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
be no hard question to resolve neither need you any great time to consider whether God or the Devil be the best Master whether Holyness or Sin be the better work whether Heaven or Hell be the better wages whether the Transitory Pleasures of Sin or the endless joyes of Heaven be more desireable hast thou need of much time to consider of this business if thou yet stand at a stay let me put in somthing that may turn the Scales consider to whom thou art most engaged to God or Satan art not thou Gods by right of Creation he made thee of nothing and whose is the Pot but the Pot-makers he made thee a Rational Creature when he might have made thee a Brute Beast a Toad or a Serpent or the most despicable Worm that crawls under thy feet and is it not he that maintains thee at his own Cost and Charges thou hast not Food to eat or Drink to drink or Clothes to put on but what he gives thee neither Health nor Strength Limbs nor Senses Life nor Breath but from him 't is his Corn and his Wine that feeds thee 't is his Wool and his Flax that clothes thee 't is his Silver and his Gold that makes thee Rich Hos 2.5 And is it yet a Question who should be thy Master Hast any better Friend or greater Benefactor Nay further thou art his also by right of Redemption when thou soldest thy self to be a Slave to Satan did not he buy thee by his precious Blood out of that Hellish Slavery Did not he lose his Life for thy Ransom Did not he lay down his Life to free thee from the guilt of sin and from the filth of sin and from the punishment due for sin from the wrath of God the Curse of the Law the Slavery of Satan and from everlasting damnation and hast thou yet a better Friend to trust to The work God sets thee about is wages as well as work 't is equal 't is reasonable 't is honourable his Yoak is easie and his burthen light The wages also differs the one gives everlasting Happiness the other endless misery and canst not yet determine who shall be thy Master Consider then what God minds in these his Commands is it his own benefit or thine What profit is he like to have by thy Obedience Or what damage by thy Disobedience Alas thou art so far below him thou canst neither do him good or hurt All the benefit or damage redounds to thy own Soul Consider also what the Devil minds doubtless thy Ruine He goes about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 And art not yet determined who shall be thy Master Consider then whether ever thou knewest one Man that ever was made Happy by following a sinful Course of Life Or ever thou knewest one Man made miserable by God's Service or an Holy Course of Life And now if thou hast reason make use of it and I doubt not if thou wouldst be brought to consideration thou wouldst soon resolve I shall at present take it for granted and shall proceed first to give you some general Directions to be observed in all duties and then descend to some particular duties unto God and give Directions for these also the general are these that follow 1. Direction In all the Duties thou performest to God or Man see that thou hast a Divine warrant for it out of the Word of God that which he Commands is our Duty and what he forbids is our sin if we do it where there is no Law there is no Transgression and where 't is no Commanded Duty there thou canst expect no Blessing yet many Men are apt to invent ways for God's Worship as if the Scripture were difficult and with the Pharisees Teach for Doctrines the Commandments of Men they set up their Posts by God's Post and their Dagon by God's Ark but it will never stand they take much pains and be at much cost in the Worship of their own devising but they will lose their Labour and when they come for their Reward God will ask them who required these things at their hands When therefore thou art prest unto a Duty enquire whether God Command it or at least whether it be consonant to his Word if not reject it we must not Worship God after Mens invention or Humane Traditions contrary to his revealed Will. God hath left us work enough to do we need not invent more We read indeed of some Idolaters that fained themselves gods and then patcht up a kind of Idolatrous Worship to these gods thus Baals Priests cut and wounded themselves till the blood gushed out not much unlike to our Popish whippings Some also poured out Drink-Offerings to the Queen of Heaven and baked Cakes for her Jer. 44.17 Yea some of them Offered their Children to Molech and made them pass through the Fire yet all this Labour was lost yea worse than lost it became their sin because it was to a strange god In like manner many Worship the true God in a false manner by giving him such Worship he never Commanded neither ever came it into his mind But the Scripture is a sufficient Rule for Worship where all the material parts of Worship are prescribed only some necessary Circumstances are left to Humane prudence to determine as the Time and Place and other such like which may be altered according to the present occasion yet we read in Scripture of Voluntary Humility and Worshipping of Angels but God doth not allow of it Col. 2.18 The Church of Rome doth therefore exceedingly err in thrusting upon us those new invented needless Ceremonies such as God never made neither ever gave power to Man to intrude into his worship yea also they err in adding many things as Fundamentals which are errors of their own devising such as their five added Sacraments their private Mass Communicating in our kind propitiatory Sacrifice for the Sick and dead Prayers to Saints departed and to Angels Images Crucifixes Popes Pardons Indulgences Pilgrimages and many more but these wanting Authority are not to be heeded by us yea amongst us also we have too many Popish Superstitions received by Traditions which God hath never warranted and therefore we ought not to observe them But in all thy Duties whether it be an Act of Divine worship or any Duty to thy Neighbour search the Scriptures if it be not according to this Rule own it not See what need Christians have of knowledge to know what is sin and what is Duty what is Commanded and what forbidden 2. Direct When thou knowest thy Duty and hast a Divine Command for it delay not but set upon it many undo themselves by delays they think to do that hereafter which they never Live to do practice is the Life of all Set upon the performance of those Duties which God requires at thy Hands take them as they lye and do not pick and chuse 'T is the practice of
Foundation for thy Faith And when thou art come before him set thy self as in his Presence and let thy Heart be affected with awful Reverence of him who is the Searcher of the Heart and Tryer of the Reins There 's many that come to him in prayer and little consider with whom they have to do Come also with a full purpose and Resolution or else never come to leave and forsake all those sins thou shalt confess For if thou regard Iniquity in thy Heart God will not hear thy Prayer Psal 66.18 'T is a vain thing to think to get pardon for those sins thou wilt not leave or a dispensation to Sin Meditate before hand of the Number Nature and Quality of thy Sins Of the Purity of God's Law the Justice of God his Threatnings against Sin and Sinners and the punishments he hath brought upon the World for sin the little Good that Sin hath done thee and the great hurt c. These Considerations may work in thee a loathing of sin when thou seest that it is the cause of all thy Miseries then wilt thou put up real desires to have it Mortified and till then thou wilt but dally with God Study well before-hand what are thy wants which thou wouldst have supplyed by God Let it be thy daily work to think what Sin and Corruption is strong in thee and what Grace is weak or wanting and what thou wouldst beg at God's hands and have not thy Errand to seek when thou shouldst do it Study well also what Mercies thou hast received and forget not to render to God the Tribute of Praise Thankfulness for one Mercy is a real Petition for another Many like the Lepers will come in a Petition for Mercies they want but few in Thanksgiving for Mercies received Most men are like the Swine under the Tree they eat the Crabs or Acorns but look not up from whence they come And where as 't is a Commanded Duty to Pray one for another 't is necessary that we sympathize one with another Mourn with those that Mourn and Rejoyce with them that Rejoyce It was Nehemiah's practice and he should herein be our President when all went well with him in his own particular the Afflictions of the Church could wring Tears from his Eyes Nehem. 1.4 And if any jarr be between thee and another be Reconciled this is Christ's Counsel Mat. 5.23 Mark 11.26 Come thus prepared and there is great hopes of speeding 3. Direct Wouldst thou put up a prevailing Prayer See that thou make it to God alone and not to Saints or Angels or any Creature whatsoever This is that Homage which he hath reserved to himself and that Honour that he will not give to another Many are the Commands which are in Scripture for this Duty Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of Trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt Glorifie me And Christ bids us go to our Father in Secret and our Father which seeth in Secret will reward us openly Mat. 6.6 This was the Refuge which the Godly run to in all their streights Hither Abraham Isaac and Jacob went Gen. 18.27 28.3 32.11 Hither Moses goes when God threatned Israel Exod. 39.11 Yea Joshua Hannah Samuel David Solomon Elijah Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Peter and Christ himself and thus he taught us to do Mat. 6.9 Our Father which art in Heaven Many are the Promises which are made to those that go to God in the Name of Christ and many are the Experiences which Believers have had of the Return of Prayers made to God But in the whole Book of God there is not one Precept for or approved Example of any one that sought either to Saint or Angel nor any Promise to any that do so or any Experience that any have had any Return to their Prayer no nor encouragement to provoke us to believe that God approves it but the contrary There is nothing in Scripture to ground our Faith upon and what is not of Faith is Sin We may find God himself stiled A God Hearing Prayers A Title given to no Creature in Heaven or in Earth God is Omniscient and knows all things the very thoughts and wishes the sighs and breathings the longings hungrings and pantings of a broken Heart are known to him and he knows when Prayers proceed from unfeigned Lips he is Hoker Lebh Scutator Cordis The Searcher of the Heart Jer. 17.10 And 't is a Priviledge that no man on Earth can claim neither have we any assurance that Saints or Angels in Heaven can do it Again he is every where present at all times and in all places which the Angels themselves are not being finite Creatures and therefore is always in a readiness to help We know he hears our Prayers but have no assurance that the others do He is Omnipotent and able to help us he is El shaddai God All-sufficient Gen. 17.1 Able to remove all rubs out of the way but the Creature cannot help us they are but the Cistern he is the Fountain they have no more than what he puts into them Yea all Religious Worship is due to him alone whereof Prayer is a principal part and cannot be given to another without offence 'T is from him that we receive every good and perfect gift James 1.17 and therefore unto him we should go to beg it who keeps the dispose of them in his own hands and will be sought unto before he part with them God is the Object of our Faith and should be of our Prayers for How can we call upon him upon whom we have not believed Rom. 10.14 The very Heathen by the Light of Nature acknowledge this Priviledge this Duty was due to God alone they put up their Petitions to those they esteemed gods as the Mariners in Jonah's Ship called every man upon his god and advised Jonah to do so also Jonah 1.5 And God himself threatens the Families that call not upon his Name Jer. 10.25 And in their distress threatens to send them to the gods they serve How much then are those to blame that Pray to Saints and Angels as the Papists or offer up Religious Worship to any other but to God alone but till they can prove it a Duty by direct precept or approved Example till they can prove they are Omnipresent always at hand Omniscient and know all things Omnipotent and can help us in all our straits which they will never do lets us never leave the Fountain that is all this and go to the Cistern that cannot help us 4. Direct If thou wouldst speed in Prayer then go to God in the Name of Christ if thou take him not along with thee thou wilt not be welcom if thou come not cloathed in thy Elder Brothers Garments thou wilt return without the Blessing We are by Nature Enemies to God and he is a consuming Fire to his Enemies and Christ must be the Skreen to keep us from burning 't is he alone that can
Holiness to Heaven Read a List of more Heb. 11. But there is no word of encouragement to any other to expect Heaven nay God tells us in plain words they shall never come there 1 Cor. 6.9,10 Neither is there any one example of any that lived and dyed in their sinful course that ever was saved what may we gather hence but this if ever you would attain to true happiness serve God with a sincere heart 7. Motive Thou shouldest serve the Lord because as he is best able to reward thee for thy obedience and pay thee for thy work so is he best able to punish thee for thy disobedience For as all his promises are yea and a men faithful and true to his People so are his threatnings to his Enemies thou art not at liberty to choose thy own Master who thou wilt serve thou art ingaged to him and serve him thou must or do worse thou art his by right of Creation for whose is the Pot but the Potters And by right of Redemption he paid a price for thee and bought thee dear So also by Covenant right thou hast devoted thy self to his service and taken Press mony to fight his Battels and if thou revolt he will avenge the quarrel of his Covenant against thee Hence it is thou mayst well fear his wrath and expect his judgments if thou perfidiously betrayest thy trust and revoltest to the Enemy Christ himself bids thee not to fear those that can kill the Body and can do no more but fear him that can cast Body and Soul into Hell Luk. 12.5 If he be not glorifyed by thee he will be glorifyed upon thee if he have not the glory of thy Salvation he will have the glory of thy Destruction Luk. 19.27 Those mine Enemies that would not that I should raign over them bring them and slay them before my face God takes those for his Enemies that will not be ruled by him and will prove a sore Enemy to them And didst thou know what it is to be an Enemy unto God and what it is to have God to be an Enemy unto thee it would send thee trembling to thy grave 't is he that hath the keys of life and death at his girdle He kills and he makes alive he brings to the gates of death and back again and there is none that can deliver out of his hand He need not muster an Army against thee to destroy thee the least Fly or Gnat or Hair may end thy life if it have a Commission from God thou art but a Worm if he tread upon thee he leaves the dead behind him if he withhold thy breath thou returnest to the dust for thou hast no more breath than what he puts into thee how then canst thou grapple with the Almighty or contend with God were thy flesh of Brass and thy Sinnews of Iron were thy foundations as the Earth or as the Pillars of Heaven thou wert yet too weak who ever hardned himself against God and prospered whilst thou remainest his Enemy well mayst thou fear his heavy hand there is no judgment that ever thou readest threatned or ever executed upon sinful wretch that thou canst be secure from Thou knowest not but the Waters may drown thee as they did the old World or as the Red Sea did Pharaoh or fire from Heaven may consume thee as it did Sodom and Gomorrah and also Nadab and Abihu and the two Captains and their Fifties at the prayer of Elijah thou knowest not but the Plagues which fell upon Egypt may fall upon thee and consume thee or that thy life may be ended by the Sword the Famine or the Pestilence thou knowest not but an Angel may smite thee as Herod and thou mayst be devoured with Worms or that the Earth may open and swallow the quick as it did Corah Dathan and Abiram thou knowest not but thou mayst be struck dead for the next lye thou tellest as Ananias and Saphirah were or whether Bears may not devour thee as they did those Children that mocked the Prophet or whether thou mayst not be strucken with Leprosie as Gehazy or thy house may not fall upon thy head as upon Jobs Children In a word whatever a man destitute of Grace and Divine Protection may be brought to suffer thou hast no assurance but it may be thy Portion Read Deut. 28.15 c. Where thou mayst see thy own miserable condition but this is not all those spiritual judgments which are worse than these are seized upon thee Blindness of Mind Hardness of Hart Searedness of Conscience c. And eternal judgements dog thee at the heels and will certainly seize upon thee except Repentance prevent it as soon as Death makes a separation between Soul and Body never any Unregenerate Unrepenting Unrighteouss or Unclean Person shall ever go to Heaven John 3.7 Luk. 13.3 1 Cor. 6.9,10 Rev. 21.13 and there is no middle place for the Scripture owns no Purgatory Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God See the doom of the wicked servant Mat 24. last He was cut in peices and his Portion was appointed with the Hypocrites and that unprofitable Servant that improved not his Talent Mat. 25.30 He was bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness and all the wicked ungracious servants that improve not their Talents as God appointed shall then be bid Depart ye wicked into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41.48 This is Gods judgments to his Enemies and this is the Devils wages to his friends and servants who then would have such an Enemy or such a Master learn directions to serve God as followeth in those duties mentioned CHAP. II. Of Duties in General HAving in the fore-going Treatise shewed you the Excellency Necessity and Benefits of an Holy Life and the deadly danger of all unholy Course I hope many of you are resolved to alter that course of life you have too long already lived in and will begin to question what shall we do to be saved To this end in this part I shall point out some necessary duties which every Christian is bound to perform and lay down some directions by them for the right performance of them Now my desire is that you would resolve to practice what out of Gods word I shall prove to be your duty otherwise to what end shall I write them or you read them what say say you will you do it or will you not 't is not a slight business neither will a slight resolution serve your turn you will meet with many Racks in the way and therefore had need to be well grounded with many storms of temptations and therefore had need to lay a good foundation you have spent too much time already in the service of Sin and Satan and 't is pity you should any longer serve so bad a Master and now God gives you a call unto his service methinks it should
