those times Deut. 4. 10. children were taught the chief points of the doctrine of the Prophets touching God or the Law or the Promise of the Gospel or the use of the Sacraments and Sacrifices which were the types of Messiah to come and of his benefits these and other Principles children were taught at home by their Parents In the New Testament Christ commands little children to be brought unto him Mat. 10. 14. This evinceth the necessity of a Christ for our Children And how shall these young ones believe on Christ of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Chatechizer without one to open and discover Christ to Rom. 10. 14. them in the plain and familiar way of Chatechisme Quando parvuli post baptismum adolescunt Christo adducondi sunt per sedulam sollicitam et piam institutionem cum annis crescat cura nostra de pueris Par. which plain method of instruction adapts and fits youth for hearing tâ—e Word from the Minister and is the first round of the Ladder of Knowledge The careful institution of children in Gospel-knowledge was no stranger to the first times of the Church and therefore the Apostle Peter calls the Word Milk 1 Pet. 2. 2. as being fit and proportionate sustenance for young ones in Religion And the Promises are called the Breasts of Consolation Isa 66. 11. for young Children to lye at and draw comfort from them We have Antiquity A learned man saith That Paul the Apostle was a Chatechist grounding his assertion from 1 Cor. 14. 19. where that word we translate teach is in the Conciones Apostolorum fere tantum erant Chatecheses Alap in 1 Epist ad Cor. Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Catechise The Sermons of the Apostle often opened the very principles of Religion which are calculated for the information of youth And the same blessed Apostle layes down a short Compendium of Christian principles in a chatechistical Summary Heb. 6. 1 2. And we are told that Cyril of Hierusalem composed a Catechism De rudibus chatechizandis Aug. for the benefit of Christian youth That Gregory Nyssene made a chatechistical Oration And Augustin wrote a Treatise concerning chatechizing the ignorant as being the most proper way of diffusing and disseminating Gospel-light A De pueris ad Christum trahendis Gers in part 2. learned man tells us that Genson Chancellour of Paris in later times did usually instruct Children and did it to the great benefit of the Church of God The Church did gather O â—issime Jesu quis ultra post te verecundabitur humilis ad parvulos c Ger. the fruit of such watered Nurseries The same Author tells us that Gerson wrote a Treatise concerning drawing children to Jesus Christ And in this Tract falls into this holy Rapture O most holy Jesus who after thee shall be ashamed to condescend to children when thou hast invited little ones to thy self O gracious Christ wilt thou intwine children in thy sacred Arms and fold them in thy divine Embraces And shall any who is spiritual and seeks not his own things but the things of Christ whom charity humility Euseb Eccles Hist lib. 6. c. 3. Ab ecclesiâ domi redeuntes Amici inter se cum filiis Parentes cum servis domini meditarentur contenderent quomodo quae imperata sunt exequenda sint Chrysos and piety guides refuse the introduction of younger ones to prepare them for the Embraces of the dear Jesus Eusebius writes of Origen that he restored the pious custome of Chatechizing in Alexandria when in times of persecution it was very much decayed Chrysostom was wont pathetically to perswade his Auditours that when they came from Church on the Lords day That they should discourse among themselvs and Parents with their children Masters with their servants how they might act and do what they were commanded And Origen in his 9th Homily on Leviticus makes it his serious Option That we would be exercised not only in the Church but in our houses in meditating and canvasing Gods Word For saith he Christ will be with them who seek after him Thus we see the Golden times of the Church much favoured and followed this successful practice We have reason 1. Catechizing is necessary that Novices and young ones be not entangled and seduced into erroneous Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem Testa diu opinions Chatechizing is the hammer to beat down heresies Cloth which is died in grain before will not easily take another colour Youth having drunk in the saving and fundamental Truths of Religion will hardly be led aside to another doctrine The first sent remains in the Vessel The Janizaries are the fiercest Turks and they are taken from Christian Parents in their childhâ—od and so trained up in the Mahometan Religion The same fruits the Tree bears when it is young it bears ever after Chatechizing layes the foundation which Seducers cannot easily shake and pluck up Ignorance is the mother of weakness and layes us open to destructive changes 2. Those who learn throughly the Chatechisme will better understand Sermons and they will be able easily to reduce Facile est inventis addere whatever they hear from the Word to the several heads of their Chatechism Mariners have their several side-winds but they can bring every wind to verge towards one of their four chief winds Principles of Religion take in the whole of Religion reductively and Principles are dropt into youth by Chatechism One gravely observes That Sermons without Conciones sine chatechizatione praeparatoriae sine fructu et emolumento usitatissimè ceâ—ditae sunt Ursin out preparatory Chatechism and instruction are heard to little profit or advantage Ignorant persons more usually hear a sound than a Sermon like Pauls Companions in their journey to Damascus who heard a voyce but no language Acts 9. 6. Ignorant persons travel in the dark and the light of a Sermon doth rather confound then convince them they are still more in the dark and the learning of Principles must bring them in their way 3. Chatechism is most accommodate to young and in judicious persons A copious and vagrant form of instruction is not suitable to youth and Christians of the lower form The Scholar learns not the Greek language at the first it is the Accidens not Homer is fit for his first setting forth in the travels of literature Every thing is good according to proportion We eat not loaves but morsels The Nurse chews the meat and then puts it into the childs mouth Inculcated principles must first be prepared for children and servants and doctrines must run parallel with their capacities The Sun riseth by degrees nor doth it get up to its full height till its just time We have interest If we will have obedient children and faithful servants let us pave their minds with Scripture-principles and this will chase away that ignorance which is
take especial care to serve the Lord in fear and trembling and remember to keep the Christian Sabbath Ezek. 46. 4. because the Kingdom is the Lords and his Christs who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revel 11. 15. The duty of Magistrates is 1. To repress the profaning of the Sabbath and to use all Qui non prohibet peccare cum potest jubet Sen. means for the accomplishment of that worthy and glorious design Namely 1. To forbid Nehem. 13. 15. 2. To reprove Nehem. 13. 17 18. 3. To threaten Nehem. 13. 21. 4. To hinder Nehem. 13. 19 22. And 5. To punish the profaning of Gods holy day Nehem. 13. 20. Secondly To command and to compell the Lords day to be sanctified 2 Chron. 34. 33. And Thirdly To sanctifie it himself his Children his Court his Attendants both privatly Psalm 5. 7. Acts 10. 1 2. and also publickly Ezek. 46. 2 4. 2 Kings 11. 5 7 9. The duties of private and publick sanctifying the Lords day tye and bind the Prince and other Magistrates no less then the meanest of the Subjects and the most pedantique persons And where the Prince neglects the strict and holy observation of Gods blessed day this sin will make his Crown shake and his Scepter tremble and rip up his most stately Pallaces to let in divine wrath and displeasure It was the prophanation of the Sabbath which hasten'd and ascertained Hezekiahs doom as may be clearly observed Jer. 17. 