Ananias goods to God it is dangerous to keep back any part of it for your own use Act. 5. 1 2 5 10. and not keep it wholly and in every part of it holy to the Lord. 17. The fifth Direction is make this day a day of your delights as before a day of desires delight in the day and in every duty of the day account the Sabbath not only your duty but also your priviledg not only your work but your wages too Isa 58. 13. Call the Sabbath your delight and if it be not so you may not call it so surely it was not so to those Worldly wretches that cryed when will the Sabbath be over c. Amos 8. 5. as if they had been in the stocks all the while they were keeping a Sabbath The Greek word for delight is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag Psal 37. 4. c. Which comes from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifies Paradise or place of pleasure to intimate the Lord and his Sabbaths may not be as stocks to you but as a Paradise and a place of pleasure you should take as much delight therein as in walking the Round in the choicest Spring-garden O how should you bless God for the Sabbath as Neh. 9. 14. and rejoice in it as in the day the Lord hath made for Spiritual delight Psal 118. 24. counting it so and making it so not only a delight but also holy and honourable and because holy therefore honourable O may you but be in the Spirit on this Lords day as Rev. 1. 10. and tast how good the Lord is Psal 34. 8. in the dainties of holy duties and in his heart refreshing and Soul-ravishing Ordinances you will find most incomparable pleasure therein and far-far exceeding all the dirty delights of sensualists and Sabbath breakers Prov. 14. 10. Job 27. 10. 18. The sixth Direction be not weary of it before it be over The whole Sabbath should be spent without weariness in works of Piety mercy and necessity and in none else here 's variety to prevent nauseating in works of Piety you may pass from one Ordinance to another as the Bee flys from one flower to another and not be weary and from works of Piety you may go to works of Charity and from thence to works of necessity for your own natural nourishment O then here is no need of crying out what a weariness is it as Mal. 1. 13. or when will it be over as Amos 8. 5. as if in little ease all the while Carnal hearts know not indeed how to wear out the Sabbath 't is such a weariness to them and therefore they wish it over full loth would they begg Davids office out of his hand of being a door-keeper in the house of God who must be first in and last out Psal 84. 10. and what would they do to spend an everlasting Sabbath in Heaven that are so troubled and tyred with a short one on Earth not without a world of wilful distractions but the Spiritual heart that is rapt up and ravished in Spirit Rev. 1. 10. and is in the fear of the Lord and in the comforts of the holy Ghost all the day long Prov. 23. 17. can wish with Joshuah that the Sun stood still on that day for more killing of Sin and quickning of grace 19. The seventh Direction is be sure you make it a right day of restraint to you as it is called Deut. 16. 8. Jomegnatsereth diem Interdicti a day of prohibition from all Improper work the same word is used Numb 16. 48. and the Plague was stayed or restrained by either 1 Intreaty as 2 Sam. 24. 21. or 2 By Authority and Commands or 3 By strength and force all these ways you should Remember to keep the Sabbath if you keep not your heart with all keepings Prov. 4. 23. You can never keep the Sabbath holy The Plague of your heart mentioned 1 King 8. 38. will not be stayed or restrained unless you 1 Offer upon Christ your Altar Heb. 13. 10. Your Intreaties to God with David 2 Sam. 24. 21. and 2 Unless you lay Gods charge and command upon your extravagant heart to keep within compass Cant. 2. 7. Yea and 3 You must use holy force and Violence going but in Gods stregth Psal 71. 16. to restrain your loose slippery and treacherous heart both from wicked and from worldly work on that day for in the former work you keep the day to Satan and in the latter to your self but not to your Saviour in either besides every wicked work is cursed Sin any day but 't is doubly so on the Lords-day the season being a great aggravation of the Sin like that in Est 7. 8. 't is a ravishing the Queen of days before the very face of the King of Kings and every Worldly work done on Gods-day can never expect Gods blessing but will be a Canker and may say with Jacob I shall bring a curse and not a blessing Gen. 27. 12. he that did but gather a few sticks a small business some may say was paid home with stones because he did presumptuously on that day Numb 15. 30 32 35 36. If you must do no manner of work save only the three works of Piety Charity and Necessity no manner of Worldly work much less wicked work O do not eat forbidden fruit when you may eat of all the Trees in the garden on your six days do not your own works but cease from them Heb. 4. 10. nor speak your own words on this high and holy day Isa 58. 13. Exod. 31. 14. 20. The eighth Direction is never satisfie your Soul with spending one Sabbath without enjoying something therein of the Lord God of Sabbath never content your self with Elijahs Mantle without the Lord God of that Mantle 2 King 2. 14. O let it not be enough to you as it was not enough to Absolom to live in Jerusalem 2 Sam. 14. 32. without seeing the Kings face cry with David in every duty of the day O when will God come unto me Psal 101. 2. To miss of a good friend is sad to meet him is joyful Psal 73. 25. If you miss of this your best friend this will justly fadden you as it did even Saul himself 1 Sam. 28. 15. If you meet him and miss him not If your friend the King of Saints Rev. 15. 3. Sit at your Table then your Spiknard will send forth the smell thereof Cant. 1. 12. Such a sign of sweet friendship and fellowship must needs fill your heart with joy unspeakable and full of glory as it reminds and represents your Communion in Heaven and make the Sabbath a delight indeed to you then shall you delight your self in the Lord and he will not only cause you to ride upon the high places of the Earth but also upon the heights of the Heavens where you shall keep an everlasting Sabbath in which all Sabbaths meet and whereof there is no evening Is
