lest by thy pattern thou shouldst draw thy Children to sin and to Hell The Idolatrous Israelites drew their children to joyn with them in the Worship of false Gods Ezek. 18.2 Plutarch observeth of Cato that he was very wary not to speak an uncomely word in the presence of his Children Plut. in vit Cat. This Heathen will condemn many Christians who will curse and swear and drink and roar and that in presence of their children Reader avoid sin both for thy own and others sake As a stone thrown into the water makes but one circle at first but that one begetteth many so though the sin in thee at first be but one ye it may cause many both in thy children and servants The sin of a Master or Mistris is like an infectious Air which others breathing in are infected by it Thy servants will as readily put on thy lusts as thy livery and thy Children will be proud of such a patronage such a cloak for their villany A dark eye benights the whole body Weigh all thy words and all thy works considering how many followers thou hast he that sinneth once sinneth twice if he sin before others Be serious and diligent about the concernments of God and thy soul that others may take example by thee The biggest Stars are brightest and give light to those that are of a lesser magnitude Thou who art the greatest shouldst be the most gracious in the family if the Sun shine not on the mountains it must needs be set in the vallies If thy children and servants behold thee careful of thy language and consciencious in thy carriage when they see thee humble fervent constant and serious in holy duties they may learn by thee and write after thee such a patten may tend exceedingly to thy spiritual profit It is observed of Caesar by Cicero that he would never say to his Souldiers Ite sed Venite Go ye but Come ye marching before them himself and giving them a pattern Do thou Reader go before thy Family in Sobriety and Sanctity as their faithful Captain and they may sooner then thou expectest follow after thee Naturalists tell us of the Mulberry tree that there is nothing in it but what is Medicinal in some sort or other the fruit the root the bark the leaf all are useful Truly so it ought to be with thee All thy expressions all thy actions should be instructions to thy Inferiours Thy behaviour in private in publique towards God towards thy Wife towards thy Children towards thy Servants towards thy Neighbours should all be Lectures to teach others Religion and Righteousness that you may be able to say to your Children as Seneca to his Sister Though I can leave you no great portion yet I leave you a good pattern Besides one work required of thee as I shall shew thee before the conclusion of this Chapter is to admonish and reprove others in thy family for their faults which with what face canst thou do or with what hope of success unless thou art free thy self It was a shame to Plutarch that his Servant should say My Master writeth falsly he saith it is unbeseeming a Philosopher to be angry ipse mihi irascitur and he himself is angry with me If thou reprovest thy childe for not praying and thy servant for drunkenness and art guilty thy self though thou acquaintest them never so much with the wrath of God which will certainly seize upon Atheists and Drunkards they will never believe thee for they know thou dost not believe thy self Thy words would seem to draw the nail of sin out but thy works are such an heavy hammer that they drive it in to the very head When the rude Souldiers saw the Roman Senators sit gravely and discourse soberly they took them for gods and were awful of them but when they perceived one of them to grow waspish they took them for men and spoiled them Herod feared Johns reproof knowing that he was a just man Mark 6.20 Where there is piety in the person there is majestie and authority in the reprehension Let the Righteous smite me Psal 141.5 The Snuffers of the Sanctuary were of pure gold He that would reprove others dimness and make them shine brightly with the light of holiness had need to be irreproveable himself Reader walk unspottedly otherwise when thou threatenest thy children or servants with the judgements of God against fin thou dost like David pass a sentence of death and condemnation against thy own soul Fourthly Be careful and diligent that thy whole Family may sanctifie the Lords Day When the Israelites were to sacrifice to God in the Wilderness they went with ther little ones and all their housholds Exod. 12. When Elkanah went up to sacrifice to the Lord all his house went with him 1 Sam. 1.21 Thy duty is according to these examples to see that all thy family unless necessity should hinder serve the Lord in publique Do not suffer any of thine to be playing idly in the Churchyard when they should be praying earnestly in the Church nor to be talking vainly of the World when they should be hearkning reverently to the Word O what pity is it that they should be sucking poyson when they should be sucking milk out of the breasts of Consolation The fourth Commandment doth fully speak thy duty not onely to be careful that they