so with the dogge returning to our vomite holding downe our heads and leaning them on our elbowes as on pillowes pulling our hats over our eyes lest wee should see an unreverent thing in Gods house and stopping our eares as it were lest the noise or voyce of the Preacher should awake us or hinder us from our sleepe doe not wee willingly bring the same upon us and doth not this willingnesse occasion the same Sect. 3. Others Preachers From Preachers 1. When they doe not at any time or upon any occasion reprove this sinne or disswade their Auditors from the same 2. When they take no paines in their ministrie neither study to any purpose for what they doe deliver 3. When they doe either preach their owne inventions Ezek 22.28 mens traditions or lies and errours in the name of the Lord. 4. When they doe not sute and fit their doctrine to the capacitie of their hearers 5. When they doe not what in them lyes to bring their people unto a love and liking of the Word 6. When they continue too long in their Sermons 7. When they lead a scandalous life walke inordinatly and their conversation is such as becommeth not the Gospel of Christ like unto those of whom the Prophet makes mention His watchmen are blinde Isa 56.10 they are all ignorant they are all dumbe dogs they cannot barke sleeping lying downe loving to slumber yea they are greedy dogges which can never have enough and they are shepheards which cannot understand they all looke to their owne way every one for gaine from his quarter c. and of whom the Apostle All seeke their owne Phil. 2.21 not the things which are Iesus Christs Phil. 3.18 And againe many walke of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the crosse of Christ Verse 19. whose end is destruction whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame who mind earthly things 1 Sam. 2.17 Through the sinne of Eli his sonnes men abhorred the sacrifice of the Lord So by reason of the cariage of such Pastors their ministry becommeth odious and loathsome and not a few even of the best sleepe thereat People From people through Commission both by doing and leaving undone Doing namely by giving themselves over hereunto whereby they become stumbling-blocks unto others inviting them as it were to follow their course and as readily to embrace sleepe as themselves doe Leaving undone Omission namely to awake those whom they shall observe to be asleepe Hereby doe they wrong both themselves and them that sleepe as who by letting them alone communicate with them in their sinne and so shall bee punished for their sleeping they themselves in the meane time being awake CHAP. IIII. Reasons disswading from Church-sleeping they are of divers sorts and may be reduced into these eleven The 1. may be taken from God The 2. from The word of God The 3. from The Preacher The 4. from The Congregation The 5. Arguments against Church-sleeping from from The place of meeting The 6. from The end of comming The 7. from The time The 8. from Satan The 9. from Our selves The 10. from Sleepe The 11. from Sleepers at Church Sect. 1. God The Father Sonne God Holy Ghost 1. In respect of his absolute precept and command to attend and give eare unto his Word Heare instruction and be wise Prov. 8.33 Eccles 5.1 and refuse it not Keepe thy foot when thou goest to the house of God and be more ready to heare Math. 11.15 then to give the sacrifice of fooles Hee that hath eares to heare let him heare Iam. 1.19 let every man be swift to heare 2. In respect of the gracious promises which hee hath made unto them which are hearers indeed Pro. 8.34 Pro. 15.31 Ioh. 5.24 Blessed is the man that heareth me The eare that heareth the reproofe of life abideth among the wise Hee that heareth my word and beleeveth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life Ioh. 8.47 He that is of God heareth Gods word 3. In respect of his presence about us and with us the knowledge which hee hath of us and notice which hee taketh though of us unperceived whether wee wake or sleepe Prov. 5.21 The wayes of a man are before the eyes of the Lord saith the wise man and he pondereth all his paths Yea not his wayes alone those which are most conspicuous but the secret motions of the mind and the inward intentions of his heart Heb. 4.