Popish the Apostle plainly prohibits this Rom. 14.6 Gal. 4.10 Colos 2.16 Yet by these places the Apostle doth not forbid a distinct observance of the Christian Sabbath for then should he contradict himself as Zanchius well observes and others before him clear those Scriptures from any relation to the Lords day Let him blesse the Lord sayes Luther that knowes how to distinguish between the Law and the Gospel Likewise let him thank God who hath learned to distinguish between several Sabbaths under the Law and this Lords day under the Gospel they being abolished weare not bound to observe them or to make any difference between those dayes and others of equal concernment But for the Christian Sabbath it abides and a difference of that day from others we ought to observe This is that day set apart By the holiest Person and For the holiest purpose Psal 4.3 Know ye that the Lord hath set apart the man that is godly for himself So know ye that the Lord hath set apart the day that is holy for himself Here not to distinguish is to abolish As God will have his Servants to be separated from other men So he will have his Sabbath to be differenced from other dayes As men must not divide what God hath joyned so men must not mingle what God hath separated or debase what God hath elevated 4. Object Every day ought to be a Sabbath Answ True the whole term of our life should be a continued Sabbath in two respects Viz. Cessation from the service of sin and Disposition to the service of God 1. To serve sin we should be ever averse and O how glad would God's Saints be to keep such a perpetual Sabbath as alwayes to rest from sin and O how sad have some of Gods Saints been because such a Sabbath comes so seldome How does the Apostle complain Rom. 7. That though with his mind he served the Law of God yet with his flesh he served the Law of sin Thus Austin condoles his own condition Alas sin follows I fly and yet I fall I fight and yet I am captive I run from it and yet I am drawn to it I would rest but I cannot be quiet one day one hour c. To have such an uninterrupted rest as to be every day at a distance from sin is a very desirable Sabbath 2. To serve God we should be ever prepared Though we are not alwayes in Sabbath-day-time yet our hearts should be alwayes in a Sabbath-day-frame in such a blessed bent as is fit for all holy businesse Some expound that precept of the Apostle Paul Pray continually Have a continual frame of heart sit for holy prayer And that of St. James Be swift to heare Have alway an open ear ready to hearken to the holy Word of God We find Ezek. 1. Angels described under the form of Beasts Having four faces and four wings vers 6. Faces Ready to mind Wings Ready to move into any part of the World about any portion of work God pleases to appoint them Thus Gods people should be in a prepared posture at all seasons for Sabbath-service Yet if we respect the performance of the solemn works of Gods worship or the forbearance of the lawful works of mens callings we are not required to keep an every day Sabbath Exod. 20.9 Six dayes shalt thou labour and do all thy work vers 10. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of tht Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work God could in the Creation as Austin observes have made an immediate dispatch of all with a word but he took six dayes about the works of the World that he might allot men six dayes time for worldly works Yea before the Law this was laid upon man In the sweat of thy brows thou shalt eat thy Bread * Cumlegatur Adam in Paradiso positus ut operaretur quis sanum sapiens filios ejus in hoc mundo positos ad sudendum arbitraretur Bern. Serm. And after the Law under the Gospel We command saith the Apostle men to work with quietnesse and to eat their own bread So that if men should not be in their worldy businesse upon the week-dayes they would sin in a defect falling short of what is commanded And if they should be every day in the set service of a Sabbath they would sin in an excesse going beyond what is required which would be but will-worship unwarranted by the Word and unpleasing to God But with men this is but a meer pretence to evade and avoyd all Sabbath-observance As Polytheisme is the way to Atheisme an omni-Religion to no-Religion so a pretended every-day-Sabbath and then really no Sabbath at all Next we come to consider such as sin against the Lords day in point of practice Such are of two sorts Some doing upon this day what they should not and Some upon this day not doing what they should The works that men should not do on the Sabbath day are double Servile and Sinnefull or Worldly and Wicked works And accordingly those that do upon the Lords day what they be bound to forbear are of two sorts Those that then be about Est triplex servitus unde opus dicitur servile c. Thom. Aqui. 22. qu. 122. art 4. either The evil works of sin or The servile works of the world In evil actings there are those that sin out the Sabbath day passing away this precious time Some in sinful pleasures and Some in the pleasures of sin Pleasures that are in themselves lawful yet are sinfull upon the Lords Day 'T were better Sayes Austin for a man to dig and plow August in tit Psal 91. then to dance and play upon the Sabbath day that to the Common-wealth may be a benefit but of this there is no advantage yet this is one of Satans stratagems to make men mindlesse of Sabbath duties he pleases them with sinful delights Justin lib. 1. As Cyrus dealt with the Lydians when he had conquered them in battel he allowed them liberty for all sports and pastimes and so more fully subdued them that they became his servants for ever Thus Satan in policy puts men upon sinful pleasures even upon Sabbath daies that for ever he may make them his assured and setled Servants How contrary is this to what God in the Prophet expresses Isay 8.13 Thou shalt not find thine own pleasure upon my holy day But there are some who do exceed these passing Sabbath-daies in the down right pleasures of sin in lasciviousness wantonness surfeiting drunkennesse and such like sinfull actions that 't is rather the Divells day then the Lords Day Plutarch thought that the Sabbath of the Jews was from Sabbos a name of Bacchus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jovialiter vivere that signifies to live riotously jocundly merrily and the like And indeed the Sabbath of Christians as some keep it may seeme to have such a derivation for they make it the day of
their mad merriments when they are most Jovial vain and voluptuous And were it not for Gods wonderful Patience while they are thus polluting the holy seasons of God it should be to them as to Belshazzar when he was abusing the holy vessels of God In the same hour came forth fingers of a mans hand and wrote upon the plaister of the wall MENE MENE TEKEL c. Then the Kings countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him so that the joynts of his loyns were loosed and his knees smote one against another Danniel 5.3 4 5 6. To be sinful upon the Sabbath-day Hieron in Isaiam cap. 5. August Tract 4. in Joan. 'T is an aggravation of sin And 'T is an assimilation of Satan Thus a man greatens his sin by sinning upon the Sabbath a man not only offends against the fourth Commandement but other Commandements by such sins are also violated which makes the offence more deep and double As to be good in evill dayes is that which heightens a mans praise and declares the eminency of his grace so to be evill on good dayes sinfull upon the sacred Sabbaths of the Lord is that which makes a mans case more culpable and his sin the more abominable Thus a man likens himself to Satan who is ever bad but worst upon the best dayes The wickedest act that ever the Divell did was when he met man in the holy place of Paradise and O what sinfull designs hath Satan upon the sons of men when he meets them upon the holy time of Sabbaths Of all sins such Satan is most prone to promote that will most provoke God and such are the sins of the Sabbath 1. Cor. 6.15 Shall I sayes the Apostle take the members of Christ and make them the members of an Harlot God forbid so should a man say Shall I take the dayes of Christ and make them the dayes of sin and vanity of gluttony and drunkennesse God forbid Unto God sin is ever offensive but to sin upon the Sabbath does most incense God Ezra 9.13 Seeing O Lord thou hast given us such a deliverance as this should we break thy commandements and joyn affinity with the people of these abominations wouldest not thou be angry till thou hadst consumed us and so as there should be no escape Thus ought men to argue O Lord seeing thou hast given us such A DAY as this should we transgresse thy commands and practise abominations thereupon would'st not thou be very angry c. Chrysost de Lazar. con c. 1. Chrysostome well observes that the Sabbath is the Day God appoints to purge and cleanse men from sin and therefore on that day for men to mix themselves in sin is exceeding sinful Secondly in earthly actings there are those that spend out the Sabbath-Day ravelling and running out this rich and precious time of the Lords Day Some upon their worldly businesse Others about their businesse in the world In Sabbath-time are some set upon their ordinary affaires As Sea-water it will not abide in its own banks but beats and eates upon the Land and drownes the dry ground so many mens worldly callings will not keep within their weeks compasse but eate upon the Lords Day and drown up Sabbath-time God in the creation went on through all the works of the World till he had made man and then he took his Seventh Dayes rest and sanctified it how sad is it to see man stay in worldly works and never care to come at God in a Sanctified-Seventh-Days-rest True there are some who though they will not be in the open Sabbath upon their ordinary week-day-work yet they will be about such things as have tendency thereunto We find in the 14. of Luke of some that when they were sent to at Super-time they made their excuse One said I have bought a piece of ground and I must needs go and see and another said I have bought five yoke of Oxen and I go to prove them The one sort did not at that very time purchase their Farme but went then to see it nor the other did not then buy their Oxen but went then to prove them Thus some in Sabbath-time though they are not upon the common work of their Trades yet then they go to see and are busie about the disposing of their week-day-week-day-works As God in the Creation wrought out the works of the World in six several dayes but the very first day he fitted and ordered the matter for the whole frame Thus men upon the first day of the week OUR LORDS DAY are busie about the ordering of matters for their earthly affairs in the following dayes All this proceeds from Satan that evil one and from covetousnesse the root of all evil 1. The Divel upon the Lords day when he cannot draw to that which is wicked he will to what is worldly Thereby To augment the sin of man and To prevent the service of God 1. Hereby Satan encreases the sin of man he well knowes those works which are upon the week dayes lawful are upon the Sabbath sinful and so sets men thereupon 2. Hereby Satan opposes and suppresses the Service of God God upon this account requires as Austin excellently notes men upon the Sabbath to forbear their worldly businesse August de civit Dei lib. 6. cap. 11. Idem de tempore Serm. 25â— that they may then be the more free and full prompt and ready for religious service and fot this cause thâ— Divel puts people then upon their earthly businesse that he may beat them off from Gods blessed service upon his holy Sabbath day The Divel does not like diligence in a lawfull calling but upon sinful designs he unseasonably sets men thereupon I could report of a poor woman oft under strong temptations whom I have heard sometimes sadly say she was not able all the week to go about the necessary works of her calling but when the Lords day was she knew not how to keep from her worldly work being violently provoked thereunto True the more common case is for Satan upon the Sabbath to hold men on in their earthly affairs who are eagerly bent thereabout all the week besides As the subtile Serpent said to Eve Gen. 3. Yea hath God said ye must not eat of every tree so Satan subtilly sayes to men Hath God said Ye shall not work upon every day ye may work 't will be for your benefit Yea should Satan be silent to survile work on the Sabbath 2. A principle of covetousnesse puts men hereupon What made Eve to eat of the tree thâ—â— was forbidden of God And what caused Achan to take the wedge of gold that was otherwise disposed and set apart of God but covetousnesse And whence is it that men upon the Sabbath day which God hath separated for himself are so carried about their own common business but from covetousnesse Covetousness Colos 1.5 is called Idolatry This Idol the world it takes up that time of service
which does belong to God The Sun must bear the swey of the Day though the Moon rules the Night and though the World hath the predominancy all the week yet 't is meet Christ should have the command of his own day THE LORDS DAY I proceed to a second sort that sinne against this Lords day by not doing on the day what they ought Concerning Sabbath-day-duties we shall consider The kind they are to be of and The place they are to be in For the kind the duties on the Lords day to be done are Of Piety towards God and Of Charity towards men For the place the duties to be done on the Lords day Are in our publike meetings Or in our private dwellings Now persons who do not their Sabbath duties and so sin against this day are of two sorts Some that Idle out the day and do nothing of the duty and others that trifle in the day and of the duty do but something 1. Too many are manifest that spend this holy day in Idlenesse By the Law the Priests upon the Sabbath day were to offer double sacrifice whence Chrysostome collects Chrysost concion de Lazaro that the Sabbath ought not to be a day of ease and Idlenesse but of double diligence in holy exercises In the Gospel even the Lord of this day is revealed not as in an idle but an active posture During the dayes of his flesh he went about doing good Act. 10.38 And the Sabbath was the day of his best and most abundant works as is well observed and therefore this Lords day calls for diligence in the best duties and does not indulge Idlenesse The Jewes use to call the seventh year the Idle year because then the ground lay follow no Plowing or sowing or bringing forth of Corn. Many Christians may call the seventh day the Idle day for then is no praying hearing c. or bringing forth any fruit that is good the whole day to the man and the whole man in the day lyes like the desert dry and barren where no seed is sowen through Idlenesse on the Lords day men they become Most culpable in their sin and Most lyable unto Satan 1 To be Sabbath-idle increases a mans sin Idlenesse is ever evil but never so bad as upon this good day No time is allowed for Idlenesse As of every idle word Matth. 12.36 so of every idle hour a man must give account at the day of judgement and as one upon the place further infers Sâ— pro etioso verbo reddemus rationem videamus ne reddamus pro otioso silentâ—o Ambros de ossic lib. 1. cap. 3. ut nullo die intermittantur certa tempora orandi Aug. Haeres 57. We shall not onely give account for our idle sayingâ— but we must give account for our idle silence for our not speaking when men do not take unto themselves words in prayer and the like but he like the Prophets Idols having mouthes and speak not ears and hear not c. Some religious exercises are every day duties Austin upon that place of the Apostle Pray continually Expounds it See that in no day there be any intermission of certain times for prayer But then from prayer and other holy duties to be idle vacant and voyd on the Lords day deepens the sin because on such dayes Men have best work And most work to do 1. The Sabbath is a day of the best work Most of the week-work is world-work poor in comparison of this That 's like digging in a dark pit this as reaping in a pleasant field As 't is best being with God so 't is best working for God Weekly labour is but bodily labour burdensome labour sabbath-Sabbath-work is chiefly soul-soul-work and all sweet work Men work on the week that they and theirs may live well in this world a while But the Lords Day-work is our meal for ever Therefore for any to be idle on this day aggravates their sin of Idlenesse Secondly the Sabbath is a day of the most work men on that day should do more in the service of God then all the week besides The Jews did much on their Sabbath Christians are to do more on their Lords Day If we compare Numb 28.9 with Ezek. 46.4 we shall find that the offerings in the time of the Gospel prophesied of were more then those in the time of the Law In Num. we find but two Lambs but in Ezekiel we find six Lambs and a Ram for the Sabbath This signifies that in the settled times of the Gospell Gods Worship upon the Christian Sabbath should be solemnized more fully then in former times under the Law Now for men to be idle when they have most work to do causes idlenesse to become the more culpable and the greater sin Secondly to be Sabbath-idle exposes souls to Satans service hence so many do the divells drudgery and draw the divells cart upon the Lords day When Satan especially in Sabbath time sees men idle and not about any thing that is good then he soone sets them about that which is naught so that upon this day men are most eager to go on the divels arrand though to their own ruin Yea men upon the Lords Day that lye idle they tempt the Tempter and do invite the Divell to their dwellings and as it were ask if he hath no work or what service he will command them They are ready each saying Here am I send me As in supper-time Satan entred into Judas so in Sabbath-time Satan takes possession of such idle ones Some keep the Sabbath like their cattel they go not to plow in deed but nothing good they go about They are in their houses as their horses in ther stables yea perhaps in their beds as their hogs in their styes Or on the Lords Day if they be not as beasts they are as birds that flye from place to place so do they wander from town to-town idly passing away of Sabbath-time Yea 't is with many in this as with the Divells they believe a Sabbath but they observe no Sabbath as they can keep no Sabbath in point of rest so they will keep no Sabbath in point of work Men are on earth as the damned in hell who never are in any religious duties they may be crying for water to coole theie tongues but never praying for grace to change their hearts or for mercy to remit their sins For thousands of idle Sabbaths hath God with some to reckon and let them be fure that as God will not hold them guiltlesse that take his Name in vain so God will never hold them guiltlesse that spend his time in vain Secondly I come to consider such as indeed do somewthat of duty in the day of the Sabbath but of these there are that take up their sabbath-Sabbath-work Either in some one part of the day Or in some one place for the day The part of the Lords day wherein the exercises of religion ought to lye being both
forth to minister Heb. 1. Yet this is their property they all think themselves happy in that God thinks them worthy to do his work in the world And as there are special persons they are imployed for So there are special seasons they are imployed in Most for Gods servants and Most on Gods Sabbaths Job 1.6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord Job 2.1 And again There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord. This day is by some applyed to the Sabbath on which day the Angels more then ordinary tender themselves to God to go out as Assistants in his Sabbath-service Bernard was wont to say The holy Angels helped him to preach every Lords day Though hereby there be no actual addition to their essential holinesse or Celestial happinesse Their very imployment is their pleasure Suppose hereby they may come to a greater knowledge of Christ yet hereby they do not gain a nearer accesse unto God to see any more of his face then they did or to receive any more glory in heaven then they had What then Notwithstanding they stand ready every Sabbath day if God will send them out then to assist in his service And shall not we be willing to perform sabbath-Sabbath-works though we receive no Sabbath-Rewards We that are Ministers must not in our places lay by the businesse of the Lords Day because we cannot have that comfortable successe which the Searcher of all hearts knowes is our soules desire in converting sinners to God Chrysost Hom. 15. in Matth. Chrysostom hath a good expression As fountains send out water though no pitcher be brought to fetch from them So Pastors ought to preach though none receive fruit or profit by them And thus other Christians must not cast off the service of the Sabbath which concerns them because they cannot come up to those encouragements they carry in their eye 2. Say some serving of God upon the Sabbath-day should not be successeful in that plenty of peace and profit they expect yet what peace or profit could such expect should they lay aside the service of the Sabbath upon the same account at all other times all the exercises of religion might be left off and what good could then be looked for Jerom upon that place of the Apostle Rom. 9.16 It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth Hieron in Psal 107. but of God that shewes mery Sure then says he it is not of him that sleepeth nor of him that idleh nor of him that neglects duty for on such the Lord will have no mercy And Chrysostom well observes upon that saying of our Saviour Matth. 16. If any will come after me Chrysost in Matth. Homil. 56. c. Christ sayes not If any will stand still or sit down for sayes he the Kingdom of God is not given to standers and idlers but to walkers and workers c. So say I the comforts of God are not given to any person upon any pretence whatsoever that shall neglect his duty especially upon the Lords Day For any to pretend they have performed duties but see no good successe what good successe are any like to see upon the ceasing of their duty Non est gloriosa victoria nisi ubi fuerint laboriosa certamina Ambr. If in the Day of battel he that fights may not win the field sure he that is loath to combate will lose the Conquest If such as look well to their seed-time plow and sowe misse their crops what harvest can they hope for who in due time do not sowe their seed If such as are provident and diligent in their callings all the week yet decay and sink in the world are they like to thrive if they throw by their businesse As if some on the Sabbath industrious in duty yet perceive their soules sinking and no comfort comming what comfort is like to come by casting off the duties of the Sabbath If men may use the meanes and yet misse the end sure such must misse the end who do not use the means Let none think to better their soules condition by ceasing Sabbath-transactions 2. When Christians have performed Sabbath-day-duties and do not find such desired successe in comfortable communions with God it should presently put them Upon self reflectings and Not upon Sabbath-neglectings Instantly to enter their own hearts enquiring the cause The Word is a fire why am I cold The Word is quickning why am I dead Ordinances are the meanes of comfort why have I no comfort by the meanes Some are at Sermons and Sacraments with their hearts leaping and go away with their faces shining that such as see them may say They have been with Jesus why go I drooping all the day yea when Christians find their Sabbath-performances yield them no fruit it should presently put them Upon the amending their duties Not upon the omitting their duties As Fisher-men in the use of their Nets having caught nothing they fall to turning and mending of their Nets with care and not to casting away of their Nets with discontent An Archer in the use of his Bow if his arrow flies wide or falls short he shoots again directs his arrow more straight drawes his bowe with more strength that yet if possible he may not misse the mark Thus in the discharge of the Lords-day-duties if we misse Gods desired mercies we must stir up our selves and strive with the more strength quickening up the greater care in a Sabbath-course We must not conclude through humane frailties we will do this dayes work no further but we must resolve through divine abilities to do the work of this day better 4. The Sabbath-performances of soule-afflicted Saints although they are not Sensibly good and comfortable to them yet They are certainly good and acceptable to God God sees that in their aimings which they cannot see in their actings That which they cannot see in their work God sees in their will God knowes after what all the day long the set desire of their soules reacheth not a bare being in duty but therein a clear beholding of God a close comming in to Christ to keep up their entercourse with Father Son and Holy Ghost 'T is not so much the Ordinance of God as God in the Ordinance they look for I know whom you seek sayes the Angel to the women Luk. 24. Jesus of Nazareth which was crucified There they saw the Sepulchre wherein Christ was laid and there they saw the linnen clothes wherein Christ was wrapt but all would not satisfie It was not the Sepulchre of Christ but Christ in the Sepulchre they sought for So 't is not so much the Sabbath of Christ as Christ in the Sabbath nor so much the Gospel of Christ as Christ in the Gospel they groan after Something like that of Bernards is a true Christians cry Lord unlesse that I give thee my self 't
