never breaks his promise if we keep the Condition search out the fault and amend for the future set Faith on work for the return of thy prayers for no doubt if thou prayest according to God's Will thou shalt receive the Mercy prayed for Many deal by their prayers as foolish Children by their Arrows they shoot at Rovers and mark not where they light Most Men lose their prayers and heed not whether God hears them or not Answers them or not they make prayer the end of prayer and rest satisfied if the work be done without on Answer they observe not where they light or what comes of them If thy Petition be Lawful expect an Answer if it come be sure that which is gotten by prayer be worn with Thanksgiving be not like the unthankful Lepers go away and let God hear no more of you And when thou prayest against any sin be sure to set Heart and Hand on work to Mortifie that sin And when thou prayest for any Mercies be sure to Labour what thou canst in the use of means to attain that Mercy 't is a vain wish which is not seconded with endeavours 't is but a mocking of God that will not be mocked and a ridiculous thing to pray for that he will not endeavour for As if a man should pray to come to London and will not set a step that way If thou prayest for Spiritual Blessings use means to obtain them and if for Temporal things be diligent in the use of a Lawful Calling 't is the hand of the diligent that makes Rich. When thou prayest for thy Neighbour be as willing to help him to thy power as to pray for him Many men shew more Divinity in their Words than Humanity in their Actions one penny is more hardly got from them than thrice God help you And when thou hast put up thy Requests then with patience wait for an Answer as Hannah when she had poured out her Soul to God she depended upon him and looked no more sad 1 Sam. 1.18 It may be though God hath promised and will perform yet he will not give it at the first asking he will make thee seek again and wait also When Peter was in Prison and the Church prayed for his deliverance it was the last Night before God granted their Petitions Acts 12.5,6 But be it sooner or later when the Mercy comes give God his Tribute of praise this he requires Psal 50.15 And this was David's practice Psal 116.2 And Christ chargeth this upon the Lepers as their fault If he deny thy Request seek out what is the cause and perhaps thou maist find some sin un-repented of and then no wonder if God hear thee not resolve with Saul it shall dye though it be thy Jonathan 1 Sam. 4.37 Destroy that Achan that offends God and troubles Israel Or perhaps the Petition required is not sutable or thou failedst either in the manner or end if so be more wary the next time If neither of these wait for an Answer set upon the Duty with stronger resolutions if prayer be not strong enough joyn Fasting Some sins like some Devils come not out but by prayer and fasting If thou canst not do it thy self call in help take these Directions and thou wilt find the banefit of prayer CHAP. VII Directions in and about Singing of Psalms THE Next Duty I shall Instruct you in is Singing of Psalms A Duty much prest and practised both in the time of the Law and in the time of the Gospel and many thousands of Believers have received benefit and have been refreshed by it The Book of Psalms 't is evident is of Divine Institution and compiled by the assistance of the Spirit of God And though sundry other pieces of Scripture have been by several Persons in several Ages called in Question yet this was never Questioned by any 'T is expresly mentioned by the Apostle Peter Acts 1.20 Yea is acknowledged to be Canonical Scripture by Christ himself the great Doctor of the Church Luke 20.42 And David himself saith in the Book of Psalms the Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand till I make thine Enemies thy Foot-stool Luke 24.44 All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning me The Hebrew Title of this Book is Sepher Tehillim a Book of Hymns because it chiefly consists in praise and thanksgiving unto God for his benefits And this Title seems to be taken from the Inscription of the 145 Psalm where the word is used and the whole Psalm spends it self in the praises of God In the Scripture indeed we read of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 But what the difference is between these is not easie to shew no doubt one and the same Psalm may admit of either of these Names Some have distinguished them thus Psalms say they are those that contain Exhortation to Holiness and Directions to an Holy Life Hymns contain praises to God for his benefits Spiritual and Temporal and Spiritual Songs are a mixture of both The Original word Mizmar comes from a word that signifies cutting off superfluous things and signifies a eomposure of Harmonious words without Superfluity or Excess and 't is sufficient that the whole Book containing several Subjects is called by this one name of Psalms even by Christ himself Now this Divine Ordinance or Holy Duty though both Commanded and Commended and practised by Christ and his Apostles and the Church of God even down from David's Time to this day yet is denyed by some and Questioned by others to be a Duty but I think they may Question as some indeed do all the Ordinances as well as this for what but the Ignorance or wilful perverting of the Scripture can be the ground of such a denial It may be indeed they have never performed this Duty as they ought to do and so never received that benefit and refreshing from it that others have done and hence they judge it is improfitable and condemn the Ordinance for their own fault But doubtless many thousands of Believers may speak out their Experiences and tell you they have been refreshed by it That it is a Christian Duty shall God willing be further shewed you and that 't is both profitable and pleasant is easie to prove The Psalms are a Rich Store-House of all manner of Provision and those that are conversant herein cannot be Ignorant of it Here are Instructions for the Ignorant to lead them in the way to Heaven and guide them by all the by-ways of Error and Folly here are Incitations to the dull and sluggish to rouse them up out of the sleep of Security Here are prayers to draw down Mercies from God and praises to God for Mercies received What shall I say Whatsoever Estate a Christian can be in here he may find Comfort or Company or both Here as in a Glass are represented and
Perform this Duty now to right Ends and doubt not of a Blessing 7. Direct If thou wouldst have a Blessing of God accompanying this Ordinance or if thou wouldst Sing Psalms profitably then do it in God's way as well as to a right End 't is not the bare performance of the Duty will serve the turn Many content themselves with the Husk without the Kirnel and think a little Lip-labour sufficient and come with no more Reverence nor so much into God's Presence than they would come into a great Mans Presence to Sing a Prophane Song If such Service would please God would have many Servants But 't is the Heart that God requires or he will have none of their Service Trust not therefore with the Papist Opere Operato in the Work done for God must have it done in his own way or he will not accept it A good Duty may be spoyled by the ill doing it as well as a good Tool by ill handling The Duty we Treat of is not so easie as many think it is Many carelesly performing it and finding little benefit by it have mistrusted the Duty rather than themselves like the Maid in Pliny that being suddenly struck Blind in the Night blames the Sun the next Morning for not Rising Men are apt to accuse any thing yea God himself rather than themselves Because they themselves feed upon the Husks they think there is none that taste the Kirnel and so lay it aside and plead against it But upon the same grounds many of them plead themselves above Ordinances and rest not till they plead perfection and look upon Ordinances as beggarly rudiments but to leave these to their self-delusion When thou approachest to God in this Ordinance being part of his Instituted Worship be sure to bring thy Heart along with thee and ingage it in the Duty God saith of the Heart as sometimes Joseph did of his Brother Benjamin you shall not see my Face if your Brother Benjamin be not with you You shall not see his Face if the Heart be absent Heart and Voyce must joyn together or it will make no pleasing Melody in the Ears of God He is a Spirit and must be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth For as Fervent Prayer may prevail where cold Petitions are denyed So hearty Praises are acceptable when others are esteemed but as a mocking of God We must sing with the Affection and with the Understanding also The whole bent of the Soul must be set upon the work the Blind and the Lame and the Heartless Sacrifice is abominable unto God My Son saith he Give me thy Heart Whatever thou offerest without the Heart he will have none of it The more of the Heart is in the Duty the better he loves it Thou must sing with the Spirit 1 Cor. 14.15 Thus David when he began to sing lift up not only his Voyce but his Soul to God Psal 25.1 and calls upon all that is within him to bless the Lord Psal 103.1 And we have Exhortations to this Duty Col. 3.18 Eph. 5.19 The Lowing of an Ox the Grunting of a Hog make as Melodious an Harmony in God's Ears as a Heartless Prayer or Praise God is a Spirit and must be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth Nay it must not be only with the Heart but with the Heart rightly Qualified An ungracious Heart cannot but savour strong in the Nostrils of God worse than a stinking Carrion doth in ours we must sing with Grace in our Hearts as the former Scriptures plainly testifie Sincerity is necessary approach not near him without the Wedding-Garment Hypocrisie spoyls all thy best Actions we may as well expect sweet Water in a dirty Channel or stinking puddle as a good Duty from a rotten Heart The Graces of the Spirit must adorn that Soul that must be welcom into God's presence Neither is it sufficient that they be there in the Habit but they must be drawn forth into the Act for as we must Pray and Sing with the Understanding and Affection so we must Pray and Sing with Faith believing those Promises made by God and those Petitions put up that they shall be in Time Answered Bring Hope along also to wait for the Accomplishment and Love to God and Delight in his Service and desire of his Glory and other suitable Graces And thus doing expect a Blessing upon the Ordinance and benefit by it CHAP. VIII Directions in Observing the Sabbath Day THE next Duty I shall Treat of is the Observation of the Sabbath Day for this also is a Commanded Duty this is that stated time for the Worship of God and necessary for his Service For if we must Worship God in some place so some time is also required for this Worship and God himself hath appointed out what he thinks most suitable Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy c. Yea he hath enjoyned it to be observed upon pain of Death Exod. 35.2 Whosoever doth work therein shall be put to Death And we read of the Man that gathering sticks upon that Day was by God's special Command to be put to Death Numb 15.32 c. But there are many that easily grant it was a Duty obliging the Jews but not the Gentiles and is of no force at present to Christians but Ceremonious and so abolished with the Ceremonial Law but for Satisfaction know something in the Command was Ceremonial and that ceaseth something Moral and that remaineth Nature it self teacheth us that there is a God and the same Nature teacheth that this God is to be Worshipped and Reason tells us some time must be alotted for this Worship God appoints one day of seven for this Work and that is Moral but what seventh day whether from the Creation or no is left to God to determine Many that know not the true God yet alot some time for the Worship of their Imagined Deities but that it must be this or that day Nature teaches not but is alterable at God's dispose but not at Mans and that it was observed in Remembrance of their deliverance from Egypt was Ceremonial Deut. 5.15 And Typified out a deliverance by Christ a Rest in him and his Resting in the Grave As also the rigid Observation of it enjoyned to the Jews when they must not go out of their places kindle a Fire dress any Meat bear any burthen c. upon it Christian Liberty hath freed us from this but for the Observation of one day in seven for God's Service is Commanded by God approved by Christ and practised by the Apostles and all succeeding Generations 1 Cor. 16.2 and what power on Earth then can make it void It was a Law given to Adam in Paradice before there was any Ceremony used or enjoyned or any Saviour needed or promised I say for the Substance of it though it was afterwards prest more strictly and some Ceremonies added to the Jews and therefore it belongeth to all his Posterity though
Judgment was threatned and it was deferred in his days 1 Kings 21.27 Many more Instances might be given to prove times of Publique Calamity seasonable times for this Duty When Sin also abounds 't is a time for God's People to be Mourners in Zion for assuredly Judgments will follow Ezek. 9 4. 1 Sam. 7.6,7 Psal 69.10 David wept and chastened his Soul with Fasting for where Sin goes before unbewailed Judgments necessarily follow after and a Man may fore-see the Effect by the Cause when such sins as usually bring Judgments are Acted amongst us we may look for the like Effect for like Sins bring like Plagues Lam. 1.20 I have grievously Rebelled And what follows Abroad the Sword bereaveth at home there is as Death See also Lam. 2.17 Jer. 7.12 Amos 6.2,3 And therefore in the prevailing of Sin we have great cause to humble our Souls and stand in the Gap to turn away the fierce Anger of the Lord and never more Cause than at this day Again when thou findest thy Corruptions strong and thy Graces weak or when thou findest some notable decay in thy Grace 't is time then to look about thee As also when thou wouldst beg any great thing at the Hands of God go to him by Fasting and Prayer Thus Daniel begs the Deliverance of God's People out of Babilon according to God's promise he seeks to him by Fasting and Prayer Dan. 9.1,2 c. 10.2 c. For though God determine to do it yet will he be sought to for so great a Mercy and likewise when some Persons are designed for some great work in Church or Common-wealth it hath usually been done by Fasting and Prayer Thus Christ spent a whole Night in Prayer before he chose his Disciples Luke 6.12 Paul and Silas were set apart by Fasting and Prayer Acts 14.2,3 And in Case of Spiritual desertion we should thus seek to God Mat. 9.14 And for the furtherance of some great Undertaking Esther 4.16 when Corruption is strong when Ordinary Food wlll not serve we must use Physick Some Sins like some Devils go not out but by Prayer and Fasting These are the times for this extraordinary Duty but what is this to Lent or Holy-day Eves whereon the Papists keep their mock-fasts but come not to humble their Souls for their Sins 6. Direct Propound a right End to thy self in this Duty of Fasting or otherwise it will prove in vain and be abominable in the Eyes of God The Jews took it ill from God that he regarded them not Wherefore have we Fasted say they and thou seest not Wherefore have we afflicted our our Souls and thou takest no notice Isa 58.3 Behold saith God ye Fast for strife and Debate and to strike with the fists ef Wickedness c. Is it such a Fast that I have chosen c. Zach. 7.5 When ye Fasted and Mourned in the fifth and seventh Moneth even these seventy years did ye at all Fast unto me even to me Hos 7.14 They have not cryed to me with their Hearts when they howled upon their Beds they assemble themselves for Corn and Wine and they Rebel against me If the Heart be absent God regards not the Service The Pharisees Mat. 6.16,17 they Fasted but it was to be seen of Men that others might look upon them as of an austeer course of Life and therefore had a reward from Men not from God The Papists make Merits their End they Fast and think to Merit Heaven by it But alas what can poor sinful Creatures Merit at the Hands of God but Divine Indignation and fierce Judgments God may say of us as of those Jer. 14.12 When they Fast I will not hear their Cry when they Offer Burnt-Offerings and an Oblation I will not accept them but I will consume them by the Sword and by the Famine and by the Pestilence Luke 18 12. I Fast twice in the week saith the Pharisee yet the poor Publican was regarded before him See also Rom. 14.6 1 Cor. 8 8. Alas were Men but acquainted with their own Hearts this conceit of Merit would soon vanish Fasting as I told you is an indifferent thing and only useful as it suits with the main End Bodily Exercise profiteth little but Godliness is profitable to all things 1 Tim. 4.7,8 The true End of Fasting is either Ordinary or Extraordinary in both the Glory of God is intended The Ordinary Ends are such as these the subduing the Flesh and bringing the Body into Subjection Thus Paul 1 Cor. 9.27 I bring under my Body and bring it into subjection God's People have Flesh as well as Spirit and have need to use all means to subject it that they may subdue their Corruption and if Ordinary means will not do Extraordinary must be used if the Temptation remain this Duty must be followed and at length God will give strength and his Grace shall be sufficient for us This is the way to Corroborate and strengthen the Spirit and enable it to perform the required Duties This puts fervency into our Prayer and enables us to Cry mightily to God This way Men take some Revenge upon themselves for their Sin and for the abuse of Mercies by this means a Man is better enabled to grapple with Temptations and bring under Corruptions and perform Duties of our General and particular Calling more Heavenly This is the way to stir up the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication Zach. 12.10 Thus the Prophetess Anna spent her time in Serving God with Fasting and Prayer Night and Day Luke 2.37 By Eating and Drinking the Body becomes dull and heavy and unfit for Spiritual Duties but by moderate abstinence it becomes more Active and Lively and therefore Fasting and Prayer are usually joyned together For Fasting of it self doth little good Fasting testifies our Humility our grief and sorrow for Sin whereby we acknowledge our guilt before God and our unworthiness of Meat Drink Sleep Raiment or other refreshing Comforts Are these the Ends you aim at Is this the Mark you shoot at And the white that is in your Eye 'T is well if it be to make you fitter for the Service of the Lord that you may do your Masters Will better and wind up the Heart to an higher pitch of Holiness and Heavenly mindedness But if Custom or Fashion or the fear of Man or popular Applause or hopes of Meriting any thing from God be your End your Duty will be Curst and blasted to you and be returned Sin into your Bosom The Extraordinary Ends we aim at in our Fasting should be the removing of Evil felt or feared either Spiritual or Temporal from our selves or others the begging those Mercies we want and the continuance of those we have and fear to lose These are the Ends the Godly have used these extraordinary Fastings for and this hath been successful to these Ends these are means of God's own prescribing and promises are added of a good Success And many Christians for themselves and others
his Ends are their Reformation not their desolation Zach. 1.15 I am sorely displeased with the Heathen that are at ease for I was but a very little displeased and they helpt forward the Affliction There is a Prophetick Prayer put up against Edom which in Jerusalem's Troubles Cryed Rase it Rase it even to the Foundations thereof Psal 137.7 God made the King of Assyria a Rod in his Hand to Correct his People but he intended to destroy them but God threatens when he hath done his work upon Mount Sion to punish the stout Heart of the King of Assyria Isa 10.5 c. When Afflictions lye upon the Church of God do not with the Wicked cry Aha so would we have it Psal 35.25 These are mourning Times and God expects that thou shouldest sympathize with them in their Suffering When one Child is beaten the other should not Rejoyce they know not but their turn may be next If Judgment begin at the House of God where shall the Wicked and ungodly appear Isa 22.12,13 In that day did the Lord of Hosts call to weeping to mourning to baldness and to girding with Sack cloath and behold Joy and Gladness slaying Oxen and killing Sheep c. But this Iniquity shall never be purged off till they dye saith the Lord. God also threatens those that Rejoyce in mourning times Amos 6.4,5,6,7 Let the manner of the performance of this thankfulness be what it will never so specious in the Eyes of Man if the ground of thy rejoycing be the Ruine of the Church the Affliction of the People of God the extirpation of the power of Godliness or the Liberty of Prophaness or Increase of it 't is abominable in the sight of God and thy Feast will please God no better than Jezebels Fast where God's Laws were broken under pretence of his Honour The like pretence we may read Isa 66.5 Hear the Word of the Lord ye that tremble at his Word your Brethren that hate you and cast you out for my sake said let the Lord be Glorified but he shall appear to your Joy and their shame Some think God is Glorified when indeed he is dishonoured Men shall kill you saith Christ and think they do God good Service Oh the mischie of Ignorance and Superstition But the Godly in all Ages have made the Flourishing of the Church and the down-fall of implacable Enemies the Cause of such Rejoycing and not when one part of the Church ruins another and imbrues their Hands in one anothers Blood this is Cause of Lamentation When Israel had destroyed their Brother Benjamin though in a just Quarrel and by God's appointment yet they lift up their Voyce and wept because one Tribe was Cut off Judg. 21.2.6 And 't is said they Repented for their Brother Benjamin's sake 'T is Cause of mourning when Protestants shed each others Blood and the Enemies laugh at it in their Sleeves And for Personal Mercy see it be such as God hath really given thee and not like the Pharisee for those thou hast not As for Election Redemption Vocation Justification Sanctification and the hopes of Glory these well deserve thy greatest praise but boast not of them before thou hast some good ground to believe thou hast them God will not thank that Man that thanks him for Gifts and Graces which he never did and perhaps never will bestow upon him 4. Direct As for thy Carriage upon such a day it should not be such as Men Ordinarily use upon their Festivals or Holy-days loose Propane Idle or Careless but such as is suitable to the Work in Hand and helpful in the Praising and magnifying God which is the main Work of the day Remember therefore into whose Presence thou comest and with whom thou hast to do apprehend him by the Eye of Faith taking notice of thee and deport thy self accordingly he knows thy Heart and tries thy Reins and knows thy Ends and Motives better than thy self Do nothing therefore un-beseeming his Presence or which thou wouldst not have him take notice of And having as before is directed Treasured up the Experiences of God's Mercies in thy Memory and warmed thy Heart by Meditation upon them and by this means Tuned thy Heart to his praises When the day is come which is set apart when thou wakest in the Morning and it should be betimes for thou hast a great work to do Consecrate thy first thoughts to him and let not the Devil the World nor Sin Rob him of that Honour but begin the day by some warming Meditation suitable to the Occasion or by some Laudatory Ejaculation Discourse with him before thou Discourse with the World and raise thy Heart hereby to the highest pitch thou art able for having disposed thy Worldly business as much as possible and set it out of thy way that it interrupt thee not in thy Duties behave thy self as if thou hadst nothing to look after but thy God and thy Soul Entertain not a thought if possible of them till thy Work be done 'T is impossible to serve God as we ought in such a Duty in a Croud of Business the whole Man is little enough and too little for the Work for thou wilt find it a harder Duty than Prayer Thy own Necessities self-love and self-Interest may animate a Man to Prayer but Praising God is a self-denying Duty and though in some things thou maist take more Liberty than in a Fast as in the Liberal use of the Creature and in some things more than on a Sabbath as in outward expressions of Joy yet thy Heart should keep as close to God in this as in any other Day or Duty and be as much inlarged to God And though thou maist adorn thy self and 't is fit thou shouldest yet beware of Priding in thy Cloaths this is unsuitable to a self-denying Duty And though thou maist eat the fat and drink the sweet and eat thy Bread with Joy and drink thy Wine with a Merry Heart yet immoderation is unlawful Thou maist drink to chearfulness not to excess to help thee in the Work not to hinder thee in thy Duty Prepare thy Heart in the Morning as by Meditation so by Prayer for Direction and assistance in the Work to gather in thy scatter'd thoughts and affections and sequester them from the World for the Service of the Day and forget not to praise him for private and particular Mercies which thou hast Received for returns of Prayer c. Jacob did thus for Temporal as well as Spiritual Favours Gen. 32.10 God would have us sensible of these as well as Church or State Mercies Call also thy Family together in due time Read some Scripture suitable to the occasion let them understand that they also are concerned in the Duties of the Day Sing some Psalm of praise to this purpose Let him that is merry sing Psalms James 5.13 Praise God with them and for them and re-count to his Praise the many Family Mercies thou hast
thou fittest in thy House and when thou walkest by the way when thou lyest down and when thou risest up c. First get them in thy Heart and all the rest will be easie and there is great Reason for it Thy Children have Received a Poysonful Nature from thee and thou hast Dedicated them to God's Service in their Baptism and all the Reason in the World thou shouldst do thine Endeavour to bring them out of this miserable Condition and do what thou canst to make them the Faithful Servants of God Their Souls are precious pieces too good to be the Devils Drudges and thou that canst not endure to see a silly Lamb in the Mouth of a devouring Lyon rending and tearing it in pieces at his pleasure how canst thou endure to see thy own Children in the Devils Hand likely to Torment them for ever and not be troubled Set thy Hands therefore to the Work and by Catechising Instructions Exhortation and Admonition to work knowledge in them and bring them to Consider their ways for Consideration is the first step to Reformation Assure thy self God requires this Private Duty at thy Hands 4. Direct Another Private Duty in reference to thy Family is to Pray with them and for them and to joyn together in the mutual Praises of God I have already Treated of the Duty of Prayer in general and have given Directions in the managing well the Duty look back upon them and take the Directions I shall now press upon thee as thou art an Housholder and 't is no doubt but Secret Prayer is thy Duty because thou hast Secret Sins to Confess that none knows of but God and thine own Soul and Secret wants to beg supplyes for and Personal Mercies to be thankful for But though this be necessary 't is not sufficient but if thou have a Family these also must share in thy Prayers There is a Divine Imprecation against all those Families that call not upon the Name of God Now this Duty should be daily done yea Evening and Morning I think may Evidently be proved that 't is a daily Duty cannot be denyed The Scripture requires us to pray without ceasing to pray continually and in every thing to give thanks and such like expressions intimating to us that our Souls should be in a continual Praying Temper and upon all Occasions Offered ready to perform this Duty and we ought to Serve God all the days of our Lives in Righteousness and Holiness Luke 1.75 Now Prayer and Praise is part of that daily Service we owe to him which is also Typified out by the daily Sacrifices and Oblations which were Offered to him in the Time of the Law Christians Prayer and Praise being in allusion to this called the Offering up the Calves of our Lips Hos 4.2 And when Christ Teacheth his Disciples to Pray he bids them say Give us this day our daily Bread which shews us thus much that it was to be their daily Petition Acts 3.1 We Read that the Apostles went into the Temple at the hour of Prayer which shews they had their Stata precibus tempora their appointed hours And the Godly in all Ages have made Prayer their daily Practice David he Prays seven times a day Psal 119.164 Morning and Evening Psal 92.2 Morning Evening and at Noon Psal 55.17 Yea elsewhere at Midnight Daniel Prayed three times a day constantly yea when Death was threatned for so doing Dan. 6.10 And there is great reason for it for we Receive daily Mercies for which we have cause to be thankful and Commit daily sins for which we have cause to be humbled and we have need of daily Supplyes for which we have cause to be earnest And God hath given us leave to come as oft as we will and promiseth to hear us and supply us What a needless scruple then is it to ask whether it be our Duty when 't is our Priviledge as well as our Duty we do not ask how prove you it to be our Duty to eat Meat every day this would Argue but a bad Stomack The oftner we come to God the better welcom we shall be and have more Communion and Converse with him and the more we Converse with him the better Entertainment we are like to have Others Scruple whether a Man ought to pray in his Family these Men would fain find a knot in a Rush and would Quarrel the Duty they like not but doth not God tell us Where two or three are gathered together he will be in the midst of them Mat. 18.20 And are not some Families called Churches of God where Religious Exercises are performed Rom. 16.5 Col. 4.15 Philem. 2. Here the Houses of Priscilla and Aquila and Nymphas and Philemon are called Churches And Joshua resolves that he and his House would serve the Lord Josh 24.15 And we read of Christ praying with his Disciples and others What ground of doubt can then remain but this is a Duty Those that shake off this would willingly shake off all the Ordinances and the rest of the Commands In a Family are many particular Family-sins Committed which ought to be Confessed many Family Mercies bestowed which call for a thankful acknowledgment many wants and Infirmities to be supplyed which should be begged and all these cannot be known nor perhaps are fit to be expressed by him that is the Mouth of the People in publick and for Morning and Evening these times seem fittest for this Duty though some Quarrel this also God himself in the time of the Law appointed these for Sacrifices and Oblations and Reason speaks it fit that in the Morning we should praise God for the Mercies of the Night and pray for a blessing upon the business of the day and at Even confess the sins of the day and be thankful for the Mercies and Commend our selves into the Protection of God the Night following For as all we have is from him so we should bless God for all but Spiritual Mercy should not be forgotten especially for Christ and the work of our Redemption the means of Grace and the motions of the Spirit We should praise the Lord also with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs this is a private Family Duty Also the want of these Duties expose us to the threatning Jer. 10.25 5. Direct Another private Duty which lyes upon thee in reference to thy Family and those under thy Charge is reproving them when they sin and Correcting them when they will not amend and restraining them what in thee lyes from breaking God's Laws and Divine Commands Thou art God's Vice-gerent in thy Family and bearest his Image and the stamp of Authority is put upon thee and must Imitate God in thy Government so far as thy Commission reaches though thou hast not the power of Life and Death as the Supreme Magistrate yet hast thou a restraining power yea and if need be the power to Correct so that it reach not to Life nor Limb and
