of age Fly the lustes of youth sayth the Apostle 2 Tim. 2. 22. There are certaine lustes which men are most subject unto in time of youth yea these lustes are noysome and dangerous and fight directly against the soule Abstaine from fleshly lusts which fight against the soule sayth another Apostle 1 Pet. 2. 11. These many times lye heavie upon the conscience of the best in time of age Hearken how holy David cryeth out Psal. 25. 7. Remember not the sinnes of my youth sayth that good man He knew what a wofull case he should be in if God should call him to account for the sinnes of his youth and yet doubtlesse he was a godly man even from his youth see what he sayth of himselfe Psal. 71. 5. Thou art my hope O Lord God thou art my trust even from my youth yea he was taught of God from his youth ver 17. Yea marke what the Lord himselfe sayth of him even in his youth 1 Sam. 13. 14. The Lord hath sought him a man after his owne heart He was a man after Gods owne heart yet cryeth out of the sinnes of his youth So consider Iob by the Lords owne testimony an incomparable man A man that feared God and eschewed evill yet see how he cryeth out of the sinnes of his youth Iob 13. 26. Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possesse the sinnes of my youth and yet he was religious and mercifull even in his youth see what he could speake of himselfe Iob 31. 18. where speaking of the widow and fatherlesse For from my youth he that is the fatherlesse was brought up with me as with a Father and I have guided her that is the widow from my mothers wombe Now marke it I pray you are the sinnes of youth thus bitter to such as David and Iob such godly persons What will they then be to them that draw iniquitie with cords of vanitie and sinne as it were with a cart-rope They must needs feele and finde one day that it is an evill thing and bitter to forsake the Lord and that his feare is not in them in their youth as the Lord himselfe speaketh Ier. 2. 19. They that have taken great paines and toyled and moyled in their youth are apt to cry out of Stitches and Aches in their age this is the very case of such as take great paines in the service of sinne and Sathan in their youth they will cry out of the bitternes of it in their age As Abner sayd to Ioab they will finde it bitternesse in the later end Thus wise Salomon disswadeth the yong man from whoredome Pro. 5. 8. Come not nigh the doore of her house Why so 1. Lest thou give thine honour to others and thy yeares to the cruell thy credits gone ver 9. yea and thy profit too Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth and thy labours be in the house of strangers it will emptie thy house of wealth c. But this is not all It will be bitternes in the end ver 11. Lest thou mourne at last and say How have I hated instruction c i.e. How have I mis-spent my precious time and neglected the service of God in my youth Now the way and chiefe meanes to prevent this is to set our selves to serve God even in our youth for this will bring sweetnesse and comfort in time of age Oh what an happinesse when a man can say with Paul Act. 23. 1. I have lived in all good conscience unto this day Or with the young man Mark 10. 20. All this have I kept from my youth See the respect that our Saviour had to him for this Then Iesus beholding him loved him He even loved him in some sort for his externall obedience how much more will he love them that truely and sincerely love and serve him Ich. 14. 21. 23. He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them is he that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be beloved of my Father and I will manifest my selfe to him yea my Father will love him and wee will come and make our abode with him O happie Companie what greater comfort It is heaven upon earth in stead of the bitter sinnes of youth we shall have fellowship with the Father and with his Sonne Iesus Christ sayth the Apostle 1 Ioh. 1. 3. Thirdly Time spent sincerely in Gods service in our youth will make us constantly religious in our age I know indeed that some that have seemed Saints in youth have proved devils in their age As Ioash c. but they did but seeme so they had onely a forme of godlinesse but denyed the power of it 2 Tim. 3. 5. But such as are truely and sincerely religious in youth will be constant in age that is the right propertie of a tree of Righteousnesse Psal. 92. that Psalme for the Sabbath day vers 13. 14. They that be truely planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of the house of our God They shall still bring forth fruit in their old age they shall be fat and flourishing To the same purpose is that speech of Salomon Pro. 22. 6. Traine up a childe or Catechise in the way he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it Loe the benefit of a religious education in youth He that spendeth time in Gods service in his youth will hardly neglect it in his age He that is a Tymothy in his youth for the most part proveth a Mnaason an old Disciple in his age Act. 21. 26. An heart seasoned with the true feare of God in a mans youth will make him that he shall not depart from God when he is old Salomon indeed fell foulely and dangerously in his age but returned to God by repentance at last as is evident by his booke of Ecclesiastes yea see what warrant we have to thinke thus Ier. 32. 40. And I will put my feare in their hearts that they shall never depart from me He that once truely feareth God departeth not from him Fourthly The more time we spend and the more paines we take in Gods service in our youth the more comfort shall we have for the present and the more glorie hereafter this addeth still more weight and massinesse to our crowne of glory in heaven The small paines that we take in Gods service though in comparison they be but as for a moment yet worke unto us an eternall and exceeding weight of glory as the Apostle speakes 2 Cor. 4. 17. O how this should perswade us to beginne betimes The sooner wee beginne to spend time in Gods service the more time shall we spend in it and reape the more glory hereafter This is evident by that Parable of the Talents The more Talents we have and the better we employ them the more glorie in heaven See what is sayd to him that had five Talents well improved Luk. 19. 17. Well done thou good
of profitable and excellent use for Gods people that have occasion to joyne together in the celebration and participation of them First For publike prayer in the Congregation see how expresly the Apostle requireth it 1 Tim. 2. 1. I exhort that first of all prayer and supplication and intercession and giving of thankes be made for all men for Kings and such as are in authoritie Let no man despise the publike Lyturgie of our Church and the prayers that are used there as if God regarded not such prayers as are read upon a booke for certainly the most godly learned and wisest men that I have heard or read of have approved of set forme of prayers yea one of the wisest and ablest even of those that have disliked the Ceremonies of our Church hath yet highly esteemed of the prayers which are appointeh to be read in our publike Lyturgie yea and doth professe publikely that in his opinion no wise man will dislike such kinde of prayers eyther because they are read upon a booke or for their length or the multitude of them yea ye sheweth plainely that it hath beene the practice and custome of the best Churches to have bookes of publike prayers and approveth of and justifieth the practise of Gods Church in that regard yea see how highly that pious man hath approved of the Booke of prayers appointed by Authoritie for the keeping of publike Fasts concerning which this reverend Divine sayth thus concerning the sayd Booke of prayers That they are as ample holy effectuall and fit for the present occasion as ever were in any Lyturgie that he had seene Having therefore cleared this in the first place give me leave to shew you the worth and excellency of publike prayers in the Congregation in some respect above any prayers that are made in secret in our Closets or in private amongst our people in our families See it in foure particulars First In regard of the excellency of the company that is present there in a speciall manner which I will manifest unto you in these three particulars First The Church and people of GOD are present there in a most speciall manner and readie to joyne with us in these publike prayers Now it must needs be an excellent thing and very beneficiall unto us in this regard This made David delight in the duties of Gods publike worship and service yea and cary his whole hous-hold a multitude with him to the House of God because he was sure to meet with the Saints of God there in whom next under God himselfe was all his delight Psal. 42. 