many a Sermon hath been lost because this was wanting and the Viols of our souls must be tuned to praise God or otherwise they will sound but harshly in his ears The Priests were to wash in the Laver when they went into the Tabernacle and when they came near to the Altar to Minister upon pain of death Exod. 30.19 20. Signifying that to holy performances there is required holy prepartion Sutable to which is Davids speech I will wash my hands in innocency so will I compass thine Altar Psa 26. When the Temple was to be built the stones were hewn and the timber squared and fitted before they were brought to the place where the Temple stood there was neither ax nor hammer nor any use of them in the Temple And what doth this speak but that the Christian must be pollished and prepared to be a spiritual Temple an habitation for the God of Jacob and also fitted for his worship which was then in the Temple There is no duty but requires some previous dispositi on A little break-fast quickens the appetite to a good dinner duty fits the heart for duty Consider prayer The Christian must be poor in spirit that would prevail in prayer for spiritual riches The vessel must be empty before it can be fil'd O Lord thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear Psa 10.17 for hearing the weeds must be pluckt up before the grain be thrown into the ground Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and Hypocrisies As new born born babes desire the sincere milk of the word 1 Pet. 2.1 2. In singing the lungs must be good the inwards clean before the voice will be sweet and clear O God my heart is fixed my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise Psa 57.7 So for the Lords day the Israelites had their preparation It was the preparation that is the day before the Sabbath Mark 15.42 The preparation for the Lords day consisteth partly in care so to order Worldly businesses that they may not incroach on the Sabbath Some expositours observe that the word Remember in the fourth Command enjoyneth a provident foresight and diligent dispatch of earthly affairs on the day before that nothing may remain to disquiet us in or disturb Gods day of rest There is an observable place If thou keep thy foot from my Sabbath Isa 58.13 that is from treading on my holy ground with the dirty feet of earthly affairs or affections The Jews preparation began at three of the clock in the afternoon Inritibus Pagan which the Hebrews called the Sabbath Eve The antient Fathers called Caena pura from the Heathen say some whose Religion taught them in their Sacrifices to certain of their Gods to prepare themselves by a strict kind of holiness at which time they had a Supper consisting of meats holy in their opinion The Jews were so careful in their preparation Buxtoâ—â— Syna gog Iud. c. 10. extalmâ—d that saith mine Author to further it the best and wealthiest of them even those that had many servants and were Masters of Families would chop hearbs sweep the house cleave wood kindle the fire and do such like things The marriner that intendeth a voyage putteth his Ship off from Land so truly Friend if thou woulst lanch Heaven-ward upon a Lords day there is a necessity that the Vessel of thy heart be put off from the earth When our blessed Saviour was teaching the people he was disturbed by one that told him Behold thy Mother and thy brethren standwithout desiring to speak with thee Mat. 12.47 So when thou art hearing or praying or about any Religious Ordinance what an hinderance what a disturbance will it be for thy heart to suggest to thee Man thy calling thy companions or such and such things which lye upon the spoil through thy negligence in the week-days they all stand without desiring to speak with thee If thou wouldst avoid distraction prevent the occasions As Isaiah said to Hezekiah Set thine house in order against thy deaths day So I say to thee Set thy house in order and thy heart in order against the Lords day The main preparation of the heart for a Sabbath lyeth in removing the filth of Sin Accedentiad divina mysteria deique contemplationem deponenda sunt calceamenta i.e. passiones affectiones simul rationes humanae terrenae Cor. a Lapid in Exod 3. and in quickening and awakening grace sin must be removed If the stomach be foul it must be purged before it be fed or the meat will nourish and strengthen not nature but the ill humours If a man purge himself from these It is true of evil affections as well as evil persons he shall be a Vesselunto honor sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work 2 Tim. 2.21 Superfluity of naughtiness must be laid aside before we can receive the word with meekness James 1.21 When the Vessel is unclean it sowres quickly the sweetest liquors powred into it when the heart is unclean it loseth the good it might receive by the truths of God As sin must be cast out so grace must be called up Grace is like fire apt to be deadish and dull thy duty is before-hand therefore to blow it up Most people upon a Sabbath adorn their bodies with their best cloaths but Alass who almost attireth his soul as he ought on this day when he is going to meet the blessed Redeemer Reader Suppose thou wert a person of great quality and estate and the King should send thee word that he would dine with thee to morrow what preparation wouldst thou make for his entertainment would not thy first work be to cleanse thy house by causing the dust to be swept out the flores to be washt nay rubd every thing to be neat and cleanly Wouldst thou not put up thy choicest Hangings lay on thy richest Carpets bring out thy best plate adorn thy room with thy costliest furniture endeavour that all things should be in print somwhat suitable to the dignity of so great a Prince I tell thee that the great King of all the World doth give thee notice in his Word that on such a day being the Sabbath he intends to sup with thee Now friend what preparation wilt thou make to testifie thy respect to this blessed and onely Potentate Canst thou beforehand do less then sweep out the dust of sin and wash the room of thine heart clean adorn it with the best furniture the Graces the embroidery of the Holy Ghost Truly unless this be done Christ will not think himself welcome nay all thy pretended entertainment of him will be not onely infinitely unworthy of but also provoking to so jealous and glorious a Prince Believe it thy profit by a Sabbath depends not a little upon thy preparation for the Sabbath till the matter be prepared how can it receive the form Job 11.12 13. Thou hast enjoyed many Lords
heart to spiritual joy and delight therein Holy alacrity and joy is not onely a crown and credit to but also a special part of Christianity The Kingdom of God consisteth not in meats and drink but in righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 Gods ways are not so bad but that the Travellers in them may be chearful His work is good wages and therefore it s no wonder that his Servants are so joyful Because beleivers have ever cause of comfort therefore they are commanded always to rejoyce Phil. 3. Whether their sins or sufferings come into their hearts they must not sorrow as they that have no hope In their saddest conditions they have the spirit of consolation There is seed of joy sown within them when it is buried under the clods and appears not above ground But there are special times when God calls for this grain to spring up They have some red letters some holy days in the Calendar of their lives wherein this joy as Wine at a Wedding is most seasonable but among all those days it never relisheth so well it never tasteth so pleasantly as on a Lords day joy sutes no person so much as a Saint and it becomes no season so well as a Sabbath Joy in God on other days is like the Birds Chirping in winter which is pleasing but joy on a Lords day is like their warbling Tunes and pretty notes in Spring when all other things look with a sutable delightful aspect This is the day which the Lord hath made he that made all days so especially of this day but what follows we will rejoyce and be glad therein Psa 118.24 In which words we have the Churches solace or joy and the season or day of it Her solace was great We will rejoyce and be glad Those expressions are not needless repetitions but shew the exeuberancy or high degree of their joy The season of it This is the day the Lord hath made Compare this place with Mat. 21.22.23 and Act. 4.11 and you will find that the precedent verses are a prophetical prediction of Christs Resurrection Sic. Arnob. and so this verse foretels the Churches joy upon that memorable and glorious day And indeed if a feast be made for laughter Eccles 10.19 Then that day wherein Christ feasteth his Saints with the choicest mercies may well command his greatest spiritual mirth A thanksgiving day hath a double precedency of a fast day On a Fast-day we eye Gods anger On a Thanksgiving-day we look to God favour In the former we specially mind our own corruptions In the latter Gods compassions therefore a Fast-day calls for sorrow a Thanksgiving day for joy But the Lords day is the highest thanksgiving day and deserveth much more then the Jewish Purim to be a day of feasting and gladness and a good day On this day we enjoy the Communion of Saints and shall we not delight in those excellent ones Psa 16.3 On this day we have fellowship with the blessed Saviour and shall we not fit under his shadow with great delight Cant. 1. On this day we are partakers of the Ordinances of God and shall we not be joyful in the House of prayer Isa 56.7 On this day we have special converse with the God of Ordinances and who would not draw water with joy out of the Well of Salvation Isa 12.3 Surely whilst we are in the midst of so much Musk we must needs be perfumed Who can walk where the Sun shines so hot and not be warmed It is Gods precept as well as thy priviledge to make Gods day thy delight If thou call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord Isa 58.13 Delights Tremel reads it Thy delicate things according to the Septuag Whether thou art meditating on Gods works or attending on Gods Word which are the two principal duties of the day they both call for delight and joy If on this day of rest thou considerest the work of creation and Gods rest it behoveth thee to follow Davids pattern Thou Lord hast made me glad through thy works I will triumph in the works of thy hands Psa 92.4 If thou considerest the work of Redemption and Christs rest surely out of the carcass of the Lion of the tribe of Judah thou mayst get some Honey as may delight thy soul and force thee to sing My soul doth magnifie the Lord my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour Luk. 1.46 47. The babe in the womb leapt for joy of him before he was born The heavenly host sung at his birth and wilt not thou at his second birth his resurrection from the dead O let the Primitive Christians salutations be thy consolation The Lord is risen If thou meditatest on glorification and thine own rest canst thou do less then rejoyce in hope of glory what Prisoner shackled with Satans temptations and fettered with his own corruptions in the dark Gaol of this World can think of the time when his Irons shall be knockt off and he enjoy the pleasant light and glorious liberty of the Sons of God and not be transported with joy What heir in his minority banisht from his kindred and country can think without comfort of his full age when he shall have the full fruition both of his estate and friends doubtless friend the Sabbaths of the holy are the Suburbs of heaven In heaven there is no buying no selling no ploughing no sowing nothing but worshiping God communion with him fruition of him and delight in him There remains a rest for the people of God There they rest from their labours If thou on a Lords day turnest thy back upon the World and goest up into the mount conversing with and rejoycing in the blessed God what dost thou less then begin thine eternal Sabbath here Such a Lords day can be no less then Heaven in a looking glass representing truly though darkly thy future eternal happiness There is no perfume so sweet to a Pilgrim as his own smoak When thou art attending on the word truely that Aquavitae that hot water may well revive thy spirit Thy testimonies are my delight saith David I have rejoyced more in thy testimonies then in all manner of riches Psa 119.24 77. The Word of God is sometimes called a treasure and what beggar would not rejoyce in a treasure sometimes fire and truly Reader thine heart is frozen to purpose if this fire do not heat it Salomon tell us As cold water to a thirsty soul so is good news from a far Country Prov. 25.25 The Word of God contains the best news that ever ears heard Peace on earth good will towards men and the glad tidings of the Gospel come from Heaven a far Country What canst thou say then why they should not be as welcome and refreshing to thee as cold water to a thirsty soul Variety of things that are excellent is not a little ground of complacency in them Variety of choice voices please the ear variety
of curious colours delight the eyes variety of dainties are acceptable to the taste Nero promises rewards to them that invented new pleasures God hath for that purpose disht out his worship into several and various duties that it might be more pleasant to us Sometimes we speak to God sometimes we hear from God sometimes we are praying for supply of our necessities sometimes we are praysing him for his infinite excellencies sometimes our mouthes are open to sing sometimes our ears are open to hear the Sermon sometimes our eyes are open to see the Sacrament The same meat is drest several ways to make it the more welcome and so the more strengthning to us Hippocrates observes that that food which nature receives with delight though not so good in it self affords better nourishment then that which is more wholesome against which nature hath a reluctancy Reader thy delight and pleasure in the sacred Ordinances of the Lords day will help to make them more profitable to thee Some colours which do delight do also strengthen the sight Sixthly if thou wouldst make godliness thy business on a Lords day Let no duty satisfie without communion with God in it Ordinances are the Galleries and Gardens and for that end appointed wherein God and thy soul may walk together For this cause they are called a glass because therein the Christian beholds the glory of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 As Zacheus climbed up to the Sycamore Tree to see Jesus and when he once had a sight of him he came down joyfully so go thou up into the Trees of duties for this purpose that thou mayst see God in Christ and unless this be granted thee come down sorrowfully When men go to meet a friend at a certain place and they miss him how discontentedly do they go away Alas what are the Ordinances without God but as a Table without meat from which a living soul must needs depart thirsty and hungry David loved the habitation of Gods house but it was because it was the place where Gods honour dwelt Psa 27. David longed for the courts of God more then for his Crown relations or possessions or any outward comforts but it was because God afforded there his gracious presence Gods glorious presence is in his Church Triumphant but he is graciously present in his Church Militant My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh eryeth out for the living God Psa 84.2 His desire was as eager and earnest as of a longing woman with child who is ready to faint away and dye if she be not satisfied Sometimes he compares his desire to thirst of which creatures are more impatient then hunger Psa 63.1 Sometimes to the thirst of an Hart after the water-brooks which creature being naturally hot and dry in a very great degree is exceeding thirsty but the object of his desire of his thirst was God My soul thirsteth for God for the living God O when shall I come and appear before him Psa 42.1 2. To see thy beauty and glory as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary It was communion with God in his life and love in his graces and comforts which the Psalmist so much longed for The sweet smiles of Gods face the honey dews of his Spirit were Davids Paradise of pleasure his heaven upon earth They that come to duty meerly for duty know not what it meanes to meet with God and therefore though they neither see his face nor hear his voice yet are contented like those that were born in some dark Dungeon and never yet saw the Sun they are well enough satisfied without it but those who have seen it and know that that light is pleasant if they look up to the heaven of Ordinances see not the Sun of righteousness it s no longer day with them The true Disciples met together the first day of the week and enjoying Jesus among them rejoyced indeed but they are onely glad in duties when they had seen the Lord John 20.20 They were glad when they had seen the Lord. Reader when thou goest to the Ordinances of God go to meet God in the Ordinances As Moses go up into the Mount of duties to converse with thy Maker Go to view the beauty of his face when thou enquirest into his holy Temple When thou goest to prayer let it be in hope to get thy heart nearer to heaven When thou goest to hear mind communion with him that speaks from heaven and then onely rejoyce in the word when as the star to the wise men leads thee to the place where Christ is It is God in the Word which causeth efficacy it is God in prayer who causeth prevalency it is God in the Sacrament who causeth alacrity it is God in a Sabbath who causeth complacency When thou goest to the waters of the Sanctuary say as Elisha at the waters of Jordan Where is the Lord God of Elijah Where is the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ Why is thy Chariot O Son of righteousness so long a comming Why tarry what clogs the wheels of thy Chariot O when wilt thou come unto me Psa 101.2 When thou comest from the Ordinances and hast not met God in them though thou hast shewed never so great parts or gifts or outward devotion say as Absolom All this avails me nothing so long as I may not see the Kings face 1 Sam. 28 15. Saul himself was sad and sorrowful when he enquired of the Lord and the Lord answered him not and canst thou O Saint be joyful when thy beloved hath withdrawn himself Look upon performances as boats to ferry thy soul over and give it a passage to God and take heed of going contentedly from God without God Psa 43.3 4. let thy prayer be O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me to thy holy hill to thy Tabernacle then will I go unto the Altar of God unto God my exceeding joy Seventhly Sanctifie the whole day to Gods service Be early up in the morning and as late as thy body will permit at night The Israelites when they were to batter down the strong holds of Jericho rose up early in the morning Judg. 6.15 Upon the Lords day thy work must be to batter down the strong holds of sin rise early lose no time Do not lose the least moment if it be possible of this sacred day The very filings of Gold are of worth The smallest part of this holy day is of great price The word Shamur to keep the Sabbath Lev. 19.30 signifieth to keep with care and diligence as a great treasure of which a man would lose none When men beat Ginger they will if good Husbands be careful that little fly out of the Mortar but if they beat pearl they are extraordinary watchful that not the least of that be lost because a little of that is of great value Reader if thou