of Honour from them Deo servire est regnare saith Augustin And David accounted it a greater honour to be Gods Servant then to be Israels King Psal 18. Title The great God is the most honourable Master who Employs his Servants in this most honourable work and will undoubtedly pay them with the most honourable wages even with an hundred fould in this life and in the World to come with life everlasting Mark 10. 30. I have no cause to doubt but that you are both of you already true Spiritual Pilgrims in this Divine walk and work And I cannot but be confident that you both do Ardently affect what soever may promote your Progress herein O that my poor Labours might contribute any thing to further your passage If but some few steps I could then wish every word were Ten every line a Leaf and every Leaf a Volum and that both my Tongue and my Pen might have ten-fold more of the Divine tincture upon them to be serviceable to you thereunto Your God and the God of your Fathers hath already done singular things for you and therefore he doth expect singular things from you Math. 5. 47. Where the Husbandman bestows his greatest cost there he expects his largest crop Your Trading and your Talents should be proportionable to whom much is given of them much is Required Luke 12. 48. I beseech you therefore as ye have received how ye ought to walk and to work in this paradise of christianity into which the second Adam hath graciously restored you as the first Adam cast you out in himself from thence so ye would abound more and more 1 Thes 4. 1. According to the Divine directions herein presented you That ye may follow the foot steps of your Father Abraham who followed God blind-fold when called as you have been out of one Land into another Heb. 11. 8. That ye may be called at last from Earth to Heaven in Soul and Body as ye are already in Spirit after ye have walked out your generation-work in Abrahams steps to be safely lodged in Abrahams bosom that the blessing of Abraham may come upon the hearts of your Son and Daughter and of their seed for ever and that your Walls and theirs may be continually before the Lord of the whole Earth Isa 49. 16. All this is the unfeigned desire and hearty Prayer which shall never be wanting of Your Worships sincerely and thankfully Devoted Christopher Nesse To the READER Candid and Christian Reader HEre I present you with the Walk and Work of a Christian upon Earth till he get to Heaven Wherein 1. Observe the matter And 2. The method hereof 1. The matter is twofold 1. Your Walk and 2. Your Work 1. As to your Walk there be three remarkable phrases in the holy Scriptures that all concern your Christian Walk 1. A walking with God 2. A walking before God And 3. A walking after God The first was that Walk of Enoch who is said to walk with God Gen. 5. 22 24. as a man walks with his friend with whom he is well agreed Amos 3. 3. hand in hand and heart in heart aequis passibus in equal pace and equipage And this he did not only for an hour or a day or a week or a month or a year but for 300 years Alas we can neither watch with Christ nor walk with God for the space of one single hour Mat. 26. 40. The second was the Walk of Abraham who is bid to walk before God Gen. 17. 1 that is to set himself evermore solemnly in Gods Presence as having the great God always in his Rear his Lieutenant-General and for his rereward Isa 52. 12. Thus the people of the God of Abraham had the cloudy pillar behind them in their passage through the red Sea Exod. 14. 19 20. where Jehovah himself brought up the Rear of 600000. Now to know that you are ever under Gods eye and ever before him this must needs make you walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accurately Eph. 5. 15. and not to take up one foot until you know where to set down the other walking exactly by line and by rule and as it were in a frame footing it rightly and uprightly as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Gal. 2. 14. striving to get to the very top of Godliness The third was the Walk of Israel who were commanded to Walk after the Lord Deut. 13. 4. as after the Captain-General of their salvation Heb. 2. 10. Thus the pillar of glory went before them through the wilderness and they followed after it in all their removes Exod. 13. 21 22. Thus Caleb with a better Spirit than that of the World walk'd after God fully Numb 14. 24. as the needle doth after the Load-stone that draws it Cant. 1. 4. Joh. 6. 44. you walk after a good guide while you walk after your good God and in so doing you cannot easily wander in this wilderness of the World This will be a blessed Antidote to you against cursed Apostacy 2 Pet. 3. 17 18. and thus God must be your All and in All Col. 3. 11. he must be with you before you and behind you also that you may be as a Ship under Sail carried end-ways strongly by a favourable Wind and fearing neither Rocks nor Sands in the River of Gods Paradise Psal 46. 4. Gen. 2. 10. to 15. This same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Revel 10. 9 10. Or little Book is a rude draught or Plat-form or Land-Skip of the Gospel-garden of Eden the true Spiritual Paradise of pleasure the sublimest Spring-garden of Scriptural-Holiness wherein you have not only pleasant Rivers as above but also delightful walks far surpassing the best gardens and galleries that can be found in this Chabul 1 King 9. 12 13. or dirty world Herein you are directed not to be Idle nor to stand still but to go forward as walkers do and to walk Arm in Arm as it were not only with God but with his holy Angels Zech. 3. 4 5 7. Mat. 22. 30. Isa 57. 2. And that not in one walk only but in many Delectable walks whereof this blessed Paradise of Piety consisteth insomuch that as the laborious Bee in a fruitful field of fragrant Flowers when Tyred with one Flower flyeth to another even so you when wearied with one walk or duty for you may be weary in it when you are not weary of it then may you pass to another without nauseating upon any one only you may walk Orderly out of one Ordinance to another Secondly as to your work which is as the walk the best work in the World though it be least minded by the World 't is a work wherein you serve the most honourable Master that employs his Servants in the most honourable work and will reward them with the most honourable wages to wit with an hundred fold in this life and in the world to come again with life everlasting Mark 10. 30. yea 't
