take especial care to serve the Lord in fear and trembling and remember to keep the Christian Sabbath Ezek. 46. 4. because the Kingdom is the Lords and his Christs who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revel 11. 15. The duty of Magistrates is 1. To repress the profaning of the Sabbath and to use all Qui non prohibet peccare cum potest jubet Sen. means for the accomplishment of that worthy and glorious design Namely 1. To forbid Nehem. 13. 15. 2. To reprove Nehem. 13. 17 18. 3. To threaten Nehem. 13. 21. 4. To hinder Nehem. 13. 19 22. And 5. To punish the profaning of Gods holy day Nehem. 13. 20. Secondly To command and to compell the Lords day to be sanctified 2 Chron. 34. 33. And Thirdly To sanctifie it himself his Children his Court his Attendants both privatly Psalm 5. 7. Acts 10. 1 2. and also publickly Ezek. 46. 2 4. 2 Kings 11. 5 7 9. The duties of private and publick sanctifying the Lords day tye and bind the Prince and other Magistrates no less then the meanest of the Subjects and the most pedantique persons And where the Prince neglects the strict and holy observation of Gods blessed day this sin will make his Crown shake and his Scepter tremble and rip up his most stately Pallaces to let in divine wrath and displeasure It was the prophanation of the Sabbath which hasten'd and ascertained Hezekiahs doom as may be clearly observed Jer. 17. 27. If ye will not hearken to me to hallow my Sabbath I will kindle a fire in the gates of Jerusalem and it shall devoure the Pallaces thereof and it shall not be quenched And lesser Governours every Housholder over his family who may be called an inferiour Magistrate in regard of his Authority in the little province of his family it is his duty to sanctifie the Sabbath himself he must keep it with all care Eph. 6. 4 and diligence and move in the circuit of Sabbath duties as Psal 101. 6 7. a star in its Orb And he must command and compell his family Est 4. 16. thereunto that they may effectually practice it as well Sub pronomine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tu intelliguntur 1 Personae dominantes Patres et Matres familiae 2. Personae fulcientes filii et fi liae 3. Personae ministrantes servi et Ancillae Rivet as himself and this he must do in his proportion as Magistrate in his own Houshold Surely if Kings in the midst of all their glittering attendance their courtly delicacies numerous addresses arduous affairs must not forget to keep holy the Sabbath day both themselves and all their bespangled family much more must the private Governours of families who lye not so open to tempting avocations nor are dazled with such courtly appearances take care that themselves and families serve the Lord on his own holy and blessed day The Edicts of State and constitutions of the Church like the two springs of Jor Dan have both met in a full stream to carry on this service against all resistance Ludovicus Proinde necesse est ut primo sacerdotes Regâ—s et Principes omnesque fideles huic diei debitam observantiam atque reverentiam devotissimè exhibeant Lud. P. Concil Paris sub Greg. quarto Pius the son of Charles the Great put forth this Decree That it is a necessary duty that in the first place Priests and then Kings and Princes and all faithfull persons do most devoutly exhibit due observation to this holy day This serious Prince enacts the observation of the Sabbath for all that every one being fettered by a Law might not loosely passe over this heavenly day And as the Edicts of Princes enforce the general observation of the Sabbath high as well as low an both equally so the Constitutions of the Church The Council of Paris decreed that all should keep the Lords day Governours Kings Princes Priests and all faithful persons should procure it to be kept and that no man presâ— me to make merchandise to do his pleasure or any countrey work but that they with all endeaâ—ours of soul do attend to heavenly praises c. Ambrose in his time complained of some Masters Taeduit mihi videre servulos ad ecclesiam fortassis festinantes ad venandum per dominos avocari quia sic voluptatibus suis peccata accumulant aliena Ambr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lib. 7. cap. 19. who would call away their servants to hunting when they were going to Church on the Lords day and so by their own sinning drew others into the snare not remembring they should be guilty of their servants sin and of the hazard of their immortal souls And a learned man of our own Nation observes that in those Constitutions commonly called Apostolical it was expresly commanded That servants should be at leisure on the Lords day for attendance upon the worship of God and for learning of Religion Those early dayes of the Gospel commanded all every one to mind the great work of Religion and to inure themselves to divine Knowledge Our own Church is not the least in providing that all persons observe the holy Sabbath So in King Edwards time the express words of the Homily are Sithence which time the time of our Saviours Resurrection Gods people in all ages have alwayes without gainsaying used to Homil. de temp loc precum come together upon the Sunday to celebrate and honour the Lords blessed Name and carefully to keep that day in holy Rest both Man and Woman Child and Servant and Stranger c. And so in King James his time it was enacted as one of the Canons of our Church among other things That Parents and Masters of Families should instruct their children and servants in the fear and nurture of the Lord especially Can. Eccles Angl canae 13. An. Dom. 1603. on the Lords day Thus the care of all places where Christianity hath been professed and in all ages which savoured any thing of Religion hath enjoyned the generall observation of the Lords day and the meanest Servant hath come within the compass of Royal Edicts and sacred constitutions as well as the most considerable Eminent Superiour The bowels of Parents might enforce this duty Can a tender Father or an affectionate Mother see their Children trifling away the time of a Sabbath slighting away the Ordinances of a Sabbath and neglecting the private duties of Redarguenda est Parentum segnities qui in rebus seculi sâ—â—â— sunt sallic in sed de pietatis incrementa minus sunt solliciti Riv. a Sabbath and not be filled with fear and amazement How shall the fruit of their loynes stand before him who gave the Commandement for the Sabbath in the midst of a flaming Mountain Exod. 19. 18. and be accountable to him who is the Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2. 28. and who will judge the secrets of all men according to
no discord or division It is very deplorable to consider Quot homines tot sententiae what confusions are in many families so many persons so many opinions the Master is of one Church the Wife of another the Child of a third and may be the Servant of a fourth the Master possibly will sing Psalms the Child or the Servant happily cannot joyn in that heavenly duty Are not these families too like the speckled bird the Prophet speaks of Jer. 12. 9. Or like the spotted Leopard Jer. 13. 23. too like Josephs party-coloured coat which afterwards was dipt in blood Gen. 37. 31. The Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 assures us that God is a God of Order and not of Confusion 1 Cor. 14. 33. Christ's coat was not torne though lots was cast for it It was the praise of the Primitive Church They did serve God with one accord Acts 2. 46. Magna suit Ignatio cura 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Ecclesiâ Ordo venustatem parit confusio infidelitatem Zach. 14. 9. the same pulse beat in all the same spirit acted them all the same love united and espoused them all the same service employed them all Divided Families like divided Kingdoms cannot stand The four and twenty Elders in heaven sung the same song Rev. 4. 11. The Angels all utter the same triumphal words Rev. 5. 8 9 11 12. It is a blessed and glorious promise That we shall call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent Zeph. 3. 9. How pathetically doth the Apostle press unity Eph. 4. 3 4 5 6. A consort of Musicians play not several tunes but one and the same lesson Concord in service is the Musick of a family when we all sing the same Psalm all pray the same prayer fix our thoughts on the same truths hear the same Sermon and variety is over-ruled by unity Surely divisions are the wounds and jars of a family and such contrarieties are the flashing emblems of novelty and sad Prognosticks of fatall scepticism Let us then study that our selves and families may serve the Lord on his own day with one voice with one shoulder with one lip and with one heart Vnited stars make a constellation When stars do fight it presages great slaughter and is no less then miraculous Jud. 5. 20. Dir. 3 We must act the services of the Sabbath freely and chearfully Our services must be the fruit of love not the effect of force Holy delight must draw us to the Sanctuary not a pressing and rigorous conscience God loves a chearfull giver and a chearfull worshipper It was Davids joy to go with the multitude Psal 42. 4. Our service on a Sabbath must not be as wine squeezed from the grape but as water flowing from the fountain Our service must be the service of children not the homage of slaves In this we must imitate Ezek. 10. 5 the Angels who have their wings to fly upon every Neminem voluit cogi sed sponte prompto animo offerri quicquid unus quisque conferri vellet voluit deus hilares datores etiam et spontaneos cultores eos solos acceptabat Obsequium enim involuntariè delatum obedientiae nomen non moretur Riv. commanded service It was a brand put upon the people of Israel they were weary of his Sabbaths Amos 8. 9. The Sanctuary must be our Paradise not our Purgatory In the time of the Law those who would offer to the Lord they must do it with a willing heart Exo. 35. 5. Rivet well observs Involuntary obedience deserves not the name much less the reward of obedience Our duties on the Sabbath must be lively and vigorous The true Mother cries the living child is mine 1 Kings 3. 22. So God saith the living Sabbath is mine It is a character of Gods people that they are a willing people Psal 110. 3. The Hebrew reads it a people of willingness to shew how exceedingly willing we should be in the day of the Lords power which is principally his own holy day It is usually the sigh of a poor Saint Lord I would run faster but my corrupt heart hampers me Sabbaths should be our element not our burden David made it his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only request that he might spend his whole life in the Temple Psal 27. 4. Every thing in an Ordinance might flush our joy and fledge our desires 1. The superscription it bears it hath the stamp of Christ upon it Preaching is the preaching of Christ the Sacrament is the Supper of Christ Now the name Jesus should be like Caesar his Quirites it should put new life into the Saint 2. The advantage it brings It brings spiritual Life Faith Rom. 10. 17. Conversion Ordinances bring spiritual lading to the soul Acts 16. 14. Lydia was converted by the preaching of Paul 3. The end it designs which is the everlasting good of the soul We hear that we may be holy we receive that we may be hearty we pray that we may be happy Eternal Justificatio praecedit gloriam vitam aeternam Fulgent life is the stage of all Ordinances the center where the lines of every Ordinance meets And the Gospel is generally called the Gospel of life and salvation 2 Cor. 2. 16. Eph. 1. 13. Let us a little glance at the pleasing gradation Faith comes by hearing Justification by Faith and Justification ushers in holiness here and future glory and happiness Thus every Ordinance of a Sabbath may accent our de-delight and put an emphasis upon our joy We must then Rom. 8 30. keep our Sabbaths in holy joys in heavenly satisfactions and the Bride-chamber here below must be in our own bosoms Psal 119. 97. On this day our feasting must be converse with God our meat and drink must be to do our fathers will Psal 119. 20. and to do his will must be our meat and drink Jobn 4. 24. On this day we must be filled with the spirit which is better Cant. 5. 1. then new wine The day of God is prophetically called a day of joy Psal 118. 24. This day literally is a day of delight it is the day on which Christ sprang from the Mark 16 9. grave and gave a new life to the world This day prefiguratively is a day of rich consolation for it prefigures an eternall Sabbatism with the Lord Heb. 4. 9. It adumbrates that glorious state when we shall enter into our Masters joy Mat. 25. 21. Our services then on the Lords day must be enlivened with activity and sweetned with alacrity Dir. 4 Our services on Gods day must be solemn and serious Though they must not be without joy yet they must be without lightness we may be complacential but we may not be formall Delight well becomes a Sabbath but laughter doth not We must consider we have Sabbaths to carry on soul work which is an interest of the greatest importance
