the Ceremonial part concerned them only and though we read not that it was Observed in those first Ages yet it follows not that it was not when many thousand things then done could not be expressed in so short a History Yea the same seems to be known to the Jews before the Law was given Exod. 16.23 c. To Morrow is the Rest of the Holy Sabbath c. When it was after that God gave it in the Command and if this Rest upon the seventh day be Ceremonious why not the Command of Labour on the six other days also And why doth not this cease to be a Duty as well as the other and then the idlest Persons may be the best Christians We may find this Command reaches even to the stranger that is within the Gates when I think the Ceremonies are not prest upon them Many Reasons also are given in the Command which belong to us as well as to the Jews as from the Equity of it God who is the Disposer of all gives us Six days and reserves one to himself which he calls his own The Sabbath of the Lord thy God And Christ tells us The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath and from his own Example he Rested and therefore Commands us to Rest the End was to Worship God in it and to Dedicate it to his Service for the Resting of Man and Beast upon it and distinguishing his People from others c. and doth not this concern us as well as the Jews God requires no less proportion of Service now than he did then and therefore no less time to do it in Our Bodies require as much Rest as theirs and our Souls as much Food and why should not we have the like time And this being the Substance of the Fourth Command I think neither Man nor Angel can alter it for who can proportion it better than God himself Nay the Circumstances in the delivering of this Law shews to be Moral It was spoken by God's Mouth as well as the other written by the same Finger of God in the same Tables of Stone put into the Ark where the Ceremonies were not it hath a special Memento put upon it Remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy Christ himself owns it when he bids the Jews Pray that their Flight be not in the Winter nor on the Sabbath day Mat. 24.20 which Flight was forty Years after his Death The opposition which wicked Men make against it proves it to be of God also for if the Devil herein prevail we might almost bid farewel to all our Religion 1. Direct Before thou canst make Conscience of Observing the Sabbath thou must be well convinc'd that it is thy Duty To this End I have already proved it to be of Divine Institution and a Branch of the Moral Law binding not only Jews but Christians also But I fore-see one main rub must be removed before the way be cleared that doubt which makes many to stumble Whether the first day of the Week or that which we call the Christian Sabbath be of Divine Institution and whether Christians be obliged to observe it as a Sabbath Much hath been Written by Divines to satisfie this doubt My purpose is not to speak much to it in this place this Treatise being of another Nature yet something is necessary for while this doubt remains who will make use of the following Directions 'T is true we cannot prove in Scripture neither is it said totidem verbis that Christ did Command that the Sabbath should be changed from the last to the first day of the week then there could be no Controversie but we have that which is equivalent to such a Command that it was changed by Divine Authority and very probably by Christ himself the Scripture yields us sufficient Witness Christ is called the Lord of the Sabbath and the Holy Ghost calls it his day Rev. 1.10 which seems to intimate he is the Author of it As the Sacrament is called his Supper because he Instituted it and had it not been altered by him I know not who would have been so bold to have distinguished it from other days by this Name he was every way as Faithful in his House as Moses was yet Moses we know by God's appointment stated a time for God's Worship Heb. 3.2.6 and no doubt a settled time is as necessary for us as for them to Serve God in We find Christ himself owning the day in his own Person as in his Resurrection and finishing the work of our Redemption a greater work than that of Creation and better deserves a special Memorial And the Apostle tells us He entred into his Rest and ceased from his own Work as God did from his Heb. 4.10 aluding to the Creation from which when God Rested he Ordained the Sabbath We may also Read that Christ after his Resurrection appeared divers times to his Disciples upon the first day of the Week when they were met together Read John 2.19 and again verse 26. And doubtless not without Divine Providence pointing out this day to us and after his Ascention when they were met together upon that day he pours out the Holy Ghost upon them Acts 2.12 We Read also that this was the day the Apostles did keep as a Sabbath and also the Churches met together to perform Sabbath days duties to Preach the Word to Administer the Sacraments Prayer Works of Charity c. Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 18.2 Vpon the first day of the Week let every one of you lay by in store as God hath prospered him And as 't is conceived forty Years after Christs Decease Saint John by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost calls it the Lord's day whereupon he received his Revelation Rev. 1.10 Neither do we Read that the Apostles ever kept any other day as a Sabbath 't is true indeed upon the Jews Sabbath they often Preached taking Advantage of the Multitude then gathered together which Advantage at other times they wanted Now if the change were thus made by Christ and his Apostles it was by the directions of the Spirit of God for the Apostles delivered but what they had received from God 1 Cor. 11.23 It was upon this day they met to Preach and break Bread Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.1,2 Now were there no Precept the constant Example of the Apostles and Churches in the Apostles time may satisfie us for they were Inspired by the Spirit of God and appointed them both by Doctrine and Example to Teach his Church and to this End gave them Instructions in the time between his Resurrection and Ascention which Instructions are not all Recorded yea the constant practice of the Church in all Ages since the Apostles time give us no little Light for though Christians have been at great difference among themselves about other matters yet few questioned the change of the day both Greeks and Latines both Papists and Protestants both Lutherans and Calvenists hold to this and
