Holiness to Heaven Read a List of more Heb. 11. But there is no word of encouragement to any other to expect Heaven nay God tells us in plain words they shall never come there 1 Cor. 6.9,10 Neither is there any one example of any that lived and dyed in their sinful course that ever was saved what may we gather hence but this if ever you would attain to true happiness serve God with a sincere heart 7. Motive Thou shouldest serve the Lord because as he is best able to reward thee for thy obedience and pay thee for thy work so is he best able to punish thee for thy disobedience For as all his promises are yea and a men faithful and true to his People so are his threatnings to his Enemies thou art not at liberty to choose thy own Master who thou wilt serve thou art ingaged to him and serve him thou must or do worse thou art his by right of Creation for whose is the Pot but the Potters And by right of Redemption he paid a price for thee and bought thee dear So also by Covenant right thou hast devoted thy self to his service and taken Press mony to fight his Battels and if thou revolt he will avenge the quarrel of his Covenant against thee Hence it is thou mayst well fear his wrath and expect his judgments if thou perfidiously betrayest thy trust and revoltest to the Enemy Christ himself bids thee not to fear those that can kill the Body and can do no more but fear him that can cast Body and Soul into Hell Luk. 12.5 If he be not glorifyed by thee he will be glorifyed upon thee if he have not the glory of thy Salvation he will have the glory of thy Destruction Luk. 19.27 Those mine Enemies that would not that I should raign over them bring them and slay them before my face God takes those for his Enemies that will not be ruled by him and will prove a sore Enemy to them And didst thou know what it is to be an Enemy unto God and what it is to have God to be an Enemy unto thee it would send thee trembling to thy grave 't is he that hath the keys of life and death at his girdle He kills and he makes alive he brings to the gates of death and back again and there is none that can deliver out of his hand He need not muster an Army against thee to destroy thee the least Fly or Gnat or Hair may end thy life if it have a Commission from God thou art but a Worm if he tread upon thee he leaves the dead behind him if he withhold thy breath thou returnest to the dust for thou hast no more breath than what he puts into thee how then canst thou grapple with the Almighty or contend with God were thy flesh of Brass and thy Sinnews of Iron were thy foundations as the Earth or as the Pillars of Heaven thou wert yet too weak who ever hardned himself against God and prospered whilst thou remainest his Enemy well mayst thou fear his heavy hand there is no judgment that ever thou readest threatned or ever executed upon sinful wretch that thou canst be secure from Thou knowest not but the Waters may drown thee as they did the old World or as the Red Sea did Pharaoh or fire from Heaven may consume thee as it did Sodom and Gomorrah and also Nadab and Abihu and the two Captains and their Fifties at the prayer of Elijah thou knowest not but the Plagues which fell upon Egypt may fall upon thee and consume thee or that thy life may be ended by the Sword the Famine or the Pestilence thou knowest not but an Angel may smite thee as Herod and thou mayst be devoured with Worms or that the Earth may open and swallow the quick as it did Corah Dathan and Abiram thou knowest not but thou mayst be struck dead for the next lye thou tellest as Ananias and Saphirah were or whether Bears may not devour thee as they did those Children that mocked the Prophet or whether thou mayst not be strucken with Leprosie as Gehazy or thy house may not fall upon thy head as upon Jobs Children In a word whatever a man destitute of Grace and Divine Protection may be brought to suffer thou hast no assurance but it may be thy Portion Read Deut. 28.15 c. Where thou mayst see thy own miserable condition but this is not all those spiritual judgments which are worse than these are seized upon thee Blindness of Mind Hardness of Hart Searedness of Conscience c. And eternal judgements dog thee at the heels and will certainly seize upon thee except Repentance prevent it as soon as Death makes a separation between Soul and Body never any Unregenerate Unrepenting Unrighteouss or Unclean Person shall ever go to Heaven John 3.7 Luk. 13.3 1 Cor. 6.9,10 Rev. 21.13 and there is no middle place for the Scripture owns no Purgatory Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God See the doom of the wicked servant Mat 24. last He was cut in peices and his Portion was appointed with the Hypocrites and that unprofitable Servant that improved not his Talent Mat. 25.30 He was bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness and all the wicked ungracious servants that improve not their Talents as God appointed shall then be bid Depart ye wicked into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41.48 This is Gods judgments to his Enemies and this is the Devils wages to his friends and servants who then would have such an Enemy or such a Master learn directions to serve God as followeth in those duties mentioned CHAP. II. Of Duties in General HAving in the fore-going Treatise shewed you the Excellency Necessity and Benefits of an Holy Life and the deadly danger of all unholy Course I hope many of you are resolved to alter that course of life you have too long already lived in and will begin to question what shall we do to be saved To this end in this part I shall point out some necessary duties which every Christian is bound to perform and lay down some directions by them for the right performance of them Now my desire is that you would resolve to practice what out of Gods word I shall prove to be your duty otherwise to what end shall I write them or you read them what say say you will you do it or will you not 't is not a slight business neither will a slight resolution serve your turn you will meet with many Racks in the way and therefore had need to be well grounded with many storms of temptations and therefore had need to lay a good foundation you have spent too much time already in the service of Sin and Satan and 't is pity you should any longer serve so bad a Master and now God gives you a call unto his service methinks it should