of God in Ordinances but also the Marrow of his day that no Lords day may satisfie me without the Lord of the day Alass what is the best time without the Rock of eternity what is the best day without the Ancient of days what are the Ordinances of God without the God of Ordinances what are Sabbaths Sermons Sacraments and Seasons of Grace without the dearest Saviour but as broken Cisterns glorious Dreams or guilded nothings I have read of a good soul who answered his Friend Speak to me while you will no words can satisfie except you mention Christ write to me what you will it will not satisfie except in your Letters I may read Christ O that in no Sermon I might be contented till I hear Christ and that in no Chapter I might be pleased till I can read Christ that as the Needle touched with the Load-stone never resteth till it turn to the North so my heart may be reâ—â— less in holy duties till it turneth to and hath fellowship with the Lord of Heaven The Lords day is an excellent resemblance of my future blessedness wherein I shall enjoy my Saviour fully and my God shall be all in all to me Lord let never this day pass without some taste of those celestial pleasures Meditation on the Works and Word of my God being a duty most in its prime and season on a Sabbath day I beg that what time I spare from publique private or secret performances I may imploy to this purpose that I may behold my God to be infinite in wisdom power and goodness in his foot-steps of creation and stand amazed at that rare Workmanship those curious contrivances of his which Angels look into with admiration that appear in his Master-peice that work of Redemption and for his word let my heart be able to say with David O how love I thy law it is my meditation all the day I wish that I may watch over my thoughts words Watchfulness and actions all the day long in special that as when the holy things belonging to the Sanctuary were to be removed they were covered all over lest any dust should soil them so I may cover my heart with such circumspection that no dust of sin may cleave to it O that I might be so wise and watchful that there may not be the least minute of the day wherein I may not either do or receive some good Lord let no Sabbath pass without some saving good to my precious soul I desire Finally Conclusion of the day that I may not lose the heat of the day in the cool of the Evening I mean that what good If gain from my God through his Ordinances in the day may not be lost by my negligence at night but that as a wise Commander I may then double my Guard and expect with much importunity some evening dews of comfort and grace O that I might so keep the Sabbath of my God chuse the things that please him and take hold of his Covenant that I might so turn away my foot from the Sabbath from doing my pleasure on his holy day Is 56.4 5. and 58.13 and call the Sabbath my delight the holy of the Lord that I may have with the Eunuch within the House of my God a name better then of Sons and Daughters even an everlasting name that shall not be cut off Amen A Good Wish to the Lords day HAil thou that art highly favoured of God Luk. 1.28 thou map of Heaven thou golden spot of the week thou Market-day of souls thou Day-break of eternal brightness thou Queen of days the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among days I may say to thee what the Angel said to Daniel Dan. 9.23 O day greatly beloved Psa 45. Thou art fairer then all the Children of time grace is poured into thy lips God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of gladness above thy fellows Of the Jewish Sabbaths and other Festivals in comparison of thee it may be spoken They perish but thou remainest and they all wax old as a Garment Heb. 1.11 12. And as a vesture hast thou folded them up and they are changed but thou shalt maugre the malice of men and Devils continue the same and thy years shall not fail As the Temple succeeded and exceeded the Tabernacle this was fleeting that was fixed so dost thou all former Sabbaths they were but morning stars to usher in thee the Sun and then to disappear Other Festivals in all their Royalty are not arrayed like unto thee All the graces triumph in thee all the Ordinances conspire to enrich thee the Father ruleth thee the Son rose upon thee the Spirit hath overshadowed thee Thus is it done to the day which the King of Heaven delighteth to honour Thou hast not onely a common blessing with other days by the law of nature but a special blessing above all other days from the love of thy Maker Let thousands mark thee for their new birth-day Exod. 12.42 be thou a day as it was said of that night to the Jews much to be Remembred much to be observed to the Lord for bringing many out of worse then Egyptian bondage Esther 8.16 be thou to them a day of light and gladness of joy and honour and a good day On thee light was created the Holy Ghost descended life hath been restored Satan subdued sin mortified souls sanctified the Grave Death and Hell conquered O how do men and women flutter up and down on the Week-days as the Dove on the waters and can find no rest for their souls till they come to thee their Ark till thou put forth thy hand and take them in O how do they sit under thy shadow with great delight and find thy fruit sweet to their taste O the mountings of mind the ravishing happiness of heart the solace of soul which on thee they enjoy in the blessed Saviour They are sorry when the days shorten for thy sake they wish for thee before thou comest they welcome thee when thou art come and they enjoy so much of heaven in thee that thence they love and look and long the more for their eternal Sabbath Go forth O thou fairest among Women and be thou fruitful in bringing forth Children to thy Maker and Husband Gen. 24.60 Be thou the Mother of thousands and of millions and let thy seed possess the Gate of them that hate them Do thou like Rachel and Leah build up the House of Israel do thou worthily in Ephratah and be thou famous in Bethlehem Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O thou mighty and gracious day and in thy Majesty ride prosperously because of meekness righteousness and truth let thy right hand teach the terrible things let thine arrows be sharp in the hearts spiritual enemies whereby the people may fall under thee Psa 132. The Lord hath chosen thee he hath desired thee for his habitation
art a good Husband for thy soul I doubt not but thou esteemest thy time in the week days at so high a rate that thou darest not sqander it away in doing nothing or in that which is worse then nothing but O what worth what price wilt thou set upon an opportunity upon a Lords day How diligent wilt thou be to improve the least peice of that day God giveth thee six whole days for thine own works do not deny to him one whole day in seven Let thy conscience be Judge Is it not unrighteousness to buy by one measure which is greater and sell by another measure which is lesser when the day is consecrated to God as the goods of Ananias it is dangerous to keep back any part of it for our own use Do thou all the day long live and walk as it were in the other World Make it a Sabbath a day of rest 1. From sin and wickedness this is thy duty every day but especially on this day Every sin on a Sabbath is double the season is a great aggravation of the sin The wicked indeed are like the raging Sea which cannot rest but every day bubble up mire and dirt Isa 57.20 2. From the World and the works of thy calling Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore for it is holy unto you Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death for whosoever doth any work therein that soul shall be cut off from among his people Exod. 31.14 The Jews were to rest from works of least importance as gathering sticks he that fetched in sticks was sent out of the World with stones and of greatest concernment as building the Tabernacle and though the Christian now hath more liberty yet he hath no leave at all to pollute the day by wickedness or to prophane the day by any earthly work which might have been done before the day or may be done as well after it May I not say to thee of this day as Elisha to Geehezi Is this a time to receive money and garments and sheep and oxen and men-servants and maid-servants 2 Kings 5.26 Is the Sabbath a time for civil affairs The Sabbath day is therefore called a day of restraint Deut. 16.8 because then men are forbidden all work saith Junius As none were ever losers by laying afide their own works to attend Gods Worship he took care of Israels safety whilst they were in his service that none of their Neighbours though bitter enemies should so much as desire their Cities Exod 34.24 so none I am confident were ever gainers by inching in some part of their callings unnecessarily at the end of Gods day and by setting God aside to serve themselves the very time will be a Canker to consume their estates And as they that take Crocus into their stomachs bring up not onely ill humours but that also which would prove good nourishment So some have had experience that their prophanation of Gods day to increase their estates hath forced them to vomit up the whole God hath given thee days enough for thy calling space enough to mind it in thou needst not trespass upon his holy day upon his holy ground It was no small aggravation of Adams sin that though he had choice of fruits he would eat of the forbidden fruit so it will much increase thy sin if when thou hast choice of time for thy trade thou shouldst meddle with it on a Sabbath Reader Debet totus dies festivus à Christiano expendi in operibus bonis Grostead in precept as thy duty is to rest the whole day from wickedness and worldly work so also to imploy the whole day in Gods Worship be either praying or reading or hearing or singing or meditating or discoursing with others about the Works or Word of God Be always taken up either with publique Hoc sensu loquitur propheta Sià primo mane incipimuslauda re dâ—um continuandas esse ejus laudesad ultimam noctis partem Calvin in loc private or secret duties In the 92. Psalm that Psalm for the Sabbath v. 1 and 3. we are exhorted to shew forth Gods loving kindness in the morning and his faithfulness at evening Now we know that in Scripture sense the morning and the evening are the whole day The whole day is Gods by ordination and why should not it be his by observation God hath dedicated this day wholly to hsi own Worship now every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord. Lev. 27.28 The Pope and Church of Rome have half holy days as St. Blacies day which is holy in the forenoon onely but God and the Church of Christ have no half holy days Observe how exact God is in expressing a whole natural day From evening to evening you shall keep the Sabbath Lev. 23.32 Their days were reckoned from evening to evening from the creation but ours because Christ rose in the morning from morning to morning If thou hast any sincere delight in God and esteem of the true riches I cannot but think that thou wilt be covetous of the smallest part of Gods day and wish as R. Jose Iewish Antiq. l. 3. c. 3. Ex Buxtorf Comment mas that thy portion may be to begin the Sabbath with those of Tiberias because they began it sooner then others and to end it with those of Tsepphore because they continued it longer then others If thy soul ever met God on a Sabbath thou wilt surely be ready to say with Joshua Thou Sun stand still in Gibeon Iosh 10 12. and thou Moon in the vallies of Ajalon O that the day were longer that I might have more time to fight the Lords battels against my spiritual enemies Eightly If thou wouldst make Religion thy business on a Lords day Meditate therein on the word and works of God Consider his works This is part of the work of the day David in that Psalm for the Sabbath gives thee a pattern O Lord how great are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep Psa 92.5 Is a dishonour to a workman to make excellent peices and to manifest abundance of Skill and Art and ingenuity and then not to have them taken notice of God hath done his mighty works to be remembred and wondred at It s said of Pythagoras that he lived sequestred from men in a cave for a whole year together that he might meditate on the abstruse points of Philosophy I wish thee to an easier and pleasanter task to sequester thy self some time every Lords day to ponder the infinite perfections which appear in the operations of his hand God will be both admired and magnified by his people on earth as well as in Heaven which none can do but those that seriously consider his works Men have been much wondred at for some peculiar rare works though in them a Christian should look farther even to God the Author of their skill and wisdom The very Greeks acknowledged somewhat like this that all
XXIII How a Christian may make Religion his business in natural actions and 1. in eating and drinking page 400 Chap. XXIV How a Christian may make Religion his business in his apparel and sleep as also a good wish about natural actions wherein the several heads are epitomized page 427 Chap. XXV How a Christian may make Religion his business in his Recreations and and Pleasures as also a good wish about Recreations wherein the several heads are epitomized page 445 Chap. XXVI How a Christian may make Religion his business in his particular calling as also a good wish about ones particular calling wherein the several heads are epitomized and a good wish about the calling of a Minister wherein his several properties and duties are briefly described page 466 Chap. XXVII How a Christian may make Religion his business in the Government of his Family as also a good wish wherein the several heads are abreviated page 467 Books Printed for and sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the sign of the thre Crowns over against the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapside Folio's THe Annotations on the whole Bible or all the Canonical scriptures of the Old and New Testament together with and according to their own Translation of all the Text as both the one and the other were ordered and appointed by the Synod of Dort now faithfully translated for the use of Great Britain at the earnest desire of many eminent Divines of the English and Scotish Nation A Commentary upon the three first Chapters of Genesis by Iohn White The Works of that famous and learned Divine Mr. William Pemble gathered into one volume The History of the Evangelical Churches of the Valleys of Piedmont containing a most exact Geographical description of the place and a faithful account of the Doctrine Life and Persecutions of the ancient Inhabitants Together with a most naked and punctual relation of the late bloody Massacre 1655. and a Narrative of all the following transactions to 1558. justified partly by divers ancient Manuscrips written many hundred years before Calvin or Luther by Samuel Morland Esq A Commentary upon the holy Writings of Iob David and Solomon that is these five Iâ—â— Psalins Proverbs Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs being part of those which by the Ancient were called Hagiographa Wherein the divers Translations and Expositions both litteral and mystical of all the most famous Commentators both ancient and modern are propounded examined and censured and the Texts from the Original much illustrated by Iohn Mayor Doctor in Divinity A practical Commentary or an Exposition with Observations Reasons and Uses upon the first Epistle general of Iohn by that pious and worthy Divine Mr. Iohn Cotton Pastor of Boston in New-England A learned Commentary or an Exposition upon the first Chapter of the second Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians being the substance of many Sermons formerly preached at Grays-Inn London by that Reverend and Judicious Divine Richard Sibbs D. D. sometimes Master of Katharine-Hall in Cambridge and Preacher to that honorable Society 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or divine characters in two parts acutely distinguishing the more secret and undiscerned differences between 1. The Hypocrite in his best dress of seeming vertue and formal duties and the true Christian in his real graces and sincere obedience As also between the blackest weeds of daily infirmities of the truly godly eclipsing saving grace and the reigning sins of the unregenerate that pretend unto that godliness they never had by that late burning and shining Lamp Mr. Samuel Crook B. D. late Pastor of Wrington in Summersetshire Quarto's Two excellent Treatises of Mr. Ieremi ah Burroughs one on the fifth of Matthew being many Sermons preached at Cripplegate upon all the Beatitudes And Gospel-Revelation in three Treatises viz. 1. The Nature of God 2. The Excellency of Christ And 3. The excellency of mans Immorral Soul both published by William Greenhill William Bridge Philip Nye Iohn Yates Matthew Mead William Adderly Peoples need of a living Pastor at the Funeral of Mr. Iohn Frost by Mr. Zachary Crofton Holy things for holy men or the Lawyers Plea nonsuited c. In some Christian reproof and pity expressed towards Mr. Pryns Book entituled The Lords Supper briefly vâ—ndicated by S.S. Minister of the Gospel A Vindication of the Christians Messiah that Jesus is the true Messiah prophesied and foretold by all the holy men of God who were writers of the Old Testament as also proved out of their own Talmud The Souls progress to the Celestial Canaan by way of godly Meditations and holy Contemplations by Iohn Welles Preacher of the Gospel Comfortable Sermons on Psalm 24. preached before the Lady Elizabeth her Grace by Daniel Dyke B.D. Plenary possession makes a lawful subjection to Powers that are in being proved to be lawful and necessary in a Sermon before the Judges in Exeter by Rich. Saunders Preacher of the Gospel The new World or the new Reformed Church discovered out of the second Epistle of Peter by Nath. Homes D. D. God save the King in a Sermon preached the day after his Majestie came into London by Anthoâ—y Walker Preacher of the Gospel A Plea for Ministers in Sequestrations against Mr. Mossom by S.S. An Ant doteâ— against Anabaptism wherein the Baptizing Infants taking Tythes c. are fully vindicated by Aylmor Haughton The Conversation as Heavenly and as Natural in two Treatises by Dr Stoughton An Exposition with practical Observations continued upon the thirtieth and one and thirtieth Chapters of the Book of Iob being the substance of thirty seven Lectures delivered at Magnus near the Bridge London by Ioseph Caryl Pastor of the Congregation there Also a Continuation by the same Author of the 32 33 and 34. Chapters of Iob being the substance of Forty nine Lectures delivered at Magnus near the Bridge London The Covenant of life opened or a Treatise of the Covenant of Grace by Samuel Rutherfurd Professor of Divinity in the University of S. Andrews Jesus Christ the mystical or Gospel Sun sometimes seemingly eclipsed yet never going down from his people or Eclipses spiritualized opened in a Sermon at Paul Church before the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor Aldermen c. March 28. 1652. the day before the late Solar Eclipse by Fulk Beller M.A. and Preacher of the Gospel in the City of London A Sermon preached before the Honoradle House of Commons at their late Monethly Fast being on Wednesday Iune 30. 1647. by Nathaniel Ward Minister of Gods Word A Declaration of the Faith and Order owned and practised in the Congregational Churches in England agreed upon and consented unto by their Elders and Messengers in their Meeting at the Savoy October 12. 1658. An account of the last hours of Oliver Cromwel wherein you have his frame of Spirit expressed in his Dying Words upon his Death-bed together with his last Prayer a little before his Death Drawn up and published by one who was an eye and ear witness of
so dreadful but its certain and therefore calls for the more caution 2. By the season of it In the latter times When the world groweth old it will dore and decline when it comes to the bottom it will run dregs Its last days which should be best will be its worst days 3. By the causes procuring it Seducing spirits and Doctrine of devils Satan and his Emissaries will like Sampsons Foxes carry firebrands abroad to set the world in a hellish flame Secondly The Remedy is prescribed in reference to himself Something he must forbear Refuse prophane and old wives fables 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rejice Piscat Beza Excommunica alii If thou wouldst not swim down with the tide of those apostatising times take heed of steering thy course by prophane though ancient customs Refuse them with scorn reject them with anger let thy spirit rise and thy stomack turn at the very sight of such sins One way to prevent Apostacy is to refuse ungrounded antiquity The will of the Father of spirits not the ways of the fathers of our flesh is to be the rule of our walking It is well observed that God in no command but the second which forbids his Worship in any way not appointed by his Word threatneth to visit the sins of the fathers upon the children because superstitious Worshippers are of all men most strengthned by the Traditions of their Fathers They will tell us Shall we be wiser then our Fathers Now because they are resolved to sin with their Fathers God is resolved they shall suffer for their Fathers They that will follow their forefathers in sin for ought I know must follow their forefathers to hell If Timothy would not share in others declensions he must forbear others traditions Refuse prophane and old wives fables Something he must also follow after Exercise thy self unto godliness This is the special help which the skilful physician appointeth his beloved patient in those infectious times to preserve his soul in health As a pestiferous air is very dangerous to the body yet for a man to get and make it his work to keep a sound constitution will be an excellent means to prevent infection So an Apostatizing place or people is very dangerous to the soul spiritual diseases are more catching and killing then corporal but a spiritual habit of a real sanctity with a constant care to continue and increase it will be a soveraign means to preserve it in safety Bodies without life quickly corrupt and become unsavory not so living creatures Running waters are sweet and clean when standing ponds putrifie and abound in vermine He that is ever trading and thriving in godliness need not fear that he shall prove a bankrupt Carts overthrow not going up hill Timothy is considerable in his twofold capacity 1. As a Minister of Christ or in his particular calling in this respect he must exercise himself to godliness Non tan tum sana doctrina sed etiâ—m pia religâ—ola vita mâ—â—iâ—ri verbo opus â—st Beza in loc A Pastor must not onely some days give precepts but every day give a pattern to his people he must not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely divide the word rightly but also order his conversation aright He must as Nazianzen said of Basil thunder in his doctrine and lighten in his life Singular holiness is required of those that minister about holy things as Painters they must teach by their hands by their lives as well as by their lips Ministers must exercise themselves to godliness that is do their duties with the greatest diligence They are sometimes called the Salt of the earth Matt. 5 13 14 because they must waste themselves to prevent corruption in others Sometime the light of the world they must consume themselves to direct others in the way to heaven Greg in 1. cap. lob Gregory observeth that the Spirit of God appeared in two shapes in the shape of a Dove signifying innocency in the shape of Fire signifying activity The zeal of Gods house not the rust of idleness must eat the Minister up he must be a burning shining light if ever he would thaw the frozen hearts of his hearers Quic quid dâ—cit Lutherus quicquid scribit id in aâ—in as peâ—etrat mirificos relinquit aculâ—os in cordibus â—o minum Melch. Adam in vit Luther our Chappels must not be turned into Chappels of ease Christ neglected his food spent his strength wrought so hard that he was thought to be beside himself We are called Fishers Labourers Souldiers Watchmen all which are laborious callings We are compared to clouds the clods of the earth lye still but the clouds of heaven are ever in motion and dissolve themselves to refresh others But alas how many fleece their flocks Sacerdotum nomiâ—a acceâ—imus non ad quietâ—nâ— sed ad laboreâ—â— ut inver amuâ— in operâ— qâ—od sigâ—amur in no mine Greg. l. 4. ep 8. but never feed them as if their Benesices were Sine cures The Green-sickness is the maids and laziness many Ministers disease Who is instant in season and out of season It was a notable speech of Boniface the Martyr to one that asked him whether it was lawful to give the Sacramental wine in a wooden cup. Time was when we had wooden cups and golden Priests but now we have golden cups and wooden priests CHAP. II. The opening of the Text and the Doctrine 2. TImothy is to be considered as a member of Christ or in his general calling and so this Exhortation belongs to every Christian In it we may observe these three parts 1. The act Exercise 2. The subject of that act Thy self 3. The object about which it was to be conversant Vnto godliness Exercise thy self unto godliness I shall briefly open the terms in the Text and then lay down the Doctrinal truth Exercise The word signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exercei semetiâ—sem ad pietatem qui diligerter intambit action bus qui bus deus servitur Est in loc strip thy self naked it s a metaphor from Runners or Wrestlers who being to contend for the prize and resolved to put forth all their strength and power lay aside their cloaths which may hinder them and then bestir themselves to purpose as if Paul had said O Timothy let godliness be the object of all thy care and cost Follow thy general calling with the greatest industry pursue it diligently do not loiter but labour about it lay aside what may hinder lay hold of what may further and mind it as the main and principal work which thou hast to do in this world Thy self A Christians first care must be about his own spiritual welfare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Religion commands us to be mindful of and helpful to our neighbours and relations The Sun rayeth out his refreshing beams and the Spring bubleth up her purling streams for the