Meditation which is the duty of all men and at all times but of set and solemn Meditation which is a duty at some times only and when thou comest unto it thou shouldst come preparedly no duty can be well performed without much less this so serious and solemn a duty this requires the exercise of all the powers of the Soul and the whole bent of the Minde they must be wholly set upon some special Object which for the time we make the matter of our Meditation this duty is as the chewing of the Cud in the clean Beasts or as in digestion to the Body for as digestion turns Food into Soil and Blood and Spirits and Flesh So Meditation turns thee Truths received into Affections Resolutions Acts yea into a-Holy Life and Conversation now the Preparations required are either Internal or External the Internal is chiefly the Heart and the Understanding the Heart is the chief Instrument in the Work if the Instrument be in Tune the Musick will be good if that be out it will be little worth The success of the Work depends much upon the frame of the Heart if that be right God will vouchsafe to dwell there and give in his Assistance in the duty and without his assistance the duty will do us little good There must be Grace in the Heart as well as knowledg in the Brain or the Work will not prosper in our Hands get thy affections as much off from the World and as resolvedly set upon Christ as thou canst for Christ will admit of no Partner and as a gracious Heart so an Understanding Head would much forward the Work 't is a sweet Conjunction where these meet but if severed the former is most requisite come with an empty Heart and it will be filled with an inlarged Heart and it will be satisfied this duty is enough to exercise the whole Man were the Faculties a thousand times more capacious then they are Angels themselves cannot dive into the bottom of many Misteries lay by therefore all other Thoughts Occasions Business and Concernments whatsoever and gather in thy whole strength and set upon the duty bring not a full Vessel that can hold no more if a Vessel be full of Water there is no room for Wine if thy hands be full of Muck thou canst hold no Money if thy Heart be stuff'd with Trifles it can hold no better Treasure When thou mountest this Hill of Contemplation be sure with Abraham leave all at the foot of the Hill say stand by Pleasures stand by Friends stand by World and Worldly things I am going to Sacrifice and will come again When we come into our Princes presence we leave our Muck behind us and bring no unsuitable Company with us much more when we come into Gods presence cast off all sin out with the World and Worldly thoughts yea all other thoughts though at other times good which will any ways disturb thee and dispose thy business so that thou maist not be hindred and for external preparation it consists in the Observation of some needful Circumstances as Time Place c. For Occasional Meditation all Times and all Places are fit when an opportunity is offered but not so here the Sabbath day is a fit time when other duties are not on foot but this is not enough upon other daies experience will best instruct thee when the Spirits are most lively and active and fit for the work in the Morning or in the Evening the like I say for Place where thou findest it most convenient at home or abroad in the House or in the Field the Place which is most suitable and freest from distraction is the fittest Isaac walked into the Fields Christ in the Garden Peter on the top of the House but I conceive ordinarily for this set Meditation that place which Christ appointed for private Prayer is suitable for this secret duty viz. The Closet with the door shut Mat 6.46 In a word when thou feelest a sweet gale of the Spirit assisting thee lose not the oppertunity strike while the Iron is hot perhaps thou maist do more then in an hour than at another time in a day 3. Direct Having thus prepared thy heart for the Work and made choice of a fit time and place set upon it set thy self seriously as in the presence of God apprehend him taking notice of thee how thou performest this duty and this will keep thy heart from wandring and thy thoughts from roveing yea before thou begin put up some pithy fervent Petitions for Gods Assistance and Direction and that he will give thee his holy Spirit to the end and that he will take possession of thy heart and keep thy thoughts from wandring from the duty for without Gods Assistance thou wilt but strive in thy own strength and lose all thy labour when thou hast made this entrance by Prayer make choice of some profitable Subject to Meditate upon all Meditation though Set and Solemn and serious is not that I treat of How seriously doth the Covetuous Man study how to grow rich yea perhaps how to deceive his Brother How serious is the Voluptious Man studying how to get Pleasure or satisfie his lust the Ambitious Man how to get honour the Envious Man how to do his Neighbour a Mischief yea the Holy Ghost saith he cannot sleep till it be done but this is Devillish and not Divine Meditation but single out some choice profitable Subject and let thy thoughts run upon that that which may winde up thy Affection neerer unto God and which is well worth the time thou imployest about it the Word of God or Natures Garden will furnish thee with Flowers enow to gather Honey on The Scripture will abundantly furnish thee to this end no Verse but may be matter of Meditation this is the Cannon whereby thou maist try good from bad and truth from error by this thou maist know what is Duty what is Sin what is true and what is false or thou maist take any Common place in Divinity for the Subject of thy Meditation here thou maist finde a large Field to walk in and many necessary yea fundamental truths may fall under consideration but take heed of meddling with secret things which belong only to God there is enough revealed for thy Salvation and this should be sufficient for thy satisfaction were it needful I might lead thee by the hand and shew thee matter sufficient to work upon as the Nature and Attributes of God but this is such a bottomless gulf that the Angels themselves could never sound or fathom yet here we may sail by the Scripture Chard in safety consider also the Works of God the Decree Creation and Providence consider thy own Estate in the Creation after the Fall and in thy Restauration consider Christ the Mediator in his Nature and Offices his Incarnation Birth Life Doctrine Miracles Death and Passion his Resurrection Ascention and Intercession and his coming at the
they exclaim against this as a Humane Invention which hath no Warrant from the Word of God 'T is true we have no Command totidem verbis for so doing no more have we for the Translation of the Hebrew Bible into English But doubtless if English-men ought to study the Scripture and read it 't is necessary that it be Translated into a Language they understand If David's Psalms may and ought to be Sung by Englishmen it is to be Translated into English or how can they Sing with the Understanding And why should it not be Sung in the English manner which is when 't is fitted with apt measure syllables and Meeter as English-men use in their Songs and not only them but also other Nations If it be Lawful to Translate the Hebrew Bible into Prose in reference to Reading why not into Meeter in reference to Singing As for the former I know none but the Papists that deny it who would thereby keep the People in Ignorance that their own Jugling should not be spied But doubtless if this Command of Searching the Scriptures and letting the Word of God dwell plentifully in us c. belong to English-men they must be Translated into the English Tongue that they may be able to do it which not one of a thousand could do in the Original Language Now God Commands us to Sing Psalms as well as Read the Scriptures which very few are able to do so long as they are lockt up in the Original Hebrew therefore the Translation is necessary And that they should be fitted with such Measures and quantity of Syllables as is necessary to make them fit to be Sung the more Melodiously by English men I know not why any should deny this for why may not Hebrew Verse and Meeter be turned into English Verse and Meeter I see not as well as Hebrew Prose into English Prose In the Hebrew they are fitted to be Sung and Poetically Compiled and many Verses together in some Psalms are in Meeter as the Skilful in the Tongue affirm as Buxtorfius in his Thesaurus and others And why should not the English have their manner of Singing as well as the Hebrews and other Nations And why should not the Translators preserve the Elegancy of the Original Language Which they cannot do if they should let slip and neglect those Poetical Fancies Accents Tones and Tunes which the Hebrews kept and with which the Psalms and other Poetical parts of Scripture are pen'd And therefore Poetry is no Humane Invention but used by the Holy Ghost himself in the Penning of the Scripture and may no doubt be used Lawfully by the Translator also But those that by a Common and Ordinary gift compose Psalms and Hymns both for Matter and Manner this is a Humane Invention especially if imposed upon the Church or read suddenly before Consideration be had before by the Church whether they are according to the Scripture yea or no. Nay the Translating of the Scripture may as well be called an Humane Invention as this Neither can it be called an Humane Imposition when none are compelled to Sing nor no punishment threatned for the neglect But some will say the Translation is full of Errors and therefore we cannot joyn in the Duty Alas what can be done of Man but it will appear to be done by Man The best Translation of the Scriptures is not without its faults and shall we therefore use none When Men do their endeavour God takes the Will for the Deed. The Septuagint Translation is abundantly faulty as the Learned know and often varies from the Hebrew-Text Yet Christ and his Apostles make use of it Nay in the Hebrew Copy as 't is observed in the Old Testament there are 800. divers Readings and in the Greek Testament above a Thousand God hath 't is true promised to keep his word to a tittle but not in this or that Copy or Translation but in the whole we have the whole Some say that Translating it into English Meeter there is often adding to and taking from contrary to God's absolute Command Deut 12. last But consider here is no Addition but an Explication no Duty added only the words altered the sense remaining and a Translation may admit of such a Cavil and all Expositions will hereby come under the Reproof You may as well say that Preaching opening and applying Scripture is adding to it for here are more words used Thus you see none have need to Scruple the Duty 5. Direct As concerning the Tune wherein those Scripture Psalms are to be sung for in this also is some Controversie For some charge it to be a Humane Institution foisted into God's Worship To this I say I shall add thus much That seeing God hath Commanded us to Sing with the Understanding which must needs be not in the Hebrew but the English Tongue and he gives us no Direction concerning the Tune wherein we must Sing By this 't is apparent 't is best to our own choice so that we transgress not against that general Direction given in the Word Let all things be done decently and in Order An English Psalm may doubtless have an English Tune so that it be grave decent and comely not lite wanton or frothy but such as becomes so Holy a Majesty and is suitable to so grave a Matter It appears plainly by Justin Martyr Tertullian and others that in their Times David's Psalms were put into Songs for their Edification and Eusebius Reports of some rejecting those used such Songs in the Church as would make Men afraid to hear them The Jews 't is confessed had their peculiar Tunes and Accents either set down by the Pen-man or added by the Singer but these are hid from us and I suppose fully known by no man Living and the little that remains cannot be accommodated to our English Version And therefore seeing that God hath given us a Language different from theirs and suffered us to serve him with words different from the words they served him with So likewise hath he given us Tunes and Tones different from theirs and no doubt will accept of them at our hands Every Nation and Language hath some proper and peculiar Dialect of their own and yet God accepts of all where the Heart is right And as he hath given us Liberty to Pray to him in our own words which we may gather from the Answers and Returns which many have of their Prayers So likewise no doubt he will accept of our Praises in our own Tunes which appears also by the Refreshings which many have found in this Duty God himself hath appointed the substance of his Worship and left the Circumstances to Humane Determination he hath Commanded the Preaching of the Word but for the Time and Place and other Circumstances he determined not In the Passeover he appoints what Meat to eat but left it to their own choice whether to drink Wine or water or any other Liquor So singing of
Psalms are appointed by him but in what Tune he doth not determine any further than the general Directions of decently and in Order reach Hebrew Tunes as I said are much unknown and if known cannot agree with our Language no more do ours with other Languages Now if we sing it must be in some Tune but no Tune being peculiarly Commanded our own no doubt may be Lawfully used Neither can it be justly called an innovation thrust into God's Worship any more than the Word Translated out of the Original into English in which the Scriptures are Read yet this is held to be Lawful 'T is Invention indeed which savours of nothing but of the Wit or Will of Man thrust into God's Service and is not agreeable to the Rule this may be suspected and rejected but this is not of that Nature The Question before us is what Reason can be given why we may not use English Tunes as well as English Words in God's Worship seeing the one is as Consonant to Scripture and Reason as the other Another scruple that some make upon the like ground is the reading of the Psalm in Order to singing Indeed were all men able to repeat the Psalms without Book or had all those to whom singing is a Duty the gift of Reading or were furnished with Books to Read this were not necessary but till this comes to pass which will never be Reading is of use the whole Congregation is to sing and unless all were thus Qualified how can they sing if it be not read Nature it self dictates to us we must use means to bring to the end and the Scripture never denies it Now this is a good means for Instruction and why may we not receive Instruction by the Ear in Hearing as well as by the Eye in Reading In Prayer we think it more convenient to joyn with the Minister hearing him than if we could read the same Prayer along with him in a Book When all Israel sang together with Moses it is like it was read to them Exod. 15.1,2 c. for doubtless all had not Copies of it if they could have read neither had committed it to Memory Neither can the Reading of it any way hinder the Melody neither will it hinder but help the Understanding neither any way dull the Affections And thus I hope I have removed those Objections and Answered the doubts of those that scruple this Ordinance 6. Direct If thou art now convinc'd that Singing Psalms is a Gospel Duty yea thy Duty which God requires of thee set upon it then with hopes of Success but be sure to observe that in this as well as in other Duties thy End be good otherwise the Action must needs be bad Many a man loseth much Labour and pains and spends much Time to little purpose an evident Example we have in the Pharisees Mat. 6.1,2 c. who Fasted Prayed and gave Alms all Excellent Duties But those Sacrifices though otherwise good being mixt with the Dung of their own self-seeking and desire of popular applause God throws it back into their Faces as Dung without a Reward and so it will be with thee if thou seek thy self and not God in the Duty If Custom Credit or a desire of Popular Applause drive thee on to this Duty and not the sincere desire of God's Glory thou maist expect thy Reward from Men and not from God Many Men in Singing Psalms aim at no higher End nor make any better use of it than they do in their Prophane Songs or Ungodly Ballads viz. Their own Recreation to drive away the Time or a desire to be Applauded for their good Voice or Tune or Excellent gift in Singing But the chief End which every Christian should aim at in all his Actions especially in all his Acts of Divine Worship should be God's Glory and his own Souls good if this be laid aside thou maist expect a Curse and not a Blessing upon thy proceedings If this be wanting the Duty is spoyled if this be minded God will accept of it though accompanied with many Imperfections This Heavenly Duty is performed to this End by the Angels and the whole Church Triumphant as before is shewed and will be the Work of Eternity and here upon Earth if Heart and Voice go together 'T is a resemblance of Heaven and represents though darkly that Melodious Harmony that is in Heaven amongst those Glorious Choristers We should make Melody in our Hearts and not only with our Mouths Look upon it as a part of God's Worship and Service and appointed for Spiritual Consolation not for Prophane Recreation and therefore we should with the Psalmist say Not unto us Lord not to us but to thine own Name be the Glory Let us work for God and he will not fail to give us a Reward and there is great Reason why we should in this Duty Trumpet out his Praise for all we have is his and from his hand it is we receive every good and perfect gift We have our Life and Being from him and have no more breath than what he puts into us and there is all the Reason we should render to him the Praises due for all And this is one way we have to Praise him Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 Thus the Holy Men of Old have gone before us and aimed at this very End Thus Deborah and Barak Moses and Miriam and many more and thus David resolves to do Psal 7.17 I will Sing praise to the Name of the Lord most High Psal 111.1 And exhorts others to follow his Example Psal 30.4 Sing unto the Lord O ye Saints of his c. Psal 47.6 92.1 Now this Duty though it especially concerns the Godly as those that have received the most and greatest Mercies and have the greatest abilities for the Work yet others also having received all they have from God are also obliged to render Praise and Thanks to God and are frequently called upon thus to do Psal 110.1 where all Nations are excited to this Duty And as God's Glory is chiefly to be minded so our own Benefit is not to be neglected and our Souls good And the Psalms serve also for Instruction and Direction for this as well as other Scripture serves to this End Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 And if we observe every Psalm will yield us some profitable Instruction Direction or Exhortation and inform us in many things concerning God's Word his Attributes Providences Promises Word and Works or something concerning our selves or others good or bad concerning this Life or that to come And this we may not only Treasure up in our own Hearts but also press it upon others and Teach one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs Nay wicked Men may hence be Instructed Convinced and Reproved to this End Moses Song was Indited Deut. 31.19 'T is matter of Consolation also to the Godly in all Conditions here are Petitions put up to God here are Promises made by God
God's Blessing upon their Endeavours is great encouragement he would never succeed them in so sinful a Course were it such nay the remarkable Judgments of God upon Sabbath-breakers bespeakes God for the Author for none in the World could Lawfully have done it without him Thus I have shewn you I hope sufficient grounds to Build upon I proceed now to Direct you to keep it as a Sabbath 2. Direct If thou wouldst Faithfully Sanctifie the Sabbath as God Commands thee make preparation for it before it come for there is hardly any thing of great Concernment well done without some preparation and much more here we prepare the Body for Physick before we take it we provide in Summer for Winter and lay in Provision in Harvest we prepare in the Day for the Night and work when we have the Light We prepare in Health for Sickness and in Youth for Age And were we to appear before some great Man we should make preparation accordingly and shall we only be wanting in the Service of our Lord and Master and rush into his Presence without prepared Hearts God bids us remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy or to Sanctifie it as 't is Deut. 5.12 The word Remember signifies either to call to mind something past or to commit to Memory something for the Future and both are necessary to this business God sets this Memento upon it to Teach us that those that will keep it well when it is come must Remember it before it come or otherwise our Nature is so Corrupt that it will take hold upon some Occasion or other to draw us aside from the Duty in hand We can fore-cast for Fairs and Markets sometimes long before and make preparations for them according to our needs whether to buy or sell We consider our wants to have them supplyed and make preparations accordingly and yet how few make preparation for the Market day for the Soul Many tire themselves in the Labours of their Calling in the Week days and then use the Lord's day no otherwise than a Beast only Rest from their Labours for their Spirits being spent and their Bodies tyred they are more fit for sleep than any Holy Duty and rushing rudely out of the World into the Service of God they bring so much of the world with them that it renders them incapable of any Spiritual Duty But thy Care should be to sequester thy Heart Thoughts and Affections from the world and set them upon God and empty thy Heart of worldly Cares and Troubles that thou maist mind the business God sets thee about The want of this is one Cause why Men get so little benefit by the Ordinances and hear so much and profit so little because they come not with empty Hearts a full Vessel can receive no more when the Prophet multiplied the Widdows Oyl when there was no more empty Vessels the Oyl stayed When the Head and Heart are full of the World this Water of Life will run over But our Duty is to prepare the Heart for so great a work as the Entertaining our Lord and Master the great God of Heaven and Earth who invites himself to Sup with us He is the Searcher of the Heart and the Tryer of the Reins Before the Sabbath come use such fore-sight diligence and Meditation and dispose and seasonably dispatch thy Worldly business that thou maist be more free and fit for the Duties of the day We find Israel did thus prepare to Sanctifie the Sabbath Exod. 16.22 and gathered Manna enough the day before and this was usual among the Jews Luke 23.54 And that day was the Preparation and the Sabbath drew on Thus Nehemiah prepared against the Sabbath that it should not be prophaned Nehem. 13.19 And Gods Example in this is binding to us he finished his works before and so should we and should not meddle with any unnecessary Worldly business then either with Hand or Heart that our Duties be not pestered with the World but that we may be as free to serve the Lord if possible as if we had no worldly business to look to but many fore-cast business for that day or make it necessary through their former neglects but this will appear to be their Sin and their Folly Solomon bids us look well to our Feet viz. our Affections when we go into the House of God Eccl. 5.1 And 't is good to consider whose Presence we come into and with Holy David wash our Hands in Innocency before we compass his Altars Psal 26.6 Examine how the Case stands between God and thy Soul and venture not into his Presence in an unregenerate Condition or having sin unmortified or unrepented of lest he break thee in pieces and there be none to deliver thee Consider what sin thou hast Committed especially in the week past and be humbled for them lay aside thy worldly business betime on the Eve when others only sweep their Houses do thou sweep thy Heart Set some time apart for Reading Meditating Conferring Instructing thy Family and Praying with them reconcile the Differences if there be any in the Family between Husband and Wife Parent and Child Master and Servant yea Neighbour and Neighbour that your Prayers be not hindred for God can hardly be well served where the Members of a Family Live at Discord In a word prepare thy Heart to meet God the day following 3. Direct Wouldst thou Sanctifie the Sabbath Take heed thou do nothing that is unlawful upon that day This is appointed by God for a day of rest and not only as some say from sin which should be Committed no day but also from Labour which at other times is Lawful the works of our Calling yea unnecessary recreations are forbidden Exod. 20.10 In it thou shalt do no manner of Work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-Servant nor thy Maid-Servant thy Cattle nor the Stranger that is within thy Gates Jer. 17.21,22 Neither do ye any work but Hallow the Sabbath day c. Neither will a bare cessation from work serve the turn for rest is Commanded for an Higher End that we might serve God with more Freedom and therefore Idleness is a sin worse than Bodily Labour upon that day and when Men use not rest as a means but as an End 't is an egregious breach of the Fourth Command and 't is a gross mistake to think that is an acceptable Duty on that day which is a great sin any day He that keeps the Sabbath only by resting from his Labour keeps it but as a Bruit Beast yet the most of Men spend great part of the day in Idleness or what is worse and think if they give God their Bodily Presence for an hour or two it 's sufficeable but God will not be mocked we should think it were an unprofitable Servant that would work but two or three hours in the day God gives us six whole days for our work and shall not we give him one whole
We should not sell our Labour upon that day but do it for common Charity otherwise a just Cause may to us prove sinful Works of Necessity also are Lawful so they be truly so and not feigned when an House is on Fire we may leave the Ordinance to seek to Quench it though with Bodily Labour The Marriner in his Journey must attend his work but his Heart in the mean time should be in Heaven The Souldier if set upon should defend himself we find Joshua compassing Jericho seven days together Josh 6.15 and one of them must needs be the Sabbath Though the Jews at first did scruple Fighting upon that day and many of them were Murdered by the Enemy yet at last they resolved to Fight in their own Defence 2 Mac. 4.1 A Husband-man in Harvest time I suppose for fear of an Inundation or the apparent loss of Grain or Hey may Labour to prevent it but take heed a Necessity be not feigned Many are necessitated for want of fore-cast and some fore-cast that there may be a Necessity neglecting it all the week and then say must not Cattle be looked Or such a thing be done But know what may be done before or let alone till after ought not to be done 't is not thy wilful neglect can procure a dispensation to break God's Law but most men strain their Christian Liberty to the utmost Link but take heed of going beyond be not deceived God will not be mocked 5. Direct To the sanctifying of the Sabbath thou must not only observe an Holy Rest unto the Lord all the day and forbear thy own thoughts words and works as formerly I have shewed but there are also many Duties of Religion to be performed as part of that Worship to be given to God upon that day that the whole time as nigh as may be may be spent in the Religious Exercises of the day Now the Duties required are either Publick or Private the Publick are in the Congregation of the Saints when the Church meets together to Worship God The Private are in the Family or in the Closet He that only rests from his Labour on the Sabbath keeps it no better yea much worse than a Beast Idleness is a sin at all times especially then this is the Market day to lay in Provision for the week following the Harvest to provide in for winter and shall we Trifle now All Time is precious much more this we should leave any work undone before we should leave God's work undone or carelessly do it The Publick Duties required at our hands are according to the Relations we stand in more is required of Publick Persons than of Private The Ministers are God's Stewards to dispence his Mysteries to Divide the word of God aright and to give every one his Portion and therefore he must look to his Charge and make preparation before-hand for his work He is the Mouth of the People unto God and God's Mouth to them and therefore he had need to set a watch over his Lips that he Offend not with his Tongue Parents and Masters they should not only come to the Ordinance themselves but bring their Children and Servants there to be Taught Prayer is an Ordinance of God and should be performed in the Publick where Minister and People should joyn together to make their Requests known to God in the Name of Christ and beg such things as are necessary for themselves or others for this Life or that to come It should be performed with Faith and Fervency with Humility and Reverence with Wisdom and Discretion both by Minister and People 〈◊〉 Complements with God are unsavoury and unseemly The Word also should be Read and Preached by the Minister and the whole Counsel of God made known Acts 20.20.27 and that without mixture of Humane Invention without Ostentation Plainly Faithfully Powerfully Truly Zealously And the People they should hear with Attention Diligence Watchfulness Understanding and Care they should Examine that which is delivered by the Minister whether it be agreeable to the Truth like those Noble Bereans Acts 17.11 They should Treasure it up in good Hearts and bring forth good Fruit in their Lives and Conversations for without Practice knowledge is little worth The Administration of Baptism also is a Sabbath days work Vpon the Sabbath says Christ they Circumcise a Man this is given the Minister in Commission Mat. 28.19,20 which is to be done according to Precept and Scripture Examples without External Additions and the People ought to be present at it and joyn with the Minister in Prayer for a Blessing and not turn their backs upon it through carelessness or contempt The Sacrament of the Supper also should be as frequently Administred as Convenience will permit Acts 2.42 And 't is the Ministers Duty to Teach and Instruct the Ignorant to convince the gain-sayers reclaim the scandalous if they can and if they will not be Reformed to keep them back from the Sacrament yea to take Christ's way And if they be obstinate cast them out and not suffer the Ordinance to be polluted or contemned God complains of the contrary Ezek. 22.26 Her Priests have violated my Law and have prophaned my Holy things they have put no difference between the Holy and Prophane c. And 't is Christ's command not to give Holy things to Dogs Mat. 7.8 The People they should partake of it and come with prepared Hearts to this Holy Banquet and be careful that they have on the Wedding Garment or they will be no welcom Guests to his Marriage Supper They should there Exercise their Graces of Knowledge Faith Love and Obedience c. knowing that the neglect or unworthy receiving is a dangerous sin Acts 20.6 1 Cor. 11.17 Singing of Psalms also is a publick Duty and should be performed by the whole Church and in so doing they should lift up their Hearts as well as their Voices and Sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also Visiting the Sick relieving the Poor Gathering and Collecting for them is this days Duty 1 Cor. 16.2 Catechizing especially the Younger sort is the Ministers Duty and 't is the Peoples Duty to send them And all this must be done to God's Glory and the Edification of our selves and others 6. Direct Though the publick Worship and Service of God be chiefly to be minded and intended upon the Lord's day yet it is not only that which is required Many private Duties also are to be performed and in thy Publick and Private Duty is all the whole time to be spent What those Publick Duties are I have already shewed you and shall now speak of those that are Private I mean such as Private Persons especially Masters and Parents and Governours of Families ought to do Let the Inferiors also here Read their Duties Some of those are to be done before the Publick by way of Preparation and some after by way of Digestion Concerning Preparation I have spoken already and yet