it at first If it be why dost leave it If thou now leave off all thy Labour and all the pains that ever thou hast taken will be utterly lost in reference to Salvation If the Righteous forsake his ways all his Righteousness shall not be remembred to him in his sin he shall dye Ezek. 18.24 It may be thou hast gone many a Mile to hear Sermons spent many an Hour in Prayer and Humiliation many a Day in Fasting and Humbling thy Soul and wilt thou lose all thy Labour at the last Nay wilt thou now dishonour that God which time was thou seemedst to Honour And wilt thou strengthen the hand of Wicked Men in their wickedness And weaken the hands of poor doubting Dhristians And sadden the Hearts of the godly Wilt thou bring the Blood of Souls upon thy own head If not hold on in a course of Holy Duty Whatever opposition thou meet with in the way Heaven will make amends for all the sweat and blood thou losest and Hell will be sower sauce to thy sweet Meat What madness is it to leave thy work a little before thou shouldest receive thy Wages 4. Direct Let all the Duties thou performest either to God or Man proceed from a right Principle from a Heart sanctified by Grace and purified by Faith and seasoned with Love Make the Tree good and his Fruit will be good but a Corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit. An evil Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit nor a good Tree evil Fruit. 'T is impossible that a Corrupt Fountain should send forth sweet Water or a filthy Vessel sweet Liquor Let the Love of God be the strongest Motive to thy Obedience and let this engage thy heart to every Duty Though thou shouldest do the duty required if thou do it not in obedience to that Command God will not own it Whatever thou dost do all to his Glory and in Obedience to his Command or thou wilt lose thy Reward let thy heart say in sincerity Propter te propter te Domine it is for thy sake and in Obedience to thy Command that I do it and for no sinister respect whatsoever Hypocrites may do the thing which God Commands but from another ground and for another end they savour of the Cask and smell of self-Interest they reach no higher than themselves as water ascends no higher than the Fountain Head Jehu did what God Commanded in destroying Idolatry and rooting out Ahab's Posterity but all this while he hath a Kingdom in his Eye But the Love of God Oyls the Chariot-Wheels of a Christians endeavours it carryeth him above beyond and out of himself God tells him what he would have done a Christian never examines the Command by any Carnal Interest whether he may reap gain or loss Honour or Disgrace by it come what come will he resolves to do it if God command it whatever stands in his way though he meet Death it self in the Face he will go on God calls him and with Samuel he cryeth out Speak Lord for thy Servant heareth he knows he that sets him on work can bear him out Now all Service that ariseth not from this ground is slavish and mercinary and merits nothing at Gods hands but blows he that doth the thing Commanded and knoweth not of the Command doth not Obey God in the work and if he know that it is Commanded and doth it yet not because it was Commanded but upon other account God will not Reward this as Obedience The Pharisees knew that Prayer Fasting and Alms-deeds were Commanded duties yea they performed those duties but not because God Commanded them but that they might be applauded by Men therefore Christ sends them to men for a Reward Mat. 6.1,2,3 c. The performance of a duty will do us little good if we cannot say with the Apostle The Love of Christ constraineth us Many are constant attenders upon the Ordinances not out of Love to God or Obedience to his Will or any delight they have in the duty but for fear of punishment or hope of reward either from God or Man or for popular Applause or one thing or other of that Nature and these Men perhaps in the mean time have their handS upon the works and their Hearts busied in the Devils Service and they look upon Gods Service as a Slavery and glad when they are Released But a sincere Christian is like the Servant mentioned Exod. 21.15 that saith I Love my Master I will not go Free though there were neither Reward in Heaven for my Obedience nor punishment in Hell for my disobedience I will do it because 't is my Masters will and I delight in the work it self this Love of God in the Soul is as weights to the Clock or as Oyl to the Jack it sets it on work for God love makes labour light they do it for Conscience sake Rom. 13.5 when others do it for gains sake Saul obeys for a Kingdom and Jehu for a Crown and when this was obtained their Obedience was over they are like to Dogs they follow their Master till they meet with Carrion examine now thy heart what is the ground of thy obedience if it be lower than thy love to God and desire to obey him 't is not right 5. Direction Let all thy duties whether to God or Man be performed in the manner which God