up to Heaven upon their wings which is the place of its rest in them the Soul is trading with God for Christ and if we make not this use of them they will do us no good God regards not so much the external part of duty though this is not to be disregarded as he doth the internal he looks especially at the carriage of the heart in the duty my Son saith he give me thy heart if this be present many infirmities shall be past over if this be absent though the duty be never so gloriously acted in the eye of of the World it is hateful in the eye of God Cain and Abel both offered Sacrifice and in the matter of their Sacrifice we know not the one exceeded the other yet one was accepted and the other rejected why what was the matter because the one was accompanyed with Sincerity the other with Hypocrisie and as God so all good Men make it their business to look to the heart in duty they carry it along with them to God and offer it at his feet they know the more of the heart is in the duty the better God loves it and the more of the heart is in the sin the worse it is they look more and grieve more at the miscarriage of the Heart in a duty when it lyes dead or dull than at a mis expression or external failing when thou comest therefore unto God in duty gather in thy scattered thoughts and affections and let them meet here as lines do in a Center or as the Sun-beams in a burning glass this will make thy Prayers Hot and Fervent which otherwise would be Cold and Remiss when our Spirits are raised by the Spirit of God and the Flesh kept under in the duty then we are like to prevail 't is not the Multitude of loose or lone and cold expressions will serve turn the Pharisees out-did many Christians in long Prayers but 't is the Spiritual performance that God requires cold Petitions do but put denyals into Christs mouth we must perform every duty as if it were for Life and Death for Eternity yea as if it were our last duty that ever we should perform such performances as these are acceptable to God and beneficial to Man 6. Direction Thou must perform all thy duties as in a right Manner so to a right End for the End either Makes or Marrs the Action now the Ends are such as God himself hath appointed in his word Now God never ordained duties or good works to be trusted in for Salvation thou canst never merit Heaven by thy Prayers or other Duties they were not commanded for this end indeed they are a causa sine qua non of Salvation for though they cannot save us yet we shall not be saved in the neglect of them they are the way to the Kingdom though not causa regnandi Christ hath purchased to himself a peculiar People zealous of good works they are of special use for us in the way that God hath appointed us to walk in God hath appointed us to do them and threatened us and will punish us if we neglect them as I shall more fully prove when I treat of them particularly and that it is Gods will and command is enough to satisfy an honest heart though there were neither reward nor punishment for the doers or neglecters of them this is the way to glorify God John 15.8 Hereby is our Heavenly Father glorified when we bring forth much fruit Mat. 5.18 Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven By this means also we may be instrumental of others Conversion Wives are commanded to carry themselves so holily and wisely that thereby unbelieving Husbands may be won to the Faith 1 Pet. 3.1 and as they may do good to others so they may bring comfort to themselves these breathings out of Grace will be an Evidence to the Soul of the love of God when we find the Spirit helping our infirmities teaching us how and for what to pray these products of Grace will yield the Soul no little satisfaction yea by this means we obtain many blessings from God what sweet returns of Prayer have the Saints had how often hath God answered them in the very Petitions they have asked Christ bids them ask and they shall have seek and they shall find knock and it shall be opened to them and how many can experience this truth though God promise the mercy yet he will be sought to for it and what sweet and ravishing incomes of the Spirit of God have Christians oftentimes in the Hearing Reading Meditating and conferring of the word of God receiving of the Sacrament and other Religious duties and what Satisfaction and Comfort 'T is true we must not trust to them for comfort as the Cause but as the Instrument Hezekiah found Comfort upon his sick Bed from the Faithful performance of God's Will But this is not all one special end why God appointed them is to bring the Soul nearer unto Christ by them and to this end we must use them they are as Ladders to help us up to Heaven to lift us above our selves to lay hold upon Christ we must make use of them as a Traveller doth of a Boat or Bridge to help us over unto Christ or as he doth of a Staff or Stile to help him in his Journey though they in themselves have no Excellency yet they help us over where true Treasure is though they be empty in themselves and vain to those that trust in them yet are they enriching to the Saints that trust not to them but use them for the ends appointed but many like Foolish Lovers wooe the Maid when they should Court the Mistress or like Foolish Travellers play with the Stile or fall in Love with the Boat and neglect their way they trust to their duties but these were never appointed to save us or to make up Christ's Merits Satisfactory for this is sufficient but that it may help us to lay hold upon Christ's Satisfaction Use them therefore for that end 7. Direct When thou hast done all this and all that thou canst say thou art an unprofitable Servant and hast done no more nay not so much as was thy duty Luke 17.10 And take heed of resting in or trusting to any thing but Christ for Justification or Salvation trust not to thy duties for they will deceive thee and prove like Egyptian Reeds not only break but run into thy hand they were never appointed for this end to trust to them let the Papists brag never so much of their Works of Supererogation or of their Merits let the Ignorant Person brag of his good meaning his good heart and his good serving God let the Civil Man brag of his paying every Man his own and upright dealing and the almost Christian of his Repenting Returning and Reforming alas all this will deceive them
this is not the Blood of Christ we must have some better shelter to keep off the storms of God's fiery Indignation the Prophet tells us all our Righteousness is as filthy Rags or a menstruous Cloath Isa 6.6 And will God think you delight in this The Heart which is the Fountain is Corrupt and never cleansed from Original Corruption and can we think the streams thence issuing can be sweet This bitter Root sends many branches of Actual sin which mix themselves with our best duties and make them abominable in the Eyes of God These are the dead Flyes that spoyl all the Oyntment we cannot do a duty but we spoyl it in the doing and if we could unless we could do every duty thus to the end of our Lives what Advantage should we have by that one We must Live free from evil thoughts vain words and evil Actions or we cannot stand approved by God nay if we could do so and Live free from the least Transgression for the future this will not discharge us of our fore-past Debt will the constant payment of Rent for the future clear up the arreares that are behind 'T is a vain thing to think to be saved by our own good works or justified by our good duties Alas they are too much defiled with sin and self to be satisfactory to God and yet how ready are Men to lay hold upon any thing that will give them the least hope and trust to good hearts and good duties and good meanings when there is no such thing and loath they are to come out of themselves confess themselves to be such Bankrupts as indeed they are but the vanity of these hopes I shall give you in the words of an able Divine who speaks fully to my purpose who tells thee that thou canst not bring in perfect Righteousness into the presence of God and hast no Christ to trust unto thou must desire and pray till Heaven and Earth shake till thou hast worn thy Tongue to the stumps endeavour as much as thou canst and others commend thee for an exact Christian mourn in some Wilderness till dooms day dig thy Grave with thy nails weep Buckets full of hourly Tears till thou canst weep no more Fast and Pray till thy skin and bones cleave together promise and purpose with full resolution to be better yea reform thy Head Heart Life and Tongue leave some nay all sin Live like an Angel shine like a Sun walk up and down the World like a distressed Pilgrim so that all that see thee may commend and admire thee dye ten thousand Deaths lye at the Fire back of Hell as many millions of Years as there are Grass piles upon the Earth Sands on the Sea shore Stars in Heaven or Motes in the Sun I tell thee not one spark of Gods wrath will be quenched by all these Duties for they are not the Blood of Christ c. Shepherd Sincere Convert CHAP. III. Directions in Hearing the Word HAving given you some general Directions necessary in all Duties without which no duty either to God or Man can be acceptable to God I shall next descend to some particulars which God requires at our hands and lay down some Directions how they may be performed to God's Glory and the Souls Advantage for 't is not the meer doing of a duty but the well doinging of it that attains these ends The first I shall mention is that great duty of hearing God's Word As for the Preaching of it I shall give Directions among those Relative duties which God willing I intend to Treat of in it's place If I could sufficiently instruct you in this I need not speak much of the rest for this would be a help in all the other for in the Word are Directions for the other also I need not stand to prove this is a duty I hope few will deny it As for those that are above Ordinances so as to neglect them Time hath discovered their Folly doth not God send his Messengers to Preach and is it not our duty to Hear The Apostle tells us Necessity is laid upon him and woe to him if he preach not the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.18 And is Preaching their duty and is not Hearing ours Yea doth not Christ himself teach us how to Hear And gives us Cautions to that purpose to take heed how we hear And what we hear Mark 4.24 Luke 8.18 And oftentimes calls upon those that have Ears to hear that they should hear and in many Parables gives Directions about hearing as in the Parable of the Sower and the Seed of the good Seed and the Tares and many more But my business is at present only by way of Motive to put you on to the Duty and by way of Direction to help you in it I shall at present use those Motives drawn from the benefit of the Word for who is not moved with Profit and Gain But here is the greatest gain to be had 't is the ordinary means to bring Men to Christ I say the ordinary means for God is not tyed to it Rom. 10.14,17 Faith cometh by hearing to this end God sends Paul to the Gentiles to open their Eyes and to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26.17,18 When Christ met with Paul in the way Acts 9.9,10 He doth not Instruct him himself but sends him to be Instructed by Ananias and when he sent an Angel to Cornelius it was not to Preach the Gospel to him but to direct him to Peter Acts 10.35 It was by Preaching that Peter Converted 3000. at one time Acts 2.37.41 The Word is the Seed that being sown in a good heart fructifies abundantly Mat. 13.8 The neglect of this is threatned Mat. 10.14 Whosoever shall not receive you nor hear your words c. It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of Judgment than for them and few are brought in that neglect this Duty Nay 't is of daily use to those that are Converted to build them up it is the Milk that must nourish them and make them grow for where there is Life there must be Food David by this means became wiser than his Teachers and had more Understanding than the Antient and what condition soever a poor soul is in here he may find directions Art thou in sorrow and distress here consolation is to be had here the Soul by faith sucks sweetness out of the Promise art thou in affliction here are Cordials to uphold a fainting heart directions to bear them well and promises of a seasonable deliverance if thou run astray here thou maist hear a voice behind thee saying this is the way walk in it God hath here set way-marks to guide thee If thou be dead or dull here are rousing considerations to quicken thee if thy faith be weak here it may be strengthned if thy Soul be sin sick here is a Physitian directed to and a Potion prescribed
will effect the cure If thou art troubled with Satans Temptations here is Armour of proof the Sword of the Spirit for thy defence with which Christ himself broke the Serpents head Mat. 4.4,7,10 In a word here is that way to life pointed out unto thee that will never fail when all the learning in the World and all Humane Policy and good Meanings and Intentions will deceive now that thou maist hear with profit take these directions following 1. Direct If thou wouldst hear with Profit resolve then to break through all the difficulties and oppositions that lye in thy way for doubtless there will be many snares laid for thee and thou wilt find many hinderances to this duty many Enemies will appear and without a strong Resolution to go through what ever danger lyes in the way thou wilt hardly hold out I do not mean that the cursory hearing of the Word is thus opposed but the practising of it when heard The Devil is a sworn Enemy and therefore expect he will do his worst Thou shalt find that if he can have his will there shall never Godly Minister be setled Do you not see what oppositon is rais'd what contention breaks out before a faithful Pastor can be setled what Instruments doth he use to hinder the work Who will neither spare Cost nor pains in the business Or if they be setled how oft doth he raise one or other to worry them and make them weary of their places if not of their Lives For he knows such as these Discover his wiles and hinder his Trade and if he can but stop their Mouths and drive them out into the Wilderness he may Rule without controul It be not the Drunken Debauched Clergy that he fears these bring Fish to his Net If this will not prevail he endeavours then to work such a prejudice in the Hearers Hearts to their Ministers that they seldom profit by them if they can have nothing against them but concerning the Law of their God yet he perswades them they are Phanaticks because more serious in Religion than some others are and so diverts what he can from hearing them and then he thinks himself sure of them Sometimes he sets them about their Worldly business or to go to Fairs c. He knows there is no danger to him in that or perswades them to drouse or sleep out their time or sit idly at home or spend the Sermon time at Dice or Cards or other unlawful Games For others he hath a Companion at the Ale-house door to call them he knows there they are secure If thou break through these difficulties he will endeavour to lull thee asleep in the Congregation or if awake to distract thy thoughts with Worldly business that when thy Body is in the Congregation thy mind shall be in the shop or Fields or perhaps he may let thy Eyes wander upon this Beauty or that new Fashion and thus divert thy mind from thy Duty And those that would be very attentive at a Stage-Play are very heartless at a Sermon as if it did not so much concern them or if thou dost hear attentively yet he will make thee a forgetful Hearer and pick up the Seed as fast as 't is sown Mat. 13.4.19 How often do men leave all behind them at the Church door and that man cannot give an Account of one passage in a whole Sermon that can give you a large account of a Stage-Play or idle Tale or Story or if any thing be remembred it must be some mis-expression or something that must render the Preacher contemptible and so bring him into Question And if they remember any thing that is good the Devil perswades them they shall never practice it or at least defer it till hereafter or if they practice any it must be the light and cheap and easie part of Duty and so as good never a whit as never the better These and a thousand such are the wiles of the Devil to keep thy Soul in bondage which if he do thou art undone for ever He hath Instruments also which he sets on work wicked men some to draw and some to drive some by one means some by another to hinder thee Oh! take heed what you do says one you will run your self upon the pike of danger you 'l make your self contemptible to the World saith another you 'l hazard your Estate or Liberty crys a third our Fore-Fathers saith another were honest men yet never followed these Courses Others on the other hand will load you with scoffs and scorns and if this serve not with down-right Persecution and which is most dangerous thy own deceitful heart will side with Satan and help to betray thee Carnal reason is ready to suggest what need so much ado there was never good World since there was so much Preaching when alas the cause is not in the much Preaching but in the little practice Now having so many Enemies you must come with a full Resolution to break through or never begin 2. Direction If thou wouldest profit by the word Preached be sure to propound to thy self right ends take heed of the by ends w ch many bring 't is the end that makes or marres the action many glorious works have been spoiled by a bad end Let the duty be never so excellently performed if the end thou aimest at in the performance be not right the duty is abominable in Gods account thus the Fasting Prayer and Almes deeds of the Pharisees though all commanded duties were by God rejected because it was popular applause they aimed at Mat. 6.1,2,3 c. Thou maist hear all the daies of thy life to no profit as too many do if thy ends be not good ask thy self therefore this question when thou comest to the Ordinance What do I here or what errand come I about what is my end in coming or what do I desire or would get by hearing and get thy Heart and Conscience to return an answer and if thy ends arise no high-than thy self they are false and deceitful if every man would speak out or if we could hear the voice of Conscience speaking within them we should find many false hearted that neither perform the duty in obedience to God neither take they pleasure in the duty it self may not some of you say 't is not love to God or his Word but for Customes sake we come We and our Fathers before us were alwayes good Churchmen but if this be all thy ends are low and base others might say we come to hear of some easier way to Heaven wherein we might go with our Sins in our hearts and the World upon our backs but these Men cannot endure Soul-seeking Sermons but cry out of such Preachers as Ahab of Micajah he never Prophesies good of me but evil and therefore they hate them as Herodias did John Baptist and delights in those that daub with untempered Mortar and cry peace peace when there is no peace
