Acts 20.7 On the preparation to the Sabbath the bodie of IESVS was begged by Ioseph to be buried Mark 15. Luk. 23. for obseruing the sabbath God hath commanded the kéeping thereof with a Memento Sunday was the first day of the Worldes Creation and the day of Christs Resurrection S. Iohn calles it Dies Dominicus I was in the spirit on the Lords day for it was by the Apostles established Reu. 1.10 and Saturday the Iews Sabbath abolished Therfore it behooues vs carefully to kéepe Sunday the Lords day The Law is perpetuall so is the Sabbath and is to be sanctified to Gods seruice For though being vnder the Gospell we are deliuered frō the shadows of the ceremoniall law yet it foloweth of congruity that we indeuor to kéepe the morall precepts and be obedient to Gods commandements else we are not grafied in Christ which saith Math 5. Thinke not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill If wee belong to him we will doe our industrie God is iealous of his glory which men diminish dishonouring him more on that day then in all the wéeke His Memento is not minded Man and beast must rest Yet rude ones ride on the Sabbath vpon small occasions All within thy gate must rest that is within thy power Childrē seruants and stranger Sée it performed preuent eternall punishment By Christ we haue Christian liberty to doo things of necessity for preseruation of life and of things in vtter decay on the sabbath Christ then healed a man and the Iews did lift shéepe from the pit and we must be carefull that the thing wee doe be such as cannot well be deferred to further time Néedlesse worldly workes wordes and worldly thoughts must be abandoned Nūb 15. God cōmanded all the people to stone a man that gathered sticks on the sabbath Math 1.80 Oh yee that follow lusts be obedient least yee be perpetually punished God lookes for our Obedience to obey is better then sacrifice Nehemiah 13. reprooued them that brake the sabbath in bearing sheaues and loading their Asses and that solde ware he told them that euill came on the Cittie because their Fathers did so The Lord by Ieremie 17.21 dehorteth from breaking the Sabbath and exhorteth people to hallow the same God promiseth a blessing if they obey if not a destruction Ioyfull promise is for performance For thus saith the Lord vnto the Eunuches that keep my Sabbaths choose the things that please me and take holde of my Couenant vers 5. Euen vnto them will I giue in mine house within my walles a place and a name better then of sonnes of daughters I wil giue them an euerlasting name that shall not be cut off In this Maior is a Benisson to him that knoweth not a woman if hee applie the Minor To euery man that kéepeth the sabbath not doing his owne wayes nor speaking his owne wordes God hath promised a blessing But God is forgotten and present pleasures thought on Some substantiall whome the world estéem of talke on their trash subtilty and sensualitie on that day and for a messe of potage with Esau lose their birthright Young-men some of them are like a generation of Vipers starting aside like a broken Bowe Neuters that delight not Gods Lawe say they belieue as the Church belieueth and how that is they knowe not as though they had a taste of the Whore of Babylon Lurking Masse-mongers doe seduce and make them luke-warme The body of Iezabel was deuoured but her Feete skull and handes remained And though the light doth disprooue Idolatrie some with deceiued tast thereof would burne incense to the Queene of heauen which God reprooued and seuerely punished Consider it yée that are thereto addicted They that loue darknes ha e the light least it should reprooue them Ierem. 44. Such are wilfull Absenters and some that heare are Sabbath-prophaners The true vse of the Sabbath is with the Assembly to heare Gods word read and preached to receiue the Sacrament with thanks and repentance to pray for our gratious King Iames Quéene and Royall progenie and for all Gods children being the Church vniuersall O Lord we thanke thee for our dread Soueraigne his great preseruation from Iannes Iambres and traitorly Iudas and we beséech thée to deliuer vs from such mercilesse papists Amen As at all times so chiefly on the Sabbath we must feede on the word and thanke our good God meditate comfort and counsell each other from euill to good and prouide for the poore at such time of the day as shall not hinder the seede sowne in vs. S. August makes mention of 3. kind of works that must be done on the Sabbath viz The works of godlines instructing the ignorant the works of Charitie giuing to the poore The works of necessitie to saue things in vtter decay As at all times so on this day let vs comfort the distressed praise him which rose then for our consolation and and Iustification The Iewes sabbath did put them in minde of their deliuerāce from the cruelty of Pharao vnto the desert where they were fed with Manna and so to the promised Canaan Our Sabbath puts vs in remembrance of our deliuerance from the fiery Pharao the diuell and that we shall possesse eternall rest if we obey God and keepe the true Rest An absenter sayes God heard Iob on the dunghil Daniel in the denne so may he me in my house Saint Dauid saith Psal 122. I was glad when they sayd vnto mee Let vs goe into the house of the Lord. Psa 84. My soule longeth yea euen faynteth for the Courts of the Lord. Hée accompanied the holy conuocation Psal 42. I went with them to the house of God with the voyce of ioy and prayse It must be the finall cause The swéete Singer saith Psal 81 Sing aloud vnto God our strength make a ioyfull noyse vnto the God of Iacob The ruder sort make not a ioyfull noyse they can sing few tunes for Psalmes nor in tune but disturbe the Congregation Dauids heart and swéete loud voyce makes harmony illustrating the glory of God which ordeyned heart and voyce He a type of Christ saith Psal 35.18 I will giue thee thanks in the great congregation I will prayse thee among much people Louers of God are ioyfull to prayse him among many and to sée God praysed by many Let vs not let it but loue it imbrace the truth and prayse God for it To the which blessed Trinitie be eternall honour prayse and glory Amen Tota ipsa anima laudet Iah ¶ Against the euill effects of Dicing and Carding DIcing and Carding are accustomed with company that vseth excesse they goe to an Alehouse and call for an Out-house and sit wrangling dishonouring God seruing of Sathan and cause vexation The winner spends it prodigally procuring Gods displeasure The sadde lozer gripes for money gréedily to be reuenged rashly hee ventureth more
