thoughts Next there must be constancie in prayer in 1 Thess 5.17 by that I mean this never to give over until we have that we pray for or something else in lieu of it it may be thou hast prayed and nothing is come of it be not discouraged thou hast to deal with a great God and therefore pray again and again and again and pray with this resolution well let God do with me what he will I will as long as I live call upon him and if God shall cast me away yet he shal cast me away calling upon him as the poor woman of Canaan when Christ cal'd her dog and discouraged her yet still she would pray I but dogs may have crums that heart is in an il condition that is discouraged in prayer because it doth not get what it would and therfore to think with themselves I had as good not pray at al take heed of any such thoughts Again If you would pray to God indeed so as to sanctifie his Name in prayer there should be humility in your hearts so as to be sensible of your own unworthiness I spake somwhat about being sensible of the distance between God and us when I spake about sanctifying of Gods name in general The last that I shall speak of is this when you have done all this all these qualifications will not sanctifie Gods Name except all be tendred up in the Name of Jesus Christ and in the power of his merits let a man or woman pray with as much fervencie zeale constancie purity in truth and sincerity yet except he puts up all in the Name of Christ I say he cannot be accepted our spiritual offerings must be tendered up in his Name but I have Preached much about that but now put all that hath been said together and this it is to pray That is when as I pray understandingly when I give my self to prayer when there are the breathings of the holy Ghost in my prayer when there is purity of heart like a golden vial together with sincerity when it is in truth of heart when it is in faith when it comes from a spiritual Adoption when it 's in fervencie when in constancie reverence humility and all put up in the Name of Jesus Christ now a man prayes as it is said of Saul behold he prayeth so I may say of those that are instructed in this Art behold they pray you see now that prayer is more than to reade in a book more than to say a few words ye see it is a very hard thing to pray a work of great difficultie and no marveil though we have lost so many of our prayers as we have done we must not charge prayer and God with it but look to our selves I mean not charge the Ordinance of prayer but the vilenesse of our carriage in our prayers and let us for time to come know what a Christan life means it is said of Christ in Luke 9.29 that as he was praying the fashion of his countenance was changed Oh that 's an excellent thing that when we have been in our closets at prayer to come away with our faces shining my Brethren could we but pray in such a manner as this is the very fashion of our countenacnes would be changed as Moses when he came from the presence of God upon the Mount or as Christ that had the fashion of his countenance changed Prayer it is the sweet ease of ones spirit it 's the help at a dead lift it 's the great Ordinance of our Communion with God in this world and therefore let us learn this Art of sanctifying Gods Name in Prayer I shall conclude all in this you have heard the mystery of the sanctifying the Name of God in worshipping God now I beseech you you that have been a long time in the School of Christ as it were Apprentices to Christ to learn Christianity be ashamed that you have understood so little of this art in Sanctifying the Name of God in Prayer It is an art and a mystery that you must be instructed in and you are not Christians till you are instructed in this as in an art and mystery And that man and woman that shall be instructed truly in this art and mystery in Sanctifying Gods Name now in the worshipping of him such a man and woman shall be to all eternity Sanctifying the Name of God in praising of him There is a time coming when all the Saints must be in the presence of God and be alwaies praising of him and they shall then Sanctifie Gods Name for ever let us now learn this art of Sanctifying Gods Name in praying that we may eternally Sanctifie his Name in praising of him FINIS AN EXACT ALPHABETICAL TABLE OF AL THE PRINCIPAL TRUTHS IN THE FOREGOING SERMONS A Absolutely SPirituall things to be prayed for absolutely Page 277 Accept Acceptation Acceptation of our persons the means of it Page 69 God accepts not the duties of wicked men Page 116 The services of the Saints accepted Page 120 Act Actual Action see Grace Actual sanctification Page 68 The Lord accepts the person before the action Page 69 God is a pure act and requires actual service Page 97 Adoption Sign of adoption to desire to be oft in Gods presence Page 36 We must pray in the spirit of adoption Page 294 Affections Affections the strength of them required in Gods worship Page 82 Aggravation Aggravation of sin to neglect due hearing the Word Page 200 Afflictions see Honor They that sanctifie not God in hearing the Word can have no comfort from it in afflictions Page 206 Whether it be lawfull to pray for afflictions Page 277 Afflictions in themselves materially evil Page 278 All All that we have must be given to God Page â—â— All things Sanctified to the godly Page 119 Altar Christ is the Altar upon which wee must offer all our sacrifices Page 92 Angel Angel what it signifieth Page 91 Angels the aggravation of their sin Page 195 Anger Anger not to be brought into Gods service Page 19 Apply We must apply the Word in hearing it Page 175 Apostasie see Schisme Apostasie the ground of it Page 106 Assurance The Gospel gives assurance of salvation Page 212 Attention Attention must be given in hearing of the Word Page 171 B Beginners Beginners in Religion to be carefull of preparation Page 56 Beleeving Beleeving the condition of the covenant of grace Page 232 Birds Wandring thoughts in Prayer as the birds to Abrahams sacrifice Page 283 Blast God blasts those men that sanctifie him not in worship Page 117 God will blast those that neglect his word Page 208 Bless Many blesse themselves in evill waies Page 198 To bless God for helping us against wandring thoughts in Prayer Page 289 Blind Blind sacrifice not to be offered to God Page 98 Blood A fearfull thing to be guilty of Christs blood Page 230 Breathing see Spirit Broken see Heart What kind of broken heart is required
from the thoughts and apprehensions of all excellencies in our selves we must not come in the pride of our hearts because we have abilities more then others what do all thy parts commend thee to God thou hast ability in expressing of thy self in Prayer why do thy parts commend thee to God Whatever is natural in any of our duties is nothing to God only that which is from his own Spirit and therefore thou shouldest come in thine own thoughts as vile as if thou hadest no parts and abilities at all I ay aside all such apprehensions of thy self for the truth is some poor broken hearted sinner that can but sigh out a few groans to God and is not able to speak two or three sentences together in a right language but only breath out his Soul to God may be a thousand thousand times more acceptable to God than thou that art able to make great Orations when thou comest before him 3 Thou must come without any righteousness of thy own thou must never come into Gods presence but as a poor worm and if there be any difference that is made between thee and others in outward respects it is nothing to thee when thou art in the presence of God thou art as a base vile worm though thou beest a Prince or Emperour 4 Thy heart must be taken off from what thou doest If thou hast any abilities of grace yet thy heart must be taken off there there may be pride not only from ones parts but it may be God hath given me enlargements in Prayer the Devil will come in and seek to puffe up thy heart even because of this But thy heart must be taken off there and thou must deny thy self in all when thou hast done the best service of all yet thou must conclude thou art an unprofitable servant when thou hast prayed the best yet rise with shame and take heed of having thy heart puft up even through the assistance of the graces of the Spirit of God in holy duties 5 Lastly Thou must come with a humble resignation of thy self to God to be content to wait upon God as long as he pleases to wait upon God in regard of the time and of the measure and of the manner of the Communication of himself in regard of the means by which he will please to communicae himself wait upon him Let me have mercy though at the last hour This now is an humble heart in Prayer and when we come with such a poverty of Spirit as this is we may expect that the Lord will accept of us Give this poor man somewhat will God say This poore man cryed and the Lord heard him In the Seventh place we must bring that which is Gods own in Sanctifying Gods Name I spake to this before in the Point of Preparation Viz. That in Gods Worship we must give him his own I will only mention it here in the Sanctifying of God Name in two regards 1 First To give God his own for the matter of it 2 Secondly To give God his own that is what comes from the work of his own Spirit or else we do not Sanctifie Gods Name I will give you one text further about the matter of it in Exod. 39. if you read the Chapter you shall find that there is ten times said that they did as God had commanded Moses And then in the close of the Chapter when they had done as God had commanded in his Worship the text saith Moses blessed them That people is a blessed people that do observe the Worship of God as God hath commanded them But the main thing is all that we do it must acted by the Spirit of God it is not enough to have true silver and gold but it must have the right stamp or else it cannot go for current coyn And so it is not enough that the things that we offer to God in His Worship be Gods own be what we have warrant for out of Gods Word but it must have the stamp of the Spirit of God In the Worship of God there be Two Questions that He wil ask First Who required this at your hands But then if you can Answer thus Thou O Lord didst require it It is well but then God hath another Question Whose Image and Superscription is this If thou canst not give an Answer to that it will be rejected