and a Title to glory In a word how you may avoid Misery and attain everlasting Happiness and is not all this worth your serious consideration Again here is a Rich Legacy bequeathed to you by your Heavenly Father even exceeding great and precious Promises more worth than the World and are not these worth the reading At these Breasts of consolation thou mayst suck and be satisfied for they can never be drawn dry thou wilt never repent the pains thou takest this way This Word also is excellent in it self and therefore called the Word of Salvation Acts 13.26 as pointing out the only way to Salvation the Word of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 as holding out Christ the only Recōnciliator the Word of Life Phil. 2.16 as pointing out the only way to Life Here also is contained our Evidence for Glory and all we have to shew for Heaven this tells us what Qualifications are necessary to Salvation here we find a Redeemer a Saviour a Surety to discharge our Debts and Redeem the Soul out of the Slavery of Satan yea out of the hands of Divine Justice This is God's Love Letter wherein he makes Love to sinful Souls and offers them Christ for a Husband and Heaven with him for a joynture here thou maiest find a cure for a wounded Conscience and a sin sick Soul when neither Men nor Means neither Food nor Phisick can do thee good here is a Plaister pointed out to draw out the Vennom of sin and staunch the blood yea the way to Eternal Life is here chalked out and shall we trifle in such things as these many are the Promises made to those that walk after this Rule Rom. 3.12 and many are the threatnings against those that contemn it Deut. 19.20 Porv. 1.23,24 Isa 6.9,10 1 Sam. 2.25 Methinks such considerations should breed an appetite to it 6. Direction If thou wouldest profit by the word be sure to carry thy self well in the time of hearing we must take heed how we hear as well as what we hear if thou shouldest make these preparations as before directed yet all may be spoiled at last Resort therefore timely to the Ordinance 't is more fit for thee to wait for God than God waite for thee late coming argues a weak stomack hungry Persons will not strive to be last at a feast and an hungry Soul will make haste where meat is to be had and when thou art there behave thy self reverently set thy self as in the presence of the great God say as Jacob this is no other than the house of God and the gate of Heaven and carry thy self as if God were present looking upon thee many by their light behaviour manifest their little zeal didst apprehend God present before the eye of thy Soul it would keep thine eyes from sleeping and thy heart from wandring joyn with the Minister in every part of Gods worship God is the God of order and not of confusion a private Prayer is most suitable for a private place and private duties as before should be performed in the Closet be more ready to hear than to offer the sacrifice of Fools Eccles 5.1 When the Minister prayes joyn with him and pray with Devotion when he sings sing with the understanding when he preacheth here with attention attend not only to the words but to the sence and not only to the sence but also to the Divine Obligation that lyes upon thee draw out all thy strength in the performance of the duty hear as if it were for thy Life for thy Soul for Eternity as indeed it is Deut. 32.46,47 Set your hearts upon all the words which I testifie among you this day which you shall command your Children to observe for it is not a vain thing for you because it is your life and through this you shall prolong your daies and you must not only hear with attention but with understanding also for how can you profit by it or what good will it do you if you understand it not and yet some Ministers the more is the pity seek to hide their meaning in a Cloud of words and deliver their message either in an unknown tongue or in unknown Notions and 't is the folly of some hearers that delight in those Sermons they understand not the Mass bites not but what wise man will delight to gnaw bones that may have flesh Paul had rather speak five words in the Church to edification than two thousand in an unknown tongue 1 Cor. 14.19 and when thou dost understand it prove it by the Scripture and take it not upon trust 't is Christs counsel search the Scriptures and the Apostles try all things and hold fast that which is good and the Bereans are commended for so doing Act. 17.11 and when you have found it to be wholesome meat apply it to the heart this is the summ of all and without this it will do you little good what good will Meat do if not eaten or Phisick if not taken or a Plaister if not applyed do as an hungry man doth lay hold on something to feed upon when nice stomacks carve away all to others now he meets with this man or that man but did he say nothing to thee will another mans meat feed thee or another mans Physick make thee well close with it thy self lay thy heart open to the Word strive not against it submit to it indeavour not by subtil Distructions cunning Evasions false Glosses partial Interpretations to evade the force of it or blunt the edg but with David when reproved cry out I am the man wrest not out of Gods hand if any sin be reproved reform it if any duty prest practice it if the Minister teach thee any thing thou knowest not before remember it and bless God for it 7. Direction If thou wouldest profit by the word preached demean thy self well then after hearing 't is not enough to give diligent attention nay to perform all the fore-going duties for the most of the work lyes behind when the Minister hath done thy work begins thou must call it to mind ruminate upon it do as the clean Beasts under the Law chew the Cud what ever slips out of thy memory will do thee little good 't is what thou remembrest is most like to profit thee Now to this end call to mind the Ministers Method what was his Text how divided how explained what observations he raised how they were proved by what Scriptures by what reasons how he applyed them what marks or motives he gave under such Uses c. If he take not this method which is exceeding good for the memory yet observe at least what design he followed what he driv'd at what sin he reproved what duty he prest what grace he excited and thus doing thou wilt gather up some gleanings of this Sermon especially observing if he prest any duty thou neglectest or reproved any sin thou livest in if all the rest be forgotten remember this and
what he taught thee that thou knewest not before now when thou hast thus called these things to mind meditate upon them for as Meat cannot nourish if not digested no more will the word till by meditation thou makest it thy own meat is easily cast up when it lyes undigested in the stomack so here when the Seed is sown and not covered by harrowing the Fowls of the Air pick it up and when the word is not covered by mediration the Devil steals it away Mat. 13.4.19 If any thing lye dark or difficult to thee go to the Minister or some understanding Christian to conferre of it make known thy doubts and this is a good way to get knowledg The two Disciples that came to Emaus inquired by the way and discoursed and 't is thy duty to speak of the Word in thy house and as thou goest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up Deut. 6.7 Oh what benefit might Christians get were they careful of this Duty the word of God would then dwell plentuously in them this would make a deeper impression in the Heart and would be a notable means to grow in knowledg When thou hast passed thus far than press it upon thy own heart for what good will it do thee otherwise examine thy self by the Marks and Characters whether thou hast those gratious Qualifications yea or no whether thou art yet under the power of sin and Satan and whether delivered and be accordingly affected press home every reproof to thy self and see how far guilty thou hast been mourn for it and reform lay to heart every exhortation to duty and let every motive strengthen thy Resolution practice every direction and make the best use of every passage for thy Souls good and be sure to practice what is taught thee otherwise thou maist hear all the days of thy life to little purpose 't is not the hearers of the Law but the doers that are justified he that knoweth his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes yea 't is not enough that thou practice it thy self but thou must endeavour that others may do so also to this end thou must instruct thy Family thy Children and thy Servants what in thee lyes press them on also to obedience this is a commanded duty Eph. 6.4 Deut. 4.9 And it was the practice of the Saints in all Ages Deut. 18.19 Prov. 4.4 and 31.1 And because all thy services without Gods blessing are worth nothing 't is thy duty to go to God by prayer to fasten these truths upon thy heart which thou hast heard and open the heart of thy Family Paul may plant and Apollos water but 't is God must give the increase mark also from time to time how thou dost grow or decrease These Directions well used through Gods blessing will make thee profit by hearing CHAP. IV. Directions in Reading the Word THe next Duty I shall point out unto you is the Reading the Scripture and other good Books which open and apply it for this also is necessary and very beneficial to the Soul and though it be not sufficient where the preaching of the word is to be had yet it is a necessary addition and many a Soul hath had experience of much good received by it this word is the Law of the Lord which is perfect converting the Soul and many instances might be given of men converted by it especially where the word of God hath not ordinarily been preached That it is a commanded duty see Deut. 17.19 where the King is commanded to take this book of the Law and read therein all the daies of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord and keep his commandements and if Kings themselves are not exempted notwithstanding the multiplicity of their business who then can plead exemption yea the Priests were to read it in the ears of all Israel Deut. 31.11 'T is the Apostles advice even to Timothy to give attendance to reading 1 Tim. 4.13 and as 't is a commanded duty so 't is the practice of the godly in all Ages Moses took the book of the Covenant and read it in the ears of all the People Exod. 24.7 So did Joshua Chap. 8.34,35 So did Josiah 2 Chron. 34,35 and Nehemiah Chap. 8.38.18 and 9.3 thus the Enuch Acts 8.30 yea there is a blessing pronounced upon it Rev. 1.3 Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophecy and there is good reason for it for as the Sun is to the World such is the Word of God to a Christian the very light of their lives and the life of their Souls but as it fares with the Sun because it commonly riseth and sets therefore it is not sufficiently heeded and admired so 't is with the Word being common 't is not sufficiently prized Mannah you know was at first admired at the last loathed so 't is here if God should send a Famine of the Word it would be prized as it was when a Cart load of Hay was given for a few Chapters of the New Testament the worth of it will be known in the want of it as Health is best prized in Sickness Peace in War and Liberty in Bondage Now for the Persons that ought to read they are all that are in a Capacity for if any were exempted they would be Kings for the multiplicity of their business but the book of God must be to them a Vade mecum a constant Companion Parents are to teach their Children in it and under these two Relations all Superiours and inferiours are contained Deut. 6.7 'T is the Devils practice and policy no doubt to keep Men from reading the Scriptures Christ bids search the Scriptures and how dare Papists and others speak the contrary we are commanded to let the word of God dwell plentifully in us and 't is made a mark for a blessed man to meditate in Day and Night here is the Mine out of which we must dig for knowledg Prov. 2.3,4 Oh that men would spend that time in Reading Meditating and conferring of the word of God which they do in Vain and idle Visits needless Recreations Carding Diceing Drinking Drabbing and such like how much would it conduce to their Souls health this makes more to the evening their accounts with God and making preparation for the Soul than the other will I know 't is objected that the Scriptures are difficult to understand and therefore dangerous to be meddled with lest they be abused this is the Objection of the Papists on the one side it being their interest to keep men in ignorance and the Sloathful on the other who will not Plough because of Winter Prov. 20.4 but this should rather quicken our diligence than serve for a discouragement if difficult duties be neglected we shall never reach Heaven 't is true some things are difficult but the most necessary are plain and easie here indeed a Lamb may wade and
an Elephant may swim but the gains will countervail the loss and charge here is a Lamp to light us the dew of Heaven to refresh us a sword to defend us a key to open Christs will to us flaggons of Wine and Apples of Paradice take therefore these Directions in thy Reading 4. Direction If thou wouldest Read the Word with profit 't is necessary that thou prepare thy heart for so solemn a duty come not out of a huddle of business with thy heart full of the World to discourse with God take not Gods word any more than his Name in vain take it not prophanely into thy mouth without due regard or consideration lest he turn thee away with a Curse instead of a Blessing 't is a business of great concernment even of Life and Death yea of the Eternal well or ill being of thy Soul and therefore not to be slighted beg leave therefore of God before thou meddle with it yea beg his blessing upon it without which nothing can do us good for Soul or Body the want of due preparation causeth many to find the word so ineffectual yea find so little sweetness in it Again if thou wouldst profit by it hold on in a constant course of Reading 't is not reading by fits and starts will serve turn many are now off now on now they will and then they will not as the World gives them leave or as the humour takes them this is not sufficient but get a strong Resolution to hold on in a constant course of Reading what ever comes of it break through all the difficulties that lye in the way a little now and then will do thee little good without this Resolution Satan will baffle thee and lay some temptation in the way to hinder the World will divert thee and one business or other present it self to be done at the same time thy own corruption will oppose it and thy deceitful heart make thee delay it but this being the food of thy Soul be not diverted from it any more than thou wouldest be from thy Meat but this is not sufficient thou must not only do the duty but do it well to this end get thy heart in order get it cleansed from distracting thoughts and cares freed from disquieted motions perterbations A full Vessel can receive no more and a heart full of the World hath no room for Heaven say therefore to thy Worldly cares and thoughts when thou comest to this duty as Abraham to his servants when he went to Sacrifice stay here and I will come to you again set thy self as in the presence of the great God apprehend him by the eye of Faith beholding thee this will keep thy thoughts from roving and thy imaginations from wandring in his Service and awe thy heart and curb thy Affection Bring with thee also a Spiritual Appetite to the means of Grace come with an empty stomack or why dost thou seek after Food An hungry man is most like to taste and relish those dainties the Word was to David sweeter than Honey and the Honey-Comb and to Job better than his appointed Food If there be Spiritual Life in the Soul there will be an Appetite for no Life can be preserved without food Bring Faith also along with thee which is the mouth of the Soul and without this the Soul can receive no nourishment The Word which they heard profited them not because it was not mixt with Faith in them that heard it Heb. 4.2 Reading will do thee little good if thou believe not the Truth of what thou Readest or doubtest of the performance of the Promises or Threatnings Faith also will subdue Carnal Reason and help thee out when thou art at a stand But above all seek help from above from God here are many difficulties too hard for thee to grapple with which cannot be understood but by Divine assistance Paul may Plant and Apollos Water but God gives the Increase 't is he that opened Lydia's Heart and must open thine or the Word cannot do it beg therefore his assistance and come thus prepared to the Duty this is the likeliest way to speed 2. Direct If thou wouldest profit by Reading of the Word be sure to propound right ends to thy self for the End Crowns the Action Many read much and profit little because their Ends are bad they undo themselves and lose their labour by this means Some Read for Custom and for Fashion sake and make reading the end of reading and are like the silly Women the Apostle speaks of always Learning and never come to the knowledge of the Truth and so the work be done matter it no more Some Read to fill their Heads with knowledge and their Brains with Notions that they may thereby be able to discourse with applause when yet they never suffer it to sink down or soak into or season the heart but such speculative knowledge doth little good yea great hurt It makes them sin with a Candle in their hands And some Read to a worse end that they may be able to oppose the Truth and maintain Error and pervert the good ways of God thus the Pharisees thus the Jesuits and many Hereticks But every one should and a true Christian doth in this duty as well as others make God's glory in the Salvation of his own and others Souls the mark he aims at and regulates his Actions accordingly And doubtless from God he will receive his Reward When others as it was self they aimed at so from self they must expect their wages A Believer he would know more that he may obey better he would know God better that he might Love him more and know God's will that he might do his work he would know his work as well as his wages his Duties as well as his Priviledges He reads he word of God and those Books which open and apply it that he may know Truth from Error and follow the one and fly the other and may not be seduced by false Teachers nor drawn aside from the Rule to the Right hand or to the Left He would know Light from Darkness and have the Scales of Ignorance fall from his Eyes he would know good from evil that he might follow the one and avoid the other he would be able to try the Spirits whether they are of God or no yea to try all things and hold fast that which is good he would know Vice from Virtue and discern what is sin and what is duty that he be not like those that in Persecuting the Saints think they do God good Service he would be acquainted with his own Heart and know the state of his own Soul and whether his Evidences for Heaven be good or no he observes what qualifications the Scripture requires for Heaven and then by Scripture-Light he would discern them in his own heart and endeavours to Read his own Name in the Book of Life and see what Interest he hath in