Iniquity These had no better Excuse than Herod had for Murdering John Baptist nay not so good They Vow it intentionally he did not they perform willingly he with reluctancy Neither should Vows be to do things Superstitious as that of the Papists Pilgrimages to the Lady of Loretto and such like Nay 't is not every Lawful thing that should be the Matter of a Vow but something that is weighty and considerable and tends to some good End 't is Lawful to take up this stick or that straw to pare the Nails or clip the Hair but these things are not fit Matter for a vow 't is but a taking God's Name in vain and the abusing of the Ordinance to use it upon such trivial Accounts Neither should it be of such things which must be done whether they will or no as for a Man to vow that he will dye or come to Judgment but it should be of some necessary thing agreeable to the Scripture to Dedicate our selves to God to Obey his Commands as in Baptismal vows 1 Pet. 3.21 Of Thankfulness to God for Mercies Received thus the Psalmist Psal 22.25 My Praise shall be of thee in the great Congregation I will pay my Vows before them that fear him Psal 66.13 c. Or for other things as David vowed to give himself no rest till he had found out a place for God's House Psal 132.2 c. Numh. 6.2 As Hannah for a Son promises to give him to God for vows either bind us unto sin and these are unlawful or unto Moral Obedience which is Lawful or unto Ceremonial Obedience which was Lawful but now is not or unto something which is an help to Obedience as Fasting which is an help to Prayer abstaining from Wine and strong Drink which is an help to mortifie the Flesh to Alms-deeds c. Or some indifferent thing as Paul binds himself by a vow not to cherish his Hair for a time and from eating of Flesh in Case of Offence Acts 18.18 1 Cor. 8.13 The Rechabites abstaining from Wine and Strong Drink Jer. 35.6 And so we ought to do if we find our Nature inclined to Intemperance in the use of these Creatures Now these are most properly Matters for vows which are not Commanded Duties nor forbidden Sins but will be helpful to us in those Duties that are Commanded 4. Direct As the Matter of a Vow must be Lawful so also it must be possible and in a Man 's own power to perform and it should be in a Man's Choice whether he Vow or no and before the Vow whether he do the thing or no for if it be a Commanded Duty he is bound to it whether he Vow or no but if he Vow he hath a double engagement upon him and a double sin if he neglect for 't is better not to Vow than to Vow and not perform Eccl. 5.5 But a Vow properly should be a thing at a Man 's own Choice and also in his own Power but what a Man is bound to before as his Duty is not in his Choice 't is his Duty though he had not Vowed As to Obey the Will and Commands of God c. But yet to quicken and stir up our selves to Obedience 't is Lawful and I conceive many times necessary and useful to renew our Covenants and bind our selves to that which God in his Word hath bound us to and made our Duty as the Baptismal Covenant is oft renewed in the other Sacrament Yet had it been our Duty to have Devoted our selves to God's Service had we never Covenanted to do it and so in other particular Duties Now in so doing we make not our selves more Duties than we had before but stir up our selves better to perform them as if we vow a stricter watch over our Hearts a more constant course of Family Duties a more constant attendance upon the Ordinance and tye our selves to a set time for Meditation self-Examination and such like Duties David frequenty vows the perfotmance of that which were his Commanded Duties As of Sacrifice Thanksgiving and the like Now concerning things indifferent which we may either do or forbear 't is good before hand to consider our Ability to perform them and not after the vow to enquire God hath no pleasure in the Sacrifice of Fools Eccl. 5.4 As the Matter must not be sinful so neither impossible or out of our Power to perform as their vow was both that vowed never to eat Bread till they had killed Paul Neither should it intrench upon our Christian Liberty lay not a stumbling-block before thine own Feet Make not that Sin which God hath not made Sin except it be for a greater good and an apparent help in Heavens way as when a Man vows Chastity that knows not whether he have the Gift of Continency and so lays a snare for his own Feet and perhaps brings himself into a necessity of Sinning 'T is a sad thing that a Man should renounce Marriage and vow a Single Life when he knows not whether he hath Power to contian To remain Single is no sin nay in some Cases a Benefit where this gift is given But to vow it is to vow a thing that is not in their Power God hath assured no Man that he will give him this gift and if he do not give it it is not to be had he requires no more than he gives he that will not put New Wine into Old Bottles nor suffer his Disciples to Fast till they were able will not require this at their hands which he knows they cannot bear Christ himself tells us 'T is a saying all Men cannot bear Mat. 19.11 And the Apostle tells us all Men have not this Gift 1 Cor. 7.7 And this hath proved a Snare to many who can neither Marry nor contain but the Apostle tells us 't is better Marry than burn and God hath provided Marriage for those that cannot contain And why then should any put a Bolt upon this door against themselves And for the rest of Monastical vows as they had their rise either from Infidels or were grounded in Superstition so are they besides yea contrary to the Law of God For herein Men Worship God after their own Inventions and Teach for Doctrines the Commandments of Men and when they look for a Reward God will ask them who required these things at their Hands They vow Poverty that they may Live at ease and in plenty by the Sweat of other Mens brows This takes Men from a Lawful Calling which they should follow 1 Cor. 7.20 Let every Man abide in the Calling wherein he was Called And from their Honest Labour which is Commanded 2 Thes 3.10 If a Man will not Labour let him not Eat It makes them neglect their Duties to their Relations in providing for their Families a Commanded Duty 1 Tim. 5.8 He that provides not for his Family hath denyed the Faith and is worse than an Infidel Their Regular Obedience makes them slight the
followed Infants you see though uncapable were not freed even such as hang upon their Mothers breast and though they had not actually sinned yet were a part of that sinful lump of mankind and deserved judgement as well as others and therefore should be timely traind up in this Christian duty and their cries for meat and the very bellowing of the Beasts might stick something upon the heart of man and help further to humble and break it yea many of those little ones being Gods Elect their presence may be an arguing with God to spare as the presence of Jehosophat moved Elijah to come to Ahab 2 Kings 3.19 this was one Motive why the Lord would not destroy Niniveh because there were sixscore thousand souls in it that knew not the right hand from the left But though all these come and 't is their duty to come yet all come not rightly prepared and qualified for that work if thou wouldest indeed stand in the Gap and turn away the wrath of God from the Land thou shouldest be one in Covenant with God and one that hath the work of grace upon thy Soul one that hath a friend in Court an interest in Christ the Mediator and canst through him go boldly to the Throne of grace one that can without lying call God Father and lay claim to the share in his promises one that art reconciled to God through the blood of his Son such a one is like to prevail for mercy 't is not those that howl for Corne and Wine he regards 't is not the crying of the Swine or the bellowing of Beasts he matters if there be a full Congregation of unconverted Sinners that resolve to love and not leave their sins I question whether these mens cryes do not prevail more to bring down judgments than mercies when men covenant with â—od and promise obedience and never intend to perform it this is but a mocking of God that will not be mocked and the breaking of the Covenant with him that can and will avenge the quarrel of his Covenant we cannot deceive him though we come with Tears in our Eyes If there be not sorrow in the Heart our Crocodile Tears will not Advantage us But if there be but weak gifts and parts if the Heart be right yet they will be owned God looks not so much at the out-side as the inside of Duty Though I know those that carry on the work especially in Publique should be men of parts and Abilities and 't is well if all were thus Qualified 't is a sweet Conjunction where Grace and parts meet they should know their own Sins and the Sins of the Nation to bewail and confess them Ezra 9.4.6 Nehem. 1.6,7 They should know their own wants and the wants of the Nation Dan. 9.11.18 In a word every Novice in Religion is not fit for so high a Duty and therefore Christ himself Excuseth his Disciples for not Fasting not onely because the Bride-groom was with them but as 't is conceived because they were not yet fit for so high a duty Luke 5.36,37 Mat. 9.15,16 2. Direct Wouldst thou Fast as thou oughtest to do and as God requires 't is not enough to be rightly Qualified but come prepared to the duty there is scarce any thing of moment can be well done without preparation much less such a Solemn work and such an extraordinary duty Now the preparation requisite is partly External and partly Internal the External helps forward the other and they are such as these On the Evening before lay aside thy Bodily Labour betimes that thou mayst trim up thy Lamp to meet the Bride groom the day following and prepare thy Heart against the next days duties and take that Evening but a moderate Supper such as will help and not hinder thee in the ensuing duty and continue as long as thou canst without prejudice to thy Health or hinderance to thy duties of the day following for thou shouldst deny thy self in sleep as well as in other Comforts of this Life but all this should be but in reference to the main work and so no further to be used than it is helpful to it Now the main work is to get the Heart into a melting frame and humble temper for what good will it do us to come and go with the Heart unbroken Now that it may be so the consideration of thy sins and the sins of the Nation with the several aggravations of them will be of great use when they are prest home upon the Spirit by serious Meditations Call to mind therefore thy Original Guilt and the pollution of thy Nature and how the whole Man Soul and Body is defiled by it and thy best Duties stained as also thy Actual Sins many for Number and hainous for Nature Call to mind the Sins of thy Youth and of thy riper Age the Sins of thy Calling general and particular thy Relation Sins and how thou hast failed in every Relation thou hast been in Thy Sins of Omission Commission and Participation thy Sins of knowledge and Ignorance of weakness and wilfulness against the Law and against the Gospel against God and against Man with the several aggravations of them as against a great deal of Love and Light against Knowledge and Conscience Promises and Resolutions Vows and Covenants Means and helps c. And not only thy own sins but the sins of thy Family The sins of thy Relations ought to be Considered yea the Sins of the Nation of Superiours and Inferiours of Princes and Governours for these should be Confessed as Daniel doth Dan. 9.2,3 c. The Sins of Superiours Inferiours and Equals for from the greatest to the least all have sinned and come short of what they should do The Abuse of Mercy which we have had in general in the Nation or in particular our selves David could mourn in secret when Men kept not God's Law and we should be mourning in Sion And be sure come not before the Lord to confess or bewail any one Sin that thou dost not repent of and resolve to leave Nor to bewail the Omission of any one Duty which thou art not resolved for the time to come to practice Nor to beg for one Mercy that thou art not resolved to Labour for as well as to Pray for For if thou regardest Iniquity in thy Heart God will not hear thy Prayer Psal 66.18 Shouldest thou come with a resolution to Live in sin and pray for the Pardon of it thou dost but mock God that will not mocked and takest his Name in vain when thou sayest Lord when wilt thou give me this Mercy God may say Man when wilt thou leave thy Sin When wilt thou give me thy Heart If thou say never God will return thee the like Answer Never think by thy Prayers to benefit thy self or the Church if thou wilt not reform thine own Heart And as thou must consider thy sins so also thy wants what Mercies thou wouldest beg for
thy self or others should a King promise at such a day to meet his Subjects and supply their wants how careful would they be not only to come but also to consider what Petitions to put up and what Favours to beg 't is no doubt but while we are in these Houses of Clay we have a back bias of Corruption drawing us out of the way and so many are our wants Some Souls are made up all of wants they have no Grace let them beg and pray and endeavour that some may be bestowed and to have their Hearts Sanctified and their Natures changed The best of God's People have defects in Grace and these they should Labour to have removed and their wants supplyed Some have decays in Grace and this is the time for their recovery in a word many things we have to beg for our selves many for our Friends many for the Nation and many for the Church in general many Judgments are threatned which we would have diverted and many felt we would have removed know then before hand what Errant thou art come about 3. Direct Concerning our External Carriage in the days of Humiliation I shall speak something for having made the preparation before mentioned and the day being come there are some External Duties required viz. That we rise betimes that morning and deny our selves that rest and sleep which our sluggish Nature requires so far forth as we do not thereby dis-able our selves for the duty and that we spend the whole day in the work and let us not think a whole day too much for if we prevail not for the diverting those Judgments which our sins deserve perhaps we may spend many Years in greater Sufferings And 't is thy duty also to bring as many of thy Family as conveniently may be along with thee especially those that have Understanding that the Congregation may be full that we may joyn together as one man in the work that may be done by many that a few cannot do I have observed upon such occasions men think one in a Family sufficient to come to the Congregation while the other mind their worldly Occasions but as these Sow sparingly so they are like to reap little The King of Nineveh will rise up in Judgment against those who Commanded all men and Beasts to rest and Fast and what lies in thee come with an humble Heart and a self-denying Spirit to the work and to this End Fasting is enjoyned which of it self is a thing indifferent but of excellent use to bring the Body into Subjection Now this should be a total abstinence from all meat and drink except unfeigned necessity forbid the very Name and Nature of a Fast implies this much and if this abstinence be not observed 't is no Fast Esther we find Commands the Jews neither to eat nor drink for three days and promises that she and her Maids would do the like Est 4.16 Yet if this total abstinence be really prejudicial to the Health and prove a hinderance and not a furtherance to the duty 't is Lawful to take some little refreshing for though Scripture Examples afford us not so much yet rectified reason yea and Scripture grounds warrant it Hos 6.6 I have desired Mercy and not Sacrifice a place urged by Christ himself upon such an Occasion Mat. 12.7 And Fasting being Ordained as an help is no duty when it becomes an hinderance but then it should be but a small reflection so much and no more as will revive decayed Nature prevent the danger and fit a man for the duty The Papists in their Fasts or rather mock-fasts observe not this rule their Fast consists not in the abstinence from but in the choice of meats and drinks for which we have no Scripture Evidence nor indeed any shew of reason they forbear flesh when they gorge themselves with Wine and strong Drink and Fish and other Dainties which no less pamper the Body and provoke Lust but at this rate a Man may Fast not only forty days but forty Years with little Trouble But a Scripture Fast consists not in the choice of Meat but in the abstinence from Meat and Drink not in the choice of Meat for all is alike Lawful 1 Cor. 10.25.27 8.8 Heb. 13.8,9 And as Meat and Drink so also Bodily Labour is forbidden this must be laid aside as upon a Sabbath for Worldly business divert the mind and unfit it for Duty We find upon those days of Atonement as they were called under the Law work was forbidden upon pain of death Lev. 23.27 c. Whatsoever Soul it be that doth any work upon that same day the same Soul will I destroy from among his People Also Num. 29.7 Lev. 16.29 Now though the Ceremonious part of this be taken away yet so far as it conduceth to the main End viz. to Afflict the Soul it remains in Force How can there be a Solemn Congregating together or the work of the day be carried on if there be not a cessation from Bodily Labour Again Costly and Gorgeous Apparel must be that day laid aside as unfit for such a Duty we find Kings themselves upon such days Girded themselves with Sack-cloath and put Ashes upon their Heads and did not as in our times mourn in Scarlet Silks and Sattins Exod. 33.4,5,6 Jonah 3.6 Musick also and other Sports and Recreations must be abstained as very unsuitable for Mourning times God complains of the Jews that they in their Fasts did find pleasure and may he not Complain of many of us that as soon as the Ordinance is over fall to our Recreations as at other times Isa 58.3 Yea from Marriage Duties at other times Lawful and Sanctified by the word of God 1 Cor. 7.5 Defraud not one another except it be with consent for a time that you may give your selves to Fasting and Prayer Also Joel 2.16 Nay all Delights and Recreations whereby the Nature of Man is refreshed should be forborn See an Example of David 2 Sam. 12.16.20 And in Daniel Chap. 10.3 These things serve partly to humble us partly to take revenge upon our selves for our former Miscarriages 4. Direct Having Directed you in the External part of the Duty it remains that I speak something of the Internal which is the very Life and Soul of the Duty without which all the rest is but a dead Carkass a bare Name of a Fast When thou comest therefore before God in this Duty set thy self before him with all reverence as before an Angry Judge justly provoked by thy Faults Come with shame in thy Face and sorrow in thy Heart and if possible with Tears in thy Eyes and make a full and free Confession of thy Faults with all the aggravating Circumstances thereof and rest not till thy Heart bleed for thy Sins Shouldest thou rip and confess all the sins that ever thou hadst Committed with all the aggravations with which they are cloathed if thy Heart were not touch'd with sorrow for them
it would be but a further aggravation of them and provoke the Lord to Anger and not to Compassion If thy Fast be private confess all the evil thou knowest by thy self till thou canst say with a good Conscience I have kept nothing back Now this pressing Sin upon thy Soul is called a renting of the Heart Joel 2.13 Rent your Hearts and not your Garments An Afflicting of the Soul Lev. 16.29 In it you shall Afflict your souls and do no work at all Lev. 23.29 Whatsoever Soul shall not be Afflicted in that same day he shall be cut off from among his People Consider the Corruptions of thy Heart thy Natural Corruptions consider the Number of thy by-past sins and the weight of thy present remaining Corruptions the wrath of God is kindled against thee for them and the danger thy Soul is in of Hell by reason of them Consider sin in it's own Nature is the worst of Evils and the cause of all other Evils 't is the foulest thing in the World yea fouler than the Devil himself for that made him foul and could he be stript of his sin he would return to his Angelical Glory Consider it in the Causes it had it's Original from the Devil himself he was the first Sinner and the cause of sin in Men and the Child very much resembles the Father Consider the Law of God of which sin is a transgression 't is Holy Just and Good and no reason can be given why it should not be Obeyed Consider the Person against whom thou sinnest and it is against God himself who is the chiefest Good yea the Fountain of all thy Mercies One to whom thou owest thy self and all thou hast he that is thy Creator and made thee 't is he that maintaineth thee at his own Cost and Charges One that is able to save thee or destroy thee Consider it in the woful Effects of it 't is the Cause of all thy Judgments felt or feared yea of Spiritual Temporal and Eternal Judgments For the Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life Consider it in the price that was paid to free thy Soul from the Guilt and filth of it and that was the precious Blood of the Son of God who lost his Life to Ransom Souls from the slavery of Satan and his Blood to wash away their scarlet sins The serious Consideration of these things will much further thy Humiliation and Soul-Affliction And when thou hast thus made thy Heart to bleed for thy sins go to God for a Plaister but what good will a Plaister do before there is a Wound Beg of him the Pardon of thy sin and not only so but power against it Renew thy Covenant with him of better Obedience not only purpose but promise amendment of Life resolve against sin for the time to come Every sin thou confessest let it be with a strong resolution to meddle no more with it This is that Spiritual Fast from sin which is every Christians Duty to Fast from Food and not from filthiness from pleasure and not from profaness from sleep and not from sin is the Devils Fast such Fasts he keeps and such will be kept in Hell But the contrary was David's humbling of his Soul with Fasting Psal 69.10 In which there must be a confession of sin an Accusation for it a detestation of it and also self-condemnation And though Prayer at all times should be fervent yet especially now in such a Duty this is called a Crying mightily unto God Joel 1.14 Jonah 3.8 And thou shouldst bring Faith along with thee believing thou shalt prevail which may be grounded upon the many promises made to this Duty and the Experiences we have in Scripture of the success Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Esther Niniveh and many other may witness nay where was it ever in Scripture faithfully performed without success Alms-deeds also should be added Isa 58.6,7 Yea we should testifie our Humiliation by our ready forgiving of others and assisting those that stand in need Beg also those many things that are wanting for thy self the Church or State and as in the Law Sacrifices and Offerings were given to God Sacrifice thy sin to him and Offer to him the Calves of thy Lips Prayer and praise Dedicate thy self a Living Sacrifice and devote thy self to his Service 5. Direct The next thing considerable is the time when this Duty is to be performed and in this as in other things the Papists differ from us They prescribe set times for Fasting as necessary to be kept and sinful if not observed We hold that there are no such fixed times to be observed But the Duty is incumbent on us as Occasions are offered 'T is true there is mention made of a day Lev. 16.29 but this was Ceremonial and ended with the rest of the Typs and Shadows and there is mention also made of the Fast in the fifth and seventh Moneth Zach. 7.5 And of the fourth fifth seventh and tenth Moneth Zach. 8.19 but this was during the Captivity and so just occasion was offered for Publique Humiliation but what is this to our business We had the like every Moneth in times of War and publick Calamity And it is fit we should have upon such Occasions But what is this to our stated times whether Occasion be or no When there is some great Judgment lying upon us or some Eminent Danger hanging over our Heads then 't is a suitable time for this Exercise We find in Scripture that there were Fasts kept by Believers in all Ages upon emergent Occasions thus Samuel and the People Fasted and besought the Lord in their danger 1 Sam. 7.6,7 And thus David besought the Lord by Prayer and Fasting for the Life of his Child when it was Sick 2 Sam. 12.16 And thus he besought the Lord for Jerusalem when a sore Judgment from God was upon it 1 Chron. 21.16 The Inhabitants of Jabish Gilead Fasted and humbled themselves when Saul and Jonathan were Slain and Israel put to flight 1 Sam. 31.15 And Jehosophat in his Fear Proclaims a Fast when he knew not what to do yet had he his Eyes up to God 2 Chron. 20.3 And Nehemiah when he heard of the Destruction of Jerusalem humbled himself by Fasting Nehem. 1.4 And Esther and the Jews when the Writings were Signed and the time was set when they should all have been destroyed Esther 4.1,2 c. And Ezra when he apprehended danger at hand Ezra 8.21 Yea this is the Course which the Lord himself Adviseth to in times of danger or Publick Calamity Joel 2.12,13 having threatned a sore Judgment he adds Therefore now saith the Lord turn ye unto me with all your Hearts and with Fasting and with weeping and with mourning and rent your Hearts and not your Garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and Merciful c. And this Course the Ninivites did take and it succeeded Jonah 3.5.8 Yea Ahab humbled himself when
goodness of God in them value them according to their worth as Jacob did Gen. 22.9.10 Lord saith he I am less than the least of thy mercies which thou hast shewed me for with my Staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two Bands David when he beheld the glorious Lamps of Heaven the wonderful works of God brake out into admiration Lord what is Man that thou art mindful of him or the Son of Man that thou regardest him Psal 8.3.4 Outward mercies but especially Spiritual should will affect the heart if laid home by meditation 2. Direct When thou keepest a day keep it to the Lord and not to thy self Let thy ultimate end and aim be Gods glory and the main design thou drivest on be his praise 't is true in all Duties this should be regarded but especially in this for this Time is set apart meerly upon that account to praise him with an inlarged heart and if thou propound lower ends than these God will not own thy work These days are appointed to praise God and not as many abuse them and pamper the Flesh 't is the Apostles advice and doubtless our Duty 1. Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever you do do all to the praise and glory of God And if in our ordinary course we should drive on this design much more in this extraordinary Duty in so solemn a day and exercise here the joy of the Lord should fill the heart Spiritual and not Carnal Joy the praise of the Lord should fill our Mouths not vain laughter we should speak out the great works of God which he hath done for our Souls and whatsoever suits not with this is unsuitable for the occasion but 't is a sad thing that many that pretend Conscience in the observation of Saints-days blame all those thot look upon them as indifferent I say that those to whom honest Labour at other times Lawful is held a great Transgression yet make no Conscience at all of serving God upon these days but spend their time vainly and prophanely neither to the benefit of Soul or Body These think they serve God better at an Ale-house at a Cock-pit or Bear-baiting or Stage-play at Cards or Dice or other unlawful Games than they can in an honest Calling But is this the Feast that God hath chosen to eat and drink and rise up to play This may serve turn if we worshiped such an Idol as Israel then did Fxod 32.6 But shall we serve our God with such service as the Heathen did Baccus He is a Spirit and must be worshiped in Spirit and in Truth and is eating and drinking to Gluttony and Drunkenness this Spiritual Service that is commanded Shall we praise God for his Creatures by intemperance and abuse of them Yet are not these the Exercises of some of the greatest Sticklers for such Festivals Look into an Ale-house and see whether more meet not there upon such days as these than the whole Week beside and many an Oath sworn and many a Lye told and many a vain word spoken at such times and upon such occasions yea much Drunkenness Debauchery Quarrels Fightings and sometimes Murder is there committtd And is this Gods Feast or the Devils Sacrifice It more suits an Heathen Idol than an holy God Is this the place where God is like to meet thee or wouldest have Death meet thee here or is the Discourse of the Company suitable to the work of the Day wilt thou thank God for thy Reason when thou hast lost the use of it by drinking and transformed thy self into a Beast or canst then remember Gods benefits to praise him for them when thou canst not remember what thou dost 'T is far from me to Judge any Man that keeps those days as days of Thanksgiving ought to be kept And 't is far from me to approve of them as they are kept I know the Godly are allowed to eat their Bread with Joy and drink their Wine with a merry heart but it is Spiritual not Carnal Joy They ought upon Thanksgiving days to cease from their Labour but that is not all then they keep it but as a Beast But as a Fast is a help to humiliation and makes Prayers the more fervent so Feasting in an holy manner elevates the Soul and makes praises the more hearty when we freshly tast Gods goodness in the Prevision made for us Labour in both is forbidden as 't is an hindrance in the Duties in hand but 't is sad that God is more dishonored in those days pretended to be set apart to honour him in than in all the days of the Year besides but God will not own such Servants nor accept of such Service when Men think there is nothing but work forbidden upon that day or nothing more than idleness required but many would glorifie God much better in a Lawful Calling than at an unlawful Exercise or unnecessary Recreation I know Recreation is Lawful as I hope in due time and place to demonstrate and give Directions in it But why should we take Gods time for our use if these days be appropriated to Gods Service let them be spent in his Service if for our Recreation let us never put the Title of Holy-days upon them let them be left indifferent to be used or not used at pleasure or People kept from dishonouring God in them 3. Direct In the observation of these days see thy grounds be good and that thou hast a lawful calling to it or otherwise God will not own it 'T is true Thanksgiving is a work of every day but every day is not to be observed as an holy Festival to God come not superstitiously to it as the Papists nor profanely as the Sensualist nor wickedly as the profane Enmies to God and Godliness See thou be invited to it by real mercies received and in giving thanks mistake not Judgements for Mercies and Mercies for Judgments 't is true we ought to Observe all God's Providences and Bless God for all Chastisements as well as others that is for the good which we receive by them as Job 1.21 But this should be with Humiliation not Exultation If thy Foundation be rotten the Building cannot be good there are many that heartily rejoyce and give thanks also to God after their manner for the downfall of the Church and the extirpation of the Power of Godliness I fear our times are not barren of Examples of this Nature This was the Sin of the Ammonites and will be the Sin of those that are guilty Ezek. 25.6 Because thou hast clapped thy Hands and stamped with thy Feet and Rejoyced in thine Heart with all despight against the Land of Israel therefore I will stretch forth my hand against thee and deliver thee for a spoil to the Heathen c. See God takes it ill when Men exult over his People in distress and if they praise him for Correcting them 't is unpleasing Service to him
