be hurtful but helpful to our General Callings I conclude the Book with Government of Families wherein thou mayst learn that thy house must be dedicated to God Religion in thy house must of necessity be minded or the whole Family is cursed The Naturalists observe of the Eagle that building her nest on high she is much maligned by a venemous Serpent called Parias which because it cannot reach to the nest maketh to the windward and breathes out its poison that so the air being infected the Eagles young may be destroyed but by way of prevention the Eagle by a natural instinct keepeth a kind of Agath-stone in her nest Plin. Hist lib. 3. cap. 10. which being placed against the wind preserveth her young Satan the crooked Serpent is ever busie to poison the Air in thine house and thereby to destroy thy self servants and whole houshold the only stone for prevention is to set up Religion Neighbor I have many a time pressed this duty upon thee and I do again in the name of the blessed God charge thee as thou wilt answer it at the Bar of Christ that thou immediately set up the worship of God in thy Family Thou knowest how many Sermons I preached from Josh 24.15 on this subject all which ere long thou shalt give an account of how inexcusable wilt thou be if after all those warnings thy Family be found in the number of them that call not on God! Good Lord how dreadful will it be for thee to sink into hell with thy whole house on thy back And now Reader whoever thou art out of affection to thy precious soul and eternal salvation let me prevail with thee not to use Religion as men do perfumes refresh themselves with them whilst they have them but they can well enough be without them but to make it thy chief and main and principal business What shall I say to thee Assure thy self Religion will be thy best friend at last O if thou hadst but the same apprehensions of it now which thou wilt have on a dying bed and day of Judgement thou wouldst make it thine only business them Religion will be Religion indeed of infinitely more worth to thee then millions of worlds All other things will then like leaves in Autumn fall from thee but though all thy most loving friends will part with thee Religion will walk with thee in the valley of the shadow of death it will direct and refresh thee in the pleasant waters of life and it will protect and comfort thee in those salt waters of sickness and when thou passest the Mare mortuum the Sea of death When the world in thy extremity will serve thee as the herd do a Deer that is shot push thee out of their company When thy wife and children will like Orpah to Naomi kiss thee and take their leave of thee Religion will like Ruth stick closs to thee where thou goest it will go where thou lodgest it will lodge death it self shall not part thee and it As the noble Grecian answered Philip when he asked him Whether he was not afraid to die No saith he for the Athenians will give me a life that is immortal Thou shouldst not need to fear death for Religion will give thee a life that is immortal As the old grave Counsellors told Rehoboham Be thou a servant to this people this day and they will be thy servants for ever So say I to thee Be thou but a faithful servant to Religion in this short day of thy life and Religion will be thy servant to all eternity If thou art resolved to give thy self up to the service of this noble Mistris possibly this Treatise may do thee some little service by acquainting thee with her will and directing thee in her work If in the perusal of it thou receive any profit let God alone have the praise and remember him in thy prayers who is Thine in the Lord George Swinnock THE The Contents of the Chapters CHAP. I. THe Preface and Coherence of the Text page 1 Chap. II. The opening of the Text and the Doctrine page 7 Chap. III. What Religion or Godliness is page 12 Chap. IV. What it is to make Religion ones business or to exercise ones self to Godliness page 21 Chap. V. The first Reason of the Doctrine wherein is shewed that Religion is the great end of mans creation page 39 Chap. VI. The second Reason of the Doctrine wherein is discovered that Religion is a work of the greatest weight it is soul-work it is God-work it is eternity-work page 45 Chap. VII The third Reason of the Doctrine wherein is discovered the necessity of making Religion ones business in regard of Gods Precept the opposition a Christian meeteth with in the way to Heaven and the multiplicity of business which lieth upon him page 60 Chap. VIII The first Vse by way of complaint that this trade is so dead and the worlds trade so quick page 71 Chap. IX The same complaint continued that this trade is neglected and superstition and sin should be embraced page 82 Chap. X. The second Vse by way of advice to make Godliness our main business in the whole course of our lives page 94 Chap. XI How a Christian may make Religion his business in religions duties or the worship of God in general as also a good wish about it wherein the former heads are epitomized page 106 Chap. XII How a Christian may make Religion his business in Prayer and 1. Of prayer in general and the Antecedents to it page 136 Chap. XIII Of the concomitants of prayer wherein the matter of our petitions the qualification of the Petitioner and the properties of our prayers are handled page 163 Chap. XIV The subsequent duties after prayer as also a good wish about prayer wherein the several heads in the antecedents concomitants and subsequents of prayer are epitomized page 185 Chap. XV. How a Christian may make Religion his business in hearing and reading the VVord and of preparation for hearing page 197 Chap. XVI Of the Christians duty in hearing page 223 Chap. XVII Of the Christians duty after hearing as also a good wish about hearing wherein the former heads are all epitomized page 234 Chap. XVIII How a Christian may make Religion his business in receiving the Lords Supper wherein arguments to and the nature of preparation for it is discovered page 250 Chap. XIX How a Christian may make Religion his business at the Table when he is receiving page 284 Chap. XX. VVhat a Christian ought to do after a Sacrament as also a good wish wherein all the former heads are epitomized page 318 Chap. XXI How a Christian may make Religion his business on a Lords day page 335 Chap. XXII Brief directions for the sanctification of the Lords day from morning to night as also a good wish about the Lords day wherein the former heads are epitomized and a good wish to the Lords Day page 381 Chap.