is stored with wholesome truths which otherwise would be barren and empty of any thing that is good and stored only with Vanity and Folly this seasons it and fills it with good things which otherwise would be a Cage of unclean Birds a very Sink of Sin and Filthiness this seasons the thoughts which produce Works and Actions Meditation in the Word is that which David was excellent at and every blessed Man should follow Psal 1.2 and Solomon adviseth to when he bid search for Wisdome as for Silver and dig for it as for fine Gold Prov. 24. this also hath a Promise of speeding annexed Prov. 2.12 c. This is the way which the faithful in all Ages have taken and hereby it was they became famous We finde Peter alone upon the House top a fit place for Meditation you may finde Isaac in the Fields meditating Gen. 24.63 Act. 10.9 Elijah upon Mount Carmel and Daniel by the Brook of Vlai and how Sapless and Unsavery are all the Pleasures in the World to a Man skill'd in Divine Meditation The Phylosophers that knew little of God and less of the Scriptures were so taken up with their Phylosophical Notions and Speculations that they oft-times mattered not their Meat or their Drink or their necessary recreations Archimedes was so taken up with his Geometrical Notions that when the City Syracuse was taken he was heedless yea when a Soldier stood ready to kill him would not be drawn off till Death it self ended his Contemplations if the Creature can bring such satisfaction what will the study of the Creator do and the Meditation of Heaven and Glory but alass where shall we finde a wise Man many read it not at all others cursorily few fruitfully most are forgetful hearers and forgetful readers but Meditation would fix it in the Memory 7. Direct If thou wouldst Read with profit apply what thou readest to thy self and bring thy heart to the Rule and thy Graces to this Touchstone and behold thy Face in this Glass of the Word to what end is Meat given but to be eaten or Physick but to be taken or a Plaister but to be applyed many read much and profit little because they apply not what they read to themselves perhaps they can apply it to others and say here is for such and such a man when they neglect their own Portion They are like the Pharisees they binde heavy burthens and grievous to be bourn and lay them upon other mens shoulders but they themselves will not touch them with one of their fingers but why wilt thou deal so liberally to others and deal so deceitfully with thy own Soul doth it want nothing or doth God speak nothing to thee but only to others In the things of the World thou art not so kinde thou wouldest not be deceived by another neither wouldest thou give away thy Estate with thy own hands to another and why art thou so injurious to thy Soul in things of a higher Nature thou wilt not deprive thy belly of Food nor thy back of Raiment must thy Soul only be deprived of both An hungry man will not thus dispose of his meat nor a covetuous man of his money and this thy liberality shewes thou hast neither a stomack to these spiritual dainties nor a desire after these spiritual and heavenly treasures This word is of general use to all every one hath his Portion for as God hath made nothing in vain so he hath spoke nothing in vain when therefore thou readest his Precepts wherein he commands duty and forbids sin perswade thy self that God is now particularly speaking unto thee and apply what is speaking to thy self as if there was no other Man or Woman in the World besides thee or as if God by an audible voice called thee out by Name as he did Samuel and gave thee these Commands to observe these duties to do these sins to avoid and let it deterre thee from sin and quicken thee to duty as if God himself had spoken to thee from Heaven When a Minister reproves sin some guilty Consciences say he means me 't is true if thou be guilty the Minister doth mean thee and God means thee when the Word speaks against Drunkards Swearers Lyars then it means thee if thou art guilty of those sins When thou readest the pretious Promises which God hath made unto repugnant Sinners assure thy self if thou be such a one these promises will be made good to thee yea as sure as if thy Name were written by the finger of God in the Scripture and annexed to them yea as if they were made to none but thee and those threatnings thou reapest in the word of God against unrepenting Sinners assure thy self if thou be in that condition thou art as much concerned in them and they will be as certainly made good upon thee if thou continue in this condition as if they had been only denounced against thee and those reproofs which thou readest for sin take them to thy self as spoken by God to thee if thou be guilty of the sin reproved for assure thy self God means thee in them and those Marks and Characters of Divine graces and gracious Qualifications scattered through out the Scriptures make use of to try thy self by make use also of all the Admonitions God gives thee and of all the examples thou findest of Divine vengeance let them deterre thee from sin and all the examples of Holy Saints encourage thee in good and generally of all sorts of Directions Instructions c. thus doing thou wilt gather good by thy Reading CHAP. V. Directions for Meditation THE next Duty I shall speak of is Meditation a necessary though much neglected Duty Yea Christians themselves that make Conscience of other Duties and are much in hearing reading and Prayer yet are too backward yea unskill'd in the right performance of this duty But did they know the benefit of it and the incomes many receive by it they would not neglect it it brings much Advantage to a gracious Soul and stores it with many Heavenly Truths which those that neglect it never attain In this a man ingages all the powers of his Soul and bends his mind to consider and muse upon some Spiritual Object for I speak not of it here as wicked men use it to devise mischief but as a Christian duty Now Meditation is either Occasional and Sudden or else Solemn and Set for both are necessary both are beneficial The former is occasioned by Objects occasionally presented by the Providence of God either to the Senses or brought to the Memory and resembles those sudden Ejaculations suddenly occasioned only in the one a man speaks to God and in the other a man speaks to his own Heart Thus we see David by beholding the Sun Moon and Stars those glorious Lamps of Heaven he falls out into Admiration of God's Love to poor man in raising him above these and making him but a little lower than the
Meditation which is the duty of all men and at all times but of set and solemn Meditation which is a duty at some times only and when thou comest unto it thou shouldst come preparedly no duty can be well performed without much less this so serious and solemn a duty this requires the exercise of all the powers of the Soul and the whole bent of the Minde they must be wholly set upon some special Object which for the time we make the matter of our Meditation this duty is as the chewing of the Cud in the clean Beasts or as in digestion to the Body for as digestion turns Food into Soil and Blood and Spirits and Flesh So Meditation turns thee Truths received into Affections Resolutions Acts yea into a-Holy Life and Conversation now the Preparations required are either Internal or External the Internal is chiefly the Heart and the Understanding the Heart is the chief Instrument in the Work if the Instrument be in Tune the Musick will be good if that be out it will be little worth The success of the Work depends much upon the frame of the Heart if that be right God will vouchsafe to dwell there and give in his Assistance in the duty and without his assistance the duty will do us little good There must be Grace in the Heart as well as knowledg in the Brain or the Work will not prosper in our Hands get thy affections as much off from the World and as resolvedly set upon Christ as thou canst for Christ will admit of no Partner and as a gracious Heart so an Understanding Head would much forward the Work 't is a sweet Conjunction where these meet but if severed the former is most requisite come with an empty Heart and it will be filled with an inlarged Heart and it will be satisfied this duty is enough to exercise the whole Man were the Faculties a thousand times more capacious then they are Angels themselves cannot dive into the bottom of many Misteries lay by therefore all other Thoughts Occasions Business and Concernments whatsoever and gather in thy whole strength and set upon the duty bring not a full Vessel that can hold no more if a Vessel be full of Water there is no room for Wine if thy hands be full of Muck thou canst hold no Money if thy Heart be stuff'd with Trifles it can hold no better Treasure When thou mountest this Hill of Contemplation be sure with Abraham leave all at the foot of the Hill say stand by Pleasures stand by Friends stand by World and Worldly things I am going to Sacrifice and will come again When we come into our Princes presence we leave our Muck behind us and bring no unsuitable Company with us much more when we come into Gods presence cast off all sin out with the World and Worldly thoughts yea all other thoughts though at other times good which will any ways disturb thee and dispose thy business so that thou maist not be hindred and for external preparation it consists in the Observation of some needful Circumstances as Time Place c. For Occasional Meditation all Times and all Places are fit when an opportunity is offered but not so here the Sabbath day is a fit time when other duties are not on foot but this is not enough upon other daies experience will best instruct thee when the Spirits are most lively and active and fit for the work in the Morning or in the Evening the like I say for Place where thou findest it most convenient at home or abroad in the House or in the Field the Place which is most suitable and freest from distraction is the fittest Isaac walked into the Fields Christ in the Garden Peter on the top of the House but I conceive ordinarily for this set Meditation that place which Christ appointed for private Prayer is suitable for this secret duty viz. The Closet with the door shut Mat 6.46 In a word when thou feelest a sweet gale of the Spirit assisting thee lose not the oppertunity strike while the Iron is hot perhaps thou maist do more then in an hour than at another time in a day 3. Direct Having thus prepared thy heart for the Work and made choice of a fit time and place set upon it set thy self seriously as in the presence of God apprehend him taking notice of thee how thou performest this duty and this will keep thy heart from wandring and thy thoughts from roveing yea before thou begin put up some pithy fervent Petitions for Gods Assistance and Direction and that he will give thee his holy Spirit to the end and that he will take possession of thy heart and keep thy thoughts from wandring from the duty for without Gods Assistance thou wilt but strive in thy own strength and lose all thy labour when thou hast made this entrance by Prayer make choice of some profitable Subject to Meditate upon all Meditation though Set and Solemn and serious is not that I treat of How seriously doth the Covetuous Man study how to grow rich yea perhaps how to deceive his Brother How serious is the Voluptious Man studying how to get Pleasure or satisfie his lust the Ambitious Man how to get honour the Envious Man how to do his Neighbour a Mischief yea the Holy Ghost saith he cannot sleep till it be done but this is Devillish and not Divine Meditation but single out some choice profitable Subject and let thy thoughts run upon that that which may winde up thy Affection neerer unto God and which is well worth the time thou imployest about it the Word of God or Natures Garden will furnish thee with Flowers enow to gather Honey on The Scripture will abundantly furnish thee to this end no Verse but may be matter of Meditation this is the Cannon whereby thou maist try good from bad and truth from error by this thou maist know what is Duty what is Sin what is true and what is false or thou maist take any Common place in Divinity for the Subject of thy Meditation here thou maist finde a large Field to walk in and many necessary yea fundamental truths may fall under consideration but take heed of meddling with secret things which belong only to God there is enough revealed for thy Salvation and this should be sufficient for thy satisfaction were it needful I might lead thee by the hand and shew thee matter sufficient to work upon as the Nature and Attributes of God but this is such a bottomless gulf that the Angels themselves could never sound or fathom yet here we may sail by the Scripture Chard in safety consider also the Works of God the Decree Creation and Providence consider thy own Estate in the Creation after the Fall and in thy Restauration consider Christ the Mediator in his Nature and Offices his Incarnation Birth Life Doctrine Miracles Death and Passion his Resurrection Ascention and Intercession and his coming at the
last to Judgment and here thou hast matter enough to spend thy days about Consider also the Commands of God and the Duties he requires at thy hands and the promises he makes to the Obedient and the threatnings to the Disobedient Consider also the four last things Death and Judgment Heaven and Hell and by this thou seest there is work enough in Natures Garden Also there are a thousand things well worthy thy consideration there is not a Weed in the Field a Tree in thy Orchard an Herb in thy Garden a Beast in thy Pasture a Fowl in the Air or a Fish in the Sea or River but will Teach thee something and 't is a barren Heart indeed that cannot draw a Meditation from the least Gnat or most despicable Worm that crawls under his Feet 4. Direct Having thus prepared matter and pitcht upon some suitable Subject to Exercise thy thoughts and Meditations upon proceed then to drive on thy intended design to a head and to the end thou didst propose Now this end should be the enlightning of the Understanding and the clearing it from Error or Ignorance and the quickning the Affections and raising them to a higher pitch and the bringing of the Will to a Resolution In Meditation if rightly managed the Soul Exercises two sorts of Acts the one direct the other reflect the first upon the Subject Meditated upon the other upon the Soul it self By the first we find out the Rule by the second we apply our own Hearts to the Rule and observe our deviation and obliquity the first enlightens the Understanding and the other quickens the Affections by the first we come to know what is true what is false what is good what is bad what is sin what is duty and consequently what is to be chosen and what refused By the other we apply our Actions to this Rule and try whether we have walked according to it wherein we have gone astray and which way to return Now as there are two sorts of Acts so there is a different way for the Souls Acting for the attaining of those several ends For the first of these some have pitcht upon this course which though all men are not able to follow yet I shall set down for the use of those that can And that is to have recourse to those places that Natural and Artificial Reason affords us which may help the Invention and ready the Memory and much facilitate the Work I mean those Logical places following As first to consider the thing about which we Meditate what it is and therefore as ability doth serve consider it in the definition or the description of it but stand not over-long or over-nicely upon this or any of those that follow lest what you get one way may be lost another what you get in the Understanding be lost in the Affections And when thou hast found out the Nature of the thing consider it also in the distribution of it if it be a Subject capable of the sorts kinds and parts of it this will give room to thy thoughts and thy proceeding will be more distinct Consider it also in the causes the Efficient Material Formal and Final Cause The Efficient Cause is that by whose Virtue Force or Efficacy a thing is The Material Cause is ex qua res est of what matter a thing is made the Form is whereby a thing is that which it is and the end is the Cause for whose sake or for what purpose a thing is Consider also if the Subject will admit the Fruits and Effects for these are useful and helpful in the work and are also pertinent to our business Consider also the Subject wherein it is and about which 't is occupied as also of it's Properties and Qualities either adhering to it or inhering in it together with the opposite and contrary this also is useful also the comparats and desperats what it is like and what it 's unlike fit similitudes much Illustrate and give great light to the Understanding Testimony also is to be regarded but Noble Command assent like those of Scripture Holy mens Testimony is of good use but Divine Authority is all in all Or if you think this way too intricate you may take such a Method as is most Familiar to explain the Subject you treat of raise thy Observations clear the Doctrine from difficulties and doubts prove it both by Scripture and Reason and then make use of it according to the Nature of the Subject let it inform thee in the useful consectaries and conclusions that may thence follow let it Instruct thee in the duties it reaches forth let it be for Examination how thou hast carried thy self or whether thou hast the required qualifications for reproof if thou hast gone astray for incouragement if thou hast done thy duty for caution for the time to come and press all home upon thy heart Such a course is like to furnish thee with sutable matter for thy Souls good 5. Direct When thou hast thus far proceeded and by Meditation hast informed thy self of what is necessary in the present point and hast found out by the use of Reason and Scripture-Light what is Truth and what is Error what is sin and what is Duty what thou oughtest to do and what to avoid Thy next work is to press this upon thine own Head and compare thy Head and Actions with the Rule and try wherein thou hast gone right and wherein thou hast gone astray for if thou do not thus reflect back upon thy own Heart and Life the duty will do thee little good If thou only study to find out Truth from Error or what is sin and what is duty without Regulating thy Life and Actions accordingly and endeavour to fill thy Head with Notional knowledge it will but aggravate thy sin and thou wilt sin with a Candle in thy hand But when by this Impartial Tryal thou findest out wherein thou hast sinned and come short of thy duty which the Law of God requires at thy hand or wantest those required qualifications necessary to Salvation Press those things home upon thy heart till they make some Impressions there yea till they stir up the Affections and work upon the Will to a through Resolution of Reformation for the time to come This is the Life of Meditation and without this 't is little worth When thou findest wherein thou hast come short to come to a Resolution to make more hast and where thou hast sinned gone astray to return and where thou hast sinned to Reform Press on thy Meditation till thou findest some Life in it according to the Nature of the thing if it be good till thou find a sweetness in it if bad till it appear odious If it appear to be good by Scripture-light and rectified Reason then the affection of Love must needs be stirring for good is it's object and evil as evil cannot be loved When it appears to be bad the affection
overwhelmed in the Sea Exod. 14.21 Over Amalek Exod. 17.12 Over Sennacherib 2 Kings 19.32 It hath with-held Rain from the Earth for a long time and after procured it James 5.17,18 It hath brought Angels from Heaven for the help of man thus to Daniel Chap. 9.21 For Hezekiahs help 2 Kings 19.35 where an Angel slew in one Night in the Camp of Sennacherib a hundred forty and five thousand And to Elisha 2 Kings 6.17 where the Mountain was full of Horses and Chariots of Fire about Elisha It hath brought Fire from Heaven to consume the Enemies 2 Kin. 1.10.12 It hath procured Bears to devour those Children that mocked the Prophet 2 Kings 2.24 It is the way to cast out Devils Mat. 17.21 and to work strange deliverances as Jonah out of the Whales belly Jonah 2.10 Peter out of Prison Acts 12.5 c. By this the Widdows Oyl was increased 2 King 4.3 And Miracles might be wrought Mark 11.23 This is the way to recover the Sick James 5.15 To divert Judgments felt or feared thus Moses oft stood in the gap This is the way to procure pardon of Sin Luke 18.13 To avoid the Temptations of Satan Mat. 26.41 To have deliverance out of Troubles Psal 50.15 To procure the Spirit of God Luke 12.13 To get Wisdom James 1.5 Who now would not set upon such a Duty Now to perform this Duty well take these Directions 1. Direct There are several Qualifications requisite to every one that would rightly perform this Duty of Prayer in an acceptable manner without which a Blessing cannot be expected for though Christ bids ask and we shall have seek and we shall find knock and it shall be opened to us Yet St. James tells us we ask and have not because we ask amiss It is necessary in the first place that thou be a Child of God and have the work of Grace wrought upon thy Heart or otherwise thou hast no assurance of being heard The blind man John 9.31 could say God heareth not Sinners I know 't is the Duty of others to pray and the Apostle incourageth Simon Magus to the Duty if perhaps the thoughts of his heart might be forgiven But till the Heart be brought over to God we have no assurance that God will hear us the Sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to God till then we cannot comfortably call God Father nor come with boldness to the Throne of Grace neither will Christ Mediate or Intercede for us while we remain his Enemies neither will the Spirit of God assist us in the Duty Rom. 8.15 It is in Christ and through Faith that we have boldness and access with Confidence to God Eph. 3 12. 