but are not towards God burning in affections they keep dayes and carry on duties in a spiritlesse way And for lack of such sparklings and springings of soul they are not in the Spirit on the Lords day 3. Pious men may possibly passe Sabbaths resting in Gods Ordinance without enjoying Gods presence God having made those heavenly creatures Sun Moon and Stars yet rested not till he had created man so man having used holy duties Word Sacraments and Prayer yet therein should not rest till he can attain God When the Jewes were gone out of Egypt and were in their way to Canaan God told them they should have his Angel to go before them but himself would not go with them which when they heard they all mourned and none would put on his Ornaments Exod. 33.2 3.4 Gods servants in Sabbaths should not be satisfied though they had the Ministery of Angels except God himself be present When Rebecca was in her journey to Abrahams house with his servants she rode on the Camel but she did not rest on the Camel when she saw Isaac who was to be her husband she lighted down and modestly met him Gen. 24.63 64. Jacob rejoyced to see the wagons his son Joseph had sent yet was not the seeing of them nor being in them that satisfied Jacob but thereby to go into Egypt and see and enjoy Joseph himself It becomes Christians to rejoyce when God gives them Ordinances to use yet is not the highest Ordinances they can have upon this holy day wherein they should rest contented except thereby they can come to some communion with God It is reported of Master Bradford the Martyr that he would never leave off in holy duties till he found therein somewhat of God as in prayer he would not give over till he had some intimation from God of his love in meditation till he had some manifestation of Gods presence quickening and quieting his heart Gods servants even upon Sabbath dayes when duties are most solemn and settled should not rest satisfied except God shewes upon them some token for good and seals upon their souls some impression of his presence which they may carry with them all the week The Church Cant. 3. being at a losse for her beloved she goes to the watchmen and enquires of them And 't was but a little said she tâ— at I passed from them but I found him whom my soul loveth We are not so far to passe Instruments and Ordinances as not to make use of them or attend in them but we are to passe them a little in respect of any relyance on them or resting in them As evil things unrepented of carry us from God so good things rested in keep us from God It is for Pharisees and Papists to rest in good works done Christians should rise higher and reach at a GOD in every good work at Christ a Saviour in every service of the Sabbath When Samuel was to anoint one of the family of Jesse to be King over Israel Jesse made seven of his sons to passe before the Prophet and as they passed one after another the Prophets word was This is not he Neither this he c. Then sayes Samuel Is there not yet another And Jesse said There remains yet the youngest and behold he keeps the sheep And Samuel said Send and fetch him for we will not sit down till he come hither And Jesse sent and brought in David Then sayes the Prophet This is he and he anointed him 1 Sam. 16. Thus upon a Sabbath when Instruments Ordinances Ministers Scriptures Prayers Sermons Sacraments and all passe one after another the souls of Gods Saints should secretly say Is there not yet another The Lord our righteousnesse we cannot sit down till he comes hither And when the Lord himself appears in an Ordinance each soul should say This this is he Some they sit down in Ordinances though no Christ comes in little or nothing of the Lord himself is seen and so their hearts rise not The Virgin Mary comming into the house where Elizabeth was she being with child the babe leaped in her womb and she was filled with the holy Ghost and said with a loud voice Whence is this that the mother of my Lord should come to me Luk 1. Now it was not so much the Mother of the Lord as the Lord in his Mother that made the child in Elizabeth leap 'T is not the Ministers of Christ nor the Ordinances of Christ but Christ in his Ministers and Christ in his Ordinances that makes the hearts of holy men to leap upon the Lords day Thus they are filled with the holy Ghost and fixed with the Spirit of God Now because Christians do not rise to a high minding the presence of Christ but rest in a low using the Ordinances of Christ they are not in the Spirit on the Lords day Use Exhortion Let this incite all Gods Saints to such a spiritual spending of the Gospel-Sabbath that upon this day they may be in the Spirit Two things 't is here meet to mark Viz. The matter whereof this is comprised and The motives whereby this is enforced Spiritually to spend the Lords day does comprise principally these two things viz. The influence of Gods Spirit with us and The concurrence of our spirits with God 1. The inflowings of Gods Spirit so as to work in a double way viz. Of Resistance And Assistance There being mighty oppositions against us we need the Spirit of God for their resisting and There being many imperfections about us we need the same Spirit for our assisting 1. The blessed Spirit upon the Sabbath to resist Satan and what he secretly suggests to damp the duties of the day Indeed the Divels design is not onely to dull us in but if possibly to drive us from this day in all the duties thereof And when he cannot keep off our bodies to carry away our hearts he comes oft like a flood a flood of water to hinder a flame of zeal Revel 12.15 And the Serpent cast out of â—is mouth water as a flood after the woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood When Satan sees that upon the Sabbath we will go out to the Ordinances of God to quench and carry away our hearts he then causes temptations to come as a flood viz. Both in abundance And with violence Against this the best helper is Gods holy Spirit Esay 59.19 VVhen the enemy shall come in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him Thus ate the billowes beat back and the floods dryed up and Satans designs dashed and our souls upon the Sabbath set in a more hopeful way for Spiritual work 2. The Spirit of God upon the Sabbath to assist and help our infirmities Rom. 8.26 Our infirmities likewise the Spirit helpeth for we know not what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self makes intercession for us with groanes that cannot
1 Cor. 2.4 My preaching sayes the Apostle was not with enticing words of mans wisdome but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power When the poewr of the Spirit is so upon the Preacher as to put warmth into the heart words into the mouth and is to his soul as wind to the saile so that he is carried out in clear and close discoveries of the Counsel of God Act. 18.25 And Apollos being mighty in the Scripture and fervent in the Spirit he spake diligently the things of the Lord. Beza when he was a Preacher to the Protestant forces in France he was so mighty in his Miâ—istery that to some his Sermons were more encouraging and quickening then the sound of Drums and Trumphts though others Popishly disposed were offended and said his Doctrine was made up of nothing bur fire and brimstone all combustible and terrihle To preach in the power of the Spirit neither carnal men nor Divels can endure but is most pleasing to God and men spiritually good being that which does mighty things 2 Cor. 10 4. The weâ—pons of our warrefare are not carnal but Spiritual mighty through God Spirituall weapons spiritually wileded work wonders The Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit it must be spiritually handled And as they that preach the Gospel must spiritually preach it so they that hear the Gospel must hear it spiritually This is more then barely with the bodily ear to hear the voice of man it is therein with the ear of the soul through the assistance of the Spirit to hear the voice of Christ Joh. 10.27 My sheep hear my voice I know them and they follow me Cant. 5.2 It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying Open to me my sister my love my Dove my undefiled c. 1 Thess 1.5 Our Gospel came not unto you in word onely but also in power and in the holy Ghost 1 Thess 2.13 For this cause we thank God for when ye heard the word ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh in you that believe Christians are not so to hear as onely to take in words at the ear but so as to take in warmth at the heart Often sayes Jerom when I read the Apostle in his Epistles I seem not to hear words but me thinks I hear the noise of Thunder and as it were feel the force of lightning that sets all on a fire so that I am made to shake to shine to burn Did not our hearts burn within us while he opened unto us the Scriptures Luk 24.32 Such Spiritual hearing God expects of his people every Lords Day 2. For Prayer This must be spiritually pour'd out in the presence of God Gods servants As the Spirit is to be praying in them So they are to be praying in the Spirit Jude 20. But ye beloved building up your selves in your most holy saith praying in the holy Spirit Both in the Spirit of love and unity And in the Spirit of life and fervency Not clashing but with close agreements of soul carrying out the same suit Symphonical in prayer Matth 18.19 If two of you shall agree on earth touching any thing they should ask it shall be done It notes such a symphony and agreement of the soules of Gods Saints in prayer as Musicians who with several Instruments play the same tune Not cooling but with kindled enlargements to be affectionate in prayer fired with the Spirit 'T is sayes Luther for want of the fire of the Spirit in Preaching that Sermons prevail so little with men and 't is for want of the fire of the Spirit in praying that petitions are no more prevailing with God As in confessions of sin our hearts must be wounded with bitter sorrowes So in petitions for Grace our hearts must be warmed with burning Desires Gods people are to be together praying with their Hearts as Bells raised and to ring such a loud peal of prayer as may be heard into heaven Such spiritual praying is expected of God as duly as the Lords Day comes 3. For the Sacraments Viz Both Baptisme and The Lords Supper As they are spiritual for the Principal of them So the Practice of them must be spiritual The Principal of each Sacrament is the spiritual part thereof The outward Element is but as the transient shadow The spiritual and enduring substance is Christ himself with his Crosse with his Grace with his Merits Mercies Excellencies and Al-sufficiencies 1 Cor. 10.3 4. They viz. our fathers of old did all eat the same spiritual Meat and did all drink the same spiritual Drink for they drank of the Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ As when our Saviour rode in Triumph to Jerusalem Luk. 19. the company that went before and they which followed after All cry'd Hosanna Thus the Sacraments of the Old Testament that went before and the Sacraments of the New Testament that follow after all say to Christ Hosanna All point at Christ saying Behold the Lamb of God The Practice or transactions of the Sacraments must be spiritual Both on Gods part And on our part In Baptisme all depends upon the powerful presence of the Spirit At the Beginning when tâ—e Spirit moved upon the waters then were the creatures made And so when the Spirit moveth upon the waters of Baptisme then is Gods work done And our work therein after is all to be done through the Spirit In the first receiving of Baptisme we were totally passive but for the further improving of Baptisme we ought to be spiritually active A spiritual Use we are bound to make of Baptisme Both to keep us off from evil And to keep us on in all good Luther reports of a pious Maid who by her Baptisme bore up against the several assaults of Satan If Satan sought to draw her to sin Her reply was I dare not do it I have been Baptized If to draw her from Duties her reply was I dare not but do it I have been Baptized We should observe that to fly sin and follow God we are Baptisme-bound But for want of this how does Baptisme lye like a Dead Ordinance What multitudes are there who making no Spiritual Improvements of it they make many Carnal Arguments against it Because they never knew how to work it up they easily learn how to cry it down They say the Truth and life of Baptisme lyes in their deep Dippings and Water-Buryings But sure a little water and much fire Baptismus flaminis et flaminis makes the best Baptisme I indeed sayes John baptize you with water but he that comes after me is mightier then I he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire Matth. 3. Against their Water-works we may see God angry in our want of water In the Lords Supper All the great works which both God and we are to do be spiritual What God is to do
his son who sent the waggons The Ordinances upon the Lords day they are the waggons that for us God hath sent it is some reviving to see them O but to see God whence these waggons are and whose the Ordinances be how reviving is that O sayes David to God that I may see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary Psal 63.2 2. The closer upon the Sabbath we can draw to God the better will our revivings be We read 2 King 13.21 of a dead man that being let down into the Sepulchre of Elisha as soon as he touched the bones of the dead Prophet he presently revived Thus Christians whose hearts are dead yet coming close to God in the Sabbath have sudden soul-revivings and most comfortable quicknings And this is the way to recover the life of the Lords day and so to settle the liberties thereof which at least to some seem to be shaking Towards the Lord yet further that his day may endure let us Keep in the presence of the Lord Keep up prayer to the Lord. 1. The presence of the Lord kept in with us will hold holy Sabbaths amongst us Indeed let the Lord depart and then the dayes of grace and means of grace will immediately remove When Christ goes he calls Come with me my Sabbaths Ordinances and all my holy Institutions Time was Christ walked in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks Rev. 1.13 That is those seven once famous Churches of Asia had the presence of Chirst with them and the Ordinances of Christ among them the Lords day was a known day But now the Sabbath of the Gospel and the Gospel with the Sabbath is gone because Christ there was not kept O sayes Martha Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not died If thou hadst been present my brother had not departed So may those Asian people now say to Christ Lord if thou hadst aboad with us thy holy Times and Things had never been stirred Matth. 28.20 Christ there hath promised his presence even in the use of Ordinances unto the end of the world The way to retain Christs presence Is to believe his promise No hands like faith to lay hold upon Christ Faith sayes Luther is like the beloved Disciple it leans in Christs bosom it will not leave him nor let him go Faith it produces A vigorous love and A vertuous life Unto a people both will bind Christ 2. Prayer to the Lord kept up by us will hold holy Sabbaths amongst us In the land were the Spirit of prayer up Sabbaths would never go down Indeed it will be a hard matter to make Sabbaths stand if still praying hands fall O pray pray pray And in prayer plead with God To send out more Sabbath-labourers and To blesse Labourers more in the Sabbath 1. Pray that more may be sent out who will be faithful in the labours of the Sabbath Matth. 9.37 38. The harvest is plenteous but the labourers are few pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth lavourers into his harvest Many places in this Land are as fields of ripe Corn and alas how do the Divels those fouls of the air Math. 13.4 and wicked men those swine of the earth Matth. 7.6 wholly waste and spoil all for want of Sabbath-labouring men to gather into Gods Barn In divers places upon the Lords day O what dark doings people being as a black Lanthorne without any Candle And shall not we pray that God would set up lights and send out labourers that his day may be duly observed and that we may pre his day 2. Pray that those who are sent out may be fruitful in their Sabbath-labour that they may see the travels of their souls and be satisfied That Gods good work may prosper in their hands and their peoples hearts That every Sabbath they spend and every Sermon they preach may prove as the bowe of Jonathan which from the Battel never returned empty There is a precious promise fit in prayer to be pressed Esay 54.10 11. As the rain comes down and the showers from heaven and returns not thither but watereth the earth making it bud and bring forth seed to the sower and bread to the eater So sayes God shall my Word be that goes out of my mouth it shall not return to me void O pray we that neither the Red or the Black horse be harnessed out to the Battel But that Christ on the white horse may conquer Rev. 6. Many souls in the Sabbath by the Gospel may be gained over to God This would perpetuate Sabbaths and make the Lords day lasting Last of all unto Gods Saints a Sabbath in some sense is sure never to cease Gods people Shall either have the Sabbath of the Lord Or to them the Lord will be a Sabbath Ezek. 11.16 Thus saith the Lord I will be to them as a little Sanctuary in the Countries where they shall come Gods people in Babylon when they could not go to worship God in the great and beautifull Temple at Jerusalem yet then God was as a little Temple to them And this little Temple was better then the great Thus the Saints of God when they cannot have the Sabbath that is present God will be to them a Sabbath more precious God is the best Sabbath 1 Sam. 1.8 Elkanah sayes to Hannah his Wife Am not I better to thee then ten sons One God better then ten Sabbaths and twenty Sermons to the souls of his Saints No Sabbath of God is like God a Sabbath no Sabbath-rest like to the rest that is in this Sabbath no comfort in a Sabbath like this Sabbath of comfort Yea let Gods sincere Saints live or die they have a Sabbath will last an everlasting Sabbath If they live their Sabbath will be ever with them and If they die they shall be ever with their Sabbath Ambros in Psal 119. August de cavit Dei lib. 22. cap. 30. Some of the Ancients were wont to call that eternal life God gives in heaven The great Sabbath And That long Sabbath-day that hath no night O but then God himself who in heaven gives life eternal what a Sabbath is he O the height and depth breadth and length of this Sabbath Christus est magnum sempiter-numque Sabbatum cujus parvum illud Judaicum exemplar in illo siquidem Sabbato requiescimus cum in illo solo spem ponimus cum hunc toto cordis amore diligimus c. Epiphan lib. 1. Haeres 30 Greg. Nyss de Resurre Orat. 1. Yea I find of the Ancients who affirme that to Gods dear Saints in the dayes of the Gospel there is a double enduring Sabbath viz. Christ And a good conscience Christ is the great and eternal Sabbath which in the Gospel God hath set up and in this Sabbath we rest when we repose our hearts and hopes upon him This is an unchangeable Sabbath Christ the same yesterday to
Lord towards them 'T is a Spirit enriching and ruling 'T is a Spirit raising and resting on them 1. The Spirit enriches the people of God by imparting to them What is precious and excellent and What is Plenteous and abundant The riches of grace Ephes 1.7 which is compared to enriching gold Revel 3.18 This in abundance is brought in by the Spirt 2 Cor. 3.18 An evil spirit is reported to have brought to some in league with him Remigi lib. de Daemo pieces in appearance of true gold but they were never the richer for when they went to use them all turned into whithered leaves And so with false gold of seeming grace does Satan deceive the souls of some But the good Spirit of God brings into the souls of Gods Saints such gold of grace as is of real and rare use for their great enriching God-ward Men rich in earthly gold and the ordinary wealth of the world are able to compasse and accomplish those things that others cannot Such as the Spirit of the Lord hath largely enriched with Gospel-gold O what great things are they enabled to do O what fellowships with the Father converses with the Son communion with the holy Ghost are they prepared for And may not they be in the Spirit on the Lords day 2. The Spirit he rules the people of God by exercising over them Both a Negative and A Positive power A power whereby he holds them off from what he dislikes They cannot with others wade into the waies of the world the Spirit will not let them they cannot shift their sails as the wind change in every turn of times And though as Nazianzen said of Athanasius they be as loadstones to draw others in to God yet they are as Adamants that will not warp wind bend or break or shrink from God The Spirit of the Lord will not let them they cannot they care not yea the Spirit may keep them from something which may seeme good to them because of some greater good in the sight of God When Saint Paul was going to preach the Word at Asia the Holy Ghost forbade him and being about to go to Bithynia the Spirit suffered him not Act. 16. And a power the Spirit doth daily exercise over the People of God to lead them on to what the Lord requires Rom. 8.14 Gala. 5.18 Ezechiel the Prophet saw four wheeles which were sometimes carried on upon the earth and sometimes lifted up above the earth according as the spirit of the living creature moved that was in the wheeles Thus the Soules of Gods Saints are set a going sometimes they rise higher and sometimes they run swifter as the Spirit of the living God leads that is in their hearts Good men The Spirit leads them they may not be at a losse yea And when they are at a losse yet the Spirit leads them August de cor et gra Cap 2. Id. de Grat. et lib. Arb. Cap. 1. God led the people of Israel through the wildernesse not onely by a pillar of fire but by a pillar of the cloud Nehem. 9.19 The Spirit leads Gods people through the world as a fire that gives them light that so they may not lose their way sometimes there is such a cloud they cannot see their way yet then the Spirit leads them and when they are at a losse it is that voice behind them saying This is the way walk in it Esay 30.21 Now they that are thus under the daily conduct of the Spirit may not they be in the Spirit on the Lords Day 3. The Spirit raises the people of God lifts up a good man being down through amazing meditations Either of God in the Heights of his Majesty Or of himself in the depths of his Misery When the Prophet was fallen upon his face through affrighting thoughts at the glorious presence of God in a vision Then the Spirit entred into him and set him upon his feet Ezek. 2.2 Ezek. 3.24 The usuall cause of a Christians casting down is the sad apprehensions of his severall sins so that he seemes to himself as if his soul were sinking into the depths of hell then the Spirit helps him up By recalling former mercies and By revealing further Mysteries The Spirit recalls or causes a Christian to remember The promises of mercy the Lord hath made and The experiences of mercy himself hath found John 14.26 The Spirit shall bring all things to your remembrance viz. The gracious sayings and glorious doings of God in dayes past are drawn a fresh into the thoughts of dejected Saints The Spirit reveals or makes such mysteries of mercy manifest as were not before known Eph. 1.17 18. That God the Father of glory may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him That the eyes of your understanding being enlightened ye may know what is the hope of his calling c Thus the Spirit pulls up poore Saints pittifully plunged Being down Either in sins Or in sorrowes The Spirit raises Saints in their sad relapses have sweet illapses the Spirit letting in such light and heat as heaves up their hearts dark down and dead They who in ordinary dayes may have such experiences of Spirit-helps may not they be in the Spirit on the Lords Day 4. The Spirit rests upon the People of God so the Apostle expresses it 1 Pet 4.14 This imports The Spirits Presence Both intimate And pertuate With the people of God They have the friendly and familiar presence of the Spirit in close acquaintance Communions and Communications as is not to any other men They have the presence of the Spirit in his continued workings Without Intermission and Without Termination The Spirit within them does never intermit all his actings Though he is in the soule as the pulse in the arme that does not alway beat with the same sensible strength and evennesse Motions may to a good mans feeling be more weak and low yet even in such distempers he is still stirring As when the body of a man is asleep yet there in the soul is acting So when the soule of a Saint is asleep yet there in the Spirit is working Neither can any period possibly be put to such an operative presence of the Spirit in the People of God The gracious soul is on earth as the Spirits centre the settled presence here of is not in any other soul The Spirit of Noah's Dove hovers over the hearts of earthly men but a holy and humble heart is to the Spirit as Noah's Ark to the Dove there he rests John 14.16 I sayes Chrsst will pray the Father and he shall send you another Comforter even the Spirit of truth and he shall abide with you for ever Your bodies have had my corporall presence for a time but in your soules the presence of my Spirit shall remain for ever Now they that have in them such a perpetuall presence of the Spirit may not they be in the Spirit upon the
