Holiness to Heaven Read a List of more Heb. 11. But there is no word of encouragement to any other to expect Heaven nay God tells us in plain words they shall never come there 1 Cor. 6.9,10 Neither is there any one example of any that lived and dyed in their sinful course that ever was saved what may we gather hence but this if ever you would attain to true happiness serve God with a sincere heart 7. Motive Thou shouldest serve the Lord because as he is best able to reward thee for thy obedience and pay thee for thy work so is he best able to punish thee for thy disobedience For as all his promises are yea and a men faithful and true to his People so are his threatnings to his Enemies thou art not at liberty to choose thy own Master who thou wilt serve thou art ingaged to him and serve him thou must or do worse thou art his by right of Creation for whose is the Pot but the Potters And by right of Redemption he paid a price for thee and bought thee dear So also by Covenant right thou hast devoted thy self to his service and taken Press mony to fight his Battels and if thou revolt he will avenge the quarrel of his Covenant against thee Hence it is thou mayst well fear his wrath and expect his judgments if thou perfidiously betrayest thy trust and revoltest to the Enemy Christ himself bids thee not to fear those that can kill the Body and can do no more but fear him that can cast Body and Soul into Hell Luk. 12.5 If he be not glorifyed by thee he will be glorifyed upon thee if he have not the glory of thy Salvation he will have the glory of thy Destruction Luk. 19.27 Those mine Enemies that would not that I should raign over them bring them and slay them before my face God takes those for his Enemies that will not be ruled by him and will prove a sore Enemy to them And didst thou know what it is to be an Enemy unto God and what it is to have God to be an Enemy unto thee it would send thee trembling to thy grave 't is he that hath the keys of life and death at his girdle He kills and he makes alive he brings to the gates of death and back again and there is none that can deliver out of his hand He need not muster an Army against thee to destroy thee the least Fly or Gnat or Hair may end thy life if it have a Commission from God thou art but a Worm if he tread upon thee he leaves the dead behind him if he withhold thy breath thou returnest to the dust for thou hast no more breath than what he puts into thee how then canst thou grapple with the Almighty or contend with God were thy flesh of Brass and thy Sinnews of Iron were thy foundations as the Earth or as the Pillars of Heaven thou wert yet too weak who ever hardned himself against God and prospered whilst thou remainest his Enemy well mayst thou fear his heavy hand there is no judgment that ever thou readest threatned or ever executed upon sinful wretch that thou canst be secure from Thou knowest not but the Waters may drown thee as they did the old World or as the Red Sea did Pharaoh or fire from Heaven may consume thee as it did Sodom and Gomorrah and also Nadab and Abihu and the two Captains and their Fifties at the prayer of Elijah thou knowest not but the Plagues which fell upon Egypt may fall upon thee and consume thee or that thy life may be ended by the Sword the Famine or the Pestilence thou knowest not but an Angel may smite thee as Herod and thou mayst be devoured with Worms or that the Earth may open and swallow the quick as it did Corah Dathan and Abiram thou knowest not but thou mayst be struck dead for the next lye thou tellest as Ananias and Saphirah were or whether Bears may not devour thee as they did those Children that mocked the Prophet or whether thou mayst not be strucken with Leprosie as Gehazy or thy house may not fall upon thy head as upon Jobs Children In a word whatever a man destitute of Grace and Divine Protection may be brought to suffer thou hast no assurance but it may be thy Portion Read Deut. 28.15 c. Where thou mayst see thy own miserable condition but this is not all those spiritual judgments which are worse than these are seized upon thee Blindness of Mind Hardness of Hart Searedness of Conscience c. And eternal judgements dog thee at the heels and will certainly seize upon thee except Repentance prevent it as soon as Death makes a separation between Soul and Body never any Unregenerate Unrepenting Unrighteouss or Unclean Person shall ever go to Heaven John 3.7 Luk. 13.3 1 Cor. 6.9,10 Rev. 21.13 and there is no middle place for the Scripture owns no Purgatory Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God See the doom of the wicked servant Mat 24. last He was cut in peices and his Portion was appointed with the Hypocrites and that unprofitable Servant that improved not his Talent Mat. 25.30 He was bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness and all the wicked ungracious servants that improve not their Talents as God appointed shall then be bid Depart ye wicked into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41.48 This is Gods judgments to his Enemies and this is the Devils wages to his friends and servants who then would have such an Enemy or such a Master learn directions to serve God as followeth in those duties mentioned CHAP. II. Of Duties in General HAving in the fore-going Treatise shewed you the Excellency Necessity and Benefits of an Holy Life and the deadly danger of all unholy Course I hope many of you are resolved to alter that course of life you have too long already lived in and will begin to question what shall we do to be saved To this end in this part I shall point out some necessary duties which every Christian is bound to perform and lay down some directions by them for the right performance of them Now my desire is that you would resolve to practice what out of Gods word I shall prove to be your duty otherwise to what end shall I write them or you read them what say say you will you do it or will you not 't is not a slight business neither will a slight resolution serve your turn you will meet with many Racks in the way and therefore had need to be well grounded with many storms of temptations and therefore had need to lay a good foundation you have spent too much time already in the service of Sin and Satan and 't is pity you should any longer serve so bad a Master and now God gives you a call unto his service methinks it should
an Elephant may swim but the gains will countervail the loss and charge here is a Lamp to light us the dew of Heaven to refresh us a sword to defend us a key to open Christs will to us flaggons of Wine and Apples of Paradice take therefore these Directions in thy Reading 4. Direction If thou wouldest Read the Word with profit 't is necessary that thou prepare thy heart for so solemn a duty come not out of a huddle of business with thy heart full of the World to discourse with God take not Gods word any more than his Name in vain take it not prophanely into thy mouth without due regard or consideration lest he turn thee away with a Curse instead of a Blessing 't is a business of great concernment even of Life and Death yea of the Eternal well or ill being of thy Soul and therefore not to be slighted beg leave therefore of God before thou meddle with it yea beg his blessing upon it without which nothing can do us good for Soul or Body the want of due preparation causeth many to find the word so ineffectual yea find so little sweetness in it Again if thou wouldst profit by it hold on in a constant course of Reading 't is not reading by fits and starts will serve turn many are now off now on now they will and then they will not as the World gives them leave or as the humour takes them this is not sufficient but get a strong Resolution to hold on in a constant course of Reading what ever comes of it break through all the difficulties that lye in the way a little now and then will do thee little good without this Resolution Satan will baffle thee and lay some temptation in the way to hinder the World will divert thee and one business or other present it self to be done at the same time thy own corruption will oppose it and thy deceitful heart make thee delay it but this being the food of thy Soul be not diverted from it any more than thou wouldest be from thy Meat but this is not sufficient thou must not only do the duty but do it well to this end get thy heart in order get it cleansed from distracting thoughts and cares freed from disquieted motions perterbations A full Vessel can receive no more and a heart full of the World hath no room for Heaven say therefore to thy Worldly cares and thoughts when thou comest to this duty as Abraham to his servants when he went to Sacrifice stay here and I will come to you again set thy self as in the presence of the great God apprehend him by the eye of Faith beholding thee this will keep thy thoughts from roving and thy imaginations from wandring in his Service and awe thy heart and curb thy Affection Bring with thee also a Spiritual Appetite to the means of Grace come with an empty stomack or why dost thou seek after Food An hungry man is most like to taste and relish those dainties the Word was to David sweeter than Honey and the Honey-Comb and to Job better than his appointed Food If there be Spiritual Life in the Soul there will be an Appetite for no Life can be preserved without food Bring Faith also along with thee which is the mouth of the Soul and without this the Soul can receive no nourishment The Word which they heard profited them not because it was not mixt with Faith in them that heard it Heb. 4.2 Reading will do thee little good if thou believe not the Truth of what thou Readest or doubtest of the performance of the Promises or Threatnings Faith also will subdue Carnal Reason and help thee out when thou art at a stand But above all seek help from above from God here are many difficulties too hard for thee to grapple with which cannot be understood but by Divine assistance Paul may Plant and Apollos Water but God gives the Increase 't is he that opened Lydia's Heart and must open thine or the Word cannot do it beg therefore his assistance and come thus prepared to the Duty this is the likeliest way to speed 2. Direct If thou wouldest profit by Reading of the Word be sure to propound right ends to thy self for the End Crowns the Action Many read much and profit little because their Ends are bad they undo themselves and lose their labour by this means Some Read for Custom and for Fashion sake and make reading the end of reading and are like the silly Women the Apostle speaks of always Learning and never come to the knowledge of the Truth and so the work be done matter it no more Some Read to fill their Heads with knowledge and their Brains with Notions that they may thereby be able to discourse with applause when yet they never suffer it to sink down or soak into or season the heart but such speculative knowledge doth little good yea great hurt It makes them sin with a Candle in their hands And some Read to a worse end that they may be able to oppose the Truth and maintain Error and pervert the good ways of God thus the Pharisees thus the Jesuits and many Hereticks But every one should and a true Christian doth in this duty as well as others make God's glory in the Salvation of his own and others Souls the mark he aims at and regulates his Actions accordingly And doubtless from God he will receive his Reward When others as it was self they aimed at so from self they must expect their wages A Believer he would know more that he may obey better he would know God better that he might Love him more and know God's will that he might do his work he would know his work as well as his wages his Duties as well as his Priviledges He reads he word of God and those Books which open and apply it that he may know Truth from Error and follow the one and fly the other and may not be seduced by false Teachers nor drawn aside from the Rule to the Right hand or to the Left He would know Light from Darkness and have the Scales of Ignorance fall from his Eyes he would know good from evil that he might follow the one and avoid the other he would be able to try the Spirits whether they are of God or no yea to try all things and hold fast that which is good he would know Vice from Virtue and discern what is sin and what is duty that he be not like those that in Persecuting the Saints think they do God good Service he would be acquainted with his own Heart and know the state of his own Soul and whether his Evidences for Heaven be good or no he observes what qualifications the Scripture requires for Heaven and then by Scripture-Light he would discern them in his own heart and endeavours to Read his own Name in the Book of Life and see what Interest he hath in
Angels Psal 8.1,2 c. Such occasional Objects were the grounds of many of Christs speeches and Sermons And a Christian by this means may learn something from every thing he either sees or hears That Meditation that is set and solemn is when a man separates himself from other Imployments and sequesters himself and thoughts from worldly affairs to consider of some portion of Scripture or some point of Divinity or some work of Nature for his own satisfaction and his Souls good That this is a Christians Duty few Christians will deny that it is a beneficial duty all that have tryed it in good earnest will easily confess experto crede Roberto That 't is too much neglected we may acknowledge with shame and sorrow Joshua was Commanded to Meditate in the Law of God day and night Josh 1.8 This was David's practice Psal 119.59 And this he makes the Character of a Godly and Blessed man Psal 1.2,3 It was Isaac's Custom as also Paul's and Peter's and many others This is the way to digest the meat we eat and can meat nourish if not digested This is the chewing of the Cud when we ruminate upon what we hear or see Meat undigested in the stomack feeds Diseases when 't is digested it feeds the Body What is the Reason so many good Sermons are lost amongst us And so many gracious Providences pass un-observed but for want of this Doubtless one Sermon well digested by Meditation would bring more nourishment to the Soul and breed more good Blood than now twenty do By Meditation a man searches and ransacks the Soul and finds out every dust-heap every Corruption and sees whether those Divine qualifications necessary to Salvation be there or no when others are strangers at home by this he gets light into the Understanding heat into the Affection and it puts Life into all his Duties By this he comes to see the Vanity of the World the emptiness of the Creature the vileness of Sin the beauty of Holiness and the fulness of Christ By this the Heart is taken off the World and set upon Heaven and sees by the Eye of Faith those things which are invisible By this he tramples upon sublunary things and fixes his Eyes upon things within the vail By this Stephen saw God and Moses talked with God and Paul was carried up into the third Heaven By this Afflictions are made light and the Cross easie and Christ's Yoak delightful this makes a man chuse Sufferings rather than sin and pain rather than sinful pleasure this helps the Soul to fly to Heaven and hold Communion with Christ himself and like the busie Bee to gather Honey from Flowers and Weeds which to effect take these following Directions 1. Direct Concerning Occasional Meditation though it be not what I chiefly intend yet being of daily Use I shall speak something of it at present A Christian that Trades for Heaven may have much Goods brought home in this Ship He may get Advantage by all he hears or sees or observes for there is nothing in God's Book or in the Book of Nature but will Instruct us in some necessary Lesson concerning God or our selves and mind us of something that may conduce to our Advantage And he that can make a good use of every thing he sees or hears and pick some Spiritual Food and refreshing from it must doubtless be a flourishing Cedar in the House of God and enjoy Heaven upon Earth and Spiritualize all the Creatures How often in Scripture may we read that Christ by occasional occurrances minds his Hearers of Spiritual things from a Well of water he Instructs the Woman of Samaria concerning the water of Life And by occasion of Bread he minds them of the Bread of Life and from a Sower and his Seed shews that a bad Heart is the cause that the Word proves unfruitful and many more such like David as before was hinted beholding the Heavens is raised up in his Meditation to God himself and his Love to Man Psal 8.1,2,3 c. Solomon sends the Sluggard to School to the Ant or Pismire that gathers in Summer for Winter And Christ sends those that are distrustful of their Fathers Providence to observe the Fowls of the Air how he feeds them And the Grass of the Field how he Cloaths it and no doubt but a wise man may make a Sanctified use of all these If a good wit can make a good use of every thing much more a good Heart Had we but this Art of Meditation every thing would yield a suitable object we have the whole world before us the greatest want is of a good Heart to improve these Objects that offer themselves to our view the least Creature would be useful if we were not wanting every day that passeth over our Heads may put us in mind of our latter end Thy Bed may mind thee of thy latter end and the time when thou must lye in the dust and thy rising up may mind thee of thy Resurrection The rising Sun may mind thee what a glorious day that will be when Christ with his Saints and Angels shall appear at Judgment each one shining as the Sun in his Lustre When Night approaches it may minde thee that thy daies are numbred and that thou hast now one fewer to spend than thou hadst in the Morning and mind thee what account thou canst give of it and make thee consider that the World cannot recal it Every Pain and Grief Ach and Trouble yea every gray Hair may mind thee of thy Mortality and how little beholding thou art to sin which brought all this into the World When thou seest the Heavens adorned with those beauty spots the Sun the Moon the Stars thou maist think if the Porch be so glorious what is the Pallace if the Pavement be so beautiful what is the Court the Throne it self When thou considerest their Beauty Altitude Magnitude Selerity and Influence thou maist well admire the Creator and with David cry out Lord what is man c. Who can but admire when he looks upon the Earth the Huge and Massy Globe the unweiley Creatures hanging in the midst of the Air of nothing distinguished into Hills and Dales and Woods and Rivers furnished with such variety of Trees and Grass and Herbs and Flowers and the numberless number of living Creatures Birds and Beasts and Fishes and creeping things and all provided for by the great Householder Who can behold the Rageing Sea kept within his Banks in the Ebbings and Flowings and view the Streams and Fountains the Springs and Rivers and not cry out the finger of God now among all these there is not one Fly or Flea not one Graspile or Leaf of a Tree but yields matter of Meditation and Admiration Ah! what a rich Soul will that be that gathers fruit from all these 2. Direct If thou wouldest perform thy duty well 'T is necessary thou set upon it with due preparation I speak not now of occasional
