former times upon such Occasions Esther 9.18,19,20 They made it a day of Feasting and Gladness when they were delivered from their Enemies a good day of Sending Portions one to another and Gifts to the Poor â— The like we find Nehem. 8.10 Go your way tat the Fat and drink the sweet and send Portions to them for whom nothing is provided for rhis day is Holy to the Lord neither be ye sory And we find in the following Verses it was done To be Liberal handed to the Poor is a Duty at all times Deut. 15.7 Thou shalt not shut thy Hand against the Poor but especially such a time as this that they also may rejoyce A blessing is pronounced to those that relieve them and a promise added Psal 41.1 Blessed is he that Considereth the Poor the Lord will deliver him in the time of Trouble but he tbat stops his Ears at the Cry of the Poor shall Cry himself and not be heard Prov. 21.13 God hath promised He that Relieveth the Poor shall not lack Prov. 28.27 He that hath pity on the Poor lendeth to the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Prov. 19.17 And he that hath this Worlds good and seeth his Brother hath need and shutteth up his Bowels of Compassion from him how dwelleth the Love of God in him 1 John 3.17 Neither shall such ever Inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 25.41.46 Take heed therefore thou neglect not this so necessary a Duty lest thou lose all thy pains which thou hast taken And when thou hast closed up the Day in such necessary Duties as these are and Commended thy self and Family unto the protection of God yet know that thy work is not done but thou must Live thanks as well as speak thanks yea the whole Course of thy Life should testifie thy thankful Heart By this time I suppose you see these Holy Festivals are not so easie to be kept as many have Imagined and many great Zealots for Holy days were they thus Observed would have their Zeal to them much abated CHAP. XV. Directions in Private Duties HAving already Discoursed of the Publick parts of Gods worship which for the most part are performed in the Congregation and given you Directions for the right performing of them as God hath enabled me I shall now in the Close of this Treatise speak something of those private Duties that every Christian is bound to perform in their own Families or Closets when they are out of the great Congregation for this is no less God's Worship than the former and doth as much nay more demonstrate a Man to be a Christian and Evidence the Truth of Grace than the former that is a Christian that is so when no Eye but the Eye of God is upon him I shall Treat of these more briefly because those Directions for Publick Worship already given will many of them fall in to be observed here 'T is not enough to be a Christian in Publick when the Eyes of the World are upon thee but in private also A Hypocrite may be zealous abroad that is loose at home Holy in the Congregation and Prophane in the Closet mindful of Publick Duties forgetful of Private But a true Christian is semper idem always the same in all places in all Companies at all times and in all Conditions he is like clear water in a Glass shake it as long as you will it remains clear But a Hypocrite by shaking discovers mud in the bottom or like the Needle in the Compass though it may be disturbed by a jog or shake will never fix upon a wrong point The Pharisees they loved to pray in the Temple and in the Corners of the Streets where they might be seen of Men but there is no mention made of their Closet Duties but Christ bids enter into the Closet and shut the Door Christianity is a Race in which we must run whether we have Company or no or whether Men behold us or no. A true Christian is no sooner in the state of Grace but he cries out Lord what wilt thou have me to do And thinks he can never do enough for Christ that hath done so much for him he knows he is not his own but bought with a price and therefore will Glorifie God with his Body and with his Soul which are God's When an Hypocrite Dedicates his Hands and Tongue to Christ a true Christian Dedicates his Heart A Hypocrites work is most in sight a true Christians is most in Secret the Hypocrites is most abroad the others is most at home the Love of God constrains the one and popular Applause drives on the other A true Christian Devotes himself wholly to God's Service and Serve him he will not for a Reward only but for Love to him and his Work and will do his Duty whatever danger or difficulty lyes in his way for as he draws out from Christ strength to perform every Duty and bear every Affliction so he draws out from Christ all the strength he hath in his Service Heart and Hand and Tongue and all shall be set on work for him and he resolves he will serve him in Righteousness and Holiness all the days of his Life 'T is the Hypocrite that picks and chuseth his Duties this he will do and that he will not do a true Christian takes Duties as they lye before him and refuseth none for danger or difficulty private Duties go down with him as well as publick he makes as much Conscience of Secret Duties when no Eye but the All-seeing Eye of God is upon him as in publick when the Congregation observes him The Thoughts what Christ hath done and Suffered for him makes him think he can never do enough for Christ 'T is a true Token of a hard heart when the Consideration of God's Mercy and Christ's Sufferings do not bend him to Duty and of all the Judgments in the World a hard heart is one of the greatest Ah! what Cause have Men therefore to look about them who feel this Disease creeping upon them The Scripture tells us those that are in Christ are new Creatures that they have put on Christ and live not after the Flesh but after the Spirit that they are dead to Sin and alive to God and have Crucified the World with the Affections and Lusts thereof how then is their Assurance grounded that conceit themselves to be in Christ and shall be saved when none of all these things appear in them nay though the contrary appear though they live in Sin and do the Devil's work look to it betimes God will not be mocked his Servants ye are to whom ye obey if ye suffer not with him you will not Reign with him as you Sow you shall Reap God will have the heart or nothing if thou wilt to Heaven thou must be a Christian and a Christian thou canst not be but thou must be one in Private as well as in Publick which that
that the Ancient Hebrew Copy of Saint Matthew's Gospel gives favourable Light unto it by making use of the word there which is the Title unto David's Psalms We find also the Apostle Pen'd good part of the Second Psalm Acts 4.24 and why not Sing it And if Christ and his Apostles had had any other Hymns they would have been left upon Record as some of their Prayers are but no such thing is to be found Nay we read that the Angels themselves in their Coelestial Harmony conforming themselves to the words of David and allude unto the Song of Moses the Servant of the Lord and therefore doubtless 't is not unlawful for us to do thus 'T is true indeed we are Commanded to sing in the Spirit and so we may if we use a Form indited by the Spirit and Sing them with the Heart and Understanding We are Commanded to Pray by the Spirit and can any Imagine but so we may though we use the Form Christ hath bid us use But if we expect an immediate impulse of the Spirit dictating to us both sense and Meeter and putting words into our Mouths as we sing not one of a thousand if ever any at all will be found to have such a gift Indeed in the Apostles days when extraordinary gifts were given some such thing might be which now cannot be expected any more than the gift of Healing And seeing that David and Moses Men endued with the Spirit Pen their Songs for the Publick good let us be contented to see by their Light and not presume to compare with them much less to exceed them We may find special Psalms appointed upon special occasions as for the Sabbath day c. And the Book of Psalms is so perfect a Sentence that there needs no Addition and if it did doubtless God would have ditected some to have perfected the work 't is a great boldness for any man not indued with the Spirit of God to thrust upon the Church an Hymn of his own making and lay aside those indited by the Spirit If we must Sing it must be David's Psalms or worse I think no humble man will compare the beats of his own brain with the immediate impulses of the Spirit I know not what Warrant we have to leave the one to use the other 3. Direct Be satisfied also concerning the Persons obliged to perform this Duty for some that confess 't is a Christian Duty to be done in Gospel Times yet think not that all Christians are hereby engaged Some conceive 't is the Ministers Duty alone as he is the Mouth of the People to God in Prayer so should he also be in Singing and the rest should tacitely consent and joyn in Heart but should not vocally sing 'T is easily granted that a godly Man for his own solace may sing alone and thus David did his Night-Songs upon his Bed Psal 77.6 And 't is evident also in the Primitive Times when the gift of Tongues was in use and other extraordinary gifts which now are ceased One that had a Psalm given by Divine Inspiration might and did Sing alone and the rest joyned as afore-said and said Amen to it For it was impossible and improbable that all should sing together by such a Divine rapture But this gift failing and David's Psalms Lawful yea the best we have or can have The whole Church may joyn in these not only in Heart but in Voice I think this need not be controverted God that is the God of Order and never established or owned Confusion hath formerly owned this as I have shewed Where Priests and People Men and Women joyned together as in Moses Song Exod. 15.1,2 c. The whole Church of Coloss was exhorted hereunto Col. 3.16 And not the Pastours and Select Elders only And if God would have such Select Choristers for this Work in Gospel Times he would have given Instructions and Directions for their Qualification and Election as he hath done for other Officers besides some Ministers otherwise Godly and able are not fitted for this Duty neither have they such a Musical Faculty as to be fit to be the Mouth of the People in this Duty And God hath indued many of the People in this beyond their Minister and doubtless it is not given in vain Moses and the Children of Israel Sang together Ex. 15.1,2 c. Yea in Gospel Times Christ and his Disciples Mat. 26.30 The like we read of Paul and Silas and why should we doubt that have such Leaders I know not The Angels that were ten thousand times ten thousand yea thousands of thousands joyned together without Confusion Rev. 5.11,12 But you will say here is no Expression of Singing See then those hundred forty and four Thousand that followed the Lamb those sang a new Song which no other could Learn Rev. 14.1.3 And this shall be the Saints work for ever But some question whether Women may sing in the Church and think they have cause enough for their doubt because the Apostle doth peremptorily forbid a Woman to speak in the Church but she cannot sing but she must speak 1 Cor. 14 34. But this is grounded upon a mistake Indeed they ought not to speak by way of Office or Publick Teaching but must be under the Authority of her Husband Neither to make Questions there but at Home lest they transcend the bounds of Modesty but that they must not speak at all will not be proved Sapphira spake when Peter demanded her Answer Nay then they must not say Amen to the Prayers a Duty enjoyned to all in general We read of Miram and the Women they Sang and were not reproved Exod. 15.20,21 And that it was the practice in the Primitive Times for Men and Women to Sing together The Ecclesiastical History may inform you But some Men doubt whether Carnal Men and Women ought to Sing or whether Christians ought to joyn with them if they do and the reason is they think hereby they hold Fellowship with them But what Reason is there that a Man may pray in a mixt Congregation and not sing when as this is but a more deliberate sort of Prayer the Voice is Natural the Tune Artificial so far we may joyn and the Matter is common to both And for the Manner if they sing Spiritually then they are fit to be joyned with if not what Spiritual Communion have we with them No question but it is their Duty and why may we not joyn with a Man doing his Duty Moses Sang with a Rebellious People and God Commanded him to write his Song as a Witness against them Deut. 31.19 And there is no Psalm but every one in the Congregation may Learn some Instruction from it and make some good use of it 4. Direct Be well satisfied also in Singing David's Psalms as they are turned into English Meeter for this also in our Age is become a Scruple unto many For when they cannot deny this to be a Duty yet
