an Elephant may swim but the gains will countervail the loss and charge here is a Lamp to light us the dew of Heaven to refresh us a sword to defend us a key to open Christs will to us flaggons of Wine and Apples of Paradice take therefore these Directions in thy Reading 4. Direction If thou wouldest Read the Word with profit 't is necessary that thou prepare thy heart for so solemn a duty come not out of a huddle of business with thy heart full of the World to discourse with God take not Gods word any more than his Name in vain take it not prophanely into thy mouth without due regard or consideration lest he turn thee away with a Curse instead of a Blessing 't is a business of great concernment even of Life and Death yea of the Eternal well or ill being of thy Soul and therefore not to be slighted beg leave therefore of God before thou meddle with it yea beg his blessing upon it without which nothing can do us good for Soul or Body the want of due preparation causeth many to find the word so ineffectual yea find so little sweetness in it Again if thou wouldst profit by it hold on in a constant course of Reading 't is not reading by fits and starts will serve turn many are now off now on now they will and then they will not as the World gives them leave or as the humour takes them this is not sufficient but get a strong Resolution to hold on in a constant course of Reading what ever comes of it break through all the difficulties that lye in the way a little now and then will do thee little good without this Resolution Satan will baffle thee and lay some temptation in the way to hinder the World will divert thee and one business or other present it self to be done at the same time thy own corruption will oppose it and thy deceitful heart make thee delay it but this being the food of thy Soul be not diverted from it any more than thou wouldest be from thy Meat but this is not sufficient thou must not only do the duty but do it well to this end get thy heart in order get it cleansed from distracting thoughts and cares freed from disquieted motions perterbations A full Vessel can receive no more and a heart full of the World hath no room for Heaven say therefore to thy Worldly cares and thoughts when thou comest to this duty as Abraham to his servants when he went to Sacrifice stay here and I will come to you again set thy self as in the presence of the great God apprehend him by the eye of Faith beholding thee this will keep thy thoughts from roving and thy imaginations from wandring in his Service and awe thy heart and curb thy Affection Bring with thee also a Spiritual Appetite to the means of Grace come with an empty stomack or why dost thou seek after Food An hungry man is most like to taste and relish those dainties the Word was to David sweeter than Honey and the Honey-Comb and to Job better than his appointed Food If there be Spiritual Life in the Soul there will be an Appetite for no Life can be preserved without food Bring Faith also along with thee which is the mouth of the Soul and without this the Soul can receive no nourishment The Word which they heard profited them not because it was not mixt with Faith in them that heard it Heb. 4.2 Reading will do thee little good if thou believe not the Truth of what thou Readest or doubtest of the performance of the Promises or Threatnings Faith also will subdue Carnal Reason and help thee out when thou art at a stand But above all seek help from above from God here are many difficulties too hard for thee to grapple with which cannot be understood but by Divine assistance Paul may Plant and Apollos Water but God gives the Increase 't is he that opened Lydia's Heart and must open thine or the Word cannot do it beg therefore his assistance and come thus prepared to the Duty this is the likeliest way to speed 2. Direct If thou wouldest profit by Reading of the Word be sure to propound right ends to thy self for the End Crowns the Action Many read much and profit little because their Ends are bad they undo themselves and lose their labour by this means Some Read for Custom and for Fashion sake and make reading the end of reading and are like the silly Women the Apostle speaks of always Learning and never come to the knowledge of the Truth and so the work be done matter it no more Some Read to fill their Heads with knowledge and their Brains with Notions that they may thereby be able to discourse with applause when yet they never suffer it to sink down or soak into or season the heart but such speculative knowledge doth little good yea great hurt It makes them sin with a Candle in their hands And some Read to a worse end that they may be able to oppose the Truth and maintain Error and pervert the good ways of God thus the Pharisees thus the Jesuits and many Hereticks But every one should and a true Christian doth in this duty as well