4. Psal. 16. 3. My goodnesse O Lord extendeth not to thee but to the Saints which are on the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight This made him so glad when he was exhorted by any to goe to the house of God sc. in regard of the good company that he was sure to finde there Psal. 122. 1. 4. I was glad when they sayd unto me let us goe up to the house of the Lord. Why so That yee shall see ver 4. Thither the Tribes goe up the Tribes of the Lord c. to give thankes to the Name of the Lord and ver 8. For my brebren and companions sake I will now say peace be within thee Loe this is one strong Motive that should perswade us not onely duely to frequent the house of God our selves but to exhort and stirre up others to joyne with us therein sc. because of the people of GOD that are there present in a speciall manner Secondly Not onely Gods people are there present but also the holy Angells of God are present in our Church assemblies As they are at all times fent forth for the good of them that shall be heires of Salvation Heb. 1. 14. so especially then when we are the most seriously imployed in the duties of Gods publike worship and service they then pitch their tents about us to defend us Psal. 34. 7. and keepe us in all our wayes much more when we walke in the wayes of God they are then present with us in a most speciall manner This the Apostle intimateth in â—hat direction which he giveth to women â— Cor. 11. 10. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head that is to have her head covered in token of sujection because of the Angells i.e. The Angells are in a most speciall manner present in our Church assemblies and will dislike such disorders Yea this was also figured to Gods people in Salomons time and hence it was that the walls of Salomons Temple were full of Cherubims round about 1 King 6. 29. to intimate unto Gods people that the holy Angells of God were in a speciall manner present in the Church assemblies This should perswade us to make great account of the publike prayers in the Congregation Thirdly Not onely the Saints and Angells but also the Lord himselfe is in a most speciall manner present at our publike prayers in the Congregation Loe I am with you alwayes to the end of the world sayth our Saviour Mat. 18. 20. Especially at publike prayers for of such kinde of assemblies our blessed Saviour speaketh Mat. 18. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of them Oh how this should perswade us not onely to spend time in Gods service our selves but also exhort others to doe so too in regard of the excellent company that we are there sure to meete withall the holy Saints and the Angels of God yea and the Lord himselfe Secondly Because publike prayers that are presented to God in the Congregation are usually most prevalent and powerfull and likely to prevaile with God eyther for the obtaining of some speciall blessing that we want or preventing or removing some heavie judgement eyther felt or feared for the Lord loveth the gates of Zion more then all the dwellings of Iacob Psal. 87. 2. Such prayers do usually finde speciall acceptance with him See what a promise our Saviour hath made to such prayers Mat. 18. 19. Againe I say unto you if two of you much more if two hundred shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall aske it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven For there the Lord commandeth his blessing and life for evermore sayth the Text Psal. 133. 3. Yea the Lord himselfe directeth to these publike and solemne prayers as those that of all others are the most effectuall to prevaile with God as appeareth in Joell 2. when he foretelleth a judgement future see what the Lord prescribeth as the meanes to prevent it V. 15. Blow the Trumpet in Zion sanctifie a Fast call a solemne assembly V. 16. Gather the people sanctifie the Congregation assemble the Elders yea gather the children yea the bride and bridegroome the Priests and Ministers of the Lord all must bestirre
above all the men which were upon the face of the earth there is his ornament an ornament indeed and that of great price even in the esteeme and account of God himselfe observe it 1 Pet. 3. 3 4. see the Apostles direction to wives how to adorne themselves with better ornaments then gold and silver Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the haire and wearing of gold or of putting on of apparell that is costly apparell these are poore ornaments what then that we shall see v. 4. but the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit which is in Gods account a thing of great price loe a man or womans chiefe ornament If we would in stead of rich and costly apparell put on the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit and readily passe by such wrongs and injuries as are offered unto us it would be a farre better and a much cheaper ornament then gold and silver and all the fine cloaths in the world So that even in this respect also Christ and the graces of his Spirit are fitly resembled unto gold yea gold tryed in the fire Sixthly Gold hath a very good smell a sweet savour however it is true in respect of the gaine of it for that hath a sweet smell in the most mens account so hath Christ his merits and graces have a sweet smelling savour in the Lords account even the sacrifice of Christ the offering himselfe up in sacrifice to God for us smelled sweetly in the nosthrils of God It is a sweet place to this purpose Ephes. 5. 2. And walke in love there is our dutie as Christ also hath loved us there is our patterne and hath given himselfe for us there is the expression and demonstration of it an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour the sweetest smelling gold is not herein comparable to the sacrifice of Christ. Yea and not onely his sacrifice and merits but also the graces of his Spirit have also a sweet smelling savour such as faith and love and charitie c. See what the Apostle sayth of that sweet grace of charitie Phil. 4. 18. see what the Apostle testifieth of the charitie of these Philippians Having received the things which were sent from you an odor of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable well pleasing to God for that a charitable heart is an heart worth gold even in this respect For with such Sacrifices God is well pleased sayth the Apostle speaking of this very grace Heb. 13. 16. Seventhly Gold is the means to make men rich so doth Christ and his graces as wee shall see in the next poynt CHAP. II. Containig the two first Vses of the poynt sc. Instruction and Reprehension NOw the Vses of this poynt are many and of speciall weight and worth it is of use both for Instruction and Reprehension and also for Examination and Exhortation 1. This Doctrine serveth for Instruction The knowledge of this truth leadeth and directeth us to the knowledge of other truths For first Is true saving grace fitly resembled unto gold This sheweth then the worth and excellency of true saving grace it is a farre more excellent and precious commodity then men usually account it else our Saviour would never have called it Gold yea gold tryed in the fire So that an heart full of saving grace is worth a purse full of precious gold it is as precious as gold yea much more precious then the most fine gold Thus much the wisest Solomon that knew the worth of both expresly telleth us Pro. 3. 14. where speaking of wisdome that is spirituall and heavenly wisdome he sayth It is more precious then fine gold The like the Apostle sayth of true saving faith It is much more precious then gold Give me leave to shew you the worth of true saving grace that it is more precious then the most precious gold and silver in the world and this I will manifest in these sixe particulars 1. Gold is but of a fading perishing nature and condition hence is that phrase of the Apostle 1 Pet. 1. 7. That the tryall of your faith being much more precious then gold that perisheth but on the contrary Grace is that which endureth unto everlasting life Ioh. 6. 27. Hereupon the wise man calleth it durable riches Pro. 3. 18. So that in this case that of the Psalme may be fitly applyed Psal. 102. 26. They shall perish that is all sublunary things are of a perishing condition but thou O Lord and thy saving grace shall endure even for ever Riches and gold and silver are very fickle and uncertaine they doe often betake them to their wings and fly away as an Eagle towards heaven sayth the Wise man Pro. 23. 5. And charge the rich that they trust not in uncertaine riches sayth the Apostle 1 Tim. 6. 17. Riches and gold and silver are very uncertaine but grace is very permanent and lasting it is that good part which shall not be taken from him or her that hath it Luk. 10. 