Victory but not to improve a Victory Usually the Evenings are cold though the days are hot 19. As Oratours at the close of their speech use all their Art and Skill to move the affections of their Auditors so at the close of the Lords day put forth all thy grace and spiritual strength to prevail with God for a blessing Say of the Sabbath as Jacob to the Angel I will not let the go without a blessing 20. Labour to keep the influence of Lords day Ordinances warm upon thy spirit all the week after let not thy devotion pass away with the day Some Children when they put on new Shooes on a Sabbath are very careful to keep them clean are unwilling to set their feet to the ground for fear of dirt but in the week days will run up to the Ankles in Water or Mire O let not childrens play be thy earnest but endeavour that thy practices in secret and private in thy calling and in all companies on the Week days may be answerable to the great priviledges which thou didst enjoy and the grace which thou didst receive on the Lords day A good wish about the Lords day wherein the former heads are Epitomized THe first day of the Week being of divine institution The Introduction and Baptized by God himself with that Honorable name of the Lords day partly in regard of its Author This is the day which the Lords hath made partly in regard of the blessed Redeemer who rose that day and Triumphed over the Grave the Devil the Curse of the Law and Hell it being a day Sanctified for the glory of my Saviour of which I may say as of Jacob The Lord hath chosen it to himself for his peculiar Treasure Psa 135.4 and a day set apart for the spiritual and eternal good of my precious soul wherein I may enjoy communion with my God in all his Ordinances without interruption I wish in general that as the Spirit may be in me in the week days so that I may be in the Spirit on the Lords day filled therewith and enabled thereby to have my conversation all the day long in Heaven O that my care in fitting my soul for it my holy carriage at it and my sutable conversation after it may testifie that I had rather be a Door-keeper in the House of my God then to dwell in the Tents of Wickedness and that I esteem one day in his Courts better then a thousand else-where I wish in particular that I may prepare for it Preparation as for a Wedding day wherein Christ and my soul are to be espoused together and to that end before it cometh may be careful so to order my earthly affairs that they may not incroach upon this Holy ground and so open the door of my heart and adorn it with spiritual excellencies that the King of Glory may enter in and think himself a welcome Guest in my soul O that I might never give my God cause to complain of me as once of the Jews Your Sabbaths and solemn feasts I cannot away with for your hands are defiled As Nehemiah shut the Gates of the City that no burdens might be carried in on the Sabbath day so let me secure the Gate of my heart that no Worldly things may disturb me in Sabbath duties O let me not like Martha be careful and troubled about many things but on this day especially sit at Christs feet mind the one thing necessary and chuse the good part which shall never be taken from me I wish that I may long more for it then ever a Bride-groom did for his Bride that when it is come in I may bid it heartily Welcome and that as my Saviour rose early that morning to justifie me so I may rise early on this day to glorifie him I desire that this holy day may be an high day in my account both because the Lord of the Sabbath hath separated it to sacred uses and because it is the day of his resurrection whence so much good cometh to my soul Esteem the day as a priviledge By his passion he layd down the price of my redemption but by his rising again the Judge of Quick and dead sending his officer an Angel to roul away the stone open the prison door and let him out he manifesteth to the world that the debt is discharged and the law fully saatisfied O of what value should this day be to me My Redeemers humiliation indeed was like Josephs imprisonment but his delivery out of the grave like Josephs enlargement and preferment whereby he came into a capacity to advance and enrich all his relations I pray that I may look on this day as a special season to sow to the spirit in and improve it accordingly A price to get and increase grace I believe that my God will not hold him guiltless that takes his name or spends his day in vain O let me not like a foolish child play by that candle which is set up for me to work by lest I go to the bed of my grave in the dark of sin and sorrow Publique Ordiuances to be esteemed the chiefest work of the day I wish that I may not neglect either secret or family duties on this sacred day but yet that I may so perform them that they may be helps not hinderances to publique Ordinances that since God loveth the gates of Sion above all the the dwellings of Jacob I may set an high price upon and have an ardent love to the habitation of Gods house and the place where his honor dwelleth Delight in it that as a true child of my heavenly Father I may love most and like best that milk which is warm from the