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
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
XXIII How a Christian may make Religion his business in natural actions and 1. in eating and drinking page 400 Chap. XXIV How a Christian may make Religion his business in his apparel and sleep as also a good wish about natural actions wherein the several heads are epitomized page 427 Chap. XXV How a Christian may make Religion his business in his Recreations and and Pleasures as also a good wish about Recreations wherein the several heads are epitomized page 445 Chap. XXVI How a Christian may make Religion his business in his particular calling as also a good wish about ones particular calling wherein the several heads are epitomized and a good wish about the calling of a Minister wherein his several properties and duties are briefly described page 466 Chap. XXVII How a Christian may make Religion his business in the Government of his Family as also a good wish wherein the several heads are abreviated page 467 Books Printed for and sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the sign of the thre Crowns over against the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapside Folio's THe Annotations on the whole Bible or all the Canonical scriptures of the Old and New Testament together with and according to their own Translation of all the Text as both the one and the other were ordered and appointed by the Synod of Dort now faithfully translated for the use of Great Britain at the earnest desire of many eminent Divines of the English and Scotish Nation A Commentary upon the three first Chapters of Genesis by Iohn White The Works of that famous and learned Divine Mr. William Pemble gathered into one volume The History of the Evangelical Churches of the Valleys of Piedmont containing a most exact Geographical description of the place and a faithful account of the Doctrine Life and Persecutions of the ancient Inhabitants Together with a most naked and punctual relation of the late bloody Massacre 1655. and a Narrative of all the following transactions to 1558. justified partly by divers ancient Manuscrips written many hundred years before Calvin or Luther by Samuel Morland Esq A Commentary upon the holy Writings of Iob David and Solomon that is these five Iâ—â— Psalins Proverbs Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs being part of those which by the Ancient were called Hagiographa Wherein the divers Translations and Expositions both litteral and mystical of all the most famous Commentators both ancient and modern are propounded examined and censured and the Texts from the Original much illustrated by Iohn Mayor Doctor in Divinity A practical Commentary or an Exposition with Observations Reasons and Uses upon the first Epistle general of Iohn by that pious and worthy Divine Mr. Iohn Cotton Pastor of Boston in New-England A learned Commentary or an Exposition upon the first Chapter of the second Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians being the substance of many Sermons formerly preached at Grays-Inn London by that Reverend and Judicious Divine Richard Sibbs D. D. sometimes Master of Katharine-Hall in Cambridge and Preacher to that honorable Society 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or divine characters in two parts acutely distinguishing the more secret and undiscerned differences between 1. The Hypocrite in his best dress of seeming vertue and formal duties and the true Christian in his real graces and sincere obedience As also between the blackest weeds of daily infirmities of the truly godly eclipsing saving grace and the reigning sins of the unregenerate that pretend unto that godliness they never had by that late burning and shining Lamp Mr. Samuel Crook B. D. late Pastor of Wrington in Summersetshire Quarto's Two excellent Treatises of Mr. Ieremi ah Burroughs one on the fifth of Matthew being many Sermons preached at Cripplegate upon all the Beatitudes And Gospel-Revelation in three Treatises viz. 1. The Nature of God 2. The Excellency of Christ And 3. The excellency of mans Immorral Soul both published by William Greenhill William Bridge Philip Nye Iohn Yates Matthew Mead William Adderly Peoples need of a living Pastor at the Funeral of Mr. Iohn Frost by Mr. Zachary Crofton Holy things for holy men or the Lawyers Plea nonsuited c. In some Christian reproof and pity expressed towards Mr. Pryns Book entituled The Lords Supper briefly vâ—ndicated by S.S. Minister of the Gospel A Vindication of the Christians Messiah that Jesus is the true Messiah prophesied and foretold by all the holy men of God who were writers of the Old Testament as also proved out of their own Talmud The Souls progress to the Celestial Canaan by way of godly Meditations and holy Contemplations by Iohn Welles Preacher of the Gospel Comfortable Sermons on Psalm 24. preached before the Lady Elizabeth her Grace by Daniel Dyke B.D. Plenary possession makes a lawful subjection to Powers that are in being proved to be lawful and necessary in a Sermon before the Judges in Exeter by Rich. Saunders Preacher of the Gospel The new World or the new Reformed Church discovered out of the second Epistle of Peter by Nath. Homes D. D. God save the King in a Sermon preached the day after his Majestie came into London by Anthoâ—y Walker Preacher of the Gospel A Plea for Ministers in Sequestrations against Mr. Mossom by S.S. An Ant doteâ— against Anabaptism wherein the Baptizing Infants taking Tythes c. are fully vindicated by Aylmor Haughton The Conversation as Heavenly and as Natural in two Treatises by Dr Stoughton An Exposition with practical Observations continued upon the thirtieth and one and thirtieth Chapters of the Book of Iob being the substance of thirty seven Lectures delivered at Magnus near the Bridge London by Ioseph Caryl Pastor of the Congregation there Also a Continuation by the same Author of the 32 33 and 34. Chapters of Iob being the substance of Forty nine Lectures delivered at Magnus near the Bridge London The Covenant of life opened or a Treatise of the Covenant of Grace by Samuel Rutherfurd Professor of Divinity in the University of S. Andrews Jesus Christ the mystical or Gospel Sun sometimes seemingly eclipsed yet never going down from his people or Eclipses spiritualized opened in a Sermon at Paul Church before the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor Aldermen c. March 28. 1652. the day before the late Solar Eclipse by Fulk Beller M.A. and Preacher of the Gospel in the City of London A Sermon preached before the Honoradle House of Commons at their late Monethly Fast being on Wednesday Iune 30. 1647. by Nathaniel Ward Minister of Gods Word A Declaration of the Faith and Order owned and practised in the Congregational Churches in England agreed upon and consented unto by their Elders and Messengers in their Meeting at the Savoy October 12. 1658. An account of the last hours of Oliver Cromwel wherein you have his frame of Spirit expressed in his Dying Words upon his Death-bed together with his last Prayer a little before his Death Drawn up and published by one who was an eye and ear witness of
