Laws of God to follow the dictates of Man yea makes God's Laws of no Effect Mark 7.8 It makes them do all in way of Merit which the Scripture denies Luke 17.10 When you have done all that is Commanded say yc are unprofitable Servants Rom. 6.23 The Wages of sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life Rom. 4.6 8.18 9.16 2 Cor. 4.17 Where we see all we enjoy is of free Grace and no room left for mans Merits Such vows as these therefore have no footing in the Scripture and therefore are not for our imitation 5. Direct If thou wouldst by thy vows Glorifie God or benefit thine own Soul thou must look at the manner as well as the matter for this also is to be regarded many a Duty materially good is spoyled by the ill performance as we see in Sacrifices and Oblations and in the Observation of the New Moons and Solemn Assemblies all appointed and Commanded Duties so spoyled in the doing that God would not own them yea his Soul did abominate them Isa 1.10 c. And 66.3 He that killeth an Ox is as if he slew a Man and he that sacrificeth a Lamb as if he Cut off a Dogs Neck he that Offereth an Oblation as if he Offered Swines Blood he that burneth Incense as if he Blessed and Idol c. We see Commanded Duties may be grievous Sins when ill performed Now a vow as well as an Oath for a vow is a Promissory Oath to God should be made in Truth in Judgment and in Righteousness In Truth and so it should be made with a sincere Heart without fraud deceit aequivocation or Hypocrisie For as God requires the Heart in all Service so likewise in this A Promise made to him with Guile and Hypocrisie is but a mocking of him that will not be mocked 'T is like Annanias and Sapphira their Devoting the price of their Land to God and afterwards keeping back part of the price to themselves and by this lost themselves A notable Example we have of a serious vow worthy our Imitation we may read 2 Chron. 15.14,15 where we find Judahs entring into Covenant with God 't is said they sware unto the Lord with Trumpets and shouting and with the Cornet and all Judah rejoyced at the Oath for they had sworn with all their Hearts and sought him with all their desires c. And how acceptable this was to God we may find in the following words he was found of them and the Lord gave them rest round about But take heed of being like those Jer. 3.10 that turned to God But it was feignedly saith the Lord But 't is better not to Vow than to Vow and not perform for God will avenge the Quarrel of his Covenant And as a Vow should be in Truth so it should be voluntary not by constraint for it should be with a willing mind and therefore 't is called a free-will Offering and God expects it should chearfully be performed Deut. 23.23 That which is gone out of thy Lips thou shalt keep and perform the Free will Offering according to what thou hast Vowed unto the Lord which thou hast promised with thy Mouth Though God do not Command thee to Vow as in the Verse before If thou shalt forbear to Vow it shall be no sin in thee yet when thou hast engaged thy Soul he expects the performance for as a Vow is free so should the performance of it also This shews when Young Persons are put into Monasteries Nunneries or Religious Houses as they are called and forc'd there to take the required Oaths of Single Life Regular Obedience c. and that against their wills 't is not of Gods Devising but of the Devils Invention And likewise when Children against their Parents wills are inticed or allured to take such Oaths and Vows and so alienate themselves from their Parents Obedience this is no pleasing Service to him See his mind Mat. 15.5,6 Parents must not be wronged upon Religious Accounts And as Vows should be in Truth so likewise in Judgment blind Sacrifices were never acceptable to God Men should well understand what they do and know the nature of a Vow and the Lawfulness of the thing Vowed and the profitableness thereof and how it conduceth to their main design before they engage There are some things God will not have devoted to him as the price of a Dog or the Hire of a Whore Deut. 23.18 Those that Vow also should know their ability to perform and not make them and be forc'd to break them for ultra posse non est esse God delights not in the words of such Fools Eccl. 4.5 A vow should tend also for some Profit for Body or Soul as Jacob's did but what profit is there in voluntary Poverty Pilgrimages in vowing Oyl Candles c. to Saints departed no man was ever yet able to find out It should be made in Righteousness also and should be at their own dispose as before was said to vow that Service to one which is due to another is a point of injustice and no Law of God requires it It must be of fit things also we must not Serve God with what is not our own it must in a word be in that which may conduce to God's Glory and the furtherance of our great design or otherwise 't is either sinful or foolish 6. Direct When thou makest a Vow look to it that thy Ends be right for that denominates the Action to be good or bad though the Duty be never so Glorious in the Eyes of Men they are abominable in the sight of God if done for base or by-ends Now the end should be in this as in all other Duties the Glory of God convinc'd with our own or others good this should be our ultimate end and aim A Gracious Soul in every Duty should be able to say propter te propter te Domine this I do for thee and for thy sake and with the Psalmist Psal 115.1 Not unto us Lord not unto us but unto thy Name be the Glory A Christian in all his Duties should follow the Direction of the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye Eat or Drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the Praise and Glory of God Col. 3.17 Whatsoever ye do do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus c. Though Vows are not strictly any part of God's Worship yet are they helps and furtherances in it and therefore should be carefully made and faithfully performed We read I know of Believers that have made Vows unto God for the performing of Spiritual Duties which they must not have neglected though they had not vowed it but this makes it not Worship but a help to Worship and if they are of things indifferent yet are they not part of God's Worship but that which conduceth to the better performance of Worship I know the Papists they say they are part of his Worship though they are made of
it would be but a further aggravation of them and provoke the Lord to Anger and not to Compassion If thy Fast be private confess all the evil thou knowest by thy self till thou canst say with a good Conscience I have kept nothing back Now this pressing Sin upon thy Soul is called a renting of the Heart Joel 2.13 Rent your Hearts and not your Garments An Afflicting of the Soul Lev. 16.29 In it you shall Afflict your souls and do no work at all Lev. 23.29 Whatsoever Soul shall not be Afflicted in that same day he shall be cut off from among his People Consider the Corruptions of thy Heart thy Natural Corruptions consider the Number of thy by-past sins and the weight of thy present remaining Corruptions the wrath of God is kindled against thee for them and the danger thy Soul is in of Hell by reason of them Consider sin in it's own Nature is the worst of Evils and the cause of all other Evils 't is the foulest thing in the World yea fouler than the Devil himself for that made him foul and could he be stript of his sin he would return to his Angelical Glory Consider it in the Causes it had it's Original from the Devil himself he was the first Sinner and the cause of sin in Men and the Child very much resembles the Father Consider the Law of God of which sin is a transgression 't is Holy Just and Good and no reason can be given why it should not be Obeyed Consider the Person against whom thou sinnest and it is against God himself who is the chiefest Good yea the Fountain of all thy Mercies One to whom thou owest thy self and all thou hast he that is thy Creator and made thee 't is he that maintaineth thee at his own Cost and Charges One that is able to save thee or destroy thee Consider it in the woful Effects of it 't is the Cause of all thy Judgments felt or feared yea of Spiritual Temporal and Eternal Judgments For the Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life Consider it in the price that was paid to free thy Soul from the Guilt and filth of it and that was the precious Blood of the Son of God who lost his Life to Ransom Souls from the slavery of Satan and his Blood to wash away their scarlet sins The serious Consideration of these things will much further thy Humiliation and Soul-Affliction And when thou hast thus made thy Heart to bleed for thy sins go to God for a Plaister but what good will a Plaister do before there is a Wound Beg of him the Pardon of thy sin and not only so but power against it Renew thy Covenant with him of better Obedience not only purpose but promise amendment of Life resolve against sin for the time to come Every sin thou confessest let it be with a strong resolution to meddle no more with it This is that Spiritual Fast from sin which is every Christians Duty to Fast from Food and not from filthiness from pleasure and not from profaness from sleep and not from sin is the Devils Fast such Fasts he keeps and such will be kept in Hell But the contrary was David's humbling of his Soul with Fasting Psal 69.10 In which there must be a confession of sin an Accusation for it a detestation of it and also self-condemnation And though Prayer at all times should be fervent yet especially now in such a Duty this is called a Crying mightily unto God Joel 1.14 Jonah 3.8 And thou shouldst bring Faith along with thee believing thou shalt prevail which may be grounded upon the many promises made to this Duty and the Experiences we have