through with the burden of instructing my children Though others nurse children for the love of wages let me nurse mine for the wages of love Let all my actions towards them flow from sincere affection to them and not onely my counsel and comforts but even my rod of reproof like Jonathans be dipt in this hony When I am rebuking them cuttingly and frighting them from sin with the fear of the unquenchable fire let all my bitter pils be given in this sweet syrrup of love that they may know and acknowledge my greatest anger against their sins to proceed from a tender respect and love to their immortal souls I wish that being a sworn Souldier of the Lord of Hosts Full of courage whatsoever trials and tribulations I meet with in my holy warfare whatsoever dangers and death shall look me in the face I may never flye from my colours or forsake my Captain but endure hardshipas a good Souldier of Jesus Christ When I first listed my self in his Muster-Roll I understood the greivous hardships and various hazards which all his Army but especially his Officers must encounter with that to Preach the Gospel is as Luther saith to draw the hatred of the whole World upon a man yea that Earth and Hell would both conspire and plant their strongest batteries against the Bulworks of the Church under God the Ministers of the word notwithstanding all which I entred my name as a Volunteer and promised to live and dye in his quarrel and shall I now because the enemies appear numerous and the Bullets flye thick like Peter deny my righteous cause and disown my glorious Captain Lord let me dye with thee rather then deny thee Enable me through thy strength to be ready not onely to be bound but to dye for the name of the Lord Jesus My onely safety consisteth in keeping close to my Saviour Should I through cowardliness run away I must expect Marshal law If any man draw back thy soul will have no pleasure in him If I like Jonah should run from thy presence as unwilling to deliver an unwelcome message I must expect a storm to follow after me and either the waves to swallow me up or the Whale to swallow me down I should but go out of thy blessing into the warm Sun If the service of my God be not in all respects the best why did I chuse and like it If it be why should I refuse and leave it My cause is good I fight against sin and Satan the desperate and bloody enemies of my soul My Crown is better after a a temporal conflict followeth an eternal Crown of glory O my soul be thou faithful unto death and thou shalt have a Crown of life but my Captain is best of all he looketh upon me goeth before me fighteth for me and as he leadeth me on to this tryal so he will not like the Devil and the World who leave their servants and Lovers in the lurch but bring me off with triumph either safe on earth or safe to heaven Lord whatsoever dirt of calumny shall be thrown in my face whatsoever dart of cruelty shall be stuck in my body Act. 20.22 for keeping the word of thy patience in an hour of temptation yet let none of these things move me neither let me count my life dear unto me so that I may finish my course with joy and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the grace of God As to the preaching of the Gospel The several duties of a Minister 1. To preach the Gospel which is the principal work of the Minister as being the main Engine in the hand of God wherewith he undermineth and overturneth the strong-holds of sin and the Kingdom of darkness I wish that I may prepare for this work diligently ever handle this weapon warily deliver the message of my God soberly as may be most for his glory and my peoples good not with the enticing words of mans wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power To this end I desire His Sermons must be the fruits of servent prayer that all my Sermons may be like Monica's son children of many prayers and tears and thereby the more unlikely to perish Luther saith He that prayeth hard studieth hard Lord let all my Sermons as dew be Heaven-born that they may drop down upon my people like rain upon the mown grass Let prayer be the key to open the mysteries of Christ to me and let prayer be the turning of the key to lock them up safe within me Let prayer open and shut all my Books form and write begin and conclude every Sermon Ah how should he pray both for his preaching and before he preacheth who by every Sermon preacheth his beloved Neighbours into Eternal burnings or Eternal pleasures I wish also for the furtherance of the former ends Preached over first to his own soui That I may preach over every Sermon to my own heart before I preach them to my hearers That I preaching feelingly may preach the more effectually and the milk of the Word coming warm out of the Mothers breasts may be as more natural so more pleasing and nourishing to the children Why should I like a Lawyer plead the cause of my God for my fees and 〈…〉 have my own person concerned in it O let 〈◊〉 rather as a Physician drink of those potions my self which I prescribe and administer to my Patients I desire He must preach the Word 1. Purely That I may never dare to play the Huckster with the Word of God to sophisticate or adulterate it by my additions to it but that I may receive from the Lord what I deliver to men and feed all my charge with the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby If it be Treason to counterfeit the Kings Coyn what High Treason is it