darknesse might be over all the Land for some few years Those strange astonishing turnings which we have seen in our times whether they tend to the overturning of the holy times and things of God God knows Should we have our deserts and some their desires there would soone be seen a sad sinking of Sabbaths Should some succeed in their designs yet the Day of God might say as the Church of God Mieh 7.8 Rejoyce not against me O mine enemy when I fall I shall arise c. Yea and 't is hopeful it would not be long after its falling before it is rising We are in the last times wherein God as he hath great works to do so great works he may permit men to do yet in all he will have quick dispatches Should the Gospel-Sabbath and the Gospell with the Sabbath be beaten down in England yet mangre the might and malice of all their enemies we have some grounds to hope it would not be long before the Lord lifts them up again The time for the conversion of the Ancient Jews and the subversion of the Antichristian Rome now draws nigh for the batteries of whose external part God will make use of Externall Powers And it appears by consulting Revel 17. that these Nations of Europe who have taken part with the beast and born her up shall beat her down The most Orthodox that I meet make England one of those ten hornes which shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire Now sure it will be England beset with Sabbaths that shall send out and be assistant in this Service When Joshuas shall be forth abroad with their armies in the valleys many Moses's shall be at home in the mount especially on the Lords Day preaching and praying with hands lifted up unto the most High God then shall be the ruine of this Romish Amalek this day drawes near I think indeed it is impossible punctually to determine the time of Romes finall fall except we could be exact in the time of Antichrists first originalls but certain that time does apace approach Therefore should any party acted by the Spirit of Antichrist for a time interrupt the Lords Day and oppresse the precious priviledges thereof yet they shall not long prevail they shall prove but as Athanasius said of Julians power A cloud that will presently passe Indeed should Sabbaths fail and fall in respect of sinfull men as I have said before there would be grounds of great fear that it might be a long time before God returns them but in respect of good men there is and will be good grounds of hope God will shorten that sad time For the Elects sake those daies shall be shortened Matth. 24.22 Our Saviour there speaks of such a sad time as even upon Sabbath-days there might be such dangers that men instead of resting and serving God they should then be running to preserve themselves verse 20. Ai but such a time should not be long For the Elects sake God would cut it short Indeed as the least time of the Lord of the Sabbaths absence So the least time of the Sabbath of the Lords hinderance to gracious hearts will be grievous long Bernard upon that saying of our Saviour John 16. Yet a little while and ye shall see me and a little while and ye shall not see me A little while Lord says he A little while Thou canst not be gone the least while but it will be a long time So the Sabbath cannot cease the smallest season but the time to Gods Saints will seeme exceeding long and therefore that time which in it self and to others would indeed be long God for their sake makes it short 2. There is a possibility notwithstanding the projects of men and perils we are in to preserve with us the present liberties of the Lords Day But then let us observe Some things towards the Sabbath of the Lord And some things towards the Lord of the Sabbath Towards the Sabbath of the Lord let us labour To advance Sabbath-esteemes and To revive Sabbath-decays The Sabbath we ought all to consider in respect Of its worth And its work In its worth let us rise to higher opinions and In its work let us strive to quicker affections 1. Let our opinions rise higher in the worth of the day Indeed with the best Gods holy times are of too low esteemes but with the most Gods glorious Day is covered with great contempt buried in the minds of men under the Tombestone of deep forgetfulnesse or under heapes of base and unbeseeming thoughts Lamentations 4.2 The precious stones of Zion comparable to fine gold how sayes the Prophet are they esteemed as earthen Pitchers the work of the hands of the Potter So may I say the precious Sabbaths of God better then the finest gold how are they esteemed as ordinary week-dayes fit onely for the common work of mens labouring hands But let us estimate this above all other times and things Let God and his holy Sabbath have the highest roome in our hearts and the chief place in the prime of our thoughts The Jewes were wont to call the whole week by the name of the Sabbath and to say Chrysost in 1. Cor. 16. Hom. 43. Hieron ad Hedibi Quaest 4. Theophyl in Luc. 18. Lyra. in eundem Beza in 1. C. 16. 1. Tremel in Syriac Paraphras Matth. 28.1 c. the first second third c. Day of or after the Sabbath and so the Greek in some texts of the New Testament reads it as Luk. 18.12 Mark 16.2 c. This they did as learned Writers observe 1. For to discriminate themselves in calling the dayes of the week otherwise then the Gentils who called them by the names of their Idols 2. For to demonstrate the dignity of the Sabbath-day and that above all the dayes of the week it was with them of the greatest account they had that reverend esteem thereof as to denominate the whole week thereby And ought not Christians much rather to hold up an high and honourable esteem of the Gospell-Sabbath as a more glorious day 2. Let our affections become quicker in the work of the day O how of late hath the Lords day layen a dying through the dulnesse yea deadnesse of Christians in the duties thereof The way to revive the Sabbaths of God is to revive the service of God and the way to revive the service of God is to revive Gods Saints in the service And if that we would have such Sabbath-revivings Therein Let our visions of God be clearer And our approaches to God be closer 1. The clearer upon the Sabbath we can see God the better will our revivings be It is said Gen. 45. that when Jacob saw the waggons that Joseph his Son had sent his spirit within him revived Did his spirit revive when he saw the waggons his Son had sent O what were his revivings of spirit when he saw
that he had sometimes found things so with himself Hieron in lib. de virgin Seru. that it seemed to him as if he had been triumphing among Troops of Angels and singing Hallelujahs with the Saints in heaven Yea walking arme in arme with Christ in the Galleries of eternal glory The Apostle is to this purpose 2 Cor. 12.2 3. I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago whether in the body I cannot tell or out of the body I cannot tell God knowes such a one caught up into the third heaven And I knew such a man whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell God knowes how he was caught up into Paradise heard unspeakable words c. This of the Apostle St. Paul does import the highest pitch of a persons being in the Spirit And of such a being in the Spirit the Apostle St. John does here speak his experience I was in the Spirit on the Lords day This for Explication Now for Confirmation Upon the Lords day good mens thus being in the Spirit See Why 't is sensible to some and How 't is possible to others 1. Some of Gods Saints are sensibly in the Spirit upon the Sabbath-day Indeed This day is fittest for the Spirits working yea And they are fittest this day for the working of the Spirit The Sabbath it is a fit day for the Spirit thus to work for 'T is a day blessed Gen. 2.3 and 'T is a day sacred Exod. 20.11 1. The Sabbath being a blessed day it is fit for the blessed Spirit to be about his work Day blessed Note The blesser of it and The blessing on it The blesser of this Sabbath-day is God God above all blessed for ever hath made this day blessed As that is cursed which God curses So that is blessed which is blessed of God The blessing of this Sabbath-day is great As God hath blessed his Servants above other men So he hath blessed his Sabbaths above other time As Isaac had a blessing for Esau but no such blessing as had passed upon his brother Jacob So God hath a blessing for every day but no such blessing as he hath passed upon his Sabbath The very blessing of blessings is the blessing on the Sabbath so that well now may the blessed Spirit be about his most blessed works this being the most blessed day 2. The Sabbath being a sacred day a day sanctified and made holy it is meet for the works of this holy Spirit The holy Ghost As he loves to live in holy persons So he loves to move in holy seasons And so working there is Holy Holy Holy Viz. Gods holy Spirit the work is by Gods holy servants the work is in Gods holy Sabbath the work is on God hath poured out the holy oyl upon the head of the Sabbath as the precious oyntment upon the head of Aaron some drops of which may indeed run down upon the other dayes Upon the head of this day God hath set the holy Crown whence the Ancients well call it The King of dayes The Spirit of God t is termed a Kingly or Princely Spirit Psal 51.12 Vphold me with thy free Spirit Or as the Septuagint reads it Thy Princely Spirit The works of Gods Princely Spirit are most proper for this Princely day this high and holy day it best suites to the work of the most high and holy Spirit of God Gods holy Spirit may its true take A sinful subject to work in And yet a holy Sabbath to work on But his best works in souls sanctified are most seasonable upon this sanctified day Yea and the holy Spirit being now about his best businesse Both honours the Lord of the Sabbath And honours the Sabbath of the Lord. The Lord is highly honoured in the holy Spirits workings for He brings in Christs presence through his Ordinance And he drawes up Christs Ordinance through his presence The presence of Christ is by the Spirit so brought in by the Spirit the Ordinance of Christ is so wrought up as lifts up the Lords honour high The Lord never hath so high honour in a Sabbath-Ordinance as when therein appears his Sabbath-presence The holy Spirit by Christs presence supplies the want of an Ordinance improves the worth of an Ordinance by the presence of Christ And by all this is Christs honour held up in being the Lord of the Sabbath Yea the Sabbath it self is much honoured thereby Gods people whose hearts have been made to sparkle and spring through the Spirit of God upon the Sabbath-day they esteem the day of the Sabbath Not onely as their resting day But rather as their rising day A day Not so much for the earthly easing of their bodies As for the heavenly actings of their souls This day in their hearts they so highly honour that for it they long and in it they labour and all with delight O how honourable in the heart of this Holy Apostle was the Christian Sabbath having there on been ravished in the Spirit He writing to the Churches of Christ first gives it this high Title THE LORDS DAY For the honour both of the Lord and the day Upon such accounts the Holy Ghost may well to chuse take up this as a day most fit for his great and wonderfull works 2 The Sabbath it is the day wherein Gods Saints are most fit for these wonderfull workings in the Spirit This day they being From the world most severed And with themselves best gathered 1. Upon the Sabbath Gods Saints are most remote from the world Greg. Moral lib 1. and so meetest for the Lord and fittest for intimate converse with God One observes that our Saviour being entred into a ship Mark 4. He commanded his Disciples to put a little from the shoare but not to lanch out into the deep Thus true Christians in the week-time may put the ship of their soules a little off from the land removing so far from their worldly affaires as by and by to step back into the businesse of their lawful callings but on the Sabbath they put the ship further off from the shoare and lanch out into the deep withdrawing themselves quite from their earthly occasions and applying themselves wholly to the solemne service of God Another speaking to the Church of Christ does something thus expresseâ— himself O chaste and holy spouse Bernard Christ thy heavenly Husband that will not all the week crowd in to thee through a throng of worldly cares yet upon the Sabbath will give thy soule most sweet visits While Zaccheus was among the presse of people he could not behold Christ but climbing up into a sycomore-tree then he saw him a good man in the presse of his week-day-imployments can get no view of Christ yet then the Sabbath-day is as the sycomore-tree on that he climbes and comes close to Christ Then his heart is in the best frame freest for God being furthest from the world 2. Upon the Sabbath
House of God upon his Holy Day Meet God himself in the use of Holy Things 2. God must be seriously sought unto Prayer in this preparative work hath a Principal Task Our Prayer should precede the Sabbath In Sunder If not Together It hath been the manner of some the day before the Sabbath to meet and spend some time in seeking God by Prayer and quickening one another This fervently perform'd would lay a great Ground of a GOOD DAY indeed to follow Melancthon who lived with Luther in lamentable times though his heart was ordinarily oppressed with fears yet finding on a time a company of good Christians together praying Now sayes he there be some good dayes coming Say dayes be evil yet how would this raise hopes in hearts that there be many good dayes coming if the Lords Day this good Day were by a holy prayer duly prepar'd for Indeed for want of prayer-preparation Gods good Day may be as to us an evil Day But upon due preparing Prayer we may safely say of an approaching Sabbath Behold even as to us there is a Good Day coming O pray pray pray before-hand pray that Ordinances may be accompanied Instruments encouraged pray that there may be dischargings of sins enlarging of soules Seek to set our hearts well upon the wheeles Pray that we may be upon the wing in the work Pray sayes our Saviour that your Flight be nâ—t on the Sabbath day Matth. 24. But thus pray that your Flight may be on the Sabbath day to wit from earth to Heaven holding a holy converse with God 2. Towards the world what we are to do in this due preparing for the Lords Day is Sequestration from the Matters of the World And Reconciliation with Men in the World 1. We must make off from worldly Hinderances As Mariners that intend a Voyage to Sea they put the Ship off from the Land so if we mean to serve God on the Sabbath our hearts and minds must be put off from the world Put off thy shoes sayes God to Moses for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground Exod. 3.5 We must put off earthly affections for the Sabbath we are to observe is a Holy Day The affaires and cares of the world we must cast off for 't is not fit with them to come before the Lord in the Day of the Sabbath Joh. 5.10 the Jewes said unto the man whom Christ had cured It is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed because it is the Sabbath day Upon the day of the Sabbath it is not lawfull for to carry about us our worldly minds and matters Therefore from these we must get free before A bird sayes a learned Writer that she may fly Musculus loc comm praecept 4. she flutters with her wings and frees her self all she can from what may hinder her flight And shall not we when we are to come to Gods service on the Sabbath labour aforehand to deliver our selves from all earthly lets who are in our spirits upon the Lords day to be lifted much higher sayes he then birds can fly It was Nehemiahs care when the Sabbath came on to have the Gates of the City shut up that not any might enter in with their burdens It ought to be our course to shut up the Gates of our souls when the Sabbath is at hand that no burdensome cares may come in That Christ might make us a Sabbath to keep in body he first rose from the earth In heart we must rise from the earth before ever we can well keep the Sabbath Christ hath made 2. We must make up earthly differences before the Lords day comes While we are at a sinful distance with men we shall hardly make any good Sabbath approach to God Some they come to Sabbath-day-service in weekday-malice So that on the Sabbath thougb their bodies be together their hearts are asunder When you come together in one place sayes the Apostle I hear there be divisions among you This is not to eat the Lords Supper 1 Goâ— 11. Though on the Sabbath we meet in one publick place yet if we have our private grudges amongst us and unreconciled dissensions betwixt us this is not to keep the Lords Sabbath If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and remember thy brother hath ought against thee leave thy gift and go first and be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy sacrifice Matth. 5.23 If men unreconciled were unmeet for a legal sacrifice how unmeet then are unreconciled Christians for a Gospel-Sabbath It sets us off from God and gives way to the Divel to end a day in strife and wrath but in an angry case to end a week is worse then to let the Sun go down upon our wrath gives place to the Divel against the next day Ephes 4.27 There is no Sabbath-duty but strife and wrath renders us unfit for unfit to hear unfit to pray I will sayes the Apostle that men pray lifting up pure hands without wrath 1 Tim. 2.8 They that will be swist to hear must be slow to wrath Jam. 1.19 O then especially when the Lords day approaches we should put away all bitternesse wrath and anger and evil speaking and kindly close one with another Did we thus at the end of every week make up breaches distances would not grow so great and Lords dayes would be better spent Thus much for Antecedaneous duties to the day of the Sabbath Let us now consider the dayes Concomitant duties These referre To the entrance The progresse and To the end of the day 1. For the right entring of the Lords day our duty is That our bodies be early up and That our hearts be largely ope Bodies up early A great ground of our Christian Sabbath is Christ his Resurrection upon this day Now Christ he rose early in the morning Before the rising of the Sun our Saviour was risen Matth. 28.1 Mark 16.1 It is the judgment of Orthodox Authors that our Sabbath day begins in the morning when Christ rose Shall a Christ be quick to get out of his grave and shall a Christian be slow to get out of his bed Shall the Lord make haste to begin the day even soon after midnight say some And shall we make no haste when the day is begun When our Saviour saw Zaccheus in the Sycomore-tree he said to him Make haste and come down fot this day I must abide at thy house O the haste that he then made to get down c. Luk. 19.5 6. A Christian in the morning as he lies in his bed should think as if the Lord looked down from heaven saying Make haste and get up for this day I must abide in thine heart and this day thou must meet me in mine house When Abraham was to offer his son in sacrifice to God He rose early in the morning and sadled his Asse and took two of his servants and Isaac his son with wood cleaved for a burnt-offering
this sin against God in Sabbath-abuse is abominable and inexcusable because we are charged only with one day weekly to be kept as holy unto the Lord. I remember Deut. 5. that Moses maketh mention of this as an Act of Gods great indulgence towards man and that having written the ten Commandments he added no more And should not we with obediential submission acknowledge the same concerning the Sabbath Upon the second consideration men may without uncharitablenesse be censured also as inexcusably regardlesse of their own soules good both in regard of grace and comfort here and hereafter who disrespect the Sabbath day which is the Market-day of the soul as worthy Mr. Rich. Rogers was wont to call it And that smart sentence which was misapplyed unto Christ for he strictly kept the Sabbath of the Lord his God may be applyed to that person who is a wilfull ordinary profaner of that holy time Joh 9.16 This man is nor of God because he keepeth not the Sabbath day According to a mans regard or disregard of the Sabbath is his respect or disrespect unto all the rest of Gods Commandements Here I might take occasion to bewail bitterly Englands wofull declinings both in matters of doctrine and practice concerning the Sabbath In former times no Reformed Church was so famous either for soundnesse in judgment or exactnesse in conversation in relation to the Lords Day But our Apostasie began to be Notorious when the Book for the allowing of sports on that day was promoted to gratifie the profane and Popish party then predominant in England And hereupon many both Bishops and others for alas how apt are men even Ministers among others to swim down the tide with them who bear rule appeared in the Pulpit and in the Presse to decry the moralitie and exact observation of the fourth Commandment Many worthy servants of Christ looked upon Germanies Warres as a fruit of this high provocation there and they have judged our late-yeares troubles an effect of the like profanation At this day notwithstanding our Covenanted Reformation how wofully is Gods Sabbath neglected every where and may we not say that the loosenesse of them who are Atheistically wicked is not so dangerous to poor England as the carnal liberty of such who pretend unto the highest pitch of sanctitie How many even amongst them under pretence of Gospel immunities and of observing every day as a spiritual Sabbath do both take and plead for that libertie on the Lords Day which old Puritans amongst whom the power of godlinesse shined gloriously did decry and abominate Many years since I heard this speech uttered with much affection from famous Mr. John Rogers Take away the Sabbath and Religion will soon wither And is not this too much verified amongst our selves in England at this day We have had and we have Acts Ordinances Orders for the better keeping of the Lords Day but who knoweth not that the life of the Law lyeth in the execution Proclamations and Papers will not pluck down profanenesse except they be strengthened by the vigorous actings of persons in power The Lord threateningly complaineth of the Priests in former times because they hid their eyes from the Sabbath Ezek. 22.26 The meaning of the complaint is judged to be either more generally their regardlesnesse thereof 〈◊〉 more particularly their not taking notice when and how and by whom profaned that they might by roproof seek redresse This I mention that we Ministers may mind our Duties in this regard more The Reverend Authour of this Usefull Treatise hath expressed vigorous affections with forcible arguments to awaken quicken and encourage people unto the better keeping of the Christian Sabbath And what considerations can be more commanding and conquering unto an ingenuous experienced Christian then those two hinted and handled from the Text which this godly man undertaketh and pursueth to good purpose in this present Treatise viz. 1. Christ whose Day the Sabbath is in a way of sanctified peculiarity 2. Spirituall joy with which the Lord is wont to crown the sanctifiers of this his holy Day The former usefull Works of this my worthy good friend have found so good acceptance amongst Gods people that I hope this piece for its own sake rather then for my poor Testimony will also be welcomed and improved I commend this savoury Treatise to thy serious perusal and thy self therein to the blessing of God Almighty I am Thy friend and servant in and for Jesus Christ Simeon Ashe August 7. 1654. THE Contents of the first Part. 1. HOw God from the Beginning before the Law ordained a set Day for Religious Duties pag. 6 2. How God after under the Law did more unfold and confirm the same pag. 7 3. Why Christ under the Gospel should have a set Day for his Service p. 10 4. Wherein the work of Redemption surpass'd the work of Creation p. 11 5. Wherefore the first Day of the week is called The Lords Day p. 15 6. What warrant for the change of the Sabbath from tke last to the first Day p. 34 7. Their Objections answered who oppose the Doctrine of the Lords Day p. 36 c. 8. Of the Lords-Day-Duties what they are and where to be perform'd p. 58 125 9. Their Objections answered who neglect the Duties of the Lords Day p. 65 c. 10. The Multitudes of sinners against the Lords Day discovered p. 20 c. 11. The Magnitude of their sin opened in several respects p. 83 c. 12. The sad Judgments to which Sabbath-breakers are subject p. 96 c. 13. Gods Delay of executing Judgment upon many that mis-spend his Day why p. 110 c. 14. What all are to do to help on due Sabbath-observance p. 120 c. 15. What especially some are to do that the Sabbath-Day may be duly observed p. 132 c. 16. The Necessary Use of the Sabbath To whom and for why p. 138 c. 17. The probable losse of the Lords Day when and wherefore p. 148 c. 18. How the Lords Day being removed may be long before its return p. 160 c. 19. How the Lords Day may remain amongst some as a sore curse p. 166. c. 20. How equal it is to observe one Day in seven holy to God p. 169 c. 21. The excellency of the Lords Day being well observed p. 179 c. 22. The commodity of well keeping this our Christian Sabbath p. 196 c. 23. The comforts of the Christian Sabbath well kept p. 214 24. Their Objections answered who cannot find the comfort and profit p. 225 c. 25. How the Lords Day in the worst times may be certainly and sweetly continued p. 244. THE CONTENTS of the second Part. 1. TO be in the Spirit on the Lords Day as S. John was what it is p. 259 2. Why some of Gods Servants are on the Lords Day in the Spirit p. 281 3. How any others of the servants of God may be in the