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are all naked and opened as the inwards of a beast that is cut up and quartered as the originall word signifieth unto the eyes of him with whom we have to doe And is God present in the Church so fearfull and glorious a majestie of so sharpe sight and deepe understanding who dares sleepe at Church Pro. 5.20.21 As hereby Salomon disswadeth from lewd and licentious courses Iob 34.23 22 and hereby Elihu deterreth men from wicked practises so by the same may wee be withdrawne from Church-sleeping 4. In respect that it is God which speaketh unto us in his Word So thought the Thessalonians Thes 2.13 When yee received the word of God which ye heard of us saith S. Paul yee received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that beleeve Would a subject sleepe in the presence of his Prince advising him for his good threatening him for some evill committed by him offering him preferment for the performance of this or that noble enterprize and the like hee would not Care feare hope joy would keepe him awake And will any sleepe whilst God offereth promiseth rewardeth threateneth instructeth and the like 1 Sam. 3.9 â—â— When Samuel was instructed by Eli that it was the Lord which spake to him sleepe did then depart from his eyes So should not we sleepe if we would but perswade our selves of Gods presence 5. In respect of his power Rom. 15.4 not onely to blesse his Word that it may bee profitable unto us 2 Tim. 3.16 for comfort for doctrine for reproofe for correction and for instruction in righteousnesse whereof out of his love towards us and willingnesse to doe us good hee is most desirous and without whose blessing though Paul plant 1 Cor. 3.6 and Apollos water it bringeth not increase but in justice to inflict grievous judgements on them which doe not or wil not heare judgements I say both corporall as on Eutichus and spirituall Act. 20.9 as on the contemners of wisdome Prov. 1.24 25 c. And those obstinate ones of whom the Lord speaketh to his Prophet Isa 6.10 Make the heart of this people fat and make their eares heavy and
shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and heare with their eares and understand with their heart and convert and be healed Sect. 2. The Word of God The Word it s 1. In respect of its dignitie Dignity evidenced by its which is from the Author thereof the Nature thereof the Matter therein contained together with the Antiquity and perpetuity of the same may be cleerely evidenced The Author thereof Author God which is therefore tearmed Gods wayes Psal 25.5 29.9 33.6 Isa 2.3 26.19 Luk. 11.49 Heb. 4.12 Luk. 1.70 the speach of Gods glory the breath of Gods mouth Gods paths the dew of the Lord the wisdome of God the sword of the Spirit As hee spake of old by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have beene since the world began So doth hee now speake by his Ministers whom as his Ambassadors hee hath raised up in their roomes The Nature thereof The nature thereof both as it is in it selfe and as it is unto us As it is in it selfe As it is in it selfe Psal 19.7 Psa 1â—9 160 it is perfect eternall immortall most pure and precious A most true right certaine infallible simple faithfull absolute sincere unspotted and undeniable Word alwayes constant one and the same for ever wherein there is no errour no falshood no defect no imperfection As it is unto us As it is unto us It is wine to comfort us bread to feed us drinke to quench ourthirst fire to purge us an hammer to beate upon our hardned hearts a staffe to uphold us a treasure to inrich us a lant horne to direct us a guide to conduct us a weapon to defend us seed to beget us meate for men milke for babes Yea as the Sunne is to the world so is it to us the light of our lives and the life of our soules The Matter therein contained The matter therein contained such as may give content unto all the same so farre exceeding all other subjects as the Creator whose workes and will it principally setteth forth doth the creatures It revealeth unto us the blessed Trinitie It maketh knowne unto us Christ and him crucified It pointeth out unto us the vertue of his death and resurrection It setteth forth the excellencies of a better life which for the present are wholly hid from the ungodly and but in part revealed unto the godly Doth any loath it for its plainnesse It is milke for babes Eccles 11.10 It is pleasant affording unto each Christian heart more sweetnesse then is in the honey and the honey combe It is upright as being voide of errour It is a word of truth pure wheat without chaffe pure gold without drosse It is a word of wisdome whereby alone we become wise It is as a goad whereby being pricked whilst wee sleepe in sinne wee doe thereupon awake It is as a naile whereby indeed wee are fastened and confirmed Is any delighted with history Rener Clivis Script prophecies parables lawes morall judiciall and Ceremoniall Geographie Cosmographie Astronomie Arithmeticke Logicke Rhetoricke Musicke and what soever else Yea who so longeth after newes from heave aboue from the earth beneath from the waters which are under the earth Newes of wars peace plenty famine and thâ— like Hereby may hee in eaâ—â— receive satisfaction The Antiquitie and perpeâ—â— tuitie thereof The Antiquity and perpetuity thereof As it yet coâ—tinueth so hath it done eveâ— from the very beginning anâ— even the Word written is moâ— ancient