too Thou must be acted by Divine principles in all that thou doest there must be the stamp of the Spirit upon that which is tendered to God else it is nothing To open this Point fully will ask some time First Therefore I will shew you how we may know when our duties are acted by our naturall parts rather than by the Spirit of God Secondly How we may know whether our duties be acted by natural Conscience rather than by the Spirit of God 1 First If thou art acted by naturall parts they will not change thy heart Men that do perform duties by the strength of natural parts they may be as large as others and speak to the edification of others but those duties do never change their hearts now if thou beest actd by the Spirit of God thou wilt be changed into the very Image of His Spirit 2 Secondly If men are acted by naturall parts they wil not carry them through difficulties and discouragements but now the Spirit of God if thou hast acted by Him though thou dost meet with never such difficulties and discouragements thou wilt be carried through them all 3 Thou mayest know it by this wherein dost thou account the excellency of a duty to consist either in thy self or others Thou performest a duty now it may be thy parts do act very lively and to thy credit and yet thy conscience tells thee that thy heart was streightened Now canst thou rise up with joy because thou hast thy ends At another time perhaps thy heart is more troubled and broken But thou doest not express thy self so much then thou art discouraged And when thou seest another perform a duty if thou seest but any failing in their expressions thou pitchest upon that and lookest upon it as a poor thing thou art not able to see an excellency in holy duties except there be an excellency of naturall parts but those that have the Spirit of God they can finde the Spirit of God acting in others though they have not such naturall parts 4 Those that are acted by their natural parts in secret they are less enlarged than they are before others a great deal Their parts act much before others But what is there between God and their own souls 5 They that be so acted will not be very constant you shal have young ones that begin to look towards Religion their parts are a little fresh and they are mightily enlarged in holy duties and the thing is good for them to make use of their parts but how ordinary it is that after a few yeers they are
NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT SERO SED SERIO AEtatis Suae 45. Iune 1. 1646 JEREMIAH BVRROUGHES Gospell-Preacher 〈◊〉 two of the greatest Congregations in England Viz. Stepney and Cripple gate London â— Câ—â—â—â— sculpt Gospel-worship OR The Right manner of Sanctifying the Name of God in generall And particularly in these 3 great Ordinances 1. Hearing the Word 2. Receiving the Lords Supper 3. Prayer By IEREMIAH BURROUGHS At the end of the Contents of this Book is printed the Titles of all the Works of Mr. Ieremiah Burroughs that are published BY Thomas Goodwin William Greenhill Sydrach Simpson Philip Nye William Bridge John Yates William Alderly LONDON Printed for Peter Cole and are to be sold by John Walker at the Star in Popes head ally 1648. To the Reader OVR purpose in this Preface is not to speake either of the eminent worth of the Authour whose memory is blessed in the hearts of all the godly in this Nation or of this Piece it self here published But onely to assure thee that it is his And although it riseth not up to that exactnesse and perfection that might have beene in them had he publisht them himself Yet with that different allowance which is to be given Notes taken from his mouth in ordinary and frequent Preaching We doubt not but 〈◊〉 their use and benefit they may be as profitable to the Saints as other of his Writings being as full of weighty and Divine materials having also the impresse of the Spirit and language of this holy Man one of the greatest Preachers of this age stampt all along upon them Wee to whom this our Brother was most deare and precious being intrusted with the publishing of his Sermons have thought good first to usher abroad these few which if they receive that welcome they deserve many other excellent pieces of his may soon after have encouragement to appeare in publick view The points treated of in these are of great concernment and therefore wee conceive the Author though in handling 〈◊〉 â—hem hee had roome enough for 〈◊〉 â—ssing many of the controversies of the times yet he purposely waved it and bent himselfe to the single delivery of that which tended most to edification and best suited with such a popular Auditory as that was to whom hee spake The Lord of heaven blesse them to thy spiritual advantage and enable thee by such meanes as these to sanctifie his Name in the use of all his Ordinances which is the desire of Thomas Goodwin William Greenhill William Bridge Sydrach Simpson Philip Nye Reader take notice that at the end of the Contents of this Booke is printed the Titles of the three last Works of Mr. Burroughs in that order they were Preacht by him at Stepny in the morning Exercise every Lords day Hee began the Treatise of Contentment Iuly 27. 1645. and finished it October 12. 1645. At Stepny he began the Treatise intitled Gospelworship November the 9. 1645. and finished it at the end of February 1645. He began the Treatise of Gospel-conversation March the 1. 1645. and finished it May the 3. 1646. THE CONTENTS OF THE SEVERAL ENSUING SERMONS SERMON I. THE occasion of the words Page 1 The words opened Page 5 Observation 1 There must be nothing in Gods worship but what he hath commanded Page 8 Observ 2 God stands upon little things in matters of his Worship Page 11 Observ 3 No priviledge can secure from Gods stroke Page 12 Observ 4 The more dignity tâ—e more danger Ibid Observ 5 The beginnings of gâ—eâ—ct matters meet with difficulties Page 13 Observ 6 Those that enter into publick places have need of the fear of God ibid Observ 7 We should pick out Gods meaning from dark expressions in His Word Page 14 Observ 8 Sinners may meet with judgements never threatned in the Word Page 16 Observ 9 God is very quick with some in the way of judgement Page 17 Observ 10 The holiness of a duty wil not bear a man out in his miscarriage in it ibid Observ 11 The Lord is terrible out of his Holy places Page 18 Observ 12 Gods judgements are oft futable to mens sins ibid Observ 13 We should take beed of bringing strange fire to Gods service Page 19 SERMON II Observ 14 Gods saints many times meet with afflictions in their children Page 20 Observ 15 Gods judgments many times come in an invisible way Page 21 Observ 16 Gods glory more precious to Him than mens lives Page 22 Observ 17 The neerer any are to God the more careful they should be to glorifie him ibid Observ 18 When judgements are exemplarie we should look to the word how God makes it Good Page 23 Observ 19 The great honour of Gods Name in them making it holy ibid Observ 20 True friendship to comfort friends in distress from the Word Page 24 Observ 21 The way to quiet the heart in aâ—â—fliction is to think God will have honor by it Page 25 Doct. 1 In Worshipping God we draw nigh unto him Page 26 In what respect we are said to draw nigh God in worship Page 27 Use 1 To take heed what we do when we worship God Page 30 Use 2 Why guilty consciences fly from the worship of God Page 31 Use 3 Why Hypocrites meet with such severe judgements Page 32 Use 4 To neglect Gods Worship is to depart from him Page 33 Use 5 Exhortation to be much in Gods worship Page 34 SERMON III Use 6 The Honour of Gods servants to draw nigh him Page 39 Doct. 2 We must Sanctifie Gods Name in drawing might him Page 42 First in pâ—â—â—â—tion to his Worship ibid 1 〈…〉 a great God Page 43 2 〈…〉 of Gods worship are 〈◊〉 Page 44 〈◊〉 are naturally unprepared Page 46 4 The hinderances of Gods worship are many ibid 5 The Heathens prepared to worship their Idols ibid 6 Preparation shews sincerity of heart Page 47 5 Things wherein preparation consists Page 48 1 A right apprehension of God Page 49 2 Taking the heart from sinful waies ibid 3 Taking off the heart from the world ibid 4 In watching and prayer Page 50 5 In actiâ—g the Faculties and Graces Page â—1 4 Things oâ— the excellency of Preparation Page 52 1 It will â—ake duties easie ibid 2 We shall do much in a little time ibid 3 The Lord will pass by weakness in duties Page 53 4 It will make the heart alway ready for duty Page 54 SERMON IV Cases of Conscience 1 Whether we be alway bound to set some time apart for preparation to duties Page 55 2 Whether being not prepared the duty may be omitted Page 57 Answered in 4 particulars 1 The omission of duty will not fit the Soul for duty Page 58 2 It is but a temptation to keep from duty Page 59 3 If the duty be done in sincerity though there be not due preparation it is better then to omit it ibid 4 While people struggle with their corruptions and seek not God they fall into snares