42. Therefore true saving grace is better then gold even in this respect 2. Gold and silver can neither comfort nor deliver him that hath it in the day of Gods wrath many do make gold their hope in this case and trust in the multitude of their riches but they are all utterly deluded in this case see Zeph. 1. 17. I will bring distresse upon men sayth the text yea but I have abundance of gold and silver sayth the rich man marke now what followeth even in the very next verse as it were on purpose to prevent and blow away this vaine confidence vers 18. Their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath but the whole Land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousie No no Riches availe not in the day of wrath but Righteousnesse onely delivereth from death as the Wise man hath told us long agoe Pro. 11. 4. True saving grace will affoord both comfort in and also deliverance from the fury of Gods wrath When the Lord hath a purpose to bring an overflowing scourg upon any Nation or people he hath a speciall respect not to the rich and wealthy but to such as are godly and religious The Lord hath chosen to himselfe the man that is godly Psal. 4. 3. He hath set such an one apart for his own use all such must have a marke set upon their fore store of gold and silver and yet be hated and abhorred of God for all that as Cain and Judas but he that hath true saving grace such as faith and love and the feare of God c. hath ever speciall favour and acceptance with God It is an excellent speech of the Apostle to this purpose Act. 10. 35. Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in
in a few things I will make thee ruler over many things c. Oh what an encouragement in this sc. that though when we have done all that we can we doe but our dutie neither can we doe that perfectly yet the Lord in mercie is readie to encourage and commend us if we doe our best endeavour Here is the commendation of a right tree of Righteousnesse that they are such as flourish and increase still more and more Psal. 92. 12 13. The righteous shall flourish like a Palme tree and grow like a Cedar in Lebanon Such as be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of the house of our God They shall bring forth fruit in their age and they shall be fat and flourishing Here was the commendation of the Church of Thyatyra Revel 2. 19. I know thy workes and thy love and thy faith and patience and thy workes that they are more at last then at first Thou doest still grow in grace and art every day better and better The Lord taketh notice of our growth in grace and doth most highly commend and prize it Fourthly As the Lord commends it so he is much honoured by it It is the glory of the Master of the Vineyard that the Vine flourisheth and is fruitfull It is the glory of the husbandman that the earth bringeth forth fruit in abundance It is the glory of the chiefe Shepheard when the sheepe bring forth thousands and ten thousands Hereupon is that speech of our Saviour Ioh. 15. 8. Herein is my Father glorified that yee bring forth much fruit The more fruitfull wee are in grace and pietie the more glory redoundeth to God Mat. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Hence is that prayer of the Apostle Phil. 1. 9. 11. And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and in all judgement Why so see that Ver. 11. And that yee may be filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ to the prayse and glory of God Oh this above all other considerations should perswade us to labour to grow rich in grace because it tendeth so expresly to Gods glory which is the chiefe end of God himselfe in all his actions and that which we should ayme at especially in all our proceedings 1 Cor. 10. 31. Whether yee eate or drinke or whatsoever yee doe doe all to the glory of God sayth the Apostle and therefore wee should in all equitie ply that worke most that tendeth most to his glory Fifthly The Lord will most surely reward it Let no man ever thinke that it is in vaine to serve God but if wee be faithfull in doing God service let us never doubt of his fidelitie and bountie in paying our wages Alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord for as much as yee know how that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord sayth the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. last He that is faithfull in Gods service unto death may be sure of the Crowne of life Revel 2. 10. God is absolutely the best Master and pietie the best Mistresse that a man can possibly serve Godlinesse is profitable unto all things sayth the Apostle having the promise of the life that now is and of that to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. Let us but see the reward of pietie in some few particulars First An earnest endeavour to grow in grace and thrive in godlinesse will assure a man of his election It is the advise of the Apostle 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure no better meanes to doe it then by an earnest desire and carefull endeavour to grow in grace our growth in grace is not onely an argument of the truth of our grace but also a good pledge and token of our election faith and holinesse is a fruit of our eternall election Hence it is that true saving faith is called The faith of Gods elect Titus 1. 1. This should make us earnestly to cry out with the Disciples Luk. 17. 5. Lord increase our faith because it is such a pledge of our election for As many as were ordained to eternall life beleeved Acts 13. 48. Holines is the very end of our election Wee are chosen in Christ Iesus before the world that wee might be holy and without blame before him in love Ephes. 1. 4. Hence is that sweet and excellent parenthesis of the Apostle Col. 3. 12. Put upon you therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercie c. So that the more faith the more pietie the more bowels of mercie c. the more evident pledges and tokens of our election Oh how this should perswade us to grow in grace that wee may thereby make our calling and election sure unto our selves an admirable and most desireable benefit Secondly The richer we are in grace the better able shall we be to doe good to others and also to discharge the duties belonging to the places wherein God hath set us Wisedome is good with an inheritance sayth Salomon so no doubt it is without an inheritance but yet he that hath wisedome with an inheritance is the best able to expresse and make use of his wisedome so 1 Tim. 6. 17. Charge those that be rich in this world c. that they be rich in good workes as if they had the best opportunitie so much more they that are spiritually rich that are full of the golden graces of Gods Spirit they have an opportunitie to be rich in good workes and are or may be the better fitted and enabled to doe good to others This made our Saviour himselfe so rich in good workes so plentifull in workes of pietie and charitie He went about continually doing good teaching and preaching the Gospell of the kingdome and healing every sicknesse and every disease amongst the people Mat. 9. 35. And why so Surely because he was full of grace Ioh. 1. 14. This made Barnabas such an admirable instrument of Gods glorie in doing so much good at Antioch see how the Text reports it Acts 11. 23. Who when he was come and saw the grace of God he was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord Why so what made him so zealous and ready to do good That you may see Ver. 24. For he was a good man and full of the holy Ghost and of faith and much people joyned themselves unto the Lord. He that is truely and really good himselfe is the fittest and best able to doe good to others See here another benefit that may perswade us to grow in grace Thirdly An earnest desire and carefull endeavour to grow in grace will give us not onely entrance into the kingdome of grace but also assurance of interest in the kingdome of glorie See a direct place