makes none ingenious to goodnesse the euill effects are monstrous It dulles and takes away the sences sets the eyes in the head anstere and strange to behold It makes a man a monster metamorphosed from the Image of God to the image of the Diuell their actions are irksome to good people though the rude reioyce to see it Quaffing is the occasion if not the cause of felonious theeues and flattering theeues alias couseners the first are dangerous the last liker hypocrites to insinuate and say they loue you but it is the adiunct of your purse promising but neuer paying I restraine to particularize any by-qualitie or name yet many deteine that is not their owne but prosper not The effect of drunkennesse and gluttony is pouerty Pro. 23. Woe sorrow contentions babling woundes without cause rednesse of eyes are adioynts to them that tarry long at the wine At the last it byteth like a Serpent and stingeth like an Adder Thine eyes shall beholde strange Women and thine heart shall vtter peruerse thinges Wine and Women leade wise men out of the way The best wine and worst women are prouokers Much eating and drinking makes Idiocie and dotage whereby men are allured to the vndiscreet as Herode to graunt the head of blessed Iohn Baptist to a deceytfull Dauncer Hosea 4. Whoredome Wine and new wine infatuates the heart Excesse makes men estranged from themselues excluding all honesty humanity Some cannot liue on their lands nor others by good Occupations Psalm 107. and therefore spoyled in prisons A fruitfull Land is turned into barrennesse for wickednes Drunkennesse destroieth Gods benefits and doth auert his blessings Yee Common-wealth consumers deuote not your selues to the Diuell Your sursetting excesse so raiseth the price that the poore cānot maintaine theyr Families but are distressed some distracted Yée are the death and vndooing of thousands How can you answere for those yée cause to starue and for the death of your selues by your excesse All the world haue the lesse and worse successe for you Millions of men haue beene vndone by haunting such Houses Be counselled where they lost their liuing and learned leaudnesse Young men thinke on this for your sakes I write this before your Land be gone before yée be in thraldome and dis-franchised of your liberties Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth Eccles 12. before thine eyes be dimme and thou tremble Doe not procrastinate It is apparent that superfluous powring in of drinke hath prouoked God to powre downe extraordinary Flouds and for your foaming out to make the Sea breake out whereby People haue perished Cattell drowned Goods and Bridges borne into the Ocean The Skye cries against vs Thunders are fearfull Diuels irefull Trées rent Houses brent People killed many things destroyed God is displeased winde and weather auerre it oft Ships are sunke Oh we are obdurate we pull downe greater vengeance and amend not Manie vse Dolus to pamper theyr paunches with Diues till with that Epulo they taste dolorificus Oh soule thinke how the diuell doth pollute thée make not so much of thy bodie Excesse brings not salubritie nor sanctitie wholsomnesse nor holinesse but contrarie Prouerb 20. Wine is a mocker strong drinke is raging and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby is not wise Such are deceyued and vnwise as quaffe Quartes in a day but one were better and hée fitter to any good action Yet protract they the time at Ale-houses and make their bodies vnprofitable receptacles Prouokers fat themselues others for the day of slaughter hindring manie but profite not any Oh a dearth is to be dread Bée not a sucking Sodomite the mouth shal be full of earth Quaffing leades to the lake of quaking Pray and repent Our prosperitie tranquillitie and truth many yeares taught will be witnes to reprooue vs for want of loue to God and for our selfe-love to impiety Consider this yée that forget GOD. Be not brutish they are worse then Brutes that are bond-slaues to euill Affections Therefore hate that which God abhorreth to him be all honour for euer Amen DEO omnis Potestas Gloria ¶ Drunkennesse and Excesse of drinking reprooued COmbibo perswades his complices that they committe no Drunkennesse so long as they can talke and walk although theyr Bellyes be bladder-blowne But remember oh Swyne and manners worse what the Prophet saith Woe be vnto them them that are mightie to drink wine Esay 5.22 and men of strength to mingle strong drinke Now knowe that God hateth the inordinate Drinker although hée doe not stagger Some are gyddie by Age Sicknes or Imbecillity yet little drinkers the Drones are the Drunkards Woe and the woe of woes are denounced to them Esay 5.11 Woe vnto them that rise vp early in the Morning that they may follow strong drinke They haue woe and sorrowe Prou. 23. that tarrie long at the Wine Yet Bibulus whose best behauiour is barbarous vseth the Ale-house and abuses it as an euill-house woes will not warne him hée neglecteth his Vocation to the detriment of his Wife and Children But if any prouide not for his owne and especially for those of his owne House hee hath denyed the Faith 1. Tim 5.8 and is worse then an Infidell Many prouide for the wormes that shall wring their corpulent Carcases Christ giueth a Caueat Luke 21.34 Take heed to your selues least at any time your harts be ouercharged with surfetting and drunkennesse Let menacing or Admonition amend vs. Ephesians 5.18 And be not drunke with wine wherein is excesse but be filled with the Spirit Alas the Carcas is filled and the spirite of God excluded Heluo hasteth to hell and gormondise his guts till hee euacuates as hée receyued A Swyne is a swallower immoderate to moysture Matth. 