servants wear it yea he adopts them and makes them not only his servants but his children 1 John 12.2 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father to you and you shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty he makes them not only Sons but Heirs Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 Gives them the Wedding Garment Mat. 22.12 Yea marries them to his Son Cant. 6.3 Thus we see there is good wages if there were no more but they have much more in Reversion a Kingdom a Kingdom of glory they shall enter into their Masters joy Mat. 25.24 Yea into a Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the World yea into life eternal Mat. 25.34.46 See now if thou canst meet with a Master that gives better wages the Devil indeed promiseth much but performeth little all this saith he will I give thee when he can give just nothing but suppose he had the World at his dispose what good would it do thee it cannot give coâ—tent and make thee happy Indeed there was one dream't of happiness in a prosperous Estate but when he wak't it was but a Dream Luk. 12.16 c. Content grows not in the Worlds Garden these outward things bear no proportion to an immortal Soul they are of too base a birth and breeding to give it content but if it could satisfie at present what wilt thou do at Death then they must down to the Chambers of Death to Hell it self there to remain for ever and ever this is the Devils wages which he will certainly give all those that serve him 6. Motive To serve God in the sincerity of our Hearts is the only way to true happiness and to serve any other Master but him or to serve him Superstitiously or Hypocritically is the certain way to Ruine and Destruction all those that have served God in sincerity not one of them have miscarried and of all other there is not one that ever attained Heaven and Happiness the way of Holiness is the only Road to true Happiness and how can the end be attained if the means be not used 't is Godliness that hath the Promise of this Life and that to come Happiness is that which all men seek but few men find because few sought it in a way of Holyness The Covetuous man thinks if he could get Riches he should attain Happiness and this makes him Moil and Toil and Cark and Care yea make himself miserable that he may be happy and yet never attains so much as content and wounds his Conscience to get an Estate and is but like a Sumpter Horse that goes loaden all the day with as much Treasure as he can carry and at night stript of all and turned into a dirty stable with his gall'd back so after Death they shall be turned into Hell with their gall'd Consciences The Voluptuous man that placeth his happiness in pleasure thinks if he can but obtain his desire he shall be happy but how little satisfaction can he find here all his pleasure ends in a snuff and the end of his Mirth is Sadness and all this while he deprives himself of true pleasure The Ambitious man thinks to ascend the steps of Honor is to attain Happiness when alas this is the emptiest of all Bubbles and how oft do we see men break their necks from the top of Promotion These men build the Fabrick of their Hopes and Happiness upon a Sandy foundation where one dashing shower or stormy tempest throws down their Babel but a Christian laies a sure foundation in Holyness and in the fear and service of God they build upon the Rock which never fails them they seek Happiness in Gods way Psal 128.1 Blessed is every one that serveth the Lord and walketh in his way not every one that is Rich or Honorable this is the Worlds language and not Gods Deut. 7.14 If thou walk in his way thou shalt be blessed above all People that is if thou serve him according to his will Psal 33.12 Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord that is they chose God for their God and serve him as God Mat. 5.3,4 c. We may see who it be that in Christs account are blessed not those that are Rich and Potent Honorable or Mighty but the poor in Spirit those that mourn for their sins the Meek the Merciful the Pure in heart those that hunger and thirst after Righteousness those that are reviled and persecuted for righteousness sake c. that is those that live holily towards God and righteously towards Men that make the word of God the rule of their Lives that servant that did his Masters will in sincerity shall be blessed by him at his coming Mat. 24.46 He that in his Masters abscence improved his Talents well shall be made Ruler over much and enter into his Masters joy Mat. 25.21 He that refreshed the People of God according to the Will and Covenant of God shall receive a Kingdom prepared for him by God Mat. 25.34.46 Read Deut. 28. through out And see there the Promises made to the obedient and the Curses denounced against the disobedient and see which are in the most hopeful way to happiness yet there are many that are apt to say with those Job 21.15 Who is the Almighty that we should serve him or what profit is it to pray unto him or as Pharaoh in the like words Exod. 5.2 Who is the Lord that I should obey him I know not the Lord neither will I obey him but the Lord after made himself known in his destruction There are many that have business they tell us to follow and cannot live by the Scriptures or hearing Sermons neither have they time to pray in their Families c. But let these prayerless Families beware of the Curse Jer. 10.25 Psal 79.6 Hast any greater business to do than to serve thy God and secure thy Soul as thou makest the world thy business so 't is like to be thy Portion but it will leave thee short of happiness the best of Saints and the wisest of Men have taken another course and have sailed in a course of Holiness to the Port of Happiness for no other Wind blows thither Enoch walked with God and God took him Gen. 5.24 That is he walked in the waies of God and obeyed the command of God the like we read of Noah He was perfect in his Generation and walked with God Gen. 6.9 This course of life Abraham Isaac and Jacob followed David also and Hezekiah Johosophat and Josiah and many more 't is said of these they served God with a perfect heart Job was a just man and one that feared God Job 1.8 So was good Obadiah 1 King 18.3 thus Daniel and his fellows Dan. 3.17 and 6.2 thus Paul Cornelius Zachary and Elizabeth Act. 27.23 and 10.22 Luk. 1.6 and thus was Christ himself no guile was found in his mouth 1 Pet. 2.22 All these walked in the way of