Psalms are appointed by him but in what Tune he doth not determine any further than the general Directions of decently and in Order reach Hebrew Tunes as I said are much unknown and if known cannot agree with our Language no more do ours with other Languages Now if we sing it must be in some Tune but no Tune being peculiarly Commanded our own no doubt may be Lawfully used Neither can it be justly called an innovation thrust into God's Worship any more than the Word Translated out of the Original into English in which the Scriptures are Read yet this is held to be Lawful 'T is Invention indeed which savours of nothing but of the Wit or Will of Man thrust into God's Service and is not agreeable to the Rule this may be suspected and rejected but this is not of that Nature The Question before us is what Reason can be given why we may not use English Tunes as well as English Words in God's Worship seeing the one is as Consonant to Scripture and Reason as the other Another scruple that some make upon the like ground is the reading of the Psalm in Order to singing Indeed were all men able to repeat the Psalms without Book or had all those to whom singing is a Duty the gift of Reading or were furnished with Books to Read this were not necessary but till this comes to pass which will never be Reading is of use the whole Congregation is to sing and unless all were thus Qualified how can they sing if it be not read Nature it self dictates to us we must use means to bring to the end and the Scripture never denies it Now this is a good means for Instruction and why may we not receive Instruction by the Ear in Hearing as well as by the Eye in Reading In Prayer we think it more convenient to joyn with the Minister hearing him than if we could read the same Prayer along with him in a Book When all Israel sang together with Moses it is like it was read to them Exod. 15.1,2 c. for doubtless all had not Copies of it if they could have read neither had committed it to Memory Neither can the Reading of it any way hinder the Melody neither will it hinder but help the Understanding neither any way dull the Affections And thus I hope I have removed those Objections and Answered the doubts of those that scruple this Ordinance 6. Direct If thou art now convinc'd that Singing Psalms is a Gospel Duty yea thy Duty which God requires of thee set upon it then with hopes of Success but be sure to observe that in this as well as in other Duties thy End be good otherwise the Action must needs be bad Many a man loseth much Labour and pains and spends much Time to little purpose an evident Example we have in the Pharisees Mat. 6.1,2 c. who Fasted Prayed and gave Alms all Excellent Duties But those Sacrifices though otherwise good being mixt with the Dung of their own self-seeking and desire of popular applause God throws it back into their Faces as Dung without a Reward and so it will be with thee if thou seek thy self and not God in the Duty If Custom Credit or a desire of Popular Applause drive thee on to this Duty and not the sincere desire of God's Glory thou maist expect thy Reward from Men and not from God Many Men in Singing Psalms aim at no higher End nor make any better use of it than they do in their Prophane Songs or Ungodly Ballads viz. Their own Recreation to drive away the Time or a desire to be Applauded for their good Voice or Tune or Excellent gift in Singing But the chief End which every Christian should aim at in all his Actions especially in all his Acts of Divine Worship should be God's Glory and his own Souls good if this be laid aside thou maist expect a Curse and not a Blessing upon thy proceedings If this be wanting the Duty is spoyled if this be minded God will accept of it though accompanied with many Imperfections This Heavenly Duty is performed to this End by the Angels and the whole Church Triumphant as before is shewed and will be the Work of Eternity and here upon Earth if Heart and Voice go together 'T is a resemblance of Heaven and represents though darkly that Melodious Harmony that is in Heaven amongst those Glorious Choristers We should make Melody in our Hearts and not only with our Mouths Look upon it as a part of God's Worship and Service and appointed for Spiritual Consolation not for Prophane Recreation and therefore we should with the Psalmist say Not unto us Lord not to us but to thine own Name be the Glory Let us work for God and he will not fail to give us a Reward and there is great Reason why we should in this Duty Trumpet out his Praise for all we have is his and from his hand it is we receive every good and perfect gift We have our Life and Being from him and have no more breath than what he puts into us and there is all the Reason we should render to him the Praises due for all And this is one way we have to Praise him Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 Thus the Holy Men of Old have gone before us and aimed at this very End Thus Deborah and Barak Moses and Miriam and many more and thus David resolves to do Psal 7.17 I will Sing praise to the Name of the Lord most High Psal 111.1 And exhorts others to follow his Example Psal 30.4 Sing unto the Lord O ye Saints of his c. Psal 47.6 92.1 Now this Duty though it especially concerns the Godly as those that have received the most and greatest Mercies and have the greatest abilities for the Work yet others also having received all they have from God are also obliged to render Praise and Thanks to God and are frequently called upon thus to do Psal 110.1 where all Nations are excited to this Duty And as God's Glory is chiefly to be minded so our own Benefit is not to be neglected and our Souls good And the Psalms serve also for Instruction and Direction for this as well as other Scripture serves to this End Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 And if we observe every Psalm will yield us some profitable Instruction Direction or Exhortation and inform us in many things concerning God's Word his Attributes Providences Promises Word and Works or something concerning our selves or others good or bad concerning this Life or that to come And this we may not only Treasure up in our own Hearts but also press it upon others and Teach one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs Nay wicked Men may hence be Instructed Convinced and Reproved to this End Moses Song was Indited Deut. 31.19 'T is matter of Consolation also to the Godly in all Conditions here are Petitions put up to God here are Promises made by God
former times upon such Occasions Esther 9.18,19,20 They made it a day of Feasting and Gladness when they were delivered from their Enemies a good day of Sending Portions one to another and Gifts to the Poor â— The like we find Nehem. 8.10 Go your way tat the Fat and drink the sweet and send Portions to them for whom nothing is provided for rhis day is Holy to the Lord neither be ye sory And we find in the following Verses it was done To be Liberal handed to the Poor is a Duty at all times Deut. 15.7 Thou shalt not shut thy Hand against the Poor but especially such a time as this that they also may rejoyce A blessing is pronounced to those that relieve them and a promise added Psal 41.1 Blessed is he that Considereth the Poor the Lord will deliver him in the time of Trouble but he tbat stops his Ears at the Cry of the Poor shall Cry himself and not be heard Prov. 21.13 God hath promised He that Relieveth the Poor shall not lack Prov. 28.27 He that hath pity on the Poor lendeth to the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Prov. 19.17 And he that hath this Worlds good and seeth his Brother hath need and shutteth up his Bowels of Compassion from him how dwelleth the Love of God in him 1 John 3.17 Neither shall such ever Inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 25.41.46 Take heed therefore thou neglect not this so necessary a Duty lest thou lose all thy pains which thou hast taken And when thou hast closed up the Day in such necessary Duties as these are and Commended thy self and Family unto the protection of God yet know that thy work is not done but thou must Live thanks as well as speak thanks yea the whole Course of thy Life should testifie thy thankful Heart By this time I suppose you see these Holy Festivals are not so easie to be kept as many have Imagined and many great Zealots for Holy days were they thus Observed would have their Zeal to them much abated CHAP. XV. Directions in Private Duties HAving already Discoursed of the Publick parts of Gods worship which for the most part are performed in the Congregation and given you Directions for the right performing of them as God hath enabled me I shall now in the Close of this Treatise speak something of those private Duties that every Christian is bound to perform in their own Families or Closets when they are out of the great Congregation for this is no less God's Worship than the former and doth as much nay more demonstrate a Man to be a Christian and Evidence the Truth of Grace than the former that is a Christian that is so when no Eye but the Eye of God is upon him I shall Treat of these more briefly because those Directions for Publick Worship already given will many of them fall in to be observed here 'T is not enough to be a Christian in Publick when the Eyes of the World are upon thee but in private also A Hypocrite may be zealous abroad that is loose at home Holy in the Congregation and Prophane in the Closet mindful of Publick Duties forgetful of Private But a true Christian is semper idem always the same in all places in all Companies at all times and in all Conditions he is like clear water in a Glass shake it as long as you will it remains clear But a Hypocrite by shaking discovers mud in the bottom or like the Needle in the Compass though it may be disturbed by a jog or shake will never fix upon a wrong point The Pharisees they loved to pray in the Temple and in the Corners of the Streets where they might be seen of Men but there is no mention made of their Closet Duties but Christ bids enter into the Closet and shut the Door Christianity is a Race in which we must run whether we have Company or no or whether Men behold us or no. A true Christian is no sooner in the state of Grace but he cries out Lord what wilt thou have me to do And thinks he can never do enough for Christ that hath done so much for him he knows he is not his own but bought with a price and therefore will Glorifie God with his Body and with his Soul which are God's When an Hypocrite Dedicates his Hands and Tongue to Christ a true Christian Dedicates his Heart A Hypocrites work is most in sight a true Christians is most in Secret the Hypocrites is most abroad the others is most at home the Love of God constrains the one and popular Applause drives on the other A true Christian Devotes himself wholly to God's Service and Serve him he will not for a Reward only but for Love to him and his Work and will do his Duty whatever danger or difficulty lyes in his way for as he draws out from Christ strength to perform every Duty and bear every Affliction so he draws out from Christ all the strength he hath in his Service Heart and Hand and Tongue and all shall be set on work for him and he resolves he will serve him in Righteousness and Holiness all the days of his Life 'T is the Hypocrite that picks and chuseth his Duties this he will do and that he will not do a true Christian takes Duties as they lye before him and refuseth none for danger or difficulty private Duties go down with him as well as publick he makes as much Conscience of Secret Duties when no Eye but the All-seeing Eye of God is upon him as in publick when the Congregation observes him The Thoughts what Christ hath done and Suffered for him makes him think he can never do enough for Christ 'T is a true Token of a hard heart when the Consideration of God's Mercy and Christ's Sufferings do not bend him to Duty and of all the Judgments in the World a hard heart is one of the greatest Ah! what Cause have Men therefore to look about them who feel this Disease creeping upon them The Scripture tells us those that are in Christ are new Creatures that they have put on Christ and live not after the Flesh but after the Spirit that they are dead to Sin and alive to God and have Crucified the World with the Affections and Lusts thereof how then is their Assurance grounded that conceit themselves to be in Christ and shall be saved when none of all these things appear in them nay though the contrary appear though they live in Sin and do the Devil's work look to it betimes God will not be mocked his Servants ye are to whom ye obey if ye suffer not with him you will not Reign with him as you Sow you shall Reap God will have the heart or nothing if thou wilt to Heaven thou must be a Christian and a Christian thou canst not be but thou must be one in Private as well as in Publick which that
doubtless Joshua intended to put this power in Exercise when he resolvedly promised that he and his House should Serve the Lord Josh 20.15 Yet alas how many Governours of Families neglect this Duty Some are debarr'd from it by their own guilt being guilty of the same sins they should reprove in others this stops their Mouths and makes them neglect their Duty These Men do more hurt by their Example than ever they are like to do by their reproofs their way is therefore first to cast out the beam out of their own Eye and then to seek to pluck out the Mote out of anothers But I speak chiefly to those that seem to make some Conscience of their Duty for with those I am likeliest to prevail and these also many of them are extremely negligent and have need of a sharp Reproof themselves Friends do you verily believe that ungodly Livers shall go to Hell and being once there are in an irrecoverable lost Condition And can you suffer such among you that are like to suffer the Torments of Eternal Fire and hold your Tongues and never give them warning of their Danger What an uncharitable thing is this that you will suffer those that are in near Relation to you perhaps the Wife of your Bosom or the Children of your own Bowels to lye in such a desperate danger and never warn them of it If thou sawest a Blind Man upon the brow of an Hill ready to break his Neck or a Mad Man ready to kill himself thou wouldest call to the one and warn him of the danger and restrain the other if thou wert able and wilt thou have Compassion on the Body and no pity on the Soul Shouldest thou see thy near Relations coming to the Gallows and mightest save their Lives for a few words speaking wouldest be so uncharitable as to hold thy peace were one of thy Intimate Friends in Hell and were there a possibility of their Delivery wouldest thou not go and ride and speak and pray supposing this were the way in their behalf and for their sake And wilt thou let them quietly go on in that way that certainly tends thither and never shew them the danger they are in A vicious Life without Repentance will as certainly lead to Hell as God is God and the Scriptures are the word of God for no unclean thing shall ever enter Heaven no dirty Dog shall tread upon that Pavement Didst thou certainly know that thy Wife or Friend or near Relation were in Hell and yet there were hopes of their Recovery if thou wouldst be at some pains or at some Cost what an uncharitable part would it be in thee to let them lye for ever and for ever in those Infernal Flames and not seek their ease and wilt neglect it now when it may possibly be prevented Were but thy Wife or Child in Turkish Slavery thou wouldest pray and intreat and more than this for their Liberty What tender heart could indure to see another in raging Torments yet this will be the Condition of thy bosome Friends if un-regenerate Dost thou see the Devil leading them Captive at his pleasure hast thou nothing at all to say against it It may be thou Prayest for their Conversion and wilt not speak a word to this purpose What dissembling is this and what mocking of God If there be a desire it will be joyned with endeavours Shouldest thou see thy Friend in a Pit ready to be drowned wouldst thou fall upon thy knees and Pray for help and not put forth thy hand to help him This would seem little Love God will have means used to serve his Providence It may be thou fearest troubling them but 't is a Foolish Physitian that suffers his Patient to dye under his hand rather than trouble him in a Swoon we shaKe and rub and pinch and use other means which perhaps may hurt them The Papists are more Charitable in their blind Devotion how dear do they pay for Masses Dirges c. for the Delivery of their Deceased Friends Souls out of their feigned Purgatory But if your Charity to others be so cold yet at least be Charitable to thy self and bring not the blood of others Souls upon thy Account the Sins which thou maist hinder and dost not will be laid at thy Door and the Blood of those Souls that perish through thy neglect will be Charged upon thee carefully therefore set upon this Duty 6. Direct Thou must not only reprove them when they do amiss and chastise them when they will not reform but thou must also Instruct Teach and Admonish them to do good and encourage them in well doing and Teach them the Duties they should do 't is not enough to leave the Evil but they must do the good good Duties are required to be done as well as Sins to be avoided Now the best way to Teach them is by Example be a Pattern to them of an Holy Life and well-doing most Men Learn better by Example than Precept A Man may lead an Hundred that cannot drive two Let not thy Practice cross thy Exhortation or Reproof let them see by thy Example that thou speakest from thy Heart If thou press them to an Holy Life and Livest loosely and prophanely thy self in the mean time they will think thou art in Jest with them and thinkest not what thou speakest Oh how many good words may you hear from some Men in an humour when there is not one good Action to be seen these come not from the Heart but from the Brain That Exhortation is a Duty is seen by Abrahams Practice and God's Command Deut. 6.6,7,8 Prov. 22.6 Eph. 6.4 And there is good Reason for it Thy Children have their defilement from thee and derived a Poysonful Nature from thy Loyns and were the Children of Wrath as soon as they were thy Children and thou that hast thus defiled them is it not reason thou shouldst help to make them clean They are near and dear to thee part of thy self of thy Flesh and of thy Bones did they not come out of thine own Bowels And they have none in the World so near to look after them as thy self and wilt thou neglect them also Shall they perish for want of Instruction and Direction in Heavens way Thou wouldst Instruct them how to Live in the World and if thou couldest how to grow Rich and Honourable and wilt neglect them in the main thing how to be happy Thou canst moil and toyl and cark and care and rise early and lye down late and eat the Bread of carefulness for their sakes to get an Estate for them and thinkest thou hast never enough and is thy care only extended to the Body is the Soul of no Value dost not matter so they be Famous in the World though they are Infamous in God's Account and their Souls be eternally lost were their Bodies Diseased thou wouldest consult the Physitian if their Estates were in hazard the Lawyer and shall