of prayer Sanctified the Gold and all other Materials and Utensils in it Matth. 23. 17. So this holy duty of prayer doth Sanctify all things 1 Tim. 4. 5. All Ordinances all Providences all Enjoyments all Employments prayer doth not only Gild them over but also turns them into the finest Gold So that to pray continually is to carry this Temple as Austin called it about with you at all times in all places upon all occasions and in all conditions yea all your life even to your very death this Spiritual breath must conterminate with your Natural For the last work of a dying Christian is to breath out this prayer Lord Jesus receive my Spirit 19. The fourth true sense of praying always and continually is the keeping of your heart in a praying frame continually so that upon all occasions that occur you may be lifting up your heart your thoughts and affections unto God whom you have set always before you Psal 16. 8. and darting out frequent Ejaculations to the Throne of grace Thus your Harp or heart should be ever kept in Tune for prayer as the Souldier hath his Armes ready by him and right fixed upon any Assault of the Enemy and as the fire in your guest Chamber it is always prepared though it do not ever burn or blaze out upon your friends coming to be blown up into a Flame thus you may pray when you do not set your self a-part to pray even in the works of your callings and besides your set Meals for your Soul in your Morning and Evening prayer called the continual Sacrifice Numb 28. 3 4. as well as for your body you have many other refreshing morsels to wit occasional Apostrophes and Ejaculations to nourish the inner man and to make it increase with the increasings of God through the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ Phil. 1. 19. Eph. 4. 16. Col. 2. 19. 20. Thus to pray continually quoties aliquid occurrit as Dr. Willet senses Rom. 12. 12. as oft as any thing falls out that calls for Divine assistance 't is not only your duty but your priviledge 't is like the herb All-heal an universal remedy against all diseases a choice yet a cheap Catholicon and Antidote both against the evil of sinning and off suffring This is the best and most blest Expedient to avoid dangers to overcome difficulties and to procure both safety and success in all your honest designs Thu Nehemiah before he opens his mouth to the King even in the Kings presence first opens his heart to God Neh. 2. 4. his sudden and secret Ejaculation he darted up to God for ordering his speech and speeding his Petition is called his praying to the God of Heaven and this was his frequent practice upon several other providences Neh. 5. 19. 6. 14. 13. 29. Thus Abrahams servant darted out desires to God that he might prosper in his Enterprize Gen. 24. 12. 26. Thus Moses cryed to God yet said nothing Exod. 14. 15. Thus Hannah was not heard yet prayed and thus wherever God sets you up an Alter you must be ready to offer Sacrifice crying either mentally or vocally Lord prosper me in this work Lord protect me in this Journey Lord direct me in this duty c. Thus Christ often did for you 21. The fourth Direction is your prayer must be earnest and intent or instant you must not only pray but cry Psal 130. 1. out of the depth have I cryed unto thee David crys there and in many other places unto God with his utmost strength out of the depth of his heart You must be servent in it as well as constant to it neither the frequency nor the fervency of prayer ought to be abated prayer is cal'd wrestling which requires your utmost strength as well as skill it requires the very strength of your affections you must be fervent in Spirit while you are serving the Lord Rom. 12. 11. and be instant as well as constant in it Ver. 12. your heart must be seething-hot as the word there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies your heart must be boiling a good matter as Davids Psal 45. 1. in the Hebr. Reading this will be the best cure of wandring thoughts Flies sieze not on Honey while it boiles nor Beelzebub the Prince of flies upon your heart while 't is boiling any good matter in prayer God loves not cold prayers as some men love not cold dishes yea even lukewarm hearts are Nauseous to him Revel 3. 16. every offering that is of a sweet Savour is made by fire unto the Lord Levit. 1. 9 13 17. 'T is three times over every Sacrifice must have fire in it aswel as Salt Mark 9. 49. the fire of Zealous Devotion as well as the Salt of truth and sincerity yea the Sacrificer as well as the Sacrifice must have both those Ingredients Salt and Fire in him You must have the grace of truth Psal 51. 6. which as Salt must dry up those evil humours in you that would breed the never dying Worm and you must have the grace of Zeal which as fire must burn up those corruptions in you that otherwise would carry you to that unquenchable Fire Mark 9. 43 44. 45 46 47 48. 22. This blessed Spirit of burning so cal'd Isa 4. 4. that makes a true and through combustion among your fleshly corruptions must prevent you of everlasting burnings Isa 33. 14. as the Sun of the Firmament with ' its hot Beams will eat out the Kitchin-Fire that is upon the Hearth So this Coelestial Fire of Zeal and fervency for God in prayer which is indeed a warm beam of the Sun of Righteousness Mal. 4. 2. will eat out the stinking fire of Sin that is in your heart This fire of Heaven will devour that fire of Hell Jam. 3. 6. in you a live-Coal must touch your heart as well as your lips Esa 6. 6. and you must be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire Matth. 4. 11. Act. 2. 3 4. Elijahs Sacrifice had not only much water out of Kishon but also fire from Heaven to Render it an acceptable Sacrifice 1 King 18. 33 to 30. So you must not only have the water of godly sorrow and Gospel repentance but also the fire of Zeal and servent Devotion to make an acceptable prayer unto God The fire of Aetna and the water of Nilus are said to be the Hieroglyphicks of those choice Ingredients of a rightly compounded prayer God requires hot bread to be set before him daily 1 Sam. 21. 6. 23. The breath that a pair of bellows breaths out is cold breath and so is it not properly breath but wind accordingly cold prayers that are carelesly breathed out are not truly prayer but wind and vanity the breath of a living Man is not cold as bellows breath but warm the lack of servency is the loss of prayer God will be cold and careless in accepting and answering if you dare be cold and careless in