'T is necessary also that we hate sin if we come to God for he is a devouring Fire to his Enemies and will not be reconciled to those that are reconciled to Sin How can we heartily pray against Sin and for Holiness if we love Sin and hate Holiness As all unconverted Sinners do This is dissembling with God when the Heart is not with him If I regard Iniquity in my Heart saith David God will not hear my Prayers Psal 66.18 Yea God who is Holiness it self requires Holiness in all those that draw near to him and he being a Spirit will be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth Without Holiness no man shall ever see God with Comfort Heb. 12.14 Knowledge also is requisite for God cannot abide the Blind and the Lame in Sacrifice without this the mind cannot be good nor the Service acceptable without this a man knows not what to pray for or what to pray against what to seek or what to shun what is sin or what is Duty what he wants or what he hath and what blind worship is he like to offer he can never Pray as he ought Self-denial also is necessary he should in all things subject his will to the will of God A notable Example we have in Christ himself whose Meat and Drink it was to do his Fathers Will. So when he had prayed that that bitter Cup might pass from him yet adds not my Will but thine be done and thus he hath taught us to pray Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Faith also is requireâ— for if those shafts of Prayer are not headed by Faith they will never reach Heaven this is the Condition required whatsoever you ask believingly you shall receive and without Faith 't is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Nay further Patience is also required we must wait for an Answer not like those short-winded Bethulians that set God a time and will wait no longer but refer all to his Will who best knows his own time yea the best time and fittest Season He ought also to be an Humble man for God resisteth the Proud and giveth Grace to the Humble He that hath not low self-denying thoughts of himself God will have low thoughts of his Service he fills the hungry with good things but the Rich he sends empty away He must also beg for the power and assistance of the Spirit Rom. 8.26 God knows the voice of his Spirit Come not in thy own strength Thou must also be painful and Laborious not only pray for Mercies but endeavour for them a few faint wishes will not serve turn Sin must be fought against as well as pray'd against endeavours must be used 2. Direct Before thou come to this Duty of Prayer prepare thy Heart to meet the Lord thy God in so solemn a Duty Wert thou but to meet some Prince or Noble Man thou wouldst make some Preparation much more shouldst thou when thou art to meet the great God one that knows the Secrets of thy Heart and thy Ends and Motives in the Duty What business of Concernment is there but needs some preparation Much more when the Soul is so deeply concerned in it Examine therefore what Relation thou standest in to God whether he be a Friend or an Enemy Who can come with boldness to him that hath offended him and is not Reconciled If thou hast not a Mediator to Intercede for thee and a Surety to undertake thy Debt how darest thou approach to the Creditor to whom thou owest ten thousand Talents and canst not pay a Farthing How dar'st approach this Consuming Fire that art but Chaff and Stubble And what hopes hast of speeding if thou be not within the Covenant The promise belongs not to thee But when thou canst find an Interest in God and in the Covenant and in Christ canst call God Father yet rush not rudely into his Presence but study well what things he hath promised for those thou maist boldly ask Heaven and Earth shall pass but his Word shall not pass till it be fulfilled But if thou ask amiss that is what he never promised no wonder if thou receive it not acquaint thy self well with the Attributes of God his Power Goodness Justice and Truth c. This will be an Excellent
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
imagined that God immediately from Heaven struck them dead for every such Transgression We find indeed the Law Executed Numb 15.36 by the Command of God upon the man that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath but it was done by the hand of man though men cannot be compelled to become true Christians yet they may and ought to be forc'd to an outward Compliance and restrained from the open violation of the known Laws of God though they will not Sanctifie it in their Heart they should be restrained from Prophaning it with their Hands or Tongues False Prophets should not be suffered to deceive the People and those that Teach Errors and Heresies should be restrained But alas here is our Misery we have few Nehemiahs in our Time to redress these abuses Many not only do it themselves but take Pleasure in those that do and the Sabbath is Prophaned and few lay it to Heart Ministers also in their place should see to the Observation of it though they cannot compel yet they may perswade and denounce the Judgments of God against the wilful breakers of his Law The Word and Sword should go together and if they prove obstinate Sinners they should be cast out as those that are not fit for a Christian Society Excommunication hath proceeded I suppose against Persons for less faults in God's Account Governors of Families also whether Parents or Masters should look to those under their Charge for neither Son nor Daughter Man-Servant nor Maid-Servant should break this Law and though they have not the Power of Life and Death as the Magistrate hath yet he hath Power to Command Rebuke Restrain and if need be to Correct And why hath God given this Power into their Hands but to this End Abraham Joshua David and others did thus Reform their Families Gen. 18.19 Josh 24.15 Psal 101. throughout Eph. 6.4 Esther 4.6 Servants that are of another Religion as suppose a Jew or a Mahometan yet ought to be restrained from the open Prophanation of it But alass many Parents and Masters will Prophane it themselves and it cannot be imagined that they will see to their Children or Servants yea often both by Precept and President they Command the violation and many that will not openly Prophane it themselves yet wink at others when they do it but cannot God thinkest thou discern the thoughts of thy Heart and see thy approbation of it Some plead as Lot of Zoar 't is a little one 't is a small matter the more shame to break a Command of God for a small matter if the Devil mend thy Wages thou wilt mend thy Work and a greater Temptation will make thee break them all but thou wilt find none so small some plead a necessity for doing this or that but was it not thy neglect that made it necessary Some plead Youth must have some Recreation so they must have Food and Raiment shall they therefore steal for it Why may they not have it out of thy six days as well as out of God's one Give them of thy own and not of anothers time for it CHAP. IX Directions in Baptism IN the next place I shall come to Treat of the Sacraments and give some Directions in the right use of them which is a business of very great Concernment and the most miscarry and lose their Labour that use them I shall spend a few words concerning Sacraments in general and then Treat of them severally A Sacrament is a visible sign and Seal of the Covenant of Grace Instituted and Ordained by God himself whereby he confirmeth unto the Elect the free promise of the Gospel Christ and all his Benefits and also bindeth them unto Obedience to his revealed Will. The Covenant which God made with Adam in Paradice was a Covenant of Works engaging to perfect Obedience upon pain of Death and Damnation do this and Live And had man continued in Innocency he had been everlastingly happy upon that Covenant terms But when by the Instigations of Satan man had broken this Covenant and Transgressed that Command which forbid him to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of good and Evil he lost by this Transgression that Image of God wherein he was Created and in the room of it had the Image of Satan stampt upon his Soul and instead of Original Righteousness had Original Sin and his whole Nature was depraved And after which Fall it was impossible that he or any of his Posterity should ever have been saved upon the first Covenant terms and lay under a necessity of perishing if the great God had not found out a way which Man nor Angel could not have done to Reconcile sinful Man to himself by a Mediator and to this end sent his own Son out of his own Bosom to be made Man that being God and Man he might be a fit Mediator between God and Man Who by his Death and Passion discharged the Debt bought the Prisoners into his own hands and enters into a new Covenant with them even a Covenant of Grace the Tenor of it is Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and unto this Covenant the Sacrament Seals Now this Covenant in the Time of the Law and in the Time of the Gospel was one and the same for Substance though under a different Administration It was then more dark and Typical now more clear and manifest and even then also God gave them Seals to this Covenant which were Circumcision and the Passeover not that they were needful on God's part for his Promises are Yea and Amen but on Man's part they were lest being sensible of his own unworthiness he should doubt and despair of God's Mercy Now in the Time of the Gospel God altering the Administration for when the Substance was come the shadows fled away he altered the Seals also and appointed only two Baptism and the Lord's Supper The one for our Entrance into the Church the other for our growth and nourishment These and these only are our Gospel Sacraments as for these five added by the Papists they are properly no Sacraments at all for the Covenant of Grace is not Sealed by them Some of them want a Divine Institution some of them have not the Nature of a Sacrament and a Divine promise is wanting and therefore a Blessing cannot be expected Now Baptism is the first Sacrament of the New Testament both in regard of Institution Administration Order and Use and therefore comes first to be Treated of The word is taken from the Greeks and signifies to wash or dip c. and 't is Attributed in Scripture to many things but I shall not trouble you with them only in this place we Treat of it as 't is a Sacrament of the New Testament Instituted by Christ whereby Persons are dipped in or sprinkled with water in the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and so Dedicated and Devoted to the Service and Worship of God and entred into his
the outward Signs or Symbols viz. Bread and Wine which though they are not changed into the Body and Blood of Christ as the Papists Teach yet are they not naked bare or empty things but such as really exhibit yea Seal Christ and all his Benefits to a Believing Soul No other Bread nor Wine in the World though a drop a bit were worth a Kingdom are to be compared hereunto The Internal Matter is Christ and all his Graces these are signified resembled exhibited and applyed by the outward Elements The Form is that which gives a Being and perfection to the Matter without the which this Bread and Wine would be but Common Bread and Wine This also is External or Internal the External Form consists in the Lawful Administration and participation of it according to God's Word the Internal Form is the Union between the Sign and the thing signified Now this Sacramental Union is an Act of God's Spirit by whose virtue Christ his Merits and Benefits are not only resembled and presented to the mind but are really made one with the Elements yet this Union is not Natural according to place for there is no mutation of the Sign into the thing signified neither is the thing signified included or fastened to the thing signifying it cannot be a local Union that Christ's Body should be locally present with the Sign for Christ's Body though Glorified cannot be in all places at once Neither is it a Physical Union as if of two United losing their proper Forms should by a mixture make a third but 't is a Spiritual Union whereby the Lord Jesus is really conveyed to the Soul for besides his Divine presence and the presence of his Spirit he is present with his Body and Blood not locally but Sacramentally he is Symbolically present to the mind he is present Spiritually by the Eye of Faith Efficaciously present though absent in Place yet we find the fruit of his presence in our Spirits the Ends of the Sacrament are the confirmation of our Faith the Sealing of the Covenant of Grace and to be a Badge or Note of our Profession to be a pledge of our Obedience to and Communion with Christ and a Testimony of our Society with the Church and may seem as a Prospective Glass to view Christ afar off In the Covenant God promises to be our God and the God of our Seed and sets to his Seal and we Seal the Counterpane and ingage that we and ours will Serve the Lord and by virtue of this Covenant so mutually entred into all the Promises and Benefits of the Covenant are ours so that you see a right receiving of this Sacrament is of very great Concernment and the unworthy Receiving is very dangerous Here is Manna for a believing Soul but Poyson to an unworthy Receiver This nourished Peter but Poysoned Judas it feeds the good but kills the bad it makes some better and some worse some more Holy and some more Prophane it increaseth Grace where Grace is but increaseth Guilt where Grace is wanting 'T is like the Sun when it shines upon a Garden of Herbs it makes them smell more odoriferously when upon a Dung-Hill it makes it smell more fulsomly 'T is like the passing through the Red Sea safe to Israel dangerous to the Egyptians he that brings strange Fire he shall be burnt by it Lev. 10.3 God will be Honoured by those that draw near to him he that comes without a Wedding Garment shall go away not with Grace in his Heart but with Bolts upon his Heels Mat. 22.12 According to a mans preparation such is like to be his Entertainment He that Sows nothing shall Reap nothing and he that Soweth Vanity shall Reap Folly and he that Sows sparingly shall Reap little 2 Cor. 9.6 He that taketh most care and pains is like to have the best Crop Me-thinks there needs no more Motives to perswade you than the benefit of worthy Receiving and the danger of the contrary the one hath his Grace increased the other his sin the one hath his Salvation Sealed up the other without Repentance his Damnation He hath God's Curse under Seal and they Eat and Drink their own Damnation and are guilty of Christ's Death 1. Direct If thou wouldst partake of the Sacrament worthily thou must Examine thy self whether thou hast those Habitual Qualifications which are requisite for so Holy a Duty There are several Graces that must be Exercised at this time but how can a Man Act Grace that hath it not He that comes to the Wedding Feast without a Wedding Garment is not like to be a welcom Guest Mat. 22.12 Without Grace in Exercise this Ordinance will do thee little good Thou mayst indeed eat the Bread and drink the Wine these are bodily Actions but without Faith thou canst not feed upon Christ in the Ordinance and what good will a bit of Bread or a sup of Wine do thee Faith is the Hand that receives him the Mouth that feeds upon him and the Stomach that digests him and sucks sweetness from him Try whether thou hast Spiritual Life a Man by Nature is dead in sins and Trespasses and without Regeneration he remains thus and what good will a Feast do to a Dead Man If you put Meat into a Dead Man's mouth what is he benefited by it Will it nourish him Can he eat it swallow or Digest it when he cannot Exercise any Act of Life without which Food will be in vain No more can this Sacrament nourish till a Man be Regenerated and new born and have a Principle of Spiritual Life put into him A wicked Man is a Stranger to the Covenant of Grace he hath not the required Qualifications neither doth he intend to keep the Condition and what then hath he to do with the Seal Or what hope can he have of the Priviledges If a Man hath Evidences for Lands mutually Signed and Sealed if he fail in the Covenants on his part how can he expect another should make good his A wicked Man is Uncircumcised in Heart and those that were not circumcised were not permitted to eat the Passeover to which the Lord's Supper Answers Exod. 12.43 Now these Habitual Qualifications are such as the Scripture requires and such as make up the Wedding Garment And a Man should have Evidences to shew before he lay claim to such an Ordinance he should be in Covenant before he receive the Seal of the Covenant This Ordinance is not for the begetting but for the strengthening of Grace The Apostle to this End bids a Man Examine himself and so let him eat of this Bread and drink of this Cup 1 Cor. 11.28,29 For he that eateth this Bread and drinketh this Cup of the Lord unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself not discerning the Lords Body The word Examine signifies to take a strict Account of himself and make a diligent search into himself as whether he be Gold or dross whether he be chaff or Wheat
House but he propounds some End for so doing otherwise 't is an irrational Enterprise The skilful Archer shoots not at random but the Mark is in his Eye The skilful Pilot propounds to himself the wished Haven as his End and all his endeavour tends thither Every one incoming to the Ordinance propounds one End or other but if thou propound a wrong End take what pains thou wilt thou wilt like the Pharisees Mat. 6.1,2 c. lose thy Reward if thou perform with them a Commanded Duty and aim not at God's Glory but thy own thou must look a Reward elsewhere and not from God The Papists as they Corrupt this Sacrament in leaving the Institution and making Additions and detractions of their own devising which never came into the mind of God so they pervert it to wrong Ends to further their own Hellish designs as to Murder Kings blow up Parliaments Massacree Protestants and conceal their Hellish Plots c. and many others I fear come with base low and unworthy Ends to this Sacrament Custom brings some shame others fear of the Law a third sort c. and coming in their sin with unprepared Hearts and vicious Lives They make the Table of the Lord the Table of Devils as the Apostle complains and instead of Sealing the Covenant with God they Seal a Covenant with the Devil to remain his Slaves and have the Curse of God and their own Damnation under Seal Now the Principal End which Christians should aim at is God's Glory in the Remembrance of the Death of Christ 1 Cor. 11.24.26 Do this saith Christ in Remembrance of me By eating this Bread and drinking this Cup we shew the Lord's Death till he comes These Elements set apart and Sanctified to this Holy Use being thus taken we profess and in a manner Preach to others the Death of Christ and the Benefits thereby procured which is the sum of the Gospel This Sacrament is unto Christians as the Pillar of Stone Erected in the midst of Jordan by Joshua for a Memorial of the wonderful passing of Israel over Jordan or as the Pot of Manna commanded to be kept in a Memorial that Israel was forty Years fed in the Wilderness with Bread from Heaven So is this Sacrament to be Received even to the End of the World in a Memorial of Christ's Death and Bloody Passion and the Benefits procured to the Church by it And if Israel had sufficient Cause to keep the Passeover for a Memorial of their Deliverance from the Egyptian Bondage much more and greater cause have Christians to keep this Feast for a Memorial of their Deliverance from this Hellish Pharaoh the Devil and his Slavery This is one End why God left us Sacraments that whenever we did partake of them we might Remember this Deliverance and bless God for it this should put us in mind what Christ hath done for us His Life his Doctrine his Miracles his Death and Passion and the whole work of our Redemption But alas many Men when they have the Sacrament in their Mouths have the Devil in their Hearts they seldom mention God's Name except in an Oath or vain speech But these Mens damnation sleepeth not Another End is the Sealing of the Covenant between God and us as I have often mentioned God on his part ratifies it and assures us by his Seal he will make it good And we on our part Dedicate our selves to his Service and annex our Seal He promises to be our God and we promise to be his People But many are not in the Covenant and have nothing to do with the Seal for this is not a begetting Ordinance but confirming those that are begotten such as these Seal a Covenant with Death and Hell Isa 28.15 This Sacrament is like the Water of Jealousie mentioned in the Law if a Woman that drinks of it were pure it would make her fruitful if defiled it would make her Thigh to rot and her Belly to swell Another End is for the increasing Faith and other Graces 't is not for the begetting but increasing Grace and therefore pre-supposeth Grace to be there as also for the maintaining Communion with God and Love one with another they being Members of the same Body and Heirs together of the same Glory 4. Direct If thou wouldst receive the Sacrament profitably examine what it is thou standest in need of and what thou wouldst have God to give thee or do for thee for the Sacrament was Ordained to supply our wants and heal our Diseases 'T is the Souls Market day now when a Man goes unto the Market he considers what he wants and what he needs to buy Now a Christian's wants which he here comes to supply are principally in his Graces 'T is Spiritual wants Soul wants that are here supplyed if Grace be wanting there is no supply promised but if it be weak there is Food may nourish a weak Man and make him stronger but it will not give Life to a dead Carkass The Sacrament is not a begetting but a nourishing Ordinance and God gives none leave to sit at his Table but such as are his Children Who will invite a dead Man to a Feast Now though all God's Children have the Truth of Grace yet have they many defects in Grace A Child that hath Life must have Food to maintain Life and to bring him to his Maturity and full growth Now the wants we should examine before the Sacrament are either defects in Grace and decays of Grace for here is a supply to be had for both if we make a right improvement of this Ordinance Defects in Grace are often discerned by the prevailing of Corruption examine thy self well concerning the state of thy Soul cast an Eye over the several passages of thy Life and bring thy Thoughts and Words and Actions to the Rule and compare them with the Word of God hereby thou maist see what is strait what is crooked look into this Glass of the Law and thou wilt see thy own spots when thou comparest it with the Rule thou wilt see thy Deviations and wilt find where thou hast come short and where thou hast gone out of the way Make a Catalogue of thy sins especially those since thy Conversion and since thy last renenewig thy Covenant with God by this Sacrament and consider thy sins with their several aggravations and when thou seest what thou shouldst have done and what thou hast done compare the one with the other and compare the difference and see how short thou comest 't is the Direction of the Holy Ghost Jer. 3.40 Search and try your ways and turn unto the Lord. Come then to God with shame in thy Face and sorrow in thy Heart and if possible with Tears in thine Eyes confess these thy sins with their aggravations Aaron was Commanded to lay his Hands upon the Head of the Scape-Goat and confess over him all the Iniquities of the Children of Israel and all their transgressions and