here something may be added for as thou must remember the Sabbath before it come to prepare for it so when 't is come improve it to the best Advantage And to this End Rise as timely in the Morning as thy Health will permit Were it to go to some Market or Fair or to do some earnest or important business how early wouldst thou Rise And why not now the better to fit thy self for thy Masters work and to Sanctifie as much of the Consecrated time as thou canst and do God as much work as may be and Reason good for God is the best Master and pays the best Wages and therefore he should have most work done And by this means thou wilt redeem the more time for thy private Devotion When thou first awakest Consecrate thy first thoughts to God and begin the day with some Fruitful Meditation suitable to the Season and the work in hand for this will fit thee for after-Duties But if thou let the World or Sin have thy first thoughts 't is hard getting them out of possession of thy Heart Examine thine own Heart what Graces thou hast weak or wanting that thou wouldst have supplyed what Sins are strong that thou wouldst have mortified what sins thou hast Committed especially the week last what Mercies thou hast received that so thy Heart may be affected accordingly Go to God with shame in thy Face and sorrow in thy Heart and if it may be with Tears in thine Eyes and confess thy sins to him and never rest till thou hast a discharge Many give themselves so much Liberty of sleeping in the Morning that much of those secret Duties are either neglected or slubbered over and they have little time to set the Heart in Order But how can a man expect a Blessing that is guilty of such neglects But these secret Duties are not sufficient If thou hast a Family call them together in convenient time Read some Portion of Holy Scripture to them and if thou canst fasten something upon their Spirits by Familiar Discourse or otherwise and then joyn with them in Prayer to God for the pardon of the sins of the Family and a supply of Grace and a Blessing upon the Publick Ordinances for their Souls good And here forget not to put up some Petitions for him who is to be your mouth unto God that he might do it prevailingly and that he that is to be God's mouth to you may reach your Hearts and speak a word in season to your Souls and meet with your beloved sins and put you on to your neglected Duties If Holy Paul desires the Prayers of his Hearers Col. 4.3 much more need have your Ministers And having thus disposed thy private Devotions make timely resort unto the publick 'T is an ill Custom which many have to stay late and savours but of little Love to the Ordinances These Men would make more hast to a Feast or Banquet perhaps to a Stage-Play or Morrice-dance And when thou hast thus done and brought thy Family along with thee behave thy self and see that they behave themselves gravely and orderly and joyn with the Minister hear attentively pray zealously and sing affectionately and do every Duty chearfully write the Sermon in thy Book or in thy Memory especially the most material Heads and after the Morning Exercise use sobriety in Meat and Drink lest thy Body be surcharged and become unfit for the Evening Exercise for though Meat and Drink may be taken yet no more than fits thee for thy Duty Spend the inter-mediate-time in Prayer Singing Repeating Meditation c. and frequent the Evening Exercise as thou didst in the Morning and when the Publick is done spend the remaining part of thy time in private Duties as Repeating the Sermon and Examining the proficiency of thy People incouraging the Diligent reproving the Idle In Meditation of what thou hast heard pressing it upon thy own and People's Hearts and put it into Practice which is the Life of all without which 't is like Food eaten but not digested which seeds Diseases and not the Body Call thy Family together suffer them not to wander after Vanity Read some Portion of Holy Writ and if it may be make them understand God's Will in it Catechize and Instruct them in the Fundamentals of Religion Pray with them and for them for the Pardon of their sins and a Blessing upon the means Commend them and all thine and all the Israel of God into God's Protection and so conclude the day in Secret with God as thou beganst confess the miscarriages of thy Heart and bless God for the assistance thou hast found follow this course and the Sabbath will prove a Market-day for thy Soul 7. Direct 'T is not enough to Sanctifie the Sabbath thy self but God requires thee to improve thy Authority that those under thy Charge may Sanctifie it also And if by thy negligence or remissness thou sufferest sin to be Committed on it and wilt not hinder it it will be laid at thy door and charged upon thine Account qui non prohibet cum potest Jubet Now this chiefly concerns Superiors for to them is the Command chiefly directed Exod. 20.10 They are to Command and others are to Obey All Governors therefore whether Civil Military or Ecclesiastical are hereby obliged to improve their Interest and Authority to hinder the Prophanation of the Lod's day and to promote the Sanctification of it It was good Joshua's Resolution He and his would Serve the Lord Josh 24.15 And God himself who could not be mistaken faith of Abraham He knew that he would Command his Children and Houshold after him to keep his Commandments Gen. 18.19 The Magistrate is Custos utrius Fabulae and therefore should look to it that the Commands of God be not broken or Contemned They should be Nursing Fathers to the Church and therefore should see that their Children take good ways and run not into dangers Isa 49.23 They are Vice-Gerents upon Earth and should Act like God and see his Commands observed they should encourage the good and punish the disobedient they should Reprove Threaten Restrain and Punish the Disobedient for the Prophaning of the Sabbath and encourage the good that it may appear they bear not the Sword in vain This was Nehemiah's Practice in the same Case Nehem. 13.15 c. The Fourth Commandment saith as much which is Directed to Superiors who have most Power to Reform this amiss An Example of a Magistrates Power we have in Josiah who Commanded all his Subjects to stand to the Covenant he had made with the Lord and made them to Serve the Lord their God though doubtless many of them had rather have Served Baal 2 Chron. 34.32,33 That is he forc'd them to an outward compliance We find in many places Death is threatned to the Prophanation of this day Now if the Magistrate had not Power to punish as some imagine who should inflict his Death Can it be
Many especially of the Younger sort they come to see and to be seen to shew their New Cloaths or observe the Fashion that other wear and being Examined this is most they can remember Many come that they may be accounted forward Prosessors and are tickled with popular Applause but when 't is more in Credit to Persecute than profess these perhaps follow that Profession Some come with the Butterflie to paint her Wings and these are all for gaudy Notions and store their Heads and not their Hearts with what they Learn some weary of their own Houses come to drive away the time perhaps to get a nap of sleep some come for fear of the Law lest that take hold upon them and some to stop the mouth of Conscience which otherwise will give them no rest some come to speak with a Friend which otherwise they knew not how to meet with so conveniently and as they came by chance 't is a great Chance if they receive any good by their coming Some come to enquire out some good bargain others to appoint some merry Meeting or some drunken match or Game at Cards or Dice or Bowls and perhaps some come on purpose to entrap the Minister in his Words or wrest them to a wrong Sentence these Mens memories are much like to Sives they keep the refuse all the best runs through Christ himself had such Hearers if these or like to these be thy ends thy heart is rotten thy Duties stink in God's Nostrils and they will never do thee good thou mayst expect a Curse from God and not a Blessing But a true Christian aims at higher ends viz. that he may know his Masters will and knowing may obey it and may glorifie him by obeying and by this means he may get nearer unto Christ and have and maintain more Communion with him that he may know more of the Excellency that is in Christ that he may be more enamoured on him that he may see more of his own heart and the deceitfulness of it and more of the vileness of sin to hate it more that we may have clearer Evidences of God's Love to his Soul and of his Interest in Christ these and such like are a Believers ends in hearing the Word If now thy ends be lower 't is a bad sign of an Hypocritical or Prophane heart 3. Direct If thou wouldst profit by the Word preach'd come unto it with thy heart rightly qualified and rightly disposed with thy affections rightly ordered One reason amongst others why so many come to and return from the Word empty is because the heart is not fitted for the Duty get thy heart in Love with God this is the way to thrive by his Word how greedily do we read a Letter from a Friend especially if we expect some promise in it of some great Courtesie the Word is Gods Epistle sent from Heaven stuff'd thick with gracious promises if we entertain hard thoughts of God we seldom profit by his word get a love also to his Word as David O how love I thy law it is my Meditation continually we remember that which we love What is the reason that many can remember an idle story or love song or stage play that cannot remember one passage or sentance in a whole Sermon why because they love it better exercise love also to the Minister or thou wilt hardly profit by his preaching prejudice is a great hindrance to the Soul See this in Ahab he had a prejudice against Micaiah and hated him and therefore his wholesom counsel was rejected 1 Kings 22.8 c. The Pharisees also having a prejudice against Christ carp't and cavilled with him but few or none believed in him which of the Scribes and Pharisees have believed on him all his gratious words would not win upon them and when a People have a prejudice against their Pastour ten to one they profit little by him Come also with a believing heart the word which they heard profited them not because it was not mixt with faith in them that heard it Heb. 4.2 If the Devil can but bring us to this distrust in God and to call in question the truth of his word he hath what he would have for who will leave a certain Inheritance for an uncertain Hope and take much pains when they doubt of a recompence or leave beloved Sins or perform self denying duties upon such uncertainties they should bring also humble hearts to the duty for 't is the humble that God will teach when he looks upon the proud afar off James 4.5 1 Pet. 5.5 A proud Spirit is like Laodicea and thinks himself rich and wants nothing when he is poor and blind and miserable and naked Rev. 3.16,17 If there be any in the Congregation that set themselves against God and his Word 't is commonly the Proud and self conceited Persons it were them that set themselves against Jeremy Jer. 42.3 It were the Proud men that said he spake falsly in the Name of the Lord. He that comes with absence of his own wants is most like to have a supply he that comes with a conceit of his own righteousness is likely to go away empty he fills the hungry with good things but the rich he sends empty away Luk. 1.53 He that thinks he knows any thing knows nothing that he ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 Come therefore to the Ordinance with an Hungring Longing Thirsting Panting desire after this Bread of Life and Sincere Milk of the Word for then thou art most like to prevail for somthing to fill thy Soul A full Soul loatheth the Hony-comb but to an hungry Soul every bitter thing is sweet many Promises are made to the hungry those that hunger and thirst after righteousness are blessed Mat. 5.6 these thirsting Souls shall have Wine and Milk Christ and his Graces without Money or Moneys worth Isa 5.51 Come not with a slight apprehension of or a slight desire after it lest it be denyed thee set not light by it as those that were bidden to the Wedding Mat. 22.2 c. David had high prizing thoughts of it it was sweeter to him than honey and the honey-comb yea better than thousands of Gold and Silver Psalm 19.10 and to Job better than his appointed food this made David meditate in it day and night and by this means he came to have more understanding than his Teachers bring also a mind free from Worldly cares and fears and desires these are the Thorns that choak the Word Mat. 13.22 Bring not the Love of any sin along with thee for this will make the Word unprofitable he that saith I will not be made clean God may say thou shalt never be made clean resolve to obey the Word in the strictest passages of it 4. Direct Wouldest thou profit by the Word Preached 'T is necessary then that thou make some preparation for the receiving of it The Heart of Man is compared to the Ground the Minister to the