3. or the Song of the Lamb Rev. 15. 3. For should a man Sing a good Song with his Voice and play a bad one upon his Instrument it would make but an ungrateful grating Noise So it is with them whose lips and lives are not Relatives and whose Actions contradict their sayings and singings yet every thing that hath breath should praise the Lord. Psal 150. last and such as cannot do what they ought they resolving to reform ought to do what they can Seeing the positive command for this duty is general and universal Sing to the Lord all the Earth Psal 96. 1. and make a joyful noise all ye Lands Psal 100. 12. and Sing to the Lord all ye Kingdoms of the World Psal 68. 32. The duty is grounded upon the Soveraignty of God as he is a great God and a great King above all Gods Psal 95. 3. and as his works of Creation and Providence extendeth to all the Sons and Daughters of Men Psal 145. 6. to 10. Therefore the Psalmist Infers and we with him O that All men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the Children of Men. Psal 107. 8 15 21 31. 't is oft over again and again 14. The second Objection is we may not Sing with a mixt multitude that do but take the name of the Lord in vain hereby we do but partake of their Sin and so make it our own Answer the first when Moses and the Children of Israel Sang that Famous Song Exod. 15. 1. there was not only a mixt multitude among them at that time as is expresly mentioned Numb 11. 4. but also such of the Children of Israel that soon forgat the works of God and tempted Christ in the Wilderness even of those that Sang his praise Psal 106. 12 13 14. and 1 Cor. 10. 9. And the Song of Moses recorded in Deut. 34. was appointed to be Sung by the Children of Israel not only in their upright state but also in their state of Apostacy that it might testify against them as a standing Witness Deut. 31. 19 21 22 29. even by such it was to be Sung as Moses knew would after his death corrupt themselves utterly and the New Testament also Act. 13. 44. tells you that almost the whole City of Antioch the greatest part whereof were poor Pagans came together to hear the Word of God and though the Apostle managed the work both in praying to God and in praising of God yet may it not be cal'd confusion if the whole Assembly said Amen to all This saying Amen by the people gave their assent to both Prayers and Praises 1 Cor. 14. 16. And was an universal acting personally in Gods worship as well as personal singing is 15. The second Answer is though Sinners which drive the trade of Sin do Sin in the manner of singing because they do it not after a Spiritual manner yet they do not Sin in the matter of the duty which is plainly Obligatory to all though it be comely only in Saints he doth bonum though he doth it not bene and yet the Saints themselves may Sin in the manner of it too as well as sinners alas none of us know either how to pray or how to Sing but as the Spirit helps our Infirmities Rom. 8. 26. so as to sing after a gracious manner and to make Melody in our hearts to the Lord and no sufficient Reason can be rendred why Saints should discontinue their duties because sinners do own God and their own duty both by the light of Nature and the Law of God enjoined them Paul both prayed and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all Act. 27. 35. even among poor Pagans rude Mariners and Soldiers that trusted to their own wisdom more then to Gods word Ver. 11. and that would have kil'd Paul not withstanding all his kindness to them Ver. 42. he doth not discontinuc his Devotion and duty upon the account of a mixt multitude besides God delighteth that his will should be obeyed and abhorreth that his Law should be disobeyed even by sinful men as in Sauls case 1 Sam. 15. 22 23. and in Ahabs 1 King 21. 27 28 29. God knows how to allow yea and to reward that which is his own when yet he takes no pleasure in the sinful manner of the performance of a Divine duty 16. The third Answer is there is a parity of Reason put upon both praying and singing Jam. 5. 13. is any afflicted let him pray is any merry let him Sing Psalms The stress of both those duties lays not so much upon the qualification of man as upon the commandment of God and though sinners cannot sing with grace in their hearts yet this excuses them no more from singing then from praying both which are alike general duties to all mankind and not peculiar to Saints the very light of nature pressed Jonahs Mariners to pray in distress Jon. 1. 6. And the Moral precept that forbids Atheisme commands Prayer which is an owning of God He is Davids Atheistical fool that saith in his heart there is no God and that calls not upon God Psal 14. 1. 4. Hence it is inferred that though carnal Ignorant or prophane people cannot Sing as they ought no more can they pray as they ought yet as this excuses them not from praying work neither can it from singing work whatever is not done with Faith is Sin Rom. 14. 23. and without Faith there can be no pleasing of God Heb. 11. 6. as to pray so to Sing without Faith is Sin yet not to pray at all is a greater Sin for the former is formality but the latter is Atheisme which is the worse of the two 17. The third Objection is Singing is but Temple-worship and should be assisted with Instruments of Musick c. Answer the first Moses and Deborahs Song was long before the Temple 2. The Song of the Lamb Rev. 15. Is taken out of several Psalms 3. Praying was Temple-worship and was attended with Incense there as well as singing was with Musical Instruments there and so the Argument lays as strong and as Cogent for abolishing the duty of praying now as well as of singing 4. Singing to Instruments then used were only typical and so but temporary belonging to the Ceremonial worship and so is ceased 't was accommodated to the Church during her Minority Gal. 4. 1 2. but singing with heart and voice is Moral-worship and so to abide among the mature heirs the Ceremonial and Pompous part of Temple-worship is done away but the moral part in simplicity and gravity remaineth and now no voice should be heard in the Church but such as is significant and is edifying by signification which the noise of Instruments cannot be 1 Cor. 14. 10 11 26. and in that Prophecy of the Gentiles Conversion Psal 95. We are commanded to make a noise with Psalms but not with Instruments Ver. 1. 2. 18. Briefly the fourth Objection