the Ceremonial part concerned them only and though we read not that it was Observed in those first Ages yet it follows not that it was not when many thousand things then done could not be expressed in so short a History Yea the same seems to be known to the Jews before the Law was given Exod. 16.23 c. To Morrow is the Rest of the Holy Sabbath c. When it was after that God gave it in the Command and if this Rest upon the seventh day be Ceremonious why not the Command of Labour on the six other days also And why doth not this cease to be a Duty as well as the other and then the idlest Persons may be the best Christians We may find this Command reaches even to the stranger that is within the Gates when I think the Ceremonies are not prest upon them Many Reasons also are given in the Command which belong to us as well as to the Jews as from the Equity of it God who is the Disposer of all gives us Six days and reserves one to himself which he calls his own The Sabbath of the Lord thy God And Christ tells us The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath and from his own Example he Rested and therefore Commands us to Rest the End was to Worship God in it and to Dedicate it to his Service for the Resting of Man and Beast upon it and distinguishing his People from others c. and doth not this concern us as well as the Jews God requires no less proportion of Service now than he did then and therefore no less time to do it in Our Bodies require as much Rest as theirs and our Souls as much Food and why should not we have the like time And this being the Substance of the Fourth Command I think neither Man nor Angel can alter it for who can proportion it better than God himself Nay the Circumstances in the delivering of this Law shews to be Moral It was spoken by God's Mouth as well as the other written by the same Finger of God in the same Tables of Stone put into the Ark where the Ceremonies were not it hath a special Memento put upon it Remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy Christ himself owns it when he bids the Jews Pray that their Flight be not in the Winter nor on the Sabbath day Mat. 24.20 which Flight was forty Years after his Death The opposition which wicked Men make against it proves it to be of God also for if the Devil herein prevail we might almost bid farewel to all our Religion 1. Direct Before thou canst make Conscience of Observing the Sabbath thou must be well convinc'd that it is thy Duty To this End I have already proved it to be of Divine Institution and a Branch of the Moral Law binding not only Jews but Christians also But I fore-see one main rub must be removed before the way be cleared that doubt which makes many to stumble Whether the first day of the Week or that which we call the Christian Sabbath be of Divine Institution and whether Christians be obliged to observe it as a Sabbath Much hath been Written by Divines to satisfie this doubt My purpose is not to speak much to it in this place this Treatise being of another Nature yet something is necessary for while this doubt remains who will make use of the following Directions 'T is true we cannot prove in Scripture neither is it said totidem verbis that Christ did Command that the Sabbath should be changed from the last to the first day of the week then there could be no Controversie but we have that which is equivalent to such a Command that it was changed by Divine Authority and very probably by Christ himself the Scripture yields us sufficient Witness Christ is called the Lord of the Sabbath and the Holy Ghost calls it his day Rev. 1.10 which seems to intimate he is the Author of it As the Sacrament is called his Supper because he Instituted it and had it not been altered by him I know not who would have been so bold to have distinguished it from other days by this Name he was every way as Faithful in his House as Moses was yet Moses we know by God's appointment stated a time for God's Worship Heb. 3.2.6 and no doubt a settled time is as necessary for us as for them to Serve God in We find Christ himself owning the day in his own Person as in his Resurrection and finishing the work of our Redemption a greater work than that of Creation and better deserves a special Memorial And the Apostle tells us He entred into his Rest and ceased from his own Work as God did from his Heb. 4.10 aluding to the Creation from which when God Rested he Ordained the Sabbath We may also Read that Christ after his Resurrection appeared divers times to his Disciples upon the first day of the Week when they were met together Read John 2.19 and again verse 26. And doubtless not without Divine Providence pointing out this day to us and after his Ascention when they were met together upon that day he pours out the Holy Ghost upon them Acts 2.12 We Read also that this was the day the Apostles did keep as a Sabbath and also the Churches met together to perform Sabbath days duties to Preach the Word to Administer the Sacraments Prayer Works of Charity c. Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 18.2 Vpon the first day of the Week let every one of you lay by in store as God hath prospered him And as 't is conceived forty Years after Christs Decease Saint John by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost calls it the Lord's day whereupon he received his Revelation Rev. 1.10 Neither do we Read that the Apostles ever kept any other day as a Sabbath 't is true indeed upon the Jews Sabbath they often Preached taking Advantage of the Multitude then gathered together which Advantage at other times they wanted Now if the change were thus made by Christ and his Apostles it was by the directions of the Spirit of God for the Apostles delivered but what they had received from God 1 Cor. 11.23 It was upon this day they met to Preach and break Bread Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.1,2 Now were there no Precept the constant Example of the Apostles and Churches in the Apostles time may satisfie us for they were Inspired by the Spirit of God and appointed them both by Doctrine and Example to Teach his Church and to this End gave them Instructions in the time between his Resurrection and Ascention which Instructions are not all Recorded yea the constant practice of the Church in all Ages since the Apostles time give us no little Light for though Christians have been at great difference among themselves about other matters yet few questioned the change of the day both Greeks and Latines both Papists and Protestants both Lutherans and Calvenists hold to this and
