saith Mat. 5. Reproofe of Swearing Let your communication be Yea yea Nay nay for whasoeuer is more then this commeth of euill When wee sweare we must vse the glorious Name of God with great reuerence and feare Deut. 6.13 Heb. 6.16 viz. Where the glory of God is sought or the saluation of our brethren or before a Magistrate in witnessing the truth not in our communication or otherwise vainely It is forbidden Leuit. 19.12 And yee shall not sweare by my Name falsely neither shalt thou prophane the Name of thy God I am the Lord. Regard it Deut. 5. For the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine The Lord hath sayd Zacha. 5. That the curse shall enter into the house of him that sweares falsely by his Name Leuit. 24. God commaunded that hee which blasphemed his Name should bee stoned It was effected and now is to be wished such should be punished Although it be reprooued it is to be feared few will refrayne for Sathan is subtill to seduce before Christs comming and is industrious to draw vs to that God hath forbidden so that some as in their health did sweare and curse so haue they in their sicknesse and departed fearefully Esay 45.9 Woe be to him that striues with his Maker Consider this yee that forget God lest I take you away Psa 50.22 and there bee none to helpe Oh if you knew him you would quake to blaspheme him his glorious brightnesse excells the Sunne in the Firmament so that sinfull eyes cannot beholde him Esay 6. Seraphins couer their faces in Gods presence Thou blast of breath bee not so saucie with the GOD of Might and Maiestie Ieremie 10.6 Forasmuch as there is none like vnto thee ô Lord thou art great and thy Name is great in might vers 10. At his wrath the earth shall tremble Oh bragge beggers bold to dishonour him you must from wealth Psa 8. or wealth from you it is none of yours honour the owner The Psalmographe doth ingeminate this O Lord our God how excellent is thy Name in all the earth Our Sauiour taught vs to say Hallowed be thy Name Let vs not derogate it Bad children grieue to see their father misvsed much more Gods children to sée our heauenly Father abused Some leawd of the vulgar heare and beare with Sweaters and Drunkards but checke such as abhorre it for any small infirmitie past for want of fore-sight and with lying make a myte a mountaine I would I and others had but infirmities I haue millions of sinnes and GOD knowes of more then I can remember Good God assist vs to resist and hate sinne in our selues and others that with silence we sée thee not blasphemed Common Swearers are commonly Cursers and askers of euill petitions impious people are wrathfull like the Diuell asking plagues poxe and all kinde of euill So ofte times they haue that they craue Our tongues are not to be vnruly euils but to pray to God and praise him He that vilifieth his Name shewes himselfe worse then a tode which by singing sets sorth Gods praise Psal 148. Zelous Dauid exhorteth créeping things vnrationall to praise GOD yet men with reason blaspheme him which none can doe that loue him A president repugnant was S. Dauid Blesse the Lord ô my soule and all that is within mee blesse his holy Name Psal 103. Let euery thing that hath breath praise the Lord. And shall Man hauing reason blaspheme him Psal 150. Oh it is odious to a Christian Therefore when thou hearest any take Gods name in vaine say Blessed be his Name If he regard it not exhort him with leuitie If he be peruerse refraine his companie Ioseph by kéeping Pharaohs Court learned to sweare By the life of Pharaoh Gen. 42. but he returned to such vertue as is to be feared few do for sin is now so auaileable it seemeth to be ineuitable O arrogant earth feare the Almighty Bee not an Infidell worse then the Diuell The Diuels belieue and tremble True Faith and true feare hath care to eschue euill and doe good Prou 8.13 Iames 2.19 The feare of the Lord is to hate euill pride and arrogancie and the euill way and the froward mouth doe I hate A Blaspheamer with his froward mouth and black tongue makes his soule blacke GOD made it to praise him not to dishonour him He saith 1. Sam 2.30 For them that honour mee I will honour and they that despise mee shal be lightly esteemed Pray to GOD and praise him none can saue thee but hée and he abhorreth sinne Heb 1.13 Thou art of purer eyes then to behold euill canst not look on iniquitie Now let vs