make good his promise 1 Sam. 2. â—0 Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed See what the Holy Ghost saith of those Boâ—reans that received the Word with all readinesse of minde and searched the Scriptures daily Acts 17. 11. These were more noble then those in Thessalonica saith the text And why so Wherein did their chiefe Nobility appeare sc. in their outward quality they had this spirituall excellency to regulate their hearing by the Word In that they received the Word with all readinesse of minde as appeareth in the words following and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Every religious godly person that spendeth much time in Gods service is a noble person in Gods account It was one of Solomons titles of honour to be called The Preacher one that spent much time in Gods service and in teaching others Eccles. 1. Yea and see how David glorieth in this that he was Gods servant one that spent much time in Gods service Psal. 116. 16. O Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant and the son of thy handmaid Lo a mans greatest honour sc. to bee Gods servant to shew that time spent in â—ods service is the most for a mans credit and therefore the best 2. Time so spent affordeth the most sound solid pleasure all other pleasures are but vaine and mad mirth in comparison of this This will satisfie a mans soule as with marrow and 〈◊〉 as David speakes See what pleasure Gods servants have taken in this I â—steemed â—he words of his mouth more thâ—n my necessary foâ—de saith Job Iob 23. 12. O what pleasure and sweetnesse did Iob finde in the Word of Gods mouth it was sweeter and more pleasant in taste then his appointed or necessary foode It did him more good then his meate and drinke So likewise see it in David Oh how I love thy law it is my meditation continually Psalm 119. 97. How sweet are thy words unto my taste sweeter then honey unto my mâ—uth Ver. 103. So likewise to Ieremiah chap. 15. 16. Thy words were found and I did eate them and how did they taste They were unto me the very joy and rejoycing of my heart saith the Prophet Yea so it was to Paul Rom. 7. 24. I delight in the Law of God according to the inner man But above all observe that speech of our Saviour Joh. 4. 34. There you shall finde that our Saviour at that time was hungry and thirstie and the Disciples were gone to the City to buy meate in the meane time commeth a woman to draw water and our Saviour tooke that opportunity to instruct her and convert her to God yea and was so serious in it and so much delighted with it that when the Disciples come with meate they say unto him M. eate Ver. 33. See what he answereth I have meate to eate which yee know not of and then explaineth the meaning Verse 34. My meate is to doe the will of Him that sent mee and finish his worke Lo this was his very meate it did him more good Hee found more sweetnesse in it and so farre preferred it before his meate and drinke so that if our mouth be not out of taste time spent in Gods service hath the most pleasure in it and therefore in that regard is the best spent time Thirdly Time spent in Gods service is the most full of profit every way both for body and soule Godlinesse is profitable unto all things saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 4. 8. having the promise of the life that now is and also of that to come This is the good and the right way as Samuel calleth it 1 Sam. 12. 24. It is that one thing needfull as our Saviour himselfe calleth it Luk. 10. 42. This is the only thing the very boone that David would begge at Gods hands Psalm 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seeke after But one thing David surely it is some rare thing some extraordinary profitable matter What is it That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life and behold the beautie of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple This is Davids one thing sc. that hee might spend all the greatest part of his life in Gods service he knew the benefit and the profit of it He might well say then as Psalm 23. 6. Surely goodnesse and mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life Time spent in Gods service is the only way to procure safety and profit both for body and soule 1. There is safety in this course even when their seemeth to be most danger Hee that looseth his life for Christ's sake shall be sure to finde it Mat. 16. Yea see that excellent promise v. 11. of this Psalme The Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke uprightly Let no man think that Religion is the High-way to danger and beggery No no It is the only safe way and the most profitable An excellent place to this purpose is that we have Exo. 34. 24. Where the Lord enjoyneth that all the Males should appeare before him thrise in the yeare at Ierusalem as if all the Males in England were to appeare thrise in the yeere before God at London Now whereas a man would think that this was very dangerous in regard of invasion from their cruell neighbours that might take the opportunity to set upon their borders in the absence of all the Males Now mark what the Lord promiseth in that case No man shall desire thy land such an envious covetous malicious thought shall not once enter into their heart as to thinke Now we have a fit opportunity to invade Israel So the equity of this promise remaineth still Time sincerely spent in Gods service bringeth safety with it or if any danger or outward hurt come in this case God will dispose it for our good Rather then Daniel shall loose by his time spent in Gods service the Lord will keepe him in safety in the Lions denne and send his Angels to shut the Lions mouthes that they may not hurt him as wee see Dan. 6. Marke that speech of the King to him Verse 20. O Daniel servant of the living God Is thy God whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee from the Lions Is there safety in the service of thy God See how Daniel answereth according to the event of it Ver. 22. My God hath sent his Angell and shut the Lions mouthes that they have not hurt me Lo what impregnable safety in Gods service So Daniel 3. What danger were the three noble Iewes in But see how God made good that promise Isa. 43. 2. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee c. when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee
be assured that he shall spend his time with God in heaven in eternall glory must first spend his time in Gods service here on earth Grace on earth is the way to glory in heaven And thus you see also that time spent in Gods service is the best not onely in regard of God but also in respect of our selves Thirdly and lastly I told you that time spent in Gods service is best spent in regard of others it redoundeth not only to Gods glory and our owne good but it also extendeth to the good of others especially those that are in any kind of distresse Time spent in Gods service is the best way both to prevent danger and to remove it Consider the danger and misery of GODS Church both at home and abroad danger of famine danger of sword danger of pestilence Now what better remedy to prevent these dangers then time spent in Gods service in prayer and fasting c See this in the practise of the Niâ—ivites Ioâ—â—h 3. The danger was great for Yet fortie dayes and Niniveh shall be destroyed saith the Lord ver 4. Well see how they prevented this fearefull danger How did they spend their time That you may see Ver 5. 6. They believed God and pâ—oclaimed 〈…〉 and put on sackâ—loth from the greatest 〈◊〉 them to the least of them Yea and word â—â—me to the King himselfe who arose from his Throne and layd his Robe from him and sate in Ashes and made proclamation throughout the Citie that neither man nor beast should drinke water nor taste any fooâ—e but bee covered with sackâ—loth and cry mightily unto God c. Who can tell whether God will turne and repent c. that wee perish not i. e. If any thing will prevent our destruction this will doe it Now see the event Ver. 10. And God saw their workes c. He saw how they spent their time and God repented of the evill that he had said that he would doe unto them and he did it not so that time spent in Gods service is the best way to prevent danger Yea and secondly It is the best way also to remove it oh the miseries of Gods people in Germany and in this land also some by famine some by pestilence our wit is too shallow our strength too weake our purse too empty to relieve them if any thing we have can doe them good it must be our prayers and the right and religious spending of our time Alas time spent in sinning in swearing in drunkennesse this provoketh the eyes of Gods glory and incenseth his wrath against us but time spent in Gods service is the way to helpe them and our selves in this case And for the farther help of our unbeleeving hearts in this high point consider 1. Gods owne direction 2. The Churches practise 3. Our owne experience 1. We have the Testimony of God himselfe See an excellent place to this purpose 2 Chron. 7. 