God's Blessing upon their Endeavours is great encouragement he would never succeed them in so sinful a Course were it such nay the remarkable Judgments of God upon Sabbath-breakers bespeakes God for the Author for none in the World could Lawfully have done it without him Thus I have shewn you I hope sufficient grounds to Build upon I proceed now to Direct you to keep it as a Sabbath 2. Direct If thou wouldst Faithfully Sanctifie the Sabbath as God Commands thee make preparation for it before it come for there is hardly any thing of great Concernment well done without some preparation and much more here we prepare the Body for Physick before we take it we provide in Summer for Winter and lay in Provision in Harvest we prepare in the Day for the Night and work when we have the Light We prepare in Health for Sickness and in Youth for Age And were we to appear before some great Man we should make preparation accordingly and shall we only be wanting in the Service of our Lord and Master and rush into his Presence without prepared Hearts God bids us remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy or to Sanctifie it as 't is Deut. 5.12 The word Remember signifies either to call to mind something past or to commit to Memory something for the Future and both are necessary to this business God sets this Memento upon it to Teach us that those that will keep it well when it is come must Remember it before it come or otherwise our Nature is so Corrupt that it will take hold upon some Occasion or other to draw us aside from the Duty in hand We can fore-cast for Fairs and Markets sometimes long before and make preparations for them according to our needs whether to buy or sell We consider our wants to have them supplyed and make preparations accordingly and yet how few make preparation for the Market day for the Soul Many tire themselves in the Labours of their Calling in the Week days and then use the Lord's day no otherwise than a Beast only Rest from their Labours for their Spirits being spent and their Bodies tyred they are more fit for sleep than any Holy Duty and rushing rudely out of the World into the Service of God they bring so much of the world with them that it renders them incapable of any Spiritual Duty But thy Care should be to sequester thy Heart Thoughts and Affections from the world and set them upon God and empty thy Heart of worldly Cares and Troubles that thou maist mind the business God sets thee about The want of this is one Cause why Men get so little benefit by the Ordinances and hear so much and profit so little because they come not with empty Hearts a full Vessel can receive no more when the Prophet multiplied the Widdows Oyl when there was no more empty Vessels the Oyl stayed When the Head and Heart are full of the World this Water of Life will run over But our Duty is to prepare the Heart for so great a work as the Entertaining our Lord and Master the great God of Heaven and Earth who invites himself to Sup with us He is the Searcher of the Heart and the Tryer of the Reins Before the Sabbath come use such fore-sight diligence and Meditation and dispose and seasonably dispatch thy Worldly business that thou maist be more free and fit for the Duties of the day We find Israel did thus prepare to Sanctifie the Sabbath Exod. 16.22 and gathered Manna enough the day before and this was usual among the Jews Luke 23.54 And that day was the Preparation and the Sabbath drew on Thus Nehemiah prepared against the Sabbath that it should not be prophaned Nehem. 13.19 And Gods Example in this is binding to us he finished his works before and so should we and should not meddle with any unnecessary Worldly business then either with Hand or Heart that our Duties be not pestered with the World but that we may be as free to serve the Lord if possible as if we had no worldly business to look to but many fore-cast business for that day or make it necessary through their former neglects but this will appear to be their Sin and their Folly Solomon bids us look well to our Feet viz. our Affections when we go into the House of God Eccl. 5.1 And 't is good to consider whose Presence we come into and with Holy David wash our Hands in Innocency before we compass his Altars Psal 26.6 Examine how the Case stands between God and thy Soul and venture not into his Presence in an unregenerate Condition or having sin unmortified or unrepented of lest he break thee in pieces and there be none to deliver thee Consider what sin thou hast Committed especially in the week past and be humbled for them lay aside thy worldly business betime on the Eve when others only sweep their Houses do thou sweep thy Heart Set some time apart for Reading Meditating Conferring Instructing thy Family and Praying with them reconcile the Differences if there be any in the Family between Husband and Wife Parent and Child Master and Servant yea Neighbour and Neighbour that your Prayers be not hindred for God can hardly be well served where the Members of a Family Live at Discord In a word prepare thy Heart to meet God the day following 3. Direct Wouldst thou Sanctifie the Sabbath Take heed thou do nothing that is unlawful upon that day This is appointed by God for a day of rest and not only as some say from sin which should be Committed no day but also from Labour which at other times is Lawful the works of our Calling yea unnecessary recreations are forbidden Exod. 20.10 In it thou shalt do no manner of Work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-Servant nor thy Maid-Servant thy Cattle nor the Stranger that is within thy Gates Jer. 17.21,22 Neither do ye any work but Hallow the Sabbath day c. Neither will a bare cessation from work serve the turn for rest is Commanded for an Higher End that we might serve God with more Freedom and therefore Idleness is a sin worse than Bodily Labour upon that day and when Men use not rest as a means but as an End 't is an egregious breach of the Fourth Command and 't is a gross mistake to think that is an acceptable Duty on that day which is a great sin any day He that keeps the Sabbath only by resting from his Labour keeps it but as a Bruit Beast yet the most of Men spend great part of the day in Idleness or what is worse and think if they give God their Bodily Presence for an hour or two it 's sufficeable but God will not be mocked we should think it were an unprofitable Servant that would work but two or three hours in the day God gives us six whole days for our work and shall not we give him one whole