consider this how wee procure Gods anger and grieue him with our sinne by Sathans seducing To sée him maketh man to quake but the Swearer séemes to be possessed and feare not Both must be admonished You that with silence heare it and yée that vse it leaue it least in Hell yee languish with blaspheming and cursing the time of byrth and being To preuent it Repent Loue God and laude him Else at Iudgement day thy conscience will accuse thee Christ will refuse thée the Hoast of Heauen abhorre thee and Diuells euer torment thée From which good Lord deliuer vs for IESVS sake that bought vs. To the which GOD Almightie thrée persons in Trinitie be all possible praise for euer Amen Benedic anima mea Iehouae An Inuectiue for Sabbath-Prophaners THe abuse of the Sabbath doth greatly derogate the glory of God Vsed of some in the Church of some out of the Church Concerning euill behauiour in the Church There are certaine seduced in greedie getting or néedlesse decking that they goe late attyred meeter for a Play then to pray Whose eyes wander in euery corner and the finest fashion is their prospect They by watching about their follie and others too full fed doe slumber and comber the Church offending God and grieuing the good The hungry sléepe not at dinner to sléepe at a Sermon shewes no hungrie desire the paunch full is vnfit to pray Sermon-sléepers whether Papists or Neuters intrude among the Protestants They ease the corps by leaning So should they the Conscience and auoyde sleeping by standing but Pinguitie preuents it Ignorants went farre to fall to an Image Farre and neere fall thou to the true God Goe sooner and be better prepared to pray and praise him Parents rebuke your boyes Some Ruffians and rude ones yea bragge boyes haue hattes on their heads when Psalmes are read or sung being Prayers and petitions 1. Cor. 11.4 Euery man praying or porphecying hauing his head couered dishonoureth his head To begge of a King couered is vncomely Much more so to begge of the King of Kings Some sittes praying the Lords Prayer Matthew 26.39 CHRIST did prostrate and pray because of our sinnes and shall not we sinners knéele when we pray S. Paule did it Acts 21.5 If wee
Acts 20.7 On the preparation to the Sabbath the bodie of IESVS was begged by Ioseph to be buried Mark 15. Luk. 23. for obseruing the sabbath God hath commanded the kéeping thereof with a Memento Sunday was the first day of the Worldes Creation and the day of Christs Resurrection S. Iohn calles it Dies Dominicus I was in the spirit on the Lords day for it was by the Apostles established Reu. 1.10 and Saturday the Iews Sabbath abolished Therfore it behooues vs carefully to kéepe Sunday the Lords day The Law is perpetuall so is the Sabbath and is to be sanctified to Gods seruice For though being vnder the Gospell we are deliuered frō the shadows of the ceremoniall law yet it foloweth of congruity that we indeuor to kéepe the morall precepts and be obedient to Gods commandements else we are not grafied in Christ which saith Math 5. Thinke not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill If wee belong to him we will doe our industrie God is iealous of his glory which men diminish dishonouring him more on that day then in all the wéeke His Memento is not minded Man and beast must rest Yet rude ones ride on the Sabbath vpon small occasions All within thy gate must rest that is within thy power Childrē seruants and stranger Sée it performed preuent eternall punishment By Christ we haue Christian liberty to doo things of necessity for preseruation of life and of things in vtter decay on the sabbath Christ then healed a man and the Iews did lift shéepe from the pit and we must be carefull that the thing wee doe be such as cannot well be deferred to further time Néedlesse worldly workes wordes and worldly thoughts must be abandoned Nūb 15. God cōmanded all the people to stone a man that gathered sticks on the sabbath Math 1.80 Oh yee that follow lusts be obedient least yee be perpetually punished God lookes for our Obedience to obey is better then sacrifice Nehemiah 13. reprooued them that brake the sabbath in bearing sheaues and loading their Asses and that solde ware he told them that euill came on the Cittie because their Fathers did so The Lord by Ieremie 17.21 dehorteth from breaking the Sabbath and exhorteth people to hallow the same God promiseth