is also necessary that thou understandest what thou readest 't is not so much the words and phrases as the sense thou shouldest look after The Jews as I told you had great care of the Scriptures they counted the Words Syllables and Letters contained in the Law and yet were Ignorant of the sense and mist of the meaning When thou readest a dark passage in the Scripture rest not till thou understand it To this end Divines have given several Directions such as these If thou be able compare the Original and Translation together and perhaps this may resolve thy doubt every Language hath a peculiar Elegancy and some words are of so hard a signification that they cannot fully be exprest in a Translation Now knowing the Original will abundantly help and the knowledge of Arts and Sciences is also of great use let the Enemies to Learning say what they will to the contrary If this help thee not look into the Context observe the Circumstances and scope of the Place and receive no Interpretation which Crosses that If this will not do compare this place with others the like and admit not such a sense as contradicts other Scriptures especially compare it with the analogy of Faith those plain Doctrinal conclusions gathered out of other plain Scriptures of which no doubt is made and if it agree not with this reject it for Truth it self cannot oppose it self We must reduce dark places to those that are plain and not force those that are plain to the dark ones If this help not read some Learned Exposition upon the place If this fail seek assistance from God for as the Sun cannot be seen but by it's own light so the will of God cannot be known but by his own Spirit he that Faithfully and Carefully observes these Directions may through Gods blessing come to know as much as is necessary 5. Direct If thou wouldest profit by the word thou readest carefully observe the general scope of it and what design God is aiming at and what End he aims at in it and prosecute the same design and aim at the same mark that he doth for all Scripture is given for our Instruction Now if we heedfully mark the general scope of the Scripture and the end which God drives on in the main is to make himself known to the world in his wisdom power and goodness to the end that man may own him as their Lord Owner and Benefactor and his Son Jesus Christ for their Redeemer and Saviour that he might get himself Glory in their Salvation Now in thy Reading prosecute the same design that God doth and aim at the same end which he doth and this is the likeliest way to profit The Scripture in general sets before thee the knowledge of God and thy self what God is and what he hath done what thou wast by Nature what by the Fall and what by thy Restauration and also what God requires at thy hand In the prosecution of this End the Scripture handles those points which conduce hereunto As first in the work of Creation thou maist see God in his wisdom and power for none else could make the world of nothing yea every Creature will point out God to an understanding man for it passeth the power of Men or Angels to make the least Fly especially without pre-existent matter nay the Creatures do not only shew that there is a God but also sâ—… forth the Attributes of God as his Eternity Wisdom Power Majesty Goodness and Perfection these clearly shine forth in these his works The least Creature if you follow him home to his Original by Divine Meditation will point out an Omnipotent Arm for his Creator And when thou readest of his works of Providence these also speak the same thing and Teach the same Lesson The wonderful works and Miracles he hath wrought for the preservation of his People The Rule and Government which he hath set in the world the preservation of his Church and the frequent deliverance he hath given to his People Recorded in the Scripture bespake to us his Power Wisdom Goodness and Truth When thou readest of the Works of Redemption this bespeaks Christ the Lord the Son of God as he is witnessed from Heaven by Angels by Saints by Enemies by Devils all which gave Testimony to his Divinity and that he was truly man is also evident by his Incarnation Birth Growth Actions Passions Death and Burial and Resurrection c. And that he is the true Messiah the Saviour of the World is clearly evident by Scripture light here thou maist finde that all the Prophesies that went before of him are clearly fulfilled in him and no other and such Miracles wrought and such mighty Works done and such gratious Words spoken that make it plainly appear that he is indeed the Son of God the Saviour of the World Again when thou readest the Commands Threatnings Punishments c. Know these are to deterre thee from Sin and to drive thee home to God thy Benefactor and when thou readest the Promises Invitations and Encouragements these are to draw the nearer to him therefore carefully observe what ever thou readest and some way or other it will conduce to bring thee neerer to God this is Gods end in writeing the Word and should be thy end in reading it 6. Direct Wouldst thou profit by Reading then meditate upon what thou readest this is the way to make what thou readest thine own it was this way that David got more understanding than the Antient and became wiser than his Teachers Psal 119.98,99,100 and 66.11 Now Meditation is a studious Art of the Mind wherein a Man searcheth out some hidden truth by the discourse of Reason and 't is one of the most profitable heart-enriching duties thou canst perform this will fetch in Provision like a Bee from every Herb and Flower yea from every Weed Thorn and Bramble will yield some Honey this will store thy Heart with Treasure new and old there is no Creature so barren but will yield some Fruit nor dead Tree or hard Stone that is so barren but it will yield some increase no Creature but will yield a helping hand no Fowl but will lend a Feather to mount the Soul aloft A Christian skil'd in the Divine Art of Holy Meditation can never want an Object fit to work upon and if the Creatures thus furnish us doubtless the Word of God cannot be fruitless the Word of God of it self is Mysterious and Dark at least some part of it the Well is deep and Meditation is the Bucket hereby Divine Mysteries are drawn out and the Water of Life pumpt in cursory Reading many things pass by without regard which by Meditation are fetcht back and made use of This is not only a help to the understanding but the Memory also it leaves a deep impression upon it What in cursory Reading is soon forgot is prest hard upon and imprinted to the Memory by Meditation hereby the Heart