8. The Gergesenes lost many into whom the Diuels entred droue them into the Sea drowned them in that moysture and the Diuels driue Swinish mindes to drowne them with drinke 1. Cor. 10. Our eating and drinking must be to Gods glorie to eate and drink to liue and not liue to eate and drink Drunkennes reuellings are fruits of the flesh Gal 5. they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God A fearfull Enthymeme to them not mortified Imbrace the saying of S. Paule not the pot Let vs walke honestly as in the day not in ryotting drunkēnes not in chābering wantonnesse nor in strife enuying but put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ Rom. 13.13 and make not prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts therof Except wée abandon the déedes of darknes we put not on the Lord Iesus but the diuell To sée him makes such to quake but they entertain him serue him and feare not The Lord saith by the prophet Ioel 1.5 Awake ye drunkards weepe and howle ye drinkers of wine Hee menaceth and admonisheth them to preuent the Anger to come Ierem 35.6 The Rechabites abstained from drinking of wine at
a womās garmēt This seemes a small matter so did it to Eue to taste forbidden fruit Oh foolish flesh it followes for all that doe so are abhomination vnto the Lord thy God It seemes some care not to be abhorred of God they will be as fine as D. in their Dubblets liker men then women wanton apparell is forbidden vers 11. Thou shalt not weare a garment of diuers sorts as of Wollen and Linnen together but where the lusts of the flesh are delighted God is not regarded for some at Font for fashion vowe to him that they forsake the Deuill and all his workes the vaine pompe and glory of the world tha carnall desires of the flesh and that they will not follow nor be led by them yet painted for a Play ruft like a royster Some that haue hayre of their owne are not content with the colour God gaue it but weare hayre none of their owne Others launch out their hayre dyed a Trim-tawny then must be muske to preuent the sent so perseuering in wanton behauiour they breake their fidelitie and couenant made with God promise in Baptisme is forgotten Oh be not hypocrites but Christians in déede promises to men must be perfomed Psal 15. much more vowes made to God Forsake your vanities follow righteousnesse Psal 76.11 Deu. 23.21 lest yee feele your folly Esa 3. The Lord saith because the daughters of Zion are hautie and walke with stretched forth neckes and wanton eyes walking and mincing as they goe and making a tinkling with their feet he would take away their brauerie and giue them in stéed of well set hayre baldnesse which came to passe with much miserie You with great Ruffes and stretched neckes leaue it when pride is at the highest it is neerest the fall 2 Kings 9. Iezabel painted her face and attired her head but presently trodden vnder feet and torne with Dogges yet painting and making the face shine like a shoing-horne is common Qui se pingunt in hoc seculo aliter quam creauit Deus Cyprian metuant ne cum dies resurrectionis venerit artifex creaturam suam non recognoscat Those which paint or colour themselues in this world otherwise then God hath made them let them feare lest when the day of Iudgement commeth the Lord will not know them for his creatures Some will haue their beauty decored it is to be feared their soules are deformed And as their soules are alienated and estranged so their bodies are metamorphosed and changed from the fashion God framed them Exornation hath no order Many make themselues gasing-stockes till they proue poore and are kept on the Parish Prou. 7. She that inticed the young man was clothed in harlots attire whereby we gather by the holy Ghost that intincing attyre is whorish Tit. 2. Temperance is an adiunct to Christians if Adam and Eue had continued in their first estate garments had beene néedlesse and shall we extoll our selues in that which our perfidious act procured Will a Théefe gild the rope his théeuish act hath purchased If a Sempronian say The rope bereft the life but apparell preserues the same I say costly array which is by Gods word forbidden is a meanes to kill Body and Soule Prou. 3.5 Leane not vnto thine owne vnderstanding the least sinne deserues damnation yet we forsake heauenly directions and follow fleshly affections Suus cuiusque crepitus sibi bene olet euery one thinketh his owne wayes best O be not wey-ward but warned for the holy Ghost speakes not in vaine God made Adam and Eue coates of skinnes Gen. 3.21 and cloathed them yet they had the superioritie of the whole Earth Therefore this prepared apparell for them should be as a glasse to vs to sée and flye from Folly and a Pedagogie to teach vs to vse it for necessitie not for sensualitie But how agrée the comely coates of these wealthy Gouernours with the superfluous fashions of Wat Waste-all and fooleries of Minion Marre-all which goe past their abilitie shamelesse and gracelesse with all their wealth in vanities to be viewed And how agreeth fancy fine nobles with iagges welts gardes