Earthly Adam in your natural Estate If you belong to Christ and Salvation you must bear the Image of the Heavenly Adam Christianity being both the Imitation and the participation of the Divine nature is the reducing of the Image of the first and fallen Adam into the second 't is the bringing back of the Earthly Image of fallen Man into the Heavenly Image of the holy God wherein Man was first Created in Righteousness and true Holiness 1 Cor. 15. 48 49. Eph. 4. 24. This being done for you and in you you have the Right Picture of Christ your practice answering both your principles and profession 16. The true Christian is like a pair of compasses that keeps within compass the one foot to wit his principles standing fast in the Centre and the other foot to wit his practice walking round the circumference yet both feet do correspond sweetly together in paralel lines each with other Thus ought there to be a sweet Harmony betwixt your principles and your practice and your Conversation must not give the lie to your profession you must make straight your paths Heb. 12. 13. 1 Sam. 6. 12. The Kine held strait on their way to Bethshemesh So must you to the house of the Sun of Righteousness as the Word Bethshemesh signifies your Eyes must look Right on and your Eyelids look straight before you Prov. 4. 25. 'T is the crooked Serpent Esa 27. 1 that brought Man to crooked wayes Psal 125. 5. Corrupt Nature runneth in a Crooked channel but 't is Christs work to make things crooked straight Esa 40. 4. 17. Some creatures are commended for being comly in their goings Prov. 30 29 sure I am every true Christian should be so he should lead a convincing life and be of a comly and commendable conversation such an one as becomes the Gospel Phil. 1. 27 and as becometh Holiness Tit. 2. 3. both young and old Male and Female should be of a comly deportment you must walk worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and glory 1 Thes 2. 12 his livery you must wear his Image you must bear and his Kingdom you are called unto and therefore you must carry as Children of a King Judg. 18. 18 and as Children of the Kingdom Remember saith Menedemus to Antigonus when he was to go to a Feast where a Famous Harlot was to be a guest that you are a Kings Son do nothing unworthy of such an Honourable Title Scipio African when solicited to filthiness by an Harlot Answered Vellem si non essem Imperator It is below an Emperor and Nehemiah said better shall such an one as I flee Neh. 6. 12. 18. A Godly conversation is very graceful to the Gospel and the Gospel gains much glory by you if you walk in the beauty of Holiness you are called not only to his Kingdom but also to his glory 1 Thes 2. 12. and therefore the Spirit of glory should rest upon you 1 Pet. 4. 14. This is the smooth bark that evidences the good Tree as well as the Root bole branches leaves and fruit to be a Tree of Righteousness the planting of the Lord Isa 61. 3 to be of Gods not of the Devils planting and watering a clear-skinn'd Tree not full of Bur-knots is the most hopeful for fruit So is the Man that hath a shining conversation as the shining of Moses face so the shining of your life doth evidence you have been with God in the Mount They took notice of the Apostles that they had been with Jesus Act. 4. 13. This makes even a Nebuchadnezzar confess these are the servants of the most high God Dan. 3. 26. Those Virgin-Souls that followed the lambe had their Fathers name Writ in their foreheads Revel 14. 1 4. though you shall be Judged according to Men in the flesh yet should you live according to God in the Spirit 1 Pet. 4. 6. and not do folly in Israel Gen. 34. 7. 19. The Levitical Law doth likewise tell you what beasts are clean and what unclean all which are a shadow of things to come Col. 2. 16 17. Whereby Israel was taught to study purity and to know that the very Creatures are all defilled with Mans Sin Those beasts were accounted clean that both chewed the Cud and divided the hoof Therefore the Camel was numbred amongst the unclean though he chewed the Cud becausehe divided not the hoof by all which you must understand in Levit. 11. 3. c. That it is not enough for you to ruminate upon the word of God in your most serious Meditations which is your Spiritual chewing of the Cud but you must part the hoof too in putting a difference betwixt good and bad Actions You must not only think on the Commandments of God but so think on them as to do them Psal 103. 18. Cleansing your self from all filthiness hoth of flesh and Spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. you must not only profess the word but you must practice it also you must add to your Faith Virtue Temperance c. 2 Pet. 1. 5. and then are you accounted a clean Sacrifice to the Lord. To practice Sermons you hear is the best kind of Repeating Sermons live Sermons as well as hear them 20. As the Law concerning clean beasts Levit. 11. 6 doth teach you that good Meditation should end in a good Conversation for a Copy is not only to be Read over by him that learns to Writ but it must be Written after also and Lessons of Musick must be practiced by those that would learn it So the Law concerning clean Fishes teachs you the same they must have Fins and Scales First Fins to steer their motion so must you have the Fins of knowledg Faith and Divine dispositions to direct you and to set you forward in the things of God And secondly Scales for smoothing their passage for their Ornaments and safety So your Scales of good works must be set so close and so neer one another that no Air of Temptation may come between them as Job 41. 15 16 17. Levit. 11. 9. You must have the Scales of Piety Patience and the Fins which are as Wings of Divine affections to carry you cheerfully end ways into Divine Actions that you may be holy as God is Ver. 44. which is the end of this Law and clean meat to Gods sight and palate Now of a Religious Godly and Christian Conversation in particular And first of Meditation CHAP. III. 1. HItherto of Conversation in General which is the Practick part of Religion Godliness and Christianity now of a Religious Godly and Christian Conversation in particular which is a large Field of discourse You have here a breviary thereof contracted into a narrow compass wherein you may View the whole Duty of Man to God and Man in Respect of the Conversation the Agenda or things to be done besides the Credenda or things to be believed I told you before there is the Conversation of your thoughts as to