shape assume the body of man so he can in shew assimulate the Spirit of God 1 John 4.1 Beloved believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God or no. Whence we note 1. That there are spirits which pretend to be of God and are not 2. That such meere pretending spirits may much resemble the true Spirit of God 3. That their resemblance may proceed so farre that professing Christians may be prone to believe they are the very Spirit of God 4. That such spirits may not be believed a discovery of them is to be made by tryall 5. That the tryall to discover spirits to be not of God must be exact and prudent Try the spirits viz. as skilfull Lapidaries do their stones or as wise Goldsmiths do their mettalls by touch and weight as the word imports Now that men may so try as to discern whether upon the Sabbath as at other seasons they are moved by the Spirit of God Be it known that The Spirit which is Swelling Smiting Roving 'T is not â—he Spirit of God Renting Ranting Driving 1. A swelling spirit that puffâ— men up with pride is not the Spirit of God One of the chief lessons taught by Gods holy Spirit is humility of heart And upon this account Gods Spirit suggests to a man His Iniquity and His mortality When mans heart begins to swell the Spirit of God puts in Berna August Serm. 21. Christ was humble yet without sin and shall a sinner be proud What thou proud dust and ashes For pride God plunged Angells out of heaven and will he spare thee a rotten creature a worm that must die tomorrow Swelling in heaven Angells sunk and shalt thou proud upon a dunghill passe unpunished Ambros lib. de viduis As Christ sayes a good Author cured the blindnesse of the man by putting clay upon his eyes so the Spirit of Christ cures the swelling pride of mans heart by putting thoughts into his mind of his mortall and dying condition That while he lives he is but a piece of warme clay That is the Spirit of God which as it enlarges a mans abilities it increases the mans humility As Nazianzene said of Athanasius He was high in worth and humble in heart Of such instances the Holy Scriptures are full But some their soules are swelled with pride as Simon Magus who gave out that himself was some great one Act. 8.9 Such a one was Muncer the Anabaptist in Germany as Sleiden reports his proud pranks and bragging boasts such a one is that man of sin who exalteth himself above all that is called God 2 Thess 2.4 The Spirit of God it is not that moves these men 2. A smiting spirit that makes men clamorous and contentious is not the Spirit of God Chrysost homil ad Pop. Ant. 36. et 51. the Spirit of God it makes men peaceable pittifull To act pitty and shew mercy sayes a good man is a more glorious work then to raise the dead or to build temples for God Yet this lesson men learn through the help of Gods holy Spirit A meek and a quiet spirit Such a spirit acted in Abraham Genes 13.8 And Abraham said to Lot let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee or between my herdmen and thy herd-men for we are Brethren Is not the whole land before thee take either the right hand or the left c. Abraham said though he were the Elder and Superiour Let there be no strife His spirit did so incline to peace that he would not have the least breach I pray thee he begged agreement so greatly did his soul desire it I scorn sayes Luther to the Pastors of Stratsburge that any should be more earnest then I for peace Brotherly peace and bowells of pitty are the fruits of the Spirit Gala. 5.22 Likewise long-suffering gentlenesse meeknesse temperance It is an evill spirit that makes men tumultuous mutinous contentious apt to smite both with hand and tongue 2. Chron. 18.23 And Zedekiah smote Micaiah on the cheek saying Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak to thee It was not the Spirit of the Lord but a lying spirit that moved Zedekiah against Micaiah Such a spirit wrought in them against the Prophet Jer 18.18 Come let us smite him with the tongue and let us not give heed to any of his words A false spirit is so all for speaking that it cares not to hear 1 Joh. 4.6 Hereby we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error He that is not of God heareth not us Thus a Manichee furiously contesting with Augustine clamoured and cryed out Hear me hear me To whom the good man modestly answered Neither hear me or I thee but let us both hear the blessed Apostle Some they are all upon speaking wording of it with a full and fierce mouth against others As Samsons foxes that had fire on their tailes and set all the fields on a flame So some have such a fire on their tonges that they set Cities and Countreys in a blaze Those movings such men have are not from the Spirit of God 3. A driving spirit that hurries men to move about matters wherein they do not consider or consult Times or Means Grounds Or ends But on they go this is not the Spirit of God Gods Spirit moving to any great matter does not drive but draw and so leads men as to let them Both consider with themselves And consult with others Whether the time be seasonable Viz. The means approvable The grounds warrantable And the ends comfortable When Gods Spirit is the mover a man so examines the matter about which he is moved that 1. He considers if the time be fit he is moved in He knowes that which is untimely is uncomely things being beautiful in their season Eccl. 3. 2. He considers if the means be right he is moved by and that which he is to make use of For as the least false weight is not allowed for the getting of the largest gain No more is the least evil lawful for the attaining of the greatest good 3. He considers if the grounds be sure he is moved on Not successe in the world But an expresse from the Lord. A warrant from Gods revealed will in his Word for that onely can bear him out in his obedience 4. He considers if the ends be safe and good he is moved to not onely in respect of his purpose and intendment of good therein but in respect of Gods promise and engagement for good thereupon Such a man is certainly moved by the good Spirit of God Yea and in respect of others Counsel He both asks And takes That both from God And men In holy prayer he humbly asks counsel of God When David had lost all by a Troop of the Amalekites horse who had plundred Ziklag his spirit sparkled to be up and after them But David first calls for Abiathar the Priest to bring the
Ephod and enquired of the Lord saying Shall I pursue after this Troop and shall I overtake them 1 Sam. 30. Thus Jehoshaphat before he would march with Ahab to Ramoth-Gilead he desires all the Prophets of God and God by the Prophet Micaiah might be consulted with Ahab transported with a false spirit presses onely Horse and away Let Micaiah say what he will To Ramoth-Gilead he must 2 Chron. 18. Whereas counsel given a good man takes and turnes his designes So David when he was with his men upon the march against the house of Nabal Abigail meets him and he stops upon her advice blessing God that he shed no blood 1 Sam. 25. Now an evil spirit having sprung a design at least seemingly good yet violently provokes and impetuously presses to prosecute men not considering or consulting except with such as are on the same mind No seeking to God except some prayer as a colour They first resolve their businesse and then go to prayer then ask counsel but if contrary come they cast off all Yea this spirit it drives and will rarely leave or let them have time to take advice Satan that evil spirit in the Serpent having upon Eves sight of the pleasant fruit begun to move gave her no time to seek God confer with her husband or consider the sad events onely eat she must So Judas the Divel suggesting a Booty to betray his Master he immediately goes out Joh. 13. rises from Supper even when the best dish was to come as the Learned conceive he never stayes to speak a word but away about his work He considers not what guilt of blood he should bring Matth. 27.3 Then Judas which betrayed him when he saw what was done he repented himself c. It seems he thought things would never have come to that That spirit which thus drives men in considerately precipitately c. 't is not the Spirit of God 4. A roving spirit that wheeles and whurries men obout is not the Spirit of God Men rove Psal 78.8 Esay 19.14 Jam. 1.6 7 8. Observe From what and In what There is a spirit that in moving makes men to rove viz. Ordinarily from the rules of Scripture And often from the rules of Reason Scripture-rules men rove from They will make Scripture go with them as far as ever they can and being they must go further they leave it They wrest and rack Scripture and stretch it as far as for their own advantage Thus that wicked spirit did with our dear Lord Matth. 4. Thus doe such unstable spirits in these last dayes 2 Pet. 3.16 They make holy Scriptures as their hired servants who when they will no further serve their design they turn them off Every good man moved and managed by Gods good Spirit sayes to Scripture as Ruth to Naomi Where thou goest I will go where thou stayest I will stay thy God shall be my God and thy people my people nothing but death shall part thee and me Sozomen reports of Constantine that whatever was pressed he would say Bring me the Book of God when things were disputed and various wayes urged he used still to stand up and call for Gods Book commanding all should there settle and none from thence swerve That spirit which in moving men makes them swerve and rove from Gods good Word is not the Spirit of God Yea beyond the rules of reason as well as Scripture men are made to rove through an ill-moving spirit Hence they roll and rove Both from using reason And from reason used They do not use that reason which might stay themselves From men of no reason the Apostle prays he may be delivered That we may be delivered from unreasonable men 2 Thess 3.2 Neither can that reason which others use stay them As they have not reason to rule themselves no more will they be ruled by reason Grounds of reason and strength of arguments will no more bound nor bind them then green wit hs could Samson The things in which an evil spirit moving makes men to rove are Both inward And outward Viz. In their opinions And affections In their discourses And courses Men of rolling spirits who hold many things yet hold to nothing Like those Arrians of whom Athanasius reports now they held one thing and anon another and never were at any certain stay Socrat. Scho. lib. 1. cap. 25. wandring Stars fixed to no Orb Meteors carried about with every gust as children tossed to and fro with every wind Ephes 4.14 They like and dislike cry up and cry down hot and cold ramble and rest at no point unstable in all their wayes Constantly inconstant men given to change See Seneca lib. de tranq and that love to wander as unsetled as the waves of the Sea Such Christians even Heathens condemn Such motions are not from the Spirit of God 5. A renting spirit that moves men to make divisions and fractions is not the Spirit of God The Spirit of God 't is All is uniting The Spirit of faith The Spirit of love The Spirit of patience By faith the Spirit unites and knits us up to God and by love the Spirit unites and knits us one unto another and by patience the Spirit unites and knits each one within himself And for want of the Spirit of God in these graces there are a multitude of sad severings For want of faith a man breaks and falls off from God For want of love a man breaks and falls off from his Brethren And for want of patience a man breaks in pieces and falls asunder within himself All evidences an evil spirit present and prevalent Mark 9. There is a man possessed with a spirit that did oft-times cast him into the water and into the fire and wheresoever it did take him it did tear him that he gnashed his teeth and foamed at the mouth O what a spirit does possesse such men as does cast them into that water whereby their love is quenched and into that fire whereby their wrath is kindled and so takes them as it tears them with impatiency infidelity and separation from Christian-society Sure such have not the Spirit of God Jude 19. These be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit 'T is not the Spirit of God that hath moved some to separate themselves from our publick Assemblies Vid. Cameron de Eccles tract de Schism They having no good cause for it and There being many bad effects upon it No cause good If we in our assemblies are not separated from God they have no cause to separate from us Are we separate from God Is not the drift of our daily endeavours to draw men to God Is not this the bent of our businesse to bring men into obedience to God communions with God to set up God in hearts and houses Is it not the enjoyments of God after which we seek Is it not worshippings of God in Spirit truth after which we presse
and after God Whom have I in heaven but thee and who on earth do I desire besides thee Psal 73.25 Others they desire God but there is somewhat besides their soul is set upon In their affections or resolutions God he hath not the whole heart or whole soul and spirit Neither do those good motions they have reach out to all the precious things of God Something of God they would have but not whole God O how are they delighted to hear of the loving kindnesse patience pity mercy of God But the omniscience omnipresence purity holinesse of God they are not so taken with or stirred at pleased with The Death of Christ for their salvation Not the life of Christ for their imitation Fain have that of Christ which justifies But care not for that of Christ which sanctifies A Saint of God spiritually moved desires to know nothing but Christ and him crucified And God forbid sayes the Apostle I should glory in any thing save in the Crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ Gala. 5.14 Moses can prize the reproaches of Christ Heb. 11.26 Others onely regard somewhat of Christ the honours of Christ the happinesse of Christ the comforts of Christ but to bear the Crosse of Christ and to possesse the Grace of Christ and to stoop to the yoak of Christ this is grievous For height Those spirituall movings that are in carnal hearts cause them Heaven-ward to make some assayes but up to heaven they do not in soule ascend as Gods Saints who mount up and have communion with Christ 1 John 1.3 and have their conversation in heaven Phil. 3.20 sitting down in heavenly places with Christ Eph. 2.6 Upon some movings of the Spirit others hearts and minds like Grashoppers leap up but fly not far Or as a vapour that ascends out of the earth into the lower regions of the air but never rises to get up into the highest region but when the heat or force is a little over as a heavy body it falls back again and that which was like to be fire proves but water When the minds of carnall men are most mounted and their hearts most heightened yet they do not come to that pitch of pious affections and positive resolutions as whereunto Gods people are raised They do not so highly admire nor so highly desire nor so highly esteem the holy things of God as do the dear Saints of God in their heavenly converses with God when God by his Spirit carries them as upon Eagles wings For length Those Spiritual movings that are in carnal hearts are for the most part sudden and short as sparks of fire that are soon quenched out Esay 50.11 Or as morning dewes that are soon dried up Hose 6.4 Through the workings of the holy Spirit O in what a hopeful way for heaven are the hearts of men sometimes set but things do not abyde all being by and by beate down This made Chrysostom observe a sad difference between the work of the Minister in his calling and the work of other men in their earthly trades and ordinary imployments Men commonly as they leave their work so they find it But the Ministers work who is a Co-worker with God for peoples spirituall good it is one day set forward and another backward Upon some Sabbath O how mighty are men moved how sweetly are their soules disposed how are their affections fixed and their resolutions raised as if the new building would pass on apace but by that time a Minister comes again to his work all is dashed down so broken as not a stone is left upon a stone The work is new to begin yea the case perhaps worse then it was before As water once warmed being ward cold some say is afterward the more hardly heated Those holy heatings warmings workings movings meltings mountings and meetings of God which good men have through the help of Gods holy Spirit are more remaining and better abyding such good things are stablished and nourished in them that are vanishing and perishing in others Luk. 8.13 John 6.67 60. Gala. 4.15 16. The Spirit does so act and stir in the hearts of holy men and their soules upon the Sabbath may so act and stir in the Spirit as is not possible for any other persons The peculiar priviledge of pious men to be in the Spirit on the Lords Day 2. We yet grant there be severall of Gods Saints who though they possibly may yet upon the Lords day in the Spirit they actually are not Because Either they go from Ordinances Or they rest in Ordinances Some upon the Sabbath forsake Gods publike Ordinances and for that cause they are not in the Spirit The wise God will so honour his own holy appointments that such as sinfully desert them shall not comfortably possesse him But they shall comfortably enjoy him who carefully attend them O how much of Gods good Spirit have good men met when they have been on the Sabbath assembled in the use of Ordinances John 20.19 upon the first day in the week when the Apostles were gathered together The Greek word does signifie such a gathering as in Church-Assembly it being a word of Ecclesiasticall use and so applyed in severall texts Act. 4.31.11.26.13.44.14.27.20.8 1 Cor. 5.4 Then the Lord breathed on them and they received the Holy Ghost When Peter was preaching the Gospel the holy Ghost fell upon all them that heard the Word Act. 10.44 It is in the use of Ordinances Christ hath promised his Spirituall presence Matth. 28.19 20. As the presence of Christ in body is not enjoyed but in the heavenly Jerusalem Grego Moral lib. 18. et cap. 15. the generall Assembly the Church of the first-born where are gathered an innumerable company of Angells and the spirits of just men made perfect Hebr. 11.22 23 24. So the presence of Christ in Spirit is not to be expected but in the holy Assemblies of Gods Militant Saints met to honour God gathered to glorifie God in the way of his Ordinances Word and Sacraments c. It is true divers of Gods dear Saints can by experience speak that they have met with much of Christ in Spirit and much of the Spirit of Christ in private duties as Meditation and Prayer c. But then this comfortable experience hath been to Christians Either while publick Ordinances also were attended Or when Ordinances in publick could not be enjoyed 1. Christians while they remain upon the Lords day diligent in publick duties may in duties private meet with much of Gods Spirit Christians may even in the week-time have sweet incomes of Spirit in their private Closets the better to prepare them for encourage them to and carry them through the publick service of the Sabbath when the Lord with enlarged measures of refreshing mercies may more fully flow in upon them 2. The souls of sincere Christians may have in the private exercises of religion large enjoyments of God through the Spirit being deprived of publick Ordinances