gay tufts great Rufs confused sets supporters bushes to make their bodies straight and want of Gods word to rule their soules right their corked héeles set vp so hie that some doe tread awry They despise and didiget at those that weare small Bands and plaine decent apparell which are worne for foure causes First to be obedient to God and agreeable to his word Secondly for a helpe to pull downe our pride Thirdly to win others Fourthly they maintaine it with trueth and honestie Boe ashamed you and yours that consume all by your excesse Pride is combined with witlesse fashions Some men are like monsters with Ruffes farre excéeding former Ruffins Boyes haue shalt haired heads some bigger a curious cut lockes for pediculus long of each side stigmaticall like He that subiected his body saith Doth not euen Nature it selfe teach you that if a man haue long hayre it is a shame vnto him 1 Cor. 11. Nitimur in vetitum semper cupimusque negata We desire things forbid and couet things denyed vs. Spanish pompe and Spaniards pride hath long lockes as if they were ashamed of their eares with Shirts hanging out at knees disguised from top to toe as if they went to the pit infernall A mans attire and excessiue laughter and gate Ecclus. 19.30 shew what he is Ambr. 1. Officior Est in ipso motu gestu incessu tenenda verecundia habitus enim animi in corporis statu cognoscitur Externall actions bewraye internall affections some excéed in varietie as though they might spend much a yere by Land yet nothing Men of Nobilitie Gentilitie and Yeomen of habilitie goe decent and plaine when farre inferiours are shin-trim and garded with others goods got by guile O earth be humble Gen. 2.7 thou wert made of that beasts tread vpon Gen. 3.14 and of that Serpents eate on Our first Parents were Gods Vicegerents and God could as easily haue cloathed them in gorgeous apparrell as in plaine coates of skinnes Then minde it it was to mooue vs to mediocritie Those garmenes speake to vs that GOD allowes vs cloths to couer our nakednes but not to abuse them in excesse Christ nor his Apostles gaue no such examples Christs garment was without seame Math. 3. Iohn had his rayment of Camels hayre and a leathern pelt about his loynes Gods children haue beene content to weare sheepes skinnes and Goates skinnes Heb. 11.37 Garments according to euery mans calling plaine and comely are commendable we may vse them but not abuse them It is lawfull to eate drinke and weare apparell but excesse of eyther incurres Gods displeasure Hauing food and raiment Tim. 6. let vs therewith be content It is more then God owes vs and wee proud beggars deserue nothing but damnation Content must be when wee haue but food and rayment if riches wee must not consume
saith Mat. 5. Reproofe of Swearing Let your communication be Yea yea Nay nay for whasoeuer is more then this commeth of euill When wee sweare we must vse the glorious Name of God with great reuerence and feare Deut. 6.13 Heb. 6.16 viz. Where the glory of God is sought or the saluation of our brethren or before a Magistrate in witnessing the truth not in our communication or otherwise vainely It is forbidden Leuit. 19.12 And yee shall not sweare by my Name falsely neither shalt thou prophane the Name of thy God I am the Lord. Regard it Deut. 5. For the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine The Lord hath sayd Zacha. 5. That the curse shall enter into the house of him that sweares falsely by his Name Leuit. 24. God commaunded that hee which blasphemed his Name should bee stoned It was effected and now is to be wished such should be punished Although it be reprooued it is to be feared few will refrayne for Sathan is subtill to seduce before Christs comming and is industrious to draw vs to that God hath forbidden so that some as in their health did sweare and curse so haue they in their sicknesse and departed fearefully Esay 45.9 Woe be to him that striues with his Maker Consider this yee that forget God lest I take you away Psa 50.22 and there bee none to helpe Oh if you knew him you would quake to blaspheme him his glorious brightnesse excells the Sunne in the Firmament so that sinfull eyes cannot beholde him Esay 6. Seraphins couer their faces in Gods presence Thou blast of breath bee not so saucie with the GOD of Might and Maiestie Ieremie 10.6 Forasmuch as there is none like vnto thee ô Lord thou art great and thy Name is great in might vers 10. At his wrath the earth shall tremble Oh bragge beggers bold to dishonour him you must from wealth Psa 8. or wealth from you it is none of yours honour the owner The Psalmographe doth ingeminate this O Lord our God how excellent is thy Name in all the earth Our Sauiour taught vs to say Hallowed be thy Name Let vs not derogate it Bad children grieue to see their father misvsed much more Gods children to sée our heauenly Father abused Some leawd of the vulgar heare and beare with Sweaters and Drunkards but checke such as abhorre it for any small infirmitie past for want of fore-sight and with lying make a myte a mountaine I would I and others had but infirmities I haue millions of sinnes and GOD knowes of more then I can remember Good God assist vs to resist and hate sinne in our selues and others that with silence we sée thee not blasphemed Common Swearers are commonly Cursers and askers of euill petitions impious people are wrathfull like the Diuell asking plagues poxe and all kinde of euill So ofte times they haue that they craue Our tongues are not to be vnruly euils but to pray to God and praise him He that vilifieth his Name shewes himselfe worse then a tode which by singing sets sorth Gods praise Psal 148. Zelous Dauid exhorteth créeping things vnrationall to praise GOD yet men with reason blaspheme him which none can doe that loue him