in Scripture of the success Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Esther Niniveh and many other may witness nay where was it ever in Scripture faithfully performed without success Alms-deeds also should be added Isa 58.6,7 Yea we should testifie our Humiliation by our ready forgiving of others and assisting those that stand in need Beg also those many things that are wanting for thy self the Church or State and as in the Law Sacrifices and Offerings were given to God Sacrifice thy sin to him and Offer to him the Calves of thy Lips Prayer and praise Dedicate thy self a Living Sacrifice and devote thy self to his Service 5. Direct The next thing considerable is the time when this Duty is to be performed and in this as in other things the Papists differ from us They prescribe set times for Fasting as necessary to be kept and sinful if not observed We hold that there are no such fixed times to be observed But the Duty is incumbent on us as Occasions are offered 'T is true there is mention made of a day Lev. 16.29 but this was Ceremonial and ended with the rest of the Typs and Shadows and there is mention also made of the Fast in the fifth and seventh Moneth Zach. 7.5 And of the fourth fifth seventh and tenth Moneth Zach. 8.19 but this was during the Captivity and so just occasion was offered for Publique Humiliation but what is this to our business We had the like every Moneth in times of War and publick Calamity And it is fit we should have upon such Occasions But what is this to our stated times whether Occasion be or no When there is some great Judgment lying upon us or some Eminent Danger hanging over our Heads then 't is a suitable time for this Exercise We find in Scripture that there were Fasts kept by Believers in all Ages upon emergent Occasions thus Samuel and the People Fasted and besought the Lord in their danger 1 Sam. 7.6,7 And thus David besought the Lord by Prayer and Fasting for the Life of his Child when it was Sick 2 Sam. 12.16 And thus he besought the Lord for Jerusalem when a sore Judgment from God was upon it 1 Chron. 21.16 The Inhabitants of Jabish Gilead Fasted and humbled themselves when Saul and Jonathan were Slain and Israel put to flight 1 Sam. 31.15 And Jehosophat in his Fear Proclaims a Fast when he knew not what to do yet had he his Eyes up to God 2 Chron. 20.3 And Nehemiah when he heard of the Destruction of Jerusalem humbled himself by Fasting Nehem. 1.4 And Esther and the Jews when the Writings were Signed and the time was set when they should all have been destroyed Esther 4.1,2 c. And Ezra when he apprehended danger at hand Ezra 8.21 Yea this is the Course which the Lord himself Adviseth to in times of danger or Publick Calamity Joel 2.12,13 having threatned a sore Judgment he adds Therefore now saith the Lord turn ye unto me with all your Hearts and with Fasting and with weeping and with mourning and rent your Hearts and not your Garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and Merciful c. And this Course the Ninivites did take and it succeeded Jonah 3.5.8 Yea Ahab humbled himself when
servants wear it yea he adopts them and makes them not only his servants but his children 1 John 12.2 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father to you and you shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty he makes them not only Sons but Heirs Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 Gives them the Wedding Garment Mat. 22.12 Yea marries them to his Son Cant. 6.3 Thus we see there is good wages if there were no more but they have much more in Reversion a Kingdom a Kingdom of glory they shall enter into their Masters joy Mat. 25.24 Yea into a Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the World yea into life eternal Mat. 25.34.46 See now if thou canst meet with a Master that gives better wages the Devil indeed promiseth much but performeth little all this saith he will I give thee when he can give just nothing but suppose he had the World at his dispose what good would it do thee it cannot give coâ—tent and make thee happy Indeed there was one dream't of happiness in a prosperous Estate but when he wak't it was but a Dream Luk. 12.16 c. Content grows not in the Worlds Garden these outward things bear no proportion to an immortal Soul they are of too base a birth and breeding to give it content but if it could satisfie at present what wilt thou do at Death then they must down to the Chambers of Death to Hell it self there to remain for ever and ever this is the Devils wages which he will certainly give all those that serve him 6. Motive To serve God in the sincerity of our Hearts is the only way to true happiness and to serve any other Master but him or to serve him Superstitiously or Hypocritically is the certain way to Ruine and Destruction all those that have served God in sincerity not one of them have miscarried and of all other there is not one that ever attained Heaven and Happiness the way of Holiness is the only Road to true Happiness and how can the end be attained if the means be not used 't is Godliness that hath the Promise of this Life and that to come Happiness is that which all men seek but few men find because few sought it in a way of Holyness The Covetuous man thinks if he could get Riches he should attain Happiness and this makes him Moil and Toil and Cark and Care yea make himself miserable that he may be happy and yet never attains so much as content and wounds his Conscience to get an Estate and is but like a Sumpter Horse that goes loaden all the day with as much Treasure as he can carry and at night stript of all and turned into a dirty stable with his gall'd back so after Death they shall be turned into Hell with their gall'd Consciences The Voluptuous man that placeth his happiness in pleasure thinks if he can but obtain his desire he shall be happy but how little satisfaction can he find here all his pleasure ends in a snuff and the end of his Mirth is Sadness and all this while he deprives himself of true pleasure The Ambitious man thinks to ascend the steps of Honor is to attain Happiness when alas this is the emptiest of all Bubbles and how oft do we see men break their necks from the top of Promotion These men build the Fabrick of their Hopes and Happiness upon a Sandy foundation where one dashing shower or stormy tempest throws down their Babel but a Christian laies a sure foundation in Holyness and in the fear and service of God they build upon the Rock which never fails them they seek Happiness in Gods way Psal 128.1 Blessed is every one that serveth the Lord and walketh in his way not every one that is Rich or Honorable this is the Worlds language and not Gods Deut. 7.14 If thou walk in his way thou shalt be blessed above all People that is if thou serve him according to his will Psal 33.12 Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord that is they chose God for their God and serve him as God Mat. 5.3,4 c. We may see who it be that in Christs account are blessed not those that are Rich and Potent Honorable or Mighty but the poor in Spirit those that mourn for their sins the Meek the Merciful the Pure in heart those that hunger and thirst after Righteousness those that are reviled and persecuted for righteousness sake c. that is those that live holily towards God and righteously towards Men that make the word of God the rule of their Lives that servant that did his Masters will in sincerity shall be blessed by him at his coming Mat. 24.46 He that in his Masters abscence improved his Talents well shall be made Ruler over much and enter into his Masters joy Mat. 25.21 He that refreshed the People of God according to the Will and Covenant of God shall receive a Kingdom prepared for him by God Mat. 25.34.46 Read Deut. 28. through out And see there the Promises made to the obedient and the Curses denounced against the disobedient and see which are in the most hopeful way to happiness yet there are many that are apt to say with those Job 21.15 Who is the Almighty that we should serve him or what profit is it to pray unto him or as Pharaoh in the like words Exod. 5.2 Who is the Lord that I should obey him I know not the Lord neither will I obey him but the Lord after made himself known in his destruction There are many that have business they tell us to follow and cannot live by the Scriptures or hearing Sermons neither have they time to pray in their Families c. But let these prayerless Families beware of the Curse Jer. 10.25 Psal 79.6 Hast any greater business to do than to serve thy God and secure thy Soul as thou makest the world thy business so 't is like to be thy Portion but it will leave thee short of happiness the best of Saints and the wisest of Men have taken another course and have sailed in a course of Holiness to the Port of Happiness for no other Wind blows thither Enoch walked with God and God took him Gen. 5.24 That is he walked in the waies of God and obeyed the command of God the like we read of Noah He was perfect in his Generation and walked with God Gen. 6.9 This course of life Abraham Isaac and Jacob followed David also and Hezekiah Johosophat and Josiah and many more 't is said of these they served God with a perfect heart Job was a just man and one that feared God Job 1.8 So was good Obadiah 1 King 18.3 thus Daniel and his fellows Dan. 3.17 and 6.2 thus Paul Cornelius Zachary and Elizabeth Act. 27.23 and 10.22 Luk. 1.6 and thus was Christ himself no guile was found in his mouth 1 Pet. 2.22 All these walked in the way of