27. If ye will not hearken to me to hallow my Sabbath I will kindle a fire in the gates of Jerusalem and it shall devoure the Pallaces thereof and it shall not be quenched And lesser Governours every Housholder over his family who may be called an inferiour Magistrate in regard of his Authority in the little province of his family it is his duty to sanctifie the Sabbath himself he must keep it with all care Eph. 6. 4 and diligence and move in the circuit of Sabbath duties as Psal 101. 6 7. a star in its Orb And he must command and compell his family Est 4. 16. thereunto that they may effectually practice it as well Sub pronomine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tu intelliguntur 1 Personae dominantes Patres et Matres familiae 2. Personae fulcientes filii et fi liae 3. Personae ministrantes servi et Ancillae Rivet as himself and this he must do in his proportion as Magistrate in his own Houshold Surely if Kings in the midst of all their glittering attendance their courtly delicacies numerous addresses arduous affairs must not forget to keep holy the Sabbath day both themselves and all their bespangled family much more must the private Governours of families who lye not so open to tempting avocations nor are dazled with such courtly appearances take care that themselves and families serve the Lord on his own holy and blessed day The Edicts of State and constitutions of the Church like the two springs of Jor Dan have both met in a full stream to carry on this service against all resistance Ludovicus Proinde necesse est ut primo sacerdotes Regâ—s et Principes omnesque fideles huic diei debitam observantiam atque reverentiam devotissimè exhibeant Lud. P. Concil Paris sub Greg. quarto Pius the son of Charles the Great put forth this Decree That it is a necessary duty that in the first place Priests and then Kings and Princes and all faithfull persons do most devoutly exhibit due observation to this holy day This serious Prince enacts the observation of the Sabbath for all that every one being fettered by a Law might not loosely passe over this heavenly day And as the Edicts of Princes enforce the general observation of the Sabbath high as well as low an both equally so the Constitutions of the Church The Council of Paris decreed that all should keep the Lords day Governours Kings Princes Priests and all faithful persons should procure it to be kept and that no man presâ— me to make merchandise to do his pleasure or any countrey work but that they with all endeaâ—ours of soul do attend to heavenly praises c. Ambrose in his time complained of some Masters Taeduit mihi videre servulos ad ecclesiam fortassis festinantes ad venandum per dominos avocari quia sic voluptatibus suis peccata accumulant aliena Ambr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lib. 7. cap. 19. who would call away their servants to hunting when they were going to Church on the Lords day and so by their own sinning drew others into the snare not remembring they should be guilty of their servants sin and of the hazard of their immortal souls And a learned man of our own Nation observes that in those Constitutions commonly called Apostolical it was expresly commanded That servants should be at leisure on the Lords day for attendance upon the worship of God and for learning of Religion Those early dayes of the Gospel commanded all every one to mind the great work of Religion and to inure themselves to divine Knowledge Our own Church is not the least in providing that all persons observe the holy Sabbath So in King Edwards time the express words of the Homily are Sithence which time the time of our Saviours Resurrection Gods people in all ages have alwayes without gainsaying used to Homil. de temp loc precum come together upon the Sunday to celebrate and honour the Lords blessed Name and carefully to keep that day in holy Rest both Man and Woman Child and Servant and Stranger c. And so in King James his time it was enacted as one of the Canons of our Church among other things That Parents and Masters of Families should instruct their children and servants in the fear and nurture of the Lord especially Can. Eccles Angl canae 13. An. Dom. 1603. on the Lords day Thus the care of all places where Christianity hath been professed and in all ages which savoured any thing of Religion hath enjoyned the generall observation of the Lords day and the meanest Servant hath come within the compass of Royal Edicts and sacred constitutions as well as the most considerable Eminent Superiour The bowels of Parents might enforce this duty Can a tender Father or an affectionate Mother see their Children trifling away the time of a Sabbath slighting away the Ordinances of a Sabbath and neglecting the private duties of Redarguenda est Parentum segnities qui in rebus seculi sâ—â—â— sunt sallic in sed de pietatis incrementa minus sunt solliciti Riv. a Sabbath and not be filled with fear and amazement How shall the fruit of their loynes stand before him who gave the Commandement for the Sabbath in the midst of a flaming Mountain Exod. 19. 18. and be accountable to him who is the Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2. 28. and who will judge the secrets of all men according to
of this blessed day commands our severest observation The Sabbath contains all the three arguments in it which some calls the worlds Trinity Pleasure Profit Honour And if these arguments have so much force in temporals why should not they be as cogent in spirituals spiritual good things 1. They yield most Sure there is more in a grace of the spirit then in the stuffing of a bag or the lining of a costâ—r 2. They last longest 3. They are purchased with greater difficulty they are bought with a price with the blood of a Redeemer Dies dominicus omnium dierum mater est Hieron 4. They enrich our better part and shall not they more influence our care and our devotion Our Sabbath is solemn in its own dignity let it be so in our observation God hath crowned this day with honour why should we degrade it by our sin and vanity Our heavenly carriage doth best comport with the glory of this day Hierom calls our Christian Sabbath the Mother of dayes not only intimating its own antiquity but pointing at the veneration we should give to it And so the fifth Commandment comes in to the support and assistance of the fourth We must honour this Mother of dayes that our dayes may be happy and long in the land Exod. 20. 12. Nor unfitly is the Sabbath called a Mother when it hath so fruitful an issue and hath brought forth so many Children to Christ who is its Lord and Master Ignatius Mark 2. 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Ignat. calls our Sabbath the Queen of dayes and all other parcels of time are only hand-maids to wait on her now every evil fact is aggravated which is committed in the presence-chamber The Holy Ghost calls our Sabbath the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. And God doth not call this day by his own Name but to intimate thus much to us that we should likewise honour it by a holy and careful celebration Sin then and vanity is a blot in the Escucheon of the Sabbath and the prophane person as much as in him lies layes the honour of it in the dust The Jews had a very high esteem of their Sabbath and they compared it to a Queen their other festivals they compared to Concubines and ordinary dayes they compared to hand-maids and they made a six fold difference between their Sabbath and other festivals Other festivals had no parasceue or preparation going before them but the Sabbath had still a preparation and it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or pervigilium Sabbati the Vigils of the Sabbath Obj. but it may here be said that John 19. 14. we meet with the preparation to the Passover and therefore a preparation was not peculiar to the Sabbath Answ To which it is answered It is called the preparation to the Passover because at that time the Sabbath and the Passover fell both together Mat. 17. 62. and then the Jews transferred the Passover to the Mark 15. 