Meditation which is the duty of all men and at all times but of set and solemn Meditation which is a duty at some times only and when thou comest unto it thou shouldst come preparedly no duty can be well performed without much less this so serious and solemn a duty this requires the exercise of all the powers of the Soul and the whole bent of the Minde they must be wholly set upon some special Object which for the time we make the matter of our Meditation this duty is as the chewing of the Cud in the clean Beasts or as in digestion to the Body for as digestion turns Food into Soil and Blood and Spirits and Flesh So Meditation turns thee Truths received into Affections Resolutions Acts yea into a-Holy Life and Conversation now the Preparations required are either Internal or External the Internal is chiefly the Heart and the Understanding the Heart is the chief Instrument in the Work if the Instrument be in Tune the Musick will be good if that be out it will be little worth The success of the Work depends much upon the frame of the Heart if that be right God will vouchsafe to dwell there and give in his Assistance in the duty and without his assistance the duty will do us little good There must be Grace in the Heart as well as knowledg in the Brain or the Work will not prosper in our Hands get thy affections as much off from the World and as resolvedly set upon Christ as thou canst for Christ will admit of no Partner and as a gracious Heart so an Understanding Head would much forward the Work 't is a sweet Conjunction where these meet but if severed the former is most requisite come with an empty Heart and it will be filled with an inlarged Heart and it will be satisfied this duty is enough to exercise the whole Man were the Faculties a thousand times more capacious then they are Angels themselves cannot dive into the bottom of many Misteries lay by therefore all other Thoughts Occasions Business and Concernments whatsoever and gather in thy whole strength and set upon the duty bring not a full Vessel that can hold no more if a Vessel be full of Water there is no room for Wine if thy hands be full of Muck thou canst hold no Money if thy Heart be stuff'd with Trifles it can hold no better Treasure When thou mountest this Hill of Contemplation be sure with Abraham leave all at the foot of the Hill say stand by Pleasures stand by Friends stand by World and Worldly things I am going to Sacrifice and will come again When we come into our Princes presence we leave our Muck behind us and bring no unsuitable Company with us much more when we come into Gods presence cast off all sin out with the World and Worldly thoughts yea all other thoughts though at other times good which will any ways disturb thee and dispose thy business so that thou maist not be hindred and for external preparation it consists in the Observation of some needful Circumstances as Time Place c. For Occasional Meditation all Times and all Places are fit when an opportunity is offered but not so here the Sabbath day is a fit time when other duties are not on foot but this is not enough upon other daies experience will best instruct thee when the Spirits are most lively and active and fit for the work in the Morning or in the Evening the like I say for Place where thou findest it most convenient at home or abroad in the House or in the Field the Place which is most suitable and freest from distraction is the fittest Isaac walked into the Fields Christ in the Garden Peter on the top of the House but I conceive ordinarily for this set Meditation that place which Christ appointed for private Prayer is suitable for this secret duty viz. The Closet with the door shut Mat 6.46 In a word when thou feelest a sweet gale of the Spirit assisting thee lose not the oppertunity strike while the Iron is hot perhaps thou maist do more then in an hour than at another time in a day 3. Direct Having thus prepared thy heart for the Work and made choice of a fit time and place set upon it set thy self seriously as in the presence of God apprehend him taking notice of thee how thou performest this duty and this will keep thy heart from wandring and thy thoughts from roveing yea before thou begin put up some pithy fervent Petitions for Gods Assistance and Direction and that he will give thee his holy Spirit to the end and that he will take possession of thy heart and keep thy thoughts from wandring from the duty for without Gods Assistance thou wilt but strive in thy own strength and lose all thy labour when thou hast made this entrance by Prayer make choice of some profitable Subject to Meditate upon all Meditation though Set and Solemn and serious is not that I treat of How seriously doth the Covetuous Man study how to grow rich yea perhaps how to deceive his Brother How serious is the Voluptious Man studying how to get Pleasure or satisfie his lust the Ambitious Man how to get honour the Envious Man how to do his Neighbour a Mischief yea the Holy Ghost saith he cannot sleep till it be done but this is Devillish and not Divine Meditation but single out some choice profitable Subject and let thy thoughts run upon that that which may winde up thy Affection neerer unto God and which is well worth the time thou imployest about it the Word of God or Natures Garden will furnish thee with Flowers enow to gather Honey on The Scripture will abundantly furnish thee to this end no Verse but may be matter of Meditation this is the Cannon whereby thou maist try good from bad and truth from error by this thou maist know what is Duty what is Sin what is true and what is false or thou maist take any Common place in Divinity for the Subject of thy Meditation here thou maist finde a large Field to walk in and many necessary yea fundamental truths may fall under consideration but take heed of meddling with secret things which belong only to God there is enough revealed for thy Salvation and this should be sufficient for thy satisfaction were it needful I might lead thee by the hand and shew thee matter sufficient to work upon as the Nature and Attributes of God but this is such a bottomless gulf that the Angels themselves could never sound or fathom yet here we may sail by the Scripture Chard in safety consider also the Works of God the Decree Creation and Providence consider thy own Estate in the Creation after the Fall and in thy Restauration consider Christ the Mediator in his Nature and Offices his Incarnation Birth Life Doctrine Miracles Death and Passion his Resurrection Ascention and Intercession and his coming at the
overwhelmed in the Sea Exod. 14.21 Over Amalek Exod. 17.12 Over Sennacherib 2 Kings 19.32 It hath with-held Rain from the Earth for a long time and after procured it James 5.17,18 It hath brought Angels from Heaven for the help of man thus to Daniel Chap. 9.21 For Hezekiahs help 2 Kings 19.35 where an Angel slew in one Night in the Camp of Sennacherib a hundred forty and five thousand And to Elisha 2 Kings 6.17 where the Mountain was full of Horses and Chariots of Fire about Elisha It hath brought Fire from Heaven to consume the Enemies 2 Kin. 1.10.12 It hath procured Bears to devour those Children that mocked the Prophet 2 Kings 2.24 It is the way to cast out Devils Mat. 17.21 and to work strange deliverances as Jonah out of the Whales belly Jonah 2.10 Peter out of Prison Acts 12.5 c. By this the Widdows Oyl was increased 2 King 4.3 And Miracles might be wrought Mark 11.23 This is the way to recover the Sick James 5.15 To divert Judgments felt or feared thus Moses oft stood in the gap This is the way to procure pardon of Sin Luke 18.13 To avoid the Temptations of Satan Mat. 26.41 To have deliverance out of Troubles Psal 50.15 To procure the Spirit of God Luke 12.13 To get Wisdom James 1.5 Who now would not set upon such a Duty Now to perform this Duty well take these Directions 1. Direct There are several Qualifications requisite to every one that would rightly perform this Duty of Prayer in an acceptable manner without which a Blessing cannot be expected for though Christ bids ask and we shall have seek and we shall find knock and it shall be opened to us Yet St. James tells us we ask and have not because we ask amiss It is necessary in the first place that thou be a Child of God and have the work of Grace wrought upon thy Heart or otherwise thou hast no assurance of being heard The blind man John 9.31 could say God heareth not Sinners I know 't is the Duty of others to pray and the Apostle incourageth Simon Magus to the Duty if perhaps the thoughts of his heart might be forgiven But till the Heart be brought over to God we have no assurance that God will hear us the Sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to God till then we cannot comfortably call God Father nor come with boldness to the Throne of Grace neither will Christ Mediate or Intercede for us while we remain his Enemies neither will the Spirit of God assist us in the Duty Rom. 8.15 It is in Christ and through Faith that we have boldness and access with Confidence to God Eph. 3 12. 