As Augustus said of the young Roman Quicquid vult valde vult Whatsoever he goeth about that concerns the glory of his Saviour and the good of his soul he doth it to purpose As Paul saith of himself I follow after if that I may apprehend Phil. 3.10 The word in the original is emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I prosecute it with all my strength and power that I may attain if it be possible The word is either an allusion to persecutors Matth. 5.10 11 12. for its used of them frequently so Piscator takes it Or to Hunters Est more vena tarum persequi feram Arâ—t according to Aretius take either and the sence is the same and very full As persecutors are industrious and incessant in searching up and down for poor Christians and hailing them to prison and as Huntsmen are up betimes at their sport follow it all day and spare for no pains even sweating and tyring themselves at this their pleasure so eager and earnest so indifatigable and industrious was Paul and so ought every one of us to be the command is delivered to us in the same word Heb. 12.14 about godliness A man that minds godliness onely by the by looks sometimes to the matter seldom to the manner of his performances Opus operatum the work done is a full discharge for him how slightly or slovenly soever it be done If he stumble sometimes upon a good work yet it is not his walk and when he is in that way he cares not how many steps he treads awry It may be said of him as of Jehu He takes no heed to walk in the way of the Lord God of Israel with his heart 2 King 10.31 He makes an Idol of the blessed God he prays to him and hears from him as if he had eys and saw not as if he had ears and heard not as if he had hands and wrought not and any thing will serve an Idol How aptly and justly may God say to him after his duties as Cesar to the Citizen after Dinner who having invited the Emperour to his Table made but slight preparation and slender provision for him I had thought that you and I had not been so familiar But he that exerciseth himself to godliness hath a more awful and serious carriage towards God ' Er 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnibus viribus vobementer prolixe toto animo A Lapide 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur quod in longum protenditur â—eza The twelve Tribes served God instantly day and night Acts 26.7 fervently vehemently to the utmost of their power the word implyeth both extension and intention the very * Macro Satur lib. cap. 4. heathen could say that the Gods must be worshipped 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either to our utmost with all or not at all 2. The industry of a man about his calling or whatsoever he makes his business appeareth in his taking all advantages for the furtherance thereof A Tradesman that minds his employment doth not onely in his Shop but also abroad and when he is from Home drive forward his Trade Indeed when he is in his Shop his eyes are most about him to see what is wanting that it may be supplied to take care that all his customers may be satisfied and to order things so that by his buying and selling his stock may be increased but if he walk from home he doth not wholly leave his Trade behinde him If he visit his friends or acquaintance and there be any likelyhood of doing any good you may observe him questioning the price of such and such commodities enquiring at what Rates they are afforded in those parts and if they be cheap possibly furnishing himself from thence if dear it may be putting off a considerable quantity of his own Because he makes it his business his mind runs much upon it that wherever he is he will be speaking somewhat of it if occasion be offered whereby he comes now and then to meet with such bargains as tend much to his benefit so the Christian that makes Religion his business is industrious to improve all opportunities for the furtherance of his general calling as his time for he is Gods servant so his trade goeth forward every hour He is David like as a sparrow upon the house top looking on this side and that side to see where he may pick up some spiritual food He doth not onely in the Church and in his Closet but also in all his converses with men walk with his God If God prosper him as the ship mounts higher according to the increase of the Tide so his heart is lifted up the nearer to God as Gods hand is enlarged towards him If God afflict him as the nipping north wind purifies the air so the besom of affliction doth sweep the dust of sin out of his heart As his pulse is ever beating so his heavenly trade is ever going forward His visits to his friends are out of conscience as well as out of courtesie his endeavor is either by some savoury Scripture expression or some sober action to advantage his company He will watch for a fit season to do his own and others souls service and catch at it as greedily and improve it as diligently as Benhadads servants did Ahabs words If he be eating or drinking the salt of grace is ever one dish upon the table to season all his diet He will raise his heart from the daily bread to the bread that came down from heaven he eateth is full and blesseth the Lord Before he begins he asketh God leave while he feeds he tasteth Gods love and when he hath done he giveth God thanks If he be buying or felling he is very willing that God should be a witness to all his bargains for he prayeth to God as if men heard him and he tradeth with men as if God saw him His shop as well as his Chappel is holy ground If he be amongst his Relations he is both desirous and diligent to further Religion His endeavour is that those that are nigh him in the flesh may be nigh God in the spirit He is careful that both by his precepts and pattern he may do somwhat for their profit His house as well as his heart is consecrated to God As Cesars Image was stampt on a penny as well as on a greater piece Mat. 22.20 So godliness which is the Image of the King of Kings is imprinted not onely on his greater and weightier but also upon his lesser and meaner practices Godliness is not his Physick which he onely now and then as at Spring and Fall makes use of but his food which he daily dealeth about besides his set times for his set meals of Morning and Evening devotion he hath many a good bait by the by in the day time Evening Morning and at Noon will I pray and cry aloud Psa 55.17 Oh how love I thy Law it is my meditation not