Crown them with Success And having begun well be sure to hold out be thou constant to the Death and he will give thee a Crown of Life what thou wantest and beggest of God endeavour with Heart and Hand to obtain it true Desires are always accompanied with endeavours 't is not enough to wish for Heaven but work for it Corruption will not be abated nor Grace increased without pains-taking love Holiness and hate Sin or thou wilt never hold out or do good if thou regard Iniquity in thy Heart God will not hear thy Prayer Psal 66.18 Joh. 9.31 God requires Holiness in all that draw near to him and without it no Man shall see him with Comfort Heb. 12.14 If thou take this course in thy Publick and Private Duties Peace shall be to thee and to the Israel of God Now to him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen FINIS THE TABLE CHAP. I. Motives to Holy Duties Page 1. 1. Mot. God hath Commanded us to serve him p. 4. 2. He is the best Master p. 7. 3. He requires the best Work p. 10. 4. Thou art most engaged to him p. 13. 5. He gives the best Wages p. 16. 6. Obedience is the only way true Happiness p. 19. 7. God is best able to punish there that disobey him p. 22. CHAP. II. Of Duties in General Page 25. 1. Direct See thou hast a Divine Command for all thou dost p. 28. 2. When thou knowest thy Duty delay not to do it p. 30. 3. Hold on in the constant performances of them p. 32. 4. Let obedience proceed from a right Principle p. 35. 5. Let all be done in a right manner p. 37. 6. In all aim at a right End p. 39. 7. When all is done say thou art unprofitable p. 41. CHAP. III. Of hearing the Word Page 44. 1. Direct Resolve to break through all difficulties p. 46. 2. Propound to thy self right Ends in hearing p. 49. 3. Come with the Heart rightly qualified 51. 4. Make preparation for receiving the Seed of the Word p. 54. 5. Come with an hungring Appetite to this Feast p. 56. 6. Behave thy Self well in hearing p. 59. 7. Demean thy Self well after hearing p. 61. CHAP. IV. Of Reading the Word Page 64. 1. Direct Prepare thy Heart for so Solemn a Duty p. 66. 2. Propound to thy Self right Ends. p. 68. 3. Read with diligence and attention p. 71. 4. Read with Understanding Discretion and Judgement p. 73. 5. Observe the Scope and Design in what thou Readest p. 75. 6. Meditate upon it and so mike it thine own p. 77. 7. Apply it to thine own Heart p. 79. CHAP. V. Of Meditation Page 82. 1. Direct Concerning occasional Meditations p. 84. 2. In set Meditation come fitted and prepared p. 87. 3. Set thy Self as in the presence of God p. 89. 4. Pitch upon some suitable Subject p. 91. 5. Press it upon thine own Heart p. 93. 6. Beware of those things that hinder the Duty p. 96. 7. Take heed of letting thy Heart Flag or suddenly cool p. 98. CHAP. VI. Of Prayer Page 101. 1. Direct Be rightly qualified for the Duty p. 104. 2. Come into Gods Presence preparedly p. 106. 3. Pray to God alone and not to the Saints or Angels p 108. 4. Come to God in the Name of Christ not in thy own Name p. 110. 5. Ask nothing of God but what thou hast warrant for p. 113. 6. Pray to him in a right manner and to a right End p. 115. 7. Behave thy Self well after the Duty p. 118. CHAP. VII Of Singing Psalms Page 121. 1. Direct Be Convinc't that it is thy Duty p. 124. 2. That David's Psalms are Lawful p. 126. 3. That all Men and Women good and bad may Sing p. 129. 4. That they may be Sung in English Meeter p. 131. 5. That they may be Sung in an English Tune p. 134. 6. Let thy Ends be right in the Duty p. 137. 7. Sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also p. 139. CAAP. VIII Of Observing the Sabbath Page 143. 1. Direct Be Convinc'd that the first day of the Week is the Christian Sabbath p. 146. 2. Make preparation before hand to observe it p. 149. 3. Do nothing that is unlawful upon it p. 152. 4. Perform such works upon it as God requires p. 156. 5. Perform those Religious Duties as are commanded p. 159. 6. Many Private Duties are also to be performed p. 163. 7. Improve thy Authority that those under thee may Sanctifie the Sabbath p. 166. CHAP. IX Of Baptism Page 170. 1. Direct Scruples against Baptism removed p. 173. 2. 'T is the Parents Duty to present their Children p. 177. 3. Aim at God's Glory c. p. 180. 4. Rest not in the common Priviledges of this Sacrament p. 183. 5. See that this Sacrament be rightly Administred p. 186. 6. See that thou performest thy Baptismal Vows p. 189. 7. Make a right use of thy Baptism p. 192. CHAP. X. Directions in receiving the Sacrament P. 196. 1 Direct If thou wouldest pertake of the Sacrament worthily examine thy Self p 199. 2. Have not Grace in Habit but in Exercise p. 202. 3. Propound right Ends to thy Self c p. 205. 4. Know what it is thou standest in need of p. 209. 5. When thou comest to this Ordinance be sure to set thy Grace on work p. 212. 6. How to demean thy Self in the Act of receiving p. 215. 7. Behave thy Self well after receiving p. 219. CHAP. XI Directions about Oaths Page 222. 1. Direct Consideration must be had of the Parties themselves concerned c. p 225. 2. By whom you ought to Swear p. 228. 3. Of the Matter of an Oath p. 231. 4. Of the Form of an Oath p. 234. 5. The End must be Lawful p. 237. 6. Take heed of rash Swearing p. 240. 7. Take heed of false Swearing p. 243. CHAP. XII Of Vows Page 247. 1. Direct Vows must be made to God p. 250. 2. Who may make Vows p. 253. 3. Vow not any thing that is unlawful p. 256. 4. Vow nothing but what is in thy Power to do p. 259. 5. Look to the manner of thy Vows p. 262. 6. Look to thy Ends in this Duty p. 265. 7. See thou keep thy Vows when thou hast made them p. 268. CHAP. XIII Of days of Humiliation Page 272. 1. Direct If thou wouldest perform this Duty aright see thou be rightly qualified p. 275. 2. Come prepared to this Duty p. 278. 3. What External Duties are requisite in this Duty of Fasting p. 282. 4. Of the Internal parts of th s Duty p. 285. 5. Of the time when this Duty is to be done p. 288. 6. Propound a right End in this Duty p. 292. 7. Look to thy Carriage aftar the Duty p. 295 CHAP. XIV Of days of Thanksgiving Page 299. 1. Direct Get a well prepared Heart p. 302. 2. In this Duty aim ultimately at Gods Glory p. 305. 3. See thy Call be Lawful to this Duty p. 308. 4. See to thy Cariage in this Duty p. 311. 5. Set thy Self upon the Work p. 315. 6. Go on in recounting the mercies thou hast received and bless God for them p. 318. 7. Having sounded forth the praises of God for his mercy c. p. 321. CHAP. XV. Directions in Private Duties Page 325. 1. Direct Of Self examination c. p. 328. 2. When thou knowest that thou hast an Interest in God c. p. 332. 3. Store thy Heart with knowledge and understanding p. 335. 4. Pray with thy Family in Private p. 338. 5. Of Reproving and Correcting thy Family p. 342. 6. Thou must not only reprove them when they do amiss but Instruct Teach c. p. 345. 7. To keep a clear Conscience p. 340. The faults of Press and Authors Pen Doth shew the Work was done by Men If you would Read the Authors mind Mend the mistakings here you find PAge 4. line 30. for who read whose p. 5. l. 17. for is r. that p. 7. l. 12. we left out l. 22. for as r. in p. 17. l. 1. for in r. one and he left out p. 20. l. 21. f. they r. who p. 21. l. 3. f. Covenant r. command p. 26. l. 6. f. rack r. rubs p. 29. l. 27. f. sick r. quick p. 39. l. 11. f. love r. careless p. 43. l. 8. if left out l. 9. f. mustâ— r. maist p. 50. l. 7. f. seeking r. searching p. 53. l. 8. f. absence r. sence p. 56. l. 31. f. death r. thou p. 61. l. 22. f. distraction r. destruction p. 72. l. 3. f. right r. weight p. 86. l. 19. f unweily r. unweldy p. 87. l. 15. f. soil r. chyle p. 91. l. 10.11 wrong pointed p. 93. l. 13. f. noble r. none p. 94. l. 5. f. head r. heart twice p. 100. l. 22. f. reach r search p. 8. l. 5. f. come r. joyn p. 114. l. 28. f. unprofitable r. inhospitable l. 32. f. unanswerable r. unwarrantable p. 116. l. 3. f. exceeded r. spoiled p. 128. l. 25. f. setence r. sistence l. 32. f. beats r. brats p. 134. l. 22. f. best r. leâ—… l. 27. f. lite r. light p 136. l. 6. humane left out p. 156. l. 1. f. cruelty r. penalty p. 167. l. 26. f. this r. what is p. 188. l. 3. f. wise r. way p. 190. l. 4. leave out up p. 205. l. 25. leave out such p. 214. l. 20. r. is p. 217. f. thee r. the. p. 231. l. 19. f. his r. him p. 245. l. 21. leave out if p. 250. l. 27. leave out the. p. 251. l. 24. f. O their r. others p. 254. l. 27. f. well r. null l. 29. f. party r. parity p. 263. l. 5. r. an f. and. FINIS
Butter was to be had and commended the Widdows mite when she had no more I hope will receive this when he knows I have no better where but little is given of him less will be required The Subject I know is necessary if not spoiled in the handling though the Ring look dusk yet the Diamond will sparkle Multiplicity of contrary Studies and other Imployments as most that know me can Witness might perhaps have pleaded my Excuse for Writing as indeed it did satisfie me for several Years so I hope it will plead my Excuse for coming forth in so homely a dress When Paul beheld the Idolatry of the Athenians his Spirit was moved and when I beheld the formality of Professors no wonder if with Crassus dumb Son I spake when I saw my Father wronged Among all the Objection I could think of that might come in against this my well-meant Labour I found none that said it was impossible it should do good I am sure none can justly Object it was not intended for good those that really desire to lead a Holy life I hope will own it as for others those that have neither good word for God nor for his ways I cannot expect they should have any for me however my witness against them will be upon Record Madam if you have better at hand you may bestow this upon some wanting Soul for whose sake it was Written I have not further to add but desire of God in these declining Times when Atheism Prophaness Superstition and Debauchery are too much in Fashion that he will keep you and yours from the Temptations laid in your way that you may shine as Stars of the first Magnitude to enlighten this dark Hemisphere that you may grow in Grace as you grow in Years and may be presented blameless at the Coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that your Interest in Christ and Title to Glory may be cleared up that when you come to dye you may have nothing to do but to dye and resign up your Soul into the Hands of Christ these are the desires and shall be the Prayers of him who is Madam Yours to his Power to Serve you Edw. Bury Eaton Nov. 2. 1674. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER CHristian Reader I think my self obliged to give thee some Account of this following Treatise for in the beginning of it thou wilt find mention made of a former Treatise which indeed is not yet Published containing the Doctrine of Holy Walking Now although this was first designed and first begun and in Order of Nature should have been the First born yet it fared with it as it did with Zarah Gen. 38.28 This Pharez hath made a breach and came out first and like Jacob supplanted his Brother and got the Birth-right yet haply the other may not be strangled in the Birth if this prove not too Chargable in the keeping Know then when I first set upon the Work I intended it to be Divided into five Parts all in the same Method the first containing 1. An Introduction to the whole 2. The Explication what Holy Walking implies 3. The Reasons why 't is necessary 4. The Objections against it Answered 5. Reproof to several sorts that Live otherwise 6. Some Considerations put to them 7. Some gross mistakes about Holiness 8. Marks of Holy Walking 9. Devices of Satan to keep Men in sin 10. The Priviledges of the Godly 11. Qualifications requisite to an Holy Life 12. Moving Considerations thereunto 13. Hinderances in the way to Heaven And Lastly Helps and Directions The Second Part is the present Book here presented of which I need give you no other Account The Third contains Directions 1. For the Thoughts 2. For the Words 3. For the Actions 4. For the Affections 5. For the Consciences 6. For Recreations 7. For Apparel 8. For Eating and Drinking 9. For Redeeming Time 10. For Buying and Selling. 11. For Company 12. For Solitariness 13. To bear Affliction well 14. In a particular Calling The Fourth contains a disswasive 1. From Sin in general 2. From Pride 3. Atheism 4. Covetousness 5. Drunkenness 6. Adultery 7. Swearing 8. Lying 9. Murder 10. Idleness 11. Apostacy 12. Idolatry 13. Hypocrisie 14. Stealing 15. Contention The 5. and last contains Relative Duties 1. Of the unmarried in reference to Marriage 2. The mutual Duties of the Husband and Wife 3. The Husbands peculiar Duties 4. The Wives Duties 5. Parents Duties 6. The Duties of Children 7. Of Masters 8. Of Servants 9. Of Magistrates 10. Of Subjects 11. Of Ministers 12. Of People Now only the second of these sees the Light the first and last are well near Finished and may ere long shew themselves and the rest in time if my Life and Health be Continued and I be not in the mean time convinc'd that tâ—ey will be useless I know the World is full of Books many that complain most read least but should we observe most mens Devotion and their Carriage in the World we may Imagine that Books that reduce Christianity into practice and teach us our Duties to God and Man are yet wanting that is not sufficiently taught that is not sufficiently learnt there are need of more Books that maintain the Vitals of Religion in an Age when almost all Religigion is turned into a matter of Formality and Ceremony and little of the power of Godliness appears I have not in this neither do I intend in the other brought you any new Lights but to direct you in the good Old way mentioned Jer. 6.16 which the Saints in former Ages have Walk'd in and which will be proved to be the only way to Heaven though of late there are many new attempts to find a better but if any but the way of Holiness end in Happiness let me be called a false Prophet Mens Brains were never better stufft nor their Tongues ever more busie but their Hearts are empty and their Hands are idle never more talking of the way and never less walking in it And if good words would save without good Hearts or good Works or good Duties never so many would go to Heaven as in our Age. Most mens knowledge floats in the Brain and little sinks or soaks down into the Heart or seasons the Life or Conversation hence like Children that have the Rickets by reason of some Obstructions the Head grows too big for the Body If a bare Profession of Religion would serve turn for Salvation but it will not Mat. 7.22 25.1,2,3 c. to the 14. many would be saved for they can Number their Prayers as the Papist doth his Beads but God doth not accept them by Number but by Weight He is a Spirit and will be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth A little Grace I fear a little Profession makes a great shew in a Great man the power of Godliness is for the most part left to the Poor that are more willing to take pains and have little to lose But whether God
it at first If it be why dost leave it If thou now leave off all thy Labour and all the pains that ever thou hast taken will be utterly lost in reference to Salvation If the Righteous forsake his ways all his Righteousness shall not be remembred to him in his sin he shall dye Ezek. 18.24 It may be thou hast gone many a Mile to hear Sermons spent many an Hour in Prayer and Humiliation many a Day in Fasting and Humbling thy Soul and wilt thou lose all thy Labour at the last Nay wilt thou now dishonour that God which time was thou seemedst to Honour And wilt thou strengthen the hand of Wicked Men in their wickedness And weaken the hands of poor doubting Dhristians And sadden the Hearts of the godly Wilt thou bring the Blood of Souls upon thy own head If not hold on in a course of Holy Duty Whatever opposition thou meet with in the way Heaven will make amends for all the sweat and blood thou losest and Hell will be sower sauce to thy sweet Meat What madness is it to leave thy work a little before thou shouldest receive thy Wages 4. Direct Let all the Duties thou performest either to God or Man proceed from a right Principle from a Heart sanctified by Grace and purified by Faith and seasoned with Love Make the Tree good and his Fruit will be good but a Corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit. An evil Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit nor a good Tree evil Fruit. 'T is impossible that a Corrupt Fountain should send forth sweet Water or a filthy Vessel sweet Liquor Let the Love of God be the strongest Motive to thy Obedience and let this engage thy heart to every Duty Though thou shouldest do the duty required if thou do it not in obedience to that Command God will not own it Whatever thou dost do all to his Glory and in Obedience to his Command or thou wilt lose thy Reward let thy heart say in sincerity Propter te propter te Domine it is for thy sake and in Obedience to thy Command that I do it and for no sinister respect whatsoever Hypocrites may do the thing which God Commands but from another ground and for another end they savour of the Cask and smell of self-Interest they reach no higher than themselves as water ascends no higher than the Fountain Head Jehu did what God Commanded in destroying Idolatry and rooting out Ahab's Posterity but all this while he hath a Kingdom in his Eye But the Love of God Oyls the Chariot-Wheels of a Christians endeavours it carryeth him above beyond and out of himself God tells him what he would have done a Christian never examines the Command by any Carnal Interest whether he may reap gain or loss Honour or Disgrace by it come what come will he resolves to do it if God command it whatever stands in his way though he meet Death it self in the Face he will go on God calls him and with Samuel he cryeth out Speak Lord for thy Servant heareth he knows he that sets him on work can bear him out Now all Service that ariseth not from this ground is slavish and mercinary and merits nothing at Gods hands but blows he that doth the thing Commanded and knoweth not of the Command doth not Obey God in the work and if he know that it is Commanded and doth it yet not because it was Commanded but upon other account God will not Reward this as Obedience The Pharisees knew that Prayer Fasting and Alms-deeds were Commanded duties yea they performed those duties but not because God Commanded them but that they might be applauded by Men therefore Christ sends them to men for a Reward Mat. 6.1,2,3 c. The performance of a duty will do us little good if we cannot say with the Apostle The Love of Christ constraineth us Many are constant attenders upon the Ordinances not out of Love to God or Obedience to his Will or any delight they have in the duty but for fear of punishment or hope of reward either from God or Man or for popular Applause or one thing or other of that Nature and these Men perhaps in the mean time have their handS upon the works and their Hearts busied in the Devils Service and they look upon Gods Service as a Slavery and glad when they are Released But a sincere Christian is like the Servant mentioned Exod. 21.15 that saith I Love my Master I will not go Free though there were neither Reward in Heaven for my Obedience nor punishment in Hell for my disobedience I will do it because 't is my Masters will and I delight in the work it self this Love of God in the Soul is as weights to the Clock or as Oyl to the Jack it sets it on work for God love makes labour light they do it for Conscience sake Rom. 13.5 when others do it for gains sake Saul obeys for a Kingdom and Jehu for a Crown and when this was obtained their Obedience was over they are like to Dogs they follow their Master till they meet with Carrion examine now thy heart what is the ground of thy obedience if it be lower than thy love to God and desire to obey him 't is not right 5. Direction Let all thy duties whether to God or Man be performed in the manner which God requires now Christ himself tells thee God is a Spirit and he that worships him must worship him in Spirit John 4.24 and the Apostle tells us that bodily exercise profiteth little but godliness is profitable unto all things 1 Tim. 4.8 'T is not the Motions of the Body nor the moveing of the Lips 't is not Bowings Couchings Cringings that he is affected with if the Heart and Affections go not along this is one main difference between a sincere Christian and an Hypocrite both may do the same Duty both may joyn in the same Prayer and both may hear the same Sermon yet one may be accepted and the other not nay for the Bulk and Materiallity of the Duty the Hypocrite may exceed the other the Pharisees they fasted they gave almes they made long Prayer they tythed Mint and Anice and yet all this while lay under the Curse and were Enemies to God and persecutors of Christ their heart was absent from their duty and it was not right to God they lost all their labour in Heavens way because they had little trading with and little knowledg of God or their own hearts Hypocrites feed upon the husks of duty nnd never meet with Christ in the duty when a sincere heart hath trading with God and sweet communion with Christ himself if ever therefore thou wouldst perform pleasing Sacrifice to God be sure to wind up thy heart and affections unto God and never content thy self with any duty till thou meet with Christ in the duty duties are appointed to be done not for their own sakes but to help the Soul to mount
this is not the Blood of Christ we must have some better shelter to keep off the storms of God's fiery Indignation the Prophet tells us all our Righteousness is as filthy Rags or a menstruous Cloath Isa 6.6 And will God think you delight in this The Heart which is the Fountain is Corrupt and never cleansed from Original Corruption and can we think the streams thence issuing can be sweet This bitter Root sends many branches of Actual sin which mix themselves with our best duties and make them abominable in the Eyes of God These are the dead Flyes that spoyl all the Oyntment we cannot do a duty but we spoyl it in the doing and if we could unless we could do every duty thus to the end of our Lives what Advantage should we have by that one We must Live free from evil thoughts vain words and evil Actions or we cannot stand approved by God nay if we could do so and Live free from the least Transgression for the future this will not discharge us of our fore-past Debt will the constant payment of Rent for the future clear up the arreares that are behind 'T is a vain thing to think to be saved by our own good works or justified by our good duties Alas they are too much defiled with sin and self to be satisfactory to God and yet how ready are Men to lay hold upon any thing that will give them the least hope and trust to good hearts and good duties and good meanings when there is no such thing and loath they are to come out of themselves confess themselves to be such Bankrupts as indeed they are but the vanity of these hopes I shall give you in the words of an able Divine who speaks fully to my purpose who tells thee that thou canst not bring in perfect Righteousness into the presence of God and hast no Christ to trust unto thou must desire and pray till Heaven and Earth shake till thou hast worn thy Tongue to the stumps endeavour as much as thou canst and others commend thee for an exact Christian mourn in some Wilderness till dooms day dig thy Grave with thy nails weep Buckets full of hourly Tears till thou canst weep no more Fast and Pray till thy skin and bones cleave together promise and purpose with full resolution to be better yea reform thy Head Heart Life and Tongue leave some nay all sin Live like an Angel shine like a Sun walk up and down the World like a distressed Pilgrim so that all that see thee may commend and admire thee dye ten thousand Deaths lye at the Fire back of Hell as many millions of Years as there are Grass piles upon the Earth Sands on the Sea shore Stars in Heaven or Motes in the Sun I tell thee not one spark of Gods wrath will be quenched by all these Duties for they are not the Blood of Christ c. Shepherd Sincere Convert CHAP. III. Directions in Hearing the Word HAving given you some general Directions necessary in all Duties without which no duty either to God or Man can be acceptable to God I shall next descend to some particulars which God requires at our hands and lay down some Directions how they may be performed to God's Glory and the Souls Advantage for 't is not the meer doing of a duty but the well doinging of it that attains these ends The first I shall mention is that great duty of hearing God's Word As for the Preaching of it I shall give Directions among those Relative duties which God willing I intend to Treat of in it's place If I could sufficiently instruct you in this I need not speak much of the rest for this would be a help in all the other for in the Word are Directions for the other also I need not stand to prove this is a duty I hope few will deny it As for those that are above Ordinances so as to neglect them Time hath discovered their Folly doth not God send his Messengers to Preach and is it not our duty to Hear The Apostle tells us Necessity is laid upon him and woe to him if he preach not the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.18 And is Preaching their duty and is not Hearing ours Yea doth not Christ himself teach us how to Hear And gives us Cautions to that purpose to take heed how we hear And what we hear Mark 4.24 Luke 8.18 And oftentimes calls upon those that have Ears to hear that they should hear and in many Parables gives Directions about hearing as in the Parable of the Sower and the Seed of the good Seed and the Tares and many more But my business is at present only by way of Motive to put you on to the Duty and by way of Direction to help you in it I shall at present use those Motives drawn from the benefit of the Word for who is not moved with Profit and Gain But here is the greatest gain to be had 't is the ordinary means to bring Men to Christ I say the ordinary means for God is not tyed to it Rom. 10.14,17 Faith cometh by hearing to this end God sends Paul to the Gentiles to open their Eyes and to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26.17,18 When Christ met with Paul in the way Acts 9.9,10 He doth not Instruct him himself but sends him to be Instructed by Ananias and when he sent an Angel to Cornelius it was not to Preach the Gospel to him but to direct him to Peter Acts 10.35 It was by Preaching that Peter Converted 3000. at one time Acts 2.37.41 The Word is the Seed that being sown in a good heart fructifies abundantly Mat. 13.8 The neglect of this is threatned Mat. 10.14 Whosoever shall not receive you nor hear your words c. It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of Judgment than for them and few are brought in that neglect this Duty Nay 't is of daily use to those that are Converted to build them up it is the Milk that must nourish them and make them grow for where there is Life there must be Food David by this means became wiser than his Teachers and had more Understanding than the Antient and what condition soever a poor soul is in here he may find directions Art thou in sorrow and distress here consolation is to be had here the Soul by faith sucks sweetness out of the Promise art thou in affliction here are Cordials to uphold a fainting heart directions to bear them well and promises of a seasonable deliverance if thou run astray here thou maist hear a voice behind thee saying this is the way walk in it God hath here set way-marks to guide thee If thou be dead or dull here are rousing considerations to quicken thee if thy faith be weak here it may be strengthned if thy Soul be sin sick here is a Physitian directed to and a Potion prescribed
Many especially of the Younger sort they come to see and to be seen to shew their New Cloaths or observe the Fashion that other wear and being Examined this is most they can remember Many come that they may be accounted forward Prosessors and are tickled with popular Applause but when 't is more in Credit to Persecute than profess these perhaps follow that Profession Some come with the Butterflie to paint her Wings and these are all for gaudy Notions and store their Heads and not their Hearts with what they Learn some weary of their own Houses come to drive away the time perhaps to get a nap of sleep some come for fear of the Law lest that take hold upon them and some to stop the mouth of Conscience which otherwise will give them no rest some come to speak with a Friend which otherwise they knew not how to meet with so conveniently and as they came by chance 't is a great Chance if they receive any good by their coming Some come to enquire out some good bargain others to appoint some merry Meeting or some drunken match or Game at Cards or Dice or Bowls and perhaps some come on purpose to entrap the Minister in his Words or wrest them to a wrong Sentence these Mens memories are much like to Sives they keep the refuse all the best runs through Christ himself had such Hearers if these or like to these be thy ends thy heart is rotten thy Duties stink in God's Nostrils and they will never do thee good thou mayst expect a Curse from God and not a Blessing But a true Christian aims at higher ends viz. that he may know his Masters will and knowing may obey it and may glorifie him by obeying and by this means he may get nearer unto Christ and have and maintain more Communion with him that he may know more of the Excellency that is in Christ that he may be more enamoured on him that he may see more of his own heart and the deceitfulness of it and more of the vileness of sin to hate it more that we may have clearer Evidences of God's Love to his Soul and of his Interest in Christ these and such like are a Believers ends in hearing the Word If now thy ends be lower 't is a bad sign of an Hypocritical or Prophane heart 3. Direct If thou wouldst profit by the Word preach'd come unto it with thy heart rightly qualified and rightly disposed with thy affections rightly ordered One reason amongst others why so many come to and return from the Word empty is because the heart is not fitted for the Duty get thy heart in Love with God this is the way to thrive by his Word how greedily do we read a Letter from a Friend especially if we expect some promise in it of some great Courtesie the Word is Gods Epistle sent from Heaven stuff'd thick with gracious promises if we entertain hard thoughts of God we seldom profit by his word get a love also to his Word as David O how love I thy law it is my Meditation continually we remember that which we love What is the reason that many can remember an idle story or love song or stage play that cannot remember one passage or sentance in a whole Sermon why because they love it better exercise love also to the Minister or thou wilt hardly profit by his preaching prejudice is a great hindrance to the Soul See this in Ahab he had a prejudice against Micaiah and hated him and therefore his wholesom counsel was rejected 1 Kings 22.8 c. The Pharisees also having a prejudice against Christ carp't and cavilled with him but few or none believed in him which of the Scribes and Pharisees have believed on him all his gratious words would not win upon them and when a People have a prejudice against their Pastour ten to one they profit little by him Come also with a believing heart the word which they heard profited them not because it was not mixt with faith in them that heard it Heb. 4.2 If the Devil can but bring us to this distrust in God and to call in question the truth of his word he hath what he would have for who will leave a certain Inheritance for an uncertain Hope and take much pains when they doubt of a recompence or leave beloved Sins or perform self denying duties upon such uncertainties they should bring also humble hearts to the duty for 't is the humble that God will teach when he looks upon the proud afar off James 4.5 1 Pet. 5.5 A proud Spirit is like Laodicea and thinks himself rich and wants nothing when he is poor and blind and miserable and naked Rev. 3.16,17 If there be any in the Congregation that set themselves against God and his Word 't is commonly the Proud and self conceited Persons it were them that set themselves against Jeremy Jer. 42.3 It were the Proud men that said he spake falsly in the Name of the Lord. He that comes with absence of his own wants is most like to have a supply he that comes with a conceit of his own righteousness is likely to go away empty he fills the hungry with good things but the rich he sends empty away Luk. 1.53 He that thinks he knows any thing knows nothing that he ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 Come therefore to the Ordinance with an Hungring Longing Thirsting Panting desire after this Bread of Life and Sincere Milk of the Word for then thou art most like to prevail for somthing to fill thy Soul A full Soul loatheth the Hony-comb but to an hungry Soul every bitter thing is sweet many Promises are made to the hungry those that hunger and thirst after righteousness are blessed Mat. 5.6 these thirsting Souls shall have Wine and Milk Christ and his Graces without Money or Moneys worth Isa 5.51 Come not with a slight apprehension of or a slight desire after it lest it be denyed thee set not light by it as those that were bidden to the Wedding Mat. 22.2 c. David had high prizing thoughts of it it was sweeter to him than honey and the honey-comb yea better than thousands of Gold and Silver Psalm 19.10 and to Job better than his appointed food this made David meditate in it day and night and by this means he came to have more understanding than his Teachers bring also a mind free from Worldly cares and fears and desires these are the Thorns that choak the Word Mat. 13.22 Bring not the Love of any sin along with thee for this will make the Word unprofitable he that saith I will not be made clean God may say thou shalt never be made clean resolve to obey the Word in the strictest passages of it 4. Direct Wouldest thou profit by the Word Preached 'T is necessary then that thou make some preparation for the receiving of it The Heart of Man is compared to the Ground the Minister to the