'T is necessary also that we hate sin if we come to God for he is a devouring Fire to his Enemies and will not be reconciled to those that are reconciled to Sin How can we heartily pray against Sin and for Holiness if we love Sin and hate Holiness As all unconverted Sinners do This is dissembling with God when the Heart is not with him If I regard Iniquity in my Heart saith David God will not hear my Prayers Psal 66.18 Yea God who is Holiness it self requires Holiness in all those that draw near to him and he being a Spirit will be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth Without Holiness no man shall ever see God with Comfort Heb. 12.14 Knowledge also is requisite for God cannot abide the Blind and the Lame in Sacrifice without this the mind cannot be good nor the Service acceptable without this a man knows not what to pray for or what to pray against what to seek or what to shun what is sin or what is Duty what he wants or what he hath and what blind worship is he like to offer he can never Pray as he ought Self-denial also is necessary he should in all things subject his will to the will of God A notable Example we have in Christ himself whose Meat and Drink it was to do his Fathers Will. So when he had prayed that that bitter Cup might pass from him yet adds not my Will but thine be done and thus he hath taught us to pray Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Faith also is requireâ— for if those shafts of Prayer are not headed by Faith they will never reach Heaven this is the Condition required whatsoever you ask believingly you shall receive and without Faith 't is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Nay further Patience is also required we must wait for an Answer not like those short-winded Bethulians that set God a time and will wait no longer but refer all to his Will who best knows his own time yea the best time and fittest Season He ought also to be an Humble man for God resisteth the Proud and giveth Grace to the Humble He that hath not low self-denying thoughts of himself God will have low thoughts of his Service he fills the hungry with good things but the Rich he sends empty away He must also beg for the power and assistance of the Spirit Rom. 8.26 God knows the voice of his Spirit Come not in thy own strength Thou must also be painful and Laborious not only pray for Mercies but endeavour for them a few faint wishes will not serve turn Sin must be fought against as well as pray'd against endeavours must be used 2. Direct Before thou come to this Duty of Prayer prepare thy Heart to meet the Lord thy God in so solemn a Duty Wert thou but to meet some Prince or Noble Man thou wouldst make some Preparation much more shouldst thou when thou art to meet the great God one that knows the Secrets of thy Heart and thy Ends and Motives in the Duty What business of Concernment is there but needs some preparation Much more when the Soul is so deeply concerned in it Examine therefore what Relation thou standest in to God whether he be a Friend or an Enemy Who can come with boldness to him that hath offended him and is not Reconciled If thou hast not a Mediator to Intercede for thee and a Surety to undertake thy Debt how darest thou approach to the Creditor to whom thou owest ten thousand Talents and canst not pay a Farthing How dar'st approach this Consuming Fire that art but Chaff and Stubble And what hopes hast of speeding if thou be not within the Covenant The promise belongs not to thee But when thou canst find an Interest in God and in the Covenant and in Christ canst call God Father yet rush not rudely into his Presence but study well what things he hath promised for those thou maist boldly ask Heaven and Earth shall pass but his Word shall not pass till it be fulfilled But if thou ask amiss that is what he never promised no wonder if thou receive it not acquaint thy self well with the Attributes of God his Power Goodness Justice and Truth c. This will be an Excellent
Reconcile us to his Father 'T is he in whom he is well pleased and through him he cannot be offended He is the High-Priest that Offers up the Prayers of his People when he hath perfumed them with the Incense of his own Righteousness Rev. 8.3 'T is he that presents their Prayers to God and makes them acceptable which otherwise would be abominable He is the Altar whereon a broken Heart must Offer up the Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise Now when I speak of going to God in the Name of Christ I do not only mean using Christ's Name to God or Concluding our Prayers with such words through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Though this is Lawful if serious yet not sufficient we read of some Mat. 7.22 that had Preached in his Name and in his Name had cast out Devils and in his Name had done many wonderful works and 't is probable they had prayed in his Name also and yet he would not own them But those that come in his Name must believe in him for Salvation roul themselves upon him lay hold upon him by a Lively Faith for their Lord and Saviour for their Head and Husband for their Mediator and Advocate and give up themselves wholly unto him Take him upon his own terms as he is offered in the Gospel to love him above all and forsake all others for him to obey him in all though all the World be offended at it to resign up our selves and all we have to be at his dispose to be willing to be any thing do any thing suffer any thing he would have us and so to come with Confidence to God trusting in the Merits of Christ believing that for his sake we shall have our sins pardoned our wants supplyed and our Souls saved He is the only way to the Father and without him we can have no Admittance he opens the doors and brings us into the Presence-Chamber Eph. 2.18 He is the only Mediator between God and Man Heb. 9.14 1 Tim. 2.5 Now God never gave any such Honour to the Saints nor Angels in the Scripture though he denies them none that is their due Many Promises we have that whatsoever we ask in Christ's Name shall be given us John 14.13 But no promise in Scripture of prevailing in any other Name Nay the contrary for if Noah Daniel and Job departed Saints whom God dearly Loved could not be heard for Son or Daughter Ezek. 14.14 c. What hopes can we have of others Perhaps the Papists will tell us they do not pray to Saints or Angels that they should help them but only Mediate for them but who made them Mediators There is only one Mediator between God and Man even the Lord Christ Jesus 1 Tim 2.5 And there is no other qualified for the Office 'T is necessary that he must be both God and Man that is to Mediate between God and Man and that he be perfectly Righteous which no Son of Adam Christ excepted ever was All others have Oyl little enough and none to spare Neither doth the Scripture make mention of any other nay excludes all other For Christ is called the only Mediator None can make our imperfect prayers acceptable to God but he none can be present in all places to receive all Petitions but he The Saints and Angels are but finite Creatures and cannot be in all places at once and what assurance can we have when we pray that they are present and hear all prayers and understand all Languages How can Peter or the Virgin Mary at the same time be present at Rome Venice London and ten thousand places at once if they are not Infinite As we have no Precept in Scripture to make these our Mediators no more have we Examples of any that did though there were many Saints then dead Job 5.1 To which of the Saints wilt thou turn 'T is Christ alone that knows that meaning of the Spirit in the hearts of the Faithful Rom. 8.27 And in his Name we must go to God if we would be heard 5. Direct If thou wouldst put up prevalent Prayer at the Throne of Grace look well to the matter of them ask nothing of God but what thou hast some ground to believe thou shalt receive from God Every thing will no more bear a Prayer than every stream will a Ship Thou oughtest not to pray for those things which are against the Glory of God the Edification and good of the Church and thy own and others Salvation They are rather Curses than Prayers that are poured out by wicked men for the Extirpation of a Faithful Ministry and the rooting out of the Godly or the power of Godliness and these will prevail for a Curse upon the Head and Heart of the Imprecator Thou must not pray for a Commission to break thy Sovereign's Laws this will not be granted Or to do things contrary to his revealed or for any thing evil in it self or that which is contrary to God's Nature to grant or contrary to his Eternal decree Thou must not pray for a dispensation to sin and for assistance in the Act of Sin or to reconcile God and Mammon or Christ and Belial or for Salvation without Sanctification or for Pardon of Sin without Faith and Repentance Neither oughtest thou to pray for Trifles and things of small concernment 't is not fit for a Subject to go to his Prince to beg a Point or a Pin. Neither shouldest thou pray for that which thou wilt not endeavour to get Many could wish for Heaven that will not work for Heaven But thou maist pray for all those good things for Soul or Body for this Life or that to come for thy self or others which are necessary which God hath Commanded thee to ask or promised in his Word to give Thou hast a good Foundation for thy Faith to ask what Divine Writ Warrants thee to ask or promises shall be given And thou must beg them as they are promised what is absolutely promised thou maist beg absolutely And what is conditionally promised beg it if God see it good for thee Ye ask and have not saith the Apostle because ye ask amiss The Apostles are reproved that would have asked Fire from Heaven to burn up the unprofitable Samaritans Luke 9.54 Every Petition should be grounded upon the Word of God and not upon Carnal Conceits We should ask what God thinks fit and not what we our selves think fit It was an unanswerable Petition of the Mother of Zebedee's Children that her Sons might sit one at Christ's Right Hand and the other at his Left in his Kingdom If we ask any thing according to his Will he will grant it us 1 John 5.14 Where God Commands us to ask and promises us to give here is a double ground of assurance Now the good things we should beg of God for our selves or others are either Spiritual or Temporal Those which are Spiritual are absolutely necessary to Salvation or they are not
those that are are these or the like The Spirit of God Faith Repentance and the rest of the Graces of God's Spirit these we must beg absolutely because they are not promised upon Condition Others are not so necessary to the Being but the well-being of a Christian As Peace of Conscience Assurance Joy in the Holy Ghost c. And these as they are not absolutely promised nor absolutely necessary should be asked with submission to the Will of God as he sees it best for us Temporal Blessings as Meat Drink Cloaths Health Peace Prosperity c. We must beg in submission to God's Will as we have Christ for an Example Not my Will but thine be done Every Prayer must be grounded upon Faith when the promise is conditional you shall have them if they be good for you you must pray Lord give them if they be good for me and for the Circumstances we must not limit the Holy one of Israel to time place manner measure or such like And in Deprecation of evils Spiritual or Temporal observe also this Rule that which hinders Salvation pray absolutely it may be removed if not submit unto the Will of God These Rules observed thou maist expect an Answer 6. Direct Wouldest thou put up a pleasing and prevailing Prayer unto God then thou must regard the manner of it as well as the matter Every Prayer good for the Matter is not acceptable to God because 't is exceeded in the manner of the performance A wicked Man may put up a good Petition when God regards it not Balaam's wish was good to dye the Death of the Righteous and that his last end might be like his Now as it must proceed from a Right Fountain a Heart purified by Faith So every Petition must be pointed by Faith or it will never pierce Heaven Nay 't is not enough to have Faith in the Habit but it must be in the Excrcise also and drawn out into the Act without Faith we cannot please God Heb. 11.6 No wonder then if many mens prayers are rejected for all men have not Faith Now Faith helps a man to a Foundation to build upon the Promises and Attributes of God this keeps the Heart from wavering and the Soul from fluctuating It points us out to Christ the Mediator sitting at the Right hand of God which offers up our prayers and brings us an Answer of peace Now though Faith be absolutely necessary yet 't is not sufficient there must be Repentance also and hatred of sin If I regard Iniquity in my Heart God will not hear my Prayer Psal 66.18 Non prodest medicam salum dum ferrum in vulnere let every Sin thou confessest draw sorrow from thy Heart and if possible Tears from thine Eyes such prayers are likeliest to prevail with that God that cannot behold Iniquity with approbation So likewise Zeal and fervency is a necessary Qualification 't is not every cold Petition will get Admittance at the Throne of Grace or pierce the Ears of God he hears not sluggish prayers this puts denials into his Mouth Every one can deny a cold Suitor Had the Woman of Samaria been of this Temper she had gone away without an Answer We should be fervent in Spirit serving God Rom. 12.11 'T is God's complaint Hos 7.14 They have not cryed unto me with their Heart Prayer is a part of God's Worship and a Curse is threatned to them that do the Work of the Lord negligently The business is of great Concernment and therefore should not be slightly performed If a Man were to beg for his Life how earnest would he be He would use all the