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work_n	day_n	rest_n	sabbath_n	16,566	5	10.2403	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61378	Sober singularity, or, An antidote against infection by the example of a multitude being practical meditations on Exod. 23, vers. 2 : wherein is opened the influence of the practise of a multitude, to draw men to sin, the special cases, wherein it concerns us to be most cautious, reasons why we must not follow them, together with the application of the whole : and therein, besides the general improvement of the point, an instance given of nineteen practises of the multitude to be avoided, seven of their grand principles to be rejc̈ted [sic] : sundry particulars concerning peace and unity, and the sanctification of the Lords Day, useful for these times / by R. Stedman ...	Stedman, Rowland, 1630?-1673.	1660 (1660)	Wing S5376; ESTC R38303	146,089	254

whence we may conclude that these words of our Saviour are meant not of the Jewish but of the Christian sabbath wherein his own people were concerned Indeed sometimes we meet in the Acts of the Apostles with mention made of the seventh day sabbath The Apostles taking the advantage of that day to preach to the Jews in their Synagogues but we never find it mentioned after that meeting at Troas Act. 20.7 So that long before the time of their flight they wholly withdrew from the Jewes and kept their assemblies separated by themselves on the Lords day 3 It was an ordinary thing with our Saviour before his death and passion to instruct his disciples in many divine truths which they did not rightly understand till after his resurrection or ascension When the Holy Ghost was sent to that end to bring his words to their remembrance and to teach them the right meaning of the same See Jo. 2.20 21 22. Jo. 12.16 Luk. 9.44 45. Luk. 24.44 45 46. Act. 11.15 16. This if well observed will take off the force of their objection who plead that Christs words must needs be meant of the Jewish Sabbath because say they his disciples undoubtedly so understood them This I acknowledg as probable that they took his speech as meant of the Jewish when yet our Saviour intended it of the Christian Sabbath It being usual with him to deliver many things unto them which they did not rightly understand till he was risen from the dead Probably this very business of the alteration of the Sabbath was one of the things which he had to say unto them but they could not then bear them Jo. 16.12 And one of those many things touching the kingdom of God which he taught them between his resurrection and ascension Acts 1.3 See the words of Bishop Andrews concerning this text in his Pattern of Catechistical doctrine upon the fourth commandment All ceremonies were ended in Christ but so was not the Sabbath for Mat. 24.20 Christ bids his disciples pray that their visitation be not on the Sabbath day So that there must needs be a Sabbath after Christs death Mr. Fennor in his treatise called the Spiritual mans Directory bringeth this in as a special argument for a Sabbath now in the dayes of the Gospel because as he expresseth it Christ speaking of those dayes when all the ceremonial law was dead and buried sheweth the Sabbath to stand still quoting for it this text Take the concurrent testimony of A. B. Usher Our Saviour Christ willing his followers that should live about 40. years after his ascension to pray that their flight might not be on the Sabbath day to the end they might not be hindred in the service of God doth thereby sufficiently declare that he held not this commandment in the account of a ceremony And lastly which may abundantly shew that it is not any novel interpretation Mr. Palmer and Mr. Cawdrey give this paraphrase upon the words As if Christ said unto his disciples the Jews have charged me as a breaker of the Sabbath but whatever disputes and reasonings you have heard betwixt me and them concerning that subject I would not have you to think that I am an enemy to the Sabbath or that I mean to put an end to that commandment For I tell you there shall still remain a Sabbath day to be observed to God for his worship In token whereof I admonish you to pray that your flight be not on that day The Second text I would touch upon is that prophecy of the Psalmist concerning the resurrection of Christ Psal 118.22 23 24. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner This is the Lords doing it is marvellous in our eyes This is the day which the Lord hath made We will rejoyce and be glad in it From which words as I remember I have met with this close and formal argument The day wherein the stone which the builders refused became the head stone of the corner that is the day which in the times of the gospel the Lord hath made i. e. which he hath appointed and set apart solemnly to be observed in religious duties one of which special evangelical duties viz. praise and thanksgiving joy and gladness in the Lord is instanced in But the first day of the week or the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is that day wherein the stone which the builders refused became the head stone of the corner Therefore the first day of the week or the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the day which in the times of the Gospel the Lord hath made i. e. which he hath consecrated and set apart for the solemn attendance upon religious duties The major proposition lieth fair and clear in the text And the minor is bottomed upon the Apostle Peters comment upon the text which comment he * Acts 4.10 11. made by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost who speaketh of this Scripture as meant of the day of our