forbear thy work but also that they minde Gods Worship Thou knowest not but that thy childe or servant by missing one season may miss of salvation Possibly they are wrought hard in the Week days and have very little time for their souls so that their onely time of improving their spiritual stock by trading towards Heaven is on a Sabbath Day Or it may be they are careless of their main work of providing for the other World all the Week that if thou shouldst neglect them on the Lords Day they will he left under a necessity of perishing Surely they who have but one good meal in seven days and are robbed of that are unconceiveably wronged When David came to his Brethren to the Camp Eliab said to him How camest thou down hither Where is the flock and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the Wilderness 1 Sam. 17.28 I know the pride and the haughtiness of thy heart Give not God cause to greet thee thus at Church How camest thou hither Where is thy flock thy Family With whom hast thou left those few sheep thy Children and thy Servants I know thy pride they are not good enough to come along with thee or to be minded by thee or I know thy covetousness thou hast imployed them about earthly businesses or I know thy carelesness and Soul-cruelty thou carest not what becometh of them whether they be saved or damned for ever I tell thee Friend some Gentlemen by going abroad alone without their servants have lost their silver and
for ought I know by thy going to Church without thy company thou mayest lose the blessing and efficacy of the Ordinances How canst thou expect that God should have any care of thy soul when thou tramplest the precious souls of others under thy feet which he hath given thee special charge of O Reader think of it Are not thy children and Servants strangers to God and alienated from his life through the ignorance that is in them And is not the Ministery of the Word appointed to turn men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God How shall they be converted if the Ordinances of God be neglected Though a person be dangerously diseased if he observe his purging days according to the advice of his able Physician there may be hopes of recovery but if he neglect the means if he perish it will be no marvel If thy children and Servants are holy canst thou expect the fire of Grace should continue or encrease whilst thou takest away the fuel Dost thou think that Spiritual Life can be maintained without Spiritual Meat In private also be watchful over thy Family that all under thy charge be present at holy duties as Singing Praying repetition of Sermons and the like Thou art careful that in the Week days they do work diligently and why shouldst thou not be as careful that they do Gods work on his day Is thy work of greater concernment then Gods or dost thou love thy self the poor withering World I mean above the blessed God Examine those who waited on the Word of God in publique what good they have got what lessons they have learned from the great Master of Assemblies Our Saviour after Sermon asked those of his Family Have ye understood all these Sayings Mat. 13.5 Hereby thou wilt make them more attentive in publique Ordinances and better their memories as also by this means thou mayest quicken thy own affections Suffer none of thy house to spend any part of the day either in idleness pastimes or worldly business Thou art accountable to God as well for sins of permission as for sins of commission and it will another day be imputed to thy charge if the day be prophaned by thy carelesness If thou wouldst not suffer for others do not suffer others in sin Fifthly Let Discipline be set up in thy Family When Jacob would dedicate his house to God he commandeth all his Family to change their garments and put away their strange gods Their change of garments did signifie that change of heart and life which he desired should be his housholds livery Gen. 35.1 2. As the Governor of a Family must be a Priest to pray and a Prophet to teach so also a King to rule to be a terror to evil doers and an encouragement to them that do well in his family Let not wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacle Job 11.14 Zophar meaneth not a natural or personal though so the word is sometimes taken as 2 Cor. 5.1 but a domestical and civil Tabernacle Though sin may come into thy house by children or servants commission yet it must not dwell there but be cast out by severe reprehension Wickedness is a bold guest it will come uncalled but it must be more bold then welcome it must not dwell in thy Tabernacle It is said of Cato he would bear with faults any where rather then at home Bishop Jewel at night called his servants to an account how they had spent the day and after prayer admonished them accordingly Thy duty is to warn the unruly 1 Thess 5.13 to acquaint them of sin how near and dear soever to thee with the dishonor they bring thereby to God the disgrace to the Gospel and the disadvantage and destruction to their own souls If the fault be the first or of infirmity or not so great a sin as to waste the