42. Sabbath and therefore it was called the great Sabbath Joh. Luke 23. 54. 19. 31. That Sabbath day was an high day saith the Text John 19. 42. because both feasts fell on the same day But the preparation mentioned John 19. 14. was then in respect of the Sabbath and not in respect of the Passover which was drowned in the Sabbath For other feasts besides the Sabbath needed no preparation The Sabbath of the Jews had a prerogative above all other festivals in that other festivals were translated to the Sabbath Alios festivitatis dies transferre solebunt ad Sabbatum propter olera mortuos Judaic Proverb but the Sabbath stood unmoveable and could never be transferred to any other festival therefore they oftentimes made the feast day a common day and upon it they prepared their meat and buried their dead and they transferred the religious exercises which did belong to that day to the Sabbath The Sacrifices of all their festivals gave way to the Sabbath Their daily Evening sacrifice was killed at eight of the clock and half an hour past according to the Jews counting of the hours half an hour before three with us and offered at the ninth hour and an half past which with us is half an hour after three and this they did that they might rest the evening of the Sabbath The Sabbath had a double sacrifice upon it Numb 28. 9 10. Whereas all other festivals had only their particular services and sacrifices which as it was to distinguish the Sabbath from all other feasts so to mind us of that industry and sedulity we should shew on the holy and blessed Sab-Sabbath The Sabbath was kept in the wilderness and in the captivity and he who violated and brake the Sabbath in the Wilderness was stoned to Death Numb 15. 35. But other festivals were not kept in the captivity and the Passover but once in the wilderness Numb 9. 5. The whole week took denomination from the Sabbath Luke 18. 12. Acts 13. 42. And besides all this every Sabbath day they came to hear the Scriptures read and expounded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in medio septimanae Mat. 1. 21. Luke 4. 31. But on the week dayes they met occasionally The Sabbath was the appointed time for those holy exercises Now shall the Jews be so curious Acts 14 15. in drawing of their Sabbaths Eschutcheon of Honour and marking its dignified prerogatives and shall we give less veneration to the Lords Day I mean not in verbal praises or rhetorical panegyricks but in holy practices Our carefull Preparation for the solemnities of it our serious behaviour in the duties of it our frugal improvement of the time of it our unwearied diligence in the service of it this and this only speaks our Sabbath honourable Piety and Devotion best proclaim the dignity of this holy day when we act as those who believe that Christ is not only the institutour of our Sabbath but will be the Judge of the world Let us Rom 2. 16. then consider the Lords Day under what notion we will either as the souls jubilee and festival day or as the souls market 2 Cor. 5. 10. day or as the Churches best and most glorious day yet still nothing but holiness becomes it and its beauty is best seen in our sanctification Our holiness is the foyle to set off the glory of it Arg. 5 Let us look upon our Sabbath as a day of distinction the observation of which distinguisheth Christians from the rest of the world and this meditation will prompt us to holiness What Sabbatum est signum quòd deus Israelem sanctificavit i. e. segregando eos à gentibus profanis in peculiarem sibi populum Lavater in Ezek. the Lord said to the Jews Exod. 31. 13. Verily my Sabbaths shall ye keep for it is a sign between me and you that ye may know that I am the Lord who doth sanctifie you is as applicable to
but in our houses there must be a meeting of Relations there must be Parents and Children Masters and Servants those who are born at home and the stranger Exod. 20 10. Commâ—ni sâ—nctifiâ—â—ndi Sâ—bbathi lege â—onstringuntur omnes ex aequo herus servâ—â— peter liberi mas fâ—â—mina sâ—perâ—â—res et inferâ—ores Musc within our gates and all these must joyntly keep Gods Sabbath in holy duties and no less God commands in the fourth Commandment the Son and Daughter must remember to keep the Sabbath holy as well as the Parents the Man-servant and the Maid-servant as well as the Governours of the Family nay the stranger within the Gates On the Lords day we must by a conscionable and constant performance of holy duties turn even our private house into a little Church and thus we shall intail Gods presence to our houses as he vouchsafed his blessing on the house of Obed Edâ—m we must not onely act secret duties on the Sabbath 2 Sam. 6. 12. but likewise Family duties What those duties are shall be more copiously handled hereafter But Thirdly we must act publick duties on Gods holy Sabbath we must not onely open the doors of our closets and of our chambers to come down into our houses but Ex hac comâ—â—â—iâ—â—e tum Regnum 〈…〉 Zanch. we must open the doors of our houses too to meet with Gods people to celebrate the Lords day The Sabbath is the day wherein the Saints visit God and one another they then begin that society which shall be perfected and eternized in Glory David rejoyced when he went with the multitude to the House of God The great Apostle taught every where in Psal 42. 4. every Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He taught when the people 1 Cor. 4 17. were called together The Corinthians came together in one place to eat the Lords Supper Nay Christ himself will declare 1 Cor. 11. 20. the name and praises of God to his Brethren in the midst Luke 8 19. of the Church We must therefore serve God on the Sabbath in the Assemblies of Gods people not in our houses onely but in the Church i. e. in the Congregation of the faithfull Moses speaks of a holy Convocation Exod. 12. 16. Exod. 12. 16. and the Psalmist makes mention of the Assembly of the Saints Psal 89. 7. nay the promise is intailed on the Congregation of Gods people Isa 4. 5. The omission of this our assembling of our Isa 4. 5. selves is by the Apostle sharply rebuked Heb. 10. 25. One commenting on this Text hath divers things remarkable Heb. 10. 25. and worthy of our observation As First By this assembling the Apostle intends no other but the meeting of Believers to hear the Word of God and Per collectionem hanc Apost caetus ecclesiae et conventus fidelium ad sacram synaxin ad verbâ—m dei pâ—eâ—esque publicas intelligit Secundò Hos caetus vult Apost ut Châ—istiani fidem profiâ—â—â—ntur gratiarum actiones persoâ—ent et se inviâ—em excitent ad veritatem et bona opera Terâ—â— illi catus et mutui congressus mirè sovent fidem quae in secessâ— et separatione diuturniori lâ—ngue scit Quartò Qui ecclesiae â—aeâ—â—s negligunt et deserum facilè urgente perseâ—utione ecclesiam ipsam et fidem Christi deserunt et abnegant Alap to pour out their prayers before God Secondly The Apostle injoynes the Assemblies that Christians might meet publickly to profess their faith in Christ and to sing the praises of God to stir up one another to love and good works Thirdly The same Author observes that these Companies and Assemblies do exceedingly foment and cherish faith which by a perpetual recluse and separation quickly would languish and be infeebled Nay Fourthly He observes That those who forsake the Assemblies of Gods people will easily in the urgency and heat of persecution desert the Church of Christ thus far that learned man And what a rare promise doth the Apostle mention 2 Cor. 6. 16. the words are these For ye are the 2 Cor. 6. 16. Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall Lev. 26. 12. be my people Christ when he was upon the Earth he goes into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day Mar. 1. 21. and Mark 1. 21. taught the people Paul and his Company go into the Synagogue on the Sabbath and Paul preacheth there Nay Acts 20. 7. afterwards Paul preacheth to the Christian Assembly in a house on the Lords day Acts 20. 7. In a word where doth Christ walk but in the midst of his candlesticks which are the Churches Rev. 1. 