offered to God without spot that our consciences might be purged from dead works that we might be purged from that natural filthinesse and uncleannesse in which we all were for the whole world doth lie in filth as a carrion doth lie in his slime Now if we would worship God so as to Sanctifie him we must apply Christ to our Souls and get our conscience purged from dead works and to have the Spirit of Christ in us to quicken up our hearts in the waies of holiness to have the Image of Jesus Christ in us whereby we may be holy according to our proportion even as he himself is holy this is the Sanctifying of the heart There must be an habitual Sanctification and an actual Sanctification of the heart An Habitual that is that the heart must be changed through the work of Regeneration there must be a Regeneration in the heart there must be Divine Principles of the Graces of the Spirit of God in the heart But you will say May not an unregenerate man Pray To that I Answer It is true it is his duty to pray Poure forth thy wrath vpon the Heathen and upon the families that call not upon thy Name But it 's as true that they cannot Sanctifie Gods Name in doing of it But if we would Sanctifie Gods Name in it there must be an Habitual holiness in the heart for every thing doth act according to it's principles in nature it is so and so doth the heart when it comes to Worship God it doth act according to the principles that it hath And then there must not only be Habitual Sanctification but Actual Sanctification likewise as in Exod. 19.10.11 there you see what ado there was to fit them for the hearing of the Law because God was to come among them God is to come among us and we are to come to God when we are to performe holy duties therefore it is not enough to have Grace but there must be an improving of Grace there must be an acting of Grace not only when you come to receive the Sacrament to think that then there must be an acting of Grace but every time you pray and hear there must be an acting of Grace A purging out of your corruptions and an acting of Grace So that one cannot Sanctifie Gods Name in holy duties unless he come thu far to be able to say Lord thou that knowest all things knowest there is nothing that thou doest reveal to be contrary to thy will but my heart is against it that 's the least the 〈◊〉 not have any peace of conscience in drawing nigh 〈…〉 till thou come thus far to have thy heart to work 〈…〉 and to be set upon every good that God reveals to be his mind You know when a man of quallity comes to your house what a deal of stir there is not only in sweeping but in making all things as clean and tire and shining as possible can be Thus it should be when thou comest to God And the Reason why there must be this Sanctifying of the heart is 1 First Because the Lord doth first accept of the person before he doth accept of the Action Men indeed do accept of the persons of men because they do good actions but God accepts of the actions of men because their persons are good If indeed we see a man do good then we love him and accept of the person of the man but God first will accept of the person before the Action As the Lord acepted of Abel first and then he accepted his offering So you must look to that to have your persons first accepted of God before any duty can be accepted You think though you be wicked and sinful yet if you amend your life God will accept of you you go that way to work but certainly that is the wrong way you must first look after means of acception of your persons which is through the Righteousness of Jesus Christ and through the Sanctification ot his Spirit whereby you come to have his Image and life and so are accepted and then all that proceeds from you comes to be accepted There is not any action which comes from you that comes to be accepted to eternal life until your persons be accepted before God and therefore there must be a Sanctifying of the heart before there can be a Sanctifying the Name of God in the duties of his Worship Therefore when you come to performe any duties of Gods Worship you should consider this Is my heart Sanctified I must Sanctifie Gods Name and how can I do that except my heart be Sanctified 2 Secondly Our hearts must be â—anctified because the Lord doth look more to the principle from whence a thing comes than at the thing it self As indeed were our hearts right as they should then all the good things that come to us we would not so much regard what the things are that we do enjoy from God as what the principle is from whence they come that is Whether what we do enjoy from God is from the love of God in Jesus Christ or no Whether it be from the generall Bounty and Patience of God or from the special Love of God in Jesus Christ Our hearts would regard that most if we were Spiritual now then look as a godly man is not satisfied with enjoying any good thing from God except he knows it comes from a principle of Love to him in Jesus Christ So God is not pleased with any thing that comes from us except he knows that it comes from a principle of Love Grace and Holiness in our hearts 3 Thirdly According as the heart is so will the Service be Certainly if the heart be unclean the duty will be unclean perhaps the words may be fine and brave but if there be an unclean heart the duty will be unclean As it is with a man that hath the Plague suppose he makes a brave Oration yet his breath is infectious so it is in our Services with God If so be that our hearts within us have the plague then certainly the breath that comes from us all our duties will be unclean and therefore that is the first thing that we are to look for in the Sanctifying Gods Name in holy duties Look to have thy heart Sanctified and consider from what principle it comes 't is for want of this that thousands of our duties are cast aside and God never doth regard them But this is the first Particular there are many more to speak of SERMON V. LEVITICUS 10.3 I will be Sanctified in them that come nigh me WEE Proceed The next thing therefore for the behaviour of the Soul in the Sanctifying Gods Name in Worship is this When we come to Worship God if we would Sanctifie Gods Name we must have high thoughts of God we must look upon God as He is upon His Throne in Majesty and in Glory as in Isa 6.1 2. you shal find that the Prophet saw
Prayer and so in the OLD TESTAMENT too it was a kind of emblem of Prayer The offering up of our Prayers is the offering up of Incense to God and the Mercy Seat it was a Type of Jesus Christ Now the Incense should cover the Mercy Seat so our prayers must go up to Jesus Christ must be upon him and so must be accepted by the Father And as we read in Judg. 13.20 when Manoah offered a Sacrifice the text saith that the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame This Angel of God here was Jesus Christ as we might eaâ—â—ly from this Scripture make it out and he ascends up in the flame from the Altar Now though we do not offer such kind of Sacrifices with Fire and Incense as they did in the time of the Law yet when we are offering up of our Incense there must be a flame of Fervency and Zeal But that is not enough together with the flame of the Altar the Angel of God Jesus Christ the great Angel of the New Covenant for Angel signifies nothing but Messenger the great Messenger that is come into the world about that great Errand of his to reconcile the world to himself he must ascend up in the flame and so God will account his Name to be Sanctified the Name of God is not Sanctified but through Jesus Christ The Acting of our Faith upon Christ as Mediator is a special ingredient to the Sanctifying of Gods Name in holy duties as you know the Scripture saith that the Altar doth Sanctifie the gift offered upon the Altar Jesus Christ is the Altar upon whom all our Spiritual Sacrifices are to be offered and this Altar doth Sanctifie the gift that is offered upon it let never so great a gift be offered upon any other Altar it was not accounted holy nor accepted so let men by their naturall strength or power that they have offer up the most glorious and speciousest Service to God It is not accepted unless it be offered up upon the Altar Jesus Christ we have an Altar now not the communion Table but Jesus Christ himself is our Altar upon whom we are to offer all our Sacrifices and this Altar must Sanctifie the gift we can never have our gift sanctifâ—ed no nor Gods Name sanctified in this gift except it be offered upon this Altar and our Faith acted upon Jesus Christ People little think of this but of other things viz. That when we worship God we should worship him with fear and reverence and with humility and with strength of Intention such kind of things every one that hath any enlightening of conscience will think of at some time or other but people do least think of this which is the greatest ingredient of all that is required in the Sanctifying of Gods Name in holy duties that is to come and tender up all to the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ How many men and women that have been Professors of Religion 20 or 30 yeers and yet not acquainted with this great mystery of godliness to tender up all to God in the Name of his Son This is that that upon divers occasions I have spoken unto and am willing upon every occasion as I meet with it to speak of because it is a principle part of the great mystery of the Gospel without which all our duties are rejected of God and cast away Now then put all these Nine things together and see by them what we ought to do that we may Sanctifie the Name of God in holy duties But there is something further to be spoken that may help you to Sanctifie Gods Name in holy duties and that is several workings of hearts suitable to the several Attributes of God for that is to Sanctifie Gods Name to have the duty to be such as is some way suitable to such a God as we are now worshipping Now then let us consider what the Scrip ure saith of God and then let us see what suitable dispositions we should have in us unto those things that the Scripture saith of God 1 First You know the Scripture saith that God is a Spirit in Joh 4.24 Then presently Christ saith That he that worships him must worship him in Spirit that is there must be a suitableness in our worship to what God is Is God a Spirit then all that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth that is thus When I am to go to worship God I must consider of him as he is an infinite and glorious Spirit well then surely bodily worship is not sufficient for me Though I do kneel down in Prayer or do come and present my body to hear the Word or my body to receive the Sacrament this is not to worship God as a Spirit If indeed that our God were as the Heathens that were corporeal then it were another matter then bodily worship would serve the turn but God being a Spirit he must have Spiritual Worship therefore my soul and all that is within me magnifie his Name saith David my Soul magnifie his Name not my lips only but my Soul The Apostle in 1 Tim. 4.8 saith that bodily exercise profits little it is no great matter for the body God looks but very little at bodily exercise but it is godliness that is profitable it is the work of the Spirit when we come to pray we must pray in the Spirit that is we must pray with our Souls we must poure forth our souls before God and when we come to hear our hearts must not go after our coveteousness we must set our hearts to what we hear we must hear with our hearts as well as with our ears our Souls must be at work in hearing of the Word when you hear it is not enough for you to come and fit in a Pew and have the sound of a mans voice in your eares but your Souls must be at work And so when you come to receive the Sacrament your Souls must feed upon Jesus Christ Bodily worship without Soul-worship is nothing but Soul-worship may be accepted without bodily worship therefore it is the Soul that God doth principally look at in holy duties If you be not able to worship God in your bodies you may worship him in your Souls and God regards that bodily exercise in holy duties is little worth somewhat it may be worth I confess sometime bodily exercise may further the soul as a reverend carriage of the body and the like but it is nothing in comparison the great work is the work of the Soul for God is a Spirit and must be worshipped in Spirit And God is said to be a Spirit not only in that he is not of so thick a Corporal substance but it notes the simplicity of God he is without any composition whatsoever is in God is God himself he is absolutely one there are not divers things in God now then those that come to worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth
with a dead heart and with a dead Service to sacrifice that which is dead before it comes it 's like a carrion that lies dead in the ditch Oh let us be humbled for our dead hearts and dead Sacrifices it it a living God that I am Worshiping and therefore I must pray Lord turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken my heart in thy Law Psal 119.37 Remember when thou comest to worship that thou come with a quickned heart for thou hast to deal with a living God A man or woman that is of an active spirit cannot endure a dull and heavie servant in the family but the Lord is a pure act and nothing else but act and therefore he doth expect that all His people should have quick active and lively spirits 6 When you come to Worship God you are to look upon Him as Almighty And so are 1. To Feare His great power when you come before Him And 2ly Then you are not to be discouraged by any difficulties I come to seek for some great thing and I come to seek to a great God that hath all power in Heaven and Earth and infinitly more power than there is in all creatures in Heaven and earth I am praying to a God that can create peace create help My condition cannot be so desperate but this Infinite Almighty God is able to help me Let me make Him the object of my faith as He is so infinitly Almighty What a full object of Faith is this God that hath all power in Him Let me therefore come to Him as a strong Tower run to the Name of God as a strong Tower that can help in al straights whatsoever There would be much drawing forth of our Faith if we could present the Lord before us as an infinit Almighty God when we see outward helps and means neer at hand then we can beleeve that we may have some succour from him but when al outward helps and means fail then we are discouraged we do not Sanctifie Gods Name but we rather take this Name of God in vaine when as our hearts are discouraged with any difficulties now the Lord expects that all His Children that come to worship Him should worship Him as the Almighty God and so have their hearts working towards Him there would be mighty workings of Spirit towards God if we saw Him by the eye of Faith as well as Reason 7 Look upon God as an Omniscient God as a God infinitly understanding all things Now what doth this call for First If God be a God of infinit understanding then let not me bring a blind sacrifice to God then let not me bring an ignorant heart to God this is the excellency of an understanding Creature to know the rule and end of it's own Actions now thou comest to worship an infinite God of infinite understanding then know the rule of what you do and know the end of what you do and come with understanding into His presence Secondly If He be so understanding come with a free open heart to open whatsoever is in thine heart to God take heed of keeping any secret resolutions in thine own heart God knows thee and can tell how to find thee out God knows all that is in thine heart before all the secret baseness that is in thine heart the Lord doth understand it the Lords eye is a piercing eye He sees thorow and thorow thy heart It 's a vaine thing for thee to come and conceale any thing before Him You will say If God understand a mans heart what need he come and confess Yes He requires it as thy duty that thou shouldest come and open all before Him In spight of thy heart thou canst not cover any thing from the Lords eyes but the Lord will see whether thou beest willing of thy self that He should understand all God doth not require us to come and confess our sins that so he might know that which he knew not before but for this end That there might be a testimony that thou art willing that he should know all that is in thy heart therefore now when thou comest to worship him ransack every corner of thy heart and confess all before the Lord and give glory to his Name as that God that is an All-seeing God that knows all the windings and turnings of thy heart Now meditate of these things that be presented to thee and it will be a mighty means to help thee to Sanctifie his Name 8 God is a God of infinite Wisdom therefore when we come to worship God let us be ashamed of our folly When thou comest to have to deal with God look upon him as a God of infinite Wisdom and I say be thou ashamed of thy folly then and do thou exercise the grace of wisdom too when thou comest to God that is by propounding right ends of which we spake before That is one part of wisdom to have right ends and right means towards those ends so that the meditation of the wisdom of God when we come to worship him will further us to Sanctifie his Name And further This is to Sanctifie Gods Wisdom when thou comest into Gods presence in thy greatest straights deny thy own wisdom come with a resolution to be guided by the wisdom of God in this manner Lord I know not how to order my steps there is much folly and vanity in my heart but thou art a God of infinite wisdom I come to thee for direction and I profess here I am willing to give up my whol Soul to be guided by thy wisdom If every time we come to worship God we came thus Oh Lord whatsoever our thoughts have been heretofore yet if thou shalt but reveal thy mind to us we will hearken to thee Lord we beleeve that thy Wisdom it is thy Self and therefore we profess to give up our selves to thy Wisdom Now this is to Sanctifie the Name of God 9 Consider the holiness of God God is a God infinitely pure from all sin and therefore when we come to worship God we must be ashamed of our unholiness as the Prophet in Isa 6. when he heard the Seraphims cry Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts he fals down and saith Woe is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips And is God a holy God Then let me take heed when I come before him that I bring not with me a love to any sin for the Lord hates it and let me take heed that I do not cast dirâ— in the very face of Gods holiness but give up my Soul to be rul'd wholly by him And labour that there may be a suitableness between the holiness of thy heart and of the infinite God Now this is to Sanctifie Gods Name when the consideration of this Attribute of God hath such effect upon my heart that I labor upon this to come with a suitable heart before God 10 When thou comest before God
not so bad as you hear it is a cursed comfort that hath no sure bottome Grant that respect therefore to the Word 3 Thirdly consider this It may be I do not see cleerly that these things are so which are delivered I do not see enough to beleeve them now but what if I were now dying What if I were now going to receive the sentence of my eternal doome would I not then beleeve these things Would I not then think what I hear out of the word to be true It is an easie matter for men to reject the word while they have their healths and prosperity But if you were to die and upon your sick and death bed if you saw the infinite ocean of eternity before you what would you say then were the Word true yea or no would you give beleif unto the suggestions of the Devil then We find it by experience That men that could easily cast off the word in their healths yet when they have come to lie upon their sick bed and death bed they found the word true Beleeve it now as well as then 4 Consider If thou doest not beleeve what a case art thou in Am I worse than the Devils themselves The Scripture tels me That the Devils beleeve and tremble Why Lord do I come to hear Sermons and am I more hard to beleeve than the very Devils themselves They do beleeve that word that I cast off and they tremble at it but my Soul is not at all stirred as if there were no reallity in such things that have been spoken to me There be other things which may further help us towards beleeving of the word of God but these shall suâ—â—â—ce And certainly my brethren till we come to this to beleeve the Word though we should sit under it many yeers it will do us little good and we shall never Sanctifie the Name of God in the hearing of it SERMON IX LEVITICUS 10.3 I will be Sanctified in them that come nigh me THE next thing for the right behaviour of the Soul for Sanctifying Gods Name is this We must receive the Word with meeknesse of Spirit that you have in Jam. 1.21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the ingrafted word which is 〈…〉 save your souls Receive with meekness The former part of his Scripture I confess concerns some what that was before about the preparation of the Soul and we shall perhaps afterwards in the Application come to open the former part of this vers Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness But only now we quote the place for this Receive with meekness the ingrafted Word which is able to save your souls Let there be a quietness in your spirits in attending upon the Word no hurring There is a twofold di emper of passion in many people that is a great hindrance to the profit of the Word and Sanctifying Gods 〈…〉 hearing it 1 The First 〈◊〉 distemper of Passion in those that have some trouble of conscience in them they are troubled for their sin and their spirits 〈◊〉 in a discontented froward humour because they have not that comfort that they do desire and therefore the Word of God when it comes to be preached to them if it doth not every way sure with their hearts and if they do not find present comfort by it their spirits are in a distemper and frowardness