practice it as they ought we might bring you examples from the beginning of the World to this day of the godly in all Ages that have thus worshipped thus served God though many in all Ages the more is the pity have given that to the Divel which is due to God alone many have sacrificed to Devils and worshiped and served the Creature more than the Creator blessed for ever Rom. 1.25 To prove that 't is so now I need not instance in the Indians that know no better nor in the Papists that worship stocks and stones and the works of their own hands which iS forbidden Exod. 20.5.6 Isa 2.8 And swear by God and our Lady as the Israelites did by God and Malchon and some other Mediators with Christ but how many may we find serve the Devil the World and the Flesh though they covenanted to fight against them in their Baptism if the Devil bid them sweaty they will swear if he bid them be drunk they will be drunk or if he bid them lye or steal or decieve they will obey let God say what he will to the contrary Yea though he set them upon the hardest difficultest dangerous work they will do it though they venture life and limb in his service but let them at the end brag of their wages that so love the work but as with Paul Acts 24.14 In the way which men call Heresie so worship the God of your Fathers 2. Motive Thou shouldest serve God for he is the best Masters yea there is no other that deserves thy best service but him The tongue of Men nor Angels cannot express the excellency that is in God our Cockle shells cannot comprehend this Ocean what qualifications canst thou desire in a Master that are not to be found in God as the abstract for all the excellency that is to be found among the Creatures is but as a drop of this Ocean a ray of this Sun and a spark of this fire Wouldst thou have one that is able to defend thee and see that thou art not wronged Here is Omnipotency it self if he set thee on work he can bear thee out The Devil may shake his chain and wicked Men may gnash their teeth at thee hurt thee they cannot all the powers of darkness can do thee no wrong The Devil could not touch one of Jobs cattel without Commission sealed in Heaven and if thou faithfully serve him he will never grant any Commission but what shall be for thy good Rom. 8.28 He is El Shaddai a God able to destroy or remove all rubs out of his way But no other Master can defend thee against him Or wouldst thou have a merciful loving or tender hearted Master the World cannot afford thee such another never was there indulgent Father or tender hearted Mother more careful over their only child than God is over all his servants Isa 49.15 Can a Woman forget her sucking child that she shall not have compassion on the Son of her Womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee saith the Lord. Behold I have engraven thee upon the palms of my hand thy walls are continually before me Never was Goldsmith more careful of his gold that it shall not be in the Furnace longer than need is than God is of his People they shall be no longer in the Furnace of affliction then necessity requires till their dross is consumed and they refined Or wouldst thou serve a wise Master One able to direct thee and instruct thee in thy work One able to counsel thee what to do and what to forbear Here is one that is Wisdom it self yea the Fountain of Wisdom The foolishness of God saith the Apostle is wiser than the wisdom of Man 1 Cor. 1.25 That is that which in the eyes of the World is foolishness he can over wit and over work all his Enemies and thou canst not be in such a strait but he can help thee nor in so much danger but he can deliver thee as he did Israel at the Red Sea Daniel in the Lions Den the three Children out of the fiery Furnace Jonah out of the Whales belly and Peter out of Prison Or wouldst thou serve a Master that is faithful and just that will make good his word and fulfil his promise God is such a one he is more faithful than the Sun and Moon in their courses Hath he said it and shall he not do it hath he spoken it and shall he not bring it to pass Heaven and Earth shall fail before one tittle of his word shall fail till all be fulfilled The experience of five Thousand years cannot produce one example when God hath falsified his word Or wouldst thou serve some honorable Person God hath the highest titles of honor he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the Ruler of Princes he is the Lord of Heaven and Earth the Castles of a thousand hills are his yea all the Beasts of the Forrests all Nations to him are but as a drop of a Bucket or the small dust of the Ballance Never fear then he is able to pay thee thy wages David delighted more in being his servant than in being King of Israel never any lost by his service wouldst thou serve one that is loving and kind why he is love it self see one act of his love John 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed in him should not dye but have everlasting life See the love of the Father in giving and the love of the Son in dying and wouldst thou serve a patient Master He is infinite in Patieâ—ce if thy heart be right he will bear with much Now what Master in the World wilt thou compare to him if none why wilt not serve him and yet alas most men serve the Devil his sworn Enemy one of these two thou must thou dost serve for these are the two grand Commanders and the one or the other all Men obey The Devil is thy sworn Enemy and seeks thy Soul to destroy it 1 Pet. 5.8 He offers much indeed but cannot pay thee he hath nothing of his own but his vitious qualities what he shews thee is but what he baits his hook with or with the Fowler his snares not to feed thee but to entrap thee he hunts for thy Soul like a blood hound and nothing will serve him but thy dishonor The World also will deceive thee and promise pleasure and pay pain it will never pay thee thy wages and wilt forsake such a Master as God is and commit thy self to such known cheats Heaven and Earth may stand amazed at thy folly well remember thy wages they will give thee 3. Motive As he is the best Master so he sets his servants about the best work when the Devil sets his about the basest drugery A wise servant before he is hired would know his work that he may demand answerable wages Now the work which God sets
Plenty when thou mighest have been in pinching want and is all this nothing Why now doth he do this for thee but that thou mightest Serve him Hast thou now a better Friend or greater Benefactor to bestow thy Service upon Can the Devil or the World or thy Friends or thy Wealth do thus for thee I know they cannot why then are they preferred before him Nay this is not all when thou hadst Revolted from God and sold thy self a Slave to Satan when thou wast in thy Bloud and no Eye pityed thee when thou couldst not help thy self and wast unworthy to be helpt he sent his own Son to Redeem thee out of thy Slavery to suffer what was due for thy sins even the pains of Hell and the cursed Death upon the Cross and that when thou wast his Enemy and all to free thee from the guilt and filth of sin and from the punishment due for sin from the Curse of the Law the wrath of God the Slavery of Satan and from everlasting damnation and is all this nothing Yea all this was done that thou mightest Serve him in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of thy Life Luke 1.75 Nay further he bestows upon thee many helps and furtherances he gives thee his Word his Ordinance his Sacraments his Ministers the motions of his Spirit the checks of thine own Conscience and the Example of his People Promises Threatnings Mercies Judgments and all to this End and yet doth he not deserve thee Hath the Devil or the World done more for thee than he hath Why then wilt thou serve them Did they Create thee or art thou theirs by right of Redemption Do they preserve or maintain thee Do they Feed or Cloath thee Or pay thee Wages No no all thy Friends in the World nor all the Angels in Heaven could not satisfie for our sin did they Love thee better than he that laid down his Life for thee Or will they make better Provision for thee than God will Or pay thee better Wages Then Serve them and spare not but deceive not thy self they cannot do it what canst want if thou be God's Servant He is every way furnished to help thee art thou ten thousand Talents indebted and canst not pay a farthing Christ will be thy Surety and discharge thy debt hast thou Scarlet sins lying upon thy Conscience Here is Blood to wash them away 't is he and he alone that can forgive sins Here is the Bread of Life to feed thee and the Water of Life to refresh thee the Spiritual Manna fit Food for thy Soul the true Nectar and Ambrosia he that eats of this shall never Hunger and he that drinks of this shall never Thirst Here is Rich Robes to Cloath thee and Eye salve to make thee see and Gold tryed in the Fire to make thee Rich Rev. 3.17,18 Here are Graces as Jewels to adorn thee the Wedding-Garment to make thee a welcom Guest he is Mecor Majim Chajim A Fountain of Living Water Jer. 2.13 Tzur gnolanim a Rock of Ages Isa 26.4 All the water of Consolation is in this Sea all the Light is in this Sun and all Comfort in this God Canst find such another Master that hath done and will do for thee as he hath and will do the Devil and the World will deceive thee if they promise to do it 5. Motive Thou shouldst serve God for as he hath the best work so he gives the best Wages and Servants usually seek for such Masters something he gives in hand as earnest of the Bargain and incouragement in the work and reserves most to the Years end when he will plenteously recompence all thy pains and remove all cause of repining in hand he gives his Servants his Spirit this is the mark he knows them by those that have not the Spirit of God are none of his Rom. 8.9 This is called the Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 Ye have received the spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father 't is called the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts this is called the Comforter