for me to imprint the King of Kings stamp on my brass Money O that as I am an Ambassador I might keep close to my Instructions and as a Builder may lay every stone in his Temple by the line and rule of his Word and as a Physician may never try experiments upon the souls of my people but hold fast to the form of wholesome words and ever prescribe those tryed and approved receits which the Great Physician hath left me under his own hand Because my work is to touch and pierce my hearers hearts 2 〈◊〉 and not to tickle and please their ears I wish That I may preach a crucified Saviour in a crucified stile That I may not blow up my Sermons as Butchers some joynts of meat to make them shew fairer with a windy pomp of words but by using all plainness and stooping to the lowest capacity may become all things to all men that I may save some I am a Barbarian to my people whilest I preach to them in an unknown language I starve their souls whilest
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
of it to consume the cedar of their souls The Heathen have admired and bemoaned mans industry about earth Sen. lib. 6. nat cap. 26. they have wondered what made man who is of an erect countenance looking up to Heaven Tertal de corona militis thus to bow down and bury himself alive in the earth Tertullian stood amazed at the folly of the Romans who would undergo all manner of hazards and hardships to be Consul which he fitly calls One years fleeting joy The Prophet tells such that they rejoyce in a thing of naught Amos 7. Nay the forementioned Moralist tels us that such worldlings operose nihil agunt Take a great deal of pains to do nothing That their whole life is but a laborious loytering or at most a more painful kind of playing their account will be nothing but ciphers like children they run up and down and labour hard to catch a gaudy Butterflie which when caught will foul their fingers and flye from them O mortal men how long will ye love vanity and follow after leasing Psa 4. Is it not sad that so noble a being as mans soul should be wholly taken up with such mean sordid things That phrase in Psa 24.5 That hath not lift up his soul untovanity is read by Arius Montanus He that hath not received his soulin vain O how many receive their souls in vain making no more use of them then the Swine of whom the Philosopher observes Cujus anima pro sale their souls are onely for salt to keep their bodies from stinking Who would not grieve to think that so choice a piece should be employed about so vain a use Reader If one should be intrusted with the education of a great Prince who was descended of the blood royal and heir to a large Empire and should set him onely to rake in Dungils or cleanse Ditches thou wouldst exceedingly condemn such a governour Wouldst thou not think It is pity indeed that so Noble a person should be busied about such low unworthy projects God hath intrusted thee with a precious soul descended highly even from God himself claiming kindred with the glorious Angels and capable of inheriting that kingdom to which the most glorious Empires of the World are but Muck-heaps Art thou not one of them that employ this Princely soul altogether about unsutable and earthly practices and causing it as the lapwing though it have a coronet on its head to feed on excrements It was one cause of Jeremiahs sad lamentation that the precious Sons of Sion comparable to fine gold should be esteemed as earthen Pitchers the work of the hands of the potter that they which were brought up in Scarlet should embrace Dunghils Lament 4.2 5. Have not we more cause of sorrow that mens souls the precious sons of God should be put to no better use then earthen pitchers that they which should be brought up delicately in the nurture and admonition of the Lord should be busie about dross and imbrace Dunghils that thy precious soul should thus lacquey after earth and vanity when it should like an Angel be always standing and waiting in the presence of God Who can read the stories how Domitian the King spent his time in catching Flies Solyman the Magnificent in making Arrow-heads Achmat the last in making strings for Bows Harcatius the King of Persia in catching Moles Caligula the Emperour in playing the Poet Nero the Emperour in Fidling and not admire at their folly that such great Princes should busie themselves in things so infinitely below their places But thy folly Reader if one of them I am writing of is far greater in that thy practices are more below thy spiritual and heavenly principle May I not say to thee as Philip to Alexander when he heard him singing Art thou not ashamed being a Kings Son to sing so well Art thou not ashamed being an immortal angelical substance the off-spring of God and capable of his likeness and love to be glewed as a Toad-stool to the earth to spend thy time and strength venture the perishing of thy mortal body and immortal soul too for that meat which perisheth It is storied of Pope Sixtus the fifth that he sould his soul to the Devil for Seven years enjoyment of the Popedom What fool ever bought so dear what mad man ever sold so cheap yet every worldly person doth implicitly the same with this Pope He selleth what is more worth then all the World for a little Wind. Ah how costly is that treasure which makes him a beggar to all eternity O Lord what a foolish silly thing is man to prize and take pains for husks before bread vanity before