13 14. Where the Lord himselfe putteth a case of danger and prescribeth the remedy 1. If I shut up heaven that there bee no raine and this you know was our very case lately or if I send pestilence among my people and this is our case even for the present there have beene and still are sundry places in this kingdome infected with the pestilence here is the danger Well what is the best course that Gods people can take to remove such a judgement how should we doe to helpe those that are in this wofull estate That the Lord himselfe sheweth plainely v. 14. If the people that are called by my Name shall humble themselves and pray and seeke my face c. that is spend time in my service then see the admirable fruit of this then will I heare from heaven and forgive their sinnes and heale their land Time spent in Gods service is the best way to remove a judgement from our selves or others This is a course of Gods owne prescribing 2. This is the judgement and opinion of the Church and State wherein we live and our Religious Governours and such as are in authority Hereupon it was that in the last great Plague there was a generall Fast proclaimed and appointed to bee celebrated throughout the whole kingdome that we might seeke God by prayer and fasting for the cessation of that sore judgement of the Pestilence And why this but only to shew that even our gracious Soveraigne and such as are in authority in our Church and State are verily perswaded that time spent in Gods service is very effectuall and availeable to take away the Pestilence 3. It appeareth by experience what admirable successe we have had in this case wee have found by experience often the worth of this course either for preventing or removing a judgment as in that yeare 1625. and sundry other times both before and since the Lord hath made good unto us that precious promise Isa. 65. 24. It shall come to passe that when ye call I will answer and while yee are yet speaking I will heare for while we were yet praying and fasting the Lord was intreated of us So that even in this regard also time spent in Gods service is absolutely the best spent time So that a godly religious man that spendeth much time in Gods service shall prevaile more either for preventing or removing a judgement from the land then an hundred others he is the only man that must deliver the Ileland according to that in Iob 22. 30. He shall deliver the Iland of the Innocent or as is well noted in the Margent The Innocent shall deliver the Iland and it is delivered by the purenesse of thine hands It is the purity of hearts and hands and time spent in Gods service that must helpe in this case for otherwise we know that God heareth not sinners but if any man bee a worshiper of God and a doer of his will if any delight to spend time in GODS service him he heareth saith the blind man Ioh. 9. 31. CHAP. III. Contaâ—ning the first Vse of the point viz. for Instruction 1. IS it so That time spent in Gods service is absolutely the best spent time The knowledge of this truth doth lead us on to the knowledge of other precious truths to this purpose for our instruction 1. Hence then it followeth that time spent in sinning or in the Devils service must needs bee the worst spent time time spent in swearing lying stealing wantonnesse drunkennesse yea in covetous carking and caring c. is the worst spent time that can bee it is quite opposite and contrary to that which is spent in Gods service and therefore as that is the best so on the contrary this must needs bee the worst spent time that can bee It is the worst in every respect 1. In respect of God 2. In regard of our selves 3. In respect of others 1. Time spent in sinfull courses is the worst spent time in
thus wee are children of wrath and in the state of nature as the Apostle sheweth Ephes. 2. 3. All the while wee live thus we can looke for nothing but the wrath of God to come upon us as it doth upon the children of disobedience as the Apostle speakes Ephesians 5. 6. The wrath of God is even revealed from heaven against such Romans 1. 18. See a notable place for this purpose in Romans 2. 8 9. But unto them that are contentious and doe not obey the truth but obey unrighteousnesse marke the condition of all such indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soule of man that doth evill upon the Iew first c. See here the estate of such as spend time in the devils service instead of Gods Secondly Consider that all such have cause to feare that God will deny to helpe and succour them when they stand in the most need of it and seeke for it with greatest earnestnesse If I regard wickednesse in my heart God will not heare my prayer saith David Psalme 66. 18. Yea we know that God heareth not sinners saith the blind man Iohn 9. 31. and therefore if God doe not heare wicked mens prayers in their extremities but lets them perish in their sinnes it is not for want of power or mercy in God but onely for want of piety and repentance in them according to that excellent place which wee have to this purpose in Isa. 59. 1 2. Behold the Lords hand is not shortned that he cannot save neither is his eare heavie that he cannot heare where is the fault then that you shall see in the next verse verse 2. But your iniquities have separated betweene you and your God and your sinnes have hid his face from you that he cannot heare Oh the wofull estate of all such as cry unto God in their extremities and are nothing at all regarded Yea God hath told them already that hee will not heare them observe it Proverbs 1. 28 29. Then shall they call c. that is in their extremity but I will not answer they shall seeke me early but they shall not finde mee because they hated knowledge and did not choose the feare of the Lord. Yea the Lord hath sent them word before hand that he will not helpe them Iob 8. 20. Behold God will not cast away a perfect man neither will hee helpe the evill doers saith the Text there O the wofull estate of all such when sicknesse commâ—n or troubles come or death then they are glad to cry out Helpe Lord or else I am damned for ever Not I may the Lord say I will helpe no evill doers such as you are and therefore thou art now like to perish and dye in thy sinnes Iohn 8. 20. Yea the Lord is so farre from regarding the prayers of such people in such cases that he rather refuseth them see upon what warrant I speake it Proverbs 15. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord. The sacrifice what is that Surely his prayers as appeareth by the Antithesis in that place for so it followeth But the prayer of the upright is his delight God hateth and abhorreth the prayers of all such as live in their sinnes and hate to be reformed Hee that turneh away his eare from hearing the Law even that mans prayer shall be an abomination saith the Wiseman Prov. 28. 9. O wofull estate If men had but eyes to see it and hearts to consider it aright the Lord takes no pleasure in the very best services which they can doe him And no marvell for in the third place So long as men live in their sinnes without repentance and spend time in the Devils service instead of Gods there is a direct and an expresse enmity betweene God and them If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne saith the Apostle Romans 5. 10. Yea especially those that live and goe on in their sinnes have just cause to be assured of this and that they shall smart for it accordingly See a place or two to this purpose Psalme 37. 20. But the wicked shall perish why so surely because they are Gods enemies And the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of Lambes easily melted into smoke shall they consume away Where we see first that the wicked are Gods enemies Secondly that they shall consume away like smoke and the fat of Lambes So in that Psalme for the Sabbath Psalme 92. 9. For lo thine enemies O Lord lo thine enemies shall perish and who are they that yee shall see in the same verse All the workers of iniquity shall bee scattered where we see both the description and the condition of wicked men They are Gods enemies there is their description dissipation and perishing there is their condition But above all to this purpose is that of Psalme 68. 21. God will surely wound the head of his enemies and the hairie scalpe of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses O consider this ye that forget God and live in your sinnes lest God teare you in peeces and there be none to deliver you Psal. 50. 22. What estate can be more dangerous then an estate of enmity against God The adversaries of the Lord shall bee broken in peeces out of heaven shall be thunder upon them saith Hannah Samuel's Mother 1 Samuel 2. 10. Mee thinkes I have said enough if effectuall to afright men out of their service of sinne and Sathan especially if I shall adde but one thing more which shall be the fourth and the last remedy that I purpose to propound Fourthly Therefore consider that the devill is the worst master that any man can serve and giveth the most wofull and accursed wages What baser Master then the devill that great red Dragon Revelations 12. 12. That roaring Lion that goeth about continually seeking whom he may devoure A murtherer from the very beginning Iohn 8. 44. and the most damnable liar that ever was yea the very father thereof What baser Master then the Devill Yea and see what base wages he giveth Romans 6. 23. For the wages of sinne is death spirituall temporall and eternall both the first and the second death They that spend time in the devils service must goe to hell with the Devill for company Psalme 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell and all that forget God They are utterly deceived that thinke to live like devils upon earth and yet for all that become glorious Saints in heaven when they dye that thinke they shall get into the new Ierusalem hereafter without being New Creatures for the present No no God hath revealed the contrary already as is evident Revel 22. 14 15. Blessed are they that doe his Commandements that spend time in Gods service for they shall enter in through the gates into the City of the new Ierusalem But without shall be dogges and Inchanters and Whoremongers and