Reconcile us to his Father 'T is he in whom he is well pleased and through him he cannot be offended He is the High-Priest that Offers up the Prayers of his People when he hath perfumed them with the Incense of his own Righteousness Rev. 8.3 'T is he that presents their Prayers to God and makes them acceptable which otherwise would be abominable He is the Altar whereon a broken Heart must Offer up the Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise Now when I speak of going to God in the Name of Christ I do not only mean using Christ's Name to God or Concluding our Prayers with such words through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Though this is Lawful if serious yet not sufficient we read of some Mat. 7.22 that had Preached in his Name and in his Name had cast out Devils and in his Name had done many wonderful works and 't is probable they had prayed in his Name also and yet he would not own them But those that come in his Name must believe in him for Salvation roul themselves upon him lay hold upon him by a Lively Faith for their Lord and Saviour for their Head and Husband for their Mediator and Advocate and give up themselves wholly unto him Take him upon his own terms as he is offered in the Gospel to love him above all and forsake all others for him to obey him in all though all the World be offended at it to resign up our selves and all we have to be at his dispose to be willing to be any thing do any thing suffer any thing he would have us and so to come with Confidence to God trusting in the Merits of Christ believing that for his sake we shall have our sins pardoned our wants supplyed and our Souls saved He is the only way to the Father and without him we can have no Admittance he opens the doors and brings us into the Presence-Chamber Eph. 2.18 He is the only Mediator between God and Man Heb. 9.14 1 Tim. 2.5 Now God never gave any such Honour to the Saints nor Angels in the Scripture though he denies them none that is their due Many Promises we have that whatsoever we ask in Christ's Name shall be given us John 14.13 But no promise in Scripture of prevailing in any other Name Nay the contrary for if Noah Daniel and Job departed Saints whom God dearly Loved could not be heard for Son or Daughter Ezek. 14.14 c. What hopes can we have of others Perhaps the Papists will tell us they do not pray to Saints or Angels that they should help them but only Mediate for them but who made them Mediators There is only one Mediator between God and Man even the Lord Christ Jesus 1 Tim 2.5 And there is no other qualified for the Office 'T is necessary that he must be both God and Man that is to Mediate between God and Man and that he be perfectly Righteous which no Son of Adam Christ excepted ever was All others have Oyl little enough and none to spare Neither doth the Scripture make mention of any other nay excludes all other For Christ is called the only Mediator None can make our imperfect prayers acceptable to God but he none can be present in all places to receive all Petitions but he The Saints and Angels are but finite Creatures and cannot be in all places at once and what assurance can we have when we pray that they are present and hear all prayers and understand all Languages How can Peter or the Virgin Mary at the same time be present at Rome Venice London and ten thousand places at once if they are not Infinite As we have no Precept in Scripture to make these our Mediators no more have we Examples of any that did though there were many Saints then dead Job 5.1 To which of the Saints wilt thou turn 'T is Christ alone that knows that meaning of the Spirit in the hearts of the Faithful Rom. 8.27 And in his Name we must go to God if we would be heard 5. Direct If thou wouldst put up prevalent Prayer at the Throne of Grace look well to the matter of them ask nothing of God but what thou hast some ground to believe thou shalt receive from God Every thing will no more bear a Prayer than every stream will a Ship Thou oughtest not to pray for those things which are against the Glory of God the Edification and good of the Church and thy own and others Salvation They are rather Curses than Prayers that are poured out by wicked men for the Extirpation of a Faithful Ministry and the rooting out of the Godly or the power of Godliness and these will prevail for a Curse upon the Head and Heart of the Imprecator Thou must not pray for a Commission to break thy Sovereign's Laws this will not be granted Or to do things contrary to his revealed or for any thing evil in it self or that which is contrary to God's Nature to grant or contrary to his Eternal decree Thou must not pray for a dispensation to sin and for assistance in the Act of Sin or to reconcile God and Mammon or Christ and Belial or for Salvation without Sanctification or for Pardon of Sin without Faith and Repentance Neither oughtest thou to pray for Trifles and things of small concernment 't is not fit for a Subject to go to his Prince to beg a Point or a Pin. Neither shouldest thou pray for that which thou wilt not endeavour to get Many could wish for Heaven that will not work for Heaven But thou maist pray for all those good things for Soul or Body for this Life or that to come for thy self or others which are necessary which God hath Commanded thee to ask or promised in his Word to give Thou hast a good Foundation for thy Faith to ask what Divine Writ Warrants thee to ask or promises shall be given And thou must beg them as they are promised what is absolutely promised thou maist beg absolutely And what is conditionally promised beg it if God see it good for thee Ye ask and have not saith the Apostle because ye ask amiss The Apostles are reproved that would have asked Fire from Heaven to burn up the unprofitable Samaritans Luke 9.54 Every Petition should be grounded upon the Word of God and not upon Carnal Conceits We should ask what God thinks fit and not what we our selves think fit It was an unanswerable Petition of the Mother of Zebedee's Children that her Sons might sit one at Christ's Right Hand and the other at his Left in his Kingdom If we ask any thing according to his Will he will grant it us 1 John 5.14 Where God Commands us to ask and promises us to give here is a double ground of assurance Now the good things we should beg of God for our selves or others are either Spiritual or Temporal Those which are Spiritual are absolutely necessary to Salvation or they are not