John 15.27 and 't is given to instruct us and to lead us into all Truth John 18.13 And doubtless those cannot want Comfort that have such a Comforter they cannot lose their way that have such a Guide he it is that dictates their Prayers for them for they know not what to ask yea God for the Comfort and Consolation of his Servants here in the World gives them an Interest in the Promises Recorded in the Word of God which are more worth than the World the greatest King on Earth cannot make and perform such Promises to his greatest Favourite they are well called great and precious Promises 2 Pet. 1.4 For great things are promised in them that believe that apprehends an interest in them may live upon his faith and his hope in the absence of all Creature enjoyments these are his Fathers Legacy 't is true Believers have but little in hand yet much in a Promise but little in Possession yet much in Reversion they have Heaven and Earth in a Promise here they have a Promise they shall not lack but at Death they shall receive their Inheritance yea Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither is entred into the heart of Man to conceive what God hath provided for those that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 Here they have a Promise and God hath put his hand to it they shall not want protection nor provision God hath promised he will never leave them nor forsake them Heb. 13.5 And if God be for us who can be against us yea that they shall want nothing that is good Psal 34.9 The young Lions lack and suffer hunger but those that fear the Lord shall want no good thing Psal 84.11 The Lord is a Sun and a Shield he giveth Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withold from them that live uprightly If we have sincere hearts if wealth be good for us we shall have it and if poverty be good why should we not be content somtimes Physick is as necessary as food They have a Promise of Deliverance out of Trouble Many are the Troubles of the Righteous but the Lord delivers them out of all Psal 34.19 and 50.15 Take one place for all Rom. 8.28 All things shall work together for good to those that love God What matter then is it what our sufferings are when we are sure we shall get by them God that brought Light out of Darkness and Order out of Confusion can work Good to us out of Evil there is no Condition a servant of God can be in but in the Scripture he may find Comfort or Company or both yea God bestows his graces upon his servants which are better than the most Orient Pearls or costly Jewels these they are adorned with and no other did ever wear them they have the rich Robes of Christs Righteousness the Garments of Holyness this is Gods Livery and all his
Holiness to Heaven Read a List of more Heb. 11. But there is no word of encouragement to any other to expect Heaven nay God tells us in plain words they shall never come there 1 Cor. 6.9,10 Neither is there any one example of any that lived and dyed in their sinful course that ever was saved what may we gather hence but this if ever you would attain to true happiness serve God with a sincere heart 7. Motive Thou shouldest serve the Lord because as he is best able to reward thee for thy obedience and pay thee for thy work so is he best able to punish thee for thy disobedience For as all his promises are yea and a men faithful and true to his People so are his threatnings to his Enemies thou art not at liberty to choose thy own Master who thou wilt serve thou art ingaged to him and serve him thou must or do worse thou art his by right of Creation for whose is the Pot but the Potters And by right of Redemption he paid a price for thee and bought thee dear So also by Covenant right thou hast devoted thy self to his service and taken Press mony to fight his Battels and if thou revolt he will avenge the quarrel of his Covenant against thee Hence it is thou mayst well fear his wrath and expect his judgments if thou perfidiously betrayest thy trust and revoltest to the Enemy Christ himself bids thee not to fear those that can kill the Body and can do no more but fear him that can cast Body and Soul into Hell Luk. 12.5 If he be not glorifyed by thee he will be glorifyed upon thee if he have not the glory of thy Salvation he will have the glory of thy Destruction Luk. 19.27 Those mine Enemies that would not that I should raign over them bring them and slay them before my face God takes those for his Enemies that will not be ruled by him and will prove a sore Enemy to them And didst thou know what it is to be an Enemy unto God and what it is to have God to be an Enemy unto thee it would send thee trembling to thy grave 't is he that hath the keys of life and death at his girdle He kills and he makes alive he brings to the gates of death and back again and there is none that can deliver out of his hand He need not muster an Army against thee to destroy thee the least Fly or Gnat or Hair may end thy life if it have a Commission from God thou art but a Worm if he tread upon thee he leaves the dead behind him if he withhold thy breath thou returnest to the dust for thou hast no more breath than what he puts into thee how then canst thou grapple with the Almighty or contend with God were thy flesh of Brass and thy Sinnews of Iron were thy foundations as the Earth or as the Pillars of Heaven thou wert yet too weak who ever hardned himself against God and prospered whilst thou remainest his Enemy well mayst thou fear his heavy hand there is no judgment that ever thou readest threatned or ever executed upon sinful wretch that thou canst be secure from Thou knowest not but the Waters may drown thee as they did the old World or as the Red Sea did Pharaoh or fire from Heaven may consume thee as it did Sodom and Gomorrah and also Nadab and Abihu and the two Captains and their Fifties at the prayer of Elijah thou knowest not but the Plagues which fell upon Egypt may fall upon thee and consume thee or that thy life may be ended by the Sword the Famine or the Pestilence thou knowest not but an Angel may smite thee as Herod and thou mayst be devoured with Worms or that the Earth may open and swallow the quick as it did Corah Dathan and Abiram thou knowest not but thou mayst be struck dead for the next lye thou tellest as Ananias and Saphirah were or whether Bears may not devour thee as they did those Children that mocked the Prophet or whether thou mayst not be strucken with Leprosie as Gehazy or thy house may not fall upon thy head as upon Jobs Children In a word whatever a man destitute of Grace and Divine Protection may be brought to suffer thou hast no assurance but it may be thy Portion Read Deut. 28.15 c. Where thou mayst see thy own miserable condition but this is not all those spiritual judgments which are worse than these are seized upon thee Blindness of Mind Hardness of Hart Searedness of Conscience c. And eternal judgements dog thee at the heels and will certainly seize upon thee except Repentance prevent it as soon as Death makes a separation between Soul and Body never any Unregenerate Unrepenting Unrighteouss or Unclean Person shall ever go to Heaven John 3.7 Luk. 13.3 1 Cor. 6.9,10 Rev. 21.13 and there is no middle place for the Scripture owns no Purgatory Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God See the doom of the wicked servant Mat 24. last He was cut in peices and his Portion was appointed with the Hypocrites and that unprofitable Servant that improved not his Talent Mat. 25.30 He was bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness and all the wicked ungracious servants that improve not their Talents as God appointed shall then be bid Depart ye wicked into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41.48 This is Gods judgments to his Enemies and this is the Devils wages to his friends and servants who then would have such an Enemy or such a Master learn directions to serve God as followeth in those duties mentioned CHAP. II. Of Duties in General HAving in the fore-going Treatise shewed you the Excellency Necessity and Benefits of an Holy Life and the deadly danger of all unholy Course I hope many of you are resolved to alter that course of life you have too long already lived in and will begin to question what shall we do to be saved To this end in this part I shall point out some necessary duties which every Christian is bound to perform and lay down some directions by them for the right performance of them Now my desire is that you would resolve to practice what out of Gods word I shall prove to be your duty otherwise to what end shall I write them or you read them what say say you will you do it or will you not 't is not a slight business neither will a slight resolution serve your turn you will meet with many Racks in the way and therefore had need to be well grounded with many storms of temptations and therefore had need to lay a good foundation you have spent too much time already in the service of Sin and Satan and 't is pity you should any longer serve so bad a Master and now God gives you a call unto his service methinks it should