of him in thy trade or travails then in his Tabernacle When thou drawest nigh to him there he will be sanctified either in thee or upon thee If thou refuse to give him glory in his service beleive it he will get himself glory by thy suffering His Worship is his face and look for his fury if thou darest him to his face The waters of the Sanctuary are like the waters given to a suspected Wife if she were innocent it witnest her honesty made her fruitful if barren and did her good but if she were guilty sweld her belly rotted her bowels and did her hurt If thou make godliness thy business in the ordinances of God thou mayst get much spiritual good thou mayst meet Christ in them receive grace through them and thrive as the babe by the breasts in health and strength but if thou like the horse in the Mill onely goest thy round in Religious duties never minding the true end of them nor thy carriage in them thy prayer will be an abomination the word a savour of death unto death and the very sacrament a seal of thy damnation It doth therefore nearly concern thee to hearken to that counsel which I shall give thee from the word to prevent thy miscarriage in the duties of Gods worship For preparation to duties I shall speak when I come to treat of sanctifying the Lords day First Be heedful and watchful over thy self when thou art about religious duties Heedless service is fruitless service What measure of care we give God in duties the same measure of comfort we may expect from duties Eccles 5.1 Keep thy feet when thou goest to the house of God and be more ready to hear then to give the Sacrifice of fools Thine heart like Dinah is apt to wander abroad especially from the way and Worship of God it behoves thee then to have a strict hand over it if thou wouldst keep it at home Observe consider thy feet so the word signifieth The feet of the Harlot abide not within her house neither will thy affections easily within the House of God doth not experience tell thee that they love to be gadding and therefore require a strong and vigilant guard Parents set their Children before them at Church and have their eyes much upon them because otherwise they will be toying and playing truly so will thy heart if thine eye be not on it Alass thy heart in duty is like one that looks through an Optick Glass on some small object with a Palsie hand its long before he can discern it and as soon as he hath found it so unsteady is his hand that he hath lost it again therefore it behoves thee to keep it diligently and to watch it narrowly There is a bottomless depth of deceit in thine heart how unwillling is it to a duty how much wandring in a duty how soon weary of a duty The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who knoweth it Jer. 17 9â— Take notice of the center of the poison the heart is deceitful a deceitful hand is nothing so dangerous as a deceitful heart when poyson gets to the very seat of life in what danger is a â—oul of death Here is also the measure of the pollution The heart is deceitful above all things the best part is unspeakably poisoned The Prophets expression hath a three fold gradation First there is deceit in mans heart it is a word used of ways Isa 40.5 which are full of windings and â—urnings and therefore are hard to be found so is mans heart full of nooks and corners slights and craft and so doth easily supplant us it hath not onely weakness and proneness to be deceived by others but also an activeness and aptness to deceive it self Secondly there is the degree of its deceit and indeed it is beyond all degrees The heart is deceitful above all things No creature so sly and subtle as mans heart Nothing in this World can equal it for tricks and wiles Nay as this deceit of mans heart is so great that none can match it so also it is so deep that none can find it none can fadom it Who can know it The largest the longest line of mans understanding can never search to the bottom of this Sea Thirdly Here is the danger of it The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked It is not deceitful in such a degree so much through weakness as through wilfulness it is desperately carried towards deadly courses It devotes it self wholly to deceive and destroy How many pretences will it have to make thee to omit holy performances if thou overcome them how subtle will it be to make thee heedless and heart-less in the service of God It will fill thee with cares and thoughts of the World purposely to choak the good seed of the Word if at any time thou wind it up to any seriousness in an ordinance how quickly and how swiftly like a Clock or a Jack doth it run down Surely Reader the Master that hath such a cozening Servant must look narrowly to him if he would not be cheated by him If thou dost not watch at the Altar the Birds will devour the Sacrifice Those that were before the Throne day and night were full of eyes behind and before and within Rev. 4.6 and 8. Extraordinary heed is necessary when we come into Gods House We had need to have our eys about us when we come to deal immediately with him who is of purer eys then to behold iniquity The Athenians in time of their Sacrifice had a Monitor to bid them be serious calling on them Hoc agite mind the work ye are about Plut. Cyprian observeth that in the Primitive times the Deacon oft cried out to the people Sursum corda lift up your hearts and the Pastor stird them up with Oremus attendamus Let us pray let us attend Commanding their greatest attention when they were about Religious actions Eutychus was Drowsie while he was hearing which had like to have cost him his life God will not be slighted when he is speaking to the children of men Christ commandeth thee to take heed how thou hearest Luk. 8.18 The heart is needful in hearing more then the ears We read of those that had ears and yet heard not Audientis corporis sensu non cordis assensu Aug. Isa 6.9 10. Mat. 13.13 It is one thing to hear and another thing to heed a Sermon Let him that hath an ear hear what the spirit saith to the Churches Rev. 2. When the word passeth through both ears as waters through a leaking Vessel no wonder if it be unprofitable Least it should do so let us give the more diligent heed saith the Apostle Heb. 2.1 If men be told of the dreadful end of sin and the great danger of their precious souls and they mind it not will they ever strive to prevent it Our proficiency by the Word depends not a little