breasts of publick ordinances I wish that I may call the Lords day my delight it being a day wherein I enter into the suburbs of the holy City and begin that work of praysing pleasing and enjoying my God which I hope to be employed in to eternity that it may be my meat and drink to do the Will of my God O that I might so savour the things of the Spirit and so taste the Lord to be gracious that love may be the Loadston to draw me to my closet family and to Church and season every service I am called to upon the Sabbath Sanctifie the whole day Because every part of this day is of great price more worth then a whole World I desire that not the least moment of it may be squandred away but as the Disciples after the miracle of loaves I may gather up with care and conscience the smallest fragments that nothing be lost My God giveth me good measure heaped up pressed down shaken together and running over why should I be niggardly to him to my self indeed for it is my profit not his when he is so liberal so bountiful to me I wish in regard the blessed God is not onely the Master Communion
sinking into the boundless bottomless Ocean of destruction and misery through his falseness and treachery When lo on a sudden the Glorious God out of the superabundant riches of his mercy resolving that the Devil should never rob him of the honor of that manifold Wisdom unsearchable Goodness and Almighty Power which had been manifested in the work of Creation did provide and cast out the Covenant of Grace a plank sufficient for his poor shipwrackt Creature to swim safe to shore on As all the Rivers meet in the Sea and all the lines in the Centre so do all the comforts of Mankind meet in this Covenant The whole Scripture is sincere milk but this Covenant is the Cream of it All our mercies are contained in it all our hopes are sustained by it and our Heaven is at last attained through it The blessed God doth not onely enter into a Covenant of mercy but out of compassion to our infirmities hath been pleased to confirm it by his hand and seal By his hand in his word by his seals by the privy-seal of his Spirit and by the broad-seals of the Sacraments that by these immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye we might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Heb. 6.18 The Lords Supper is a sign and seal of the Righteousness of Faith or the Covenant of Grace Rom. 4.11 When the blessed Saviour was taking a doleful farwel of an ungrateful world as a lively resemblance of his sufferings for his and as an undeniable evidence of his love to his he instituted this Supper 1. As a lively resemblance of his passion for his people A crucified Christ is the sum of the Law and the substance of the Gospel the knowledge of him is no less worth then Eternal life Now as he was crucified by the Jews and Souldiers actually and by unbelieving Gentiles who live amongst us interpretatively so he is crucified in the Gospel declaratively and in the Sacrament representatively This Cup saith Christ is the new Testament in my blood 1 Corinth 11.25 The Old Testament was sprinkled with the blood of Beasts but the New Testament with the blood of Christ Hebr. 9.15 19. This precious blood which was the costly price of mans Redemption which is the onely path to Eternal Salvation which was promised to Adam believed by the Patriarchs shadowed in the Sacrifices foretold by the Prophets and witnessed in the Scriptures is drunk received signified and sealed in the Supper Christ instituted this ordinance also to be a standing evidence of his affection to his The same night that he was betrayed he took bread The dearest Jesus kept his best wine till the last He knew his Disciples would be full of sorrow for his departure he therefore provided his strongest cordial against their saddest fainting fits After the Passover he took bread and instituted the Sacrament After Supper then comes the Banquet the Sweet-meats At the Lords Table Christ kisseth his Spouse with the sweetest kisses of his lips and ravisheth her heart with his warmest love In other Ordinances he Wooeth her in this he Marrieth her In other Ordinances she hath from him the salutes of a loving friend but in this the embraces of an Husband Other duties are pleasant and wholsom food but this is the costly delightful feast In this Christ bringeth his beloved into his Banqueting house a store-house of all sweet delights of variety of delicacies and his Banner over her is love Cant. 2.4 A certain man made a great Supper Luk. 14.16 I may truely say so of the Sacrament This is a great Supper in regard of its Author The great God is Master of the feast He gave his own Son for the life of the World 2. In regard of the matter of it which is the flesh of Jesus Christ Men set bread and wine on the Table but Christ setteth his own body and blood there In this ordinance we eat not onely Panem Domini sed panem Dominum The bread of the Lord but the bread which is the Lord. The gods say they are come down in the likeness of man behold here God the Son cometh down in the likeness of bread and wine he himself is eat and drunk by faith Is not this a rare banquet 3. In regard of the