the Ceremonial part concerned them only and though we read not that it was Observed in those first Ages yet it follows not that it was not when many thousand things then done could not be expressed in so short a History Yea the same seems to be known to the Jews before the Law was given Exod. 16.23 c. To Morrow is the Rest of the Holy Sabbath c. When it was after that God gave it in the Command and if this Rest upon the seventh day be Ceremonious why not the Command of Labour on the six other days also And why doth not this cease to be a Duty as well as the other and then the idlest Persons may be the best Christians We may find this Command reaches even to the stranger that is within the Gates when I think the Ceremonies are not prest upon them Many Reasons also are given in the Command which belong to us as well as to the Jews as from the Equity of it God who is the Disposer of all gives us Six days and reserves one to himself which he calls his own The Sabbath of the Lord thy God And Christ tells us The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath and from his own Example he Rested and therefore Commands us to Rest the End was to Worship God in it and to Dedicate it to his Service for the Resting of Man and Beast upon it and distinguishing his People from others c. and doth not this concern us as well as the Jews God requires no less proportion of Service now than he did then and therefore no less time to do it in Our Bodies require as much Rest as theirs and our Souls as much Food and why should not we have the like time And this being the Substance of the Fourth Command I think neither Man nor Angel can alter it for who can proportion it better than God himself Nay the Circumstances in the delivering of this Law shews to be Moral It was spoken by God's Mouth as well as the other written by the same Finger of God in the same Tables of Stone put into the Ark where the Ceremonies were not it hath a special Memento put upon it Remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy Christ himself owns it when he bids the Jews Pray that their Flight be not in the Winter nor on the Sabbath day Mat. 24.20 which Flight was forty Years after his Death The opposition which wicked Men make against it proves it to be of God also for if the Devil herein prevail we might almost bid farewel to all our Religion 1. Direct Before thou canst make Conscience of Observing the Sabbath thou must be well convinc'd that it is thy Duty To this End I have already proved it to be of Divine Institution and a Branch of the Moral Law binding not only Jews but Christians also But I fore-see one main rub must be removed before the way be cleared that doubt which makes many to stumble Whether the first day of the Week or that which we call the Christian Sabbath be of Divine Institution and whether Christians be obliged to observe it as a Sabbath Much hath been Written by Divines to satisfie this doubt My purpose is not to speak much to it in this place this Treatise being of another Nature yet something is necessary for while this doubt remains who will make use of the following Directions 'T is true we cannot prove in Scripture neither is it said totidem verbis that Christ did Command that the Sabbath should be changed from the last to the first day of the week then there could be no Controversie but we have that which is equivalent to such a Command that it was changed by Divine Authority and very probably by Christ himself the Scripture yields us sufficient Witness Christ is called the Lord of the Sabbath and the Holy Ghost calls it his day Rev. 1.10 which seems to intimate he is the Author of it As the Sacrament is called his Supper because he Instituted it and had it not been altered by him I know not who would have been so bold to have distinguished it from other days by this Name he was every way as Faithful in his House as Moses was yet Moses we know by God's appointment stated a time for God's Worship Heb. 3.2.6 and no doubt a settled time is as necessary for us as for them to Serve God in We find Christ himself owning the day in his own Person as in his Resurrection and finishing the work of our Redemption a greater work than that of Creation and better deserves a special Memorial And the Apostle tells us He entred into his Rest and ceased from his own Work as God did from his