some Men and those of no small note for Religion to pick and chuse their Duties this they will do and this they will not do they scum off the Fat and sweet of Duty and leave the difficult dangerous costly part of Duty undone but this is not sufficient neither will it evidence any one to be a Christian indeed Many especially great ones run on with this mistake for a little Grace makes a great shew in a great Man yea oft-times the shew is taken for the Substance many will perform such Duties as are in Credit in the world and like to cost them but a little which yet refuse self-denying difficult or dangerous Duties They will hear and read and confer and perhaps pray in their Families and some other such like External parts of worship and if God will be pleased with these and Heaven will be had upon such terms they will have it but if he require self denyal duties or those which cross their own Interest if they must take up the Cross and follow him and deny themselves hate and forsake Father or Mother Wife or Children Lands or Livings Pleasure or Honour Liberty or Life for his sake they will not buy Heaven at so dear a rate But God is resolved he will abate nothing and they are resolved they will bid no more and so they part But hath not the same God Commanded the one as well as the other And hath he not wisdom enough to know which is the best and nearest way to Heaven Or would he willingly torment his Creatures and put his Servants to unnecessary Troubles Can these Men think to find out a nearer way to Heaven than God hath prescribed Or that they shall ever come there without his knowledge without the Qualifications he requires Surely they are much mistaken yet how ordinary is it even for Professors themselves to study Arguments for sin and against duty when the one suits with their Carnal Interest and the other crosses it But Christians that have taken Christ upon his own terms and are delivered from the power of sin and Satan think they can never do enough for Christ They are always questioning what shall I do for him that hath done so much for me What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits Psal 118.12 'T is the very end why we are delivered from our Enemies to serve God in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of our Lives Luke 1.74,75 'T is the mark of those that Love God to keep his Commandments John 14.15 When others perform duties only in Subserviency to their own Carnal Interests and therefore only own that part and duty that suits with their designs as Jehu in his Reformation of Idolatry and set up their Staff and say hitherto will I go and no further then a godly Man that makes the enjoyment of God his ultimate end and aim will like Daniel to the Lyons Den or the three Children to the Fiery Furnace before they will either neglect known duties or commit known sins Others are forward in the cheap part but backward in the costly part of duty and the Devil might also buy their Profession it self out of their Hands many that will hear and read and pray because it costs them little yet will hardly be perswaded to be Charitable to the Poor and Liberal to Pious Uses because 't is costly or to forgive Injuries love Enemies make Restitution of ill gotten Goods venture their Estates Lives or Liberty when the Cause of God requires it then they cry out with Naaman the Lord be merciful to me in this thing but God will abate nothing of his price he will have Universal Obedience or he will own none at all 3. Direct Wouldst thou perform Duties in an acceptable manner Then hold on in a constant course of Duty 't is not enongh to begin well but thou must hold out well The same Reason that perswaded thee to enter into such a Course of Duty at the first may perswade thee to hold out to the end there is the same ground for the one as for the other If it be because storms arise Troubles and Persecutions look thee in the Face this might have been fore-seen thou shouldst have sate down first and reckoned the Charges Christ told thee before Through many Tribulations we must come to Heaven He that is now ashamed of Christ and his Cross of Service the time is coming Christ will be ashamed of him Thou must follow him through thick and thin through good Report and evil Report or thou art like to lose him yea though thou meet Death it self in the Face 'T is not he that sets out well but he that continues to run well is like to get the Prize 't is not he that gives the On-set but he that Fights well is like to get the Victory You did run wâ—ll saith the Apostle who hindred you Gal. 5.7 So run that you may obtain 1 Cor. 9.24 'T is not he that begins well but he that holds out to the end shall be saved Mark 13.13 'T is he that is Faithful to the Death that shall receive the Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 Many Promises are made to those that overcome Rev. 2.11.17.26 3.5.12.21 There are many that in a day of Gospel Prosperity cry Hosanna unto Christ but when storms are up then cry Crucifie him This Age gives too full a Testimony to this Truth But those that are Faithful to God will be constant in his Service what danger soever looks them in the Face Many are like to Weather-Cocks turn with every Wind or like a Ship without Ballast are tossed with every Storm But a sincere Christian is like a Ship in the Harbour that hath a sure and stedfast Rock to Anchor upon Many are like the Planet Mercury good in a good Conjunction and bad with the bad Or like Proteus that can turn themselves into any shape for Advantage but a true Christian gives this for his Motto Semper idem always the same the change of Times the change of Company the change of Religion makes no change in him he knows God changes not Poverty and Prosperity are God's trying Times wherein may be discovered what is in the Heart Hazael when a mean Man never thought so much evil had been in his Heart as appeared to be there when he was Advanced The stony ground did not at first appear to be so deceitful as indeed it proved But Holy Job was the same on the dung-hill as on the Throne in Adversity as in Prosperity he did not serve God for Riches nor will he forsake him in Poverty Hast thou been a Professor of Religion and hast thou hitherto performed the duties Commanded What madness now possesses thee that thou wilt leave his Service What canst thou object against him Is the Devil a better Master Or will he set thee about better work Or will he give thee better wages If Religion be not good why didst embrace
Seeds-man and the Word to the Seed Now you know the Ground must be prepared before the Seed be cast in otherwise thou canst not rationally expect a Crop The Body must be prepared and the humours gathered to an head before Physick work kindly what business of moment can be done without preparation And can we think in this business of so great concernment it is sufficient to rush hand over head without consideration Some preparation should be made before the Sabbath came in setting thy Heart as well as thy House in Order the Command is to remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy And when the day is come there are some Duties required before thou rush into the Congregation perform those Duties in thy Family and in thy Closet that are required beg of God a blessing upon the Ordinance and upon the Minister that he may speak a word in season to thy Soul that it may meet with thy Corruption and may strengthen thy Grace and benefit thy Soul how canst expect a Blessing that dost not beg for it This is one cause that many go away barren because they came unprepared Lay thy Heart open before God say as Samuel speak Lord for thy Servant heareth In thy Prayer open thy Soul to God unlap thy Ears and desire a Plaister offer up thy Sin-sick Soul to this Physitian that he may pour Oyl and Wine into thy Wounds who knows but this may be the Time of Love wherein God may say unto thy Soul Live Come with a resolution to deny thy self thy Carnal wisdom and whatsoever shall be found contrary to the will and Command of God Come not with a Resolution to oppose God in any thing though it be never so cross to flesh and blood or to thy Carnal will or Interest or be never so opposite to thine own Natural Inclination or Appetite Why should we come to know our Duty if we will not do it Or our sin if we will not leave it The word of God seldom works upon a fore-stalled affection If thou knowest and know thou mayst if thou carefully observe it what hath usually hindred thee in times past from profiting by the Word take heed of that for the time to come Sometimes thou wilt find that it was Pride thou sets up thy own will against God Sometimes passion this put thy Heart out of Frame for the Duty Sometimes Worldlyness this filled thy Heart with vain thoughts Beware of these for the time to come Especially beware of these sins which are most predominant in thy Soul for this will spoil the Duty Come with a strong Resolution to Obey God in every thing When he forbids any sin resolve to leave it when he Commands any Duty set about it for to what end else dost thou hear if it be only to know thy duty and not to practice it it will but procure thee the more stripes but many are like those silly Women mentioned by the Apostle ever Learing and never come to the knowledge of the Truth And they are like Balaam let God deny them never so oft they will come again faln they would have a dispensation to sin and go to Heaven in a sinful way But we must with good Old Ely say 'T is the Lord let him do with me as he listeth Or like Paul Lord what wouldest thou have me to do Come also with a good stomach then the Word would be savoury to thee such a man will not strain courtesie and carve all from himself but greedily feed upon something Now he meets with such a man saith one now he hit such a one home but what is this to thee Is nothing there that thou canst eat Get also some Acquaintance with the state of thine own Soul how the matter stands between God and thee or otherwise thou canst hardly divide the Word aright and apply it there are threatnings for obstinate sinners and there are promises for the penitent there is Milk for Babes and strong meat for Men. How wilt know thy own portion if thou know not the state of thine own Soul If a sick man come to an Apothecary's shop and may make choice of what Medicine he pleaseth and yet neither know his Disease nor what will Cure it he may as well take nay 't is more like that he will take that which is hurtful than that which is helpful So