20. Cornelius Alapide observes that Rev. 1. 20. Alapide holy Ignatius who was the Disciple and follower of the Apostle Paul adviseth in his Epistles those of Smyrna and Ephesus to frequent the meetings of the Saints and gives this reason because they will wonderfully confirm us in the faith so then the whole duty of a Believer on the Lords day lies not in the Closet or the Family but likewise in the Societies of Gods people met for divine worship Coals put together make the warmer fire When the Christians were Assembled Acts 10. 44. to hear Peter then the Holy Ghost fell upon them The Saints in Glory are the Assembly and Church of the first-born Heb. 12. 23. and therefore we must act publick duties on Heb. 12. 23. Gods holy day in the publick Assemblies But now what these publick duties are and how we must demean our selves in the performance of them shall be more largely discussed hereafter We had need rise early on the Sabbath for as we have many Duties to perform so we have many Graces to act The Sabbath is both the field to exercise Grace in and the treasury 2 Tim. 2. 1. to supply grace with Ordinances are both the breathing Grâ—â—iâ— non soliâ—â—est sâ—vâ—r â—â—i 〈◊〉 qâ—od ex eo sâ—qâ—â—tâ—r Alap and the breasts of grace In prayer we act and we augment our graces and so in other Ordinances The Sabbath is the Believers resting day but Graces working day it is love which sweetens the work of a Sabbath Faith makes effâ—ctual the Ordinances of a Sabbath Repentance reconciles Hâ—b 11. 6. Jer 31. 19 20. Rom. 12. 11. Isa 57. 15. Hâ—b 4. 2. Jam. 5. 16. the God of the Sabbath Zeal makes acceptable the duties of a Sabbath Humility ingages Gods presence on a Sabbath We cannot hear the Word profitably on this holy day without we mingle it with Faith nor address our selves to God in prayer without we inflame the duty with fire with the fire of zeal In our prayers we must get our affections fired by the Holy Ghost that they may flame up towards God in Devout and Religious ascents Broken-hearted and penitent Isa 23. 16. believers
46. Thirdly God hath made his promises to the Assemblies of his Saints Mat. 18. 20. 2 Cor. 6. 16. He will not neglect a Mat. 18. 20. weeping Hannah who prays and sobs alone 1 Sam. 1. 13. but will give her not onely a Child but a Samuel But yet God will create upon the Assemblies of his people a cloud which was the sign of his presence Isa 4. 5. And Isa 4. 5. Fourthly The prayers of the faithfull Congregation receive Deus quasi columna ignis praefulget et ostendit suis viam salutis et quasi nubes caligâ—rosà obumbrat refrigerat et protegâ—t eos ab aellutentationis Basil Jon 2 7 8 9 10 strength from their union When all Niniveh intreated the Lord and put on sack-cloath God repents himself of that intended and threatned evil and puts his Sword into the scabbard though drawn by an open denuntiation of Judgement Jon. 2. 7 8 9 10. Prayer is the souls battery of Heaven and when these petitions are the common breathings of the whole Assembly the force must needs be the stronger and the answer must needs be the surer Though a file of Souldiers cannot take the City an Army may But Fourthly We must converse with our Families upon Gods holy day then Parents should draw out their softest bowells towards their Childrens souls and Masters discharge their most faithfull duty towards their Servants eternity But of this more hereafter We must rise early on a Sabbath for we have many good things to pursue and usually the richest lading requires the longest voyages where we look for great gain we must spend much time Now this holy day is Gods market day for the weeks provision wherein he will have us to come to him and buy of him without silver or money the Bread of Angels Rev. 22. 1. Isa 25. 6. 2 Pet. 2. 2. Rev. 3. 18. the Water of Life the Wine of the Sacraments and the Milk of the Word to feed our souls tryed Gold to inrich our Faith precious Eye-salve to heal our spiritual blindness and the white rayment of Christs Righteousness to cover our shamefull nakedness And now all things being laid together that hath been suggested how should both interest and duty awaken us right early on the Lords day for these holy pursutes that no time be drowned and lost in unnecessary sleep and sluggishness A fifth Argument to raise us betimes on a Sabbath is seriously to consider the heats of worldly men With what wakeful diligence do they prosecute the meat that perisheth John 6. 27. they rise up early and go to bed late and eat the bread of carefulness and all to grasp the shadow of a few flying and Psal 127. 2. dying enjoyments when as one saith we should be careful to rise sooner on this day then on other dayes by how much the service of God is to be preferred before earthly business There is no Master so good as the Lord is and in the end no work shall be better rewarded then his service Dr. Twisse Dr. Twisse Moral of the Sabbath 147. Reports that at Geneva they have a Sermon at four of the clock in the morning on the Lords day for the Servants and Bishop Lake wished That such a course was general as was in his Majesties Court in his time to have a Sermon in the morning for the Servants on the Sabbath day How did this holy man breath after holy Services on the morning of a Sabbath And let every one of us say seek the Lord O my Soul seek him early on his holy day Let us do as Mary Mat. 28. 1. Mark 16. 2. John 20. 1. Magdalen she was early up to seek him whom her soul loved she was last at the Cross and first at the Sepulcher in the dawning while it was yet dark very early in the morning say the Evangelists O that our love to Christ could keep pace with hers Shall we love the World better then Christ O that we were as wise for our souls as we are for our bodies Let not sleep that devourer of time beguile us of our golden hours in the morning of a Sabbath when we might have the softest and sweetest converseâ— with God Let the sinfull sluggard who sleeps with the Sun beams in his face this day remember the saying of Augustine If the August Sun could speak how roundly might it salute thee with this reproof I laboured more then thou didst yesterday and yet I am risen before thee to day But this is too low an Argument behold the Sun of Righteousness is risen let us not sleep as do others but say and sing with the Church Isa Isa 26. 9. Sanctus ad beatos aspirans dicit se velle jugiter deum mente et animo gerere illâ—m desiderare tam nocte tam interdiu Psal 139. 9. 26. 9. With my soul have I desired thee in the night yea and with my spirit within me will I seek thee early In a word it must needs inforce us to a blush to think that the Labourer who toyles in his earthly employments should take the wings of the morning to muddle in the World and we should let the morning fly away by our sloath and carelesness and not overtake it to meet with God upon his owne holy day And sixthly let it be considered the gracious soul will long to be with God The Spouse sought Christ upon her bed and the Saint will leave his bed betimes on a Sabbath to Cant. 3. 1. seek Jesus Christ the Spouse would pursue her beloved in Sponsa interim evigilans speciebus illis non satis discussis motu brachiis expansis spon sum complaecti conata fuit Del rio the night and the Saint will not omit to follow hard after the Lord Jesus in the morning as soon as she is awake she is with God especially on his own day Psal 139. 18. Our heart is where our treasure is as our Saviour speaks Luk. 12. 34. And if Christ be our treasure our spiritual love will prevail against our carnal sloath Let us take notice of holy David with what extasie of love he was transplanted Psal 63. 1. O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry Psal 139. 18. Luk. 12. 34. and thirsty land where no water is Where there are thirsts after God there will be early enquiries for him The gracious Psal 63. 1. Soul pants after God as the Hart pants after the water brooks Now the thirsty Hart will not be so taken with Psal 42. 1 2. the green and pleasant Grass where she is lodged so as to forbear the brooks which must quench her thirst nor will the Saint be so toyled and fettered with sleep or sloath so as Psal 122. 1. to suspend his communion with God on his holy Sabbath he will tear those drowsie wit hs his