Heb. 4.10 aluding to the Creation from which when God Rested he Ordained the Sabbath We may also Read that Christ after his Resurrection appeared divers times to his Disciples upon the first day of the Week when they were met together Read John 2.19 and again verse 26. And doubtless not without Divine Providence pointing out this day to us and after his Ascention when they were met together upon that day he pours out the Holy Ghost upon them Acts 2.12 We Read also that this was the day the Apostles did keep as a Sabbath and also the Churches met together to perform Sabbath days duties to Preach the Word to Administer the Sacraments Prayer Works of Charity c. Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 18.2 Vpon the first day of the Week let every one of you lay by in store as God hath prospered him And as 't is conceived forty Years after Christs Decease Saint John by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost calls it the Lord's day whereupon he received his Revelation Rev. 1.10 Neither do we Read that the Apostles ever kept any other day as a Sabbath 't is true indeed upon the Jews Sabbath they often Preached taking Advantage of the Multitude then gathered together which Advantage at other times they wanted Now if the change were thus made by Christ and his Apostles it was by the directions of the Spirit of God for the Apostles delivered but what they had received from God 1 Cor. 11.23 It was upon this day they met to Preach and break Bread Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.1,2 Now were there no Precept the constant Example of the Apostles and Churches in the Apostles time may satisfie us for they were Inspired by the Spirit of God and appointed them both by Doctrine and Example to Teach his Church and to this End gave them Instructions in the time between his Resurrection and Ascention which Instructions are not all Recorded yea the constant practice of the Church in all Ages since the Apostles time give us no little Light for though Christians have been at great difference among themselves about other matters yet few questioned the change of the day both Greeks and Latines both Papists and Protestants both Lutherans and Calvenists hold to this and
God's Blessing upon their Endeavours is great encouragement he would never succeed them in so sinful a Course were it such nay the remarkable Judgments of God upon Sabbath-breakers bespeakes God for the Author for none in the World could Lawfully have done it without him Thus I have shewn you I hope sufficient grounds to Build upon I proceed now to Direct you to keep it as a Sabbath 2. Direct If thou wouldst Faithfully Sanctifie the Sabbath as God Commands thee make preparation for it before it come for there is hardly any thing of great Concernment well done without some preparation and much more here we prepare the Body for Physick before we take it we provide in Summer for Winter and lay in Provision in Harvest we prepare in the Day for the Night and work when we have the Light We prepare in Health for Sickness and in Youth for Age And were we to appear before some great Man we should make preparation accordingly and shall we only be wanting in the Service of our Lord and Master and rush into his Presence without prepared Hearts God bids us remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy or to Sanctifie it as 't is Deut. 5.12 The word Remember signifies either to call to mind something past or to commit to Memory something for the Future and both are necessary to this business God sets this Memento upon it to Teach us that those that will keep it well when it is come must Remember it before it come or otherwise our Nature is so Corrupt that it will take hold upon some Occasion or other to draw us aside from the Duty in hand We can fore-cast for Fairs and Markets sometimes long before and make preparations for them according to our needs whether to buy or sell We consider our wants to have them supplyed and make preparations accordingly and yet how few make preparation for the Market day for the Soul Many tire themselves in the Labours of their Calling in the Week days and then use the Lord's day no otherwise than a Beast only Rest from their Labours for their Spirits being spent and their Bodies tyred they are more fit for sleep than any Holy Duty and rushing rudely out