solidity a shadow before the substance the Worlds seraps before the costly feast the dirty Kennels before the Christal water of life an Apple before Paradise a mess of Pottage before the Birthright and the least fleeting and inconstant good before the greatest truest and eternal good Their particular callings are but about earth the lowest meanest and vilest of all the elements in these callings they deal but with men and bruits their gains here at best cannot be large because their lives here cannot be long and yet how eagerly are they pursued how closely are they followed how constantly are they busied about them their general callings are about their souls their eternal salvations in these they have to do with the blessed God the lovely Saviour in communion with whom is Heaven upon Earth their gains here are above their thoughts and beyond their most enlarged desires no less then infinite and eternal The profit of godliness is invaluable above price It cannot be gotten for gold neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof It cannot be valued with the Gold of Ophir with the precious Onix or the Saphir The Gold and the Christal cannot equalit and the exchange of it shall not be for Jewels of fine gold No mention shall be made of Coral or of Pearls for the price of Wisdom is above Rubies The Topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it neither shall it be valued with pure gold Job 28.15 to 20. yet how lingringly is this calling entred upon how lazily is it followed and how quickly cast off O foolish man who hath bewitched thee that thou dost thus dislike and disobey the truth I cannot more fitly resemble man then to a silly Hen which though much good Corn lie before her takes little notice of it but still scrapes in the Earth The favour of God the promises of the Gospel the Covenant of Grace the blood of Christ the embroydery of the Spirit the life of faith the hope of Heaven joy in the Holy Ghost are laid before man yet he overlooks them all and lives like a Mole digging and delving in the earth Though men see before their eyes a period and end of all earthly perfections that the beauty bravery of all earthly things is but like a fair Picture drawn on
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
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
Sam. 26.9 But what is it to murther the Son of God no tongue can tell no pen can write the horrid hainous nature of Christ-murther He is thy everlasting Father It made a dumb childe speak to see another stabbing his Father and wilt thou imbrue thine own hands in thy Fathers blood Jesus Christ is thy King and wilt thou stretch forth thy hands against thy Head thy Soveraign Had Zimri peace who slew his Master Nay Jesus Christ is thy Redeemer and wilt thou put him to death who is the Author of thy life He gave thee thy being and wouldst thou deprive him of his being He is the onely Physician that can cure thee and wilt thou kill him Once more Jesus Christ is God and wilt thou lift up thy hand I would say a thought against the blessed God God deserveth infinitely more love then thou canst possibly give and shall thine heart be so full of hatred as to let fly against the God of Heaven Oh! say with David when Abishai perswaded him to slay Saul The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the Lords anointed When Satan or thy own heart would perswade thee to be slight in the examination of thy self and formal in thy humiliation for sin that thou mightest be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord let Conscience cry out God forbid that I should stretch out my hand against Jesus Christ the Lords Anointed And truly Friend if after such warning as God gives thee in this head thou shouldst dare to receive unworthily thou wouldst finde it hereafter to thine unspeakable hurt As Reuben told his Brethren when they were in distress Spake I not unto you saying Do not sin against the child and ye would not hear therefore behold his blood is required Gen. 42.22 So if thou now darest to approach the Lords Table in thy sinful unregenerate estate in thy filth and pollution when thou comest to lie under some smart rod or on thy dying bed or at least in the other World Conscience will fly in the face Did I not speak unto thee saying Do not sin against the holy Childe Jesus and thou wouldst not hear therefore behold his blood is required at thy hands O Friend Friend what wilt thou do in such an hour If on him who slew Cain vengeance should be taken sevenfold what vengeance shall be taken on him who slayeth Jesus Christ How dreadful will thy perdition be if the onely Saviour be thine Accuser and that blood which alone can procure thy pardon shall cry for thine eternal punishment O think of it seriously Hast thou never had hard thoughts of the Jews for their cruelty to the Son of God and wilt thou do worse thy self The Jews crucified him but once but thou by continuing an unworthy receiver crucifiest him often The Jews did it ignorantly Had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.8 but thou knowest him to be the Son of God the Saviour of the World They crucified him in his estate of Humiliation but thou in his estate of Exaltation They had not not thee for a Warning when they put him to death but thou hast them for a Warning to thee They crucified him when he was to rise again the third day but thou so crucifiest him that he might never rise more were