requires now Christ himself tells thee God is a Spirit and he that worships him must worship him in Spirit John 4.24 and the Apostle tells us that bodily exercise profiteth little but godliness is profitable unto all things 1 Tim. 4.8 'T is not the Motions of the Body nor the moveing of the Lips 't is not Bowings Couchings Cringings that he is affected with if the Heart and Affections go not along this is one main difference between a sincere Christian and an Hypocrite both may do the same Duty both may joyn in the same Prayer and both may hear the same Sermon yet one may be accepted and the other not nay for the Bulk and Materiallity of the Duty the Hypocrite may exceed the other the Pharisees they fasted they gave almes they made long Prayer they tythed Mint and Anice and yet all this while lay under the Curse and were Enemies to God and persecutors of Christ their heart was absent from their duty and it was not right to God they lost all their labour in Heavens way because they had little trading with and little knowledg of God or their own hearts Hypocrites feed upon the husks of duty nnd never meet with Christ in the duty when a sincere heart hath trading with God and sweet communion with Christ himself if ever therefore thou wouldst perform pleasing Sacrifice to God be sure to wind up thy heart and affections unto God and never content thy self with any duty till thou meet with Christ in the duty duties are appointed to be done not for their own sakes but to help the Soul to mount
some Men and those of no small note for Religion to pick and chuse their Duties this they will do and this they will not do they scum off the Fat and sweet of Duty and leave the difficult dangerous costly part of Duty undone but this is not sufficient neither will it evidence any one to be a Christian indeed Many especially great ones run on with this mistake for a little Grace makes a great shew in a great Man yea oft-times the shew is taken for the Substance many will perform such Duties as are in Credit in the world and like to cost them but a little which yet refuse self-denying difficult or dangerous Duties They will hear and read and confer and perhaps pray in their Families and some other such like External parts of worship and if God will be pleased with these and Heaven will be had upon such terms they will have it but if he require self denyal duties or those which cross their own Interest if they must take up the Cross and follow him and deny themselves hate and forsake Father or Mother Wife or Children Lands or Livings Pleasure or Honour Liberty or Life for his sake they will not buy Heaven at so dear a rate But God is resolved he will abate nothing and they are resolved they will bid no more and so they part But hath not the same God Commanded the one as well as the other And hath he not wisdom enough to know which is the best and nearest way to Heaven Or would he willingly torment his Creatures and put his Servants to unnecessary Troubles Can these Men think to find out a nearer way to Heaven than God hath prescribed Or that they shall ever come there without his knowledge without the Qualifications he requires Surely they are much mistaken yet how ordinary is it even for Professors themselves to study Arguments for sin and against duty when the one suits with their Carnal Interest and the other crosses it But Christians that have taken Christ upon his own terms and are delivered from the power of sin and Satan think they can never do enough for Christ They are always questioning what shall I do for him that hath done so much for me What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits Psal 118.12 'T is the very end why we are delivered from our Enemies to serve God in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of our Lives Luke 1.74,75 'T is the mark of those that Love God to keep his Commandments John 14.15 When others perform duties only in Subserviency to their own Carnal Interests and therefore only own that part and duty that suits with their designs as Jehu in his Reformation of Idolatry and set up their Staff and say hitherto will I go and no further then a godly Man that makes the enjoyment of God his ultimate end and aim will like Daniel to the Lyons Den or the three Children to the Fiery Furnace before they will either neglect known duties or commit known sins Others are forward in the cheap part but backward in the costly part of duty and the Devil might also buy their Profession it self out of their Hands many that will hear and read and pray because it costs them little yet will hardly be perswaded to be Charitable to the Poor and Liberal to Pious Uses because 't is costly or to forgive Injuries love Enemies make Restitution of ill gotten Goods venture their Estates Lives or Liberty when the Cause of God requires it then they cry out with Naaman the Lord be merciful to me in this thing but God will abate nothing of his price he will have Universal Obedience or he will own none at all 3. Direct Wouldst thou perform Duties in an acceptable manner Then hold on in a constant course of Duty 't is not enongh to begin well but thou must hold out well The same Reason that perswaded thee to enter into such a Course of Duty at the first may perswade thee to hold out to the end there is the same ground for the one as for the other If it be because storms arise Troubles and Persecutions look thee in the Face this might have been fore-seen thou shouldst have sate down first and reckoned the Charges Christ told thee before Through many Tribulations we must come to Heaven He that is now ashamed of Christ and his Cross of Service the time is coming Christ will be