of the World into the Service of God they bring so much of the world with them that it renders them incapable of any Spiritual Duty But thy Care should be to sequester thy Heart Thoughts and Affections from the world and set them upon God and empty thy Heart of worldly Cares and Troubles that thou maist mind the business God sets thee about The want of this is one Cause why Men get so little benefit by the Ordinances and hear so much and profit so little because they come not with empty Hearts a full Vessel can receive no more when the Prophet multiplied the Widdows Oyl when there was no more empty Vessels the Oyl stayed When the Head and Heart are full of the World this Water of Life will run over But our Duty is to prepare the Heart for so great a work as the Entertaining our Lord and Master the great God of Heaven and Earth who invites himself to Sup with us He is the Searcher of the Heart and the Tryer of the Reins Before the Sabbath come use such fore-sight diligence and Meditation and dispose and seasonably dispatch thy Worldly business that thou maist be more free and fit for the Duties of the day We find Israel did thus prepare to Sanctifie the Sabbath Exod. 16.22 and gathered Manna enough the day before and this was usual among the Jews Luke 23.54 And that day was the Preparation and the Sabbath drew on Thus Nehemiah prepared against the Sabbath that it should not be prophaned Nehem. 13.19 And Gods Example in this is binding to us he finished his works before and so should we and should not meddle with any unnecessary Worldly business then either with Hand or Heart that our Duties be not pestered with the World but that we may be as free to serve the Lord if possible as if we had no worldly business to look to but many fore-cast business for that day or make it necessary through their former neglects but this will appear to be their Sin and their Folly Solomon bids us look well to our Feet viz. our Affections when we go into the House of God Eccl. 5.1 And 't is good to consider whose Presence we come into and with Holy David wash our Hands in Innocency before we compass his Altars Psal 26.6 Examine how the Case stands between God and thy Soul and venture not into his Presence in an unregenerate Condition or having sin unmortified or unrepented of lest he break thee in pieces and there be none to deliver thee Consider what sin thou hast Committed especially in the week past and be humbled for them lay aside thy worldly business betime on the Eve when others only sweep their Houses do thou sweep thy Heart Set some time apart for Reading Meditating Conferring Instructing thy Family and Praying with them reconcile the Differences if there be any in the Family between Husband and Wife Parent and Child Master and Servant yea Neighbour and Neighbour that your Prayers be not hindred for God can hardly be well served where the Members of a Family Live at Discord In a word prepare thy Heart to meet God the day following 3. Direct Wouldst thou Sanctifie the Sabbath Take heed thou do nothing that is unlawful upon that day This is appointed by God for a day of rest and not only as some say from sin which should be Committed no day but also from Labour which at other times is Lawful the works of our Calling yea unnecessary recreations are forbidden Exod. 20.10 In it thou shalt do no manner of Work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-Servant nor thy Maid-Servant thy Cattle nor the Stranger that is within thy Gates Jer. 17.21,22 Neither do ye any work but Hallow the Sabbath day c. Neither will a bare cessation from work serve the turn for rest is Commanded for an Higher End that we might serve God with more Freedom and therefore Idleness is a sin worse than Bodily Labour upon that day and when Men use not rest as a means but as an End 't is an egregious breach of the Fourth Command and 't is a gross mistake to think that is an acceptable Duty on that day which is a great sin any day He that keeps the Sabbath only by resting from his Labour keeps it but as a Bruit Beast yet the most of Men spend great part of the day in Idleness or what is worse and think if they give God their Bodily Presence for an hour or two it 's sufficeable but God will not be mocked we should think it were an unprofitable Servant that would work but two or three hours in the day God gives us six whole days for our work and shall not we give him one whole