A president repugnant was S. Dauid Blesse the Lord ô my soule and all that is within mee blesse his holy Name Psal 103. Let euery thing that hath breath praise the Lord. And shall Man hauing reason blaspheme him Psal 150. Oh it is odious to a Christian Therefore when thou hearest any take Gods name in vaine say Blessed be his Name If he regard it not exhort him with leuitie If he be peruerse refraine his companie Ioseph by kéeping Pharaohs Court learned to sweare By the life of Pharaoh Gen. 42. but he returned to such vertue as is to be feared few do for sin is now so auaileable it seemeth to be ineuitable O arrogant earth feare the Almighty Bee not an Infidell worse then the Diuell The Diuels belieue and tremble True Faith and true feare hath care to eschue euill and doe good Prou 8.13 Iames 2.19 The feare of the Lord is to hate euill pride and arrogancie and the euill way and the froward mouth doe I hate A Blaspheamer with his froward mouth and black tongue makes his soule blacke GOD made it to praise him not to dishonour him He saith 1. Sam 2.30 For them that honour mee I will honour and they that despise mee shal be lightly esteemed Pray to GOD and praise him none can saue thee but hée and he abhorreth sinne Heb 1.13 Thou art of purer eyes then to behold euill canst not look on iniquitie Now let vs consider this how wee procure Gods anger and grieue him with our sinne by Sathans seducing To sée him maketh man to quake but the Swearer séemes to be possessed and feare not Both must be admonished You that with silence heare it and yée that vse it leaue it least in Hell yee languish with blaspheming and cursing the time of byrth and being To preuent it Repent Loue God and laude him Else at Iudgement day thy conscience will accuse thee Christ will refuse thée the Hoast of Heauen abhorre thee and Diuells euer torment thée From which good Lord deliuer vs for IESVS sake that bought vs. To the which GOD Almightie thrée persons in Trinitie be all possible praise for euer Amen Benedic anima mea Iehouae An Inuectiue for Sabbath-Prophaners THe abuse of the Sabbath doth greatly derogate the glory of God Vsed of some in the Church of some out of the Church Concerning euill behauiour in the Church There are certaine seduced in greedie getting or néedlesse decking that they goe late attyred meeter for a Play then to pray Whose eyes wander in euery corner and the finest fashion is their prospect They by watching about their follie and others too full fed doe slumber and comber the Church offending God and grieuing the good The hungry sléepe not at dinner to sléepe at a Sermon shewes no hungrie desire the paunch full is vnfit to pray Sermon-sléepers whether Papists or Neuters intrude among the Protestants They ease the corps by leaning So should they the Conscience and auoyde sleeping by standing but Pinguitie preuents it Ignorants went farre to fall to an Image Farre and neere fall thou to the true God Goe sooner and be better prepared to pray and praise him Parents rebuke your boyes Some Ruffians and rude ones yea bragge boyes haue hattes on their heads when Psalmes are read or sung being Prayers and petitions 1. Cor. 11.4 Euery man praying or porphecying hauing his head couered dishonoureth his head To begge of a King couered is vncomely Much more so to begge of the King of Kings Some sittes praying the Lords Prayer Matthew 26.39 CHRIST did prostrate and pray because of our sinnes and shall not we sinners knéele when we pray S. Paule did it Acts 21.5 If wee
yée that haue play vsed in your houses lose not Paradise for pelfe It was decréed in the time of Iustinian that such houses should be confiscat In stead of Cardes and Tables haue a Bible on thy Table Put off and abhorre euill Eph. 4.24 And that yee put on that new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Christ nor his Apostles were no gamesters yet the Libertine that should learne to read makes gaming his summam voluptatem and saith it refresheth his wit but that which is swéetest refresheth the wit soonest The Prophet saith Psa 119. vers 103. How sweet are thy words vnto my taste yea sweeter then honey to my mouth vers 62. At midnight I will rise to giue thanks vnto thee because of thy righteous iudgements That time is pleasant to play but not for them to giue thanks and pray Then they throw pots at each other with such swearing and blaspheming of God as is grieuous Vers 148. Mine eyes preuent the night watches that I might meditate in thy word but others refuse their rest to ryot He desired Gods word farre aboue fine gold Psa 19. and thought it swéeter then the hony combe Others refuse it for dice cards wanton company The sanctified grieuing for their sinnes séeke in Gods word for swéete comfort but such as loue leawdnesse get false comfort by lasciuiousnes They refuse Gods word playing wantonnesse and foolish iesting is a salue for their sore Blessed is he that can say in his heart Psa 119.97 O I loue thy Lawe it is my meditation all the day Pray for that minde yee that prophane euery day Deut. 6. Gods precepts must bée as frontlets betwéene mens eyes they are Gods childrens pastime The impious vse an Antithesis and passe their time with contraries they say they are the apter but it is to euill So the Diuell seduced Eue to thinke that by eating the forbidden fruit their eyes should be opened and be as Gods Gen. 3. but it was to the ruine of them and theirs Re. 4. In heauen God is praysed continually and canst not thou endure it at voyd times O rich earth poore earth proud earth loue God and vse it on earth Be not gracelesse and shamelesse to omit vertuous singing reading conference prayer and meditating to vse dice and carding Doe not procrastinate amend spéedily and spend thy short time profitably Be expedit for the day of