it in thy power O take heed what thou dost and be not worse then a Jew Thy suffering He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself 1 Cor. 11.29 Some I know are offended at the translation of the Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Damnation but I see little reason for it for Damnation is the end of every sin though it be not the end of every sinner Paul speaketh of Believers indeed but as it may be truly said of one that drinketh poyson Such a man drunk his bane though by the help of a Physician such an Antidote may be given as may prevent the Patients death so it may be truly spoken of a Believer who receiveth unworthily He eateth and drinketh his own damnation though through the Grace and Help of Jesus Christ no thank to himself he is recovered out of that sin and saved Beza and the Geneva Translation take it in this sense So the word is taken John 3.17 18. Rom. 3.8 and in several other places Now what an argument is here to disswade thee from going rashly or unpreparedly to the Table of the Lord. That which is a worthy receivers meat will be thy poison the same red Sea of Christs blood which is salvation to others they pass safely through it into the land of promise will be damnation to thee King John Speed as our English Croniclers write Simâ—s Eccks Hist. was poisoned by a cup of Wine The Emperour Henry the seventh was poisoned by the bread in the Sacrament through the treachery and treason of a Monk The Israelites did all eat the same spiritual meat and did all drink the same spiritual drink but with many of them God was not well pleased for they were overthrown in the Wilderness 1 Cor. 10.3 4.5 Those that eat and drink in Christs presence were punished with everlasting perdition Mat. 7.23 And do not please thy self because thou feelest no such poisonous operation at present in unworthy receiving that therefore thou needst not fear it They that eat Italian Figs carry their death about them though they fall not down dead suddenly Therefore Reader take some time and pains to commune with thy own heart before thou goest to the Sacrament Charge it upon its allegiance to God to hear thee patiently and to carry it self sutably If I receive this Supper with an holy preparation it will be a seal of and an help to my eternal salvation it will be an earnest of matchless love and an entrance into an endless happy life but if I eat and drink unworthily there is death in the pot death in the cup I eat and drink my own damation O how doleful is that one word Damnation What a dreadful sound doth it make in mine ears What fearful sighs doth it cause in my soul Damnation is no trifling business God threateneth it in earnest The damned feel it in earnest and shall I jest with it Surely I were better eat the bread of affliction and drink the water of adversity then eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily Canst thou be so bloody as to stab thy self and thy Redeemer to the heart with one blow O my soul bestir thy self awake out of sleep and do not dally about the concernments of eternal life and death let thy care and conscience be such in fitting thy self for this sacred Ordinance that thy Saviour may see thou hast an high respect for his precious blood and a tender regard to thine own everlasting good For thy help about this Ordinance I shall speak 1. To thy duty before the Sacrament 2.
So God giveth others outward portions some of the good things of this life but to thee O Christian he giveth a Benjamins mess his image his spirit his son himself a worthy portion a goodly heritage because he loveth thee Others have a little meat and drink and wages but thou hast the inheritance Others like Jehosaphats younger Sons have some Cities some small matters given them but thou like the first born hast the Kingdom the Crown of glory others feed on bare elements thou hast the Sacrament others stand without doors and thou art admitted into the presence Chamber others must fry eternally in Hell flames and thou must enjoy falness of joy for evermore O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever To him that chose thee before the foundation of the World for his mercy endureth for ever To him that called thee by the word of his grace for his mercy c. To him that gave his onely Son to dye for thy sins for his mercy c. To him that entred into a Covenant of grace with thee for his mercy endureth for ever To him that hath provided for thee an exceeding and eternal weight of glory for his mercy endureth for ever O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Remember the poor on that day Gods bounty to thee in spirituals may well provoke thy mercy to others in carnals The Jews at their Passover released a Prisoner in remembrance of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage Surely at the Lords Supper when thy heart is warmed with Gods compassion to thee thy hand should be enlarged in contribution to the poor in remembrance of thy redemption out of slavery to sin and Satan The Primitive Christians had their collections for the poor and the Lords Supper both on a day On the first day of the week Because the Saints like the wall being then heated by the Sun should reflect that heat on the passengers on others Acts 20.7 2 Cor. 16.1 Thy cup runneth over O let others drink with thee Thy Charity may make thy Coffer lighter but it will make thy crown heavier It was a notable expression of one who