great price of it Banquets are costly but O what did this feast cost Beasts are slain before they can be food for our bodies but Lo here the Lord of life was put to death that he might be food for our starving souls Cleopatra dissolved a pearl worth 50000. l. in Vinegar and drunk it up at a draught but as costly as her liquor was it was much worse then puddle water in comparison of the precious blood of Christ which the beleiver drinketh at this great Supper 4. In regard of its great effects It sealeth pardon peace and salvation to the Saint it conveyeth the Image and love of God nay God himself into the soul Through the golden pipe of this Ordinance is conveyed the golden Oyl of divine influence There is Manna indeed in this pot Well may it be called a great Supper The Elements are of small value but the Sacrament is of infinite worth A conveyance of land fairly written in Parchment with wax fastened to it is of little price but when it is signed sealed and delivered to the use of a person it may be worth much it may convey thousands A little bread and a spoonful or two of wine are in themselves of very small value but when received according to Christs institution and accompanied with his benediction they will be of unspeakable value they will convey thousands and millions to the beleiver The Lords Supper is indeed like an Elixar which is small in quantity but great in value and efficacy having in it the spirits and substance of many excellent things In prayer all the graces are exercised and so also at the Supper but not onely all the graces but most of the other Ordinances of God are invited to this feast The Word Prayer Singing do all meet at the Table and contribute their help to carry the Christian up to Heaven I premise these things Reader purposely to make thee more wary The corrupting of the best is worst of all Poison in Wine is much worse then in Water Kings expect that their Children should be respected though their officers be refused Surely saith God They will reverence my Son Mat. 21.37 The very work about which he comes will make him welcome Though they refuse my Servants yet they will reverence my Son The Casuists say Sacramentum articulus mortis aequiparantur A man must be looked upon at the Sacramental board as if he were on a bying bed Friend thou shouldst be as serious when thou art going to the Lords Supper as if thou wert going into the other World He that cometh carelesly gets nothing from Christ It
omit prayer either for their meat or labour Grace as well as nature teacheth a godly man not to neglect either his Family or body but it teacheth him also to prefer his soul and his God before them both Seneca though an Heathen could say I am greater and born to greater things then to be a drudge to and the slave of my body A Christians Character is that he is not carnal or for his body but spiritual or for his soul Rom. 8. It was a great praise which Ambrose speaks of Valentinian Never man was a better servant to his Master then Valentinians body was to his soul This is the godly mans duty to make Heaven his Throne and the Earth his foot-stool It s the exposition which one gives upon those words Subdue the Earth Gen. 1.28 that is thy body and all earthly things to thy soul Our earthly callings must give way to our Heavenly we must say to them as Christ to his Disciples Tarry you here while I go and pray yonder and truely godliness must be first in our Prayers Hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come before give us this day our daily bread and first in all our practices seek first the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof and all other things shall be added to you Mat. 6.33 Secondly to make Religion ones business containeth to pursue it with industry in our conversations A man that makes his calling his business is not lazy but laborious about it what pains will he take what strength will he spend how will he toil and moil at it early and late The Tradesman the Husbandman eat not the bread of Idleness when they make their callings their business if they be good Husbands they are both provident to observe their seasons and diligent to improve them for their advantage they do often even dip their food in their sweat and make it thereby the more sweet Their industry appears in working hard in their callings and in improving all opportunities for the furtherance of their callings 1. Thus he that makes Religion his business is industrious and laborious in the work of the Lord. The heart of his ground the strength of his inward man is spent about the good corn of Religion not about the weeds of earthly occasions He makes hast to keep Gods Commandements knowing that the lingring lazy Snail is reckoned among unclean creatures Levit. 