42.15 Josh 14.9 1 Kings 20.3 Yea in Gospel times Paul Rom. 1.9 God is my Witness whom I serve in my Spirit I say the Truth in Christ I lye not my Conscience also bearing me Witness in the Holy Ghost c. We have the Custom of all Nations which shews 't is a Principle in Nature who when witness is wanting take an Oath as a Religious Band and because they know not the Heart appeal to God that doth know it Neither is there any thing in an Oath that is intrinsecally Evil neither the Matter Form nor End the calling upon God the Searcher of the Heart to bear witness to the Sincerity of our Intentions for the Satisfaction of others that cannot otherwise be satisfied what Evil can there be in that Heb. 6.16 An Oath is for Confirmation the end of all strife 2 Cor. 1.23 Indeed all rash common Swearing is forbidden by Christ and also by St. James 1. Direct As concerning Oaths Consideration must be had of the parties themselves concerned and they are either the Parties requiring an Oath or the Parties of whom an Oath is required for both of them require some Satisfaction He that requires it should do it by Authority and have a Lawful ground or otherwise he cannot he ought not to exact it by force every Man cannot force another to Swear and without just Cause no one ought in such a Case they ought not to be Obeyed And for the Person Swearing which is Agens Principalis the chief Actor in the business 'T is necessary that he have the use of Reason and that he be sui Juris his own Man and the things that he swears to give be at his own Dispose and hence it follows the Children before they come to the right use of Reason ought not to take an Oath neither indeed should their Oaths be imposed or regarded neither doth such an Oath bind the Conscience being Ignorantly taken they are Ignorant of the Nature of an Oath neither can they come with deliberation as they ought or compare their Action with the Rule or right Reason therefore they ought not to be Admitted But at what Age that is I think is not easie to determine for doubtless some attain it soon some later but I think our Laws say Sixteen Years of Age and before that time their Testimony is not Valid And an Oath may bind the Conscience of some if otherwise Lawful though the Testimony be not Valid by the Law But alas how Common oh too Common is that Customary Swearing of Children even before they can speak plain as if they suckt it in with their Mothers Milk and had been taught it with their Mother Tongue as doubtless they are either by Precept or Example for how many before they can speak plain lisp out Oaths against God himself whose Name they Profanely abuse to the dishonour of God the shame of their Parents the damage of the Nation where they Live for because of Oaths the Land mourns and to the apparent hazard of their own Souls who without Repentance will Eternally Curse their Parents in Hell for their sinful Education Again Mad and Frantick Men are not fit to take an Oath for the same Reason for though they once had the use of Reason yet through their Distemper 't is lost The like we may say of Fools and Idiots that never had it and so never knew the use of an Oath though too many of them though they cannot speak Reason can Swear and Curse and take the Name of God in vain and their proneness to this and other sins and their backwardness to what is good discovers them to be of the Sinful Off-spring of lapsed Adam and is a strong Argument for Original Sin and their want of the use of Reason is some extenuation of their Sin God requires little where little was given yet it excuseth not a toto but a tanto it discovers a foul Fountain that thus bubbles up their Words their Actions their Discourse is not to be heard why then their Oaths Again Men when far gone in Drink or Passion are not fit for this considerate Duty neither can they do it without Sin because not with Mature Deliberation though some Cases their promisory Oaths may bind them and they ought not to break them though it be to their own damage Psal 15.4 For Drunkenness or Immoderate Passion is no Excuse of their Sin but an Aggravation for one Sin will not Excuse another Again if a Man be in his right mind and otherwise qualified yet 't is necessary that he be sui juris his own Man at his own dispose and not anothers in the thing he swears otherwise he cannot avoid sin what Course soever he take As suppose a Son under the Tuition of a Father or a Servant of a Master should without Parents or Masters Consent swear to go a Journey as suppose in Popery on a Pilgrimage this is a Sin because he is not at his own dispose We read in the time of the Law if a Woman Vowed a Vow or a Maid in her Fathers House if her Husband or Father approved not of it it was void consider then whether Vows of single Life or Marriage Promises without Parents consent be valid I am sure they are sinful Those under Authority should not dispose of themselves by Oath without Parents Consent 2. Direct Having already shewn you who may swear and who ought not to swear I come in the next place to tell you by whom you ought to swear and here also we shall meet with much Corruption in Practice though an Oath is Lawful when Lawfully required as by a Lawful Magistrate in a Lawful Cause from a Person rightly qualified as I hove already Discoursed yet 't is not Lawful to swear by whom he pleaseth for an Oath as I told you is part of Divine Worship due to God and his Glory is Concerned in it and he will not give it to another Gen. 21.53 Jacob sware by the fear of his Father Isaac that is by the God whom his Father feared That we ought to swear by God I have shewed you already both by Scriptures and Examples Deut. 6.13 10.20 and many more But where we have any Injunction or Toleration given to swear by any thing that is not God is not easie to find yea it is plain Idolatry to ascribe unto any Creature Divine Worship 't is a setting of them in the place of God yea a dishonouring of God and setting up something else in his stead In a Lawful Oath we do not only assert the Truth for that we do or ought to do without an Oath but we ascribe Omniscience Omnipotence Omnipresence yea the Justice wisdom and Truth to God we acknowledge him to be the Searcher of the Heart and the Tryer of the Reins and that he is both the witness Judge and Revenger of Falshood and Lying and furthermore by Prayer and Invocation God is called upon to give Testimony with
to be worthy the weight of an Oath the Nature of God whom we call to witness and under whose Divine Judgment we set our selves in Case we speak false and in Righteousness that the thing we swear be Lawful and possible and like to bring Glory to God and good to our selves or others 4. Direct The next thing to be considered is the form of an Oath for this also is stumbled at by some and is to be minded as well as the Matter this should be agreeable or at least not contradictory to the word of God Now the Form of an Oath is either External or Internal the External Form consists in words or signs or both the Internal Form consists in the true Sense and Interpretation of the words of the Oath a little of these in their Order The External sometimes consists in words without signs and thus a Man swears and calls God to witness the Truth of his Intentions in plain words and this Oath is variously worded according to the Use and Custom of the Countrey Men Live in And thus we may find as before hath been proved God Angels and Men have thus sworn Sometimes also Men swear and affirm by signs without words and this is most frequent where there are many that enter into an Oath or Covenant when the words of the Oath or Covenant are either read or spoken and those that are willing to enter into that bond make it known by some External sign or token by some Action or Gesture as by a nod with the Head bowing the Body standing up or to a side lifting up the Hand or otherwise according as they shall be required by the Imposer or by writing down their Names By any of those they may testifie their consent and this is as binding and Obligatory as if the words were uttered And sometimes we may find an Oath taken both by words and signs and this is the most Solemn manner of Swearing Thus God frequently is said to lift up his Hand when he swears to his People thus the Angel Dan. 12.7 he held up his Right Hand and his Left Hand to Heaven and sware by him that Liveth for ever and this hath been the Custom of Heathens and Infidels as well as Christians in making Oaths and Covenants Divers are the Rites and Ceremonies which the Heathens have used at such times yea many and various are the Customes of the Godly in such Cases One was the putting the Hand under the Thigh thus Abraham sware his Servant Gen. 24.2 And thus Joseph sware unto his Father Jacob Gen. 47.29 Another Form much in Use was lifting up the Hand as was even now spoken of this was used by God Angels and Men by God Deut. 32.40 For I lift up my Hand and say I Live for ever By Abraham Gen. 19.22 I have lift up my Hand unto the Lord most High and false swearers are said to have a Right Hand of Deceit because they lift it up deceitfully Psal 144.8 11. And various have been the Ceremonies that have been used among Christians in the Primitive Times and in succeeding Generations among us the putting the hand upon the Bible and kissing it is most in Use or both which is but a professing sign of our consent and I know not any cause of Scruple in it thus for the External The Internal Form of an Oath is the right sense and Interpretation of the words and therefore an Oath should not consist in aequivalent or ambiguous words or phrases for then a Man may take them in a different sense from the Imposers mind and may require one thing and another may attest another but the sense should be obvious to both giver and taker or otherwise nothing or at least we know not what is witnessed and the Oath proves vain nay the very end of an Oath which is the Investigation of Truth is closed Heb. 6.16 An Oath is the end of strife and thus the Name of God is taken in vain and this part of his Worship prophaned and abused and 't is no better than a Lye when we affirm by Oath what in the Imposers sense is not true and so it proves Perjury But the words should be taken in the plain Common sense which is obvious to all Neither should there be equivocation or Mental reservation used in an Oath this is the sallacious dealing of the Papists who by this means think to evade all Oaths and delude the Imposer but they most delude themselves and wrong their own Souls for God will not be mocked whose Worship is abused They hide part in their Minds and so subvert the sense as thus they swear they were not at Rome and think in their Minds not an Hundred years agoe but what is mentire but contra mentum ire though this may serve in foro humano God can easily detect such jugling deceits and will never hold those guiltless that thus take his Name in Vain and like Jezebel deceive under pretence of Religion 5. Direct If thou wouldst honour God in this part of his Worship see then that thou aimest at right Ends. In thy Oath the End must be Lawful and good or the Duty will prove a Sin and a Snare A Man may swear that which is Truth and yet if his End be bad it will prove his Sin Now the End of an Oath as I said before should be for the Confirmation of some necessary Truth in Question which cannot otherwise be proved Heb. 6.16 Men swear by him that is greater than themselves and an Oath for confirmation to them is the End of all strife Now it should be a weighty business that requires an Oath and a necessary Truth that is in Question some doubtful Matter which cannot otherwise be found out or proved that cannot be Evidenced but by an Oath In this Case we find the Apostle vindicating himself this way when there was no other way to do it Rom. 1.9 God is my Witness whom I serve with my Spirit that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my Prayers 2 Cor. 1.23 I call God to Record upon my Soul c. We see he appeals to God the Searcher of all Hearts to witness with him and for him his Affection to them 'T is the Glory of God in the manifestation of Truth and our own and Neighbours good should be principally minded in this Duty but too many have by and base and low Ends in it and not accordingly When a thing depends upon the Faith of the Speaker and cannot otherwise be found out and yet is necessary to be known an Oath of the Lord may be Imposed Exod. 22.10,11 If a Man deliver unto his Neighbour an Ass or an Ox or a Sheep or any Beast to keep and it dye or be hurt or be driven away no man seeing it then shall an Oath of the Lord be between them both that he hath not put his Hand to his Neighbours goods and the Owner of it shall accept thereof
be lawful 't is necessary that the Subject the Party vowing be rightly qualified now that it may be so three things are requisite they should be endowed with knowledge faith and other qualifications of the mind they should be sui juris at their own dispose in the thing they vow and they should be free and no force put upon them in what they do but should do it willingly and spontaniously for God loves cheerful not constrained service a free will offering that knowledge and understanding is necessary none can doubt if a Man vow and not know or not consider the Nature Use and end of a vow this will be but blind Sacrifice it should be done with great wisdome care deliberation and circumspection which cannot be without knowledge Eccles 56. suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin neither say thou before the Angel it was an error 't is a point of folly after the vow to enquire those that want the use of reason whither they are children in their nonage or Fools or Ideots such as are not compos mentis in their right mind but mad or brain-sick these are not fit to make a vow now 't is hard to determine the just time when a childs vow is obligatory or becomes obliging some come to their discretion sooner and some later and some as I said not at all The Hebrews held the vow of a man child was not valid till twelve years of age and the maids at eleven but this seems young enough there is many that have lived many more years before they are fit to vow for till they know the Nature End and use of a vow how should they perform such a duty faith also is necessary in this case for whatsoever is not of faith is sin Rom. 14.23 and without faith 't is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 other graces of the spirit also are required yea a gratious temper and disposition for those that are in the flesh cannot please God and they should have grace not only in the habit but also in the act or they will receive little benefit by this duty again the Party should be sui juris his own man and not under anothers command he must be at his own liberty as touching the thing he vows or else his vow is unlawful we read Numb 30.4,5 c. that if a woman in her youth that is past a child vows a vow in her Fathers house if her Father approved of her vow it was rati fied if not it was well the like we read of a-married Woman whose vow was ratified or nullified by her husband and the like party of reason shews that a Son or Servant or Subject ought not to vow against the minde of Parents Master or Prince concerning things wherein they are subjected to them can a Son vow to leave his Parents or a Servant his Masters service during his engagement without their leave to go on Pilgimage or to live Monastical lives the Law of Nature and Equity make such vows sinful when 't is to the wrong of the Superiours the inferiour in this case puts himself upon a necessity of sinning by such a vow if he keeps it he breaks the law of God which commands obedience to the Superiour whom they disobey if they break it they sin also against God who tells us 't is better not to vow than to vow and not perform some of the Papists themselves who give the largest liberty in this case I conceive more than ever God gives acknowledge that a wise without her husbands consent ought not to enter into a Nunnery or vow a Monastick life and the like parity of reason holds for other inferiours in the things wherein they are subjected again this is a free will offering and no absolue commands lye upon us neither do we sin if we vow not Deut. 23.22 if thou forbear to vow it shall be no sin in the therefore none should be constrained or compelled to it it should be voluntary at every one 's own dispose there is none should be brought to it by force or fraud by fear or violence it should be voluntary out of faith and conscience in way of thankfulness for mercies received and for the obteining those we want by which we bind our selves to some necessary duty for good ends so long as they are conducible to those ends Deut. 23.21 when thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God thou shall not slack to pay it for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee and it would be sin in thee I will pay my vows saith David which my lips have uttered when I was in trouble Psalm 66.13,14 and 132.2,3 3. Direct If thou wouldest not offend in thy vows take heed thou vow not any thing that is unlawful or unnecessary or unsuitable if thou vow any thing repugnant to the word or will of God it cannot be acceptable to God nay whether thou performest or no thou art a transgressor there are some vows which bind unto commanded duties as to dedicate our selves wholly unto God and to obey him that our vow in Baptism which we often iterate in the other Sacraments these vows are absolute and without condition some are conditional as the vows of Jacob and Hannah before mentioned if God give in the mercy then are we obliged to make good our words as they did and also Jepththah but in all whether absolute or conditional beware of vowing any unlawful thing we are commanded to abstain from evil yea from the very appearance of it 1 Thes 5.22 if in our vows we dedicate any thing to God let it be such as he approves of he likes not the hault the blind nor the lame in Sacrifice Lev. 22.23 neither will he be served with the hire of a whore nor the price of a dog Deut. 23.18 thou must vow something that is thy own and lawfully got Thou must not vow any thing sinful in it self or sinful by circumstance or necessary accident we see the Vows of Paul's Persecutors that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed him Acts 23.12 was sinful in a double respect First as it was a breach of God's Law Thou shalt not kill and also in that they Vowed a thing not in their own power so that they were forc'd to break it Our Vows also should be Considerate and not rash nor heady as was that of Jephthah which put him upon that unpleasing Work of Sacrificing his Daughter Judg. 11.30,34 And that of Saul in binding his People from tasting Food which had like to have cost Jonathan his Life 1 Sam. 14.25 Neither can those Vows be justified of the Papists wherein they bind themselves and take the Sacrament upon it to Murther Heretick Kings as they call the Protestants and to Massacree Protestants themselves But by what warrant is it done and who gave them this Authority A Vow should not be vinculum Iniquitatis a bond of