having given much away was like to want and asked what she would do I repent not of my charity for what I have lost in one World I have gained in another 2. Faithfulness The Sacrament is a strong engagement to sanctity Sacramentum est juramentum At the Lords Supper thou takest a new Oath of Allegiance to the King of Saints whereby every wilful iniquity after it becomes perjury 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuam a Hedge The Greek word for an Oath cometh from a word signisieth an Hedge to shew that an Oath should keep men in and prevent their wandering out of the field of Gods word It is the character of an Harlot She forgetteth the Covenant of her God Prov. 2.17 I know that the Devil will come to sit with thee after Supper Flies love to settle on the sweetest perfumes When Israel had drunk of the Rock which followed them which Rock was Christ then Amalek fought them When Jesus Christ had received the Sacrament of Baptism then the Devil pursued him with his fierce assaults When thou hast been at the Table expect the Tempter That subtle theif will hear of the new treasure of grace which is brought into thy house thy heart and will use all his pollicy and power to rob thee of it thy care must be by stronger Bolts and Locks then ordinary by greater diligence and watchfulness then before to secure it Surely Reader If thou didst but find the Saviour in the Sacrament thou canst not but fear sin after the Sacrament Thou hast seen what sin cost Christ didst thou not at the Table see the Lord Jesus hanging on the Cross Didst thou not thus bespeak thy soul Look O my soul who hangeth there Alass it is thy dearest Redeemer See his bloody head bloody hands bloody back belly his body all over bloody But O his bleeding soul Dost thou not hear his lamentation My God My God why hast thou forsaken me What thinkest thou is the cause of all this Ah t is thy sins which is the source of all these sorrows And canst thou joyn with them or love those lusts that hate the Lord Canst thou wound him whom God hath wounded and crucifie the Lord Jesus afresh Hath not thy Saviour suffered enough already O here is a Medicine instar omnium instead of all to kill those diseases of thy soul It is said of the Souldiers of Pompey that though he could not keep them in the Camp by any perswasion yet when Pompey threw himself upon the ground and told them If ye will go ye shall trample upon your General Then saith Plutarch in the life of Pompey they were overcome Truely if nothing will disswade thee from sin yet this consideration that it is a trampling upon thy blessed Saviour should prevail with thee Though thou shouldst be marching never so furiously yet as Joabs Souldiers when they saw the dead body of Amasa stay'd their march and stood still when thou seest the mangled wounded peirced crucified body of thy Saviour thou shouldst stop proceed no further How many arguments mayst thou find in this ordinance to be close in thy obedience The greatness of Christs love calleth for graciousness in thy life The love of Christ constraineth 2 Cor. 5.14 Other Motives may perswade but this compelleth If deliverance from the yoke of Pharoah were such a bond to obedience what is deliverance from sin wrath hell mayst not thou Reader say with the Jews After such a deliverance as this should I again break thy Commandements woulst thou not be angry with me till thou hast consumed me Ezr. 9.13 They that receive such courtesies if any men the World sell their liberty and ought to be Christs servants 〈…〉 Friend hath God wiped off the old score wilt thou run again in debt did Christ speak peace to thee at the Table and wilt thou turn again to folly O Reader when thou art tempted to sin say with the Spouse I have washed my feet how shall I defile them I have washed my soul how shall I pollute it with sin I have given my self wholly to God before Angels men and how can I do this great wickednes sin against my God against my Saviour against my Covenant There is a beast some write which if she be feeding doth but turn her head about forgeteth what she was doing O do not thou after thou hast fed on the bread of life forget what thou wast doing but as at the Sacrament thou hast remembred Christs death so do it after by dying to sin all the days of thy life O do not use this ordinance as Papists do the Popes Indulgences to purchase a new licence to sin Judas went from the Supper to betray his Master Absolom
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
the whole earth Thou hast spent a whole day idly and thou hast much cause to sigh out with the Roman Emperour at night when he had neither done norreceived any good all day Hodie diem perdidi Today I have lost a day Fourthly If thou wouldst exercise thy self to godliness in thy particular calling look up to God for a blessing upon thy labours therein Creatures may be the object of thy diligence but God alone the object of thy confidence Thy supplication must be to God and thy expectation from God Thou canst as soon by thine own power add a cubit to thy stature as a penny to thy purse Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth Deut. 8.18 All thy endeavours without Gods blessing are but as Cesar said of Senecas works arena sine calce Sand without Lime they will not hang together if God bless them they prosper if he blast them they perish The Devil himself was so far Orthodox Job 1.10 Thou hast blessed the work of his