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
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
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
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
and ravished enlivened and enlarged upon the Lords day we had need look to it on the following day and keep our selves lowly lest that mind which hath been one day heavenly be the next day haughty Pride is a worme apt to breed within the best wood Beware beware 3. Let us be faithful to keep up the good we have got we are apt to catch cold after the greatest heats And after some close attendance in Gods service to grow more loose and remisse in duty Let us look to our selves we do not lose the things we have wrought we do not break the bounds we have set or slack the holy bonds wherewith we have been begirt To be unloosened on the Sabbath from week-day bonds is comfortable but in the week-time to unloose the Lords-day bonds is abominable 4. Let us be fruitful to bring forth more good for God both in our general and particular callings That our week day carriage may be the springing up of Sabbath-day seed yea our whole lives must be a walking in Sabbath-day strength Tertul. C. Jud. 4. Origen in Numb Hom. 23. cont Cels lib. 8. Pag. 522. c. Chrysoâ—t in Matth. tract 29. Aug. de civit Dei lib. 22. cap. 30. Idem Epist 119. cap. 12. Et de cons Evang. lib. 2. cap. 77. And thus ought we to keep a holy Sabbath throughout the whole course of our dayes Divers of the Ancients dwell much upon this perswading Christians so to practise piety and pursue sanctity as to perpetuate a Sabbath As upon the Lords day we should be full of spirits so after the Lords day we should be spiritual still As on that day we should live in the Spirit so afterward we should walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.25 This I say then Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh If all the week we be carnal how can it appear we are spiritual on the Sabbath A good Author speaks well in this case Have we well served the Lord upon his day Bucer in Matth. 12.11 let our manners shew it let our works prove it let the holinesse of our lives decleare it Who will believe that he hath been present in publick Assemblies and with a sincere heart hath heard Gods holy Word who passes the following part of his life more loosely vainly carnally coveteously c 'T is this will evidence that on the Sabbath we have been with Jesus when afterward our faces and graces shine our lips and lives hold out the praises of Christ and the power of his Gospel When the Lords day comes we should be as lively firy and full as if we were then to begin and end Gods work We should be found in such a frâ—me every Lords day as if that were the first Sabbath that ever we spent and as if it were the last day that we should live on this earth or as if the weight of all our work lay upon that single Sabbath for which we were sent into the World or as if our eternal being were to be determined hereby And yet after the day is over we must endeavour still to be doing as if no work were done For as we must be all abundant and fervent on the Sabbath day in the service of God as if after were no holy duties So we must be as full and forward to all following duties as if there had been no Sabbath before Before the Sabbath day and after we must do all the good we can even as if there were no Christ to be relyed upon and yet our relyance both in life and death must be on our dear Lorld as if there never had been the least good done We must be precise for the Sabbath-day and duty And yet yet Duty shall not be our Redeemer Nor the Sabbath our Saviour Whether Sabbath-day or week-day we will do as much good as ever we are able but begin and end all in Christ The end with us shall be the glory of the Lord And with the Lord in glory shall be our end Amen Amen FINIS AN Alphabetical Table directing to some Principal things in this Treatise A ADam in Innocency to keep the Sabbath pag. 7 175 Advocate how Christ is and for whom p. 402 Angels they have a twofold knowledge p. 216 Angels all Ministring spirits pag. 227 Angels helpers in all holy Duties p. 228 Angels delight in Sabbath-service p. 217. Atheists of two sorts p. 32 Antichrists ruine how wrought p. 198 Augustine's answer to a Manichees p. 328 Assent to Divine truths what p. 121 B BAbylons fall two-fold p. 203 Baptisme of Infants why many against it p. 401 Baptisme of Infants its great use pag. 340 Book of Psalmes how excellâ—nt p. 129 Blood of Christ what it purchased p. 92 Blessing of God how desireable p. 197 Breaches abundance how they come p. 339 C CHange of the Sabbath upon a double cause p. 34 Christian liberty wherein it consists p. 36 37 Charitable Duties how fit for the Sabbath p. 66 132 Church-Discipline exercised on the Lords Day p. 131 Censures in the Church how to be inflicted p. 407 Chearfulnesse in Gods service required p. 462 Collections for the poor how to be managed p. 340 Conscience good what it is p. 253 Conscience troubled how sad p. 222 Contentions of Brethren how bad p. 328 Communion with Christ how sweet pag. 102 Christ spiritual in all his Estates p. 390 Covetousnesse the root of evil p. 50 D DAyes all how they are the Lords p. 4. Difference of Dayes how under the Gospel p. 38 Doctrine of the Lords Day strongly to be held p. 122 Day of Judgment drawes near p. 116 Delights in the Lords Day required pa. 456 Desires after God discovered p. 350 Discipline requisite in the Church p. 429 Divel a bitter enemy to tht Sabbath pag. 410 Divel large in knowledge p. 321 Divels called spiritual wickednesses why p. 412 Divisions the evil of them p. 431 Divisions how closed p 432 E ENgland one of the ten horns p. 241 England old how made new p. 433 Enmities in man against God p. 319 Errours against the Sabbath how sad p 83 F FAther 's of three sorts p. 208 Faith beyond feeling p. 335 Faith hath its Dimensions p 289 Faith its various Vse p. 387 Faith in the state and in the Acts differenced p 235 Faith the best beloâ—ed Grace p. 248 Fervency in prayer how fit p. 398 Forgetfulnesse of God how sinfull pag. 87 Fourth Commandment most excellent pa. 9 G GOd what he best liketh p 424 Gospel whereunto it guideth p. 122 Gospel vailed in the Law p. 177 Gospel it excels the Law p. 190 Government of Christ how ordered p. 394 Grace in its actings most excellent p. 416 Ground why to be till'd by Adam p. 7 H HAnds given for a threefold work p. 75 Hearts of Gods Saints like Vials p 302 Heart is the best part in a Saint p. 305 Heart of a wicked man as a bow p. 321
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
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