will be satisfied with this that those to whom he hath given most should do least is a Question should be thought of A bare Profession makes many a man have a high Conceit of himself but the Law allows not a man to be Judge in his own Cause My Design in the following Tract is not to make the way to Heaven narrower nor the Gate straiter than it is but to put you up some Way-marks that you mistake not the Road 'T is not to make the Burden heavier than needs must but to shew you what Burden 't is that Christ would have you take up 'T is not to quench the smoaking Flax or to break the bruised Reed but to awaken the dull and drowsie Formalist and to set him on fire that was quite out and to shew the mistakes of those that think the way to Heaven to be so broad that a whole Parish may go abreast and a reeling Drunkard can hardly step aside and the Gate so wide that a Man may enter not only with the World but with a load of Sins also on his back and that they may use their Prayers as others do their Charms with good Success though they understand them not but God is not much taken with a little Lip labour when the Heart is absent Prov. 19.26 Ezek. 33.32 The Time is coming Men will be convinc'd to purpose that their Soul was their chiefest Jewel that Heaven was no Fable and Hell no Scare-Crow nor Eternity no Melancholy Fancy and that God spake in Earnest what they took in Jest That Sin is no matter of Sport and the Service of God no Formal Complement That those were the Wisest that made Provision for Eternity and those the veriest Fools that fooled away their Salvation and Sold their Souls as Esau his Birth-right for a Mess of Pottage or for that which was worse for a base Lust and laid out their money for that which is not Bread and their Labour for that which profits not Isa 55.2 But the Time will come they will Repent the bargain But to return it may be Objected this plain Discourse is not suitable for this Learned Age but the Sick Man desires to have Medicum non Eloquentem sed Saventem and rather desires to be Cured than Courted Those that Sin in English why should they be reproved in Latine but in plain words Had I had better at Hand thou hadst had it and how it came to pass I had no better I can give thee this brief Account When by Providence I was laid aside as a broken Vessel and the Time was come that the Levites were sent every one to his Field Nehem. 13.10 and I not having that Provision made as many others had and but little if any thing left to maintain a numerous Family I was forced to Fight against Poverty almost to the neglect of my Study so that I can say with the Apostle Acts 20.34 and many that knows me may say as much for me These Hands ministred to my Necessity and those that were with me My Head being filled with other distracting Studies and my Hands with other Imployments that I had few spare hours except by Night to mind those Studies so that I hrought forth this as a Bear doth her Whelps a confused Lump and had no time to lick it into Form 'T is a Basket of unripe Fruits blown down by the Wind of Worldly Distractions yet mistake not had my time been more and my Abilities greater it should have spoken plain English I would not have hid any Fruit with Leaves nor been a Barbarian to the meanest Reader nor have wrapt up my meaning in a Cloud Reader my Advice is if thou findest Christ here though not in soft Rayment but as in his Infancy but meanly clad yet reject him not good Counsel in plain English is not to be rejected and a good Stomack will not reject good Meat though not Modishly drest If there be any thing here Offered contrary to God's Word reject it and so shall I when I know it if not rejecting of it will be a dissowning God himself If thou meet with as I fear thou maist some Tautoligies or Repetitions look upon it as the Fruit of broken Studies and interrupted Meditations I have said enough and perhaps too much and shall add no more but wish that God who hath inclined my Heart to Write it may incline thine to Read and Practice it and if thou hast any benefit by it I shall think my pains well bestowed This is the unfeigned desire of him who is Christ's and the Churches Servant and a well-willer to thy Souls Health EDWARD BVRY Eaton Nov. 2. 1674. A Help to holy Walking OR A GUIDE to GLORY CHAP. I. Motives to holy Dutyes HAving in a former Treatise handled the Doctrine of holy walking and shewed the excellency and necessity of it and given you Marks and Motives to perswade you to it and Directions in it and answered the Objections that are made against it I shall come now to treat of it in particular and shew you how to demean your selves towards God in the several parts of his Worship wherein consists the main though not the whole of holy walking And in every part of Gods worship I shall give you Directions for the right performance But Reader wilt thou resolve to follow those Directions For otherwise 't is in vain for me to write or thee to read it will but make thee sin with a Candle in thy hand What good will Meat do if not eaten and digested Or Physick do if not taken Or a Plaister if not applyed So what good will Directions do if not followed It is not enough to read thy duty but thou must do it nay 't is not enough to do it but thou must do it well Those that worship God must worship him in Spirit and in Truth 't is not a little lip labour or knee service will serve his turn without the Heart and the Heart rightly qualified he regards it not he will have none of it for there is none holy as the Lord 1 Sam 22. And the Lord admits of none into his service that are not holy Lev. 10.3 I will be sanctifyed by those that draw near to me Lev. 20.7 Be ye holy for I am holy He is a living God and requires living Sacrifice and will not take up with a dead heart There must be a principle of life in thee or thou art nor fit to come into his presence for he is a consuming fire unto his Enemies there must be Regeneration or there can be no Salvation John 3.5 And without faith 't is impossible to please him Heb. 11.6 't is not enough to worship him but it must be in sincerity and truth Josh 24.14 What is thy Resolution wilt thou worship him or wilt thou not there are few in plain words will deny it but in actions they do either they worship him not at all or give him that he
some Men and those of no small note for Religion to pick and chuse their Duties this they will do and this they will not do they scum off the Fat and sweet of Duty and leave the difficult dangerous costly part of Duty undone but this is not sufficient neither will it evidence any one to be a Christian indeed Many especially great ones run on with this mistake for a little Grace makes a great shew in a great Man yea oft-times the shew is taken for the Substance many will perform such Duties as are in Credit in the world and like to cost them but a little which yet refuse self-denying difficult or dangerous Duties They will hear and read and confer and perhaps pray in their Families and some other such like External parts of worship and if God will be pleased with these and Heaven will be had upon such terms they will have it but if he require self denyal duties or those which cross their own Interest if they must take up the Cross and follow him and deny themselves hate and forsake Father or Mother Wife or Children Lands or Livings Pleasure or Honour Liberty or Life for his sake they will not buy Heaven at so dear a rate But God is resolved he will abate nothing and they are resolved they will bid no more and so they part But hath not the same God Commanded the one as well as the other And hath he not wisdom enough to know which is the best and nearest way to Heaven Or would he willingly torment his Creatures and put his Servants to unnecessary Troubles Can these Men think to find out a nearer way to Heaven than God hath prescribed Or that they shall ever come there without his knowledge without the Qualifications he requires Surely they are much mistaken yet how ordinary is it even for Professors themselves to study Arguments for sin and against duty when the one suits with their Carnal Interest and the other crosses it But Christians that have taken Christ upon his own terms and are delivered from the power of sin and Satan think they can never do enough for Christ They are always questioning what shall I do for him that hath done so much for me What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits Psal 118.12 'T is the very end why we are delivered from our Enemies to serve God in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of our Lives Luke 1.74,75 'T is the mark of those that Love God to keep his Commandments John 14.15 When others perform duties only in Subserviency to their own Carnal Interests and therefore only own that part and duty that suits with their designs as Jehu in his Reformation of Idolatry and set up their Staff and say hitherto will I go and no further then a godly Man that makes the enjoyment of God his ultimate end and aim will like Daniel to the Lyons Den or the three Children to the Fiery Furnace before they will either neglect known duties or commit known sins Others are forward in the cheap part but backward in the costly part of duty and the Devil might also buy their Profession it self out of their Hands many that will hear and read and pray because it costs them little yet will hardly be perswaded to be Charitable to the Poor and Liberal to Pious Uses because 't is costly or to forgive Injuries love Enemies make Restitution of ill gotten Goods venture their Estates Lives or Liberty when the Cause of God requires it then they cry out with Naaman the Lord be merciful to me in this thing but God will abate nothing of his price he will have Universal Obedience or he will own none at all 3. Direct Wouldst thou perform Duties in an acceptable manner Then hold on in a constant course of Duty 't is not enongh to begin well but thou must hold out well The same Reason that perswaded thee to enter into such a Course of Duty at the first may perswade thee to hold out to the end there is the same ground for the one as for the other If it be because storms arise Troubles and Persecutions look thee in the Face this might have been fore-seen thou shouldst have sate down first and reckoned the Charges Christ told thee before Through many Tribulations we must come to Heaven He that is now ashamed of Christ and his Cross of Service the time is coming Christ will be ashamed of him Thou must follow him through thick and thin through good Report and evil Report or thou art like to lose him yea though thou meet Death it self in the Face 'T is not he that sets out well but he that continues to run well is like to get the Prize 't is not he that gives the On-set but he that Fights well is like to get the Victory You did run wâ—ll saith the Apostle who hindred you Gal. 5.7 So run that you may obtain 1 Cor. 9.24 'T is not he that begins well but he that holds out to the end shall be saved Mark 13.13 'T is he that is Faithful to the Death that shall receive the Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 Many Promises are made to those that overcome Rev. 2.11.17.26 3.5.12.21 There are many that in a day of Gospel Prosperity cry Hosanna unto Christ but when storms are up then cry Crucifie him This Age gives too full a Testimony to this Truth But those that are Faithful to God will be constant in his Service what danger soever looks them in the Face Many are like to Weather-Cocks turn with every Wind or like a Ship without Ballast are tossed with every Storm But a sincere Christian is like a Ship in the Harbour that hath a sure and stedfast Rock to Anchor upon Many are like the Planet Mercury good in a good Conjunction and bad with the bad Or like Proteus that can turn themselves into any shape for Advantage but a true Christian gives this for his Motto Semper idem always the same the change of Times the change of Company the change of Religion makes no change in him he knows God changes not Poverty and Prosperity are God's trying Times wherein may be discovered what is in the Heart Hazael when a mean Man never thought so much evil had been in his Heart as appeared to be there when he was Advanced The stony ground did not at first appear to be so deceitful as indeed it proved But Holy Job was the same on the dung-hill as on the Throne in Adversity as in Prosperity he did not serve God for Riches nor will he forsake him in Poverty Hast thou been a Professor of Religion and hast thou hitherto performed the duties Commanded What madness now possesses thee that thou wilt leave his Service What canst thou object against him Is the Devil a better Master Or will he set thee about better work Or will he give thee better wages If Religion be not good why didst embrace
it at first If it be why dost leave it If thou now leave off all thy Labour and all the pains that ever thou hast taken will be utterly lost in reference to Salvation If the Righteous forsake his ways all his Righteousness shall not be remembred to him in his sin he shall dye Ezek. 18.24 It may be thou hast gone many a Mile to hear Sermons spent many an Hour in Prayer and Humiliation many a Day in Fasting and Humbling thy Soul and wilt thou lose all thy Labour at the last Nay wilt thou now dishonour that God which time was thou seemedst to Honour And wilt thou strengthen the hand of Wicked Men in their wickedness And weaken the hands of poor doubting Dhristians And sadden the Hearts of the godly Wilt thou bring the Blood of Souls upon thy own head If not hold on in a course of Holy Duty Whatever opposition thou meet with in the way Heaven will make amends for all the sweat and blood thou losest and Hell will be sower sauce to thy sweet Meat What madness is it to leave thy work a little before thou shouldest receive thy Wages 4. Direct Let all the Duties thou performest either to God or Man proceed from a right Principle from a Heart sanctified by Grace and purified by Faith and seasoned with Love Make the Tree good and his Fruit will be good but a Corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit. An evil Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit nor a good Tree evil Fruit. 'T is impossible that a Corrupt Fountain should send forth sweet Water or a filthy Vessel sweet Liquor Let the Love of God be the strongest Motive to thy Obedience and let this engage thy heart to every Duty Though thou shouldest do the duty required if thou do it not in obedience to that Command God will not own it Whatever thou dost do all to his Glory and in Obedience to his Command or thou wilt lose thy Reward let thy heart say in sincerity Propter te propter te Domine it is for thy sake and in Obedience to thy Command that I do it and for no sinister respect whatsoever Hypocrites may do the thing which God Commands but from another ground and for another end they savour of the Cask and smell of self-Interest they reach no higher than themselves as water ascends no higher than the Fountain Head Jehu did what God Commanded in destroying Idolatry and rooting out Ahab's Posterity but all this while he hath a Kingdom in his Eye But the Love of God Oyls the Chariot-Wheels of a Christians endeavours it carryeth him above beyond and out of himself God tells him what he would have done a Christian never examines the Command by any Carnal Interest whether he may reap gain or loss Honour or Disgrace by it come what come will he resolves to do it if God command it whatever stands in his way though he meet Death it self in the Face he will go on God calls him and with Samuel he cryeth out Speak Lord for thy Servant heareth he knows he that sets him on work can bear him out Now all Service that ariseth not from this ground is slavish and mercinary and merits nothing at Gods hands but blows he that doth the thing Commanded and knoweth not of the Command doth not Obey God in the work and if he know that it is Commanded and doth it yet not because it was Commanded but upon other account God will not Reward this as Obedience The Pharisees knew that Prayer Fasting and Alms-deeds were Commanded duties yea they performed those duties but not because God Commanded them but that they might be applauded by Men therefore Christ sends them to men for a Reward Mat. 6.1,2,3 c. The performance of a duty will do us little good if we cannot say with the Apostle The Love of Christ constraineth us Many are constant attenders upon the Ordinances not out of Love to God or Obedience to his Will or any delight they have in the duty but for fear of punishment or hope of reward either from God or Man or for popular Applause or one thing or other of that Nature and these Men perhaps in the mean time have their handS upon the works and their Hearts busied in the Devils Service and they look upon Gods Service as a Slavery and glad when they are Released But a sincere Christian is like the Servant mentioned Exod. 21.15 that saith I Love my Master I will not go Free though there were neither Reward in Heaven for my Obedience nor punishment in Hell for my disobedience I will do it because 't is my Masters will and I delight in the work it self this Love of God in the Soul is as weights to the Clock or as Oyl to the Jack it sets it on work for God love makes labour light they do it for Conscience sake Rom. 13.5 when others do it for gains sake Saul obeys for a Kingdom and Jehu for a Crown and when this was obtained their Obedience was over they are like to Dogs they follow their Master till they meet with Carrion examine now thy heart what is the ground of thy obedience if it be lower than thy love to God and desire to obey him 't is not right 5. Direction Let all thy duties whether to God or Man be performed in the manner which God requires now Christ himself tells thee God is a Spirit and he that worships him must worship him in Spirit John 4.24 and the Apostle tells us that bodily exercise profiteth little but godliness is profitable unto all things 1 Tim. 4.8 'T is not the Motions of the Body nor the moveing of the Lips 't is not Bowings Couchings Cringings that he is affected with if the Heart and Affections go not along this is one main difference between a sincere Christian and an Hypocrite both may do the same Duty both may joyn in the same Prayer and both may hear the same Sermon yet one may be accepted and the other not nay for the Bulk and Materiallity of the Duty the Hypocrite may exceed the other the Pharisees they fasted they gave almes they made long Prayer they tythed Mint and Anice and yet all this while lay under the Curse and were Enemies to God and persecutors of Christ their heart was absent from their duty and it was not right to God they lost all their labour in Heavens way because they had little trading with and little knowledg of God or their own hearts Hypocrites feed upon the husks of duty nnd never meet with Christ in the duty when a sincere heart hath trading with God and sweet communion with Christ himself if ever therefore thou wouldst perform pleasing Sacrifice to God be sure to wind up thy heart and affections unto God and never content thy self with any duty till thou meet with Christ in the duty duties are appointed to be done not for their own sakes but to help the Soul to mount