ashamed of him Thou must follow him through thick and thin through good Report and evil Report or thou art like to lose him yea though thou meet Death it self in the Face 'T is not he that sets out well but he that continues to run well is like to get the Prize 't is not he that gives the On-set but he that Fights well is like to get the Victory You did run wâ—ll saith the Apostle who hindred you Gal. 5.7 So run that you may obtain 1 Cor. 9.24 'T is not he that begins well but he that holds out to the end shall be saved Mark 13.13 'T is he that is Faithful to the Death that shall receive the Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 Many Promises are made to those that overcome Rev. 2.11.17.26 3.5.12.21 There are many that in a day of Gospel Prosperity cry Hosanna unto Christ but when storms are up then cry Crucifie him This Age gives too full a Testimony to this Truth But those that are Faithful to God will be constant in his Service what danger soever looks them in the Face Many are like to Weather-Cocks turn with every Wind or like a Ship without Ballast are tossed with every Storm But a sincere Christian is like a Ship in the Harbour that hath a sure and stedfast Rock to Anchor upon Many are like the Planet Mercury good in a good Conjunction and bad with the bad Or like Proteus that can turn themselves into any shape for Advantage but a true Christian gives this for his Motto Semper idem always the same the change of Times the change of Company the change of Religion makes no change in him he knows God changes not Poverty and Prosperity are God's trying Times wherein may be discovered what is in the Heart Hazael when a mean Man never thought so much evil had been in his Heart as appeared to be there when he was Advanced The stony ground did not at first appear to be so deceitful as indeed it proved But Holy Job was the same on the dung-hill as on the Throne in Adversity as in Prosperity he did not serve God for Riches nor will he forsake him in Poverty Hast thou been a Professor of Religion and hast thou hitherto performed the duties Commanded What madness now possesses thee that thou wilt leave his Service What canst thou object against him Is the Devil a better Master Or will he set thee about better work Or will he give thee better wages If Religion be not good why didst embrace
an Elephant may swim but the gains will countervail the loss and charge here is a Lamp to light us the dew of Heaven to refresh us a sword to defend us a key to open Christs will to us flaggons of Wine and Apples of Paradice take therefore these Directions in thy Reading 4. Direction If thou wouldest Read the Word with profit 't is necessary that thou prepare thy heart for so solemn a duty come not out of a huddle of business with thy heart full of the World to discourse with God take not Gods word any more than his Name in vain take it not prophanely into thy mouth without due regard or consideration lest he turn thee away with a Curse instead of a Blessing 't is a business of great concernment even of Life and Death yea of the Eternal well or ill being of thy Soul and therefore not to be slighted beg leave therefore of God before thou meddle with it yea beg his blessing upon it without which nothing can do us good for Soul or Body the want of due preparation causeth many to find the word so ineffectual yea find so little sweetness in it Again if thou wouldst profit by it hold on in a constant course of Reading 't is not reading by fits and starts will serve turn many are now off now on now they will and then they will not as the World gives them leave or as the humour takes them this is not sufficient but get a strong Resolution to hold on in a constant course of Reading what ever comes of it break through all the difficulties that lye in the way a little now and then will do thee little good without this Resolution Satan will baffle thee and lay some temptation in the way to hinder the World will divert thee and one business or other present it self to be done at the same time thy own corruption will oppose it and thy deceitful heart make thee delay it but this being the food of thy Soul be not diverted from it any more than thou wouldest be from thy Meat but this is not sufficient thou must not only do the duty but do it well to this end get thy heart in order get it cleansed from distracting thoughts and cares freed from disquieted motions perterbations A full Vessel can receive no more and a heart full of the World hath no room for Heaven say therefore to thy Worldly cares and thoughts when thou comest to this duty as Abraham to his servants when he went to Sacrifice stay here and I will come to you again set thy self as in the presence of the great God apprehend him by the eye of Faith beholding thee this will keep thy thoughts from roving and thy imaginations from wandring in his Service and awe thy heart and curb thy Affection Bring with thee also a Spiritual Appetite to the means of Grace come with an empty stomack or why dost thou seek after Food An hungry man is most like to taste and relish those dainties the Word was to David sweeter than Honey and the Honey-Comb and to Job better than his appointed Food If there be Spiritual Life in the Soul there will be an Appetite for no Life can be preserved without food Bring Faith also along with thee which is the mouth of the Soul and without this the Soul can receive no nourishment The Word which they heard profited them not because it was not mixt with Faith in them that heard it Heb. 4.2 Reading will do thee little good if thou believe not the Truth of what thou Readest or doubtest of the performance of the Promises or