divinae naturae tribuendum judicarunt singings must not serve our pleasure our wantonness our gain but our Saviour our Christ our God In this heavenly musick we must study not so much to keep time that we do not spoil the Consort as to keep the heart close to God that we do not spoil the Duty The heathens celebrate their false gods Neptune Mars Jupiter c. with Songs and Hymns and think that by this service and worship they proclaim their greatness and Divinity And shall Christiani essent soliti ante lucem convenire carmenque Chrâ—sto quasâ— deo dicere not we much more celebrate the praises of God and Christ who hath loved us and given himself for us Gal. 2. 20. in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual songs shall not God have the sweetness of our voice the melody of our hearts the songs of our lips nay the musick of our holy lives that all that is within us and without us too may praise his holy and glorious name And thus at last there is laid before us a Scheme of Sabbath observation and we are instructed how to keep the Lords day according to the Lords will which doing we Psal 4. 8. â— shall lie down at night with safety and satisfaction A well spent Sabbath will warm our bed at night will strew our bed with roses will sent it with perfumes nay strew it with pearls and we may joyfully expect a full crop of blessings the subsequent week nay our future life may be prospered with the gifts of the right hand and the left and drenched with the effusions of the upper and the nether springs CHAP. XXXVI Some supplemental Directions for the better observation of the Lords day BY way of Addition and Appendix some other particulars may be annexed and suggested for the furtherance Sâ—bbatum est aureum vitae tempus of this blessed service Indeed much of Religion is summed up in the care of Gods Sabbath and we should be as chary and tender of this trust viz. The Lords day as Jacob was of Benjamin in which Child his life was bound up The prophane person wasts this golden talent the formalist Luke 19. 20. wraps it up in a Napkin but the sedulous Saint puts it out to great advantage and will give up his account with joy Bishop White tells us The keeping holy of the Lords Bishop White in his Preface to his Treatise on the Sabbath day and why then should he plead so much for recreations on that holy day it is a work of piety a Nursery of Religion and Vertue a means of sowing the seeds of grace and of planting faith and saving knowledge and godliness in the peoples minds And our blessed Lord and Saviour being duly and religiously served and worshiped upon his own holy day imparteth heavenly and temporal benedictions Thus this learned man seems to lay the whole weight of Religion and to entail the whole reward of godliness upon a due observance of Gods blessed Sabbath And let this ever be the praise of his learning Undoubtedly Religion and the Sabbath are twins which live and die together And the piety of the Sabbath is the prosperity of the Nation But let us hasten to some further directions for the more sweet and full discharge of Sabbath piety Dir. 1 We must keep Sabbaths not only personally but domestically not only by our selves but by our families It is not enough for thee to pray but thy family must joyn in prayer Abraham Gen. 18. 18. caused his family to serve God which gave him no small interest in the love and heart of God Joshuas holy resolution was That he and his house would serve the Lord. Josh 24. 15. On a Sabbath every house should be a lesser Temple where all should meet to worship Every one must keep this holy Josh 24. 15. day in order Superiours must be carefull that inferiours observe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exod. 20. 10. it Can a Master of a family be said to keep a Sabbath when he is praying and his servant is sinning his Child is gadding his Wife is visiting In Heaven where there is an everlasting Sabbath kept there the whole Host is praising God and the Inhabitants of Heaven are called a Family by the Apostle Eph. 3. 15. Our services must be the musique of a Consort not of a single Instrument In the 4th Commandement Servants are commanded the sanctification of the Sabbath as well as Masters and Children as well as Parents This blessed Command takes Necessitas obedientiae non ex cusat servum sed necessi aâ— coâ—ctionis in the whole Family within its circuit And learned men observe the necessity of obedience doth not excuse the servant from observing this day onely the necessity of compulsion Servants must not work this day by command but onely by overpowering force and violence as the Israelites did in their Aegyptian bondage In matters of Religion there is no difference between bond or free male or female Gal. 3. 28. Every one hath a soul to look after an account to give a Christ to pursue Communi sanctificandi sabbatum lege constringuntur omnes ex aequo herus dominus pater liberi superiores inferiores Muscul a Heaven to take by force Mat. 11. 12. There dwelleth a piece of immortality in the bosome of the meanest servant And that Child which hath no portion to receive hath a Christ to ensure which is the work of this holy day Museulus observes The common Law for the keeping of the Sabbath equally reacheth all and is a common bond to oblige all and in this it is like the Law-giver It is no respecter of persons Acts 10. 34. nor must the power of Superiours prejudice Religion A Governour of a Family cannot lawfully call off his Children or Servants from religious observations and so from the duties of a Sabbath and Religion is as much the interest of the meanest Servant as of the greatest Masters of the most inferiour Peasant as of the most noble Prince Nay the lower our condition is here the more strictly we should keep the Sabbath that we may better our estate to come in that place and condition where all civil distinctions will be taken away The greatest Magistrate is called to be a nursing Father of the Church of God Isa 49. 23. and therefore herein must he look that the Church be fed and not delivered over to dry Nurses They are Gods Ordinance and their power is of God for of themselves they can do nothing Joh. 19. 11. And therefore they must honour God uphold his Ordinances 1 Sam. 2. 30. They must give to God the things which are Gods Rom 13. 1 2 6. Mat. 22. 21. and must employ their Power and Authority to the service and glory of Christ Wherefore seeing Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2. 27. Mat. 12. 8. Prov. 8. 15. They must
the Gospel Rom. 2. 16. Can Parents see their children grieve the spirit who descended most gloriously on the Apostles upon the Lords day Acts 2. 3. and break that Commandment which is one of Gods Ten Words Deut. 10. 4. Nay pollute that Deut. 10. 2. day which is founded on Christs salvifical Resurrection and not be surprized with dread and consternation I may expostulate with such as once the Church did with the Lord where is the soundings of their bowels Parents love their Isa 63. 15. Children so far as they love their better part it is considerable death will strip them of all the fruits of their care Job 1. 21. excepting that which they have taken for their souls Not only divine command Exod. 20. 10. but natural affection Ex unâ parte Christum urgebat ad mertis supplicium sustinendum aeternum Patris decretum immensus humani generis a mor. Chemnit leads us to the discharge of this duty viz. To see our Family keep holy the Sabbath day What softness and tenderness did Christ shew to his family how sweetly did he instruct them Mark 4. 11 12 13 14 c. How pathetically did he pray for them Joh. 17. 9 11 15 17 20 21 24. How carefully did he lay up for them a divine and glorious inheritance Luke 22. 29 30. And at last how willingly did he shed his blood for them and he was straightned till he drank up his bitter cup for them Luke 12. 