one for his well rest we must from our Labour but that is not all we must spend it in God's Service we must forbear our work that we may do his and beware of all that hinders us and that is not only our work but our pleasures and recreations works of our Calling we are forbidden and that upon pain of Death Exod. 31.15 He that doth any work upon it shall surely be put to Death And God meant as he spake we find that he Commanded the man that gathered sticks on the Sabbath day to be put to Death and he was stoned Numb 15.36 And there is great reason for how can a man serve God when Heart and Hand when his Thoughts and Affections are intangled in the world How can he serve two Masters but he must sleight the one when the Body is indisposed by Labour how can the Heart be free And God Commands the Heart My Son give me thy Heart Neither will he have a divided Heart he will have all or none and he Commands not only our selves but also our Children and Servants yea even the Bruit Beasts to rest from their Labour that our Hearts may be the freer and there be no occasion for roving thoughts and to avoid distraction in God's Service Recreations also except those that are purely necessary are also forbidden even those which are at other times Lawful sports and pastimes are no less dangerous than work yea much more for they draw away the Heart more than honest Labour Augustine thought it was more Lawful to Plough on the Lord's day than to Dance but many of our wanton Youth are of another mind but the one brings Profit the other oft tends to the debauching of Youth And doubtless God himself hath forbidden these vain pastimes Isa 58.13 If thou turn thy Feet from the Sabbath doing thy Pleasure on my Holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the Holy of the Lord Honourable and shalt Honour him not doing thy own ways nor finding thy own Pleasures nor speaking thy own words c. Worldly and vain Discourse you see is also here forbidden for every moment of this precious time should if possible be improved to a Spiritual ufe our own words should not be spoken our own pleasure should not be sought worldly cares fears should that day be banished the mind for these distract a Man in the Service of God These are the Thorns that choak the Word and it becometh unfruitful Mat. 13.22 Indeed distracting carking Cares are always unlawful much more in recourse to God himself but provident Cares at other times a Duty now become a Sin and must be laid aside as much as may be that the Heart may be free we read in Scripture of many sorts of work forbidden As Jornying upon the Lords day but only to the Ordinance called a Sabbath days Journey Exod. 16.29 for this distracts the mind as well as work Let them look to it that use that time to Ride to Fairs or Markets Acts 1.12 Buying and Selling is also forbidden Nehem. 13.16,17 See how zealous he was against it but 't is a practice too much in Fashion Carrying of Burdens is also forbidden upon no less Cruelty than the Destruction of Jerusalem Jer. 17.22 Nehem. 13.19 In a word whatsoever hinders in God's Service nay doth not some way or other further it cannot be Justified As for dressing of Meat or Drink any further than is necessary or convenient or spending over-much time in Bed or needless Dressing or spending time any ways unnecessarily is no doubt a Sin 4. Direct Though there be a Rest Commanded by God and a Cessation from the works of our Calling upon the Sabbath day yet all works are not forbidden thereupon there is still Liberty given for good works for works are forbidden as they tend to the distraction of the mind and hinder us in the Service of God but those works that further it are not only Lawful but Commanded these in general are works of Piety works of Charity and works of Necessity Works of Piety are such as tend to the Worship and Service of God as part of it or as a means or help thereunto Thus it was Lawful for the Priests under the Law to kill and Sacrifice the Beasts that were to be Offered which was a servile work and unlawful had it not been Commanded Mat. 12.5 Have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath days the Priests in the Temple prophane the Sabbath and are blameless And no doubt 't is Lawful in Gospel Times for Ministers to Preach the