Psal 45. 1. Hobr. in Divine Meditation Flies will not touch honey while it is Teething hot 2 For promoting good hereby you may obtain more familiar Acquaintance with your God and a more distinct understanding of your self both which are worth a Kingdom 2ly 'T is profitable to others for Meditation makes a Man a full Man it makes him accomplished to serve out his Generation and to be a blessing to every Relation round about him It fully furnisheth him for every good Work 1 Tim. 4. 15. 2 Tim. 3. 17. 9. As this duty is pleasant and profitable So 't is 3ly a necessary duty as necessary as chewing the Cud is to beasts of that kind and as a due retaining of food is to man as well as beast 't is a general Observation that such persons as do cast up their meat by vomit or cast it out by stoole as soon as they have eaten it be always ill-thriven persons for though the stomack may catch hold of some small parcel of the food and thereby maintain a life such as it is for a time yet is it no better then a life-less life 't is a life so filled with distempers that it becomes a burden to it self whereas when the food is retained and a due fermentation is wrought in the Stomach to a compleat concoction then is nourishment Ministred as Col. 2. 19. to all the parts which makes a strong healthy and well-liking constitution As it is thus in the life natural So 't is in the Spiritual Psal 119. 11. Luk 9. 44. Job 8. 37. Gods word hid and sunk in the heart that has a Room for it makes a thriving fat Christian 10. Meditation as it is a pleasant profitable yea a most necessary though much neglected duty is two-fold 1. Occasional 2. Appointed First occasional wherein all occurrences of Temporal objects occasionally met with affords you some Spiritual Considerations Note first this requires a Spiritual heart to make a Spiritual improvement of every Temporal object that Divine providence presents to your Eyes ears and outward Senses David made a profitable prospect of the Heavens crying Lord what is man Psal 8. and Christ at the Well of Shilo he who was Jacobs Shilo speaks there of the water of life Gen. 49. 10. Joh. 4. 10. c. A good heart makes every external object a Divine blessing the Husbandmans plowing sowing and reaping c. The Trades-mans buying and selling his weighing and measuring c. may afford you sundry Spiritual instructions And note secondly If you gain no more by them then a bare beholding of them with the Eye the very brutes gain as much as you If you content your self with a bare natural use of the Creature without a Spiritual Improvement thereof you get not the one half of that advantage by the Creature for which the Creator gave it you the Beasts of the field and the Birds of the Air have so much themselves you do not use the Creature as Lord of the Creatures so God made Adam Gen. 1. 26. unless you find your Lord in the Creatures 11. Every Creature preacheth to that Man in whom the Spirit of God first inwardly preacheth Note thirdly you never need to want matter if you want not an heart you may be cast into such a Condition as whereby you may be hindred from good Actions as by sickness Imprisonment c. But there is nothing in all the World save a naughty heart can hinder you from good Meditations go to the Ant O sluggard saith Solomon do you see how busy she is in the Summer to make provision for an hard Winter how much more ought you to concern your self in your Summer of health and strength before the Winter of death and Eternity come upon you do you behold the Spider in your window Spinning clammy threeds out of her own bowels and weaving cunning Webbs to catch and entangle the silly Flie laying snares for her life then consider with a sigh O how doth Satan all this and much more against my pretious Soul and all out of himself too though you had not a desperately wicked heart Jer. 17. 9. to assist him when he speaketh a lie he speaketh it of his own Joh. 8. 44. 'T is the Devils cursed disposition 't is as impossible for Satan to do good as it is for a Toad to spit Cordials 12. Note fourthly 'T is richly worth your Observation also that this Spiritual limbeck Divine Meditation doth not spoile the earthly Subjects that it extracts Heavenly Instructions out of as material limbecks do plants c. Put in them leaving them Sapless and useless save only for burning As the laborious Bee flies over a field of Flowers sucks Honey out of each of them yet leaves them all as fresh and as fragrant as before it found them So you in extracting Coelestial Meditations out of your Terrestrial Employments and Enjoyments which is the Sublimest Mellification in stead of hurting or hindring them you do verily both advance them and advantage yea enrich your self Note the fifth In a word you may not be like the foolish Child when you look on the Book of the Creature only to behold the gawdy Pictures and Babies therein or to gaze upon the gilded leaves and cover there of but you must mind your lesson that every Creature doth especially learn you the Stork Crane and Swallow know their Seasons Jer. 8. 7. the Ox knows his owner and the Ass his Masters Crib Esa 1. 3. and will not you learn from hence to know yours 13. As to your further improvement of the Book of nature with ' its 3. leaves of Heaven Earth and Sea I refer you to my Crown and glory of a Christian From Page 125. to 145. I now pass from occasional to Appointed Meditation which is the Souls setting of it's self apart silently and seriously to work out some profitable Meditations upon some chosen Subject out of its own heart throughly at a fit time and in a fit place thus Isaac went out into the field to Meditate as above Gen. 24. 63. That which concerns matter of knowledg for finding out truth doth chiefly belong to Students Schollars Ministers of the Gospel but matters of affection for inflaming our loves to God in Christ and for abasing our selves to a self-abhorrency this is of Universal concernment the work of every Christian 14. This blessed duty hath ' its beginning in the head but ' its ending in the heart 1. 'T is a pondering some Divine truth in your mind until you be well acquainted with it until you be seasoned with the Savour of it until it settle and take rooting in your Spirit until it beget in you good affections and fire your Soul in love to that truth 2. 'T is like the rubbing of a Man in a Swoon it as it were chases in the Oile of grace with a warm hand or rather with a warm heart 3. 'T is like the selvedge that keeps all the