Saviours resurrection from the dead I leave therefore the conclusion to be considered Wherein I have learned Dr. Ames his concurrent apprehensions Neque facile rejiciendum est quod ab antiquis quibusdam urgetur pro die Dominicâ ex Psal 118.24 Haec est dies quam fecit Jehova Eo enim loco agitur de resurrectione Christi Christo ipso interprete Mat. 21.41 The last Scripture I will name on this account is that of the Apostle to the Hebrews cap. 4.9 10. There remaineth therefore the keeping of a Sabbath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto the people of God for he that is entered into his rest he also hath ceased from his works as God did from his own As if the Apostle had said will you fall off from attendance upon gospel ordinances and question the celebration of the Christian Sabbath that you may return to Judaism again Why let me tell you the lords-day-Lords-day-sabbath which now remaineth when the other is abolished is of Gods own appointment and institution David prophecied concerning it for this is the day of rest which he spake of in the 95. Psalm And besides it is bottomed on a very equitable foundation For as when God had ended the work of creation which was peculiarly his work he ordained the seventh day Sabbath in commemoration thereof So hath Christ the mediatour finished the work of redemption and is entred into his rest as God entered into his and therefore hath appointed the Christian Sabbath for celebration of the work of mans redemption I must not dwell upon all the particulars that might be insisted for the clearing and vindication of this sense of the words from the manifold exceptions that are likely to be made against it Only let these few things be seriously weighed 1 That the Hebrews unto whom the Apostle writes this Epistle and with whom he dealeth in this place were declining apace from gospel administrations and ready to embrace again

the Mosaical pedagogy and probably their deferting the Lords day Sabbath and adhering to the Jewish was one special part of their apostacy The first of these is plain to any understanding Christian that shall throughly study the whole scope and drift of the Epistle And I think we may very probably suppose the truth of the latter also What part of the old administration were they more likely to be zealous of than the Seventh day Sabbath in the observation whereof they had formerly been so excessively and rigorously superstitious Mat. 12.2 Mar. 3.2 And therefore it may seem consonant to the Apostles scope as to set forth the vanishing and disappearing of the legal oblations and sacrifices so to speak as here concerning the abrogation of their Sabbath and substitution of the Lords day in the room of it 2 The Holy Ghost speaketh here of a certain day of rest the celebration of a set determinate day and not of the whole season of the gospei indefinitely And what set determinate day is there that may be fitly assigned as the time of a believers rest but the Lords day See v. 7. Again he limiteth a certain day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Saying in David to day after so long a time as it is said to day if ye will hear his voice hardon not your hearts And then it followeth thereupon v. 9. There remaineth therefore the celebration of a Sabbath 3 This determinate day of rest which the Apostle calleth the Sabbath that is to be kept is clearly to be meant of that day wherein the people of Christ meet together in the worship of God and provoke and quicken one another to hear the word of the Lord. For so it plainly appeareth from the 95. Psalm from which portion of Scripture the Apostles argument is taken and upon which his whole discourse of this matter is built See the whole entrance of the Psalm particularly the sixth and seventh verses O come let us worship and bow down Let us kneel before the Lord our maker For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand To day if ye will hear his voice It is of this day and the rest of it which the text I am opening is to bemeant And what day is that in the times of the gospel but the Christian Sabbath There is not to be met with any other day wherein the Saints can be supposed ordinarily to exhort and quicken each other unto the worship of God The other six dayes are appointed for labour 4 A believers personal rest into which he enters by faith was enjoyed by the Saints in the times of the old Testament For they were saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ even as we But the Apostle treateth here out of the words of David of a rest or Sabbath to be celebrated a long time after even in the daies of the New Testament for that Psalm is a prophesy of evangelical dispensations As it is said in David to day after so long a time By the same reason that the Apostle proveth that this day of rest must not be meant of the Jewish Sabbath because that was instituted from the beginning of the world Heb. 4.3 We may prove it is not meant primarily of a believers personal rest by faith because that was enjoyed by the Saints in all ages of the Church before the dayes of David But here he prophecieth of a priviledg that was to be conferred on the people of Christ a long time after 5 The Apostle is to be understood of the celebration of such a Sabbath as is to be kept upon the like ground in reference to the Lord Christs ceasing from his work as the Seventh dayes Sabbath was in relation to Gods ceasing from his work For so it is in v. 10. which I mentioned For he that is entred into his rest that is the Lord Jesus Christ our Redeemer hath ceased from his work as God did from his own And therefore there remaineth a Sabbath for Christians to cefebrate I know the words