a blessing if they obey if not a destruction Ioyfull promise is for performance For thus saith the Lord vnto the Eunuches that keep my Sabbaths choose the things that please me and take holde of my Couenant vers 5. Euen vnto them will I giue in mine house within my walles a place and a name better then of sonnes of daughters I wil giue them an euerlasting name that shall not be cut off In this Maior is a Benisson to him that knoweth not a woman if hee applie the Minor To euery man that kéepeth the sabbath not doing his owne wayes nor speaking his owne wordes God hath promised a blessing But God is forgotten and present pleasures thought on Some substantiall whome the world estéem of talke on their trash subtilty and sensualitie on that day and for a messe of potage with Esau lose their birthright Young-men some of them are like a generation of Vipers starting aside like a broken Bowe Neuters that delight not Gods Lawe say they belieue as the Church belieueth and how that is they knowe not as though they had a taste of the Whore of Babylon Lurking Masse-mongers doe seduce and make them luke-warme The body of Iezabel was deuoured but her Feete skull and handes remained And though the light doth disprooue Idolatrie some with deceiued tast thereof would burne incense to the Queene of heauen which God reprooued and seuerely punished Consider it yée that are thereto addicted They that loue darknes ha e the light least it should reprooue them Ierem. 44. Such are wilfull Absenters and some that heare are Sabbath-prophaners The true vse of the Sabbath is with the Assembly to heare Gods word read and preached to receiue the Sacrament with thanks and repentance to pray for our gratious King Iames Quéene and Royall progenie and for all Gods children being the Church vniuersall O Lord we thanke thee for our dread Soueraigne his great preseruation from Iannes Iambres and traitorly Iudas and we beséech thée to deliuer vs from such mercilesse papists Amen As at all times so chiefly on the Sabbath we must feede on the word and thanke our good God meditate comfort and counsell each other from euill to good and prouide for the poore at such time of the day as shall not hinder the seede sowne in vs. S. August makes mention of 3. kind of works that must be done on the Sabbath viz The works of godlines instructing the ignorant the works of Charitie giuing to the poore The works of necessitie to saue things in vtter decay As at all times so on this day let vs comfort the distressed praise him which rose then for our consolation and and Iustification The Iewes sabbath did put them in minde of their deliuerāce from the cruelty of Pharao vnto the desert where they were fed with Manna and so to the promised Canaan Our Sabbath puts vs in remembrance of our deliuerance from the fiery Pharao the diuell and that we shall possesse eternall rest if we obey God and keepe the true Rest An absenter sayes God heard Iob on the dunghil Daniel in the denne so may he me in my house Saint Dauid saith Psal 122. I was glad when they sayd vnto mee Let vs goe into the house of the Lord. Psa 84. My soule longeth yea euen faynteth for the Courts of the Lord. Hée accompanied the holy conuocation Psal 42. I went with them to the house of God with the voyce of ioy and prayse It must be the finall cause The swéete Singer saith Psal 81 Sing aloud vnto God our strength make a ioyfull noyse vnto the God of Iacob The ruder sort make not a ioyfull noyse they can sing few tunes for Psalmes nor in tune but disturbe the Congregation Dauids heart and swéete loud voyce makes harmony illustrating the glory of God which ordeyned heart and voyce He a type of Christ saith Psal 35.18 I will giue thee thanks in the great congregation I will prayse thee among much people Louers of God are ioyfull to prayse him among many and to sée God praysed by many Let vs not let it but loue it imbrace the truth and prayse God for it To the which blessed Trinitie be eternall honour prayse and glory Amen Tota ipsa anima laudet Iah ¶ Against the euill effects of Dicing and Carding DIcing and Carding are accustomed with company that vseth excesse they goe to an Alehouse and call for an Out-house and sit wrangling dishonouring God seruing of Sathan and cause vexation The winner spends it prodigally procuring Gods displeasure The sadde lozer gripes for money gréedily to be reuenged rashly hee ventureth more