Lord upon this day drew forth most infallible testimonies of the truth of his resurrection and so left not onely to his present Disciples but to his succeeding servants a more firm foundation for their faith in himself and a more strong Argument to inforce their following observance of the same day Joh. 20.26 27 28 29. August detempore Ser. 25. Bellarm de cultu sanctorum l. 3. cap. 11. Tertul. li. de carne Christi 3. The Mission or Christs sending down of the holy Ghost was upon this day It appears the Apostles met upon the day of Pentecost Act. 2.1 this was a day instituted in remembrance of the Law delivered to Moses in the Mount fifty dayes after their departure out of Egypt Answerably whereunto the holy Ghost and Gods love thereby Rom. 5.5 is sent out and shed abroad the fiftieth day after Christ our Passeover was Sacrificed for us which by computation of the learned both Orthodox and Popish was the first day of the week Christ being gone up the holy Spirit he comes down A blessed bargain saith an ancient Writer hereby was made betwixt heaven and earth to triumphing Saints was given the presence of Christs body and to Militant Saints was sent the comforts of Christs Spirit The Spirit of Christ the Comforter came down upon this day That cannot but be a holy day wherein the holy Ghost came down There be 3. works of excellency applyed to the three Persons in Trinity to wit The work of Creation to God the Father The work of Redemption to God the Son And The work of Sanctification to God the holy Ghost Times and things Persons and seasons he sanctifies The holy Spirit passing through this day hath made it holy This being the day of the Lord his thus doing 't is THE LORDS DAY 2. To the Lord upon this day hath been done Sabbath-service In the Primitive times and In posteriour times The holy Apostles punctually set apart this first day of the week for the worship of God And they were men eminently endowed with the Spirit of Christ Yea men intimately acquainted with the secrets of Christ men immediately instructed by the person of Christ Christ in his own person before his death did discover things to them as to no other men John 15.15 and after his resurrection they were the men whom he did commissionate to erect a Gospel-Church and to order all things therein and therefore he did continue with them for the space of forty dayes before he ascended that he might fully furnish them for those great appointments wherein he found them faithfull And how successeful they were we see Act. 2. when on this same day were gained three thousand souls at one Sermon O blessed day blessed day And as for the Apostle Paul I shall pray you to ponder both His practice and His precept binding the day His practice in the day is plainly expressed Act. 20.7 And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together Paul preached unto them and continued his speech till midnight being to depart on the morrow c. His precept for the day is plainly implyed 1 Cor. 16.1 2. the Apostle there speaking of Collections for Saints upon the first day of the week when they should meet about the works of Gods worship adds this As I have ordained in the Churches of Galatia Piscator in Gene. 2.3 fol. 52 c. even so do ye In that He Ordains such duties for the day He Ordains the day for such duties And above fourty years after this as Chronologie saith Saint John tells us in the text of such a continued day The Lords day And as for other good Authors since the holy Apostles they report concerning the Christian Sabbath upon the first day of the week things of two sorts Some more remote as being a Preparance for it and Some more immediate asserting the observance of it Some things they recite as referring to this first-dayes-Sabbath August de tempo Ser. 25. Austin notes that this very day was the first day of the Worlds Creation when Angels Elements and lights were made and that of all the six dayes-works the work of the first day was greatest because then the first matter and Model the principals and Platform of all was laid Austin also observes that this was the day of Noahs entring into the Ark August de civit Dei lâ—b 16. cap. 26. of Infants receiving Circumcision of Mannas first falling in the Wildernesse Origen before him saith that if the Manna were gathered six dayes together as the Scripture declares Origen Homil. 7. in Exod. and it ceased upon the seventh day which was the Sabbath without doubt it began on the first day which is the Lords day and so he concludes the Lords day to be more excellent then the Jewish Sabbath This was the day say others of Christs Nativity and Baptisme of the Stars appearing at Bethlehem to the Wise men of Christs feeding five thousand persons and other particulars which are in this case collected But I proceed to such as insist upon matters more immediate affirming this first day of the week to be celebrated for the Sabbath of Christians In Eusebius we read the witnesse of Dionysius the Corinthian that they diligently kept holy this Lords day in those times Tertullian naming the Solemnities of Christians begins first with the Lords day which they he saith most carefully kept declaring their exercises theron Justin Martyr names the same day and shewes their works Ignatius against some that being Christians would retain the Jewish Sabbath saith in plain terms Plinius sub Trajano scripsitsolitos hoc stato die convenire Christianos ancle lucem carmenque Christo quasi â—eo communi voce dicere postea Sacramento se obstringere non in scelus aliquod ne furia ne latrocinia ne adulteria committerent c. Magdeb. cent 2. cap. 6. We celebrate no longer the Sabbath of the Jewes but every one that loves Christ keepeth now holy the Lords day An Historian writes of the Christians custome in the Emperour Trajans time how they met upon this same set day early in the morning sung a Psalm received the Sacrament and bound themselves in Covenant to fly sin c. And t' was a common question put to Christians when they were brought before Pagan Governours Dost thou observe the Lords day and the ordinary answer then was I am a Christian and I dare not intermit it I shall shut up my discourse about this setling the Christian Sabbath onely by considering Something that Christ himself said concerning that and Something concerning that Christ said of himself That which our Saviour saith of the Sabbath we find Matth. 24.20 Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter nor on the Sabbath-day We may observe the Sabbath our Saviour means it was for such as were converted to the faith of Christ and 't was for to remain long after the death of
conclude their cunning endeavours were perillous and pestilent and by all meanes possible to be suppressed Such men lift up Moses to throw down Christ advance God the Father to abase Christ the Son and to deface his glory due Zanchius de oper redempt li. 1. ca. 19 fol 612. And though they seem to be for God and his Law yet 't is an unlawful and ungodly thing sayes Zanchius as to have no certain day for Gods publick service so to undermine and to overturn that day which is certainly setled for the Lords Day Secondly some grant this to be the very Lords Day but they do not believe 't is a day so precisely to be celebrated As there are few so far Atheists as absolutely to deny there is a God A God many grant there is that yet deny the true God and many acknowledge the true God that yet cannot be convinced he is such a God so just holy pure and perfect Thus there are few so far opposite to Sabbath as wholly to deny there is any day A day they yield there is but then they do not confesse the right day or they do not confesse the day aright a day to be kept so holy and strict this they withstand whence they are very loose and take large liberties upon the Lords Day And of these there are two sorts Some so minded for want of better Instructions And some so minded from the force of base Corruptions 1. Some have strange latitudes in their judgements of the Lords Day and indeed the very Doctrine of some Churches and Canons of Synods set the door wide allowing liberty for worldly labour recreations and sports upon the Sabbath-day But these are black sports that blemish their beauty in the sight of God 2. Some who live where they might learn better the light of the Lords Day in the Doctrine of it breaking out more bright and shining forth clear and pure yet they cannot see the holinesse of the Day through the filthinesse of their flesh and their dear indulgings of their delightful lusts Neither are they willing to see the Sabbaths Sanctity lest it should disturb their sinful security If for the Lords Day they should be strict in their opinions they could not with conscience-quiet be loose in their practice these persons in this point of corrupt principles and erroneous judgements object divers things as 1. Objection The Sabbath is mutable and moveable from one day to another and therefore may be removed quite and made utterly to cease Answer The Sabbath 't was mutable being altered from the last to the first day of the week but 't is not possible there should be such another change in that there can never possibly be such another cause To that change we may consider a double cause concurring The material cause for it and The actuall cause of it The cause upon which the day was altered viz. Christs Resurrection The cause through which the day was altered viz. Christs Institution So that the cause on which and the cause by which this was done all was Christ In this change of the Sabbath we may observe a double use Originall and Organicall The primary Id sine dubio tenendum quod Ecclesia ab Apostolis Apostoli à Christo Christus à Deo suscepit c. Tertul. Nostrae potestatis non est sanctificare Deus est qui sanctificat c. Muscul Loc. Com. Praecept 4. principall efficient cause of that change was Christ The holy Apostles were the Secundary and Instrumentall cause for to such purposes all their power was from Christ who did extraordinarily call qualifie and commissionate them upon such accounts as never can come the like The Lord himself set up his own Sabbath and indeed 't is onely for him to give a being to a Sabbath that can give a blessing to a Sabbath this is the work of the Lord alone to blesse and sanctifie a day Therefore not any person may assume power nor by any power may persons presume to alter and settle any other Sabbath Men must not alter the ordinance for the day as they may not alter the ordinances in the day to bring in other Sacraments another Gospell Gal. 1.8 If an Angel from heaven should preach another Gospel to you then that you have received let him be accursed and so he that shall cry up amongst you any other Sabbath then what ye have observed let him be accursed 2. Object 'T is contrary to Christian liberty to be limited to a day wherein to worship God Answer Christian liberty learned out is taken Either more strictly Or more largely Strictly Christian liberty is a release from Mosaical Ceremonies and Judaical circumstances but this doth not free from a fixed day for the Lords service which is not a ceremonie a circumstance but the very Soul and substance of Christian religion Largely Christian liberty or Gospel-freedome it does comprise these two things Freedom from the service of sin and Freedom in the service of God First to be free from sins servitude this implies freedom from death and divel the curse of the Law and the wrath of God the sequels of sins slavery Sins service is the sorest bondage Austins Position is proper August de civit Dei li. 3. cap. 4. A good man though he serves yet he is free a wicked man though he reigns he is a servant Rome saith he is the great Mistresse of the World yet the drudge of sin Chrysos Hom. 19. in priorem Epi. ad Corinth and hence Chrysostome concludes Joseph was the freeman and his Mistesse who obeyed her lusts was the servant 2 Pet. 2.19 While they promise themselves liberty they themselves are the servants of corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same he is brought into bondage Secondly to be free in the service of the Lord is sweet liberty this is the case of Christians whatever they do towards God as their duty 't is under a freetenure viz. the Covenant of Grace T is through a freee mover viz. the Spirit of Christ yea and their own spirits set free by Christ The precepts of the Lord are a good mans large walks Psal 119.45 I shall walk at liberty for I seek thy precepts BEDDACHAH at large that is the onely free life that 's spent in seeking serving obeying and blessing God So then into Christian liberty let 's look never so farre we shall not find that a discharge from the Lords day is any breach thereof And therefore a strict observance of this Lords day is no breach thereof 3. Objection Under the Gospel there is no difference of dayes to be observed Answer For satisfaction herein we shall consider first That there is a difference between dayes which it is sinful for to observe And Secondly That yet there is a difference of the Sabbath from other dayes which not to observe is sinful Sinful it is to observe such a difference of days as is Heathenish Jewish
many thousands murthered But O how exceeding sad is this when people may come to the publike in peace pray in peace hear in peace depart in peace from Sabbath after Sabbath yet loiter at home on the Lords Day I wish empty seats make not way for empty pulpits and that quite forgetting Sabbaths be not the event of slighting Sermons To say nothing of such as desert our assemblies upon the groundlesse grounds of Separation what Atheisme begins to grow in the Land who le Parishes live as without God in the world scarce knowing when a Sabbath comes Help Lord. Now amongst such as sin against the Lords Day in respect of works thereupon to be done Divers things are objected Some against the condition of the work in the day And Some against the continuance of the day in the work The condition of this dayes work considered some object Because any thing of the day is required in publick Others Because so many things in the day are required Some say They can read good books and serve God at home when the Sabbath comes Answer 1. They can but 't is a question whether they will or no. Such as in their houses all the whole week do little or nothing in the worship of God are like to do no great matter at home when the Sabbath comes in the service of God As one well observes that commonly they who forget God in the time of their life do forget both God and themselves in the day of their death So they who neglect God in the week-time do ordinarily little regard God or the good of their souls upon the Sabbath-day Secondly The publike preaching of the Word is of more Soul-concernment on the Sabbath then any private reading at home if we consider Either the precept of God Or the Profit of man Both expresse in that of the Apostle 1 Pet. 2.2 As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby Sincere milk of the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sermon-milk warm milk from the Mothers brest is best to battle the babe Sodden milk hath not so much spirits therein nor the child that refreshing thereby * Revera fratres nubes sunt praedicatores c. August in Psal 35. Sermon-milk is the best food for spiritual growth Agustin compares the preaching of the Word to the raining of the clouds which more refreshes the corn then if pond-water should be poured out in pailes and buckets My doctrine shall drop as the rain and my speech shall distill as the dew Deut. 32.1 2. Slight not such Sabbath-showres nor misse upon the Lords Day the former or the latter rain Object On the Sabbath in publike I shall only hear another at home I my self can speak to God in prayer Answ In publike thou mayest not only hear but also pray even then when not one word thou speakest A man at home may speak many words yet make never a prayer and a Christian in the congregation may pray earnestly though he speaks never a word 'T is not the speaking of the tongue but the working of the heart that makes prayer * Non vocis magnitudine sed cordis magnanimitate clamandum est c. Clamabat populus et non audiebatur tacebat Moses et audiebatur ille Ambros in Psal 119. One observes how the Israelites when the Egyptian army was behind them and the Red-sea before them they lift up their voyces and cryed out to the Lord yet God did not regard this as a prayer Exod. 14.10 Moses he was silent not one word of prayer appears yet the Lord sayes to Moses Wherefore cryest thou unto me ver 15. Though his tongue was still his heart was hot in holy prayer Secondly he that will not upon the Lords Day hear Gods Word his private prayer is but unpleasing to God 'T is a saying of one of the Ancients God oft rejects his prayer in trouble who in the daies of his peace does despise Gods precepts Deus saepe ejus precem in perturbatione deserit qui precepta illius in tranquillitate contemnit Greg. Mor. li. 5. ca. 36. and so God does but abominate his prayer in private who will not hear upon the Sabbath-day Gods holy precepts in publike He that turnes away his ear from hearing the Law his prayer shall be an abomination Prov. 28.9 He must first hear God that will be heard of God Objection On the Sabbath in publike I may be put upon expence in contributing to some or other in want which by being at home I escape Answ 1. Charity to such as are in necessity is alwaies an excellent duty It makes a man to resemble God who hath never need to receive but is ever most free to give Jam. 1.5 2. For the duty of charity the most seasonable day is the Sabbath * Chryso in 1. Cor. 11. Homil. 43. Chrysostenme observes that the Sabbath is the day when God in his best bounty does most appear unto us and therefore for us to expresse our bounty to others the Sabbath is the fittest day 3. Though charitable duties are fit for every Sabbath yet such occasions are not constant Christians indeed upon those Lords Dayes when they are not communicating to they should be commiserating of such as suffer in the World when they are not in their contributions liberall they should be in their compassions lively In their thoughts they should go forth and look upon the burdens of their brethren remembring those that are in bonds as if bound with them Hebr. 13.3 Object Some Sabbath-work I am willing to do but so many works on the Sabbat be burdensome Answer 1. The more work the more wages The more good Sabbath-seed men sowe the more plentifull crops of comfort they shall râ—ap both in earth and heaven God hath more Sabbath-mercies to vouchsafe then we duties to perform 2. As on this day men have much work So they have much help Scriptures Ministers Ordinances yea Angells yea God himself Father Son and Holy Ghost Our Lord is not like Pharaoh who required brick but withheld straw 3. The work indeed on the Lords Day is large but it is all excellent businesse that well becomes Kings yea and pions Princes have accounted it not onely their duty but their dignity not onely to see that others but themselves also in all holy duties do observe the Lords Day Zozom Eccl. hist si 1. ca. 8. History in the praise of Constantine reports much of this And the Scripture prophesies that Princes in Gospell-times should not abate but abound in Sabbath-day-duties And the burnt-offering that the Prince shall offer to the Lord in the Sabbath-day Exek 46.4 shall be six Lambs without blemish and a Ram without blemish This by type did signifie that in succeeding times the Service of God should be plentifully performed even by the highest of the people upon the Lords holy Day 4. Upon the Lords Day though of duties there be
a great variety yet there is no contrariety In the soule of a Saint there be contrary principles flesh and spirit one opposing another but there are not in the Sabbath contrary practices each to other repugnant one duty does not thwart another but Sabbath-services are to each other helpfull Prayer fits for hearing and hearing prepares for prayer 5. The diversity and change of sabbath-Sabbath-work shewes the Lords wisdome yea and the love of the Lord to make exercises the more easie that holy labour may not be heavy labour nor men tyred all Sabbath-time with one continued work the Lord lets them passe from one imployment to another for refreshment 6. On the Sabbath we have several works yet in all we serve but one Master Indeed had we divers Masters it might discourage but to us there is but one Lord. Upon the Sabbath in religious services we change our place and we change our businesse but we do not change our Master All is to Christ to Christ men should say upon a Sabbath-morning Though other Lords in the week-time have had too much dominion over us yet now we will make mention of thy Name onely 7. If multitude of services be tedious what will multitude of sufferings be Jam. 1.2 sayes the Apostle My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations How will they rejoyce in divers daily distresses that shrink back because exercises are divers upon the Lords day Object The Sabbath ceases when publike exercises end no longer holy day then while holy duty Answ If so sure then with some Sabbaths are very short But shall we think that men can begin and end a Sabbath when they list The Churches of Christ in ages past have determined of an entire day due to the Lord. The Sabbaths Iren. cont Valent. lib. 4. cap. 31. August de temp Serm 251. sayes Irenaeus do require a compleat day and the perseverance of that whole day in the Lords service Austin declares his judgement touching the time of the Sabbath from that text Levit. 23.32 From even to even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath 'T is evident from that place of the Apostle Jam. 2.10 that whosoever carelessely casts by any part of Gods precept transgresses the whole law of God and thus whosoever wilfully neglects any part of Gods Sabbath is guilty of breaking this whole holy day men must not suite the day to their duties but their duties to the day while the day endures their duty remains Object But so to keep the whole day is terribly tyring a hard service who can do it Answ God because of our infirmities does afford what may refresh the better to bear up our bodies the Lord allowes moderate sleep in the night and temperate food in the day True it was in Tertullians time a dispute Tertul. de coron milit cap. 3. Tom. 1. pag 747. whether it be not a duty on the Lords day to fast but our Saviours Apologie for his Disciples in plucking and eating the ears of Corn upon the Sabbath day may easily quiet that question Mark 2.25 And blessed be the Lord for the allowances of his love 2. Men do not complain of whole dayes for the world They rise early and go to bed late and eat the bread of carefulnesse Psal 127.2 They do not say all the week when the morning is Would God it were evening but rather in the evening they wish would it were morning again to go after the world afresh yet we find some even in sinful wayes so unwearied that when one day is past they pitch upon the very next day with inlarged resolutions Come ye say they I will fetch wine and we will fill our selves with strong drink and to morrow shall be as this dâ—y and much more abundant Isai 56.12 3. We may see what some of Gods servants have desired instance David that dear servant of God Psal 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord sayes he and that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life As if he should wish it were alway Sabbath day with him Psal 84.4 10. O blessed are they that dwell in thy house c. For a day in thy Courts is better then a thousand I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tents of wickednesse Were men of Davids mind a day in seven for the service of the Lord would not be too long 4. There have been them that have spent divers dayes and nights also in the service of God see a considerable instance Luk. 2.37 A widow of about fourscore and four years which departed not from the Temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and day For her sexe A woman For her case A widow not having the company or comfort of a husband For her age About fourscore and four years yet night and day with fasting and prayer serving God in the Temple 5. For such as are tyred out with the time of a Sabbath would they go to heaven There 't is ever Sabbath alway singing serving and setting up of God Bernard urges the observation of the Sabbath and holding out in holy exercises thereon upon this account that by present rest men may learn to live in rest eternal Bern. super Saluz Regina Serm. 4. Col. 1744. and by persevering service men may be prompt to perpetuate the Lords everlasting praise But how would men do to endure heaven and a never ending Sabbath there who know not here how to bear out the durance of a Sabbath day Object I cannot so tend duties on the day for I have other works of necessity to do Ans 1. There are works of necessity which we grant may be done upon the Lords day Vid. Lyra. in Exod. 20. in Jonna 5.8 Beda in Marc. 2.23 Zanch in 4. praece as by food to refresh our bodies to resist the invasion of enemies to stop the irruption of waters to quench the rage of fire to preserve the life of our Cattel and the like 2. Those that say on the Sabbath such things they must necessarily do ought yet carefully to see it be not A fained necessity or A made necessity To pretend a things necessity when yet indeed no necessity of such a thing to be done is to commit a double sin To do what is not good and To say what is not true Men must also beware they bring not a necessity upon themselves upon the Sabbath to do such things as they might prevent through a prudent foresight this is to make a sin with a necessity Isay 58.13 Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight not doing thine own wayes nor finding thine own necessities so some Paraphrasing expound the Hebrew word men have many necessities which yet are of their own causing and not of Gods appointing 3. There are things necessary in their season that yet are not necessary upon the