rest in Ordinances that therefore they are not upon the Lords Day in the Spirit This may be considered Both in respect of the Ordinances they use And in respect of their use of Ordinances 1. The Ordinances that some upon the Sabbath use are of a lower rank viz. Reading of Scriptures Hearing of Sermons and Prayer to God In these they rest and do not rise to duties of a higher sort viz. Sequestred Meditation Sacramental participation and Solemn congratulation These three duties are as Davids 3. Worthies that outwent all their fellowes 2. Sam. 23.23 In reading and hearing Gods Word truths are more transient but in meditation they are more stayed and established In the Word are rare things uttered and opened But in the Sacrament they are also sealed and settled In prayer to God we seek the supplying our wants and serving our present necessities c. But in prayses of God we set up Gods worth exalting his Bounty and Beauty In the Ministery of the Word God comes as it were down into the world to us In meditation we go as it were out of the world up to God Of Isaac 't is said he went into the field to meditate but of a Christian it may be said he goes out of the field viz. out of the world to meditate dilate and delight his thoughts upon God Of God he cannot take in so much by the hearing of the ear as he doth by the thoughts of his heart In the Word we hear discovered the Love of God by his voice In the Sacrament we see uncovered the Love of Christ in his Crosse herein the soul by a working faith walks into the wounds of Christ banquets upon his bruised body and bathes it self in his blessed blood By prayer we receive mercy from God By Praises we give glory to God Now 't is more excellent to give then to receive Prayer is the sole work of Saints militant on earth praises is also the work of Saints triumphant in Heaven As in an Orchard the ripest and sweetest fruit and that which is most pleasant to sight and taste is to be gathered from off the upper boughs of trees So the sweetest comforts of the Spirit that most refresh the heart and ravish the soules of Saints are to be found in these upper duties upon the Day of the Sabbath Now because Christians do not rise unto these higher performances but rest in those lower services therefore they are not in the Spirit upon the Lords Day 2. The use that some upon the Sabbath have of sacred Ordinances is onely in a lower way viz. so as that their hearts in holy duties Are heavy and sad Or lazie and dead And empty of God Thus they rest and do not rise to that higher way of using Gods holy Ordinances viz. so as in religious exercises to have their hearts Cheered Fixed and Filled with God First they perform the Service of the Sabbath all with sadded hearts in a lumpish way Their spirits bowed down with a burden of black apprehensions so as that all the Lords day long they have no list to lift up themselves Fishermen when upon the waters of the Sea they cast out their nets they not onely hang on lead but they put on cork that they may the better bear them up and bring them out whereas when Christians upon the duties of the Sabbath draw out their hearts having no cork of encouraging hope but all lead of desponding thâ—ughts and distrusting feares they cannot bear up their souls sink in the service of God Matth. 28.8 it is said of some good women that they went from Christs Sepulchre upon his Resurrection-day with fear and great joy but some Christians they come and go from Gods Ordinances upon the Lords Day with great fear but no joy so that when they should be in the triumphs of the Spirit thâ—â—r spirits are filled with troubles Tâ—â— Sabbath it is the day whereon Christ came up from his Sepulchre in which before he lay dead and buried buâ— the Sabbath 't is the day whereon some Christians go down into the Sepulchre of sorrowes and bury their soules under sad doubts in which graves of darknesse they rest when from them they ought to rise Upon the day of the Sabbath the soules of Gods Saints should send out sweet comforts as the conduits of a City that run with wine upon the day of some triumph Upon this day the minds of all good men should mount up into heaven and comfortably converse with God from morning to night drinking deep of those rivers of pleasure that are in Gods presence Now this Christians do not whose hearts are upon this day down in deep fears and sorrows 2. Gods Saints may sometimes transact the duties of the Sabbath with deadnesse of heart in a livelesse and luke-warm way Dead Sacrifices and Jewish Sabbaths suited but dead services and Christian Sabbaths do not accord Gospell-Sabbaths require living Sacrifices yea a lively soul in every service As the true mother in the Kings could not be content with a dead child in her bosome no more should a true Christian be satisfied with a dead heart in holy duty especially upon the Lords Day The day wherein deadnesse should be turn'd into life weaknesse into strength and earthly coldnesse into heavenly heatings For want of this Sabbaths passe with small profit The day may be long yet little work done Souldiers who meet and muster upon a training day and diâ—charge their Muskets withâ—ut bullet or shot they make a noise but no execution is done Christians meet and gather on the Sabbath day discharge their duties without feâ—vour and heat some noise is made but little work wrought no rising of heart no ascending of soul no being in the Spiâ—it on the Lords Day As Christians should not rest in livelesse low or weak graces but labour to enliven and still more to strengthen those divine qualities so they should not rest in livelesse low and flat performances but endeavour to grow to greater life warmth and strength in all holy duties Not sloathful in businesse but fervent in Spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12. For want of fervency of Spirit there is so much sloathfulnesse in the businesse of Gods blessed Day Fervency or zeal is to duty as the soul to the body without which all is but a cold carcase Zeal is to the Soule as oyl to the wheele whence it goes quick and is agil in all the waies of Gods worship This is that Pillar of fire which as it must go along with us in the night of our suffering so in the day of our service Service and soul and all dies as this decayes As upon the wasting of radicall heat the body growes into weaknesse sicknesse and death so in the soul of man and Service of God all languishes and declines as spiritual heat abates It is said of John the Baptist he was a burning and a shining light When Christians are before men shining in actions
be uttered 'T is not prayer nor any other part of Gods service upon the Sabbath that we can spiritualy perform except the Spirit assist The Spirit helpeth Or claspeth in with us together as the Greek word notes As when a businesse is too big a work too weighty for one others put to their helping hands lifting and labouring together The work of the Sabbath especially to be spirituall therein is above our abilities except the Spirit closes in and sets to his assisting hand service will be sleepy and souls will be dead As 't is said that the whole soul is in the whole body and the whole soul in every part of the body to animate and actuate all Thus the holy Spirit must be wholly in the whole body of Sabbath-businesse and whole in every particular duty that all may be active heavenly and lively Upon the Lords day Gods people need the help of Gods holy Spirit Both to transport them And to support them 1. The Spirit upon the Lords day to transport and carry them out in holy duties beyond ordinary formalities and their own abilities though in the week their wings have been wetted in the world yet upon the Sabbath they are made fit to fly and soar up to God Though upon this day Christ rose from the dead yet it was fourty dayes after he ascended into heaven But to a Christian through the Spirit as it is his resurrection day so it is his Ascension day As on this day he comes up from the dead So on this day he goes up unto God 2. The Spirit upon the Lords day to support and keep them up in holy and heavenly frames of heart That in Gods service they sink not Either through sinful inclinations Or through Satans temptations Good mens hearts are as Moses hands when they are lifted up they must be born up Ever since Adams fall mans natural motion is downward The soul that ascends will soon descend if Gods blessed Spirit does not bear it up This made David pray when he saw the people for the service of the Temple with their hands liberal and their hearts lively O Lord God sayes he keep this up for ever in the thoughts of the hearts of thy people c. And Satan he sets in to sink the soul down when it is highest in holy movings and heavenly mountings Matth. 4. we find when our Saviour was taken up into the holy City and sâ—t upon a pinacle of the Temple then Satan solicits him that if he were the Son of God he might cast himself down Such is Satans design when he sees Gods Saints taken up in holy service and set upon the pinacle in the practical part of holy Sabbaths then he privily puts in presently to pull them down but the Spirit helps and holds them up 2. There must be the close concurrings of our spirits with God or the Lords day cannot be spiritually spent Not our bodies barely but our very souls must so set in with God in Sabbath-service as Freely to stirre and Firmely to stand 1. To stirre freely with readinesse and willingnesse of mind moving about the businesse of Gods blessed day Though there seems difficulty in work and Though there is diversity of work Although some of the service of the Sabbath may seem difficult yet with a prompt and ready mind to move thereto and with all agility apt to act therein As some of the men that Mosâ—s sent to search Canaan they came back and their hearts sunk O say they The Cities aâ—e walled and the people are strong and we can never do the work But Caleb who had another spirit and was of a ready and resolute mind Come sayes he let us go up and take it at once Num. 13.30 Some are as awke to enter upon holy Sabbaths as upon walled Cities their hears shrink back and they say The service is too great they cannot do it whereas Christians of another spirit whose minds are bent upon Sabbath-businesse they say Come let us go up through God we shall do great things this day Yea to have a heart free and fit to move although the duties of the Lords day be divers viz. Works of piety works of charity Works together works asunder Sometimes lowly abasing our selves for sins committed Sometimes highly advancing God for good vouchsafed c. As a well-tuned instrument the strings are ready to stir upon a light touch to divers lessons which the Musician may play as he please one after another Thus to have a well-framed heart apt upon the Lords day to its divers duties prompt to pray swift to hear ready to distribute prepared to every good work 1 Tim. 2.21 Tit. 3.1 Yea to have a heart freely moving not onely about divers Ordinancts but about the same Ordinance To set in a way of work severall graces and To set the same grace several wayes a work As in prayer in hearing the Word in receiving the Sacrament in any one such service of the Sabbath to act up in the soul several graces Faith Hope Love Sincerity Humility Fervency c. To have the heart in a ready exercise of all these at the use of any Ordinance Yea such an Ordinance one of these is wherein the soul of a Christian is to exercise the same grace several wayes As in receiving the Supper of the Lord there is a manifold use of faith Faith here it is as an eye to see as a hand to take as a tongue to taste as a mouth to feed as the stomach to digest retein c. Thus when Gods Saints upon the Sabbath do not onely use sacred Ordinances but therein also exercise several and suitable graces yea and are active in their exercise so that their spirits are quick in co-working with the good Spirit of God then indeed do they Spiritually spend this holy day 2. To stand firmely when the Saints of God upon the Lords day as they labour to get their hearts up so they are loath to let them down all the day long Whereupon they strongly strive Rising to stand fast they may not fall and Falling to rise they may the faster stand 1. That rising their hearts may stand fast and not fall in holy duties while the day lasts As when General Joshua was in the heat of battel against the enemies of Israel having his spirit fixed he looks up to the firmiament saying Sun stand thou still upon Gibeon and the Sun stood still and hasted not to go down about a whole day So a Saint of God when he is in the heat of Sabbath-service his affections all on a flame he looks in and says to his soul O my soul now stand thou still Hold here and so the heart holds up and the soul stands still all the Lords day 2. That falling their hearts may rise again to a more fixed affectionate performance of all holy duties Prov. 24.16 The righteous falleth seven times a â—â—y and risâ—th again Seven times even upon
in Preparing Declaring Conferring Confirming All are spiritual Christ the hidden Manna for the heart and the hidden Man it self of the heart which God makes ready by causing hungring humble and holy Desires by quickening Graces calling up all Divine qualities abilities c. That presenting and setting forth Christ as Shew-bread on the Table evidencing and opening Christ his Wounds his Worth c. That giving Christ his Body to be eat and his Blood to be drunk that is meat indeed and drink indeed whole Christ given out c. That settling soules in the assurance of his love so as they may proceed in the paths of Piety and Peace Are not all these spiritual Acts What we are to do in Remembring Discerning Applying Imploying All are spiritual To remember Christ cruc fiâ—d by Meditation to look back on the bitter sufferings and bloody death of our blessed Lord till the heart be warm'd and wound up To discern Christ so as that the outward Elements are as bright Glasses and broad Lattices through which we see the Lord looking and behold the Bounty of his Goodnesse and Beauties of his Holinesse To apply Christ so as to take and eat not barely the bread of the Lord but also the Bread which is the Lord. Potiphar's wife had the Garment but Joseph himself fled from her The Elements are but the garments 't is Joseph himself and Jesus himself that we apprehend To imploy and make use of Christ so as to go from the Table of the Lord in the power of the Lord and strength of his might meet for all managements In these spiritual actings lyeth the life of the Lords Supper 4. For singing of Psalmes This is a spiritual service Ephes 5.18 19. Be filled with the Spirit Speaking to your selves in Psalmes and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your hearts unto the Lord Coloss 3.16 1 Cor. 14.15 I will sayes the Apostle pray with the Spirit and pray with the understanding also I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the understanding also Luther was wont to make a large and lively use of the Psalmes of David Johan Manl. loc Com. Pag. 43. According as he had his several sufferings he had his suitable Psalmes Having been under Satans sad Assaults Come sayes he to some company about him Let us go sing the 130 Psalm in despight of the Devil A precious Minister once in England now with God being upon the waters with some friends in a Boat Come sayes he let us sing the 16 Psalm And when they had pass'd through those words Of perfect joy are in thy face And pleasure for evermore His spirit so wrought and heart so leap'd that he affectionately broke out What pleasure for evermore O let us sing that again Nicepho Hiâ— Eccles lib. 3. ca. 37. History speaks much of the zeal of the Primitive Christians how by singing of Psalmes they were wont to make hard work seem easie and long journeys appear short and bitter cups taste sweet In all their Travels and Troubles Doubts and dark conditions they use to ease themselves and chear their soules by this heavenly service which they spiritually performed however now sinfully slighted 6. Collections for the Poor This is also a Duty to be spiritually done Both Pondering And Pitying Persons in Poverty Pondering and considering such as are in a poor condition Psal 41.1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor and the needy Not onely relieves them with his hand but layes their case to heart Considers the poor The ground of their poverty whether it be good whether that it be from Gods hand upon them or mens hands against them for Gods sake The degree of their poverty whether that it be great Considers the poor and needy That is such as are miserably poor needinesse noting extream poverty Quanta nobis paupertas imò egestas Seneca Epist ad Lucillum A good man so considers this as according to the poores Necessity he proportions his Charity To help he does not onely reach out his hand but drawes out his heart If thou draw out thy soul to the Hungry Esay 38.10 With Bowels of Pity compassionating persons in their impoverished condition There is little of this Duty done except with the bounty and contributions of the hand there goes the Pity and compassions of the heart 1 Cor. 13.4 If I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and haâ—e not chariâ—y 't is nothing Liberal alâ—es are nothing without a fpirit of love Love to Christ and love to men as the members of Christ herein lyes the life of liberality This is spiritual 6. Inflicting of Censures This is also to be done Both with a spirit of zeal against the offending person And with a spirit of love unto the person offending There ought to be anger and grief against the scandal of the man and yet compassion and love towards the man that is scandalous 1 â—or 5.2 3. Ye have not mourned that he which hath done this deed be taken from among you I verily as absent in body but present in spirit have judged concerning him that hath done this deed In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ To deliver such to Satan for the destruction of the flesh yet with affections to the soul That the Spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus This casting out must have a spiritual carriage and be upon spiritual accounts Thus all the businesse that belongs to the Lords day is and ought to be spiritual 3. The ends for which the Lords day was appointed are also spiritual Whether we consider The end primary viz. The glory of God or The end secondary viz. The good of man And these are to be our spiritual aims in Sabbath-times that the Lords gracious ends and ours may suite 1. Sabbaths are seasons set apart for the exalting the glory of God Both in his spiritual being And in his spiritual working That the glorious being of God blessed for ever might the better be set out the Sabbath was set up Although there is no day wherein we can add any glory to God yet on this day does God open much of his glory to us Apud Persas persona regis sub specie Majesta tis socâ—u litur c. Justin lib. 1. Historians report that it was a great part of the pomp of the Persian Kings that they were seldom seen but upon some very high dayes they use to shew themselves to their people in their most Princely attire when they were so much the more admired and adored The Sabbath is that high and holy day whereon God so shewes himself to his servants in his garments of glory that they are made much to admire and adore him who at other seasons is more conceal'd Our Saviour after his resurrection and begun glorification still took this day to discover
of Religion before all other things in the world Deut. 16.17 18. We see what Injunctions are set upon the Supreame Magistrate in this regard and therefore Magistrates subordinate are chiefly to see to such things above all to look that the dayes and duties of Gods worship be carefully kept up by all within the Gates as of their Domestick so of their Civil Jurisdiction Exod. 20.10 Yea you kave bound your selves by solemn oathes Though civil things are principally expressed yet all is in order to a higher end and greater good True some Magistrates as Jehu and Jeroboam have made the matters of God subordinate to their own interests and the outward peace of their kingdoms but it hath ever proved the fatal miscarriage of such misplacing Governours State-ends must all be subordinate the chief and uppermost end of all in power is to preserve the things of God The main end therefore of all your engagements is to maintain Gods worship his holy Sabbaths and whatever serves for his honour As an oath hath a Divine Ground so it is for ends Divine And though many simple men that be brought before you discern God no more in oaths then Christ in Sacraments and therefore can take yea and break oaths as Sampson his Wit hs at their wills Yet what a solemn and sacred thing an oath is you well know Hereby you are bound as to do just things betwixt man and man so to do things just for God much more And as you are bound so you are backed and backed so as may well work up your warmest courage in the cause of God for the WAYES and DAYES of God You are backed with good Lawes against all open offenders and seen-Sabbath-sinners Evil doers upon the Lords day You are backed with the prayers of all Gods precious people who pour out their hearts to God to preserve blesse and prosper all pious Magistrates by whose means Godlinesse may be promoted amongst men 1 Tim. 2.1 2. You are backed with the promises of God the presence of God God is with you be valiant Be valiant for God is with you The Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valour sayes the Angel to Gideon Judg. 6.12 Be strong and of a good courage ayes God to Joshua I will be with thee I will not fail thee nor forsake thee Onely be thou strong and very couragious Chap. 1. vers 5 6 7. And therefore worthy SIRS I beseech you against all encounters cloath your selves with courage You are to encourage others inferiour Officers are by your language carriage countenance counsel commands to become couragious and therefore be you your selves full of fiery courage The Audaciousnesse of men to sin even Sabbath-sins And the dulnesse of men even to Gods Sabbath-service calls loud for courage in Christian Magistrates Our Saviour had his scourge or whip with which he drove men out of the Temple with their sheep and oxen from their buying and selling Magistrates had need have their whips penal Lawes in force to drive men into publick places of Gods pure worship with their children and servants to hearing Gods holy Word and other duties upon the Lords day Good SIRS so far as you can put on with enkindled courage Such must not be soft wood but heart of Oak that are in the place of civil pillars not men of easie facil flexible timorous natures but men of unbended unbiassed dispositions resolutions full of fortitude valour magnanimity and of Masculine spirits c. Theodoret hath a good observation upon that in Leviticus Levit. 4.22.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. where the Ruler for his sin is enjoyned to offer an he-Goat the private man a she-Goat for though the female may fit the ruled yet the male most suites such as rule Some think that hence Constantine was termed Revel 12. the Churches Male or man-child because of his manly zeal for Gods Church the Lords day and all the affairs of the Gospel Gentlemen I hope you bear with me I conceive I am not excentrick but move within my own sphere while I seek to incite you with courage to set to it for God Num. 10. Joshua 6.20 When of old the Armies of Israel were to go out in Battel the Priests were to blow the trumpets T is meet for us that are Gospel Ministers to be as Gods Trumpetters or Drummers to draw up the spirits raise the courage of all that are to engage on Gods side for Sabbaths and all his sacred concernments against sinful men among â—hich Magistrates and men in office must have a main stroke If I may by these expressions and by this present Dedication more hearten you up for God and more heighten your zeal for the beating down of sin and well-being with us of Gods blessed Sabbath I have my design Who am ready to serve you in all such affairs Philip Goodwin Watford July 20. 1654. To the Reader Dear Christian A Quickening and a wakening providence that appeared in the place of my abode about a year ago put me then on publikely to preach and presse the practical observation of the Christian-Sabbath And though upon that sad providential passage I thought it seasonable to say something upon that subject yet at first I onely intended two Sermons as one dayes exercise but I found the Bread so abundantly to multiply even in the breaking that I could not but acknowlege the bounty of a Divine hand Whereupon I proceeded and upon the same further insisted That soul-provision which was therein made though some hungrily received yet others hungrily refused so that I could not but clearly see As God with So the Divel against Which made me more to mind the matter Hereupon having for divers dayes discoursed I was soon after much moved to transcribe some Notes thereof by me that were very unlegible in their first Draught These after coming into the hands of several friends they much encouraged me further to communicate the same I considering they were both Gracious and Judicious thought it might be the Lords voice and that whereunto I ought to listen Likewise considering of the matter it self I could not but confesse it might be of necessary use in the concernments of the Sabbath For whereas there are two sorts Sabbath-ward whose case is sinful and sad So here are two parts applying proper remedies for their recovery and cure He is not onely a stranger but a stone in our English Israel who doth not sensibly discern concerning Gods sacred Sabbath As some putting off the practice of all good thereon so others not expressing any spirit of life therein As some slighters of the Sabbath-day-duties so others slighty in the duties of the Sabbath day As some living in a fearful neglect so others resting in a formal discharge of a few feeble and faint performances The former part is pertinent to put men on to the practice of Sabbath-service The latter part is pertinent to pull men up in the service of