of greater antiquitâ— then all other writings now eâ—tant in the world 2. In respect of its necessitie which may appeare by considering Necessity from first the estate wherein we are 2. The estate wherein we should be 3. The estate of such as are altogether deprived thereof The estate wherein naturally wee are The estate wherein we are dead in trespasses and sinne wanderers from God â—reyes unto the divell poore â—nd blind unregenerate polluâ—ed with sinne both in soule and â—ody stony-hearted unfruitâ—ull and barren guilty of death â—nd damnation c. It is not â—hen needfull a trumpet to awake us a guide to conduct us 〈◊〉 buckler to shield us a treasure â—o enrich us eye-salve to anoint â—s seed to beget us a fountaine â—o wash us raine both to molâ—ifie us and make us fruitfull The estate wherein we should â—e Alive unto God The estate wherein we should be the soulâ—iers and servants of Christ â—emples of the holy Ghost â—ruitfull in good workes and the like and hereunto doe we attaine through Gods word The estate of such as are altogether deprived therof The estate of such as are without it wretched and miserable No judgement greater then famine no famine so grievous as this of the Word 3. In respect of its utilitie which may â—appeare Amos 8.12 It s utility appearing by 1. By the similitudes whereby it is expressed 2. By the effects which are thereby produced 3. By the duties which are thereto of us required 4. By the meaneâ— which for the suppressing and hindering thereof have beene at all times by Satan and his instruments used The similitudes whereby it is expressed are divers Similitudes as Manna bread water light a rod of strength wine fire silver a precious stone a new garment a banner a sharp sword a glasse a staffe c. This being no lesse or rather much more profitable for the soule then those and the like for the body The effects which are thereby produced effects are such as concerne either this or the life to come This. It clenseth us It inlighteneth us It regenerateth us It changeth us It makes us fruitfull It maketh us wise to Salvation It gladdeth our hearts with spirituall joy It â—egetteth faith in us Wee are hereby informed of the duties which wee owe one towards â—nother It tells the Magistrate â—ow hee should rule who else â—night be either too severe or â—oo milde Eras apophth lib. 4. milde As Machetes appealed from Philip asleepe for whilst his cause was pleading â—e was asleepe to Philip awake so sendeth it them from â—heir ungodly government unâ—â— that which is lawfull It tels â—udges Act. 24.26 that with Festus they â—ust not looke for bribes It â—ls Subjects that with Sheba 2 Sam. 20.21 â—ey must not be rebellious It â—s husbands Col. 3.19 that they must love their wives and not be bitter to them It tells wives that they must not be taunting Peninnaes painted Jezabels whorish Dalilaes scolding Zipporaes It informes Ministers to be instant in preaching the Word in season 2 Tim. 4.2 and out of season It tells Lawyers how and for whom they are to plead 1 Thes 4.6 It directs the Merchanâ— and tradesman how to buâ— and sell c. Now if it werâ— not for the Word would any of those performe their duties â—nay Cic. de fato by it as Socrates from hiâ— naturall constitution
Franc. Senens de Excub vigil holdeth in its foot a small stone whereby it may be kept awake and Alexander the Great held in the night a silver ball over a brazen bason that if he should fleepe by the sound thereof he might be awaked such a stone such a ball will Gods feare prove unto us to keepe us from Church-sleeping 4. Bee perswaded that the Scriptures to bee read or the Sermon ready to be uttered may doe us more good then all those we have yet heard Yea that they may be the last which we shall ever heare as that very houre Platar the last of our lives As Miltiades his triumph hindered Themistocles from sleeping So did we consider the benefit of the Word and duly weigh what good God may thereby convey into our soules as he hath done to others we would questionlesse not sleepe thereat Ecclus 31.1 The care of riches driveth away sleepe saith the sonne of Sirach So did wee care for the durable riches which the Word affordeth we would not sleepe thereat 5. Consider that as God sleepeth not for our good Psal 121.4 and the divell sleepeth not for our hurt So if we should sleepe at Church God would leave us and the divell would make a prey of us 6. Call to mind that there will be store of witnesses to rise up against us on the day of judgement if wee shall thus sin Then will the Lord say I spake unto them but they would not heare me I was present with mine owne ordinance but they would not looke upon mee Then will Christ say I offered my selfe unto them but they would none of me I called upon them but they would not answer me I would have shewed them what I had done for them