is but we are bidden to sing the word of Christ Col. 3. 16. not the words of David now Answer first David writ his Psalms in the Spirit of Christ 2 Sam. 23. 2. the Lord Christ had spoken by the Mouth of his servant David Act. 4. 23. 'T was the Rock Christ that spake to and by David and made him the sweet singer of Israel 2 Sam. 23. 1 3. All the holy Scriptures by which you must be guided here and Judged hereafter is wholly the words that Christ hath spoken Joh. 12. 48. So that while you sing the Psalms of David c. You do verily sing the words of Christ 2. Answer the Hebrew Titles of David Psalms be Misimorim Tehillim and Shurim which doth expresly correspond with the express phrase of the Apostle Eph. 5. 10. Col. 3. 19. Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs wherein he plainly points out the use of Davids Psalms as being also the word of Christ and richly suiting to all Conditions and such Psalms which cannot be Sung as your Experience yet may you Sing them for your Instruction Divine truth is the same in Meter that it is in Prose and may as well be Sung as Read 3. Answer Such Hymns as are composed by any now suppose they be free from the rash and raw Eructations of a private Spirit which cannot edify as it ought 1 Cor. 14. 26. yet as comming from an Ordinary gift only for God no where promised another gift it must needs infinitely fall short of those Scripture Psalms eomposed by the holy Pen-men of the Word to whom the Lord vouchsafed such an High Publick and Infallible Conduct in Composing what was Consigned to the use of the Church for ever these must excel private Hymns as much as the holy Scripture exceeds all other Books whatsoever The fift Religious duty Or walk of a Christian is Godly Conference CHAP. VII 1. NOw to manage your self in this fist walk of Christianity Consider you must first have a New heart and then you cannot want a New tongue for where Christ comes he makes all New Rev. 21. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 17. a New Constitution a New Communication and a New Conversation not only a New heart and a New life but also a New speech he turns to his Redeemed a pure Language Zeph. 3. 9. Or a lip of Excellency Prov. 17. 7. as choice Silver that hath a good sound Prov. 10. 20. So as to feed many by administring grace to all hearers Eph. 2. 29. So that this New tongue shall scatter Pearles Math. 7. 6. and cast abroad Rich Treasure Math. 12. 35. yea even Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver Prov. 25. 11. yet none of this can be till Christ cast in a cruse full of the Salt of grace into the Fountain as Elisha did 2 King 2. 20 21 22. and healed the waters for as is the Fountain so are the streams sweet or bitter the streams cannot rise higher nor run better then is the spring qualia principia talia principiaetam as is cause so are the effects good or evil as is the Tree so are the Fruits and as is the Treasure so are the Expences an evil Man out of the evil Treasure of his heart brings forth nothing but rotten and corrupt Communication Matth. 12. 35. the Bell is known by the Clapper whether it consist of good mettal or bad what kind of water is in the Well the same will be in the Bucket And what is in the Ware-house the same will be in the Shop So whatever is in the heart the same will be in the Mouth for out of the aboundance of the heart the Mouth speaketh the heart of the wicked is little worth Prov. 10. 20. till Christ renew it for and in you 2. Consider your speech also must be seasoned with Salt Col. 4. 6. even your common Communication and Conference must be seasoned with grace that you may leave the Savour of grace in all places and companies wherein you come as those meats that are most apt to putrify are most poudered So that unruly member the Tongue Jam. 3. 6. Is apt to have rotten and putrifyed Discourse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4. 29. unless it be well seasoned with the salt of mortification and of that Christian wisdom which is from above upon this uncomely part you must put on the greatest comliness 1 Cor. 12. 23. that your Mouth be not as the unclean vessel under the Law that wanted a covering Numb 19. 15. you must have the covering of the Spirit Esa 30. 1. that will let no corrupt Communication no rotten discourse no obscene borborology nor filthy speeches come from you while God by his Spirit keeps the door of your lips Psal 141. 3. stinking breath proceeds from ulcerated lungs and such as have their Excrements come out of their Mouths have that mortal and desperate disease cal'd Miserere mei upon them 't is very unlikely that ever the holy God entred into such an House and such an heart that hath so unclean a door that hath not God 1 In their heads Psal 10. 4. nor 2 In their hearts Psal 14. 1. nor 3 In their words Psal 12. 4. no nor 4 In their works or ways Tit. 1. 16. he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Atheist Eph. 2. 12. that is thus without God any way every way in the World They were not Sons but two Bastards that would dare to shoot their Arrows against the dead body of their Father according to the determination of the Judg Judging which of the three was the right heir of his Fathers goods but he that was angry with them both for so doing and surely those cannot be the right heirs of Heaven that dare frequently shoot their venemous Arrows of blasphemous Oaths at the heart of God 3. Consider that God hath a Book of Rememberance wherein to write down all that men say as well as do Mal. 3. 16. in order hereunto he hearkens what Sinners say Jer. 8. 6. as well as Saints That he may make memorable mention of them at least at the last day when all shall be either justified or condemned by their words Mat. 12. 36 37. Idle as well as evil words and waste as well as wicked words must then be accounted for in that great Ampitheatre Plato thought it meet that mens speeches at Meals and meetings should be written should this Platonick proposal be put into practice O what strange Records would they be and yet though men do not Register them God doth you have need therefore to take heed to your ways that you offend not with your tongue Psal 39. 1. which was a lesson that old Pambus was 30. Years in diligently Learning it yet prosessed he could not yet take out that one Lesson God in that infinite wisdom wherein he made all things hath set a double hedge afore this unruly member the tongue to wit of teeth and lips to keep it up and in and he hath also placed