Threatnings Faith also will subdue Carnal Reason and help thee out when thou art at a stand But above all seek help from above from God here are many difficulties too hard for thee to grapple with which cannot be understood but by Divine assistance Paul may Plant and Apollos Water but God gives the Increase 't is he that opened Lydia's Heart and must open thine or the Word cannot do it beg therefore his assistance and come thus prepared to the Duty this is the likeliest way to speed 2. Direct If thou wouldest profit by Reading of the Word be sure to propound right ends to thy self for the End Crowns the Action Many read much and profit little because their Ends are bad they undo themselves and lose their labour by this means Some Read for Custom and for Fashion sake and make reading the end of reading and are like the silly Women the Apostle speaks of always Learning and never come to the knowledge of the Truth and so the work be done matter it no more Some Read to fill their Heads with knowledge and their Brains with Notions that they may thereby be able to discourse with applause when yet they never suffer it to sink down or soak into or season the heart but such speculative knowledge doth little good yea great hurt It makes them sin with a Candle in their hands And some Read to a worse end that they may be able to oppose the Truth and maintain Error and pervert the good ways of God thus the Pharisees thus the Jesuits and many Hereticks But every one should and a true Christian doth in this duty as well as others make God's glory in the Salvation of his own and others Souls the mark he aims at and regulates his Actions accordingly And doubtless from God he will receive his Reward When others as it was self they aimed at so from self they must expect their wages A Believer he would know more that he may obey better he would know God better that he might Love him more and know God's will that he might do his work he would know his work as well as his wages his Duties as well as his Priviledges He reads he word of God and those Books which open and apply it that he may know Truth from Error and follow the one and fly the other and may not be seduced by false Teachers nor drawn aside from the Rule to the Right hand or to the Left He would know Light from Darkness and have the Scales of Ignorance fall from his Eyes he would know good from evil that he might follow the one and avoid the other he would be able to try the Spirits whether they are of God or no yea to try all things and hold fast that which is good he would know Vice from Virtue and discern what is sin and what is duty that he be not like those that in Persecuting the Saints think they do God good Service he would be acquainted with his own Heart and know the state of his own Soul and whether his Evidences for Heaven be good or no he observes what qualifications the Scripture requires for Heaven and then by Scripture-Light he would discern them in his own heart and endeavours to Read his own Name in the Book of Life and see what Interest he hath in
or thy Affections cool over-hastily keep up that Spiritual Life and vigour as long as thou canst Live in the strength of that meat if possible as long as Elijah did forty days yea labour to be the better for it all thy Life 'T is not safe in a great heat to cool too hastily he that climbs high should descend by leisure Hast thou met with God in the Duty Stir not thy Foot before thou hast given him thanks We are apt to be sensible of our pressing wants and our desires are let out for a supply in our needs God hears of us then we cry arise and save us but a gracious Heart should be as sensible of Mercies as of Miseries and be as ready to render praise for the one as to put up Prayers for the removal of the other But most men are like the Lepers of ten that are healed but one gives thanks And 't is thy Duty also to Treasure up that knowledge which thou hast gained by this Duty store up in thy Book or Memory the Conclusions thou hast gathered Hast by Reason and Scripture found that sin is bitter Lay up this as a certain Truth for hereafter Hast thou found that Grace is Lovely and Holiness amiable Remember this also lay up these Resolves that they may stand thee in steed in a day of Temptation that if ever Satan the World or thy own deceitful Heart should hereafter perswade thee to love sin or disown Holiness thou mayst reply nay but at such a time in such a place I found by such Scriptures and such Arguments that sin is filthy and Holiness Lovely in what false glass soever you now represent them to us Nay not only so but devote thy self wholly unto God and Resolve that thou wilt Live according to those Conclusions thou hast raised and those Truths thou hast found out and that thou submit thy self to his Will so far as he shall reveal it unto thee Without this what benefit canst expect from the Duty When thou hast found out the Duty and by undeniable Arguments canst prove it to be thy Duty and yet wilt not do it thou wilt be beaten with the more stripes If by the force of Reason and Evidence of Scripture thou find out that the way of sin is to be forsaken and the Duties of Holiness to be performed and yet thou forsake Holiness and chuse sin what Excuse canst thou plead Thou wilt but sin with a Candle in thy hand but if upon these Considerations thou set thy self to hate sin as the greatest evil and walk in the path which is called Holy in sincerity then shalt thou reap Fruit by thy Meditation If thou find upon Consideration that God is the chiefest good and Love him as the chiefest good happy wilt thou be If thou find the Devil to be the worst Master and break out of his Prison and