a great variety yet there is no contrariety In the soule of a Saint there be contrary principles flesh and spirit one opposing another but there are not in the Sabbath contrary practices each to other repugnant one duty does not thwart another but Sabbath-services are to each other helpfull Prayer fits for hearing and hearing prepares for prayer 5. The diversity and change of Sabbath-work shewes the Lords wisdome yea and the love of the Lord to make exercises the more easie that holy labour may not be heavy labour nor men tyred all Sabbath-time with one continued work the Lord lets them passe from one imployment to another for refreshment 6. On the Sabbath we have several works yet in all we serve but one Master Indeed had we divers Masters it might discourage but to us there is but one Lord. Upon the Sabbath in religious services we change our place and we change our businesse but we do not change our Master All is to Christ to Christ men should say upon a Sabbath-morning Though other Lords in the week-time have had too much dominion over us yet now we will make mention of thy Name onely 7. If multitude of services be tedious what will multitude of sufferings be Jam. 1.2 sayes the Apostle My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations How will they rejoyce in divers daily distresses that shrink back because exercises are divers upon the Lords day Object The Sabbath ceases when publike exercises end no longer holy day then while holy duty Answ If so sure then with some Sabbaths are very short But shall we think that men can begin and end a Sabbath when they list The Churches of Christ in ages past have determined of an entire day due to the Lord. The Sabbaths Iren. cont Valent. lib. 4. cap. 31. August de temp Serm 251. sayes Irenaeus do require a compleat day and the perseverance of that whole day in the Lords service Austin declares his judgement touching the time of the Sabbath from that text Levit. 23.32 From even to even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath 'T is evident from that place of the Apostle Jam. 2.10 that whosoever carelessely casts by any part of Gods precept transgresses the whole law of God and thus whosoever wilfully neglects any part of Gods Sabbath is guilty of breaking this whole holy day men must not suite the day to their duties but their duties to the day while the day endures their duty remains Object But so to keep the whole day is terribly tyring a hard service who can do it Answ God because of our infirmities does afford what may refresh the better to bear up our bodies the Lord allowes moderate sleep in the night and temperate food in the day True it was in Tertullians time a dispute Tertul. de coron milit cap. 3. Tom. 1. pag 747. whether it be not a duty on the Lords day to fast but our Saviours Apologie for his Disciples in plucking and eating the ears of Corn upon the Sabbath day may easily quiet that question Mark 2.25 And blessed be the Lord for the allowances of his love 2. Men do not complain of whole dayes for the world They rise early and go to bed late and eat the bread of carefulnesse Psal 127.2 They do not say all the week when the morning is Would God it were evening but rather in the evening they wish would it were morning again to go after the world afresh yet we find some even in sinful wayes so unwearied that when one day is past they pitch upon the very next day with inlarged resolutions Come ye say they I will fetch wine and we will fill our selves with strong drink and to morrow shall be as this dâ—y and much more abundant Isai 56.12 3. We may see what some of Gods servants have desired instance David that dear servant of God Psal 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord sayes he and that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life As if he should wish it were alway Sabbath day with him Psal 84.4 10. O blessed are they that dwell in thy house c. For a day in thy Courts is better then a thousand I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tents of wickednesse Were men of Davids mind a day in seven for the service of the Lord would not be too long 4. There have been them that have spent divers dayes and nights also in the service of God see a considerable instance Luk. 2.37 A widow of about fourscore and four years which departed not from the Temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and day For her sexe A woman For her case A widow not having the company or comfort of a husband For her age About fourscore and four years yet night and day with fasting and prayer serving God in the Temple 5. For such as are tyred out with the time of a Sabbath would they go to heaven There 't is ever Sabbath alway singing serving and setting up of God Bernard urges the observation of the Sabbath and holding out in holy exercises thereon upon this account that by present rest men may learn to live in rest eternal Bern. super Saluz Regina Serm. 4. Col. 1744. and by persevering service men may be prompt to perpetuate the Lords everlasting praise But how would men do to endure heaven and a never ending Sabbath there who know not here how to bear out the durance of a Sabbath day Object I cannot so tend duties on the day for I have other works of necessity to do Ans 1. There are works of necessity which we grant may be done upon the Lords day Vid. Lyra. in Exod. 20. in Jonna 5.8 Beda in Marc. 2.23 Zanch in 4. praece as by food to refresh our bodies to resist the invasion of enemies to stop the irruption of waters to quench the rage of fire to preserve the life of our Cattel and the like 2. Those that say on the Sabbath such things they must necessarily do ought yet carefully to see it be not A fained necessity or A made necessity To pretend a things necessity when yet indeed no necessity of such a thing to be done is to commit a double sin To do what is not good and To say what is not true Men must also beware they bring not a necessity upon themselves upon the Sabbath to do such things as they might prevent through a prudent foresight this is to make a sin with a necessity Isay 58.13 Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight not doing thine own wayes nor finding thine own necessities so some Paraphrasing expound the Hebrew word men have many necessities which yet are of their own causing and not of Gods appointing 3. There are things necessary in their season that yet are not necessary upon the
the holy Ghost Answered We know not whether there be any holy Ghost So aske many now adayes whether they have observed the Lords holy day they are ready to answer they know not whether there be any such holy day to be observed Time was a Book was set out to give liberties upon the Lords day men now take their liberties from the Lords day without any Book And they that do not are so listlesse and livelesse in the Lords-day-duties that I doubt if God should judicially deprive us of Sabbath-Seasons we should not thereof soon be sensible And so the time of Sabbath-returnes may likely be long Again if the Lord should lay such a Judgement upon the whole Land as the losse of Sabbaths 't is not probable people will presently make such a profitable use thereof As to prize them highly And to pray for them earnestly Highly God will have them prized God will raise Sabbath-esteems before he makes Sabbath-returns before God brings back his blessed Day as men shall feele the want so know the worth thereof and be of Davids mind One day in thy Courts is better then a thousand Psalme 84.10 vers Heartily God will have them prayed for Sabbath-Liberties Men shall be humble Petitioners for them before they be happy possessors of them 'T was one of the three things Latimur did so ordinarily and earnestly pray for in Queen Marys dayes That the Gospell might be restored to England once again once again c. That Sabbaths might be openly observed and Gods worship publikely performed Once again once again Which words he used to repeat with great vehemencie of spirit Others concurred in the same request and had from God a most gracious grant What are David desires and prayers Psalm 63.2 That I may see Lord thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary And Psalm 42.4 When I remember these things I pour out my soul within me for I had gone with the multitude I went with them to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise with the multitude that kept holyday Should holy Sabbath-dayes cease some I doubt not but upon knees bended would beg their bringing back though the Major part would likely make little of it O that men would yet make much of Sabbath-Seasons lest such a time come when they would they cannot Time will be sayes our Saviour to his Disciples Luke 17.22 when ye shall desire to see one of the daies of the Son of man and shall not see it O if you might but have one Sabbath as in former times Luke 19.42 43. When he came near he beheld the City wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the things that belong to thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes The things with the day and the day with the things thereof are now past and gone Amos 8.11 Behold the dayes come saith the Lord I will send a famine in the Land not of bread but of hearing the Word And men shall wander from Sea to Sea and from the North to the East they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord and shall not find it O now now while it is called to day THE LORDS DAY before Sabbaths and Sermons cease though there should not come such a time over all the Land yet it may be upon particular places rain may fall on one City and not upon another Amos 4.7 Brighr beames of the Sun may shine on one field and the very next field under a dark shadow and over it a black cloud There shine Here rain O the clear light that hath shined upon the Lords Day and the sweet Sabbaths that have been kept in some Townes of England not long since but now Ichabod The glory is gone God knowes whose turn it may be next O let me beseech you of this place to look to the Lords Day be diligent hold fast God never takes away his Sabbaths till people are weary of them and willing to part with them 4. To a people the Lords Day may not be lost but last yet all lie under a curse They may be curs'd to the Sabbath The Sabbath may be curs'd to them The soules of men may be curs'd towards Sabbaths Never let fruit grow on this tree Never let Sabbath or Sermon do this people good No sooner had our Saviour curs'd the fig-tree but it withered at the roots May there not be found amongst us men and women that are most miserably withered Both branch And root Not onely the branch of their outward profession but also the root of their inward affection withered What shall we say of such Galatians who would now pluck out Paul's eyes that were once ready to pluck out their eyes for Paul Are not they withered Are not they under Gods dreadful curse For men to be curs'd in the trades they follow fields they possess is sad but to be curs'd in the Sabbaths they spend and curs'd in the Sermons they hear is worse For God to say to a Minister every time a Sabbath comes Go indeed to the Pulpit and preach to that people Hearing they shall hear but shall not understand seeing they shall see but not perceive For the heart of this People is waxed grosse their ears are dull of hearing their eyes have they closed Now make their hearts hard their eares deafe their eies blind that they may never be converted never healed but live and die under a Gospell-curse and their Soules sinking under a Sabbath-curse yea and so Sabbaths themselves may be cursed to the soules of men As men by their sins may pollute that day which otherwise is holy So God by his judgement may curse that day which otherwise is blessed and so Sabbath-mercy may be turned into a judgement as Moses Rod was turned into a Serpent It would have been ill for Israel if the brazen Serpent should have become a fiery Serpent that mortally to sting them that was made to heal them And will it not be ill for any if the Lords day which is a day of life shall become a day of death This saving day changed into a damning day 1 Sam. 12.17 We see 't was terrible when God turned a day of Harvest into a day of tempest and that time wherein they should have gathered their Wheat with the labour of their hands on earth God scattered it with thunder and hail from heaven And who would not fear such an effect for God to turn a day of Rest into a day of Wrath and therein not to blesse but thereby to blast mens hearts and hopes 'T is sweet for Saints when to them the very curses of men are blessed but 't is sad for sinners when to them the very blessings of God are cursed Mal. 2.2 I saith the Lord will send a curse upon you I will curse your blessings yea I nave cursed them already yet ye lay
hand of Christ As by force none can pluck him from the strength of Christs hand So by fraud none can take him out of the lov of Christs heart In Christ Not onely as a man But as a member Not the least bone of Christs mysticall body can be broke off nor the smallest stone be struck out of this building The weakest branch ever abides in this vine 3. In the Spirit there the believing soul lives Gala. 5.25 If ye live in the spirit walk in the spirit That life by which the soules of Saints live Both for its entrance And its progresse It is in the Spirit the Spirit being the Principle From which their life was first received And by which their life is after preserved As man is kept alive by his soules being in the body So a Saint is kept alive by his souls being in the Spirit It is through the Spirit that converted Christians are set into God and put into Christ Therefore sure the holy Spirit does not leave their soules out of himself but they are likewise in the Spirit Rom. 8.9 Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit In the Spirit thus are not onely some but all the Saints of God And in the Spirit thus are Gods servants not onely upon the Sabbath-day but at all other times they are never out of the Spirit nor ever shall Yea in the Spirit thus is the whole man of every good man The man whole if Not the whole man The man whole is so in the Spirit as that he is a spiritual man Gal. 6.1 Take him with his bodily part and about his weekly work yet he is a spiritual man and a man that is in the Spirit Now to be in the Spirit on the Lords day though 't is to be in the Spirit thus yet it is more then thus to be on the Lords day in the Spirit So in the Spirit signifies the spiritual transactions of mans sanctified soul as it is moved and acted by the Spirit of God and as mans renewed spirit through the Spirit of God moves and acts upon the Lords day exercised in the Spirit That is In the graces of the Spirit and In the comforts of the Spirit 1. In the Spirit That is in the graces of the Spirit exercised all the Lords day then acting in graces Various and Vigorous On the Sabbath the soul is set a work in several graces and such as seem to be of a differing nature as faith and fear heavenlinesse of mind and humblenesse of heart repeatings for sin yet relyings on God Tremblings of soul yet restings on Christ Dreading God in the justnesse of his Judgements yet loving God whose judgements are just A real longing for promised mercies and yet a quiet staying for those mercies long By hope expecting good things to come and yet by faith possessing the same things at present Utterly unsatisfied in Gods hiding his face yet patiently waiting for God while his face is hid And though this be the continued posture of gracious souls yet into this they are put and on in this they are kept through Sabbath-day-quicknings In the Spirit On this day grace is enlivened in them and they lively in grace In gracious actings their hearts were before as the Chariots of Pharaoh that drove heavily now in the activities of grace their hearts are as the Chariots of Amminadib that ran swiftly Before the members of the new-man were as the lame Cripple that lay at the gate but then they became as the cured Cripple Whose ancle-bones receiving strength he stood up and went on leaping and praysing God Act. 3.8 Yea upon the Lords day the soul of a sincere Saint may be in the lively actings of grace Both reflect And direct 1. Reflect actings That soul which in the week-season walks out in with the body about the businesse thereof upon the Sabbath-day it turns in upon it self most seriously considering its own concernments Gregor moral lib. 31. cap. 17. An ancient Writer spiritually expounding that place Prov. 24.27 Prepare thy work without in the field and afterward go in and build thine house Understands by the field man's body and by the house the heart and soul of man In the week a mans work more lyes in the field viz. about the businesse of his bodily being but upon the Lords day his work more lyes in the house viz. the work of the soul is more gathered then within it self And as Christs Spouse-sayes Cant. 1.7 They have made me to keep other Vineyards but mine own Vineyard have I not kept So upon the Sabbath sayes a good mans soul within him all the week I have been made to minde a multitude of worldly affairs but mine own concernments have been set aside Now return into thy self O my soul O my soul now bethink thy self And is not this to be in the Spirit upon the Lords day the soul of a Saint being then seriously set Upon deep intuitions and Diligent Inquisitions Narrowly looking in it self and Throughly searching of it self One of the Ancients compares holy men on the earth Gregor moral li. 19. Sect. 30. unto those holy Angels of heaven Revel 4.8 that are said to be full of eyes within and without In the week Gods Saints make use of their eyes without looking after their necessary callings and occasions in the world but upon the Sabbath they more solemnly set a work their eyes within looking inward upon the true estate of their souls Upon the Sabbath are a Saints most serious soul-searches and heart-discourses I communed with mine own heart and my spirit made diligent search sayes David Psal 77.6 Upon the Lords day with great diligence is the soul of a Saint set To find out things that are and To find up things that were Within he finds so much of sin and so little of God as makes his heart lie low and brings him to be in spirit poor Matth 5.3 Blessed are the poor in spirit August lib. 1. de Serm. Do. in monte Ambros lib. 5. in Luc. cap de beatit Basil in regulis contract quaest 205. Not poore of spirit as if any without the Spirit of God were blessed but poor in spirit that is good men poore in the spirit of their own mindes out of a sight of soul-sins and sense of soul-wants or poor in spirit That is sayes one poore for the spirit Of the spirit they may discern little but desire much That good they seek after which they never possesse And that good they seek for which seemes to be lost The woman in the Parable Luk. 15. having lost a piece of silver She lights a candle and sweeps the house and seeks diligently till she finds it O this is good seeking in the spirit upon the least losse of God to go into the house of the Heart and there using The candle of knowledge and The Besome of Repentance Diligently seeking till somewhat more of God may appear When hearts
and hopes have been down and dead yet then to look back and call to mind mercies of old tracing the former foot-steps of God in their soules looking up and reading over the Lords love letters long since sent and then comes quickening life into their hopes and hearts Psal 77.5 6 7 8. Lam. 3.18 19 20 21 22. And though these gracious actings may be at other times yet I appeal to the most experienced Christians whether they have not found themselves best bent about such Soule-work upon the Sabbath-day 2. Direct actings Upon the day of the Sabbath the soules of Gods Saints may be set a work Onwards towards the People of God and Upwards towards the God of his People In grace admirably acting towards their Brethren Both in sufferings scattered And in service assembled 1. Where ever a good mans body be found or fixed yet in spirit he goes visiting his fellow-servants in prisons and the forreign Churches of Christ in all their afflictions Beza reports of Calvin That he was so tenderly affected to Christian Churches remote as if he had carried them on his shoulders or born them in his bosome often sighing out Vsque quo Domine How long Lord more lamenting the Churches calamities then his own adversities Thus the holy Apostle 2 Cor 11.28 29. Besides those things that are without viz. severall sad afflictions upon his own body that which cometh upon me daily more then all the rest the care of all the Churches Who is weak and I am not weak Who is offended and I burn not c. Yea and in such Christian compassions to others in affliction Gods dear Saints are most deep upon that day wherein they see their own sweet liberties priviledges and Gods precious things peaceably possessed 2. Where ever a good mans body abides yet in soul he will be sure at some place in which Gods People publikely meet for Sabbath-service David when in body he was banished and lay hid in the Land of Hermon yet he was in spirit at Jerusalem and went with good people to the Temple for the service of the Sabbath My soul sayes he thirsteth for God for the living God Oh when shall I come appear before God viz. In body also When I remember these things I pour out my soule within me for I had gone with the multitutde I went with them to the House of God with the voyce of joy and praise with a multitude that kept Holy Day Psal 42.1 2 3 4. The Jewes that were bodily at Babylon yet in soule they kept their Sabbaths at Jerusalem Psalme 137.5 6. Jonah though his body was in the bottom of the sea and belly of the Whale yet in spirit he was in the Temple at Jerusalem Then I said I am cast out of thy sight yet I will look again towards thy holy Temple Jonah 2.4 Though the body of Saint John was a prisoner at Patmos an Island as some write near Affrica yet was he in spirit with the Churches of Christ at Asia and with them he kept the Lords Day When Saint Paul was in body at Philippi yet in spirit he was with Gods Saints in their assemblies at Corinth I verily as absent in body yet present in spirit have judged concerning him that hath done this deed in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ when viz. on the Lords Day ye are gathered together and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one to Satan c. So when he was in body at Rome yet in spirit he was with Gods assembled Saints at Colosse Though sayes he I am absent from you in the flesh yet I am with you in the spirit rejoycing to behold your order viz. in their Church-assemblies c. Colossians 2.5 But above all are the soules Sabbath-actings in Grace God-ward Though the body is then carried out by the soul Yet the soule to God is then carried beyond the body A mans soule is then so set as that it incites the body and the body is so brought on that it sayes to the soule as Ruth to Naomi Whither thou goest I 'le goe where thou stayest I will stay thy God shall be my God and thy people my people nothing but death shall part thee and me As Joseph and Mary went together to seek Christ So on the Sabbath soul and body in publike and private go together to serve God Even upon week-dayes when the body as Martha is about worldly and household-businesse the soule as Mary sits at the feet of Christ But upon the Sabbath when they be both serving of God yet the soul does the most and the best work Body and soul are upon the Sabbath as those two Disciples that went out to Christs Sepulchre but the soule is as that Disciple which out-ran his fellow John 20.4 It comes quickest in and closest up to Christ Yea. suppose the heart and mind of a good man may all the week-time be as a boat that beares upon the ground yet upon the Sabbath the soule may be set as a boat upon a strong stream and goes as a Ship full saile for God In meditations of him And applications to him O the admirable meditations this day on God! The mind that in the week hath been as the foot of Jacobs ladder standing upon the earth upon the Sabbath the soule hath been as the top of that ladder reaching up to heaven in high thoughts of God One observes of the Virgin Mary Hieron Epist 17. when the holy Ghost had over-shadowed her and that holy thing was conceived in her womb she arose went up into the hill-countrey Luke 1.39 When the holy Spirit comes upon the soule of a Saint and holy thoughts are conceived in the heart O how the mind mounts up hill to God in heaven Such a soule-frame is most frequent in Sabbath-time And O the close applications this day made to God In prayer and In praises A good Expositor gives this glosse upon what the Apostle does here expresse Vid. Aret. in Locum I was in the Spirit That is he was in prayer upon the Lords Day It is one thing to be at prayer And another to be in prayer There is never a day comes over a good mans head but he is at prayer Bernard in Fâ—st Pen-Pentec Serm. 1. but to be in prayer on the Lords Day that is more Not only praying by the Spirit but in the Spirit of prayer Prayer does not onely ascend to God from the soule but the soule it self ascends to God in prayer In prayer wrestling with God and With God reasoning in prayer So that such beames break out Greg. Orat. de laudib Basilii as make the mans heart burn and his face shine It is reported of Basil that the Emperour Valence coming in upon him while he was in prayer he saw such lustre in his face as struck him with terrour that he fell back Luk. 9.29 And Jesus went up into