46. Thirdly God hath made his promises to the Assemblies of his Saints Mat. 18. 20. 2 Cor. 6. 16. He will not neglect a Mat. 18. 20. weeping Hannah who prays and sobs alone 1 Sam. 1. 13. but will give her not onely a Child but a Samuel But yet God will create upon the Assemblies of his people a cloud which was the sign of his presence Isa 4. 5. And Isa 4. 5. Fourthly The prayers of the faithfull Congregation receive Deus quasi columna ignis praefulget et ostendit suis viam salutis et quasi nubes caligâ—rosà obumbrat refrigerat et protegâ—t eos ab aellutentationis Basil Jon 2 7 8 9 10 strength from their union When all Niniveh intreated the Lord and put on sack-cloath God repents himself of that intended and threatned evil and puts his Sword into the scabbard though drawn by an open denuntiation of Judgement Jon. 2. 7 8 9 10. Prayer is the souls battery of Heaven and when these petitions are the common breathings of the whole Assembly the force must needs be the stronger and the answer must needs be the surer Though a file of Souldiers cannot take the City an Army may But Fourthly We must converse with our Families upon Gods holy day then Parents should draw out their softest bowells towards their Childrens souls and Masters discharge their most faithfull duty towards their Servants eternity But of this more hereafter We must rise early on a Sabbath for we have many good things to pursue and usually the richest lading requires the longest voyages where we look for great gain we must spend much time Now this holy day is Gods market day for the weeks provision wherein he will have us to come to him and buy of him without silver or money the Bread of Angels Rev. 22. 1. Isa 25. 6. 2 Pet. 2. 2. Rev. 3. 18. the Water of Life the Wine of the Sacraments and the Milk of the Word to feed our souls tryed Gold to inrich our Faith precious Eye-salve to heal our spiritual blindness and the white rayment of Christs Righteousness to cover our shamefull nakedness And now all things being laid together that hath been suggested how should both interest and duty awaken us right early on the Lords day for these holy pursutes that no time be drowned and lost in unnecessary sleep and sluggishness A fifth Argument to raise us betimes on a Sabbath is seriously to consider the heats of worldly men With what wakeful diligence do they prosecute the meat that perisheth John 6. 27. they rise up early and go to bed late and eat the bread of carefulness and all to grasp the shadow of a few flying and Psal 127. 2. dying enjoyments when as one saith we should be careful to rise sooner on this day then on other dayes by how much the service of God is to be preferred before earthly business There is no Master so good as the Lord is and in the end no work shall be better rewarded then his service Dr. Twisse Dr. Twisse Moral of the Sabbath 147. Reports that at Geneva they have a Sermon at four of the clock in the morning on the Lords day for the Servants and Bishop Lake wished That such a course was general as was in his Majesties Court in his time to have a Sermon in the morning for the Servants on the Sabbath day How did this holy man breath after holy Services on the morning of a Sabbath And let every one of us say seek the Lord O my Soul seek him early on his holy day Let us do as Mary Mat. 28. 1. Mark 16. 2. John 20. 1. Magdalen she was early up to seek him whom her soul loved she was last at the Cross and first at the Sepulcher in the dawning while it was yet dark very early in the morning say the Evangelists O that our love to Christ could keep pace with hers Shall we love the World better then Christ O that we were as wise for our souls as we are for our bodies Let not sleep that devourer of time beguile us of our golden hours in the morning of a Sabbath when we might have the softest and sweetest converseâ— with God Let the sinfull sluggard who sleeps with the Sun beams in his face this day remember the saying of Augustine If the August Sun could speak how roundly might it salute thee with this reproof I laboured more then thou didst yesterday and yet I am risen before thee to day But this is too low an Argument behold the Sun of Righteousness is risen let us not sleep as do others but say and sing with the Church Isa Isa 26. 9. Sanctus ad beatos aspirans dicit se velle jugiter deum mente et animo gerere illâ—m desiderare tam nocte tam interdiu Psal 139. 9. 26. 9. With my soul have I desired thee in the night yea and with my spirit within me will I seek thee early In a word it must needs inforce us to a blush to think that the Labourer who toyles in his earthly employments should take the wings of the morning to muddle in the World and we should let the morning fly away by our sloath and carelesness and not overtake it to meet with God upon his owne holy day And sixthly let it be considered the gracious soul will long to be with God The Spouse sought Christ upon her bed and the Saint will leave his bed betimes on a Sabbath to Cant. 3. 1. seek Jesus Christ the Spouse would pursue her beloved in Sponsa interim evigilans speciebus illis non satis discussis motu brachiis expansis spon sum complaecti conata fuit Del rio the night and the Saint will not omit to follow hard after the Lord Jesus in the morning as soon as she is awake she is with God especially on his own day Psal 139. 18. Our heart is where our treasure is as our Saviour speaks Luk. 12. 34. And if Christ be our treasure our spiritual love will prevail against our carnal sloath Let us take notice of holy David with what extasie of love he was transplanted Psal 63. 1. O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry Psal 139. 18. Luk. 12. 34. and thirsty land where no water is Where there are thirsts after God there will be early enquiries for him The gracious Psal 63. 1. Soul pants after God as the Hart pants after the water brooks Now the thirsty Hart will not be so taken with Psal 42. 1 2. the green and pleasant Grass where she is lodged so as to forbear the brooks which must quench her thirst nor will the Saint be so toyled and fettered with sleep or sloath so as Psal 122. 1. to suspend his communion with God on his holy Sabbath he will tear those drowsie wit hs his
second person in the Trinity who is the messenger of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. and this party is called God Gen. 32. 30. It was such an Angel as blessed Jacob which was a work proper to God But now if it be demanded what it is to pray in the holy Ghost Answ It may be answered First The spirit helps us in prayer in a way of gifts Alludit Paulus ad illud Psal Psal 46. 8. Psallite sapienter pro quo hebraicè est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut intelligentio quod septuaginta vertunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut nimirum intelligatur quod canitur et quod precatur that the heart may not be bound up and that we may have necessary words to give vent for our affections It is the spirit which bestows the gift of prayer that we may enlarge our selves to God on all occasions 1 Cor. 14 15. But this gift is much bettered by Industry Hearing Meditation Reading Conference nay by prayer it self such holy exercises may be auxiliary to this excellent gift for the spirit worketh by means as the Sun shineth in the air in which it maketh its glittering ascents Secondly There is the gracious assistance of the spirit which is either habitual or actual First Habitual grace is necessary to prayer Zach. 12. 10. where there is grace there will be supplications as soon as the Child is born it falls on crying Acts 9. 11. Prayer is the Zach. 12. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gratia et supplicatio in uno comprehenduntur kindly duty of the New Creature the regenerate person is easily drawn into Gods presence when once we are renewed by the Holy Ghost we shall certainly and sweetly pray in the Holy Ghost we shall offer up spiritual devotions acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Secondly There is the actual assistance which we have from the spirit when a man is regenerate yet he cannot pray as he ought unless he be still moved and assisted by the blessed spirit Now these actual motions do either concern First The matter of prayer which is suggested by the spirit Jam. 1. 17. of promise for let a man alone and he will soon run into Eph. 1. 13. a temptation and cry for that which is inconvenient and it would be severity in God to grant it and therefore the direction of the Holy Ghost is necessary that we may not aske Rom. 8. 27. a Scorpion instead of a Fish a stone instead of bread We take counsel of lusts and interests when we are left to our private spirit now the Holy Ghost teacheth us to ask not onely what is lawfull but what is expedient for us so that the will of God may take place before our own inclinations Or Secondly These actual motions of the spirit concern the manner of our prayers now in prayer we have immediately Quid resert gemere Suspiria confusa ad deum mittere fortè evanesâ—unt in aere sed interpelâ—atio spiritus certò exauditur â— deâ— Par. to do with God and therefore we should take great heed in what manner we come to him The right manner is when we come with affection with confidence with reverence First With affection Rom. 8. 26. It is the holy Ghost sets us on groaning words are but the out-side of prayer sighs and groans are the language which God will understand we learn to mourn from the Turtle from him who descended in the form of a Dove Mat. 3. 16. He draws sighs from the heart tears from the eyes and moans from the soul Parts may furnish us with eloquence but the spirit inflames us with love that earnest reaching forth of the soul after God and the things of God That holy importunity that spiritual violence which is often used in holy prayer comes onely from the spirit Many a prayer is neatly ordered musically delivered and gravely pronounced but all these artifices they are the curiosities of man and savour nothing of the holy spirit then it speaketh the spirit to be in a prayer when there is life and power and the poor suppliant sets himself to wrestle with God as if he would overcome him in his own strength Secondly With confidence In Prayer we must come as Children and cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 16. usually we do Suprema essentia spiritus dei qui orare facit orantibus promittit promissum largitur testimonium nobis intus perhibet quisnam dubitationi locus Chrysost not mind this part of the spirits help in prayer we look to gifts and enlargements but not to this Child-like confidence that we may be able to call God Father without reproach or hypocrisie not seriously considering it is the language of a Child which will onely prevail upon the affections of a Father Thirdly With Reverence That we may be serious and awfull God is best seen in the light of his spirit the Heathens could say We need light from God when we speak of or to God That sense of the Lords greatness and those fresh Non loquendum dâ— deo sine lumine and awful thoughts that we have of his Majesty in prayer are stirred up by the Holy Ghost He uniteth and gathereth our hearts together that they may not be unravelled and Devotio et pius in deum affectus debet semper viam aperire ad particulares nostras petitiones sive pro aliiâ— petimus necessaria sive pro nobis Daven scattered abroad in vain and impertinent thoughts Eph. 6. 18. And therefore to wind up this particular which hath been more copiously handled then usual when we go to pray at any time and so consequently in our Closets or Families on the morning of the Sabbath let us cast our selves upon the Holy Ghost as appointed by the Father and purchased by the Son to help us in this sweet and serviceable duty Rom. 8. 26. We are often tugging and labouring at it and can make no work of it but the spirit cometh and contributes his assistance and then we launch forth and our sails are filled and we go on prosperously in that omniprevalent duty A good Expositour gives this gloss on Rev. 1. 10. John was Arch. in loâ— in the spirit on the Lords day i. e. he was in prayer upon the Lords day the spirit mightily assisting us in prayer makes strange and glorious impressions upon us As it is reported Greg. Orat. de Laud. Basil of Basil That when the Emperour Valens came in upon him while he was in Prayer he saw such lustre in his face as struck the Emperour with terrour and he fell backwards Prayer can make a great change in us and work Luke 9. 29. great things for us and therefore the management of this duty must be dispatched with the greatest care and exactness We must not onely take our opportunities for prayer on the morning of a Sabbath and see to the qualifications of Psal 5. 3. of that duty to