thy self or others should a King promise at such a day to meet his Subjects and supply their wants how careful would they be not only to come but also to consider what Petitions to put up and what Favours to beg 't is no doubt but while we are in these Houses of Clay we have a back bias of Corruption drawing us out of the way and so many are our wants Some Souls are made up all of wants they have no Grace let them beg and pray and endeavour that some may be bestowed and to have their Hearts Sanctified and their Natures changed The best of God's People have defects in Grace and these they should Labour to have removed and their wants supplyed Some have decays in Grace and this is the time for their recovery in a word many things we have to beg for our selves many for our Friends many for the Nation and many for the Church in general many Judgments are threatned which we would have diverted and many felt we would have removed know then before hand what Errant thou art come about 3. Direct Concerning our External Carriage in the days of Humiliation I shall speak something for having made the preparation before mentioned and the day being come there are some External Duties required viz. That we rise betimes that morning and deny our selves that rest and sleep which our sluggish Nature requires so far forth as we do not thereby dis-able our selves for the duty and that we spend the whole day in the work and let us not think a whole day too much for if we prevail not for the diverting those Judgments which our sins deserve perhaps we may spend many Years in greater Sufferings And 't is thy duty also to bring as many of thy Family as conveniently may be along with thee especially those that have Understanding that the Congregation may be full that we may joyn together as one man in the work that may be done by many that a few cannot do I have observed upon such occasions men think one in a Family sufficient to come to the Congregation while the other mind their worldly Occasions but as these Sow sparingly so they are like to reap little The King of Nineveh will rise up in Judgment against those who Commanded all men and Beasts to rest and Fast and what lies in thee come with an humble Heart and a self-denying Spirit to the work and to this End Fasting is enjoyned which of it self is a thing indifferent but of excellent use to bring the Body into Subjection Now this should be a total abstinence from all meat and drink except unfeigned necessity forbid the very Name and Nature of a Fast implies this much and if this abstinence be not observed 't is no Fast Esther we find Commands the Jews neither to eat nor drink for three days and promises that she and her Maids would do the like Est 4.16 Yet if this total abstinence be really prejudicial to the Health and prove a hinderance and not a furtherance to the duty 't is Lawful to take some little refreshing for though Scripture Examples afford us not so much yet rectified reason yea and Scripture grounds warrant it Hos 6.6 I have desired Mercy and not Sacrifice a place urged by Christ himself upon such an Occasion Mat. 12.7 And Fasting being Ordained as an help is no duty when it becomes an hinderance but then it should be but a small reflection so much and no more as will revive decayed Nature prevent the danger and fit a man for the duty The Papists in their Fasts or rather mock-fasts observe not this rule their Fast consists not in the abstinence from but in the choice of meats and drinks for which we have no Scripture Evidence nor indeed any shew of reason they forbear flesh when they gorge themselves with Wine and strong Drink and Fish and other Dainties which no less pamper the Body and provoke Lust but at this rate a Man may Fast not only forty days but forty Years with little Trouble But a Scripture Fast consists not in the choice of Meat but in the abstinence from Meat and Drink not in the choice of Meat for all is alike Lawful 1 Cor. 10.25.27 8.8 Heb. 13.8,9 And as Meat and Drink so also Bodily Labour is forbidden this must be laid aside as upon a Sabbath for Worldly business divert the mind and unfit it for Duty We find upon those days of Atonement as they were called under the Law work was forbidden upon pain of death Lev. 23.27 c. Whatsoever Soul it be that doth any work upon that same day the same Soul will I destroy from among his People Also Num. 29.7 Lev. 16.29 Now though the Ceremonious part of this be taken away yet so far as it conduceth to the main End viz. to Afflict the Soul it remains in Force How can there be a Solemn Congregating together or the work of the day be carried on if there be not a cessation from Bodily Labour Again Costly and Gorgeous Apparel must be that day laid aside as unfit for such a Duty we find Kings themselves upon such days Girded themselves with Sack-cloath and put Ashes upon their Heads and did not as in our times mourn in Scarlet Silks and Sattins Exod. 33.4,5,6 Jonah 3.6 Musick also and other Sports and Recreations must be abstained as very unsuitable for Mourning times God complains of the Jews that they in their Fasts did find pleasure and may he not Complain of many of us that as soon as the Ordinance is over fall to our Recreations as at other times Isa 58.3 Yea from Marriage Duties at other times Lawful and Sanctified by the word of God 1 Cor. 7.5 Defraud not one another except it be with consent for a time that you may give your selves to Fasting and Prayer Also Joel 2.16 Nay all Delights and Recreations whereby the Nature of Man is refreshed should be forborn See an Example of David 2 Sam. 12.16.20 And in Daniel Chap. 10.3 These things serve partly to humble us partly to take revenge upon our selves for our former Miscarriages 4. Direct Having Directed you in the External part of the Duty it remains that I speak something of the Internal which is the very Life and Soul of the Duty without which all the rest is but a dead Carkass a bare Name of a Fast When thou comest therefore before God in this Duty set thy self before him with all reverence as before an Angry Judge justly provoked by thy Faults Come with shame in thy Face and sorrow in thy Heart and if possible with Tears in thy Eyes and make a full and free Confession of thy Faults with all the aggravating Circumstances thereof and rest not till thy Heart bleed for thy Sins Shouldest thou rip and confess all the sins that ever thou hadst Committed with all the aggravations with which they are cloathed if thy Heart were not touch'd with sorrow for them