a Mountain to pray and as he prayed the fashion of his countenance was altered and his raiment was white and glistering Thus for a Saint to be set in Sabbath-Prayer that his grace is vigorous and his face is glorious This is then to be in the spirit Yea upon the Lords Day to be in the prayses of God on high and in the high praysings of God As adoring God for his goodnesse received from him So admiring God for goodnesse perceived in him In such Sabbath-celebrations of God blessed for ever and of Christ for ever blessed of God as to say Psalme 45.1 2. My heart is inditing of a good matter my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Thou O King art fairer then the Children of Men God hath blessed thee for ever c. Some birds how sweetly do they sing when they soare up into the aire and in a sun-shine-day sit in trees upon the highest Twigs Thus some of Gods Saints upon the Sabbath-day with hearts meeting and mindes mounting O the melody that they make in heavenly Hallelujahs unto God Of such it may be safely said they are in the spirit upon the Lords Day This will be further unfolded In that which followes In the Spirit That is in the comforts of the Spirit considered In their heights And breadths Heights of comfort Upon the Sabbath the soul sanctified may be carried in comforts high Both for matter And measure The matter of the comforts wherein the soul of a Saint may upon the Sabbath ascend is exceeding high Higher comforts had John in Patmos then Adam in Paradise The Apostle upon the Lords day had comfortable converses with God in Christ which our first parents had not in the day of their Innocency They rejoyced in God a Creator But not in Christ a Redeemer And they be far lower delights in which the most of men do since solace themselves upon the Sabbath-day Upon Gods holy day men find onely their own pleasure Esay 58.13 But Gods Saints can find soul refreshing comforts in Christ the Lord upon the Lords day With delights in the Lord their hearts leap Yea and the measure of their comforts may mount their minds so high upon this holy day as to make them to be like Moses upon mount Pisgah viewing Canaan flowing with milk and hony The soul of a sincere Christian upon the Sabbath may be as it were swimming in a Sea of sweet delights unto the Land of promise He whose heart hath been as a Boat that could not be got up because of low water all the week yet it hath been brought up in a high spring-tyde of spiritual comfort upon the Lords day Comforts so high that he is ready to sing with Simeon a Nunc dimittis Now Lord let thy servant depart in peace Now the man would gladly die and be gone to God content never to see his habitation or relations on earth more his soul being so fired and filled with joy upon Gods holy day in his house of prayer Esay 56.7 Breadths of comfort Upon the Sabbath the pious soul spreads it self in sweet delights God having given to a good man for his comfort as Caleb did to his Daughter the upper and the lower springs A Christian in his lower comforts the further he goes the narrower they grow and the lesser they be but in his comforts upward the higher he rises the greater are their encreases when he is most lively let in they are most largely let and laid out Sabbath comforts may be exceeding broad All things that meet being made into comforts and. All things for comforts being made to meet Into comforts are made all things that meet the soul of some Saint in the service of the Sabbath The crosses of the world are the encreases of comfort Gods rod and his staffe cause comfort Psal 23.4 As sufferings abound consolations abound 2 Cor. 1.3 The more outward troubles the more inward triumphs The Apostle was never so in the Spirit of comforts as when he was a prisoner at Patmos Under his greatest confinements he had his sweetest enlargements His every day-afflictions encreased his Sabbath-comforts To his soul nothing was sad when the Sabbath came Yea upon the Lords day a believer being in the Spirit the worst evils greaten the best comforts Sin remitted Hell removed Death vanquished Divel conquered do all encrease his comforts Out of every eater comes meat He gathers grapes of thorns and figs of thistles Upon Sodom sayes Salvian God rained hell out of heaven Upon the Sabbath God to his Saints raises Heaven out of Hell Hell Divel Death Sin Crosses Curses all encrease their Sabbath-Cordials Yea upon the Sabbath a gathering of all comforts considered according To several sorts And seasons Comforts of differing sorts receive a Sabbath-change Earthly comforts are made heavenly those delights that lye in worldly relations possessions promotions creature-accomodations and contents in the Spirit are made spiritual As a man in carnal comforts makes all comforts carnal so a Saint in spiritual delights makes all delights spiritual The upper and lower springs run all into one stream and upon the Lords day become all as of one kind Comforts of differing seasons are brought within the Sabbath-compasse A Christians case becomes such That in Spirit good past is then with him presenr And good future he is then present with in Spirit Things past come in for comfort at present Luther reports that sometimee and especially upon a Sacrament-day the death of Christ was as full and fresh upon his spirit as if he were then at mount Calvary and as if that were the very day and hour wherein our dear Lord died Thus a Christian may be so in the Spirit of comfort upon the Sabbath-day as if that were the very day when Christ broke the bars of the grave flung the stone off the Sepulchre and rose again from the dead Or as if it were the very day when with the holy Apostles he stood and saw the Lord Christ taken up into heaven to sit down at the right hand of God Now to his comfort he can recal the comforts found in former dayes and duties That very Sabbath his soul comfortably possesses all the Ordinances of Jesus Chhist He sees as it were the Lord opening his bowels his bosom and drawing out both brests of his blessed Word and Sacraments bidding his soul suck and be fully satisfied And unto things future he comes for his present comfort Not onely as at a distance a believer may look at heaven and the felicities thereof but his soul in the Spirit of comforts may be so carried out as if heaven were already possessed 'T was a brave expression of the Martyr to his cruel tormentors Work your will upon my weak body as for my soul it is in heaven already and over that Caesar hath no power And as such may be a Christians case in the day of his sufferings so may it be in THIS DAY of his service Jerom professes
that he had sometimes found things so with himself Hieron in lib. de virgin Seru. that it seemed to him as if he had been triumphing among Troops of Angels and singing Hallelujahs with the Saints in heaven Yea walking arme in arme with Christ in the Galleries of eternal glory The Apostle is to this purpose 2 Cor. 12.2 3. I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago whether in the body I cannot tell or out of the body I cannot tell God knowes such a one caught up into the third heaven And I knew such a man whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell God knowes how he was caught up into Paradise heard unspeakable words c. This of the Apostle St. Paul does import the highest pitch of a persons being in the Spirit And of such a being in the Spirit the Apostle St. John does here speak his experience I was in the Spirit on the Lords day This for Explication Now for Confirmation Upon the Lords day good mens thus being in the Spirit See Why 't is sensible to some and How 't is possible to others 1. Some of Gods Saints are sensibly in the Spirit upon the Sabbath-day Indeed This day is fittest for the Spirits working yea And they are fittest this day for the working of the Spirit The Sabbath it is a fit day for the Spirit thus to work for 'T is a day blessed Gen. 2.3 and 'T is a day sacred Exod. 20.11 1. The Sabbath being a blessed day it is fit for the blessed Spirit to be about his work Day blessed Note The blesser of it and The blessing on it The blesser of this Sabbath-day is God God above all blessed for ever hath made this day blessed As that is cursed which God curses So that is blessed which is blessed of God The blessing of this Sabbath-day is great As God hath blessed his Servants above other men So he hath blessed his Sabbaths above other time As Isaac had a blessing for Esau but no such blessing as had passed upon his brother Jacob So God hath a blessing for every day but no such blessing as he hath passed upon his Sabbath The very blessing of blessings is the blessing on the Sabbath so that well now may the blessed Spirit be about his most blessed works this being the most blessed day 2. The Sabbath being a sacred day a day sanctified and made holy it is meet for the works of this holy Spirit The holy Ghost As he loves to live in holy persons So he loves to move in holy seasons And so working there is Holy Holy Holy Viz. Gods holy Spirit the work is by Gods holy servants the work is in Gods holy Sabbath the work is on God hath poured out the holy oyl upon the head of the Sabbath as the precious oyntment upon the head of Aaron some drops of which may indeed run down upon the other dayes Upon the head of this day God hath set the holy Crown whence the Ancients well call it The King of dayes The Spirit of God t is termed a Kingly or Princely Spirit Psal 51.12 Vphold me with thy free Spirit Or as the Septuagint reads it Thy Princely Spirit The works of Gods Princely Spirit are most proper for this Princely day this high and holy day it best suites to the work of the most high and holy Spirit of God Gods holy Spirit may its true take A sinful subject to work in And yet a holy Sabbath to work on But his best works in souls sanctified are most seasonable upon this sanctified day Yea and the holy Spirit being now about his best businesse Both honours the Lord of the Sabbath And honours the Sabbath of the Lord. The Lord is highly honoured in the holy Spirits workings for He brings in Christs presence through his Ordinance And he drawes up Christs Ordinance through his presence The presence of Christ is by the Spirit so brought in by the Spirit the Ordinance of Christ is so wrought up as lifts up the Lords honour high The Lord never hath so high honour in a Sabbath-Ordinance as when therein appears his Sabbath-presence The holy Spirit by Christs presence supplies the want of an Ordinance improves the worth of an Ordinance by the presence of Christ And by all this is Christs honour held up in being the Lord of the Sabbath Yea the Sabbath it self is much honoured thereby Gods people whose hearts have been made to sparkle and spring through the Spirit of God upon the Sabbath-day they esteem the day of the Sabbath Not onely as their resting day But rather as their rising day A day Not so much for the earthly easing of their bodies As for the heavenly actings of their souls This day in their hearts they so highly honour that for it they long and in it they labour and all with delight O how honourable in the heart of this Holy Apostle was the Christian Sabbath having there on been ravished in the Spirit He writing to the Churches of Christ first gives it this high Title THE LORDS DAY For the honour both of the Lord and the day Upon such accounts the Holy Ghost may well to chuse take up this as a day most fit for his great and wonderfull works 2 The Sabbath it is the day wherein Gods Saints are most fit for these wonderfull workings in the Spirit This day they being From the world most severed And with themselves best gathered 1. Upon the Sabbath Gods Saints are most remote from the world Greg. Moral lib 1. and so meetest for the Lord and fittest for intimate converse with God One observes that our Saviour being entred into a ship Mark 4. He commanded his Disciples to put a little from the shoare but not to lanch out into the deep Thus true Christians in the week-time may put the ship of their soules a little off from the land removing so far from their worldly affaires as by and by to step back into the businesse of their lawful callings but on the Sabbath they put the ship further off from the shoare and lanch out into the deep withdrawing themselves quite from their earthly occasions and applying themselves wholly to the solemne service of God Another speaking to the Church of Christ does something thus expresseâ— himself O chaste and holy spouse Bernard Christ thy heavenly Husband that will not all the week crowd in to thee through a throng of worldly cares yet upon the Sabbath will give thy soule most sweet visits While Zaccheus was among the presse of people he could not behold Christ but climbing up into a sycomore-tree then he saw him a good man in the presse of his week-day-imployments can get no view of Christ yet then the Sabbath-day is as the sycomore-tree on that he climbes and comes close to Christ Then his heart is in the best frame freest for God being furthest from the world 2. Upon the Sabbath
Gods Saints are best brought together both In Body And Mind Christians being thus gathered upon the Lords Day lie in the readiest way for these high workings of the Spirit Act. 2.1 2. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place And suddenly c. Day of Pentecost This fiftieth day so the word imports it was the first day in the week Vid. Cypri de Spir. San 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the best affirm even our Lords Day They were all That is Basil de spi Sancto ca. 27. August de temp Ser. 251. all the eleven Apostles of Christ as is plainly expressed Act. 1.26 In one place In an upper Chamber at Jerusalem they were all Bodily gathered together With one accord Their minds were met as well as their bodies They were all in one house with one Heart waiting for the promises of the Lord. And suddenly there came That is with all speed the Spirit of God came down upon them so as never before for Manner and Measure The manner A sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind all about the house where they were sitting And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and sat upon each of them The measure And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake with other tongues August Ser. 2 ad fratr in eremo as the Spirit gave them utterance The Spirit spake in them and they spake in the Spirit the wonderfull works of God The Spirit was poured in upon them and they poured it out in the Spirit Gods work was wonderfull and thus being upon the Lords Day gathered they found such spiritual fierings and fillings That evil spirit oft assaults the souls of Gods Saints when they are solitary single and severed Matth 4.1 But the good Spirit of God descends upon the soules of his servants met in their solemn assemblies One well observes that the dry bones which the Prophet saw Ezek. 37. the Spirit of God did not enliven them while they lay scattered in the field but when the bones came together bone to his bone then the Spirit of life came into them and they stood up upon their feet vers 7 8 9. Thus Gods servants when together they are upon the Sabbath assembled then these kindlings and comfortable quickenings come Yea though their hearts and thoughts were all the week more scattered about in the world yet they are better gathered in to the Lord upon the Sabbath-day And the souls of Gods people put into such a Sabbath-posture are most prompt and best prepared for comfortable converse with God in the Spirit And in the Spirit on the Lords day some actually are that so they may the better For present receive the mysteries of Faith and For future perform the duties of obedience Faith That the apprehensions of this may hereby be enlarged and man unto the Dimensions hereof may hereby be better enabled By being in the Spirit a Christian is made more able to reach out unto the lengths breadths heights depths of faith and by believing to find out and fetch in the vast Mysteries of God in the Gospel Gospel-truths vailed are hereby clearly revealed and closely received Hence St. John came to receive such close and clear revelations from God which he could never have reached had he not on the Lords day been in the Spirit His whole Book that is so mysterious to others Jerom. epist ad Paulin. things therein were perspicuous to him To him therefore several of the Ancients so apply that Ambros lib. 3. de Spir. Sancto cap. 21. August de civit Dei lib. 20. cap. 17. Revel 22.1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life clear as Crystal proceedinding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. Things to him issued from God all pure and clear This made John the Baptist a greater Prophet then Esay or any other before him things intricate to others were explicate to him Now the Apostle could not have been capable of such clear discoveries had he not been first in the Spirit upon the Lords day Upon the Lords day being in the Spirit a Christian rides in the Chariot of faith triumphant from earth yea possibly as out of Hell into Heaven where he sees those glorious mysteries of mercie that concerns his souls comfort yea and what may be of singular concernment for the souls of others Obedience That the several conditions of this may be the better fulfilled Both in service And suffering Gods servants by being in the Spirit are abundantly fitted Both for Affliction And Action Act. 20.22 23 24. And now sayes the Apostle behold I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there save that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me But none of these things move me neither count I my life dear to my self so that I may finish my course with joy and the Ministery which I have received of the Lord to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God O what a fixed frame of heart had the holy Apostle to honour God both By doing And dying He was bound in the Spirit The Spirit that is compared to winde did now upon the Apostle blow with such a full gale that he went as a ship full saile unto the Port God had appointed The spirit of this good man did not hang loose but was girt up to go thorow with the work whatever came The Spirit hemm'd it about loosened him from all that might any way hinder but so gathered up his heart for God and the Gospel as to further him in his way and work One telling a Martyr that it was hard to burn It is indeed said he for him that hath his soul liâ—ked to his body as a Theefs foot in his fetters but for him that hath his soul set above his body it is easie to burn Kindle fire I come Saviour Another having put one foot into the flame steps back saying The flesh shrinks and sayes On earth it is better to burn The Spirit sayes In heaven it is sweet to shine The flesh sayes wilt thou shorten thy life The Spirit sayes It is nothing nothing to life eternal The flesh sayes Wilt thou leave thy friends The Spirit sayes Christ and his Saints society is better c. And so in the power of the Spirit he flings himself into the fiercest flames And the souls of Gods Saints may expect such Spiritual supports in the dayes of their suffering who serving God have been in the Spirit on the Lords day The truth of all which some have sensibly found 2. That others of Gods Saints possibly may find their souls thus in the Spirit on the Lords day This proved By the properties of the Lords Spirit towards them and By the properties of their spirits towards the Lord. As for the Spirit of the
Lords Day 2. We shall consider their spirits towards the Lord For suitablenesse And capablenesse For the pliablenesse and Indefatigableness of them 1. Suitable are the spirits of Saints to the Lord Christ Christ and the things of Christ and the spirit of a Saint so suite That his Spirit hath onely a sympathy with them And they onely can satisfie his Spirit The sympathy of a good mans spirit is with the things of Christ His heart hath a kind of Antipathy to things of an other nature Even the things of the world his Spirit opposes refuses rises if of them any tenders be to take him off from Christ When Valence the Emperour sent to Basil the offer of great preferments the good mans spirit was up in an anger and made this answer Let him offer these ratles to children and not to Christians When some bade stop Luthers mouth with preferments one of his Adversaries answered It is no boot that Germane Beast cares not for gold God himself sayes Luther shall not put me off with these things Hooper when one offered him a pardon for life if he would recant he cryed out If you love my soul away with it For Gods sake away away with it But to such men the things of Christ truths of Christ waies of Christ Words of Christ Commands of Christ do accord And herein also are the Spirits of Gods Saints satisfied How was it with that holy man who replyed to his friend Speak to me while you will no words can satisfie me except you mention Christ Write to me what you please it will not satisfie me unlesse in your letters I may read Christ Give me never so much I cannot be satisfied except you help me to somewhat of Christ Christ and the things of Christ were onely things that satisfied the spirit of this precious man Suitable things are ready to run into one another to mix and hold fast together This made Nebuchadnezzars Image to fall asunder because it was made up of such unsuitable matter things of such a differing nature This makes famous professors to fall and divers to desert Christ because the things of Christ do not suite to their spirits The spirits of sincere Saints are agreeable to gracious objects the very frame of their hearts is fitted to the waies of truth and holinesse Among good things with that which is best their spirits best agree The more holy and pure any person or Ordinance is the better there with their spirits accord The new nature and settled temper of their spirits is most suitable to the Lord himself and may not they be in the Spirit upon the Lords Day 2. Capable are the spirits of Gods servants to take in of the Lord largely Their hearts are compared to Vialls Revel 5.8 A Viall is a vessel narrow beneath and wide above The hearts and spirits of good men are more closed downward and more open upward Of enlarged capacities Christ-ward And though of Christs fulnesse they have already received grace for grace yet there is room to receive more In these two we may comfortably conclude there 's room viz. Gods glorious heaven and Mans gracious heart As God in his heaven hath more room for good men So good men in their hearts have more room for God Holy mens spirits are let out and their hearts made wide By Godly sorrowes for sin and By earnest desires for God By Godly sorrowes Christians cast out sin Beata anima quae est instardomus Jacobi in qua nulla simulaâ—hra nulla effigies vanitatis Amb. de fuga secuâ— cap. 5. and so make more room for Christ in their hearts Hence the heart of a holy man is made as the house of Jacob in which is no place allowed for the least representation of vanity the very images of evil thoughts are thrown out and the whole house is set apart for the precious things of God and the more plenty of these appearing the more he labours heart-enlargement As the rich man Luk. 12. when he saw plenty of Corn upon the ground he pulls down his barns and builds greater that he may have more room to receive in such fruits Thus a Godly man by repentance pulls down his heart he sees it is too narrow for the vast things of God and thereupon labours to make his heart as capacious as possible And by every penitential breaking builds it better By earnest desires also after God he brings his heart into a better and bigger capacity O whom Lord have I in heaven but thee and who on earth do I desire besides thee Psal 73. Yea for Sabbath-enjoyments of God the Spirit of a pious man pants Psal 42.1 2. He even faints for more full fellowships and fruitions of God As against sin he thinks his heart can never be close enough shut So for God he thinks his heart can never be wide enough open Of sin he would fain have lesse when he hath least and when he hath most of God he yet desires more And by such wayes the soul of a Saint is set wider for God and thus the spirits of Christians become more capable to take in more largely the things of the Lord and may not they then be in the Spirit on the Lords day 3. Plyable are the spirits of Gods people for the Lord to let out themselves freely Their hearts towards the Lord are waxy and willing in all wayes of well-pleasing Judg. 5.9 Psal 110.3 Being oyled with an holy Unction And wheeled with holy affections The oyl of grace is poured upon the hidden man of the heart which makes all the spiritual members of the new man to be agil and nimble for God As it is said to Christ Heb. 1.9 God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladnesse above thy fellowes So may we say to the soul of a Saint God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of grace and goodnesse above thy fellowes The heart it is first and most sanctified and therefore may well be most free and forward for God In man no marvel the sensitive powers and corporal parts are lesse plyable As the oyntment was first and most poured upon the head of Aaron and from thence drops went down to his beard and skirts of his garments Thus the oyl of grace is primarily and principally upon the heart of a Christian and from thence it descends into all the powers parts of the man so that this hath cause to come in first and come off freest for God as indeed it daily does When other parts rest the heart runs Yea the heart of a holy man is set upon such wheeles as make it move quick for Christ Judgement cleared affections fired 1 Chron. 29.3 I have sayes David set my affection to the house of my God and hence he was so lively and liberal labouring to lift up the honour of God in preparing for him a house The dispositions and affections in the soul of a Saint