Persist with the woman of Canaan Mat. 15. Imitate Dauid voyd of pusillanimity full of magnanimitie yet mourned Psa 6.6 I am weary with my groning all the night make I my bed to swimme I water my couch with my teares The sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit Psal 51.17 Luke 15.7 Psa 103.11 a broken and contrite heart ô God thou wilt not despise Ioy shall be in heauen ouer such Therefore with submission vse contrition For as the heauen is high aboue the earth so great is his mercy toward them that feare him God giue vs repentante that we may be faithfull applyers of Christs righteousnes Amen Dum spiro spero ¶ Of the ioyes of heauen prepared for Gods Children FOr the faithfull penitent which warre against wickednesse is prepared a place so ioyfull as is vnspeakable such haue not onely immunitie and freedome from bondage but also interest to the priuiledges of Gods children who are heyres with God Rom. 8.17 Reuel 7.14 and coheyres with Christ in his Kingdome which is by the bloud of Iesus which washeth vs white without the which is no puritie God imposed the punishment for our sinnes vpon him Rom. 8. and he hath fully satisfied the Iustice of his Father for them The holy Spirit speaketh to faithfull perseuerers Reu. 2.10 Bee thou faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee the Crowne of life Reuel 3.21 To him that ouercometh will I graunt to sit with me in my Throne euen as I also ouercame and am set downe with my Father in his Throne Reuel 21.4 And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shall be no more death neyther sorrow nor crying neyther shall there be any more payne for the former things are passed away Verse 7. He that ouercommeth shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my sonne 1. Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seene nor care heard neyther haue entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him When the Quéene of Sheba was come to Solomon shee sayd 1. King 10.7 Behold the halfe was not tolde mee So Gods Saints shall then sée that the thousand part of those ioyes were not tolde them Aug. O gaudium super gaudium vincens omne gaudium extra quod non est gaudium quando intrabo inte vt Deū meū videam qui habitat in te O ioy aboue all ioyes surpassing all ioyes without which there is no ioy when shall I enter into thee that I may see my God that dwelleth in thee Profectò in me totum non intrabit sed ego in illud totus intrabo Truely it will not enter wholly into me by my knowledge that I may comprehend it but I shall enter wholly into it by fruition that I may enioy it for euer It is such frée-hold as is good for vs to build there an inheritance incorruptible 1. Pet. 1.4 and vndefiled and that fadeth not away reserued in heauen for vs. There is beauty brightnesse iubilation exultation mirth without mourning heauenly harmony delectable vnspeakable Saints shall sing with Angels and heauenly habitants All glory to the Trinitie There is health rest riches abundance with continuance A Paradise excéeding all pleasure The Trinity in vnity shal ioy all hearts his beauty is glorious the longer viewed the more desired O excellent Soueraigne Exo. 34.29 2. Cor. 3.7 brighter then the day Sunne the skinne of Moses face shone bright by being with God glistering and glorious then shall men bee being glorified and euer with God Sinne shall no more disquiet vs the flesh and the spirit shall then be at quiet hauing perfect knowledge perfect holinesse For now wee see through a Glasse darkly but then face to face 1. Cor. 13.12 Exo. 33.20 2. Tim. 4.8 now I know in part but then shall I know euen as also I am knowne The Lord God said There shall no man see me and liue but there we shall sée him and liue All that reigne with Christ shall haue crownes of righteousnesse 2. Pet. 1.11 It is an euerlasting Kingdome Luke 14. Blessed is he that eateth bread in the kingdom of God Ioyfull is the societie of those heauenly Citizens the Region is Royall and a Kingdome excéeding all kingdomes Reu. 21. It is likned to a City of pure gold which had no neede of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glorie of GOD did lighten it the Lambe is the light thereof vers 25. And the gates of it shall not bee shut at all by day for there shall be no night there We heere are in danger of the Diuell and his darlings