it would be but a further aggravation of them and provoke the Lord to Anger and not to Compassion If thy Fast be private confess all the evil thou knowest by thy self till thou canst say with a good Conscience I have kept nothing back Now this pressing Sin upon thy Soul is called a renting of the Heart Joel 2.13 Rent your Hearts and not your Garments An Afflicting of the Soul Lev. 16.29 In it you shall Afflict your souls and do no work at all Lev. 23.29 Whatsoever Soul shall not be Afflicted in that same day he shall be cut off from among his People Consider the Corruptions of thy Heart thy Natural Corruptions consider the Number of thy by-past sins and the weight of thy present remaining Corruptions the wrath of God is kindled against thee for them and the danger thy Soul is in of Hell by reason of them Consider sin in it's own Nature is the worst of Evils and the cause of all other Evils 't is the foulest thing in the World yea fouler than the Devil himself for that made him foul and could he be stript of his sin he would return to his Angelical Glory Consider it in the Causes it had it's Original from the Devil himself he was the first Sinner and the cause of sin in Men and the Child very much resembles the Father Consider the Law of God of which sin is a transgression 't is Holy Just and Good and no reason can be given why it should not be Obeyed Consider the Person against whom thou sinnest and it is against God himself who is the chiefest Good yea the Fountain of all thy Mercies One to whom thou owest thy self and all thou hast he that is thy Creator and made thee 't is he that maintaineth thee at his own Cost and Charges One that is able to save thee or destroy thee Consider it in the woful Effects of it 't is the Cause of all thy Judgments felt or feared yea of Spiritual Temporal and Eternal Judgments For the Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life Consider it in the price that was paid to free thy Soul from the Guilt and filth of it and that was the precious Blood of the Son of God who lost his Life to Ransom Souls from the slavery of Satan and his Blood to wash away their scarlet sins The serious Consideration of these things will much further thy Humiliation and Soul-Affliction And when thou hast thus made thy Heart to bleed for thy sins go to God for a Plaister but what good will a Plaister do before there is a Wound Beg of him the Pardon of thy sin and not only so but power against it Renew thy Covenant with him of better Obedience not only purpose but promise amendment of Life resolve against sin for the time to come Every sin thou confessest let it be with a strong resolution to meddle no more with it This is that Spiritual Fast from sin which is every Christians Duty to Fast from Food and not from filthiness from pleasure and not from profaness from sleep and not from sin is the Devils Fast such Fasts he keeps and such will be kept in Hell But the contrary was David's humbling of his Soul with Fasting Psal 69.10 In which there must be a confession of sin an Accusation for it a detestation of it and also self-condemnation And though Prayer at all times should be fervent yet especially now in such a Duty this is called a Crying mightily unto God Joel 1.14 Jonah 3.8 And thou shouldst bring Faith along with thee believing thou shalt prevail which may be grounded upon the many promises made to this Duty and the Experiences we have in Scripture of the success Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Esther Niniveh and many other may witness nay where was it ever in Scripture faithfully performed without success Alms-deeds also should be added Isa 58.6,7 Yea we should testifie our Humiliation by our ready forgiving of others and assisting those that stand in need Beg also those many things that are wanting for thy self the Church or State and as in the Law Sacrifices and Offerings were given to God Sacrifice thy sin to him and Offer to him the Calves of thy Lips Prayer and praise Dedicate thy self a Living Sacrifice and devote thy self to his Service 5. Direct The next thing considerable is the time when this Duty is to be performed and in this as in other things the Papists differ from us They prescribe set times for Fasting as necessary to be kept and sinful if not observed We hold that there are no such fixed times to be observed But the Duty is incumbent on us as Occasions are offered 'T is true there is mention made of a day Lev. 16.29 but this was Ceremonial and ended with the rest of the Typs and Shadows and there is mention also made of the Fast in the fifth and seventh Moneth Zach. 7.5 And of the fourth fifth seventh and tenth Moneth Zach. 8.19 but this was during the Captivity and so just occasion was offered for Publique Humiliation but what is this to our business We had the like every Moneth in times of War and publick Calamity And it is fit we should have upon such Occasions But what is this to our stated times whether Occasion be or no When there is some great Judgment lying upon us or some Eminent Danger hanging over our Heads then 't is a suitable time for this Exercise We find in Scripture that there were Fasts kept by Believers in all Ages upon emergent Occasions thus Samuel and the People Fasted and besought the Lord in their danger 1 Sam. 7.6,7 And thus David besought the Lord by Prayer and Fasting for the Life of his Child when it was Sick 2 Sam. 12.16 And thus he besought the Lord for Jerusalem when a sore Judgment from God was upon it 1 Chron. 21.16 The Inhabitants of Jabish Gilead Fasted and humbled themselves when Saul and Jonathan were Slain and Israel put to flight 1 Sam. 31.15 And Jehosophat in his Fear Proclaims a Fast when he knew not what to do yet had he his Eyes up to God 2 Chron. 20.3 And Nehemiah when he heard of the Destruction of Jerusalem humbled himself by Fasting Nehem. 1.4 And Esther and the Jews when the Writings were Signed and the time was set when they should all have been destroyed Esther 4.1,2 c. And Ezra when he apprehended danger at hand Ezra 8.21 Yea this is the Course which the Lord himself Adviseth to in times of danger or Publick Calamity Joel 2.12,13 having threatned a sore Judgment he adds Therefore now saith the Lord turn ye unto me with all your Hearts and with Fasting and with weeping and with mourning and rent your Hearts and not your Garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and Merciful c. And this Course the Ninivites did take and it succeeded Jonah 3.5.8 Yea Ahab humbled himself when