As Augustus said of the young Roman Quicquid vult valde vult Whatsoever he goeth about that concerns the glory of his Saviour and the good of his soul he doth it to purpose As Paul saith of himself I follow after if that I may apprehend Phil. 3.10 The word in the original is emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I prosecute it with all my strength and power that I may attain if it be possible The word is either an allusion to persecutors Matth. 5.10 11 12. for its used of them frequently so Piscator takes it Or to Hunters Est more vena tarum persequi feram Arâ—t according to Aretius take either and the sence is the same and very full As persecutors are industrious and incessant in searching up and down for poor Christians and hailing them to prison and as Huntsmen are up betimes at their sport follow it all day and spare for no pains even sweating and tyring themselves at this their pleasure so eager and earnest so indifatigable and industrious was Paul and so ought every one of us to be the command is delivered to us in the same word Heb. 12.14 about godliness A man that minds godliness onely by the by looks sometimes to the matter seldom to the manner of his performances Opus operatum the work done is a full discharge for him how slightly or slovenly soever it be done If he stumble sometimes upon a good work yet it is not his walk and when he is in that way he cares not how many steps he treads awry It may be said of him as of Jehu He takes no heed to walk in the way of the Lord God of Israel with his heart 2 King 10.31 He makes an Idol of the blessed God he prays to him and hears from him as if he had eys and saw not as if he had ears and heard not as if he had hands and wrought not and any thing will serve an Idol How aptly and justly may God say to him after his duties as Cesar to the Citizen after Dinner who having invited the Emperour to his Table made but slight preparation and slender provision for him I had thought that you and I had not been so familiar But he that exerciseth himself to godliness hath a more awful and serious carriage towards God ' Er 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnibus viribus vobementer prolixe toto animo A Lapide 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur quod in longum protenditur â—eza The twelve Tribes served God instantly day and night Acts 26.7 fervently vehemently to the utmost of their power the word implyeth both extension and intention the very * Macro Satur lib. cap. 4. heathen could say that the Gods must be worshipped 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either to our utmost with all or not at all 2. The industry of a man about his calling or whatsoever he makes his business appeareth in his taking all advantages for the furtherance thereof A Tradesman that minds his employment doth not onely in his Shop but also abroad and when he is from Home drive forward his Trade Indeed when he is in his Shop his eyes are most about him to see what is wanting that it may be supplied to take care that all his customers may be satisfied and to order things so that by his buying and selling his stock may be increased but if he walk from home he doth not wholly leave his Trade behinde him If he visit his friends or acquaintance and there be any likelyhood of doing any good you may observe him questioning the price of such and such commodities enquiring at what Rates they are afforded in those parts and if they be cheap possibly furnishing himself from thence if dear it may be putting off a considerable quantity of his own Because he makes it his business his mind runs much upon it that wherever he is he will be speaking somewhat of it if occasion be offered whereby he comes now and then to meet with such bargains as tend much to his benefit so the Christian that makes Religion his business is industrious to improve all opportunities for the furtherance of his general calling as his time for he is Gods servant so his trade goeth forward every hour He is David like as a sparrow upon the house top looking on this side and that side to see where he may pick up some spiritual food He doth not onely in the Church and in his Closet but also in all his converses with men walk with his God If God prosper him as the ship mounts higher according to the increase of the Tide so his heart is lifted up the nearer to God as Gods hand is enlarged towards him If God afflict him as the nipping north wind purifies the air so the besom of affliction doth sweep the dust of sin out of his heart As his pulse is ever beating so his heavenly trade is ever going forward His visits to his friends are out of conscience as well as out of courtesie his endeavor is either by some savoury Scripture expression or some sober action to advantage his company He will watch for a fit season to do his own and others souls service and catch at it as greedily and improve it as diligently as Benhadads servants did Ahabs words If he be eating or drinking the salt of grace is ever one dish upon the table to season all his diet He will raise his heart from the daily bread to the bread that came down from heaven he eateth is full and blesseth the Lord Before he begins he asketh God leave while he feeds he tasteth Gods love and when he hath done he giveth God thanks If he be buying or felling he is very willing that God should be a witness to all his bargains for he prayeth to God as if men heard him and he tradeth with men as if God saw him His shop as well as his Chappel is holy ground If he be amongst his Relations he is both desirous and diligent to further Religion His endeavour is that those that are nigh him in the flesh may be nigh God in the spirit He is careful that both by his precepts and pattern he may do somwhat for their profit His house as well as his heart is consecrated to God As Cesars Image was stampt on a penny as well as on a greater piece Mat. 22.20 So godliness which is the Image of the King of Kings is imprinted not onely on his greater and weightier but also upon his lesser and meaner practices Godliness is not his Physick which he onely now and then as at Spring and Fall makes use of but his food which he daily dealeth about besides his set times for his set meals of Morning and Evening devotion he hath many a good bait by the by in the day time Evening Morning and at Noon will I pray and cry aloud Psa 55.17 Oh how love I thy Law it is my meditation not
Song gives savoury advice to his Children We need not doubt but his spiritual motions were quickest when his natural motions were slowest that the stream of grace ran with full strength when it was to empty it self into the Ocean of glory Mark what special counsel he gives them who were committed to his special care Deut. 32.46 Set your hearts to all the words which I command you this day for it is not a vain thing because it is your life in which words we have 1. a Commandment and 2. an Argument The commandment is Set your hearts to all the words which I command you this day that is exercise your selves to godliness He doth not say lend them your ears to listen to them slightly or let them have your tongues to speak of them cursorily No it is not set your heads but set your hearts to all the words c. He doth not say let your works be according to these words or let your feet ever make them your walk No it is not set your hands but set your hearts to the words that I speak unto you Make it your business and then your Ears and Tongues your Feet your Heads your Hands and all will be employed about them to the purpose But what special Argument doth Moses urge for the enforcement of this great work Surely that which I am speaking of the weight of it Set your he arts to all the words which I command you this day For it is not a vain thing because it is your life v. 47. Moses had experience that the hearts of the Israelites were exceeding knotty wood and therefore he useth an heavy Beetle to drive home the Wedge It is not a vain thing it is life as if he had said Were it a matter of small moment ye might Laze and Loyter about it but it behoves you to bestir your selves lustily to follow it laboriously to set your hearts to it for it is as much worth as your lives that pearl of matchless price is engâ—gâ—d and at stake in your pursuit of godliness Life though but natural is of so much value that men will sacrifice their honours and pleasures their wealth and liberty and all to it The Egyptians parted with their costly jewels willingly Hinc clamor ille desperation is index omnes mortui sumus binc facilitas illa in dando Calo. in Exod. 12. â—anquam si hoc pretio animas redimissent Jun. in loc to redeem their lives as Calvin observeth The widow in the Gospel spared none of her wealth to obtain health which is much inferior to life Skin for skin all that a man has will he give for his life Throw but a brute into the water to drown it how will it labour and toll and sweat to preserve its life View a man on his death-bed when a distemper is like a strong enemy fighting to force life out of the field how doth Nature then with all the might and strength it hath strive and struggle to keep its ground What panting and breathing what sweating and working of all the parts do you behold and no wonder The man laboureth for life If there be such labour for a natural life that is but umbra vitae a shadow to this the substance which is but the union of the body and soul and lyeth under a necessity of dissolution what labour doth a spiritual life deserve that consisteth in the souls union and communion with the blessed Saviour and which neither men nor devils neither death nor hell shall ever deprive a beleever of but in spight of all it will grow and increase till it commence eternal life Well might Moses expect that such an heavy weight as this should make great impression and sink deep into their affections For it is not a vain thing because it is your life We may say of this work of Christianity compared with all other works what David said of Goliahs sword There is none like it this is soul-work this is God-work this is eternity-work and therefore of greatest weight and requireth us all to make it our business Such blows as these three are one would think might force fire out of a flint This is Soul-work As soul wo is the heaviest wo and soul-wants are the greatest wants so soul-work is the weightest work the dangers of a soul are the deepest dangers the loss of the soul is the dreadfullest loss the neglect of the soul is the dolefullest neglect The consequence of the action is frequently specified from the excellency of the person or subject concerned in it The soul of man is a most excellent piece both in regard of the spirituality and immortality of its substance as also in regard of that divine image imprinted on it those heavenly qualities with which it was at first endowed Princes stamp not their image except in cases of necessity on brass or tynn or leather but on gold and silver the chiefest and most excellent mettals therefore though those affairs which concern the body are but of ordinary respect yet those that concern the soul are of unconceivable weight and regard One soul is more worth then ten thousand bodies then ten thousand worlds The greatest thing saith one in this world is Man and the greatest thing in man is his Soul It is an abridgement of the invisible world as the body is of the visible The body though no mean work considered absolutely yet of ordinary worth considered comparatively to the soul It is a mud-wall inclosing a rich treasure as a common mask to a beautiful face as a course cabinet having in it a precious carkanet The very Heathen acknowledged that the soul was the man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plat. the body but its servant and therefore the Christian may well call it and care for it as his darling as his onely one as the original is in that place Psal 22.20 Chrysostom observeth Omnia Deus dedit duplicia Homil. 22. ad popul Antioch God hath given man two Eyes two Ears two Hands two Feet that the failing of the one may be supplied by the help of the other Animam vero unam but one Soul if that miscarry there is no remedy Nebuchadnezzar lost his Reason and that was restored David lost his Wives Children and Goods and yet they were recovered nay Lazarus lost his life and was revived but for the loss of the Soul no power can recover it no price can redeem no pearls no not the whole world can recompence its loss Well might Charls the Fifth Val. Rath Car. lib. 3. when sollicited by a great Counsellor Antonino de Leva to cut off all the Princes in Germany that he might rule alone forbear to put his advice into practice and cry out O Anima Anima O my soul my soul what then will become of my soul It was a royal answer which Maximilian King of Bohemia gave the Pope who perswaded him to turn good Catholique promising him much
revealed Will. I hope thou art satisfied in the weight of the Reasons already delivered what canst thou say why thou shouldst not presently set upon the work Thou hast heard it is the great end of thy being and continuance in this world That it is an employment of the greatest concernment How it is Soul work God-work Eternity-work That it must of necessity be made the main business or otherwise all thy labour will be lost â—anst thou easily break this threefold cord let conscience judge between God and thee whether such a work as this is doth not deserve all thy time and strength thine utmost care and greatest diligence and ten thousand times more then thou canst possibly give it Thou hast also read how fiery and furious Worldlings Formalists Sinners are for their Dalilahs and Minions Oh why art thou so slothful to go in and possess the land Judg. 18.3 Themistocles seeing two Cocks fight Aelianâ— 2 Va. Hâ—st c. 28. when he was going to a battel pointed his Souldiers to them and said Do you see â—onder Combatants how valiantly they deal their blows with what fury they fight and yet they fight not for their Country nor for their Gods nor for the honour of their Ancestors nor for Glory nor Liberty nor Children What courage then my brave Countrymen should this put into our hearts on whose resolution all these depend and by whose valour they subsist So say I to thee Reader Dost thou see yonder Worldling how he rideth runneth toileth moileth sweateth wasteth his strength wrongeth his body makes a very pack-horse of it and will searce allow it time to eat or sleep Dost thou see yonder Superstitious person how zealous he is for the inventions of men laying his Estate Limbs Laberty and Life at the feet of his own Idol 〈◊〉 how like one upon a fiery Steed full of mettle he rides post out of Gods way and from Gods Word Nay dost thou see yonder Sinner what time he spends what miseries he endures what Wealth he wastes how hard he labours to gratifie his Lust And yet these work not for the Blood of Christ nor for the Love of the Father nor for the Graces of the Spirit nor from freedom from the Curse of the Law the slavery of Satan the torments of Hell nor for their Souls nor for their God nor for fulness of joy and the pleasures that are at Gods right hand for evermore What Zeal and Fervency should this put into our hearts Dear Friends and what diligence and industry into our hands when we work and trade for all these and if we make them our business our labour shall not be invain in the Lord. Exercise thy self to Godliness not to Superstition As the Ivy in time eats up the very heart of the Oake it groweth about so doth Formality and Superstition the very heart and life of Religion Let Gods Laws not thy own or others Lusts be the rule whereby thou governest thy heart and life Superstition saith an eminent Divine is to true Holiness Gurnal Christ incomp arm part 2. edit 2. p. 224. what the Concubine is to the true Wife who is sure to draw the Husbands love from her this Brat the Devil hath long put out to nurse to the Romish Church which hath taken a great deal of pains to bring it up for him and no wonder when she is so well paid for its maintenance it having brought her in so much worldly treasure and riches What some observe of Horse hairs that though liveless yet lying nine days under water they turn to Snakes may pertinently be applyed to superstitious Ceremonies which though at first dead or held at most but indifferent yet in continuance of time have quickened and done much mischeif There is a simplicity in the Word and Worship of God which I would intreat thee to look after I fear least your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ 2 Cor. 11.3 not as simplicity is opposed to wisdom but as simplicity is opposed to mixtures Compositions do but diminish and abate the vertue of Simples The more natural and simple the Wine is the more pure it is mixtures do but adulterate it The more simple the Worship of God is I speak of Gospel simplicity and order the more pure it is humane inventions and mixtures may abase it they cannot adorn it Gods Altar under the law must be of earth If thou lift up a tool upon it thou hast polluted it Exod. 20.24 25. Men are apt to think that by lifting up tools on Gods altar they polish it but God himself saith they pollute it When the Church was in her infancy she was drest in the swadling clothes of Ceremonies but since she is grown up God hath provided her other attire To the Jews the Sun of righteousness was behind and therefore the shadow of those Ceremonies was before They were in force and power but to us Gentiles the Sun of righteousness is before and therefore the shadow of ceremonies is behind When Christ came those shadows seemed to say as the Angels to Jacob Let us go for the day breaketh Gen. 32.26 at the death of Christ the Vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom to acquaint us that the Jewish Ceremonies must then vanish Mat. 27.51 Reader I would not be mistaken I do not advise thee against that order and decency which is commanded in the Worship of God nor against active obedience to authority in things that are circumstantial or not directly nor consequentially forbidden in Scripture but I would counsel thee to beware least like the Dog in the Fable whilst thou art snapping at any shadow thou dost not lose the substance and withal I must tell thee that as when the shadows grow long it s a sign the Sun is declining so when those shadows those even indifferent things increase usually the substance the light of holiness decreaseth When Corn runs out into straw and chaff those that feed on it may well be thin and lean but when it runs into ear and kernel thou mayst expect such as eat of it to be fat and well favourd when Religion runs into Formalities and Ceremonies her followers can never be thriving spiritually they may starve for all the gaudy flowers wherewith the several dishes on her table are decked and set forth it is the power of godliness alone which like wholsom and substantial food will distribute nourishment and strength to the inner man I expect nourishment from bread not from straw or stones because God hath annext his blessing to the former not to the latter I look for spiritual strength from divine institutions not from humane inventions because Gods promise is made to word-worship not to will-worship one would think the sparks of that fire wherewith Aarons Sons were consumed should fly in the faces of men and make them affraid to offer up to the Lord what he commanded them not Lev.