night or a Masters returne home who hath set no time but commandeth his servants to watch Watch ye therefore for yee know neither the day nor the houre saith our Saviour Mat. 25. 13. But blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he commeth shall finde so doing watching and working with all diligence Luk. 12. 43. Thirdly After wee once begin to serve God we had need to use all diligence and spend as much time as wee can that way because wee are long before wee spend any time at all to this purpose Some stay twenty thirtie fortie fiftie yeares before they doe God any service at all to any purpose all such had need to worke hard when they have once begun Yea and such as begin betime they stay long before they enter our child-hood and youth are a great part spent before we enter into Gods Vineyard Matth. 20. 1. There were some that began early in the morning but it was the third houre our nine of the clocke before any more came verse 3. and some stayd untill the eleventh houre five a clocke at night an houre before Sun set and therefore such had need to worke hard Generally we spend time for our selves for the world for Sathan before we spend any time for God for ye are all the children of wrath by nature Ephes. 2. 3. serving diverse lusts and pleasures Tit. 2. 3. So that for the most part it is long before we serve God Marke that speech of the Apostle to this purpose Romans 13. 11. And that knowing the time that it is high time to awake out of sleepe It is high time to serve God for the night is farre spent that is the time of this life is farre spent it is high time to fall to worke Now lay these together the time of this life is the only time that wee have to serve God it is very short and uncertaine at best and withall it is very farre spent before we begin therefore wee had need to ply our worke with all diligence This is the Apostles chiefe Argument to perswade us to spend much time in Gods service or according to his will 2 Peter 4. 2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God Why so see verse 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles i. e. it is enough and too much alas that wee have mispent so much of our precious time already it is now high time to redeeme time to spend in Gods service Hee that hath but a small stocke in all and mispendeth some part of that too had need to bee sparing and frugall with that which is left here is our very case our time that we have to spend in Gods service the whole time of our life is but short wee have mispent much already wee had need to spend all the rest if it were possible wholly in Gods service Fourth Motive to perswade us to spend much time in Gods service is drawne from the consideration of the excellency of that Master whom wee serve Behold Lord how that I am thy servant saith David Psalme 116. 16. Ye call me Lord and Master saith our Saviour and yee say well for so I am Iohn 13. 23. Yea Lord so thou art absolutely the best and most incomparable Master in heaven and earth This I will strive and endeavour to manifest in sundry particulars which will be so many severall Motives to perswade us to spend as much time in his service as we can possibly First Our heavenly Master is a most potent or Almightie Master able to defend us from dangers able to provide for us he is God Almightie as we professe in the first Article of our Creede So 2 Cor. 6. last Thus God himselfe encourageth Abraham to doe him service Gen. 17. 1. I am God Almightie or the Strong God walke before me and be upright He is able to bring to passe what he pleaseth in heaven or earth Psal. 115. 3. Is any thing too hard for the Lord sayth God himselfe Gen. 18. 14. He is able to defend us from all dangers that may befall us and to supply us with all necessaries so that we neede feare nothing if we be carefull to serve God Gen. 15. 1. Feare not Abraham I am thy Shield therefore nothing can hurt thee and I am thy exceeding great reward therefore make no question of thy wages let no man thinke or say it is in vaine to serve God for we serve such a Master as is both able to defend us and pay us our wages to the full that we neede never repent our worke For he is able to doe for us exceeding abundantly above all that we can aske or thinke sayth the Apostle Ephes 3. 20. there is his power This made the three noble Iewes sticke to Gods service they would by no meanes change their Master because they knew his power and abilitie both to defend and reward them Dan. 3. 17. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us and he will deliver us out of thine hands O King So that if we serve this Master we neede feare nothing in regard of his power Secondly He is such a Master as is alwayes present with his servants to defend them If a Master be able yet what are his servants better for him in his absence â—ow our heavenly Master is ever present 〈◊〉 us to defend us his eye is continually 〈…〉 Psal. 33. 9. Thus God encouragetâ—â— â—â—uah Chap. 1. 9. Have not I commanded thee Be strong and of a good courage be not afraid c. for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest Now if God be with us we need not feare who are or can be against us Rom. 8. 31. Especially we never set our selves to serve God in the duties of his publike worship and service but he is present with us in a speciall manner Mat. 18. 20. Mat. 28. 20. Loe I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world This is an excellent argument to perswade us to spend much time in Gods service how difficult or dangerous soever it may seeme to be because wee may be sure of Gods presence with us Isa. 41. 10. Feare not I am with thee be not afraid I am thy God I will helpe thee c. What if we passe through the fire or water afflictions yet we need feare nothing so long as wee are sure the Lord is with us Now see what a promise wee have for this Isa. 43. 1 2. Feare not sayth the Lord I have redeemed thee thou art mine i. e. thou art my servant by purchase or redemption What then Ver. 2. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame
kindle upon thee neither fire nor water can hurt us if God be with us This made Ioseph prosper so exceedingly in all his dangers He was first cast into a pit then sold into Aegypt then cast into prison put in the Stockes the iron entred even into his soule but in all these extremities the Lord was with him Gen. 39. 21. Yea and at last made him Ruler of all Aegypt This made Hezekiah prosper so exceedingly in all his enterprises see how the Text reporteth it in 2 Kings 18. 5. He trusted in the Lord God of Israel and clave unto him and served him ver 6. Then see the event ver 7. And the Lord was with him and prospered him whithersoever he went and therefore see how he could encourage his Souldiers against the invasion of the King of Assyria in 2 Chron. 32. 7. Be not afraid of the King of Assyria be strong and couragious for notwithstanding all his multitude there is more with us then with him Now see how he proveth it ver 8. both by way of confession and by direct affirmation With him indeede is an arme of flesh but with us is the Lord our God to helpe us and to fight our battells Yea thus the Lord encouraged Paul to an unwearied painfulnes in preaching the Gospel Act. 18. 9 10. Be not afraid but speake and hold not thy peace for I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee This will make a man couragious even in the strongest dangers in the very jawes of death Psal. 23. 4. Though I walke through the valley of the shadow of death I will feare no evill sayth holy David for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me Let us therefore be couragious and abundant in the duties of Gods service for the Lord is ever present with us to defend us and to provide for us This is Davids reason in the verse immediately following the words of this Text ver 11. of this Psalme For the Lord is a Sunne and a Shield he will give grace and glorie and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke uprightly in his service So Jer. 1. 