conscience and poyson thy family by its pattern let the medicine thou appliest for its cure be milde Earthen glasses must be tenderly washed when iron vessels must be scoured with wisps Of some have compassion making a difference Jude v. 22. Who would that is wise give the same physick to an infant which would purge a lusty grown person Isa 28.27 28. For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument neither is a cart-wheel turned about with the Cummin but the fitches are beaten out with a staff and the Cummin with a rod. If the crime be crimsom and scandalous or repeated or justified rebuke sharply hard knots must have strong and sharp wedges Others save with fear pulling them out of the fire Jude v. 23. In such a case weak physick will onely stir not remove the disease and thereby leave the Patient in a worse condition then it found him Nettles touched gently sting the more A prick with a rapier is more dangerous sometimes then a wound with a sword because the latter wideneth the orifice and thereby maketh the place more open to the plaister which should heal it It is much better for them to be preserved in brine and pickle then to rot in flesh-pleasing and fondness Kindeness and bearing with such in thy family is like the kiss of Judas to Christ a betraying them and like Joabs salutation to Abner destroying and killing them Be sure therefore not to bear with any under thy charge in sin Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them He is a drone unserviceable to his house his hive who hath lost this sting of reproof Pious Asa would not suffer sin in his own Mother Asa removed his mother Maachah from being Queen because she made an Idol in a grove and Asa cut down her Idol and stamped it and burnt it at the brook Kidron 2 Chron. 15.16 Patient Job would not suffer sin in his own Wife Thou speakest like a foolish woman Job 2.6 Plain-hearted Jacob would not suffer sin his his own Children Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the Land Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruel Gen. 34.30 and 49.7 David would not abide sin in a Servant Psal 101.7 nor Edward the sixth in his own Sister Let thy reproofs against sin be mingled with and so managed that they may manifest love to to their souls When the nail is dipt in grease it entreth without renting the board When reprehension is dipt in and tipt with love it will probably enter the heart without cutting it in pieces with rage and revenge Prudence may do much towards the advancement of the offendors profit in this particular Though thy words should be soft yet thine Arguments should be hard against the sin committed To this end let thy reproofs be as near as may be in Scripture phrases that the offendor may see it is not so much man as God who rebuketh him for his fault The Word is a hammer if well laid on it will drive the nail of
thine and others salvations A good Wish about the Government of a Family wherein the former heads are epitomized THe Government of my Family being a special talent and trust committed to me by the blessed God The introduction and being a business of exceeding concernment both in regard of its influence upon the whole Kingdom which is raised or ruined by the good or wicked management of Families and in reference to the everlasting estates of the precious Souls in it wherewith I am charged I wish in general That I may never like a rotten post endanger the whole building of Church and State in any degree by my unfaithfulness in my place nor be so unmerciful and unnatural as to see that bloody Butcher Satan drive my children and servants like silly sheep to the Shambles of Hell and never stir or strive to rescue them out of his hands But thâ—t my resolution and practice may be according to Joshua 's religions pattern that whatsoever gods others serve whether the World or the flesh yet I and my house may serve the Lord. O that I might so walk in the midst of my house with a perfect heart that Grace like Maries box of Oyntment may perfume the whole house with its savour and that in every corner of it as it was said of holy Hoopers there may be some sent of godliness In particular I wish That I may keep my house so cleanly swept from the filth of sin Motives to exalt godliness in a family and so curiously furnished with the ornaments of the Spirit that it may invite the noblest Guest the ever glorious God to take up his abode in it My God hath told me Gods blessing will be on a god y family That the House of the Righteous shall stand Pro. 12.7 though sin rotteth the timber and maketh the houses of the wicked to fall that in the house of the Righteous is much treasure Prov. 15.6 even when there is but little silver thâ—t he blesseth the habitation of the Righteous Prov. 3.33 Surely his blessing can make my bed easie my sleep sweet my food savoury my cloaths warm my dwelling pleasant my children hopeful my wife a meet help my ground full of plenty and all I set my hands to to prosper O my soul what an argument is this to move thee to exalt holiness in thy house Thy God will bless it nay that God whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain will come and dwell in it Without question his coming will as to Zacheus bring salvation to thy house the company of this King will turn thy Cottage into a Court and his presence will change thy dwelling were it a Prison into a Palace O! let nothing be in thy house which may be distasteful to so great and so good a Friend Let no sin dwell in thy Tabernacle but let Holiness to the Lord be written on every person room and vessel in it that whatsoever name other houses are known by the name of thy house may be from henceforth and for ever Jehovah Shammah The Lord is there I wish Gods curse will be on a wicked family That I may so give credit to the Word of Truth which saith That the Curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked that the flying Roll of Curses the length whereof is twenty cubits and the breadth ten cubits shall enter into the house of the Thief and into the house of him that sweareth falsly and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof Zach. 5.2 3 4. and that he will pour out his wrath upon the Heathen which know him not and upon the families that call not on his name That I may tremble for fear that Atheism should raign in my house and so it should be ranked amongst the irreligious and markt for vengeance Alaâ— what a direadful noise do those Murthering pieces make in mine ears The Curse of God will canker all my comforts and blast all my blessings and that both speedily and irresistibly But O my soul meditate a little upon the latter Text which is a Prediction as well as a Petition What a bitter potion doth thy God give thee to purge Atheism out of thy family Consider its nature it is Wrath Pour out thy Wrath. Gods Anger is terrible like fire burning and overturning all before it if but a spark of it light upon his own people Psal 99. â— aâ—d 85.4 how pitifully do they roar out We are consumed by thine anger Cause thine anger towards us to cease O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger Truly no wonder that they thus bewail it for who knoweth the power of his anger Eut his Wrath is anger in the greatest degree Anger boiled up to the height O how scalding is this boiling Lead If the wrath of a King be the Messenger of death What is the wrath of an Almighty God This wrath can stuff thy bed with thorns and appoint wearisome nights unto thee it can sauce thy dishes with poyson infect thy raiment with plague sores fill thy body with torturing distempers thy soul with horrors and terrors it can waste all thy wealth in a moment and turn thy Wife Children and all thy comforts into amazing crosses and terrifying curses Hell it self is nothing else but this wrath to come one Spoonful one Drop of it will turn an Ocean of the sweetest Wine into Gall and Wormwood Wouldst thou be an Atheist in thy family for all the World to live one hour under this scorching wrath Alas it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of thy God for thy God is a consuming fire Observe further its measure pour out thy wrath When thy God poureth out his Spirit he giveth it in an extraordinary degree The persons upon whom it was poured are said to be full of the Holy Ghost If thy family be irreligious thou mayst expect this scalding wrath not by drops but by shorews to come pouring down upon it O my soul let this thought soak and sink so deep into thee that thou mayst dread the omission of duties in thy family as much as the unquenchable fire Let his favour make thee chearful in his service and let his anger make thee fearful of the least sin in thy house To this end I wish that I may use much circumspection whom I admit into my dwelling Directions for the exalting godliness in a Famâ—ly that as those who are to plant an Orch-yard get the best grafts they can so that mine house may be an Eden the garden of the Lord a Paradise on earth 1 Take heed whom thou makest members of thy Family I may as my occasions require look out for the choycest flowers the best and fruitfulest trees the holiest Christians in the Country O let me never make my house a Pest-house by taking in irreligious and infectious persons and such as
will bring the plague along with them One scabbed sheep may wrong the whole flock one putrid grape corrupt a cluster a little Leaven Leaveneth the whole lump Lord in the choyce of inhabitants for my house let my eye be not onely upon my own welfare and their fitness for my work but chiefly on thy glory and their willingness to work the work of him that sent them into the World Ioh. 9.4 Psa 26.4 5. and 119. Let me hate the congregation of evil doers Let me not sitwith vain persons Let mine eyes be upon the faithful in the Land Let them that fear thee turn unto me and such as keep thy righteous judgements Let me dwell with them here on earth with whom I shall dwell hereafter in the house not made with hands but eternal in the Heavens I wish that that there may be a Church in my house and all the persons in it 2 Mind holy performances in thy Family both Morning and Evening at least imploved in those holy performances which