the Lord Luk. 21.35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth Vers 36. Watch ye therfore and pray alwaies that ye may bee accounted worthy to escape all these thinges that shall come to passe and to stand before the Sonne of man 2. Pet. 1. And giue diligence to make your calling election sure O consider we can spare no time for idle playing nor idle speaking Heb. 6. The earth which bringeth thornes and bryers is reiected 1. Pet. 1.13 Wherefore gird vp the loynes of your minde be sober and hope to the ende Let vs doe well lest God come with deuouring fire and finde vs euill occupied Let the remembrance of his sudden comming preuent euill in thée againe againe I beséech thee Soli Deo laus gloria ¶ A meanes of amendment FOrasmuch as many liue liker Atheists then true Christians here are certaine motiues to excite to amend Many seruing Sathan can boast they shall bee saued not come to the steppe of pietie to hate iniquitie that they may apply Christs righteousnes to their conscience That most of this world shall be saued many places of holy writ refelleth Mat. 22.14 Multi sunt vocati pauci vero clecti Many are called but few are chosen It followes few shall be saued O fearefull sequell O consider thine estate hee without whom is no saluation spake it Heb. 9.28 Christ was once offered to beare the sinnes of many yet few saued relatiuely in respect of the damned His death is sufficient but few haue that seruent faith whose effect is a godly life Christ giueth a cauent Mat. 7.13 Enter ye in at the straight gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there bee which goe in thereat 14. Because straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth vnto life and few there be that finde it Consider the oppositions The broad way to destruction many walke the narrow way to life few finde The entrance is straight the passage troublous sharpe and full of difficulties vnpleasant and repugnant to the pleasurable broad way Gods word is the right rule from which men make an aberration And Christ is the true way but he that is in Christ is a new creature And to such as begin so to be so many temptations rebukes and tryals wait on that vertuous life as few endure Troubles with pietie is a Christians liuery here is little or no Alcion time We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdome of God Act. 14.22 Christ saith Luke 13.14 Striue to enter in at the straite gate for many I say vnto you will seeke to enter and shall not be able This command and the reason might excite vs to cut off all obstacles and haue godly strife rife to excell in vertue Alas our striuing and seeking is in the broad way hauing a forme of pietie denying the power thereof few leaues fewer fruit The fiue foolish sought and craued Mat. 25. but were excluded the faith that brings foorth good fruits is required Belialls may Iaunce themselues Iusticiaries whippe themselues without true touch of conscience as appeares by their present committing of incontinencie and bloudy massacry The prophane may follow iniquitie presume on Gods mercy and sinne in such séeking the best is neglected the worst is delighted Many are perfidious else they would beleeue Christs words and be zealous to amend Consider seuere sayings Mathew 20.16 2. Esd 8. The most High hath made this world for many but the world to come for few Saint Aug. affirmes it Si omnes liberarentur foret vt absconditum esset quod peccato debetur propter iustitiam Sin autem nemo liberaretur foret vt non appareret quod per gratiam donatur If all should bee deliuered that were hid which by Iustice is due for sinne but if no man should bée deliuered that should not appeare which is giuen through grace Wée are all by nature the children of wrath it is Gods mercy to saue any The Elect shall be saued they with a liuely faith are louers and liuers of righteousnes to that end such are deliuered being fewer then the faithles Luke 1.17 Christs death is sufficient for all but not effectuall to all the fault is in vs sinfull people Oh let vs pray and repent with auersion from sinne and conuersion to godlinesse for right beleeuing hath good liueing without which liuely faith we pertaine not to Christ for that
be here Math. 17.4 But then wee shal be in light vnchangeable and sée Christ euer in felicity whom his enemies had in obloquie Those Ioyes infinite passe all Ioyes finite The voyce of Ioy and gladnes shal be euer with the righteous Oh happy heires of heauēly inheritance without our deserts Aug. Deus coronat dona sua non merita nostra God crowneth his owne gifts not our merites O blesse the Lord who redeemeth thy life frō destruction Psal 103.4 who crowneth thee with louing kindnes tender mercies Feare not little flock Lu 12.32 Reu 4.8 for it is your Fathers good pleasure to giue you the kingdome O let vs say holy holy holy Lord God Almightie which was is is to come We shal be Citizens with the saints and of the houshold of God dignified and glorified In Ioy we shal reioyce that our names are written in heauen franchessed fréemen irreuocably inrolled as sure rather surer then the estate of Angells We shall haue the fruition of Christs Resurrection and be manumissed from the bondage of death and destruction Frée denizens freed from miseries and proude peoples malice Those Ioyes passe all Iubilees Good Iesus bring vs to that blisse As there is no equalitie betwixt the Creator and vs here sinfull creatures So is there none betwéene the ioyes of Heauen and worldly pleasures These are ioyes transitory the other Ioyes eternall Rom. 8.17 Wee shall be ioynt heires with Christ and partakers of true happinesse There is no sighing singing No heauinesse Ioyfulnes No ignominie glory Holy holy holy shall be euer ascribed to Iehouah The Virgins could learne the new song which