19. Thirdly He is a pitifull and tender-hearted Master full of compassion marvellous readie to lay to heart the afflictions of his servants In all their afflictions he is afflicted Isa. 53. 9. Excellent to this purpose is that of St. Iames 5. 11. Yee have heard of the patience of Iob and ye know the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pitifull and of tender mercie As if he had sayd yee may clearely see in Gods dealings with Iob that in conclusion he approved himselfe to be very pitifull and of tender mercie A strange place to this purpose is that we have Judges 10. Though he seemeth to reject them and hold them at staves end for a time yet upon their repentance see how sweetly he approveth and manifesteth his compassion towards them Ver. 16. They put away their strange gods and served the Lord and his soule was grieved for the miseries of Israel though he may shut up his bowells for a time yet at last his compassions will finde a vent his very soule is grieved for our miseries So Ier. 31. 18 19 20. Consider the estate of repenting Ephraim the Lord seemeth angry with him and speaketh against him yea and it may be smiteth him too but no sooner doth Ephraim truely repent and smite upon his thigh and fall out with his sinnes but then see how God is affected with him when he thinketh worst of himselfe then God thinketh the best of him see ver 20. Is Ephraim my deare childe It may be Ephraim thought himselfe scarce worthy the name of a servant and yet God even then calleth him his childe yea his deare childe Well how shall this appeare Surely by the Lords gracious pity and compassion towards him now he is sorry for his sinnes God is sorry that he did so much as speake against him For since I spake against him I doe earnestly remember him still therefore my bowells are troubled for him I will surely have mercie on him sayth the lord Oh who would not serve such a Master that is thus full of compassion thus readie to lay to heart and be affected with his servants miseries yea his very bowells are troubled his soule is grieved for them O let vs be plentifull and abundant in the service of such a Master Fourthly The Lord is readie to manifest this tender mercie and this gracious disposition of his in pardoning the wants and weaknesses of his servants in subduing their corruptions and in keeping covenant with them I must lap up many things together because I have not time to expresse them severally First He is sinne-pardoning Master yea he alone can doe it no man hath power on earth to forgive sinnes but God alone Mat. 9. Blesse the Lord O my soule forget not all his benefits who forgiveth thine iniquities and healeth thy diseases sayth David Psal. 103. 2 3. Here is a sin-pardoning Master yea he taketh no notice many times of our infirmities but graciously passeth by the weaknesses of his servants Numb 23. 21. He hath not beheld iniquitie in Iacob he hath not seene perversenesse in Israel or if he doe see he freely forgiveth it and spareth his servants as a man spareth his own sonne that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. And then he is a Covenant-keeping Master All his promises are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. Daniel giveth him this title Dan. 9. 4. O God the great and terrible that keepest Covenant with them that love thee he is alwayes as good as his word and often better Faithfull is he that hath called you 1 Thes. 5. 24. namely to his service he will keepe Covenant with you Nay see a place that hath all these together in it Mich. 7. 18 19. Who is a God like unto thee The Lord is a most incomparable Master there is none like him in all the world Why so Surely for those three things whereof I have now spoken first He is a sinne-pardoning secondly a corruption-killing thirdly a Covenant-keeping Master See all these in this Text That pardonest iniquitie and passeth by transgression c. there is a sinne-pardoning Master secondly He will subdue our iniquities and heale our back-slidings as Hosea 14 4. there is a corruption-killing Master Thou wilt performe thy truth to Iacob and mercie to Abraham and therefore he is a Covenant-keeping Master If this be rightly considered this will make us spend much time in Gods service Fifthly The Lord is a soule-saving Master yea he alone is able to doe this no Master under heaven is able to doe this An earthly Master may be kinde to his servants and give them many good things but he cannot save or redeeme their soules he must let that alone for ever Even they that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the
the Lord be magnified which hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his servants He loveth to have them merry at meate and at worke and sing for joy of heart Isa. 65. 14. And withall he is constant in his love towards them if he be angry it is but for a moment but his love and mercie is everlasting towards them See a singular place for this purpose in Isa. 54. 7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee and ver 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercie on thee sayth the Lord thy Redeemer If he be wroth if he seeme to forsake or hide himselfe from his servants it is but for a moment but his love and kindnesse is everlasting his mercy endureth for ever having loved his owne which were in the world he loved them unto the end sayth our Saviour Ioh. 13. 1. not for a time but for ever his love like himselfe is constant and unchangeable it is an everlasting love Ier. 31. 3. With an everlasting love have I loved thee therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawne thee sayth the Lord. Yea his love to his servants is so constant that nothing shall be able to diprive them of it nothing can finally doe it and for ever Rom. 8. 37 38. For I am perswaded sayth the Apostle that neither death nor life nor Angells nor height nor depth nor things present nor things to come nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yea sinne it selfe that is the most dangerous enemy of all for your iniquities have separated between you and your God Isa. 59. 1. cannot doe it yea rather then so your sinnes shall be pardoned and that for his owne sake Isa. 43. 25. for I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake will not remember thy sinnes Here is a gracious and a constant loving Master Tenthly and lastly This heavenly Master of ours is readie dayly to manifest and expresse his love towards his servants in hearing their prayers and revenging all such wrongs as are offered unto them See the proofe of this priviledge in both the branches of it First For his hearing prayers it is one of his titles of honour to heare prayers Psal. 65. 2. Especially the prayers of his servants and such as feare him Joh. 9. 31. If any man be a worshipper of God and a doer of his Will him he heareth Yea he will fulfill the desires of them that feare him he will heare their cry and save them Psalm 145. 18. And if any man delight in Gods service he shall have his hearts desire Psal. 37. 4. Delight thy selfe in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart What greater priviledge Yea he is many times found of them when they doe not seeke him Isa. 65. 24. It shall come to passe that when they call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will heare O how open is his eare unto their complaints when they are wronged by their adversaries and how readie is the Lord even speedily to avenge their wrongs Heare what the unjust Iudge sayth sayth our Saviour Luk. 18. 7. And shall not God avenge his owne Elect which cry day and night unto him I tell you that he will avenge them speedily True it is he will not allow his servants to be their own carvers and avenge themselves But what need they when he is ready to doe it for them Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Ro. 12. 19. He that toucheth Gods servants to hurt them doth touch the aple of his eye Zach. 2. 8 Hee taketh all their wrongs and injuries as done to himselfe and he will certainely and wisely avenge their wrongs 2 Kings 9. 7. Iehu shall smite Ahab and Iezabel but to what end Iehu's end was to get the kingdome but what was the Lords end that yee shall see in the place forenamed That I may avenge the bloud of my servants the Prophets and the bloud of all the servants of the Lord at the hands of Iezabell they must pay deare that shed the bloud of Gods servants the Lord himselfe will bee avenged of them Another place to this purpose is that we have Deut. 32. 