a poor humbled sinner oft-times lays hold of the threatning which belongs not to him and the presumptuous man of the promise And lastly when Death comes say to the World stand by as Abraham to his Servants I will come again 5. Direct If thou wouldest profit by the Word Preached come to the Ordinances with an hungring thirsting desire after it this is the Food of Life and 't is only the hungring Soul that is rightly qualified for it The full Soul loatheth the Honey-Comb Prov. 27.7 What should a full stomack do at a Feast Or a full Soul at a Sermon How sweet how good how precious was the Word to David Psal 19.10 And to Job better than his appointed Food Job 23.12 And how pitifully doth David complain when he found the want Psal 120.5 And how earnestly did he desire it And thirst after it Psal 42.1,2 As ever Chased Hart did for the Water-brooks and hadst thou ever tasted the sweetness of the word or rather of God in the word I needed not words to have perswaded thee to love it But that I may set some edge upon thine Appetite I shall desire thee to consider with me these few things first consider whose word it is is it not the word of that great God that made Heaven and Earth and all things therein contained One that is able to make it good both in the promises and threatnings and is also Faithful and will make it good Heaven and Earth shall fail rather than one tittle of his word be un-fulfilled and shall we slight a Message sent from such a one Had a Potent Prince sent a Message whether a promise or threatning how diligently should we have read it And how greatly should we have been affected with it with Joy or Sorrow Now God sends his Messengers with a Message of peace if we will accept it if not they are to denounce war yea and threaten everlasting ruine and destruction and yet who regards it Read the contents of his Letter Deut. 28. throughout Nay the matter of this word of God is of greatest concernment were it but for trifles it were no matter but it is concerning Life and Death nay the everlasting Salvation or Damnation of Soul and Body and therefore not to be slighted they are Fools that Jest with such edged Tools Here are Instructions drawn up how you may avoid Hell and attain Heaven how you may get rid of sin and get out of the Slavery of Satan how you may have a Remedy for your sin-sick Souls and a Plaister for your Wounds how you may get an Interest in Christ
Heaven in Christ and Glory and what Evidences for Salvation and what Signs of his Election Vocation Justification and Adoption and what right he hath to the Promises which are his Father's Legacy He would be able by the word to reprove Errors and defend the Truth yea to reprove the works of Darkness and repel all the fiery Darts of Satan and be able to walk comfortable in the way to Heaven and to fetch Consolations out of God's word to bear him up under the saddest Afflictions They would be able to teach others in the way they should walk and Instruct them in the Holy Path and reprove them when they err and convince them when they go astray and reduce them back that have wandered and gone awry and build them up that are already brought in These are some of the desires of the godly in Reading the Scriptures and not as the Butterflie only to paint her wings and these are the ends thou must aim at in thy Reading it and then thou wilt Read it with Profit 3. Direct If thou wouldest profit by thy Reading the Scripture and other good Books Read with the greatest diligence attention care and circumspection that possibly thou canst for all thou canst do is little enough This is a Commanded Duty and the work of God and a Curse is threatned to them that do the work of the Lord negligently Cursory Reading will do thee little good and hence it is that many read much and profit little because they read it carelessly many read an idle Romance or wanton Love-Song more attentively than the word of God Read it as if it were for thy Life and the Life of thy Soul and for Eternity as indeed it is Set thy Heart upon it then art thou like to profit by it Matters of Life and Death usually affect us and shall not matters of Salvation and Damnation affect us much more Were but thy Life endangered by a heartless careless Duty who would be mindless or careless in the performance Nay how vigilant diligent careful wouldest thou be And is not the Life of the Soul much more worth The word of God is of great Concernment whether we consider the Author or the Matter of it it should put us on to the utmost diligence The Author is the great God of Heaven one that can put Life into both his Promises and Threatnings nay will do it for he is Faithful And the word is an Epistle sent from Heaven from this great God and that for our Instruction Admonition Reproof and Consolation 1 Cor. 9.10 10.11 Rom. 15.4 Whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our hearing c. This is God's Statute-Book whereby he Rules the world wherein are greater Rewards promised to obedience and greater Punishments threatned to the disobedient than any King upon Earth can annex to his Law or can Execute if he should threaten them There is therefore great Reason why we should be more conversant in those Laws than the Laws of the Land though these be necessary because the danger is greater In the one we stand in danger of Life or Liberty or Confiscation of Goods in the other of Eternal Damnation It is said of the Jews that many of them could as readily Answer to any point in the Law as they could to their own Names and that they knew how many words yea syllables yea letters were in the whole Law God grant their diligence rise not up against us to condemn us for our negligence If a Father or Master or Ruler or Prince can Command Reverence from their Inferiors surely God may much more from us If we receive a Letter from a great Man with such heedfulness and Read it with such diligence and attention and mark every passage with such circumspection and care surely much more care and diligence should be used in this Epistle sent from Heaven from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Nay but the Contents thereof the Matter therein contained requires diligence 't is Matter of greatest Right and greatest Concernment 't is our Father's Will and herein is Recorded the Legacy he hath left us Now who will neglect a Fathers Will wherein an Inheritance is bequeathed Here is the Rule we must live by and the Law we must be Judged by and are these Matters to be slighted Here is all the Evidence we have for Heaven and should this be dis-regarded How careful are Men of their Evidences of their Lands They will hardly part with them out of their own Hands and yet alas how seldom do many men take these Evidences into their hands too Evident a Sign they have but little hopes of good by it Now without the diligent perusal how shall we come to the knowledge of them Here are High Mysteries in which we may easily be mistaken and 't is very dangerous to be mistaken what need have we then of circumspection These and many other Considerations may put us on to diligence in Reading Marking and Observing the Scriptures 4. Direct Wouldest thou Profit by Reading Then Read the Word with Judgment Understanding and Discretion This is necessary in every duty nay in every Action A Wise Man saith Solomon Orders his affairs with discretion but it is required especially in a work of so High a Nature and of so deep concernment as this is many Read much and profit little because they understand little they are like the Eunuch to whom Philip said Vnderstandest thou what thou Readest He said how can I except some man should guide me Acts 8.30,31 Now discretion should be used in regard of the Circumstances of Time and Place and Order and Method for the want of discretion in these a duty may be spoyled Concerning Time every thing saith Solomon is beautiful in it's season all our Time must not be spent in this Duty then others as necessary would be omitted one duty must not justle out another yet sometime must and as much as can well be spared should be reduced for it yea we should rather redeem Time out of our sleep or recreations than neglect it and it should be the most seasonable time a work is most excellent in it's season Morning and Evening seem ordinarily the fittest Seasons for Reading the Scriptures in the Family for private Reading as occasion serves and for Place that which is freest from distractions and fittest for Edification and Order for private Reading a private place this doth most benefit a private Person though that which is more publick Edifies more than one A Method also is to be heeded in Reading the Scriptures or any other Book a disorderly Action or Duty seldom profits Order and Method are good helps to the Memory Read the Scriptures throughout in order except some Chapters that are less to Edification and so for other good Books Read them throughout he that Reads a Chapter here or there at adventure or a leaf here and another there in another Book profits little and 't