of the eternal weight of glory Those gracious and mysterious purposes of his which were hid in the night of many ages when the Sun of Righteousness once appeared in the Horizon of the Gospel were visible and legible to every eye He hath brought Life and Immortality to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 The Apostle calls it The grace of God and The word of his grace Tit. 2.11 Acts 20.32 not onely because the rain of the Word goeth by coasts as a gift of grace Psal 147.19 20. He causeth it to shower down upon one City and not on another Amos 4.7 and not onely because like a seal it stampeth grace the image of God upon the soul Acts 2.37 but chiefly because on the stage of the Word the grace and favour of God to mankinde is fully displayed The Gospel presenteth us with the whole method of Gods grace and love to poor sinners This world is the Theatre in which Grace acteth its part the Triumph of Justice is reserved for the other World and the Gospel is the Throne on which Grace sits and from whence it holds out its golden Scepter The language of the Law is no less then a sentence of death but the Gospel alloweth a Psalm of mercy and in it Grace reigneth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 playeth the King commandeth in chief unto Justification of life Rom. 5.17 18 21. But the more precious this Water of Life is the more fearful thou shouldst be of spilling it Kings cannot endure that their Acts of Grace should be tampled under foot Abused favour turneth into greatest fury Men surfeit soonest of the greatest Dainties and further their Misesery by that which was given them as in Mercy Our Saviour therefore commandeth Take heed how ye hear Luke 8.18 There are two special Lessons which Christ commendeth to his Scholars The first concerneth the matter of their hearing Take heed what ye hear Mark 4.24 Ministers are Christs Ushers Christ himself is the head-Master now Christ forbiddeth the pinning our faith upon our Ushers sleeve The Bereans have an honorable crest put into their coat of Armes by God himself to distinguish them in nobility from others for bringing the coyn offered to them to the touchstone of the Scripture to try whether it were true gold or counterfeit And these were more noble then those of Thessalonica because they received the Word of God with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Acts 17.11 Men must not like Children take down whatever their Nurses put into their mouthes whether meat or poison but know how to distinguish between good and evil Our faith must not stand in the wisdom of men but in the Power of God All weights and measures must be compared with and tryed by the Kings Standards The Copy is no farther authentique then it agreeth with the Original Deed. The second Lesson concerneth the manner of their hearing take heed how ye hear The richest Cordial may be lost as it may be taken It will be requisite therefore to give thee some prescription how thou mayst take this costly Physick to thy greatest profit In reference to which duty I shall speak 1. To thy preparation for it 2. To thy carriage at it 3. To thy behaviour after it 1. As to thy preparation for hearing the word I shall request thee from God to mind these ensuing particulars 1. Empty thine heart of evil frames and prejudice Evil frames The dish must not be sluttish into which we put these spiritual dainties If the stomach be cloged with filth and flegm it cannot digest and concoct our food The light of the Sun as pleasant and delightful as it is to sound is yet offensive and painful to sore eyes This part of preparation is injoyned us by the Spirit of God Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and all superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls Jam. 1.21 If the body be feaverish the sweetest Syrup will tast bitter If any ill humour or lust be predominant in thee like the full and foul stomach thou wilt loath even the hony comb The Table book of thine heart must be wiped clean before any new thing as the Law of God can be written in it Briars and Thorns must be stubbed up before the ground be capable of the grain As evil humours because of the Doctrine taught so prejudice against the person teaching must be removed Prejudice against the Preacher is the greatest prejudice to the Hearer A condemned person will esteem a begger when he brings a pardon How beautiful are not the lips onely and hands but the meanest parts the feet of them that bring the glad tydings of peace I confess it is a mercy to be related to a Pastor who hath both parts and piety gifts and grace and if thou art to chose a dwelling I would wish thee to bear with many outward inconveniences to sit down under such a Ministry But suppose thy teacher at least in thy thoughts is a man of mean parts wilt thou thence conclude his pains will yeild thee little profit Truely shouldst thou gratifie Satan so far it would be the speediest way to find a truth in what thou dost fancy Friend friend doth the efficacy of the ordinance depend on the parts of man or on the power of God May not a costly treasure be brought to thee in an earthen Vessel Consider thou maist light thy candle as well it may be better with a brimstone match as at a great fire Christ taught his Apostles by a little Child Mat. 18.2 A small damsel was instrumental for Naamans recovery both of his spiritual and corporal leprosie And who art thou that none must instruct thee but such a one as like Saul is higher then others by head and shoulders in gifts and abilities I wish it be not from the pride of thy spirit that none is worthy enough to teach thee thy Grammar Lesson but some head of the Vniversity A picking stomach I am sure argueth a diseased body and then a squemish heart and itching ear cannot argue a sound soul The industrious Bee Plut. sucks honey from the Thime an harsh and dry hearb The Meat is as good in a Pewter as in a Silver Dish It may be thou goest to Table onely for the sauce to Church for the stile and elegancy of the language if so I dare be bold to tell thee that thine heart is not right in the sight of God Dost thou not know that it is the naked sword which doth the Execution that a crucified Christ is the great conquerour not a pompous gaudy Messiah which the Jews dreamed of Paul is commanded to Preach not with Wisdome of words least the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect 1 Cor. ◠17 so 〈◊〉 verse 27 28. Truly if thou lustest after the Quails of some new dish it is a sign that thou louthest