are usually understood of a Believers ceasing from the works of sin But let it be well considered that the Holy Ghost speaketh of such a ceasing as Gods was when the creation was finished He rested the seventh day and was refreshed he looked on every thing that he made and beheld it was very good entirely good nothing but Good This is justly attributable unto Christs work of redemption but cannot so fitly be applyed unto the Saints When they cease from sin behold it appeareth unto them exceeding evil and bitter and they are filled thereupon with godly shame and self abhorrence Ezek. 36.26 29 31. Besides the Apostle speaketh afterwards of Christs passing into the heavens as relating to somewhat that had been before delivered And unto what can it refer but unto his entring into his rest which includes his passing into the heavens So it followeth v. 14. Seeing then that we have a great high Priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fest our profession Mark it is the same person that is said to have passed into the heavens v. 14. that is spoken of as entring into his rest v. 10. For seeing that he is passed into the heavens And he that is entred into his rest is the person that hath ceased from his work as God did from his own And upon this account there remaineth the celebration of a Sabbath unto the people † See Carter on the Covenant with Abraham page 6 7 c. And Cotton on singing of Psalms p. 10 11. From whom I have borrowed much of this matter of God Further yet the Holy Ghost seemeth plainly to distinguish in that 10. v. between the works of redemption which are ascribed to the Son and the works of Creation which are peculiarly attributed to the Father and are therefore called his own works as the Text is to be rendred * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A believer upon his conversion is delivered indeed from the dominion and power of sin but not wholly freed from all remainders of pollution still there is a Law in his members warring against the Law of his mind and leading him often captive to the performance of his works even to manifold sins through infirmity So that it cannot so fully be said of a Christian whilst in the body that he hath ceased from his works But of our Lord Jesus Christ it is exactly verified who upon his rising from the dead came forth as a victor from the conquest which he made and entred into his state of exaltation 6 The Psalmist treating of this day of rest which the Apostle referreth to doth instance in most of the Solemn parts of worship which are to be discharged on the Sabbath 1. Singing of Psalms Psal 95.1 2. 2. Prayer v. 6.3 Hearing the word which implyeth the Preaching of the word v. 7 8. All to be

performed by the united companies of the people of God on that day of rest 7 The Psalmist urgeth to the practise of those duties from the consideration mainly of Gods work of Creation v. 4 5 6 7. Which is the reason given for the institution of a Sabbath To the commemoration whereof the Lords day fitly serveth as being a seventh day as well as to the celebration of the work of Redemption being the Resurrection day the first day of the week 8 The Apostle presseth the Hebrews to the observation of this rest from two special arguments which may seem clearly to relate to the work of the Sabbath 1. Because it would be a special means to prevent Apostasy Heb. 4.11 Lest any man fall And what duty is likely to be more effectual to that end than a conscientious sanctification of the Lords day 2. From the mighty influence and efficacy of the word of God upon mens hearts v. 12. q. d. Be very diligent and heedful to keep this day of rest and to wait upon God in his ordinances and to give attendance upon his word for it is not in vain so to do His word will cleanse your hearts and consciences from dead works for it is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword I might add 3. From the consideration of the omniscience and heart seurching power of God with whom our business lieth in all religious exercises especially See v. 13. But I must forbear Pardon this larg digression or out-leap which yet will not be unuseful if it may but serve to provoke some others of greater abil●ties to make a more diligent search into the Scope and drift of this Scripture I will study brevity in that which doth remain 3. To preserve you from infection by the example of the multitude as to the neglect of the Sabbath Be often meditating upon the manifold advantages that will arise from a conscientious sanctification thereof and the blessings entailed thereupon This is the way to attain the most intimate acquaintance with God and to get tasts of the sweetness of the way of holiness There are many persons who complain of a strict course of religion as a tedious and burdensom way Behold what a weariness it is unto their spirits and they never found that sweetness and that spiritual joy and refreshment which believers are wont to speak of Probably the reason may be for want of diligence and faithfulness in sanctification of the Sabbath for thereunto is the promise of divine consolations annexed Finally it hath assurance of the mercies of this life and of that which is to come Be much in studying that pregnant text Isa 58.13 14. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath from 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 thine own wayes nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it This is the second thing to be noted as to the time of religion 3. The generality of people will cry unto God and seem tobe much displeased with their sins only in the time of sickness and adversity when the hand of God is upon them and his rod upon their backs But in the dayes of their health and prosperity they forget the Lord and perhaps entertain not so much as a serious thought of him from one end of the day to the other This the Prophet notes as a common evil Isa 26.10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked yet will he not learn righteousness in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. But let him be reduced into straits and exigencies and bound with fetrers of affliction on the bed of sorrowes then he will at least seemingly lament and mourn and be earnest in seeking unto God For so it followeth v. 16. Lord in trouble have they visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them This was the temper of the Israelites of old and the multitude take the like course Psal 78.34 35 36 37. When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and inquired early after God And they remembred that God was their rock and the high God their Redeemer Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and lied unto him with their tongues For their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his covenant My brethren you must not herein follow the track of the multitude Labour as to improve afflictions so to spiritualize all your comforts and to serve the Lord with the best of your strength and abilities Do not put him off with your sick-bed devotions and some flittering promises of obedience when you are in distress but manifest the sincerity of your hearts by dedicating your most prosperous dayes and enjoyments unto his glory That is the sure way to lay up in store a good foundation of support and comfort against the day of trouble Else what cause will there be to suspect that your affliction-eries are but the howling of hypocrites Hos 7.14 How can you with such confidence address your selves to the Lord for succour in the day of tribulation and adversity if you forget him in the time of your prosperity and peace May not you justly fear least he should laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh least he should refuse to answer any of your requests in mercy least he should put you off to the world which you served and to the lusts which you satisfied to fetch your comfort from thence when you are surrounded with sorrows And they would be sure to prove very miserable comforters Instead of asswaging your grief they would increase your anguish and bring further horrour and perplexity into your spirits So he threatned tha● sinful people Jer. 2.27 28. They say unto a stock thou art my father and to a stone thou hast brought me forth for they have turned their back unto me and not the face But in the time of their trouble they will say arise and save us But where are thy Gods which thou hast made thee Let them arise if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble q. d. You would have none of me for your master when the Sun of prosperity shone upon your tabernacles and now you are reduced into straits and extremities I will have nothing to do with you except it be in a way of wrath and judgment My brethren if you be guilty of the like impiety how justly may you fear the same dreadful dismission Often read and study that awakening scripture Deut. 28.45 46 47 48. Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee and shall pursue thee

there is a five-fold primacy or priority which they may justly callenge and must of necessity be given them if you will deal faithfully with God and make sure work in the working out your salvation 1. They must have the priority in respect of our thoughts and studies This is the main business we should aime at the accomplishment of and be plotting and laying contrivances how to effect That God may be honoured by us and that we may get an interest in his favour and in the light of his countenance We may lawfully contrive how to manage the affairs of this world with prudence and discretion But our principal care must be how to get a portion in the world to come to lay hold on eternal life 2 Tim. 2.15 Study to shew thy self a man approved of God Prov. 4.7 Wisdom is the principal thing therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting or above all thy getting get understanding Look upon other matters as trifles in comparison of this and lay them all aside till this be finished 2. They must have the priority or uppermost room in our affections These are the things which your hearts must earnestly pant after and your spirits be restless and indefatigable in the pursuance of We may love our relations and comforts in a secondary way but the enjoyment of God and his glory must have the top and cream of our love Psal 63.1 8. O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is and v. 8. My soul followeth hard after thee thy right hand upholdeth me 3. They must be firstly and primarily sought after in respect of the time of our lives and pilgrimage upon the earth We must give unto God the primitiae or first fruits of our being Eccl. 12.1 Remember now thy creatour in the dayes of thy youth while the evil dayes come not nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them 4. They must have the priority and precedence in respect of the work of every particular day The things of God should enjoy our virgin thoughts in the morning before they be adulterated and embased with any lower matters How may I be instrumental to advance the excellencies of God this day what special corruptions have I to watch against and what special temptations am I likely to meet with how may I fill up my place and relations with holiness and comfort to my own soul Psal 139.18 When I awake I am still with thee 5. The things of God must have the preheminence