Seeds-man and the Word to the Seed Now you know the Ground must be prepared before the Seed be cast in otherwise thou canst not rationally expect a Crop The Body must be prepared and the humours gathered to an head before Physick work kindly what business of moment can be done without preparation And can we think in this business of so great concernment it is sufficient to rush hand over head without consideration Some preparation should be made before the Sabbath came in setting thy Heart as well as thy House in Order the Command is to remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy And when the day is come there are some Duties required before thou rush into the Congregation perform those Duties in thy Family and in thy Closet that are required beg of God a blessing upon the Ordinance and upon the Minister that he may speak a word in season to thy Soul that it may meet with thy Corruption and may strengthen thy Grace and benefit thy Soul how canst expect a Blessing that dost not beg for it This is one cause that many go away barren because they came unprepared Lay thy Heart open before God say as Samuel speak Lord for thy Servant heareth In thy Prayer open thy Soul to God unlap thy Ears and desire a Plaister offer up thy Sin-sick Soul to this Physitian that he may pour Oyl and Wine into thy Wounds who knows but this may be the Time of Love wherein God may say unto thy Soul Live Come with a resolution to deny thy self thy Carnal wisdom and whatsoever shall be found contrary to the will and Command of God Come not with a Resolution to oppose God in any thing though it be never so cross to flesh and blood or to thy Carnal will or Interest or be never so opposite to thine own Natural Inclination or Appetite Why should we come to know our Duty if we will not do it Or our sin if we will not leave it The word of God seldom works upon a fore-stalled affection If thou knowest and know thou mayst if thou carefully observe it what hath usually hindred thee in times past from profiting by the Word take heed of that for the time to come Sometimes thou wilt find that it was Pride thou sets up thy own will against God Sometimes passion this put thy Heart out of Frame for the Duty Sometimes Worldlyness this filled thy Heart with vain thoughts Beware of these for the time to come Especially beware of these sins which are most predominant in thy Soul for this will spoil the Duty Come with a strong Resolution to Obey God in every thing When he forbids any sin resolve to leave it when he Commands any Duty set about it for to what end else dost thou hear if it be only to know thy duty and not to practice it it will but procure thee the more stripes but many are like those silly Women mentioned by the Apostle ever Learing and never come to the knowledge of the Truth And they are like Balaam let God deny them never so oft they will come again faln they would have a dispensation to sin and go to Heaven in a sinful way But we must with good Old Ely say 'T is the Lord let him do with me as he listeth Or like Paul Lord what wouldest thou have me to do Come also with a good stomach then the Word would be savoury to thee such a man will not strain courtesie and carve all from himself but greedily feed upon something Now he meets with such a man saith one now he hit such a one home but what is this to thee Is nothing there that thou canst eat Get also some Acquaintance with the state of thine own Soul how the matter stands between God and thee or otherwise thou canst hardly divide the Word aright and apply it there are threatnings for obstinate sinners and there are promises for the penitent there is Milk for Babes and strong meat for Men. How wilt know thy own portion if thou know not the state of thine own Soul If a sick man come to an Apothecary's shop and may make choice of what Medicine he pleaseth and yet neither know his Disease nor what will Cure it he may as well take nay 't is more like that he will take that which is hurtful than that which is helpful So a poor humbled sinner oft-times lays hold of the threatning which belongs not to him and the presumptuous man of the promise And lastly when Death comes say to the World stand by as Abraham to his Servants I will come again 5. Direct If thou wouldest profit by the Word Preached come to the Ordinances with an hungring thirsting desire after it this is the Food of Life and 't is only the hungring Soul that is rightly qualified for it The full Soul loatheth the Honey-Comb Prov. 27.7 What should a full stomack do at a Feast Or a full Soul at a Sermon How sweet how good how precious was the Word to David Psal 19.10 And to Job better than his appointed Food Job 23.12 And how pitifully doth David complain when he found the want Psal 120.5 And how earnestly did he desire it And thirst after it Psal 42.1,2 As ever Chased Hart did for the Water-brooks and hadst thou ever tasted the sweetness of the word or rather of God in the word I needed not words to have perswaded thee to love it But that I may set some edge upon thine Appetite I shall desire thee to consider with me these few things first consider whose word it is is it not the word of that great God that made Heaven and Earth and all things therein contained One that is able to make it good both in the promises and threatnings and is also Faithful and will make it good Heaven and Earth shall fail rather than one tittle of his word be un-fulfilled and shall we slight a Message sent from such a one Had a Potent Prince sent a Message whether a promise or threatning how diligently should we have read it And how greatly should we have been affected with it with Joy or Sorrow Now God sends his Messengers with a Message of peace if we will accept it if not they are to denounce war yea and threaten everlasting ruine and destruction and yet who regards it Read the contents of his Letter Deut. 28. throughout Nay the matter of this word of God is of greatest concernment were it but for trifles it were no matter but it is concerning Life and Death nay the everlasting Salvation or Damnation of Soul and Body and therefore not to be slighted they are Fools that Jest with such edged Tools Here are Instructions drawn up how you may avoid Hell and attain Heaven how you may get rid of sin and get out of the Slavery of Satan how you may have a Remedy for your sin-sick Souls and a Plaister for your Wounds how you may get an Interest in Christ
what he taught thee that thou knewest not before now when thou hast thus called these things to mind meditate upon them for as Meat cannot nourish if not digested no more will the word till by meditation thou makest it thy own meat is easily cast up when it lyes undigested in the stomack so here when the Seed is sown and not covered by harrowing the Fowls of the Air pick it up and when the word is not covered by mediration the Devil steals it away Mat. 13.4.19 If any thing lye dark or difficult to thee go to the Minister or some understanding Christian to conferre of it make known thy doubts and this is a good way to get knowledg The two Disciples that came to Emaus inquired by the way and discoursed and 't is thy duty to speak of the Word in thy house and as thou goest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up Deut. 6.7 Oh what benefit might Christians get were they careful of this Duty the word of God would then dwell plentuously in them this would make a deeper impression in the Heart and would be a notable means to grow in knowledg When thou hast passed thus far than press it upon thy own heart for what good will it do thee otherwise examine thy self by the Marks and Characters whether thou hast those gratious Qualifications yea or no whether thou art yet under the power of sin and Satan and whether delivered and be accordingly affected press home every reproof to thy self and see how far guilty thou hast been mourn for it and reform lay to heart every exhortation to duty and let every motive strengthen thy Resolution practice every direction and make the best use of every passage for thy Souls good and be sure to practice what is taught thee otherwise thou maist hear all the days of thy life to little purpose 't is not the hearers of the Law but the doers that are justified he that knoweth his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes yea 't is not enough that thou practice it thy self but thou must endeavour that others may do so also to this end thou must instruct thy Family thy Children and thy Servants what in thee lyes press them on also to obedience this is a commanded duty Eph. 6.4 Deut. 4.9 And it was the practice of the Saints in all Ages Deut. 18.19 Prov. 4.4 and 31.1 And because all thy services without Gods blessing are worth nothing 't is thy duty to go to God by prayer to fasten these truths upon thy heart which thou hast heard and open the heart of thy Family Paul may plant and Apollos water but 't is God must give the increase mark also from time to time how thou dost grow or decrease These Directions well used through Gods blessing will make thee profit by hearing CHAP. IV. Directions in Reading the Word THe next Duty I shall point out unto you is the Reading the Scripture and other good Books which open and apply it for this also is necessary and very beneficial to the Soul and though it be not sufficient where the preaching of the word is to be had yet it is a necessary addition and many a Soul hath had experience of much good received by it this word is the Law of the Lord which is perfect converting the Soul and many instances might be given of men converted by it especially where the word of God hath not ordinarily been preached That it is a commanded duty see Deut. 17.19 where the King is commanded to take this book of the Law and read therein all the daies of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord and keep his commandements and if Kings themselves are not exempted notwithstanding the multiplicity of their business who then can plead exemption yea the Priests were to read it in the ears of all Israel Deut. 31.11 'T is the Apostles advice even to Timothy to give attendance to reading 1 Tim. 4.13 and as 't is a commanded duty so 't is the practice of the godly in all Ages Moses took the book of the Covenant and read it in the ears of all the People Exod. 24.7 So did Joshua Chap. 8.34,35 So did Josiah 2 Chron. 34,35 and Nehemiah Chap. 8.38.18 and 9.3 thus the Enuch Acts 8.30 yea there is a blessing pronounced upon it Rev. 1.3 Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophecy and there is good reason for it for as the Sun is to the World such is the Word of God to a Christian the very light of their lives and the life of their Souls but as it fares with the Sun because it commonly riseth and sets therefore it is not sufficiently heeded and admired so 't is with the Word being common 't is not sufficiently prized Mannah you know was at first admired at the last loathed so 't is here if God should send a Famine of the Word it would be prized as it was when a Cart load of Hay was given for a few Chapters of the New Testament the worth of it will be known in the want of it as Health is best prized in Sickness Peace in War and Liberty in Bondage Now for the Persons that ought to read they are all that are in a Capacity for if any were exempted they would be Kings for the multiplicity of their business but the book of God must be to them a Vade mecum a constant Companion Parents are to teach their Children in it and under these two Relations all Superiours and inferiours are contained Deut. 6.7 'T is the Devils practice and policy no doubt to keep Men from reading the Scriptures Christ bids search the Scriptures and how dare Papists and others speak the contrary we are commanded to let the word of God dwell plentifully in us and 't is made a mark for a blessed man to meditate in Day and Night here is the Mine out of which we must dig for knowledg Prov. 2.3,4 Oh that men would spend that time in Reading Meditating and conferring of the word of God which they do in Vain and idle Visits needless Recreations Carding Diceing Drinking Drabbing and such like how much would it conduce to their Souls health this makes more to the evening their accounts with God and making preparation for the Soul than the other will I know 't is objected that the Scriptures are difficult to understand and therefore dangerous to be meddled with lest they be abused this is the Objection of the Papists on the one side it being their interest to keep men in ignorance and the Sloathful on the other who will not Plough because of Winter Prov. 20.4 but this should rather quicken our diligence than serve for a discouragement if difficult duties be neglected we shall never reach Heaven 't is true some things are difficult but the most necessary are plain and easie here indeed a Lamb may wade and
Heaven in Christ and Glory and what Evidences for Salvation and what Signs of his Election Vocation Justification and Adoption and what right he hath to the Promises which are his Father's Legacy He would be able by the word to reprove Errors and defend the Truth yea to reprove the works of Darkness and repel all the fiery Darts of Satan and be able to walk comfortable in the way to Heaven and to fetch Consolations out of God's word to bear him up under the saddest Afflictions They would be able to teach others in the way they should walk and Instruct them in the Holy Path and reprove them when they err and convince them when they go astray and reduce them back that have wandered and gone awry and build them up that are already brought in These are some of the desires of the godly in Reading the Scriptures and not as the Butterflie only to paint her wings and these are the ends thou must aim at in thy Reading it and then thou wilt Read it with Profit 3. Direct If thou wouldest profit by thy Reading the Scripture and other good Books Read with the greatest diligence attention care and circumspection that possibly thou canst for all thou canst do is little enough This is a Commanded Duty and the work of God and a Curse is threatned to them that do the work of the Lord negligently Cursory Reading will do thee little good and hence it is that many read much and profit little because they read it carelessly many read an idle Romance or wanton Love-Song more attentively than the word of God Read it as if it were for thy Life and the Life of thy Soul and for Eternity as indeed it is Set thy Heart upon it then art thou like to profit by it Matters of Life and Death usually affect us and shall not matters of Salvation and Damnation affect us much more Were but thy Life endangered by a heartless careless Duty who would be mindless or careless in the performance Nay how vigilant diligent careful wouldest thou be And is not the Life of the Soul much more worth The word of God is of great Concernment whether we consider the Author or the Matter of it it should put us on to the utmost diligence The Author is the great God of Heaven one that can put Life into both his Promises and Threatnings nay will do it for he is Faithful And the word is an Epistle sent from Heaven from this great God and that for our Instruction Admonition Reproof and Consolation 1 Cor. 9.10 10.11 Rom. 15.4 Whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our hearing c. This is God's Statute-Book whereby he Rules the world wherein are greater Rewards promised to obedience and greater Punishments threatned to the disobedient than any King upon Earth can annex to his Law or can Execute if he should threaten them There is therefore great Reason why we should be more conversant in those Laws than the Laws of the Land though these be necessary because the danger is greater In the one we stand in danger of Life or Liberty or Confiscation of Goods in the other of Eternal Damnation It is said of the Jews that many of them could as readily Answer to any point in the Law as they could to their own Names and that they knew how many words yea syllables yea letters were in the whole Law God grant their diligence rise not up against us to condemn us for our negligence If a Father or Master or Ruler or Prince can Command Reverence from their Inferiors surely God may much more from us If we receive a Letter from a great Man with such heedfulness and Read it with such diligence and attention and mark every passage with such circumspection and care surely much more care and diligence should be used in this Epistle sent from Heaven from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Nay but the Contents thereof the Matter therein contained requires diligence 't is Matter of greatest Right and greatest Concernment 't is our Father's Will and herein is Recorded the Legacy he hath left us Now who will neglect a Fathers Will wherein an Inheritance is bequeathed Here is the Rule we must live by and the Law we must be Judged by and are these Matters to be slighted Here is all the Evidence we have for Heaven and should this be dis-regarded How careful are Men of their Evidences of their Lands They will hardly part with them out of their own Hands and yet alas how seldom do many men take these Evidences into their hands too Evident a Sign they have but little hopes of good by it Now without the diligent perusal how shall we come to the knowledge of them Here are High Mysteries in which we may easily be mistaken and 't is very dangerous to be mistaken what need have we then of circumspection These and many other Considerations may put us on to diligence in Reading Marking and Observing the Scriptures 4. Direct Wouldest thou Profit by Reading Then Read the Word with Judgment Understanding and Discretion This is necessary in every duty nay in every Action A Wise Man saith Solomon Orders his affairs with discretion but it is required especially in a work of so High a Nature and of so deep concernment as this is many Read much and profit little because they understand little they are like the Eunuch to whom Philip said Vnderstandest thou what thou Readest He said how can I except some man should guide me Acts 8.30,31 Now discretion should be used in regard of the Circumstances of Time and Place and Order and Method for the want of discretion in these a duty may be spoyled Concerning Time every thing saith Solomon is beautiful in it's season all our Time must not be spent in this Duty then others as necessary would be omitted one duty must not justle out another yet sometime must and as much as can well be spared should be reduced for it yea we should rather redeem Time out of our sleep or recreations than neglect it and it should be the most seasonable time a work is most excellent in it's season Morning and Evening seem ordinarily the fittest Seasons for Reading the Scriptures in the Family for private Reading as occasion serves and for Place that which is freest from distractions and fittest for Edification and Order for private Reading a private place this doth most benefit a private Person though that which is more publick Edifies more than one A Method also is to be heeded in Reading the Scriptures or any other Book a disorderly Action or Duty seldom profits Order and Method are good helps to the Memory Read the Scriptures throughout in order except some Chapters that are less to Edification and so for other good Books Read them throughout he that Reads a Chapter here or there at adventure or a leaf here and another there in another Book profits little and 't
is stored with wholesome truths which otherwise would be barren and empty of any thing that is good and stored only with Vanity and Folly this seasons it and fills it with good things which otherwise would be a Cage of unclean Birds a very Sink of Sin and Filthiness this seasons the thoughts which produce Works and Actions Meditation in the Word is that which David was excellent at and every blessed Man should follow Psal 1.2 and Solomon adviseth to when he bid search for Wisdome as for Silver and dig for it as for fine Gold Prov. 24. this also hath a Promise of speeding annexed Prov. 2.12 c. This is the way which the faithful in all Ages have taken and hereby it was they became famous We finde Peter alone upon the House top a fit place for Meditation you may finde Isaac in the Fields meditating Gen. 24.63 Act. 10.9 Elijah upon Mount Carmel and Daniel by the Brook of Vlai and how Sapless and Unsavery are all the Pleasures in the World to a Man skill'd in Divine Meditation The Phylosophers that knew little of God and less of the Scriptures were so taken up with their Phylosophical Notions and Speculations that they oft-times mattered not their Meat or their Drink or their necessary recreations Archimedes was so taken up with his Geometrical Notions that when the City Syracuse was taken he was heedless yea when a Soldier stood ready to kill him would not be drawn off till Death it self ended his Contemplations if the Creature can bring such satisfaction what will the study of the Creator do and the Meditation of Heaven and Glory but alass where shall we finde a wise Man many read it not at all others cursorily few fruitfully most are forgetful hearers and forgetful readers but Meditation would fix it in the Memory 7. Direct If thou wouldst Read with profit apply what thou readest to thy self and bring thy heart to the Rule and thy Graces to this Touchstone and behold thy Face in this Glass of the Word to what end is Meat given but to be eaten or Physick but to be taken or a Plaister but to be applyed many read much and profit little because they apply not what they read to themselves perhaps they can apply it to others and say here is for such and such a man when they neglect their own Portion They are like the Pharisees they binde heavy burthens and grievous to be bourn and lay them upon other mens shoulders but they themselves will not touch them with one of their fingers but why wilt thou deal so liberally to others and deal so deceitfully with thy own Soul doth it want nothing or doth God speak nothing to thee but only to others In the things of the World thou art not so kinde thou wouldest not be deceived by another neither wouldest thou give away thy Estate with thy own hands to another and why art thou so injurious to thy Soul in things of a higher Nature thou wilt not deprive thy belly of Food nor thy back of Raiment must thy Soul only be deprived of both An hungry man will not thus dispose of his meat nor a covetuous man of his money and this thy liberality shewes thou hast neither a stomack to these spiritual dainties nor a desire after these spiritual and heavenly treasures This word is of general use to all every one hath his Portion for as God hath made nothing in vain so he hath spoke nothing in vain when therefore thou readest his Precepts wherein he commands duty and forbids sin perswade thy self that God is now particularly speaking unto thee and apply what is speaking to thy self as if there was no other Man or Woman in the World besides thee or as if God by an audible voice called thee out by Name as he did Samuel and gave thee these Commands to observe these duties to do these sins to avoid and let it deterre thee from sin and quicken thee to duty as if God himself had spoken to thee from Heaven When a Minister reproves sin some guilty Consciences say he means me 't is true if thou be guilty the Minister doth mean thee and God means thee when the Word speaks against Drunkards Swearers Lyars then it means thee if thou art guilty of those sins When thou readest the pretious Promises which God hath made unto repugnant Sinners assure thy self if thou be such a one these promises will be made good to thee yea as sure as if thy Name were written by the finger of God in the Scripture and annexed to them yea as if they were made to none but thee and those threatnings thou reapest in the word of God against unrepenting Sinners assure thy self if thou be in that condition thou art as much concerned in them and they will be as certainly made good upon thee if thou continue in this condition as if they had been only denounced against thee and those reproofs which thou readest for sin take them to thy self as spoken by God to thee if thou be guilty of the sin reproved for assure thy self God means thee in them and those Marks and Characters of Divine graces and gracious Qualifications scattered through out the Scriptures make use of to try thy self by make use also of all the Admonitions God gives thee and of all the examples thou findest of Divine vengeance let them deterre thee from sin and all the examples of Holy Saints encourage thee in good and generally of all sorts of Directions Instructions c. thus doing thou wilt gather good by thy Reading CHAP. V. Directions for Meditation THE next Duty I shall speak of is Meditation a necessary though much neglected Duty Yea Christians themselves that make Conscience of other Duties and are much in hearing reading and Prayer yet are too backward yea unskill'd in the right performance of this duty But did they know the benefit of it and the incomes many receive by it they would not neglect it it brings much Advantage to a gracious Soul and stores it with many Heavenly Truths which those that neglect it never attain In this a man ingages all the powers of his Soul and bends his mind to consider and muse upon some Spiritual Object for I speak not of it here as wicked men use it to devise mischief but as a Christian duty Now Meditation is either Occasional and Sudden or else Solemn and Set for both are necessary both are beneficial The former is occasioned by Objects occasionally presented by the Providence of God either to the Senses or brought to the Memory and resembles those sudden Ejaculations suddenly occasioned only in the one a man speaks to God and in the other a man speaks to his own Heart Thus we see David by beholding the Sun Moon and Stars those glorious Lamps of Heaven he falls out into Admiration of God's Love to poor man in raising him above these and making him but a little lower than the
last to Judgment and here thou hast matter enough to spend thy days about Consider also the Commands of God and the Duties he requires at thy hands and the promises he makes to the Obedient and the threatnings to the Disobedient Consider also the four last things Death and Judgment Heaven and Hell and by this thou seest there is work enough in Natures Garden Also there are a thousand things well worthy thy consideration there is not a Weed in the Field a Tree in thy Orchard an Herb in thy Garden a Beast in thy Pasture a Fowl in the Air or a Fish in the Sea or River but will Teach thee something and 't is a barren Heart indeed that cannot draw a Meditation from the least Gnat or most despicable Worm that crawls under his Feet 4. Direct Having thus prepared matter and pitcht upon some suitable Subject to Exercise thy thoughts and Meditations upon proceed then to drive on thy intended design to a head and to the end thou didst propose Now this end should be the enlightning of the Understanding and the clearing it from Error or Ignorance and the quickning the Affections and raising them to a higher pitch and the bringing of the Will to a Resolution In Meditation if rightly managed the Soul Exercises two sorts of Acts the one direct the other reflect the first upon the Subject Meditated upon the other upon the Soul it self By the first we find out the Rule by the second we apply our own Hearts to the Rule and observe our deviation and obliquity the first enlightens the Understanding and the other quickens the Affections by the first we come to know what is true what is false what is good what is bad what is sin what is duty and consequently what is to be chosen and what refused By the other we apply our Actions to this Rule and try whether we have walked according to it wherein we have gone astray and which way to return Now as there are two sorts of Acts so there is a different way for the Souls Acting for the attaining of those several ends For the first of these some have pitcht upon this course which though all men are not able to follow yet I shall set down for the use of those that can And that is to have recourse to those places that Natural and Artificial Reason affords us which may help the Invention and ready the Memory and much facilitate the Work I mean those Logical places following As first to consider the thing about which we Meditate what it is and therefore as ability doth serve consider it in the definition or the description of it but stand not over-long or over-nicely upon this or any of those that follow lest what you get one way may be lost another what you get in the Understanding be lost in the Affections And when thou hast found out the Nature of the thing consider it also in the distribution of it if it be a Subject capable of the sorts kinds and parts of it this will give room to thy thoughts and thy proceeding will be more distinct Consider it also in the causes the Efficient Material Formal and Final Cause The Efficient Cause is that by whose Virtue Force or Efficacy a thing is The Material Cause is ex qua res est of what matter a thing is made the Form is whereby a thing is that which it is and the end is the Cause for whose sake or for what purpose a thing is Consider also if the Subject will admit the Fruits and Effects for these are useful and helpful in the work and are also pertinent to our business Consider also the Subject wherein it is and about which 't is occupied as also of it's Properties and Qualities either adhering to it or inhering in it together with the opposite and contrary this also is useful also the comparats and desperats what it is like and what it 's unlike fit similitudes much Illustrate and give great light to the Understanding Testimony also is to be regarded but Noble Command assent like those of Scripture Holy mens Testimony is of good use but Divine Authority is all in all Or if you think this way too intricate you may take such a Method as is most Familiar to explain the Subject you treat of raise thy Observations clear the Doctrine from difficulties and doubts prove it both by Scripture and Reason and then make use of it according to the Nature of the Subject let it inform thee in the useful consectaries and conclusions that may thence follow let it Instruct thee in the duties it reaches forth let it be for Examination how thou hast carried thy self or whether thou hast the required qualifications for reproof if thou hast gone astray for incouragement if thou hast done thy duty for caution for the time to come and press all home upon thy heart Such a course is like to furnish thee with sutable matter for thy Souls good 5. Direct When thou hast thus far proceeded and by Meditation hast informed thy self of what is necessary in the present point and hast found out by the use of Reason and Scripture-Light what is Truth and what is Error what is sin and what is Duty what thou oughtest to do and what to avoid Thy next work is to press this upon thine own Head and compare thy Head and Actions with the Rule and try wherein thou hast gone right and wherein thou hast gone astray for if thou do not thus reflect back upon thy own Heart and Life the duty will do thee little good If thou only study to find out Truth from Error or what is sin and what is duty without Regulating thy Life and Actions accordingly and endeavour to fill thy Head with Notional knowledge it will but aggravate thy sin and thou wilt sin with a Candle in thy hand But when by this Impartial Tryal thou findest out wherein thou hast sinned and come short of thy duty which the Law of God requires at thy hand or wantest those required qualifications necessary to Salvation Press those things home upon thy heart till they make some Impressions there yea till they stir up the Affections and work upon the Will to a through Resolution of Reformation for the time to come This is the Life of Meditation and without this 't is little worth When thou findest wherein thou hast come short to come to a Resolution to make more hast and where thou hast sinned gone astray to return and where thou hast sinned to Reform Press on thy Meditation till thou findest some Life in it according to the Nature of the thing if it be good till thou find a sweetness in it if bad till it appear odious If it appear to be good by Scripture-light and rectified Reason then the affection of Love must needs be stirring for good is it's object and evil as evil cannot be loved When it appears to be bad the affection