Ceiling the largeness of the windows which observation is not blame-worthy in it self yet not eying the person whose picture he is drawing he is guilty of folly and carelesness Our thoughts in holy duties are sinfull if not suitable Wandring thoughts in holy ordinances they are the ebullitions and breakings forth of a corrupt heart Mans heart hath Jer. 2. 24. no month to be taken in it is as the troubled sea which always casts up mire and dirt as a Furnace which is ever sparkling forth its vanity and folly nay the special presence of Christ in ordinances cannot shackle it or compose it to a due consistency Maligni spiritus in menstruis animum inveniunt quando in pollutis cogitationibus positum facilè ad perversam operationem trabunt Greg. it will steal away under the eye of the judge impertment thoughts in holy duties are the pimples which evidence the heat of Corruption within And here we may expostulate with Job Job 14. 4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean And surely the scum of a putrified heart must needs be offensive to the pure eyes of an holy God this is wickedness which God hath no pleasure in Psal 5. 6. Vain thoughts in duty are onely the breaking of the impostumation which lies covertly in the heart where no eye sees it But now the Disease being discovered let us apply the Remedies And for the preventing of wandring thoughts in holy Ordinances Let us heartily bemoan these sinfull impertinencies Let us speak to God in the language of the Psalmist Psal 120. 5. Wo is me that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar Wo is me that I cannot keep my heart close to Christ in holy Ordinances nor watch with my Lord one hour no not one hour but that I dwell among sinfull vain foolish and flatulent thoughts God surely will take away the cumbersome burthen of a troubled soul if it be a real burden he will chase away these frothy thoughts from our minds and this is one of those burdens we must cast upon God Psal 55. 22. Christ will not break the bruised Reed It breaks the very heart of a Saint that when he should enjoy close Communion with Jesus Christ a cloud of vain thoughts should interpose to eclipse his happiness and darken his comforts Let us spread therefore this affliction before the Lord with a weeping eye and a bleeding heart God knows how to stop up every passage that a vain thought shall not slip out of any cranny of thy heart Let us over-awe our hearts with a sence of the divine presence Say with the Centurion Acts 10. 33. We are all here present before God The Creature dares not trifle if thunder-struck Acts 17. 28. with the presence of the Lord he cannot but know something of Gods power his own dependance I can speak it Loquor per experientiam quantillum boni per sacras scripturas obtinendum c. Eras by experience saith Erasmus That there is little good gained by the Scriptures if a man hear or read them cursorily and carelesly but if a man do it out of Conscience and heedily as in Gods presence he shall find such efficacy in it as is not to be found in any other Book Gods eye will make us serious and Pedro Mexia Histor Imper. fetter our flitting thoughts The Servant will not sport in the Masters presence The Historian observes That Domitian the Emperour played with flies when he was in the Chamber alone Indeed we give the reins to our hearts in holy duties because we think there are none see them but were we sensible of the divine presence and that Gods piercing eye 1 Thes 2. 13 saw all the hurly burly in the soul when our thoughts took their ranges we should fetter our hearts straighter then the Jaylor did the feet of the Apostles Acts 16. 24. and put a pad-lock upon our imaginations We suppose there is none in the congregation but the Minister and the people and they are strangers to our thoughts whether they are fixed or flying but let us not deceive our selves Psal 139. 12. our thoughts are as fair Champian to Gods eye and prospect as our actions Let us take some pains with our own hearts Children will be wanton if not disciplined our hearts will be flying if not deplumed by care and industry Charge thy heart in holy Ordinances not to stir up to awake thy beloved until he Cant. 2. 7. please which will be after the Ordinance to bless thy care Cant. 3. 5. and watchfulness Cant. 8. 4. We must pray against these wandring thoughts that God would fix our Quick-silvered hearts and keep Dinah at home We must strive against them and set before our hearts 1. The eye of God 2. The day of Account when evil thoughts will be canvassed and condemned for lesser evils 3. The great evil of lesser sins nay let us threaten our hearts if they will not commune with God in Ordinances and be still Psal 4. 4. that we will fill them with smarting grief and sorrow We must fight against these vain and wandring thoughts with the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God Eph. 6. 17. We must convince our hearts how many Scriptural Commands wandring thoughts are the breach of and Eph. 6. 17. therefore in themselves they are weapons drawn against heaven Our hearts like Gardens are best when dressed but being neglected they are easily over-grown with sin and vanity If vain and impertinent thoughts arise in our minds when we are in holy Ordinances let us not dwell upon them Ah let Agrippina cū filio suo Nerone concubitum ambire ausa est ut imperium petulantèr et superbè exerceat Hist Imp. us not take pleasure in speculative Wickedness Evil thoughts like Curtezans if they are smiled upon they grow impudent and will croud in upon the soul therefore when such thoughts arise send them away with a sigh Let us drown our sinfull thoughts as Pharoah did the Israelites Children in their first birth Exod. 1. 16. When our hearts are ready to cherish them let our graces be ready to crush them Vain thoughts even in holy duties will be ready to break out if the love of Christ and holy resolution keep Acts 15. 9. not the door That heart-purifying-grace of faith will give these sinfull intruders their speedy dismission Let us preserve and keep holy affections in the heart for such affections as we have such necessarily will be our Sibimutuò causae sunt thoughts Psal 119. 97. Mal. 3. 16. The fear of God will make us think much of God Indeed thoughts and affections are mutual causes one of another thoughts are the bellows which enflame affections and when they are enflamed they cause thoughts to boyle over and therefore men newly converted to God have new and strong affections and they think more of God then any other Superlative love to Jesus
in ordinances for what will it profit thee to gain a whole world of Gospel opportunities and at last to lose thy own soul Let us study a broken frame of spirit in Ordinances A eleven foot is a sign of Satans appearance A cloven tongue was a sign of the spirits appearance but a cloven broken Psal 51. 17. heart is the sign of a Saints appearance Our best composed Acts 2. 3. services flow from a broken heart Hezekiahs chattering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plural numeri denetare amplitudinem magnitudinem sacrificii cordis contriti like a Crane Isa 38. 14. And Davids weeping oratory were forcible engines to batter heaven Our hearts like clouds they are best when melted It is well when our services like Pauls companions come to the shore upon broken planks A melting spirit will melt God into compassion Moaning Ephraim is a pleasant Child Jer. 31. 20. The softer the Luke 4. 18. heart is the sweeter is the duty Squeezed Grapes onely Psal 34. 18. yield the Wine The Psalmist avers That the Lord is nigh to them who are of a broken heart he loves to dwell near Isa 57. 15. them nay the Prophet saith he loves to dwell with them Unquestionably God is never more seen in the Sanctuary Psal 63. 1 2. then when it is a Bochim a place of tears and spiritual dissolvedness Foramina Petrae sunt vulnera sanciantia Alap Broken clouds forerun a fair day broken hearts foretell a fair acceptation Thus Christ comes in at the clefts of the Rock Cant. 2. 14. And when we faint most we sink least When the Spouse is sick of love Cant. 5. 8. then is Cant. 2. 5. her beloved well pleased When we are most spirituall in ordinances let us hâ—ve ardent desires to be better in those sacred administrations The gracious soul is good at desires he would offer better if there was better in the flock his love shall piece up what is wanting in his duty though he cannot be excellent yet he Duplicem Cain culpam impingit unam quòd post multos dies obtulit serò obtulit cúm celeritate sacrificium commendatur alteram quoÌ„d ex fructibuâ— non ex primis fructibus obtulit Phil. Jud. would be obedient if he cannot offer an entire service yet he would sacrifice a broken heart to God and though his services are wanting in weight yet they are not deficient in wish his desires are plumed though his performances flag and hang the wing Abel will give the best though he hath no better and though the Saint can only offer a little Goats hair or a pair of turtle Doves yet he would offer a young Bullock or the fat of Rams he could wish his tongue was more fluent in prayer his ear more attentive in hearing his spirit more melting in service his heart more open in ordinances his desires are fledged though often his duties are in the shell And this would become us in holy ordinances when we are best to think we are short and when we fly fastest to complain of our clipt wing and Psal 63. 8. when we follow hardest after God to suppose we might mend our pace And surely holy desires after better things are most pleasing to God The Child who offers to serve his Father is very acceptable though his desire be more then Phil. 3. 14. the Act. Paul pressed forward towards the Mark in this our exsample We are most acceptable and more truly spiritual in Ordinances when we bring the whole man to them when the knee doth bend and the eye doth weep and the heart doth yield and the soul doth stoop and the ear incline in holy duties Gods great work was to make the whole world for man and mans good work in spiritual approaches is to give the whole man to God We must come to Ordinances as the Israelites went out of Aegypt with their whole train we must come with all the faculties of our souls and all the Psal 103. 1. parts of our bodies If there be one wheel missing in a In divinis officiis non tantùm sit totus homo sed totum hominiâ— watch it cannot go at all to be an Index of time And so in holy duties if the ear be missing or the memory wanting or the heart lacking all our design falls to the ground Those who will serve God in ordinances must give him their hottest love their highest joy their strongest faith their greatest fear they must act every grace extend every faculty improve Psal 9. 1. every part all the worshipper must be employed in that sacred work The Ship which sails well must have all Psal 119. 34. its tackle the Mast must be up the sails must be spread it must have both its pump and its lanthorn the want of any furniture may endanger the whole There must be head Jer. 3. 10. work and hand work and heart work in ordinances It was the resolution of the Psalmist to keep the Commandments Jer. 24. 7. with his whole heart Psal 119. 69. It is the whole man which is gratefull to God in holy duties we must as the poor widow give all we have cast in all our capacities into the treasury of holy worship Mark 12. 44. CHAP. XXXII Active graces do well become Holy Ordinances AND we must not only be strict in our behaviours and spiritual in our duties in the time of publick Ordinances but we must likewise be very active in our graces in those sacred solemnities There are three seasons when our graces must be active and vigorous Eph. 6. 13 16. 1. In a time of temptation Then faith is a shield as the Apostle speaketh Eph. 6. 13 16. Taking the whole armour of God we shall be able â—o withstand in that evill day Luke 21. 19. 2. In the day of affliction Then patience keeps possession and self-denyal breaks the stroke Wind up the watch and it goes as stedily in the night as in the day 3. In Gospel opportunities The breast is full of Isa 12. 3. milk but the Child must draw and strive to get it out A quae salutis sunt sacrae scripturae doctrina Evangelica quam hâ—â—â—imus á Christo Hier. Orig. There is a life and sweetness in Ordinances but grace and desire must draw it out there must be a hand of faith to let down the bucket to bring up the water from the wells of Salvation If any ask what spices must flow out what graces must be acted in holy ordinances it is answered We must act our knowledge in holy duties We must know it is God the infinite Jehovah with whom we have to do All worship without the knowledge of the true God is a notion and empty speculation God alone is the object of a godly mans worship Exod. 20. 2. His hope is in God Psal 39. 7. His dependance is on God Psal 62. 8.