To thy duty at the Sacrament 3. To thy duty after the Sacrament First To thy duty before the Sacrament and herein my counsel is that thou wouldst prepare thy self solemnly for this Ordinance The Jews had their preparation for their Passover John 19.24 It was the preparation of the Passover Nay they took their Lamb the tenth day of the moneth and did not kill it till the fourteenth Exod. 12.3 and as some of their Writers observe they tied it all the while to their bed posts that in the interim they might prepare themselves for it Our Lord Jesus when he was to eat the Passoever and institute the Supper would have so much as the house in which he would do it prepared before-hand Mark 14.15 The ancient Fathers and primitive Christians used to sit up whole nights at prayer before the Lords Supper which they called their Vigiliae Reader thy care must be to trim thy lamp and make sure of oyl in the vessel now thou art going to meet the Bridegrom Samuel spake to the inhabitants of Bethlehem Sanctifie your selves and come to the Sacrifice so say I to thee Sanctifie thy soul and then come to the Sacrament 1 Sam. 16.9 Joseph prepared himself by shaving himself and changing his raiment before he went unto Pharaoh And wilt not thou prepare thy self by putting thy soul into the holiest posture thou canst when thou art to go in unto the King of Heaven and Earth He that would make a good meal even when he is to feast at anothers cost must prepare his stomack beforehand by moderate fasting or exercise God expecteth that the hands be pure but especially that the heart be prepared The good Lord saith Hezekiah pardon every one that prepareth his heart though it be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary 2 Chro. 30.18 19. the King speaketh of those who came to the Passover with some ceremonial pollution yet had moral purity and his words are to this purpose Lord though several of my people have failed in regard of external purification let it please thee to pardon them if they have minded internal preparation Friend there is no hope of remission without this heart-preparation The Devil himself would not come into an house till it was ready swept and garnished Mat. 12. And dost thou think that Jesus Christ will come into thy heart while it lieth nastily and sluttishly before the filth of sin be swept out and it be garnished with the Graces of his Spirit Surely that room had need be richly hung with the embroidery of the Spirit in which the glorious and blessed Potentate will sup and lodge Where thy expectation is great from a person there thy preparation must be great for him Dost thou not look like Herod to see some miracle done by Jesus some extraordinary thing for thy soul Therefore I say to thee as Joshua spake to the Israelites Sanctifie your selves for to morrow the Lord will do wonders amongst you Josh 3.5 O sanctifie thy self and to morrow on the Sacrament-day the Lord will do wonders for thee he will feast thee at his own Table he will feed thee with his own flesh he will give thee that love which is better then wine he will embrace thee in his arms and kiss thee with the kisses of his mouth he will delight thine eyes with the sight of his beautiful Person ravish thine ears with the sound of his precious promises and rejoyce thine heart with the assurance of his gracious pardon O do but sanctifie thy self and to morrow the Lord will do wonders for thee This preparation consisteth in a serious examination of thy self and a sincere humiliation for thy sins Thy serious examination of thy self must be First Of the Good in thee Secondly Of the Evil done by thee Let a man examine himself and so and no otherwise let him eat of this bread and drink of this cup 1 Cor. 11.28 Examine himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some take it to be a Metaphor of a Goldsmith as he trieth Gold in the fire whether it be pure or no so thy duty is to try thy graces by the fire of the Word whether they be true or not So the word is used 1 Pet. 1.7 Others take it as an allusion to Ministers who are tried whether they are fit for their office or no 1 Tim. 3.10 so thou oughtest to try thy self whether thou art fit for this Ordinance or no. This examination must be First Of the Good in thee Thy duty is to examine thy self in general concerning thy Regeneration or spiritual life The Sacrament is childrens bread and it must not be given to dogs Dogs must be without doors not within snatching the Meat from the Table Men must prove their right to the Purchase before they take Possession He must have an interest in the Covenant of grace who will finger the seal of the Covenant It is high Treason to annex the Kings broad Seal to forged Writings Thy Navel is like a round Goblet which wanteth not liquor thy belly is like an heap of Wheat set about with Lillies Cant 7.2 The words are Christs praise of his spouse for her fruitfulness in bringing Children forth and her faith fulness in bringing them up By the Navel Expositors agree that Baptism is understood by which as children by the Navel the members of the Church are nourished even then when they are so feeble that they cannot feed themselves but their whole sustenance is conveyed to them by others By the belly is meant the Lords Supper Now observe the provision how the Table is furnished and the persons which are to sit at it For the provision Thy belly is like an heap of Wheat Ainsworth on the words observeth that in those times they brought their Corn in and stackt it up in heaps so that as the belly distributeth to every part of the body its proportion of nourishment and as an heap of Wheat satisfieth the hunger of and affordeth strength to a whole Family so doth the Church by this Sacrament bestow on all her children through Christ that food which is needful for health and strength The persons which are to eat of this Wheat set about with lillies They must be Saints and are compared to Lilies First For their innocency they are Lilly-white Secondly for their glory and Nobility Mat. 6.29 Pliny telleth us that Lilies are next to the Rose for Nobility Plin. l. 22. c. 5. Christ is the Rose of Sharon the plant of most renown but his Church is next to him Thirdly for the savour Cant. 4.12 The graces of beleivers are like sweet perfumes and sented as far as Heaven The Lords Supper is a Sacrament not of Regeneration but of sustentation When the Prodigal came to himself then the fatted Calf was killed for him Luk. 15. Men must have natural life before they can eat natural meat and men must have spiritual life before they can eat spiritual meat It was an ancient