Perform this Duty now to right Ends and doubt not of a Blessing 7. Direct If thou wouldst have a Blessing of God accompanying this Ordinance or if thou wouldst Sing Psalms profitably then do it in God's way as well as to a right End 't is not the bare performance of the Duty will serve the turn Many content themselves with the Husk without the Kirnel and think a little Lip-labour sufficient and come with no more Reverence nor so much into God's Presence than they would come into a great Mans Presence to Sing a Prophane Song If such Service would please God would have many Servants But 't is the Heart that God requires or he will have none of their Service Trust not therefore with the Papist Opere Operato in the Work done for God must have it done in his own way or he will not accept it A good Duty may be spoyled by the ill doing it as well as a good Tool by ill handling The Duty we Treat of is not so easie as many think it is Many carelesly performing it and finding little benefit by it have mistrusted the Duty rather than themselves like the Maid in Pliny that being suddenly struck Blind in the Night blames the Sun the next Morning for not Rising Men are apt to accuse any thing yea God himself rather than themselves Because they themselves feed upon the Husks they think there is none that taste the Kirnel and so lay it aside and plead against it But upon the same grounds many of them plead themselves above Ordinances and rest not till they plead perfection and look upon Ordinances as beggarly rudiments but to leave these to their self-delusion When thou approachest to God in this Ordinance being part of his Instituted Worship be sure to bring thy Heart along with thee and ingage it in the Duty God saith of the Heart as sometimes Joseph did of his Brother Benjamin you shall not see my Face if your Brother Benjamin be not with you You shall not see his Face if the Heart be absent Heart and Voyce must joyn together or it will make no pleasing Melody in the Ears of God He is a Spirit and must be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth For as Fervent Prayer may prevail where cold Petitions are denyed So hearty Praises are acceptable when others are esteemed but as a mocking of God We must sing with the Affection and with the Understanding also The whole bent of the Soul must be set upon the work the Blind and the Lame and the Heartless Sacrifice is abominable unto God My Son saith he Give me thy Heart Whatever thou offerest without the Heart he will have none of it The more of the Heart is in the Duty the better he loves it Thou must sing with the Spirit 1 Cor. 14.15 Thus David when he began to sing lift up not only his Voyce but his Soul to God Psal 25.1 and calls upon all that is within him to bless the Lord Psal 103.1 And we have Exhortations to this Duty Col. 3.18 Eph. 5.19 The Lowing of an Ox the Grunting of a Hog make as Melodious an Harmony in God's Ears as a Heartless Prayer or Praise God is a Spirit and must be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth Nay it must not be only with the Heart but with the Heart rightly Qualified An ungracious Heart cannot but savour strong in the Nostrils of God worse than a stinking Carrion doth in ours we must sing with Grace in our Hearts as the former Scriptures plainly testifie Sincerity is necessary approach not near him without the Wedding-Garment Hypocrisie spoyls all thy best Actions we may as well expect sweet Water in a dirty Channel or stinking puddle as a good Duty from a rotten Heart The Graces of the Spirit must adorn that Soul that must be welcom into God's presence Neither is it sufficient that they be there in the Habit but they must be drawn forth into the Act for as we must Pray and Sing with the Understanding and Affection so we must Pray and Sing with Faith believing those Promises made by God and those Petitions put up that they shall be in Time Answered Bring Hope along also to wait for the Accomplishment and Love to God and Delight in his Service and desire of his Glory and other suitable Graces And thus doing expect a Blessing upon the Ordinance and benefit by it CHAP. VIII Directions in Observing the Sabbath Day THE next Duty I shall Treat of is the Observation of the Sabbath Day for this also is a Commanded Duty this is that stated time for the Worship of God and necessary for his Service For if we must Worship God in some place so some time is also required for this Worship and God himself hath appointed out what he thinks most suitable Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy c. Yea he hath enjoyned it to be observed upon pain of Death Exod. 35.2 Whosoever doth work therein shall be put to Death And we read of the Man that gathering sticks upon that Day was by God's special Command to be put to Death Numb 15.32 c. But there are many that easily grant it was a Duty obliging the Jews but not the Gentiles and is of no force at present to Christians but Ceremonious and so abolished with the Ceremonial Law but for Satisfaction know something in the Command was Ceremonial and that ceaseth something Moral and that remaineth Nature it self teacheth us that there is a God and the same Nature teacheth that this God is to be Worshipped and Reason tells us some time must be alotted for this Worship God appoints one day of seven for this Work and that is Moral but what seventh day whether from the Creation or no is left to God to determine Many that know not the true God yet alot some time for the Worship of their Imagined Deities but that it must be this or that day Nature teaches not but is alterable at God's dispose but not at Mans and that it was observed in Remembrance of their deliverance from Egypt was Ceremonial Deut. 5.15 And Typified out a deliverance by Christ a Rest in him and his Resting in the Grave As also the rigid Observation of it enjoyned to the Jews when they must not go out of their places kindle a Fire dress any Meat bear any burthen c. upon it Christian Liberty hath freed us from this but for the Observation of one day in seven for God's Service is Commanded by God approved by Christ and practised by the Apostles and all succeeding Generations 1 Cor. 16.2 and what power on Earth then can make it void It was a Law given to Adam in Paradice before there was any Ceremony used or enjoyned or any Saviour needed or promised I say for the Substance of it though it was afterwards prest more strictly and some Ceremonies added to the Jews and therefore it belongeth to all his Posterity though