〈◊〉 si Iota periret tuno esset 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nullo sensu Par. of the New Creation the curious piece of mans redemption is seen and known considering then we have our Fathers will in our Mother tongue we have and hear the Gospel which brings suitable remedies for every malady suitable sucour for every misery which brings the costliest Cordials and the choysest Comforts let the enjoyment of this Word spring our Hallelujahs in the close of a Sabbath 6. For the frequency of a Sabbath This might have been an annual and not a weekly feast were we kept for several moneths without a Sabbath how would our spirits spring at such a dayes appearance Why should the commonness of the Suns shining and the Sabbaths coming put a blast upon the mercy A market day once in the week doth not tire or weary us a Feast and Banquet once in the week doth not Mat. 12. 42. nauseate or surfet us when we mention the Sabbath a greater then these inconsiderables is here A learned Author observes That near the Pole where the nights endure divers moneths the Inhabitants in the end of such a night when the Sun begins to be seen they deck themselves in their best apparel and get up to the Mountains with joy and singing and cry out the Sun appears the Sun appears And shall not our Sabbath when the Sun of Righteousness appears lay as Hoc vocabulum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 traditur propriè de equis subsaltantibus et transfertur ad motum qui sit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Van. great a foundation of joy and exultation in our souls Indeed our Sabbath doth not onely necessitate our praise for the sweet provision of it but for the speedy revelation of it The Circle turns about quickly and then the Sabbath comes again and meets us with his heavenly salutes The monthly light of the Moon how doth it chear the world Much more the weekly splendour of the Sabbath when the gracious person scaps in the womb of it as fore-telling the coming of a Jesus Luke 1. 44. This weekly rest how sweet is it to Gods holy ones and what a softning argument to praise and thanksgiving Nor must we omit Catechizing of Children and Servants in the close of a Sabbath The learned observe That the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to catechise signifies to resound as by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an eccho When we draw answers from our catechists our children or servants their answers are but the ecchoes of divine truth rebounding from the tongue of the answerer which needs must be pleasing and musical to the examiner This work of catechizing is like the watering of flowers Gutta cavat lapidem non vi sed saepe cadendo which makes them smell and grow This is truly distilling doctrine like the rain Deut. 32. 2. drop by drop which probably will make its way into the heart at last This practice of catechizing is the first liquoring of the soul Fundamentum animae fidelis est Jesus Christus which will not easily wear of This is the laying of the foundation Christ in youth and foundations are not easily shaken winds may annoy the roof of the house but not touch the foundation Governors of families build their houses not with brick but instruction and the hewing of 1 Cor. 3. 11. hearts by inculcating the word of life upon them is the hewing of stone which will last and continue Indeed chatechizing Luke 2. 52. is the feeding of the understanding the exercise of the memory the seasoning of the heart the teaching of the tongue to pronounce Shibboleth and fidelity in this duty will leave marks in the lives of Children and Servants Radix vitae aeternae est fides origo pronuba omnium bonorum etiam caelestium Cyril Let us then in the evening of Gods day make a scrutiny into the knowledge of our families that they may learn to know God and him whom he hath sent and to obtain eternall life John 17. 3. Masters are not only to teach their servants their trade but their Christ And Parents are not only to see their Children trained up in secular but in spiritual learning First Catechizing is a duty most gratefully accepted with God God saith of Abraham Gen. 18. 18. For I know him Sancitur officium aeconomicum parentum erga liberos et domesticos Jubet deus Abrahamum non sepelire revelationes sed ad domesticos et posteros propagare Par. that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him that they shall keep the way of the Lord. And for this God makes him a great and mighty Nation God will assuredly bless and reward our religious care over our families which is much evidenced in a carefull catechizing of them And as we study to diffuse knowledge to them so will God shower down his blessings on us Abrahams crown was not his flocks but his care not his wealth but his diligence to train his family in the fear knowledg of the Lord. Secondly Catechizing is a duty strictly charged upon us God commands the people of Israel Deut. 6. 6 7. That his words may dwell in their hearts and that they diligently teach them their children Parents in families must be as lighted tapers to give light to all who are in the house first they must rivet Gods word on their own hearts and then drop it into the hearts of their families Joshuah's Josh 24. 15. resolve was That he and his house would serve the Lord. Governors of families should be as Gardiners which water the young plants at the root Thirdly Catechizing is a duty most successefully pursued upon young ones This is throwing seed into a fruitfull ground which will not want an harvest Timothy was trained up betimes in holy Doctrine and afterwards he was a most excellent Evangelist When a house is strongly built at first after-years will proclaim the care and fidelity 2 Tim. 3. 15. of the workman As Sir Walter Mildmay said of his Colledge which he built Emanuell Colledge in Cambridge He had planted an Acorn which might be an Oak in time and this worthy Colledge hath been the seminary of many learned and excellent men Every serious catechizing of our family is the planting of an Acorn and after-times may see the fruits of that holy plantation We have all varieties of Arguments to press this necessary and excellent duty We have Scripture In the Old Testament the Jews were to teach their Children the Original use of the Passeover Exod. 12. 26 27. other points of the divine Law The Lord speaks Exod. 12. 26 thus Deut. 11. 18 19. Therefore shall ye lay up these my words Ezod 13. 8. in your hearts and in your soul and bind them for a sign upon your hand that they may be as frontlets between your eyes and ye shall teach them your Children c. In
own heart 3. He instructs those who joyn with him And the tune sweetens it doth not lose the Scripture Counsel we sing to God Singing of Psalmes doth very much advantage us it can sweeten a Prison Acts 16. 25. Paul and Silas by singing chase Ne sit horagratiae coelestis immunis gaudio conventus sobrius sonet Psalmos Cyp. away the terrour of the night lighten the heaviness of the chain enlighten the darkness of the dungeon This divine Service can turn a Prison into a Paradise a place of restraint into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Cyprian well advices us Let not saith he an hour of grace want its joy let serious conventions of Gods people sound forth Psalms before the Lord. This holy service prepares us for sufferings When Christ was ready to be offered up then he sings an Hymne with his Disciples Christ sups and sings and then he sets forward Mat. 26. 30. towards the Cross Joy in the Lord whereof singing is Hoc genus delectationis est animae nostrae valdè cognatum Deus Psalmos constituit ut ex iis simul caperetur utilitas et voluptas Chrys onely the rebound armes us against the dint of suffering He will scarce be sensible of approaching stroaks whose heart is taken up with God and Christ and is in the midst of his Hallelujahs no more then the three Childrens feet were parched when they trod upon flames Chrysostome informs us That God appointed Psalms both for our gain and recreation Thus being wrapt we shall scarce feel the thorne in the flesh This soul reviving duty chases away fears When the Church of Christ was much threatened by Tyrants and those Wolves of the Evenings whose Den was at Rome Among Psalmus 4â— Lutheri Psalmus dicitur others Luther was the white those Archers shot at but in the midst of the greatest fears Luther would call to sing the 46th Psalm which since is called Luthers Psalm Thus did that incomparable man as if singing of Psalms was the holy spell to charm away all griefs and fears the threats of persecutors might raise and procure As perfect love so inward joy casts out fear the triumphing and the trembling of the heart at the same time being inconsistent Whilst we are beginning heaven in this work of Angels as Basil calls Basil de laudibuâ— et virt Psal singing of Psalms we are got above the frowns and fears of the world This heart rejoycing duty can make travels sweet and pleasant it can shorten miles and hasten stages Num. 21. 17. Sive in templum convenimus ad orandum sive ad Agapen sive in domum ad mensam aut cibum nobis metipsis in Psalmâ—â— loquamur Num. 21. 17. A learned man observes That singing holy songs it is the musick of the Temple the pleasure of the feast the delight of the Table and it may be added it is the recreation of the journey The Children of Israel had a wilderness to travel through but they had a God to converse with and sweet ordinances to refresh themselves by they made their journies pleasurous and the change of their stages was onely the variety of their delight singing to the Lord strewed their way with roses This soul-raising duty hath facilitated victories 2 Chron. 20. 22. When the people of Israel began to sing and to praise God the Lord set ambushments against the Children of Ammon 2 Chr. 20. 22. c. Thus singing of Gods praises hath not onely a melody in the Church but a force and a power in the Camp Swords sometimes are no sence against songs when God and Christ are the matter of them Singing of Psalms hath heavenly ends By it we glorifie God Singing it blazons Gods Righteousness Psal 145. 7. By it we bless Gods Name Psal 92. Psal 66. 2. 1. By it we evidence Gods love Psal 47. 6. By it we declare Gods Majesty Isa 24. 14. By it we testifie Gods mercy Isa 12. 2. Psal 89. 1. By it we publish Gods Judgements Psal 101. 1. By it we proclaim Gods power Psal 59. 16. Psal 47. 6. This sacred duty David urgeth with more then ordinary fervency And in this service we joyn confort with the whole Psal 95. 1. Creation The brute and inanimate Creatures praise the Creatour by singing to him The Mountains cannot pray Psal 98. 4. but they can sing Isa 44. 23. The Valleys do not meditate but they sing Psal 65. 13. Singing is the harmony of the Forrest 1 Chron. 16. 33. Singing is the musick of the Grove Psal 104. 12. Nay the Heavens sing Isa 49. 13. And the Earth sings Psal 96. 1. Thus the Quire of all the Creatures bear a part in singing the praises of the Almighty Singing of Psalms is an excellent means to draw out our Graces and they indeed are the musick which make the Cant. 4. 16. harmony they are the spices which flow out with a pleasant and an aromatical sent 1. Singing draws out and exercises our joy Isa 12. 2. The joy of the heart is onely midwiv'd into the World by the songs of the lips 2. Singing draws out our faith The Heathens sing to the Psal 47. 7. vain Idols and we to our Jehovah Sing praise saith the Psalmist to our God Our spiritual songs keep time by the hand of faith And so Tertullian observed as was suggested before The Primitive Christians met before day to sing Hymns to Jesus Christ their dear Redeemer 3. Singing draws out our love Isa 5. 1. We sing most Mat. 26. 30. sweetly in the armes of our beloved Christ sang with his Apostles the Disciples of his bosome Moses sings with the Psal 33. 1. Children of Israel the Brethren of his love When we sing to Christ we sing to him who lies as a bundle of Myrrh between our breasts Cant. 1. 13. It is love dilates the heart it is love sweetens the voice it is love makes the tongue an Semper Mobile Arist instrument of perpetual motion 4. Singing draws out our thanksgiving Isa 38. 20. Singing is onely gratitude put in meeter and set in tune The gratefull person comes with his harp in his hand as Jephtah's Daughter did to congratulate her returning and victorious Prov. 29. 6. Father Judges 11. 34. Singing Psalms only becomes the righteous who shall eternally praise God for the Psal 30. 4. blessings of their salvation by Christ We may sing musically but not joyfully not heartily with unpardoned guilt upon our souls A wicked man is a Parot in this duty he is Prov. 13. 14. onely Satans Nightingale The Prophet saith Isa 65. 14. The Servants of God shall sing for joy of heart Wicked men can have no peace Isa 57. 21. and therefore no joy A grave Divine well observes That praise and psalms well become the Saints who sing with affection reverence and understanding otherwise this duty is as a costly garment which is rich