Covenant Now if thou perform thy part God will doubtless perform his Heaven and Earth shall pass away before one tittle of his Word shall pass especially that given and ratified under his Hand and Seal but if thou break with him and accept not of those Mercies upon the required Conditions God is not engaged to make good what is thus Conditionally promised in the Covenant unless thou canst prove it to be an absolute grant that all that are thus Baptized Live how they list shall be saved and then the Ministers Scriptures yea Spirit and all are of little use No no God will cashire and disband such Souldiers and cast out such Non-proficients out of his School and such unfaithful Servants out of his Family But alas how many of these may we find in the World That Vow Obedience to Christ and perform Service to the Devil If he bid them swear they will swear if he bid them be drunk they will Obey Yea many that though they would be loath to break their word with Man much more their Vow or their Oath yet make nothing of these Sacramental Vows But consider God will not lose by thee neither thy sin or Obedience can hurt or benefit him but the benefit or damage will accrue to thy own Soul 7. Direct Make a right Use of thy Baptism and improve it through the whole course of thy Life for the Efficacy of it is not limitted or bound up to any moment of Time but is a Flower that never loseth savour a Jewel that never loseth it's virtue 'T is a Fountain that never is drawn dry And breasts of Consolation where thou mayst suck and be satisfied Those that use it onely as an Idle Ceremony that never improve it or look after it when 't is once past and make no Advantage or Use of it are more foolish than those that take great care to have the Evidences of their Land Sealed and never make use of the Inheritance thereby conveyed Use it therefore for the best Advantage for thy Soul This is a needful though much neglected Duty The serious Consideration of the End and Use of Baptism and the benefits and priviledges Sealed up by it to us and ours and our own ingagements therein to God may be of great Use to us in the whole course of our Lives in many cases and conditions Baptism may be compared to the Marriage knot by virtue whereof the Wife lays claim not only to her Husband but whatsoever is her Husbands and 't is as a Seal to an Evidence which ratifies it and makes it Authentick and adds force and Efficacy to it Baptism though not to be iterated or renewed yet the Covenant thereby once Sealed remains Authentick for ever till we pluck off the Seal or renounce the Covenant This is a notable means to put us on to mourn for our Sins and therefore 't is called the Baptism of Repentance as it doth oblige us to Repent for the consideration of our Miscarriages towards God since we gave up our selves to him and the falling short of what we have promised and might have been and done may well keep us humble and penitent When we are tempted to sin and to break the Commands of God by sin we may look back to our Covenants to the contrary and the Vows which we have made and it may terrrifie us to think that we should break such a Covenant with God when we make some conscience of Promise to Man Think with thy self have I dedicated my self to God What Sacriledge is it What perfidious Treachery is it now to Serve the Devil his sworn Enemy Hast thou Vowed Obedience to thy Maker and promised to renounce the Devil the World and the Flesh how then canst thou think to look God in the Face at the last day if now thou sidest with his greatest Enemies Was thy Body washed with water signifying the blood of Christ and shall thy Soul be still defiled Wilt thou return with the Dog to the Vomit and the washed Sow to her wallowing in the Mire How may the consideration of this fill thee with shame and sorrow Hence also thou mayst set Faith on work to fetch virtue from the Death and Resurrection of Christ to kill sin in thee and raise thee up to newness of Life for if thou be Buried with him in Baptism 't is thy Duty thus to do Rom. 6.3,4,5 When Corruption is strong fetch strength hence to weaken it when Grace is weak hence thou mayst strengthen it This is an excellent means to assure thee of thy Salvation of the Pardon of thy sins and the rest of the Mercies promised in the Covenant for the Covenant being ratified and Sealed what should hinder the performance God doubtless is real in his Promise and true in his Covenant he did not intend to deceive thee by an empty Ceremony or set his Seal to a blank No no nor if thou revoke not he will not revoke Is not this the Sacrament of Regeneration Is it not called the Laver of Regeneration Signifying the washing away of sin Acts 22.16 Arise and be Baptized and wash away thy sins Yea of Salvation 't is said to save us 1 Pet. 3.21 Hath not God given thee a pledge in thine Hand of his Gracious meaning towards thee And what need hath he to dissemble with thee Doth he gain any thing by thee Yea though thou art relapsed yet look back to thy Covenant and return See God's Advice in such a case Jer. 3.1 Thou hast played the Harlot with many Lovers yet return unto me saith the Lord. God will not depart till thou art willing to let him go And from hence also you may fetch Arguments for Brotherly Love among Saints we are all Baptized by one Spirit into one Body and therefore should sympathize each with other as the Members do Those are some of the daily Fruits you may gather of this Tree many more grow upon it CHAP. X. Directions in Receiving the Sacrament THE next Duty to be spoken to is the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper which is an Ordinance of God wherein by the External signs of Bread and Wine set apart and Sanctified to that End and Use and duly Administred by God's appointment the Lord signifieth and Sealeth up the Truth of his Covenant to his Elect and they Seal up their Covenant with him This Sacrament is a Sign to Represent a Seal to Confirm and an Instrument to convey Christ and all his Benefits to a Believing Soul The principal Efficient Cause or Author of this Sacrament is the whole Trinity but especially Christ who is the Angel of the Covenant he it is that made the Covenant and ratified it with his Blood and therefore it must be he that adds the Seals he makes the Promises and must make them good The Essential parts or Matter of the Sacrament are either External or Internal the one perceived by our Bodily Eyes the other by the Eye of Faith The External is
thou fittest in thy House and when thou walkest by the way when thou lyest down and when thou risest up c. First get them in thy Heart and all the rest will be easie and there is great Reason for it Thy Children have Received a Poysonful Nature from thee and thou hast Dedicated them to God's Service in their Baptism and all the Reason in the World thou shouldst do thine Endeavour to bring them out of this miserable Condition and do what thou canst to make them the Faithful Servants of God Their Souls are precious pieces too good to be the Devils Drudges and thou that canst not endure to see a silly Lamb in the Mouth of a devouring Lyon rending and tearing it in pieces at his pleasure how canst thou endure to see thy own Children in the Devils Hand likely to Torment them for ever and not be troubled Set thy Hands therefore to the Work and by Catechising Instructions Exhortation and Admonition to work knowledge in them and bring them to Consider their ways for Consideration is the first step to Reformation Assure thy self God requires this Private Duty at thy Hands 4. Direct Another Private Duty in reference to thy Family is to Pray with them and for them and to joyn together in the mutual Praises of God I have already Treated of the Duty of Prayer in general and have given Directions in the managing well the Duty look back upon them and take the Directions I shall now press upon thee as thou art an Housholder and 't is no doubt but Secret Prayer is thy Duty because thou hast Secret Sins to Confess that none knows of but God and thine own Soul and Secret wants to beg supplyes for and Personal Mercies to be thankful for But though this be necessary 't is not sufficient but if thou have a Family these also must share in thy Prayers There is a Divine Imprecation against all those Families that call not upon the Name of God Now this Duty should be daily done yea Evening and Morning I think may Evidently be proved that 't is a daily Duty cannot be denyed The Scripture requires us to pray without ceasing to pray continually and in every thing to give thanks and such like expressions intimating to us that our Souls should be in a continual Praying Temper and upon all Occasions Offered ready to perform this Duty and we ought to Serve God all the days of our Lives in Righteousness and Holiness Luke 1.75 Now Prayer and Praise is part of that daily Service we owe to him which is also Typified out by the daily Sacrifices and Oblations which were Offered to him in the Time of the Law Christians Prayer and Praise being in allusion to this called the Offering up the Calves of our Lips Hos 4.2 And when Christ Teacheth his Disciples to Pray he bids them say Give us this day our daily Bread which shews us thus much that it was to be their daily Petition Acts 3.1 We Read that the Apostles went into the Temple at the hour of Prayer which shews they had their Stata precibus tempora their appointed hours And the Godly in all Ages have made Prayer their daily Practice David he Prays seven times a day Psal 119.164 Morning and Evening Psal 92.2 Morning Evening and at Noon Psal 55.17 Yea elsewhere at Midnight Daniel Prayed three times a day constantly yea when Death was threatned for so doing Dan. 6.10 And there is great reason for it for we Receive daily Mercies for which we have cause to be thankful and Commit daily sins for which we have cause to be humbled and we have need of daily Supplyes for which we have cause to be earnest And God hath given us leave to come as oft as we will and promiseth to hear us and supply us What a needless scruple then is it to ask whether it be our Duty when 't is our Priviledge as well as our Duty we do not ask how prove you it to be our Duty to eat Meat every day this would Argue but a bad Stomack The oftner we come to God the better welcom we shall be and have more Communion and Converse with him and the more we Converse with him the better Entertainment we are like to have Others Scruple whether a Man ought to pray in his Family these Men would fain find a knot in a Rush and would Quarrel the Duty they like not but doth not God tell us Where two or three are gathered together he will be in the midst of them Mat. 18.20 And are not some Families called Churches of God where Religious Exercises are performed Rom. 16.5 Col. 4.15 Philem. 