my God requireth My house should be a resemblance of Heaven Above in his greatest and most glorious house my God is served without ceasing and without sinning O that though in his lower and lesser house natural and civil actions cause intermission of and the body of death causeth imperfections in holy duties yet he might be worshipped both constantly and perfectly in a Gospel and Evangelical sence I have read that amongst the worst of Turks the Moors it is a just exception against any Witness by their law Prayer that he hath not prayed four times in every natural day â— Hall Contemp. I wish that none in my Familie may be worse then Turks but that both all apart may secretly and all together may privaetly offer up the Morning and Evening Sacrifice of prayer and praise to the Lord my God Daniel would pray three times a day though he were cast to the Lions for it and shall my Family neglect prayer when the Omission of it will make them a prey to roaring Lions It is the honour and happiness of my house to exalt the Worship of my God in it his Service is the greatest freedom his work is a reward to it self why should we be our own enemies in banishing our best friends out of our family The mercies of my God are renewed upon me and mine every Morning his care and love is continued to us all the day long the dews and showrs of his compassion fall down upon us every Evening shall we be forgetful of him who is every moment so mindful of us O let my Family never be so void of grace and manners as not to bid our God Good-Morrow and Good-Night upon any pretence whatsoever I wish that the word of Christ may dwell richly in my heart and house Scripture instruction and Catechising that my whole familie may have their set meales every day of this Spiritual food How can I expect that Children or Servants who know not the God of their Fathers should serve him with perfect hearts Alas how often are their ignorant hearts like dark Cellers abounding in vermine full of sin 1 Cron. 28.9 O that I might so talk of the Word of God in my house Deut. 6.7 8. when I lye down and when I rise up that it may be written upon the Posts of my House and on my Gates that I may so often water the young plants in it that their first acquaintance may be acquaintance with God and from their childhood they may know the holy Scriptures and be wise to Salvation through faith which in Christ Jesus Though others care be to instruct their Servants onely in their own work let my care be to instruct mine in Gods Will and Word Though others labour to leave their children rich let my endeavour be to leave mine religious Lord enable me so to teach them thy Trade in their youth that they may not depart from it when they are old Prov. 22.6 that their young years well led may be like the Sweetness of a Rose whose swell remaineth in the dried leaves I wish That all the voyces in my house may tuneably sing Gods praises Singing Psalms yet that they may not like Trumpets and Pipes make a sound being filled onely with winde but have hearts fixed and prepared when they sing and give praise O that all the Viols in my house may be so in tune and their strokes so true that singing with grace in our hearts we may make melody to the Lord. Drunkards have their Songs in derision of them that are good Atheists have their Sonnets in dishonor of the blessed God Why should not the voyce of joy and rejoycing be in the Tabernacle of the righteous Psal 118.15 Though my house is a Tabernacle and all the inhabitants in it Travellers yet our work is pleasant O let us go merrily on and make Gods Statutes our Songs in this house of our pilgrimage Because my pattern of evil will do more hurt to my family 3 Set them a good example then my precepts can do good servants and children being apt to be led more by the eye then the ear I wish That I may take heed to my self weigh and watch over all my words and works not onely for my own but also for the sake of them that are committed to my charge Distillations from the head often consume and destroy the vitals My family is like a flock of sheep if the first leap through into a ditch or river the rest are ready to follow O that I might therefore be wary in all my ways and be so serious in Spiritual so sober in Natural actions so righteous towards men so religious towards my God so faithful in every relation and so holy and heavenly in every condition that I may have cause to say to my children and servants as Gideon to his Souldiers Look on me and do likewise Judg. 7.17 I wish 4 See that thy family sanctifie the Lords Day That my house may not onely spend some part of every Week day but also the whole Sabbath day in the service of my God It is a special priviledge granted me by the Lord for my families profit wherein I may be singularly helpful to my own and my housholds everlasting happiness O that not the least part of it may be lost or prophaned by any within my gate either by worldly labour pastimes or idleness but that I may be so mindeful of my charge as to take care that my children and servants do forbear what my God forbiddeth and spend that Sacred Day altogether in Sacred Duties To which purpose I desire That all my houshold both males and females if of capacity may appear before the Lord in publique and in his Temple give him praise and that in private I may whet the Word on them as the mower doth his sithe by going over it again and again according