Arguments he could and beg heartily Now this is for thy Life and the Life of thy Soul if thou prevail well and good if not thou art undone Men or Angels cannot help thee thy Diseases are so many and thy wants so great These Zealous Prayers are sometimes called the renting of the heart Joel 2.13 Sometimes wrastling with God and thus Jacob wrastled and prevailed And in Scripture 't is sometimes expressed by the Motions of the Body Hannah moved her Lips Solomon spread abroad his Hands the Publican beat his Breast and Christ fell upon the Ground Sometimes 't is exprest by deep Sighs and Groans which cannot be exprest Rom. 8.26 Sometimes by loud Crys Psal 32.3 Sometimes by often repeating the same Words as in Christ Mat. 26.30 And sometimes by bitter Tears as in Peter Mat. 26.75 Heb. 5.7 Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong Crys and Tears c. Yet this is not enough we must also watch and pray or watch in prayer 't is Christ's own Command Now Watching is the proper Act of the Body 't is but Metaphorically Attributed to the Soul Now both are required if the Body sleep the Soul cannot watch and if the Soul snort in Security Bodily Exereise profiteâ—… little Watch that there be no sin lying upon thy Conscience or Lived or delighted in that there be no passion predominant in the Soul no Temptation of Satan entertained no Worldly thoughts foisted in to spoil thy Duty no drousiness creeping upon thee watch that thy Heart grow neither Cold nor Lazy in the performance or steal away from the Duty that Pride nor self appear there that no roving Imagination vain thoughts or needless tautologies appear there But above all take heed thou come not in thine own strength but by the assistance of the Spirit of God perform the Duty which is given to this end Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8.26 Jude 20. Praying in the Holy Ghost this illuminates the heart discovers what is sin and what is Duty what a Man is what he hath and what he wants what a God he hath to deal with what he requires and worketh in us both the will and the Deed. 7. Direct If thou wouldest speed well at the Throne of Grace be sure to demean thy self well after the Duty if thou miscarry then thou wilt lose all thy Labour think not that the Duty is over when thou art off thy Knees no there is good part behind Call thy Heart to an Account how it hath carried it self in the Duty if this were duly done it durst not wander as it usually doth for fear of a check and having found out it's carriage be affected accordingly if well rejoyce and bless God for it it was he that kept it in Order If ill check it and make it smart for it and stir it up by some rousing Considerations Examine also what assistance thou hast had from the Spirit of God God promises the assistance of his Spirit in the Inditing their prayers and teaching them what to ask if he have made good this promise bless God for it and be encouraged by it for the future and expect the fulfilling those desires that the Spirit assisted in the powring out If thou hast not met with this assistance 't is doubtless thy own fault for God
Perform this Duty now to right Ends and doubt not of a Blessing 7. Direct If thou wouldst have a Blessing of God accompanying this Ordinance or if thou wouldst Sing Psalms profitably then do it in God's way as well as to a right End 't is not the bare performance of the Duty will serve the turn Many content themselves with the Husk without the Kirnel and think a little Lip-labour sufficient and come with no more Reverence nor so much into God's Presence than they would come into a great Mans Presence to Sing a Prophane Song If such Service would please God would have many Servants But 't is the Heart that God requires or he will have none of their Service Trust not therefore with the Papist Opere Operato in the Work done for God must have it done in his own way or he will not accept it A good Duty may be spoyled by the ill doing it as well as a good Tool by ill handling The Duty we Treat of is not so easie as many think it is Many carelesly performing it and finding little benefit by it have mistrusted the Duty rather than themselves like the Maid in Pliny that being suddenly struck Blind in the Night blames the Sun the next Morning for not Rising Men are apt to accuse any thing yea God himself rather than themselves Because they themselves feed upon the Husks they think there is none that taste the Kirnel and so lay it aside and plead against it But upon the same grounds many of them plead themselves above Ordinances and rest not till they plead perfection and look upon Ordinances as beggarly rudiments but to leave these to their self-delusion When thou approachest to God in this Ordinance being part of his Instituted Worship be sure to bring thy Heart along with thee and ingage it in the Duty God saith of the Heart as sometimes Joseph did of his Brother Benjamin you shall not see my Face if your Brother Benjamin be not with you You shall not see his Face if the Heart be absent Heart and Voyce must joyn together or it will make no pleasing Melody in the Ears of God He is a Spirit and must be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth For as Fervent Prayer may prevail where cold Petitions are denyed So hearty Praises are acceptable when others are esteemed but as a mocking of God We must sing with the Affection and with the Understanding also The whole bent of the Soul must be set upon the work the Blind and the Lame and the Heartless Sacrifice is abominable unto God My Son saith he Give me thy Heart Whatever thou offerest without the Heart he will have none of it The more of the Heart is in the Duty the better he loves it Thou must sing with the Spirit 1 Cor. 14.15 Thus David when he began to sing lift up not only his Voyce but his Soul to God Psal 25.1 and calls upon all that is within him to bless the Lord Psal 103.1 And we have Exhortations to this Duty Col. 3.18 Eph. 5.19 The Lowing of an Ox the Grunting of a Hog make as Melodious an Harmony in God's Ears as a Heartless Prayer or Praise God is a Spirit and must be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth Nay it must not be only with the Heart but with the Heart rightly Qualified An ungracious Heart cannot but savour strong in the Nostrils of God worse than a stinking Carrion doth in ours we must sing with Grace in our Hearts as the former Scriptures plainly testifie Sincerity is necessary approach not near him without the Wedding-Garment Hypocrisie spoyls all thy best Actions we may as well expect sweet Water in a dirty Channel or stinking puddle as a good Duty from a rotten Heart The Graces of the Spirit must adorn that Soul that must be welcom into God's presence Neither is it sufficient that they be there in the Habit but they must be drawn forth into the Act for as we must Pray and Sing with the Understanding and Affection so we must Pray and Sing with Faith believing those Promises made by God and those Petitions put up that they shall be in Time Answered Bring Hope along also to wait for the Accomplishment and Love to God and Delight in his Service and desire of his Glory and other suitable Graces And thus doing expect a Blessing upon the Ordinance and benefit by it CHAP. VIII Directions in Observing the Sabbath Day THE next Duty I shall Treat of is the Observation of the Sabbath Day for this also is a Commanded Duty this is that stated time for the Worship of God and necessary for his Service For if we must Worship God in some place so some time is also required for this Worship and God himself hath appointed out what he thinks most suitable Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy c. Yea he hath enjoyned it to be observed upon pain of Death Exod. 35.2 Whosoever doth work therein shall be put to Death And we read of the Man that gathering sticks upon that Day was by God's special Command to be put to Death Numb 15.32 c. But there are many that easily grant it was a Duty obliging the Jews but not the Gentiles and is of no force at present to Christians but Ceremonious and so abolished with the Ceremonial Law but for Satisfaction know something in the Command was Ceremonial and that ceaseth something Moral and that remaineth Nature it self teacheth us that there is a God and the same Nature teacheth that this God is to be Worshipped and Reason tells us some time must be alotted for this Worship God appoints one day of seven for this Work and that is Moral but what seventh day whether from the Creation or no is left to God to determine Many that know not the true God yet alot some time for the Worship of their Imagined Deities but that it must be this or that day Nature teaches not but is alterable at God's dispose but not at Mans and that it was observed in Remembrance of their deliverance from Egypt was Ceremonial Deut. 5.15 And Typified out a deliverance by Christ a Rest in him and his Resting in the Grave As also the rigid Observation of it enjoyned to the Jews when they must not go out of their places kindle a Fire dress any Meat bear any burthen c. upon it Christian Liberty hath freed us from this but for the Observation of one day in seven for God's Service is Commanded by God approved by Christ and practised by the Apostles and all succeeding Generations 1 Cor. 16.2 and what power on Earth then can make it void It was a Law given to Adam in Paradice before there was any Ceremony used or enjoyned or any Saviour needed or promised I say for the Substance of it though it was afterwards prest more strictly and some Ceremonies added to the Jews and therefore it belongeth to all his Posterity though
We should not sell our Labour upon that day but do it for common Charity otherwise a just Cause may to us prove sinful Works of Necessity also are Lawful so they be truly so and not feigned when an House is on Fire we may leave the Ordinance to seek to Quench it though with Bodily Labour The Marriner in his Journey must attend his work but his Heart in the mean time should be in Heaven The Souldier if set upon should defend himself we find Joshua compassing Jericho seven days together Josh 6.15 and one of them must needs be the Sabbath Though the Jews at first did scruple Fighting upon that day and many of them were Murdered by the Enemy yet at last they resolved to Fight in their own Defence 2 Mac. 4.1 A Husband-man in Harvest time I suppose for fear of an Inundation or the apparent loss of Grain or Hey may Labour to prevent it but take heed a Necessity be not feigned Many are necessitated for want of fore-cast and some fore-cast that there may be a Necessity neglecting it all the week and then say must not Cattle be looked Or such a thing be done But know what may be done before or let alone till after ought not to be done 't is not thy wilful neglect can procure a dispensation to break God's Law but most men strain their Christian Liberty to the utmost Link but take heed of going beyond be not deceived God will not be mocked 5. Direct To the sanctifying of the Sabbath thou must not only observe an Holy Rest unto the Lord all the day and forbear thy own thoughts words and works as formerly I have shewed but there are also many Duties of Religion to be performed as part of that Worship to be given to God upon that day that the whole time as nigh as may be may be spent in the Religious Exercises of the day Now the Duties required are either Publick or Private the Publick are in the Congregation of the Saints when the Church meets together to Worship God The Private are in the Family or in the Closet He that only rests from his Labour on the Sabbath keeps it no better yea much worse than a Beast Idleness is a sin at all times especially then this is the Market day to lay in Provision for the week following the Harvest to provide in for winter and shall we Trifle now All Time is precious much more this we should leave any work undone before we should leave God's work undone or carelessly do it The Publick Duties required at our hands are according to the Relations we stand in more is required of Publick Persons than of Private The Ministers are God's Stewards to dispence his Mysteries to Divide the word of God aright and to give