Word Catechize and Personally to Instruct the People though it be to the spending of their Spirits and the Tyring of their Bodies more than on any other day of the week Paul he Preached long even till mid-night upon that day And 't is Lawful for him to Travel that day to the Meeting place and 't is Lawful for the People also to come to hear Yea 't is their Duty though it be several Miles if they cannot otherwise enjoy it We read of a Sabbath days Journey Acts 1.12 which is conceived to be about two Miles We may see this was a Custom in Israel 2 Kings 4.23 when the good Shunammite desired her Husbands leave to go to the Prophet he answered her wherefore wilt thou go to him to day it is neither New Moon nor Sabbath implying these were usual times to go Psal 84.7 Every one of them in Sion appeareth before God Works of Mercy also are necessary whether to Man or Beasts God desires Mercy and not Sacrifice Hos 6.6 Now this Mercy is either to the Soul or to the Body To the Body visiting the Sick healing their Diseases easing their pains relieving their Necessity if able this is approved by Christ Luke 13.11 when Christ healeth the Sick and disputes the Case with the Pharisees yea giving or gathering Alms upon that day which we find was the Apostles Command and the Churches practice 1 Cor. 16.1,2 and that which Christ will Reward at the last Mat. 25.35 Meat and Drink also must be taken moderately for the refreshing of thy Body and the making it fit for the Service of the day Christ himself approves of this when he justifies his Disciples for plucking the Ears of Corn Mat. 12.1,2 Spiritual Mercy must be shewed also such is informing the Ignorant reducing the Erroneous exhorting the Negligent comforting the Disconsolate Instructing one another in our most Holy Faith Reconciling those that are at variance yea the Bruit Beasts themselves must that day taste of thy bounty if one be fallen into a Ditch or Pitt we must lift him out Luke 14.5 We may yea must loose our Ox and our Ass from the Stall and lead them out to water upon that day Luke 13.15 Physitians in cases of necessity may Travel to Visit their sick Patients and Midwives attend upon their Office but it should be Charity and Necessity and not for filthy Lucre that this should be done
We should not sell our Labour upon that day but do it for common Charity otherwise a just Cause may to us prove sinful Works of Necessity also are Lawful so they be truly so and not feigned when an House is on Fire we may leave the Ordinance to seek to Quench it though with Bodily Labour The Marriner in his Journey must attend his work but his Heart in the mean time should be in Heaven The Souldier if set upon should defend himself we find Joshua compassing Jericho seven days together Josh 6.15 and one of them must needs be the Sabbath Though the Jews at first did scruple Fighting upon that day and many of them were Murdered by the Enemy yet at last they resolved to Fight in their own Defence 2 Mac. 4.1 A Husband-man in Harvest time I suppose for fear of an Inundation or the apparent loss of Grain or Hey may Labour to prevent it but take heed a Necessity be not feigned Many are necessitated for want of fore-cast and some fore-cast that there may be a Necessity neglecting it all the week and then say must not Cattle be looked Or such a thing be done But know what may be done before or let alone till after ought not to be done 't is not thy wilful neglect can procure a dispensation to break God's Law but most men strain their Christian Liberty to the utmost Link but take heed of going beyond be not deceived God will not be mocked 5. Direct To the sanctifying of the Sabbath thou must not only observe an Holy Rest unto the Lord all the day and forbear thy own thoughts words and works as formerly I have shewed but there are also many Duties of Religion to be performed as part of that Worship to be given to God upon that day that the whole time as nigh as may be may be spent in the Religious Exercises of the day Now the Duties required are either Publick or Private the Publick are in the Congregation of the Saints when the Church meets together to Worship God The Private are in the Family or in the Closet He that only rests from his Labour on the Sabbath keeps it no better yea much worse than a Beast Idleness is a sin at all times especially then this is