resolve thou wilt never give him one more Act of willing Obedience 't is well or if thou find in the reach of thy Heart that thy Grace is not true and thereupon thou resolvest never to give thy Heart any rest till thy Relation be changed and God be thy Father and Christ thy Husband 't is well Or if in the search thou findest Evidences of true Grace Record them they will be of use in a day of desertion and help against the Devils fiery Darts The Result of David's Meditation was to return home to God Psal 119.59 So it should of ours if it make us not more in Love with God and Holiness and more to hate sin and wickedness it doth us no good if it strengthen not our Graces or weaken not our Corruption we lose our Labour In a word conclude the whole Duty either with Prayer to God for a Blessing or if it may be convenient with some Verses of a Psalm that is suitable CHAP. VI. Directions in Prayer THE next Duty I shall speak unto is Prayer which is not only Work but Wages not only a Duty but a Priviledge Now Prayer is an Offering up our desires unto God in the Name of Christ by the assistance of the Spirit with Confession of sin and thankful acknowledgment of God's Mercies received Psal 92.8 John 18.23 Rom. 8.26 Psal 36.5,6 Dan. 9.4 Phil. 4.6 For the kinds of it you may take notice there is Confession when we acknowledge our sins to God There is Petition when we beg of God those things necessary for Soul or Body for this Life or that to come There is Deprecation when we beseech God to turn away the evils felt or feared from our selves or others There is Intercession when we pray for others also and there is Thanksgiving when we thankfully acknowledge the Mercies received Now Prayer is either publick in the Congregation or private in the Family or secret in the Closet each of these should have their time each hath a Promise and we may find Precepts for and Example of them That Prayer is a Duty is acknowledged by most and denyed by few till of late Years wherein some have argued themselves above Ordinances but the Scripture owns no such thing we have the Command of God for it which is Authority sufficient and the only Rule to walk by 'T is a Divine Command that makes it Duty read these following Scriptures 1 Thes 5.17 Pray without ceasing Col. 4.2 Continue in Prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving Rom. 12.12 Continue instant in prayer Psal 59.15 Call upon me in the day of Trouble c. I might instance in many Promises made to it and many threatnings to those that neglect it and shew you the Examples of the best of Saints yea of Christ himself that spent whole nights in Prayer All which sufficiently prove that it is a Duty and therefore let us set upon it with all alacrity many are the encouragements unto this Duty some from God some from Prayer it self and some from our own Necessities From God his Promises to hear and help may encourage us Psal 50.15 and many other places his Attributes this assures us he is able to help and faithful in his Promises and will do it The Relation that is between God and a Believer gives him hopes he is their Father Christ their Elder Brother their Head and Husband yea their Redeemer and Intercessor The Experiences they have Recorded of all Ages The Returns of Prayer is no small encouragement which shews the Efficacy and Force of it and how prevalent it hath been with God and therefore one calls it the almost if not altogether Omnipotent Grace of Prayer I might give you a taste of it thus It hath changed the course of Nature stopped the Sun in the Firmament Josh 10.12 and brought it back ten degrees 2 Kings 20.11 Quenched the Rage of the Fire Dan. 3.27 Stopped the Mouths of Lyons Dan. 6.22 Divided the Red Sea that Israel passed through Exod. 14.21 It hath prevailed over great Armies and Potent Princes as over Pharaoh which it
We should not sell our Labour upon that day but do it for common Charity otherwise a just Cause may to us prove sinful Works of Necessity also are Lawful so they be truly so and not feigned when an House is on Fire we may leave the Ordinance to seek to Quench it though with Bodily Labour The Marriner in his Journey must attend his work but his Heart in the mean time should be in Heaven The Souldier if set upon should defend himself we find Joshua compassing Jericho seven days together Josh 6.15 and one of them must needs be the Sabbath Though the Jews at first did scruple Fighting upon that day and many of them were Murdered by the Enemy yet at last they resolved to Fight in their own Defence 2 Mac. 4.1 A Husband-man in Harvest time I suppose for fear of an Inundation or the apparent loss of Grain or Hey may Labour to prevent it but take heed a Necessity be not feigned Many are necessitated for want of fore-cast and some fore-cast that there may be a Necessity neglecting it all the week and then say must not Cattle be looked Or such a thing be done But know what may be done before or let alone till after ought not to be done 't is not thy wilful neglect can procure a dispensation to break God's Law but most men strain their Christian Liberty to the utmost Link but take heed of going beyond be not deceived God will not be mocked 5. Direct To the sanctifying of the Sabbath thou must not only observe an Holy Rest unto the Lord all the day and forbear thy own thoughts words and works as formerly I have shewed but there are also many Duties of Religion to be performed as part of that Worship to be given to God upon that day that the whole time as nigh as may be may be spent in the Religious Exercises of the day Now the Duties required are either Publick or Private the Publick are in the Congregation of the Saints when