every one his Portion and therefore he must look to his Charge and make preparation before-hand for his work He is the Mouth of the People unto God and God's Mouth to them and therefore he had need to set a watch over his Lips that he Offend not with his Tongue Parents and Masters they should not only come to the Ordinance themselves but bring their Children and Servants there to be Taught Prayer is an Ordinance of God and should be performed in the Publick where Minister and People should joyn together to make their Requests known to God in the Name of Christ and beg such things as are necessary for themselves or others for this Life or that to come It should be performed with Faith and Fervency with Humility and Reverence with Wisdom and Discretion both by Minister and People 〈◊〉 Complements with God are unsavoury and unseemly The Word also should be Read and Preached by the Minister and the whole Counsel of God made known Acts 20.20.27 and that without mixture of Humane Invention without Ostentation Plainly Faithfully Powerfully Truly Zealously And the People they should hear with Attention Diligence Watchfulness Understanding and Care they should Examine that which is delivered by the Minister whether it be agreeable to the Truth like those Noble Bereans Acts 17.11 They should Treasure it up in good Hearts and bring forth good Fruit in their Lives and Conversations for without Practice knowledge is little worth The Administration of Baptism also is a Sabbath days work Vpon the Sabbath says Christ they Circumcise a Man this is given the Minister in Commission Mat. 28.19,20 which is to be done according to Precept and Scripture Examples without External Additions and the People ought to be present at it and joyn with the Minister in Prayer for a Blessing and not turn their backs upon it through carelessness or contempt The Sacrament of the Supper also should be as frequently Administred as Convenience will permit Acts 2.42 And 't is the Ministers Duty to Teach and Instruct the Ignorant to convince the gain-sayers reclaim the scandalous if they can and if they will not be Reformed to keep them back from the Sacrament yea to take Christ's way And if they be obstinate cast them out and not suffer the Ordinance to be polluted or contemned God complains of the contrary Ezek. 22.26 Her Priests have violated my Law and have prophaned my Holy things they have put no difference between the Holy and Prophane c. And 't is Christ's command not to give Holy things to Dogs Mat. 7.8 The People they should partake of it and come with prepared Hearts to this Holy Banquet and be careful that they have on the Wedding Garment or they will be no welcom Guests to his Marriage Supper They should there Exercise their Graces of Knowledge Faith Love and Obedience c. knowing that the neglect or unworthy receiving is a dangerous sin Acts 20.6 1 Cor. 11.17 Singing of Psalms also is a publick Duty and should be performed by the whole Church and in so doing they should lift up their Hearts as well as their Voices and Sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also Visiting the Sick relieving the Poor Gathering and Collecting for them is this days Duty 1 Cor. 16.2 Catechizing especially the Younger sort is the Ministers Duty and 't is the Peoples Duty to send them And all this must be done to God's Glory and the Edification of our selves and others 6. Direct Though the publick Worship and Service of God be chiefly to be minded and intended upon the Lord's day yet it is not only that which is required Many private Duties also are to be performed and in thy Publick and Private Duty is all the whole time to be spent What those Publick Duties are I have already shewed you and shall now speak of those that are Private I mean such as Private Persons especially Masters and Parents and Governours of Families ought to do Let the Inferiors also here Read their Duties Some of those are to be done before the Publick by way of Preparation and some after by way of Digestion Concerning Preparation I have spoken already and yet
Church and Listed into his Company his School and Family and have all the Blessings and Benefits of the New Covenant Christ and all his Righteousness Merits and Graces Pardon of Sin Regeneration Adoption Sanctification and Glorification Sealed up to them for the Water as it is of a cleansing Nature signifies the Blood of Christ which cleanseth us from all Sin In this Sacrament there is a mutual Covenant made and ratified between Christ and the Soul the Soul gives up it self to Christ promising Obedience to his known Will and that he will Worship no other god but Father Son and Holy Ghost And God for his part promises Christ and his Benefits upon Condition that Man prove Faithful in his Covenant and no doubt God will not fail in his part if Man perform which that thou mayst do take these Directions 1. Direct Because some Scruples do arise about Baptism it seems necessary to speak something to them for those that Question the Ordinance it self are not like to use the Directions The very Essence of Water-Baptism is denyed by some and questioned by others whether it be a standing Ordinance in the Church but that which some question and others deny I think need not be questioned and cannot be denyed and for their Confutation I need say no more but search the Scriptures for he that reads the Scripture and believes what he reads cannot be Ignorant Baptism was given in Commission by Christ to his Disciples Mat. 28.19,20 and that it was to be done with Water see it in their Practice you find Philip Baptizing the Eunuch with Water Acts 8.38 And Peter Baptized Cornelius thus and his Family in both places Water is mentioned and they were both immediately Directed to do it by the Holy Ghost But the greatest Controversie lies elsewhere between us and the Anabaptists who it be that are Subjects capable of this Ordinance this therefore shall fall next under consideration I need not step so far out of my way as to tell you they ought to be rational Creatures such as are capable of being in Covenant and to have the Graces and Benefits of the Covenant bestowed upon them and so stand to reprove the foolish ridiculous Custom of the Papists in Baptizing Bells c. Neither need I tell you it must be a Living Creature and not one that is dead and so reprove the Custom of those which seemed to be Baptized for the dead or in their stead or in their Name a Custom which seemed to be crept into the Church in the Apostles days 1 Cor. 15.29 which Custom Ambrose and Tertullian speak of But to come nearer the Question in Controversie you may assure your selves that those and those only that are Members of the visible Church are to partake of this Ordinance Those that are in Covenant should partake of the Sign and Seal of the Covenant Gen. 17.11 Rom. 4.11 Now these are the Godly and their Seed Acts. 2.39 The Promise is unto you and to your Children The seed of Faithful Abraham are either those that are of Riper Years or of Infants Those that are of Riper Years are such as being Converted to the Faith hold fast the Foundation and manifest Repentance for sins past and profess Obedience for the time to come and of those I think is no scruple made by any that own the Ordinance if there be see Mark 16.15,16 Acts 37.38 Now Infants that are within the Covenant are such as have one or both Believing Parents that is such as profess Faith in Christ and Obedience to him and Live accordingly that the Children of those are in the Covenant and have right to the Seal by a Birth-priviledge many able Divines have largely proved both by Scriptures and Arguments the Scriptures they make use of are such as these Gen. 17.7.9 1 Cor. 7.14 Gal. 3.9.14 Col. 2.11,12 Acts 2.38,39 Rom. 4.11,12 Mat. 28.19 Mark 10.13 c. Luke 18.15,16 Rom. 11.16 and many others Now you must know that Godly Parents are under a two-fold Consideration as they are Men and the sinful Off-spring of Adam so their Children are the Children of wrath by Nature but as they are Believers and the Sons of Faithful Abraham and ingraffed into Christ the second Adam so they and their Children also are in Covenant This might be Evidenced by Arguments but my Discourse being practical and not polemical I shall refer you to those that have purposely Treated of it Yet lest any should be at a loss consider Children of Believers in the Time of the Law were Members of the Visible Church and in Covenant with their Fathers and received the Seal and Sign of the Covenant for such was Circumcision Gen. 17.11 Rom. 4.11 and that by God's own Command Deut. 29.10,11,12,13 c. And I conceive it will not be proved where they were ever taken out of Covenant or lost this their Birth-priviledge or what they have in lieu of it or that our Priviledges are straitned by Christ's coming and therefore we conceive they are still in Covenant and therefore being every way as capable of the seal of the Covenant Baptism as the Jews Children were of Circumcision it ought to be Administred besides it was for unbelief the Jews were broken off Rom. 11.20 and that both Root and Branch How then came the Believing Jews to lose this priviledge for their Children Yea the Promise is made to them that Believe and to their seed Acts 2.39 And Believers Children have been long in Possession let their Enemies disprove their Right 2. Direct I 'le take it for granted at present that Infants of one or both Believing Parents are within the Covenant and Members of the Visible Church upon their Parents Account It is their Birth-priviledge and therefore 't is requisite that they receive the sign and seal of the Covenant which is Baptism that being the initiating sign whereby Members are Orderly entred into the Church Souldiers are Listed into Christ's Company and Scholars into his School and therefore 't is the Parents Duty to present them and to Enter them into the Covenant and bring them timely unto this Ordinance and Dedicate them unto the Lord even in their Infancy as Hannah did Samuel even when he was a Child But because the Child claims this not as he is an Infant but as he is the Child of such Parents 'T is necessary that the Parents one or both be rightly qualified they should be such as own God in sincerity For though a serious Profession not contradicted by a vicious life may and must satisfie the Church who cannot search the Heart yet it will not satifie God who tryeth the Reins and the Heart 'T is necessary also that they have a competent measure of Knowledge as well as Faith and the other Graces of the Spirit that so they may perform the Duties required 'T is requisite they should know in what condition their Children are in by Nature that they are born the Children of Wrath as well as