and cast it off and if at any time there be never such comfortable things spoken in the word yet there is an anger in their spirits because they are not able to apply the word to themselves and they think This doth not concern me Now there should be meeknesse of spirit in those that are in trouble of conscience above all they should quietly attend upon the word and wait for the time that God will speak peace to their consciences And if I cannot find the Word sutable to me at this time yet I may at another time let me attend with meekness let me receive every thing with meekness the Word is above me and if ever I have good it must be by the Word at last It doth much concern those that are in trouble of Conscience to have meek spirits 2 There is another distemper in others and that is worse that is Such as when they find the Word come neer unto them relating those sins that their Consciences tells them they are guilty of their hearts rise against God and His Word and Ministers too Because it would pluck away some beloved corruption because it rebukes them for some haunt of evill some distemper of heart that they have been or are guilty of it puts a shame upon them and therefore their hearts do rise against it It is a dreadfull thing to have the heart rise against the Word As we reade of that froward Prince Jehoiakim in the Prophesie of Jeremiah that when the Roll was read in his hearing sitting in the winter time by a great fire he took a pen-knife and cut it in pieces and threw it into the fire in anger and I have read that the Jewes kept a Fast every yeer to mourne for that great sin yet this Jehoiakim was the son of Josiah whose heart did melt at the hearinng of the Word he had an humble and a meek heart when the Law was read and yet see what a different spirit Jehoiakim had either from his Father or grand-Father It is a great dishonor to the Name of God for men to give liberty to their Passions to rise against the Word take hâ—ed of Passion either while you are hearing the word or after the word as many of you while you are discontented with what is said when you come in company what a fury are many men in upon the hearing of some things in the word that comes close to their hearts Remember when you are a hearing of the Word that it is that which is above you and it is not fit for one that is an inferiour to shew himselfe Passionate in the presence of a Superiour It is true the Ministers they may be in as low a condition as you and in a lower but the Word they speak it is above all the Princes and Monarchs upon the face of the Earth and it is fit therefore we having to deal with God that we should behave our selves in a meek disposition 6 The next thing for the Sanctifying Gods Name in the hearing of the word is this We must hear it with a trembling heart with fear as well as meekness and for that you have that famous Scripture in Isa 66. beginning Thus saith the Lord The Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my foot-sâ—ool where is the house that ye build unto me and where is the place of my rest For all those things hath my hand made and all those things have been saith the Lord but to this man will I look even to him that is poor and
of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my Word This is a most admirable Scripture Mark how God lifts up Himself in His Glory so great a God as the Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my foot-stool where is that house that ye will build unto me But then may a poor soul say How shall I be able to stand before this God that is so glorious Saith God Be not discouraged poor soul who doest tremble at my Word for I look to you And then this is a further thing observable that God hath a regard to that soul that trembles at His Word rather than to any that should build the most sumptuous buildings in the world for Him for saith God here The Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my foot-stool where is the house that ye build unto me and where is the place of my rest They have built a glorious Temple to God but what do I regard that saith God I regard one that trembls at my word more than that great house that you have built unto me It is a notable Scripture to shew what a high respect God hath to one that trembls at His word He regards them more than this glorious Temple that was built unto Him If you were able to build such a place as this was for the service of God you would think it a great matter it is not so much regarded as if you could bring a trembling heart to Gods word that 's a special thing wherein the Sanctifying of the Name of God consists when we come to see the dreadful Authority that there is in the word of God when we are able to see more glory of God in His Word than in all the works of God besides for there is more of his glory in the word than there is in the whole Creation of Heaven and Earth take the Sun and Moon and Stars you that are Marriners you have seen much of the glory of God abroad that one would think might strike terrour into all your hearts but know that there is more of the dreadfulness of Gods Name in His word than in all His works In Psal 138.2 Thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name the Word it is magnified above all the Name of God whatsoever and it is a very good signe of a Spiritual enlightened Soul that can see the Name of God more magnified in His Word than in all His works besides I appeal unto your Consciences in this thing Have you ever seen the Name of God to be more magnified in His Word than in all His works I may with very good confidence affirm this that there is no godly soul upon the face of the earth that hath the weakest degree of grace but hath seen more of the glory of God revealed in His word than he hath seen in all the works of God besides and his heart hath bin more taken with it It requires therefore a trembling frame of heart when we hear it And then further When this is considered that the Word is that which bindeth the soul over either to life or death mens eternal estates are to be cast by the Word certainly then it requires a trembling heart to hear that by which the eternal estate of man is to be cast we do not Sanctifie Gods Name when we come to hear the Word except we come with trembling hearts and they are the most likely of all men and women to understand the mind of God as for such as come with conceited spirits that they understand as much before they come and think their reach of wit or capacity is beyond the capacity of any that shall open the Word unto them yet that were not so much if 〈◊〉 did but only rest upon the man and not reflect upon the word it self Now these that are rich in their own thoughts and understandings are sent empty away but those that come wiâ—h trembling hearts to the Word they are the men that are like to understand Gods Counsels revealed in His word In Ezra 10.2 3. Shechaniah the Son of Jehiel one of the Sons of Elam answered said unto Ezra we have transgressed against our God have taken strange wives c. Yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing now therefore let us make a covenant with our God according to the counsel of my Lord and of those that tremble at the Commandement of our God So that those that tremble at Godâ— Word are such as are fitest to counsel they understand most of Gods mind and that 's another particular of the behaviour of the Soul in Sanctifying Gods Name in hearing his Word 7 The next is a humble subjection to the Word that we hear our hearts must bow to it must lie under the word that we hear it is a very remarkable Scripture that we have in 2 Chron. 6.12 There it is said concerning a great King Zedekiah He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the Prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord. It is a very strange expression as any we have in the Book of God that Zedekiah a great King should be charged with this as a great sin that he did not humble himself Humble himself before whom you will say We are boud to humble our selves before God but here it is that he did not humble himself before Jeremiah the Prophet Why before the Prophet Because he spake from the mouth of the Lord. If it be any messenger that speaks from the mouth of the Lord God expects that we should humble our selves so that if any truth comes to be delivered unto you the Lord expects that you should fall down and yeeld obedience to it whatsoever your thoughts your judgements your opinions have heretofore been it there come any thing in the word against it you must submit your judgments submit your very consciences you must submit your wills whatsoever your hearts have been set upon though it hath been never so contentful to your spirits before yet now submit and yeeld though it go never so cross unto your minds your wils your ends yet all must be submitted and laid down flat before the Word so as to be willing to deny your selves of any thing in the world When a man or woman can say thus Lord it is true I confess before I heard thy word opened in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit unto me I was of such a mind and my heart went after such and such contentments and I thought it was impossible that ever my heart should be taken from them but O Lord thou hast been pleased plainly to shew to me by the opening of thy Word in the evidence of thy Spirit what thy mind is Now whatsoever becomes of my name of my comforts of my contentments in this world Lord here I cast down all before thee I submit unto thy Word this is a gracious