special treasure into the hands of the Children of men that they might obey his will and know the just one And Reader it is thy duty to search and study this book When Kings send out their Proclamations either concerning acts of grace or some Law which their Subjects ought to obey they expect that all should take notice of them and give them the reading and hearing What an affront dost thou offer to the King of the whole World if thou turnest thy back upon his word I must tell thee it is no less then crimen loesae Majestatis He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Luke 10.16 Thou mayst think possibly that by neglecting to hear thou dost onely contemn the Preacher but beleive me it is a contempt of thy Maker Ministers are Gods Embassadors Now to deny an Embassador audience is one of the greatest disrespects which can possibly be offered him nay it is an affront to his Prince on whose errand he cometh and whose person he representeth and what is the conclusion usually of such bad premises but a bloody War Confider what thou dost when thou refusest him that speakest from heaven for if thou shuttest the windows of thine eyes from reading and the door of thine ears from hearing God may clap such a padlock of a judiciary curse upon them both that thou shalt never open thine eyes nor ears till thou comest as the rich Glutton to see Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom and to hear and bear thy part in those dreadful screechings and howlings which are in Hell It is a mercy that the Tree of Knowledge the Word of God is not forbidden but commanded fruit nay that it groweth in the very path to the Tree of life O why shouldst thou then like the Pharisees reject the counsel of God against thy own soul If thou art a childe of Adam I am sure thou hast thy deaths wound now by neglecting the Word thou like a frantick Patient throwest away that plaister which onely can cure thee Do not say thou wast not warned of thy danger and duty I do here shew thee the hand and seal of the King of kings to that Warrant to which I require thy obedience The Scripture is the Word of Christ and God commandeth thee upon thine allegiance to hear him Colos 3.16 Matth. 3.17 The Word is the Cabinet in which thy Saviour that Pearl of infinite price is laid up and therefore thou art commanded to look into it for this Jewell Search the Scriptures for they are they which testifie of me John 5.39 The Word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and speaketh such a diligent search as covetous men make for silver they spare for no labour that they may attain their Deified Treasure What shouldst not thou do for durables Riches and Righteousness But Reader if thou art a childe of God I doubt not but thou delightest to look into thy Fathers will and weightest every Word in it as knowing that in his Testament there is a great charge committed and a great legacy bequeathed to thee It is thy daily Companion and Counsellour thou darest not go without thy cordial being liable every day to faint nor without thy weapons being called every hour to fight The Scriptures are the light by which thou walkest and the tools with which thou workest Let me perswade thee to persevere in this gracious practice Take the counsel of the Author of it who is fittest to give Laws for thy carriage towards it Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly Colos 3.16 The Word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and signifieth to keep house with you Do not leave thy Bible as some do at Church and hear nothing of it all the week long but bring it home to thy house let it dwell with thee Let not the Word be as a way-faring man to tarry with thee but for a night and so be gone but let it be an inhabitant one that accompanieth thee to bed and board and with whom thou conversest continually as thy familiar and intimate friend Make thine heart as Jerome saith of Nepotians by his assiduous reading and hearing the Scriptures Bibliothecam Christi The Library of Jesus Christ I cannot but think that thou hast found the Bible so bountiful a Guest to pay thee so liberally for its board that thou hast bid it heartily welcome and wouldst not part with it for the whole world Agesilaws is commended saith Xenophon because he never went to bed nor rose up before he had looked into Homer whom he called his Sweet-heart Advise thou with a Divine at least as often as he did with a prophane Author Kings have their Counsellors and great men their Remembrancers Let Gods testimonies be the men of thy council Psa 119.24 Let not others negligence abate the least of thy diligence but rather by an Antiperistasis let their extreme coldness double thine inward heat As the fire is hotest when the weather is coldest so Davids heart boiled with zeal after it when the waters of others affections to it were frozen They have made void thy Law therefore I love thy Commandments above gold yea above fine gold Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right Psal 119.126 127 128. O consider what love the Saints of God have ever had to his Law Luther said That he hated the Books he made and could wish them all burnt lest the time spent in reading them might hinder the reading of the Scriptures O how love I thy Law saith David The godly have meditated therein day and night they have esteemed it above the sweetest honey and the finest gold the Martyrs in England have given much of their Estates for a few leaves of it and they laid down their lives before they would lose the precious fruit in it The French Protestants saith their Historian burnt in zeal to the Word whilest the bloody Papists burnt them for the Word Scipio Africanus was applauded for having usually in his hands the books of Xenophons Institutions of Cyrus O let this Book of books be often before thee and always in thee let it be thy mediation all the day One would think that he who knoweth and believeth the contents of the Word should hardly ever let a Bible be out of his hand at least he will lay it up as the two Tables in the Ark in his heart Scriptura est cor ipsa anima Dei Greg. One of the Fathers calls it The heart and soul of God Indeed as a man by his word discovereth his minde and will so God by the Gospel which is his Word revealeth his eternal good will to men It is the Copy of his everlasting love of which his Decree is the Original containing all his pecious thoughts before the foundation of the World of redeeming miserable man with the blood of his Son and making him an heir
Manna the Bread of Heaven and what a condition is thy poor soul in then They that have the Green-sickness care not for solid food but hanker after trash They have souls sadly sick that neglect the good Word of God and long after the fancies and wit of men God doth by the foolishness of preaching save them that believe that he alone might have the glory of their salvation That the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.7 When men nibble at the bait of Humane Eloquence and are caught the skill of the Angler is applauded but when men bite at the naked hook the simplicity of the Gospel all will grant this to be a miracle and say This is the finger of God Dost thou not see that as Daniel and his companyons thrived better and looked fairer with feeding upon pulse then the other Captives who fed on the Kings dainty provision Optimi concionatores ad vulgus sunt dixit Lutherus qui puriliter trivi aliter populariter sim lieiâ— sime dâ—cent Melch. Adam in vita So those Christians in every Parish look abroad where you will thrive more in holiness and are fairer in Gods eye who feed on plain naked Scripture then those whom no dishes will please but such as are curiously cooked for a Kings Palate Thou wilt not believe but that thy face may be seen in a glass where the sides are not guilded thou wilt chuse an horse not by its trappings and fine furniture but by its usefulness and serviceableness Why shouldst thou be so childish as to be in love with no garments but what are daubed with Silver lace when other plain raiment will warm thy body as well Reader if the fault be not thine own thou mayest gain much nay I must say most good by plain preaching Those that dwell by the Sea side gather up those precious commodities bequeathed to the Sea at the death or wrack of the ship when the Sea is lowest which they cannot do when the waters are highest I do not here plead for vain repetitions and tedious circumlocutions nor for them that dress their meat so slovenly that their Guests loath it I know it s below the Majestie of a King when he is delivering his minde by his Ambassador to play the Orator but it is not below him to speak sense and reason Wise men love a neat compact discourse but it must be more full of matter then words convincing the judgement and working upon the affections Plain solid Sermons are most acceptable to pious and serious souls There is a vast difference between washing the face of a Discourse clean and painting it the former is lawful and commendable the latter sinful and abominable Ministers must minde the capacities of their Auditories and not put that meat into their mouthes which their teeth cannot chew nor their stomachs concoct Their Sermons of quiddities haeccieties and School nicities may in the opinion of giddy men tend to their own praise but never to their hearers profit Such men when their children ask bread give them stones which may choak them but will not cherish them It is pity he should ever teach School that will not speak to his Scholars so as they may understand him But the worst supposition is Thy Teacher may be untaught himself his life may give the lye to his lips As to this prejudice 1. Remember That an accusation must not be received against an Elder except under two or three witnesses thy charity O Christian and the Dignity of his Calling must both move thee to be slow to believe As it is sinful to raise up an evil report Constantine the Emperor said That if he saw a Bishop committing uncleanness he would rather cover that foul fact with his Imperial robe then suffer it to be divulged to the dishonor of the Gospel so it is sinful to take up an evil report whoever laid it down ready for thee But secondly if thy Pastor like a wooden Vessel giveth that wine to thee which he never tasteth nor savoureth himself be not therefore wholly discouraged If it be true that thy Minister is false to God and his own soul that he onely wears Christs livery that he might the more unsuspected do the Devils work I confess it is matter of great lamentation the good Lord take care either for their conversion or ejection for certainly they being listed under Christs colours and false to their Captain do his adversary the Devil double service The sins of Teachers are the Teachers of sins they who forget their Sermons will remember their sins to patronize their own But if the providence of God should binde thee to such a Pastor which is no small unhappiness consider that God fed Elijah by a Raven and surely he can feed thee by an unclean creature He increaseth sometimes his Enemies gifts that they might be instrumental to increase his peoples graces It is unquestionable in my judgement though some I know doubt it that a sinner may convert a soul and my reason is this because the operation of the word doth not depend upon the piety of the Preacher but upon the free grace and power of the Lord. Yet I must also confess that I beleive that God doth not so often vouchsafe to his enemies as to his friends that honour and happiness But as bad as he is God may use him to do thee good As the best Ministers Sermons are not to be received for their good lives sake so the worst Ministers Preaching is not to be rejected because of their evil practices A blind man may hold a Candle to give light to others whilst he himself remains in the dark the Sun of righteousness may convey the light of holiness into the house of thine heart through this sluttish Window Thou mayst derive water from the Fountain of life through a leaden pipe A deaf bell may be useful to call a Christian to Church and he that never heard so as to live may call a soul to Christ Wholesom Sugar may be in a poisoned Cane The Egyptian Jewels were helpful to the Tabernacle David made the spoiles of the Gentiles service able to the Temple and surely the son of David can make the parts and guifts of an Egyptian an Enemy to God serviceable to thy soul The Pharisees in the days of Christ were many of them vicious persons yet they fitting in Moses Chair Christ doth not deny them audience but commandeth his Disciples to distinguish between their words and their works he doth not forbid them to hear their Doctrine but enjoyn them to forbear their doings Mat. 23.2 3. 2. The second thing requisite to preparation is this Before thou goest to hear labour to affect thine heart with the necessity excellency and efficacy of the word There was half an hours silence in Heaven before the seventh Trumpet sounded thy duty is to weigh the nature and end of the word before thou goest
to hear that Trumpet sounded by one of the Angels of the Churches Consider its necessity Mary minded the one thing necessary indeed she gave the word her heart but the way to it was this she gave it her ear She sat at Christs feet and heard his word The custom even in those days was for the Teacher to Preach either out of a Desk or Pulpit or some place above the people hence their hearers sitting below them are said to sit at their feet Urge thy soul with this The word which I am going to hear in regard of the ordination of God is absolutely necessary to my spiritual and eternal good I am dead and it is the word that must enliven me I am blind it is the word that must enlighten me It is absolutely necessary that I know my sins and misery now the word must do this and is therefore called a glass Jam. 1. It is absolutely necessary that I know my Saviour and the way of my recovery now the word must do this and is therefore called faith and life Joh. 6. Rom. 3. It is necessary to open mine eyes to see Christ to open my heart to receive Christ and that Heaven hereafter may be open to my poor soul My soul is sinful and its the word that must sanctifie it My soul is sick it is the word that must heal it My soul is hungry and its the word must feed it or I shall starve My soul is thirsty and its the word that must satisfie it or I shall die for thirst whatsoever conditions of misery I am in it is the word that must give sutable consolations to support me whatsoever relations of life I stand in it is the word that must give sutable exhortations to direct me whatsoever service I am called to whether of doing or suffering it is the word which must releive me with sutable supply O of what concernment is this word to my well being in this and the other World I must be sanctified or I can never be saved I must turn to God or burn in hell and the word must do this for me or it will never be done good Lord how should I hear Men are careless about things which are indifferent but they are careful about things that are absolutely necessary Necessity makes men strive oftentimes beyond their strength None work so hard as they that have necessity for their Master Consider its excellency It is the Word of God though thou dalliest when men are speaking yet surely it becomes thee to be serious when the great God is speaking It is of divine inspiration All Scripture is given by inspiration of God The Ephesians cryed up their Idol Diana because it was the Image which fell down from Jupiter Great is Diana of the Ephesians O how shouldst â—â—ou prize and prepare for the Word when it came down from the great God Men were but the Organs through which the Almighty God spoke Non vox hominum sonat It is the voyce of God and not of man It is of Divine operation I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 What wonders hath the great God wrought by his Word He hath given eyes to the blinde feet to the lame ears to the deaf life to the dead by his Word What legions of Devils and lusts hath he unkennel'd and cast out with his Word Hannibals Sword Some write of the Weezel that it doth aure concipere ore parere conceive in the ear c. He hath caused many a soul to hear and live by his Word he hath awakened many a soul that was asleep in sin by the voice of the Scriptures and caused them to arise and work out their own salvations Thousands of poor creatures who were sinking into the bottomless Hell have by Gods hand stretched out in his Word been delivered from going down to the pit and lifted up to Heaven It is a Word of Divine Institution and of Divine Benediction Revel 1.3 It is the Word in which the Father speaketh John 6.45 Every one that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh to me It is the Word of Christ Heb. 12.25 Col. 3.16 In it the Spirit speaketh to the Churches Rev. 2.11 The pearl hid in it the Scriptures are they that testifie of Christ John 5.39 the price paid for it both Testaments are sprinkled with the bloâ—â— of Jesus Heb. 9.27 do fully speak the excellency of it Now Reader think with thy self thus I am going to hear that Word which hath God for its Author Jesus Christ for its matter and Eternal Life for its end Shall I like a beastly Swine trample these invaluable Jewels under my feet shall that which is infinitely more precious then fine gold be esteemed by me as dirt It is the picture of Gods own excellencies how chary should I be of the picture for the Persons sake Ah how tender should I be of that glass which hath wine in it more worth then Heaven and Earth Would it not be a thousand pities that I should suffer the Flies of my wandring thoughts to corrupt and spoil this Box of Precious Oyntments Consider the efficacy of it The revealed Word is like the essential Word for the fall as well as for the rise of many in Israel As there is nothing so evil but a serious holy person may get good out of it like some Creatures we read of he may digest and fetch nourishment out of Serpents so there is nothing so good but a careless graceless heart may pervert to his hurt like the Spider he may suck poyson out of the sweetest Rose The Word will work one way or other if it work not for thy salvation it will work for thy damnation if it be not a savour of life to life it will be a savour of death to death As the rain cometh down and watereth the earth and returneth not thither again so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void Isa 55.10 11. The Word is compared to fire Fire doth either purifie the mettal or consume it the Word will either convert thee or confound thee The Sea sinks some Vessels and lands others safely the Scripture will either further thee towards Heaven or towards Hell The ways of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them but the transgressors shall fall therein Hosea 14. ult Mark Reader what an Engine is here to screw thee up to the greatest attention to the Word which is possible It is like strong physick to a person exceeding sick which either mends them or ends them Think thus with thy self I am going to hear that Word which will not be in vain but will either kill me or cure me this Sword of the Spirit is sharp and keen if it doth not defend me it will destroy me O it is bad jesting with such edged tools How sad
render this Engine of the Word fruitless whereby the Strong-holds of his Kingdom have been battered and broken down Therefore as a Jaylor will sometimes let his prisoners have their hands and feet at liberty so long as the doors of the Prison are barred and bolted that they cannot run away So he will let thee have thy hand at liberty for some acts of charity and thy feet at liberty to walk in some path of civility so long as he can but have the doors of thine ear and heart lockt fast that thou canst not get from him He knoweth Christ waiteth at the outward door of the ear that he might thereby come to the inward door of thy heart and deliver thee a poor Captive out of his hands For this cause if it be possible he will keep the street door shut he will hinder thee from hearing as in Gods presence he will finde thee other work to do then to hear it may be he will get thee to play and toy as he doth many great ones or if not to be talking to thy pew-fellows or to be reading possibly somewhat finful at least somewhat unseasonable or to have thy heart in thine own house whilest thy body is in Gods house or as a childe though thou art at thy book he will make thee look off if but a Butter-fly come by he will set thee about some business or other unless thou art serious as in Gods sight that thou shalt never have so much leisure as to hear even when thou art in the Church It is reported of Henry the third King of France that in a solemn Procession at Paris hecould not be without his Jester who walking between the King and the Cardinal made mirth to them both in the mean time there was brave devotion Alas they that hear in jest will finde Hell to be hot in earnest Were not men Indians and Infidels in English habits did they but believe the invaluable worth of their souls the consequence and weight of their unchangeable estates what a searching trying time the hour of death will be and what dreadful terrible things will be seen at the day of Judgement Good Lord how would they hear The Minister need not call to them to attend to the Word of God they would of themselves give it their ears and mindes and hearts and think all too little for it 2. Apply the Word to thine own soul The Word is a salve of soveraign vertue Some talk of the Weapon-salve that it heals at a distance but the Word will not it must be applied to the sore or it will never cure The Word is seed preaching is the sowing of this soed application of it to thy heart is the harrowing of this seed into the earth If the seed be thrown on the ground and not harrowed in we can expect no harvest A good hearer is said to eat the Word Thy words were found by me and I did eat them Jer. 15.16 Eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled Prov. 9.5 It is not the bread in the cupboard of the Bible or on the table of a Sermon which will nourish thy soul unless it be by application of it to thy self eaten and taken down into thy stomack The glass of wine in thine hand will not make thy heart glad the precious promises in thine ears will not rejoyce thee they must by application be drunk down then they will refresh and comfort thy Conscience Faith is both the mouth to receive in and the stomack to digest this spiritual food It is worthy thy observation how frequently the Holy Ghost attributeth the famous effects and heroick acts of the Word to this Commander in chief under whose couragious and wise conduct it warreth The Word fighteth boldly and worketh miraculously under Faiths banner The Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation to them that believe Rom. 1.16 It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 so also 2 Tim. 3.15 Application is the life both of preaching and hearing If the Threatnings and Curses of the Law are preached faith is to them as the powder to the bullet causing them to make grievous havock and to do great execution upon the lusts of a man Faith turneth those stones as I may speak into bread and helpeth the Christian like Sampson to fetch meat out of the eater If the Precepts and Commands of the Law are preached Faith is the eye to see the Equity in them and the Excellency of them and Faith is the hand to put them into practice If the Promises and Comforts of the Gospel are preached Faith is to them as Induction to a Minister it gives him actual possession of them it makes them his own Faith in the Threatnings causeth Humiliation Faith in the Precepts causeth Subjection and Faith in the Promises worketh Consolation If at any time thou goest from hearing dead and undone thou mayest say to Faith as Martha to Christ If thou hadst been here my soul had not dyed The unbeliever like a man in a swoon shuts his mouth against those life-recalling Cordials which are before him in the Gospel Other sins wound the soul but Unbelief like Joab strikes under the fifth rib and kills outright Unbelief spoileth all An Unbeliever is dead he cannot hear Christ in his Word he is blind he cannot see God in the Gospel like Hagar though a Fountain be before him he beholdeth it not Unbelief makes the Word like rain upon Rocks wholly useless and fruitless What is said of the Essential Word is true of the Revealed Word It can do no mighty works because of their unbelief Unbelief is a Bulwark whereby sin secureth it self against all the darts and shot which the Word dischargeth at it What was the reason that the Word was not helpful to the Jews Heb. 4.2 The word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it Unbelief was the crack in the Glass through which this inestimable Water of Life did leak out and so was lost Nay What made the Word hurtful to them This leaven of Unbelief sowred all 1 Pet. 2.8 That Rock on which Faith builds an house which reacheth up to Heaven Unbelief stumbleth at and tumbleth the soul into Hell 3. Let the Word come with Authority and Power to thy Conscience This is one of the chiefest ingredients that goeth to the composition of a Preacher that he speak as Paul did in demonstration of the Spirit and of power 1 Cor. 2.4 By this force wherewith he spake and execution which he did that incomparable pattern of Preachers the Captain of our Salvation was distinguished from the Pharisees who in discharge of this holy Ordinance onely made false fire He taught as one having Authority and not as the Scribes And the people were astonished at his Doctrine Matth. 7.2 ult ver He is the best Souldier who in this Warfare makes