the Market day to lay in Provision for the week following the Harvest to provide in for winter and shall we Trifle now All Time is precious much more this we should leave any work undone before we should leave God's work undone or carelessly do it The Publick Duties required at our hands are according to the Relations we stand in more is required of Publick Persons than of Private The Ministers are God's Stewards to dispence his Mysteries to Divide the word of God aright and to give every one his Portion and therefore he must look to his Charge and make preparation before-hand for his work He is the Mouth of the People unto God and God's Mouth to them and therefore he had need to set a watch over his Lips that he Offend not with his Tongue Parents and Masters they should not only come to the Ordinance themselves but bring their Children and Servants there to be Taught Prayer is an Ordinance of God and should be performed in the Publick where Minister and People should joyn together to make their Requests known to God in the Name of Christ and beg such things as are necessary for themselves or others for this Life or that to come It should be performed with Faith and Fervency with Humility and Reverence with Wisdom and Discretion both by Minister and People 〈◊〉 Complements with God are unsavoury and unseemly The Word also should be Read and Preached by the Minister and the whole Counsel of God made known Acts 20.20.27 and that without mixture of Humane Invention without Ostentation Plainly Faithfully Powerfully Truly Zealously And the People they should hear with Attention Diligence Watchfulness Understanding and Care they should Examine that which is delivered by the Minister whether it be agreeable to the Truth like those Noble Bereans Acts 17.11 They should Treasure it up in good Hearts and bring forth good Fruit in their Lives and Conversations for without Practice knowledge is little worth The Administration of Baptism also is a Sabbath days work Vpon the Sabbath says Christ they Circumcise a Man this is given the Minister in Commission Mat. 28.19,20 which is to be done according to Precept and Scripture Examples without External Additions and the People ought to be present at it and joyn with the Minister in Prayer for a Blessing and not turn their backs upon it through carelessness or contempt The Sacrament of the Supper also should be as frequently Administred as Convenience will permit Acts 2.42 And 't is the Ministers Duty to Teach and Instruct the Ignorant to convince the gain-sayers reclaim the scandalous if they can and if they will not be Reformed to keep them back from the Sacrament yea to take Christ's way And if they be obstinate cast them out and not suffer the Ordinance to be polluted or contemned God complains of the contrary Ezek. 22.26 Her Priests have violated my Law and have prophaned my Holy things they have put no difference between the Holy and Prophane c. And 't is Christ's command not to give Holy things to Dogs Mat. 7.8 The People they should partake of it and come with prepared Hearts to this Holy Banquet and be careful that they have on the Wedding Garment or they will be no welcom Guests to his Marriage Supper They should there Exercise their Graces of Knowledge Faith Love and Obedience c. knowing that the neglect or unworthy receiving is a dangerous sin Acts 20.6 1 Cor. 11.17 Singing of Psalms also is a publick Duty and should be performed by the whole Church and in so doing they should lift up their Hearts as well as their Voices and Sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also Visiting the Sick relieving the Poor Gathering and Collecting for them is this days Duty 1 Cor. 16.2 Catechizing especially the Younger sort is the Ministers Duty and 't is the Peoples Duty to send them And all this must be done to God's Glory and the Edification of our selves and others 6. Direct Though the publick Worship and Service of God be chiefly to be minded and intended upon the Lord's day yet it is not only that which is required Many private Duties also are to be performed and in thy Publick and Private Duty is all the whole time to be spent What those Publick Duties are I have already shewed you and shall now speak of those that are Private I mean such as Private Persons especially Masters and Parents and Governours of Families ought to do Let the Inferiors also here Read their Duties Some of those are to be done before the Publick by way of Preparation and some after by way of Digestion Concerning Preparation I have spoken already and yet