overwhelmed in the Sea Exod. 14.21 Over Amalek Exod. 17.12 Over Sennacherib 2 Kings 19.32 It hath with-held Rain from the Earth for a long time and after procured it James 5.17,18 It hath brought Angels from Heaven for the help of man thus to Daniel Chap. 9.21 For Hezekiahs help 2 Kings 19.35 where an Angel slew in one Night in the Camp of Sennacherib a hundred forty and five thousand And to Elisha 2 Kings 6.17 where the Mountain was full of Horses and Chariots of Fire about Elisha It hath brought Fire from Heaven to consume the Enemies 2 Kin. 1.10.12 It hath procured Bears to devour those Children that mocked the Prophet 2 Kings 2.24 It is the way to cast out Devils Mat. 17.21 and to work strange deliverances as Jonah out of the Whales belly Jonah 2.10 Peter out of Prison Acts 12.5 c. By this the Widdows Oyl was increased 2 King 4.3 And Miracles might be wrought Mark 11.23 This is the way to recover the Sick James 5.15 To divert Judgments felt or feared thus Moses oft stood in the gap This is the way to procure pardon of Sin Luke 18.13 To avoid the Temptations of Satan Mat. 26.41 To have deliverance out of Troubles Psal 50.15 To procure the Spirit of God Luke 12.13 To get Wisdom James 1.5 Who now would not set upon such a Duty Now to perform this Duty well take these Directions 1. Direct There are several Qualifications requisite to every one that would rightly perform this Duty of Prayer in an acceptable manner without which a Blessing cannot be expected for though Christ bids ask and we shall have seek and we shall find knock and it shall be opened to us Yet St. James tells us we ask and have not because we ask amiss It is necessary in the first place that thou be a Child of God and have the work of Grace wrought upon thy Heart or otherwise thou hast no assurance of being heard The blind man John 9.31 could say God heareth not Sinners I know 't is the Duty of others to pray and the Apostle incourageth Simon Magus to the Duty if perhaps the thoughts of his heart might be forgiven But till the Heart be brought over to God we have no assurance that God will hear us the Sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to God till then we cannot comfortably call God Father nor come with boldness to the Throne of Grace neither will Christ Mediate or Intercede for us while we remain his Enemies neither will the Spirit of God assist us in the Duty Rom. 8.15 It is in Christ and through Faith that we have boldness and access with Confidence to God Eph. 3 12. 'T is necessary also that we hate sin if we come to God for he is a devouring Fire to his Enemies and will not be reconciled to those that are reconciled to Sin How can we heartily pray against Sin and for Holiness if we love Sin and hate Holiness As all unconverted Sinners do This is dissembling with God when the Heart is not with him If I regard Iniquity in my Heart saith David God will not hear my Prayers Psal 66.18 Yea God who is Holiness it self requires Holiness in all those that draw near to him and he being a Spirit will be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth Without Holiness no man shall ever see God with Comfort Heb. 12.14 Knowledge also is requisite for God cannot abide the Blind and the Lame in Sacrifice without this the mind cannot be good nor the Service acceptable without this a man knows not what to pray for or what to pray against what to seek or what to shun what is sin or what is Duty what he wants or what he hath and what blind worship is he like to offer he can never Pray as he ought Self-denial also is necessary he should in all things subject his will to the will of God A notable Example we have in Christ himself whose Meat and Drink it was to do his Fathers Will. So when he had prayed that that bitter Cup might pass from him yet adds not my Will but thine be done and thus he hath taught us to pray Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Faith also is requireâ— for if those shafts of Prayer are not headed by Faith they will never reach Heaven this is the Condition required whatsoever you ask believingly you shall receive and without Faith 't is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Nay further Patience is also required we must wait for an Answer not like those short-winded Bethulians that set God a time and will wait no longer but refer all to his Will who best knows his own time yea the best time and fittest Season He ought also to be an Humble man for God resisteth the Proud and giveth Grace to the Humble He that hath not low self-denying thoughts of himself God will have low thoughts of his Service he fills the hungry with good things but the Rich he sends empty away He must also beg for the power and assistance of the Spirit Rom. 8.26 God knows the voice of his Spirit Come not in thy own strength Thou must also be painful and Laborious not only pray for Mercies but endeavour for them a few faint wishes will not serve turn Sin must be fought against as well as pray'd against endeavours must be used 2. Direct Before thou come to this Duty of Prayer prepare thy Heart to meet the Lord thy God in so solemn a Duty Wert thou but to meet some Prince or Noble Man thou wouldst make some Preparation much more shouldst thou when thou art to meet the great God one that knows the Secrets of thy Heart and thy Ends and Motives in the Duty What business of Concernment is there but needs some preparation Much more when the Soul is so deeply concerned in it Examine therefore what Relation thou standest in to God whether he be a Friend or an Enemy Who can come with boldness to him that hath offended him and is not Reconciled If thou hast not a Mediator to Intercede for thee and a Surety to undertake thy Debt how darest thou approach to the Creditor to whom thou owest ten thousand Talents and canst not pay a Farthing How dar'st approach this Consuming Fire that art but Chaff and Stubble And what hopes hast of speeding if thou be not within the Covenant The promise belongs not to thee But when thou canst find an Interest in God and in the Covenant and in Christ canst call God Father yet rush not rudely into his Presence but study well what things he hath promised for those thou maist boldly ask Heaven and Earth shall pass but his Word shall not pass till it be fulfilled But if thou ask amiss that is what he never promised no wonder if thou receive it not acquaint thy self well with the Attributes of God his Power Goodness Justice and Truth c. This will be an Excellent
Foundation for thy Faith And when thou art come before him set thy self as in his Presence and let thy Heart be affected with awful Reverence of him who is the Searcher of the Heart and Tryer of the Reins There 's many that come to him in prayer and little consider with whom they have to do Come also with a full purpose and Resolution or else never come to leave and forsake all those sins thou shalt confess For if thou regard Iniquity in thy Heart God will not hear thy Prayer Psal 66.18 'T is a vain thing to think to get pardon for those sins thou wilt not leave or a dispensation to Sin Meditate before hand of the Number Nature and Quality of thy Sins Of the Purity of God's Law the Justice of God his Threatnings against Sin and Sinners and the punishments he hath brought upon the World for sin the little Good that Sin hath done thee and the great hurt c. These Considerations may work in thee a loathing of sin when thou seest that it is the cause of all thy Miseries then wilt thou put up real desires to have it Mortified and till then thou wilt but dally with God Study well before-hand what are thy wants which thou wouldst have supplyed by God Let it be thy daily work to think what Sin and Corruption is strong in thee and what Grace is weak or wanting and what thou wouldst beg at God's hands and have not thy Errand to seek when thou shouldst do it Study well also what Mercies thou hast received and forget not to render to God the Tribute of Praise Thankfulness for one Mercy is a real Petition for another Many like the Lepers will come in a Petition for Mercies they want but few in Thanksgiving for Mercies received Most men are like the Swine under the Tree they eat the Crabs or Acorns but look not up from whence they come And where as 't is a Commanded Duty to Pray one for another 't is necessary that we sympathize one with another Mourn with those that Mourn and Rejoyce with them that Rejoyce It was Nehemiah's practice and he should herein be our President when all went well with him in his own particular the Afflictions of the Church could wring Tears from his Eyes Nehem. 1.4 And if any jarr be between thee and another be Reconciled this is Christ's Counsel Mat. 5.23 Mark 11.26 Come thus prepared and there is great hopes of speeding 3. Direct Wouldst thou put up a prevailing Prayer See that thou make it to God alone and not to Saints or Angels or any Creature whatsoever This is that Homage which he hath reserved to himself and that Honour that he will not give to another Many are the Commands which are in Scripture for this Duty Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of Trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt Glorifie me And Christ bids us go to our Father in Secret and our Father which seeth in Secret will reward us openly Mat. 6.6 This was the Refuge which the Godly run to in all their streights Hither Abraham Isaac and Jacob went Gen. 18.27 28.3 32.11 Hither Moses goes when God threatned Israel Exod. 39.11 Yea Joshua Hannah Samuel David Solomon Elijah Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Peter and Christ himself and thus he taught us to do Mat. 6.9 Our Father which art in Heaven Many are the Promises which are made to those that go to God in the Name of Christ and many are the Experiences which Believers have had of the Return of Prayers made to God But in the whole Book of God there is not one Precept for or approved Example of any one that sought either to Saint or Angel nor any Promise to any that do so or any Experience that any have had any Return to their Prayer no nor encouragement to provoke us to believe that God approves it but the contrary There is nothing in Scripture to ground our Faith upon and what is not of Faith is Sin We may find God himself stiled A God Hearing Prayers A Title given to no Creature in Heaven or in Earth God is Omniscient and knows all things the very thoughts and wishes the sighs and breathings the longings hungrings and pantings of a broken Heart are known to him and he knows when Prayers proceed from unfeigned Lips he is Hoker Lebh Scutator Cordis The Searcher of the Heart Jer. 17.10 And 't is a Priviledge that no man on Earth can claim neither have we any assurance that Saints or Angels in Heaven can do it Again he is every where present at all times and in all places which the Angels themselves are not being finite Creatures and therefore is always in a readiness to help We know he hears our Prayers but have no assurance that the others do He is Omnipotent and able to help us he is El shaddai God All-sufficient Gen. 17.1 Able to remove all rubs out of the way but the Creature cannot help us they are but the Cistern he is the Fountain they have no more than what he puts into them Yea all Religious Worship is due to him alone whereof Prayer is a principal part and cannot be given to another without offence 'T is from him that we receive every good and perfect gift James 1.17 and therefore unto him we should go to beg it who keeps the dispose of them in his own hands and will be sought unto before he part with them God is the Object of our Faith and should be of our Prayers for How can we call upon him upon whom we have not believed Rom. 10.14 The very Heathen by the Light of Nature acknowledge this Priviledge this Duty was due to God alone they put up their Petitions to those they esteemed gods as the Mariners in Jonah's Ship called every man upon his god and advised Jonah to do so also Jonah 1.5 And God himself threatens the Families that call not upon his Name Jer. 10.25 And in their distress threatens to send them to the gods they serve How much then are those to blame that Pray to Saints and Angels as the Papists or offer up Religious Worship to any other but to God alone but till they can prove it a Duty by direct precept or approved Example till they can prove they are Omnipresent always at hand Omniscient and know all things Omnipotent and can help us in all our straits which they will never do lets us never leave the Fountain that is all this and go to the Cistern that cannot help us 4. Direct If thou wouldst speed in Prayer then go to God in the Name of Christ if thou take him not along with thee thou wilt not be welcom if thou come not cloathed in thy Elder Brothers Garments thou wilt return without the Blessing We are by Nature Enemies to God and he is a consuming Fire to his Enemies and Christ must be the Skreen to keep us from burning 't is he alone that can
those that are are these or the like The Spirit of God Faith Repentance and the rest of the Graces of God's Spirit these we must beg absolutely because they are not promised upon Condition Others are not so necessary to the Being but the well-being of a Christian As Peace of Conscience Assurance Joy in the Holy Ghost c. And these as they are not absolutely promised nor absolutely necessary should be asked with submission to the Will of God as he sees it best for us Temporal Blessings as Meat Drink Cloaths Health Peace Prosperity c. We must beg in submission to God's Will as we have Christ for an Example Not my Will but thine be done Every Prayer must be grounded upon Faith when the promise is conditional you shall have them if they be good for you you must pray Lord give them if they be good for me and for the Circumstances we must not limit the Holy one of Israel to time place manner measure or such like And in Deprecation of evils Spiritual or Temporal observe also this Rule that which hinders Salvation pray absolutely it may be removed if not submit unto the Will of God These Rules observed thou maist expect an Answer 6. Direct Wouldest thou put up a pleasing and prevailing Prayer unto God then thou must regard the manner of it as well as the matter Every Prayer good for the Matter is not acceptable to God because 't is exceeded in the manner of the performance A wicked Man may put up a good Petition when God regards it not Balaam's wish was good to dye the Death of the Righteous and that his last end might be like his Now as it must proceed from a Right Fountain a Heart purified by Faith So every Petition must be pointed by Faith or it will never pierce Heaven Nay 't is not enough to have Faith in the Habit but it must be in the Excrcise also and drawn out into the Act without Faith we cannot please God Heb. 11.6 No wonder then if many mens prayers are rejected for all men have not Faith Now Faith helps a man to a Foundation to build upon the Promises and Attributes of God this keeps the Heart from wavering and the Soul from fluctuating It points us out to Christ the Mediator sitting at the Right hand of God which offers up our prayers and brings us an Answer of peace Now though Faith be absolutely necessary yet 't is not sufficient there must be Repentance also and hatred of sin If I regard Iniquity in my Heart God will not hear my Prayer Psal 66.18 Non prodest medicam salum dum ferrum in vulnere let every Sin thou confessest draw sorrow from thy Heart and if possible Tears from thine Eyes such prayers are likeliest to prevail with that God that cannot behold Iniquity with approbation So likewise Zeal and fervency is a necessary Qualification 't is not every cold Petition will get Admittance at the Throne of Grace or pierce the Ears of God he hears not sluggish prayers this puts denials into his Mouth Every one can deny a cold Suitor Had the Woman of Samaria been of this Temper she had gone away without an Answer We should be fervent in Spirit serving God Rom. 12.11 'T is God's complaint Hos 7.14 They have not cryed unto me with their Heart Prayer is a part of God's Worship and a Curse is threatned to them that do the Work of the Lord negligently The business is of great Concernment and therefore should not be slightly performed If a Man were to beg for his Life how earnest would he be He would use all the Arguments he could and beg heartily Now this is for thy Life and the Life of thy Soul if thou prevail well and good if not thou art undone Men or Angels cannot help thee thy Diseases are so many and thy wants so great These Zealous Prayers are sometimes called the renting of the heart Joel 2.13 Sometimes wrastling with God and thus Jacob wrastled and prevailed And in Scripture 't is sometimes expressed by the Motions of the Body Hannah moved her Lips Solomon spread abroad his Hands the Publican beat his Breast and Christ fell upon the Ground Sometimes 't is exprest by deep Sighs and Groans which cannot be exprest Rom. 8.26 Sometimes by loud Crys Psal 32.3 Sometimes by often repeating the same Words as in Christ Mat. 26.30 And sometimes by bitter Tears as in Peter Mat. 26.75 Heb. 5.7 Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong Crys and Tears c. Yet this is not enough we must also watch and pray or watch in prayer 't is Christ's own Command Now Watching is the proper Act of the Body 't is but Metaphorically Attributed to the Soul Now both are required if the Body sleep the Soul cannot watch and if the Soul snort in Security Bodily Exereise profiteâ—… little Watch that there be no sin lying upon thy Conscience or Lived or delighted in that there be no passion predominant in the Soul no Temptation of Satan entertained no Worldly thoughts foisted in to spoil thy Duty no drousiness creeping upon thee watch that thy Heart grow neither Cold nor Lazy in the performance or steal away from the Duty that Pride nor self appear there that no roving Imagination vain thoughts or needless tautologies appear there But above all take heed thou come not in thine own strength but by the assistance of the Spirit of God perform the Duty which is given to this end Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8.26 Jude 20. Praying in the Holy Ghost this illuminates the heart discovers what is sin and what is Duty what a Man is what he hath and what he wants what a God he hath to deal with what he requires and worketh in us both the will and the Deed. 7. Direct If thou wouldest speed well at the Throne of Grace be sure to demean thy self well after the Duty if thou miscarry then thou wilt lose all thy Labour think not that the Duty is over when thou art off thy Knees no there is good part behind Call thy Heart to an Account how it hath carried it self in the Duty if this were duly done it durst not wander as it usually doth for fear of a check and having found out it's carriage be affected accordingly if well rejoyce and bless God for it it was he that kept it in Order If ill check it and make it smart for it and stir it up by some rousing Considerations Examine also what assistance thou hast had from the Spirit of God God promises the assistance of his Spirit in the Inditing their prayers and teaching them what to ask if he have made good this promise bless God for it and be encouraged by it for the future and expect the fulfilling those desires that the Spirit assisted in the powring out If thou hast not met with this assistance 't is doubtless thy own fault for God
set forth the thoughts the words and Actings of a gracious Soul in every Condition and the Experience they have had of God's help at hand in every Condition How oft doth the Psalmist begin like Jonah in the belly of Hell And is raised up to Heaven before the Conclusion And 't is wonder that any should desist from such an Angelical duty which so much resembles Heaven But because many no doubt out of Conscience Question the Duty I shall first prove the Duty Lawful and then give my Advice how it may be performed 1. Direct If thou wouldest perform this Duty acceptably to God and profitably to thy self be well convinc'd that it is thy Duty halt not between two Opinions do it chearfully and understandingly which thou canst not do so long as thou doubtest whether it be thy Duty or whether God will own it at thy Hands Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin Rom. 14.23 To this End view the Arguments following which I suppose may be sufficient to prove it thy Duty My business in this Treatise is not to meddle with Controversies yet so far as the digression may be tolerable and my Method and Design will allow I shall speak something for thy Satisfaction Consider therefore God hath furnished Man for this Duty in giving him this Musical Faculty with which as with all the rest he should Glorifie God And how can he Glorifie him better with it than with Trumpetting out his praise and Singing forth his Glory This is the way that David stirs up his Tongue to praise God This was an acceptable Service unto God even before the Ceremonial Law was given Exod. 15.1 Then Sang Moses and the Children of Israel this Song unto the Lord c. By this means also the Spirit of God is stirred up in us Eph. 5.18,19 Be filled with the Spirit speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs This leaves a sweet relish and delight upon the Spirit Psal 104.33,34 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I Live I will sing unto my God while I have my Being my Meditation of him shall be sweet Nay this is that which Saints and Angels do in Heaven and shall do for ever Thus the Angels did Isa 63. even with an Audible voice As also of our Saviours Birth Luke 2.13 Rev. 5.8,9 14.3 15.3 And this shall be their work for ever Yea it hath been Prophesied that there shall be Singing in Gospel times Isa 20. In that day shall this Song be sung Isa 52.8 Thy Watch-men shall lift up the voyce with the voyce together shall they Sing c. Which the Apostle Interprets to be in Gospel Times Heb. 2.12 Yea all Nations are stirred up to sing praises unto God Psal 100.1 Psal 95.12 Which includes both Jews and Gentiles and must be understood of Gospel Times as 't is Interpreted Heb. 4.3 Neither can this Duty under the Law be Typical for neither Scripture nor Reason can shew that Singing Psalms Typified out a Believers Singing with the Heart in Gospel Times any more than prayer with the Voyce Typifies out praying with the Heart Nay Christ and his Apostles after his departure would not have used it had it been Ceremonial If this serve not we have plain Scripture Commands for the Duty even in Gospel Times Eph. 5.19 Speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs Singing with Melody in your Hearts Col. 3.16 Teaching and Admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your Hearts to the Lord James 4.9 If any be Afflicted let him Pray and if any be Merry let him sing Psalms Now all this shews this is a Duty If yet this satisfie not we have the best Examples to warrant us I shall set before you the Angels at the Birth of Christ Luke 2.13 And the Holy Men of God in the Time of the Law David was called The sweet Singer of Israel But this is not all we have the Example of Christ himself and his Disciples which is without Exception Mat. 26.30 After Supper they sung an Hymn which probably was the same which the Jews were accustomed to sing at the Passeover viz. those Songs of Degrees from Psal 112 c. to Psal 118.19 However this shews the Lawfulness of the Duty We have also the Example of Paul and Silas that Sang in the Prison with an Audible Voice for the Prisoners heard them Acts 26.25 We have also the practice of the Church down since the Apostles Time and all those cannot likely persist in an Error so long This we have for our Warrant and little can be said against it and therefore I shall conclude 't is a Lawful and Laudable practice 2. Direct Is concerning the Matter of our Singing which must be Holy not Prophane to God's Glory not our own There are many that think it is a Gospel-Duty to Sing Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs and yet they Scruple the Singing of David's Psalms and thus they seek a knot in a Rush David's Psalms were an Acceptable Service unto God and we read not where ever God disclaimed them They were used and Sung not only by himself but others not only in his own Time but in succeeding Generations where they Praised God with David's words As we find in Solomon's Time 2 Chron. 5.13 In Jehoshaphat's Time 2 Chron. 20.21 In Hezekiah's Time 2 Chron. 29.20 In Ezra's Time Ezra 3.10,11 In the two former places we find David's words used in the two latter we find an express Command and Example of Praising God with David's words and with the words of Asaph You see the estimate the Church of God put upon them yea as may be apparently proved they were thus in use even to Christ's Time as History Records these Psalms of David in the times of the Law were sung by the four and twenty Orders of Musicians which seem to Typifie out the Twenty four Elders men ioned Rev. 5.8 The Song of Moses the Servant of God Exod. 15.1 c. Was Sung not only by him but by the People not only by Men but Women also Exod. 15.20,21 Yea Moses was Commanded to write his other Song and teach it unto the Children of Israel and put it into their Mouths Deut. 31.19 And to what purpose was it thus written and thus to be learnt but that they should sing it I have already proved we ought to Sing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs the very Name gives unto David's Psalms Nay there is strong probability that Christ himself when he was upon the Earth Sang David's Psalms at the close of his Supper for if he would conform to the Custom of the Jews to Sing an Hymn at the close of the Passeover What ground have we to think he did not conform to them in Singing the same Hymn which they were wont to do which was as hath been said David's Hymns however the Scriptures make mention of no other And 't is observed
that the Ancient Hebrew Copy of Saint Matthew's Gospel gives favourable Light unto it by making use of the word there which is the Title unto David's Psalms We find also the Apostle Pen'd good part of the Second Psalm Acts 4.24 and why not Sing it And if Christ and his Apostles had had any other Hymns they would have been left upon Record as some of their Prayers are but no such thing is to be found Nay we read that the Angels themselves in their Coelestial Harmony conforming themselves to the words of David and allude unto the Song of Moses the Servant of the Lord and therefore doubtless 't is not unlawful for us to do thus 'T is true indeed we are Commanded to sing in the Spirit and so we may if we use a Form indited by the Spirit and Sing them with the Heart and Understanding We are Commanded to Pray by the Spirit and can any Imagine but so we may though we use the Form Christ hath bid us use But if we expect an immediate impulse of the Spirit dictating to us both sense and Meeter and putting words into our Mouths as we sing not one of a thousand if ever any at all will be found to have such a gift Indeed in the Apostles days when extraordinary gifts were given some such thing might be which now cannot be expected any more than the gift of Healing And seeing that David and Moses Men endued with the Spirit Pen their Songs for the Publick good let us be contented to see by their Light and not presume to compare with them much less to exceed them We may find special Psalms appointed upon special occasions as for the Sabbath day c. And the Book of Psalms is so perfect a Sentence that there needs no Addition and if it did doubtless God would have ditected some to have perfected the work 't is a great boldness for any man not indued with the Spirit of God to thrust upon the Church an Hymn of his own making and lay aside those indited by the Spirit If we must Sing it must be David's Psalms or worse I think no humble man will compare the beats of his own brain with the immediate impulses of the Spirit I know not what Warrant we have to leave the one to use the other 3. Direct Be satisfied also concerning the Persons obliged to perform this Duty for some that confess 't is a Christian Duty to be done in Gospel Times yet think not that all Christians are hereby engaged Some conceive 't is the Ministers Duty alone as he is the Mouth of the People to God in Prayer so should he also be in Singing and the rest should tacitely consent and joyn in Heart but should not vocally sing 'T is easily granted that a godly Man for his own solace may sing alone and thus David did his Night-Songs upon his Bed Psal 77.6 And 't is evident also in the Primitive Times when the gift of Tongues was in use and other extraordinary gifts which now are ceased One that had a Psalm given by Divine Inspiration might and did Sing alone and the rest joyned as afore-said and said Amen to it For it was impossible and improbable that all should sing together by such a Divine rapture But this gift failing and David's Psalms Lawful yea the best we have or can have The whole Church may joyn in these not only in Heart but in Voice I think this need not be controverted God that is the God of Order and never established or owned Confusion hath formerly owned this as I have shewed Where Priests and People Men and Women joyned together as in Moses Song Exod. 15.1,2 c. The whole Church of Coloss was exhorted hereunto Col. 3.16 And not the Pastours and Select Elders only And if God would have such Select Choristers for this Work in Gospel Times he would have given Instructions and Directions for their Qualification and Election as he hath done for other Officers besides some Ministers otherwise Godly and able are not fitted for this Duty neither have they such a Musical Faculty as to be fit to be the Mouth of the People in this Duty And God hath indued many of the People in this beyond their Minister and doubtless it is not given in vain Moses and the Children of Israel Sang together Ex. 15.1,2 c. Yea in Gospel Times Christ and his Disciples Mat. 26.30 The like we read of Paul and Silas and why should we doubt that have such Leaders I know not The Angels that were ten thousand times ten thousand yea thousands of thousands joyned together without Confusion Rev. 5.11,12 But you will say here is no Expression of Singing See then those hundred forty and four Thousand that followed the Lamb those sang a new Song which no other could Learn Rev. 14.1.3 And this shall be the Saints work for ever But some question whether Women may sing in the Church and think they have cause enough for their doubt because the Apostle doth peremptorily forbid a Woman to speak in the Church but she cannot sing but she must speak 1 Cor. 14 34. But this is grounded upon a mistake Indeed they ought not to speak by way of Office or Publick Teaching but must be under the Authority of her Husband Neither to make Questions there but at Home lest they transcend the bounds of Modesty but that they must not speak at all will not be proved Sapphira spake when Peter demanded her Answer Nay then they must not say Amen to the Prayers a Duty enjoyned to all in general We read of Miram and the Women they Sang and were not reproved Exod. 15.20,21 And that it was the practice in the Primitive Times for Men and Women to Sing together The Ecclesiastical History may inform you But some Men doubt whether Carnal Men and Women ought to Sing or whether Christians ought to joyn with them if they do and the reason is they think hereby they hold Fellowship with them But what Reason is there that a Man may pray in a mixt Congregation and not sing when as this is but a more deliberate sort of Prayer the Voice is Natural the Tune Artificial so far we may joyn and the Matter is common to both And for the Manner if they sing Spiritually then they are fit to be joyned with if not what Spiritual Communion have we with them No question but it is their Duty and why may we not joyn with a Man doing his Duty Moses Sang with a Rebellious People and God Commanded him to write his Song as a Witness against them Deut. 31.19 And there is no Psalm but every one in the Congregation may Learn some Instruction from it and make some good use of it 4. Direct Be well satisfied also in Singing David's Psalms as they are turned into English Meeter for this also in our Age is become a Scruple unto many For when they cannot deny this to be a Duty yet
here something may be added for as thou must remember the Sabbath before it come to prepare for it so when 't is come improve it to the best Advantage And to this End Rise as timely in the Morning as thy Health will permit Were it to go to some Market or Fair or to do some earnest or important business how early wouldst thou Rise And why not now the better to fit thy self for thy Masters work and to Sanctifie as much of the Consecrated time as thou canst and do God as much work as may be and Reason good for God is the best Master and pays the best Wages and therefore he should have most work done And by this means thou wilt redeem the more time for thy private Devotion When thou first awakest Consecrate thy first thoughts to God and begin the day with some Fruitful Meditation suitable to the Season and the work in hand for this will fit thee for after-Duties But if thou let the World or Sin have thy first thoughts 't is hard getting them out of possession of thy Heart Examine thine own Heart what Graces thou hast weak or wanting that thou wouldst have supplyed what Sins are strong that thou wouldst have mortified what sins thou hast Committed especially the week last what Mercies thou hast received that so thy Heart may be affected accordingly Go to God with shame in thy Face and sorrow in thy Heart and if it may be with Tears in thine Eyes and confess thy sins to him and never rest till thou hast a discharge Many give themselves so much Liberty of sleeping in the Morning that much of those secret Duties are either neglected or slubbered over and they have little time to set the Heart in Order But how can a man expect a Blessing that is guilty of such neglects But these secret Duties are not sufficient If thou hast a Family call them together in convenient time Read some Portion of Holy Scripture to them and if thou canst fasten something upon their Spirits by Familiar Discourse or otherwise and then joyn with them in Prayer to God for the pardon of the sins of the Family and a supply of Grace and a Blessing upon the Publick Ordinances for their Souls good And here forget not to put up some Petitions for him who is to be your mouth unto God that he might do it prevailingly and that he that is to be God's mouth to you may reach your Hearts and speak a word in season to your Souls and meet with your beloved sins and put you on to your neglected Duties If Holy Paul desires the Prayers of his Hearers Col. 4.3 much more need have your Ministers And having thus disposed thy private Devotions make timely resort unto the publick 'T is an ill Custom which many have to stay late and savours but of little Love to the Ordinances These Men would make more hast to a Feast or Banquet perhaps to a Stage-Play or Morrice-dance And when thou hast thus done and brought thy Family along with thee behave thy self and see that they behave themselves gravely and orderly and joyn with the Minister hear attentively pray zealously and sing affectionately and do every Duty chearfully write the Sermon in thy Book or in thy Memory especially the most material Heads and after the Morning Exercise use sobriety in Meat and Drink lest thy Body be surcharged and become unfit for the Evening Exercise for though Meat and Drink may be taken yet no more than fits thee for thy Duty Spend the inter-mediate-inter-mediate-time in Prayer Singing Repeating Meditation c. and frequent the Evening Exercise as thou didst in the Morning and when the Publick is done spend the remaining part of thy time in private Duties as Repeating the Sermon and Examining the proficiency of thy People incouraging the Diligent reproving the Idle In Meditation of what thou hast heard pressing it upon thy own and People's Hearts and put it into Practice which is the Life of all without which 't is like Food eaten but not digested which seeds Diseases and not the Body Call thy Family together suffer them not to wander after Vanity Read some Portion of Holy Writ and if it may be make them understand God's Will in it Catechize and Instruct them in the Fundamentals of Religion Pray with them and for them for the Pardon of their sins and a Blessing upon the means Commend them and all thine and all the Israel of God into God's Protection and so conclude the day in Secret with God as thou beganst confess the miscarriages of thy Heart and bless God for the assistance thou hast found follow this course and the Sabbath will prove a Market-day for thy Soul 7. Direct 'T is not enough to Sanctifie the Sabbath thy self but God requires thee to improve thy Authority that those under thy Charge may Sanctifie it also And if by thy negligence or remissness thou sufferest sin to be Committed on it and wilt not hinder it it will be laid at thy door and charged upon thine Account qui non prohibet cum potest Jubet Now this chiefly concerns Superiors for to them is the Command chiefly directed Exod. 20.10 They are to Command and others are to Obey All Governors therefore whether Civil Military or Ecclesiastical are hereby obliged to improve their Interest and Authority to hinder the Prophanation of the Lod's day and to promote the Sanctification of it It was good Joshua's Resolution He and his would Serve the Lord Josh 24.15 And God himself who could not be mistaken faith of Abraham He knew that he would Command his Children and Houshold after him to keep his Commandments Gen. 18.19 The Magistrate is Custos utrius Fabulae and therefore should look to it that the Commands of God be not broken or Contemned They should be Nursing Fathers to the Church and therefore should see that their Children take good ways and run not into dangers Isa 49.23 They are Vice-Gerents upon Earth and should Act like God and see his Commands observed they should encourage the good and punish the disobedient they should Reprove Threaten Restrain and Punish the Disobedient for the Prophaning of the Sabbath and encourage the good that it may appear they bear not the Sword in vain This was Nehemiah's Practice in the same Case Nehem. 13.15 c. The Fourth Commandment saith as much which is Directed to Superiors who have most Power to Reform this amiss An Example of a Magistrates Power we have in Josiah who Commanded all his Subjects to stand to the Covenant he had made with the Lord and made them to Serve the Lord their God though doubtless many of them had rather have Served Baal 2 Chron. 34.32,33 That is he forc'd them to an outward compliance We find in many places Death is threatned to the Prophanation of this day Now if the Magistrate had not Power to punish as some imagine who should inflict his Death Can it be