sins Lev. 16.21 Christ is our Scape-Goat let him bear all our Iniquities To name thy sin without sorrow is but an aggravation of it mourn for it therefore but let the Love of God and not the fear of punishment be the strongest Motive to Repentance When thou seest Christ Crucified afresh before thine Eyes in the Ordinance consider and say to thy self Oh what a wretch was I to pluck him out of the Arms of his Father and cause him to suffer such Hellish Torments for my sake it was my sin that were the Nails that pierced his Hands and his Feet the Spear that wounded his Side the Thorns that pricked his Head the Traytor that betrayed him the Judge that Condemned him and the Executioner that put him to Death It was not the Devil nor his Instruments the Jews nor Gentiles nor all the wicked Men in the World could have done it had it not been for the sins of his Elect Me-thinks the consideration of this should work upon an Ingenious Heart and when thou hast confest thy sin resolve to forsake it God makes no promise of Pardon to any other And look stedfastly upon Christ offered to thee in the Sacrament for Pardon of sin and power against it he is a propitiation for sin Rom. 3.25 The Lamb of God that takes away the Sins of the World John 1.29 Having now found out thy defects of Grace for 't is weakness of Grace that makes us run into sin Go to God for a supply Christ is ready with supplies if thou be but sensible of thy wants come to the Ordinance in God's way and where thou art weak Christ will strengthen thee and where Corruptions are strong he will weaken them Be not ashamed to shew to him thy nakedness unlap thy Sores that thou mayst have a Plaister and Christ will be thy Chyrurgeon and Physitian In thy decays of Grace though there be great cause of shame and sorrow yet none of despair there are Recovering Plaisters as well as Healing be but sensible of thy want and go boldly for a supply Come with an empty Soul to Christ and he will fill it 't is the full that are sent empty way 5. Direct When thou comest to this Ordinance be sure to set thy Grace on work quicken them up unto the Duty let them not flag nor faint for then thy work will be to little purpose what good will Tools do if not used and how can they be used if not in Order A Workman that would Live by his Works sees that his Tools be sharp and fit for the work without them we can do nothing nay if they be dull or blunt the work will not go forward and therefore let us stir up our Graces as Deborah did her Soul when she was to sing forth the praises of the Lord Judg. 5.12 Awake awake Deborah awake awake utter a Song c. Or as David did his Soul Psal 42.5 Why art thou so sad O my Soul And why art thou so disquieted within me c. Psal 103.12 Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me praise his Holy Name c. Stir up thy Self and lay hold upon him Isa 64.7 This is the time for thee to renew quicken and strengthen thy Grace it was given thee for such a time and for such a Use as this is let not this Opportunity be let slip that may be done now which cannot be done at another time renew thy Repentance and quicken it This may be done by the consideration of the Number Nature and Effects of thy sins and among the rest this is one it brought the Lord Jesus Christ to this shameful Death Here thou mayst see him Crucified before thy Face his Body broken and his Blood poured out and mayst look upon him whom thou hast pierced and mourn for him as for an only Son Zach. 12.10 Quicken thy Love to God also and this thou mayst do by the consideration of his Love to thee and what he hath done for thee especially in the work of thy Redemption held out in this Ordinance of the Sacrament Hadst thou had a Temporal deliverance from Turkish Slavery thou wouldst have been thankful to thy Deliverer and have Loved him for it much more then is due to him that Redeemed thee from the guilt of sin and from the filth of sin and from the punishment due to sin from the Curse of the Law the wrath of God the Slavery of Satan and from Everlasting Damnation Renew thy fear of him also consider the Fervency of his wrath against Sin and Sinners when thou seest it was so hot against his own Son when he stood in the room of Sinners and let this make thee fear to Offend This also may quicken thy Love to thy Brethren yea to thine Enemies when thou considerest how dearly God Loves thy Brethren in Christ and what he suffered for them and to thine Enemies when thou considerest the Torments which Christ indured for thy sake when thou wast his Enemy and Commands thee to imitate him in Loving those that hate thee But especially quicken and Exercise thy Faith for this is all and in all in this Duty and much conduceth to the well performing of it 'T is true Christ hath all fulness in himself to fill empty Souls he is the Bread and Water of Life to feed and Refresh the Hungry and Thirsty of his Fulness we receive Grace for Grace John 1.14.16 In him all Fulness dwells Col. 1.19 There is in him both fulness of Merit and fulness of Spirit Mortifying Sanctifying Quickning Virtue Here Soul-wants may be supplyed But the way of obtaining this at God's Hands the way of emptying of Christ into the Soul is by the way of Ordinances the Word and Sacraments are the Breasts of Consolation from whence we must suck and be satisfied These are the Pipes through which the Water of Life run from the Fountain into the Cistern from Christ to our Hearts Christ is the Olive and these the Golden Pipes that convey the Oyl into the Candlestick Zach. 4.12 'T is true he could convey it immediately and empty himself into the Soul without any Instrument at all but this is not usual where the Word and Ordinances are to be had But that we may get benefit by the Ordinances Faith is necessary the Well is deep and Faith is the Bucket to draw up this water of Life and though the Conduit be full of water and we empty Vessels yet if we bring them not thither they will still remain empty nay though we bring them and place them under the Cock if we turn not the Cock they are empty still The Child that plays with the Breast is not satisfied till it suck Thou must suck Honey and Oyl out of this flinty Rock Deut. 32.13 Faith is the Souls Eye which must be fixed upon Christ the Souls Hand to lay hold upon Christ the Souls Mouth to feed upon him Christ and all his Benefits are offered in