2. Here the Houses of Priscilla and Aquila and Nymphas and Philemon are called Churches And Joshua resolves that he and his House would serve the Lord Josh 24.15 And we read of Christ praying with his Disciples and others What ground of doubt can then remain but this is a Duty Those that shake off this would willingly shake off all the Ordinances and the rest of the Commands In a Family are many particular Family-sins Committed which ought to be Confessed many Family Mercies bestowed which call for a thankful acknowledgment many wants and Infirmities to be supplyed which should be begged and all these cannot be known nor perhaps are fit to be expressed by him that is the Mouth of the People in publick and for Morning and Evening these times seem fittest for this Duty though some Quarrel this also God himself in the time of the Law appointed these for Sacrifices and Oblations and Reason speaks it fit that in the Morning we should praise God for the Mercies of the Night and pray for a blessing upon the business of the day and at Even confess the sins of the day and be thankful for the Mercies and Commend our selves into the Protection of God the Night following For as all we have is from him so we should bless God for all but Spiritual Mercy should not be forgotten especially for Christ and the work of our Redemption the means of Grace and the motions of the Spirit We should praise the Lord also with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs this is a private Family Duty Also the want of these Duties expose us to the threatning Jer. 10.25 5. Direct Another private Duty which lyes upon thee in reference to thy Family and those under thy Charge is reproving them when they sin and Correcting them when they will not amend and restraining them what in thee lyes from breaking God's Laws and Divine Commands Thou art God's Vice-gerent in thy Family and bearest his Image and the stamp of Authority is put upon thee and must Imitate God in thy Government so far as thy Commission reaches though thou hast not the power of Life and Death as the Supreme Magistrate yet hast thou a restraining power yea and if need be the power to Correct so that it reach not to Life nor Limb and
Crown them with Success And having begun well be sure to hold out be thou constant to the Death and he will give thee a Crown of Life what thou wantest and beggest of God endeavour with Heart and Hand to obtain it true Desires are always accompanied with endeavours 't is not enough to wish for Heaven but work for it Corruption will not be abated nor Grace increased without pains-taking love Holiness and hate Sin or thou wilt never hold out or do good if thou regard Iniquity in thy Heart God will not hear thy Prayer Psal 66.18 Joh. 9.31 God requires Holiness in all that draw near to him and without it no Man shall see him with Comfort Heb. 12.14 If thou take this course in thy Publick and Private Duties Peace shall be to thee and to the Israel of God Now to him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen FINIS THE TABLE CHAP. I. Motives to Holy Duties Page 1. 1. Mot. God hath Commanded us to serve him p. 4. 2. He is the best Master p. 7. 3. He requires the best Work p. 10. 4. Thou art most engaged to him p. 13. 5. He gives the best Wages p. 16. 6. Obedience is the only way true Happiness p. 19. 7. God is best able to punish there that disobey him p. 22. CHAP. II. Of Duties in General Page 25. 1. Direct See thou hast a Divine Command for all thou dost p. 28. 2. When thou knowest thy Duty delay not to do it p. 30. 3. Hold on in the constant performances of them p. 32. 4. Let obedience proceed from a right Principle p. 35. 5. Let all be done in a right manner p. 37. 6. In all aim at a right End p. 39. 7. When all is done say thou art unprofitable p. 41. CHAP. III. Of hearing the Word Page 44. 1. Direct Resolve to break through all difficulties p. 46. 2. Propound to thy self right Ends in hearing p. 49. 3. Come with the Heart rightly qualified 51. 4. Make preparation for receiving the Seed of the Word p. 54. 5. Come with an hungring Appetite to this Feast p. 56. 6. Behave thy Self well in hearing p. 59. 7. Demean thy Self well after hearing p. 61. CHAP. IV. Of Reading the Word Page 64. 1. Direct Prepare thy Heart for so Solemn a Duty p. 66. 2. Propound to thy Self right Ends. p. 68. 3. Read with diligence and attention p. 71. 4. Read with Understanding Discretion and Judgement p. 73. 5. Observe the Scope and Design in what thou Readest p. 75. 6. Meditate upon it and so mike it thine own p. 77. 7. Apply it to thine own Heart p. 79. CHAP. V. Of Meditation Page 82. 1. Direct Concerning occasional Meditations p. 84. 2. In set Meditation come fitted and prepared p. 87. 3. Set thy Self as in the presence of God p. 89. 4. Pitch upon some suitable Subject p. 91. 5. Press it upon thine own Heart p. 93. 6. Beware of those things that hinder the Duty p. 96. 7. Take heed of letting thy Heart Flag or suddenly cool p. 98. CHAP. VI. Of Prayer Page 101. 1. Direct Be rightly qualified for the Duty p. 104. 2. Come into Gods Presence preparedly p. 106. 3. Pray to God alone and not to the Saints or Angels p 108. 4. Come to God in the Name of Christ not in thy own Name p. 110. 5. Ask nothing of God but what thou hast warrant for p. 113. 6. Pray to him in a right manner and to a right End p. 115. 7. Behave thy Self well after the Duty p. 118. CHAP. VII Of Singing Psalms Page 121. 1. Direct Be Convinc't that it is thy Duty p. 124. 2. That David's Psalms are Lawful p. 126. 3. That all Men and Women good and bad may Sing p. 129. 4. That they may be Sung in English Meeter p. 131. 5. That they may be Sung in an English Tune p. 134. 6. Let thy Ends be right in the Duty p. 137. 7. Sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also p. 139. CAAP. VIII Of Observing the Sabbath Page 143. 1. Direct Be Convinc'd that the first day of the Week is the Christian Sabbath p. 146. 2. Make preparation before hand to observe it p. 149. 3. Do nothing that is unlawful upon it p. 152. 4. Perform such works upon it as God requires p. 156. 5. Perform those Religious Duties as are commanded p. 159. 6. Many Private Duties are also to be performed p. 163. 7. Improve thy Authority that those under thee may Sanctifie the Sabbath p. 166. CHAP. IX Of Baptism Page 170. 1. Direct Scruples against Baptism removed p. 173. 2. 'T is the Parents Duty to present their Children p. 177. 3. Aim at God's Glory c. p. 180. 4. Rest not in the common Priviledges of this Sacrament p. 183. 5. See that this Sacrament be rightly Administred p. 186. 6. See that thou performest thy Baptismal Vows p. 189. 7. Make a right use of thy Baptism p. 192. CHAP. X. Directions in receiving the Sacrament P. 196. 1 Direct If thou wouldest pertake of the Sacrament worthily examine thy Self p 199. 2. Have not Grace in Habit but in Exercise p. 202. 3. Propound right Ends to thy Self c p. 205. 4. Know what it is thou standest in need of p. 209. 5. When thou comest to this Ordinance be sure to set thy Grace on work p. 212. 6. How to demean thy Self in the Act of receiving p. 215. 7. Behave thy Self well after receiving p. 219. CHAP. XI Directions about Oaths Page 222. 1. Direct Consideration must be had of the Parties themselves concerned c. p 225. 2. By whom you ought to Swear p. 228. 3. Of the Matter of an Oath p. 231. 4. Of the Form of an Oath p. 234. 5. The End must be Lawful p. 237. 6. Take heed of rash Swearing p. 240. 7. Take heed of false Swearing p. 243. CHAP. XII Of Vows Page 247. 1. Direct Vows must be made to God p. 250. 2. Who may make Vows p. 253. 3. Vow not any thing that is unlawful p. 256. 4. Vow nothing but what is in thy Power to do p. 259. 5. Look to the manner of thy Vows p. 262. 6. Look to thy Ends in this Duty p. 265. 7. See thou keep thy Vows when thou hast made them p. 268. CHAP. XIII Of days of Humiliation Page 272. 1. Direct If thou wouldest perform this Duty aright see thou be rightly qualified p. 275. 2. Come prepared to this Duty p. 278. 3. What External Duties are requisite in this Duty of Fasting p. 282. 4. Of the Internal parts of th s Duty p. 285. 5. Of the time when this Duty is to be done p. 288. 6. Propound a right End in this Duty p. 292. 7. Look to thy Carriage aftar the Duty p. 295 CHAP. XIV Of days of Thanksgiving Page 299. 1. Direct Get a well prepared Heart p. 302. 2. In this Duty aim ultimately at Gods Glory p. 305. 3. See thy Call be Lawful to this Duty p. 308. 4. See to thy Cariage in this Duty p. 311. 5. Set thy Self upon the Work p. 315. 6. Go on in recounting the mercies thou hast received and bless God for them p. 318. 7. Having sounded forth the praises of God for his mercy c. p. 321. CHAP. XV. Directions in Private Duties Page 325. 1. Direct Of Self examination c. p. 328. 2. When thou knowest that thou hast an Interest in God c. p. 332. 3. Store thy Heart with knowledge and understanding p. 335. 4. Pray with thy Family in Private p. 338. 5. Of Reproving and Correcting thy Family p. 342. 6. Thou must not only reprove them when they do amiss but Instruct Teach c. p. 345. 7. To keep a clear Conscience p. 340. The faults of Press and Authors Pen Doth shew the Work was done by Men If you would Read the Authors mind Mend the mistakings here you find PAge 4. line 30. for who read whose p. 5. l. 17. for is r. that p. 7. l. 12. we left out l. 22. for as r. in p. 17. l. 1. for in r. one and he left out p. 20. l. 21. f. they r. who p. 21. l. 3. f. 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O their r. others p. 254. l. 27. f. well r. null l. 29. f. party r. parity p. 263. l. 5. r. an f. and. FINIS