are such as that his heart is prompt prepared for every precept purpose and providence O God my heart is prepared my heart is prepared sayes David One observes how he doubles the expression to imply he was willing to a differing condition Paratum cor meum ad prospera paratum ad adversa paratum ad sublimia paratum ad humilia paratum ad universa quae preceperis c. Bern. Ser. 2. de quadrages If God would have him high or low rich or poor a shepherd again or a Prince still His heart was prepared prepared Thus is it with a pious man his heart is prepared to put on after God in any condition his Spirit is upon such wheels of love to the Lord that he is oft carried out beyond and before he is aware Cant. 6.12 Or ever I was aware my soul made me as the Chariots of Amminadib The spirit of the Spouse did unexpectedly rise and run out after Christ as a Chariot upon the wheeles And are the spirits of Gods Saints set into such a frame for the Lord and may not they be in the Spirit on the Lords day 4. Indefatigable are the spirits of Gods people in following the Lord. In Gods worship their spirits are unwearied when their bodies are weakened Their spirits may be weary in but are never weary of any worship of God or any work for God in his worship their hearts and minds Being pitched down And girt up for God The heart of a holy man is pitched down and firmly resolved for God his mind does not fluctuate hover and waver in unsettled uncertainties he is not upon demurs and disputes confers not with flesh and blood Baron An. 261. num 30. Cyprian that blessed Martyr when the Governour bad him advise with himself answered Sir do your office in a righteous cause I am not now to resolve A man of a wavering spirit is soon wearied out and wrought off from God A good man indeed his heart is fixed for God though he be not fixed firmely in the wayes of God yet for the wayes of God he is firmely fixed Though he hath some doubtings in his way yet he hath not doubtings of his way and so walks on unweariedly His heart will not be tyred or turned out Yea the heart of a holy man is girt up and closely united to God his mind is not divided between the Lord and the world Frederick the Elector of Saxony who was a prisoner to Charles the fifth being offered liberty and dignity if he would come to Masse answered I have but one Master one soul and one Saviour I dare not serve two A man of a double heart that halts between God and Baal God and Mammon never holds out He may seem for a while to out-run many but he will be weary A gracious man his spirit is not onely for God gathered in one but it is so knit up as to be one with God 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit and hence he holds out to the end never weary And they who in the wayes of the Lord are of such unwearied spirits may not they be in the Spirit on the Lords day There is none of Gods Servants but possibly now may be as some of the servants of God cettainly have been upon the Lords day in the Spirit I was in the Spirit upon the Lords day The USE IS Of Information Of Exhortation 1. This may clearly declare the ill case of two kinds of men neither of which are in the Spirit on the Lords day Some that are not nor possibly can Some that pâ—ssibly may yet are not 1. 'T is the sad case of all unsanctified men they neither are nor possibly can be upon the Lords day in the Spirit This will plainly appear considering Both what they be And what they do Men remaining in a sinful estate we may observe what they be Both privatively And positively Privatively They cannot be in the Spirit on the Lords day because They be without the Spirit of the Lord And towards the Lord they be without spirit 1. As men in natures estate are without God and without Christ Ephes 2.12 so they are without the holy Spirit Rom. 8.9 Jude 19. As when man was to be created the three Persons they all concur Let us make man Gen. 1.26 And no sooner is man corrupted but they all conclude with a Let us leave man So that every sinful man is forsaken of God the Father Son and holy Ghost Such men be without Gods holy and blessed Spirit whether we consider Some more prophane Others more refined Men that expresse nothing but vice and vanity sons of Belial chief servants to the Divel such as do that for the Divel as he cannot do for himself Satan himself because of spiritual being cannot commit many sins But men that herein they may fulfil his will they run into drunkennesse and all kind of corporal uncleannesse they swear and curse steale and commit adultery and wallow in all worldly filthinesse and have they the Spirit of holinesse Men whose mouthes are as that Gate of Jerusalem out at which was carried forth all the filth of the City Their throats are as open Sepulchres their tongues are set on fire of hell and have they the holy Spirit of God in their hearts Other men there are who professe better They speak high but live low Their voice is Jacobs but their hands are Esaus Like Peters fish that had silver in the mouth but none in the belly Nothing of the spirit appears in their waies yet much of the Spirit may be heard in their words As if the Dove were in their Arks onely and none had the Spirit of God but they Thus Muncer the Anabaptist while he called Luther a spiritlesse man a silly soule one without the Spirit of God he pretended himself to be all full of the Spirit c. Men may think they have the Spirit yet not have the Spirit which they think And indeed whatever any unregenerate man think they all are without the good Spirit of God They cannot have the Spirit who are not born of the Spirit and they who never yet all their daies were born of the spirit they cannot be in the Spirit on the Lords Day On the Lords Day a man may not be in the Spirit that yet every day dwells the Spirit in him And can they be on the Lords Day in the Spirit of God who to this day have not Gods in-dwelling Spirit in them 2. Such men God-ward are without spirit As Absalom stole away the peoples hearts from David So sin and Satan hath enticed and taken away all these mens hearts from God Hose 4.11 Or else the world hath so won upon them that their hearts and spirits are gone God-ward The Queen of Sheba when she was at King Solomons Court and saw the house he had built and the meat of his table and the sitting of his servants
and the attendance of his Ministers and their apparell and his cup-bearers and his ascent c. There was no more spirit in her 1. King 10.4 5. Thus the honours pleasures and profits of the world do so work upon the hearts of many that they have no more spirit left in them Without Spirit That is Without judgement to know and Without courage to doe the will of God Without judgement to discern good Hose 7.11 Ephraim is a silly Dove without heart Gods Saints are as Innocent doves without gall and others are as silly doves without heart without any wisdom of spirit The spirit of man sayes Solomon is the candle of the Lord. Many a man is a dark Lanthorn without a candle having in him no knowing spirit to give him light he gropes after God in the dark Act. 17.23 So without courage to pursue any saving good or withstand any destructive evill when they should stand up in Gods cause and soules defence they have no spirit Joshua 5.1 When the Kings of the Amorites and all the Kings of the Canaanites heard that the Lord had dryed up the waters of Jordan from before the Children of Israel so thâ—t they were passed over their hearts mâ—lâ—ed neither was there spirit in them any more We seâ— severall men Who though set in a superiour station And though of Christ they make a visible profession Yet if any difficultie appear or danger approach they have no spirit for God is or good only their care is to secure themselves The King of Navarre when Beza blamed him for his spiritlessenesse in the cause of Christ he replyed That for Christian religion he would lanch no further to sea then if a storm did arise he might be sure himself to return safe to shoare Men who thus towards the Lord are without spirit they cannot be in the Spirit on the Lords Day Positively It is not possible such persons on the Lords Day should be in the Spirit Because In the flesh They be in the flesh which is evill And they be in an Evill Spirit Flesh It is in several Texts taken for that which is lawfull and good Psalme 79.2 Eph. 5.13 Rom. 9.3 1. Cor. 7.18 But Flesh ordinarily intimates that which is evill and naught as mans naturall corruption and sinfull condition 1. Cor. 5.5 Coloss 2.13 Gala. 5.24 1 Pet. 4.6 c. In this flesh are all unregenerate men Rom. 7.5 Rom. 8.8 Not onely flesh in them that is the case of the best Christians Rom. 7.18 but in the flesh as a fish in the water Not onely sin in them but they in sin as the Leviathan in the Sea In sin they sport and take delight They live in sin and yet are dead in sin Sin is as the Sepulchre in which they lie dead and buried they lie in sin as a swine in the slow They are in sin as a Malefactor in his fetters in the Gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity Act. 8.23 They are so in sin as they are nothing but sin so in the flesh that they are all and only flesh We may say of such mens persons prayers services hopes and hearts as the Prophet of the Egyptian horses they are flesh and not spirit Isay 31.3 These therefore cannot be in the Spirit on the Lords Day Their fixed condition is in the flesh Yea on the Lords Day they cannot be in this good Spirit of God For They have an evill spirit in them And they are in an evill spirit An evill spirit is in them Eph. 2 2. The spirit that now works in the children of disobedience The Greek hath two in 's The Spirit does inwork in them to signifie how exceeding inward Satan that evill spirit is at work in wicked men Every sinfull soule is such an Ark wherein is the Raven though not the Dove the Divell though not the Spirit of God Though in them is not the Holy Spirit yet the unclean spirit is in them Matth. 12.44 The unclean spirit saith I will return into my house The Divels house is every evil heart We see there the house may be swept and garnisht yet the Divels swept A man may be free from some grosse pollutions horrid thoughts of Atheisme Blasphemy Butchery of the Lords Lambs may be thrown out of the heart Garnished A man may be furnished with gifts parts performances a fair outward profession some flashes of good affection yet he may be the house wherein the Divel dwels Jam. 4.5 Do ye think the Scripture saith in vain The spirit that dwells in us lusteth to envy He speaks of us as men not of us as Saints In all men naturally the evil spirit dwells A spirit that moves to all lusts of envy hypocrisie pride infidelity sensuality Can they who have such an evil spirit in them be in the Spirit on the Lords day Yea but this is worse they are in an evil spirit Mark 1.23 And there was a man with an unclean spirit In an unclean spirit the Greek reads it So Mark 5.2 When Jesus was come out of the ship there met him a man in an unclean spirit Every sinful man is in Satan as in a Prison in the Divel as in a Dungeon In the power of the Divel Act. 26.18 In the snare of the Divel 2 Tim. 2.26 In the mouth of the Divel as Jonah in the belly of the Whale Yea sinful men they are strongly acted and they do strangely act in this evil spirit and therfore they cannot be in any spirit that is good upon the LORDS DAY 2. Such cannot be on the Lords day in the Spirit appears by what they daily do Both in respect of their own spirits God-ward And in respect of the Spirit of God They cannot be in the Spirit on the Lords day For They draw their spirits from the Lord And against the Lord they turn their spirits 1. From the Lord they withdraw their spirirs Whereas Gods dear Saints when their bodies are brought into bonds or are bound upon their beds yet then they in holy worships engage their hearts to approach near to God Jer. 30.21 But other men when in outward worships their bodies be brought in to God yet then they remove their hearts far off from God Esay 29.13 A good man watches his heart to hold it in to God he does not slip away his heart from God though while he is with God his heart may give him the slip This made a holy man in the midst of prayer cry out O Lord August in 2 Sam. 7. â—7 my heart hath left both thee and me But every sinful man he takes his heart off and turns it away from God As the Levite Judg. 19 divided his Concubine and sent her several parts into all the coasts of Israel thus many a man when he should bring in his heart and knit it up for God he divides it and sends it into all the parts of the world leaving none for God True Christians though God makes
them suffer yet their hearts stick to God All this is com upon us yet our heart is not turned back though thou hast sore broken us c. Psal 44.17 yea when Satan makes them sin yet their hearts hold to God 'T is said of Peter his heart did not forsake Christ when his tongue denied him Corde tenuit illum quem voce negavit Greg. But these men when they do not outwardly sin yet in heart they go away from God They do not onely in heart fall back but they draw back their hearts from God Heb. 10.38 Now they that thus daily draw back their spirits from God they cannot be in the Spirit on the Lords day 2. Against the Lord they turn their spirits The spirits of all unconverted are turned against God Both by Original corruption And by actual rebellion Rom. 8.7 The carnal mind is enmity against God 'T is more then if he had said The carnal man is an enemy to God The mind the best part of corrupt man is enmity which notes monstrous malevolence The Greek word is in the plural Enmities To import multiplyed perversnesse As there are many excellencies in God for man so there are many enmities in man against God Enmities against all the Attributes of God Enmities against all the Ordinances of God Enmities against all the actings of God in the world The spirit of man from his birth is bitterly bent and utterly turned against God But further every man does act up his spirit in rebellion against God blessed for ever Turns his spirit against God This Eliphas does falsly charge upon that good man Job 15.13 But this charge may truly be drawn up against every evil man he turns his spirit makes his mind to swell against God The least risings of spirit against God a good man groans under and grieves for Hieron epest 32. ad Abiga There is nothing once said a precious man that I have all my life more laboured against then a swelling mind a stiffe neck and a stubborn heart A wicked man he hardens his heart stiffens his neck and turns his spirit against God He heightens his inward corruption and becomes a hearty enemy against God by thoughts words and deeds Col 1.21 Or if there be outward restraints from evil works yet his spirit is turned against God The impenitent theefe when his body was nailed to the Crosse yet his spirit was turned against Christ A mans body may be bound from sin and yet his heart bent against God The bow of the bad heart may be bent up though no arrowes of evil works or words be shot out Peter Martyr in Genes A Learned Writer makes the Rain-bow in the heavens an admirable Embleme of peace For though sayes he we see a bow yet we see no string or arrow An unregenerate mans heart is a bow that hath both strings and arrows The strings of the bow are the corruptions and ill dispositions of the heart and the arrows are the evil cogitations and thoughts thereof A multitude of these arrows a man le ts fly in the face of God which argues the acted enmity of his heart against God he is at heartwarre with his spirit is bent against the Lord such cannot be in the Spirit on the Lords day Lastly on the Lords day these cannot be in the Spirit For The gifts of the Spirit they abuse and The grace of the Spirit they oppose 1. The Spirit of God in the gifts thereof they pervert The Holy Ghost helps them to knowledge remembrance utterance c. These they take and turn them to a wrong use As the Israleites who took their ear-rings jewells and bracelets of gold and therewith made an Idol As the Divell he hath large knowledge and great abilities but of all he makes an ill use so it is his design upon sinfull men that whatever good things God gives them for his praise and their profit may be imployed to their harme and Gods dishonour As Eve whom God gave to Adam for his meetest help was made the Engine of his greatest hurt Of this rib sayes one the divell made a dart and wounded man to death with that should have sweetened his life Basil Divers act the Divells part they take things given them for their chiefest good and turn them to the greatest evil CoÌ„rruptio optimi pessimi As the divells could never have been such vile and venemous spirits as they are had they not once had excellencies above other creatures And so there are several that could never have been so transcendently sinfull in prodigious opinions and practices as now they be had they not had rare parts and admirable abilities above their Brethren And can we think that they who thus abuse the gifts of the Spirit should be in the Spirit on the Lords Day 2. The Spirit of God in the graces thereof they resist Act. 7.51 Ye stifnecked and uncircumcised in heart and cares ye do alwaies resist the Hâ—ly Ghost viz. in all his gracious workings Men who make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof they make opposition against the Spirit and withstand the works thereof And though as with bellowes they blow up the Divells fire yet as with buckets of filth they quench out the sparks of the Spirit As when the Angells were entred into Lots house the men of Sodom from every quarter compassed the house by force and fury to fetch them forth Genes 19.3 Thus when any good motions enter into the hearts and minds of some men they are up in arms and out of quiet till they can crush them and cast them forth How oft do they in effect say to the Spirit as Pharaoh to Moses Get thee from me see my face no more till at length the Spirit replyes to them as Moses to Pharaoh Be it as thou-hast said Lo I will see thy face no more for ever Exodus 10.28.29 Some when they are in soule affrighted they would have the peace of the Spirit to calme them but though they are in sin polluted they will not have the grace of the Spirit to cleanse them And because they regard not the grace of the Spirit they resist the Spirit of grace And can such be in the Spirit upon the Lords Day Indeed the Lords Day is the main time they thus gainsay the Spirit of God upon the Sabbath-day they most beat back Gods blessed Spirit and can they this day be in the Spirit Object Upon the day of the Sabbath sure some sinfull men meet with Spirituall movings and therefore they may this day be in the Spirit Answer By way of concession By way of distinction Upon the Lords day as at other times men may by a false spirit be forcibly moved have stronge impulses strange raptures and revelations from a lying spirit As the Divell can transform himself into an Angell of Light so he can conforme himself to the Spirit of Light And as Satan can in
that people must not be content except in Ordinances they come up to God And cannot the experience of many Christians speak that among us through mercy they meet with much of God And are we separated from God And what cause have they to separate from us Yea if with us there be sufficient means for salvation then they have no sufficient cause for their separation For salvation have not we with us meanes sufficient Meanes apt and able to bring home and build up proper and prevalent through God for converting of sinners and confirming of Saints If any shall seek a proof of Christ speaking in us the Apostles answer is proper Prove your own selves examine your selves whether you be in the faith Know ye not your own selves c. 2. Cor. 13.4 5. If their soules were ever sensible of any saving good let them consider our Assemblies Through our way of worshipping God lies there no path to life everlasting What will they say to those Martyrs and precious men that are dead and gone And what will they say to those thousands of Gods dear Saints that yet live and with us worship God with love and delight Must they be all shut out of heaven If not why do these then separate themselves on earth Many effects bad both to themselvet and others Some we feel and More we fear Hence are our desired unions broke and hoped reformations stopped and monstrous deformations and divisions come instead Pharez is born when we looked for Zarah Genes 38.27 c. Tamar being in the time of her â—t raval behold twins were in her womb And it came to passe when she travelled then one put out his hand and the Mid-wife bound thereon a scarlet thred saying This came out first And it came to passe as he drew back his hand behold his brother came out and she said How hast thou broken forth This breach be upon thee therefore his name was called Pharez And after his brother came out that had the scarlet thred on his hand and his name was called Zarah Have not we in this Land had our time of travell and hath not a sweet settlement and good government sometimes been brought so neer the birth that we have said This will come out first But how hath it been drawn back and such a Monster born of which we may say How hast thou broken forth This and that breach be upon thee Breaches at home breaches abroad wars continued strifes encreased civill States disturbed Protestant Nations perplexed brotherly Leagues and Covenants laid violate contrary to all civill sacred and religious bonds What bloody breaches have been made but above all sad and bad is our breach with God This breach be upon thee c. Since some have forsaken our assemblies O what abundance of others are broken off from all the Ordinances and holy worship of God from the Sabbath and service of God! O what a Spirit of Atheisme fills mens heads hearts and houses How are the exercises of religion laid by yea left off both in publike and private Yea how do men break out in waies of profanenesse to the shame not onely of their persons but of our religion and Nation This Breach be upon thee Men ceasing that which is good soon pursue that which is evil Men who cast off the worship of God will easily follow the works of the Divell This dividing and rending spirit that moves men to make such separations and schisms of which there are sequells so sad sure is not the Sprit of God 2. A ranting spirit that sets men upon sensuall practices and pleasures is not the Spirit of God Jude 19. Sensuall having not the Spirit The Spirit of God and the sensuall delights of the flesh are utterly opposite though the lusts of the flesh and spirit of the Devil do easily accord A man led by a loose spirit loves that which suits his sinfull lusts and carnall contents Micah 2.11 If a man walking in the spirit and falshood do lie saying I will prophesie unto thee of wine and strong drink he shall even be the Prophet of this people Not any will so forwardly forcibly prophesy of wine strong drink as the man who walks in a spirit of falshood With these things he thinks to content others they being the things wherewith himself is most pleased As Saul possessed with an evill spirit nothing could quiet him but instruments of musick while one was by him curiously playing upon the Harpe his heart was refreshed 1 Sam. 16.23 Thus some their sweetest refreshment and greatest contentments are in the merriments of the world in revelling and rioting luxury and sensual delicacies indulging the delights of the flesh such as stretch out their wits for to rear up their lusts setting off their abominable vices with plausible pretences to cover their carnall nature they run over Scripture and speake much of the Spirit they may live the more in the flesh As Rachel that sits over her fathers Idols and sayes It is with her after the manner of women Thus they brood and hide their filthy designes and say it is with them after the manner of men moved by the Spirit But 't is not the Spirit of God that moves in these men Men may be strangely acted onely by a Spirit of error And as at other times so also upon the Lords day lift up by a spirit of delusion This lying and deluding spirit As in some things he may seemingly take the way So he may at sometimes subtilly take the day viz. Of the usual workings of Gods holy Spirit that he may the more undiscernably deceive the souls of sinful men and women As Satan crept into Paradise and in that place beguiled our first Parents So he gets into the Sahbath and upon this day seduces divers persons J b 1.6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord add Satan came also among them He seemed as if on that day he had something to do as well as they Though undoubtedly whatever this evil spirit does is not to bring men to a care of and love to the Sabbath as it is the Lords holy day But his drift indeed is to draw men to an idle neglect and a low esteem of this day of the Sabbath 2. Upon the Sabbath men may have many Spititual motions from the good Spirit of God Movings of the Spirit in them and Yet they no movings in the Spirit As the Spirit of God upon the Sabbath moves in sanctified souls So likewise may he then move in sinful and unsanctified hearts Here observe Wherein it may be evidenced and Whereby it may be differenced Good evidence may be given that Gods Spirit may move in sinful men upon the Sabbath-day so as that in respect of spiritual good things they may be brought To Observe Discern Assent To Admire Affect Resolve 1. The Spirit may so move as that men may much observe