Crown them with Success And having begun well be sure to hold out be thou constant to the Death and he will give thee a Crown of Life what thou wantest and beggest of God endeavour with Heart and Hand to obtain it true Desires are always accompanied with endeavours 't is not enough to wish for Heaven but work for it Corruption will not be abated nor Grace increased without pains-taking love Holiness and hate Sin or thou wilt never hold out or do good if thou regard Iniquity in thy Heart God will not hear thy Prayer Psal 66.18 Joh. 9.31 God requires Holiness in all that draw near to him and without it no Man shall see him with Comfort Heb. 12.14 If thou take this course in thy Publick and Private Duties Peace shall be to thee and to the Israel of God Now to him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen FINIS THE TABLE CHAP. I. Motives to Holy Duties Page 1. 1. Mot. God hath Commanded us to serve him p. 4. 2. He is the best Master p. 7. 3. He requires the best Work p. 10. 4. Thou art most engaged to him p. 13. 5. He gives the best Wages p. 16. 6. Obedience is the only way true Happiness p. 19. 7. God is best able to punish there that disobey him p. 22. CHAP. II. Of Duties in General Page 25. 1. Direct See thou hast a Divine Command for all thou dost p. 28. 2. When thou knowest thy Duty delay not to do it p. 30. 3. Hold on in the constant performances of them p. 32. 4. Let obedience proceed from a right Principle p. 35. 5. Let all be done in a right manner p. 37. 6. In all aim at a right End p. 39. 7. When all is done say thou art unprofitable p. 41. CHAP. III. Of hearing the Word Page 44. 1. Direct Resolve to break through all difficulties p. 46. 2. Propound to thy self right Ends in hearing p. 49. 3. Come with the Heart rightly qualified 51. 4. Make preparation for receiving the Seed of the Word p. 54. 5. Come with an hungring Appetite to this Feast p. 56. 6. Behave thy Self well in hearing p. 59. 7. Demean thy Self well after hearing p. 61. CHAP. IV. Of Reading the Word Page 64. 1. Direct Prepare thy Heart for so Solemn a Duty p. 66. 2. Propound to thy Self right Ends. p. 68. 3. Read with diligence and attention p. 71. 4. Read with Understanding Discretion and Judgement p. 73. 5. Observe the Scope and Design in what thou Readest p. 75. 6. Meditate upon it and so mike it thine own p. 77. 7. Apply it to thine own Heart p. 79. CHAP. V. Of Meditation Page 82. 1. Direct Concerning occasional Meditations p. 84. 2. In set Meditation come fitted and prepared p. 87. 3. Set thy Self as in the presence of God p. 89. 4. Pitch upon some suitable Subject p. 91. 5. Press it upon thine own Heart p. 93. 6. Beware of those things that hinder the Duty p. 96. 7. Take heed of letting thy Heart Flag or suddenly cool p. 98. CHAP. VI. Of Prayer Page 101. 1. Direct Be rightly qualified for the Duty p. 104. 2. Come into Gods Presence preparedly p. 106. 3. Pray to God alone and not to the Saints or Angels p 108. 4. Come to God in the Name of Christ not in thy own Name p. 110. 5. Ask nothing of God but what thou hast warrant for p. 113. 6. Pray to him in a right manner and to a right End p. 115. 7. Behave thy Self well after the Duty p. 118. CHAP. VII Of Singing Psalms Page 121. 1. Direct Be Convinc't that it is thy Duty p. 124. 2. That David's Psalms are Lawful p. 126. 3. That all Men and Women good and bad may Sing p. 129. 4. That they may be Sung in English Meeter p. 131. 5. That they may be Sung in an English Tune p. 134. 6. Let thy Ends be right in the Duty p. 137. 7. Sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also p. 139. CAAP. VIII Of Observing the Sabbath Page 143. 1. Direct Be Convinc'd that the first day of the Week is the Christian Sabbath p. 146. 2. Make preparation before hand to observe it p. 149. 3. Do nothing that is unlawful upon it p. 152. 4. Perform such works upon it as God requires p. 156. 5. Perform those Religious Duties as are commanded p. 159. 6. Many Private Duties are also to be performed p. 163. 7. Improve thy Authority that those under thee may Sanctifie the Sabbath p. 166. CHAP. IX Of Baptism Page 170. 1. Direct Scruples against Baptism removed p. 173. 