At these three Feasts all the Males were Commanded to appear before the Lord Exod. 23.7 The Annual Feasts of lesser Account were two the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Expiation both mentioned Lev. 23.24.27 In which also it was not allowed to do any Work nay it was forbidden upon pain of Death Other Feasts were to be Observed after certain Years for as every seventh day was Holy to the Lord so was every seventh Year For as Man and Beast was Commanded to Rest upon the seventh day so the Land was to Rest every seventh Year that it might gather Heart and that the Poor of the Land might be fed of those things which the Earth did Naturally bring forth without Labour and after seven times seven Years which is forty nine the next which is the fiftyeth Year was the Jubilee or Year of Gladness wherein Debts were forgiven Land sold returned to the Owners and Hebrew Servants were Released and made Free Lev. 25.9 To which Christ seems to allude John 4.18,19 who was sent to Preach the Acceptable Year of the Lord c. Some Festivals also were appointed by Man upon great Occasions and were Yearly Observed by the Church as the Feast of Purim Commanded by Esther the Queen and Mordecai the Jew upon the Account and in Memorial of the Famous Deliverance of the Church in their time from the wicked Conspiracy of Haman Est 9.17 And also the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple either after the Babylonish Captivity Ezra 6.16 Or after it was polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes and again Dedicated by Machabeus 1 Mac. 4.5,6 Which Feast Christ himself seems to approve by his Presence John 10.22 And in Gospel times we have our Feasts also as every Seventh day for a Sabbath of which I have already Treated Several other Festivals in later Ages have been Observed which Antienter Antiquity make no mention of as several in Memory of Christ's Birth Resurrection Assention c. Several to our Lady and many in Memory of Saints of which I shall say no more but what the Apostle doth Rom. 14.5,6 One Man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike let every Man be perswaded fully in his own mind c. Let us not Judge one another in those things but were those observed as days of Thanksgiving ought to be they would not be so eagerly contended for by some nor so eagerly contended against by others The Papists superstitiously forcing them upon us as parts of Gods worship and their Idol worship thereupon hath made some perhaps run too far on the other side but many spending them as Feasts to Bacchus hath made many abhor the other occasional Feasts we have had as the fifth of November c. commanded by Authority to be greatly observed and others as occasion falls out which if you would keep well or any of the forementioned Holy-days observe these Directions following 1. Direct If thou wouldest offer up to God a pleasing Sacrifice upon such a day as this is get thy heart rightly qualified and rightly prepared there is bad Musick like to be where the Instrument is out of tune this Duty is more difficult than Prayer pinching wants and eminent dangers puts a Man on to prayer as we see by the Mariners in Jonah's Ship but self-denyal is required in praising him ten Lepers could join in a petition for help and but one returned to give thanks Thy heart must be qualified with Grace or thou canst not praise God upon such occasions as thou oughtest for what hast thou to do to take the Word or Name of God in thy Mouth if thou hatest to be reformed Psal 50.16 'T is every ones duty for every one receives mercy and 't is a Rent due to the chief Land Lord but every one cannot do it Praise is comely for the upright Psal 38.1 It should be a Congregation of Saints where God is praised Psal 149.11 I do not perswade others from the Duty no more than I do from Prayer but perswade them to cleanse their hearts before they come to the Duty for none but the Righteous can do the work of the day as they ought neither indeed have they cause to rejoice when God is their Enemy and for ought they know they may Lodge next night in Hell that rejoicing is the work of the day is evident Lev. 23,40 Deut. 12.12 and many other places These only are exhorted to rejoice Psal 33.1 Rejoice in the Lord ye Righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart Phil. 3.1 4.4 Psal 107.22 Declare his works with rejoycing But how can we rejoyce or praise God for Redemption Vocation Adoption and the hope of glory when we have no interest in them Thy evidence must be cleared up or thou art unfit for this Duty Those and those only that have an interest in Christ and a Title to Glory assured to them can eat their Bread with Joy and drink their Wine with a merry heart for â—od accepteth their works Others may speak as much and seem as confident like the Pharisee but there is a difference the true Christian speaks humbly the Pharisee proudly and boastingly the one is humbled for his remaining corruption the other brags though no sin is kill'd Paul cryes out O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of Death The Pharisee thanks God he is not as other Men are or as the Pulican The one thanks God for what he hath the other for what he never had How oft may we hear Men give thanks for their Election Vocation Sanctification c. when there is little appearance of it when their lives evidence that they are neither called nor sanctified the one praiseth God in pity to others the other in contempt Phil. 3.8 To me who am less than the least of Saints is this Grace given I thank thee saith the Pharisee I am not as other Men are One returns thanks out of Custome the other out of Conscience For preparation to the work dispose of and lay aside all thy Worldly occasions as much as possible that they interupt thee not in the work and take daily notice of and store up in thy Memory what God hath done for thy Body and for thy Soul for thy Family and Relations for the Land of thy Nativity and the Church in general How shall we praise God if we neglect and forget his benefits Psal 103.2 his Works and wonders Psal 78.7 this is commanded Psal 105.5 Exod. 13.8 The neglect of this is charged upon Israel Psal 78.11 they forgat his Works and the Wonders that he shewed them and how many are deeply guilty of this fault They heedlesly receive mercies and take no notice whence they come or let them slip out of memory even those they were somtimes affected with and thou shouldest not only remember them but meditate upon them to aflect thy heart with them take notice of the mercy justice and