bloodiest work amongst our spiritual Enemies This is preaching to purpose This is also the best disposition requisite in a Religious hearer For our Gospel came not to you in word onely but in power 2 Thess 1.15 When the Word of God cometh like a mighty rushing winde rooting up the tall Trees of thy sins bringing down high thoughts overturning all before it when as fire it burneth within thee consuming thy lusts and turning thee into its own likness making thee holy spiritual and heavenly O this is excellent hearing this is hearing to purpose The word is Preached to many and not to their profit They hear the Minister as Chickens hear the Hen the Hen cals to the Chickens to come to her they lye scraping in the dust still many times and will not hear her till the Kite come and devoureth them So God endeavoureth in his word by his Ministers to cluck sinners to himself Wisdom cryeth understanding putteth forth her voice But they lie scratching and digging in the earth and will not hear him till at last the Devil comes and destroyeth them but when the word cometh with power the soul heareth it as Peter heard the Cock He goeth out and weepeth bitterly when he hears of the boundless mercy which he hath deserted and the matchless misery which he hath deserved and the infinite love which he hath abused and the righteous law which he hath transgressed he is cut to the heart he goeth out and weeps bitterly The word is compared to rain Deut. 32.2 now the rain fals upon flints and doth no good makes no impression Ministers drop it on many to as little purpose as Bede did when he Preached to an heap of stones They spend their strength in vain and labour in vain nay like many high-ways and low grounds they are the worse for these showres But this rain fals on others to much advantage My Doctrine shall drop as the rain and my speech shall distill as the dew as the small rain upon the tender grass and as the showers on the hearbs Deut. 32.2 The fine soft showrs of the word soaks into their affections softeneth their hearts and makes them fruitful in holiness The Naturalists observe of the Salamander that though she live in the fire constantly yet she is never the hotter How woful is the condition of thousands who live all their days under the Word of God in which is kindled the heavenly fire of Gods infinite love in Christ to poor sinners and the hell-fire of the hideous horrid nature of sin yet they are never the hotter neither warmed with the former nor scorched with the latter nay though these fires are sometimes by the workmen who divide the word aright heated as I may say seven times hotter then ordinary by discovering the freeness without yea against desert fullness a known unknown love and fastness whom he loveth he loveth to the end of this divine affection and by declaring the ugliness and loathsomness of corruption in its contrariety to a righteous law and a gratious Lord and in its opposition to the souls happiness and perfection that the very Ministers who take them up to put them into this fire are themselves with the extremity of its heat turned into a live Coal or all in a flame of love to the blessed God and hatred against his and their enemy sin yet these hearers like the three Children are not touched with all this fire their garments are not so much as singed nor the least smell of the fire on them O woful wonder What little comfort can poor Ministers take in their lives when they converse with such dead carcasses though they cut them with the laws curse pierce them to the quick one would think with the terrible day of judgment and the unquenchable fire yet they ail nothing feel nothing and complain not at all Reader when thou art hearing let thy care be that thy soul may be changed into the similitude of the Scripture that the word may come with power When the threatnings are shot off do thou fall down before them with fear My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy righteous judgements When God thundred Josiahs heart trembled When thou viewest the precepts and patterns in the word labour to resemble them It is said of the Earl Elzearus one much given to passion that he was cured by reading and hearing of Christs patience When the glad tidings of peace are Preached let thine heart leap with hope O let the nearer approach of the sun call forth and ripen thy fruits of righteousness When the law comes like a corrosive eating out thy festered flesh and corruption when the Gospel is like a lenitive both refreshing and refining thee then they come with power when the threatnings like wine search the wound and the promises like Oyl heal it then itcometh with authority and majesty If search be made by a reproof for thy beloved sin do not like Rachel hide it neither do thou fret when thy sore is touched but hold thine arme forth to that knife which should prick thy vein and let out thy bad blood Be not angry when a Prophet smites thee in the Name of the Lord Beleive it he that hates thy sins most loveth thee best If thou favour thy lusts so much as to keep them safe from the Sword of the spirit it will prove like Jorams respect to Jehu thine own destruction Their hearts surely were very rugged which cryed out Prophesie unto us smooth things Those feet are very sore or gouty which cannot go but in downy mossie walks where the ground yeilds to them Let a reproof be welcom for his sake that sendeth it Thy father knoweth that a bitter potion sometimes though not pleasant yet is profitable to thee As the working of physick kindly and well commendeth both the Physitian and body of the Patient so the powerful operation of the Scriptures whether of the purging potions of judgements denounced or cordial julips of mercies discovered do highly applaud both the skill of thy Saviour and state of thy soul It is written of Philetus a Disciple of Hermogenes the Conjurer that going to dispute with St. James the Elder the Apostle Preached Christ to him so powerfully that he returned to his Master and told him Magus abieram Christianus redeo I went forth a Conjurer but am come back a Christian O how happy will it be for thee if whatever thine end were in going to Church yet when thou returnest thou canst upon good ground say I went forth proud but am come home humble I went to Church a bondslave of Satan but am returned a free man of Christ I went out earthly carnal a malicious and obstinate sinner But for ever blessed be the most high God I am come back an heavenly spiritual and gracious Saint CHAP. XVII Of the Christians duty after Hearing THirdly I proceed now to the third thing which is Thy behaviour after
famine How many starve for want of the bread of life Thou sittest it may be at a full Table but couldst thou conceive what millions famish for lack of this spiritual food thou wouldst pray to God earnestly to pity such places and praise him heartily for providing so plentifully for thee Their misery is sometimes set forth by darkness and the shadow of death Darkness is dreadful though but external T was one of the greatest plagues which befel the Egyptians When Job would curse his day with a witness what is his wish Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it let a cloud dwell upon it let the blackness of the day terrifie it Job 4.4 It was sad when Paul and his companions saw neither Sun nor Stars in many days but O how sad is it when men see not the Sun of righteousness shining in the Heavens of the Gospel all their days Such may enjoy the light of Gods providence but they enjoy not the light of his countenance How can they work that want the light of the word to direct them or how can they walk surely they that walk in the dark stumble the dark corners of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty and fall even into Hell Where no vision is the people perish O Reader what infinite cause hast thou to bless the Lord that thou art not in their condition If thou hast any compassion for the poor dark dead souls be instant with the Lord pray O send out thy light and thy truth that thy ways may be known upon earth and thy saving health unto all Generations If thou hast any affection to thy own soul praise God for his Law Blessed be the Lord who hath shown us light Procopius reporteth that nigh to the Pole where the night endureth for many Months together the Inhabitants in the end of their long night get up to the top of the Mountains striving who shall have the first sight of the Sun and as soon as they see it they embace and hug each other crying out Ecce Sol apparet Behold Lo the Sun the Sun appeareth This poor Island had a long night of darkness when the people in it served dumb Idols and Devils blessed for ever be the unsearchable goodness of God the Sun of the Gospel hath appeared amongst us Nay as it s said of Rhodes it may be said of England The Sun always shines on it What shall we render to the Lord for this benefit On the town house of Geneva is writen upon a Marble Table in letters of gold Post tenebrass Lux. After darkness light In remembrance of and thankfulness for their deliverance from the pride power tyranny and abominations of the Pope Anno. 1535. I doubt not but we in these parts of the World have as much cause to set up a Monument of praise and thanks to the blessed God for bestowing upon us the light of his glorious Gospel and freeing us from the power of that man of pride who exalteth himself above all that is called God Reader Is it not a priviledge for thee to sit by the fire of the word when many poor souls are freezing in the cold for thee to walk in the light of the word when many sit in darkness and the shadow of death for thee to be clothed out of the rich Wardrobe of the word when many have their nakedness appearing to their eternal shame nay what an advantage hast thou that when thousands and millions have none to give them bread but starve and famish thou hast a Table fairly spread and fully furnished with all sorts of food both for necessity and delight yea and if sickness hinder thee from coming down to Dine or Sup with thy brethren and sisters upon that day of exceedings the Lords day thy God is so tender of thee that he sendeth thee somewhat up to thy chamber alloweth thee his Bible and blessing at home for thy nourishment and comfort O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and his wonderful works to the children of men 2. Practice when the Preacher hath done in the Pulpit the Hearer must begin in his practice He heareth a Sermon best who practiseth it most what one saith of Psa 119. I may say of the whole Scriptures They are verba vivenda non legenda words to be loved more then to be read or heard A Christians life should be a legible comment on Gods Law The strokes in Musick must answer to the notes and rules set down in the Lesson It is observable that the blood was to be sprinkled on Aarons right ear right thumb and great toe of his right foot Exod. 29.20 the first did note his right hearing the Word the second and third his working according to it and walking in it The doing not the hearing or reading Christian goeth away with the blessing And he said yea rather blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it Luke 11.28 The occasion of the expression is confiderable one of Christs hearers having tasted was so taken with the lusciousness of his Doctrine that she could not before all the company forbear commending the tree for the fruits sake Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps which thou hast sucked Yea rather saith Christ Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it In which words he doth not deny her assertion but her inference or the foundation of it Mary though happy yet was not so happy in bearing the essential as in keeping the Written Word of God She was rather blessed in having Christ formed in her then in having him formed of her It was her greater honour and happiness to be a member of Christ then to be the Mother of Christ The Porter is not so rich by carrying a bag of Gold as the Merchant that oweth it The Christian onely that keepeth the word of Christ is truely related to Christ the Word Matth. 12. ult It is reported of the Nobles of Polonia that when the Gospel is read they lay their hands upon their Swords and begin to draw them intimating thereby that they will defend it with the hazard of their lives Saints must be ready to die for the Gospel but a Christian may defend it as truely by an holy life as by a bloody death A scandalous conversation is an offence to Religion and openeth the mouths of its enemies but as fire is a good defence to a man in a Wilderness against the fury of ravenous beasts so the heat of grace flaming and the light of holiness shining in the lives of professors defendeth the word against its opposers A Sermon practiced is a Sermon in print and by it the hearer teacheth all the Week long The Romans were commended for obeying from the heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the form of Doctrine delivered to them Rom. 6.17 In the Original it is whereunto they were delivered A good hearer as I said before
is one that eats the word now as meat eaten becomes one with the body and takes the same form with it the body and meat are so much the same that they are one and you cannot know them asunder So the Word is well heard when it becomes one with the Christian when they are both of the same form the hearer is delivered up into the likeness and form of the Scripture the Word of God may be read in every leaf in every line of the volume of his life Our blessed Saviour describing good hearers tells us they are such as bring forth fruit some thirty some sixty some an hundred fold Mat. 13.23 And elsewhere he compares the obedient hearer to the man who built his house upon a Rock which stood firm and immoveable in the midst of all winds waves and weather and the man that heareth and doth not practice to him who built upon the sands which house quickly fell when the winds blew and the waves beat Mat. 7. latter end His meaning and intention Reader was to quicken thee and me to minde subjection to the Word without which we must perish Suppose thou art never so great an hearer yet if not a doer thou deceivest thine own soul Alas what will become of the frequent hearer when the non or negligent doer shall be thrown to hell I have read a story of two men who walking together found a young Tree laden with fruit they both gathered and satisfied themselves at present One of them took all the remaining fruit and carried it away with him the other took the tree and planted it in his own ground where it prospered and brought forth fruit every year so that though the former had more at present yet this had some when he had none They who hear the Word and have large memories and nothing else may carry away most of the Word at present yet he that possibly can remember little who carrieth away the tree plants the Word in his heart and obeys it in his life shall have fruit when the other hath none The practical memory is the greatest mercy It is reported of a good man that coming from a Lecture and being demanded Whether all were done he should fetch a deep sigh and say All is said but all is not done Reader when thou hast heard the word consider though the Sermon be at an end yet there must not be an end of the Sermon Practice which is the heart of hearing is still behinde Observe the properties of those persons to whom and their posterity God will be propitious The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting and his righteousness to childrens children To such as keep his Covenants and remember his Commandments to do them Psal 103.17 18. They are described by their act they lay the word up they remember his Commandments and by their end to lay the word out in their lives to do them A good husband having received a bag of money locketh it up safe that none may rob him of it and as occasion is fetcheth it down and layeth it out some for food some for cloathes some for rent some for servants wages some for this some for that as his necessities require So Friend do thou lay up the precious Treasure of the word safe in the Cabinet of thine heart and bring it out as thy occasions call for it in thy life Art thou in adversity fetch out the Promises for thy comfort broach that strong liquor which was purposely tunned up for thee against a groaning hour This is my comfort in mine affliction for thy word hath quickned me Psal 119.15 Art thou in prosperity bring forth the precepts for thy carriage Look to that Card and Compass by which thou mayest sail eavenly and trim notwithstanding those high winds and swelling waters Thy Word is a light to my feet and a lamp to my paths Psal 119.4 Wouldst thou resist and conquer Satans Temptations The word is a Shield which as they say of Vulcans Armour is full proof against all thrusts and darts By the words of thy mouth I have kept my self from the pathes of the destroyer Psal 17.4 Nay fetch but this Sword of the Spirit out of Gods Armory and the Devil will run like a Coward he is more afraid of it then Leviathan his name-sake is of the Sword-fish which some write he dreadeth more then all the fish in the Ocean Thy Saviour gave Satan such a wound with the Sword of the word that he feeleth it to this day If thou wouldst overcome the worlds insinuations dâ— but feed on the word and thou wilt scorn thâ— scraps of the world As the Greeks in their sailing to fetch the Golden Fleece when the Syrens endeavoured to inchant them with their Songs found help against those assaults by hearkning to Orpheus pipe So when that Harlot the World striveth to bewitch thee with her pleasant voyce and poysonous breath thereby to hinder thy pursuit of the Golden Crown of Righteousness do but hearken to those Spiritual Songs that ravishing Musick those high and noble delights which are in the Gospel and thou wilt finde assured help That thy corruptions within thee may be subdued let still the Word of God be consulted Thou mayest finde in it such a bit and curb as will bridle thy youthful most headstrong lusts By what means may a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word Psalm 119.11 If thine evil humors be never so many and filthy yet the Word like the Catholicon Drug is instead of all purges That thy Relation duties may be performed the holy Scriptures must be fetcht out and minded Whether thou art an Husband or Wife or Parent or Child or Master or Servant to defray the charge of all those duties thou mayest take enough out of the Word of God It is a well drawn Picture that looks on all that look on it and it guides thee by its eye how to order and govern thy feet on what ground soever thou standest whether on the higher ground of a Superior the plain even ground of an equal or the lower ground of an Inferior He that layeth up the word for these purposes and bringeth it out in these practices is the right profitable hearer for he Remembreth the Commandments of God to do them Some hear and jear they go to a Sermon as to a Stage-play to laugh and be merry Others hear and fret and fume as those that live under the Torrid Zone curse the very Sun Others hear and forget what would do them most good their memories are true to the flesh but treacherous to the spirit they are like Vessels made of Ivy which some say if wine and water be poured into them will leak out the wine and keep in the water Others hear and admire but Reader if thou wouldst not have the word to witness against thee when thou shalt be judged by it for thine everlasting life or death