what is said upon the Sabbath concerning things Spiritual and Eternal not barely to hear but to hearken not onely to imploy the ear but to apply the mind to mark things mentioned to consider and ponder what is preached and pressed When our Saviour upon the Sabbath preached the Gospel in the Synagogue of Galilee the people were so moved that they pressed with eagernesse to lesson and learn what he delivered Luk. 5.1 Thus people may possibly under the preaching or the Gospel have their thoughts so helped and their hearts so held as to heed what they hear 2. Gods Spirit may upon the Sabbath so move as that men may discern and see much into the matters of God and according to the Word of God become very knowing Divine things may not onely be opened to their understanding but their understandings open to things Divine Numb 24.4 Heb. 6.4 Through the Spirit their minds may so be enlightened and their eyes so opened that into the good things of the Gospel they may have a great insight Their heads may be gold though their feet be clay Their understandings may have light though their affections no heat Though the tree of life be not yet planted that may bring forth fruit unto God yet they may have a tree of knowledge so full of leaves that therewith they may flourish in the World 3. Gods Spirit may move upon the Sabbath so as men may assent to the truth of Gods revealed will so as to believe the reports God hath made in his Word to be all infallibly true A man may be brought to yield such an allowance and to give that credit to whatever God speaks in Scripture that his soul may secretly say Truth Lord. Though that which most transcends reason as the mysteries of the Gospel yet to each the soul inwardly sayes Truth Lord. Though that which condemns his own course and discovers his own case to be naught yet conscience concludes Truth Lord. That secret way is sinful sayes God and must be broken from Yea sayes the man Lord I believe it That way is holy just and good and must be walked in Lord I believe it That is necessary to be sought and that is worthy to be embraced Lord I believe it Luk. 8.13 Act. 8.13 All which is brought on by the blessed Spirit of God 4. Gods Spirit may so on the Sabbath incite as to set men in admiring at the greatnesse of Gods grace and mercy wondring at Gods works and words Luk. 4.14 Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee and taught in their Synagogues on the Sabbath day there they admired him and he was glorified of them all After he came to Nazareth and went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath-day where preaching upon some part of the Prophet Esay the people before him witnessed and wondred at the gracious words that proceeded out at his mouth Luk. 4.17 18 22. 5. Gods Spirit may be so inciting upon the Sabbath-day as that men may be much moved to affect the good things of God hereby they may be brought To desires of them and To delights in them Spiritual good things men may be desirous of When our Saviour in a Sermon Joh. 6. preached about the Bread which comes down from heaven and giveth life to the World some of his hearers were so stirred that they broke out saying Lord ever give us this Bread Thus when men hear of heavenly things their hearts may spring witn desires and their souls secretly say O Lord ever give us this good Yea with joy may their hearts dance and leap Luk. 8.13 Thus some rejoyced in the Ministery of John the Baptist Joh. 5.35 With gladnesse of heart did Herod hear him Mark 6.20 6. Gods Spirit may on the Sabbath so move as that men may resolve upon obedience to God and his holy Commands Deut. 5.27 Go thou near say the people to Moses and hear all that the Lord our God shall say and speak thou to us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee and we will hear it and do it Jer. 42.4 5 6. I will pray sayes the Prophet to the people unto the Lord your God and whatever the Lord shall answer I will declaer to you and keep nothing back Then they said to Jeremiah The Lord be a true and faithfull witnesse between us if we do not according to all things for which the Lord thy God shall send thee to us Whether it be good or evil we will obey the voice of the Lord our God Thus people under the Gospel their hearts may be wrought to a real resolving upon the right way not onely something perswaded but their present purposes pitched to practise and prosecute that which is good These and such like good movings may the Spirit of Grace have upon the hearts of sinful men upon the day of the Sabbath and yet are far from being like Gods Saints in the Spirit upon the Lords day Now between these there is a discernable difference Gods Saints upon the Sabbath are so in the Spirit as no other ever are Those Spiritual motions that are in other hearts may be found defective in a four fold respect Viz. of Depth Breadth Heigth and Length For depth Those Spiritual movings that are in carnal hearts are but superficial and shallow they do not reach down into the inmost parts of the heart in deep humblings and soul-afflictings so as at first to lay the foundation deep A man admires the mercy of God in Christ but does not abhor himself for sin in the dust as that dear Saint of God who when he was affected and wondred at the glory of God he saw he also reflecting upon his own infirmities abhorred himself in dust and ashes Job 42.2 Gods Saints are first moved to deep and bitter self-bemoaning sorrowes Jer. 31.18 and after comes in sweet soul-quickning comforts Matth. 5.4 Others are like that stony ground Matth. 13.20 who when they heard the Word immediately they received it with much joy the seed sprung upward but downward took no deep rooting as in the good ground Luk. 8.13 14 15. When the Spirit moves upon true believers it makes them to bottom well to dig deep and lay the foundation on a rock and then raise their building in holy resolutions and sweet affections with suitable performances but others all the motions they feel puts them upon some fair buildings without any deep bottomings Matth. 7. Luk. 6. For breadth Those Spiritual movings that are in carnal hearts are but straitened and narrow they do not spread out either in respect Of subject Or object They do not reach out into all the powers of the soul so as to take up the whole soul for God Thus does the Spirit move in the Saints of God having a wonderful work in the whole soul so as that they are set about God and good with their whole heart and whole desires 2 Chron. 15.5 All their joyes and desires are in
Philistines make war against me and God is departed from me and answereth mâ— no more neither by Prophets nor by dreames c. He does not say God is departed from his Prophets God is departed from his ordinary waies of answer but God is departed from me c. Persons that do not find profit by the Word should misdoubt their own conditions for Gods Word does good to them that walk uprightly Micah 2.7 Such as say God is gone from publike ordinances it argues their hearts are gone if their bodies be with us they do but learn the Language of such as are gone from us both in body and Heart But God is with us Object None have such comfortable discoveries of God by the the Spirit as some that are departed from publick Assemblies Answ Some that have been damnable seducers have given out that they through the Spirit have had glorious discoveries of God The Spirit of God descending upon our Saviour like a Dove when he had heaven opened and God speaking This is my beloved Son Matth. 3.16 17. in allusion thereto and imitation thereof a grand Impostor having taught a white Pigeon to take pease out of his ear reported to the people that it was the holy Ghost imparting the mind of God to him in most comfortable Mysteries for the which he was much admired of many And our Saviour having promised the sending of the Spirit the Comforter that should make known all things from the Father Alsted Chronolo Haeresium 38. pag. 382. Joh. 14. One impudently affirmed not onely that he had extraordinary Spiritual comforts from God but that he was the very Spirit of God the Comforter and that God had sent him to make known most comfortable messages to the Churches of Christ whereupon he had many favourers and followers Luther cites several sects in his time who though they fled from the Word as Owles from the light yet they pretended to high raptures and ravishments through the Spirit and tâ—us especially the prime leaders with lyes as loadstones drew parties after them c. And there are in our dayes divers whose language it loud of large discoveries they have from and comforts they have in God through the Spirit never so as since they separated from our publick Assemblies before they were full of fears and doubts but now they are in the firmest settlements and fullest assurance free from all sad thoughts filled with the joyes and comforts of the holy Ghost having intimate acquaintance with the mind of God and understanding in the deep Mysteries of Christ This I shall onely say that if it be really so let us see more of it Both in their lives and actions And in their deaths and afflictions In the actings of their lives how little of the power of this appears Either towards God above them Or towards men about them If they say they now see and know so mâ—â—h taste and partake so much trust and confide so much in God let them evidence it by their exact actings and strict livings so as to out strip others in all goodnesse kindnesse meeknesse mercifulnesse c. As the Apostle speaks to the man who boasts of his belief Shew me thy faith by thy works Jam. 2. So may we say to such Let them shew their comforts and confidence in God by their holy working humble walking sin-subduing self-denying loving those that they count their enemies and praying for those they call their persecutors Math. 5.46 47. That saying of our Saviour to the Pharisees may fitly be applyed If ye love them which love you what reward have you Do not even the Publicans the same And if ye salute your brethren onely what do you more then others Do not even Publicans so c Nay instead of doing more then others in their conversations and actions they expresse lesse of the power of godlinesse and practice of holinesse keep lesse to the rules of righteousnesse and in the paths of peaceablenesse then other Christians do and yet they speak of higher raptures greater discoveries sweeter comforts stronger confidence then other Christians have I question whether these be any more then self-deceiving conceits arising from Satans-subtil designs 2. In their deaths and daies of deep distresse how little likewise do they lay forth of that firm confidence and those full comforts they speak of in God It were easy to instance from among the Anabaptists and such other Sects how especially the prime leaders who have spoken of raptures and ravishing revelations by the Spirit yet some of them have died ragingly and in a frenzie others stupidly their heart sinking within them like a stone And have not some been seen who have carried it boldly out while the Sun hath been warm under which they have set and while the Sea hath been calme over which they have sailed but when the winds have been rough and their hopes as ships have been wrackt their vapourings have vanished History reports of a river that at every Mid-Summer swelleth and runneth over the bancks but in Mid-Winter is cleane dried up Thus some while they have had prosperous successe their confidence and comforts have risen high but when they have been down in the depths of their distresse all have been damped and dashed to the dust As Pharaohs Chariots that carried him fast and ran swift upon the Land but when they were in the Sea then they went heavy and their wheeles fell off The Jewes said of our Saviour Let us see him come down from the Crosse we will believe in him But of such we may say Let us see them go up to the Cross let us see how they can look death devill God in the face keeping up the heights of their comforts confidence and then we may the better believe them In the mean while let not Christians believe they may have high comforts heavenly raptures through the Spirit yet neglect holy Ordinances Christian Assemblies the Lords Day and the duties thereof Though some men be in Sabbath-day-duies that are out of the Spirit yet let none think to be in the Spirit that lie out of duties upon the day of the Sabbath As whoever would sail over Sea to a friend in another Land must have both a ship and a wind so whoever would in soul ascend from earth unto God in heaven must have the help Both of Gods holy Ordinances And of Gods holy Spirit The Ordinance as the Ship and The Spirit as the wind As the Ship of an Ordinance cannot move without the wind of the Spirit so the wind of the Spirit will not blow without the Ship of an Ordinance And therefore as a man must desire the wind So he must take care that he be in the Ship else if he goes to Sea his soul will sink and not ascend Some neglect the Ordinances of God and the duties of the Sabbath and therefore are not in the Spirit upon the Lords Day 2. Some others they so
the seventh day the Sabbath day the hearts and souls of Gods Saints are subâ—ect to fall from those heatings and heightenings they then have in duties holy But then they struggle in holy heats of heart to rise higher and to fix faster Psal 108.1 O God my heart is fixed my heart is fixed Fixed and loosened and fixed again Warmed and cooled and kindled again so as that the fire is greater and flame hotter More abounding and abyding through the businesse of Gods blessed day Thus when Gods Spirit flowes in upon us and our spirits fall in with God so as with agility to act and with stability to be set in all sweet wayes of Sabbath-works This is Spiritually to spend the Lords day 2. The Motives that may incite all Gods Saints to such a Spiritual spending the Gospel-Sabbath may arise from things of two sorts observable viz. Some more antecedential and Some more consequential Arguments from things antecedent which may set all the servants of God upon a Spiritual passing this present day may be to consider Sabbath-ward these four things all which we find to be spiritually viz. The Ordainer of it The Ordinances in it The ends for it and The opposits against it 1. The Ordainer of this day the Lord Christ the things Spiritual concerning him we may discern by considering of him Both as he once was And as he now is 1. Christ the Lord of the Sabbath was Spiritual In his Conception and Birth In his Conversation and life In his Passion and death In his Resurrection from the dead And in his Ascension to heaven 1. Christ in his Conception and Birth was spiritual he being conceived of the holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin â—nd the Angel said unto her The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Luk. 1.35 36. 2. Christ in his Conversation and life was Spiritual Lo the heavens were opened uâ—to him and the Spirit of God descending like a Dove lighted upon him Matth. 3.16 Joh. 1.32 His joyes were Spiritual Luk. 10 21. His words were Spiritual Joh. 6.63 All his wayes in the world both towards God and men were Spiritual Heb. 7.26 3. Christ in his Passion and death was Spiritual He through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9.14 Even when he was condemned in the world he was justified in the Spirit 1 Tim. 3.16 4. Christ in his Resurrection from the dead was Spiritual Rom. 1.4 He was declared to be the Son of God by the Spirit of holinesse in his resurrection from the dead Rom. 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus dwell in you c. Christ put to death in the flesh but quickened in the Spirit 1 Pet. 3.18 5. Christ in his Ascension to heaven was Spirituall As he went up to God by a Spiritual assistance so upon a Spiritual design viz. to send down the holy Spirit of promiâ—e Joh. 16.7 It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter the Spirit of truth will not come unto you but if I depaâ—t I will send him unto you which we find fulfilled Act. 1. Act. 2. 2. Christ the Lord of the Sabbath he is Spiritual Both in his positive condition And in his Relative transactions Considered in himself according to his glorified estate he is all Spiritual His blessed body is now brought beyond all humane infirmities filled with beauty clarity agility impassibility immortality through the eternal Spirit In his humbled estate he was endowed and adorned with the Spirit what then in his honoured estate God gave him then the Spirit not by measure Joh. 3.34 O what immense and immeasurable fillings of the Spirit were in a crucified much more in a glorified Christ Such an infinite fulnesse of the Spirit is fixed in Christ whereby he is compleately fitted to the perfect performance of all his excellent offices Yea and Christ in his actings is now every way Spirituall Both in what he does with God for men And in what he does with men for God With God for men Christ hath his Spiritual exercise Christs acting as an Advocate with the Father 1 Job 2. His appearing and pleading our cause in the presence of God Heb. 9.24 His making Intercession at the right hand of God Rom. 8.33 As this is founded in the sufficiency of his Merit So it is performed by the efficiency of his Spirit As a meer man Christ does not manage his Mediatorship with God but Christ in Spirit presents unto God the Father for his members His deserts and His desires Both what for his people he hath purchased and what to his people God hath promised that they may perfectly possesse Joh. 17.21 23 24. And with men for God Christ acts all Spiritually As Christ executes his Priestly office in heaven So he fulfils his Prophetical and Regal office on earth in a way of Spirituâ—l working As with Ordinances by the Spirit does Christ teach So by the Spirit with officers does Christ govern As his Kingdom is Spiritual which he governs So his government is spiritual of his Kingdome It is through the Spirit that Christ does such great things in our dayes as it was through the Spirit that Christ did so many good things in the dayes of his flesh Being anointed with the holy Ghost he went about dâ—ing good Act. 10.38 He now sits on his throne in heaven yet by the holy Ghost he transacts manifold and marvellous things on earth By the Spirit he writes his Law in the hearts of his people and rules his people by the Law in their hearts Leads his flock in the way they should walk and Feeds his flock as they walk in the way c. Thus Christ the Lord of the Sabbath is Spiritual And shall not we be Spiritual in the Sabbath of the Lord 2. The Ordinances in the Lords day are Spiritual likewise Go through all the appointments of God that are for this dayes exercise Are they not Spiritual If we seriously consider things that concern The Word Prayer Sacraments Singing of Psalmes Collections for the poor c. Are they nor all duties to be spiritually done Doth not Both the precepts of God binde us hereto And the practise of the binde us hereto Godly 1. For the Word As it is of a Spiritual nature So it is in a Spiritual manner to be managed Both on the Ministers and On the peoples part Every part of Gods precious Word is Spiritual The Law is Spiritual Rom. 7.14 The Gospel that is Spiritual Rom. 1.11 Yea because the Law in Spirituality comes short of the Gospel the Gospel in glory out-goes the Law As it is excellently opened 2 Cor. 3.6 7 8. They that preach the glorious Gospel that is so surpassingly Spiritual must endeavour to do it in the evidences and efficacies of the Spirit