things not Commanded as Meats Drinks Apparel c. and tend to perfection and by the keeping of them a man may attain to a higher perfection than in the Observation of Commanded Duties but what Scripture saith thus Their End which is to Merit by them spoyls all their Duties and makes them abominable in the sight of God The Vows we read of in Scriptures were made to other Ends and are all conducible to this great end viz. God's Glory Some have vowed thankfulness for Mercies received some Sacrifices Burnt Offerings Incense c. Psal 66.13,14 61.8 132.2 c. Some have made Conditional Vows if God would give them in such Mercies they would do thus and thus thus Jacob Dedicated himself to God for ever if he would make Provision for him in his Journey Gen. 28.20,21 And Hannah that if God would give her a Son she would Devote him unto God for ever 1 Sam. 1.11 Read Lev. 27. throughout Psal 116.12,13,14 What shall I render to the Lord for all his Benefits c. I will pay my Vows unto the Lord. And as God's Glory so our own and others benefit is to be regarded and may be regarded in a Vow 't is some stay and ground for our Faith and some confirmation for our assurance as we see in the fore-cited place 1 Sam. 1.11 c. when Hannah had made her Vow she looked no more sad Sometimes they are made of Thanksgiving for deliverance as the Mariners in Jonah's Ship Jonah 1.16 made vows to their gods Sometimes they are made to prevent Sin for the time to come as when we vow Sobriety and Moderation to prevent the sin of Drunkenness Gluttony Pride or Covetousness Thus some vowed against drinking Wine or strong Drink as the Rechabites Nazarites and others Some make vows to humble their Souls Numb 30.13 Every Vow and every binding Oath to afflict the Soul the Husband may Establish it or the Husband may make it void Sometimes for the mending of our Lives or the reforming what is amiss sometimes for the leaving of some Sin or the performance of some Duty c. These and the like are the Ends which we should look after when we enter upon a Religious Vow So likewise at the good of others as when we bind our selves to give Alms to Relieve the Poor to Redeem Captives or do works of Charity to our power these are good Ends if God's Glory and not our own Applause or thoughts of Merit interpose not as also to lay out something for Religious and Pious Uses the maintaining of Faithful able Ministers c. David vows he will not give Rest or sleep to his Eyes or come within his House till he had found out a place for the House of God Psal 132.2 c. But where do you read of any that vow and thought to Merit at God's Hands by so doing 7. Direct When thou hast made thy vows thy next Duty is to keep them to perform the word that is gone out of thy Mouth 'T is better not to vow than to vow and not perform but it must be supposed then that the vows be Lawful and allowed by God otherwise the performance is but adding Sin to Sin and increasing the guilt He that vows to commit Sin ought not to do it If thou Sin in thy Vow do not ratifie it by performing it as Herod who made a rash Vow but did increase his guilt by Cutting off John Baptists Head But supposing thy vow be Lawful thou canst not Lawfully break it nay though the performance tend to thy damage for if thou do thou committest a Sin as bad if not worse than Perjury When thou hast Vowed therefore deferr not to pay for God takes no pleasure in Fools pay that therefore which thou hast Vowed Eccl. 5.3,4,5,6 Deut. 23.23 When thou hast Vowed a Vow unto the Lord thy God deferr not to pay it for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee and it will be sin to thee but if thou wilt forbear to Vow it shall not be sin to thee that which is gone out of thy Mouth thou shalt keep and perform a Free-will Offering according to what thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God which thou hast promised with thy Mouth Psal 76.11 Vow and pay unto the Lord your God c. More places might be instanced in if these were not sufficient If thy vow be rash Repent of the rashness of it but if it be otherwise Lawful it must be performed if it prove to thy damage it is a reward of thy Folly But if it be unlawful repent of thy sin and Folly in making it but it must not be performed for a Vow must not be a bond of Iniquity Christ himself shews the wickedness of such a vow Mat. 15.5,6 where by their vow Corban they made null the Command of God concerning honouring Father and Mother and Relieving them It is not Lawful for us to Dedicate those things to Pious Uses yea to God himself which we owe to anotner David's rash vow 1 Sam. 2.5.12.39 was not performed he vowed the Destruction of Nabal and all his Family and Blessed God for keeping him from doing evil The wicked vow of Paul's Persecutors ought not to have been fulfilled had the power lain in their Hands Acts 23.21 Nor the rash and unadvised Vow of Saul which tended to hurt and not to good 1 Sam. 14.39 Nor such Superstitious vows as we read of Jer. 44.25 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel saying ye and your Wives have both spoken with your Mouths and fulfilled with your Hands saying we will surely perform our Vows that we have Vowed to burn Incense to the Queen of Heaven and to powre out Drink-Offerings unto her ye will surely accomplish your Vows c. God takes it ill in them and sorely threatneth them for it But if the Vow be Lawful he expects the fulfilling of it as we see in Jacob's Vow made Gen. 28.20 God minds him of it Gen. 31.13 I am the God of Bethel where thou anointedst the Pillar Numb 30.3 c. A Young womans vow if her Father contradict it not shall surely stand good See also Lev. 7.16 22.17 27.2 c. Psal 76.12 Yea the Lord threatens those that make not good their vows that vow a better and pay a worse Mal. 1.14 Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his Flock a Male and voweth and Sacrifices unto the Lord a Corrupt thing Yea we find he punished this Sin in Annanias and Sapphira who Devoted the price of a Possession to God and after kept back part of it and were both struck dead for it Acts 5.1,2 c. A Godly Man when he promiseth Reformation of Life the leaving of any known Sin the performance of any Religious duty the doing of any Pious or Charitable work c. will make good his Vow But how usual is it for wicked Men in their Sickness distress or danger to make vows
followed Infants you see though uncapable were not freed even such as hang upon their Mothers breast and though they had not actually sinned yet were a part of that sinful lump of mankind and deserved judgement as well as others and therefore should be timely traind up in this Christian duty and their cries for meat and the very bellowing of the Beasts might stick something upon the heart of man and help further to humble and break it yea many of those little ones being Gods Elect their presence may be an arguing with God to spare as the presence of Jehosophat moved Elijah to come to Ahab 2 Kings 3.19 this was one Motive why the Lord would not destroy Niniveh because there were sixscore thousand souls in it that knew not the right hand from the left But though all these come and 't is their duty to come yet all come not rightly prepared and qualified for that work if thou wouldest indeed stand in the Gap and turn away the wrath of God from the Land thou shouldest be one in Covenant with God and one that hath the work of grace upon thy Soul one that hath a friend in Court an interest in Christ the Mediator and canst through him go boldly to the Throne of grace one that can without lying call God Father and lay claim to the share in his promises one that art reconciled to God through the blood of his Son such a one is like to prevail for mercy 't is not those that howl for Corne and Wine he regards 't is not the crying of the Swine or the bellowing of Beasts he matters if there be a full Congregation of unconverted Sinners that resolve to love and not leave their sins I question whether these mens cryes do not prevail more to bring down judgments than mercies when men covenant with â—od and promise obedience and never intend to perform it this is but a mocking of God that will not be mocked and the breaking of the Covenant with him that can and will avenge the quarrel of his Covenant we cannot deceive him though we come with Tears in our Eyes If there be not sorrow in the Heart our Crocodile Tears will not Advantage us But if there be but weak gifts and parts if the Heart be right yet they will be owned God looks not so much at the out-side as the inside of Duty Though I know those that carry on the work especially in Publique should be men of parts and Abilities and 't is well if all were thus Qualified 't is a sweet Conjunction where Grace and parts meet they should know their own Sins and the Sins of the Nation to bewail and confess them Ezra 9.4.6 Nehem. 1.6,7 They should know their own wants and the wants of the Nation Dan. 9.11.18 In a word every Novice in Religion is not fit for so high a Duty and therefore Christ himself Excuseth his Disciples for not Fasting not onely because the Bride-groom was with them but as 't is conceived because they were not yet fit for so high a duty Luke 5.36,37 Mat. 9.15,16 2. Direct Wouldst thou Fast as thou oughtest to do and as God requires 't is not enough to be rightly Qualified but come prepared to the duty there is scarce any thing of moment can be well done without preparation much less such a Solemn work and such an extraordinary duty Now the preparation requisite is partly External and partly Internal the External helps forward the other and they are such as these On the Evening before lay aside thy Bodily Labour betimes that thou mayst trim up thy Lamp to meet the Bride groom the day following and prepare thy Heart against the next days duties and take that Evening but a moderate Supper such as will help and not hinder thee in the ensuing duty and continue as long as thou canst without prejudice to thy Health or hinderance to thy duties of the day following for thou shouldst deny thy self in sleep as well as in other Comforts of this Life but all this should be but in reference to the main work and so no further to be used than it is helpful to it Now the main work is to get the Heart into a melting frame and humble temper for what good will it do us to come and go with the Heart unbroken Now that it may be so the consideration of thy sins and the sins of the Nation with the several aggravations of them will be of great use when they are prest home upon the Spirit by serious Meditations Call to mind therefore thy Original Guilt and the pollution of thy Nature and how the whole Man Soul and Body is defiled by it and thy best Duties stained as also thy Actual Sins many for Number and hainous for Nature Call to mind the Sins of thy Youth and of thy riper Age the Sins of thy Calling general and particular thy Relation Sins and how thou hast failed in every Relation thou hast been in Thy Sins of Omission Commission and Participation thy Sins of knowledge and Ignorance of weakness and wilfulness against the Law and against the Gospel against God and against Man with the several aggravations of them as against a great deal of Love and Light against Knowledge and Conscience Promises and Resolutions Vows and Covenants Means and helps c. And not only thy own sins but the sins of thy Family The sins of thy Relations ought to be Considered yea the Sins of the Nation of Superiours and Inferiours of Princes and Governours for these should be Confessed as Daniel doth Dan. 9.2,3 c. The Sins of Superiours Inferiours and Equals for from the greatest to the least all have sinned and come short of what they should do The Abuse of Mercy which we have had in general in the Nation or in particular our selves David could mourn in secret when Men kept not God's Law and we should be mourning in Sion And be sure come not before the Lord to confess or bewail any one Sin that thou dost not repent of and resolve to leave Nor to bewail the Omission of any one Duty which thou art not resolved for the time to come to practice Nor to beg for one Mercy that thou art not resolved to Labour for as well as to Pray for For if thou regardest Iniquity in thy Heart God will not hear thy Prayer Psal 66.18 Shouldest thou come with a resolution to Live in sin and pray for the Pardon of it thou dost but mock God that will not mocked and takest his Name in vain when thou sayest Lord when wilt thou give me this Mercy God may say Man when wilt thou leave thy Sin When wilt thou give me thy Heart If thou say never God will return thee the like Answer Never think by thy Prayers to benefit thy self or the Church if thou wilt not reform thine own Heart And as thou must consider thy sins so also thy wants what Mercies thou wouldest beg for
Judgment was threatned and it was deferred in his days 1 Kings 21.27 Many more Instances might be given to prove times of Publique Calamity seasonable times for this Duty When Sin also abounds 't is a time for God's People to be Mourners in Zion for assuredly Judgments will follow Ezek. 9 4. 1 Sam. 7.6,7 Psal 69.10 David wept and chastened his Soul with Fasting for where Sin goes before unbewailed Judgments necessarily follow after and a Man may fore-see the Effect by the Cause when such sins as usually bring Judgments are Acted amongst us we may look for the like Effect for like Sins bring like Plagues Lam. 1.20 I have grievously Rebelled And what follows Abroad the Sword bereaveth at home there is as Death See also Lam. 2.17 Jer. 7.12 Amos 6.2,3 And therefore in the prevailing of Sin we have great cause to humble our Souls and stand in the Gap to turn away the fierce Anger of the Lord and never more Cause than at this day Again when thou findest thy Corruptions strong and thy Graces weak or when thou findest some notable decay in thy Grace 't is time then to look about thee As also when thou wouldst beg any great thing at the Hands of God go to him by Fasting and Prayer Thus Daniel begs the Deliverance of God's People out of Babilon according to God's promise he seeks to him by Fasting and Prayer Dan. 9.1,2 c. 10.2 c. For though God determine to do it yet will he be sought to for so great a Mercy and likewise when some Persons are designed for some great work in Church or Common-wealth it hath usually been done by Fasting and Prayer Thus Christ spent a whole Night in Prayer before he chose his Disciples Luke 6.12 Paul and Silas were set apart by Fasting and Prayer Acts 14.2,3 And in Case of Spiritual desertion we should thus seek to God Mat. 9.14 And for the furtherance of some great Undertaking Esther 4.16 when Corruption is strong when Ordinary Food wlll not serve we must use Physick Some Sins like some Devils go not out but by Prayer and Fasting These are the times for this extraordinary Duty but what is this to Lent or Holy-day Eves whereon the Papists keep their mock-fasts but come not to humble their Souls for their Sins 6. Direct Propound a right End to thy self in this Duty of Fasting or otherwise it will prove in vain and be abominable in the Eyes of God The Jews took it ill from God that he regarded them not Wherefore have we Fasted say they and thou seest not Wherefore have we afflicted our our Souls and thou takest no notice Isa 58.3 Behold saith God ye Fast for strife and Debate and to strike with the fists ef Wickedness c. Is it such a Fast that I have chosen c. Zach. 7.5 When ye Fasted and Mourned in the fifth and seventh Moneth even these seventy years did ye at all Fast unto me even to me Hos 7.14 They have not cryed to me with their Hearts when they howled upon their Beds they assemble themselves for Corn and Wine and they Rebel against me If the Heart be absent God regards not the Service The Pharisees Mat. 6.16,17 they Fasted but it was to be seen of Men that others might look upon them as of an austeer course of Life and therefore had a reward from Men not from God The Papists make Merits their End they Fast and think to Merit Heaven by it But alas what can poor sinful Creatures Merit at the Hands of God but Divine Indignation and fierce Judgments God may say of us as of those Jer. 14.12 When they Fast I will not hear their Cry when they Offer Burnt-Offerings and an Oblation I will not accept them but I will consume them by the Sword and by the Famine and by the Pestilence Luke 18 12. I Fast twice in the week saith the Pharisee yet the poor Publican was regarded before him See also Rom. 14.6 1 Cor. 8 8. Alas were Men but acquainted with their own Hearts this conceit of Merit would soon vanish Fasting as I told you is an indifferent thing and only useful as it suits with the main End Bodily Exercise profiteth little but Godliness is profitable to all things 1 Tim. 4.7,8 The true End of Fasting is either Ordinary or Extraordinary in both the Glory of God is intended The Ordinary Ends are such as these the subduing the Flesh and bringing the Body into Subjection Thus Paul 1 Cor. 9.27 I bring under my Body and bring it into subjection God's People have Flesh as well as Spirit and have need to use all means to subject it that they may subdue their Corruption and if Ordinary means will not do Extraordinary must be used if the Temptation remain this Duty must be followed and at length God will give strength and his Grace shall be sufficient for us This is the way to Corroborate and strengthen the Spirit and enable it to perform the required Duties This puts fervency into our Prayer and enables us to Cry mightily to God This way Men take some Revenge upon themselves for their Sin and for the abuse of Mercies by this means a Man is better enabled to grapple with Temptations and bring under Corruptions and perform Duties of our General and particular Calling more Heavenly This is the way to stir up the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication Zach. 12.10 Thus the Prophetess Anna spent her time in Serving God with Fasting and Prayer Night and Day Luke 2.37 By Eating and Drinking the Body becomes dull and heavy and unfit for Spiritual Duties but by moderate abstinence it becomes more Active and Lively and therefore Fasting and Prayer are usually joyned together For Fasting of it self doth little good Fasting testifies our Humility our grief and sorrow for Sin whereby we acknowledge our guilt before God and our unworthiness of Meat Drink Sleep Raiment or other refreshing Comforts Are these the Ends you aim at Is this the Mark you shoot at And the white that is in your Eye 'T is well if it be to make you fitter for the Service of the Lord that you may do your Masters Will better and wind up the Heart to an higher pitch of Holiness and Heavenly mindedness But if Custom or Fashion or the fear of Man or popular Applause or hopes of Meriting any thing from God be your End your Duty will be Curst and blasted to you and be returned Sin into your Bosom The Extraordinary Ends we aim at in our Fasting should be the removing of Evil felt or feared either Spiritual or Temporal from our selves or others the begging those Mercies we want and the continuance of those we have and fear to lose These are the Ends the Godly have used these extraordinary Fastings for and this hath been successful to these Ends these are means of God's own prescribing and promises are added of a good Success And many Christians for themselves and others