and casts its self upon Jesus Christ and saith as it were Amen to what the Father gives Oh Lord here I come and imbrace thy Son as my life as my Saviour as the fountain of all my good in whom I expect all the good I am like to have either here or to all eternity so that there must be a stirring up of the act of faith in an actual taking of Christ if thou beest a beleever canst thou remember what thou didst when first thou didst take Jesus Christ when the Lord in the preaching of his Word did reveal Jesus Christ to thy soul what didst thou then Oh soul how did thy soule work in closing with Christ as thy soule did then in closing with Christ so it must now renew the work there must be a renewall of the worke at that time So that when you come to the Sacrament you must not think that it is then a time to listen to doubts fears and scruples no but it is a time that God cals for the exercise of faith the casting of the soul upon Christ and his merits for life and for salvation or else the Name of God is not sanctified as it ought thou doest not sanctifie Gods Name when thou art busying thy soule in doubts and scruples in thy receiving of the Sacrament And then faith is as the mouth when thou comest to eat and drink how canst thou if thou hast not a mouth thou hast a bodily mouth to take in bread and wine but know that without faith thy soule cannot take in Christ faith is as it were the mouth that is by the act of faith the soul doth open it selfe for Jesus Christ and not only opens it selfe but takes in Christ to the soule and makes Christ and the soul as one as our bread and wine is made one with our body so faith takes in Christ and makes him as one with thee and turns Christ into the nourishment of thy soul and thou and Christ by faith are made as truly one as the bread and wine that is put into thy body is made one with thy body This is the work of faith without which we cannot sanctifie the Name of God Sixthly There must be spiritual joy that must be exercised here for it is a feast here we come to sit with Christ at his Table we come as children to our fathers Table and to sit there with Jesus Christ our Elder Brother now as a father doth not love to have his child set in a sullen and dogged way at his Table or to be crying but he would have the child set in comfort and with a holy cheerfulness with a holy freedom of spirit not in a sullen way but as a child in the presence of his father and not as a servant with the master Object You told us before that there should be brokenness of spirit and sence of our sin Answ That may be and joy we rejoyce with trembling therefore that brokennesse of Spirit that I meant must not bee slavish horrour and feare but a kindly melting of the soul from the apprehension of the love of God unto it in Jesus Christ that was willing to be at so great cost to purchase the pardon of sin such a gracious mourning as may stand with joy and the truth is that that sorrow for sin in the Sacrament that is not mixt with joy is a sorrow that doth not Sanctifie Gods Name godly sorrow and evangelâ—cal joy may stand together very well And therefore know that this is not the time neither to give liberty to have your hearts â—nk no there must be no sinking sorrow of heart but such a sorrow of heart as in the midst of it you may be able to look upon God as a reconciled Father to you and have a cheerfulness of spirit as in the presence of God you must look upon your selves as Gods guest to be merry at his Table now this is a great mystery of godliness that there should be at the same time the sight of Christ Crucified and yet at the same time a spiritual cheerfulness in the assurance of the love of God in Jesus Christ I say it is a mystery and only those that are Beleevers are able to understand this mystery how to have their hearts break and yet how to rejoyce at the same time in that unspeakable love of God that is here presented unto them in this Sacrament Seventhly In the next place there must be thankfulnesse therefore it is called the Eucharist and in one of the Evengelists where it is said Christ blest the bread in another it is said Christ gave thanks Christ when he instituted this Sacrament he gave thanks he gave thanks for what he gave thanks to God the Father that he was pleased to send him into the world to die for poor souls now shall Jesus Christ give thanks unto God the Father for that that did cost him his life yea saith Christ I see that here is a way to save soules and let it cost me my life if it will yet I blesse thee O Father if soules may come to be sav'd though it cost me my life Christ rejoyced in his Spirit in thanking his Father for this then how should our hearts be inlarged with thankfulnesse when we come to this that the Ancients were wont to call the Eucharist that is a thanksgiving we are to give God thanks for every mercy you will not eate your owne bread without giving of thankes but when we come to have this bread this bread of life here is matter of thankfulnesse here is matter of enlargement of soul thou that hast the deadest and dullest soule and straightest Spirit yet when thou comest hither and understandest what thou doest here thou canst not but see matter for the enlargement of thy heart and wish that thou hadst ten thousand thousand times more strength to expresse the praises of the Lord here is a thing that must be the subject of the Hallelujahs and doxologies that Angels and Saints must for ever sound out in the highest heavens dost thou know what the Lord presents to thee here It is more than if the Lord should say I will make ten thousand worlds for the sake of this creature and give all these worlds to him thou wouldest think that thou wert bound to blesse him then only when God in the Bread and wine reaches out to thee the body blood of his Son here is more matter of praise than if ten thousand thousand worlds were given to thee and therefore God expects that thou shouldest say to thy soule my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy Name blesse the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases O poor soule here is the foundation of all mercies dost thou praise God for justification for sanctification here is a glorious application of the mercy of God to
Kingdome come they doe as much as say O Lord do thou set thy selfe against all the enemies of thy Kingdome if they belong to thy election Lord convert them but otherwise Lord confound them Now thus we see how we are to sanctife the Name of God in Prayer in regard of the matter of the prayer but now for the manner of prayer The most things I confess are there First When we come to prayer we must be sure to pray with understanding 1 Cor. 14.15 What is it then I will pray with the â—â—irâ—â— and will pray with understanding also God doth not love the sacrifice of fooles we must not come babling to God in prayer to speak we know not what and to multiply words we know not wherefore but God doth require that those that come to prayer come with understanding that they offer to God a rational a reasonable an understanding sacrifice God is a Spirit and he will be worshipped in spirit and in truth now as it belongs to all other duties of worship so especially in Prayer to know what we do when we pray not to think to put off God with a meer empty sound that 's the first thing The Second thing in the manner of prayer it is the giving up all the faculties of our souls in it I spake to that in the worship of God in generall wee shall apply it now particularly to prayer the giving up not only our understandings but wills thoughts affections strength in prayer in 2 Chron. 20.3 it is said of Jehoshaphat that he set himselfe to seeke the Lord he did give his whole selfe to seeke the Lord we are to give our whole selfe and not to divide in prayer Now there were an argument that indeed might well take up a whole Sermon in shewing the evill of the wandring of our spirits in prayer wee should take heed of the wandring of our spirits in the hearing of the Word and receiving the Sacraments and so in Prayer the people of God are much troubled with the wandring of their thoughts both in Word and Sacrament and it is their great burthen and should be so but I never hear any more complainings of the wandring of their spirits than in the time of prayer the people of God are much pestered in their spirits with this evill it is very grievous unto them and many of them go under it as a grievous burthen all their daies the chiefest burthen that is upon their spirits is their wandring in prayer so that if God should speak to them as he spake unto Solomon and bade him aske what he should give him I verily beleeve there are many in this Congregation that have already good assurance of Gods love in Christ if they had not that that would be the maine thing that they would aske but having attained that if God would speak from heaven and say What shall I give you for your selves if he should aske you in the Generall it may be you would aske something for the Churches but if it be for your selves you would put up this petition Oh Lord that I may be delivered from a wandring spirit in holy duties and especially in the duty of prayer that I may thereby come to enjoy more holy communion with thy selfe than ever yet I enjoyed and they would account this to be a greater mercy than if God should give them to be Kings or Queens over the whole World if God should put these two into the balance either the whole world to possesse or otherwise to have more free hearts in coming to God in prayer and to be delivered from that that hath so much hindred their Communion with God in prayer they would dispise and scorn the the world in comparison of such a mercy as this is howsoever carnall hearts they think little of it but those that are the servants of God they find it to be very grievous to them but being the time is past I shall reserve that to speak yet a little more largely for the help of those that are under the burthen of it I 'le only speak one thing further now and that shall be to those that are wicked and vile that not only have vain wandring thoughts in prayer but even in the very duty of prayer many times have wicked and ungodly thoughts how horrible are they unclean thoughts murderous thoughts it may be and most abominable I confesse even those that are godly may sometimes have some blasphemous thoughts cast into them for the Devil is never more busie than at the time of prayer but they rather come from the Devill than from the stream and corruption of their own hearts which may be we may make out more cleerly afterward but now I speak to such as have most wicked abominable thoughts rising from the stream and corruption of their hearts such thoughts as their hearts do close withal in prayer and they can roule those thoughts about in their minds as a child will roule a piece of sugar in its mouth and this is the wickednesse of many men and womens hearts Take but this one note with you that all those dreadfull vile unclean covetous thoughts of thine in prayer they have been to God as if you had spoken them in words thoughts to God are all one with him as words are to men for God is a Spirit and the Spirit doth converse with God in thoughts as well as men doe converse with men in words and what a woful guiltiness would have bin upon you had you spoken such vile and wicked things to men as sometimes hath been in your minds even when you have been praying to God how would the company have even spit in your faces and kickt you from them none that have any face of godliness would have endured you in their company and yet here 's the evill of it your hearts are not troubled but you rise off your knees and away you go thou hast a cauterised conscience a feared conscience that canst entertain such vile thoughts at any time without having thy spirit afflicted and going away with shame and confusion as if the greatest evil had befalne thee therefore take heed of this SERMON XIIII LEVITICUS 10.3 I will be Sanctified in them that come nigh me WEE are first to Sanctifie Gods Name in regard of the matter of our prayers And Secondly in regard of the manner For the first we made an end of it the last day and came unto the manner and there were two things mentioned First That wee must pray with understanding Secondly Wee must give up our selves to prayer Now in the close of the Exercise wee had occasion to fall upon that Argument about the wandring of our thoughts in prayer and by that we come to take Gods Name in vaine in stead of Sanctifying of his Name God expects that wee should have our thoughts and wills and affections our whol souls acting upon him in the duty of Prayer or else wee
it as a great Ordinance of God wherein there is Communion with God to be enjoyed and the influence of the grace of God to be conveyed through it so set a high price upon prayer at every time thou art going to prayer Lord I am now setting upon a work that is of very great consequence and much lies upon it and I would account it to be a sore and a great evill to me if I should lose but this prayer this would be a speciall means to compose thy Spirit and to keep thee from wandring as Nehemiah in Nehem. 6.3 a place that I have sometimes quoted upon such an occasion when the enemies of Nehemiah that would hinder the building of the Temple sent to him that they might talk together no saith he I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down so when the Devil and the vanity of thine own heart would send to thee to parly and talke as it were with thee give an Answer I cannnt stand parlying with these things the work that I am about is a great work there are very few people that do account the work of prayer a great work if thou didst it would help thee much against the vanity of thy thoughts Secondly Every time thou goest to prayer thou that art most troubled with such vain thoughts renew thy resolutions against them I have been troubled with vain thoughts heretofore and am afraid if I look not to it that I shall lose this prayer also and therefore O Lord here I renew my resolutions to set against them in this prayer with all my might it is very much that may be done by strong resolutions and especially if thy strong resolutions be renewed resolutions for an old resolution begins to grow weak a man that hath resolved upon a thing a great while agoe it hath little power over him but now when a man hath resolved upon a thing but this morning and just at the time when he is going about it now he doth resolve upon it and set himselfe upon it and doth resolve through the grace of God that what soever difficultie he meets withall whatsoever it cost him that he will goe through this work I say that resolutions renewed have a great deale of power and you cannot imagine what a great deale of power the renewing of resolution against vaine thoughts will have if they were renewed every time thou goest to prayer untill thou gettest power over thy thoughts do but make tryall of this thou hast lost many a prayer by vaine thoughts and thou hast been troubled for them and yet they come againe do but try for this weeke as I remember I said in the point of passion and anger that we should resolve with our selves well whatsoever fals out this morning I am resolved I will beare it so bethink thy selfe how many prayers thou hast lost by vaine thoughts and now renew thy resolutions and Covenant with God that for this prayer I will set my selfe against them whatsoever pains I take I will b sure yet withall to look up to Gods grace to assist me I will be sure this prayer to keep my heart close to what I am about and perhaps that will help you a little but yet some vaine thoughts will come for all that then the next night renew them again and the next morning renew them again and that till thou comest to a habit of keeping thy heart close to the dutie though now thou feelest thy heart so wild that thou thinkest it is impossible to bring it into order but certainly by such a means thy heart will be brought into order Thirdly Be sure to set the presence of God before you in prayer have a real light of the infinite greatnesse Majestie and glory of that you present your selves unto when you are calling upon him if so be that thou canst have a real sight of God in his glory it will keep thy heart close to the dutie as if a man be wandring with his eyes and looking after every feather if the King or some great person come into the Room all his thoughts would be about the King or the great person that were coming in so if you would present the Lord in his glory and greatnesse excellencie majestie and power before you and what a dreadful God he is in himself and yet what a merciful God he is to us in his Son this would mightily compose our hearts certainly men and women that are so wandring in their prayers it is because their eyes are not open to look upon God in his glory they are as it were dreaming and do not apprehend that God stands and looks upon them and observes them and that God takes notice of every wandring thought that comes from them they do not consider that God doth converse with the thoughts of men as well as men do with the words of men that 's a third rule Fourthly Take heed thou beest not deceived because that those thoughts thou hast in prayer doe not appeare to be very evill in themselves This is a great deceit and hinder many in the sanctifying of Gods Name in prayer there is sometimes darted in some vaine thoughts now because the thought hath no great evill in it selfe therefore they think they may play with it and their hearts close with it and so run along with it as the fish doth with the bait if the Devill casts in a thought of blasphemie that makes thee quake and shake but if thy thoughts have no great evill in them but they are slight things matters of no moment one way or other upon that thy heart begins to be dandling and playing with them therefore remember this rule that in the time of prayer whatsoever thoughts be in thy mind that doe not concerne the present duty they are sinful before God though the thoughts for the matter of them be never so good yet thou art to abandon them as sinful at that time Therefore never be deceived with this that the thoughts are not very sinful that 's another rule In the last place observe this rule If ever God hath helped thee at any time in prayer that thy heart hath been kept close to a duty and thou hast had Communion with him blesse God for that blesse God for that help 't is a rule of very great use for us to get further assistance from God in any thing if so be our hearts be inlarged to blesse God for any assistance wee have had heretofore and the reason why we gain and prosper so little in our Christian course it is because we do not take notice of what God hath done for us to give God glory for mercies formerly received and therefore God takes little or no delight in comming in with further mercies to us as if you hâ—â— a young nursery of trees and they began to thrive very well 〈◊〉 there comes a company of Caterpillars and spoiles almost 〈◊〉 the young Trees
that are set only two or three are kept from the Caterpillars a man goes into his orchard and looks upon his Trees and this is spoiled and that is spoiled but he sees two or three and these flourish fairly and these are full of buds and are like to come to something and he rejoyces mightily in those because they are sav'd when so many others are spoil'd and so doe thou view thy prayers and consider how many hath been spoiled as it were by these Caterpillers for I compare wandring vaine thoughts in prayer unto Caterpillars that are upon the trees and we see that if stormy rainy weather comes the Caterpillars will fall and one would thinke that these blustering stormes and the hand of God that hath been out against us should have clensed our thoughts and souls from these Caterpillars that have been upon our duties but many duties have been spoiled yet thou mayest say that hrough Gods mercy such a Morning in my closet the Lord hath preserved a prayer to himselfe and I have gotten power over this vain heart of mine bless God for this and so the Spirit of God will he more ready to come in and help thee another time but thus much shall suffice to speak to this that 's the second thing we must give up our selves wholly to this duty The third thing for the sanctifying of Gods Name in prayer is this there must be the breathings of the Spirit of God otherwise Gods Name is not sanctified that in Rom. 8.26 is cleere for this likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered if any of you should say how can we sanctifie Gods Name we are poor and weak we can doe little mark it is said here that the Spirit helpeth our infirmities to pray and the word is exceeding emphaticall in the original in your books 't is but meerly helping our infirmities but the meaning of the word is in these two things the Spirit helpes that is look how a man that is taking up a heavy piece of Timber at one end he alone cannot get it up but there comes another and takes it up at the other end and so helps him The word signifies such a kind of helping as when a man takes a thing at the other end or on the other side one standing the one way and the other standing the other way or one taking up one end and the other the other end that is the meaning of it he helpes our infirmities the poore soule is pulling and tugging with its own heart and finds his heart heavy and dull like a logge in a ditch and have not many of you