when they come in competition with any other matters whatsoever They must out all corruptions that are incompatible therewith and make all interests whatsoever how down before them They must have the whole man and the whole strength and the whole time of our lives Mat. 22.36 37 39. God doth account an hypocritical religion no better than atheism and infidelity and a divided heart to be a false heart Religion indeed and the fear of the Lord is of that power and purity that it will not mingle interests with any other design it will be sovereign commander wherever it comes Mat. 6.24 No man can serve two masters Ye cannot serve God and Mammon Besides if you pursue any other interest in coordination with the interest of godliness it is impossible you should be stedfast in the covenant of God Providences may so concenter that if you will not make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience you must cast all your outward enjoyments overboard if you will hold fast the truth you must part with all things besides it even your very lives Mar. 8.34 35. Whosoever will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me For whosoever will save his life shall lose it But whosoever will lose his life for my sake and the gospels the same shall save it That 's the third point I intended to touch upon 4. Let not your demeanour be ordered after the example of the multitude in respect of the time and season when religion is minded Herein they commonly faulter and you must not be followers of them This I shall branch forth into four heads 1. As to the time in general and the improvement of it Most even of those that in some sort abhor to spend their daies in profaness and open abominations make little conscience of spending their times in idleness If they should employ it wickedly in rioting and luxury and such inordinate courses they think they should be worthily condemned But they never regard the redeeming of time or the right improvement of it that it may be profitably managed in the doing and getting of good My brethren beware that you tread not in their steps But see that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Redeeming the time because the dayes are evil Eph. 5.15 16. And to this purpose let me beseech you seriously to ponder in your thoughts and press upon your hearts these three ensuing particulars 1. That the trade and employment of godlines is a very busy employment such as brings much work along with it and hath abundance of affairs appertaining to it If it be minded throughly and effectually you will find no time to spare to be spent unprofitably or squandred away upon vanity unless you bestir your selves to purpose your glass will be run out before your spiritual work is at an end and then you are undone eternally and irrecoverably For there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou g●est Eccl. 9.10 The reason Sirs why men are no more choyce of their time is because they are so little sensible of the weight and greatness of their work Did they considerately mind how many spiritual lessons must be learnt how many strong corruptions must be mortified what variety of duties there are to be faithfully performed what several methods the devil hath whereby to deceive us in his temptations that should be carefully enquired into that he may not get advantage against us together with the difficulties attendant upon each of these would they trifle away their times as if they had nothing to do Did we consult the scriptures and see what is expected at our hands in order to eternal life surely we should be ready to answer when our sinful temper prompts us to slothfulness or when any vanities and follies invite us to slacken our pace as Nehemiah answered the adversaries Neh. 6.3 I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down Why should the work cease whilst I leave it and come down to you I am exercising my self in a busy business of everlasting weight and moment and it infinitely concerns me not to do it by halfes or leave it unfinished and unperfected even in laying up in store a good foundation against the time to come that I may lay

hold upon eternal life Why should the work cease whilst I spend my time in trifles I have not an hour to spare that may be passed away in idleness and negligence in doing nothing or what is as good as nothing 2. This was one of the sins of Sodom for which they were destroyed in such a dreadful manner by fire from heaven and upon which account they are set forth as an example suffering the vengeance of eternal fire namely the spending their time in idleness and vanity without taking care for the right improvement of it And very probably this sin might be a means to carry them into those other horrid abominations for which they are branded to all the succeeding generations For when men take liberty to spend their time in idleness and make no conscience of laying it out to the ends for which they are intrusted with it they will soon be wrought upon to spend it wickedly Through idleness and slothfulness or that which is tantamount vain delights and fooleries sinners are obnoxious and exposed to all Satanica● assaults ready to run upon any of the devils errands Whereas if Christians were exact and conscientious in filling up their time with duty there would be no such room left open for the devils suggestions to enter in at Besides it's putting them under the verg of Gods protection and safe custody Ezek. 16.49 Behold this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom pride fulness of bread and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters 3. This is one of the Talents for which you are strictly accountable