his Death and Resurrection are promised as also Remission of Sins Mark 1.4 Yea Salvation also Tit. 3.4 By this Ordinance we give up our selves unto Christ Rom. 6.34 Now what are the Ends thou aimest at in this Ordinance when thou presentest thy Child to be Baptized Is it the Duty as well as the Priviledge thou regardest Dost thou Enter him into the Covenant with an intent to Dedicate him to the Lord and Train him up in his fear to bring him into God's Family and make him a Member of his Mystical Body 1 Cor. 1â— 13 For by one Spirit we are all Baptized into one Body to make him a Member of the Church Gal. 3.27 That he may be Holy to Marry him unto Christ c 't is well If only Custom not Conscience move thee thy Ends are bad and thy Actions Sinful 4. Direct Rest not in the Common Priviledges of this Sacrament take not up with Common favours but lay hold by Faith upon the main Benefit What priviledge will it be to be Listed into Christ's Army when we neither fight his Battles nor receive his Pay Or to be entred into his School if we be not Taught nor Instructed by him to be of the Number of those that Worship God when it is not in Truth and Sincerity To make a visible Profession without the practice to have a Name to Live and be dead or to have a Name to be a Child of God without the priviledges of Children To be a Member of the visible Church and no Member of Christ's Mystical Body To adhere to the Vine and not be Planted in it To be distinguished from those without the pale of the Church as Jews and Heathens and not from rotten Members as Hypocrites and Dissemblers To have a form of Godliness without the power and practice of Holiness Alas these things are common to good and bad as Circumcision did difference the Jews from all other People yet most of them were strangers yea Enemies to God for all are not Israel that are of Israel But 't is the Circumcision of the Heart that differenceth them from the World So 't is here Baptism differenceth Christians from others but 't is the Baptism of the Spirit that differenceth the good from the bad Yet these External Priviledges ought not to be sleighted as the Apostle Argues at large Rom. 3.1,2 c. yet ought they not to be trusted to or rested in The main thing intended in this Ordinance is that Christ and all his benefits be Sealed up unto the Soul therefore lay hold by Faith upon these things or thy Labour will be lost This Sacrament is the Seal of the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.11 The sign of the Covenant Gen. 17.11 Lay hold therefore upon Christ in the Ordinance yea upon whole Christ as he is offered in the Sacrament for Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and with him Grace and Glory is to be had But if thou take up any thing under Christ the Ordinance will be of little worth to thee When thou bringest thy Child therefore to the Ordinance take not up with Common Benefits lay out for Christ and satisfie not thy self without him The Ordinance of it self is but a dry and empty Husk Christ is the Kirnel 't is as a Well Christ is the Water and what good will a dry Well do thee 'T is but a broken Cistern if trusted to it can hold no Water What is a little cold Water applyed to the Body if the Water of Life be not applyed to the Soul Be thou Real in thy Dedication of thy Child to God and really Act Faith upon the Promise that God may bestow his Son upon him Thou mayst find in Scripture footing for thy Faith many Divine and precious Promises made by God Consider such Scriptures as these Rom. 6.38 As many as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his Death c. And if we be dead with Christ we believe we shall also Live with him 1 Pet. 3.21 The like Figure whereunto even Baptism doth also now save us c. Mark 3.11 Heb. 1.9 John 3.5 Heb. 10.22.24 Gal. 3.16 Luke 3.3 Acts 12.16 22.16 Eph. 5.26 Titus 3.5 1 John 1.7 The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all our sins which Blood is here signified by this Baptismal Water Here thy Faith may find a Foundation sure and stedfast take up with nothing short of Christ bring the word of Promise along with thee to the Ordinance press God with his Word he cannot deny it but without the Promise the Ordinance is of little Efficacy But thus doing thou wilt find it a refreshing Ordinance Christ and all his Benefits may be found in this Baptismal Water yea whatsoever is necessary for the Soul Perswade thy self therefore that seeing such Scripture expressions hold forth the Sacrament to be the Laver of Regeneration and the New Birth to wash from sin and is Instrumental to our Salvation and Sealeth up the Covenant yea Christ and all his Benefits to the Soul No doubt it will be so to thee and to thy Children if the failing be not on your part When thou seest the Minister apply the Baptismal water to the Body of thy Infant do thou by Faith behold God the Father applying Christ his Merits his Blood and Benefits to the Soul and as verily as thou seest the one done Sacramentally so verily do thou believe the other to be done really and truly 'T is the coming to the Sacrament without Faith and without the word of Promise that makes it seem so empty and vain but doubtless there is a rich supply to be had If we suck we shall be satisfied the Well indeed is deep and Faith is the Bucket If we have no Bucket we are like to have no Water 5. Direct That this Sacrament of Baptism be rightly Administred it is necessary that it be done agreeably to the mind and will of God expressed in his Word for God will have his own work done in his own way he hath not left it to Man to use his own will in his Worship But we must follow the Pattern and Example he hath left us and Obey the Precept and Command he hath given us and be directed by Scripture Light and perform the Duty in a right manner and form as well as to a right End 'T is necessary therefore in the first place that it be Administred by a Lawful Minister 't is the work of those that are in Commission and we find not any Commission Sealed unto any other than the Apostles and their Successors the Ministers of Christ set apart by God and the Church for this and other Holy Duties for the work of the Ministry that this is part of their Commission we may read Mat. 28.19,20 Go Teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I Commanded you and loe I am with you always even
followed Infants you see though uncapable were not freed even such as hang upon their Mothers breast and though they had not actually sinned yet were a part of that sinful lump of mankind and deserved judgement as well as others and therefore should be timely traind up in this Christian duty and their cries for meat and the very bellowing of the Beasts might stick something upon the heart of man and help further to humble and break it yea many of those little ones being Gods Elect their presence may be an arguing with God to spare as the presence of Jehosophat moved Elijah to come to Ahab 2 Kings 3.19 this was one Motive why the Lord would not destroy Niniveh because there were sixscore thousand souls in it that knew not the right hand from the left But though all these come and 't is their duty to come yet all come not rightly prepared and qualified for that work if thou wouldest indeed stand in the Gap and turn away the wrath of God from the Land thou shouldest be one in Covenant with God and one that hath the work of grace upon thy Soul one that hath a friend in Court an interest in Christ the Mediator and canst through him go boldly to the Throne of grace one that can without lying call God Father and lay claim to the share in his promises one that art reconciled to God through the blood of his Son such a one is like to prevail for mercy 't is not those that howl for Corne and Wine he regards 't is not the crying of the Swine or the bellowing of Beasts he matters if there be a full Congregation of unconverted Sinners that resolve to love and not leave their sins I question whether these mens cryes do not prevail more to bring down judgments than mercies when men covenant with â—od and promise obedience and never intend to perform it this is but a mocking of God that will not be mocked and the breaking of the Covenant with him that can and will avenge the quarrel of his Covenant we cannot deceive him though we come with Tears in our Eyes If there be not sorrow in the Heart our Crocodile Tears will not Advantage us But if there be but weak gifts and parts if the Heart be right yet they will be owned God looks not so much at the out-side as the inside of Duty Though I know those that carry on the work especially in Publique should be men of parts and Abilities and 't is well if all were thus Qualified 't is a sweet Conjunction where Grace and parts meet they should know their own Sins and the Sins of the Nation to bewail and confess them Ezra 9.4.6 Nehem. 1.6,7 They should know their own wants and the wants of the Nation Dan. 9.11.18 In a word every Novice in Religion is not fit for so high a Duty and therefore Christ himself Excuseth his Disciples for not Fasting not onely because the Bride-groom was with them but as 't is conceived because they were not yet fit for so high a duty Luke 5.36,37 Mat. 9.15,16 2. Direct Wouldst thou Fast as thou oughtest to do and as God requires 't is not enough to be rightly Qualified but come prepared to the duty there is scarce any thing of moment can be well done without preparation much less such a Solemn work and such an extraordinary duty Now the preparation requisite is partly External and partly Internal the External helps forward the other and they are such as these On the Evening before lay aside thy Bodily Labour betimes that thou mayst trim up thy Lamp to meet the Bride groom the day following and prepare thy Heart against the next days duties and take that Evening but a moderate Supper such as will help and not hinder thee in the ensuing duty and continue as long as thou canst without prejudice to thy Health or hinderance to thy duties of the day following for thou shouldst deny thy self in sleep as well as in other Comforts of this Life but all this should be but in reference to the main work and so no further to be used than it is helpful to it Now the main work is to get the Heart into a melting frame and humble temper for what good will it do us to come and go with the Heart unbroken Now that it may be so the consideration of thy sins and the sins of the Nation with the several aggravations of them will be of great use when they are prest home upon the Spirit by serious Meditations Call to mind therefore thy Original Guilt and the pollution of thy Nature and how the whole Man Soul and Body is defiled by it and thy best Duties stained as also thy Actual Sins many for Number and hainous for Nature Call to mind the Sins of thy Youth and of thy riper Age the Sins of thy Calling general and particular thy Relation Sins and how thou hast failed in every Relation thou hast been in Thy Sins of Omission Commission and Participation thy Sins of knowledge and Ignorance of weakness and wilfulness against the Law and against the Gospel against God and against Man with the several aggravations of them as against a great deal of Love and Light against Knowledge and Conscience Promises and Resolutions Vows and Covenants Means and helps c. And not only thy own sins but the sins of thy Family The sins of thy Relations ought to be Considered yea the Sins of the Nation of Superiours and Inferiours of Princes and Governours for these should be Confessed as Daniel doth Dan. 9.2,3 c. The Sins of Superiours Inferiours and Equals for from the greatest to the least all have sinned and come short of what they should do The Abuse of Mercy which we have had in general in the Nation or in particular our selves David could mourn in secret when Men kept not God's Law and we should be mourning in Sion And be sure come not before the Lord to confess or bewail any one Sin that thou dost not repent of and resolve to leave Nor to bewail the Omission of any one Duty which thou art not resolved for the time to come to practice Nor to beg for one Mercy that thou art not resolved to Labour for as well as to Pray for For if thou regardest Iniquity in thy Heart God will not hear thy Prayer Psal 66.18 Shouldest thou come with a resolution to Live in sin and pray for the Pardon of it thou dost but mock God that will not mocked and takest his Name in vain when thou sayest Lord when wilt thou give me this Mercy God may say Man when wilt thou leave thy Sin When wilt thou give me thy Heart If thou say never God will return thee the like Answer Never think by thy Prayers to benefit thy self or the Church if thou wilt not reform thine own Heart And as thou must consider thy sins so also thy wants what Mercies thou wouldest beg for