follow the Lambe Reuel 14. Oh the Ioyfull harmony that wee shall heare and be glorified euer in glorie Wee shall haue a palace vnspeakable being deliuered into the glorious libertie of the Children of God Luke 20.36 Neither can they doe any more for they are equall to the Angels and are the Children of GOD being the children of the Resurrection If a man here sicke heard those ioyes he would not féele his paine Oh ioyfull shall we be when we be there hearing seeing and hauing vnspeakable ioyes Aug Erit in Coelo domus tua aeterna si modò bene in hoc tabernaculo vixeris Thine house shall bee eternall in heauen if now thou liuest well in this tabernacle Lose not that permanent Paradise for this pleasure which in respect thereof is paine for the Barley corne lose not the pretious Pearle for carnall copulation eternall benediction for a minute of selfe-will Reu 3.20 millions of yéeres ioyfull Ah God forbid he bids vs returne and reteyne him Behold I stand at the doore and knocke Receiue him and hee will receiue thée to sit in glory with his Maiestie which is a dignitie of all dignities Iob. 19.25 This did mitigate Iobs misery For I know my Redeemer liueth that he shall stand at the latter day vpon the earth and though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God S. Paul saith Phil. 3. For our conuersation is in heauen from whence also wee looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body c. A Comfort Our bodies shall be conformable to the body of Christ our Head We shall be like him ill thoughts bad motions and perturbations shall be excluded Wee heare this but hée that beléeues it and hopes to haue it his affection is fixed in heauen Therfore pray and repent so shalt thou haue what A worldly commodity for which thou dost venture soule and body Ah thou shalt haue a Throne of tryumph excéeding all earthly treasures to reigne in ioyes for euer If thou hadst all earthly riches plentiousnes pleasures and pleasantest place on earth with all elegant obiects Princely prospects dainty delicates musicall Instruments swéete singers persumes and fine sauours with all thy vnfained friends and choyce of chiefe louers yet all this were paine in respect of heauen where we shall ouer be with our good God to whom be all prayse honour power and glory now and euer Amen with heart and tongue againe Amen Gloria in excelsis Deo PSAL. 66.18 If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not heare me PROV 23.26 My sonne giue me thine heart ¶ Pray heartily OH heauenly Trinitie one God in vnitie to thee bee all honour Glorious God at thy brightnes the Sunne Moone and Starres are abashed and impure in thy sight much more I a sinfull creature which by mine iniquities haue stained those bright creatures Omniscient God thou knowost my thoughts before I thinke them and knowest me before I was I was conceiued in sin borne in sinne in sinne I liue I am by nature the childe of wrath O giue me grace to be borne from aboue that I may enter into thy kingdome I am not worthy to looke vp to thee I deserue to bee cast downe to hell but I appeale to the Throne of thy mercy in the Name of Iesus my Sauiour which calleth all penitent sinners to him to giue them rest Oh Sauiour refresh my silly soule which cryes to thee out of my sinfull carkasse that I may apply thy sufferings merits and promises to my soule and conscience and be accepted through thy righteousnes My Lord and my God out of 〈◊〉 side issued the bloud of my redemption and water of absolution to purge me from pollution thou standest at the dore and knockest giue me grace to open the dore of my heart touch it with the finger of thy Spirit that it maybe a fit receptacle to entertaine thee Create in me a cleane heart ô God and renue a right spirit within me that I may resist all exill and walke in righteousnes and holinesse all the dayes of my life Let the assurance of thy loue wipe all teares from mine eyes so come Lord Iesus Good God forgiue me all my sinnes for Iesus sake in whom thou art well pleased cloath me with his righteousnes and behold me in him I doe deserue damnation but hee hath payde my ransome Lord let me finde and feele thy mercy Giue mee grace to redeeme the time and spend it to thy prayse Blesse this Realme our King Queene and Royall Progeny blesse and comfort all thy children Make vs loue those things that thou dost loue and hate that thou hatest that we may keepe faith and a good conscience And if it be thy will forgiue and conuert our enemies Good God prepare me and thy children fit for thy kingdome O Christ giue vs grace to examine our selues whether thou be in vs that we may expresse the power of godlinesse in our liues Lord receiue our soules when we depart this life that we may prayse thee in heauen eternally The which peace God bring vs for Iesus sake that bought vs to whome with thee ô Father and the holy Ghost three persons and one God be all might maiestie prayse honour glory power and dominion now and euer Amen Watch and pray prayse God FINIS