may not quench this love but rather like Snuffers make this lamp to burn the brighter Beasts love them who feed them Wicked men love their friends and benefactours My very cloaths warming me are warmed by me again and shall not I love him who hath loved me and washed me in his own blood O that I could groundedly cry out with Ignatius My love was crucified and meet this Lord of Heaven as Elijah went up to Heaven in a Chariot of fire in a flame of love Repentance I desire that I may follow Christ at this Ordinance as the Women did to his Cross weeping considering that my sins were the cause of his bitter and bloody suffering and O that as Saul eyed David I might eye them all from that day forward to slay and destroy them When my soul hath been thus feasted with Marrow and fatness After the Sacrament Thankfulness Lord let my mouth praise thee with joyful lips Ah what am I and what is my Fathers house that when others eat the bread of violence and drink the wine of deceit I should eat the flesh and drink the blood of thine own Son What is man that thou art so mindful of him and the Son of man that thou dost thus visit him I wish that I may shew my thankefulness to my God and dearest Saviour for these benefits the worth of which men and Angels can never conceive by the love of my heart the praises of my lips Faithfulness and the exemplariness of my life At the Sacrament Christ gave his body and blood to me and I gave my body and soul a living Sacrifice to him and that before God Angels and Men the Sacrament was Beersheba the Well of an Oath Shall I pollute that heart which was solemnly devoted to God and prophane that Covenant which I have seriously contracted with the most High Should I like Sampson break those bands asunder and fetch that Sacrifice away from the Altar which was tyed with such strong cords of Oaths and Covenants must I not expect to bring the fire along with it O let me never start aside from my vow like a deceitful bow Lord I have sworn and will perform that I will keep through thy strength thy righteous judgements Lastly I desire that I may not onely differ from them who like the Habassiness In Prester Iohns Country will not fpit on a Sacrament day but will spue the next day deny sin at present but afterwards Deifie it that I may not onely be faithful to my Oath of Allegiance but also fruitful in obedience that as Elijah walked in the strength of one meal forty days I may walk in the strength of that Banquet serving my Saviour and my Soul all my days In a word I wish that I may ever after walk worthy of my birth having Royal Heavenly blood running in my veins worthy of my breeding being brought up in the nurture of the Lord fed at his own Table with the bread of Heaven cloathed with the Robes of his Sons Righteousness and that my present deportment may be answerable to my future preferment O that I might in all companies conditions and seasons walk worthy of him who hath called me to his Kingdom and glory Amen CHAP. XXI How to exercise our selves to godliness on a Lords Day BEcause the Lords Day is the special time for Religious Duties I shall therefore Reader give thee here some particular directions for thy Sanctification of it and Edification by it As of all actions none call for more care then holy duties so of all seasons for those actions none commandeth so much caution and Conscience as the Lords Day The first Command teacheth us the object of Worship the second the matter of Worship the third the manner of Worship the fourth the time of Worship That God is to be worshipped Time of worship is juris naturalis one of seven is juris positivi that some time must be set apart for that work is Moral Natural and written on the Tables of all our hearts but that one day of seven must be consecrated to this end is Moral Positive and written on the Tables of stone All Nations have had their seasons for Sacrifice even the Heathen who worshipped dumb Idols had their Festivals and Holy days It is reported of Alexander Severus Emperor of Rome that he would on a Sabbath Day lay aside his Wordly affairs and go into the Capitol to Worship his gods Among those that acknowledge the true God the Turks have their Stata tempora set times of devotion nay they have their Fryday Sabbath But to keep the Lords Day upon a conscientious ground and in a religious manner is peculiar to the true Christian In the primitive times the observation of this day was esteemed the principal sign of a Saint Indeed our Sanctification of it is by God himself counted a sign that he hath sanctified us Exod. 31.13 It is observable that God hath fenced this Command with more hedges then ordinary to prevent our excursions 1. It is markt with a Memento above other commands Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy partly because of our forgetfulness and partly because of its concernments 2. It s delivered both Negatively and Affirmatively which no other commands is to shew how strongly it bindes 3. It hath more Reasons to enforce it then any other Precept Its Equity Gods Bounty His own Pattern and the Days Benediction 4. It s put in the close of the first Est caput Religionis totum Dei cultum continet Willet in Exod. 35.1 and beginning of the second Table to note that the observation of both Tables depends much upon the Sanctification of this day It is considerable also that it is more repeated then other of the Commands Exod. 20.31 14.34 and 24.35 1.19 Levit. 3.28.30 God would have Israel know Omni tempore Sabbato debere cessare Aug. in Exod. quaest 160. in those fore-quoted places that their busiest times earing and harvest and the very building of the Tabernacle must give way to this Precept On the Lords Day we go into Gods Sanctuary and his pleasure is that we reverence his Sanctuary Levit. 19.30 The Jews indeed made a great stir about their outward reverencing the Temple Willet in loc They tell us they were not to go in with a staff nor shoes nor to spit in it nor when they went away to turn their backs upon it but go sideling Ezek. 8.16 but certainly Gods meaning is principally that we do with inward reverence and seriousness worship him in his Sanctuary Reader I desire thee to take notice that the more holy any action is the more heedful thou oughtest to be about it Upon which account the duties of this day require extraordinary diligence for they have a double die of holiness upon them they are double gilt Thy task on that day or the exercises thereof are of Divine Institution
worth ten thousand of us Well might the good Soul run to meet thee in the morning and salute thee with Veni Spousa mea Come my sweet Spouse thee I have loved for thee I have longed and thou art my dearest delight Take heed of counting the Sabbath thy burden and thine attendance upon that day on the Ordinances of God thy bondage It argued spirits full of froth and filth to cry out When will the new Moon be gone that we may sell our corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth wheat Amos 8.5 Count Religious duties not thy fetters but thy greatest freedom Think what the Phaenix is amongst birds the Lyon among beasts Fire among the Elements that is the Lords Day among the days Ordinary days like wax in a shop have their use are worth somewhat but this like wax to some Deeds or which hath the Kings Seal to it is worth thousands What is said of that Day of the Lord may in a gracious sense be spoken of the Lords Day There is none like it before it neither shall be after it Upon this day Christ carrieth the Soul into his Wine-cellar and his Banner over it is Love Upon other days he feeds his members upon this day he feasts them they have their ordinary every day but upon this day exceedings Upon this day he brings forth his living water his best Wine On this day he gives the sweetest bread the finest flower the true meat his own body On this day he met the two Disciples and made their hearts warm and even burn within them by the fire of his words On this day Saints that slept arose out of their beds their graves Mat. 27. On this day the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles On this day the Lord brought forth the light of the World in Creation On this day Christ brought forth the light of his new Heavens and new Earth by his Resurrection On this day St. John had his glorious Revelation containing the Churches state to the Worlds dissolution On this day he visited his dear Apostles with grace and peace saying to them Peace be unto you behold my hands and my feet On this day he burst asunder the bands of death he broke in peices the gates of Hell he led captivity captive trampled upon Principalities and Powers and and triumphed over grave sin the curse of the law and Satan Upon this day he still rides triumphantly in the Chariot of his Ordinances conquering and to conquer casting down high thoughts and subduing sinners to himself It may be said of the Sabbath as of Sion This and that man was born in her and the highest himself shall establish her The Lord shall count when he writeth up the people that this man was born then Selah Psa 87.56 O blessed day how many thousands souls have known thee the day of their new births How willing have the people been in thee day of Gods power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning thou hast the dews of thy youth Blessed art thou among days from hence forth all generations shall call thee blessed Blessed be the Father who made thee blessed be the Son who bought thee blessed be the Spirit who sanctifieth thee and blessed are all they that prize and improve thee Reader thou hast not a drop of true holiness if thou dost not bless God as is reported of the Jews at the coming in and going out of this holy and blessed day Thirdly Consider there is a present price put into thy hands to get and increase grace and therefore improve it The wisdom of a Christian consisteth in observing his seasons the High God sends man to School to the silly Ant to learn this Art and peice of good Husbandry Go to the Ant thou sluggard consider her ways and be wise which having no Guide Overseer nor Ruler provideth her food in the Summer and gathereth her meat in the Harvest Prov. 6.6 7 8. The Ants are a feeble folk but famous for their forecast and deserve saith one to be fed with the finest of the Wheat for the pattern they give to man They labour not onely all day but even by Moon-light they gather huge heaps together lay it out a drying in a warm day least it should putrifie bite off the ends of the ends of the grain least it should grow but observe the season of this care and diligence She provideth her food in the Summer and gathereth her meat in the Harvest Then that time is the Ants opportunity if she do it not then she cannot do it at all therefore she makes use of that season O that Friend thou wert but as wise for the bread which came down from Heaven as this poor Pismire is for the bread which springs out of the earth Christians are called Doves The Turtle Dove is called in the Hebrew Tor of the Original Tur and thence comes our Latin Turtur which signifieth to observe or search for so this Bird observeth her time of going and coming Jer. 8.7 for she departeth before Winter into some warm climate The Lords day is the Summer thine Harvest time Labour now for Christ and grace or thou art lost for ever The Farmer that loyters at other times will work hard and sweat in Harvest If he do not reap then he knows he can never pay his rent and feed his Family but is ruined Reader if thou dost not on a Lords day gather in grace how wilt thou do to lay out grace in the week days nay how wilt thou do to spend grace upon a dying bed when thou art to step into the other World He that gathereth in Summer is a wise son but he that sleepeth in Harvest is a son that causeth shame Prov. 10.5 The Jews might gather no Manna on the Sabbath but Gentiles must then especially get the bread of life The Water-man must observe when Wind and Tide are for his turn and then bestir himself or otherwise he must come short of his Haven It concerns thee to mind Sabbaths then the gales of the Spirit blow fair for thy voyage then the waters of Ordinances run right for the port to which thou art bound therefore do not then laze and loyter but labour for thy God thy soul and thine everlasting life Therefore shall every one that is godly seek thee in a time when thou mayst be found Psa 32.6 The Musitian must play his lesson whilst the instrument is in Tune because the weather may alter The good Husband for his soul must buy of Christ gold to inrich him and raiment to cloath him while the Fayr lasts for it will quickly be over Esau came too late and lost thereby the blessing many come too late and lose their souls by it To every thing there is a season saith God Eccles 3.1 The Lords day is thy season when grace and mercy are tendered to thee how will thou escape if thou neglectest or carest not for as
Arts come from God in making Minerva the Daughter of Jupiter and to have had her generation in his Divine brain but alas the choicest peices of men to the smallest Works of God are but as childrens houses of dirt to the stateliest Courts of Christendom Archites was much extolled for causing a Dove of Wood to hang in the Air being equally poised with its own weight but what is this to the work of God in hanging the earth upon nothing Job 26.7 The earth is the heaviest and lowest Element A little peice of earth held up and let fall will never cease moving till it come to rest upon some solid body and yet behold the great mass of earth with innumerable bodies upon it hangs fast in the midst of the open Air having no visible Pillar nor foundation to rest upon Well might God reckon it to Job among his wondrous works Job 38.4 5 6. Vpon what be the Sockets of it fastened Aristotle himself could not but admire it Archimedes was famous for contriving the motions of the Sun Moon and Stars in his Horology but alass what is this to the glorious heavens themselves which God stretcht out like a Curtain and to the Noble Host of great and glittering bodies keeping their Rank and File and being not onely incredibly swift but also regularly and orderly in their motions The Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work There is so much of God appearing in the Heavens that many have taken them for God and given them divine worship Naturalists tell us that the head of Nilus cannot be found but many sweet springs issuing from it are discovered Though thy finite capacity can never reach fully the fountain and head Gods infinite Being and Excellencies yet thou mayst finde many refreshing streams which flow from it A little River will lead thee to the Ocean Ohow much of the goodness power and wisdom of God appeareth in the work of creation The Rabbies say that in every Apex of the Law there is a Mountain of sense sure I am that in the smallest Creatures there is abundance of the Creatour How doth the Wisdom of God shine forth in the exquisite workmanship variety order subordination and serviceableness of the Creatures one to another that David might well cry out O Lord how marvellous are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all Pontanus Scultet Annal. Chancellour of Saxony propoundeth to be viewed and weighed the most beautiful Arch-work of Heaven resting upon no post but Gods power and yet standing fast for ever The clouds as thin as the liquor contained in them behold saith he how they hang and move though weighty in their burden thy salute us onely or threaten us rather and pass we know not whither How doth his goodness appear in furnishing the World so richly for the supply of his Creatures the earth is full of thy goodness Luther in his Colloquia Meâ—s tells us that God is at more charge every day to maintain Sparrows then all the yearly Revenues of the King of France are worth but especially towards man in making him so excellent a Creature and in making so many excellent creatures for him His power is also evident both in creating such great and noble creatures of nothing he used not the least tool or instrument in making the Heavens and earth and in having them all at his beck and bidding at his call and command the greatest do him homage and the smallest do him service The Sun as strong and swift as he is moving as some write every hour 16000 Miles yet he flies back like a Coward if God speak but the word Josh 10.12 Job 9.5 to 10. He armeth Flies and Lice and what Execution did they do upon the Egyptians Cambden tels us the Armes of the Shagburies in Warwick-shire being Stars Camb. Britain are found engraven in the very stones within their Manor of Shagbury Whether that be true or no I know not but sure I am that the Armes of the Infinite God his eternal power manifold wisdom and matchless goodness are so plainly written on his works in the World in that first volume of Creation that he that runs may read them Solomon tels us God hath set the World in mens hearts namely that the skilfulness of the Workman may be admired in the exactness of his works Eccles 3.11 I might draw thee farther and shew thee but that I would not be so large how these glorious perfections of God are Printed in a larger letter in a fairer character in the second volume the work of Redemption This is the object of Angels admiration and ought to be of thy meditation Truly thy duty is to read God in the first book the book of the creatures and more especially in the second in Jesus Christ upon his own day Thy meditation of Gods works as it will give honour to God so it will not a little further thy spiritual good When David considered the work of creation â—a 8.1 to 4 he falls presently upon exalting God and debasing himself When I consider the Heavens the work of thy hands the Moon and the Stars which thou hast made O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth and thy glory above the Heavens there he sets God up high but then be casts himself downlow What is man that thou art mindful of him and the son of man that thou dost thus visit him When thine heart is like Wax hardened bring it by meditation to the warm beams of this Sun and they will soften it So when David considered the work of Redemption how doth he magnifie God and vilifie himself What am I and what is my Fathers House that thou hast brought me up hitherto and yet this was a small thing in thine eyes O God for thou hast also spoken of thy servants house for a great while to come 1 Chron. 16.16 17. O Friend as rubbing the Limbs with hot Oyls is a great means to recover them when they are benumb'd so when thy heart is dull and dead on a Lords day if thou wouldst but ply it with the meditation of the infinite love and goodness of God in sending his Son to dye for thy soul it would be a Soveraign means to quicken and revive it Consider also the Word of God which thou hast heard on that day Do thou like Mary ponder it in thine heart Meditation to the word is what fire is to water though water be naturally so cold yet put fire under it and it will make it hot and boyling so though thine heart be cold in regard of affection to the word put but this fire under it and it will boyl with love to it O how love I thy law there is his heat of affection the expression is both by way of interrogation and acclamation shewing the fervency and intension of his love but what was the fire which caused it it is
my meditation all the day Psa 119. The reason why some men profit so little by the word is want of meditation If a man eat his food and as soon as it is in his stomach vomit it up again it is no wonder if he get little strength by it or if he pine and consume away Truly if Sermons enter in at one ear and out at the other making no stay with thee I shall not marvail if they work no change in thee CHAP. XXII Brief Directions for the Sanctification of the Lords day from morning to night REader beside those general directions which I have largely insisted on I shall annex here some short directions how thou mayst spend a Lords day from the begining to the end of it as may be most for the honour of God and the furthering thine own everlasting good 1. Be sure thou takest some paines with thy heart the afternoon or evening at least before to prepare thy soul for the ensuing Sabbath As our whole life should be a preparation for death yet the nearer we draw to the night of our dissolution the more gloriously as the setting Sun we should shine with holiness so in the whole Week we should be preparing for the Lords day but the more the day doth approach the more our preparation must increase The bigger the Vessel is the more Water may be carried from the Fountain According to the measure of the Sacks which the Patriarchs carried to Joseph so were they filled with Corn by Joseph preparation doth not onely fit the heart for grace but also widen the heart that it may receive much of the Spirit of God Some Servants when they are to bake in the Morning put their Wood in the Oven over night and thereby it burneth both the sooner and the better Men make much the more riddance of their work who being to travail a great journey load their Carts or put up their things and lay them ready over night If thou art a Christian thy experience will tell thee that after thou hast on a Saturday called thy self to account for thy carriage on the foregoing Week bewailed thy miscarriages before the Lord in particular thy playing the Truant on former Lords days when thou shouldst have been learning those Lessons which Christ hath set thee in his Law and hast been earnest with God for pardon of thy sins and a sanctified improvement of the approaching Sabbath I say thy experience cannot but teach thee that thy profit after such preparation will make thee abundant amends for thy pains and that thou hast the best visits the sweetest kisses when thy lips thy heart are thus made clean beforehand 2. If the weakness of thy body do not hinder rise earlier on the Lords day then ordinary When the Israelites were encompassing Jericho on the seventh day they rose early in the morning and according to many Expositors it was on the Sabbath day the walls of Jericho fell down Josh 6.15 One main work which thou hast to do on a Lords day is to batter down the strong holds of sin to conquer those Canaanites which would keep thee out of the promised land do thou rise early for this end He that riseth and setteth out early goeth a considerable part of his way before others awake It s sordid to lie lazing and to turn upon thy bed as a door on the hinges and never the farther off upon any day butmost sad and sinfull on a Lords day 3. When thou first awakest turn up thy heart to God in praise for his protection the night past for the light of another day especially of his own day and in Prayer for the light of his countenance and for assistance in every duty and his direction throughout the day As thou art rising if no other more profitable Subject offer it selfe to thy thoughts Meditate how the night is spent the day is at hand it concerneth thee therefore to put off the works of darkness and to put on the armor of light When thou thinkest on the nakedness of thy body how unseemly it would be for thee to walk up and down without raiment do not forget the nakedness of thy soul by sin and how uncomely thou art in the sight of God without the robes of Christs righteousness and the graces of the Holy Ghost 4. When thou art drest let nothing hinder thee from thy secret devotion When thou art in thy closet consider of the price which God hath put into thy hand the value and worth of a Lords day the weight and concernment of the duties therein and the account thou art ere long to give for every Sabbath and season of grace These thoughts as heavy weights on a clock would make thee move more swiftly in the work of the day After some time spent in meditation in some short yet reverent and hearty petitions intreat Gods help in the present and subsequent duties of the day After which read some portion of the Scripture and pour out thy soul in prayer Get thy heart effectually possessed with this truth That God must work his own work in thee and for thee or it will never be done that as the Spirit moved on the waters at first and then the living creatures were formed so the Spirit must move upon the waters of Ordinances before they can produce or increase spirituall life Hereby thou wilt be stirred up to more fervent supplication for and more importunate expectation of help from heaven In thy prayers remember all the assemblies of the Saints that they may see Gods beauty power and glory as they have sometimes beheld them in his sanctuary Intreat God to cloath his ordinances with his own strength that they may be mighty through him for the bringing in and building up many souls In speciall when thou art at prayer think of the Preachers of the Gospel Conceive that thou hearest every one of them speaking to thee as Paul to his Romans I beseech thee for the Lord Iesus Christs sake and for the love of the spirit that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me Rom. 15.30 Their work is of infinite weight it is God-work Soul-work Temple-work Not one of them but may say with Nehemiah on a Lords day upon much greater reason O I am doing a great work Nehem. 6.3 Their opposition is great The Devill will do what may be to hinder them the world hates them their own hearts will distub them Their strength is small their graces are weak Alas what can they do O therefore pray for them 5. After thy secret duties thou mayst if nature require refresh thy body with convenient food Thy God alloweth thee to cherish though not to overcharge thy outward man I shall speak to thy carriage about eating and drinking in the twenty third chapter and therefore omit it here Vide Family duties in Cap. 27 6. In the next place it will be fit that thou call thy family together and