50. Let us write after this Copy and shew our love to our family as our dear Jesus did to his and then we shew our love to them when we see they shew their love to God in a carefull keeping of his holy day The excellency of the Sabbath should draw the whole family to an observation of it The Lords day is the Fort-royal of Religion let us all stand in our places to observe it and so we shall preserve it there are many who lay seige to it to race and demolish it Some set their wits on work to oppose the Doctrinal part of it Some set their wills on work to oppose the Practical part of it Now let us countermine these miscreant endeavours 1. By being much in prayer that the Lord of the Sabbath would perpetually preserve his own ordinance 2. By being much in practice that we and our houses serve the Lord on his own blessed day Standing and serious sanctity if it cannot convince men to mind their duty it will engage God to secure his own institution The Jewes never lost the Sabbath untill they rejected Christ who is the Lord of it they had the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. till they repudiated the Son of God In the Old Testament they went to worship God with their Flocks and their Herds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oracula teste Hesichiâ— primitus Judaeis à deo revelata sunt illis Scripta per prophetas tradita ita ut illa non nisi per Judaeos ad Gentiles devenerint Alap with them Hos 5. 6. In the New Testament let us take our Children and our Servants with us in the worship of God Let them be with us in the publick let them be with us in private duties of Gods holy day so we shall ensconce our priviledges And every pious family shall be as a Macedonian pbalanx to secure the Sabbath from violation and subversion Sin and neglect makes the forfeiture of spiritual blessings a careless contempt of the Word brings a famine of it Amos 8. 11. And the slight observance of Gods day exposeth it to reproach So that often the Wolves of the Forrest violent men pursue it with persecution and the Hab. 1. 8. little Foxes closer Hereticks infest it with their contagion Cant. 2. 15. Let us therefore with Moses resolve We will go with our Young and with our Old with our Sons and with our Daughters for we must hold a feast unto the Lord Exod. 10. 9. Exod. 10. 9. Chemnitius observes That to the sactification of the Lords day besides publick duties there is work to be done in families Chemnit exam Concil Trident. Cap. de dieb Fest as instructing of servants rehearsal of Sermons reading Scriptures counselling and quickning such who are under our care that all may keep Gods holy day Ah! let not us and our families lose our Sabbaths because we did no better Luke 19. 44. keep them not forgeting that usually Children are wrapt up in a common destruction Luke 19. 44. And so much the more earnestly should we endeavour to fold them up in a common salvation Jude v. 3. Jude v. 3. It well becomes the wisdom of the Governours of Families to see the Sabbath carefully observed Superiours must not leave the keeping of the Sabbath as a thing indifferent to the discretion of the family they must intreat them they must provoke them they must compel them The Kings Command was to compel the guestâ— to come in Luke 14. 23. The Deus gentes compellit introire ut sic suam erga eos ostenderet charitatem quia enim libentèr vellet ut ipsius essent convivae et cum eo in aeternum delitiarentur non tantùm beneficiâ—s eos invitat quando venire renâ—unt in manum sumit mallâ—um legis quo conterit corda duriora et eos humiliat ut discerent leges et justitiam suam sola enim vexatio dat intellectum auditui Chemn sick child if he will not take his physick with a smile he must do it with a â—od the child must not die and miscarry The ease of the flesh the strength of corruption the insinuating temptations of Satan will all decry Sabbath observation and therefore here indulgence is the greatest injury and mildness is the sorest cruelty to the precious soul Thy family had better endure sharp reproofs then scorching flames As Mr. Shepheard used to tell his weeping Auditoâ—rs It was better crying here then in Hell As David said of Gods House Psal 69. 9. Psal 119. 139. so Governours of families should say of Gods day the zeal of it hath eaten them up Thy Children and Servants must keep the Sabbath holy there is an absolute necessity of it and woe to the Governours of families if through their neglect the day of God is slightly over-past Nehemiah caused the Sabbath to be observed not so much by mild perswasions as peremptory command nay sharp and acute threatnings Nehem. 13. 17 19 20. And so this good man espoused the Magistrate to the Saint Let every Master of a family go and do so likewise And as Superiours must strictly enjoyn so Inferiours must heartily embrace Sabbath observation Children must enquire of their Parents Exod. 13. 14. And Servants must joyfully obey their Masters in all holy and spiritual Isa 28. 19. commands Col. 3. 22. They must spend frugally the time of a Sabbath solemnize seriously the ordinances of a Sabbath perform readily the services
of a Sabbath and as lesser stars shine in the holy and exemplary observation of the Sabbath That swaying principle of interest should prompt Governours to this duty 1. Interest if they regard their present peace Slight Sabbaths will make sloathfull Servants and stubborn Children When we do not fasten the family to the holy duties of a Sabbath we leave them to the byass of their own corruptions Cor lubriâ—um et in omnia mala et iniqua pro pensum which will easily carry them to every thing inconvenient How many Servants in the great City of the Nation for want of care and zeal in their Masters to keep them to holy duties on Gods holy day Court their Harlots take off their Cups waste their Masters substance and hazzard their own in mortal souls and as Belteshazzar drink Dan. 5. 2. in the Vessels of the Temple with their Courtezans and their Concubines Many by these courses anticipate their own ruine and in reference to their dayes in the world for Luke 16. 6. an hundred write down fifty cast themselves untimely away mortgage their future hopes and blast their present parts and all from their riots on Gods holy day On the contrary the Family which serves God most on the Sabbath will serve the Governour best in the week The awe of a Sabbath is not easily worn off as colours laid in Oyle are not washed off with every drop A well spent Sabbath is an Ark in the house which sheds a prosperity on all the 2 Sam. 6. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Addidit affairs of it it makes every one a Joseph who carries increase and addition in his very name and concerning whom it was prophesied He should be a fruitful bough even a Gen. 49. 22. fruitful bough by a wall whose branches run over the wall Ex Josepho et filiis ejus duae tribus fuere propagatae amplissimae et potentissimae This holy care of sanctifying Sabbaths in with our families would cause the dews of heavenly benediction not only to fall upon the head and the beard of the Governours but the skirts also the inferiour branches of the family 2. It is the interest of Governours to see their families Exigit deus rationem à Ministris animarum nostrarum si vel unicâ eorum culpâ perierit Par. keep the Sabbath holy as they will give up their account with joy As the Minister must be responsible for the souls of his people committed to his charge Heb. 13. 17. so the Master for his Family At Gods Bar thou shalt not say am I my Families keeper In the time of the worlds infancy the Governour of the Family was the only Magistrate he Minister onus et curam animarum gerit pro iis aeternae mortis periculo se exponit siâ—gulorum probitas et salus ab eo exigetur in die judicii Alap was both Master and Pastour his house-hold was his teritory and dominion and he swayed his Scepter in exercising his power over it Abraham was a Prince and a Prophet in his own house and he acted like a Prince in commanding his family to keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. But still we are accountable for those who are subordinate to us and if we must be accountable for words as transient breath Mat. 12. 