Sabbath 'T is necessary for a man to follow his lawfull calling and to be diligent in his worldly businesse When we read sayes Bernard that Adam in the pleasant place of Paradise was appointed to work shall we think that the sons of Adam in the troublesome Wildernesse of this world are placed for play No 't is necessary for the sons of men to be industrious in their lawful affairs Moses putting his hand in his bosome 't was leprous but putting it out 't was made whole God hath given men hands for a threefold work sayes one To lift them up in prayer to God To stretch them out in charity to the poor and To put them down by labour in a lawful calling So that for a man in his lawful calling to labour it is necessary viz. in its season But herein to labour upon the Lords day is dangerous The gain of this day may be as the gold of Tholosse as the cole brought to the nest setting the young and all on fire Luk. 10. Reproof is given to Martha by our Saviour for her being about ordinary affairs assuring her that One thing was needfull Needfull it was for Martha to be about her houshold businesse Yea but not then when Christ was present and an opportunity served for soul-advantage which her sister Mary minded Thus though 't is needfull for Christians to look after their lawfull occasions in the world yet not upon the Lords day the season for soul-advantages 4. Are such wordly walks and works necessary and are the works of Gods worship arbitrary yea upon the Sabbath is not the service of God much more necessary As the Apostle said Act. 4. Whether it be more needfull to obey God or men judge ye So say I Whether it be on the Sabbath more needfull to serve God or your selves judge ye whether more needfull to take care for your temporal or your eternal being judge ye Among necessaries that which is most necessary is to be first minded Object We see none so exact our neighbours are not so nice but take their liberties on the Sabbath and why not we the same Answ 1. We must live by precept not by example 't is the Law of God and not the lives of men that must be our rule As he that will be for God must crosse the most of men so he that would go to heaven must leave the greatest part of the world behind him He shall never write a good hand that makes the world his Copy nor shall he ever well observe a Sabbath who frames himself unto the common platforme 2. If patterns are to bo followed Be ye then followers of God as dear children Ephes 5.1 In six dayes God made heaven and earth and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hollowed it Likewise let us look unto the Lord Christ Luk. 4.16 He went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day as his custome was c. Learn we ought of Christ though not as Austin observes to walk on the waters yet to work in Gods worship upon the Sabbath-day 3. If we will take our Model herein after the manner of men 't is best to look back to preceding Saints Gods Church and people considered as past and present may be compared to that cloud Exodus 14. which was partly bright and partly dark The bright part was before to give light to the Israelites and the dark part behind to blind the Egyptians The Saints and people of God aforetime were as the bright side of the cloud shining clear in Chistianity strict in all the waies of God and most exact in Sabbath-service such as now professe themselves the Saints of God are as the following dark side of the cloud more dim and dull in holy duties more loose upon the Lords Day having lesse of the life and lustre of religion O let us but think what was the care of Christians not many years ago to improve Sabbaths and all the service of God such follow with holy Apostles and Martyrs and the spirits of just men made perfect 4. If herein we will take such as are present for our pattern Blessed be the Lord some are left that hold up religion to the life and with great care look to the Lords Day and the duties thereof Indeed there are divers of whom we may complain Chrysost in Matth. Hòm 3. as Chrysostome of some in his time Whereby sayes he shall I know you to be Christians Do you not delight in any place more then in the Courts of the Lords house and take pleasure in any time more then in the hours of the Lords day Yet some few are found faithfull to the Lord and his Day and such we should duly observe 5. When an age is in religion loose 't will be the more any mans credit and comfort to be exact and strict To be a precise Sabbath-keeper in a Sabbath-breaking-age that 's a mans honour For a man to remain sound in his principles and punctuall in the practicall observation of the Sabbath when opposite evills are high and huge August de Tempo Serm. 23 2◠in times and places that strange birds build their nests when multitudes in Townes and Parishes as Austin resembles them are like Toades and Frogs in fens and puddles Croaking against the Lords Day When many as Musculus upon the fourth commandement complaines Beza in Cant. Solo Hom. 30. Bucer◠in Psal 92. the like Beza Bucer and others laments pittifully prophane the Lords holy Day this is praise then to be painful pure and permanent in the practice of all the Lords-Day-duties Object We for our selves observe the Sabbath but there are some with us that will have their liberties and who can help it Answ Superiours must help as much as is possible that others under them as well as themselves observe the Lords Day Therefore as many of us as have others within our gates and under our government we ought as much as in us lyes upon the Lords Day to endeavour the drawing them to holy duties which may appear plain through a double proof The precept of God about them The property of God in them 1. God gives his precept for them herein as we find in the fourth Commandement The Seventh day is the Sabbath in it thou shalt do no manner of work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant c. If it be our duty to keep them from ordinary work for the case of their bodies then to bring them to holy ordinances for the good of their Souls and the bodily rest we are to allow them lyes upon this account they are to rest from the common works of their vocation in order to the exercises of religion in private and publike upon the Lords Day Luke 13.15 Doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his oxe or his asse from the stall and lead him away to watering and ought not each one of
read of many such sad examples Some within doors their brains beat out others abroad their bodies burnt with Lightning and beat down dead with claps of Thunder as some recite Object We see no such punishments in our present times upon persons profaning the Sabbath Answ The Lord now leaves men unto that which is worse then punishment to wit sin Both in the time of the Sabbath And out of Sabbath-time O the sad sins of several even upon the Sabbath day Such sins set Musculus upon the fourth Commandement to make a sad moane and Bucer upon the 92. Psalme does bitterly bewaile such sins O that we had some so seriously mourning for we have now many miserably so sinning yea and also at other times Men are in sin when they are out of the Sabbath God leaves men to week dayes transgressions as a punishment of Sabbath day omissions The Lord lets men on the week dayes do the evil they should not because on the Sabbath day they did not the good they should Yea let 's sadly consider our abominable sins Both in judgment And in practice The sinking of Sabbaths is the rising of all errors Hence we note Arminian Socinian Pelagian opinions published almost in every place With our sins against the day of Christ we have sinful errors against the death of Christ against the whole Doctrine of Christ Dignity of Christ Deity of Christ I have found some affirming that 't was a piece of the Divels policy to hinder the Sabbath from being called the Lords day that he might the more keep men from knowing and imbracing the Lord of truth and the truth of the Lord. I dare say 't is Satans design that he might make men vent and advance Venomous opinions against the pure and precious truths of Christ he causes them to become carelesse in keeping the Lords day 'T was observed among the Jewes that when they grew remisse concerning the Sabbath they became corrupt in their Tenents touching the works of God in the Creation And it may be observed among Christians that since men have fallen to soul neglects of the Lords day they have about the works of Christ redemption wax'd wilde in their imaginations yea errors of all sorts hath God suffered as filthy froggs to infect our English air 2. Sinful and prodigious practices are also plentiful in every place As the observation of the Sabbath is that which brings on all the duties of godlinesse cease that and all sinks so the violation of the Sabbath is the inlet of al loosenesse a door to all the works of darknesse what wickednesse will not rise up where the Lords day is down As in the Decalogue the command for the Sabbath is set in the middle being the band of the whole and that which hath an influence into all thus in the Catalogue of Jerusalems sins Ezek. 22. the sin against the Sabbath is set in the midst amongst them as being the main and that through which all the rest move Read vers 7 8 9 10. In thee have they set light by father and mother in thee have they dealt by oppression in thee have they vexed the father lesse and the widow Thou hast despised my holy things and hast profaned my Sabbath In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood in thee they commit lewdnesse thou hast greedily gained by extortion and hast forgotten me saith the Lord God Now for the Lord in a Land to suffer such sins is worse then if he should in an ordinary way punish punishment not being so great an evil as sin Sin is the common cause of punishment In evil things the cause is more corrupt then the effect punishment is the work of God sin is the proper work of the Divel punishment is opposite to the peace and quiet of the creature sin 't is repugnant to the very being of man yea of God himself 'T is sin alone which formally and causally separates a soul from God the chiefest good and therefore is the greatest evil 'T is sins that are Bars in Heaven-gates that there is no entering in and Bonds in Hell flames that there 's no getting out If I sayes Anselme were in hell without sin I should not be kept in and were I in heaven with sin I should soon be turned out This sayes Chrysostome do I think and this I will ever Preach that 't is worse by sin to offend Christ then to be tormented in hell-fire for ever May not we then well think that sin is a sorer evil then any punishment possible And therefore though God does not punish persons for polluting his Sabbath yet in that he leaves them upon this unto other sins their case is a thousand fold worse Yet of such too many are manifest men who on the Sabbath do not regard Gods assisting grace to help them in good God on the week dayes withdraws his restreining grace that might keep them from evil even sin the worst of evils 2. Though God does not in visible wayes punish such men yet he does in various wayes whereof they are not aware viz. Negative and Positive 1. 'T is a punishment that God does not punish them Hosea 4.14 I will not punish your Daughters when they commit whoredome Infignis est poena vindicta impietatis connivere Deum indulgere peccantibus Philo. lib. de confus linguarum c. When God does not punish persons for polluting and neglecting his Sabbath this is a sore punishment Yea 't is a notable punishment sayes a learned Writer and a dreadful revenge when God seems to indulge and as it were oversee sinful men As God shewes love in correcting so he shewes wrath when he does not correct 'T was mercy to me may some man say that I was chastised 'T was good for me sayes David that I was afflicted So every wicked one shall one day say 't was ill for me I was not afflicted 't was a judgement to me God did not correct me The lesse smart on earth the more pain in hell 't is a terrible punishment upon some Sabbath-breakers to break the Sabbath and yet to passe unpunished 2. God sends in sad Judgements for this sin which men do not see as a Judge he smites them with blindnesse of mind and hardnesse of heart for this God threatens Levit. 26. to make the earth as brasse and heavens as Iron Iron-hearts are worse then Iron-heavens If sometimes on the Lords day to the Congregatiō men of hard hearts come yet that word which is a mercy to some is a judgement to them * Quum sanctae exhortationis verba aliamens suscipit alia recipere recusat super unam civitatem pluit Dominus non super aliam Grego in Ezek. Hom. 10. 't is Gods expression in the Prophet That he caused it to rain upon one City and not upon another that is sayes an ancient Writer the same words of exhortation which God as a loving Father causes some to receive
parts of the service Suitable to their places for the service Concerning the service of the Lords day it self observe The spring of it and The spread of it What it must proceed from and What it must extend unto 1. Sabbath-service must proceed from a spring of love The service of our Christian Sabbath-love Amor meus pondus meum eo feror quocunque feror Aug. 'T will facilitate it and 'T will perpetuate it Love it will lead out and carry through the wole businesse of this blessed day with ease to the end Love is the best Load-stone through all the Lords day-duties This is one of the dayes of the Lords appearing which every Christian is bound to love 2 Tim. 4.8 And who ever loves the day will not leave the duty 2. The service of the Sabbath is of such extent that there are divers duties duly to be performed Both secretly in our Habitations And openly in the Congregation In our private dwellings Religious duties upon the Lords day are required of every one as Prayer Meditation and holy Conference Prayer whereby we speak to God Meditation whereby we speak to our selves And good Conference whereby we speak one unto another Prayer The Sabbath is indeed a day God hath sanctified yet 't is not sanctified as to us nor we to it without prayer Our Sabbath in heaven shall all be imployed in praysings of God but prayer to God must have a prime part of every Sabbath we observe on earth Are there Sbbbath duties to be performed we must pray that God would make us able Are there Sabbath mercies to be received we must pray that God would count us worthy Meditation The Sabbath is the day for the bodies rest from earthly affairs and therefore the mind is then most meet to be about the best businesse Theophil in Marc. 1. et 21. One well notes that the Lord commands rest upon the Sabbath that men might read the Word and meditate upon the Word they read The Word and the Works of God are indeed every day to be meditated on but most upon the Lords day Augustine gives this reason why God was six several dayes in the works of the World to wit that upon the seventh day man might the more orderly think upon those Works of God Conference The Sabbath is the day when all in a family have more liberty to be together then on any other day On the week dayes persons in a house are as Bees in a Hive that go forth several wayes to work but on the Lords day their common work abroad ceases so that they may the better set themselyes to assist each other in soul concernments Exhorting one another while it is called to day Heb. 3.13 In our publick meetings The religious duties which upon the Lords day are required be Either more ordinary Or lesse ordinary Ordinary and constant duties for the exercise of all As Prayer to God Hearing the Word and Singing of Psalmes Prayer Upon the Lords day though one be made the Mouth yet 't is meete there should be as many praying hearts as present bodies Prayer was a principal thing the practice of which the Primitive Christians continued in their congregated assemblies Act. 2.42 Austine sadly complains of some in his time August de tempore Serm. 251. who when they should be entring in the Church doors they are tarrying in the Church-yard playing without when they should be praying within idly talking of the world when they should be seriously seeking the Lord c. O that this abuse had dyed in his dayes but the Lord knows it lives for us to lament Hearing Upon the Lords day a great duty is diligent attention to Gods word read and preached They sayes a reverend Writer who rightly use the Sabbath day Gualt in Marc. 3. Hom. 23. they go to the publick assemblies to hear the holy word of God And herein what was the practice of Gods people in the time of the Apostles is plain Act. 13.14 15 16 42 44. Act. 15.21 Act. 20.7 c. And Justine Martyr who dyed for the cause of Christ in the year of our Lord 170. in his second Apologie for Christians reports the people of God to gather into one place perpetually on the Lords day to hear the Scriptures read and to attend exhortations thereupon Singing Upon the Lords day it being the day of Saints sweetest delight holy Psalmes are seasonable to be sung And in ancient times there were some Psalmes penned and purposely appointed for the Sabbath day as is expressed in the Preface of Psal 92. Pliny in his letter to Trajan tells how in those times the Christians upon their set dayes of solemn worship used early in the morning sweetly to sing together unto the praise of God August lib. 9. confessio cap. 6. Austin in this publike exercise sayes he had often wept for joy joy c. Some seek to cut off and cast this comfortable service quite out of doors contrary to the example of Christ Matth. 26.30 the practice of the Apostles Act. 16.25 and other expresse texts in the New Testament August in lib. Psal Prolog Basil de virt laud. Psal Tom. 1. as Colos 3.16 Ephes 5.19 Jam. 5.13 Among other ancient Writers Basil speaks large in the praise of praysing God in this way and abundantly blesses God for the Book of the Psalmes as a fit foundation for this duty Lesse ordinary yet frequent duties upon the Lords day to be done they do relate to Sacraments administring Censures inflicting and Necessities supplying Sacraments The transacting of these suites best unto the Sabbath season One well observes that upon the day of the ancient Sabbath the sacrifices were doubled Danaeus Ethic. Chr. lib. 2. cap. 10. And our Sacraments succeeding these should not onely come in their room but be at their time as services most seasonable for the day of our Sabbath Chrysostome reports how in the primitive times the Lords day had a double name 't was called Chrysost de Resurr Serm. 15. The day of light and The day of bread Of light Because on that day the Sacrament of Baptisme was wont to be openly administred Of bread Because the Sacrament of the Lords Supper used to be celebrated on that day in the Assemblies of Christians And this was the manner of the Disciples in the time of the Apostles Act. 20.7 Censures The exercise of Discipline is fit for the Lords day when the servants of Christ are assembled then to remove from among them scandalous persons both in opinion and practice that 's a plain place 1 Cor. 5.4 In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together viz. on our Lords day and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one unto Satan c. And the first power for this purpose that our Saviour gave to his Disciples was upon the day of our Christian Sabbath the first day of