2. 'T is the Parents Duty to present their Children p. 177. 3. Aim at God's Glory c. p. 180. 4. Rest not in the common Priviledges of this Sacrament p. 183. 5. See that this Sacrament be rightly Administred p. 186. 6. See that thou performest thy Baptismal Vows p. 189. 7. Make a right use of thy Baptism p. 192. CHAP. X. Directions in receiving the Sacrament P. 196. 1 Direct If thou wouldest pertake of the Sacrament worthily examine thy Self p 199. 2. Have not Grace in Habit but in Exercise p. 202. 3. Propound right Ends to thy Self c p. 205. 4. Know what it is thou standest in need of p. 209. 5. When thou comest to this Ordinance be sure to set thy Grace on work p. 212. 6. How to demean thy Self in the Act of receiving p. 215. 7. Behave thy Self well after receiving p. 219. CHAP. XI Directions about Oaths Page 222. 1. Direct Consideration must be had of the Parties themselves concerned c. p 225. 2. By whom you ought to Swear p. 228. 3. Of the Matter of an Oath p. 231. 4. Of the Form of an Oath p. 234. 5. The End must be Lawful p. 237. 6. Take heed of rash Swearing p. 240. 7. Take heed of false Swearing p. 243. CHAP. XII Of Vows Page 247. 1. Direct Vows must be made to God p. 250. 2. Who may make Vows p. 253. 3. Vow not any thing that is unlawful p. 256. 4. Vow nothing but what is in thy Power to do p. 259. 5. Look to the manner of thy Vows p. 262. 6. Look to thy Ends in this Duty p. 265. 7. See thou keep thy Vows when thou hast made them p. 268. CHAP. XIII Of days of Humiliation Page 272. 1. Direct If thou wouldest perform this Duty aright see thou be rightly qualified p. 275. 2. Come prepared to this Duty p. 278. 3. What External Duties are requisite in this Duty of Fasting p. 282. 4. Of the Internal parts of th s Duty p. 285. 5. Of the time when this Duty is to be done p. 288. 6. Propound a right End in this Duty p. 292. 7. Look to thy Carriage aftar the Duty p. 295 CHAP. XIV Of days of Thanksgiving Page 299. 1. Direct Get a well prepared Heart p. 302. 2. In this Duty aim ultimately at Gods Glory p. 305. 3. See thy Call be Lawful to this Duty p. 308. 4. See to thy Cariage in this Duty p. 311. 5. Set thy Self upon the Work p. 315. 6. Go on in recounting the mercies thou hast received and bless God for them p. 318. 7. Having sounded forth the praises of God for his mercy c. p. 321. CHAP. XV. Directions in Private Duties Page 325. 1. Direct Of Self examination c. p. 328. 2. When thou knowest that thou hast an Interest in God c. p. 332. 3. Store thy Heart with knowledge and understanding p. 335. 4. Pray with thy Family in Private p. 338. 5. Of Reproving and Correcting thy Family p. 342. 6. Thou must not only reprove them when they do amiss but Instruct Teach c. p. 345. 7. To keep a clear Conscience p. 340. The faults of Press and Authors Pen Doth shew the Work was done by Men If you would Read the Authors mind Mend the mistakings here you find PAge 4. line 30. for who read whose p. 5. l. 17. for is r. that p. 7. l. 12. we left out l. 22. for as r. in p. 17. l. 1. for in r. one and he left out p. 20. l. 21. f. they r. who p. 21. l. 3. f. Covenant r. command p. 26. l. 6. f. rack r. rubs p. 29. l. 27. f. sick r. quick p. 39. l. 11. f. love r. careless p. 43. l. 8. if left out l. 9. f. mustâ— r. maist p. 50. l. 7. f. seeking r. searching p. 53. l. 8. f. absence r. sence p. 56. l. 31. f. death r. thou p. 61. l. 22. f. distraction r. destruction p. 72. l. 3. f. right r. weight p. 86. l. 19. f unweily r. unweldy p. 87. l. 15. f. soil r. chyle p. 91. l. 10.11 wrong pointed p. 93. l. 13. f. noble r. none p. 94. l. 5. f. head r. heart twice p. 100. l. 22. f. reach r search p. 8. l. 5. f. come r. joyn p. 114. l. 28. f. unprofitable r. inhospitable l. 32. f. unanswerable r. unwarrantable p. 116. l. 3. f. exceeded r. spoiled p. 128. l. 25. f. setence r. sistence l. 32. f. beats r. brats p. 134. l. 22. f. best r. leâ—… l. 27. f. lite r. light p 136. l. 6. humane left out p. 156. l. 1. f. cruelty r. penalty p. 167. l. 26. f. this r. what is p. 188. l. 3. f. wise r. way p. 190. l. 4. leave out up p. 205. l. 25. leave out such p. 214. l. 20. r. is p. 217. f. thee r. the. p. 231. l. 19. f. his r. him p. 245. l. 21. leave out if p. 250. l. 27. leave out the. p. 251. l. 24. f. O their r. others p. 254. l. 27. f. well r. null l. 29. f. party r. parity p. 263. l. 5. r. an f. and. FINIS