36. much more for Children the darlings of our bosoms and for Servants the objects of care that living trust committed to us How often do Parents put their Children into the Masters hand as Jacob did Benjamin into the hands of his Brethren Gen. 43. 14. with weeping eyes with aking hearts with ardent prayers and cry out if They are bereaved they are bereaved and shall the negligence of Gen. 43. 14. Masters strike these trembling Parents under the fifth rib because they did not see their servants strictly observe Gods holy day but left them to the vanity of their minds which gradually habituated them in evil and paved their way to destruction Surely the grief of these disappointed Parents shall no more vie with the doome of the regardless Masters 1 Kings 12. 11. then the smart of a rod can compare with the burning of a Scorpion But Masters of families should do well before-hand to cast up their account and this would be a spur to their care and sedulity on Gods holy day That lovely principle of justice and equity might command this service If we find not our family employed in holy work on Gods holy day what do we more for them then we do for our beasts We give them rest from labour Shall the care of a soul which endures to eternity more valuable Mat. 16. 26. then a world no more sway with us then the care of a beast which perisheth The Cattel shall not travel and the Psal 49. 20. Servants shall not work upon Gods day and so they shall be both equally indulged with the same priviledge Is this suitable to the spirit of the Gospel Paul endures the pangs of travel Gal. 4. 19. Christ endures the pangs of death Luke 23. 46. and thou shalt not endure a little trouble and a little care not one act of zeal or one drop of sweat in holy 1 Sam. 28. 14. diligence for precious and never dying souls Throw off the mantle of Samuel if thou and thy house will not serve the God of Samuel on his own day And moreover it is a great provocation that our Servants must serve us in the week and we take no care that they serve God on the Sabbath Our interest must be on the Anvel though the interest of Christ and Religion be laid aside a poor worm must be more sedulously served and observed then the infinite Jehovah May not that exclamation be here seasonable Hear O Heavens and give ear O Earth Isa 1. 2. The Shop must not be neglected though the soul be is our present gain to run paralel with our servants future Crown Must servants be more mindfull of our work then their own everlasting weal Indeed what would it profit us if we should gain the whole world and our poor servants lose Mat. 16. 26. their immortal souls will our profit compensate their loss Surely this is bruitishly to use our servants and well befits the profession of a Demas who hath forsaken the Gospel and embraced the present world 2 Tim. 4. 10. But let us not beguile our selves saith heavenly Greenham for the blood of servants souls will be required at Masters hands who being lordly and tyrannicall make their servants either equal to their beasts or worse then their beasts caring for nothing but the world never thinking of Hell whereunto they are hastening Dir. 2 We must endeavour to keep Gods day uniformly and harmoniously Our families must be on the Lords day as the building of Solomons Temple where no Axe or Hammar was 1 Kings 6. 7. heard
no discord or division It is very deplorable to consider Quot homines tot sententiae what confusions are in many families so many persons so many opinions the Master is of one Church the Wife of another the Child of a third and may be the Servant of a fourth the Master possibly will sing Psalms the Child or the Servant happily cannot joyn in that heavenly duty Are not these families too like the speckled bird the Prophet speaks of Jer. 12. 9. Or like the spotted Leopard Jer. 13. 23. too like Josephs party-coloured coat which afterwards was dipt in blood Gen. 37. 31. The Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 assures us that God is a God of Order and not of Confusion 1 Cor. 14. 33. Christ's coat was not torne though lots was cast for it It was the praise of the Primitive Church They did serve God with one accord Acts 2. 46. Magna suit Ignatio cura 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Ecclesiâ Ordo venustatem parit confusio infidelitatem Zach. 14. 9. the same pulse beat in all the same spirit acted them all the same love united and espoused them all the same service employed them all Divided Families like divided Kingdoms cannot stand The four and twenty Elders in heaven sung the same song Rev. 4. 11. The Angels all utter the same triumphal words Rev. 5. 8 9 11 12. It is a blessed and glorious promise That we shall call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent Zeph. 3. 9. How pathetically doth the Apostle press unity Eph. 4. 3 4 5 6. A consort of Musicians play not several tunes but one and the same lesson Concord in service is the Musick of a family when we all sing the same Psalm all pray the same prayer fix our thoughts on the same truths hear the same Sermon and variety is over-ruled by unity Surely divisions are the wounds and jars of a family and such contrarieties are the flashing emblems of novelty and sad Prognosticks of fatall scepticism Let us then study that our selves and families may serve the Lord on his own day with one voice with one shoulder with one lip and with one heart Vnited stars make a constellation When stars do fight it presages great slaughter and is no less then miraculous Jud. 5. 20. Dir. 3 We must act the services of the Sabbath freely and chearfully Our services must be the fruit of love not the effect of force Holy delight must draw us to the Sanctuary not a pressing and rigorous conscience God loves a chearfull giver and a chearfull worshipper It was Davids joy to go with the multitude Psal 42. 4. Our service on a Sabbath must not be as wine squeezed from the grape but as water flowing from the fountain Our service must be the service of children not the homage of slaves In this we must imitate Ezek. 10. 5 the Angels who have their wings to fly upon every Neminem voluit cogi sed sponte prompto animo offerri quicquid unus quisque conferri vellet voluit deus hilares datores etiam et spontaneos cultores eos solos acceptabat Obsequium enim involuntariè delatum obedientiae nomen non moretur Riv. commanded service It was a brand put upon the people of Israel they were weary of his Sabbaths Amos 8. 9. The Sanctuary must be our Paradise not our Purgatory In the time of the Law those who would offer to the Lord they must do it with a willing heart Exo. 35. 5. Rivet well observs Involuntary obedience deserves not the name much less the reward of obedience Our duties on the Sabbath must be lively and vigorous The true Mother cries the living child is mine 1 Kings 3. 22. So God saith the living Sabbath is mine It is a character of Gods people that they are a willing people Psal 110. 3. The Hebrew reads it a people of willingness to shew how exceedingly willing we should be in the day of the Lords power which is principally his own holy day It is usually the sigh of a poor Saint Lord I would run faster but my corrupt heart hampers me Sabbaths should be our element not our burden David made it his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only request that he might spend his whole life in the Temple Psal 27. 4. Every thing in an Ordinance might flush our joy and fledge our desires 1. The superscription it bears it hath the stamp of Christ upon it Preaching is the preaching of Christ the Sacrament is the Supper of Christ Now the name Jesus should be like Caesar his Quirites it should put new life into the Saint 2. The advantage it brings It brings spiritual Life Faith Rom. 10. 17. Conversion Ordinances bring spiritual lading to the soul Acts 16. 14. Lydia was converted by the preaching of Paul 3. The end it designs which is the everlasting good of the soul We hear that we may be holy we receive that we may be hearty we pray that we may be happy Eternal Justificatio praecedit gloriam vitam aeternam Fulgent life is the stage of all Ordinances the center where the lines of every Ordinance meets And the Gospel is generally called the Gospel of life and salvation 2 Cor. 2. 