is stored with wholesome truths which otherwise would be barren and empty of any thing that is good and stored only with Vanity and Folly this seasons it and fills it with good things which otherwise would be a Cage of unclean Birds a very Sink of Sin and Filthiness this seasons the thoughts which produce Works and Actions Meditation in the Word is that which David was excellent at and every blessed Man should follow Psal 1.2 and Solomon adviseth to when he bid search for Wisdome as for Silver and dig for it as for fine Gold Prov. 24. this also hath a Promise of speeding annexed Prov. 2.12 c. This is the way which the faithful in all Ages have taken and hereby it was they became famous We finde Peter alone upon the House top a fit place for Meditation you may finde Isaac in the Fields meditating Gen. 24.63 Act. 10.9 Elijah upon Mount Carmel and Daniel by the Brook of Vlai and how Sapless and Unsavery are all the Pleasures in the World to a Man skill'd in Divine Meditation The Phylosophers that knew little of God and less of the Scriptures were so taken up with their Phylosophical Notions and Speculations that they oft-times mattered not their Meat or their Drink or their necessary recreations Archimedes was so taken up with his Geometrical Notions that when the City Syracuse was taken he was heedless yea when a Soldier stood ready to kill him would not be drawn off till Death it self ended his Contemplations if the Creature can bring such satisfaction what will the study of the Creator do and the Meditation of Heaven and Glory but alass where shall we finde a wise Man many read it not at all others cursorily few fruitfully most are forgetful hearers and forgetful readers but Meditation would fix it in the Memory 7. Direct If thou wouldst Read with profit apply what thou readest to thy self and bring thy heart to the Rule and thy Graces to this Touchstone and behold thy Face in this Glass of the Word to what end is Meat given but to be eaten or Physick but to be taken or a Plaister but to be applyed many read much and profit little because they apply not what they read to themselves perhaps they can apply it to others and say here is for such and such a man when they neglect their own Portion They are like the Pharisees they binde heavy burthens and grievous to be bourn and lay them upon other mens shoulders but they themselves will not touch them with one of their fingers but why wilt thou deal so liberally to others and deal so deceitfully with thy own Soul doth it want nothing or doth God speak nothing to thee but only to others In the things of the World thou art not so kinde thou wouldest not be deceived by another neither wouldest thou give away thy Estate with thy own hands to another and why art thou so injurious to thy Soul in things of a higher Nature thou wilt not deprive thy belly of Food nor thy back of Raiment must thy Soul only be deprived of both An hungry man will not thus dispose of his meat nor a covetuous man of his money and this thy liberality shewes thou hast neither a stomack to these spiritual dainties nor a desire after these spiritual and heavenly treasures This word is of general use to all every one hath his Portion for as God hath made nothing in vain so he hath spoke nothing in vain when therefore thou readest his Precepts wherein he commands duty and forbids sin perswade thy self that God is now particularly speaking unto thee and apply what is speaking to thy self as if there was no other Man or Woman in the World besides thee or as if God by an audible voice called thee out by Name as he did Samuel and gave thee these Commands to observe these duties to do these sins to avoid and let it deterre thee from sin and quicken thee to duty as if God himself had spoken to thee from Heaven When a Minister reproves sin some guilty Consciences say he means me 't is true if thou be guilty the Minister doth mean thee and God means thee when the Word speaks against Drunkards Swearers Lyars then it means thee if thou art guilty of those sins When thou readest the pretious Promises which God hath made unto repugnant Sinners assure thy self if thou be such a one these promises will be made good to thee yea as sure as if thy Name were written by the finger of God in the Scripture and annexed to them yea as if they were made to none but thee and those threatnings thou reapest in the word of God against unrepenting Sinners assure thy self if thou be in that condition thou art as much concerned in them and they will be as certainly made good upon thee if thou continue in this condition as if they had been only denounced against thee and those reproofs which thou readest for sin take them to thy self as spoken by God to thee if thou be guilty of the sin reproved for assure thy self God means thee in them and those Marks and Characters of Divine graces and gracious Qualifications scattered through out the Scriptures make use of to try thy self by make use also of all the Admonitions God gives thee and of all the examples thou findest of Divine vengeance let them deterre thee from sin and all the examples of Holy Saints encourage thee in good and generally of all sorts of Directions Instructions c. thus doing thou wilt gather good by thy Reading CHAP. V. Directions for Meditation THE next Duty I shall speak of is Meditation a necessary though much neglected Duty Yea Christians themselves that make Conscience of other Duties and are much in hearing reading and Prayer yet are too backward yea unskill'd in the right performance of this duty But did they know the benefit of it and the incomes many receive by it they would not neglect it it brings much Advantage to a gracious Soul and stores it with many Heavenly Truths which those that neglect it never attain In this a man ingages all the powers of his Soul and bends his mind to consider and muse upon some Spiritual Object for I speak not of it here as wicked men use it to devise mischief but as a Christian duty Now Meditation is either Occasional and Sudden or else Solemn and Set for both are necessary both are beneficial The former is occasioned by Objects occasionally presented by the Providence of God either to the Senses or brought to the Memory and resembles those sudden Ejaculations suddenly occasioned only in the one a man speaks to God and in the other a man speaks to his own Heart Thus we see David by beholding the Sun Moon and Stars those glorious Lamps of Heaven he falls out into Admiration of God's Love to poor man in raising him above these and making him but a little lower than the
Meditation which is the duty of all men and at all times but of set and solemn Meditation which is a duty at some times only and when thou comest unto it thou shouldst come preparedly no duty can be well performed without much less this so serious and solemn a duty this requires the exercise of all the powers of the Soul and the whole bent of the Minde they must be wholly set upon some special Object which for the time we make the matter of our Meditation this duty is as the chewing of the Cud in the clean Beasts or as in digestion to the Body for as digestion turns Food into Soil and Blood and Spirits and Flesh So Meditation turns thee Truths received into Affections Resolutions Acts yea into a-Holy Life and Conversation now the Preparations required are either Internal or External the Internal is chiefly the Heart and the Understanding the Heart is the chief Instrument in the Work if the Instrument be in Tune the Musick will be good if that be out it will be little worth The success of the Work depends much upon the frame of the Heart if that be right God will vouchsafe to dwell there and give in his Assistance in the duty and without his assistance the duty will do us little good There must be Grace in the Heart as well as knowledg in the Brain or the Work will not prosper in our Hands get thy affections as much off from the World and as resolvedly set upon Christ as thou canst for Christ will admit of no Partner and as a gracious Heart so an Understanding Head would much forward the Work 't is a sweet Conjunction where these meet but if severed the former is most requisite come with an empty Heart and it will be filled with an inlarged Heart and it will be satisfied this duty is enough to exercise the whole Man were the Faculties a thousand times more capacious then they are Angels themselves cannot dive into the bottom of many Misteries lay by therefore all other Thoughts Occasions Business and Concernments whatsoever and gather in thy whole strength and set upon the duty bring not a full Vessel that can hold no more if a Vessel be full of Water there is no room for Wine if thy hands be full of Muck thou canst hold no Money if thy Heart be stuff'd with Trifles it can hold no better Treasure When thou mountest this Hill of Contemplation be sure with Abraham leave all at the foot of the Hill say stand by Pleasures stand by Friends stand by World and Worldly things I am going to Sacrifice and will come again When we come into our Princes presence we leave our Muck behind us and bring no unsuitable Company with us much more when we come into Gods presence cast off all sin out with the World and Worldly thoughts yea all other thoughts though at other times good which will any ways disturb thee and dispose thy business so that thou maist not be hindred and for external preparation it consists in the Observation of some needful Circumstances as Time Place c. For Occasional Meditation all Times and all Places are fit when an opportunity is offered but not so here the Sabbath day is a fit time when other duties are not on foot but this is not enough upon other daies experience will best instruct thee when the Spirits are most lively and active and fit for the work in the Morning or in the Evening the like I say for Place where thou findest it most convenient at home or abroad in the House or in the Field the Place which is most suitable and freest from distraction is the fittest Isaac walked into the Fields Christ in the Garden Peter on the top of the House but I conceive ordinarily for this set Meditation that place which Christ appointed for private Prayer is suitable for this secret duty viz. The Closet with the door shut Mat 6.46 In a word when thou feelest a sweet gale of the Spirit assisting thee lose not the oppertunity strike while the Iron is hot perhaps thou maist do more then in an hour than at another time in a day 3. Direct Having thus prepared thy heart for the Work and made choice of a fit time and place set upon it set thy self seriously as in the presence of God apprehend him taking notice of thee how thou performest this duty and this will keep thy heart from wandring and thy thoughts from roveing yea before thou begin put up some pithy fervent Petitions for Gods Assistance and Direction and that he will give thee his holy Spirit to the end and that he will take possession of thy heart and keep thy thoughts from wandring from the duty for without Gods Assistance thou wilt but strive in thy own strength and lose all thy labour when thou hast made this entrance by Prayer make choice of some profitable Subject to Meditate upon all Meditation though Set and Solemn and serious is not that I treat of How seriously doth the Covetuous Man study how to grow rich yea perhaps how to deceive his Brother How serious is the Voluptious Man studying how to get Pleasure or satisfie his lust the Ambitious Man how to get honour the Envious Man how to do his Neighbour a Mischief yea the Holy Ghost saith he cannot sleep till it be done but this is Devillish and not Divine Meditation but single out some choice profitable Subject and let thy thoughts run upon that that which may winde up thy Affection neerer unto God and which is well worth the time thou imployest about it the Word of God or Natures Garden will furnish thee with Flowers enow to gather Honey on The Scripture will abundantly furnish thee to this end no Verse but may be matter of Meditation this is the Cannon whereby thou maist try good from bad and truth from error by this thou maist know what is Duty what is Sin what is true and what is false or thou maist take any Common place in Divinity for the Subject of thy Meditation here thou maist finde a large Field to walk in and many necessary yea fundamental truths may fall under consideration but take heed of meddling with secret things which belong only to God there is enough revealed for thy Salvation and this should be sufficient for thy satisfaction were it needful I might lead thee by the hand and shew thee matter sufficient to work upon as the Nature and Attributes of God but this is such a bottomless gulf that the Angels themselves could never sound or fathom yet here we may sail by the Scripture Chard in safety consider also the Works of God the Decree Creation and Providence consider thy own Estate in the Creation after the Fall and in thy Restauration consider Christ the Mediator in his Nature and Offices his Incarnation Birth Life Doctrine Miracles Death and Passion his Resurrection Ascention and Intercession and his coming at the
or thy Affections cool over-hastily keep up that Spiritual Life and vigour as long as thou canst Live in the strength of that meat if possible as long as Elijah did forty days yea labour to be the better for it all thy Life 'T is not safe in a great heat to cool too hastily he that climbs high should descend by leisure Hast thou met with God in the Duty Stir not thy Foot before thou hast given him thanks We are apt to be sensible of our pressing wants and our desires are let out for a supply in our needs God hears of us then we cry arise and save us but a gracious Heart should be as sensible of Mercies as of Miseries and be as ready to render praise for the one as to put up Prayers for the removal of the other But most men are like the Lepers of ten that are healed but one gives thanks And 't is thy Duty also to Treasure up that knowledge which thou hast gained by this Duty store up in thy Book or Memory the Conclusions thou hast gathered Hast by Reason and Scripture found that sin is bitter Lay up this as a certain Truth for hereafter Hast thou found that Grace is Lovely and Holiness amiable Remember this also lay up these Resolves that they may stand thee in steed in a day of Temptation that if ever Satan the World or thy own deceitful Heart should hereafter perswade thee to love sin or disown Holiness thou mayst reply nay but at such a time in such a place I found by such Scriptures and such Arguments that sin is filthy and Holiness Lovely in what false glass soever you now represent them to us Nay not only so but devote thy self wholly unto God and Resolve that thou wilt Live according to those Conclusions thou hast raised and those Truths thou hast found out and that thou submit thy self to his Will so far as he shall reveal it unto thee Without this what benefit canst expect from the Duty When thou hast found out the Duty and by undeniable Arguments canst prove it to be thy Duty and yet wilt not do it thou wilt be beaten with the more stripes If by the force of Reason and Evidence of Scripture thou find out that the way of sin is to be forsaken and the Duties of Holiness to be performed and yet thou forsake Holiness and chuse sin what Excuse canst thou plead Thou wilt but sin with a Candle in thy hand but if upon these Considerations thou set thy self to hate sin as the greatest evil and walk in the path which is called Holy in sincerity then shalt thou reap Fruit by thy Meditation If thou find upon Consideration that God is the chiefest good and Love him as the chiefest good happy wilt thou be If thou find the Devil to be the worst Master and break out of his Prison and resolve thou wilt never give him one more Act of willing Obedience 't is well or if thou find in the reach of thy Heart that thy Grace is not true and thereupon thou resolvest never to give thy Heart any rest till thy Relation be changed and God be thy Father and Christ thy Husband 't is well Or if in the search thou findest Evidences of true Grace Record them they will be of use in a day of desertion and help against the Devils fiery Darts The Result of David's Meditation was to return home to God Psal 119.59 So it should of ours if it make us not more in Love with God and Holiness and more to hate sin and wickedness it doth us no good if it strengthen not our Graces or weaken not our Corruption we lose our Labour In a word conclude the whole Duty either with Prayer to God for a Blessing or if it may be convenient with some Verses of a Psalm that is suitable CHAP. VI. Directions in Prayer THE next Duty I shall speak unto is Prayer which is not only Work but Wages not only a Duty but a Priviledge Now Prayer is an Offering up our desires unto God in the Name of Christ by the assistance of the Spirit with Confession of sin and thankful acknowledgment of God's Mercies received Psal 92.8 John 18.23 Rom. 8.26 Psal 36.5,6 Dan. 9.4 Phil. 4.6 For the kinds of it you may take notice there is Confession when we acknowledge our sins to God There is Petition when we beg of God those things necessary for Soul or Body for this Life or that to come There is Deprecation when we beseech God to turn away the evils felt or feared from our selves or others There is Intercession when we pray for others also and there is Thanksgiving when we thankfully acknowledge the Mercies received Now Prayer is either publick in the Congregation or private in the Family or secret in the Closet each of these should have their time each hath a Promise and we may find Precepts for and Example of them That Prayer is a Duty is acknowledged by most and denyed by few till of late Years wherein some have argued themselves above Ordinances but the Scripture owns no such thing we have the Command of God for it which is Authority sufficient and the only Rule to walk by 'T is a Divine Command that makes it Duty read these following Scriptures 1 Thes 5.17 Pray without ceasing Col. 4.2 Continue in Prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving Rom. 12.12 Continue instant in prayer Psal 59.15 Call upon me in the day of Trouble c. I might instance in many Promises made to it and many threatnings to those that neglect it and shew you the Examples of the best of Saints yea of Christ himself that spent whole nights in Prayer All which sufficiently prove that it is a Duty and therefore let us set upon it with all alacrity many are the encouragements unto this Duty some from God some from Prayer it self and some from our own Necessities From God his Promises to hear and help may encourage us Psal 50.15 and many other places his Attributes this assures us he is able to help and faithful in his Promises and will do it The Relation that is between God and a Believer gives him hopes he is their Father Christ their Elder Brother their Head and Husband yea their Redeemer and Intercessor The Experiences they have Recorded of all Ages The Returns of Prayer is no small encouragement which shews the Efficacy and Force of it and how prevalent it hath been with God and therefore one calls it the almost if not altogether Omnipotent Grace of Prayer I might give you a taste of it thus It hath changed the course of Nature stopped the Sun in the Firmament Josh 10.12 and brought it back ten degrees 2 Kings 20.11 Quenched the Rage of the Fire Dan. 3.27 Stopped the Mouths of Lyons Dan. 6.22 Divided the Red Sea that Israel passed through Exod. 14.21 It hath prevailed over great Armies and Potent Princes as over Pharaoh which it