as others make God's glory in the Salvation of his own and others Souls the mark he aims at and regulates his Actions accordingly And doubtless from God he will receive his Reward When others as it was self they aimed at so from self they must expect their wages A Believer he would know more that he may obey better he would know God better that he might Love him more and know God's will that he might do his work he would know his work as well as his wages his Duties as well as his Priviledges He reads he word of God and those Books which open and apply it that he may know Truth from Error and follow the one and fly the other and may not be seduced by false Teachers nor drawn aside from the Rule to the Right hand or to the Left He would know Light from Darkness and have the Scales of Ignorance fall from his Eyes he would know good from evil that he might follow the one and avoid the other he would be able to try the Spirits whether they are of God or no yea to try all things and hold fast that which is good he would know Vice from Virtue and discern what is sin and what is duty that he be not like those that in Persecuting the Saints think they do God good Service he would be acquainted with his own Heart and know the state of his own Soul and whether his Evidences for Heaven be good or no he observes what qualifications the Scripture requires for Heaven and then by Scripture-Light he would discern them in his own heart and endeavours to Read his own Name in the Book of Life and see what Interest he hath in
is also necessary that thou understandest what thou readest 't is not so much the words and phrases as the sense thou shouldest look after The Jews as I told you had great care of the Scriptures they counted the Words Syllables and Letters contained in the Law and yet were Ignorant of the sense and mist of the meaning When thou readest a dark passage in the Scripture rest not till thou understand it To this end Divines have given several Directions such as these If thou be able compare the Original and Translation together and perhaps this may resolve thy doubt every Language hath a peculiar Elegancy and some words are of so hard a signification that they cannot fully be exprest in a Translation Now knowing the Original will abundantly help and the knowledge of Arts and Sciences is also of great use let the Enemies to Learning say what they will to the contrary If this help thee not look into the Context observe the Circumstances and scope of the Place and receive no Interpretation which Crosses that If this will not do compare this place with others the like and admit not such a sense as contradicts other Scriptures especially compare it with the analogy of Faith those plain Doctrinal conclusions gathered out of other plain Scriptures of which no doubt is made and if it agree not with this reject it for Truth it self cannot oppose it self We must reduce dark places to those that are plain and not force those that are plain to the dark ones If this help not read some Learned Exposition upon the place If this fail seek assistance from God for as the Sun cannot be seen but by it's own light so the will of God cannot be known but by his own Spirit he that Faithfully and Carefully observes these Directions may through Gods blessing come to know as much as is necessary 5. Direct If thou wouldest profit by the word thou readest carefully observe the general scope of it and what design God is aiming at and what End he aims at in it and prosecute the same design and aim at the same mark that he doth for all Scripture is given for our Instruction Now if we heedfully mark the general scope of the Scripture and the end which God drives on in the main is to make himself known to the world in his wisdom power and goodness to the end that man may own him as their Lord Owner and Benefactor and his Son Jesus Christ for their Redeemer and Saviour that he might get himself Glory in their Salvation Now in thy Reading prosecute the same design that God doth and aim at the same end which he doth and this is the likeliest way to profit The Scripture in general sets before thee the knowledge of God and thy self what God is and what he hath done what thou wast by Nature what by the Fall and what by thy Restauration and also what God requires at thy hand In the prosecution of this End the Scripture handles those points which conduce hereunto As first in the work of Creation thou maist see God in his wisdom and power for none else could make the world of nothing yea every Creature will point out God to an understanding man for it passeth the power of Men or Angels to make the least Fly especially without pre-existent matter nay the Creatures do not only shew that there is a God but also sâ—… forth the Attributes of God as his Eternity Wisdom Power Majesty Goodness and Perfection these clearly shine