goodness of God in them value them according to their worth as Jacob did Gen. 22.9.10 Lord saith he I am less than the least of thy mercies which thou hast shewed me for with my Staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two Bands David when he beheld the glorious Lamps of Heaven the wonderful works of God brake out into admiration Lord what is Man that thou art mindful of him or the Son of Man that thou regardest him Psal 8.3.4 Outward mercies but especially Spiritual should will affect the heart if laid home by meditation 2. Direct When thou keepest a day keep it to the Lord and not to thy self Let thy ultimate end and aim be Gods glory and the main design thou drivest on be his praise 't is true in all Duties this should be regarded but especially in this for this Time is set apart meerly upon that account to praise him with an inlarged heart and if thou propound lower ends than these God will not own thy work These days are appointed to praise God and not as many abuse them and pamper the Flesh 't is the Apostles advice and doubtless our Duty 1. Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever you do do all to the praise and glory of God And if in our ordinary course we should drive on this design much more in this extraordinary Duty in so solemn a day and exercise here the joy of the Lord should fill the heart Spiritual and not Carnal Joy the praise of the Lord should fill our Mouths not vain laughter we should speak out the great works of God which he hath done for our Souls and whatsoever suits not with this is unsuitable for the occasion but 't is a sad thing that many that pretend Conscience in the observation of Saints-days blame all those thot look upon them as indifferent I say that those to whom honest Labour at other times Lawful is held a great Transgression yet make no Conscience at all of serving God upon these days but spend their time vainly and prophanely neither to the benefit of Soul or Body These think they serve God better at an Ale-house at a Cock-pit or Bear-baiting or Stage-play at Cards or Dice or other unlawful Games than they can in an honest Calling But is this the Feast that God hath chosen to eat and drink and rise up to play This may serve turn if we worshiped such an Idol as Israel then did Fxod 32.6 But shall we serve our God with such service as the Heathen did Baccus He is a Spirit and must be worshiped in Spirit and in Truth and is eating and drinking to Gluttony and Drunkenness this Spiritual Service that is commanded Shall we praise God for his Creatures by intemperance and abuse of them Yet are not these the Exercises of some of the greatest Sticklers for such Festivals Look into an Ale-house and see whether more meet not there upon such days as these than the whole Week beside and many an Oath sworn and many a Lye told and many a vain word spoken at such times and upon such occasions yea much Drunkenness Debauchery Quarrels Fightings and sometimes Murder is there committtd And is this Gods Feast or the Devils Sacrifice It more suits an Heathen Idol than an holy God Is this the place where God is like to meet thee or wouldest have Death meet thee here or is the Discourse of the Company suitable to the work of the Day wilt thou thank God for thy Reason when thou hast lost the use of it by drinking and transformed thy self into a Beast or canst then remember Gods benefits to praise him for them when thou canst not remember what thou dost 'T is far from me to Judge any Man that keeps those days as days of Thanksgiving ought to be kept And 't is far from me to approve of them as they are kept I know the Godly are allowed to eat their Bread with Joy and drink their Wine with a merry heart but it is Spiritual not Carnal Joy They ought upon Thanksgiving days to cease from their Labour but that is not all then they keep it but as a Beast But as a Fast is a help to humiliation and makes Prayers the more fervent so Feasting in an holy manner elevates the Soul and makes praises the more hearty when we freshly tast Gods goodness in the Prevision made for us Labour in both is forbidden as 't is an hindrance in the Duties in hand but 't is sad that God is more dishonored in those days pretended to be set apart to honour him in than in all the days of the Year besides but God will not own such Servants nor accept of such Service when Men think there is nothing but work forbidden upon that day or nothing more than idleness required but many would glorifie God much better in a Lawful Calling than at an unlawful Exercise or unnecessary Recreation I know Recreation is Lawful as I hope in due time and place to demonstrate and give Directions in it But why should we take Gods time for our use if these days be appropriated to Gods Service let them be spent in his Service if for our Recreation let us never put the Title of Holy-days upon them let them be left indifferent to be used or not used at pleasure or People kept from dishonouring God in them 3. Direct In the observation of these days see thy grounds be good and that thou hast a lawful calling to it or otherwise God will not own it 'T is true Thanksgiving is a work of every day but every day is not to be observed as an holy Festival to God come not superstitiously to it as the Papists nor profanely as the Sensualist nor wickedly as the profane Enmies to God and Godliness See thou be invited to it by real mercies received and in giving thanks mistake not Judgements for Mercies and Mercies for Judgments 't is true we ought to Observe all God's Providences and Bless God for all Chastisements as well as others that is for the good which we receive by them as Job 1.21 But this should be with Humiliation not Exultation If thy Foundation be rotten the Building cannot be good there are many that heartily rejoyce and give thanks also to God after their manner for the downfall of the Church and the extirpation of the Power of Godliness I fear our times are not barren of Examples of this Nature This was the Sin of the Ammonites and will be the Sin of those that are guilty Ezek. 25.6 Because thou hast clapped thy Hands and stamped with thy Feet and Rejoyced in thine Heart with all despight against the Land of Israel therefore I will stretch forth my hand against thee and deliver thee for a spoil to the Heathen c. See God takes it ill when Men exult over his People in distress and if they praise him for Correcting them 't is unpleasing Service to him
together Sin is to Holy Spiritual Communion with God as Water is to Fire of an extinguishing Nature take heed therefore of the beginning of it brush and dash Babylon's Children when they are young and the Cockatrice Eggs before they break forth into Serpents entertain not a delightful thought of any Sin resist the first motions of Sin avoid all the occasions repell the Temptations and beware of the appearances of Evil and get as far from it as possibly thou canst for God and Sin cannot be entertained and Lodge together in one Soul thou must either break thy Peace with the one or with the other of these irrevocable Enemies thou canst not serve God and Mammon all Sin is of this nature yet some Sins are more abominable than others as Worldly-mindedness this will choak all that is good in thee it were the Cares of the World and the deceitfulness of Riches that choaked the Word and it became unfruitful Mat. 13.22 Pride also is a damning Sin and makes a Man set himself in the place of God and set up his own will for his Rule this turned Angels out of Heaven Adam out of Paradice and many into Hell Idolatry also is abominable when Men set up other Gods and serve them God will not take it at their hands many more there are of which we must be careful Some things likewise are to be done yea every Duty adds some strength and helps forward this Communion Private Meditations and Private Prayers are excellent helps to this end Meditation is an excellent help hereunto Ah what sweet and delightful tasts of of God may a Man have that Exerciseth himself in this Soul-fatting Duty Such a Man can find God in every Creature and like the Bee suck sweetness from every Weed and Flower he can get advantage by Prosperity and Adversity Health and Sickness yea every thing he knows sees or hears of yea every Creature will lead such a Man to God and Teach him some Lesson worth his Learning for as by the Vein the Mineral may be found or as the Stream leads to the Fountain so every thing leads to God and points out his Power Wisdome and Goodness yea the consideration and thoughts of Gods Attributes Word and Works may fill the Soul with admiration and make a Man fall in love with God every Chapter Verse and Line of Holy Writ is as a Ladder to lift thee nearer Heaven and draw thee nearer unto God such a Man knows how to Spiritualise every Evil and Morall Action and what ever he doth he can Ingage God for to reward him he can suck sweetness out of all cross Providences and when God seems to frown can turn the Curtain aside and see his pleased Face and view his Love in the dark Passages of his Providence Another means to maintain Communion is Secret Prayer when the Soul can power out it self into the Bosome of Christ with Faith and Fervency who hath promised to grant whatever they ask in his Name Ah what sweet Crumbs of Comfort doth many feel coming from Christ in such a Suit when a Man spreads his Case and Complaint before Christ as somtimes Hezekiah did the Blasphemous Letter how doth this Ingage God in his Cause if thou maintainest Life in these two Duties thou wilt maintain Communion with God and Life in thy Soul 3. Direct Another Duty Incumbent upon thy Soul is to store thy heart with knowledge and understanding without the which the mind cannot be good Prov. 19.2 and this is done in Private as well as Publick partly by Reading and Conference Reading the Scriptures and other good Books this will notably encrease knowledge and understanding but this I have already given Directions in and desire thee to make use of them Meditation also is a fruitful Duty even that which is occasional whereby thou mayst gather Observations and learn many Lessons for thy Souls good from every Creature thou hast to deal with but this I have already treated of but this is not all but if thou art Converted strengthen thy Brethren we were not Born for our selves If thou hast a Family studdy and endeavour their Conversion also teacheh them in the way they should walk for to that purpose God hath given thee Authority over them thou art a King a Priest and a Prophet in thine own House Rule then in thy Family as a King Instruct as a Prophet and Pray amongst them as a Priest God will be served in thy Family as well as in thy Closet or in the Publick therefore somtimes Particular Houses are called Churches because in them God is Worshiped To this End prepare then what thou canst for the Publick Ordinance by Instruction Admonition and Encouragement remove what rubs thou canst out of their way to believing and obeying shew them the necessity of Faith in Christ and obedience to Christ and if thou canst help it let none serve thee that will not serve God this was Davids resolution Psal 101.2 c. Require an Account at their hands what they learn and what benefit they receive press these things more upon their Spirits and fasten it upon their Mind that it may not be let slip by repeating the Sermons or so much of it as shall be necessary for their good and press home and drive at what the Minister drives at in his Sermon Reading the Scripture also is an useful means to encrease knowledge in thy self and Family and should be done in Private in thy Family and in Secret by thy self redeem time to this End and if possible make them understand what they Read drive the Nail to the Head this is the way to expell Ignorance and to get Knowledge this cannot but work some Knowledge in the hearts of them that hear it In this Word is contained the Wfll of God concerning Mans Obedience and here is a Legacy left us by our Fathers Will the Promises which are our Evidences for Heaven and all we have to shew for Glory and shall this be neglected by us or meanly esteemed Some may Object they have long tryed this means and see little profit by it but do thy Duty and leave the success to God Paul may Plant and Apollos Water but God gives the encrease yet there must be Planting and Watering or good Fruit cannot be expected God serves his Providence by the use of means The Bereans were commended for searching the Scriptures and Christ himself commends this Lesson to the Pharisees this Book of the Law should not depart out of thy Mouth but thou shouldest Meditate therein for ever Josh 18. Psal 12. This Word of God should dwell plentiously in you Col 3.16 It was Abraham's Practice to teach his Children and Servants the fear of the Lord Gen. 18.19 This also is Pauls Counsell Eph. 6.4 Yea and God's own Command Deut. 6.6,7 The Words that I Command thee this day shall be in thy Heart and thou shalt Teach them diligently unto thy Children thou shalt talk of them when
doubtless Joshua intended to put this power in Exercise when he resolvedly promised that he and his House should Serve the Lord Josh 20.15 Yet alas how many Governours of Families neglect this Duty Some are debarr'd from it by their own guilt being guilty of the same sins they should reprove in others this stops their Mouths and makes them neglect their Duty These Men do more hurt by their Example than ever they are like to do by their reproofs their way is therefore first to cast out the beam out of their own Eye and then to seek to pluck out the Mote out of anothers But I speak chiefly to those that seem to make some Conscience of their Duty for with those I am likeliest to prevail and these also many of them are extremely negligent and have need of a sharp Reproof themselves Friends do you verily believe that ungodly Livers shall go to Hell and being once there are in an irrecoverable lost Condition And can you suffer such among you that are like to suffer the Torments of Eternal Fire and hold your Tongues and never give them warning of their Danger What an uncharitable thing is this that you will suffer those that are in near Relation to you perhaps the Wife of your Bosom or the Children of your own Bowels to lye in such a desperate danger and never warn them of it If thou sawest a Blind Man upon the brow of an Hill ready to break his Neck or a Mad Man ready to kill himself thou wouldest call to the one and warn him of the danger and restrain the other if thou wert able and wilt thou have Compassion on the Body and no pity on the Soul Shouldest thou see thy near Relations coming to the Gallows and mightest save their Lives for a few words speaking wouldest be so uncharitable as to hold thy peace were one of thy Intimate Friends in Hell and were there a possibility of their Delivery wouldest thou not go and ride and speak and pray supposing this were the way in their behalf and for their sake And wilt thou let them quietly go on in that way that certainly tends thither and never shew them the danger they are in A vicious Life without Repentance will as certainly lead to Hell as God is God and the Scriptures are the word of God for no unclean thing shall ever enter Heaven no dirty Dog shall tread upon that Pavement Didst thou certainly know that thy Wife or Friend or near Relation were in Hell and yet there were hopes of their Recovery if thou wouldst be at some pains or at some Cost what an uncharitable part would it be in thee to let them lye for ever and for ever in those Infernal Flames and not seek their ease and wilt neglect it now when it may possibly be prevented Were but thy Wife or Child in Turkish Slavery thou wouldest pray and intreat and more than this for their Liberty What tender heart could indure to see another in raging Torments yet this will be the Condition of thy bosome Friends if un-regenerate Dost thou see the Devil leading them Captive at his pleasure hast thou nothing at all to say against it It may be thou Prayest for their Conversion and wilt not speak a word to this purpose What dissembling is this and what mocking of God If there be a desire it will be joyned with endeavours Shouldest thou see thy Friend in a Pit ready to be drowned wouldst thou fall upon thy knees and Pray for help and not put forth thy hand to help him This would seem little Love God will have means used to serve his Providence It may be thou fearest troubling them but 't is a Foolish Physitian that suffers his Patient to dye under his hand rather than trouble him in a Swoon we shaKe and rub and pinch and use other means which perhaps may hurt them The Papists are more Charitable in their blind Devotion how dear do they pay for Masses Dirges c. for the Delivery of their Deceased Friends Souls out of their feigned Purgatory But if your Charity to others be so cold yet at least be Charitable to thy self and bring not the blood of others Souls upon thy Account the Sins which thou maist hinder and dost not will be laid at thy Door and the Blood of those Souls that perish through thy neglect will be Charged upon thee carefully therefore set upon this Duty 6. Direct Thou must not only reprove them when they do amiss and chastise them when they will not reform but thou must also Instruct Teach and Admonish them to do good and encourage them in well doing and Teach them the Duties they should do 't is not enough to leave the Evil but they must do the good good Duties are required to be done as well as Sins to be avoided Now the best way to Teach them is by Example be a Pattern to them of an Holy Life and well-doing most Men Learn better by Example than Precept A Man may lead an Hundred that cannot drive two Let not thy Practice cross thy Exhortation or Reproof let them see by thy Example that thou speakest from thy Heart If thou press them to an Holy Life and Livest loosely and prophanely thy self in the mean time they will think thou art in Jest with them and thinkest not what thou speakest Oh how many good words may you hear from some Men in an humour when there is not one good Action to be seen these come not from the Heart but from the Brain That Exhortation is a Duty is seen by Abrahams Practice and God's Command Deut. 6.6,7,8 Prov. 22.6 Eph. 6.4 And there is good Reason for it Thy Children have their defilement from thee and derived a Poysonful Nature from thy Loyns and were the Children of Wrath as soon as they were thy Children and thou that hast thus defiled them is it not reason thou shouldst help to make them clean They are near and dear to thee part of thy self of thy Flesh and of thy Bones did they not come out of thine own Bowels And they have none in the World so near to look after them as thy self and wilt thou neglect them also Shall they perish for want of Instruction and Direction in Heavens way Thou wouldst Instruct them how to Live in the World and if thou couldest how to grow Rich and Honourable and wilt neglect them in the main thing how to be happy Thou canst moil and toyl and cark and care and rise early and lye down late and eat the Bread of carefulness for their sakes to get an Estate for them and thinkest thou hast never enough and is thy care only extended to the Body is the Soul of no Value dost not matter so they be Famous in the World though they are Infamous in God's Account and their Souls be eternally lost were their Bodies Diseased thou wouldest consult the Physitian if their Estates were in hazard the Lawyer and shall