enter upon family duties Namely to read the word of God to call upon the name of God and to sing to the prayse of God 7. Let as many of thy family as can convâ—â—â—enny be spared accompany thee to publick Ordinances Vide more of this in Cap. 27. Remember the command Thou thy Son thy daughter thy man-servant and maid-servant and all within thy gate Do not pamper their bodies and starve the souls of thy houshold It is Recorded of Dr. Chaterton Mr. of Emannel Colledge that he never caused any of his Servants to stay at home on a Lords day barely to dress meat be able to say with Cornelins who feared the Lord with all his house we are all here present before God 8. As thou art going to the place of publique Ordinances consider with thy self that thou art going to converse not with men but with God even with that God who searcheth the heart who will not be mocked and who is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity that thou mayst hereby be quickened unto uprightness and seriousness and to dart up some ejaculatory prayer to God for aid and assistance 9. In every part of publique worship carry thy self with reverence humility love faith and sincerity Hear sing pray receive the Sacrament as one that doth all in Gods sight as one that is working for his immortal soul and as one that within a few days shall enter the gates of death and never have a season more for such sacred duties Depart not from the Church till all be done In a Court of civil Judicature thou willt stay till the Court riseth If thou wouldst have Gods blessing with thee do not leave it behind thâ—â—â—â— As thou comest from the Church meditate on what thou hast heard chew that meat which the Minister hath put into thy mouth thereby thou mayst get much spiritual nourishment 10. When thou art come home usually let nothing hinder from prayer either in thy family or closet wherein I would advise thee to turn the heads of the Sermon and Chapters read into Petitions as also to beg pardon of thy wandrings in the Worship of God and beseech him who with his own hand wrote the Law in two Tables that he would write the word Read and Preached in the Tables of thine heart 11. At Dinner take heed of excess whereby thy body will be unfitted to serve thy soul yet do not pinch or punish thy body because the day is a day of joy and delight I would wish thee to watch thy heart and tongue all the day long but especially at meals that thou mayst not think thine own thoughts nor speak thine own words If thy self or others start any unseasonable or earthly discourse at Table give conscience leave to speak to thee as Judas to the Apostles What needeth this wast What needeth this wast of precious time of so rich a treasure as every part of this day is Let the first dish at Table be Gods I mean when a blessing is desired let presently some savory discourse be offered hereby fin may be prevented The Jews had two notable defeats on the Sabbath day because they would not defend themselves Iosephus l. 12. c. 8. l. 14 c 8 the first defeat was by Antiochus the second by Pompey the Great Reader if thou wouldst not have Satan to foil thee on a Lords day keep a strict watch over thy thoughts words and works After Dinner as time will give leave either Sing or Pray with thy family or repeat what thou hast heard or busie thy self in Godly conference chiefly about what was Read or Preached that morning 12. Neglect not afternoon Ordinances Some Persons are like some Physitians Fore-noon men they must be sought to in the morning onely if you would find them about Religious duties Friend If thy soul ever met thy Saviour in publique duties thou canst not but love and prize them at an high rate In the close of the day sometimes God sendeth in the cheif blessing of the day A Sabbath Tide hath brought in many a good draught of Fish Be present at serious in publique Ordinances As an error in the first concoction can never be mended in the second so an error or carelesness in publique cannot be mended by carefulness in private 13. When thou returnest from publique Ordinances take some time to meditate on the word or Works of God thou mayst read over the eighth particular in the twenty one Chapter to help thee therein 14. Do not lessen thy secret or private duties on that day let them rather be increased then diminished The Offerings under the Gospel were Prophesied to be greater then under the Law Under the Law one Lamb was to be offered Under the Gospel six Lambs Numb 28. Ezek. 46. 15. Call thy Children and Servants to account what they have learned that day and explain what they understand not hereby thou wilt benefit both thy self and others Chemnitius observeth that our blessed Saviour in the 4. of Mark and 14. of Luke Examen de dieb fest after he had instructed the people as a publique Preacher on the Sabbath day did examine and teach his Apostles as a private Master of a Family 16. At Evening Sing Pray and if thou canst repeat the heads at least of both the Sermons Plutarch reporteth of a River which runneth sweet in the morning and bitter at night Let it not be said of thee that thy Morning was like Nebuchadnezzars Image of Gold and thy evening like the feet of it of clay 17. Before thou goest to rest examine thy self what thou hast got or lost that day Reflect upon the carriage of thy heart in the several duties as also what welcome thou hadst at the Throne of grace what covered dishes were brought thee by the spirit from Gods own Table that accordingly thou mayst beg pardon or return praise If thou hast been melted with Gods affection obtained any strength against thy corruptions or received any degree of grace take heed of ascribing the glory to thy self In Justinians law it was decreed That no Work-man should set up his name within the body of that building which he made out of another mans cost If thou didst pray or hear or sing or read or meditate with any life or delight seriousness or sincerity in any measure agreeable to his Word and Will all was from God there was not a stone used by thee towards this spiritual building but it was taken out of his Quarrey As he is the Author so let him have the honour 18. Be watchful over thy self at the latter end of the day with all imaginable circumspection that the last part of the day may be the best part of the day Some Souldiers prevail in the day but lose all again at night because they are slothful when their Quarters are beaten up by their Enemies Some lose at night what they got in the day like Hannibal they know how to obtain a
Thou art his rest for ever in thee he will dwell for he hath desired it Let him abundantly bless thy provision and satisfie thy poor with bread let him cloath thy Priests with salvation and let thy Saints shout aloud for joy lot thine Enemies be cloathed with shame but upon thy head let the Crown flourish let Nations bow down to thee let Kingdomes fall down before thee Let all the Kingdomes of the earth become the Kindomes of thy Lord and of thy Christ be thou honoured as long as the Son and moon shall endure even throughout all Generations Thou art like Joseph a fruitful bough even a fruitful bough by a Wall whose Branches run over the Wall The Archers have sorely greived thee and shot at thee endeavouring to weaken thy morality and hated thee but thy bow abode in strength by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob from thence is the Shepherd the stone of Israel Even by the Lord of Sabbaths who shall help thee and by the Almighty who shall bless thee with blessings of Heaven above blessings of the deep that lieth under blessings of the breasts and of the womb the blessings of this day have prevailed above the blessings of all other day let them be continued and increased on the heads of this holy and honourable day and on the head of that day which is separate from it brethren Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after thy hurt let them be turned back and put to confusion that desire thy ruine let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee let them that love thy sanctification say continually Let the Lord be magnified who delighteth in the prosperity of his Saints and therefore hath set apart his Sabbath for their soul good Thou like Jacob hast got away the blessing from the other days yea thy God hath blessed thee and thou shalt be blessed Blessed are they that bless thee and cursed are they that curse thee In a word The Lord be gracious to thee and delight in thee and cause the light of his countenance to shine upon thee let all thine Ordinances be cloathed with power and be effectual for the conversion and salvation of millions of souls Let thy name be great from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same Finally farewel sweet day thou cream of time thou Epitome of eternity thou heaven in a glass thou first fruits of a blessed and everlasting harvest did I say farewel A welfare I wish to thee but O let me never lose thee or take my leave of thee till I come to enjoy thee in an higher form to see the Sun of righteousness who early on thy morning rose and made a day indeed while the natural Sun was behind face to face and to know thy Maker and Master as I am known of him when I shall be a pillar in the Temple of my God and shall go out no more but serve him day and night to whom for the inestimable dignity and priviledge of his own day be Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen Amen CHAP. XXIII How a Christian may exercise himself to Godliness in natural actions And first in eating and drinking AS thy duty is to make religion thy business in religious Secondly so also in natural actions A good Scrivener is not onely careful how he makes his first and great letters his flourishes but also the smallest letters nay his very stops and comma's A Scribe instructed for the Kingdom of heaven is heedfull not only that the weightest actions of Gods immediate worship but also that the meaner passages of his life be conformable to Gods law A wise builder will make his Kitchin as well as his Parlor according to rule A holy person turns his natural actions into spiritual and whilst he is serving his body he is serving his God It is said of a Scotch Divine That he did eat Non semper ore non semper meditor sed vestio dormio edo bi bo haee omnia si in fide fiunt tanquam recte facta divino judicio approbantur Luth. in Gen. 33. drink and sleep eternal life Luther tels us that though he did not always pray and meditate but did sometimes eat and sometimes drink and sometimes sleep yet all should further his account the latter as truly though not so abundantly as the former And indeed it is our priviledge that natural actions may be adopted into the family of religion and we may worship God as really at our tables as in his temple Saints must not like brute beasts content themselves with a natural use of the creatures but use them as chariots to mount them nearer and cords to bind them closer to God Piety or Holiness to the Lord must be written upon their pots Zac. 14.20 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. â—31 Philo observeth that the ancient Jews made their feasts after sacrifice in the temple that the place might mind them of their duty to be pious at them It is a memorable expression Exod. 18.12 And Aaron came Sancti manducant et bibunt in conspectu Dei Origen in loc and all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses father in law before God In which words we have the greatness of their courtesie and the graciousness of their carriage For their courtesie though Jethro were a stranger and no Israelite yet the elders honored him with their company And Aaron and all the elders came to eat bread with Moses father in law But mark the graciousness of their carriage they came to eat bread with him before God that is In gloriam et honorem Dei to the honor and glory of God saith Calvin They received their sustenance as in Gods sight and caused their provision to tend to Gods praise God takes it ill when we sit down to table and leave him out Zach. 7.6 When ye did eat and when ye did drink did ye not eat for your selves and drink for your selves He sends us in all our food we live at his cost and therefore our eating may well be to his credit who is the Master of the feast The Jews according to some had officers at every feast whom they called Praefecti morum their work was the inspection of the guests that none should disorder themselves I must tell thee Gods eye is upon thee every meal he takes notice whether thy behaviour is as becometh a Saint And truly friend It behoves thee to use religion as a bridle in thy mouth to hold thee in when thou art eating and drinking Thy throat is a slippery place and sin may easily slip down It s no hard matter to sin whilst the thing thou art about is not sinfull How many feed without fear and thereby fatten themselves to the slaughter Jude ver 12. We read of some whose tables are snares in which they have been
for ought I know by thy going to Church without thy company thou mayest lose the blessing and efficacy of the Ordinances How canst thou expect that God should have any care of thy soul when thou tramplest the precious souls of others under thy feet which he hath given thee special charge of O Reader think of it Are not thy children and Servants strangers to God and alienated from his life through the ignorance that is in them And is not the Ministery of the Word appointed to turn men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God How shall they be converted if the Ordinances of God be neglected Though a person be dangerously diseased if he observe his purging days according to the advice of his able Physician there may be hopes of recovery but if he neglect the means if he perish it will be no marvel If thy children and Servants are holy canst thou expect the fire of Grace should continue or encrease whilst thou takest away the fuel Dost thou think that Spiritual Life can be maintained without Spiritual Meat In private also be watchful over thy Family that all under thy charge be present at holy duties as Singing Praying repetition of Sermons and the like Thou art careful that in the Week days they do work diligently and why shouldst thou not be as careful that they do Gods work on his day Is thy work of greater concernment then Gods or dost thou love thy self the poor withering World I mean above the blessed God Examine those who waited on the Word of God in publique what good they have got what lessons they have learned from the great Master of Assemblies Our Saviour after Sermon asked those of his Family Have ye understood all these Sayings Mat. 13.5 Hereby thou wilt make them more attentive in publique Ordinances and better their memories as also by this means thou mayest quicken thy own affections Suffer none of thy house to spend any part of the day either in idleness pastimes or worldly business Thou art accountable to God as well for sins of permission as for sins of commission and it will another day be imputed to thy charge if the day be prophaned by thy carelesness If thou wouldst not suffer for others do not suffer others in sin Fifthly Let Discipline be set up in thy Family When Jacob would dedicate his house to God he commandeth all his Family to change their garments and put away their strange gods Their change of garments did signifie that change of heart and life which he desired should be his housholds livery Gen. 35.1 2. As the Governor of a Family must be a Priest to pray and a Prophet to teach so also a King to rule to be a terror to evil doers and an encouragement to them that do well in his family Let not wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacle Job 11.14 Zophar meaneth not a natural or personal though so the word is sometimes taken as 2 Cor. 5.1 but a domestical and civil Tabernacle Though sin may come into thy house by children or servants commission yet it must not dwell there but be cast out by severe reprehension Wickedness is a bold guest it will come uncalled but it must be more bold then welcome it must not dwell in thy Tabernacle It is said of Cato he would bear with faults any where rather then at home Bishop Jewel at night called his servants to an account how they had spent the day and after prayer admonished them accordingly Thy duty is to warn the unruly 1 Thess 5.13 to acquaint them of sin how near and dear soever to thee with the dishonor they bring thereby to God the disgrace to the Gospel and the disadvantage and destruction to their own souls If the fault be the first or of infirmity or not so great a sin as to waste the conscience and poyson thy family by its pattern let the medicine thou appliest for its cure be milde Earthen glasses must be tenderly washed when iron vessels must be scoured with wisps Of some have compassion making a difference Jude v. 22. Who would that is wise give the same physick to an infant which would purge a lusty grown person Isa 28.27 28. For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument neither is a cart-wheel turned about with the Cummin but the fitches are beaten out with a staff and the Cummin with a rod. If the crime be crimsom and scandalous or repeated or justified rebuke sharply hard knots must have strong and sharp wedges Others save with fear pulling them out of the fire Jude v. 23. In such a case weak physick will onely stir not remove the disease and thereby leave the Patient in a worse condition then it found him Nettles touched gently sting the more A prick with a rapier is more dangerous sometimes then a wound with a sword because the latter wideneth the orifice and thereby maketh the place more open to the plaister which should heal it It is much better for them to be preserved in brine and pickle then to rot in flesh-pleasing and fondness Kindeness and bearing with such in thy family is like the kiss of Judas to Christ a betraying them and like Joabs salutation to Abner destroying and killing them Be sure therefore not to bear with any under thy charge in sin Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them He is a drone unserviceable to his house his hive who hath lost this sting of reproof Pious Asa would not suffer sin in his own Mother Asa removed his mother Maachah from being Queen because she made an Idol in a grove and Asa cut down her Idol and stamped it and burnt it at the brook Kidron 2 Chron. 15.16 Patient Job would not suffer sin in his own Wife Thou speakest like a foolish woman Job 2.6 Plain-hearted Jacob would not suffer sin his his own Children Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the Land Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruel Gen. 34.30 and 49.7 David would not abide sin in a Servant Psal 101.7 nor Edward the sixth in his own Sister Let thy reproofs against sin be mingled with and so managed that they may manifest love to to their souls When the nail is dipt in grease it entreth without renting the board When reprehension is dipt in and tipt with love it will probably enter the heart without cutting it in pieces with rage and revenge Prudence may do much towards the advancement of the offendors profit in this particular Though thy words should be soft yet thine Arguments should be hard against the sin committed To this end let thy reproofs be as near as may be in Scripture phrases that the offendor may see it is not so much man as God who rebuketh him for his fault The Word is a hammer if well laid on it will drive the nail of
will bring the plague along with them One scabbed sheep may wrong the whole flock one putrid grape corrupt a cluster a little Leaven Leaveneth the whole lump Lord in the choyce of inhabitants for my house let my eye be not onely upon my own welfare and their fitness for my work but chiefly on thy glory and their willingness to work the work of him that sent them into the World Ioh. 9.4 Psa 26.4 5. and 119. Let me hate the congregation of evil doers Let me not sitwith vain persons Let mine eyes be upon the faithful in the Land Let them that fear thee turn unto me and such as keep thy righteous judgements Let me dwell with them here on earth with whom I shall dwell hereafter in the house not made with hands but eternal in the Heavens I wish that that there may be a Church in my house and all the persons in it 2 Mind holy performances in thy Family both Morning and Evening at least imploved in those holy performances which my God requireth My house should be a resemblance of Heaven Above in his greatest and most glorious house my God is served without ceasing and without sinning O that though in his lower and lesser house natural and civil actions cause intermission of and the body of death causeth imperfections in holy duties yet he might be worshipped both constantly and perfectly in a Gospel and Evangelical sence I have read that amongst the worst of Turks the Moors it is a just exception against any Witness by their law Prayer that he hath not prayed four times in every natural day â— Hall Contemp. I wish that none in my Familie may be worse then Turks but that both all apart may secretly and all together may privaetly offer up the Morning and Evening Sacrifice of prayer and praise to the Lord my God Daniel would pray three times a day though he were cast to the Lions for it and shall my Family neglect prayer when the Omission of it will make them a prey to roaring Lions It is the honour and happiness of my house to exalt the Worship of my God in it his Service is the greatest freedom his work is a reward to it self why should we be our own enemies in banishing our best friends out of our family The mercies of my God are renewed upon me and mine every Morning his care and love is continued to us all the day long the dews and showrs of his compassion fall down upon us every Evening shall we be forgetful of him who is every moment so mindful of us O let my Family never be so void of grace and manners as not to bid our God Good-Morrow and Good-Night upon any pretence whatsoever I wish that the word of Christ may dwell richly in my heart and house Scripture instruction and Catechising that my whole familie may have their set meales every day of this Spiritual food How can I expect that Children or Servants who know not the God of their Fathers should serve him with perfect hearts Alas how often are their ignorant hearts like dark Cellers abounding in vermine full of sin 1 Cron. 28.9 O that I might so talk of the Word of God in my house Deut. 6.7 8. when I lye down and when I rise up that it may be written upon the Posts of my House and on my Gates that I may so often water the young plants in it that their first acquaintance may be acquaintance with God and from their childhood they may know the holy Scriptures and be wise to Salvation through faith which in Christ Jesus Though others care be to instruct their Servants onely in their own work let my care be to instruct mine in Gods Will and Word Though others labour to leave their children rich let my endeavour be to leave mine religious Lord enable me so to teach them thy Trade in their youth that they may not depart from it when they are old Prov. 22.6 that their young years well led may be like the Sweetness of a Rose whose swell remaineth in the dried leaves I wish That all the voyces in my house may tuneably sing Gods praises Singing Psalms yet that they may not like Trumpets and Pipes make a sound being filled onely with winde but have hearts fixed and prepared when they sing and give praise O that all the Viols in my house may be so in tune and their strokes so true that singing with grace in our hearts we may make melody to the Lord. Drunkards have their Songs in derision of them that are good Atheists have their Sonnets in dishonor of the blessed God Why should not the voyce of joy and rejoycing be in the Tabernacle of the righteous Psal 118.15 Though my house is a Tabernacle and all the inhabitants in it Travellers yet our work is pleasant O let us go merrily on and make Gods Statutes our Songs in this house of our pilgrimage Because my pattern of evil will do more hurt to my family 3 Set them a good example then my precepts can do good servants and children being apt to be led more by the eye then the ear I wish That I may take heed to my self weigh and watch over all my words and works not onely for my own but also for the sake of them that are committed to my charge Distillations from the head often consume and destroy the vitals My family is like a flock of sheep if the first leap through into a ditch or river the rest are ready to follow O that I might therefore be wary in all my ways and be so serious in Spiritual so sober in Natural actions so righteous towards men so religious towards my God so faithful in every relation and so holy and heavenly in every condition that I may have cause to say to my children and servants as Gideon to his Souldiers Look on me and do likewise Judg. 7.17 I wish 4 See that thy family sanctifie the Lords Day That my house may not onely spend some part of every Week day but also the whole Sabbath day in the service of my God It is a special priviledge granted me by the Lord for my families profit wherein I may be singularly helpful to my own and my housholds everlasting happiness O that not the least part of it may be lost or prophaned by any within my gate either by worldly labour pastimes or idleness but that I may be so mindeful of my charge as to take care that my children and servants do forbear what my God forbiddeth and spend that Sacred Day altogether in Sacred Duties To which purpose I desire That all my houshold both males and females if of capacity may appear before the Lord in publique and in his Temple give him praise and that in private I may whet the Word on them as the mower doth his sithe by going over it again and again according