but there shall be no enemie to hurt nor annoy The glorious Heauen of heauens is not contaminate but immaculate there shal enter into it no vncleane thing Mat. 13.43 Esay 25.6 Then shall the righteous shine foorth as the Sunne in the kingdome of their Father God will feast his faithfull at his right hand is fulnesse of ioy euerlasting ioy shall bee vpon them Aug. There is myrth without mone place without payne life without labour light without darknes there youth alwaies flourisheth and neuer decayeth there is no torment felt nor howling heard no sorrow séene but possession of ioyes euerlasting How glorious things are spoken of thée thou Citie of God true reioycing is in thy habitation We shall bee rid from warfare and bee in welfare from sinne Satan and his adherents from hunger thirst heate cold wearinesse infirmities dread doubtfulnesse sicknes vexation death damnation be euer with God our preseruer Good children are glad to sée their father here much more to behold our Heauenly Father his sonne our Sauiour the Holy Ghost our Sanctifier there S. Iohn sprang in his Mothers wombe at the tidings of our Sauiour Luk 1.41 Angells praised and said Lu. 2.24 Glory to God The shepheards went and saw him published the newes and gaue praise vnto God Old Simeon took him in his arms reioycing Old Anna gaue thanks likewise vnto the Lord and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Hierusalem Oh when men and all the hoasts of Heauen sing to his Maiestie most glorious is that harmonie Wée shall sing in the presence of God Halleluiah Saluation glory honour power be to the Lord our God Oh heauenly harmony myrth melody Blessed are they that are called to the Lambs supper M. Bradford the Martyr belieued this beatitude and thus did animate the young-man at the fire Be of good comfort Brother for we shall haue a merry supper with the Lorde this night All faithful harts crossed with calamity and grieued for iniquity be comforted yée shall inherit a kingdom We shal come to the mount Sion not Sinay where the Law was giuen but to the innumerable company of Angels S. Peter saide for the sight he saw on the mount Lord it is good for vs to
be here Math. 17.4 But then wee shal be in light vnchangeable and sée Christ euer in felicity whom his enemies had in obloquie Those Ioyes infinite passe all Ioyes finite The voyce of Ioy and gladnes shal be euer with the righteous Oh happy heires of heauēly inheritance without our deserts Aug. Deus coronat dona sua non merita nostra God crowneth his owne gifts not our merites O blesse the Lord who redeemeth thy life frō destruction Psal 103.4 who crowneth thee with louing kindnes tender mercies Feare not little flock Lu 12.32 Reu 4.8 for it is your Fathers good pleasure to giue you the kingdome O let vs say holy holy holy Lord God Almightie which was is is to come We shal be Citizens with the saints and of the houshold of God dignified and glorified In Ioy we shal reioyce that our names are written in heauen franchessed fréemen irreuocably inrolled as sure rather surer then the estate of Angells We shall haue the fruition of Christs Resurrection and be manumissed from the bondage of death and destruction Frée denizens freed from miseries and proude peoples malice Those Ioyes passe all Iubilees Good Iesus bring vs to that blisse As there is no equalitie betwixt the Creator and vs here sinfull creatures So is there none betwéene the ioyes of Heauen and worldly pleasures These are ioyes transitory the other Ioyes eternall Rom. 8.17 Wee shall be ioynt heires with Christ and partakers of true happinesse There is no sighing singing No heauinesse Ioyfulnes No ignominie glory Holy holy holy shall be euer ascribed to Iehouah The Virgins could learne the new song which follow the Lambe Reuel 14. Oh the Ioyfull harmony that wee shall heare and be glorified euer in glorie Wee shall haue a palace vnspeakable being deliuered into the glorious libertie of the Children of God Luke 20.36 Neither can they doe any more for they are equall to the Angels and are the Children of GOD being the children of the Resurrection If a man here sicke heard those ioyes he would not féele his paine Oh ioyfull shall we be when we be there hearing seeing and hauing vnspeakable ioyes Aug Erit in Coelo domus tua aeterna si modò bene in hoc tabernaculo vixeris Thine house shall bee eternall in heauen if now thou