to the precept Lord Deut. 6.6 7. let my house on thy day be like thy house employed wholly in thy Worship and let thy gracious presence so assist us in every Ordinance that the glory of the Lord may fill the house I wish 5 Discipline in a Family That I may manifest my love to the Souls in my family by manifesting my anger against their sins My God hath told me Thou shalt not hate thy brother Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sin upon him Lev. 19.17 If it be my duty not to bear with the corruptions of neighbours much less of my servants and children Should I suffer them in unholiness I should bring them up for Hell Those deepest purple sins many times are those which are died the Wool of youth O the sad aches which many have when they are old by falls which they received when they were young Let me never like Eli honor my sons or servants above my God lest my God judge my house for ever for the iniquities which I know because my children or servants make themselves vile and I restrain them not Lord let me never be so fand and foolish as to kill any in my family with Soul-damning kindness but let my house be as thine Ark wherein there may be not onely the golden pot of Manna seasonable and profitable instructions but also Aarons Red suitable and proper reprehension and correction I wish 6 See that all be well employed That I may never expose my family to the suggestions of Satan by allowing any in laziness but may be busie my self in my particular vocasion and see that others be diligent in their distinct stations The lazy Drone is quickly caught in the honeyed glass and kild when the busie Bee avoideth that snare and danger O that I and mine might always be so employed in the work of our God that we may have no leisure to hearken to the wicked one Adams store-house was his work-house Paradise was his place of labour Lord since thou hast intrusted every one in my house with one talent or other wherewith he must trade cause me and mine to labour and work in this and to look after rest in the other World I wish 7 Peace and love must be maintained in the family for the furthering of holiness and purity in my house That I may be careful to keep it in peace Our bodies will thrive as much in Feavers as our Souls in the flames of strife Satan by the Granado's of Contention will hope in time to take the Garrison Where strife is there is confusion and every evil work Jam. 3.16 O that love which is the new Commandment the old Commandment and indeed all the Commandments might be the livery of all in my family That there might be no contention there but who should be most holy and go before each other in the path which leadeth to eternal pleasures Because marriage is a fellewship of the nearest union and dearest communion in this World and because the fruits of Religion will thrive much the better if cherished by the sweet breath and warm gale of love in this relation Lord let my wife be to me as the loving Hinde and pleasant Roe let me be ravished always with her love Let there be no provocation but to love and to good works Let our onely strife be who shall be most serviceable to thy Majesty in furthering one anothers eternal felicity Enable us to bear one anothers burthens and so fulfil the Law of Christ and to dwell together as fellow-heirs of the Grace of life that our prayers be not hindred In a word I wish That I may like Cornelius Conclusion fear the Lord with all my house So govern it according to Gods Law that all in it may be under the influence of his love and heirs of everlasting life Lord be thou pleased so to assist and prosper me in the management of this great and weighty trust that my house may be thy house my servants thy servants my children thy children and my wife belong to the Spouse of thy dear Son that so when death shall give a bill of divorce and break up our family we may change our place but not our company be all preferred from thy lower house of prayer to thine upper house of praise where is neither marrying nor giving in marriage but all are as Angels ever pleasing worshipping and enjoying thy blessed self of whom the the whole family in heaven and earth is named to whom be glory hearty and universal obedience for ever and ever Amen FINIS AN Alphabetical Table of the principal Heads contained in this Treatise A HOly affections requisite in Prayer page 172 173 A Christian should be Holy in his Apparel page 427 The ends of Apparel are four page 428 Sins about Apparel page 430 The Vertues to be exercised in Apparel page 435 Natural Actions vide Natural Two helps against Apostacy page 4 5 No Atheists in Principles page 2 B REligion bringeth a blessing along with it page 520 C A Christians duty to be godly in his particular Callings page 466 Men must be diligent in