knéele not standing is fitting so did the poore Publican Luke 18.13 GOD ordained body and soule and will be acknowledged by both 1. Cor 6. For yee are bought with a price Therefore glorifie God in your bodie and in your Spirite which are Gods And if we will not willingly hée will be glorified in our destruction Therefore stand in awe with inward and outward obedience Esay 66.5 Heare the word of the Lorde yee that tremble at his word Psalme 134. Lift vp your hands in the Sanctuarie and blesse the Lorde Blessed Preachers performe it so ought the people Deuout Dauid saith Psal 63. I will lift vp my hands in thy Name Nehemiah 8.3 The people did with willing mindes heare the Word of God from the morning vntill Midday and the eares of the people were attentiue Vers 5. All the people stood vp Vers 6. And Ezra blessed the Lord the great GOD And all the people answered Amen Amen with lifting vp their hands and they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lorde with theyr faces to the ground Such Agilitie moueth vigilancie as a meanes of amendment but be frée from hypocrisie God abhorres it Be euer more zealous then thou séemest Lift vp thy hands with hart annexed for hands without heart is abhominable vers 8. So they read in the booke of the law of God distinctly gaue the sence caused them to vnderstand the reading Theyr Teachers did comfort them Vers 9. For all the people wept Alas little is our wéeping much sléeping Pride omits submission Re. 1.7 But all the kinreds of the earth shall waile because of him And some so soone as Sermon is done wrangle of worldlinesse and are more stout then studious Loue of Riches chokes the Word A good Cow chewes her cud increasing good bloud and we must meditate in the word whē we haue heard If we were pricked in our harts we would say to the Preacher and each to other as the people to Peter and the rest of the Apostles Acts 2.37 Men Brethren what shall we do Then Peter said vnto them Repent We know it God graunt we may doe it Mark 11. Iesus went into the Temple and cast out them that did abuse the same Ver 16. And would not suffer that any should carry any vessell thorow the Temple Ver 17. And he taught saying vnto them It is written My house shal be called of all Nations the house of Prayer Slacke we are to pray or repaire that House but where bodyes are fed and lasts fulfilled building is not spared For the neglect of building the Lordes House Haggai by them that dwell in their steled houses the Lord staied Heauen from deaw and the Earth from her fruite Nabuchadnezzer gloried in his building Dan. 4.30 but heard a woefull voyce Many braue buildings are burned God make vs more mindefull of his House and to vse our selues well therein Amen Of euill behauiour out of the Church THe more a man neglects the means of true knowledge the liker he is a Beast the more endued with that light of life the liker hée is his Creatour Yet Church-sléepers and slack-goers can on the Sabboth hast to an Alehouse and say the Preacher was too tedious which shewes they felt not the swéete taste for such sits longer in leaude demeanour and loues it Men can watch a day to compasse a match for backe and belly or to kéepe ill companie but to heare glad tidings is thought tedious Hee that is wearie of Gods word is weary of God Looke into it It is his Image by whome the Sonne hath reuealed him As some are carelesse so their Children growe gracelesse Boyes are in back-lanes swearing and swaggering in open Stréetes wrangling in houses playing in yardes worrying Dogges and Cattes committing mercilesse actions Had not Man sinned Beasts had not striued Some reioyce in the sight and in sinne Good Parents doe kéepe children and Seruants to their bookes repeating to them that the Preacher taught when lewd ones are in stréetes desturbing them They that instruct not their Familie are like to féele of theyr follie Iacob reformed his Houshold Cornelius feared God Genes 35. Acts 10. with all his house When children disfigure their faces Parents are grieued but they sée them disfigure their Soules and suffer it Let not your Boyes be rude in streetes to people that passe gracelesse youth grieue them daily casting scornefull words or worse There is difference of Youth the well trained vp are vertuous the idle are vicious and haue cause to crie Nocet indulgentia nobis Sufferance doth hurt vs. Some such at ten yeares are past recouery hanged by twenty Securitants consider it Then they crye out of their parents Had they feared God their children had not miscaried For this is his Edict Leuitic 19.30 Yee shall keepe my Sabbaths and reuerence my Sanctuarie I am the Lord. But such regarde not they scorne the Aged that giue them good counsell yet Age is a Type of Eternitie And God saith Vers 32. Thou shalt rise vp before the hoary head and honour the face of the Olde man and seare thy God I am the Lord. They that feare God dare not prophane his Sabbath But some trauell all that day Others heare a Sermon in the Forenoone and an other in the after but spend the other part of the Day in bargaining and other vnprofitable pastimes GODS WORD is compared to a Hammer to breake a stone Oh Sabbath-prophaner art thou harder Clay doth the Sunne make thée harde Pharaos heart art obdurate Be submisse and mollified Amend pray and praise God Laudate nomen Iehouae ¶ A proofe that the Sabbath must be obserued SAbbat signifies holy rest not ryot God hath commanded and reserued that one whole day of seauen to be celebrated to his Maiestie He gaue the example And he rested on the seuenth day Genes 2.2 from all his worke which he had made The kéeping of the Sabbath is a Morall precept God spake it Exod 20. God wrote it Exod 31.18 and the Tables of stone being broken God wrote the second time on tables of stone Exod. 34. as hee did on the first The Sabboth was commanded for a perpetuall couenant Ex 31.16 God allowed vs sixe dayes to worke reserued to himselfe one which men would rob him of The wicked would haue all dayes and the diuell would haue all soules To worke therein was death Ex 35. On which day Exod 16. the Iewes might kindle no fire Sixe dayes they might gather Manna on the seuenth there was none to be found they were forbidden to séeke it that day and euery man commanded to abide in his place the seueth day God tooke away the occasion from their labour signifying how holy he would haue the Sabbath kept It is a Sabbath of rest Leuit. 23. an holy conuocation and was commaunded to be celebrated from Euen to Euen S. Paule kept the whole day and continued his preaching till midnight