but they did not regard me Then will the Holy Ghost say I would have entered into their hearts I would have there lodged I would have made the Word to take roote in them but by their sleeping thereat they grieved me Then will the Word say They despised me The Saints say They offended us The ungodly say They hardened us in our sinnes and occasioned our contempt of the Word It were not amisse Dan. 5.5 6. that as Belshazar was driven from his carnall mirth by viewing the hand-writing which appeared on the wall they that are accustomed to sleepe at Church would imagine at least that it were written over their Pewes Awake thou that sleepest Eph. 5 14. In particular in hearing we must use In particular use 1. Attention which is when the whole body Attention especially the eare and the eye are reverently composed about hearing the Word The eare Act. 10.33 as Cornelius and his houshold were already waiting for Peter to heare the Word The eye Luk. 4 28. as the eyes of all that were in the Synagogue were fastened on him that is on Christ when hee began to teach them wee must with Mary sit at Jesus feet Luk. 10.39 and heare his Word Doth not the hungry stomack watch for meat and should not wee watch for the food of our soules 2. Intention which is of the mind Intention when wee diligently marke those things which wee are taught We see by experience that in a deepe meditation though our eyes be fixed on some certaine object yet wee smally regard it so if the mind bee not present aswell as the body all is to no purpose To this purpose is that of Salomon Prov. 2.2 Cause thine eare to hearken and encline thine heart to wisdome and understanding 3. Retention which is of the memorie Retention Luk. 2.52 when wee lay up the word of God in the heart as the Virgin Mary the sayings concerning Christ Hee that maketh conscience here of will hardly sleepe hereat 4. Devotion which calleth for an heart truly religious Devotion A devout soule never heares of mercy but with comfort of Gods justice but with feare of his truth without assenting to it of his workes without admiration and where devotion dwelleth drowsinesse is shut out 5. Subjection God speakes and must not wee heare Subjection yea yeeld obedience therunto how repugnant soever the same seemeth unto our corrupt nature now how can there bee obedience when there is no subjection how subjection where knowledge wanteth how knowledge bee had without instruction how receive instruction without hearing it how heare it if sleepe bee entertained 6. Discretion The eare is to the soule Discretion as the mouth is to the body The mouth refuseth unsavoury meat that may bee hurtfull to the body so must our eares reject erroneous and hereticall doctrine But if the mouth bee out of taste what food will it not receive how noysome soever so if the eares bee dull and heavy will not falshood be embraced for truth mens traditions as Gods commandements Those that we may the better performe Means wherby to performe those we must 1. Remember that we are in Gods presence at Bethel Gods house Psal 16.8 1 Cor. 11.10 and that hee both seeth us and speaketh to us we must set the Lord alwayes before our eyes especially at this time If Paul will have women reverently to behave themselves in the congregation because of the Angels much more ought all both men and women to behave themselves reverently because of the presence of God who is the Lord both of men and Angels This was that which kept David in compasse Psa 119.168 I have kept saith hee thy Precepts and Testimonies for all my wayes are in thy sight Doe wee at any time begin to find our selves drowsie at Church speake we thus unto our owne soules Should I thus doe in Gods presence yea as the Lord called Samuel 1 Sam 3.10 Samuel Samuel and the ship-master unto Jonah Ionah 1.6 What meanest thou O sleeper So doe we imagine that the Lord speaketh unto every one of us in particular Why sleepest thou O sluggard awake thou that sleepest 2. Stand up It is very memorable which is reported of Constantine the Great by Eusebius Euseb de vita Constant lib. 4 cap. 33. Being requested by Divines that disputed before him that after long standing hee would sit downe and take his ease answered It is an impious thing to heare negligently disputations concerning God 3. Rouse up our selves ever and anone as the cocke clappeth his wings that he may the more cheerfully crow wee must stirre up the grace of God in us yea 2 Tim. 1.6 wee must check our selves when wee perceive our drowsinesse Prov. 6.9 How long wilt thou sleepe O sluggard when wilt thou arise out of thy sleepe We must say unto our selves art thou in a way to heaven will the Lord bee pleased herewith 4. Vse now and then short and sudden ejaculations Psal 13.5 as in the words of the Psalmist lighten mine eyes lest I sleepe the sleepe of death 6. Goe along with the