to the End of the World Those therefore that run before they are sent and incroach upon this holy Ordinance without a Call let them remember the sin of Corah Dathan and Abiram and also their Punishment for incroaching upon the Priests Office And as he must be rightly Called so he should be rightly Qualified for the work that he may not only know but also Teach the People the Nature End Use and Benefit of this Sacrament that he bring not forth a dumb Idol which neither he nor the People know nor Understand The Subject Recipient ought also to be rightly Qualified if he be of Years of Discretion he should know the Principles of Religion the Nature End and Use of the Sacrament He should profess Faith in and submission to Christ And if they are Infants the Parents should be thus Qualified The Church they have their Duties too 'T is their Duty not only to be Spectators but to joyn Hand and Heart in the Work that they beg of God for the Party Baptized that not only the Sign and Seal but the Grace of the Covenant may be conferred and that a Seed may be sown in this Ordinance that in time may spring forth 'T is necessary also that a right Element be used viz. water true Natural water without any Sophistication mixture or Composition for this is agreeable to the will of Christ and the Papists Addition of Salt Spittle and Cream is a Humane Invention and no wise pleasing to God We find Christ was Baptized with water and the Apostles used no other The River Jordan Salem and other places were frequented to this End Thus the Eunuch thus Cornelius were Baptized and this is most suitable to the End for which it was Ordained and best Answers the Type and Shadow of it in the time of the Law and serves best to signifie and Represent the blood of Christ for as water is of a mundifying Nature so is the Blood of Christ unto the Soul and this also is agreeable unto Antiquity water being always used in the Primitive Time Niciphorus Reports when a Minister for want of Water used Sand in Baptizing a Man that Baptism was by the Church accounted a Nullity and the Man was after Baptized with water And it must also be done in a Lawful and due manner Form the External Form consists in the Ministers words and Actions For words 't is not Lawful for him to use what words he pleaseth but the words of Institution he must Baptize in the Name of the Father the Son and of the Holy Ghost And his Actions should be agreeable to his Words and so he must either dip or dive the Baptized Party into the water or pour or sprinkle water upon him 'T is conceived in the Primitive Time in those Hot Countreys dipping in the water was most used which in some places especially in those cold Countreys the Church hath altered for God will have Mercy and not Sacrifice and the Scripture seems to hold forth many favourable Instances for washing or sprinkling Heb. 9.10.19.20,21 Acts 2.42 16.33 Mark 7.4 It is not like that all these were dipped the word in the Original signifies washing whether by Diving into the water or by pouring water upon Eph. 5.26 Titus 3.5 For as Circumcision applyed to one part of the Body did suffice so Baptism though the water be not applyed to the whole may yet signifie the blood of Christ applyed to the Soul and the Conscience is said to be sprinkled with this Blood for as a little Bread and a little Wine signifies whole Christ so a little water signifies his Blood and serve to seal the Covenant as well as more 6. Direct When thou hast solemnly entered thus into Covenant with the Lord and his Vows are upon thee and accepted the Offered Sacrament and set to thy Seal and obliged thy self to the performance know then 't is thy Duty to perform thy Vows unto the Almighty remember with whom thou Covenantest 'T is with one that cannot be deceived and that will not be mocked and one that is well able to avenge the Quarrel of his Covenant and that will avenge it if thou perform it not It was wise Solomon's Counsel Eccl. 5.4,5 When thou vowest a Vow unto God defer not to pay it for he hath no pleasure in Fools pay that which thou hast vowed Better it is that thou shouldest not Vow than to Vow and not perform Thou hast in thy Baptism Dedicated thy self up to God and bound over thy self to his Obedience thou hast taken Press-mony from him and engaged thy self to fight his Battles and to be an Enemy to his Enemies And canst thou without horrid Treachery fight the Devils Battles against him Thou hast vowed thy self against Sin the World and the Devil and wilt thou take part with them against God It is Death for a Souldier to leave his Colours and side with the Enemy and is it nothing to leave God when we have taken Press-money and Pay from him and joyn with the Devil against him What benefit canst thou then expect by thy Baptism or what good is it like to do thee Simon Magus was Baptized but had little benefit by his Baptism he was still in the gaul of Bitterness and in the bonds of Iniquity and had no part or lot in the benefits of the Covenant If Herod made Conscience of a rash and unlawful Oath how much more should Christians of so serious so solemn so Beneficial a Covenant The keeping whereof would make them everlastingly Happy and the breach thereof will make them eternally Miserable What horrid Treachery is it for thee to vow Service unto God and to perform it to the Devil and the World To carry God's Mark in thy Fore-head and the Devils Brand in thy Heart To call thy self a Christian and Live the Life of an Heathen or Infidel What is this but to put a Sheeps skin upon a Wolves back Or the Kings stamp upon counterfeit Coin Consider if thou do thus Baptism will be so far from saving thee that it will condemn thee and the Baptismal water that was cast upon thee will prove like the water of Jealousie unto the defiled Woman Num. 5.27 it will be attended with a visible judgment and prove a Curse and not a Blessing What benefit dost thou intend to receive by it Dost expect the Benefit of the Covenant Dost imagine that God is engaged to thee and not thee to him Thou art much deceived if thou break with him thou dis-ingagest him God indeed Offers Christ if thou wilt receive him and promises upon that Condition to be a reconciled Father to thee to give thee Remission of sin Regeneration Adoption and Glory for ever and hereunto he puts this Seal to the Covenant And thou promisest upon thy part to accept of Christ upon the offered terms vowedst Obedience to him and Dedicatest thy self to his Service and thereupon acceptest the offered Sacrament and settest thy Seal to the
the outward Signs or Symbols viz. Bread and Wine which though they are not changed into the Body and Blood of Christ as the Papists Teach yet are they not naked bare or empty things but such as really exhibit yea Seal Christ and all his Benefits to a Believing Soul No other Bread nor Wine in the World though a drop a bit were worth a Kingdom are to be compared hereunto The Internal Matter is Christ and all his Graces these are signified resembled exhibited and applyed by the outward Elements The Form is that which gives a Being and perfection to the Matter without the which this Bread and Wine would be but Common Bread and Wine This also is External or Internal the External Form consists in the Lawful Administration and participation of it according to God's Word the Internal Form is the Union between the Sign and the thing signified Now this Sacramental Union is an Act of God's Spirit by whose virtue Christ his Merits and Benefits are not only resembled and presented to the mind but are really made one with the Elements yet this Union is not Natural according to place for there is no mutation of the Sign into the thing signified neither is the thing signified included or fastened to the thing signifying it cannot be a local Union that Christ's Body should be locally present with the Sign for Christ's Body though Glorified cannot be in all places at once Neither is it a Physical Union as if of two United losing their proper Forms should by a mixture make a third but 't is a Spiritual Union whereby the Lord Jesus is really conveyed to the Soul for besides his Divine presence and the presence of his Spirit he is present with his Body and Blood not locally but Sacramentally he is Symbolically present to the mind he is present Spiritually by the Eye of Faith Efficaciously present though absent in Place yet we find the fruit of his presence in our Spirits the Ends of the Sacrament are the confirmation of our Faith the Sealing of the Covenant of Grace and to be a Badge or Note of our Profession to be a pledge of our Obedience to and Communion with Christ and a Testimony of our Society with the Church and may seem as a Prospective Glass to view Christ afar off In the Covenant God promises to be our God and the God of our Seed and sets to his Seal and we Seal the Counterpane and ingage that we and ours will Serve the Lord and by virtue of this Covenant so mutually entred into all the Promises and Benefits of the Covenant are ours so that you see a right receiving of this Sacrament is of very great Concernment and the unworthy Receiving is very dangerous Here is Manna for a believing Soul but Poyson to an unworthy Receiver This nourished Peter but Poysoned Judas it feeds the good but kills the bad it makes some better and some worse some more Holy and some more Prophane it increaseth Grace where Grace is but increaseth Guilt where Grace is wanting 'T is like the Sun when it shines upon a Garden of Herbs it makes them smell more odoriferously when upon a Dung-Hill it makes it smell more fulsomly 'T is like the passing through the Red Sea safe to Israel dangerous to the Egyptians he that brings strange Fire he shall be burnt by it Lev. 10.3 God will be Honoured by those that draw near to him he that comes without a Wedding Garment shall go away not with Grace in his Heart but with Bolts upon his Heels Mat. 22.12 According to a mans preparation such is like to be his Entertainment He that Sows nothing shall Reap nothing and he that Soweth Vanity shall Reap Folly and he that Sows sparingly shall Reap little 2 Cor. 9.6 He that taketh most care and pains is like to have the best Crop Me-thinks there needs no more Motives to perswade you than the benefit of worthy Receiving and the danger of the contrary the one hath his Grace increased the other his sin the one hath his Salvation Sealed up the other without Repentance his Damnation He hath God's Curse under Seal and they Eat and Drink their own Damnation and are guilty of Christ's Death 1. Direct If thou wouldst partake of the Sacrament worthily thou must Examine thy self whether thou hast those Habitual Qualifications which are requisite for so Holy a Duty There are several Graces that must be Exercised at this time but how can a Man Act Grace that hath it not He that comes to the Wedding Feast without a Wedding Garment is not like to be a welcom Guest Mat. 22.12 Without Grace in Exercise this Ordinance will do thee little good Thou mayst indeed eat the Bread and drink the Wine these are bodily Actions but without Faith thou canst not feed upon Christ in the Ordinance and what good will a bit of Bread or a sup of Wine do thee Faith is the Hand that receives him the Mouth that feeds upon him and the Stomach that digests him and sucks sweetness from him Try whether thou hast Spiritual Life a Man by Nature is dead in sins and Trespasses and without Regeneration he remains thus and what good will a Feast do to a Dead Man If you put Meat into a Dead Man's mouth what is he benefited by it Will it nourish him Can he eat it swallow or Digest it when he cannot Exercise any Act of Life without which Food will be in vain No more can this Sacrament nourish till a Man be Regenerated and new born and have a Principle of Spiritual Life put into him A wicked Man is a Stranger to the Covenant of Grace he hath not the required Qualifications neither doth he intend to keep the Condition and what then hath he to do with the Seal Or what hope can he have of the Priviledges If a Man hath Evidences for Lands mutually Signed and Sealed if he fail in the Covenants on his part how can he expect another should make good his A wicked Man is Uncircumcised in Heart and those that were not circumcised were not permitted to eat the Passeover to which the Lord's Supper Answers Exod. 12.43 Now these Habitual Qualifications are such as the Scripture requires and such as make up the Wedding Garment And a Man should have Evidences to shew before he lay claim to such an Ordinance he should be in Covenant before he receive the Seal of the Covenant This Ordinance is not for the begetting but for the strengthening of Grace The Apostle to this End bids a Man Examine himself and so let him eat of this Bread and drink of this Cup 1 Cor. 11.28,29 For he that eateth this Bread and drinketh this Cup of the Lord unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself not discerning the Lords Body The word Examine signifies to take a strict Account of himself and make a diligent search into himself as whether he be Gold or dross whether he be chaff or Wheat
it may be it is a Metaphor taken from a Goldsmith that try their Gold whether it be pure and the dross purged out and consumed or from those that try their Coin not superficially but by the weight by the sight by the sound by the touch stone that so they may not be deceived with what is bad and counterfeit and so must we in this case Especially considering the Devil hath much counterfeit coin goes abroad for currant and most Men are deceived and 't is easie to be deceived especially when our own Hearts are the greatest Cheats Try thy Evidences for Heaven whether thou art Regenerated or not otherwise thou art not for Heaven John 3.3.5 Whether thou art an Adopted Child of God For none else ought to eat at his Table Christ will not be Food to nourish any other he will not have the Devils Brats Dine at his Table none ought to sit there but those that shall sit with him in the Kingdom of Heaven Hast thou those Graces that always accompany conversion For these are necessary in this work as Sanctified and Sanctifying knowledge without which thou canst not discern the Lord's Body or know God or thy self or the Tenure of the Covenant of Grace the Nature of the Sacrament or the state of thy own Soul c. Faith also is necessary to lay hold upon Christ in this Ordinance and feed upon him c. Repentance for sin past and new Obedience for the time to come Love also to God to his Word and to his Children with a longing desire after Christ in the Ordinance for what shall we do at a Feast without a stomack The Trial of these Graces I shall now wave having in another Treatise partly handled it 't is called The Souls Looking-Glass or a Spiritual Touch-stone to which I refer you because I will not Actum agere do a thing that is done before 2. Direct Though Habitual preparation and a gracious disposition of which we have Treated before be absolutely necessary without which a Man cannot be a welcom Guest to this Marriage Feast as we see in the Foolish Virgins Mat. 25.1,2 c. who notwithstanding they had Lamps in their Hands yet for want of this Oyl of Grace in their Hearts were not admitted but the door was shut against them I say though this be necessary yet it is not sufficient 't is not enough to have a Marriage Garment but we must have it on and made clean and handsom if we would Honour the Wedding 'T is not enough to have Faith and Knowledge and Love and Obedience c. in the Habit but we must have them in the Exercise what good will they do us if we use them not 'T is not enough to have Lamps in our Hands yea and Oyl in our Vessels though most go without but we must have our Lamps always burning we must rise and trim our Lamps When we go to meet the Bride-groom Christ in such a Duty we must snuff our Candles that they may burn bright 'T is not enough for a Musician to have an Instrument but he must have it in Tune or it will yield bad Musick nay he must have skill to use it or it will not do nay he must be in a capacity to make use of his skill which is not if his hands be cold or numb'd or otherwise out of Order The Souls Musick is quickly spoyled if it be out of Tune 'T is not enough for a Carpenter or Joyner to have Tools and Matter to work upon but he must often by grinding or whetting put an edge upon them or they are not fit for his purpose 'T is not enough to have Houshold stuff in abundance but it must be set in Order not on a confused heap yea and scoured and made bright if we would use them to adorn the House And in like manner 't is not enough for a Christian to have the fore-mentioned Habits and Qualifications but he must reduce them into Art and Exercise he must scour them up against such a good Time as this and rub off the rust and make them fit for use yea make use of them for to this End they were given And a Christian notwitstanding the Habits may and will be an unworthy Receiver if they be not in Exercise 'T is necessary that some Vital Operations co-operate to the Receiving Digesting and Concocting our Meat or it will not nourish and so that this Spiritual Food may prove Refreshing to the Soul 'T is necessary that there be a principle of Spiritual Life and the Actings of Grace concur with the Receiving and Digesting of it A Godly Man may sometimes be in an Appoplexy and have a stupifyed Soul and a benumbed Conscience he may have his swooning Fits when Life is scarce discerned to appear It may seem David sometimes was in this Condition or some other great Distemper Now you know though there be Life yet in such case 't is not safe to give Food stir up therefore thy Graces and get them in Exercise 't is the best way to procure heat and digestion Consider seriously what thou art about and with whom thou hast to do and what is the danger of unworty Receiving and the benefit of the contrary Consider thou hast a price put into thy Hand O let not an Heart be wanting to get wisdom In this Ordinance all thy wants may be supplyed here thy Graces may be strengthened and thy Communion with God renewed Thy Covenant with God is here ratified and Christ and all his Benefits made over to thy Soul Here thou mayst have the pardon of thy sins and whatever else is requisite for thy Soul if thou come preparedly and Act Faith upon the Promise and improve thy Interest in the Covenant come therefore with a Thirsting desire of Christ in the Ordinances this is a Qualification required Isa 55.12 John 7.37 Rev. 22.15 Long after this Bread of Life for this Longing shall be satisfied Come with Confidence to have thy needs and wants supplyed and to this End Exercise Faith on the Promise this Grace is all in all in the Duty 't is both the Hand and the Mouth Exercise Repentance for sin past and resolve to Obey for the time to come But if thou come unprepared thou eatest and drinkest thy own Damnation and becomest guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ let such such Considerations as these move thee 3. Direct If thou wouldst worthily partake of this Sacrament propound right Ends to thy self in so doing the End as I have said as in other Duties so in this either makes or marrs the Action Now the End though last in the Execution is first in the Intention 't is the first mover What is it that a man will do but is for some End this like the weights on a Clock or the Spring in a Watch sets all the Wheels on work and is the cause of the Entrance and continuance of the Motion Who is it that Builds an
the Sacrament but without Faith they cannot be laid hold upon 6. Direct Having shewed you what Preparation is necessary and also what Qualifications and how thou shouldst stand affected when thou comest to this Ordinance I shall next shew thee how to demean thy self in the very Act of Receiving For thy External behaviour or outward demeanour it should be such as is suitable to the Ordinance and to the presence of the Great God Reverent Grave Seemly and such as bespeaks Humility and self-abasing not Light and wanton and gazish but such as becomes a Guest at such a Table yet beware of such Voluntary or Superstitious Humility such as the Papists and some others use which hath no Footing in the vvord of God the surest way is to take the Scripture for our Guide But for thy Inward Carriage which is most to be regarded be sure thy Heart be not wanting for God cannot endure Heartless Service if this Instrument be not in Tune the Musitioner is bad here if any where God calls Son give me thy Heart and nothing else will serve turn but the Heart and the Heart broken and bleeding Come with the Heart humbled God cannot endure a proud Person especially in an Ordinance that hold forth that which may humble thee here is Christ Crucified and his Blood shed for thy sin thou wast the Traytor that betrayed him the Judge that Condemned him and the Executioner that put him Death and will not this work upon thee Is it nothing to have Blood lying upon thee the Blood of the Innocent the Blood of a Friend the Blood of a King yea the Blood of the Son of God What ingenious Spirit but would melt at such a Consideration Every Sacramental Action of the Minister may further thy Meditation and help thee up to Heaven in thy Contemplation When thou beholdest the Minister who stands in the place of God setting apart and Consecrating the Bread and Wine by the Word and Prayer will not this bring to thy Mind the Love of God to thy Soul Who from Eternity set apart his only Son Jesus Christ to be thy Mediator and Advocate thy Surety and thy Saviour well may it be said God so Loved the World c. May not the thoughts of this furnish thee with Heart-raising Heart-warming Meditations And when thou seest thee Bread broken and the Wine poured out doth not this Lively represent the bitter Death and bloody Passion of the Son of God Jesus Christ thy sweet Saviour and Redeemer his Body was broken his precious blood was shed for the Remission of thy sins which otherwise could not have been forgiven Ah! what a wicked thing then is sin when nothing would satisfie Divine Justice but the death of the only begotten Son of God When the Bread and Wine thus separated thus set apart from common use are held forth to thee apprehend God himself giving Christ yea Christ offering himself with all his Treasures to be thy Husband thy Surety thy Mediator and thy Saviour Ah! what Soul-refreshing thoughts may this produce Well mayst thou say with David Lord what is Man that thou art mindful of him Or rather Lord what am I that thou regardest me and hast provided such a Feast of Fat things for me with Wine on the Lees When thousands are laid aside as good as I by Nature And when thou receivest the Elements at the Ministers hand let thy Faith lay fast hold and clasp fast about the Lord Jesus Christ and take him as given by God to be thy Husband and Resolve that the Devil and all his Instruments shall never draw off thy Affections from him but thou wilt all others being forsaken prove his faithful Spouse And when thou Eatest and Drinkest the Bread and Wine let thy Faith feed upon those Spiritual dainties hereby represented upon this Nectar and Ambrosia this Bread and this Water of Life Receive him and all the Benefits of the New Covenant by Faith and in the whole Action let thy Heart Close with God Father Son and Holy Ghost and let the whole bent of thy Soul be set upon him and by such Meditations stir up thy Heart to bless God and praise him for his Mercy and to Love him above all and to vow Obedience to him and as thou lookest upon thy sin with one Eye to hate and abominate it so look upon Christ with the other to keep thee from despair as he is offered up in the Sacrament a Sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice and beg of God humbly yet believingly that he will accept of this Sacrifice as satisfactory for thy sin and pardon what is past and give thee power against Sin for the time to come Consider also the giving and receiving of this Sacrament is a further ratification of the Covenant as I said before wherein God offers Christ and all his Benefits and promises to be thy God and the God of thy Seed And thou promisest that thou and thine will Serve the Lord. Let this strengthen thy Faith in his Promises for he will never break his word and let it strengthen thy Resolution that thou wilt never break with him then this will be to thee an Happy Ordinance 7. Direct If thou wouldst receive Benefit by the Sacrament behave thy self well after thou hast received it All thy work is not done nay most is to be done when thou hast turned thy back upon the Congregation 't is not the making a Vow but the making it good the fulfilling of it that is the most of the work 't is not the preparing for the Duty or carrying thy self well in the Act of Receiving though this be necessary that is sufficient God expects some after-work A Servant that is refresht with wholsom meat and drink ought not to be Idle nor to spend his time vainly there is a greater tye lyes upon him to diligence and pains taking So he that comes from such a Feast and is refreshed with such Dainties should be more Active Lively Quick and Disposed to Spiritual Exercises plung not thy self too suddenly into worldly business distract not thy thoughts about things here below for as in sweats 't is dangerous to cool over-suddenly So 't is here when the Affections are raised to Heaven let them not suddenly grovel upon the ground when they are heated let not the cold wind of the World suddenly benumb them And when thou dost set about Worldly business remember there is a business of greater concernment lyes upon thy Hands and therefore do all in Subordination to God Redeem some time for Divine Meditation to consider what thou hast been about and with whom thou hast had to deal Thou hast been renewing that Covenant between God and thy Soul which was made in Baptism and therefore look to it that thou make it good It is better not to Vow than to Vow and not perform Consider whether God makes good his Promise Sealed by this Sacrament if not doubtless the fault is thine own God
have found a Comfortable return and that which could not otherwise be obtained hath been gotten by Prayer and Fasting But our Pharisaical or Papistical Fastings our loose careless mock-fasts never did nor never will prevail with God for any Mercy or the removal of any Judgment 7. Direct In the last place look to thy Carriage after the Duty that thou demean thy self well for thy work is not done when the Exercise is ended Take heed of resting in the Duty or trusting to the work done this is Popish this will make thee lose all thy Labour 'T is not the hanging down the Head as God saith like a Bulrush for a day will serve thy turn This as other Duties are to be used as Boats or Bridges to help thee over to Christ Men do not make Boats or Bridges for their own sakes or to look upon but to make use of for the End they are suited to make not Prayer the end of Prayer or Fasting the end of Fasting Use them not for their own sakes but for Christ's sake to get nearer to him by them play not with the Stile or Ladder but Climb up Climb over by them Take heed of Priding in the Duty this is very inconsistent with it if it be performed with enlargement beware lest the Devil Fly-blow it Pride is a Worm which breeds in the best Fruits of the Spirit yea in â—…e Ruine of other Sins even in Humility it self Men may be proud of their Humility the Devil like the Spider can suck Poyson out of the choicest Flowers If thy Duties be thus fly-blown they will not down with God they stink in his Nostrils whatever conceit thou maist have of them Examine also at the close of the Duty how thy Heart hath demeaned it self in the Duty if bad thou hast cause to be humbled and make thy Heart smart for it ' most Men if they Examine any thing 't is the External part of the Duty and are troubled more at a mis-expression in the Duty than at the straying wandring of the thoughts or the deadness of the Heart But a Christians work lies most within he looks as God doth most upon the Heart though the other be not to be disregarded If thy Heart hath carried it self well there is cause of thankfulness none of Pride for who made thee to differ And what hast thou that thou hast not received View but thy failings and this may make thee vail thy Peacocks Plumes Hast got any strength by the Duty hold it fast and let it not go art got any thing nearer to God keep thy station and go not back lose not the ground thou hast gained by thy Duty If thy Heart be heated take heed of letting it cool again the wind of the World will quickly do it though the Exercise be over let not thy Spiritual Fervour and Heat be over Elijah walked in the strength of a meals meat forty days a Christian should exceed him in such extraordinary meals What good will it do a Man to work hard all day and have his work at Night as he found it in the Morning and to travel hard and at Night be where he set out Maintain the ground thou hast gotten in the Fight Hast thou put up Petitions to the Throne of Grace mark how they speed that thou maist behave thy self accordingly Most Men lose their Prayers as Boys do their Arrows they mark not where they light many know not whether God Answers them or no nor scarce what they have asked But those that are burthened with the Sins they confess and feel the want of the Mercies they desire take better heed An Hungry or a Thirsty Man that begs for Meat or Drink can easily perceive and tell you whether they had a Grant or a Denial Another that begs out of wantonness not wants heeds it not A Man that desires to have his Sores Cured he observes how the Plaister suits with it when a Beggar that gains by his Sores matters it not though they never are healed If God seem to deny thy Request 't is time to Examine what is the matter see whether it be Lawful or Convenient and if so follow thy Suit give God no rest he will first or last grant thy desire Sometimes he deferrs to make his People Cry the louder if it be a necessary thing take no denyal thy importunity will not Offend God as we see in the Parable of the Importunate Widdow Many Christians are short-winded they can Pray but a turn or two and then are out of breath like the Bethulians soon ready to faint If thou pray against Sin fight against it also hate it and detest it 'T is a vain thing to Imagine that God will subdue it without our endeavour If thou pray for Mercy work for it also this is the way And enter into Covenant with God to Live more Holily and more humbly and perform thy Covenant better not to Vow than to Vow and not perform Eccl. 5.5 If God grant thy Request return thanks Live thanks as well as speak thanks If he seem to deny wait upon him in the use of means and he will Answer in due time CHAP. XIV Directions for Days of Tanksgiving or Holy Feasting THE next Duty which I shall mention is Holy Feasting which is no part of God's Worship but is helpful to the Duty of Thanksgiving as Fasting is to Humiliation it hath been in use in the times of the Law and is not useless in the times of the Gospel where there is just Cause for such Spiritual Rejoycing God in the Time of the Law appointed several Feasts to be Observed by the Jews upon several Occasions Some Daily as the Morning and Evening Sacrifice some Weekly as the Sabbath in Commemoration of the Work of Creation and to Typifie out our Eternal Rest in Heaven Some Occasionally as the Thanksgiving of Moses Deborah and Barak c. Some Yearly and these either greater or lesser Feasts the greater Feasts were three the Passeover appointed to be kept in Memorial of Israels Deliverance out of Egypt which Typically holds out our Deliverance by Christ who was the true Pascal Lamb slain for the sins of the People of this Feast we may read Exod. 12.1 c. 23.15 Ezek. 42.21 and elsewhere The next was Penticost which was observed fifty days after wherein every Family Offered two Loaves of the first Fruits This is called the Feast of Harvest Exod. 23.16 The third was the Feast of Tabernacles Instituted in Memory that the Children of Israel Lived forty Years in the Wilderness and had no certain Dwelling Houses but Lived in Tents and yet God made Provision for them and hereby they were Taught and we may Learn if we are Strangers and Pilgrims here and have no constant abiding City but expect one in the Spiritual Canaan we may find this Feast mentioned Deut. 16.13 Josh 7.2 Exod. 23.16 where 't is called the Feast of In gathering at the end of the Year