16. Eph. 1. 13. Let us a little glance at the pleasing gradation Faith comes by hearing Justification by Faith and Justification ushers in holiness here and future glory and happiness Thus every Ordinance of a Sabbath may accent our de-delight and put an emphasis upon our joy We must then Rom. 8 30. keep our Sabbaths in holy joys in heavenly satisfactions and the Bride-chamber here below must be in our own bosoms Psal 119. 97. On this day our feasting must be converse with God our meat and drink must be to do our fathers will Psal 119. 20. and to do his will must be our meat and drink Jobn 4. 24. On this day we must be filled with the spirit which is better Cant. 5. 1. then new wine The day of God is prophetically called a day of joy Psal 118. 24. This day literally is a day of delight it is the day on which Christ sprang from the Mark 16 9. grave and gave a new life to the world This day prefiguratively is a day of rich consolation for it prefigures an eternall Sabbatism with the Lord Heb. 4. 9. It adumbrates that glorious state when we shall enter into our Masters joy Mat. 25. 21. Our services then on the Lords day must be enlivened with activity and sweetned with alacrity Dir. 4 Our services on Gods day must be solemn and serious Though they must not be without joy yet they must be without lightness we may be complacential but we may not be formall Delight well becomes a Sabbath but laughter doth not We must consider we have Sabbaths to carry on soul work which is an interest of the greatest importance
in But our comly places for our sacred assemblies are dropt into confusion and now there is no difference between the Pew and the Pulpit This dreadfull fire seized upon the Nurseries of our City 1. The Nurseries of Charity our Hospitals the Renowned Christ-Church fell at this strok the worthy benefaction of our English Josiah the Excellent Edward the sixth Here Deus est herus noster nos coloni ejus pauperes ager dei sunt semen eleemosyna quae fructificat usque ad Praemii messem Alap the Children of indigent Parents had cloaths for their backs bread for their bellies learning for their minds and carefull Governours undertook not onely a pious but a parental charge Rare was the contrivance and quick the spring of this eminent and stupendous piece of charity When poor Parents which laboured under the affliction of dry breasts could bring their Children to Christ-Church Hospital and then they were fully provided for and lay not only in the bosome of a careful Governour but oftentimes they fell into the lap of the Muses and many of them in their seasons changed an Hospital for an Vniversitie But this famous John 5 2. Hospital for the most part is consumed this pool of Bethesda is in a great measure dryed up and this Jonah's guord is withered which kept many from the scorching of extreme poverty Now we may take up that complaint of Jonah 4. 7. our Saviour The Foxes have holes and the Birds of the air have nests Mat. 8. 20. but the poor Hospital boyes have not where to lay their head for their usual nest is burnt 2. The Nurseries of Learning fell in these flames This fire Juliâ—nus Apostata Templa Gentilium aperuit Scholas Christianorum clausit et decâ—evit ut nulli Christianorum liceret aut ad â—â—tes et scienâ—â—â—â— se apâ—licarent aut Scholas literarias intrarent Pedr. de Mexia in Histor Imperial of London like the persecution of the Apostate Julian shut up our School doors it destroyed the famous Merchant Taylours School Pauls School Mercers Chappel and the School in Christ Church those Seminaries of earlier and rudimental learning By this fire there was a Cross went before our Alphabet Religion and Learning are as the Sun and the Moon the light and brightness of every place but now the Cages are broken and the young Birds are flown away The younger Schollers have lost their Schools and the elder their Books Schools are the Gardens where the tender Plants grow and from them the most profound Ministers who watch over our souls the best read Lawyers who defend our Estates the ablest Physicians who consult the weal of our bodies all receive their first rudiments The fairest Plants once grew in these Nurseries of polite and profitable learning and hence the deepest Schollars had their praeliminary knowledge But these usefull Structures are now rowled up in destruction these Vniversities initial are laid in ashes and now there is no difference between the Masters desk and the Schoolars Forme The breasts of the Muses which fed young and infantile Schollars are now made dry by this desolating judgement The fire seized upon the fences of the City Now the gates of Zion mourn Lam. 1. 4. And London feels the dint of Portae serviunt 1. Ad speciem et decorem 2. Ad munimen unde erunt altae et munitae 3. Ad Senatum et Judicia 4. Ad omnem populi panegyrin et conventum Babylons threat Jer. 51. 58. Her high places shall be burnt with fire God in this judgement spoyled the City not only of its beauty and ornament but of its strength and security we have not our Gates to keep him in or to keep an Enemy out Thus God will not have us safe but when we have made our selves naked by our sin he will keep us naked by his judgements God hath shattered our Gates in pieces which was the peculiar prerogative of a City London now in a great measure hath lost its Name God hath fired the lock of our strength and London cannot shake her self as at other times Judg. 16. 20. Lastly That which accents this judgement is the hand of the Lord was in it Not only mans head but Gods hand supposing the Jesuite and the Papist were in the Conspiracy Isa 10. 5. Mali sunt virga furoris dei quia deus iis non utitur nisi valdè iratus eorum manu et opere indignationem suam assequitur et peccata iniquorum ulciscitur yet they were the Rod of Gods anger or else who took away courage spirit life and activity from the Citizens at that time who melted their spirits like water that they were as a Dove without heart Hos 7. 11. Who caused the fire to burn against as well as with the wind Nay who determined the place where the fire began in the midst of Pitch Tar Oyl Hemp Powder and all provocations of flames and ruine Let us then take it for granted some perfidious Engineer of Rome hatcht the plot yet it could never have been fledged had not Gods indignation given wing unto it And besides all this we must attribute to God the Soveraignty and the dominion over the fire as well as other Elements and Creatures and here let us a little consider the influence God hath over the fire God he kindles the fire Job 15. 34. He blows up the first spark As wicked men are stubble to him Isa 5. 24. so the whole world is as thatch and he can when he pleaseth set it Gen. 7. 23. all in a flame He that drowned the world with water he can easily consume and destroy it by fire God inflames and increases the fire Psal 18. 8. He creates the first sparke and then blows it into a flame If Nebuchadnezzar Ezek. 21. 31. Ezek. 30. 8. Dan. 3 19. Ezek. 30 16. can heat the furnace seven times hotter then it was before how much more can the great Jehovah enrage the conflagration and turn the fire of a house or a hamlet into the fire of a City God terminates the fire And he who saith to the proud waves hitherto shall ye go and no further speaks the same Job 38. 11. Isa 29. 6. Ioel 1. 19. language to the devouring flames the most raging and triumphant fire shall not exceed its limited Commission God divideth the fire Psal 29. 7. That it shall burn this way and not another Gods pity can soften the beam and his wrath can sear the rafter that the fire shall not catch the Psal 29. 7. one but seize upon the other the fire only seizeth upon those precincts which God hath designed to the flames God makes the fire destructive Ezek. 15. 7. It shall burn and consume and there shall be no remedy the passion and heat of the fire is from the anger of the Lord. That the fire Ezek. 15 7. is merciless is because God is full of