those that are are these or the like The Spirit of God Faith Repentance and the rest of the Graces of God's Spirit these we must beg absolutely because they are not promised upon Condition Others are not so necessary to the Being but the well-being of a Christian As Peace of Conscience Assurance Joy in the Holy Ghost c. And these as they are not absolutely promised nor absolutely necessary should be asked with submission to the Will of God as he sees it best for us Temporal Blessings as Meat Drink Cloaths Health Peace Prosperity c. We must beg in submission to God's Will as we have Christ for an Example Not my Will but thine be done Every Prayer must be grounded upon Faith when the promise is conditional you shall have them if they be good for you you must pray Lord give them if they be good for me and for the Circumstances we must not limit the Holy one of Israel to time place manner measure or such like And in Deprecation of evils Spiritual or Temporal observe also this Rule that which hinders Salvation pray absolutely it may be removed if not submit unto the Will of God These Rules observed thou maist expect an Answer 6. Direct Wouldest thou put up a pleasing and prevailing Prayer unto God then thou must regard the manner of it as well as the matter Every Prayer good for the Matter is not acceptable to God because 't is exceeded in the manner of the performance A wicked Man may put up a good Petition when God regards it not Balaam's wish was good to dye the Death of the Righteous and that his last end might be like his Now as it must proceed from a Right Fountain a Heart purified by Faith So every Petition must be pointed by Faith or it will never pierce Heaven Nay 't is not enough to have Faith in the Habit but it must be in the Excrcise also and drawn out into the Act without Faith we cannot please God Heb. 11.6 No wonder then if many mens prayers are rejected for all men have not Faith Now Faith helps a man to a Foundation to build upon the Promises and Attributes of God this keeps the Heart from wavering and the Soul from fluctuating It points us out to Christ the Mediator sitting at the Right hand of God which offers up our prayers and brings us an Answer of peace Now though Faith be absolutely necessary yet 't is not sufficient there must be Repentance also and hatred of sin If I regard Iniquity in my Heart God will not hear my Prayer Psal 66.18 Non prodest medicam salum dum ferrum in vulnere let every Sin thou confessest draw sorrow from thy Heart and if possible Tears from thine Eyes such prayers are likeliest to prevail with that God that cannot behold Iniquity with approbation So likewise Zeal and fervency is a necessary Qualification 't is not every cold Petition will get Admittance at the Throne of Grace or pierce the Ears of God he hears not sluggish prayers this puts denials into his Mouth Every one can deny a cold Suitor Had the Woman of Samaria been of this Temper she had gone away without an Answer We should be fervent in Spirit serving God Rom. 12.11 'T is God's complaint Hos 7.14 They have not cryed unto me with their Heart Prayer is a part of God's Worship and a Curse is threatned to them that do the Work of the Lord negligently The business is of great Concernment and therefore should not be slightly performed If a Man were to beg for his Life how earnest would he be He would use all the Arguments he could and beg heartily Now this is for thy Life and the Life of thy Soul if thou prevail well and good if not thou art undone Men or Angels cannot help thee thy Diseases are so many and thy wants so great These Zealous Prayers are sometimes called the renting of the heart Joel 2.13 Sometimes wrastling with God and thus Jacob wrastled and prevailed And in Scripture 't is sometimes expressed by the Motions of the Body Hannah moved her Lips Solomon spread abroad his Hands the Publican beat his Breast and Christ fell upon the Ground Sometimes 't is exprest by deep Sighs and Groans which cannot be exprest Rom. 8.26 Sometimes by loud Crys Psal 32.3 Sometimes by often repeating the same Words as in Christ Mat. 26.30 And sometimes by bitter Tears as in Peter Mat. 26.75 Heb. 5.7 Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong Crys and Tears c. Yet this is not enough we must also watch and pray or watch in prayer 't is Christ's own Command Now Watching is the proper Act of the Body 't is but Metaphorically Attributed to the Soul Now both are required if the Body sleep the Soul cannot watch and if the Soul snort in Security Bodily Exereise profiteâ—… little Watch that there be no sin lying upon thy Conscience or Lived or delighted in that there be no passion predominant in the Soul no Temptation of Satan entertained no Worldly thoughts foisted in to spoil thy Duty no drousiness creeping upon thee watch that thy Heart grow neither Cold nor Lazy in the performance or steal away from the Duty that Pride nor self appear there that no roving Imagination vain thoughts or needless tautologies appear there But above all take heed thou come not in thine own strength but by the assistance of the Spirit of God perform the Duty which is given to this end Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8.26 Jude 20. Praying in the Holy Ghost this illuminates the heart discovers what is sin and what is Duty what a Man is what he hath and what he wants what a God he hath to deal with what he requires and worketh in us both the will and the Deed. 7. Direct If thou wouldest speed well at the Throne of Grace be sure to demean thy self well after the Duty if thou miscarry then thou wilt lose all thy Labour think not that the Duty is over when thou art off thy Knees no there is good part behind Call thy Heart to an Account how it hath carried it self in the Duty if this were duly done it durst not wander as it usually doth for fear of a check and having found out it's carriage be affected accordingly if well rejoyce and bless God for it it was he that kept it in Order If ill check it and make it smart for it and stir it up by some rousing Considerations Examine also what assistance thou hast had from the Spirit of God God promises the assistance of his Spirit in the Inditing their prayers and teaching them what to ask if he have made good this promise bless God for it and be encouraged by it for the future and expect the fulfilling those desires that the Spirit assisted in the powring out If thou hast not met with this assistance 't is doubtless thy own fault for God
never breaks his promise if we keep the Condition search out the fault and amend for the future set Faith on work for the return of thy prayers for no doubt if thou prayest according to God's Will thou shalt receive the Mercy prayed for Many deal by their prayers as foolish Children by their Arrows they shoot at Rovers and mark not where they light Most Men lose their prayers and heed not whether God hears them or not Answers them or not they make prayer the end of prayer and rest satisfied if the work be done without on Answer they observe not where they light or what comes of them If thy Petition be Lawful expect an Answer if it come be sure that which is gotten by prayer be worn with Thanksgiving be not like the unthankful Lepers go away and let God hear no more of you And when thou prayest against any sin be sure to set Heart and Hand on work to Mortifie that sin And when thou prayest for any Mercies be sure to Labour what thou canst in the use of means to attain that Mercy 't is a vain wish which is not seconded with endeavours 't is but a mocking of God that will not be mocked and a ridiculous thing to pray for that he will not endeavour for As if a man should pray to come to London and will not set a step that way If thou prayest for Spiritual Blessings use means to obtain them and if for Temporal things be diligent in the use of a Lawful Calling 't is the hand of the diligent that makes Rich. When thou prayest for thy Neighbour be as willing to help him to thy power as to pray for him Many men shew more Divinity in their Words than Humanity in their Actions one penny is more hardly got from them than thrice God help you And when thou hast put up thy Requests then with patience wait for an Answer as Hannah when she had poured out her Soul to God she depended upon him and looked no more sad 1 Sam. 1.18 It may be though God hath promised and will perform yet he will not give it at the first asking he will make thee seek again and wait also When Peter was in Prison and the Church prayed for his deliverance it was the last Night before God granted their Petitions Acts 12.5,6 But be it sooner or later when the Mercy comes give God his Tribute of praise this he requires Psal 50.15 And this was David's practice Psal 116.2 And Christ chargeth this upon the Lepers as their fault If he deny thy Request seek out what is the cause and perhaps thou maist find some sin un-repented of and then no wonder if God hear thee not resolve with Saul it shall dye though it be thy Jonathan 1 Sam. 4.37 Destroy that Achan that offends God and troubles Israel Or perhaps the Petition required is not sutable or thou failedst either in the manner or end if so be more wary the next time If neither of these wait for an Answer set upon the Duty with stronger resolutions if prayer be not strong enough joyn Fasting Some sins like some Devils come not out but by prayer and fasting If thou canst not do it thy self call in help take these Directions and thou wilt find the banefit of prayer CHAP. VII Directions in and about Singing of Psalms THE Next Duty I shall Instruct you in is Singing of Psalms A Duty much prest and practised both in the time of the Law and in the time of the Gospel and many thousands of Believers have received benefit and have been refreshed by it The Book of Psalms 't is evident is of Divine Institution and compiled by the assistance of the Spirit of God And though sundry other pieces of Scripture have been by several Persons in several Ages called in Question yet this was never Questioned by any 'T is expresly mentioned by the Apostle Peter Acts 1.20 Yea is acknowledged to be Canonical Scripture by Christ himself the great Doctor of the Church Luke 20.42 And David himself saith in the Book of Psalms the Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand till I make thine Enemies thy Foot-stool Luke 24.44 All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning me The Hebrew Title of this Book is Sepher Tehillim a Book of Hymns because it chiefly consists in praise and thanksgiving unto God for his benefits And this Title seems to be taken from the Inscription of the 145 Psalm where the word is used and the whole Psalm spends it self in the praises of God In the Scripture indeed we read of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 But what the difference is between these is not easie to shew no doubt one and the same Psalm may admit of either of these Names Some have distinguished them thus Psalms say they are those that contain Exhortation to Holiness and Directions to an Holy Life Hymns contain praises to God for his benefits Spiritual and Temporal and Spiritual Songs are a mixture of both The Original word Mizmar comes from a word that signifies cutting off superfluous things and signifies a eomposure of Harmonious words without Superfluity or Excess and 't is sufficient that the whole Book containing several Subjects is called by this one name of Psalms even by Christ himself Now this Divine Ordinance or Holy Duty though both Commanded and Commended and practised by Christ and his Apostles and the Church of God even down from David's Time to this day yet is denyed by some and Questioned by others to be a Duty but I think they may Question as some indeed do all the Ordinances as well as this for what but the Ignorance or wilful perverting of the Scripture can be the ground of such a denial It may be indeed they have never performed this Duty as they ought to do and so never received that benefit and refreshing from it that others have done and hence they judge it is improfitable and condemn the Ordinance for their own fault But doubtless many thousands of Believers may speak out their Experiences and tell you they have been refreshed by it That it is a Christian Duty shall God willing be further shewed you and that 't is both profitable and pleasant is easie to prove The Psalms are a Rich Store-House of all manner of Provision and those that are conversant herein cannot be Ignorant of it Here are Instructions for the Ignorant to lead them in the way to Heaven and guide them by all the by-ways of Error and Folly here are Incitations to the dull and sluggish to rouse them up out of the sleep of Security Here are prayers to draw down Mercies from God and praises to God for Mercies received What shall I say Whatsoever Estate a Christian can be in here he may find Comfort or Company or both Here as in a Glass are represented and
set forth the thoughts the words and Actings of a gracious Soul in every Condition and the Experience they have had of God's help at hand in every Condition How oft doth the Psalmist begin like Jonah in the belly of Hell And is raised up to Heaven before the Conclusion And 't is wonder that any should desist from such an Angelical duty which so much resembles Heaven But because many no doubt out of Conscience Question the Duty I shall first prove the Duty Lawful and then give my Advice how it may be performed 1. Direct If thou wouldest perform this Duty acceptably to God and profitably to thy self be well convinc'd that it is thy Duty halt not between two Opinions do it chearfully and understandingly which thou canst not do so long as thou doubtest whether it be thy Duty or whether God will own it at thy Hands Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin Rom. 14.23 To this End view the Arguments following which I suppose may be sufficient to prove it thy Duty My business in this Treatise is not to meddle with Controversies yet so far as the digression may be tolerable and my Method and Design will allow I shall speak something for thy Satisfaction Consider therefore God hath furnished Man for this Duty in giving him this Musical Faculty with which as with all the rest he should Glorifie God And how can he Glorifie him better with it than with Trumpetting out his praise and Singing forth his Glory This is the way that David stirs up his Tongue to praise God This was an acceptable Service unto God even before the Ceremonial Law was given Exod. 15.1 Then Sang Moses and the Children of Israel this Song unto the Lord c. By this means also the Spirit of God is stirred up in us Eph. 5.18,19 Be filled with the Spirit speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs This leaves a sweet relish and delight upon the Spirit Psal 104.33,34 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I Live I will sing unto my God while I have my Being my Meditation of him shall be sweet Nay this is that which Saints and Angels do in Heaven and shall do for ever Thus the Angels did Isa 63. even with an Audible voice As also of our Saviours Birth Luke 2.13 Rev. 5.8,9 14.3 15.3 And this shall be their work for ever Yea it hath been Prophesied that there shall be Singing in Gospel times Isa 20. In that day shall this Song be sung Isa 52.8 Thy Watch-men shall lift up the voyce with the voyce together shall they Sing c. Which the Apostle Interprets to be in Gospel Times Heb. 2.12 Yea all Nations are stirred up to sing praises unto God Psal 100.1 Psal 95.12 Which includes both Jews and Gentiles and must be understood of Gospel Times as 't is Interpreted Heb. 4.3 Neither can this Duty under the Law be Typical for neither Scripture nor Reason can shew that Singing Psalms Typified out a Believers Singing with the Heart in Gospel Times any more than prayer with the Voyce Typifies out praying with the Heart Nay Christ and his Apostles after his departure would not have used it had it been Ceremonial If this serve not we have plain Scripture Commands for the Duty even in Gospel Times Eph. 5.19 Speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs Singing with Melody in your Hearts Col. 3.16 Teaching and Admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your Hearts to the Lord James 4.9 If any be Afflicted let him Pray and if any be Merry let him sing Psalms Now all this shews this is a Duty If yet this satisfie not we have the best Examples to warrant us I shall set before you the Angels at the Birth of Christ Luke 2.13 And the Holy Men of God in the Time of the Law David was called The sweet Singer of Israel But this is not all we have the Example of Christ himself and his Disciples which is without Exception Mat. 26.30 After Supper they sung an Hymn which probably was the same which the Jews were accustomed to sing at the Passeover viz. those Songs of Degrees from Psal 112 c. to Psal 118.19 However this shews the Lawfulness of the Duty We have also the Example of Paul and Silas that Sang in the Prison with an Audible Voice for the Prisoners heard them Acts 26.25 We have also the practice of the Church down since the Apostles Time and all those cannot likely persist in an Error so long This we have for our Warrant and little can be said against it and therefore I shall conclude 't is a Lawful and Laudable practice 2. Direct Is concerning the Matter of our Singing which must be Holy not Prophane to God's Glory not our own There are many that think it is a Gospel-Duty to Sing Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs and yet they Scruple the Singing of David's Psalms and thus they seek a knot in a Rush David's Psalms were an Acceptable Service unto God and we read not where ever God disclaimed them They were used and Sung not only by himself but others not only in his own Time but in succeeding Generations where they Praised God with David's words As we find in Solomon's Time 2 Chron. 