one for his well rest we must from our Labour but that is not all we must spend it in God's Service we must forbear our work that we may do his and beware of all that hinders us and that is not only our work but our pleasures and recreations works of our Calling we are forbidden and that upon pain of Death Exod. 31.15 He that doth any work upon it shall surely be put to Death And God meant as he spake we find that he Commanded the man that gathered sticks on the Sabbath day to be put to Death and he was stoned Numb 15.36 And there is great reason for how can a man serve God when Heart and Hand when his Thoughts and Affections are intangled in the world How can he serve two Masters but he must sleight the one when the Body is indisposed by Labour how can the Heart be free And God Commands the Heart My Son give me thy Heart Neither will he have a divided Heart he will have all or none and he Commands not only our selves but also our Children and Servants yea even the Bruit Beasts to rest from their Labour that our Hearts may be the freer and there be no occasion for roving thoughts and to avoid distraction in God's Service Recreations also except those that are purely necessary are also forbidden even those which are at other times Lawful sports and pastimes are no less dangerous than work yea much more for they draw away the Heart more than honest Labour Augustine thought it was more Lawful to Plough on the Lord's day than to Dance but many of our wanton Youth are of another mind but the one brings Profit the other oft tends to the debauching of Youth And doubtless God himself hath forbidden these vain pastimes Isa 58.13 If thou turn thy Feet from the Sabbath doing thy Pleasure on my Holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the Holy of the Lord Honourable and shalt Honour him not doing thy own ways nor finding thy own Pleasures nor speaking thy own words c. Worldly and vain Discourse you see is also here forbidden for every moment of this precious time should if possible be improved to a Spiritual ufe our own words should not be spoken our own pleasure should not be sought worldly cares fears should that day be banished the mind for these distract a Man in the Service of God These are the Thorns that choak the Word and it becometh unfruitful Mat. 13.22 Indeed distracting carking Cares are always unlawful much more in recourse to God himself but provident Cares at other times a Duty now become a Sin and must be laid aside as much as may be that the Heart may be free we read in Scripture of many sorts of work forbidden As Jornying upon the Lords day but only to the Ordinance called a Sabbath days Journey Exod. 16.29 for this distracts the mind as well as work Let them look to it that use that time to Ride to Fairs or Markets Acts 1.12 Buying and Selling is also forbidden Nehem. 13.16,17 See how zealous he was against it but 't is a practice too much in Fashion Carrying of Burdens is also forbidden upon no less Cruelty than the Destruction of Jerusalem Jer. 17.22 Nehem. 13.19 In a word whatsoever hinders in God's Service nay doth not some way or other further it cannot be Justified As for dressing of Meat or Drink any further than is necessary or convenient or spending over-much time in Bed or needless Dressing or spending time any ways unnecessarily is no doubt a Sin 4. Direct Though there be a Rest Commanded by God and a Cessation from the works of our Calling upon the Sabbath day yet all works are not forbidden thereupon there is still Liberty given for good works for works are forbidden as they tend to the distraction of the mind and hinder us in the Service of God but those works that further it are not only Lawful but Commanded these in general are works of Piety works of Charity and works of Necessity Works of Piety are such as tend to the Worship and Service of God as part of it or as a means or help thereunto Thus it was Lawful for the Priests under the Law to kill and Sacrifice the Beasts that were to be Offered which was a servile work and unlawful had it not been Commanded Mat. 12.5 Have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath days the Priests in the Temple prophane the Sabbath and are blameless And no doubt 't is Lawful in Gospel Times for Ministers to Preach the Word Catechize and Personally to Instruct the People though it be to the spending of their Spirits and the Tyring of their Bodies more than on any other day of the week Paul he Preached long even till mid-night upon that day And 't is Lawful for him to Travel that day to the Meeting place and 't is Lawful for the People also to come to hear Yea 't is their Duty though it be several Miles if they cannot otherwise enjoy it We read of a Sabbath days Journey Acts 1.12 which is conceived to be about two Miles We may see this was a Custom in Israel 2 Kings 4.23 when the good Shunammite desired her Husbands leave to go to the Prophet he answered her wherefore wilt thou go to him to day it is neither New Moon nor Sabbath implying these were usual times to go Psal 84.7 Every one of them in Sion appeareth before God Works of Mercy also are necessary whether to Man or Beasts God desires Mercy and not Sacrifice Hos 6.6 Now this Mercy is either to the Soul or to the Body To the Body visiting the Sick healing their Diseases easing their pains relieving their Necessity if able this is approved by Christ Luke 13.11 when Christ healeth the Sick and disputes the Case with the Pharisees yea giving or gathering Alms upon that day which we find was the Apostles Command and the Churches practice 1 Cor. 16.1,2 and that which Christ will Reward at the last Mat. 25.35 Meat and Drink also must be taken moderately for the refreshing of thy Body and the making it fit for the Service of the day Christ himself approves of this when he justifies his Disciples for plucking the Ears of Corn Mat. 12.1,2 Spiritual Mercy must be shewed also such is informing the Ignorant reducing the Erroneous exhorting the Negligent comforting the Disconsolate Instructing one another in our most Holy Faith Reconciling those that are at variance yea the Bruit Beasts themselves must that day taste of thy bounty if one be fallen into a Ditch or Pitt we must lift him out Luke 14.5 We may yea must loose our Ox and our Ass from the Stall and lead them out to water upon that day Luke 13.15 Physitians in cases of necessity may Travel to Visit their sick Patients and Midwives attend upon their Office but it should be Charity and Necessity and not for filthy Lucre that this should be done