himself unto his Disciples Joh. 20.19.20 Upon this first day of the week when they were assembled he shewed them His hands and His side Then were they glad Thus upon the Sabbath the Lord shewes to his servants Both his hands And his side His hands That is the great things he hath wrought in them and for them acts of his glorious Attributes His side That is the good thoughts he hath further towards them intendments of eternal good will All which makes for the manifestation of Gods great glory And although we can never mention that glory which God did nor before possesse yet we may manifest that glory of God which our souls did not before perceive We never see the Sun of Gods glory to shine so bright as upon this blessed day It being the very end why this day was blessed that thereon the brightnesse of Gods glory might be the better seen 2. The Sabbath is set up to promote mans good In his spiritual part and In his spiritual estate To wit his soul in the concerments of grace thar he may be cast into a spiritual mould and become a spiritual man The appointments of Sabbath-time is to set and keep souls in a spiritual frame Both by the first infusions of grace And by the further additions of grace Mans heart is hardly put into a spiritual temper and as hardly kept in a spiritul order It would never rise from corruption or soon fall into confusion were it not for Sabbath-assistances Should we have onely week-time and be all for worldly things and have no time of Sabbath for soul-concernments into what an ill case would our souls soon sink As Abraham accounted all his earthly comforts nothing while he went childlesse sonlesse so should we esteem all our worldly enjoyments nothing if we went Sabbathlesse Indeed did we go Sabbathlesse we should be in danger to go Saviourlesse Christlesse heavenlesse to lose God and all that is spiritually good But that we may not lose but gain God and all spiritual good this day is drawn out from the common lump of time and set apart to advance as Gods spiritual praise so mans spiritual profit Thus the ends of the Lords day are spiritual 4. The opposites are spiritual against the day As Satan and Seducing men 1. Satan against the Sabbath-day as he is a spiritual he is a spiteful foe he knowes if he can make this fall other things will fly As the Assyrian General said to his forces Fight neither against great nor small but against the King of Israel So sayes Satan to all his instruments Contend neither with great nor small but with the day of the Sabbath down with it down with it Satan against the Sabbath seeks Either to beat it out from men Or to beat men off from it Here may I make a mournful mention of a good woman who by reason of her soul safflicted condition I have had with her the occasion of many a sad conference and though her usuall estate was full of extreame strange assaults yet I have frequently observed and the same her self hath oft freely confessed that still as the Lords day grew nearer her temptation grew stronger Never such sad bouts and sore buffets as upon some Saturday-nights Whereby she hath been ordinarily unfitted for the following Sabbath and oft times violently hindred especially from the publick Ordinances for divers Lords dayes together unto her after great grief Wherein I cannot but conclude the wiles and subtil works of Satan as the Sabbaths great enemy Yea Satans design is Either that men may not at all mind it Or that they may not spiritually spend Either to draw them from the day in its duties Or to dull them in the duties of the day A zealous sanctification of the Sabbath Satan to his utmost power opposes He cannot abide the spirit of burning should be upon us in the businesse of Gods blessed day As the holy Spirit puts us into the fire the unclean spirit oft casts us into the water so that our hearts heavenly kindled are commonly cooled The Divels Ephes 6.12 are called spiritual wickednesses or the spirituals of wickednesse as t is in the Greek As they are wicked Spirits So they are the spirits of wickednesse And as they are so spiritually bad so they cannot abide what is spiritually good As spiritual sinning against God they most seek to provoke so spirituall serving of God they most seek to prevent The divel can be content men should forbear bodily acts of filthinesse if they will but pursue spiritual sinfulnesse so can he be content men should perform outward acts of Religion if they will but cease from spiritual service they may be at all thâ— Ordinances of God upon the Lords day so they be not spiritual in any not misse a Sabbath so they passe not any spiritually 3. Seducing persons are Sabbath-opposers These are called spirits 1 Tim. 4.1 Because there be spirits that act them And becaâ—sâ— they act like spirits They be men whom spirits act viz. the spirit which iâ— of the world the spirit of the Divel the spirit of pride and falsehood â—â—e spirit of error and Antichrist c. They be men who act as spirits with subtilty sedulity agility restlesse and unwearied creeping up and down compassing places to and fro abusing Scripture to propagate error c. These oppose Gods precious Sabbath seeking Either directly to overturn it Or remotely to undermine it Directly By Atheistical arguing against all Gods holy times and things professedly and profanely despising of and disputing against as the doctrine of Sanctification so the day which God hath sanctified Remotely By setting against such as are Sabbath supports viz. Against Ordinances used in publick And against instruments of publick use Ordinances they clamour down especially some as singing of Psalmes administring of Sacraments c. endeavouring if possible to pull away one Ordinance after another till they leave the day destitute of all As Rachel weepiâ—g for her children Hence there is such a sad ceasing of several Ordinances in some Congregations that the Lords day may speak like Jacob Joseph is not and Simeon is not and will ye take Benjamin away also all tâ—is is against me Gen. 43. Instruments theâ— thrust sore at that are for Sabbath-Use Ministers by their law must be laid in the dust Their endeavours are to deal worse with the Servants of Christ then Hanun with the servants of David 2 Sam. 10.4 He shaved off the one half of their Beards and cut off their Garments in the middle c. But these seek to shave and cut off all both countenance and maintenance and to leave Ministers under poverty and perpetual reproach And are not these Enemies to Sabbaths and publick Assemblies And are all these Sabbath-ward spiritual The Ordainer of it spiritual The Ordinances in it spiritual The ends for it spiritul The opposites against it spiritual And shall not we be spiritual so as that we may be
in the spirit on the Lords day Thus are the antecedent arguments arguments from things subsequent let us see viz. what desirable effects will follow upon spiritual spending of the Lords day Hereby we shall raise Our souls advantage The Sabbaths excellency The Lords acceptance and The Lands concernments 1. To be spirituall in the Sabbath will be exceedingly for our souls advantage It will be operative for our present good on earth and It will be preparative for our future good in heaven This will work us much spiritual good on earth For hereby Grace shall be encreas'd into Comforts and Comforts shall be encreas'd through Grace 1. Hereby comes a comfortable encrease of Graces for if we be spiritual upon the Lords Day in duties Then Grace is acting in Us and We are then acting in Grace The which actings makes for the augmentings of it Grace it acts in Us. When we are spiritual on the Sabbath then grace is not in the Spark but in the Flame and so rises and runs on Grace is then not barely in the root but in the branch so that it springs and spreads out We act in Grace This addes to its further degrees The way to enjoy that Grace we have not is to imploy that Grace we have While we are spiritually spending the Sabbath we are in the Imployments and so in the Improvements of grace Grace is greatned in us and we do great things through Grace Elisha when he had not onely the Mantle but the Spirit of his Lord Elijah he went and wrought wonderful works When upon the Sabbath we have not barely the Mantle viz. the Ordinance of Christ but also the Spirit of Christ yea wrapp'd in the Spirit as a Mantle then are we meet to leap Mountains and look Devils in the facâ— To Triumph in the Lord and tread Death in the dust 1 Cor. 15.54 2. Hereby comes in a gracious encrease of Comforts Comforts spiritual are springing While the Lords Day is spiritually spending Being in the Spirit which is the Comforter we cannot but be in the Comforts of the Spirit 'T is a true Rule That most cheeres the heart which best clears the estate But spiritually to spend the Lords Day it clears a Christians good estate God-ward An external observing of the Sabbaâ—h does distinguish us fâ—om Pagans But a spiritual spending the Sabbath does difference us from Hypocrites An Hypocrite in the Sabbaths outward observation may seem very precise Luk. 13.14 15. But he never rises to be spiritual in the Sabbaths of God and service of God A spiritual-spent Sabbath is a sure sign of a sincere heart and saving estate This therefore may well be a cause of the Incomes of Comfort Would we have the profit peace and comfort of the Lords Day let us be spiritual then in our Duty They who spend the Sabbath spiritlesse they passe the Sabbath profitlesse comfortlesse The more we have of the Spirit on the Sabbath the more we shall have of profit by the Sabbath and comfort in the Sabbath This will secure us from the worst of Judgments And the best of Mercies this will assure us of The worst of Judgments to wit such as are spiritual hereby we escape and the best of Mercies that is such as are spiritual through this we partake Divers that come out on the Sabbath and do the outward service yet they fall short of spiritual Mercies and they fall under spiritual Miseries because they rise not to spiritual Duties By being spiritual in the service of the Sabbath O the sweet Soul-advantage that is unto the Saints of God! Yea this it fits us for all spiritual good in Heaven puts into us Heart-capacities for Heaven-felicities In Heaven all is spiritual enjoyments spiritual imployments spiritual company comforts spiritual To be spiritual in the holy Sabbath As it best declares the Heavenly estate So it best prepares for the state of Heaven That Sabbath which Saints shall for ever have with God will all be spiritual That this Sabbath may be as a resemblance of that and an Introduction to that we ought to be spiritual 2. To be spiritual will much advance the Sabbaths excellency O how much is the Beauty and Glory of Gods-Day gone the honour and lustre of the Lords-Day lost Undoubtedly our Duty is as together To condole the Dignity of it down So to endeavour to raise up the Dignity 'T is matter of bitter sorrow to see the Sabbath so Eclipsed One writes of the Barbarians in the East-Indies that seeing the Sun Eclipsed in the year 1600. they fasted wept and cry'd all the day long O we miserable people the Dragon hath devour'd the Sun alas alas we have lost the Sun c. O how much may we lament in England to see the Brightnesse of Gods blessed Day dimm'd the light and life of the Lords Day lost How hath the Devil with his doctrines and the doctrines of Devils almost devoured the Sabbath We have the Body of the Day but the soul of the Day the Spirit of the Day is gone with the greatest part even of professing Christians who though they retain the Truth they have let go the life of Religion and may well weep over dead Dayes and Duties To recover amongst us true Sabbath-life 't is requisite That God enliven the Day to us and That we towards God be lively in the Day 1. We must labour with the Lord who quickens the Dead to enliven this Day When the Ruler of the Synagogues Daughter was dead no sooner did our Saviour say Damsâ—l arise but her spirit came into her again and she arose straightway Luk. 8.54 55. Let but our Lord say over his Dead Sabbath Day arise and the Spirit will come into it again and straightway all will be well O what quickenings kindlings when the Spirit of life and the Spirit of burning from above shall abide upon Sabbaths the service and servants of God setting all on a fire When Elijah Elisha were going together there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire and a whiâ—lwind came which caught up Elijah and he was carried into heaven 2 King 2.11 Thus upon the Sabbath when Gods servants are together and there appear Instruments and Ordinances all on a fire Ministers on fire and Sermons on fire and the Spirit as a whirlewind comes O what carryings then up of hearts into heaven This is the Honour of the Day 2. We must labour with our selves in all the Lords Dayes-Duties to be lively and with the Spirit of the Lord to act high for God and to be heart-warm at work All the Sacrifices of the Sabbath must be Burnt-offerings Every service fir'd with zeal Indeed for Christians while they are on the Week-dayes in worldly company to be cool'd is common Peter never gat such a cold as at the High Priests fire among those servants he warm'd himself till he lost his heat but for Christians when they are together on the Sabbath in holy Assemblies to have
hearts cold and affectiont flat as 't is a dishonour to the Lord of the Sabbath so 't is a dishonour to the Sabbath of the Lord. Christians should be like Angels who are called Seraphims for their fiery zeal in the service of God And so to be zealous in Sabbath-Duty will raise the Dignity of the Sabbath This will admirably evidence As Gods Interest in the Day So the excellency of this Day of God The more we have herein of Heat and fervour life and vigour the better we demonstrate the Day is Gods As the true Mother in the Kings cry'd The living son is mine so sayes God The living Sabbath is mine As when Christ was raised from the Dead then he was declared to be the Son of God Rom. 1.4 So let the Sabbath rise from the dead to its due life and lustre and then 't will appear to be the Day of God Yea the more Vigorous and Spiritual we be in the Day the more glorious and excellent will the day be O what advantage is to the bodies of men when after death they are rais'd again Read 1 Cor. 15.42 43 44. It is sowen in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sowen in dishonour it is raised in honour it is sowen in weaknesse it is raised in power it is sowen a natural body it is raised a spiritual body Thus will it be with the Lords Day when it shall be raised from the dead as it will be more spiritual in its Nature so it will be more transplendent in its Lustre greater in power higher in honour all redounding to the dignity of it This will bring the Sabbath as the Sun to break forth from under those black clouds with which it is now darkened 3. The Lords acceptance will be certain if we spiritually sanctifie the Sabbath This with the Lord will be acceptable because it is suitable As to the precepts which God gives So to God which gives the precepts 1. The precept or command given of God requires a spiritual care in Sabbath-keeping Remember the Sabbath-day to keep iâ— holy This implies a remembrance of the Sabbath day to keep it spiritually let the spirituality of the day be raised and the sanctitie of the day will not sink but be better seen This will hold out the dayes-hidden holinesse and meet Gods command that calls to keep it holy And such Sabbath-keeoing is to God well-pleasing Esay 56.4 It being that which complies with Gods prescribed Will Esay 58.13 2. God himself from whom such precepts proceed is hereby resembled God is a Spirit and a spiritual being so that spiritual-spent Sabbaths and spiritual-performed duties do best suite a Spiritual God and so are accepted A good God being spiritual spiritual good is most acceptable to God 1 Pet. 2.5 To offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God Acceptable because spiritual With such sacrifices God is well pleased Heb. 13.16 That best likes God Which is most like to God To be spiritual on the Sabbath the Lord likes it and loves it it is so pleasing to God that he does highly prize it and praise it As it is a thing for the praise of God So it is a thing with God of praise To be in the spirit of the Sabbath and to be on the Sabbath in the spirit As it will make for Gods praise from us So it will prove our praise with God The Apostle declaring who are now to be accounted Jewes and what is circumcision under the Gospel sayes Rom. 2.28 29. He is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcision that is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God So may we say He is not a Sabbath-keeper that keeps it onely outwardly but he is a keeper of the Sabbath that keeps it inwardly and that is observation of the Lords day that is in the heart and in the spirit whose praise though it may be not of men it will be of God God at the great day will give him praise in the presence of men and Angels Yea present praise will God by his Spicit speak to such as spiritually spend his holy day And O how sweet will it be for God in a Sabbath to say to our souls Well done well prayed well preached well heard to day my dear servants Now that which the Lord thus praiseth we may be sure much pleaseth the Lord. Yea to sanctifie the Sabbath in a spiritual way the Lord is so pleased with it that he takes pleasure in it then the Lords day is the Lords delight The Sabbath so kept on earth causes joy in heaven It is meet sayes the Father in the fifteenth of Luke to his friends about him It is meet we should rejoyce for this my son was dead and is alive was lost and is found So sayes God Blessed for ever to all in blisse about him T is meet we should rejoyce for this my Sabbath was dead and is alive the glory of it was lost and gone but is now returned again 4. The Lands general concernments will through the Sabbaths spiritual observance be much promoted Both in the Ecclesiastick And in the Civil State Let the spirit of the Lords day be well up in the Land Then will Gods Ordinances remaine that are present And God will remaine present with his Ordinances 1. Gods Ordinances with us will abide What makes God remove precious means from among a people but their dulnesse in his Sabbaths and service their falling from their fervent affections their leaving their first love and life as we see in the case of that languishing Church Revel 2.4 5. I have somewhat sayes Christ against thee thou hast left thy first love Remember from whence thou art fallen and do thy first works or I will come and remove the Candlestick out of his place Let Christians be carried out with a spirit of love and life in the Sabbaths and service of the Lord and though the Lord may lay some sad afflictions upon them yet he will continue the means of Grace among them And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner but thine eyes shall see thy teaches And thine ears shal hear a word behind thee saying This is the way walk in it Esay 30.20 2. God himself will also abide with his Ordinances Let the Sabbath be so spiritually sanctified Then as God will be with the Ordinances his people use So God will be with his people in use of Ordinances Then may Ordinances say to Gods Saints and Saints may say to Ordinances Emmanuel God with us God with us in service and suffering makes all sweet That is a precious promise Esay 43.1 When thou art in the water I will be with thee and when thou art in the
on the Sabbath a gracious soul sighs up into heaven Lord I would better break out but my sins beset me I would faster run on but my own heart hampers me Lord I would otherwise serve thee but my thoughs hinder me fears and cares encompasse me help Lord. Unite Not onely the will but the whole soul yâ—â— the whole man and the whole might is knit and bound up for God in every good work body and soul must not lie severed nor any heart in it self scattered 'T was a sad sin in him who upon the Sabbath-day gathered up sticks that lay scattered on the ground Num. 15.32 But it is our duty on the day of the Sabbath to gather up together our hearts and thoughts that are scattered upon the earth and wandring about in the world We should say as the Prophet Blesse the Lord O my soul and all that is within me O my soul and all that is within me pray O my soul and all that is within me hearken c. Vnite my heart sayes David that I may fear thy Name So let each soul say Lord unite my heart that I may hear thy Word Unite my heart that I may hold fast thy truth keep holy thy day Fervent The zeal of Gods house and zeal of the Lords day should even eat us up Our hearts should burn within us like fire See what God by Moses sayes to the Jewes Exod. 35.3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your houses upon the Sabbath-day But upon the day of the Sabbath our duty is to kindle a fire throughout all our hearts The fire of zeal fits the service of God On the Sabbath we should go up to God in a Chariot of this fire The force of this fire would carry us into the highest heaven from the lowest earth And from earth to heaven is a good Sabbath-dayes-journey Yea such a burning fire of zeal on the Sabbath would bring heaven as it were down to the earth God into our hearts Exod. 3. we read how the presence of God appeared in a burning Bush In burning hearts in burning prayers appears much of the presence of God 'T was the praise of holy Hezekiah he appointed burnt-offerings for the Sabbath dayes 2 Chron. 31.3 Burning sacrifices for blessed Sabbaths Cheerfull Several of the Ancients much insist upon that care and course which becomes Christians in carrying on the Sabbath more strictly then the Jewes were wont August Enar. in Psal 32. Tom. 8. part Pag. 242. Aug. Tract 3. in Joan. 1. Tom. 9. Ignat. Epist ad Magnes Pag. 57. Hilar. prolog in Psal oper p. 335. Whereas they kept the Sabbath carnally in feasting dancing and sensual delights We Christians must Sabbatize or keep the Sabbath spiritually in holy joyes heavenly contents and religious delights we must feast and dance too but our feasting must be conversing with God our meat and drink to do the will of God Our dancing must be the leaping of soul to see the face of the Lord in the glasse of the Gospel And though on the Lords day we be not drunk with wine wherein is excesse yet we must be filled with the Spirit The comforts of the Spirit are sweeter and better then all the wine in the world and of this we should take our Lords day draughts Cant. 5.3 On this day we should drink wine with our milk eat our hony-comb with our hony be in the Garden and gather Myrrhe with our Spice This is the day that the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad therein Psal 118.24 Psal 42. sayes David Why art thou cast down O my soul why art thou disquieted within me Himself gives the cause His banishment that he could not now go with the multitude to the house of God with the voyce of joy and praise among them that keep holy day Such as can come to God's house upon his holy day should not come with dejected souls but with the voyce of joy and praise triumphing in God Watchful For our Sabbath day watch observe What we are to watch against and What we are to watch for 1. Against the incursions of the Divel we are to watch all the Lords day long That God who will Revel 20. bind up Satan for a thousand years can easily bind him for Sabbath-dayes But yet even upon such dayes Satan is much let loose Job 1.6 There was a day when the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them The Sons of God on that day came before God for good but Satan had ill designs to hinder them that would honour God VVhen Joshua the high Priest stood before the Angel of the Lord Satan stood at his right hand to resist him Zech. 3.2 'T was the policy of Pompey Vespasian Titus and other enemies of the Jewes soreliest to assault the City Jerusalem on the Sabbath dayes when they refused to defend themselves Upon Sabbath dayes are the Divels most desperate designs He is ever bad but worst upon the best dayes O watch watch A harming Divel on a helping day 2. For the incommings of the Spirit of Christ let us watch upon the Lords day As when the Dove sate upon the Ark Noah put forth his hand took her in When the Spirit of the Lord begins to light upon our hearts we should presently hand it in Embrace his first motions open and give him entrance otherwise Ordinances will do us little good Gen. 1. We find a dark lump of earth and water but if the Spirit of the Lord had not moved upon the face of the water the world had never been made nor living creatures brought forth 'T is the Spirit upon the Word that causes a new creation living Christians O then when we are under the Word and in the midst of the waters of Ordinances waite and watch for the good Spirit of God Other birds drive away but bid the Dove welcome 3. At the end of the Lords day let us see to our duty lest we begin in the Spitit and end in the flesh Nebuchadnezzars Image the head and upper part was gold but the feet and lower part Iron and Clay In the morning and beginning of the Lords day our hearts have heavenly heat and at evening the end of the Sabbath all is Iron and Clay Hearts hard and cold 't is ill when a Christians affections are as the grasse the Prophet speaks of Psal 90.6 In the morning it flourisheth and in the evening it is cut down dryed up and withered Plutarch reports of a River that runneth sweet in the morning but bitter in the evening 'T is the property of some sinful men if they have done somewhat on the Sabbath in the service of God they are the more bold to sin even before the day is gone like the Harlot Prov. 7.14 18. I have peace-offerings with me this day I have payed my vowes come let us take our fill of love till the morning That very day