liuest well in this tabernacle Lose not that permanent Paradise for this pleasure which in respect thereof is paine for the Barley corne lose not the pretious Pearle for carnall copulation eternall benediction for a minute of selfe-will Reu 3.20 millions of yéeres ioyfull Ah God forbid he bids vs returne and reteyne him Behold I stand at the doore and knocke Receiue him and hee will receiue thée to sit in glory with his Maiestie which is a dignitie of all dignities Iob. 19.25 This did mitigate Iobs misery For I know my Redeemer liueth that he shall stand at the latter day vpon the earth and though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God S. Paul saith Phil. 3. For our conuersation is in heauen from whence also wee looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body c. A Comfort Our bodies shall be conformable to the body of Christ our Head We shall be like him ill thoughts bad motions and perturbations shall be excluded Wee heare this but hée that beléeues it and hopes to haue it his affection is fixed in heauen Therfore pray and repent so shalt thou haue what A worldly commodity for which thou dost venture soule and body Ah thou shalt haue a Throne of tryumph excéeding all earthly treasures to reigne in ioyes for euer If thou hadst all earthly riches plentiousnes pleasures and pleasantest place on earth with all elegant obiects Princely prospects dainty delicates musicall Instruments swéete singers persumes and fine sauours with all thy vnfained friends and choyce of chiefe louers yet all this were paine in respect of heauen where we shall ouer be with our good God to whom be all prayse honour power and glory now and euer Amen with heart and tongue againe Amen Gloria in excelsis Deo PSAL. 66.18 If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not heare me PROV 23.26 My sonne giue me thine heart ¶ Pray heartily OH heauenly Trinitie one God in vnitie to thee bee all honour Glorious God at thy brightnes the Sunne Moone and Starres are abashed and impure in thy sight much more I a sinfull creature which by mine iniquities haue stained those bright creatures Omniscient God thou knowost my thoughts before I thinke them and knowest me before I was I was conceiued in sin borne in sinne in sinne I liue I am by nature the childe of wrath O giue me grace to be borne from aboue that I may enter into thy kingdome I am not worthy to looke vp to thee I deserue to bee cast downe to hell but I appeale to the Throne of thy mercy in the Name of Iesus my Sauiour which calleth all penitent sinners to him to giue them rest Oh Sauiour refresh my silly soule which cryes to thee out of my sinfull carkasse that I may apply thy sufferings merits and promises to my soule and conscience and be accepted through thy righteousnes My Lord and my God out of 〈◊〉 side issued the bloud of my redemption and water of absolution to purge me from pollution thou standest at the dore and knockest giue me grace to open the dore of my heart touch it with the finger of thy Spirit that it maybe a fit receptacle to entertaine thee Create in me a cleane heart ô God and renue a right spirit within me that I may resist all exill and walke in righteousnes and holinesse all the dayes of my life Let the assurance of thy loue wipe all teares from mine eyes so come Lord Iesus Good God forgiue me all my sinnes for Iesus sake in whom thou art well pleased cloath me with his righteousnes and behold me in him I doe deserue damnation but hee hath payde my ransome Lord let me finde and feele thy mercy Giue mee grace to redeeme the time and spend it to thy prayse Blesse this Realme our King Queene and Royall Progeny blesse and comfort all thy children Make vs loue those things that thou dost loue and hate that thou hatest that we may keepe faith and a good conscience And if it be thy will forgiue and conuert our enemies Good God prepare me and thy children fit for thy kingdome O Christ giue vs grace to examine our selues whether thou be in vs that we may expresse the power of godlinesse in our liues Lord receiue our soules when we depart this life that we may prayse thee in heauen eternally The which peace God bring vs for Iesus sake that bought vs to whome with thee ô Father and the holy Ghost three persons and one God be all might maiestie prayse honour glory power and dominion now and euer Amen Watch and pray prayse God FINIS