their Callings page 467 Righteous in their Callings page 474 Particular Callings must not incroach upon our general ib. To steal away the heart 476 Or time page 478 God must be sought to for a blessing on our particular Callings page 484 God must have the glory of success in our particular Callings page 487 Men must be Contented how ever God dealeth with them in their Callings page 490 A good Wish about a particular Calling page 493 A good Wish about a Ministers Calling 497 A threefold Care page 470 Charity to be minded 322 412 413 414. Christs great love to mankind 493 to 499. Christs sufferings largely described page 285 to 293 Constancy required in prayer page 178 D DRunkenness abouding 417 Its Mischiefs page 418 Holy Dutys require much Diligence page 106 Grace must be acted in Dutys page 117 118 Dutys are considerable in a twofold respect and must accordingly be minded for a two-fold end page 128 to 135 A good Wish about Religious Dutys page 136 No Duty should satisfie without Communion with God page 369 Vide Lords Day E A Christian must be holy in Eating and Drinking page 401 402 Christians must Eat and Drink Sacredly 403 to 415 Soberly 315 Seasonably page 425 Affairs of Eternity of great weight page 57 Self Examination a duty page 266 F FAith specially requisite in holy duties page 120 125 Faith necessary in hearing page 226 Faith necessary at a Sacrament page 271 Faith hath a three-fold act 303 Faith tried page 272 Religion must be set up in Families page 515 Irreligious Families do much hurt page 517 Irreligious Families are cursed page 521 Religious Families are blessed page 520 Those that would make Religion their business as they are Governours of Families must be careful whom they take into their
Families page 523 Mind Religious duties in their Families page 529 Prayer must be in Families page 530 The Scriptures must be read in Families page 533 Psalmes must be sung in Families page 536 Governours of Families must give a good pattern page 538 All in a Family must be imployed page 549 The Governour of a Family must take care that his whole Family sanctifie the Lords day page 542 He must set up Discipline in his Family page 545 He must maintain love in his Family page 553 Godly Fear requisite in holy duties page 120 Fervency requisite in Prayer page 172 G THe things of God are the things of the greatest weight page 53 Godliness taken two ways page 8 9 Godliness Vide Religion Godly men meet with much opposition in the way to heaven page 65 Godliness must be our principal business page 94 95 In every part of our lives page 102 103 H A Good Harvest Gods gift page 485 486 It is our duty to Hear the word page 200 Evil Frames hinder us in Hearing page 205 Prejudice against the Preacher must be laid aside by them that would profit by Hearing page 206 to 211 The Heart must be affected with the weight efficacy and excellency of the word which we Hear page 212 Prayer requisite before hearing page 216 Right ends in Hearing to be minded page 221 False ends in hearing to be avoided page 220 Worldly thoughts hinder our Hearing page 221 222 We must hear as in Gods presence page 223 We must pray after we have Heard Vide the Word God looks much after our Hearts page 17 170 Heaven not to be obtained without diligence labour page 60 to 65 Humility required in prayer page 167 168 I IDolaters are zealous and prodigal page 418 419 Idleness the evils of it page 552 Intemperance a great sin page 417 The mischeifs of Intemperance page 418 419 Joy in God seasonable on a Lords day page 364 L LOrds day of divine institution page 337 338 God takes special notice how we keep the Lords day page 339 Preparation needful for a Lords day page 342 Wherein preparation to a Lords day consisteth page 343 to 346 Lords day a great priviledge page 348 Lords day a spicial season to get and increase grace in page 353 Publique Ordonances chiefly to be minded on the Lords day page 356 to 362 The whole Lords day to be sanctified page 372 Brief Directions for the Sanctification of the whole Lords day page 381 to 391 A good Wish about the sanctification of the Lords day page 391 A good Wish to the Lords day page 396 Lords day Vide Families and Meditation Love of Christ Vide Christs Love to Christians tried page 273 Love a help to Godliness page 553 M. MAn created for Religion Vide Epistles and page 39 Good Counsel about Marriage page 425 Meekness requisite in a Wife page 562 Meditation needful before prayer page 138 Meditation a duty on a Lords day page 377 Ministers must be godly page 6 and 498 A Minister must be industrious page 6 7. 