5.13 In Jehoshaphat's Time 2 Chron. 20.21 In Hezekiah's Time 2 Chron. 29.20 In Ezra's Time Ezra 3.10,11 In the two former places we find David's words used in the two latter we find an express Command and Example of Praising God with David's words and with the words of Asaph You see the estimate the Church of God put upon them yea as may be apparently proved they were thus in use even to Christ's Time as History Records these Psalms of David in the times of the Law were sung by the four and twenty Orders of Musicians which seem to Typifie out the Twenty four Elders men ioned Rev. 5.8 The Song of Moses the Servant of God Exod. 15.1 c. Was Sung not only by him but by the People not only by Men but Women also Exod. 15.20,21 Yea Moses was Commanded to write his other Song and teach it unto the Children of Israel and put it into their Mouths Deut. 31.19 And to what purpose was it thus written and thus to be learnt but that they should sing it I have already proved we ought to Sing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs the very Name gives unto David's Psalms Nay there is strong probability that Christ himself when he was upon the Earth Sang David's Psalms at the close of his Supper for if he would conform to the Custom of the Jews to Sing an Hymn at the close of the Passeover What ground have we to think he did not conform to them in Singing the same Hymn which they were wont to do which was as hath been said David's Hymns however the Scriptures make mention of no other And 't is observed
that the Ancient Hebrew Copy of Saint Matthew's Gospel gives favourable Light unto it by making use of the word there which is the Title unto David's Psalms We find also the Apostle Pen'd good part of the Second Psalm Acts 4.24 and why not Sing it And if Christ and his Apostles had had any other Hymns they would have been left upon Record as some of their Prayers are but no such thing is to be found Nay we read that the Angels themselves in their Coelestial Harmony conforming themselves to the words of David and allude unto the Song of Moses the Servant of the Lord and therefore doubtless 't is not unlawful for us to do thus 'T is true indeed we are Commanded to sing in the Spirit and so we may if we use a Form indited by the Spirit and Sing them with the Heart and Understanding We are Commanded to Pray by the Spirit and can any Imagine but so we may though we use the Form Christ hath bid us use But if we expect an immediate impulse of the Spirit dictating to us both sense and Meeter and putting words into our Mouths as we sing not one of a thousand if ever any at all will be found to have such a gift Indeed in the Apostles days when extraordinary gifts were given some such thing might be which now cannot be expected any more than the gift of Healing And seeing that David and Moses Men endued with the Spirit Pen their Songs for the Publick good let us be contented to see by their Light and not presume to compare with them much less to exceed them We may find special Psalms appointed upon special occasions as for the Sabbath day c. And the Book of Psalms is so perfect a Sentence that there needs no Addition and if it did doubtless God would have ditected some to have perfected the work 't is a great boldness for any man not indued with the Spirit of God to thrust upon the Church an Hymn of his own making and lay aside those indited by the Spirit If we must Sing it must be David's Psalms or worse I think no humble man will compare the beats of his own brain with the immediate impulses of the Spirit I know not what Warrant we have to leave the one to use the other 3. Direct Be satisfied also concerning the Persons obliged to perform this Duty for some that confess 't is a Christian Duty to be done in Gospel Times yet think not that all Christians are hereby engaged Some conceive 't is the Ministers Duty alone as he is the Mouth of the People to God in Prayer so should he also be in Singing and the rest should tacitely consent and joyn in Heart but should not vocally sing 'T is easily granted that a godly Man for his own solace may sing alone and thus David did his Night-Songs upon his Bed Psal 77.6 And 't is evident also in the Primitive Times when the gift of Tongues was in use and other extraordinary gifts which now are ceased One that had a Psalm given by Divine Inspiration might and did Sing alone and the rest joyned as afore-said and said Amen to it For it was impossible and improbable that all should sing together by such a Divine rapture But this gift failing and David's Psalms Lawful yea the best we have or can have The whole Church may joyn in these not only in Heart but in Voice I think this need not be controverted God that is the God of Order and never established or owned Confusion hath formerly owned this as I have shewed Where Priests and People Men and Women joyned together as in Moses Song Exod. 15.1,2 c. The whole Church of Coloss was exhorted hereunto Col. 3.16 And not the Pastours and Select Elders only And if God would have such Select Choristers for this Work in Gospel Times he would have given Instructions and Directions for their Qualification and Election as he hath done for other Officers besides some Ministers otherwise Godly and able are not fitted for this Duty neither have they such a Musical Faculty as to be fit to be the Mouth of the People in this Duty And God hath indued many of the People in this beyond their Minister and doubtless it is not given in vain Moses and the Children of Israel Sang together Ex. 15.1,2 c. Yea in Gospel Times Christ and his Disciples Mat. 26.30 The like we read of Paul and Silas and why should we doubt that have such Leaders I know not The Angels that were ten thousand times ten thousand yea thousands of thousands joyned together without Confusion Rev. 5.11,12 But you will say here is no Expression of Singing See then those hundred forty and four Thousand that followed the Lamb those sang a new Song which no other could Learn Rev. 14.1.3 And this shall be the Saints work for ever But some question whether Women may sing in the Church and think they have cause enough for their doubt because the Apostle doth peremptorily forbid a Woman to speak in the Church but she cannot sing but she must speak 1 Cor. 14 34. But this is grounded upon a mistake Indeed they ought not to speak by way of Office or Publick Teaching but must be under the Authority of her Husband Neither to make Questions there but at Home lest they transcend the bounds of Modesty but that they must not speak at all will not be proved Sapphira spake when Peter demanded her Answer Nay then they must not say Amen to the Prayers a Duty enjoyned to all in general We read of Miram and the Women they Sang and were not reproved Exod. 15.20,21 And that it was the practice in the Primitive Times for Men and Women to Sing together The Ecclesiastical History may inform you But some Men doubt whether Carnal Men and Women ought to Sing or whether Christians ought to joyn with them if they do and the reason is they think hereby they hold Fellowship with them But what Reason is there that a Man may pray in a mixt Congregation and not sing when as this is but a more deliberate sort of Prayer the Voice is Natural the Tune Artificial so far we may joyn and the Matter is common to both And for the Manner if they sing Spiritually then they are fit to be joyned with if not what Spiritual Communion have we with them No question but it is their Duty and why may we not joyn with a Man doing his Duty Moses Sang with a Rebellious People and God Commanded him to write his Song as a Witness against them Deut. 31.19 And there is no Psalm but every one in the Congregation may Learn some Instruction from it and make some good use of it 4. Direct Be well satisfied also in Singing David's Psalms as they are turned into English Meeter for this also in our Age is become a Scruple unto many For when they cannot deny this to be a Duty yet
here something may be added for as thou must remember the Sabbath before it come to prepare for it so when 't is come improve it to the best Advantage And to this End Rise as timely in the Morning as thy Health will permit Were it to go to some Market or Fair or to do some earnest or important business how early wouldst thou Rise And why not now the better to fit thy self for thy Masters work and to Sanctifie as much of the Consecrated time as thou canst and do God as much work as may be and Reason good for God is the best Master and pays the best Wages and therefore he should have most work done And by this means thou wilt redeem the more time for thy private Devotion When thou first awakest Consecrate thy first thoughts to God and begin the day with some Fruitful Meditation suitable to the Season and the work in hand for this will fit thee for after-Duties But if thou let the World or Sin have thy first thoughts 't is hard getting them out of possession of thy Heart Examine thine own Heart what Graces thou hast weak or wanting that thou wouldst have supplyed what Sins are strong that thou wouldst have mortified what sins thou hast Committed especially the week last what Mercies thou hast received that so thy Heart may be affected accordingly Go to God with shame in thy Face and sorrow in thy Heart and if it may be with Tears in thine Eyes and confess thy sins to him and never rest till thou hast a discharge Many give themselves so much Liberty of sleeping in the Morning that much of those secret Duties are either neglected or slubbered over and they have little time to set the Heart in Order But how can a man expect a Blessing that is guilty of such neglects But these secret Duties are not sufficient If thou hast a Family call them together in convenient time Read some Portion of Holy Scripture to them and if thou canst fasten something upon their Spirits by Familiar Discourse or otherwise and then joyn with them in Prayer to God for the pardon of the sins of the Family and a supply of Grace and a Blessing upon the Publick Ordinances for their Souls good And here forget not to put up some Petitions for him who is to be your mouth unto God that he might do it prevailingly and that he that is to be God's mouth to you may reach your Hearts and speak a word in season to your Souls and meet with your beloved sins and put you on to your neglected Duties If Holy Paul desires the Prayers of his Hearers Col. 4.3 much more need have your Ministers And having thus disposed thy private Devotions make timely resort unto the publick 'T is an ill Custom which many have to stay late and savours but of little Love to the Ordinances These Men would make more hast to a Feast or Banquet perhaps to a Stage-Play or Morrice-dance And when thou hast thus done and brought thy Family along with thee behave thy self and see that they behave themselves gravely and orderly and joyn with the Minister hear attentively pray zealously and sing affectionately and do every Duty chearfully write the Sermon in thy Book or in thy Memory especially the most material Heads and after the Morning Exercise use sobriety in Meat and Drink lest thy Body be surcharged and become unfit for the Evening Exercise for though Meat and Drink may be taken yet no more than fits thee for thy Duty Spend the inter-mediate-time in Prayer Singing Repeating Meditation c. and frequent the Evening Exercise as thou didst in the Morning and when the Publick is done spend the remaining part of thy time in private Duties as Repeating the Sermon and Examining the proficiency of thy People incouraging the Diligent reproving the Idle In Meditation of what thou hast heard pressing it upon thy own and People's Hearts and put it into Practice which is the Life of all without which 't is like Food eaten but not digested which seeds Diseases and not the Body Call thy Family together suffer them not to wander after Vanity Read some Portion of Holy Writ and if it may be make them understand God's Will in it Catechize and Instruct them in the Fundamentals of Religion Pray with them and for them for the Pardon of their sins and a Blessing upon the means Commend them and all thine and all the Israel of God into God's Protection and so conclude the day in Secret with God as thou beganst confess the miscarriages of thy Heart and bless God for the assistance thou hast found follow this course and the Sabbath will prove a Market-day for thy Soul 7. Direct 'T is not enough to Sanctifie the Sabbath thy self but God requires thee to improve thy Authority that those under thy Charge may Sanctifie it also And if by thy negligence or remissness thou sufferest sin to be Committed on it and wilt not hinder it it will be laid at thy door and charged upon thine Account qui non prohibet cum potest Jubet Now this chiefly concerns Superiors for to them is the Command chiefly directed Exod. 20.10 They are to Command and others are to Obey All Governors therefore whether Civil Military or Ecclesiastical are hereby obliged to improve their Interest and Authority to hinder the Prophanation of the Lod's day and to promote the Sanctification of it It was good Joshua's Resolution He and his would Serve the Lord Josh 24.15 And God himself who could not be mistaken faith of Abraham He knew that he would Command his Children and Houshold after him to keep his Commandments Gen. 18.19 The Magistrate is Custos utrius Fabulae and therefore should look to it that the Commands of God be not broken or Contemned They should be Nursing Fathers to the Church and therefore should see that their Children take good ways and run not into dangers Isa 49.23 They are Vice-Gerents upon Earth and should Act like God and see his Commands observed they should encourage the good and punish the disobedient they should Reprove Threaten Restrain and Punish the Disobedient for the Prophaning of the Sabbath and encourage the good that it may appear they bear not the Sword in vain This was Nehemiah's Practice in the same Case Nehem. 13.15 c. The Fourth Commandment saith as much which is Directed to Superiors who have most Power to Reform this amiss An Example of a Magistrates Power we have in Josiah who Commanded all his Subjects to stand to the Covenant he had made with the Lord and made them to Serve the Lord their God though doubtless many of them had rather have Served Baal 2 Chron. 34.32,33 That is he forc'd them to an outward compliance We find in many places Death is threatned to the Prophanation of this day Now if the Magistrate had not Power to punish as some imagine who should inflict his Death Can it be
his Death and Resurrection are promised as also Remission of Sins Mark 1.4 Yea Salvation also Tit. 3.4 By this Ordinance we give up our selves unto Christ Rom. 6.34 Now what are the Ends thou aimest at in this Ordinance when thou presentest thy Child to be Baptized Is it the Duty as well as the Priviledge thou regardest Dost thou Enter him into the Covenant with an intent to Dedicate him to the Lord and Train him up in his fear to bring him into God's Family and make him a Member of his Mystical Body 1 Cor. 1â— 13 For by one Spirit we are all Baptized into one Body to make him a Member of the Church Gal. 3.27 That he may be Holy to Marry him unto Christ c 't is well If only Custom not Conscience move thee thy Ends are bad and thy Actions Sinful 4. Direct Rest not in the Common Priviledges of this Sacrament take not up with Common favours but lay hold by Faith upon the main Benefit What priviledge will it be to be Listed into Christ's Army when we neither fight his Battles nor receive his Pay Or to be entred into his School if we be not Taught nor Instructed by him to be of the Number of those that Worship God when it is not in Truth and Sincerity To make a visible Profession without the practice to have a Name to Live and be dead or to have a Name to be a Child of God without the priviledges of Children To be a Member of the visible Church and no Member of Christ's Mystical Body To adhere to the Vine and not be Planted in it To be distinguished from those without the pale of the Church as Jews and Heathens and not from rotten Members as Hypocrites and Dissemblers To have a form of Godliness without the power and practice of Holiness Alas these things are common to good and bad as Circumcision did difference the Jews from all other People yet most of them were strangers yea Enemies to God for all are not Israel that are of Israel But 't is the Circumcision of the Heart that differenceth them from the World So 't is here Baptism differenceth Christians from others but 't is the Baptism of the Spirit that differenceth the good from the bad Yet these External Priviledges ought not to be sleighted as the Apostle Argues at large Rom. 3.1,2 c. yet ought they not to be trusted to or rested in The main thing intended in this Ordinance is that Christ and all his benefits be Sealed up unto the Soul therefore lay hold by Faith upon these things or thy Labour will be lost This Sacrament is the Seal of the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.11 The sign of the Covenant Gen. 17.11 Lay hold therefore upon Christ in the Ordinance yea upon whole Christ as he is offered in the Sacrament for Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and with him Grace and Glory is to be had But if thou take up any thing under Christ the Ordinance will be of little worth to thee When thou bringest thy Child therefore to the Ordinance take not up with Common Benefits lay out for Christ and satisfie not thy self without him The Ordinance of it self is but a dry and empty Husk Christ is the Kirnel 't is as a Well Christ is the Water and what good will a dry Well do thee 'T is but a broken Cistern if trusted to it can hold no Water What is a little cold Water applyed to the Body if the Water of Life be not applyed to the Soul Be thou Real in thy Dedication of thy Child to God and really Act Faith upon the Promise that God may bestow his Son upon him Thou mayst find in Scripture footing for thy Faith many Divine and precious Promises made by God Consider such Scriptures as these Rom. 6.38 As many as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his Death c. And if we be dead with Christ we believe we shall also Live with him 1 Pet. 3.21 The like Figure whereunto even Baptism doth also now save us c. Mark 3.11 Heb. 1.9 John 3.5 Heb. 10.22.24 Gal. 3.16 Luke 3.3 Acts 12.16 22.16 Eph. 5.26 Titus 3.5 1 John 1.7 The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all our sins which Blood is here signified by this Baptismal Water Here thy Faith may find a Foundation sure and stedfast take up with nothing short of Christ bring the word of Promise along with thee to the Ordinance press God with his Word he cannot deny it but without the Promise the Ordinance is of little Efficacy But thus doing thou wilt find it a refreshing Ordinance Christ and all his Benefits may be found in this Baptismal Water yea whatsoever is necessary for the Soul Perswade thy self therefore that seeing such Scripture expressions hold forth the Sacrament to be the Laver of Regeneration and the New Birth to wash from sin and is Instrumental to our Salvation and Sealeth up the Covenant yea Christ and all his Benefits to the Soul No doubt it will be so to thee and to thy Children if the failing be not on your part When thou seest the Minister apply the Baptismal water to the Body of thy Infant do thou by Faith behold God the Father applying Christ his Merits his Blood and Benefits to the Soul and as verily as thou seest the one done Sacramentally so verily do thou believe the other to be done really and truly 'T is the coming to the Sacrament without Faith and without the word of Promise that makes it seem so empty and vain but doubtless there is a rich supply to be had If we suck we shall be satisfied the Well indeed is deep and Faith is the Bucket If we have no Bucket we are like to have no Water 5. Direct That this Sacrament of Baptism be rightly Administred it is necessary that it be done agreeably to the mind and will of God expressed in his Word for God will have his own work done in his own way he hath not left it to Man to use his own will in his Worship But we must follow the Pattern and Example he hath left us and Obey the Precept and Command he hath given us and be directed by Scripture Light and perform the Duty in a right manner and form as well as to a right End 'T is necessary therefore in the first place that it be Administred by a Lawful Minister 't is the work of those that are in Commission and we find not any Commission Sealed unto any other than the Apostles and their Successors the Ministers of Christ set apart by God and the Church for this and other Holy Duties for the work of the Ministry that this is part of their Commission we may read Mat. 28.19,20 Go Teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I Commanded you and loe I am with you always even
Laws of God to follow the dictates of Man yea makes God's Laws of no Effect Mark 7.8 It makes them do all in way of Merit which the Scripture denies Luke 17.10 When you have done all that is Commanded say yc are unprofitable Servants Rom. 6.23 The Wages of sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life Rom. 4.6 8.18 9.16 2 Cor. 4.17 Where we see all we enjoy is of free Grace and no room left for mans Merits Such vows as these therefore have no footing in the Scripture and therefore are not for our imitation 5. Direct If thou wouldst by thy vows Glorifie God or benefit thine own Soul thou must look at the manner as well as the matter for this also is to be regarded many a Duty materially good is spoyled by the ill performance as we see in Sacrifices and Oblations and in the Observation of the New Moons and Solemn Assemblies all appointed and Commanded Duties so spoyled in the doing that God would not own them yea his Soul did abominate them Isa 1.10 c. And 66.3 He that killeth an Ox is as if he slew a Man and he that sacrificeth a Lamb as if he Cut off a Dogs Neck he that Offereth an Oblation as if he Offered Swines Blood he that burneth Incense as if he Blessed and Idol c. We see Commanded Duties may be grievous Sins when ill performed Now a vow as well as an Oath for a vow is a Promissory Oath to God should be made in Truth in Judgment and in Righteousness In Truth and so it should be made with a sincere Heart without fraud deceit aequivocation or Hypocrisie For as God requires the Heart in all Service so likewise in this A Promise made to him with Guile and Hypocrisie is but a mocking of him that will not be mocked 'T is like Annanias and Sapphira their Devoting the price of their Land to God and afterwards keeping back part of the price to themselves and by this lost themselves A notable Example we have of a serious vow worthy our Imitation we may read 2 Chron. 15.14,15 where we find Judahs entring into Covenant with God 't is said they sware unto the Lord with Trumpets and shouting and with the Cornet and all Judah rejoyced at the Oath for they had sworn with all their Hearts and sought him with all their desires c. And how acceptable this was to God we may find in the following words he was found of them and the Lord gave them rest round about But take heed of being like those Jer. 3.10 that turned to God But it was feignedly saith the Lord But 't is better not to Vow than to Vow and not perform for God will avenge the Quarrel of his Covenant And as a Vow should be in Truth so it should be voluntary not by constraint for it should be with a willing mind and therefore 't is called a free-will Offering and God expects it should chearfully be performed Deut. 23.23 That which is gone out of thy Lips thou shalt keep and perform the Free will Offering according to what thou hast Vowed unto the Lord which thou hast promised with thy Mouth Though God do not Command thee to Vow as in the Verse before If thou shalt forbear to Vow it shall be no sin in thee yet when thou hast engaged thy Soul he expects the performance for as a Vow is free so should the performance of it also This shews when Young Persons are put into Monasteries Nunneries or Religious Houses as they are called and forc'd there to take the required Oaths of Single Life Regular Obedience c. and that against their wills 't is not of Gods Devising but of the Devils Invention And likewise when Children against their Parents wills are inticed or allured to take such Oaths and Vows and so alienate themselves from their Parents Obedience this is no pleasing Service to him See his mind Mat. 15.5,6 Parents must not be wronged upon Religious Accounts And as Vows should be in Truth so likewise in Judgment blind Sacrifices were never acceptable to God Men should well understand what they do and know the nature of a Vow and the Lawfulness of the thing Vowed and the profitableness thereof and how it conduceth to their main design before they engage There are some things God will not have devoted to him as the price of a Dog or the Hire of a Whore Deut. 23.18 Those that Vow also should know their ability to perform and not make them and be forc'd to break them for ultra posse non est esse God delights not in the words of such Fools Eccl. 4.5 A vow should tend also for some Profit for Body or Soul as Jacob's did but what profit is there in voluntary Poverty Pilgrimages in vowing Oyl Candles c. to Saints departed no man was ever yet able to find out It should be made in Righteousness also and should be at their own dispose as before was said to vow that Service to one which is due to another is a point of injustice and no Law of God requires it It must be of fit things also we must not Serve God with what is not our own it must in a word be in that which may conduce to God's Glory and the furtherance of our great design or otherwise 't is either sinful or foolish 6. Direct When thou makest a Vow look to it that thy Ends be right for that denominates the Action to be good or bad though the Duty be never so Glorious in the Eyes of Men they are abominable in the sight of God if done for base or by-ends Now the end should be in this as in all other Duties the Glory of God convinc'd with our own or others good this should be our ultimate end and aim A Gracious Soul in every Duty should be able to say propter te propter te Domine this I do for thee and for thy sake and with the Psalmist Psal 115.1 Not unto us Lord not unto us but unto thy Name be the Glory A Christian in all his Duties should follow the Direction of the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye Eat or Drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the Praise and Glory of God Col. 3.17 Whatsoever ye do do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus c. Though Vows are not strictly any part of God's Worship yet are they helps and furtherances in it and therefore should be carefully made and faithfully performed We read I know of Believers that have made Vows unto God for the performing of Spiritual Duties which they must not have neglected though they had not vowed it but this makes it not Worship but a help to Worship and if they are of things indifferent yet are they not part of God's Worship but that which conduceth to the better performance of Worship I know the Papists they say they are part of his Worship though they are made of
followed Infants you see though uncapable were not freed even such as hang upon their Mothers breast and though they had not actually sinned yet were a part of that sinful lump of mankind and deserved judgement as well as others and therefore should be timely traind up in this Christian duty and their cries for meat and the very bellowing of the Beasts might stick something upon the heart of man and help further to humble and break it yea many of those little ones being Gods Elect their presence may be an arguing with God to spare as the presence of Jehosophat moved Elijah to come to Ahab 2 Kings 3.19 this was one Motive why the Lord would not destroy Niniveh because there were sixscore thousand souls in it that knew not the right hand from the left But though all these come and 't is their duty to come yet all come not rightly prepared and qualified for that work if thou wouldest indeed stand in the Gap and turn away the wrath of God from the Land thou shouldest be one in Covenant with God and one that hath the work of grace upon thy Soul one that hath a friend in Court an interest in Christ the Mediator and canst through him go boldly to the Throne of grace one that can without lying call God Father and lay claim to the share in his promises one that art reconciled to God through the blood of his Son such a one is like to prevail for mercy 't is not those that howl for Corne and Wine he regards 't is not the crying of the Swine or the bellowing of Beasts he matters if there be a full Congregation of unconverted Sinners that resolve to love and not leave their sins I question whether these mens cryes do not prevail more to bring down judgments than mercies when men covenant with â—od and promise obedience and never intend to perform it this is but a mocking of God that will not be mocked and the breaking of the Covenant with him that can and will avenge the quarrel of his Covenant we cannot deceive him though we come with Tears in our Eyes If there be not sorrow in the Heart our Crocodile Tears will not Advantage us But if there be but weak gifts and parts if the Heart be right yet they will be owned God looks not so much at the out-side as the inside of Duty Though I know those that carry on the work especially in Publique should be men of parts and Abilities and 't is well if all were thus Qualified 't is a sweet Conjunction where Grace and parts meet they should know their own Sins and the Sins of the Nation to bewail and confess them Ezra 9.4.6 Nehem. 1.6,7 They should know their own wants and the wants of the Nation Dan. 9.11.18 In a word every Novice in Religion is not fit for so high a Duty and therefore Christ himself Excuseth his Disciples for not Fasting not onely because the Bride-groom was with them but as 't is conceived because they were not yet fit for so high a duty Luke 5.36,37 Mat. 9.15,16 2. Direct Wouldst thou Fast as thou oughtest to do and as God requires 't is not enough to be rightly Qualified but come prepared to the duty there is scarce any thing of moment can be well done without preparation much less such a Solemn work and such an extraordinary duty Now the preparation requisite is partly External and partly Internal the External helps forward the other and they are such as these On the Evening before lay aside thy Bodily Labour betimes that thou mayst trim up thy Lamp to meet the Bride groom the day following and prepare thy Heart against the next days duties and take that Evening but a moderate Supper such as will help and not hinder thee in the ensuing duty and continue as long as thou canst without prejudice to thy Health or hinderance to thy duties of the day following for thou shouldst deny thy self in sleep as well as in other Comforts of this Life but all this should be but in reference to the main work and so no further to be used than it is helpful to it Now the main work is to get the Heart into a melting frame and humble temper for what good will it do us to come and go with the Heart unbroken Now that it may be so the consideration of thy sins and the sins of the Nation with the several aggravations of them will be of great use when they are prest home upon the Spirit by serious Meditations Call to mind therefore thy Original Guilt and the pollution of thy Nature and how the whole Man Soul and Body is defiled by it and thy best Duties stained as also thy Actual Sins many for Number and hainous for Nature Call to mind the Sins of thy Youth and of thy riper Age the Sins of thy Calling general and particular thy Relation Sins and how thou hast failed in every Relation thou hast been in Thy Sins of Omission Commission and Participation thy Sins of knowledge and Ignorance of weakness and wilfulness against the Law and against the Gospel against God and against Man with the several aggravations of them as against a great deal of Love and Light against Knowledge and Conscience Promises and Resolutions Vows and Covenants Means and helps c. And not only thy own sins but the sins of thy Family The sins of thy Relations ought to be Considered yea the Sins of the Nation of Superiours and Inferiours of Princes and Governours for these should be Confessed as Daniel doth Dan. 9.2,3 c. The Sins of Superiours Inferiours and Equals for from the greatest to the least all have sinned and come short of what they should do The Abuse of Mercy which we have had in general in the Nation or in particular our selves David could mourn in secret when Men kept not God's Law and we should be mourning in Sion And be sure come not before the Lord to confess or bewail any one Sin that thou dost not repent of and resolve to leave Nor to bewail the Omission of any one Duty which thou art not resolved for the time to come to practice Nor to beg for one Mercy that thou art not resolved to Labour for as well as to Pray for For if thou regardest Iniquity in thy Heart God will not hear thy Prayer Psal 66.18 Shouldest thou come with a resolution to Live in sin and pray for the Pardon of it thou dost but mock God that will not mocked and takest his Name in vain when thou sayest Lord when wilt thou give me this Mercy God may say Man when wilt thou leave thy Sin When wilt thou give me thy Heart If thou say never God will return thee the like Answer Never think by thy Prayers to benefit thy self or the Church if thou wilt not reform thine own Heart And as thou must consider thy sins so also thy wants what Mercies thou wouldest beg for