58. 13 14. Psal 37. 4. 21. The ninth and last Direction is be careful to close up the Sabbath with a gracious frame of heart when with Zacheus you have got a view of your sweet Jesus from top to toe upon the Sycomore Tree of some Gospel-advantage though low of stature in your self this is your after duty be sure you take Christ home with you and joyfully receive him there as he did Luke 19. 3 4 5 9. he is you 'l find the most blessed guest that brings Salvation with him as well as a Supper Rev. 3. 20. Reflect then upon the whole carriage of your heart all the day and falling down upon your knees 1 Beg pardon for your drowsiness or distraction for your want of fervency of Spirit in serving the Lord Rom. 12. 11. And a Sabbath frame of Soul 2 Return praise for the Angels moving the waters in order to any healing either the weakness of your grace or the strength of your Corruption lose not the warmth of the day in the cool of the evening for want of watchfulness and let Sabbath day thoughts abide with you all the week-days then week-day thoughts will less trouble you on the Sabbath day Of Family-Duties the first Pregnant Considerations second Practical and profitable Directions CHAP. XII 1. HItherto of the walk of a Christian in personal Holiness a short discourse of his Relative Holiness in the close of all Consider the first 't is true a man is what he is in private and in personal Actions habitually either good or evil and 't is as true that a man who is good privately and personally cannot but be good Relatively also he will labour to be good in all Relations be will desire and endeavour to be holy as a Father as a Husband and as a Master this holds true in all other Relations Superiour Inferiour or Equal as a Wife as a Child and as a Servant Yea as a Magistrate and as a Minister c. All persons are Really what they are Relatively unsound hearts like the Piller of smoak in the Wilderness will have a dark side as well as a bright because they be not what they seem to be they be not to God what they seem to be to men you may not be like the Candle in a dark Lantern that gives but light one way but rather as the Candle set upon the Candlestick that disperses its light every way into every corner of the House you must not be diligent in one Relation and negligent in another but be holy in all Relations wherein God has set you 2. The second Consideration is Religion in Truth disperses it self into every Relation and makes the New-Creature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a publick-Creature for the good of others a blessing Gen. 12. 2. to Family Relations and so by consequence to both Church and State whereof a Family is the Epitome being as the Philosopher saith the first Society in Nature as before the flood both were bound up in private Families as in a little volume so now the way to have both good is to have Families good whereof Churches and Kingdoms do consist to make them as great Folios Religious Families are blessed nurseries out of which are transplanted a good Son into one place a good Daughter into another and these bring a blessing along with them to those several places as Jacob did to Laban Gen. 30. 27 30. and Joseph to Potiphar Gen. 39. 23. those two blessed branches of the Patriarks Families though transplanted into a Forraign Soil carries a blessing to Forraign Countreys 3. The third Consideration is seeing 't is the Lord that sets the Solitary in Families Psal 68. 6. and appoints the bounds of your habitation Act. 17. 26. the placing of persons in this or that place and habitation is from the appointment of the Lord thereof as your being so your dwelling is from the Lord and this is not for wordly conveniency only but for the worship of God Deut. 6. 6 7. 11. 18. 19. which is your homage and quit-Rent you must pay to the Lord of all Act. 10. 36. Prov. 3. 6. Deut. 26. 17. Gen. 18. 19. Hereupon every new house was to be dedicated to God Deu. 20. 5. with Prayers and Praises as David did his Psal 30. title and as all should be Sanctified 1 Tim. 4. 5. the walls of your house are ever before the Lord Isa 49. 16. and therefore Holiness to the Lord should ever be writ upon them Zech. 14. 20. that your house may be as the house of David Zech. 12. 8. Psal 101. 2. and as Melanctons Prince a Church Court and Academy 4. The fourth Consideration is in two branches 1. Keep out Sin that grand trouble house Job 5. 24. 11. 14. 22. 23. do you visit your habitation 't is a great mercy deny'd to many put Iniquity far from your Tabernacle by Repentance and Reformation and while God fills your house with good things do not you fill it with evil Sins O let not this be your kindness to your friend 2 Sam. 16. 17. O do not thus requite the Lord Deut. 32. 6. your house should be all built of Irish-Oak as it were which cannot endure any venemous Spider to come near it 2. You must keep in the Ark as well as keep out Sin thus did David Psal 101. 2 3. he would set no wicked thing before him yet he did the holy Ark before which he danced with all his might 2 Sam. 6 14 16 17. 5. That you may be rightly guided in this last walk of a Christian to walk in your house with a perfect heart as David did Psal 101. 2. and both keep out Sin and keep in the Ark to wit Religion as Obed-edom did and was blessed for so doing 2 Sam. 6. 11. take these following directions the second thing propounded which relates First to the Governours of a Family and Secondly to the governed in it First to Governours the 1 Direction is wheresoever God hath set out the bounds of your habitation Act. 17. 26. though God say to you as Gen. 49. 13. Zebulun shall dwell by the Sea-shore an unruly Neighbour and that yields no good Air and it may be not an house to your liking in all things yet say this is the place appointed me of God and having God for your Portion there cry with David your lines are fallen to you in a pleasant place and that you have a goodly heritage Psal 16. 9 6. Gods company to give all good things to you Math. 7. 11. and to take all evil things from you makes a Cottage yea a Cave to become a Stately Court and a Princely Palace for where the King is there is the Court though you have not all to your mind yet this will make you say you have all as Jacob Gen. 33. 11. as Paul Phil. 4. 18. in having him that hath all yea though you have nothing in comparison yet possessing all things in him