goodness of God in them value them according to their worth as Jacob did Gen. 22.9.10 Lord saith he I am less than the least of thy mercies which thou hast shewed me for with my Staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two Bands David when he beheld the glorious Lamps of Heaven the wonderful works of God brake out into admiration Lord what is Man that thou art mindful of him or the Son of Man that thou regardest him Psal 8.3.4 Outward mercies but especially Spiritual should will affect the heart if laid home by meditation 2. Direct When thou keepest a day keep it to the Lord and not to thy self Let thy ultimate end and aim be Gods glory and the main design thou drivest on be his praise 't is true in all Duties this should be regarded but especially in this for this Time is set apart meerly upon that account to praise him with an inlarged heart and if thou propound lower ends than these God will not own thy work These days are appointed to praise God and not as many abuse them and pamper the Flesh 't is the Apostles advice and doubtless our Duty 1. Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever you do do all to the praise and glory of God And if in our ordinary course we should drive on this design much more in this extraordinary Duty in so solemn a day and exercise here the joy of the Lord should fill the heart Spiritual and not Carnal Joy the praise of the Lord should fill our Mouths not vain laughter we should speak out the great works of God which he hath done for our Souls and whatsoever suits not with this is unsuitable for the occasion but 't is a sad thing that many that pretend Conscience in the observation of Saints-days blame all those thot look upon them as indifferent I say that those to whom honest Labour at other times Lawful is held a great Transgression yet make no Conscience at all of serving God upon these days but spend their time vainly and prophanely neither to the benefit of Soul or Body These think they serve God better at an Ale-house at a Cock-pit or Bear-baiting or Stage-play at Cards or Dice or other unlawful Games than they can in an honest Calling But is this the Feast that God hath chosen to eat and drink and rise up to play This may serve turn if we worshiped such an Idol as Israel then did Fxod 32.6 But shall we serve our God with such service as the Heathen did Baccus He is a Spirit and must be worshiped in Spirit and in Truth and is eating and drinking to Gluttony and Drunkenness this Spiritual Service that is commanded Shall we praise God for his Creatures by intemperance and abuse of them Yet are not these the Exercises of some of the greatest Sticklers for such Festivals Look into an Ale-house and see whether more meet not there upon such days as these than the whole Week beside and many an Oath sworn and many a Lye told and many a vain word spoken at such times and upon such occasions yea much Drunkenness Debauchery Quarrels Fightings and sometimes Murder is there committtd And is this Gods Feast or the Devils Sacrifice It more suits an Heathen Idol than an holy God Is this the place where God is like to meet thee or wouldest have Death meet thee here or is the Discourse of the Company suitable to the work of the Day wilt thou thank God for thy Reason when thou hast lost the use of it by drinking and transformed thy self into a Beast or canst then remember Gods benefits to praise him for them when thou canst not remember what thou dost 'T is far from me to Judge any Man that keeps those days as days of Thanksgiving ought to be kept And 't is far from me to approve of them as they are kept I know the Godly are allowed to eat their Bread with Joy and drink their Wine with a merry heart but it is Spiritual not Carnal Joy They ought upon Thanksgiving days to cease from their Labour but that is not all then they keep it but as a Beast But as a Fast is a help to humiliation and makes Prayers the more fervent so Feasting in an holy manner elevates the Soul and makes praises the more hearty when we freshly tast Gods goodness in the Prevision made for us Labour in both is forbidden as 't is an hindrance in the Duties in hand but 't is sad that God is more dishonored in those days pretended to be set apart to honour him in than in all the days of the Year besides but God will not own such Servants nor accept of such Service when Men think there is nothing but work forbidden upon that day or nothing more than idleness required but many would glorifie God much better in a Lawful Calling than at an unlawful Exercise or unnecessary Recreation I know Recreation is Lawful as I hope in due time and place to demonstrate and give Directions in it But why should we take Gods time for our use if these days be appropriated to Gods Service let them be spent in his Service if for our Recreation let us never put the Title of Holy-days upon them let them be left indifferent to be used or not used at pleasure or People kept from dishonouring God in them 3. Direct In the observation of these days see thy grounds be good and that thou hast a lawful calling to it or otherwise God will not own it 'T is true Thanksgiving is a work of every day but every day is not to be observed as an holy Festival to God come not superstitiously to it as the Papists nor profanely as the Sensualist nor wickedly as the profane Enmies to God and Godliness See thou be invited to it by real mercies received and in giving thanks mistake not Judgements for Mercies and Mercies for Judgments 't is true we ought to Observe all God's Providences and Bless God for all Chastisements as well as others that is for the good which we receive by them as Job 1.21 But this should be with Humiliation not Exultation If thy Foundation be rotten the Building cannot be good there are many that heartily rejoyce and give thanks also to God after their manner for the downfall of the Church and the extirpation of the Power of Godliness I fear our times are not barren of Examples of this Nature This was the Sin of the Ammonites and will be the Sin of those that are guilty Ezek. 25.6 Because thou hast clapped thy Hands and stamped with thy Feet and Rejoyced in thine Heart with all despight against the Land of Israel therefore I will stretch forth my hand against thee and deliver thee for a spoil to the Heathen c. See God takes it ill when Men exult over his People in distress and if they praise him for Correcting them 't is unpleasing Service to him