have found a Comfortable return and that which could not otherwise be obtained hath been gotten by Prayer and Fasting But our Pharisaical or Papistical Fastings our loose careless mock-fasts never did nor never will prevail with God for any Mercy or the removal of any Judgment 7. Direct In the last place look to thy Carriage after the Duty that thou demean thy self well for thy work is not done when the Exercise is ended Take heed of resting in the Duty or trusting to the work done this is Popish this will make thee lose all thy Labour 'T is not the hanging down the Head as God saith like a Bulrush for a day will serve thy turn This as other Duties are to be used as Boats or Bridges to help thee over to Christ Men do not make Boats or Bridges for their own sakes or to look upon but to make use of for the End they are suited to make not Prayer the end of Prayer or Fasting the end of Fasting Use them not for their own sakes but for Christ's sake to get nearer to him by them play not with the Stile or Ladder but Climb up Climb over by them Take heed of Priding in the Duty this is very inconsistent with it if it be performed with enlargement beware lest the Devil Fly-blow it Pride is a Worm which breeds in the best Fruits of the Spirit yea in â—…e Ruine of other Sins even in Humility it self Men may be proud of their Humility the Devil like the Spider can suck Poyson out of the choicest Flowers If thy Duties be thus fly-blown they will not down with God they stink in his Nostrils whatever conceit thou maist have of them Examine also at the close of the Duty how thy Heart hath demeaned it self in the Duty if bad thou hast cause to be humbled and make thy Heart smart for it ' most Men if they Examine any thing 't is the External part of the Duty and are troubled more at a mis-expression in the Duty than at the straying wandring of the thoughts or the deadness of the Heart But a Christians work lies most within he looks as God doth most upon the Heart though the other be not to be disregarded If thy Heart hath carried it self well there is cause of thankfulness none of Pride for who made thee to differ And what hast thou that thou hast not received View but thy failings and this may make thee vail thy Peacocks Plumes Hast got any strength by the Duty hold it fast and let it not go art got any thing nearer to God keep thy station and go not back lose not the ground thou hast gained by thy Duty If thy Heart be heated take heed of letting it cool again the wind of the World will quickly do it though the Exercise be over let not thy Spiritual Fervour and Heat be over Elijah walked in the strength of a meals meat forty days a Christian should exceed him in such extraordinary meals What good will it do a Man to work hard all day and have his work at Night as he found it in the Morning and to travel hard and at Night be where he set out Maintain the ground thou hast gotten in the Fight Hast thou put up Petitions to the Throne of Grace mark how they speed that thou maist behave thy self accordingly Most Men lose their Prayers as Boys do their Arrows they mark not where they light many know not whether God Answers them or no nor scarce what they have asked But those that are burthened with the Sins they confess and feel the want of the Mercies they desire take better heed An Hungry or a Thirsty Man that begs for Meat or Drink can easily perceive and tell you whether they had a Grant or a Denial Another that begs out of wantonness not wants heeds it not A Man that desires to have his Sores Cured he observes how the Plaister suits with it when a Beggar that gains by his Sores matters it not though they never are healed If God seem to deny thy Request 't is time to Examine what is the matter see whether it be Lawful or Convenient and if so follow thy Suit give God no rest he will first or last grant thy desire Sometimes he deferrs to make his People Cry the louder if it be a necessary thing take no denyal thy importunity will not Offend God as we see in the Parable of the Importunate Widdow Many Christians are short-winded they can Pray but a turn or two and then are out of breath like the Bethulians soon ready to faint If thou pray against Sin fight against it also hate it and detest it 'T is a vain thing to Imagine that God will subdue it without our endeavour If thou pray for Mercy work for it also this is the way And enter into Covenant with God to Live more Holily and more humbly and perform thy Covenant better not to Vow than to Vow and not perform Eccl. 5.5 If God grant thy Request return thanks Live thanks as well as speak thanks If he seem to deny wait upon him in the use of means and he will Answer in due time CHAP. XIV Directions for Days of Tanksgiving or Holy Feasting THE next Duty which I shall mention is Holy Feasting which is no part of God's Worship but is helpful to the Duty of Thanksgiving as Fasting is to Humiliation it hath been in use in the times of the Law and is not useless in the times of the Gospel where there is just Cause for such Spiritual Rejoycing God in the Time of the Law appointed several Feasts to be Observed by the Jews upon several Occasions Some Daily as the Morning and Evening Sacrifice some Weekly as the Sabbath in Commemoration of the Work of Creation and to Typifie out our Eternal Rest in Heaven Some Occasionally as the Thanksgiving of Moses Deborah and Barak c. Some Yearly and these either greater or lesser Feasts the greater Feasts were three the Passeover appointed to be kept in Memorial of Israels Deliverance out of Egypt which Typically holds out our Deliverance by Christ who was the true Pascal Lamb slain for the sins of the People of this Feast we may read Exod. 12.1 c. 23.15 Ezek. 42.21 and elsewhere The next was Penticost which was observed fifty days after wherein every Family Offered two Loaves of the first Fruits This is called the Feast of Harvest Exod. 23.16 The third was the Feast of Tabernacles Instituted in Memory that the Children of Israel Lived forty Years in the Wilderness and had no certain Dwelling Houses but Lived in Tents and yet God made Provision for them and hereby they were Taught and we may Learn if we are Strangers and Pilgrims here and have no constant abiding City but expect one in the Spiritual Canaan we may find this Feast mentioned Deut. 16.13 Josh 7.2 Exod. 23.16 where 't is called the Feast of In gathering at the end of the Year
received take notice of your unworthiness the more to exalt the Mercies received But Confession of Sin so as to Afflict the Soul with them is not suitable to the day Bring thy Family in due time to the Publick if it be publickly Observed otherwise carry it on in Private and pay your Vows in the great Congregation and behave your selves in the remaining part of the day as be-you were Directed in the Observation of the Sabbath for this time is Consecrated and made Holy to God and should be wholly spent in his Service And thou shouldest be as careful of thy Thoughts thy Words and thy Affections as though it were a Sabbath for there is no danger of keeping them too intent upon God When thou comest into the Congregation thou maist say as Jacob Gen. 28.17 This is no other but the House of God and the Gate of Heaven for here is done the work that shall be done in Heaven As for the oher expressions of Joy as Ringing of Bells shooting off Guns making of Bone-fires c. they are so far Lawful as they help forward the Work and raise the Heart to an higher pitch of Joy and rejoycing in the Lord. 5. Direct Having thus disposed and prepared thy Heart for the Work and set thy self as in the Presence of the ever-living God that sees and knows and takes notice of thee set thy self then upon the work of Glorifying God and render thanks to him from thy Heart for all the Benefits thou hast Received Praise is comely for the Saints And this Religious Thankfulness of which we speak is thy Duty Now 't is either External or Internal the Internal is to carry a thankful Heart to God and this is every days Duty External is when the Thankfulness of the Heart is expressed in Words or Actions the former without the latter is not sufficient the latter without the former is little worth Now the External manifestation of thy thankfulness is either Private or Publick Private by thy self or Family Publick in the great Congregation and this also is either Ordinary or Extraordinary Ordinary and this should be done at every time when we come together to Worship of God The Extraordinary is upon Extraordinary Occasions as some great Deliverances or the obtaining some great Mercies or the bringing down some great Enemies of the Church this the Church ought to bless God for and Offer this Sacrifice of Praise in the Name and Mediation of Christ who prays over all our Prayers for us and Offers our Praises performed with the Incense of his own Righteousness Now 't is requisite as I said before that a Catalogue of those Mercies God hath given in as a return of Prayers be laid up either in a Book or in the Memory for if we neglect or forget them how shall we speak of them to God's praise 't is not enough to remember them but we must also mention them to his praise Thus David I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul He acknowledgeth God the Author of his Mercies and doth not Sacrifice to his own Nets as many do and burn Incense to his Drags Hab. 1.16 But as the Church not unto us Lord not to us but to thy Name be the Praise he acknowledges frequently his own worthlessness that he may exalt God Lord saith he what is Man that thou shouldst be mindful of him Or the Son of Man that thou regardest him Psal 8.4 I am less than the least of thy Mercies saith Jacob I am less than the least of thy Saints saith Paul Yea when it comes let it be a Free-will Offering do it chearfully readily willingly as the Saints and Angels do it in Heaven heartily not heavily God Loves a chearful giver and matters not grumbling Service Be as willing to return Thanks as ever thou wast to have the Mercy Set thy Heart on Work in this Duty stir up thy self like the Psalmist Psal 103.1 Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me Praise his Holy Name Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits 'T is not enough to Praise him with the Lips or bring our Bodies before him but the Heart and Life should Praise him the Heart should Indite thy Praises and thy Tongue utter them and thy Life and Conversation Seal to them thou shouldst do thanks and Live thanks as well as speak thanks this is every days Duty especially when we receive signal Mercies we should return answerable thanks when National Mercies National thanks should be returned Psal 50.15 Moses did so at the Deliverance at the Red Sea Exod. 15.1 Deborah and Barak did so Judg. 5.12 The Jews also when delivered from Haman's Plots Est 8.11.17 And there is great reason it should be so for Praise is due to none but God and to him the Vow should be performed all our Springs are in him and all our Mercies are from him yea every good and perfect gift and this is the very End for which he gives them and 't is all he requires for them this Pepper-corn of Homage is all his Rent who is the great Land-Lord and though it be due from all yet he expects it from his own People especially he will extort his own from others in another way and none but his People can do it to please him This is to his Saints a fore-tast of Glory where it must be their constant Work 'T is a beneficial Duty also for Thanksgiving for one Mercy is a real yea a prevailing Request for another Those that Offer praise Glorifie God And yet we see how negligent most are in this Duty few take notice of the Mercies they Receive but like Swine eat the Acorns or Crabs and regard not whence they come Ten Lepers were cleansed and but one returns thanks many are sensible of their wants and with the Horse-Leach cry give give yet are not sensible of their enjoyments to return thanks yea suffer some petty Cross to hide a thousand Blessings and keep them out of their sight 6. Direct When thou art thus prepared thus fitted go on in re-counting the Mercies thou hast Received and bless God for them this is the main Work of the Day Now forasmuch as Mercies are various all Men receive not alike yet all receive some for which they should be thankful give me leave to lead you by the Hand a little and shew you some the rest you may Observe your selves Bless God for what he is in himself and what he is to his Creatures in himself admire his Essence for fathom it thou canst not the like we may say of his Attributes his Eternity Immutability his Power Wisdom Holiness Justice and Truth c. Thou maist spend thy days also in Admiring him in the Works of his Hand lift up thy Eyes to Heaven and see the Sun the Moon and Stars those Glorious Lamps those Beauty spots of Heaven observe their Distance Courses Influence and Virtues and well thou maist
Crown them with Success And having begun well be sure to hold out be thou constant to the Death and he will give thee a Crown of Life what thou wantest and beggest of God endeavour with Heart and Hand to obtain it true Desires are always accompanied with endeavours 't is not enough to wish for Heaven but work for it Corruption will not be abated nor Grace increased without pains-taking love Holiness and hate Sin or thou wilt never hold out or do good if thou regard Iniquity in thy Heart God will not hear thy Prayer Psal 66.18 Joh. 9.31 God requires Holiness in all that draw near to him and without it no Man shall see him with Comfort Heb. 12.14 If thou take this course in thy Publick and Private Duties Peace shall be to thee and to the Israel of God Now to him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen FINIS THE TABLE CHAP. I. Motives to Holy Duties Page 1. 1. Mot. God hath Commanded us to serve him p. 4. 2. He is the best Master p. 7. 3. He requires the best Work p. 10. 4. Thou art most engaged to him p. 13. 5. He gives the best Wages p. 16. 6. Obedience is the only way true Happiness p. 19. 7. God is best able to punish there that disobey him p. 22. CHAP. II. Of Duties in General Page 25. 1. Direct See thou hast a Divine Command for all thou dost p. 28. 2. When thou knowest thy Duty delay not to do it p. 30. 3. Hold on in the constant performances of them p. 32. 4. Let obedience proceed from a right Principle p. 35. 5. Let all be done in a right manner p. 37. 6. In all aim at a right End p. 39. 7. When all is done say thou art unprofitable p. 41. CHAP. III. Of hearing the Word Page 44. 1. Direct Resolve to break through all difficulties p. 46. 2. Propound to thy self right Ends in hearing p. 49. 3. Come with the Heart rightly qualified 51. 4. Make preparation for receiving the Seed of the Word p. 54. 5. Come with an hungring Appetite to this Feast p. 56. 6. Behave thy Self well in hearing p. 59. 7. Demean thy Self well after hearing p. 61. CHAP. IV. Of Reading the Word Page 64. 1. Direct Prepare thy Heart for so Solemn a Duty p. 66. 2. Propound to thy Self right Ends. p. 68. 3. Read with diligence and attention p. 71. 4. Read with Understanding Discretion and Judgement p. 73. 5. Observe the Scope and Design in what thou Readest p. 75. 6. Meditate upon it and so mike it thine own p. 77. 7. Apply it to thine own Heart p. 79. CHAP. V. Of Meditation Page 82. 1. Direct Concerning occasional Meditations p. 84. 2. In set Meditation come fitted and prepared p. 87. 3. Set thy Self as in the presence of God p. 89. 4. Pitch upon some suitable Subject p. 91. 5. Press it upon thine own Heart p. 93. 6. Beware of those things that hinder the Duty p. 96. 7. Take heed of letting thy Heart Flag or suddenly cool p. 98. CHAP. VI. Of Prayer Page 101. 1. Direct Be rightly qualified for the Duty p. 104. 2. Come into Gods Presence preparedly p. 106. 3. Pray to God alone and not to the Saints or Angels p 108. 4. Come to God in the Name of Christ not in thy own Name p. 110. 5. Ask nothing of God but what thou hast warrant for p. 113. 6. Pray to him in a right manner and to a right End p. 115. 7. Behave thy Self well after the Duty p. 118. CHAP. VII Of Singing Psalms Page 121. 1. Direct Be Convinc't that it is thy Duty p. 124. 2. That David's Psalms are Lawful p. 126. 3. That all Men and Women good and bad may Sing p. 129. 4. That they may be Sung in English Meeter p. 131. 5. That they may be Sung in an English Tune p. 134. 6. Let thy Ends be right in the Duty p. 137. 7. Sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also p. 139. CAAP. VIII Of Observing the Sabbath Page 143. 1. Direct Be Convinc'd that the first day of the Week is the Christian Sabbath p. 146. 2. Make preparation before hand to observe it p. 149. 3. Do nothing that is unlawful upon it p. 152. 4. Perform such works upon it as God requires p. 156. 5. Perform those Religious Duties as are commanded p. 159. 6. Many Private Duties are also to be performed p. 163. 7. Improve thy Authority that those under thee may Sanctifie the Sabbath p. 166. CHAP. IX Of Baptism Page 170. 1. Direct Scruples against Baptism removed p. 173. 2. 'T is the Parents Duty to present their Children p. 177. 3. Aim at God's Glory c. p. 180. 4. Rest not in the common Priviledges of this Sacrament p. 183. 5. See that this Sacrament be rightly Administred p. 186. 6. See that thou performest thy Baptismal Vows p. 189. 7. Make a right use of thy Baptism p. 192. CHAP. X. Directions in receiving the Sacrament P. 196. 1 Direct If thou wouldest pertake of the Sacrament worthily examine thy Self p 199. 2. Have not Grace in Habit but in Exercise p. 202. 3. Propound right Ends to thy Self c p. 205. 4. Know what it is thou standest in need of p. 209. 5. When thou comest to this Ordinance be sure to set thy Grace on work p. 212. 6. How to demean thy Self in the Act of receiving p. 215. 7. Behave thy Self well after receiving p. 219. CHAP. XI Directions about Oaths Page 222. 1. Direct Consideration must be had of the Parties themselves concerned c. p 225. 2. By whom you ought to Swear p. 228. 3. Of the Matter of an Oath p. 231. 4. Of the Form of an Oath p. 234. 5. The End must be Lawful p. 237. 6. Take heed of rash Swearing p. 240. 7. Take heed of false Swearing p. 243. CHAP. XII Of Vows Page 247. 1. Direct Vows must be made to God p. 250. 2. Who may make Vows p. 253. 3. Vow not any thing that is unlawful p. 256. 4. Vow nothing but what is in thy Power to do p. 259. 5. Look to the manner of thy Vows p. 262. 6. Look to thy Ends in this Duty p. 265. 7. See thou keep thy Vows when thou hast made them p. 268. CHAP. XIII Of days of Humiliation Page 272. 1. Direct If thou wouldest perform this Duty aright see thou be rightly qualified p. 275. 2. Come prepared to this Duty p. 278. 3. What External Duties are requisite in this Duty of Fasting p. 282. 4. Of the Internal parts of th s Duty p. 285. 5. Of the time when this Duty is to be done p. 288. 6. Propound a right End in this Duty p. 292. 7. Look to thy Carriage aftar the Duty p. 295 CHAP. XIV Of days of Thanksgiving Page 299. 1. Direct Get a well prepared Heart p. 302. 2. In this Duty aim ultimately at Gods Glory p. 305. 3. See thy Call be Lawful to this Duty p. 308. 4. See to thy Cariage in this Duty p. 311. 5. Set thy Self upon the Work p. 315. 6. Go on in recounting the mercies thou hast received and bless God for them p. 318. 7. Having sounded forth the praises of God for his mercy c. p. 321. CHAP. XV. Directions in Private Duties Page 325. 1. Direct Of Self examination c. p. 328. 2. When thou knowest that thou hast an Interest in God c. p. 332. 3. Store thy Heart with knowledge and understanding p. 335. 4. Pray with thy Family in Private p. 338. 5. Of Reproving and Correcting thy Family p. 342. 6. Thou must not only reprove them when they do amiss but Instruct Teach c. p. 345. 7. To keep a clear Conscience p. 340. The faults of Press and Authors Pen Doth shew the Work was done by Men If you would Read the Authors mind Mend the mistakings here you find PAge 4. line 30. for who read whose p. 5. l. 17. for is r. that p. 7. l. 12. we left out l. 22. for as r. in p. 17. l. 1. for in r. one and he left out p. 20. l. 21. f. they r. who p. 21. l. 3. f. Covenant r. command p. 26. l. 6. f. rack r. rubs p. 29. l. 27. f. sick r. quick p. 39. l. 11. f. love r. careless p. 43. l. 8. if left out l. 9. f. mustâ— r. maist p. 50. l. 7. f. seeking r. searching p. 53. l. 8. f. absence r. sence p. 56. l. 31. f. death r. thou p. 61. l. 22. f. distraction r. destruction p. 72. l. 3. f. right r. weight p. 86. l. 19. f unweily r. unweldy p. 87. l. 15. f. soil r. chyle p. 91. l. 10.11 wrong pointed p. 93. l. 13. f. noble r. none p. 94. l. 5. f. head r. heart twice p. 100. l. 22. f. reach r search p. 8. l. 5. f. come r. joyn p. 114. l. 28. f. unprofitable r. inhospitable l. 32. f. unanswerable r. unwarrantable p. 116. l. 3. f. exceeded r. spoiled p. 128. l. 25. f. setence r. sistence l. 32. f. beats r. brats p. 134. l. 22. f. best r. leâ—… l. 27. f. lite r. light p 136. l. 6. humane left out p. 156. l. 1. f. cruelty r. penalty p. 167. l. 26. f. this r. what is p. 188. l. 3. f. wise r. way p. 190. l. 4. leave out up p. 205. l. 25. leave out such p. 214. l. 20. r. is p. 217. f. thee r. the. p. 231. l. 19. f. his r. him p. 245. l. 21. leave out if p. 250. l. 27. leave out the. p. 251. l. 24. f. O their r. others p. 254. l. 27. f. well r. null l. 29. f. party r. parity p. 263. l. 5. r. an f. and. FINIS