502 People must pray for their Minister page 219 220 Ministers must act from right principles and for right ends page 499 500 Ministers must be able 501. Compassionate 504. Faithful 501 Full of courage 505. Ministers must Preach plainly purely prudently and powerfully page 507 to 510 Ministers must pray for their people page 510 Administer Sacraments 511. Chatechise 510. Visit people page 512 Ministers must be exceeding tende what example they give their people ib. Ministers must not be discouraged if their labours be not successful page 513 Ministers must give the glory of their success to God page 514 N HOw a Christian in Natural Actions may make Religion his business page 400 A good wish about Natural Actions page 441 O OBedience required page 322 341 Obedience must be in heart and life page 17 18 Obedience must be Canonical page 19 Ordinances their ends and use page 130 131 Ordinances Vide duties and Lords day P GOd hath an extrodinary respect for a Penitent soul page 277 278 Perseverance required page 35 Perseverance in prayer page 189 Pleasures Vide Recreations The excellency of Prayer page 137 138 The Prevalency of Prayer page 141 142 Prayer hath a twofold Preheminence above all other duties page 138 The Nature of Prayer page 140 The Antecedents to Prayer page 147 Meditation an help to Prayer page 148 Meditation of our sins wants and miseries needful before Prayer page 149 to 155 Meditation of God helpful to Prayer page 155 Quickening and stirring up of grace needful to Prayer page 157 Sin hindreth Prayer page 159 160 Anger hindreth Prayer page 161 Worldly Distractions hinder Prayer page 162 Gods Word must be the rule for the matter of our Prayers page 163 The Person Praying must be holy page 165 Prayer must be Vpright 170. Humble 167. Fervent 172 Constant page 178 What it is to Pray Continually page 180 A Caution about fervency in Prayer page 176 Its an ill sign to be Prayerless page 184 185 After Prayer wait for an Answer page 186 Means must be used for the obtaining our Prayers page 191 Preparation to Religious duties needful page 343 Preparation to Hearing Vide Hearing Preparation to the Lords day Vide Lords day R REcreations are lawful 446. they must not be our occupation 450 they must be used for good ends 454. In due season page 456 Recreations are unseasonable on a Lords day page 457 458 and in times of the Churches sufferings page 461 A good wish about Recreations page 462 Religion must be our business page 10 What Religion is page 13 14 The several derivations of the word Religion page 13 What it is to make it ones business 21. It implieth to give it precedency 22. To pursue it with industry 26. To persevere with constancy page 35 Why Religion must be made our business page 39 Religion is the end of mans creation page 40 Religion is a work of the greatest weight 45 to 49. It is Soul-work 49. It is God-work 52. It is Eternity-work page 57 The necessity of making Religion our business page 60 to 70 Religion much neglected page 72 The neglect of Religion bewailed page 73 79 Our greatest care must be about Religious duties page 108 Vide Godliness and Duties Repentance consisteth in mourning for sin and turning from sin page 276 280 S SAints called Lillies why page 268 Saints shamed by sinners page 88 89 92 93 Scripture a great mercy page 198 Vide Hearing and the Word Sacrament of the Lords Supper a seal of the Covenant page 251 The Sacrament a resemblance of Christs death 252. An evidence of his love 253. A great Supper in four respects page 253. The excellency of the Sacrament page 255 Much care about the Supper page 255 256 The danger of receiving the Supper unworthily page 256 to 262 Christ takes notice how men prepare for the Sacrament page 257 Preparation requisite before it 264 265. Wherein preparation for it consisteth page 266 to 279 Our dependance must be on Christ for assistance after our greatest preparation for the Sacrament page 282 Subjects to be meditated on at a Sacrament 285. Christs sufferings 286 to 293. Christs love 293 to 300. Our own sins ib. Graces to be exercised at the Sacrament 300. Faith in its threefold act 303 to 310. Love 312. Repentance page 315 What a Christian should do after a Sacrament page 319 320 Men to be very careful in the choice of Servants page 526 527 Sinners very zealous for sin page 87 88 89 Sobriety vide Temperance Sleep how to be ordered page 437. Its ends 440. Quantity page 437 Season page 439 Soul-work weighty page 49 The welfare of the body dependeth on the Soul page 51 The Souls excellency page 50 T. TEmperance commended page 416 Vide Natural Actions and Eating Thankfulness enjoyned 413 415. For the Word 236. For the Sacrament page 319 U. VNgodliness brancheth it self into Atheism and superstition page 1 2 Uprightness acceptable to God page 171 Unthankfulness page 408 W GOod Counsel about the Choice of a Wife page 525 526 Word why called the grace of God page 203 Gods power alone can make the Word effectual page 217 218 When the Word cometh with power then it profiteth page 229 Its woful to live under the Word and not to be changed by it page 231 We must bless God for his Word page 237 The Word must be obeyed page 240 241 242 Word Vide Hearing Worldlings eager for the World page 74 to 78 Our Worship of God must be inward and outward page 14 to 19 Man made for the Worship of God Vide Man God is very choice in his Worship page 109 110 Gods Worship must be according to his Word page 19 20 God alone the object of Worship page 16 Its ill to dally with Gods Worship page 112 Much Watchfulness required in the Worship of God page 113 Y YOuth Vide Family instruction FINIS