received take notice of your unworthiness the more to exalt the Mercies received But Confession of Sin so as to Afflict the Soul with them is not suitable to the day Bring thy Family in due time to the Publick if it be publickly Observed otherwise carry it on in Private and pay your Vows in the great Congregation and behave your selves in the remaining part of the day as be-you were Directed in the Observation of the Sabbath for this time is Consecrated and made Holy to God and should be wholly spent in his Service And thou shouldest be as careful of thy Thoughts thy Words and thy Affections as though it were a Sabbath for there is no danger of keeping them too intent upon God When thou comest into the Congregation thou maist say as Jacob Gen. 28.17 This is no other but the House of God and the Gate of Heaven for here is done the work that shall be done in Heaven As for the oher expressions of Joy as Ringing of Bells shooting off Guns making of Bone-fires c. they are so far Lawful as they help forward the Work and raise the Heart to an higher pitch of Joy and rejoycing in the Lord. 5. Direct Having thus disposed and prepared thy Heart for the Work and set thy self as in the Presence of the ever-living God that sees and knows and takes notice of thee set thy self then upon the work of Glorifying God and render thanks to him from thy Heart for all the Benefits thou hast Received Praise is comely for the Saints And this Religious Thankfulness of which we speak is thy Duty Now 't is either External or Internal the Internal is to carry a thankful Heart to God and this is every days Duty External is when the Thankfulness of the Heart is expressed in Words or Actions the former without the latter is not sufficient the latter without the former is little worth Now the External manifestation of thy thankfulness is either Private or Publick Private by thy self or Family Publick in the great Congregation and this also is either Ordinary or Extraordinary Ordinary and this should be done at every time when we come together to Worship of God The Extraordinary is upon Extraordinary Occasions as some great Deliverances or the obtaining some great Mercies or the bringing down some great Enemies of the Church this the Church ought to bless God for and Offer this Sacrifice of Praise in the Name and Mediation of Christ who prays over all our Prayers for us and Offers our Praises performed with the Incense of his own Righteousness Now 't is requisite as I said before that a Catalogue of those Mercies God hath given in as a return of Prayers be laid up either in a Book or in the Memory for if we neglect or forget them how shall we speak of them to God's praise 't is not enough to remember them but we must also mention them to his praise Thus David I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul He acknowledgeth God the Author of his Mercies and doth not Sacrifice to his own Nets as many do and burn Incense to his Drags Hab. 1.16 But as the Church not unto us Lord not to us but to thy Name be the Praise he acknowledges frequently his own worthlessness that he may exalt God Lord saith he what is Man that thou shouldst be mindful of him Or the Son of Man that thou regardest him Psal 8.4 I am less than the least of thy Mercies saith Jacob I am less than the least of thy Saints saith Paul Yea when it comes let it be a Free-will Offering do it chearfully readily willingly as the Saints and Angels do it in Heaven heartily not heavily God Loves a chearful giver and matters not grumbling Service Be as willing to return Thanks as ever thou wast to have the Mercy Set thy Heart on Work in this Duty stir up thy self like the Psalmist Psal 103.1 Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me Praise his Holy Name Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits 'T is not enough to Praise him with the Lips or bring our Bodies before him but the Heart and Life should Praise him the Heart should Indite thy Praises and thy Tongue utter them and thy Life and Conversation Seal to them thou shouldst do thanks and Live thanks as well as speak thanks this is every days Duty especially when we receive signal Mercies we should return answerable thanks when National Mercies National thanks should be returned Psal 50.15 Moses did so at the Deliverance at the Red Sea Exod. 15.1 Deborah and Barak did so Judg. 5.12 The Jews also when delivered from Haman's Plots Est 8.11.17 And there is great reason it should be so for Praise is due to none but God and to him the Vow should be performed all our Springs are in him and all our Mercies are from him yea every good and perfect gift and this is the very End for which he gives them and 't is all he requires for them this Pepper-corn of Homage is all his Rent who is the great Land-Lord and though it be due from all yet he expects it from his own People especially he will extort his own from others in another way and none but his People can do it to please him This is to his Saints a fore-tast of Glory where it must be their constant Work 'T is a beneficial Duty also for Thanksgiving for one Mercy is a real yea a prevailing Request for another Those that Offer praise Glorifie God And yet we see how negligent most are in this Duty few take notice of the Mercies they Receive but like Swine eat the Acorns or Crabs and regard not whence they come Ten Lepers were cleansed and but one returns thanks many are sensible of their wants and with the Horse-Leach cry give give yet are not sensible of their enjoyments to return thanks yea suffer some petty Cross to hide a thousand Blessings and keep them out of their sight 6. Direct When thou art thus prepared thus fitted go on in re-counting the Mercies thou hast Received and bless God for them this is the main Work of the Day Now forasmuch as Mercies are various all Men receive not alike yet all receive some for which they should be thankful give me leave to lead you by the Hand a little and shew you some the rest you may Observe your selves Bless God for what he is in himself and what he is to his Creatures in himself admire his Essence for fathom it thou canst not the like we may say of his Attributes his Eternity Immutability his Power Wisdom Holiness Justice and Truth c. Thou maist spend thy days also in Admiring him in the Works of his Hand lift up thy Eyes to Heaven and see the Sun the Moon and Stars those Glorious Lamps those Beauty spots of Heaven observe their Distance Courses Influence and Virtues and well thou maist