forth in these his works The least Creature if you follow him home to his Original by Divine Meditation will point out an Omnipotent Arm for his Creator And when thou readest of his works of Providence these also speak the same thing and Teach the same Lesson The wonderful works and Miracles he hath wrought for the preservation of his People The Rule and Government which he hath set in the world the preservation of his Church and the frequent deliverance he hath given to his People Recorded in the Scripture bespake to us his Power Wisdom Goodness and Truth When thou readest of the Works of Redemption this bespeaks Christ the Lord the Son of God as he is witnessed from Heaven by Angels by Saints by Enemies by Devils all which gave Testimony to his Divinity and that he was truly man is also evident by his Incarnation Birth Growth Actions Passions Death and Burial and Resurrection c. And that he is the true Messiah the Saviour of the World is clearly evident by Scripture light here thou maist finde that all the Prophesies that went before of him are clearly fulfilled in him and no other and such Miracles wrought and such mighty Works done and such gratious Words spoken that make it plainly appear that he is indeed the Son of God the Saviour of the World Again when thou readest the Commands Threatnings Punishments c. Know these are to deterre thee from Sin and to drive thee home to God thy Benefactor and when thou readest the Promises Invitations and Encouragements these are to draw the nearer to him therefore carefully observe what ever thou readest and some way or other it will conduce to bring thee neerer to God this is Gods end in writeing the Word and should be thy end in reading it 6. Direct Wouldst thou profit by Reading then meditate upon what thou readest this is the way to make what thou readest thine own it was this way that David got more understanding than the Antient and became wiser than his Teachers Psal 119.98,99,100 and 66.11 Now Meditation is a studious Art of the Mind wherein a Man searcheth out some hidden truth by the discourse of Reason and 't is one of the most profitable heart-enriching duties thou canst perform this will fetch in Provision like a Bee from every Herb and Flower yea from every Weed Thorn and Bramble will yield some Honey this will store thy Heart with Treasure new and old there is no Creature so barren but will yield some Fruit nor dead Tree or hard Stone that is so barren but it will yield some increase no Creature but will yield a helping hand no Fowl but will lend a Feather to mount the Soul aloft A Christian skil'd in the Divine Art of Holy Meditation can never want an Object fit to work upon and if the Creatures thus furnish us doubtless the Word of God cannot be fruitless the Word of God of it self is Mysterious and Dark at least some part of it the Well is deep and Meditation is the Bucket hereby Divine Mysteries are drawn out and the Water of Life pumpt in cursory Reading many things pass by without regard which by Meditation are fetcht back and made use of This is not only a help to the understanding but the Memory also it leaves a deep impression upon it What in cursory Reading is soon forgot is prest hard upon and imprinted to the Memory by Meditation hereby the Heart
gives thee Christ and thou givest him thy self if thou hold God will not flinch He promises Heaven and Happiness and thou promisest Love and Obedience And those Vows which thou madest in Baptism and renewest in this Sacrament must be fulfilled 't is an horrible thing to prove Treacherous to this God and to break Covenant with him God will avenge the Quarrel of his Covenant 'T is a dangerous thing to have God for an Enemy and our Consciences for our Accusers resolve therefore to make good thy Engagements and fulfill thy Vows Consider in the Sacrament what Entertainment thou hast met with from God and what welcome he hath given thee hast thou sped or no Did he meet thee in the Ordinance or hast thou had an Answer of thy Prayers or hast been frustrated of thy hopes and expectations If so examine thy Preparations and demeanour before and after the Duty haply thou maist find some miscarriage if so humble thy self and be more careful for the future take notice of the repulse and be humbled yet despair not Sometimes the Ordinance may be more beneficial after than at present as the Sacrament of Baptism usually is If thou hast met with some Fruit but not so much as thou expectest or desirest consider thou art not to be thy own Carver he deals his Mercies as he sees best thou must wait upon him in a longing Posture it will come in the most suitable Season if thou hast found any 't is more than thy desert bless God for it from whose bounty it proceeds If it be not so much as thou expectest 't is more than thou deservest 't is to be owned he that is not thankful for a little God