found your hearts so but now then when you are tugging with your hearts and would faine lift up your hearts to God is prayer there comes the Spirit of God at the other end and takes the heaviest end of the burden and helps you to lift it up if a child were at one end of the log and that were but light and the other end very heavy if one come and take up the heaviest end a little strength will serve for the lighter end so the Spirit comes and takes up the heavier end in duty and so helps our infirmities helps together and then the other word is The Spirit that is together with the acting of the graces of the spirit in our hearts you must not say so alas what can I do it must be the Spirit of God that must do all it is true he doth all First he gives converting and habitual grace and assisting and actuating grace but now when the Spirit hath wrought grace so as to convert the heart and hath given habitual grace in thy heart why then when the Spirit comes to assist it doth expect that thou shouldest stirre up all the gifts and graces of the Spirit and the very strength of thy body the â—pirit of God expects that thou shouldest act to the uttermost thou art able what power hath been given thee by God and when thou art in acting then the Spirit comes and helpes together with us noâ—ing that we are to put forth what strength we have and thus Gods Name will be sanctified when as we putting forth the graces of the Spirit in us then the Spirit comes and helps and what comes from us now comes from the breathings of the holy-Spirit in us and then God who knowes the meaning of the Spirit will know now the meaning of our sighs and groans therefore when thou art going to prayer thou art to eye the Spirit of God thou art by the eye of faith to looke upon the Spirit of God and to cast thy soule upon the assistance of the Spirit of God thou art to look upon the holy Ghost as appointed by the Father and the Son to that office to be a helper to his poor servants in the duties of worship and especially in that great duty of prayer now upon the reading of this text and having it thus opened this is one good help for thee in prayer reade this text and then exercise thy faith upon it Lord hast thou not said that thy Spirit helpes our infirmities when we know not what we pray for nor how to pray for any thing as we ought but the Spirit will come now Lord make good this word of thine to my soule at this time and let me have the breathings of the Spirit of God in me alas the breaths of men if it come from gifts and parts I know thou wilt never regard it except there be the breathings of the holy Ghost in me in prayer now if you would know whether the Spirit of God doth come in or no you may know it by this the Spirit of God carries unto God and it makes the prayer sweet and delightfull so much of the Spirit of â—od as is there it comes to the soule in the duty and it leaves a savour behind it a gracious savour is alwaies left behind when the Spirit of God comes to breath O' the breath of the Spirit of God is a sweet breath and it makes prayers sweet it never comes into the Soule but after it hath done any work it came for it leaves a sweet scent after that the soul finds a sweetness in that prayer now many of you have been in the morning at prayer but I appeal to you what sweet savour of the Spirit or God is left behind certainly if the Spirit hath been there it is like civit that is put into a little box though you should take out the civit yet there will be a sweet savour left behind so though the Spirit of God in respect of the present assistance withdraws it self yet it leaves a sweet savour behind The fourth thing is purity of heart pure hearts and hands in Heb. 10.22 Rev. 5.8 having every one of them harpes and
glory of the Ministers Page 214 We should have apprehensions of Gods Glory in prayer Page 275 The Glory of God is the chiefe thing we should pray for Page 176 Spirituall things neerest the Glory of God Page 277 Grace Grace to be acted especially in Gods worship Page 29 Grace the freenesse of it should make us more diligent in the worship of God Page 34 Graces increased by drawing nigh to God Page 35 Graces to be acted and stirred up in the Sacrament Page 271 We must act our own Graces in Prayer together with the spirit Page 291 See Covenant Great A people are great that have God nigh them Page 40 We should prepare to Gods worship because he is Great Page 43 The duties of Gods Worship are Great Page 44 How to Sanctifie Gods Name in respect of his Greatness Page 67 Great things to be expected from God Page 100 We must hear the word with attention because of the greatnesse of him that sends it Page 172 Wee must be attentive because the matters delivered are great Page 173 H Habitual Habitual sanctification Page 68 Harden Nothing doth harden the heart more than the word by accident Page 205 Hand Faith is a Hand to take Christ in the Sacrament Page 253 The Cup in the Sacrament not to be delivered into every particular hand Page 264 Heart Our hearts naturally unprepared for duty page 46 The heart in preparation to be taken from every sinfull way page 49 As the heart is so are the duties page 70 The heart is not changed by the acting of natural parts page 87 Good heart what page 187 The world of the Law not in the heart page 211 A broken heart required in receiving the Sacrament page 246 Hearing of Sanctifying Gods Name in hearing the word page 161 Hearing the word a part of Gods worship page 162 How to know that God hears our prayers page 294 Heathen Heathens attend to worship their Idolls page 46 Heaven Being oft in Gods presence minds us of heaven page 36 The worship of God here the beginning of that in heaven page 106 Hide We must hide the word in our hearts Page 189 Highest What we lift highest in our worship that is our God Page 74 See Thoughts Ends. Hindrance Hindrances to Gods worship many Page 46 Holy Holinesse Holinesse the greatest honour of Gods Name Page 23 Holinesse of God to be held forth by his servants Page 24 Drawing nigh to God makes us holy Page 36 Time and Place said to be holy how Page 50 God infinite holy Page 99 Those that receive the Lords Supper must be holy Page 232 Honest We must receive the word into honest hearts Page 186 Honest heart what Page 188 Honest amongst men who Page 189 Honour To quiet the heart in affliction is to know that God will have honour by it Page 25 Humble Humbled Humility Humility of Spirit requisite in the worship of God Page 84 To be humbled for not sanctifying the Name of GOD aright Humiliation in preparing to hear the word Page 168 Wandring thoughts in prayer suffered by God to humble us Page 285 Humility required in our prayers Page 295 See Worship Hungring There must be hungring after Christ in the Sacrament Page 251 I Incense Incense what it signifieth Page 91 Incomprehensible Incomprehensiblenesse of God what it should teach us in our worship Page 95 Infinite There is an impression of Gods infinitnesse upon the duties of his servants Page 64 Infirmities Infirmities of others to be passed by of those that receive the Sacrament Page 258 Infirmities how helped by the spirit Page 290 Institution Institution of the Sacrament to be kept close to Page 261 Intention Strength of intention required in the worship of God Page 81 Joy The mercy of God should make us come to him with joy Page 100 The word to be received with joy Page 184 Difference in the joy of hypocrites and true Christians Page 186 Spiritual joy required in receiving the Sacrament Page 255 A broken spirit may consist with spiritual joy ibid Judge Judgement Sinners may meet with judgements never threatned in the word Page 16 God is quick with some in the way of his judgements Page 17 Judgements many times sutable to the sins Page 18 Gods judgements many times invisible Page 21 The word of God shall judge those that abuse it Page 207 Justice Justice of God seen in the death of Christ Page 268 K Knowledge Knowledge required in receiving the Lords Supper Page 244 Knowledge in other points necessary to them that receive the Sacrament Page 245 Knowledge actuall required in receivers Page 246 L Leaven Leaven how cast out by the Jewes Page 249 Life Living Gods goodness in sparing our lives to worship him Page 84 That God is a living God what it should teach us Page 96 The things delivered in the word concern our lives Page 174 Beleevers nourished to eternall life Page 269 Limitted The duties of Gods Children not limitted Page 65 Little In matters of worship God stands upon little things Page 11 Lose The ground why we lose so many prayers Page 296 Love Naturall conscience makes not the heart love a duty Page 88 The word must be received with love Page 184 The Sacrament ordained by Christ out of love Page 228 Love to be renewed in the receiving the Sacrament Page 258 The infinite love of God seen in the death of Christ Page 269 Lust The worship of God not to be subjected to our lusts Page 72 Who they be that subject it to their lusts Page 73 M Man The Mediator between God and man is man Page 276 Mean Mean men not to envy great ones why Page 13 Mediator The way of mans salvation is by a Mediator Page 267 Meditation Meditation in preparing the heart to holy duties Page 49 Meditations in the receiving the Sacrament Page 267 Meeknesse The word must be received with meeknesse Page 179 Mercy Mercifull God is mercifull Page 100 Mercy of God should teach us to be mercifull to others Page 101 The duties of worship the way to convey Gods choice Mercies Page 105 The word a means to convey speciall Mercies Page 195 Mercie-Seat Mercie-Seat a Type of Christ Page 91 Mind We should pick out Gods mind from dark expressions Page 14 We come to know the mind of God when we come to hear the word Page 163 Mystery The greatest Mysteries of Salvation presented in the Sacrament Page 228. 255 Mixture Mixture of mans inventions with Gods Ordinances unlawfull Page 266 Mortification Mortification requisite to the sanctifying Gods Name Page 67 Mouth Faith the mouth of the soul to receive Christ Page 254 N Name No way to enjoy mercies but by sanctifying Gods Name Page 105 See Sanctifie Nature Natural Some duties of worship are naturall Page 261 Christ hath honoured humane nature by taking it Page 267. Neer Nigh God wil be sanctified in those that come neer him Page 6 Those that are neerest God should be most carefull Page 22