hands and his substance is increased in the land Alas the whole course of nature turneth onely as it is moved by the hand of God It is not in the frame of nature as in frames of Art when a watch is made it may go though the workman be many miles off or though he be dead but there is not the least wheel in the frame of nature which doth not depend upon God for its motion every moment As the vapours exhaled by the Sun depend so much upon it that if that withdraw its influence they fall to the earth so do the Creatures depend on God if he withdraw his influence from them they presently come to nothing Take notice Reader to instance but in one calling how the genealogie of Corn and Wine by a Concatenation of causes is resolved into Jehovah I will hear the Heavens and the Heavens shall hear the Earth and the Earth shall hear the Corn and Wine and Oyl and they shall hear Jezreel Hos 2.21 22. God hath the key of food under his own girdle Psal 145.16 Hence some call the Earth Gods great Purse which he openeth for mans profit and shutteth for mans punishment The Jewish Rabbies call the Earth Alma Parens A kinde Mother and the rain her Husband because the showers do foecundate and make that great Mother of plenty fruitful But as likely a Mother as the Earth is to bring forth she is barren unless God open her womb 1. The plowing and sowing of the ground is from God the hands of men cannot do it without his protection and providence and the heads of men would not have thought of it without his direction and assistance Isa 28.24 25 26. to the end 2. When the ground is plowed and sowed it must be watered or the grain will quite dye this also is from God alone The Monarch of Mexico was wont to take an Oath at his Coronation that it should be what weather he pleased but Can any of the vanities of the Heathen cause rain Jer. 14.22 God alone can unstop those bottles of Heaven they are all above mans reach The most spungy clouds distil not one drop no more then a rock till God give the Word of command He decreeth rain Job 28.26 He prepareth rain Psal 135.7 and he poureth down the former and latter rain Deut. 28.12 Joel 2.21 Job 5.10 He also covereth the body of the Earth with the white mantle of snow whereby the corn is warmed and the ground mellowed Psal 147.16 3. The Stars those purses of gold as one calleth them out of which God throweth down riches which good men gather and bad men scramble for are all at Gods beck and bidding Psal 19.4 5. Mat. 5.45 Job 38.32 4. The fruitfulness of the earth after it is ploughed sowed watered with the clouds and warmed with the influence of the Sun and Stars is wholly from God Thou crownest the year with thy goodness and thy pathes drop fatness Weems Cerem Law Psal 65.11 Heb. 6.7 This some of the Heathen acknowledged by the light of Nature and therefore when they went to plough in the morning they did lay one hand upon the plow to speak their own part to be painfulness and hold the other hand up to Ceres the Goddess of Corn to testifie their expectation of plenty to be from their supposed Deity How easily can God blast all the corn in the field or blow upon it in the barn if he do but will it it is done The whole Creation indeed is but a glass without a bottom which cannot stand of it self but as God is pleased to hold it up The Philosophers tell us the Sun and man beget a man the Sun and the earth bring forth corn and speak of the Sun in every thing as a principal efficient But the Divines tell us more truly God and the Heavens God and the Earth cause harvest God by the Creatures doth all things God is the onely principal efficient the Sun it self and all other Creatures are but liveless instruments moved and acted by God according to his purpose and pleasure Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it It is in vain for you to rise up early to sit up late and to eat the bread of sorrows Psal 127.1 2. Apricock trees that depend upon their own strength leaning on nothing as experience teacheth us bring forth little or no fruit when they that lean on the wall abound in clusters The way to thrive in thy trade is not to trust to thy own head or hands but to trust in the Lord for a blessing on thy endeavors Fifthly If thou dost prosper in thy Calling let God alone have the praise Do not Sacrifice to thy own net Hab. 1.10 as the Jews did as though by thy skill and wisdom thou hadst met with such a draught but consider the providence of God hath brought in all thy profit Beware when thy herds and thy flocks multiply and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied lest thine heart be lifted up and thou say in thine heart My power and the might of my hands hath gotten me this wealth Deut. 8.14 to 18. Man is apt to make himself his Idol and to attribute all to his own pains and prudence Men boast saith Luther Hoc ego feci Luther in Psal 1.7 hoc ego feri and shew themselves to be meer feces They brag This I have done and this I have done and thereby appear to be nothing but dregs God took it ill that Tyrus should say By my traffick and my wisdom I have encreased my wealth and telleth her That she had set her heart as the heart of God Ezek. 28.3 4 5. The Israelites were commanded to bring their first ripe fruits to God whereby they acknowledged him the owner and author of all their encrease Exod. 23.16 19 Levit. 23.10 The very Heathen were somewhat sensible 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