the week see Joh. 20.19 23. Therein directing them as on this day to exercise that power and that power it does appear was upon this present day principally put in execution afterward thus Origen Cyprian and others relate Orig. can Cels lib. 3. Cypr. ad Pomp. Epi. 62. Greg Nys orat And O how pure and clean would our waters boyl could we on this day so cast off our scum Help Lord c. Necessities The duty of charitable relief is proper for the Lords day 1 Cor. 16.1 2. Tertullian tells in his Apologie for Christians how carefull the Christian Churches were to works of mercy on the Lords day whereby their Brethren in bonds were bountifully supplied and the bellies of the afflicted refreshed Irenaeus contra Valenti lib. 4 cap. 19â— Another of the Ancients does excellently note from the example of our Saviour Luk 13.15 that the right sanctifying the Sabbath day does consist in acts of pitty works of mercy and how charitable deeds become this comfortable day Luk. 14.1 2 3 4 5. is full These Sabbath-duties some way concern the whole body of a people more promiscuously 2. There be some duties on the Sabbath that do concern some persons principally as Magistrates and Ministers Parents and Masters All ought to concur in their care for the keeping of this day Indeed the Lords day is the Fort-royal of Religion let all stand to it in their places we be not beaten out of that especially now when so many lay siege thereunto Some set their wits awork and oppose the doctrinal part of it Others set their wills awork and impugne the practical part of it and as they will not rest on the Lords day so they will not let the Lords day to be at rest but mount their Cannons and make what batteries they can c. O let all and especially such as may do more then others now bestirre themselves to raise the Sabbath siege and to maintain our Sabbath Fort if we dye let us dye in a couragious keeping of this indeed if this be taken all is lost hold this and yet there is hope Let us that are in publike places play the men As the two milch-kine 1 Sam. 6. being coupled together they bore up and carried on the Arke of God Thus let Magistrate and Minister be united to hold up the holy day of God and the holy worship of God upon his day Let Sabbath-breakers for multitude be like a numerous Army if Magistrate and Minister would but joyn we should route them all O how commendable were it if these two in this regard would agree like Joab and Abishai his brother 2 Sam. 10.11 12. If the Syrians be too strong for me then thou shalt help me but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee then I will come and help thee onely be of a good courage let us quit our selves like men for our people and for the Cities of our God and the Lord do that which seemeth him good So let us do what we are able to the utmost for the Sabbaths and the service of our God and then the Lord do with us what seems him good O that those who bear the sword were fired with some of that Sabbabth-zeal that once Nehemiah had Chap. 13.17 18 19. 'T was a high praise that Ambrose gave of Theodosius that he was more solicitous to preserve the things of God as a Magistrate then to preserve himself as a man And it was a good caution that Austin gives upon Psal 2. Magistrates are to be admonished Vid. Pet. Martyr in judg cap 1. saith he as not to grant men immunity to any false worship so not to allow men liberty to leave the true worship of God The Magistrate upon the Lords day is not onely to see men forbear the outward works of their callings but to see that they be about the visible works of Gods worship August Bonif. comiti Epi 50. praecip Tom. 7. Cont. epist Parmeniani lib. 1. cap. 7. Tom. 7. lib. 2. contra Epist Gaudentii cap. 16.17 Austin more then once commends Imperial Lawes against the Donatists for separating from the publike worship of God and gathering into private houses upon the Lords day there to promote their Anti-magisterial opinions Which Lawes were to punish the ordinary people with fines of Money their leaders with banishment the places of their meeting to be forfeited to the Emperour and that none of them should have power to bestow their goods by will or to enjoy any Legacy to them by will bequeathed And he gives Instances of the execution of these Laws and the good successe thereof encouraging the Magistrate therein And when people are brought to the publike Pool Joh. 5.2 3. the Minister is as the Angel that upon this Sabbath-season must move and work in the waters to wit be active in all the Ordinances of God that such as by divine assistance step close in may meet God for the cure of their souls And as the Minister is more immediately to manage the worship of God upon this holy day yea his place is to presse that men do not on this day of the Sabbath satisfie themselves in a bare bodily way to worship God but to see they on the Sabbath serve God in Spirit and truth Thus these two as the two Cherubims that looked one towards another and both upon the Mercy-seat they should with respect look one upon another and both upon the service of the Sabbath that so the Lord may have his day and his due Lastly Let governours of families Parents and Masters contribute their best assistance to see the Sabbath well observed for which end towards their children and servants there is required upon the Lords day a double duty A taking of them to the publike means And a taking with them private pains 1. You are to bring them with you unto the publike Ordinances In the time of the Old Testament people that went to worship God they carried their flocks and their herds with them Hose 5.6 that in sacrifice they might offer them up to God In these times of the New Testament men are to carry their children and servants with them to the worship of God upon his holy day offering them up with themselves as a sacrifice to God When 't was required that the whole body of the Israelitish people should go out from their dwellings in Egypt to serve the Lord together in the Wildernesse Pharaoh called Moses and said Go ye serve the Lord but let your flocks and your herds be stayed but what sayes Moses We will go with our flocks and our herds with our sons and our daughters with our young and with our old will we go there shall not a hoofe be left behind for we must hold a feast unto the Lord and serve the Lord our God Exod. 10.9 24 26. Such Religious resolutions become Christians in the present case 2. Such of you as are heads
of families must upon the Lords day be diligent in houshold-duties We find in the 4 th of Mark yea and likewise Luke 14. how our Saviour on the Sabbath day when he had publikely preached to the people as a Minister of the Gospel he after privately examined his Disciples and further instructed them as a Master of a family From which example of Christ an excellent Expositor observes Chemnit examen cap. de dieb fest how unto the sanctification of the Sabbath besides publike duties there is work to be done in Families as instructing servants repetition of Sermons reading Scriptures counselling and quickning such as are under our care that all may keep holy the Lords day So we see the matters men are exhorted unto I come now to consider the motives by which hereunto men are to be exhorted These are of two sorts Some more driving and Others more drawing Motives that more drive unto diligence in these Duties may arise by observing concerning the Christian Sabbath these four things The necessity of it's continued being The Jeopardy of its future losing The uncertainty of its sudden regaining and The possibility of its present cursing 1. The being of the Lords day is necessary note Negatively and Affirmatively Not that God needs any Sabbath-service or such holy duties as additionals to his Dignity Indeed as to us the honour of God seems to sink when Sabbaths cease And the supporting of Sabbaths seems the advancing of Gods glory but the intrinsecal glory of God can receive no increase God would be infinitely happy though men keep no day holy we need his service not he our obedience When our Saviour sent Luk. 19. to unloose the Colt the Disciples were to give the owner this reason thereof The Lord hath need of him We call indeed to a careful keeping of the Sabbath but we do not say the Lord hath need of it The gods of the Heathen need the supports of such as serve them but so does not the God of heaven Hence sayes the holy Apostle Act. 17.24 25 God that made the world and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth dwells not in temples made with hands neither is worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all life and breath and all things One well observes of the Angels Chrysost in Matth. Hom. 9 they are not poor though they have no flocks of sheepe they are not in want though silver gold they have none they do not need these things because they have better things abide them Thus God does not want our service in Sabbaths neither needs he any of our duties on holy dayes because of those most perfect felicities and glorious excellencies that are in himself abiding As the Lord is omniscient and needs not any man to assist his knowledge So the Lord is all-sufficient and needs not any thing to help his happinesse And therefore the necessity of Sabbath-observance does not referre to God But to observe Sabbaths the necessity is in reference to us for a double cause viz. Necessitas duplex Praecepti Medii Gods Injunction towards us and Our condition towards God 1. 'T is necessary for us to observe the Sabbath day in all its duties because of Gods injunction And here 't is meet of two things to take good notice to wit Every command of God causes a necessity of our obodience and here is a necessity of our obedience because of Gods expresse command 1. Whereever God gives a word of command there is a work of our obedience necessary I had rather sayes Luther obey the Lords commands then to work Miracles If Miracles need be wrought God will do his own work but 't is needfull we obey commands for God will not do mans work As God by his promises binds himself to vouchsafe mercy So God by his precepts binds us to perform duty As God promising mercy requires our faith so God commanding duty requires our obedience Obedience 't is a debt which as we certainly owe so we must necessarily pay Some they owe to God the debt of passive obedience as they are his prisoners all they owe to God the debt of active obedience as they are his creatures 2. Here God gives a word of manifest command and therefore visibly to obey is necessary Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day Exod. 20.8 Touching this commandement That the Sabbath day be kept holy we may observe Who was the Giver of it Mediatorem hic appellat Christum declarans quòd ipse ante legem fuerit legem tulerit Chrysost In principio mundi Christus Mediator erat hominum etfi nondum erat homo c. Orig. Ambros lib. 4. in Luc. and To whom it was given 1. He who gave this Sabbath Command was Christ the Mediatour He who came down upon Mount Sinai and gave the whole Law is called Jehovah Exod. 20.2 Deut. 4 11. This the Septuagint translate Lord And the same the holy Apostle applies to the Mediatour our Lord Christ Gal. 3.19 And Origen Chrysostome Ambrose with almost all the Ancients in expounding that place of the Apostle do affirme that 't was Christ the Mediatour both of the Old and New Testament by whom the Law was given So Calvin Junius Marlorat and other able Writers since assert upon the same text We are therefore to look upon this sanctifying the Sabbath as that for which Christ hath given a positive Command 'T was not a Mosaical Ceremony pointing to Christ but 't is a Moral duty appointed by Christ and so to remain under the Gospel and government of Christ untill Christ shall deliver up the Kingdome to God the Father and set an end to all times and things in this world 2. He to whom this Sabbath-Command was given is every one Individually Thou Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day Thou Not as a Jew but as a man every man both Jew and Christian Herein whosoever exempts himself deceives himself Yea and of all the commands not any have such a Memorandum upon it as that which concerns the sanctifying of the Sabbath Remember As it related to a duty to be performed in dayes past so it related to a people that in dayes past should still perform that duty A Christian Church to come Remember If men forget all the rest yet let them remember this and if they well remember this not any of the rest will be forgoten That which Luther affirms of the first may wel be referred to the 4. Commandment that in the observance of that obedience to all the rest is comprized 2. The Sabbath day in all its duties is necessary for men to sanctifie because of their condition whether they be considered As unregenerate Or as regenerate 1. For men in an unregenerate estate they need to have a holy Sabbath observed And of such there are two sorts Some in a sinful estate and know it not and others that know
that day which first opened the womb of time that day which first opens the womb of every week and therefore may well be kept holy to the Lord and be accounted honourable in the world Whereas the Jewes Sabbath was upon the last ours is upon the first day of the week So that the Jewish Sabbath might well say concerning the Christian as John Baptist of Christ There comes one after me that is to be preferred before me 'T is more excellent as 't is time 2. Our Sabbath as it is named transcends in excellency Heb. 1.9 't is said of Christ in respect of the Angels He hath obtained a more excellent name then they so may it be said of our Sabbath in respect of all the Judaicall Sabbaths It hath obtained a more excellent name then they it is called THE LORDS DAY True there is excellency in the name Sabbath as it signifies rest Rest is the Centre to which all living creatures move Rest is the perfection and satisfaction of all creatures after their tyring and troublesome motions But in this name excellencie more abounds THE LORDS DAY As it made much for the honour of Jacob when he had another name added Israel Jacob signified The supplanter of weak man Israel signified The prevailer with a strong God The latter the far more excellent name This is the honour of the Sabbath it hath another name and the former was not like this last THE LORDS DAY There is admirable excellency in all that is called the Lords The Lords Gospel The Lords People The Lords Praier The Lords supper 1. The Lords Gospel There is excellencie The Law of God hath beauty but the Gospel excells in glory The Jewish Rabbins were wont to say That upon every letter of Gods Law hang Mountaines of admirable matter But Luther of the Gospel goes further saying That the shortest line and the least letter thereof is more worth then all Earth and Heaven The very Angels look out from Heavens Glory stooping down to see into the glory of the Gospell 1 Pet. 1.12 1. The Lords people There is excellencie They are the honour of the earth the glory of the world the ornaments of Townes and Cities As one pearl says Chrysostome is more worth then a thousand pebbles So one pious man is more precious then ten thousand sinners The whole wicked world may say to a Saint as the people of Israel to David Thou art worth ten thousand of us 2. Sam. 18.3 We may say of Saints in the world as our Saviour said of the Lilies of the field Solomon in all his glory was not cloathed like one of these Matth. 6.29 3. The Lords prayer There is excellency Some have called it The Abridgement of the Bible and others Tertul. li. de orat ca. 1. Cypr. ser de orat Dom. The Epitome of the Gospel And several observe that though it be little for phrase of words yet it is great for matter and sweet for order pithy and precious in every part A short prayer may be full of God as there may be little of God in a prayer that is long The Lords prayer is as it were a Breviary and Compendium of the great God Infolded Gods worth and Mans wants 4. The Lords Supper There is excellency 'T is that Ordinance wherein Saints the most excellent of persons and wherein faith the most excellent of graces hath the highest activities Here the precious blood of Christ and the precious faith of Christians meet Cypr. de coe Dom. Here faith sayes Cyprian layes its mouth close to the wounds of Christ and sucks in sin-killing and soul quickning blood O blessed be God! Thus 't is evident what is the Lords is excellent And is not the Lords day Let us observe All time from the Beginning was precious Gospel-time is more precious then any before it The Lords day is the most precious part of Gospel-time 'T was a brave expression of Galeacius Garacciolus that Italian Marquesse when a great summe of money was offered him to draw him to his own Popish Countrey and kindred Let all their money perish with them who account all the wealth of the world worth one dayes Communion with Jesus Christ One Sabbath-dayes society with a Saviour ought to be of higher esteem then all the honours of the earth O let us not sink down the dignity of this day in our hearts but every way let us labour to lift up its Honour higher and higher For As 't is sad to debase it So to advance it is good 1. To debase and despise the Lords day is common now in our Nation Men for the most part make no more of this then of any other day Cant. 5.9 What is thy beloved more then another beloved say they to the Church extolling of Christ Upon this she fell to a more full discovery of the dignities and excellencies of Christ Some had need set up Gods Sabbath-honour the more there are so many that say in their hearts What is the day of the Sabbath more then another day yea and indeed it is no more as many in their lives sinfully make it Dalilah prevailing upon Sampson he lost his locks and his strength and became like another man The Devil with divers hath prevailed so far against the Sabbath that it hath lost its life and lustre glory and honour and is become like another day which I am sure is no sign of good to come Some say that if the Sun which is the chief of planets be Eclipsed it signifies great Commotions Mutations Destructions I dare say that when the Sabbath which is the chief of dayes is clouded and covered over with black opinions and practices it intimates heavy evils to come O how do men pollute that which God hath sanctified and debase that day which God hath dignified Act. 10.15 What God hath cleansed call not thou common And what God hath honoured O man account not thou base 2. To advance this day is its due and our duty And indeed could we in England but recover the Sabbaths honour that this Sabbath-Sun might shine again in its beauty and lustre and our Horizon be filled with the bright beames thereof it would remove the fogs of filthy errors prevent the inflicting of sad calamities regain the credit of contemned Ordinances Joh. 12.32 as there the Lord of the Sabbath said If I be lifted up I will draw all men to me So may the Sabbath of the Lord say If I be lifted up I will draw all to me Then all the things of God shall rise As when Christ was risen Matth. 27.52 Many bodies of Saints which were asleep in their graves arose and went into the holy City c. Thus were the Christian Sabbath raised the whole body of Christian Religion would be brought out of its grave and many of Gods Saints that are as it were now asleep upon the beds of sad seducing errors would arise and come forth to the holy service of God
Heb. 11.35 't is said of some Mothers that they received their dead children raised to life again O what joy would it be to poor Ministers that they might receive again some of their spiritual children as alive from the dead Such things would be were Sabbaths raised in their honour that lye now under the worlds contempt Indeed as the Lord in the Prophet speaks Ezek. 37.3 Son of man can these dry bones live And I answered O Lord God thou knowest Then saith the Lord I will cause breath to enter and the dead bones shall live May not the Lord say Can my dead Sabbaths live Can my dry Ordinances be green juicie and sappy again Lord thou knowest O would but God breath from above and bring his Sabbaths up from below then would come on that FIRST RESVRRECTION O that I might live to see somewhat of this As there hath been a certain day of the Lords Resurrection Oh that there might be a speedy resurrection of the Lords day A day for the recovery of whose life all ought to labour A day for the clearing of whose honour all ought to be earnest A day that above all dayes ought to be had in very high esteem This for the Excellency 3. Let us mark the Commodity that accompanies the well keeping of this Christian Sabbath That the profit may appear Note The Grounds for it and The Parts of it Viz. Out of what it proceeds and Unto what it extends The grounds from which profit by the Sabbath proceeds are Primary and antecedential Secondary and consequential The antecedent grounds through which proceeds Sabbath-profit for several purposes are The pleasure of God for it and The blessing of God upon it 1. The pleasure of God This brings out abundant benefit by the Sabbath This makes the Sabbath-Tree to bear plenty of precious fruit As if we shall enquire upon what account and from what cause there comes such a confluence of all good to be gathered in and gained by Christ the Lord of the Sabbath the Apostle makes it plain to proceed from the good pleasure of God Colos 1.19 It pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell So if any ask after the reason why multitudes of mercies meet in the Sabbath of the Lord 't is because it seemed good in Gods sight It pleased the Father to fill this day with all fulnesse of good fitting for glorious designs 2. The blessing of God This brings benefit and good in abundance from the beginning of the World God sanctified this day and blessed it Gen. 2. Sanctified that is separated the day from common things Blessed that is God consecrated the day to speciall ends Junius observes Juni in Gen. 2. That the Sabbath besides the common blessing it had with other dayes by the law of Nature it had a special blessing above other dayes from the Love of God Gods blessing on his Sabbath As 't is abounding So 't is abyding As the precious portion God hath blessed his Sabbath with Is double So stable Such a Sabbath-blessing as God will never reverse But as Isaac said of his son I have blessed him and he shall be blessed So saies God of his Sabbath I have blessed it and it shall be blessed Whence was it that Joseph was as a fruitful bough whose branches run over the wall c. but that blessing that was upon him from his Father above all his brethren Genes 49.22 26. And hence is it that the Sabbath in the Tree of the week is the most fruitfull bough outrunning the rest of the daies in doing good because beyond all the other daies it hath the blessing of God The subsequent grounds of Sabbath-Benefit are The promise of God to it and The presence of God with it 1. The promise of God This produces profit in the day Precious promises God hath made to men minding his Sabbath Teneamus fidelissimum debitorem quia tenemus miscricordissimum promissorem Aug. in Psal 32. Levit. 26.2 3 4 5. Isay 56.4 5 6. Isay 58 12 13 14. Jerem. 17.24 25 26. Let us but all here seriously consider Gods bountifulnesse in making promises And Gods faithfulnesse in keeping promises made And none need marvel if mercies by multitudes meet in and march out upon the Sabbath-day The work of Gods promises sets a promising God awork 2. The presence of God This is productive of Sabbath-profit As the Angel said to Gideon Judges 6.12 The Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valour and hence he did great things ver 14 15. thus may it be said to the Sabbath Sicut Maria virgo inter omnes mulieres principatum tenet ita inter caeteros dies haec dies omnium dierum Mater est Hieron de resurrect Domini The Lord is with thee thou mighty day of Honour and no wonder if thereon great things be done or as the Angel saluted the virgin Mary Luke 1.28 Hail thou art highly favoured the Lord is with thee Blessed art thou among women O the wonder of mercy that her womb brought forth And thus may we bespeak the Lords Day with a Hail holy Sabbath thou art highly favoured the Lord is with thee and blessed art thou among daies And O the blessed births that are from this womb And O the abundant benefits that are in and by this Day upon these grounds But I shall passe on to the parts of the profit and discover where in the Sabbath-day is so profitable viz. Against Evill And for good First great is the profit of Gods precious Sabbath Against evill things and Against evill ones Evill things Gods holy Sabbath is good against The evill of sin and The evill of punishment First the Sabbath it is good against the evill of sin Iniquity now abounds but O how would sin superabound were this world set Sabbath-free Sin that is vigorous all the week may be upon the Sabbath-day subdued Exod 14.13 Moses said unto Israel Stand still see the salvation the Lord will shew to day for that very day God drowned the Egyptians in the water of the Red-sea c. The Sabbath is the day wherein God saves soules from their sins drowning their corruptions this day in the Red-sea of Christs blessed blood Or if sin does not immediately die yet it may receive such a Sabbath-wound as it shall never recover but as the house of Saul wax weaker and weaker till all comes to an utter end 2. The Sabbath 't is good against the evil of punishment and all kinds of calamities When Judgements desolating are up and down O 't is safe being in a Sabbath-sanctuary when enemies are black and bloody the Sabbath of God will bring the God of the Sabbath to be on our side Luther reports of a Bishop of Magdenburg who being told that a Duke of Saxony prepared warre against him answered My care shall be to reform the Church and amend what is amisse in the Sabbaths and service of God and God