Families page 523 Mind Religious duties in their Families page 529 Prayer must be in Families page 530 The Scriptures must be read in Families page 533 Psalmes must be sung in Families page 536 Governours of Families must give a good pattern page 538 All in a Family must be imployed page 549 The Governour of a Family must take care that his whole Family sanctifie the Lords day page 542 He must set up Discipline in his Family page 545 He must maintain love in his Family page 553 Godly Fear requisite in holy duties page 120 Fervency requisite in Prayer page 172 G THe things of God are the things of the greatest weight page 53 Godliness taken two ways page 8 9 Godliness Vide Religion Godly men meet with much opposition in the way to heaven page 65 Godliness must be our principal business page 94 95 In every part of our lives page 102 103 H A Good Harvest Gods gift page 485 486 It is our duty to Hear the word page 200 Evil Frames hinder us in Hearing page 205 Prejudice against the Preacher must be laid aside by them that would profit by Hearing page 206 to 211 The Heart must be affected with the weight efficacy and excellency of the word which we Hear page 212 Prayer requisite before hearing page 216 Right ends in Hearing to be minded page 221 False ends in hearing to be avoided page 220 Worldly thoughts hinder our Hearing page 221 222 We must hear as in Gods presence page 223 We must pray after we have Heard Vide the Word God looks much after our Hearts page 17 170 Heaven not to be obtained without diligence labour page 60 to 65 Humility required in prayer page 167 168 I IDolaters are zealous and prodigal page 418 419 Idleness the evils of it page 552 Intemperance a great sin page 417 The mischeifs of Intemperance page 418 419 Joy in God seasonable on a Lords day page 364 L LOrds day of divine institution page 337 338 God takes special notice how we keep the Lords day page 339 Preparation needful for a Lords day page 342 Wherein preparation to a Lords day consisteth page 343 to 346 Lords day a great priviledge page 348 Lords day a spicial season to get and increase grace in page 353 Publique Ordonances chiefly to be minded on the Lords day page 356 to 362 The whole Lords day to be sanctified page 372 Brief Directions for the Sanctification of the whole Lords day page 381 to 391 A good Wish about the sanctification of the Lords day page 391 A good Wish to the Lords day page 396 Lords day Vide Families and Meditation Love of Christ Vide Christs Love to Christians tried page 273 Love a help to Godliness page 553 M. MAn created for Religion Vide Epistles and page 39 Good Counsel about Marriage page 425 Meekness requisite in a Wife page 562 Meditation needful before prayer page 138 Meditation a duty on a Lords day page 377 Ministers must be godly page 6 and 498 A Minister must be industrious page 6 7. 502 People must pray for their Minister page 219 220 Ministers must act from right principles and for right ends page 499 500 Ministers must be able 501. Compassionate 504. Faithful 501 Full of courage 505. Ministers must Preach plainly purely prudently and powerfully page 507 to 510 Ministers must pray for their people page 510 Administer Sacraments 511. Chatechise 510. Visit people page 512 Ministers must be exceeding tende what example they give their people ib. Ministers must not be discouraged if their labours be not successful page 513 Ministers must give the glory of their success to God page 514 N HOw a Christian in Natural Actions may make Religion his business page 400 A good wish about Natural Actions page 441 O OBedience required page 322 341 Obedience must be in heart and life page 17 18 Obedience must be Canonical page 19 Ordinances their ends and use page 130 131 Ordinances Vide duties and Lords day P GOd hath an extrodinary respect for a Penitent soul page 277 278 Perseverance required page 35 Perseverance in prayer page 189 Pleasures Vide Recreations The excellency of Prayer page 137 138 The Prevalency of Prayer page 141 142 Prayer hath a twofold Preheminence above all other duties page 138 The Nature of Prayer page 140 The Antecedents to Prayer page 147 Meditation an help to Prayer page 148 Meditation of our sins wants and miseries needful before Prayer page 149 to 155 Meditation of God helpful to Prayer page 155 Quickening and stirring up of grace needful to Prayer page 157 Sin hindreth Prayer page 159 160 Anger hindreth Prayer page 161 Worldly Distractions hinder Prayer page 162 Gods Word must be the rule for the matter of our Prayers page 163 The Person Praying must be holy page 165 Prayer must be Vpright 170. Humble 167. Fervent 172 Constant page 178 What it is to Pray Continually page 180 A Caution about fervency in Prayer page 176 Its an ill sign to be Prayerless page 184 185 After Prayer wait for an Answer page 186 Means must be used for the obtaining our Prayers page 191 Preparation to Religious duties needful page 343 Preparation to Hearing Vide Hearing Preparation to the Lords day Vide Lords day R REcreations are lawful 446. they must not be our occupation 450 they must be used for good ends 454. In due season page 456 Recreations are unseasonable on a Lords day page 457 458 and in times of the Churches sufferings page 461 A good wish about Recreations page 462 Religion must be our business page 10 What Religion is page 13 14 The several derivations of the word Religion page 13 What it is to make it ones business 21. It implieth to give it precedency 22. To pursue it with industry 26. To persevere with constancy page 35 Why Religion must be made our business page 39 Religion is the end of mans creation page 40 Religion is a work of the greatest weight 45 to 49. It is Soul-work 49. It is God-work 52. It is Eternity-work page 57 The necessity of making Religion our business page 60 to 70 Religion much neglected page 72 The neglect of Religion bewailed page 73 79 Our greatest care must be about Religious duties page 108 Vide Godliness and Duties Repentance consisteth in mourning for sin and turning from sin page 276 280 S SAints called Lillies why page 268 Saints shamed by sinners page 88 89 92 93 Scripture a great mercy page 198 Vide Hearing and the Word Sacrament of the Lords Supper a seal of the Covenant page 251 The Sacrament a resemblance of Christs death 252. An evidence of his love 253. A great Supper in four respects page 253. The excellency of the Sacrament page 255 Much care about the Supper page 255 256 The danger of receiving the Supper unworthily page 256 to 262 Christ takes notice how men prepare for the Sacrament page 257 Preparation requisite before it 264 265. Wherein preparation for it consisteth page 266 to 279 Our dependance must be on Christ for assistance after our greatest preparation for the Sacrament page 282 Subjects to be meditated on at a Sacrament 285. Christs sufferings 286 to 293. Christs love 293 to 300. Our own sins ib. Graces to be exercised at the Sacrament 300. Faith in its threefold act 303 to 310. Love 312. Repentance page 315 What a Christian should do after a Sacrament page 319 320 Men to be very careful in the choice of Servants page 526 527 Sinners very zealous for sin page 87 88 89 Sobriety vide Temperance Sleep how to be ordered page 437. Its ends 440. Quantity page 437 Season page 439 Soul-work weighty page 49 The welfare of the body dependeth on the Soul page 51 The Souls excellency page 50 T. TEmperance commended page 416 Vide Natural Actions and Eating Thankfulness enjoyned 413 415. For the Word 236. For the Sacrament page 319 U. VNgodliness brancheth it self into Atheism and superstition page 1 2 Uprightness acceptable to God page 171 Unthankfulness page 408 W GOod Counsel about the Choice of a Wife page 525 526 Word why called the grace of God page 203 Gods power alone can make the Word effectual page 217 218 When the Word cometh with power then it profiteth page 229 Its woful to live under the Word and not to be changed by it page 231 We must bless God for his Word page 237 The Word must be obeyed page 240 241 242 Word Vide Hearing Worldlings eager for the World page 74 to 78 Our Worship of God must be inward and outward page 14 to 19 Man made for the Worship of God Vide Man God is very choice in his Worship page 109 110 Gods Worship must be according to his Word page 19 20 God alone the object of Worship page 16 Its ill to dally with Gods Worship page 112 Much Watchfulness required in the Worship of God page 113 Y YOuth Vide Family instruction FINIS
not their hearts touched They hear and do not vers 33. Such go to Church just as they who go to a noise of Musitions onely for the pleasant sound for nothing but to hear Reader take heed of these and other finful ends least God answer thee according to the Idols of thine heart Children go to Fayrs for babies and rattles but men go for some serviceable commodities for the supply of their own and their Relations necessities Though foolish men go to Church to quarrel with the Person teaching or to admire at some fine cadencies or allusions in the Doctrine taught do thou go to the word for the releif of thy spiritual wants As a new born babe defire the sincere milk of the word that thou mayst grow thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 Here is a good end of a good action not to gaze upon the people or Pastor but to grow by his Preaching Some men go to Gardens to gather Gilly-flowers or Roses meerly to smell to them or look on them and in a short time throw them away when a good house-wife goeth to her garden for a better end she gathereth them to make a precious conserve or syrrup of them which she keeps constantly by her to comfort her in a time of sickness Though too many go to a Sermon meerly to look on the gaudiness of its dress or to sente the wit and fancy of the preacher which sight and sente are quickly gone do thou gather those flowers which grow in Eden the garden of the Lord that thou mayst by faith make such a cordial of them as may be ever ready at hand to revive thy spirit in each fainting fit whether of death or any civil or spiritual danger whilst thou livest Lastly If thou would prepare thy self to hear or read the word rightly leave thy Worldly thoughts behind thee It is written of Bernard that when he came to the Church-door he would say Stay there all my earthly thoughts Say to the cares of this life when thou art about reading or hearing as Abraham to his Servant Abide you here and I will go yonder and Worship Gen. 22.5 If thou shouldst suffer those weeds they would hinder the springing up of the good seed the word They are like Theeves never dogging thee at this duty but to do thee a mischief either to steal thy comforts or to wound thy conscience Christ sharply reproveth the Jews for turning his Fathers house which should be called an house of prayer into a Den of Theeves but how did they do this By buying and selling and changing Mony in the Temple If thou Reader shouldst in thine heart be buying in thy provision or selling out thy commodities or hankering after thine hoards and heaps of Corn or Wares or Money when thou art in Gods House thou turnest the House of prayer into a Den of Theeves therefore thy best way is to keep them out and if they come in afterwards as Christ did to whip them out When men hear with their Harvest ears meditating and musing on their flocks or shops or fields no wonder if the word be ineffectual to them If the wits of men be a wool-gathering the Word of God will be like water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again Some Garden Seeds are mingled with Ashes when they are sown and thereby they spring up the better but this Seed must not be mixt with Dust and Ashes if it be it will not spring up at all It is reported of one of Englands Lord Treasurers some say Cecil others say Burleigh that though by reason of his Office he was crouded with business all day yet when he was going to rest at Night he would throw off his Gown and say Lie there Lord Treasurer What he did going to Bed we must do when we go to this heavenly Banquet though the concernments of our families and callings throng us at other times yet when we go to hear or read the uncomparable word we must lay them by with Lye here all my thoughts of this lower beggerly World Thus I have dispatched the first particular Preparation for the Word CHAP. XVI Of the Christians duty in hearing SEcondly I come now to the second which is thy carriage at the word in reference to which I shall commend to thee these three things 1. When thou art hearing or reading set thy self seriously as in the presence of God God setteth before thee in his word and offereth to thee life or death blessing or cursing his infinite favour or fury Heaven or Hell and friend are these things to be jested with Imitate Cornelius in his carriage when he was to hear Peter We are all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God Act. 10.33 The piety of this Centurion appeareth in the ground and motive of his hearing he came not to hear men but God to hear all things which are commanded thee of God 2. In the gracious manner of his hearing he doth not say we are all here present before thee but we are all here present before God When the heart is awed with the apprehension of a Divine presence the iron gates of the ears will fly open of their own accord and give the Word a free passage The Creature dares not but hearken diligently to the speech of that God on whose breath depends his life and death when he seeth him immediately before his eyes I can speak it by experience saith Erasmus that there is little good to be got by the Scriptures if a man read or hear it cursorily and carelesly but if a man do it out of conscience and as in Gods presence he shall finde such an efficacy in it as is not to be found in any other Book This setting thy self seriously as in Gods presence is like the Masters eye to his servant which will make him ply his work whether he would or not or rather like the fire to the Smiths bar of iron which doth so mollifie it that he striking whilst it is hot may beat it into what form and mould he pleaseth This temper of soul in the Thessalonicans was so great a favour that Paul thought he could never praise the Author of it sufficiently For this cause thank we God without ceasing that when ye heard the word of God ye heard it not as the word of man but as it is indeed the word of God 1 Thess 2.13 The Apostle knew his children could not but thrive when they received their meat in such a manner as the Word of God It is the speech of Seniclaeus concerning Diarius the Martyr Methought when I heard him speak I heard the Holy Ghost himself preaching to me Truly the want of this is one main cause why the Word of God doth so little good The Devil is very diligent at duties he is every Lords Day the first at Church The Children of God never gather together but Satan is amongst them His great design is to
the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth so great Salvation Heb. 2.3 Open unto Christ when he knocketh at the door of thy heart with the finger of his Spirit Do not bid him come to morrow lest that morrow never come It s good we say to make Hay while the Sun shines for the Heavens may be cloudy It s good to embrace a present opportunity for time is bald behind thou canst not assure thy self of a second Sabbath Seasons of grace are not like Tides that a man may miss one and take another What Christ said of himself is true of Sabbaths The poor ye have always with you but me ye have not always Time thou hast always with thee while thou livest but the Sabbath thou hast not always Nay within a shorter time then thou imaginest God may deprive thee both of time and opportunity both of Week days and Lords days and if thou art now sleeping and snoring when thou should be waking and working what a cut will it be to thy heart to reflect upon the Sabbaths which thou hast had and lost enjoyed and mispent Jerusalem in the days of her affliction and of her misery remembred all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old Lam. 1.9 So Reader if thou shouldst neglect to improve Sabbaths now in the day of thy misery or rather in the everlasting night of thine affliction in hell thou wilt remember thy Sabbaths seasons of grace and all thy pleasant things which thou hadst in the days of old Good Lord what a rueful woful remembrance will it be to call to mind the means the mercies the helps which were afforded thee to have avoided Hell and attained Heaven and yet thou like a fool or rather a mad man didst dally about them and delay till the Market was done Now is the time for thee to accept of grace because now is the onely time that grace will accept of thee O that thou wouldst know in this thy day the things which concern thy peace before they be hid from thine eyes Fourrhly Esteem the publique Ordinances the chief work of the day and let thy secret and private duties be so managed that thy soul may be prepared for them and profited by them Duties in thy closet and family are of use and have their blessing but to put God off with these and neglect the publique Worship is to rob God of a greater sum to pay him a lesser The Sacrifice of the Jews on that day was double they offered Sacrifice in the Tabernacle besides their Lambs for the daily Sacrifice It is worthy our observation that the Sabbath and publique Service are by God himself joyned together and therefore let no man put them asunder Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my Sanctuary I am the Lord Lev. 19.30 They that despise Gods Sanctuary cannot observe Gods Sabbath Every thing is beautiful in its season Private duties are beautiful and in season every day but publique Ordinances are never so lovely and beautiful because never so much in their prime and season as on a Lords Day In publique Worship God receiveth the highest praises I will praise thee in the great Congregations Psal 29.9 In his Temple doth every one speak of his glory I had gone with the multitude to the House of God with the voyce of joy and praise with a multitude that kept holy day Psal 42.4 The gracious God is pleased to esteem it his glory to have many Beggars thronging at the beautiful gate of his Temple for Spiritual and Corporal alms What an honor is it to our great Landlord that multitudes of Tenants flock together to his house to pay their rent of Thanks and Worship for their All which they hold of him How loud and lovely is the noise of many golden Trumpets Good Lord what an eccho do they make in Heavens ears Deus pluris facit preces in Ecclesia quam domi factas non ob locum sed ob considerationem multitudinis fidelium Deum communi consensu invo cantium Riv. in Cath. Orth. When many skilful Musicians play in consort with well-tuned and prepared Instruments the Musick cannot but be ravishing to God himself Methinks its a notable resemblance of the sweet melody which is made by the Celestial Quire above Psal 68.26 Bless ye God in the Congregation even the Lord from the fountain of Israel for he loveth the gates of Zion above all the dwellings of Jacob Psal 87.2 As in publique God receiveth the highest praises so there he bestoweth the richest mercies Blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy Courts We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy House even of thy holy Temple Psal 65.4 Here is Davids Position and its proof His Position is That the Templer or Inhabitant in Gods House is an happy man Blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy House The proof of it is from the quality and quantity of the provision which God makes for them that are of his Houshold For the quality of it it is not onely good but Goodness which word signifieth not onely the good will which God beareth to but all the good things which God bestoweth upon his people Pardon Peace Love Grace every good thing all good things are in the womb of that one word Goodness Gods provision for his people is beyond all their knowledge or apprehension There be four ordinary ways by which men come to the knowledge of good things either by hearing them immediately themselves or by hear-say from others or by the sight of the eyes or by discourse of Reason But from the beginning of the World men have not seen nor heard nor perceived by the ear nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what God hath provided for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 Isa 64.4 The love discovered there is an unknown love the joy bestowed there is unspeakable joy All the costliest dainties prepared for Heavens Table the fulness of joy and pleasures for ever at Gods right hand are expressed by this one word Goodness Psal 31.19 So that the quality of the provision is beyond all exception it is Goodness For its quantity it is to satisfaction We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house even of thy Holy Temple The Saint shall have enough of this luscious fare to content him Indeed the Christians full meal is reserved for him till he comes to eat bread in the Kingdom of Heaven but here he hath enough to stay his stomach He is very well satisfied that his allowance in this World is sufficient God calls him in the other World to greater work and so will give him a greater allowance for suitable strength but God doth not in this World underkeep him He feeds proportionable to their employments nay to their satisfaction and contentment all