At these three Feasts all the Males were Commanded to appear before the Lord Exod. 23.7 The Annual Feasts of lesser Account were two the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Expiation both mentioned Lev. 23.24.27 In which also it was not allowed to do any Work nay it was forbidden upon pain of Death Other Feasts were to be Observed after certain Years for as every seventh day was Holy to the Lord so was every seventh Year For as Man and Beast was Commanded to Rest upon the seventh day so the Land was to Rest every seventh Year that it might gather Heart and that the Poor of the Land might be fed of those things which the Earth did Naturally bring forth without Labour and after seven times seven Years which is forty nine the next which is the fiftyeth Year was the Jubilee or Year of Gladness wherein Debts were forgiven Land sold returned to the Owners and Hebrew Servants were Released and made Free Lev. 25.9 To which Christ seems to allude John 4.18,19 who was sent to Preach the Acceptable Year of the Lord c. Some Festivals also were appointed by Man upon great Occasions and were Yearly Observed by the Church as the Feast of Purim Commanded by Esther the Queen and Mordecai the Jew upon the Account and in Memorial of the Famous Deliverance of the Church in their time from the wicked Conspiracy of Haman Est 9.17 And also the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple either after the Babylonish Captivity Ezra 6.16 Or after it was polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes and again Dedicated by Machabeus 1 Mac. 4.5,6 Which Feast Christ himself seems to approve by his Presence John 10.22 And in Gospel times we have our Feasts also as every Seventh day for a Sabbath of which I have already Treated Several other Festivals in later Ages have been Observed which Antienter Antiquity make no mention of as several in Memory of Christ's Birth Resurrection Assention c. Several to our Lady and many in Memory of Saints of which I shall say no more but what the Apostle doth Rom. 14.5,6 One Man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike let every Man be perswaded fully in his own mind c. Let us not Judge one another in those things but were those observed as days of Thanksgiving ought to be they would not be so eagerly contended for by some nor so eagerly contended against by others The Papists superstitiously forcing them upon us as parts of Gods worship and their Idol worship thereupon hath made some perhaps run too far on the other side but many spending them as Feasts to Bacchus hath made many abhor the other occasional Feasts we have had as the fifth of November c. commanded by Authority to be greatly observed and others as occasion falls out which if you would keep well or any of the forementioned Holy-days observe these Directions following 1. Direct If thou wouldest offer up to God a pleasing Sacrifice upon such a day as this is get thy heart rightly qualified and rightly prepared there is bad Musick like to be where the Instrument is out of tune this Duty is more difficult than Prayer pinching wants and eminent dangers puts a Man on to prayer as we see by the Mariners in Jonah's Ship but self-denyal is required in praising him ten Lepers could join in a petition for help and but one returned to give thanks Thy heart must be qualified with Grace or thou canst not praise God upon such occasions as thou oughtest for what hast thou to do to take the Word or Name of God in thy Mouth if thou hatest to be reformed Psal 50.16 'T is every ones duty for every one receives mercy and 't is a Rent due to the chief Land Lord but every one cannot do it Praise is comely for the upright Psal 38.1 It should be a Congregation of Saints where God is praised Psal 149.11 I do not perswade others from the Duty no more than I do from Prayer but perswade them to cleanse their hearts before they come to the Duty for none but the Righteous can do the work of the day as they ought neither indeed have they cause to rejoice when God is their Enemy and for ought they know they may Lodge next night in Hell that rejoicing is the work of the day is evident Lev. 23,40 Deut. 12.12 and many other places These only are exhorted to rejoice Psal 33.1 Rejoice in the Lord ye Righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart Phil. 3.1 4.4 Psal 107.22 Declare his works with rejoycing But how can we rejoyce or praise God for Redemption Vocation Adoption and the hope of glory when we have no interest in them Thy evidence must be cleared up or thou art unfit for this Duty Those and those only that have an interest in Christ and a Title to Glory assured to them can eat their Bread with Joy and drink their Wine with a merry heart for â—od accepteth their works Others may speak as much and seem as confident like the Pharisee but there is a difference the true Christian speaks humbly the Pharisee proudly and boastingly the one is humbled for his remaining corruption the other brags though no sin is kill'd Paul cryes out O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of Death The Pharisee thanks God he is not as other Men are or as the Pulican The one thanks God for what he hath the other for what he never had How oft may we hear Men give thanks for their Election Vocation Sanctification c. when there is little appearance of it when their lives evidence that they are neither called nor sanctified the one praiseth God in pity to others the other in contempt Phil. 3.8 To me who am less than the least of Saints is this Grace given I thank thee saith the Pharisee I am not as other Men are One returns thanks out of Custome the other out of Conscience For preparation to the work dispose of and lay aside all thy Worldly occasions as much as possible that they interupt thee not in the work and take daily notice of and store up in thy Memory what God hath done for thy Body and for thy Soul for thy Family and Relations for the Land of thy Nativity and the Church in general How shall we praise God if we neglect and forget his benefits Psal 103.2 his Works and wonders Psal 78.7 this is commanded Psal 105.5 Exod. 13.8 The neglect of this is charged upon Israel Psal 78.11 they forgat his Works and the Wonders that he shewed them and how many are deeply guilty of this fault They heedlesly receive mercies and take no notice whence they come or let them slip out of memory even those they were somtimes affected with and thou shouldest not only remember them but meditate upon them to aflect thy heart with them take notice of the mercy justice and