divinae naturae tribuendum judicarunt singings must not serve our pleasure our wantonness our gain but our Saviour our Christ our God In this heavenly musick we must study not so much to keep time that we do not spoil the Consort as to keep the heart close to God that we do not spoil the Duty The heathens celebrate their false gods Neptune Mars Jupiter c. with Songs and Hymns and think that by this service and worship they proclaim their greatness and Divinity And shall Christiani essent soliti ante lucem convenire carmenque Chrâ—sto quasâ— deo dicere not we much more celebrate the praises of God and Christ who hath loved us and given himself for us Gal. 2. 20. in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual songs shall not God have the sweetness of our voice the melody of our hearts the songs of our lips nay the musick of our holy lives that all that is within us and without us too may praise his holy and glorious name And thus at last there is laid before us a Scheme of Sabbath observation and we are instructed how to keep the Lords day according to the Lords will which doing we Psal 4. 8. â— shall lie down at night with safety and satisfaction A well spent Sabbath will warm our bed at night will strew our bed with roses will sent it with perfumes nay strew it with pearls and we may joyfully expect a full crop of blessings the subsequent week nay our future life may be prospered with the gifts of the right hand and the left and drenched with the effusions of the upper and the nether springs CHAP. XXXVI Some supplemental Directions for the better observation of the Lords day BY way of Addition and Appendix some other particulars may be annexed and suggested for the furtherance Sâ—bbatum est aureum vitae tempus of this blessed service Indeed much of Religion is summed up in the care of Gods Sabbath and we should be as chary and tender of this trust viz. The Lords day as Jacob was of Benjamin in which Child his life was bound up The prophane person wasts this golden talent the formalist Luke 19. 20. wraps it up in a Napkin but the sedulous Saint puts it out to great advantage and will give up his account with joy Bishop White tells us The keeping holy of the Lords Bishop White in his Preface to his Treatise on the Sabbath day and why then should he plead so much for recreations on that holy day it is a work of piety a Nursery of Religion and Vertue a means of sowing the seeds of grace and of planting faith and saving knowledge and godliness in the peoples minds And our blessed Lord and Saviour being duly and religiously served and worshiped upon his own holy day imparteth heavenly and temporal benedictions Thus this learned man seems to lay the whole weight of Religion and to entail the whole reward of godliness upon a due observance of Gods blessed Sabbath And let this ever be the praise of his learning Undoubtedly Religion and the Sabbath are twins which live and die together And the piety of the Sabbath is the prosperity of the Nation But let us hasten to some further directions for the more sweet and full discharge of Sabbath piety Dir. 1 We must keep Sabbaths not only personally but domestically not only by our selves but by our families It is not enough for thee to pray but thy family must joyn in prayer Abraham Gen. 18. 18. caused his family to serve God which gave him no small interest in the love and heart of God Joshuas holy resolution was That he and his house would serve the Lord. Josh 24. 15. On a Sabbath every house should be a lesser Temple where all should meet to worship Every one must keep this holy Josh 24. 15. day in order Superiours must be carefull that inferiours observe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exod. 20. 10. it Can a Master of a family be said to keep a Sabbath when he is praying and his servant is sinning his Child is gadding his Wife is visiting In Heaven where there is an everlasting Sabbath kept there the whole Host is praising God and the Inhabitants of Heaven are called a Family by the Apostle Eph. 3. 15. Our services must be the musique of a Consort not of a single Instrument In the 4th Commandement Servants are commanded the sanctification of the Sabbath as well as Masters and Children as well as Parents This blessed Command takes Necessitas obedientiae non ex cusat servum sed necessi aâ— coâ—ctionis in the whole Family within its circuit And learned men observe the necessity of obedience doth not excuse the servant from observing this day onely the necessity of compulsion Servants must not work this day by command but onely by overpowering force and violence as the Israelites did in their Aegyptian bondage In matters of Religion there is no difference between bond or free male or female Gal. 3. 28. Every one hath a soul to look after an account to give a Christ to pursue Communi sanctificandi sabbatum lege constringuntur omnes ex aequo herus dominus pater liberi superiores inferiores Muscul a Heaven to take by force Mat. 11. 12. There dwelleth a piece of immortality in the bosome of the meanest servant And that Child which hath no portion to receive hath a Christ to ensure which is the work of this holy day Museulus observes The common Law for the keeping of the Sabbath equally reacheth all and is a common bond to oblige all and in this it is like the Law-giver It is no respecter of persons Acts 10. 34. nor must the power of Superiours prejudice Religion A Governour of a Family cannot lawfully call off his Children or Servants from religious observations and so from the duties of a Sabbath and Religion is as much the interest of the meanest Servant as of the greatest Masters of the most inferiour Peasant as of the most noble Prince Nay the lower our condition is here the more strictly we should keep the Sabbath that we may better our estate to come in that place and condition where all civil distinctions will be taken away The greatest Magistrate is called to be a nursing Father of the Church of God Isa 49. 23. and therefore herein must he look that the Church be fed and not delivered over to dry Nurses They are Gods Ordinance and their power is of God for of themselves they can do nothing Joh. 19. 11. And therefore they must honour God uphold his Ordinances 1 Sam. 2. 30. They must give to God the things which are Gods Rom 13. 1 2 6. Mat. 22. 21. and must employ their Power and Authority to the service and glory of Christ Wherefore seeing Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2. 27. Mat. 12. 8. Prov. 8. 15. They must
the Gospel Rom. 2. 16. Can Parents see their children grieve the spirit who descended most gloriously on the Apostles upon the Lords day Acts 2. 3. and break that Commandment which is one of Gods Ten Words Deut. 10. 4. Nay pollute that Deut. 10. 2. day which is founded on Christs salvifical Resurrection and not be surprized with dread and consternation I may expostulate with such as once the Church did with the Lord where is the soundings of their bowels Parents love their Isa 63. 15. Children so far as they love their better part it is considerable death will strip them of all the fruits of their care Job 1. 21. excepting that which they have taken for their souls Not only divine command Exod. 20. 10. but natural affection Ex unâ parte Christum urgebat ad mertis supplicium sustinendum aeternum Patris decretum immensus humani generis a mor. Chemnit leads us to the discharge of this duty viz. To see our Family keep holy the Sabbath day What softness and tenderness did Christ shew to his family how sweetly did he instruct them Mark 4. 11 12 13 14 c. How pathetically did he pray for them Joh. 17. 9 11 15 17 20 21 24. How carefully did he lay up for them a divine and glorious inheritance Luke 22. 29 30. And at last how willingly did he shed his blood for them and he was straightned till he drank up his bitter cup for them Luke 12. 50. Let us write after this Copy and shew our love to our family as our dear Jesus did to his and then we shew our love to them when we see they shew their love to God in a carefull keeping of his holy day The excellency of the Sabbath should draw the whole family to an observation of it The Lords day is the Fort-royal of Religion let us all stand in our places to observe it and so we shall preserve it there are many who lay seige to it to race and demolish it Some set their wits on work to oppose the Doctrinal part of it Some set their wills on work to oppose the Practical part of it Now let us countermine these miscreant endeavours 1. By being much in prayer that the Lord of the Sabbath would perpetually preserve his own ordinance 2. By being much in practice that we and our houses serve the Lord on his own blessed day Standing and serious sanctity if it cannot convince men to mind their duty it will engage God to secure his own institution The Jewes never lost the Sabbath untill they rejected Christ who is the Lord of it they had the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. till they repudiated the Son of God In the Old Testament they went to worship God with their Flocks and their Herds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oracula teste Hesichiâ— primitus Judaeis à deo revelata sunt illis Scripta per prophetas tradita ita ut illa non nisi per Judaeos ad Gentiles devenerint Alap with them Hos 5. 6. In the New Testament let us take our Children and our Servants with us in the worship of God Let them be with us in the publick let them be with us in private duties of Gods holy day so we shall ensconce our priviledges And every pious family shall be as a Macedonian pbalanx to secure the Sabbath from violation and subversion Sin and neglect makes the forfeiture of spiritual blessings a careless contempt of the Word brings a famine of it Amos 8. 11. And the slight observance of Gods day exposeth it to reproach So that often the Wolves of the Forrest violent men pursue it with persecution and the Hab. 1. 8. little Foxes closer Hereticks infest it with their contagion Cant. 2. 15. Let us therefore with Moses resolve We will go with our Young and with our Old with our Sons and with our Daughters for we must hold a feast unto the Lord Exod. 10. 9. Exod. 10. 