received take notice of your unworthiness the more to exalt the Mercies received But Confession of Sin so as to Afflict the Soul with them is not suitable to the day Bring thy Family in due time to the Publick if it be publickly Observed otherwise carry it on in Private and pay your Vows in the great Congregation and behave your selves in the remaining part of the day as be-you were Directed in the Observation of the Sabbath for this time is Consecrated and made Holy to God and should be wholly spent in his Service And thou shouldest be as careful of thy Thoughts thy Words and thy Affections as though it were a Sabbath for there is no danger of keeping them too intent upon God When thou comest into the Congregation thou maist say as Jacob Gen. 28.17 This is no other but the House of God and the Gate of Heaven for here is done the work that shall be done in Heaven As for the oher expressions of Joy as Ringing of Bells shooting off Guns making of Bone-fires c. they are so far Lawful as they help forward the Work and raise the Heart to an higher pitch of Joy and rejoycing in the Lord. 5. Direct Having thus disposed and prepared thy Heart for the Work and set thy self as in the Presence of the ever-living God that sees and knows and takes notice of thee set thy self then upon the work of Glorifying God and render thanks to him from thy Heart for all the Benefits thou hast Received Praise is comely for the Saints And this Religious Thankfulness of which we speak is thy Duty Now 't is either External or Internal the Internal is to carry a thankful Heart to God and this is every days Duty External is when the Thankfulness of the Heart is expressed in Words or Actions the former without the latter is not sufficient the latter without the former is little worth Now the External manifestation of thy thankfulness is either Private or Publick Private by thy self or Family Publick in the great Congregation and this also is either Ordinary or Extraordinary Ordinary and this should be done at every time when we come together to Worship of God The Extraordinary is upon Extraordinary Occasions as some great Deliverances or the obtaining some great Mercies or the bringing down some great Enemies of the Church this the Church ought to bless God for and Offer this Sacrifice of Praise in the Name and Mediation of Christ who prays over all our Prayers for us and Offers our Praises performed with the Incense of his own Righteousness Now 't is requisite as I said before that a Catalogue of those Mercies God hath given in as a return of Prayers be laid up either in a Book or in the Memory for if we neglect or forget them how shall we speak of them to God's praise 't is not enough to remember them but we must also mention them to his praise Thus David I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul He acknowledgeth God the Author of his Mercies and doth not Sacrifice to his own Nets as many do and burn Incense to his Drags Hab. 1.16 But as the Church not unto us Lord not to us but to thy Name be the Praise he acknowledges frequently his own worthlessness that he may exalt God Lord saith he what is Man that thou shouldst be mindful of him Or the Son of Man that thou regardest him Psal 8.4 I am less than the least of thy Mercies saith Jacob I am less than the least of thy Saints saith Paul Yea when it comes let it be a Free-will Offering do it chearfully readily willingly as the Saints and Angels do it in Heaven heartily not heavily God Loves a chearful giver and matters not grumbling Service Be as willing to return Thanks as ever thou wast to have the Mercy Set thy Heart on Work in this Duty stir up thy self like the Psalmist Psal 103.1 Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me Praise his Holy Name Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits 'T is not enough to Praise him with the Lips or bring our Bodies before him but the Heart and Life should Praise him the Heart should Indite thy Praises and thy Tongue utter them and thy Life and Conversation Seal to them thou shouldst do thanks and Live thanks as well as speak thanks this is every days Duty especially when we receive signal Mercies we should return answerable thanks when National Mercies National thanks should be returned Psal 50.15 Moses did so at the Deliverance at the Red Sea Exod. 15.1 Deborah and Barak did so Judg. 5.12 The Jews also when delivered from Haman's Plots Est 8.11.17 And there is great reason it should be so for Praise is due to none but God and to him the Vow should be performed all our Springs are in him and all our Mercies are from him yea every good and perfect gift and this is the very End for which he gives them and 't is all he requires for them this Pepper-corn of Homage is all his Rent who is the great Land-Lord and though it be due from all yet he expects it from his own People especially he will extort his own from others in another way and none but his People can do it to please him This is to his Saints a fore-tast of Glory where it must be their constant Work 'T is a beneficial Duty also for Thanksgiving for one Mercy is a real yea a prevailing Request for another Those that Offer praise Glorifie God And yet we see how negligent most are in this Duty few take notice of the Mercies they Receive but like Swine eat the Acorns or Crabs and regard not whence they come Ten Lepers were cleansed and but one returns thanks many are sensible of their wants and with the Horse-Leach cry give give yet are not sensible of their enjoyments to return thanks yea suffer some petty Cross to hide a thousand Blessings and keep them out of their sight 6. Direct When thou art thus prepared thus fitted go on in re-counting the Mercies thou hast Received and bless God for them this is the main Work of the Day Now forasmuch as Mercies are various all Men receive not alike yet all receive some for which they should be thankful give me leave to lead you by the Hand a little and shew you some the rest you may Observe your selves Bless God for what he is in himself and what he is to his Creatures in himself admire his Essence for fathom it thou canst not the like we may say of his Attributes his Eternity Immutability his Power Wisdom Holiness Justice and Truth c. Thou maist spend thy days also in Admiring him in the Works of his Hand lift up thy Eyes to Heaven and see the Sun the Moon and Stars those Glorious Lamps those Beauty spots of Heaven observe their Distance Courses Influence and Virtues and well thou maist
former times upon such Occasions Esther 9.18,19,20 They made it a day of Feasting and Gladness when they were delivered from their Enemies a good day of Sending Portions one to another and Gifts to the Poor â— The like we find Nehem. 8.10 Go your way tat the Fat and drink the sweet and send Portions to them for whom nothing is provided for rhis day is Holy to the Lord neither be ye sory And we find in the following Verses it was done To be Liberal handed to the Poor is a Duty at all times Deut. 15.7 Thou shalt not shut thy Hand against the Poor but especially such a time as this that they also may rejoyce A blessing is pronounced to those that relieve them and a promise added Psal 41.1 Blessed is he that Considereth the Poor the Lord will deliver him in the time of Trouble but he tbat stops his Ears at the Cry of the Poor shall Cry himself and not be heard Prov. 21.13 God hath promised He that Relieveth the Poor shall not lack Prov. 28.27 He that hath pity on the Poor lendeth to the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Prov. 19.17 And he that hath this Worlds good and seeth his Brother hath need and shutteth up his Bowels of Compassion from him how dwelleth the Love of God in him 1 John 3.17 Neither shall such ever Inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 25.41.46 Take heed therefore thou neglect not this so necessary a Duty lest thou lose all thy pains which thou hast taken And when thou hast closed up the Day in such necessary Duties as these are and Commended thy self and Family unto the protection of God yet know that thy work is not done but thou must Live thanks as well as speak thanks yea the whole Course of thy Life should testifie thy thankful Heart By this time I suppose you see these Holy Festivals are not so easie to be kept as many have Imagined and many great Zealots for Holy days were they thus Observed would have their Zeal to them much abated CHAP. XV. Directions in Private Duties HAving already Discoursed of the Publick parts of Gods worship which for the most part are performed in the Congregation and given you Directions for the right performing of them as God hath enabled me I shall now in the Close of this Treatise speak something of those private Duties that every Christian is bound to perform in their own Families or Closets when they are out of the great Congregation for this is no less God's Worship than the former and doth as much nay more demonstrate a Man to be a Christian and Evidence the Truth of Grace than the former that is a Christian that is so when no Eye but the Eye of God is upon him I shall Treat of these more briefly because those Directions for Publick Worship already given will many of them fall in to be observed here 'T is not enough to be a Christian in Publick when the Eyes of the World are upon thee but in private also A Hypocrite may be zealous abroad that is loose at home Holy in the Congregation and Prophane in the Closet mindful of Publick Duties forgetful of Private But a true Christian is semper idem always the same in all places in all Companies at all times and in all Conditions he is like clear water in a Glass shake it as long as you will it remains clear But a Hypocrite by shaking discovers mud in the bottom or like the Needle in the Compass though it may be disturbed by a jog or shake will never fix upon a wrong point The Pharisees they loved to pray in the Temple and in the Corners of the Streets where they might be seen of Men but there is no mention made of their Closet Duties but Christ bids enter into the Closet and shut the Door Christianity is a Race in which we must run whether we have Company or no or whether Men behold us or no. A true Christian is no sooner in the state of Grace but he cries out Lord what wilt thou have me to do And thinks he can never do enough for Christ that hath done so much for him he knows he is not his own but bought with a price and therefore will Glorifie God with his Body and with his Soul which are God's When an Hypocrite Dedicates his Hands and Tongue to Christ a true Christian Dedicates his Heart A Hypocrites work is most in sight a true Christians is most in Secret the Hypocrites is most abroad the others is most at home the Love of God constrains the one and popular Applause drives on the other A true Christian Devotes himself wholly to God's Service and Serve him he will not for a Reward only but for Love to him and his Work and will do his Duty whatever danger or difficulty lyes in his way for as he draws out from Christ strength to perform every Duty and bear every Affliction so he draws out from Christ all the strength he hath in his Service Heart and Hand and Tongue and all shall be set on work for him and he resolves he will serve him in Righteousness and Holiness all the days of his Life 'T is the Hypocrite that picks and chuseth his Duties this he will do and that he will not do a true Christian takes Duties as they lye before him and refuseth none for danger or difficulty private Duties go down with him as well as publick he makes as much Conscience of Secret Duties when no Eye but the All-seeing Eye of God is upon him as in publick when the Congregation observes him The Thoughts what Christ hath done and Suffered for him makes him think he can never do enough for Christ 'T is a true Token of a hard heart when the Consideration of God's Mercy and Christ's Sufferings do not bend him to Duty and of all the Judgments in the World a hard heart is one of the greatest Ah! what Cause have Men therefore to look about them who feel this Disease creeping upon them The Scripture tells us those that are in Christ are new Creatures that they have put on Christ and live not after the Flesh but after the Spirit that they are dead to Sin and alive to God and have Crucified the World with the Affections and Lusts thereof how then is their Assurance grounded that conceit themselves to be in Christ and shall be saved when none of all these things appear in them nay though the contrary appear though they live in Sin and do the Devil's work look to it betimes God will not be mocked his Servants ye are to whom ye obey if ye suffer not with him you will not Reign with him as you Sow you shall Reap God will have the heart or nothing if thou wilt to Heaven thou must be a Christian and a Christian thou canst not be but thou must be one in Private as well as in Publick which that
thou may'st be take these Directions for Private Duties 1. Direct The first Duty I shall mention but not of least concernment is self-examination This indeed is private for it is between thee and thine own heart Be often enquiring at home what state thy Soul stands in to God and what interest thou hast in the Blood of Christ and what Title to Heaven this is a necessary though much neglected Duty Many that cast up their Shops to see whether they grow or decrease in the World and try their Evidences for their Lands to see that they are good take not so much pains for the Soul to see whether all be well there Union and Communion with God is a Christians chiefest happiness and without this there can be no felicity though we have the influence of all Earthly enjoyments yea though we had the Honours Riches and Pleasures of a thousand Worlds for all these end in a Snuff and will prove vanishing fading transitory things The Soul of Man is a precious Piece and therefore should be most regarded 'T is next to the Angels the chiefest Piece that ever droped out of the hands of God and was made in his own Image and the nearer any thing comes to the Image of God the nearer it comes to perfection for God is Perfection it self 'T is the greatest Purchase of the Blood of Christ that which was of Infinite Value more worth than the World was given to redeem it and Christ knew well enough the worth of Souls and would not give such a Rate for a thing of little worth In a word 't is Eternal and shall last for ever and run parallel with the longest Line of Eternity and therefore pretious the vanity of Earthly enjoyments is seen in this as well as other things it 's uncertain and momentary duration Now this pretious and Immortal Piece is in great danger and without our care diligence and pains is like to be lost a thousand Enemies besiege it and set it round Enemies without and within and on every side without the Devil and the World who spread a thousand Snares to intrap it within Corruptions yea an inbred Traytor a false perfideous treacherous and deceitful heart these are Politick Subtile Crafty and malicious Enemies The Devil will make no peace with us but upon worse conditions than Nahash the Amonite offered to the Men of Jabish Gillead 1. Sam. 11.2 Vpon this condition will I make a Covenant with you that I may thrust out all your right Eyes and lay it for a Reproach upon all Israel but his conditions are the everlasting destruction of Soul and Body and if the Soul be once lost thou art undone for ever a thousand Worlds cannot redeem it though they were turned into a heap of Diamonds or a Globe of Gold Now art thou a rational Creature and canst thou see thy self thy better part in so much danger and art not sensible of it wilt thou so regard a Limb or Sence an Eye or a Tooth and shall the Soul be unregarded wilt thou Consult the Lawyer about thy Estate the Physitian about thy Health yea the Farrier about thy Horses and shall thy Soul be neglected God forbid Wilt take care for Trifles and neglect things of greatest concernment what greater note of a Fool can be expressed God is yet calling thee and the Door of Mercy is not yet shut against thee opportunities are yet offered thee and there is yet hopes but how long it may continue thou knowest not up and be doing make sure of Heaven while it may be had one of these days it will be too late examine thy self by the Word of God cleanse the Fountain that the Streams may be clear stub up the Root of Sin when others are Lopping at the Branches begin Reformation at the right end I should here have given you some Motives Rules Directions Marks and Characters to this purpose to guide you in this difficult work but this I have done already in another Treatise of that Subject called the Souls Looking-Glass to which I referr you if you have no better at hand Yea when by Examination thou knowest the truth of thy Grace yet is not Examination useless but consider the Growth of it also true Grace is of a growing Nature like a Grain of Mustard Seed that in time becomes a great Tree thy Growth should be in some measure answerable to the Food thou eatest the means of Grace thou enjoyest that which stands at a stay or declines may be suspected 't is not true 't is a Monster in Nature that is no bigger at twenty Years old than at two 't is sad when Men that should grow decline and lose their first love if this be thy case consider from whence thou art fallen and do thy first work consider who thou leavest and whither thou goest and what will be the Issue of it at least consider what thou dost which no Hypocrite in the World can do and never give thy self any rest till thou knowest that thou outstrip'st them all yea till thou canst Read thy Name Written in the Book of Life and canst call God Father and say with the Spouse my Beloved is mine and I am his Cant. 6.3 2. Direct The next Private Duty is when thou knowest that thou hast an Interest in God and a Title to Glory and canst without check of Conscience call God thy Father and Christ thy Head and Husband be sure then to keep close to him hold him fast and do not let him go like the Spouse Cant. 3.4 'T is said of Enoch and Noah that they Walked with God and thus in some measure doth every faithful Soul and this is the surest safest course thou canst take for there is none can hurt thee when thou art under his Wing no Enemy can molest thee while thou art under his Tuition trouble never grinds a Man till it finds him from God take heed of growing strange with God if thou suffer him to be gone thou may'st seek him sorrowing and not find him Many that are constant in Publick Duties are defective in Private but 't is Secret Duties that chiefly maintains Communion with God in those it is we most ingage our hearts to God and God to us now if thou wouldest keep this Communion with God some things are to be avoided some things done The things to be avoided are especially Sins but above all our Bosome Sins those that thou art most inclined to and most easiiest yeilds to and canst most hardly say nay these God is most Jealous of and these will make the greatest breach between God and the Soul and most havock among thy Graces these are they that most deeply wound the Conscience break thy Peace with thy God and if not forsaken will procure a Bill of Divorce 't is thy Sins which is the cause of all Judgement Temporal Spiritual and Eternal and withhold Mercies from thee The love of Sin and close walking with God cannot stand
the Soul bleed to Eternal death without remedy or regard they may curse the time that they were Born of such unnatural Parents They are Naturally Ignorant and they must be taught they are Corrupt and must be amended or they will be undone Oh consider what will become of thy Children an Hundred Thousand Years hence they will be either in Heaven or Hell in endless Torments or Eternal Joys and 't is much to be feared they will miscarry Were they but in Slavery thou wouldest seek their Liberty and wilt thou do nothing to help them out of Spiritual Thraldome what comfort maist thou have of them if thou prevail and be Instrumental of their Conversion how wilt thou Ingage them for ever to love thee and obey thee but what discomfort are they like to be if they serve the Devil and Sin what ground of hope is there they should be true to thee that prove false to God and if they perish through thy neglect the Blood of their Souls will be charged upon thee and without Repentance perish they will Oh! how necessary then is knowledge in parents for where the Blind leads the Blind both falls into the Ditch and what thoughts will you have at your meeting in Hell Set therefore upon this Duty betimes before it be too late Train them up when they are young in the way they should walk that when they are old they may not decline it Delays are dangerous Life is short the time of Death is uncertain the Heart grows harder and Sin grows stronger the Devil gets better hold and surer possession every Day makes them more unfit than other for Repentance A Twig when young is easily bent but when old it will break before it bend follow them again and again with Exhortations to an Holy Life deal seriously with them take the fittest Seasons for the Work let them see the danger of Sin and the Beauty of Holiness and Treat them with so much Compassion that they may see thy love to their Souls use also so much Zeal and Fervency that they may see it is not Trifles thou pressest them to take the fittest Time and Place never in Passion seldome in Publick shew them God's Word for it turn them to the Chapter and Verse this if any thing will silence them If thou find an Inclination in them follow it home encourage the good and discourage the bad let them find thou makest a difference between the one and the other this Course will bring Glory to God Peace to thy self and Benefit to thy Relations 7. Direct For a Conclusion of the whole be sure in the performance of all those forementioned Duties both Publick and Private to keep a clear Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Man and let the Ground of all thy performances be the Command of God and thy strongest Motive be thy love to God and thy dear Redeemer and let no sinister End or by Respect whatsoever prevail with thee let God's Glory be thy End and Aim and the main Design thou drivest on let thy endeavour be to set the Crown upon God's Head and not upon thine own Consult not thy self till thou canst truly say in all thy Duties Propter te Propter te Dimine this I have done for God and not for my self But if vain Glory or a desire of Popular Applause or Merit or any such-like sinister Respects Fly-blow thy Duties they will stink in God's Nostrils and all thy Duties will be lost and thy labour will be in vain he that propounds a wrong End to himself will lose all the pains he takes as he that Shoots at a wrong Mark will hardly hit the right But if thy Duty proceed from a right Principle a heart Purified by Faith and if 〈…〉 Fountain a Purified and Sincere Heart and from a Principle of Love to God and are directed to a right End his Glory continues with thy own happiness then are they like to be a pleasing Sacrifice unto God for where the Fountain is clear the Streams will be good but till the Heart be right their proceedings will be defiled Though Man Judge the Heart by the Actions God Judgeth the Actions by the Heart he is Hoker lebh Scrutator cordes the searcher of the Heart and the tryer of the Reins and gives every Man according to his ways Jer. 17.9,10 The Heart is the Fountan of all the Thoughts Words and Actions now if the Fountain be filthy so are the Streams Sweet Water and bitter cannot proceed out of the same hole if an Apple be rotten at the Coare it will not be long before the outside rot also If the Heart be rotten it sooner or later breaks forth and rots the Life and Conversation also as it did in Saul Simon Magus and many others An inbred Distemper will appear outwardly and a Soar not sound at the bottom will Fester and break out at length Sincerity is like a skilful Alchymist it turns all into Gold weak performances defective Duties shall be accepted a Sigh a Groan a Desire shall be understood and answered But Hypocrisie on the contrary turns Gold into Dross and Duties into Sin and the most Glorious performance into abomination take heed therefore of this and labour for the other Faith also is requisite in all thy Duties leave not that behind thee in any Duty if thou meanest to speed if Faith be absent God will not be present without Faith ' is impossible to please him No Prayer can pierce Heaven thar is not pointed by Faith Heb. 6.11 he that comes to God must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of those that dilligently seek him The Word Preached will not prove it if it be not mixed with Faith in those that hear it nay without Faith there can be no Salvation Mark 16.16 he that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Joh. 3. last Self-denyal also is requisite when thou hast done all say thou art an unprofitable Servant God gives Grace to the Humble but looks upon the Proud afar off yea the Apostle saith he resisteth the Proud or sets himself in Battel aray against him bring not a proud heart along with thee if thou wouldest speak with God in a Duty submit to his Will though thou see not a reason for his Command there is yet reason enough why thou shouldest obey as Abraham did content thy self to be at Gods dispose do thy Duty and he will do his Work but Limit him not to Time Place Manner Measure or other Circumstances depend upon him as Hannah did when she had prayed she looked no more sad Take heed when thou hast done thy Work of Heart-rising Thoughts or proud vain Glory lest it make thee lose thy Reward this will spoil thy Duty and make thee lose thy Reward deny thy Self and he will not deny thy Reward the lower thou thinkest of thy Duties the better God thinks of them and will
Angels Psal 8.1,2 c. Such occasional Objects were the grounds of many of Christs speeches and Sermons And a Christian by this means may learn something from every thing he either sees or hears That Meditation that is set and solemn is when a man separates himself from other Imployments and sequesters himself and thoughts from worldly affairs to consider of some portion of Scripture or some point of Divinity or some work of Nature for his own satisfaction and his Souls good That this is a Christians Duty few Christians will deny that it is a beneficial duty all that have tryed it in good earnest will easily confess experto crede Roberto That 't is too much neglected we may acknowledge with shame and sorrow Joshua was Commanded to Meditate in the Law of God day and night Josh 1.8 This was David's practice Psal 119.59 And this he makes the Character of a Godly and Blessed man Psal 1.2,3 It was Isaac's Custom as also Paul's and Peter's and many others This is the way to digest the meat we eat and can meat nourish if not digested This is the chewing of the Cud when we ruminate upon what we hear or see Meat undigested in the stomack feeds Diseases when 't is digested it feeds the Body What is the Reason so many good Sermons are lost amongst us And so many gracious Providences pass un-observed but for want of this Doubtless one Sermon well digested by Meditation would bring more nourishment to the Soul and breed more good Blood than now twenty do By Meditation a man searches and ransacks the Soul and finds out every dust-heap every Corruption and sees whether those Divine qualifications necessary to Salvation be there or no when others are strangers at home by this he gets light into the Understanding heat into the Affection and it puts Life into all his Duties By this he comes to see the Vanity of the World the emptiness of the Creature the vileness of Sin the beauty of Holiness and the fulness of Christ By this the Heart is taken off the World and set upon Heaven and sees by the Eye of Faith those things which are invisible By this he tramples upon sublunary things and fixes his Eyes upon things within the vail By this Stephen saw God and Moses talked with God and Paul was carried up into the third Heaven By this Afflictions are made light and the Cross easie and Christ's Yoak delightful this makes a man chuse Sufferings rather than sin and pain rather than sinful pleasure this helps the Soul to fly to Heaven and hold Communion with Christ himself and like the busie Bee to gather Honey from Flowers and Weeds which to effect take these following Directions 1. Direct Concerning Occasional Meditation though it be not what I chiefly intend yet being of daily Use I shall speak something of it at present A Christian that Trades for Heaven may have much Goods brought home in this Ship He may get Advantage by all he hears or sees or observes for there is nothing in God's Book or in the Book of Nature but will Instruct us in some necessary Lesson concerning God or our selves and mind us of something that may conduce to our Advantage And he that can make a good use of every thing he sees or hears and pick some Spiritual Food and refreshing from it must doubtless be a flourishing Cedar in the House of God and enjoy Heaven upon Earth and Spiritualize all the Creatures How often in Scripture may we read that Christ by occasional occurrances minds his Hearers of Spiritual things from a Well of water he Instructs the Woman of Samaria concerning the water of Life And by occasion of Bread he minds them of the Bread of Life and from a Sower and his Seed shews that a bad Heart is the cause that the Word proves unfruitful and many more such like David as before was hinted beholding the Heavens is raised up in his Meditation to God himself and his Love to Man Psal 8.1,2,3 c. Solomon sends the Sluggard to School to the Ant or Pismire that gathers in Summer for Winter And Christ sends those that are distrustful of their Fathers Providence to observe the Fowls of the Air how he feeds them And the Grass of the Field how he Cloaths it and no doubt but a wise man may make a Sanctified use of all these If a good wit can make a good use of every thing much more a good Heart Had we but this Art of Meditation every thing would yield a suitable object we have the whole world before us the greatest want is of a good Heart to improve these Objects that offer themselves to our view the least Creature would be useful if we were not wanting every day that passeth over our Heads may put us in mind of our latter end Thy Bed may mind thee of thy latter end and the time when thou must lye in the dust and thy rising up may mind thee of thy Resurrection The rising Sun may mind thee what a glorious day that will be when Christ with his Saints and Angels shall appear at Judgment each one shining as the Sun in his Lustre When Night approaches it may minde thee that thy daies are numbred and that thou hast now one fewer to spend than thou hadst in the Morning and mind thee what account thou canst give of it and make thee consider that the World cannot recal it Every Pain and Grief Ach and Trouble yea every gray Hair may mind thee of thy Mortality and how little beholding thou art to sin which brought all this into the World When thou seest the Heavens adorned with those beauty spots the Sun the Moon the Stars thou maist think if the Porch be so glorious what is the Pallace if the Pavement be so beautiful what is the Court the Throne it self When thou considerest their Beauty Altitude Magnitude Selerity and Influence thou maist well admire the Creator and with David cry out Lord what is man c. Who can but admire when he looks upon the Earth the Huge and Massy Globe the unweiley Creatures hanging in the midst of the Air of nothing distinguished into Hills and Dales and Woods and Rivers furnished with such variety of Trees and Grass and Herbs and Flowers and the numberless number of living Creatures Birds and Beasts and Fishes and creeping things and all provided for by the great Householder Who can behold the Rageing Sea kept within his Banks in the Ebbings and Flowings and view the Streams and Fountains the Springs and Rivers and not cry out the finger of God now among all these there is not one Fly or Flea not one Graspile or Leaf of a Tree but yields matter of Meditation and Admiration Ah! what a rich Soul will that be that gathers fruit from all these 2. Direct If thou wouldest perform thy duty well 'T is necessary thou set upon it with due preparation I speak not now of occasional