41. If I whet my glistering sword and my hand takes hold on judgement I will render vengeance to mine enemies c. and I will make my arrowes drunke with bloud and my sword shall devoure flesh c. But whose bloud and flesh shall thus goe to wracke That ye shall see verse 43. Surely they that have shed the bloud of his servants for hee will avenge the bloud of his servants saith the Text. Who would not be abundant in his service that will not suffer his servants bloud to be unavenged CHAP. VIII Containing the three first Directions or meanes how to spend much time in Gods service FIrst If wee would spend much time in Gods service we must labour to have our hearts rightly fitted and prepared for that purpose There is a price in the hand of many a foole to get wisdome but he wanteth an heart to get wisdome saith Salomon Pro. 17. 16. How many blessed opportunities have we of spending time in Gods service which are let slip because wee want hearts rightly prepared for that purpose Hereupon it is that in the first place God requireth our hearts Proverbs 23. 26. My son give me thy heart and Ier. 14. 4. O Ierusalem wash thy heart from wickednesse A prophane heart can never endure to spend much time in God service but straight cryeth out behold what a wearinesse is it Mal. 1. 13. Hence it is that the Lord cryeth out most of all for want of a right and fit disposition of heart in the duties of his service Isaiah 29. 13. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouthes and honour me with their lips but their hearts are farre from me Here was the defects of Ezechiels hearers Ezech. 33. 31. ver They come unto thee as my people commeth and they also sit before thee as my people and they heare my words but they will not doe them where was the chiefe fault Surely in the heart for with their mouthes they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousnesse A covetous and a vicious heart will soone make a man weary of time spent in Gods service and therefore when any man setteth himselfe to doe God any service the Lord looketh directly with what heart he doth it It is an excellent speech of God to Samuel when hee was to choose Israel a King 1 Sam. 16. 7. the Lord said to Samuel Looke not on his countenance nor on the height of his stature c. For the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord
themselves with fasting and weeping and praying and then see the event promised V. 18. Then will the Lord be jealous for his Land and pitie his people Ver. 19. The like promise we have 2 Chron. 7. 13 14. If the people that are called by my Name shall humble themselves and pray and seeke my face c. So that in the opinion of God himselfe such prayers are excellent because most effectuall and prevalent with God in time of danger Yea this was the opinion of our blessed Saviour and therefore it was that he frequented the Jewish Synagogues the places appoynted for publike prayer though he was the most excellently furnished with the spirit of prayer of any that ever were yea and those Synagogues had great corruptions in them which sheweth how highly he esteemed of publike prayers which were solemnely made to God in the Congregation This also appeareth by experience See what wonderfull successe the Ninivites had in proclaiming publike fasting and prayer Ionah 8. 10. When God saw their workes how publikely solemnly they went to worke he repented of the evill that he intended to doe unto them and he did it not So see the successe that Iohosophat had by this meanes even at a dead lift 2 Chron. 20. 3. 13. Concerning which the Storie setteth out three things in that case as the most remarkable 1. The danger they were in their enemies being many in number were readie even suddenly to set upon them ver 1 2. 2. The course that they tooke to prevent the danger v. 3. He proclaimed a fast and set himselfe to seeke the Lord yea see how solemnly they went to worke Ver. 4. Judah gathered themselves together to aske helpe of the Lord even out of all the Cities of Iudah they came to seeke the Lord and ver 13. And all Iudah stood before the Lord with their little ones their wives and their children there was none left out Then thirdly See the strange and admirable successe that followed hereupon ver 22 23 24. c. They had the victorie without so much as striking of a stroke the enemies destroyed one another and the Iewes had nothing to doe but onely to divide the spoyle and returne due prayse and thankesgiving to God for so miraculous a deliverance See here the power of joynt prayers like a great flood they beate downe all before them And indeede in all reason the prayers that are made by the publike vote of Gods people must needs be the most effectuall for if the effectuall fervent prayer of one righteous man availe much Iam. 5. 17. much more of many Mat. 7. 7. Aske and you shall have seeke and yee shall finde and knocke and it shall be opened If a whole Towne or Parish doe all joyne together to aske a boone at some great mans hand they are most likely to prevaile rather then one man alone 2. If many eyes do joyne in seeking a thing that is lost there is the more probabilitie to finde it and if many joyne together with joynt forces to knocke at heaven gates are they not the more likely to beate them open O then the blockish folly of such as regard not these publike prayers that are made to God in the Church assemblies but doe often absent themselves upon every light and triviall occasion Yea and see the folly of those that preferre their owne private prayers before the publike prayers of the whole Church of God in the Congregation but above all the folly of those is most palpable that doe bestow that time in private reading upon a booke which they should imploy in joyning with Gods people in publike and solemne prayers if this be not to offer unto God the sacrifice of fooles I must needs confesse I doe not know what is Thirdly The third thing wherein the worth of such kinde of prayers appeareth is in regard of the glory that hereby redoundeth to God I know the Lord receiveth glory by the performance of holy duties in secret and in our families as well as in the Congregation but as 1 Cor. 15. There are degrees of glory there is one glory of the Sun another of the Moone another of the starres so in this case 1. Secret duties in our Closets that may be compared to the glory of the Starres 2. Private duties in our families that may be compared to the Moone-light 3. Publike duties in the Congregation that may be compared to the glorious light of the Sunne So that the most glory doth hereby redound to God Hence it is that David had such a speciall respect to the duties of Gods publike worship and service as Psal. 111. 1. I will praise thee O Lord with my whole heart in the assembly of the upright and in the Congregation So Psal. 116. 18. I will pay my vowes now in the presence of all his people Why so Surely because he knew that much glory did hereby redound to God Psal. 29. 1 2. Give unto the Lord glory and strength give unto the Lord the glory due unto his Name But how It followeth Worship the Lord in the beautie of Holines By this meanes we give unto God the glory due unto his name Fourthly In regard of the sweetnes comfort that hereby redoūdeth to Gods people this is afeast of fat things yea hereby we taste that the Lord is gracious 1 Pet. 2. 3. And it is unto Gods people the very joy rejoycing of the heart they are like unto them that keepe holy day as David expresseth it Ps. 42. 4. v. CHAP. XIV Containing a Description of the excellency of the Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper SEcondly As the excellency of the publike prayers should perswade us not onely to frequent the publike exercises of Religion our selves but also move us to exhort and perswade others so the excellency of the Sacraments which are rightly and duely administred in our Church assemblies should also perswade us hereunto O the excellency of these seales of Righteousnesse as the Apostle calleth them Rom. 4. 11. See it in both the Sacraments of the new Testament And First For Baptisme Consider the excellency of this Sacrament in it selfe the usefulnesse benefit of it in regard of our selves It was the Lord Jesus himselfe that instituted appointed this Sacrament It was he that said unto his Disciples Mat. 28. 19. Goe and teach all Nations and baptise them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne c. and therefore in no case to be slighted or disregarded Let no man therfore despise this Sacrament or scornfully turne their backs upon it when it is administred in the Congregation as many doe who eyther depart thence or else employ that time in private reading as if this Ordinance did nothing at all concerne them for it was Christ himselfe that instituted it therefore any contempt or indignity offered herein must needs reach unto Christ himselfe as the