9. Chemnitius observes That to the sactification of the Lords day besides publick duties there is work to be done in families Chemnit exam Concil Trident. Cap. de dieb Fest as instructing of servants rehearsal of Sermons reading Scriptures counselling and quickning such who are under our care that all may keep Gods holy day Ah! let not us and our families lose our Sabbaths because we did no better Luke 19. 44. keep them not forgeting that usually Children are wrapt up in a common destruction Luke 19. 44. And so much the more earnestly should we endeavour to fold them up in a common salvation Jude v. 3. Jude v. 3. It well becomes the wisdom of the Governours of Families to see the Sabbath carefully observed Superiours must not leave the keeping of the Sabbath as a thing indifferent to the discretion of the family they must intreat them they must provoke them they must compel them The Kings Command was to compel the guestâ— to come in Luke 14. 23. The Deus gentes compellit introire ut sic suam erga eos ostenderet charitatem quia enim libentèr vellet ut ipsius essent convivae et cum eo in aeternum delitiarentur non tantùm beneficiâ—s eos invitat quando venire renâ—unt in manum sumit mallâ—um legis quo conterit corda duriora et eos humiliat ut discerent leges et justitiam suam sola enim vexatio dat intellectum auditui Chemn sick child if he will not take his physick with a smile he must do it with a â—od the child must not die and miscarry The ease of the flesh the strength of corruption the insinuating temptations of Satan will all decry Sabbath observation and therefore here indulgence is the greatest injury and mildness is the sorest cruelty to the precious soul Thy family had better endure sharp reproofs then scorching flames As Mr. Shepheard used to tell his weeping Auditoâ—rs It was better crying here then in Hell As David said of Gods House Psal 69. 9. Psal 119. 139. so Governours of families should say of Gods day the zeal of it hath eaten them up Thy Children and Servants must keep the Sabbath holy there is an absolute necessity of it and woe to the Governours of families if through their neglect the day of God is slightly over-past Nehemiah caused the Sabbath to be observed not so much by mild perswasions as peremptory command nay sharp and acute threatnings Nehem. 13. 17 19 20. And so this good man espoused the Magistrate to the Saint Let every Master of a family go and do so likewise And as Superiours must strictly enjoyn so Inferiours must heartily embrace Sabbath observation Children must enquire of their Parents Exod. 13. 14. And Servants must joyfully obey their Masters in all holy and spiritual Isa 28. 19. commands Col. 3. 22. They must spend frugally the time of a Sabbath solemnize seriously the ordinances of a Sabbath perform readily the services
of a Sabbath and as lesser stars shine in the holy and exemplary observation of the Sabbath That swaying principle of interest should prompt Governours to this duty 1. Interest if they regard their present peace Slight Sabbaths will make sloathfull Servants and stubborn Children When we do not fasten the family to the holy duties of a Sabbath we leave them to the byass of their own corruptions Cor lubriâ—um et in omnia mala et iniqua pro pensum which will easily carry them to every thing inconvenient How many Servants in the great City of the Nation for want of care and zeal in their Masters to keep them to holy duties on Gods holy day Court their Harlots take off their Cups waste their Masters substance and hazzard their own in mortal souls and as Belteshazzar drink Dan. 5. 2. in the Vessels of the Temple with their Courtezans and their Concubines Many by these courses anticipate their own ruine and in reference to their dayes in the world for Luke 16. 6. an hundred write down fifty cast themselves untimely away mortgage their future hopes and blast their present parts and all from their riots on Gods holy day On the contrary the Family which serves God most on the Sabbath will serve the Governour best in the week The awe of a Sabbath is not easily worn off as colours laid in Oyle are not washed off with every drop A well spent Sabbath is an Ark in the house which sheds a prosperity on all the 2 Sam. 6. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Addidit affairs of it it makes every one a Joseph who carries increase and addition in his very name and concerning whom it was prophesied He should be a fruitful bough even a Gen. 49. 22. fruitful bough by a wall whose branches run over the wall Ex Josepho et filiis ejus duae tribus fuere propagatae amplissimae et potentissimae This holy care of sanctifying Sabbaths in with our families would cause the dews of heavenly benediction not only to fall upon the head and the beard of the Governours but the skirts also the inferiour branches of the family 2. It is the interest of Governours to see their families Exigit deus rationem à Ministris animarum nostrarum si vel unicâ eorum culpâ perierit Par. keep the Sabbath holy as they will give up their account with joy As the Minister must be responsible for the souls of his people committed to his charge Heb. 13. 17. so the Master for his Family At Gods Bar thou shalt not say am I my Families keeper In the time of the worlds infancy the Governour of the Family was the only Magistrate he Minister onus et curam animarum gerit pro iis aeternae mortis periculo se exponit siâ—gulorum probitas et salus ab eo exigetur in die judicii Alap was both Master and Pastour his house-hold was his teritory and dominion and he swayed his Scepter in exercising his power over it Abraham was a Prince and a Prophet in his own house and he acted like a Prince in commanding his family to keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. But still we are accountable for those who are subordinate to us and if we must be accountable for words as transient breath Mat. 12. 36. much more for Children the darlings of our bosoms and for Servants the objects of care that living trust committed to us How often do Parents put their Children into the Masters hand as Jacob did Benjamin into the hands of his Brethren Gen. 43. 14. with weeping eyes with aking hearts with ardent prayers and cry out if They are bereaved they are bereaved and shall the negligence of Gen. 43. 14. Masters strike these trembling Parents under the fifth rib because they did not see their servants strictly observe Gods holy day but left them to the vanity of their minds which gradually habituated them in evil and paved their way to destruction Surely the grief of these disappointed Parents shall no more vie with the doome of the regardless Masters 1 Kings 12. 11. then the smart of a rod can compare with the burning of a Scorpion But Masters of families should do well before-hand to cast up their account and this would be a spur to their care and sedulity on Gods holy day That lovely principle of justice and equity might command this service If we find not our family employed in holy work on Gods holy day what do we more for them then we do for our beasts We give them rest from labour Shall the care of a soul which endures to eternity more valuable Mat. 16. 26. then a world no more sway with us then the care of a beast which perisheth The Cattel shall not travel and the Psal 49. 20. Servants shall not work upon Gods day and so they shall be both equally indulged with the same priviledge Is this suitable to the spirit of the Gospel Paul endures the pangs of travel Gal. 4. 19. Christ endures the pangs of death Luke 23. 46. and thou shalt not endure a little trouble and a little care not one act of zeal or one drop of sweat in holy 1 Sam. 28. 14. diligence for precious and never dying souls Throw off the mantle of Samuel if thou and thy house will not serve the God of Samuel on his own day And moreover it is a great provocation that our Servants must serve us in the week and we take no care that they serve God on the Sabbath Our interest must be on the Anvel though the interest of Christ and Religion be laid aside a poor worm must be more sedulously served and observed then the infinite Jehovah May not that exclamation be here seasonable Hear O Heavens and give ear O Earth Isa 1. 2. The Shop must not be neglected though the soul be is our present gain to run paralel with our servants future Crown Must servants be more mindfull of our work then their own everlasting weal Indeed what would it profit us if we should gain the whole world and our poor servants lose Mat. 16. 26. their immortal souls will our profit compensate their loss Surely this is bruitishly to use our servants and well befits the profession of a Demas who hath forsaken the Gospel and embraced the present world 2 Tim. 4. 10. But let us not beguile our selves saith heavenly Greenham for the blood of servants souls will be required at Masters hands who being lordly and tyrannicall make their servants either equal to their beasts or worse then their beasts caring for nothing but the world never thinking of Hell whereunto they are hastening Dir. 2 We must endeavour to keep Gods day uniformly and harmoniously Our families must be on the Lords day as the building of Solomons Temple where no Axe or Hammar was 1 Kings 6. 7. heard
we are contracted as a ship becalmed the Spirit fills our sails which is that VVind which bloweth where it listeth John 3. 8. Spiritus sanctus postulat i. e. postulare et gemere facit est hebraismus quo kal ponitur pro Hiphil Ansel When we are sad and dejected the Spirit consolates and chears us and flushes us with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. Oftentimes we cannot lanch forth in a duty the Spirit then helps us off from the sands Many times we are dull in hearing and then the Spirit opens the heart Acts 16. 14. and makes us vigorous and attentive And when we are at a loss in Prayer the Spirit puts life into our dead duty and makes us groan a sign of Sex modis in orando erratur primò si bonum temporale petimus animae nociturum Secundò si à malo aliquo quod prosit nobis liberari oremus Tertiò siquid petamus ex ambitione ut filii Zebedaei petebant primus in regno Christi quartò si quid petamus ex zelo indiscreto ut filii Zebedaei optabant ignem de caelo manasse in Sâ—maritanos Christum respuentes quinto si petatur ardentius quod utilius est differri sextò si petamus statum nobis incongruum life and furnisheth us with suitable petitions to accost and lay siege to the throne of Grace And when we are weak and stagger in a holy duty the Spirit takes us by the hand and sets us with fresh strength to finish our service the Spirit corrects all our errours in holy duties A learned man observes there are six great errours in Prayer 1. When we petition some temporal good to the disadvantage of the soul 2. When we earnestly desire the removal of some affliction which conduceth much to the good of the soul 3. When we ask something out of ambition as the sons of Zebedee that they might have a primâ—cy in the Kingdome of Christ 4. When we petition any thing out of an indiscrete zeal as the sons of Zebedee requested fire from Heaven to consume the Samaritans who would not entertain Christ Luke 9. 54. 5. When we are earnest for that which it was better it was delayed that by this delay our prayers may be more importunate and our perseverance may be more fully discovered 6. When we beg that state of life in this World which God sees inconvenient for us Now the Spirit correct all these errours and is the Censor of our miscarriage in duty He maketh us more wise more humble more heavenly more self-resigning more patient in duty The guidances of the Spirit are the Pole-star to direct us in every Ordinance and holy service The Spirit is our advocate within us John 14. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Greek which fits us with holy pleas to sue with when we address our selves to God and carries out the heart to urge its case with greater earnestness with great weight and authority The Spirit is the President of our duties to guide the soul that it write fair without blot In a word The Spirit helpeth our infirmities in duty Not a good Angel as Lyra Not a spiritual man a Minister as Chrysostome Not spiritual Grace as Ambrose Not Charity as Chrysost tract in Joan. Augustine But it is the Holy Ghost as Pareus And this blessed Spirit helpeth us as the Nurse helpeth a little Child holding it by the â—â—â—eve As the old man is stayed by his staffe or rather â—â—â—peth together as that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 26. seems to imply being a Metaphor taken from one who is to lift a great weight and being too weak another claspeth hands with him and helps him So the Spirit is ready to relieve us in all our spiritual duties The holy Spirit succeeds and prospers our holy duties It makes our duties prevalent with God God attends when we sing in the spirit God hears when we pray in the spirit Ephes 2 18. as the Apostle speaketh 1 Cor. 14. 15. VVhen this Dove moanes within us Rom. 8. 26. God understands the groans of his own Spirit and will give seasonable answers God Donum et efficacia orationis non in verbis sed in gemitâ— desiderio affectu et suspiriis ignitis consistit Alap gives his Spirit to assist in these duties which he fore-determines to accept Man speaketh words in prayer but the Spirit raises groans Alapide observes God is not so pleased with locution as affection in that holy duty not so much with expressions as inexpressible sighs which are as incense in his acceptation As the smoak of that Cloud a sign of Gods smile and favour Isa 4. 5. A duty spirited by the Holy Ghost shall never fail an expected end for God knows the mind of his Spirit as the Syriack reads it Rom. 8. 27. As the Mother knows the groanes and cries of her tender Child and presently runs to help it and to give it what it wants and cries for The Spirit is our intercessour within us as Christ is our intercessour above us whose pleas shall 1 John 2. 1 2. not meet with a denial The Spirit moving upon the waters Gen. 1. 2. produced a World and brought forth living Creatures The Spirit moving upon the Word the dispensations of the Gospel causes the New Creation and makes living Christians O then when we come under the Word and are in the midst of the waters of the Sanctuary let us wait for the good spirit of the Lord Other Birds drive away but let the Dove come in Pareus observes Suspiria perturbata semper exaudiuntur Primó Quid sunt suspiria spiritus Secundò Quia semper spiritus interpellat juxta placitum et voluntatem dei Pat. that the groans of the Spirit within us shall not vanish into ayr and that upon a double account 1. Because the Spirit comes from God John 15. 26. and is his Commissioner in a gracious soul and he will not deny his Leiger in a Saint 2. The Spirit always intercedes according to the good will and pleasure of the Lord And pleasing petitions shall not meet with a repulse what suits with the heart of God shall open the hand of God Congruous desires shall be conquering desires The Spirit makes duties effectual to us That Prayer which is animated by the Spirit shall not onely gain upon Gods heart but melt ours If the Spirit open our heart in hearing we shall attend to the Word and savingly entertain it When Christ by the Spirit opened the understanding of the Acts 16. 14. two Disciples Luke 24. 45. then they dived into Gospel mysteries and understood fully what was fulfilled concerning the death of the Messiah When the Spirit brings home a Sermon he makes it fire to burn up the dross of the soul Jer. 5. 14. he makes it a hammer to break the hardness of the soul Jer. 23. 29. he makes it
data sunt Talmud Hierosolym Isa 66. 3. Psal 50. 16. 3. And they were to look to their conversations to see them clean before they took the Law of God into their mouths Psal 26. 6. And their neglect of this duty in after-times highly provoked the Lord Isa 1. 12 13. 4. They had a high esteem of the assemblies of the faithful as holy Convocations Levit. 23. 3. And they looked on the place of their meeting as the house of God 1 Chron. 9. Psal 27. 4. 27. And thought those blessed who dwelt there Psal Psal 84. 1 2. 84. 4. 5. When they were going to the place of worship it was Mic. 4. 2. with singular affection Psal 26. 8. and vehement longing Psal 42. 2. 6. It was customary among them to excite one another to approach to God in holy and solemn worship The Pastors stirred up the people Jer. 31. 6. And the people stirred up one another Jer. 50. 4 5. And the parties excited were glad thereof Psal 122. 1. 7. Joy and praise made their way to the house of God Psal 42. 4. 8. When they entred into the Congregation they worshipped at the very gate Ezek. 46. 3. They kissed the Datum est Sabbatum ad meditandum in lege dei Aben Ezr. in cap. 20 Exod. very portal where Gods honour dwelt So zealous and devout when time was was this poor people 9. When they departed they would carry a blessing with them 2 Chron. 30. 27. 10. After the dismission they did meditate on what they heard Psal 1. 2. if at all times much more on this blessed day And they did not survey what they heard in a secret contemplation but in a serious examination Acts 17. 11. They searched the Scriptures afterwards touching those things in which they were taught The Scriptures were their golden Mine not only to look upon in meditation but to search into by scrutiny and holy discussion 11. When they were come home from publick Ordinances Deut. 11. â—9 they taught their Children For this was a charge laid upon them daily much more on Gods day Deut. 6. 6 7. Exod. 31. 14 15. And if they were to teach their Children when they walked by the way much more when they came from a Sermon heated with the incense of holy duties 12. Oâ— this holy Sabbath they were to charge their meditations with their deliverance from Egypt Deut. 5. 14 15. And to think on the sanctifying power of God Ezek. 20. 20. And to contemplate on the eternal rest the everlasting Sabbath which was to come and to see in all things they delighted in the Lord and accounted his day honourable and denyed all their own thoughts and delights and works on this blessed day Isa 58. 13. Let us go and do so likewise Isa 58. 14. as our Saviour speaks in another case Luke 10. 17. And when we deviate in Sabbath duties let us take this glass and so mend our dress The Jews carriage was most remarkable on their Sabbath in the multiplicity of their services 1. They had preparatory work which hath already been touched upon and therefore no further to be pursued 2. They had legal sacrifices to offer both forenoon and afternoon and these sacrifices were to be doubled on the Num. 28. 9 10. Sabbath They had their burnt offerings their meat offerings their drink offerings besides the incense which was Quod spectat ad usum Altaris aurei debuit in singulis diebus mane et vespere in eo suffitum offerri ab Aarone et ejus successoribus Rivet to be burnt on the Altar both Morning and Evening Exod. 30. 7 8. And this offering of incense is a perpetual service throughout their Generations And to this offering up of incense David alludes Psal 141. 2. 3. They had spiritual duties to perform holy prayers to pour forth Dan. 9. 21. Luke 1. 10. Holy Scriptures to read holy instructions to give to their Children and Servants holy meditation to entertain holy Sacraments to administer Sometimes the Passeover John 19. 36. And often Nehem. 8. 5. the Circumcision John 7. 22. Their spiritual duties Luke 4. 20. like stars did shine in the firmament of their Sabbath to render it bright and glorious Nehem. 8. 3. 4. They had works of charity to act And these were of two sorts 1. Either to brute creatures for the Lord allowed them to lead their Ox and their Asse to watering Luke 13. 15. to make their lives more comfortable 2. Or Secondly to themselves they had liberty to provide for their placid and chearful performances of holy duties But most principally they had Collections for â—he poor on the Sabbath which the Scripture mentions Luke 21. 1 Mark 12. 41. Deinde edicitur nequis sit impedimento Judaeis caetus aut collectus facientibus aut Hyerosolyâ—â—a eas mittentibus more patrio Phil. Jud. in legat ad Caâ—â—n Cesarem 2. And Philo Judaeus in his Apology to the Emperour Caius Caligula stands much upon this service of theirs for the justification of the Brethren of his Religion and recapitulates it as a priviledge granted them by Caesar Augustus Thus we may observe how busie the Jews were in running through the several stages of duty till they came to the end of their Sabbath No wonder then if one of their Rabbies called idleness on a Sabbath a notable errour The Jews carriage on the Sabbath was remarkable in the continuance of their services They began their Sabbath betimes and ended it late We read they came early on the Psal 139. 9. morning to the temple Luke 21. 38. they did fly to holy duties upon the wings of the morning that no Sabbath time Luke 21. 38. John 8. 2. John 18. 20. might run waste And this their earliness is taken notice of in three several places of Scripture to shew how pleasing it was Christ rose early to teach John 8. 2. and the people Deut. 32. 2. rose early to bath their souls in that morning dew which fell from heaven And the Scripture records this early resort was no fit of novelty but their constant and continual practice John 18. 20. And if it be said But happily their service passed away as the dew which is soon dried up it is answered it is thought most probably that the Jews did Convenimus semper et curcti magno silentio utuntur nisi ad laudem doctorum nec aliquis verbum emittit Sacerdos unus è senioribus legem recitat et exponit et hoc fit ad totum diem usque ad crepusculum Deindo abeunt et sacrarum litterarum peritiores et pietate multò munitiores Euseb de Praepar Evan lib. 8. cap. 2. ex Philon hold out from the beginning to the ending without any intermission there was no breaking up of the Congregation till all was done Acts 13. 43. Nehem. 8. 8 9. But Philo one of the most eminent among the Jews gives