puddle water Reflect on them thy self and compare them with the Law of God and thou wilt find cause to pray over thy prayers to weep over thy tears to be ashamed of thy shame and to abhor thy self for thy self abhorrency Do not think with thy self I have examined my heart faithfully and find that I do not come short of the grace of God I have acknowledged mine iniquities and been sorrowful for my sins and therefore I cannot miscarry at this Sacrament Such a trusting of thy self would be a tempting of thy Saviour and would certainly hinder the success of the Sacrament It would be to thee as the cutting off Sampsons locks was to him Judg 16.20 He thought to have gone forth as at other times and shake himself And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him Thou mayest think after such self-confidence to go to the Lords Supper as at other times but alas what wilt thou do for the Lord will depart from thee and then what sport will Satan and sin those uncircumcised ones make with thee Reader let me perswade thee when thou hast been diligent in the trial of thy spiritual estate and hast with many tears bewailed the pollution of thy nature and transgressions of thy life to cast thy self wholly upon Jesus Christ for assistance in the duty As Jehosaphat when he had 50000. men ready Armed for the battel cryed out O Lord our God we have no might against this great company 2 Chron. 20.6 neither know we what to do but our eyes are unto thee So after thou hast made the greatest preparation possible as beleiving the weight and worth of the supper the purity and Majesty of the Master of the Feast do thou look up to Christ and say Lord I have no ability no might for this great supper for a right performance of this great ordinance neither know I what to do but my eys are unto thee When Asa had an Army of two hundredand fourscore thousand men of valour to fight with the Ethiophians he prayeth and trusteth to God as if he had not one man Lord it is nothing for thee to help whether with many or with them that have no power Help us O Lord God for we rest on thee 2 Chron. 8 1. and in thy name we go against this great multitude So do thou say Lord I have no power for this holy Supper help me O Lord my God for I rest on thee and in thy name I go to this great and weighty Ordinance Truely couldst thou after all the provision thou hast made disclaim it wholly in regard of dependance and cast thy self on Christ for assistance I durst be the Prophet to foretel a good day The gaudy flower which standeth upon its own stalk doth quickly wither when the plain Ivy that depends upon the house and leans on it is fresh and green all the year He that trusteth to his own legs in this duty is as sure to fall as if he were down already the weak child walketh safest that all the way holdeth by and hangeth upon its parent If thou wert now going to receive be advised to write after Davids Copy He looked up to God both for assistance and acceptance I will go in the strength of the Lord I will make mention of thy righteousness yea of thine onely Psa 71.16 Let thy practice be sutable to his when thou goest out of thy house And let thy prayer be the same with the Spouses when thou art entring into Gods house O then look up to heaven and cry mightily Awake thou Northwind and come O South blow upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow out Let my beloved come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits Cant. 4. ult CHAP. XIX How a Christian may exercise himself to godliness at the Table I Come to the second particular about the Lords Supper Secondly and that is thy behaviour at the Table or in the time of receiving In reference to which I would advise thee 1. To mind the sutable subjects which are to be considered at it 2. To observe the special graces which are to be exercised in it There are three principal subjects of meditation when thou approachest the Table in order to the three graces which must then be acted The Subjects of meditation are Christs passion his affection and thy own corruptions The three graces are Faith Love and godly sorrow Christs death is sure footing for Faith Paul never desired better 1 Cor. 2.2 it is not onely an elect and precious but a tried stone and a sure foundation on which whosoever beleiveth shall never be confounded Isa 28.16 Faith picks excellent food from this heavenly carkass The love of Christ displayed in his death causeth and calleth forth the love of a Christian Faith bringeth the soul that is like a dead coal near to the live coals of Gods burning love in giving his onely Son and Christs burning love in giving himself and by these it is turned into fire all in a flame of love as the Eccho answereth the voice it returneth the love it receiveth Our own sins meditated on stit up the third grace which is godly sorrow Though indeed this liquor will run from any of the three Vessels if they be but peirced When Christ hung upon the Cross under the weight of Gods wrath water came out of his sides as well as blood Who can think of his sufferings without sorrow and of his blood without tears His love in its heat may well thaw the most frozen spirit but sin the cause of his sufferings will like a knife cut and prick to the heart indeed but First I begin with the subjects of meditation and among them in the first place with the passion of Christ First Meditate now on the suffering of thy Saviour the wound of Christ out of which came precious balsom to heal all thy sinful sores ought never to be forgotten but the remembrance of them is never so seasonable as at a Sacrament One end of the institution of this Ordinance was the commemoration of Christs death As oft as ye eat this brrad and drink this cup ye shew forth the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 27. The Sacrament is a lively crucifix wherein Jesus Christ is evidently set forth crucified before thine eyes When thou seest the bread and wine consecrated and set apart consider how God the Father did from eternity set a part his onely Son for his bloody passion and thy blessed redemption Consider he was a Lamb slain before the foundation of the World When thou seest the bread and wine upon the Table consider that as the Corn was ground in the Mill to make that bread and the grapes squezed to make that wine so thy Saviour was beaten in the Mill and Wine-press of his Fathers wrath before he could be meat indeed and drink indeed to nourish thee unto life everlasting When thou seest the bread broken