will not trust him with much Thou givest him thanks for Bodily Food and wilt be thankful for Crumbs and not for Christ For Temporal Favours and not for Spiritual Mercies And this should be expressed in deeds as well as words thou shouldest live thanks as well as speak thanks And as Christ gives himself to thee so give up not only thy Name but thy Heart to him keep alive in thy Soul the Spiritual Fervor and maintain thy ground against thy Corruptions See how thy Graces grow and how thy Corruptions dye this is the way to grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Walk in the strength of one Ordinance to another and thus doing thou wilt be a growing Christian and thou wilt find through the Blessing of God upon thine Endeavours that the Sacrament which many get little benefit by is indeed a Soul-fatting Ordinance CHAP. XI Directions about Oaths THE next part of Divine Worship that I shall Direct you in is the right Use of an Oath for though rash swearing be an horrible sin as I intend God willing elsewhere to demonstrate Yet an Oath in it self is Lawful and necessary yea a Commanded part of God's Worship Thou shalt fear the Lord and serve him and shalt swear by his Name Deut. 6.13 The like we find Deut. 10.20 My work therefore in the first place will be to shew you what an Oath is and then to prove it Lawful and afterwards to give you Directions in this as I have done in other parts of God's Worship An Oath is a part of that Religious Worship which we owe to God in which being Lawfully called thereunto we call God to witness the Truth of what we Assert and our real intention to perform what we promise and to reward or punish us according to the Truth or Falshood of what we say That it is a part of Religious Worship the Texts before quoted serve to prove 2 Cor. 1.23 Moreover I call God for a Record upon my Soul that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth 2 Chron. 6.22,23 If a Man sin against his Neighbour and an Oath be laid upon him to make him Swear and the Oath come before thine Altar in this House then hear thou from Heaven and do and Judge thy Servants by requiting the Wicked by Recompencing his way upon his own Head and by Justifying the Righteous by giving him according to his Righteousness Lev. 19.12 Ye shall not swear by my Name falsly neither shalt thou prophane the Name of thy God Exod. 2.7 You see 't is a part of Religious Worship for herein God is called to be a Witness to Justifie or to Condemn who only knows the Integrity of the Heart and the sincerity of the Intentions yea sometimes 't is put for the whole Worship of God Isa 19.18 Where swearing to the Lord is meant worshipping the Lord Nay we have the consent of all Nations that always have esteemed an Oath Sacred and Venerable Poets Philosophers Heathens and Infidels make Conscience of this Religious Band and Reason shews it also for hereby we acknowledge the Wisdom Power and Justice of God His Wisdom in Searching the Heart and knowing the hidden thoughts and intentions of it His Power in being able to punish it and his Justice in giving every Man accoding to his desert and this Worship he will not give to another Jer. 12.16 They taught my People to Swear by the Name of Baal Amos 8.14 Zeph. 1.5 The Lawfulness of an Oath is confessed by most and denyed by few and those Contemptible we have Scripture warrant for it yea the Command of God as you have heard Exod. 22.10 Where an Oath was to be taken in the Case of lost Goods Isa 45.63 Vnto me every Tongue shall swear Isa 65.16 He that sweareth in the Earth shall swear by the God of Truth Now God would not have Commanded any thing that was sinful in it self as a part of his Worship Nay he doth not only Command it but lays down the qualifications of an Oath Jer. 4.2 Thou shalt swear the Lord Liveth in Truth in Judgment and in Righteousness and in what Cases it ought to be required Exod. 22.11 Neither can there any Reason be given why 't is not Lawful as well in Gospel times as under the Law it was not Ceremonious nor Typical neither in the Matter Form nor End Nay we have Examples of God himself and therefore 't is not intrinsâ—…cally Evil Gen. 22.16 By my self have I sworn saith the Lord Heb. 6.13 Because he could swear by no greater he sware by himself Jer. 44.26 I have sworn by my great Name saith the Lord Amos 4.2 The Lord hath sworn by his Holiness We have the Example of Christ Mat. 5.18 For Verily I say unto you till Heaven and Earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass till all be fulfilled compare this with Heb. 8.14 Surely Blessing I will Bless thee c. This is called God's Oath and frequent are the Asservations of Christ Verily verily we have the Example of the Holy Angels also Dan. 12.7 The Angel lift up his Hand and sware by him that Liveth for ever The like we have Rev. 10.6 we read of the Saints Swearing Gen. 14.22