who brought the fire to consume our Jerusalem it will not here be seasonable to enquire but it is most probable they came from Babylon the Enemies of the Jewes from the literal and our implacable Adversaries from the mystical Babylon But did the same sin which fier'd Jerusalem fire London It may be answered most visibly or else why was London fir'd on the Lords day The time sheweth the Trespass And surely one of Londons foulest scars was the prophanation of Gods holy day No sin especially of later years more generally and more impudently acted 1. What playing of Children the younger sort up and down the streets The playing of Children in the streets in the week-day is a symptom of prosperity but on the Lords day is an evidence of impiety 2. What sitting at the door of those who should find some thing divine and spiritual to exercise head and heart in Zach. 8. 5. As if the Lords day was a day of leisure not of light a day of fond recreation and not of heavenly instruction And how contrary to Abraham have Parents in London acted which holy Patriarch would make his Children and Family to keep the wayes of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. 3. And what charms of vain and frothy communication of old and young men and women upon Gods holy day as if their tongues were set on fire of Hell Jam. 3. 6. Persons Peccatum quod alter incurrit operando tuum facis obloquendo not considering that God hath not only confined our hands that we must not work but our tongues too that we must not talk unprofitably on his own day Isa 58. 13. But how have the Inhabitants of London left themselves to the range of all manner of foolish and vain discourse and their communication like Noahs Ark hath taken in the unclean with Gen. 7. 2. the clean and this chat must defile Gods day 4. Let London remember the crouds in the fields upon the blessed Sabbath which throngs of people have been like the spires of Grass or the leaves of the Trees which they came to behold and all this to flatter corrupt and want â—n sense and to waste the most precious time of the most precious Sabbath What Atheistical prophaneness is this to be feeding the Eye with a prospect or pleasing the Fancy Deus inambulat in animâ tanquam in tabernaculo suo cùm ex memoriâ in intellectum traâ—sit inde in voluntatem per actuâ— fidei spei châ—ritatis est enim anima sancta quasi templâ—m immò coelâ—m Bernard with a walk when the immortal Soul cries out Improve this time for my interest or I perish to eternity O! that laziness and sensuality should confound all reason and religion What time wilt thou have for the gaining of a Christ for the saving of a Sâ—ul if the Sabbath be trifled away Is looking after the invaluable Soul such a despisable and inconsiderable work as that it may be so easily dispensed with O Lord us vanity This hath fir'd the best City in the World And this idleness in the fields is not only before and after the solemn worship of God but in the very seasons of grace as if sensuaâ— delight would bid defiance to spiritual duty and Gods service must give way to mans froth and vanity Gospel truths must be laid aside for secular walks and heavenly Ordinances must be put off for empty recreations which like the Tulip have no sent in them and like the walks they trâ—â—â— have no spirit or life in them 5. And hath not this been the stain of London that Ale-hâ—uses have been filled with vain and frivolous Guests on Gods holy day as if Bacchus had been the God they had only worshipped and the Cup of Intemperance did out-vie Psal 146. 13. the â—uâ—â—f Salvation 6. Nay may it not be suspected that the Stews have not been unfrequented on this holy Sabbath and so Venus may be the Goddess of these debauched sinners VVe have had Libido mentem absorbet corpus subjugat corrumpit Alap our Chambers not of Imageâ—y Ezek. 8. 12. but of Adultery Rom. 13. 13. O the wantonness of the people on this blessed day many nay too many are upon the merry pin laughing and jesting and disporting themselves one with another as if the Sabbath was some jovial time set apart for some carnal triumph and not the set solemnity for soul concernments 7. Nay hath not this day been spent with mâ—re sâ—n and prophaneness then any other day Other dayes have been employed in honest labours and in the sweat of the bâ—â—ws but this blessed day in dishonest delights and in the pleasing of â—ur lusts 8. And what want of preparation for this holy day the inhabitants of London toyling no part of the week with so much eagerness as on the Saturday night when they should Mark 15 42. Luke 23 54. be dressing themselves to meet with the Bridâ—goom of their souls on his own day in this falling below the Jews who had their Parascheve their preparation-day 9. And shall this be cast into the woful endictment How guilty hath London been of profuse furniture â—f the table upon Gods holy day as if men were determined to clog the sense Tâ—nta malâ— non facit mare lonites suos transgreâ—iens quamâ—â—m venter si â—â—rpâ—a nostrum superâ—verit that they might chain the soul and so impede and hinder its freedom in holy duties and make intemperance the mother of their devotion Whence comes our sleep and stupefaction in the worship of God on his own day but from the fulness of the cup and the excess of the table when the wanton palaâ—e shall prevail more then the inestimable and precious soul 10. And oftentimes when the shop hath been shut the work hath not been laid aside on Gods day but many have wrought in their callings as sedulously though more privately then upon other dayes and too often the Artificer hath swayed more then the Christian and mâ—n under a pretence to keep the eighth have made bold with the fourth Commandment And therefore whatever hand was used in Londons fire it was Sabbath-guilt which threw the first fire-ball to turn it into flames When Mount Sinai was on fire and smoaking Exod. 19. 18. God was there and that was the cause of the combustion but when dear London was on fire guilt was there nay Sabbath-guilt and this was the cause of its devastation and retine Now ye have seen the dart let us search the wound And was not Londons fire remarkable Surely never any judgement was sharpned with more mournfull circumstances The hand-writing against the City was like the hand-writing of the Dan. 5. 5. Wall mentioned in the beginning of the 5th of Daniel we may see every finger distinctly But more especially let us glance at these more dreadful remarkables the several evidences of divine wrath and displeasure By Londons fire the beauty and the
Charity And now shall the Heathen make it an inexpiable Crime to work upon one of their holy days and shall it be venial for us to follow our works and pursue our lusts on Gods holy day Shall Saturn and Jupiter be honoured with more solenmity and served with Exod. 15. 6. more care and sedulity than Christ or Jehovah Sure this Exod. 15. 11. must needs be the dregs of prophaneness to give our heavenly Father and our dear Redeemer whom sometimes we call our Beloved less veneration on his own day then Pagan Worshippers give their Idol Gods on their Festivals How strange is it that we must go to Dagon to learn how to use the Ark and must repair to the Roman Flamins or the 1 Sam. 5. 2. Syrian Priests to know how to keep a Sabbath God sends the sluggard to the Ant and the Pismire to learn fore-sight and industry Prov. 6. 6. And he may send Sabbath-breakers to the Gentiles and Paynims to learn Sanctity and Devotion But let Christians say the solemn Devotions of Pagans shall heat our zeal but not reproach our slâ—th they Psal 26. 6. shall only serve us to take aim how we may steer our Devotion with greater fervour and dexterity Argum. 6 Let us observe the zeal of holy men mentioned in Scripture who have been eminent for Sabbath-observation The Apostle gives us a good rule Heb. 6. 12. Let us be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises These Patterns of Piety may be our conduct and guide in this matter take them in what age you will the Sabbath still lay near their hearts and was venerable in their practice 1. Some before the Law were remarkable for Sabbath-holiness they dreaded the pollution of Gods day before the terrours and smokes of Mount Sinai And though they were in a Wilderness they had not so lâ—st themselves but they knew how to meet with God on his own day And as Manasseh Ben-Israel well observes The Jews were forced Cogita in Aegypto ubi serviebas etiam ipso sabbato peâ— vim te coactum ad labores Et sic saâ—ientes inter Judaeos Deut. 5. 15. unanimiter applicant Manas Ben. Israel to neglect the Sabbath in Egypt by reason of the violence and cruelty of their Taskmasters but when God brought them out of that Land of bondage one of their first works was Sabbath-observation Their Delivery is historically related in the 14th Chapter of Exodus and their observation of the Sabbath in the 16th Chapter of the same Book So Exod. 16. 30. So the people rested on the seventh day which must needs be meant of an holy Rest for a naked bâ—re Rest is the loss not the sanctification of a Sabbath And if the people of Israel had so rested God soon would have taken notice of it and have severely threatned if not sorely punished it but no word of reproof but only of those Quieverunt Israelitae non solùm illo die frustrati fuerunt spe suâ egrediendi sed aliis diebus septimis consequentibus Riv. who went out on the Sabbath to gather Manna some few straglers Exod. 16. 27. who instead of finding Manna lost their way and met with a reproof instead of a meal Now here we meet with Gods people keeping Gods day before the fourth Commandment was proclaimed by sound of Trumpet Now shall the people of Israel without the sanction of a law rest with God on his own day and shall Christians who have not onely the force and obligation of the fourth Commandment but the alluring argument of Christs Resurrection to oblige to the sanctification of the Sabbath shall they be careless and negligent vain and frothy on Gods holy day Surely the darkness of an Heathen and the twi-light of an Israelite wandering up and down in a wilderness will bear witness against such a generation 2. Some holy men under the Law I shall only select here the rare Example of good Nehemiah an excellent pattern for Magistrates and People how carefully to observe Gods holy Sabbath And his Zeal shall be comprised in four particulars He looked upon the reforming of Sabbath-abuses as a principal part of Reformation therefore he reproves threatens and sets watch to observe the prophanation of this holy Nehem. 13 15 16. day He beareth his testimony vigorously against it Nehem. 13. 15. And here the courtesie and common civilities which are given to strangers bear no sway with him Nehem. 13. 16. He will not strain courtesie when the honour of God is concerned obedience is better then sacrifice much 1 Sam. 15. 22. more then civilities The pollution of a Sabbath that God provoking sin makes this holy man wave all fair and debonaire carriages and turns courtesie into severity and usual reception into just indignation Nehemiah thinks the cause of the Sabbath worth contending for with the Nobles themselves Nehem. 13. 17. not only with inferiour people who are soon hushed with his Authority and tremble at the Magistrates sword but with the Peers of the Realm who might enter the lists with him or hatch some conspiracy against him but holy zeal is no Nehem. 13 17. respecter of persons and in this Nehem. like the three children Dan. 3. 18 19. Is not sollicitous to pore upon his own concerns or interest duty and not safety guides him a rare pattern for Magistrates This good Governour personates the Prophet and gives in a narrative not only of those judgements which had overtaken those who had prophaned the Sabbath in former times but he fore-tells the same calamities to ensue upon Nehem. 13 18. the present Age if Gods Sabbath be defiled Nehem. 13. 18. He turns all his speech into action the true genius of piety for indeed councils and threats are both abortive untill enlivened by execution therefore Nehemiah scatters Nehem. 13. 21. strangers by force Nehem. 13. 21. and chases them away from Jerusalem that they should not come near it upon the Sabbath day Neh. 13. 21. And he lays a severe command on the Levits for Sabbath-sanctification and in the discharge of his duty he recommends himself to the mercifull and kind remembrances of the Almighty Neh. 13. 22. And here as our Saviour saith let us go and do so likewise Luke 10. 37. Let us imitate the zeal of this excellent man whose name for his love to and care of Gods Sabbath lives in the blessed Scriptures and there shall survive to all perpetuity But shall Nehemiah not permit a piece of ware to be sold on the Sabbath without the gates of the City and shall we commit a lust on Gods day within the walls of a house of a Stews or an Ale-house Shall he forbid all Merchandize and shall we traffique with Hell on the Sabbath day Surely his Zeal will turn into our flame and this will fall in with other aggravations of our sin we scribled after so fair a copy 3. Some after the Law