at the great and notable day of the Lord viz. All the time of your continuance upon the face of the earth You read the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man travelling into a far countrey who called his servants and delivered certain Talents unto them to be imployed according to their several abilities And after a long time the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them Now pray what are those Talents which God will call us to a reckoning for Why as there are talents of grace so there are talents of nature such as strength of body parts and endowments of the mind and the like And amongst these the time which is allotted to us is not the meanest or least considerable How hath that been managed in the Masters service What good have you done answerably to the time you have enjoyed Rev. 2.21 I gave her space to repent of her fornication and she repented not And mark it my beloved If you would come off with comfort at the day of accounts and be found unto praise and glory at the glorious appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ it will not be enough to plead that you spent not your time prophanely or licentiously It will suffice to bring you under a sentence of condemnation if it were spent idly vainly and unprofitably Mat. 25.30 Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth What millions of gold would sinners then give for the least portion of that time to repent in which now they throw away as if it were not to be regarded This is the first thing I would note as to the time of religion when it is minded 2. In respect of the special time that is to be consecrated and appropriated to the more immediate service of God The multitude have been much set upon the observation of the dayes of mans devising and inventing but little concerned in the sanctification of the Lords day If they spend two or three hours in the publike exercises of religion then they think themselves acquitted for the rest of that day they find their own pleasures and follow their recreations and sports they let their tongues loose to vain and worldly discourses if they have any visit to make or merriment to be at this is the day wherein they have best leisure for it And yet as the whore in the Proverbs they wipe their mouths and say We have done no wickedness But ye my friends be not acted with the spirit of the multitude Give unto the Lord that which is due unto him He hath graciously allowed you six dayes for your own imployments wherein you may lawfully labour and do all that you have to do and he hath reserved a seventh day for himself a whole seventh day as he hath granted unto us the six Do not grudg the Lord and your souls this equitable and merciful proportion Be not as the rich man in Nathans parable who had many flocks and herds and yet when the wayfaring man came to him he spared to take of his own flock but took the poor mans lamb that lay in his bosom and dressed it for the man that was come unto him 2 Sam. 12. Thus do the carnal world deal with the God of heaven He hath given to them a whole flock of daies and kept unto himself but one Lamb the Lords day And yet when they have a journey to take or an errand to do some mirth and pleasure to follow or bodily ease to indulge they spare of their own flock and make bold with the Lords But my brethren be not ye like unto them As you would expect a blessing upon your souls and a blessing upon your labours on the six dayes be careful of the spiritual and entire sanctification of the Lords day the Christian Sabbath For blessed is the man that doth this and the son of man that layeth hold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and keepeth his hand from doing any evil Isa 56.2 That you may be careful in the discharge of this great daty and not fall short of the blessedness thereto annexed suffer me to leave upon you a few words by way of advice and counsel 1. Study much the morality of the Law of God concerning the weekly Sabbath That it is a commandment which carries with it a perpetual and everlasting obligation The ceremonial Sabbaths were observan●●s that disappeared upon the death of the Lord our righteousness When the Sun was risen in his glory the shadowes vanished But the weekly Sabbath was appointed to continue in the Church of Christ unto the end Be well setled I say in this great truth For if there be haesitation in your thoughts of the obligation of the commandment you will proportionably waver in your obedience unto the commandment Wavering and unstedfast obedience is the usual product of fluchuating apprehensions An unsetled judgment will usher in unconstant service And therefore be well verst in the morality of the weekly Sabbath 1. It was part of the Law given unto our first parents in the state of innocency when there was no ground for distinction of Jew and Gentile Gen. 2.2 3. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had refted from all his work which