A Sabbath well spent As it is formidable to the Devil So 't is acceptable to God We go from Sabbath-day-duties Prayer well made Sermons well heard and Sacraments well received sayes Chrysostome as Lyons breathing fire terrible to the Devils themselves But that which is bitterly displeasing to the Devil is most sweetly pleasing to God So Calvin expounds that place of the Prophet Isay 58.13 Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight Or Delights in the plural as that worthy Interpreter renders it from the Hebrew and refers it not to men but to God saying That the right observation of the Sabbath is the delights of the Lord nothing to God more grateful And indeed no lesse from the place appears Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord HONOVRABLE and shalt honour him The Prophet seems to set down a double reason why the Sabbath should be the delights of the Lord viz. 'T is the holy of the Lord and 'T is the honour of the Lord. That sure is the delight of the Lord which is the holy of the Lord. A holy God cannot but delight in a holy day That which is so suitable to him must needs be acceptable with him And that which is the Lords honour is certainly the Lords delight The Sabbath it is the honour of God displayed 't is the great Engine God moves in this world to make out his honour As God hath honoured this day by making it holy for us so we much honour God by keeping it holy to him What is his honour is his pleasure 2. The Angels of God are greatly delighted to see Sabbaths observed which may arise from a double advantage viz. To themselves and To others Through our Sabbath-day-exercises Angels do much advantage themselves in that their knowledge comes hereby constantly to encrease Austin well observes that the Angels of heaven have Both their Morning and Also their Evening-knowledge Their morning-knowledge This they have by Creation from the Worlds beginning as soon as they were made they were able knowingly to contemplate God heavens glory and their own felicities Their evening-knowledge This they have by inspection and diligent observation of the affairs of the Church and Mysteries of the Gospel made manifest in the end of the World Ephes 3.10 1 Pet. 1.12 Those Gospel-discoveries of Christ upon the Lords day the Angels delight fully to look into and enlarge their knowledge by 2. Through Sabbath-day-exercises Angels see great advantage to others and this makes the day their delight This being the day wherein lost Goats are found strayed sheep are brought home and prodigal sons return to their Fathers house O the musik it makes in heaven and joy among the Angels of God Luk. 15. Luk. 2. we see what rejoycing was among the Angels upon the day of Christs Birth singing Glory be to God good will to men Tydings of great joy To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. If Angels reioyced at the day when Christ is born to men do they not rejoyce on the day wherein men are born to Christ Ut homâ—nes nascerentur ex Deo primo ex ipsis natus est Deus August in Joan. c. 2. The very end as Austin observes why God was first born of men was that after men might be born of God Therefore Angels who rejoyced at the other may well rejoyce at this Yea Angels who are present in the publike Assemblies of Gods Saints 1 Cor. 11.10 not only to observe but to assist them in Sabbath day-duties O how much is it Angels delight to find us this day fervent in praying painful in preaching diligent in hearing c Persons inferiour that herein find pleasure are Faithful Ministers and Faithful Christians 1. To Ministers that are faithful the Sabbath is a day of sweet delight Upon the Lords day labouring Either they have herein their desired successe Or they have not that successe herein they do desire Sometimes God gives them good successe in their Sabbath-Day-endeavous that is their delight Austin having preached an excellent sermon some of his hearers thinking to please him with their applause fell into his high praises the good man sighed saying Alas these are but leaves it is fruit we delight in The peoples fruit and profit is the Ministers delight and pleasure Let a faithful Minister meet with never so many molestations all the week yet if upon the Sabbath God prospers and the peoples profit lo this is his delight and comfort this his crown and joy John 16. it is said of a Mother she forgets her pain and travels for joy that a man-child is born into the world Thus a good Minister forgets all his week-day-difficulties and discouragements in the world for joy that a soul on the Sabbath is born again to God And if they have not such successe yet the day of their labour is the day of their delight 2 Cor 12.15 I will very gladly spend and be spent for your soules though the more abundantly I love you the lesse I be loved Here the Apostle in all his Ministerial paines seemes to have poore successe cold encouragement Little love for great labour Yet for the desired good of souls he gladly yea very gladly spends himself is spent Faithfull Ministers if they find good successe of their Sabbath-service then they rejoyce because they have a sure reward from God If upon the service of the Sabbath they have no such successe yet they can rejoyce because they have asure reward with God Isay 49.4 I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought yet SVRELY my Judgement is with the Lord my REWARD with my GOD. Vers 5. Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord. If Israel be gathered then are we glorious in the eyes of men If Israel be not gathered yet are we glorious in the eyes of God who looks more to our sincere intent in our work Nos octavâ die quae ipsa prima est perfecti Sabbeti festivitate laetamur Hilar Prolog in Psal pag. 335. then at the successeful event of our work We may well therefore make our labouring day our delighting day The day of our greatest paines the Day of our sweetest Pleasure 2. To Christians that are fruitful the Lords Day is a day of large delight This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad therein Psal 118.24 As there is not a day which the Lord hath not made So there is not a day wherein Saints may not be glad but as the Lord hath made this DAY to differ from all the rest so saints may be otherwise glad on this day then at any other times Which will be evident if we consider 2. The properties of Sabbath-joyes as to Gods Saints They are The safest and The sweetest They are The firmest and The fullest joyes 1. These are the safest joyes
Take week-day-delights as in worldly matters and ordinarily there is a deadly hook within a pleasant bait Our Mother Eve Gen. 3. looked upon the fruit of the forbidden tree and it was pleasant for her eye Ai Ai but that which was pleasant for her sight it was perillous for her soul It was but week-day-pleasure in a Garden-tree had she continued innocent and tasted of Sabbath-day-delights in a glorious God of that fruit she might have eate and at that Fountain she might have drunk safely 2. These are the sweetest joyes Weekday-sports in lawful delights are but as pills rolled up in Sugar bitter-sweet sweet without bitter within As the Prophets Book that was as honey in the mouth and as gall in the belly These earthly pleasures are as garden-Roses which as they have their pleasant leaves so they have their pricking stalks Whereas true Sabbath-delights are throughout sweet Some bitter drops may possibly fall in them but they are not properly of them For as there is saltnesse in every drop of Sea-water So there is sweetnesse in every dram of true Sabbath-comfort 3. These are the firmest joyes Unto sinful men their week-delights are weak delights that rise and soone fall that spring up and soone wither away One blast of Gods displeasure it blowes out those Candle-comforts One drop of a troubled conscience sayes Luther swallowes up a Sea of worldly joy Whereas to Gods Saints Sabbath-delights are surer delights stable and strong As the strength of the Lord is their joy So the joy of the Lord is their strength Their delights in the Sabbath of the Lord Is by delighting in the Lord of the Sabbath Isay 58.13 Thou shalt not do thy pleasure on my holy day but call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own wayes nor speaking thine own words What then Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord. I will cause thee to ride upon high places and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy Father Here is a firme foundation for Saints Sabbath-delightings viz. God and his gracious dealings 4. These are the fullest joyes Sabbath-feasting-delights are soul-filling-delights Week-day-pleasures in worldly matters are ever swelling but never filling They are windy and empty and so apt to swell men with pride and self-conceits But they do not fill men so as to give them any good satisfactions Soul-satisfying joyes are Sabbath-sanctifying joyes Comforts in and communions with God give full content Some of Gods Saints who have had their souls filled with sorrowes all the week yet upon the Sabbath God hath turned their water into wine August de tempore Serm. 154. Austin is of the judgement that that Marriage in Cana of Galilee Joh. 2. was upon the Sabbath-day when the six water pots being fill'd with water to the brim Christ made all into wine When with some the six-week-dayes have been like those six water pots all fill'd brim full with the waters of sorrow the Lord upon the day of our Christian Sabbath hath changed all into the best wine of soul-refreshing comfort Joseph de bello Judaico lib. 7. cap. 24. Josephus writes of a River near Jerusalem that upon the six dayes in the week was dry through the failing of the water from the spring head but upon the Sabbath which was the seventh day the springs sent out so fast that the banks were filled whereupon it was commonly called The Sabbath-River I cannot affirm the truth of this But this is truth There are that can by experience speak it When little hath come from the spring head of comfort all the week yet upon the Sabbath day soul-eomforts have flowed in and filled up amaine About the tents of the Jewes Manna fell from heaven onely upon the week-dayes none was found upon the Sabbath 'T is otherwise with Christians that Manna of heavenly joy that falls not all the week is to be found upon their Sabbath day so as that therewith their souls are safely sweetly and firmely filled O how much might this promote among us the careful keeping of our Christian Sabbath viz. The profitable comfort and the comfortable profit that may in the same be possessed Yet upon the souls of several of Gods Saints some things may be supposed sadly to sit Some complain that though past there hath been a long continuance of the Sabbath yet they have found no such profit and comfort Others confesse they have found much comfort and profit but they fear a short continuance of the Sabbath for the future The former are damp'd in the duty and service of the day because they feel no present profit and comfort coming The latter are damp'd in their comfort and profit for present because they fear the day will not publickly endure But that neither the want of the comfort of the day may dishearten the duty Nor the doubt of the continuance of the day may diminish the comfort Some things suitable to both sorts may be said to help in such cases of sadnesse First for such of Gods Saints as are under temptations discouraging from the service of the Sabbath because they have not had such good successe in Sabbaths observed 1. Be it so yet such ought in the Sabbath-day-duties to continue their diligence We are bound to perform duty though we should not receive mercy 't is the mark of meer Mercenaries without some recompence no obedience Indeed the recompence of reward may be in our eye though it be not our end In our work we do we may have a love to the reward but for meer love of the Reward we are not to do our work God is our great Lord and Master though 't is not servile obedience yet 't is obedience of servants we owe to him daily and much more upon his holy day If he should not be as a liberal Master to pay us wages for it yet we must be as loyal servants to perform his work in it A learned Author reports Cassianus lib 4 cap. 24. that he knew a young man who meerly in obedience to a superiours command for a whole year together he went two miles every day onely to poure water on a dry withered stick We ought every Lords day to come under Gospel-waterings though our hearts should remain as withered dry and dead sticks or hard stones though we should feel no softenings quickenings comfortings 't is enough we have a command the duty is ours the day is Christs who is over all God above all blessed for ever 'T is a favour God will imploy us though he should not reward us Angels are glad God will send them on his businesse though they have no new recompence They are chearful to increase their duty though they do not enlarge their glory We be not to conceive of the Angels that some God hath to stand up by him and others are sent out of him for sayes the Apostle Are they not all ministring spirits sent
hand of Christ As by force none can pluck him from the strength of Christs hand So by fraud none can take him out of the lov of Christs heart In Christ Not onely as a man But as a member Not the least bone of Christs mysticall body can be broke off nor the smallest stone be struck out of this building The weakest branch ever abides in this vine 3. In the Spirit there the believing soul lives Gala. 5.25 If ye live in the spirit walk in the spirit That life by which the soules of Saints live Both for its entrance And its progresse It is in the Spirit the Spirit being the Principle From which their life was first received And by which their life is after preserved As man is kept alive by his soules being in the body So a Saint is kept alive by his souls being in the Spirit It is through the Spirit that converted Christians are set into God and put into Christ Therefore sure the holy Spirit does not leave their soules out of himself but they are likewise in the Spirit Rom. 8.9 Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit In the Spirit thus are not onely some but all the Saints of God And in the Spirit thus are Gods servants not onely upon the Sabbath-day but at all other times they are never out of the Spirit nor ever shall Yea in the Spirit thus is the whole man of every good man The man whole if Not the whole man The man whole is so in the Spirit as that he is a spiritual man Gal. 6.1 Take him with his bodily part and about his weekly work yet he is a spiritual man and a man that is in the Spirit Now to be in the Spirit on the Lords day though 't is to be in the Spirit thus yet it is more then thus to be on the Lords day in the Spirit So in the Spirit signifies the spiritual transactions of mans sanctified soul as it is moved and acted by the Spirit of God and as mans renewed spirit through the Spirit of God moves and acts upon the Lords day exercised in the Spirit That is In the graces of the Spirit and In the comforts of the Spirit 1. In the Spirit That is in the graces of the Spirit exercised all the Lords day then acting in graces Various and Vigorous On the Sabbath the soul is set a work in several graces and such as seem to be of a differing nature as faith and fear heavenlinesse of mind and humblenesse of heart repeatings for sin yet relyings on God Tremblings of soul yet restings on Christ Dreading God in the justnesse of his Judgements yet loving God whose judgements are just A real longing for promised mercies and yet a quiet staying for those mercies long By hope expecting good things to come and yet by faith possessing the same things at present Utterly unsatisfied in Gods hiding his face yet patiently waiting for God while his face is hid And though this be the continued posture of gracious souls yet into this they are put and on in this they are kept through Sabbath-day-quicknings In the Spirit On this day grace is enlivened in them and they lively in grace In gracious actings their hearts were before as the Chariots of Pharaoh that drove heavily now in the activities of grace their hearts are as the Chariots of Amminadib that ran swiftly Before the members of the new-man were as the lame Cripple that lay at the gate but then they became as the cured Cripple Whose ancle-bones receiving strength he stood up and went on leaping and praysing God Act. 3.8 Yea upon the Lords day the soul of a sincere Saint may be in the lively actings of grace Both reflect And direct 1. Reflect actings That soul which in the week-season walks out in with the body about the businesse thereof upon the Sabbath-day it turns in upon it self most seriously considering its own concernments Gregor moral lib. 31. cap. 17. An ancient Writer spiritually expounding that place Prov. 24.27 Prepare thy work without in the field and afterward go in and build thine house Understands by the field man's body and by the house the heart and soul of man In the week a mans work more lyes in the field viz. about the businesse of his bodily being but upon the Lords day his work more lyes in the house viz. the work of the soul is more gathered then within it self And as Christs Spouse-sayes Cant. 1.7 They have made me to keep other Vineyards but mine own Vineyard have I not kept So upon the Sabbath sayes a good mans soul within him all the week I have been made to minde a multitude of worldly affairs but mine own concernments have been set aside Now return into thy self O my soul O my soul now bethink thy self And is not this to be in the Spirit upon the Lords day the soul of a Saint being then seriously set Upon deep intuitions and Diligent Inquisitions Narrowly looking in it self and Throughly searching of it self One of the Ancients compares holy men on the earth Gregor moral li. 19. Sect. 30. unto those holy Angels of heaven Revel 4.8 that are said to be full of eyes within and without In the week Gods Saints make use of their eyes without looking after their necessary callings and occasions in the world but upon the Sabbath they more solemnly set a work their eyes within looking inward upon the true estate of their souls Upon the Sabbath are a Saints most serious soul-searches and heart-discourses I communed with mine own heart and my spirit made diligent search sayes David Psal 77.6 Upon the Lords day with great diligence is the soul of a Saint set To find out things that are and To find up things that were Within he finds so much of sin and so little of God as makes his heart lie low and brings him to be in spirit poor Matth 5.3 Blessed are the poor in spirit August lib. 1. de Serm. Do. in monte Ambros lib. 5. in Luc. cap de beatit Basil in regulis contract quaest 205. Not poore of spirit as if any without the Spirit of God were blessed but poor in spirit that is good men poore in the spirit of their own mindes out of a sight of soul-sins and sense of soul-wants or poor in spirit That is sayes one poore for the spirit Of the spirit they may discern little but desire much That good they seek after which they never possesse And that good they seek for which seemes to be lost The woman in the Parable Luk. 15. having lost a piece of silver She lights a candle and sweeps the house and seeks diligently till she finds it O this is good seeking in the spirit upon the least losse of God to go into the house of the Heart and there using The candle of knowledge and The Besome of Repentance Diligently seeking till somewhat more of God may appear When hearts
Gods Saints are best brought together both In Body And Mind Christians being thus gathered upon the Lords Day lie in the readiest way for these high workings of the Spirit Act. 2.1 2. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place And suddenly c. Day of Pentecost This fiftieth day so the word imports it was the first day in the week Vid. Cypri de Spir. San 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the best affirm even our Lords Day They were all That is Basil de spi Sancto ca. 27. August de temp Ser. 251. all the eleven Apostles of Christ as is plainly expressed Act. 1.26 In one place In an upper Chamber at Jerusalem they were all Bodily gathered together With one accord Their minds were met as well as their bodies They were all in one house with one Heart waiting for the promises of the Lord. And suddenly there came That is with all speed the Spirit of God came down upon them so as never before for Manner and Measure The manner A sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind all about the house where they were sitting And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and sat upon each of them The measure And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake with other tongues August Ser. 2 ad fratr in eremo as the Spirit gave them utterance The Spirit spake in them and they spake in the Spirit the wonderfull works of God The Spirit was poured in upon them and they poured it out in the Spirit Gods work was wonderfull and thus being upon the Lords Day gathered they found such spiritual fierings and fillings That evil spirit oft assaults the souls of Gods Saints when they are solitary single and severed Matth 4.1 But the good Spirit of God descends upon the soules of his servants met in their solemn assemblies One well observes that the dry bones which the Prophet saw Ezek. 37. the Spirit of God did not enliven them while they lay scattered in the field but when the bones came together bone to his bone then the Spirit of life came into them and they stood up upon their feet vers 7 8 9. Thus Gods servants when together they are upon the Sabbath assembled then these kindlings and comfortable quickenings come Yea though their hearts and thoughts were all the week more scattered about in the world yet they are better gathered in to the Lord upon the Sabbath-day And the souls of Gods people put into such a Sabbath-posture are most prompt and best prepared for comfortable converse with God in the Spirit And in the Spirit on the Lords day some actually are that so they may the better For present receive the mysteries of Faith and For future perform the duties of obedience Faith That the apprehensions of this may hereby be enlarged and man unto the Dimensions hereof may hereby be better enabled By being in the Spirit a Christian is made more able to reach out unto the lengths breadths heights depths of faith and by believing to find out and fetch in the vast Mysteries of God in the Gospel Gospel-truths vailed are hereby clearly revealed and closely received Hence St. John came to receive such close and clear revelations from God which he could never have reached had he not on the Lords day been in the Spirit His whole Book that is so mysterious to others Jerom. epist ad Paulin. things therein were perspicuous to him To him therefore several of the Ancients so apply that Ambros lib. 3. de Spir. Sancto cap. 21. August de civit Dei lib. 20. cap. 17. Revel 22.1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life clear as Crystal proceedinding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. Things to him issued from God all pure and clear This made John the Baptist a greater Prophet then Esay or any other before him things intricate to others were explicate to him Now the Apostle could not have been capable of such clear discoveries had he not been first in the Spirit upon the Lords day Upon the Lords day being in the Spirit a Christian rides in the Chariot of faith triumphant from earth yea possibly as out of Hell into Heaven where he sees those glorious mysteries of mercie that concerns his souls comfort yea and what may be of singular concernment for the souls of others Obedience That the several conditions of this may be the better fulfilled Both in service And suffering Gods servants by being in the Spirit are abundantly fitted Both for Affliction And Action Act. 20.22 23 24. And now sayes the Apostle behold I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there save that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me But none of these things move me neither count I my life dear to my self so that I may finish my course with joy and the Ministery which I have received of the Lord to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God O what a fixed frame of heart had the holy Apostle to honour God both By doing And dying He was bound in the Spirit The Spirit that is compared to winde did now upon the Apostle blow with such a full gale that he went as a ship full saile unto the Port God had appointed The spirit of this good man did not hang loose but was girt up to go thorow with the work whatever came The Spirit hemm'd it about loosened him from all that might any way hinder but so gathered up his heart for God and the Gospel as to further him in his way and work One telling a Martyr that it was hard to burn It is indeed said he for him that hath his soul liâ—ked to his body as a Theefs foot in his fetters but for him that hath his soul set above his body it is easie to burn Kindle fire I come Saviour Another having put one foot into the flame steps back saying The flesh shrinks and sayes On earth it is better to burn The Spirit sayes In heaven it is sweet to shine The flesh sayes wilt thou shorten thy life The Spirit sayes It is nothing nothing to life eternal The flesh sayes Wilt thou leave thy friends The Spirit sayes Christ and his Saints society is better c. And so in the power of the Spirit he flings himself into the fiercest flames And the souls of Gods Saints may expect such Spiritual supports in the dayes of their suffering who serving God have been in the Spirit on the Lords day The truth of all which some have sensibly found 2. That others of Gods Saints possibly may find their souls thus in the Spirit on the Lords day This proved By the properties of the Lords Spirit towards them and By the properties of their spirits towards the Lord. As for the Spirit of the