received take notice of your unworthiness the more to exalt the Mercies received But Confession of Sin so as to Afflict the Soul with them is not suitable to the day Bring thy Family in due time to the Publick if it be publickly Observed otherwise carry it on in Private and pay your Vows in the great Congregation and behave your selves in the remaining part of the day as be-you were Directed in the Observation of the Sabbath for this time is Consecrated and made Holy to God and should be wholly spent in his Service And thou shouldest be as careful of thy Thoughts thy Words and thy Affections as though it were a Sabbath for there is no danger of keeping them too intent upon God When thou comest into the Congregation thou maist say as Jacob Gen. 28.17 This is no other but the House of God and the Gate of Heaven for here is done the work that shall be done in Heaven As for the oher expressions of Joy as Ringing of Bells shooting off Guns making of Bone-fires c. they are so far Lawful as they help forward the Work and raise the Heart to an higher pitch of Joy and rejoycing in the Lord. 5. Direct Having thus disposed and prepared thy Heart for the Work and set thy self as in the Presence of the ever-living God that sees and knows and takes notice of thee set thy self then upon the work of Glorifying God and render thanks to him from thy Heart for all the Benefits thou hast Received Praise is comely for the Saints And this Religious Thankfulness of which we speak is thy Duty Now 't is either External or Internal the Internal is to carry a thankful Heart to God and this is every days Duty External is when the Thankfulness of the Heart is expressed in Words or Actions the former without the latter is not sufficient the latter without the former is little worth Now the External manifestation of thy thankfulness is either Private or Publick Private by thy self or Family Publick in the great Congregation and this also is either Ordinary or Extraordinary Ordinary and this should be done at every time when we come together to Worship of God The Extraordinary is upon Extraordinary Occasions as some great Deliverances or the obtaining some great Mercies or the bringing down some great Enemies of the Church this the Church ought to bless God for and Offer this Sacrifice of Praise in the Name and Mediation of Christ who prays over all our Prayers for us and Offers our Praises performed with the Incense of his own Righteousness Now 't is requisite as I said before that a Catalogue of those Mercies God hath given in as a return of Prayers be laid up either in a Book or in the Memory for if we neglect or forget them how shall we speak of them to God's praise 't is not enough to remember them but we must also mention them to his praise Thus David I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul He acknowledgeth God the Author of his Mercies and doth not Sacrifice to his own Nets as many do and burn Incense to his Drags Hab. 1.16 But as the Church not unto us Lord not to us but to thy Name be the Praise he acknowledges frequently his own worthlessness that he may exalt God Lord saith he what is Man that thou shouldst be mindful of him Or the Son of Man that thou regardest him Psal 8.4 I am less than the least of thy Mercies saith Jacob I am less than the least of thy Saints saith Paul Yea when it comes let it be a Free-will Offering do it chearfully readily willingly as the Saints and Angels do it in Heaven heartily not heavily God Loves a chearful giver and matters not grumbling Service Be as willing to return Thanks as ever thou wast to have the Mercy Set thy Heart on Work in this Duty stir up thy self like the Psalmist Psal 103.1 Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me Praise his Holy Name Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits 'T is not enough to Praise him with the Lips or bring our Bodies before him but the Heart and Life should Praise him the Heart should Indite thy Praises and thy Tongue utter them and thy Life and Conversation Seal to them thou shouldst do thanks and Live thanks as well as speak thanks this is every days Duty especially when we receive signal Mercies we should return answerable thanks when National Mercies National thanks should be returned Psal 50.15 Moses did so at the Deliverance at the Red Sea Exod. 15.1 Deborah and Barak did so Judg. 5.12 The Jews also when delivered from Haman's Plots Est 8.11.17 And there is great reason it should be so for Praise is due to none but God and to him the Vow should be performed all our Springs are in him and all our Mercies are from him yea every good and perfect gift and this is the very End for which he gives them and 't is all he requires for them this Pepper-corn of Homage is all his Rent who is the great Land-Lord and though it be due from all yet he expects it from his own People especially he will extort his own from others in another way and none but his People can do it to please him This is to his Saints a fore-tast of Glory where it must be their constant Work 'T is a beneficial Duty also for Thanksgiving for one Mercy is a real yea a prevailing Request for another Those that Offer praise Glorifie God And yet we see how negligent most are in this Duty few take notice of the Mercies they Receive but like Swine eat the Acorns or Crabs and regard not whence they come Ten Lepers were cleansed and but one returns thanks many are sensible of their wants and with the Horse-Leach cry give give yet are not sensible of their enjoyments to return thanks yea suffer some petty Cross to hide a thousand Blessings and keep them out of their sight 6. Direct When thou art thus prepared thus fitted go on in re-counting the Mercies thou hast Received and bless God for them this is the main Work of the Day Now forasmuch as Mercies are various all Men receive not alike yet all receive some for which they should be thankful give me leave to lead you by the Hand a little and shew you some the rest you may Observe your selves Bless God for what he is in himself and what he is to his Creatures in himself admire his Essence for fathom it thou canst not the like we may say of his Attributes his Eternity Immutability his Power Wisdom Holiness Justice and Truth c. Thou maist spend thy days also in Admiring him in the Works of his Hand lift up thy Eyes to Heaven and see the Sun the Moon and Stars those Glorious Lamps those Beauty spots of Heaven observe their Distance Courses Influence and Virtues and well thou maist