also What made Caleb remain upright with Jehovah when the other Spies turned aside unto vanity and lying Because he was a man of another spirit Num. 14.24 But my servant Caleb because he had another spirit with him and followed me fully If you will follow the Lord fully when the whole world wondereth after the beast as the apostacy of the latter times is expressed Rev. 13.3 you must be otherwise spirited than the world is Common graces and indowments will never be productive of a singular conversation Dir. 4. If you will not be led aside into sin by the multitudes's practise Take heed of entertaining their principles but indeavour to erect and to set up principles of holiness in the stead of them For Mark it my brethren as your minds are affected with right or corrupt notions touching the matters of religion so will your conversations be regularly or corruptly ordered If your judgments be distempered with rotten principles they will certainly transmit answerable defilement into your lives Therefore you shall find that it is one of the special works of God in the day of conversion to eradicate and pluck up these false pinciples out of mens spirits as being the strong holds of the devil whereby he keeps possession of their hearts and some of the principal engines where by he hurrieth them on to works of darkness 2 Cor. 10.4 5. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledg of God and bringeth into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ So that you must beg instantly of God that he would please to throw down these towring thoughts and make your hearts sound in his statutes as is the prayer of David Ps 119.80 It would be an endless task to pass over all the rotten principles that are in the hearts of the multitude I will only mention the principal and for methods sake reduce them to seven heads 1. The first principle of the multitude concerns the nature of God and it is this That God is not so severe and exact in the observing mens wayes and actions as some precise ministers would bear them in hand he is Surely think they the Lord doth not make any such great matter whether we be holy or not he doth not so much stand upon strictness and circumspection in our carriage nor will he be so rigorous as to require it of us Only these puritan preachers tell us stories of that nature and they must say something to fill up the time Thus they reason themselves into wickedness and the wicked one strikes in to promote these reasonings Psal 10.11 He hath said in his heart God hath for gotten it he hideth his face he will never see it Again v. 13. Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God He hath said in his-heart thou wilt not require it Ezek. 8.12 Then said ●e unto me Son of man hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark every man in the chambers of his imagery For they say the Lord seeth us not the Lord hath forsaken the earth Mark it they went on in sin and idolatry being acted by the influence of this cursed principle Now therefore this principle must be demolished and thrown down For men will never venture through the oppositions and reproaches of the multitude that they may be accepted of God unless they be fully convinced that God mindeth their wayes and that holiness is pleasing in his sight Gen. 17.1 Walk before me and be thus perfect Job 31.4 Doth not he see my wayes and count all my steps Prov. 5.20 21. Why wilt thou my Son he ravished with a strang woman and embrace the bosom of a stranger For the wayes of man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings In the room and place of this first rotten principle let these scripture principles be erected 1. That the conscience of a man is Gods deputy and substitute set up in the soul to this purpose that it may judg the sinner for his wickedness and bind him over to appear before the judgment seat of Christ Rom. 2.15 16. Jo. 8.9 Let me therefore ask thee this one question Doth not thy conscience sometimes smite thee for thy profaness and hypocrisy Doth not that give thee many a secret gripe at thy heart and lye as a worm gnawing within thy entrals Do●h it not step in now and then in the times of thy jovialty and merriment and spoil all thy sport and warn thee of coming before a greater judg Why O vain man doth conscience observe which God hath planted in thy breast and doth not God observe more exactly by whom it was planted For if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things 1 Jo. 3.20 Understand O ye brutish among the people and ye fools when will ye be wise He that planted the ear shall not he hear He that formed the eye this internal reflective eye of the soul shall not he see He that chastizeth the heathen shall not he correct He that teacheth man knowledg shall not he know The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man that they are vanity Psal 94.8 9 10 11. 2. Settle this principle also in the place of the other that all the dispensations of God towards the children of men have a direct and natural tendency to lead them to repentance and to quicken them to walk in wayes of holiness To this end he gave his word to instruct them and his spirit to strive with them and hath appointed his ordinances to be attended upon by them Upon this account he doth wait in the exercise of his long suffering towards some and sends his ministers to treat with them in his name To this end he executeth sore judgments upon others and maketh them to tast the bitterness of sin in the fruits of it This is the proper end of all exhortations and counsels of all comminations on the one hand and promises on the other hand of all mercies and afflictions and providences of every sort And can you be so sottish as to imagine that the infinitely wise God would be at such cost and pains to drive men out of their sins and to draw them to godliness and yet not regard whether they are holy or not You will not impute such folly to a considerate sober man that he would be at a vast expence in order to accomplish a design and then not care whether it be accomplished or no And darest thou to charg this folly upon God whose wisdom is incomprehensible and of whose understanding there is no searching out Consider O man what expence the Lord hath been at upon thy soul Sometimes he hath watered thee with his blessings from heaven and again exercised thee under sharp corrections Now he hath indulged thee the use of spiritual