and debarred from the open liberties of the Lords day Yea when they are held and hindred from ordinary works of Gods worship God may more immediately and abundantly in the best comforts break in upon them As the Israelites when they were in the wildernesse and could not have comfortable crops from the earth God gave them Manna immediate from heaven but when they were come into Canaan if they would have a harvest they must mind their seed-time and plow and sowe in the season When Gods servants are settled where the means of Grace may be had and the work of Gods worship may be performed they must not think to have Spiritual comforts as Manna immediate from heaven Some upon the Sabbath they forsake the solemn worship of God and depart from the publick Ordinances of God and so are not in the Spirit on the Lords day Object In Spirit God himself is departed from the publick Assemblies and therefore mens forsaking of them hinders not from rheir being on the Lords day in the Spirit What prejudice can it be to forsake God-forsaken Ordinances wayes and means wherein God is not now to be found Answ Thus some have suggested to justifie their sinful separation for how can they make good their going from us if they grant that God is with us With what face can they forsake those Ordinances with which God himself is present Present is God in Spirit with publick Ordinances though Not sensibly at all seasons Nor savingly to all persons Nor effectually for all purposes 1. God in Spirit and the Spirit of God is in Ordinances present when not apparant He hath secret and undiscerned wayes of working This holy Spirit hath his hidden accesses unto the souls of men The dewes of divine grace they fall in small and insensible drops The seed of sanctifying grace is sowen by an invisible hand Great works are done by a deep and intimate energie of the Spirit of grace whereof no present notice is taken As Joseph by his servant put his silver cup into Benjamins sack when neither he nor any of his Brethren knew it Thus God by his Spirit puts sanctifying grace into the souls of men when not themselves much lesse others are able to perceive the same In the conversion of Saint Paul 't is said Act. 97. that they who were with him in his journey they heard a voyce but saw no man In the publick preaching of the Gospel the whole Congregation hear a voyce but do not see what secret works the Spirit of God hath in the hearts of men to promote their good And though the Lord is not ever appearingly present with publick Ordinances yet he hath not forsaken them God does never forsake his precious servants yet he is not alwayes with them sensibly present As at the pool of Bethesda people who desired a cure they waited for the moving of the water there being certain seasons when the Angel of God stirred in the same So there be some special seasons when the Spirit of God stirs in Ordinances and therefore thereon people must wait that would have a cure 2. Gods Spiritual presence it is with publick Ordinances though upon several they have no saving work Though divers under Gospel-dispensations be blinded hardened ruined Act. 19.8 9. Exod. 14. We find a cloud that cast darknesse upon the Egyptians so that it blinded them and brought them to run upon their own ruine yet with that very cloud God was present thereby giving light to the Israelites and leading them in the way to Canaan Nehem 9.12 1 Sam. 4. The Philistines having in a set battel worsted the Army of Israâ—l the Elders of Israel cryâ—d out Let us fetch the Ark of the covenant iâ—to the field it may save us from the hands of our enemies And accordingly they caused the Ark of the covenant to be brought into the Camp But the Philistines fight and Israel was smitten with a very great slaughter and the Ark it self was taken yet the Ark 't was Gods ordinance and wi h it was Gods immovable presence as may appear by the plagues God inflicted upon the Philistines who carried the Ark captive It was a curse to them yet Gods own blessed appointment for his peoples profit The preaching of the Gospel it is to several a savour of death yet with the Gospel preached God is graciously present for the saving good of the souls of some 2 Cor. 2.16 Heb 4.12 The word of God it is a two edged sword it hath a killing edge and wounds some to death yet through God it hath a curing edge some being saved by the very Word which wounds them Christ himself who is a Corner-stone upon whom many a blessed building is raised yet he is a Rock of offence and a stone at which some stumble and fall and rise no more 1 Pet. 2.7 8. Notwithstanding God is never separated from his Son but abides with him for ever Joh. 16.32 3. In publick Ordinances God by his holy Spirit is present even unto all persons for some or other good purpose For the best highest purpose is God Spiritually present to some persons in the use of his Ordinances so that they are effectually wrought upon and brought in to grace and glory And surely where ever the net is cast out there are some fish to be caught and where the candle is lighted up there are some lost groats to be found though but few And as for other persons for other good purposes though of lower concernment is God in Spirit present so that though they are not by grace renewed yet they are through grace restrained Hence as Saint Paul complaines that he could not do the good he would So sinners they cannot do the evill they would Might good men have their minds they would be much better And might wicked men have their wills they would be far worse Hence men are not onely brought to forbear many things evill but drawn to do divers good things Thus Herod heard John Baptist gladly reformed much that was evill Josephus lib. 15. cap. 8. et 12 c. and performed many things good Mark 6.20 Josephus reports of this Herod many excellent things he did as acts of Justice acts of Fortitude acts of Liberality In the time of a famine how he caused all his vessels of Gold and Silver to be melted and therewith corn to be bought for the relief of the poore People under the preaching of the Gospell that are not effectually converted yet are ordinarily convinced have some Illuminations Inclinations Qualifications Commiserations Operations whereby others may have profit though themselves perish All which are the actings of Gods good Spirit and the evidences of Gods sure presence in the use of his Ordinance Let not any then say that God hath forsaken any of his administrations but let men rather reflect and fear lest themselves should be forsaken of God This was commendable in King Saul 1. Sam. 28.15 O sayes he The
the seventh day the Sabbath day the hearts and souls of Gods Saints are subâ—ect to fall from those heatings and heightenings they then have in duties holy But then they struggle in holy heats of heart to rise higher and to fix faster Psal 108.1 O God my heart is fixed my heart is fixed Fixed and loosened and fixed again Warmed and cooled and kindled again so as that the fire is greater and flame hotter More abounding and abyding through the businesse of Gods blessed day Thus when Gods Spirit flowes in upon us and our spirits fall in with God so as with agility to act and with stability to be set in all sweet wayes of sabbath-Sabbath-works This is Spiritually to spend the Lords day 2. The Motives that may incite all Gods Saints to such a Spiritual spending the Gospel-Sabbath may arise from things of two sorts observable viz. Some more antecedential and Some more consequential Arguments from things antecedent which may set all the servants of God upon a Spiritual passing this present day may be to consider Sabbath-ward these four things all which we find to be spiritually viz. The Ordainer of it The Ordinances in it The ends for it and The opposits against it 1. The Ordainer of this day the Lord Christ the things Spiritual concerning him we may discern by considering of him Both as he once was And as he now is 1. Christ the Lord of the Sabbath was Spiritual In his Conception and Birth In his Conversation and life In his Passion and death In his Resurrection from the dead And in his Ascension to heaven 1. Christ in his Conception and Birth was spiritual he being conceived of the holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin â—nd the Angel said unto her The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Luk. 1.35 36. 2. Christ in his Conversation and life was Spiritual Lo the heavens were opened uâ—to him and the Spirit of God descending like a Dove lighted upon him Matth. 3.16 Joh. 1.32 His joyes were Spiritual Luk. 10 21. His words were Spiritual Joh. 6.63 All his wayes in the world both towards God and men were Spiritual Heb. 7.26 3. Christ in his Passion and death was Spiritual He through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9.14 Even when he was condemned in the world he was justified in the Spirit 1 Tim. 3.16 4. Christ in his Resurrection from the dead was Spiritual Rom. 1.4 He was declared to be the Son of God by the Spirit of holinesse in his resurrection from the dead Rom. 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus dwell in you c. Christ put to death in the flesh but quickened in the Spirit 1 Pet. 3.18 5. Christ in his Ascension to heaven was Spirituall As he went up to God by a Spiritual assistance so upon a Spiritual design viz. to send down the holy Spirit of promiâ—e Joh. 16.7 It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter the Spirit of truth will not come unto you but if I depaâ—t I will send him unto you which we find fulfilled Act. 1. Act. 2. 2. Christ the Lord of the Sabbath he is Spiritual Both in his positive condition And in his Relative transactions Considered in himself according to his glorified estate he is all Spiritual His blessed body is now brought beyond all humane infirmities filled with beauty clarity agility impassibility immortality through the eternal Spirit In his humbled estate he was endowed and adorned with the Spirit what then in his honoured estate God gave him then the Spirit not by measure Joh. 3.34 O what immense and immeasurable fillings of the Spirit were in a crucified much more in a glorified Christ Such an infinite fulnesse of the Spirit is fixed in Christ whereby he is compleately fitted to the perfect performance of all his excellent offices Yea and Christ in his actings is now every way Spirituall Both in what he does with God for men And in what he does with men for God With God for men Christ hath his Spiritual exercise Christs acting as an Advocate with the Father 1 Job 2. His appearing and pleading our cause in the presence of God Heb. 9.24 His making Intercession at the right hand of God Rom. 8.33 As this is founded in the sufficiency of his Merit So it is performed by the efficiency of his Spirit As a meer man Christ does not manage his Mediatorship with God but Christ in Spirit presents unto God the Father for his members His deserts and His desires Both what for his people he hath purchased and what to his people God hath promised that they may perfectly possesse Joh. 17.21 23 24. And with men for God Christ acts all Spiritually As Christ executes his Priestly office in heaven So he fulfils his Prophetical and Regal office on earth in a way of Spirituâ—l working As with Ordinances by the Spirit does Christ teach So by the Spirit with officers does Christ govern As his Kingdom is Spiritual which he governs So his government is spiritual of his Kingdome It is through the Spirit that Christ does such great things in our dayes as it was through the Spirit that Christ did so many good things in the dayes of his flesh Being anointed with the holy Ghost he went about dâ—ing good Act. 10.38 He now sits on his throne in heaven yet by the holy Ghost he transacts manifold and marvellous things on earth By the Spirit he writes his Law in the hearts of his people and rules his people by the Law in their hearts Leads his flock in the way they should walk and Feeds his flock as they walk in the way c. Thus Christ the Lord of the Sabbath is Spiritual And shall not we be Spiritual in the Sabbath of the Lord 2. The Ordinances in the Lords day are Spiritual likewise Go through all the appointments of God that are for this dayes exercise Are they not Spiritual If we seriously consider things that concern The Word Prayer Sacraments Singing of Psalmes Collections for the poor c. Are they nor all duties to be spiritually done Doth not Both the precepts of God binde us hereto And the practise of the binde us hereto Godly 1. For the Word As it is of a Spiritual nature So it is in a Spiritual manner to be managed Both on the Ministers and On the peoples part Every part of Gods precious Word is Spiritual The Law is Spiritual Rom. 7.14 The Gospel that is Spiritual Rom. 1.11 Yea because the Law in Spirituality comes short of the Gospel the Gospel in glory out-goes the Law As it is excellently opened 2 Cor. 3.6 7 8. They that preach the glorious Gospel that is so surpassingly Spiritual must endeavour to do it in the evidences and efficacies of the Spirit
1 Cor. 2.4 My preaching sayes the Apostle was not with enticing words of mans wisdome but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power When the poewr of the Spirit is so upon the Preacher as to put warmth into the heart words into the mouth and is to his soul as wind to the saile so that he is carried out in clear and close discoveries of the Counsel of God Act. 18.25 And Apollos being mighty in the Scripture and fervent in the Spirit he spake diligently the things of the Lord. Beza when he was a Preacher to the Protestant forces in France he was so mighty in his Miâ—istery that to some his Sermons were more encouraging and quickening then the sound of Drums and Trumphts though others Popishly disposed were offended and said his Doctrine was made up of nothing bur fire and brimstone all combustible and terrihle To preach in the power of the Spirit neither carnal men nor Divels can endure but is most pleasing to God and men spiritually good being that which does mighty things 2 Cor. 10 4. The weâ—pons of our warrefare are not carnal but Spiritual mighty through God Spirituall weapons spiritually wileded work wonders The Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit it must be spiritually handled And as they that preach the Gospel must spiritually preach it so they that hear the Gospel must hear it spiritually This is more then barely with the bodily ear to hear the voice of man it is therein with the ear of the soul through the assistance of the Spirit to hear the voice of Christ Joh. 10.27 My sheep hear my voice I know them and they follow me Cant. 5.2 It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying Open to me my sister my love my Dove my undefiled c. 1 Thess 1.5 Our Gospel came not unto you in word onely but also in power and in the holy Ghost 1 Thess 2.13 For this cause we thank God for when ye heard the word ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh in you that believe Christians are not so to hear as onely to take in words at the ear but so as to take in warmth at the heart Often sayes Jerom when I read the Apostle in his Epistles I seem not to hear words but me thinks I hear the noise of Thunder and as it were feel the force of lightning that sets all on a fire so that I am made to shake to shine to burn Did not our hearts burn within us while he opened unto us the Scriptures Luk 24.32 Such Spiritual hearing God expects of his people every Lords Day 2. For Prayer This must be spiritually pour'd out in the presence of God Gods servants As the Spirit is to be praying in them So they are to be praying in the Spirit Jude 20. But ye beloved building up your selves in your most holy saith praying in the holy Spirit Both in the Spirit of love and unity And in the Spirit of life and fervency Not clashing but with close agreements of soul carrying out the same suit Symphonical in prayer Matth 18.19 If two of you shall agree on earth touching any thing they should ask it shall be done It notes such a symphony and agreement of the soules of Gods Saints in prayer as Musicians who with several Instruments play the same tune Not cooling but with kindled enlargements to be affectionate in prayer fired with the Spirit 'T is sayes Luther for want of the fire of the Spirit in Preaching that Sermons prevail so little with men and 't is for want of the fire of the Spirit in praying that petitions are no more prevailing with God As in confessions of sin our hearts must be wounded with bitter sorrowes So in petitions for Grace our hearts must be warmed with burning Desires Gods people are to be together praying with their Hearts as Bells raised and to ring such a loud peal of prayer as may be heard into heaven Such spiritual praying is expected of God as duly as the Lords Day comes 3. For the Sacraments Viz Both Baptisme and The Lords Supper As they are spiritual for the Principal of them So the Practice of them must be spiritual The Principal of each Sacrament is the spiritual part thereof The outward Element is but as the transient shadow The spiritual and enduring substance is Christ himself with his Crosse with his Grace with his Merits Mercies Excellencies and Al-sufficiencies 1 Cor. 10.3 4. They viz. our fathers of old did all eat the same spiritual Meat and did all drink the same spiritual Drink for they drank of the Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ As when our Saviour rode in Triumph to Jerusalem Luk. 19. the company that went before and they which followed after All cry'd Hosanna Thus the Sacraments of the Old Testament that went before and the Sacraments of the New Testament that follow after all say to Christ Hosanna All point at Christ saying Behold the Lamb of God The Practice or transactions of the Sacraments must be spiritual Both on Gods part And on our part In Baptisme all depends upon the powerful presence of the Spirit At the Beginning when tâ—e Spirit moved upon the waters then were the creatures made And so when the Spirit moveth upon the waters of Baptisme then is Gods work done And our work therein after is all to be done through the Spirit In the first receiving of Baptisme we were totally passive but for the further improving of Baptisme we ought to be spiritually active A spiritual Use we are bound to make of Baptisme Both to keep us off from evil And to keep us on in all good Luther reports of a pious Maid who by her Baptisme bore up against the several assaults of Satan If Satan sought to draw her to sin Her reply was I dare not do it I have been Baptized If to draw her from Duties her reply was I dare not but do it I have been Baptized We should observe that to fly sin and follow God we are Baptisme-bound But for want of this how does Baptisme lye like a Dead Ordinance What multitudes are there who making no Spiritual Improvements of it they make many Carnal Arguments against it Because they never knew how to work it up they easily learn how to cry it down They say the Truth and life of Baptisme lyes in their deep Dippings and Water-Buryings But sure a little water and much fire Baptismus flaminis et flaminis makes the best Baptisme I indeed sayes John baptize you with water but he that comes after me is mightier then I he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire Matth. 3. Against their water-Water-works we may see God angry in our want of water In the Lords Supper All the great works which both God and we are to do be spiritual What God is to do
in the spirit on the Lords day Thus are the antecedent arguments arguments from things subsequent let us see viz. what desirable effects will follow upon spiritual spending of the Lords day Hereby we shall raise Our souls advantage The Sabbaths excellency The Lords acceptance and The Lands concernments 1. To be spirituall in the Sabbath will be exceedingly for our souls advantage It will be operative for our present good on earth and It will be preparative for our future good in heaven This will work us much spiritual good on earth For hereby Grace shall be encreas'd into Comforts and Comforts shall be encreas'd through Grace 1. Hereby comes a comfortable encrease of Graces for if we be spiritual upon the Lords Day in duties Then Grace is acting in Us and We are then acting in Grace The which actings makes for the augmentings of it Grace it acts in Us. When we are spiritual on the Sabbath then grace is not in the Spark but in the Flame and so rises and runs on Grace is then not barely in the root but in the branch so that it springs and spreads out We act in Grace This addes to its further degrees The way to enjoy that Grace we have not is to imploy that Grace we have While we are spiritually spending the Sabbath we are in the Imployments and so in the Improvements of grace Grace is greatned in us and we do great things through Grace Elisha when he had not onely the Mantle but the Spirit of his Lord Elijah he went and wrought wonderful works When upon the Sabbath we have not barely the Mantle viz. the Ordinance of Christ but also the Spirit of Christ yea wrapp'd in the Spirit as a Mantle then are we meet to leap Mountains and look Devils in the facâ— To Triumph in the Lord and tread Death in the dust 1 Cor. 15.54 2. Hereby comes in a gracious encrease of Comforts Comforts spiritual are springing While the Lords Day is spiritually spending Being in the Spirit which is the Comforter we cannot but be in the Comforts of the Spirit 'T is a true Rule That most cheeres the heart which best clears the estate But spiritually to spend the Lords Day it clears a Christians good estate God-ward An external observing of the Sabbaâ—h does distinguish us fâ—om Pagans But a spiritual spending the Sabbath does difference us from Hypocrites An Hypocrite in the Sabbaths outward observation may seem very precise Luk. 13.14 15. But he never rises to be spiritual in the Sabbaths of God and service of God A spiritual-spent Sabbath is a sure sign of a sincere heart and saving estate This therefore may well be a cause of the Incomes of Comfort Would we have the profit peace and comfort of the Lords Day let us be spiritual then in our Duty They who spend the Sabbath spiritlesse they passe the Sabbath profitlesse comfortlesse The more we have of the Spirit on the Sabbath the more we shall have of profit by the Sabbath and comfort in the Sabbath This will secure us from the worst of Judgments And the best of Mercies this will assure us of The worst of Judgments to wit such as are spiritual hereby we escape and the best of Mercies that is such as are spiritual through this we partake Divers that come out on the Sabbath and do the outward service yet they fall short of spiritual Mercies and they fall under spiritual Miseries because they rise not to spiritual Duties By being spiritual in the service of the Sabbath O the sweet Soul-advantage that is unto the Saints of God! Yea this it fits us for all spiritual good in Heaven puts into us Heart-capacities for Heaven-felicities In Heaven all is spiritual enjoyments spiritual imployments spiritual company comforts spiritual To be spiritual in the holy Sabbath As it best declares the Heavenly estate So it best prepares for the state of Heaven That Sabbath which Saints shall for ever have with God will all be spiritual That this Sabbath may be as a resemblance of that and an Introduction to that we ought to be spiritual 2. To be spiritual will much advance the Sabbaths excellency O how much is the Beauty and Glory of Gods-Day gone the honour and lustre of the Lords-Day lost Undoubtedly our Duty is as together To condole the Dignity of it down So to endeavour to raise up the Dignity 'T is matter of bitter sorrow to see the Sabbath so Eclipsed One writes of the Barbarians in the East-Indies that seeing the Sun Eclipsed in the year 1600. they fasted wept and cry'd all the day long O we miserable people the Dragon hath devour'd the Sun alas alas we have lost the Sun c. O how much may we lament in England to see the Brightnesse of Gods blessed Day dimm'd the light and life of the Lords Day lost How hath the Devil with his doctrines and the doctrines of Devils almost devoured the Sabbath We have the Body of the Day but the soul of the Day the Spirit of the Day is gone with the greatest part even of professing Christians who though they retain the Truth they have let go the life of Religion and may well weep over dead Dayes and Duties To recover amongst us true Sabbath-life 't is requisite That God enliven the Day to us and That we towards God be lively in the Day 1. We must labour with the Lord who quickens the Dead to enliven this Day When the Ruler of the Synagogues Daughter was dead no sooner did our Saviour say Damsâ—l arise but her spirit came into her again and she arose straightway Luk. 8.54 55. Let but our Lord say over his Dead Sabbath Day arise and the Spirit will come into it again and straightway all will be well O what quickenings kindlings when the Spirit of life and the Spirit of burning from above shall abide upon Sabbaths the service and servants of God setting all on a fire When Elijah Elisha were going together there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire and a whiâ—lwind came which caught up Elijah and he was carried into heaven 2 King 2.11 Thus upon the Sabbath when Gods servants are together and there appear Instruments and Ordinances all on a fire Ministers on fire and Sermons on fire and the Spirit as a whirlewind comes O what carryings then up of hearts into heaven This is the Honour of the Day 2. We must labour with our selves in all the Lords Dayes-Duties to be lively and with the Spirit of the Lord to act high for God and to be heart-warm at work All the Sacrifices of the Sabbath must be Burnt-offerings Every service fir'd with zeal Indeed for Christians while they are on the Week-dayes in worldly company to be cool'd is common Peter never gat such a cold as at the High Priests fire among those servants he warm'd himself till he lost his heat but for Christians when they are together on the Sabbath in holy Assemblies to have