thy self or others should a King promise at such a day to meet his Subjects and supply their wants how careful would they be not only to come but also to consider what Petitions to put up and what Favours to beg 't is no doubt but while we are in these Houses of Clay we have a back bias of Corruption drawing us out of the way and so many are our wants Some Souls are made up all of wants they have no Grace let them beg and pray and endeavour that some may be bestowed and to have their Hearts Sanctified and their Natures changed The best of God's People have defects in Grace and these they should Labour to have removed and their wants supplyed Some have decays in Grace and this is the time for their recovery in a word many things we have to beg for our selves many for our Friends many for the Nation and many for the Church in general many Judgments are threatned which we would have diverted and many felt we would have removed know then before hand what Errant thou art come about 3. Direct Concerning our External Carriage in the days of Humiliation I shall speak something for having made the preparation before mentioned and the day being come there are some External Duties required viz. That we rise betimes that morning and deny our selves that rest and sleep which our sluggish Nature requires so far forth as we do not thereby dis-able our selves for the duty and that we spend the whole day in the work and let us not think a whole day too much for if we prevail not for the diverting those Judgments which our sins deserve perhaps we may spend many Years in greater Sufferings And 't is thy duty also to bring as many of thy Family as conveniently may be along with thee especially those that have Understanding that the Congregation may be full that we may joyn together as one man in the work that may be done by many that a few cannot do I have observed upon such occasions men think one in a Family sufficient to come to the Congregation while the other mind their worldly Occasions but as these Sow sparingly so they are like to reap little The King of Nineveh will rise up in Judgment against those who Commanded all men and Beasts to rest and Fast and what lies in thee come with an humble Heart and a self-denying Spirit to the work and to this End Fasting is enjoyned which of it self is a thing indifferent but of excellent use to bring the Body into Subjection Now this should be a total abstinence from all meat and drink except unfeigned necessity forbid the very Name and Nature of a Fast implies this much and if this abstinence be not observed 't is no Fast Esther we find Commands the Jews neither to eat nor drink for three days and promises that she and her Maids would do the like Est 4.16 Yet if this total abstinence be really prejudicial to the Health and prove a hinderance and not a furtherance to the duty 't is Lawful to take some little refreshing for though Scripture Examples afford us not so much yet rectified reason yea and Scripture grounds warrant it Hos 6.6 I have desired Mercy and not Sacrifice a place urged by Christ himself upon such an Occasion Mat. 12.7 And Fasting being Ordained as an help is no duty when it becomes an hinderance but then it should be but a small reflection so much and no more as will revive decayed Nature prevent the danger and fit a man for the duty The Papists in their Fasts or rather mock-fasts observe not this rule their Fast consists not in the abstinence from but in the choice of meats and drinks for which we have no Scripture Evidence nor indeed any shew of reason they forbear flesh when they gorge themselves with Wine and strong Drink and Fish and other Dainties which no less pamper the Body and provoke Lust but at this rate a Man may Fast not only forty days but forty Years with little Trouble But a Scripture Fast consists not in the choice of Meat but in the abstinence from Meat and Drink not in the choice of Meat for all is alike Lawful 1 Cor. 10.25.27 8.8 Heb. 13.8,9 And as Meat and Drink so also Bodily Labour is forbidden this must be laid aside as upon a Sabbath for Worldly business divert the mind and unfit it for Duty We find upon those days of Atonement as they were called under the Law work was forbidden upon pain of death Lev. 23.27 c. Whatsoever Soul it be that doth any work upon that same day the same Soul will I destroy from among his People Also Num. 29.7 Lev. 16.29 Now though the Ceremonious part of this be taken away yet so far as it conduceth to the main End viz. to Afflict the Soul it remains in Force How can there be a Solemn Congregating together or the work of the day be carried on if there be not a cessation from Bodily Labour Again Costly and Gorgeous Apparel must be that day laid aside as unfit for such a Duty we find Kings themselves upon such days Girded themselves with Sack-cloath and put Ashes upon their Heads and did not as in our times mourn in Scarlet Silks and Sattins Exod. 33.4,5,6 Jonah 3.6 Musick also and other Sports and Recreations must be abstained as very unsuitable for Mourning times God complains of the Jews that they in their Fasts did find pleasure and may he not Complain of many of us that as soon as the Ordinance is over fall to our Recreations as at other times Isa 58.3 Yea from Marriage Duties at other times Lawful and Sanctified by the word of God 1 Cor. 7.5 Defraud not one another except it be with consent for a time that you may give your selves to Fasting and Prayer Also Joel 2.16 Nay all Delights and Recreations whereby the Nature of Man is refreshed should be forborn See an Example of David 2 Sam. 12.16.20 And in Daniel Chap. 10.3 These things serve partly to humble us partly to take revenge upon our selves for our former Miscarriages 4. Direct Having Directed you in the External part of the Duty it remains that I speak something of the Internal which is the very Life and Soul of the Duty without which all the rest is but a dead Carkass a bare Name of a Fast When thou comest therefore before God in this Duty set thy self before him with all reverence as before an Angry Judge justly provoked by thy Faults Come with shame in thy Face and sorrow in thy Heart and if possible with Tears in thy Eyes and make a full and free Confession of thy Faults with all the aggravating Circumstances thereof and rest not till thy Heart bleed for thy Sins Shouldest thou rip and confess all the sins that ever thou hadst Committed with all the aggravations with which they are cloathed if thy Heart were not touch'd with sorrow for them
Judgment was threatned and it was deferred in his days 1 Kings 21.27 Many more Instances might be given to prove times of Publique Calamity seasonable times for this Duty When Sin also abounds 't is a time for God's People to be Mourners in Zion for assuredly Judgments will follow Ezek. 9 4. 1 Sam. 7.6,7 Psal 69.10 David wept and chastened his Soul with Fasting for where Sin goes before unbewailed Judgments necessarily follow after and a Man may fore-see the Effect by the Cause when such sins as usually bring Judgments are Acted amongst us we may look for the like Effect for like Sins bring like Plagues Lam. 1.20 I have grievously Rebelled And what follows Abroad the Sword bereaveth at home there is as Death See also Lam. 2.17 Jer. 7.12 Amos 6.2,3 And therefore in the prevailing of Sin we have great cause to humble our Souls and stand in the Gap to turn away the fierce Anger of the Lord and never more Cause than at this day Again when thou findest thy Corruptions strong and thy Graces weak or when thou findest some notable decay in thy Grace 't is time then to look about thee As also when thou wouldst beg any great thing at the Hands of God go to him by Fasting and Prayer Thus Daniel begs the Deliverance of God's People out of Babilon according to God's promise he seeks to him by Fasting and Prayer Dan. 9.1,2 c. 10.2 c. For though God determine to do it yet will he be sought to for so great a Mercy and likewise when some Persons are designed for some great work in Church or Common-wealth it hath usually been done by Fasting and Prayer Thus Christ spent a whole Night in Prayer before he chose his Disciples Luke 6.12 Paul and Silas were set apart by Fasting and Prayer Acts 14.2,3 And in Case of Spiritual desertion we should thus seek to God Mat. 9.14 And for the furtherance of some great Undertaking Esther 4.16 when Corruption is strong when Ordinary Food wlll not serve we must use Physick Some Sins like some Devils go not out but by Prayer and Fasting These are the times for this extraordinary Duty but what is this to Lent or Holy-day Eves whereon the Papists keep their mock-fasts but come not to humble their Souls for their Sins 6. Direct Propound a right End to thy self in this Duty of Fasting or otherwise it will prove in vain and be abominable in the Eyes of God The Jews took it ill from God that he regarded them not Wherefore have we Fasted say they and thou seest not Wherefore have we afflicted our our Souls and thou takest no notice Isa 58.3 Behold saith God ye Fast for strife and Debate and to strike with the fists ef Wickedness c. Is it such a Fast that I have chosen c. Zach. 7.5 When ye Fasted and Mourned in the fifth and seventh Moneth even these seventy years did ye at all Fast unto me even to me Hos 7.14 They have not cryed to me with their Hearts when they howled upon their Beds they assemble themselves for Corn and Wine and they Rebel against me If the Heart be absent God regards not the Service The Pharisees Mat. 6.16,17 they Fasted but it was to be seen of Men that others might look upon them as of an austeer course of Life and therefore had a reward from Men not from God The Papists make Merits their End they Fast and think to Merit Heaven by it But alas what can poor sinful Creatures Merit at the Hands of God but Divine Indignation and fierce Judgments God may say of us as of those Jer. 14.12 When they Fast I will not hear their Cry when they Offer Burnt-Offerings and an Oblation I will not accept them but I will consume them by the Sword and by the Famine and by the Pestilence Luke 18 12. I Fast twice in the week saith the Pharisee yet the poor Publican was regarded before him See also Rom. 14.6 1 Cor. 8 8. Alas were Men but acquainted with their own Hearts this conceit of Merit would soon vanish Fasting as I told you is an indifferent thing and only useful as it suits with the main End Bodily Exercise profiteth little but Godliness is profitable to all things 1 Tim. 4.7,8 The true End of Fasting is either Ordinary or Extraordinary in both the Glory of God is intended The Ordinary Ends are such as these the subduing the Flesh and bringing the Body into Subjection Thus Paul 1 Cor. 9.27 I bring under my Body and bring it into subjection God's People have Flesh as well as Spirit and have need to use all means to subject it that they may subdue their Corruption and if Ordinary means will not do Extraordinary must be used if the Temptation remain this Duty must be followed and at length God will give strength and his Grace shall be sufficient for us This is the way to Corroborate and strengthen the Spirit and enable it to perform the required Duties This puts fervency into our Prayer and enables us to Cry mightily to God This way Men take some Revenge upon themselves for their Sin and for the abuse of Mercies by this means a Man is better enabled to grapple with Temptations and bring under Corruptions and perform Duties of our General and particular Calling more Heavenly This is the way to stir up the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication Zach. 12.10 Thus the Prophetess Anna spent her time in Serving God with Fasting and Prayer Night and Day Luke 2.37 By Eating and Drinking the Body becomes dull and heavy and unfit for Spiritual Duties but by moderate abstinence it becomes more Active and Lively and therefore Fasting and Prayer are usually joyned together For Fasting of it self doth little good Fasting testifies our Humility our grief and sorrow for Sin whereby we acknowledge our guilt before God and our unworthiness of Meat Drink Sleep Raiment or other refreshing Comforts Are these the Ends you aim at Is this the Mark you shoot at And the white that is in your Eye 'T is well if it be to make you fitter for the Service of the Lord that you may do your Masters Will better and wind up the Heart to an higher pitch of Holiness and Heavenly mindedness But if Custom or Fashion or the fear of Man or popular Applause or hopes of Meriting any thing from God be your End your Duty will be Curst and blasted to you and be returned Sin into your Bosom The Extraordinary Ends we aim at in our Fasting should be the removing of Evil felt or feared either Spiritual or Temporal from our selves or others the begging those Mercies we want and the continuance of those we have and fear to lose These are the Ends the Godly have used these extraordinary Fastings for and this hath been successful to these Ends these are means of God's own prescribing and promises are added of a good Success And many Christians for themselves and others