the Church meets together to Worship God The Private are in the Family or in the Closet He that only rests from his Labour on the Sabbath keeps it no better yea much worse than a Beast Idleness is a sin at all times especially then this is the Market day to lay in Provision for the week following the Harvest to provide in for winter and shall we Trifle now All Time is precious much more this we should leave any work undone before we should leave God's work undone or carelessly do it The Publick Duties required at our hands are according to the Relations we stand in more is required of Publick Persons than of Private The Ministers are God's Stewards to dispence his Mysteries to Divide the word of God aright and to give every one his Portion and therefore he must look to his Charge and make preparation before-hand for his work He is the Mouth of the People unto God and God's Mouth to them and therefore he had need to set a watch over his Lips that he Offend not with his Tongue Parents and Masters they should not only come to the Ordinance themselves but bring their Children and Servants there to be Taught Prayer is an Ordinance of God and should be performed in the Publick where Minister and People should joyn together to make their Requests known to God in the Name of Christ and beg such things as are necessary for themselves or others for this Life or that to come It should be performed with Faith and Fervency with Humility and Reverence with Wisdom and Discretion both by Minister and People 〈◊〉 Complements with God are unsavoury and unseemly The Word also should be Read and Preached by the Minister and the whole Counsel of God made known Acts 20.20.27 and that without mixture of Humane Invention without Ostentation Plainly Faithfully Powerfully Truly Zealously And the People they should hear with Attention Diligence Watchfulness Understanding and Care they should Examine that which is delivered by the Minister whether it be agreeable to the Truth like those Noble Bereans Acts 17.11 They should Treasure it up in good Hearts and bring forth good Fruit in their Lives and Conversations for without Practice knowledge is little worth The Administration of Baptism also is a Sabbath days work Vpon the Sabbath says Christ they Circumcise a Man this is given the Minister in Commission Mat. 28.19,20 which is to be done according to Precept and Scripture Examples without External Additions and the People ought to be present at it and joyn with the Minister in Prayer for a Blessing and not turn their backs upon it through carelessness or contempt The Sacrament of the Supper also should be as frequently Administred as Convenience will permit Acts 2.42 And 't is the Ministers Duty to Teach and Instruct the Ignorant to convince the gain-sayers reclaim the scandalous if they can and if they will not be Reformed to keep them back from the Sacrament yea to take Christ's way And if they be obstinate cast them out and not suffer the Ordinance to be polluted or contemned God complains of the contrary Ezek. 22.26 Her Priests have violated my Law and have prophaned my Holy things they have put no difference between the Holy and Prophane c. And 't is Christ's command not to give Holy things to Dogs Mat. 7.8 The People they should partake of it and come with prepared Hearts to this Holy Banquet and be careful that they have on the Wedding Garment or they will be no welcom Guests to his Marriage Supper They should there Exercise their Graces of Knowledge Faith Love and Obedience c. knowing that the neglect or unworthy receiving is a dangerous sin Acts 20.6 1 Cor. 11.17 Singing of Psalms also is a publick Duty and should be performed by the whole Church and in so doing they should lift up their Hearts as well as their Voices and Sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also Visiting the Sick relieving the Poor Gathering and Collecting for them is this days Duty 1 Cor. 16.2 Catechizing especially the Younger sort is the Ministers Duty and 't is the Peoples Duty to send them And all this must be done to God's Glory and the Edification of our selves and others 6. Direct Though the publick Worship and Service of God be chiefly to be minded and intended upon the Lord's day yet it is not only that which is required Many private Duties also are to be performed and in thy Publick and Private Duty is all the whole time to be spent What those Publick Duties are I have already shewed you and shall now speak of those that are Private I mean such as Private Persons especially Masters and Parents and Governours of Families ought to do Let the Inferiors also here Read their Duties Some of those are to be done before the Publick by way of Preparation and some after by way of Digestion Concerning Preparation I have spoken already and yet
Judgment was threatned and it was deferred in his days 1 Kings 21.27 Many more Instances might be given to prove times of Publique Calamity seasonable times for this Duty When Sin also abounds 't is a time for God's People to be Mourners in Zion for assuredly Judgments will follow Ezek. 9 4. 