hearts cold and affectiont flat as 't is a dishonour to the Lord of the Sabbath so 't is a dishonour to the Sabbath of the Lord. Christians should be like Angels who are called Seraphims for their fiery zeal in the service of God And so to be zealous in Sabbath-Duty will raise the Dignity of the Sabbath This will admirably evidence As Gods Interest in the Day So the excellency of this Day of God The more we have herein of Heat and fervour life and vigour the better we demonstrate the Day is Gods As the true Mother in the Kings cry'd The living son is mine so sayes God The living Sabbath is mine As when Christ was raised from the Dead then he was declared to be the Son of God Rom. 1.4 So let the Sabbath rise from the dead to its due life and lustre and then 't will appear to be the Day of God Yea the more Vigorous and Spiritual we be in the Day the more glorious and excellent will the day be O what advantage is to the bodies of men when after death they are rais'd again Read 1 Cor. 15.42 43 44. It is sowen in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sowen in dishonour it is raised in honour it is sowen in weaknesse it is raised in power it is sowen a natural body it is raised a spiritual body Thus will it be with the Lords Day when it shall be raised from the dead as it will be more spiritual in its Nature so it will be more transplendent in its Lustre greater in power higher in honour all redounding to the dignity of it This will bring the Sabbath as the Sun to break forth from under those black clouds with which it is now darkened 3. The Lords acceptance will be certain if we spiritually sanctifie the Sabbath This with the Lord will be acceptable because it is suitable As to the precepts which God gives So to God which gives the precepts 1. The precept or command given of God requires a spiritual care in Sabbath-keeping Remember the Sabbath-day to keep iâ— holy This implies a remembrance of the Sabbath day to keep it spiritually let the spirituality of the day be raised and the sanctitie of the day will not sink but be better seen This will hold out the dayes-hidden holinesse and meet Gods command that calls to keep it holy And such Sabbath-keeoing is to God well-pleasing Esay 56.4 It being that which complies with Gods prescribed Will Esay 58.13 2. God himself from whom such precepts proceed is hereby resembled God is a Spirit and a spiritual being so that spiritual-spent Sabbaths and spiritual-performed duties do best suite a Spiritual God and so are accepted A good God being spiritual spiritual good is most acceptable to God 1 Pet. 2.5 To offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God Acceptable because spiritual With such sacrifices God is well pleased Heb. 13.16 That best likes God Which is most like to God To be spiritual on the Sabbath the Lord likes it and loves it it is so pleasing to God that he does highly prize it and praise it As it is a thing for the praise of God So it is a thing with God of praise To be in the spirit of the Sabbath and to be on the Sabbath in the spirit As it will make for Gods praise from us So it will prove our praise with God The Apostle declaring who are now to be accounted Jewes and what is circumcision under the Gospel sayes Rom. 2.28 29. He is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcision that is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God So may we say He is not a Sabbath-keeper that keeps it onely outwardly but he is a keeper of the Sabbath that keeps it inwardly and that is observation of the Lords day that is in the heart and in the spirit whose praise though it may be not of men it will be of God God at the great day will give him praise in the presence of men and Angels Yea present praise will God by his Spicit speak to such as spiritually spend his holy day And O how sweet will it be for God in a Sabbath to say to our souls Well done well prayed well preached well heard to day my dear servants Now that which the Lord thus praiseth we may be sure much pleaseth the Lord. Yea to sanctifie the Sabbath in a spiritual way the Lord is so pleased with it that he takes pleasure in it then the Lords day is the Lords delight The Sabbath so kept on earth causes joy in heaven It is meet sayes the Father in the fifteenth of Luke to his friends about him It is meet we should rejoyce for this my son was dead and is alive was lost and is found So sayes God Blessed for ever to all in blisse about him T is meet we should rejoyce for this my Sabbath was dead and is alive the glory of it was lost and gone but is now returned again 4. The Lands general concernments will through the Sabbaths spiritual observance be much promoted Both in the Ecclesiastick And in the Civil State Let the spirit of the Lords day be well up in the Land Then will Gods Ordinances remaine that are present And God will remaine present with his Ordinances 1. Gods Ordinances with us will abide What makes God remove precious means from among a people but their dulnesse in his Sabbaths and service their falling from their fervent affections their leaving their first love and life as we see in the case of that languishing Church Revel 2.4 5. I have somewhat sayes Christ against thee thou hast left thy first love Remember from whence thou art fallen and do thy first works or I will come and remove the Candlestick out of his place Let Christians be carried out with a spirit of love and life in the Sabbaths and service of the Lord and though the Lord may lay some sad afflictions upon them yet he will continue the means of Grace among them And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner but thine eyes shall see thy teaches And thine ears shal hear a word behind thee saying This is the way walk in it Esay 30.20 2. God himself will also abide with his Ordinances Let the Sabbath be so spiritually sanctified Then as God will be with the Ordinances his people use So God will be with his people in use of Ordinances Then may Ordinances say to Gods Saints and Saints may say to Ordinances Emmanuel God with us God with us in service and suffering makes all sweet That is a precious promise Esay 43.1 When thou art in the water I will be with thee and when thou art in the
fire I will be with thee Water and fire both may referre to afflictions be they various and violent God will be with Yea in the waters of suffering and in the fire of service God is with us Or though we cannot say God is with us when we are in the water to wit when we be cold or lukewarme in his work Yet we may be sure God is with us when we are in the fire to wit fervent and zealous in the works of his worship Is God with us in the fire of heavy afflictions And is not God with us in the fire of holy devotions And let the Lord thus abroad in the Land be with his service and servants and with his servants in service O what great and good things will follow As the cleansing out of pollutions And the closing up of divisions Pollutions cleansed Were the holy Spirit thus up in the Nation the unclean spirit would be soon forced to passe out of the Land Zach. 13.2 This would not onely keep informing Ordinances that are but reforming Ordinances that are not would be also brought in In our English-house we might hope to have the Besome as well as the Candle Luk. 15.8 As the Candle of good Doctrine So the Besome of good Discipline The Besome of Discipline to sweepe out dust As well as the Candle of Doctrine to drive out darknesse 'T is lamentable to see how the Leprosie hath taken our house Levit. 14. And O what an infection hath broke out even in the new building Infliction of due censures would be a good means to remove the plague-stones out of the wall and so to heal the house and help its standing Could we but encrease our Sabbath-zeal sure Church-Keyes would not lie so rusty yea the civil sword would have a sharper edge When God came down upon Sinai in thunder and lightning fire and much smoak God commanded Moses to set bounds about the Mount that the people might not presumptuously break in Thus were there for the Sabbath that fire of zeal that is fits the Civil Power would set bounds that persons might not so profanely break out Those intolerable tolerations we now see would soon cease Those Anti-Congregations that are now Assembly against Assembly in the same place at the same time It is the cause of many sad evils Hence is it that if there be any that will not afford their presence at the publick preaching of the Word or if there be any that cannot abide the power of the Word publickly preached there be those by that will invite them from us and abet them against us Hence is it that the common sort account Sabbath dayes and duties but as indifferent things matters they may use or omit if they please Hence is it that the vilest of men have learned to vilifie and blaspheme the wayes which God hath blessed to speak evil of the Instruments and Ordinances God hath sanctified and by which God is glorified and which of God shall one day be justified c. Did but the spirit of the Lords day rule in the Land those that are opposite we should either reduce or restrain Those grosse abuses and great prophanenesse that is grown amongst us would be either redressed or suppressed Divisions closed If Christians on the Sabbath were higher raised by a spirit of fervency they would at other times be better ruled by a spirit of unity Were there in men more of the spirit of life upon the Lords day there would be more among men of the spirit of love all the week long Men are not spiritual but carnal which is the cause divisions are common There is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men For while one saith I am of Paul and another I am of Apollo are ye not carnal 1 Cor. 3.3 4. To heal the Land of divisions will be Both the beauty and The safetie of it Beauty Rents and divisions are to a Land as fits of convulsions to a child which draws the mouth awry and pulls parts out of their place and causes all to be uncomely cure the Convulsions and the beauty of the Babe returns Safety Rents and divisions are to a Nation as cracks and clifts in a building which yet Art may stop and the house may be strong and the dwellings therein may be safe and sweet Now that which will most powerfully repair our breaches is the Spirit of the Lord which is a Spirit of love and of a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.7 As it is a spirit of love it unites affections and As it is the spirit of a sound mind it unites opinions And so brings all into one Nothing can so cause union of spirits as the spirit of union Were we more carried out by a spirit of power we should be more carried on with a spirit of peace This spirit would be in us out of Sabbath-service were we in the spirit upon the service of the Sabbath yea O the abundant benefits that would abide our Nation upon this spiritual being and being in the Spirit Then would the works of the Divel be dissolved the darknesse of ignorance dispelled Errors outed blasphemies banished the Gospel cherished truth established iniquity would be lesse the love of many would wax warme formalities would fall and the power of Godlinesse rise Ministers would be vigorous and Magistrates valorous and Christians in Gods cause Couragious Inferiours well governed and Families well ordered so that Old England would become New and we should find New England in Old O happy day O let me beseech all that my weak words may reach for our souls sakes for the Sabbaths sake for the Lords sake and the Lands sake let us be spiritual spiritual in Sabbath-service O let us be like St. John in the text upon the Lords day in the Spirit I was in the Spirit on the Lods day Now that the Lords day may be thus spiritually spent there be duties of three sorts to be observed Anteceden t Concomitant Consequent Antecedent duties Before the Sabbath comes Christians that would well keep the day are required to be Both valiant in resisting temptations against it And diligent in making pâ—eparations for it Temptations that may turn soulâ— aside from this observing the Sabbath may proceed From some more remote or From some more immediate There be some remote that may suggest what may draw off from the Lords day and its spiritual duties There be evil spirits now abroad whose bent is to beat down the day of God and to beat off from the soul-benefitting duties thereof As the spirit of Atheisme And the spirit of Sectarisme The spirit of prophanenesse and The spirit of separation The former fight against the Sabbath day and its due observers in open field by professed battels The latter labour to cut off the Lords day and all its lovers by secret and subtill Stratagems Men that separate from our settled Congregations and run wilde in their opinions
and went to the place of which the Lord had told him Gen. 22.5 6. And shall not we on the Sabbath morning be early up our selves and our famlies to go to the place the Lord hath appointed and to offer our bodies and souls in service to God The Israelites who lay in siege against Jericho upon the seventh day they being to compasse the City seven times the text sayes And it came to passe on the seventh day that they rose up early about the dawning of the day and they compassed the City after the same manner seven times Joshua 6.15 Upon the Sabbath day we are to compasse the City of God seven times to encompasse heaven with multiplied prayers and thetefore we stould be early up To helps hereunto let us take to wit A timely going to rest the night before and An entire love to the work of the day that followes 'T is too common a fault even with some professing Christians they clog the night before the Sabbath with a multitude of worldly businesses which brings them to sit up late A Sabbath let And a certain fault Hence in the morning when they should be up with God they lie sleep-bound in their bed And alas we have too little love to the Lords-day-work and so but little list to be at the work of the day Were there love to it we should long to be at it Our minds would be upon it in the night and we should catch the first hour of the day With my soul have I desired thee in the night and with my spirit within me will I seek thee early sayes the Prophet to God Esay 26.9 Hearts open largely The door of the heart upon the entrance of the Sabbath must be set wide shut to the world but open to God Ezek. 46.1 Thus saith the Lord God The gate of the inner Court that looketh toward the East though shut all the six working dayes yet shall be opened as soon as the Sabbath comes Thus the gate of the heart that is the inward Court however kept shut all the week yet as soon as the Lords day is come it ought to be opened to wit In delights at the day of the Lord and In desires to the Lord of the day Delights at the day should enlarge the heart joy to see a Sabbath appear A learned Author reports that near the Pole where the nights endure divers Moneths the inhabitants in the end of such a night when the Sun begins to be seen they deck themselves in their best apparel and get up to the highest mountains with joy saying Behold the Sun the Sun appeareth The day the day is come Were we for several moneths kept without a Sabbath how would our spirits spring at such a dayes appearance Why should the commonnesse of the Suns shining and the Sabbaths comming diminish the mercie How should we every Lords-day-morning have our minds mounting and say Behold the Sabbath of the Lord It is come it is come Desires to the Lord our hearts should be enlarged in The day being begun we should begin to pour out our hearts and breath out our requests to God in prayer that he would prosper us with his presence O how well will it be if God shall say Go and prosper pray and prosper preach and prosper hear this day and prosper Fear not for I am with thee I will help thee I will uphold thee I will strehgthen thee Thus in the morning we shall have encouraging mercies if we take care to perform our morning duties Moses Exod. 34.4 rose up early in the morning and presented himself before God in the top of mount Sinai with two tables of stone ready hewed in his hand for the finger of God to write what he would Thus a Christian on the Lords-day-morning should present himself before God upon the mount of meditation and prayer with a heart ready for what God will that day write thereupon waxy and willing to take whatever impression God please to stamp therein Not any of us are then to be content to have a heart stiffe and straight hard and dead The true Mother 1 King 3. was filled with trouble when in the morning she found a dead child by her 'T is the trouble of a true Christian when on a Sabbath day-morning he finds a dead heart in him a heart that 's hard cold and closed up His labour is to begin with a heart lowly and lively to feel those quickenings and kindlings of heart as may encourage to the day in all the duties thereof 2. For the progresse and principal part of the Lords day our duties are considerable In their varieties for matter And in our properties for manner For matter the varieties of duties on the Lords day required have been already declared For manner in performing the Lords day-duties we in our properties must be Knowing Willing Unite Fervent Cheerfull Watchfull Knowing Knowledge it must be the Guide Usher Pilote and promptor of practice In mysteries of faith we may as a blind man sometimes not see our way But in matters to obedience we must not go blind-fold but the eye of understanding must see how we ought to go and what we ought to do So in Sabbath-work we must know how to manage the matter of God and actions of Godlinesse We must know how to order and time our duties that each act may go out in its place Ignorant people in the publick Congregation will be reading when they should be praying and praying when they should be hearing c. Every work sayes Solomon is beautiful in its season We must know how to season and proportion our duties not greaten one to straiten another Like one that Artificially drawes out the picture of a man as he sets every part in its place so he gives every part its due proportion which is the beauty of the body So it is the beauty of the whole body of Sabbath-day-duty when every member hath its measure every act is in order and the whole businesse of Religion hath its due proportion We must also know whereat to aime and how to eye God whence to fetch strength and how to go straight wherein lies our wants and where our supplies c. Willing Psal 100.3 Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power or a people of willingnesses in the plural To shew how exceeding willing-hearted the Lords people should be in the day of the Lords power The day wherein the Lord powerfully converts men and that day wherein men by a spirit of power are converted to the Lord a day of Grace a Gospel-day Indeed the day of the Sabbath is a day of the Lords power wherein all the Lords people should be most willing in the work of the Lord. In what we can do we are willing and What we cannot do we are willing to On the Lords day we would do more good and more for God if we could 'T is a complaint that
and ravished enlivened and enlarged upon the Lords day we had need look to it on the following day and keep our selves lowly lest that mind which hath been one day heavenly be the next day haughty Pride is a worme apt to breed within the best wood Beware beware 3. Let us be faithful to keep up the good we have got we are apt to catch cold after the greatest heats And after some close attendance in Gods service to grow more loose and remisse in duty Let us look to our selves we do not lose the things we have wrought we do not break the bounds we have set or slack the holy bonds wherewith we have been begirt To be unloosened on the Sabbath from week-day bonds is comfortable but in the week-time to unloose the Lords-day bonds is abominable 4. Let us be fruitful to bring forth more good for God both in our general and particular callings That our week day carriage may be the springing up of Sabbath-day seed yea our whole lives must be a walking in Sabbath-day strength Tertul. C. Jud. 4. Origen in Numb Hom. 23. cont Cels lib. 8. Pag. 522. c. Chrysoâ—t in Matth. tract 29. Aug. de civit Dei lib. 22. cap. 30. Idem Epist 119. cap. 12. Et de cons Evang. lib. 2. cap. 77. And thus ought we to keep a holy Sabbath throughout the whole course of our dayes Divers of the Ancients dwell much upon this perswading Christians so to practise piety and pursue sanctity as to perpetuate a Sabbath As upon the Lords day we should be full of spirits so after the Lords day we should be spiritual still As on that day we should live in the Spirit so afterward we should walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.25 This I say then Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh If all the week we be carnal how can it appear we are spiritual on the Sabbath A good Author speaks well in this case Have we well served the Lord upon his day Bucer in Matth. 12.11 let our manners shew it let our works prove it let the holinesse of our lives decleare it Who will believe that he hath been present in publick Assemblies and with a sincere heart hath heard Gods holy Word who passes the following part of his life more loosely vainly carnally coveteously c 'T is this will evidence that on the Sabbath we have been with Jesus when afterward our faces and graces shine our lips and lives hold out the praises of Christ and the power of his Gospel When the Lords day comes we should be as lively firy and full as if we were then to begin and end Gods work We should be found in such a frâ—me every Lords day as if that were the first Sabbath that ever we spent and as if it were the last day that we should live on this earth or as if the weight of all our work lay upon that single Sabbath for which we were sent into the World or as if our eternal being were to be determined hereby And yet after the day is over we must endeavour still to be doing as if no work were done For as we must be all abundant and fervent on the Sabbath day in the service of God as if after were no holy duties So we must be as full and forward to all following duties as if there had been no Sabbath before Before the Sabbath day and after we must do all the good we can even as if there were no Christ to be relyed upon and yet our relyance both in life and death must be on our dear Lorld as if there never had been the least good done We must be precise for the Sabbath-day and duty And yet yet Duty shall not be our Redeemer Nor the Sabbath our Saviour Whether Sabbath-day or week-day we will do as much good as ever we are able but begin and end all in Christ The end with us shall be the glory of the Lord And with the Lord in glory shall be our end Amen Amen FINIS AN Alphabetical Table directing to some Principal things in this Treatise A ADam in Innocency to keep the Sabbath pag. 7 175 Advocate how Christ is and for whom p. 402 Angels they have a twofold knowledge p. 216 Angels all Ministring spirits pag. 227 Angels helpers in all holy Duties p. 228 Angels delight in Sabbath-service p. 217. Atheists of two sorts p. 32 Antichrists ruine how wrought p. 198 Augustine's answer to a Manichees p. 328 Assent to Divine truths what p. 121 B BAbylons fall two-fold p. 203 Baptisme of Infants why many against it p. 401 Baptisme of Infants its great use pag. 340 Book of Psalmes how excellâ—nt p. 129 Blood of Christ what it purchased p. 92 Blessing of God how desireable p. 197 Breaches abundance how they come p. 339 C CHange of the Sabbath upon a double cause p. 34 Christian liberty wherein it consists p. 36 37 Charitable Duties how fit for the Sabbath p. 66 132 Church-Discipline exercised on the Lords Day p. 131 Censures in the Church how to be inflicted p. 407 Chearfulnesse in Gods service required p. 462 Collections for the poor how to be managed p. 340 Conscience good what it is p. 253 Conscience troubled how sad p. 222 Contentions of Brethren how bad p. 328 Communion with Christ how sweet pag. 102 Christ spiritual in all his Estates p. 390 Covetousnesse the root of evil p. 50 D DAyes all how they are the Lords p. 4. Difference of Dayes how under the Gospel p. 38 Doctrine of the Lords Day strongly to be held p. 122 Day of Judgment drawes near p. 116 Delights in the Lords Day required pa. 456 Desires after God discovered p. 350 Discipline requisite in the Church p. 429 Divel a bitter enemy to tht Sabbath pag. 410 Divel large in knowledge p. 321 Divels called spiritual wickednesses why p. 412 Divisions the evil of them p. 431 Divisions how closed p 432 E ENgland one of the ten horns p. 241 England old how made new p. 433 Enmities in man against God p. 319 Errours against the Sabbath how sad p 83 F FAther 's of three sorts p. 208 Faith beyond feeling p. 335 Faith hath its Dimensions p 289 Faith its various Vse p. 387 Faith in the state and in the Acts differenced p 235 Faith the best beloâ—ed Grace p. 248 Fervency in prayer how fit p. 398 Forgetfulnesse of God how sinfull pag. 87 Fourth Commandment most excellent pa. 9 G GOd what he best liketh p 424 Gospel whereunto it guideth p. 122 Gospel vailed in the Law p. 177 Gospel it excels the Law p. 190 Government of Christ how ordered p. 394 Grace in its actings most excellent p. 416 Ground why to be till'd by Adam p. 7 H HAnds given for a threefold work p. 75 Hearts of Gods Saints like Vials p 302 Heart is the best part in a Saint p. 305 Heart of a wicked man as a bow p. 321