Sam. 26.9 But what is it to murther the Son of God no tongue can tell no pen can write the horrid hainous nature of Christ-murther He is thy everlasting Father It made a dumb childe speak to see another stabbing his Father and wilt thou imbrue thine own hands in thy Fathers blood Jesus Christ is thy King and wilt thou stretch forth thy hands against thy Head thy Soveraign Had Zimri peace who slew his Master Nay Jesus Christ is thy Redeemer and wilt thou put him to death who is the Author of thy life He gave thee thy being and wouldst thou deprive him of his being He is the onely Physician that can cure thee and wilt thou kill him Once more Jesus Christ is God and wilt thou lift up thy hand I would say a thought against the blessed God God deserveth infinitely more love then thou canst possibly give and shall thine heart be so full of hatred as to let fly against the God of Heaven Oh! say with David when Abishai perswaded him to slay Saul The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the Lords anointed When Satan or thy own heart would perswade thee to be slight in the examination of thy self and formal in thy humiliation for sin that thou mightest be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord let Conscience cry out God forbid that I should stretch out my hand against Jesus Christ the Lords Anointed And truly Friend if after such warning as God gives thee in this head thou shouldst dare to receive unworthily thou wouldst finde it hereafter to thine unspeakable hurt As Reuben told his Brethren when they were in distress Spake I not unto you saying Do not sin against the child and ye would not hear therefore behold his blood is required Gen. 42.22 So if thou now darest to approach the Lords Table in thy sinful unregenerate estate in thy filth and pollution when thou comest to lie under some smart rod or on thy dying bed or at least in the other World Conscience will fly in the face Did I not speak unto thee saying Do not sin against the holy Childe Jesus and thou wouldst not hear therefore behold his blood is required at thy hands O Friend Friend what wilt thou do in such an hour If on him who slew Cain vengeance should be taken sevenfold what vengeance shall be taken on him who slayeth Jesus Christ How dreadful will thy perdition be if the onely Saviour be thine Accuser and that blood which alone can procure thy pardon shall cry for thine eternal punishment O think of it seriously Hast thou never had hard thoughts of the Jews for their cruelty to the Son of God and wilt thou do worse thy self The Jews crucified him but once but thou by continuing an unworthy receiver crucifiest him often The Jews did it ignorantly Had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.8 but thou knowest him to be the Son of God the Saviour of the World They crucified him in his estate of Humiliation but thou in his estate of Exaltation They had not not thee for a Warning when they put him to death but thou hast them for a Warning to thee They crucified him when he was to rise again the third day but thou so crucifiest him that he might never rise more were it in thy power O take heed what thou dost and be not worse then a Jew Thy suffering He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself 1 Cor. 11.29 Some I know are offended at the translation of the Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Damnation but I see little reason for it for Damnation is the end of every sin though it be not the end of every sinner Paul speaketh of Believers indeed but as it may be truly said of one that drinketh poyson Such a man drunk his bane though by the help of a Physician such an Antidote may be given as may prevent the Patients death so it may be truly spoken of a Believer who receiveth unworthily He eateth and drinketh his own damnation though through the Grace and Help of Jesus Christ no thank to himself he is recovered out of that sin and saved Beza and the Geneva Translation take it in this sense So the word is taken John 3.17 18. Rom. 3.8 and in several other places Now what an argument is here to disswade thee from going rashly or unpreparedly to the Table of the Lord. That which is a worthy receivers meat will be thy poison the same red Sea of Christs blood which is salvation to others they pass safely through it into the land of promise will be damnation to thee King John Speed as our English Croniclers write Simâ—s Eccks Hist. was poisoned by a cup of Wine The Emperour Henry the seventh was poisoned by the bread in the Sacrament through the treachery and treason of a Monk The Israelites did all eat the same spiritual meat and did all drink the same spiritual drink but with many of them God was not well pleased for they were overthrown in the Wilderness 1 Cor. 10.3 4.5 Those that eat and drink in Christs presence were punished with everlasting perdition Mat. 7.23 And do not please thy self because thou feelest no such poisonous operation at present in unworthy receiving that therefore thou needst not fear it They that eat Italian Figs carry their death about them though they fall not down dead suddenly Therefore Reader take some time and pains to commune with thy own heart before thou goest to the Sacrament Charge it upon its allegiance to God to hear thee patiently and to carry it self sutably If I receive this Supper with an holy preparation it will be a seal of and an help to my eternal salvation it will be an earnest of matchless love and an entrance into an endless happy life but if I eat and drink unworthily there is death in the pot death in the cup I eat and drink my own damation O how doleful is that one word Damnation What a dreadful sound doth it make in mine ears What fearful sighs doth it cause in my soul Damnation is no trifling business God threateneth it in earnest The damned feel it in earnest and shall I jest with it Surely I were better eat the bread of affliction and drink the water of adversity then eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily Canst thou be so bloody as to stab thy self and thy Redeemer to the heart with one blow O my soul bestir thy self awake out of sleep and do not dally about the concernments of eternal life and death let thy care and conscience be such in fitting thy self for this sacred Ordinance that thy Saviour may see thou hast an high respect for his precious blood and a tender regard to thine own everlasting good For thy help about this Ordinance I shall speak 1. To thy duty before the Sacrament 2.