1 Sam. 7.6,7 Psal 69.10 David wept and chastened his Soul with Fasting for where Sin goes before unbewailed Judgments necessarily follow after and a Man may fore-see the Effect by the Cause when such sins as usually bring Judgments are Acted amongst us we may look for the like Effect for like Sins bring like Plagues Lam. 1.20 I have grievously Rebelled And what follows Abroad the Sword bereaveth at home there is as Death See also Lam. 2.17 Jer. 7.12 Amos 6.2,3 And therefore in the prevailing of Sin we have great cause to humble our Souls and stand in the Gap to turn away the fierce Anger of the Lord and never more Cause than at this day Again when thou findest thy Corruptions strong and thy Graces weak or when thou findest some notable decay in thy Grace 't is time then to look about thee As also when thou wouldst beg any great thing at the Hands of God go to him by Fasting and Prayer Thus Daniel begs the Deliverance of God's People out of Babilon according to God's promise he seeks to him by Fasting and Prayer Dan. 9.1,2 c. 10.2 c. For though God determine to do it yet will he be sought to for so great a Mercy and likewise when some Persons are designed for some great work in Church or Common-wealth it hath usually been done by Fasting and Prayer Thus Christ spent a whole Night in Prayer before he chose his Disciples Luke 6.12 Paul and Silas were set apart by Fasting and Prayer Acts 14.2,3 And in Case of Spiritual desertion we should thus seek to God Mat. 9.14 And for the furtherance of some great Undertaking Esther 4.16 when Corruption is strong when Ordinary Food wlll not serve we must use Physick Some Sins like some Devils go not out but by Prayer and Fasting These are the times for this extraordinary Duty but what is this to Lent or Holy-day Eves whereon the Papists keep their mock-fasts but come not to humble their Souls for their Sins 6. Direct Propound a right End to thy self in this Duty of Fasting or otherwise it will prove in vain and be abominable in the Eyes of God The Jews took it ill from God that he regarded them not Wherefore have we Fasted say they and thou seest not Wherefore have we afflicted our our Souls and thou takest no notice Isa 58.3 Behold saith God ye Fast for strife and Debate and to strike with the fists ef Wickedness c. Is it such a Fast that I have chosen c. Zach. 7.5 When ye Fasted and Mourned in the fifth and seventh Moneth even these seventy years did ye at all Fast unto me even to me Hos 7.14 They have not cryed to me with their Hearts when they howled upon their Beds they assemble themselves for Corn and Wine and they Rebel against me If the Heart be absent God regards not the Service The Pharisees Mat. 6.16,17 they Fasted but it was to be seen of Men that others might look upon them as of an austeer course of Life and therefore had a reward from Men not from God The Papists make Merits their End they Fast and think to Merit Heaven by it But alas what can poor sinful Creatures Merit at the Hands of God but Divine Indignation and fierce Judgments God may say of us as of those Jer. 14.12 When they Fast I will not hear their Cry when they Offer Burnt-Offerings and an Oblation I will not accept them but I will consume them by the Sword and by the Famine and by the Pestilence Luke 18 12. I Fast twice in the week saith the Pharisee yet the poor Publican was regarded before him See also Rom. 14.6 1 Cor. 8 8. Alas were Men but acquainted with their own Hearts this conceit of Merit would soon vanish Fasting as I told you is an indifferent thing and only useful as it suits with the main End Bodily Exercise profiteth little but Godliness is profitable to all things 1 Tim. 4.7,8 The true End of Fasting is either Ordinary or Extraordinary in both the Glory of God is intended The Ordinary Ends are such as these the subduing the Flesh and bringing the Body into Subjection Thus Paul 1 Cor. 9.27 I bring under my Body and bring it into subjection God's People have Flesh as well as Spirit and have need to use all means to subject it that they may subdue their Corruption and if Ordinary means will not do Extraordinary must be used if the Temptation remain this Duty must be followed and at length God will give strength and his Grace shall be sufficient for us This is the way to Corroborate and strengthen the Spirit and enable it to perform the required Duties This puts fervency into our Prayer and enables us to Cry mightily to God This way Men take some Revenge upon themselves for their Sin and for the abuse of Mercies by this means a Man is better enabled to grapple with Temptations and bring under Corruptions and perform Duties of our General and particular Calling more Heavenly This is the way to stir up the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication Zach. 12.10 Thus the Prophetess Anna spent her time in Serving God with Fasting and Prayer Night and Day Luke 2.37 By Eating and Drinking the Body becomes dull and heavy and unfit for Spiritual Duties but by moderate abstinence it becomes more Active and Lively and therefore Fasting and Prayer are usually joyned together For Fasting of it self doth little good Fasting testifies our Humility our grief and sorrow for Sin whereby we acknowledge our guilt before God and our unworthiness of Meat Drink Sleep Raiment or other refreshing Comforts Are these the Ends you aim at Is this the Mark you shoot at And the white that is in your Eye 'T is well if it be to make you fitter for the Service of the Lord that you may do your Masters Will better and wind up the Heart to an higher pitch of Holiness and Heavenly mindedness But if Custom or Fashion or the fear of Man or popular Applause or hopes of Meriting any thing from God be your End your Duty will be Curst and blasted to you and be returned Sin into your Bosom The Extraordinary Ends we aim at in our Fasting should be the removing of Evil felt or feared either Spiritual or Temporal from our selves or others the begging those Mercies we want and the continuance of those we have and fear to lose These are the Ends the Godly have used these extraordinary Fastings for and this hath been successful to these Ends these are means of God's own prescribing and promises are added of a good Success And many Christians for themselves and others