11.30 and he is hot and lively in his devotion knowing that a dull Eo quòd pigrnns tardum aniâ—◠〈…〉 est â—ellarm drou sie Ass though fit enough to carry the image of Isis yet was no fit sacrifice for the pureand active God Exod. 13.13 He giveth God the top the cheif the cream of all his affections as seeing him infinitely worthy of all acceptation He is not slothful in business but fervent in spirit when he is serving the Lord Rom. 12.11 He beleiveth that to fear God with a secondary fear is Atheism that to trust God with a secondary trust is Treason that to honour God with a secondary honour is Idolatry and to love God with a secondary love is Adultery therefore he loveth and he feareth and trusteth and honoreth the Lord his God with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength Mat. 22.36 37. His love to God is a labour of love as strong as death the coals thereof are coals of Juniper which do not onely burn long some say twelve moneths together but burn with the greatest heat His measure of loving God is without measure The Samseans in Epiphanius were neither Jews Gentiles nor Christians yet preserved a fair correspendency with all An Hypocrite is indifferent to any never servent in the true Religion It is reported of Redwald King of the East Saxons Cambd Brittan the first Prince of this Nation that was baptized that in the same Church he had one Altar for the Christian Religion another for the Heathenish Sacrifices The true Beleiver doth otherwise he that makes Religion his work gives God the whole of his heart without halting and without halving Set him about any duty and he is diligent in it In prayer Innuit certamen quasi luctam cum deo ipso Epis Dav. in loc he laboureth in prayer Col. 4.12 he cryeth to God 1 Sam. 7.9 he cryeth mightily Jonah 3.8 he poureth forth his soul Lam. 2.19 he strives in supplication with God Rom. 15.30 stirs up himself to lay hold on God Isa 27.5 and even wrestleth with Omnipotency Gen. 32.14 When the mill of his prayer is going his fervent affections are the waters that drive it There is fire taken from Gods own Altar not the ordinary hearth of Nature and put to his incense whereby it becomes fragrant and grateful to God himself His fervent prayer is his key to Gods Treasury and his endeavour is that it rust not for want of use When he goeth to the Sacrament he is all in a flame of affection to the Author of that feast With desire he desires to eat of the Passover He longs exceedingly for the time he loves the Table but when he seeth the Bread and Wine the wagons which the Lord Jesus hath sent for him oh how his heart revives When he seeth the Sacraments the Body and Blood of Christ in the elements who can tell how soon he cents how fast this true Eagle flyeth to the heavenly carkass At hearing he is heedful he flyeth to the salt-stone of the Word with swiftness and care as Doves to their columbaries Isa 60.8 As the new born babe he desires the sincere milk of the Word and when he is attending on it he doth not dally nor trifle but as the Bee the flower and the childe the breast suck with all his might for some spiritual milk Isa 66.11 Deut. 28.1 he hearkneth diligently to the voyce of the Lord his God let him be in company taking notice of some abominable carriage he will rebuke cuttingly Tit. 1.13 If he gives his bitter pill in sweet syrrup you may see his exceeding anger against sin whilst you behold his love to the sinner he is though a meek Lamb when himself yet a Lion when God is dishonoured his anger waxeth hot when men affront the most High Exod. 32.19 If he be counselling his child or friend to minde God and godliness how hard doth he woo to win the soul to Christ how many baits doth he lay to catch the poor creature you may perceive his bowels working by his very words How fervent how instant how urgent how earnest is he to perswade his relation or acquaintance to be happy He provokes them to love and to good works Set him about what religious exercise you will and he is according to the Apostles words zealous or fiery fervent of good works like spring water he hath a living principle Plin. lib. 5. cap. 5. and thence is warm in winter or like Debris in Cyrene is seething hot
of him in thy trade or travails then in his Tabernacle When thou drawest nigh to him there he will be sanctified either in thee or upon thee If thou refuse to give him glory in his service beleive it he will get himself glory by thy suffering His Worship is his face and look for his fury if thou darest him to his face The waters of the Sanctuary are like the waters given to a suspected Wife if she were innocent it witnest her honesty made her fruitful if barren and did her good but if she were guilty sweld her belly rotted her bowels and did her hurt If thou make godliness thy business in the ordinances of God thou mayst get much spiritual good thou mayst meet Christ in them receive grace through them and thrive as the babe by the breasts in health and strength but if thou like the horse in the Mill onely goest thy round in Religious duties never minding the true end of them nor thy carriage in them thy prayer will be an abomination the word a savour of death unto death and the very sacrament a seal of thy damnation It doth therefore nearly concern thee to hearken to that counsel which I shall give thee from the word to prevent thy miscarriage in the duties of Gods worship For preparation to duties I shall speak when I come to treat of sanctifying the Lords day First Be heedful and watchful over thy self when thou art about religious duties Heedless service is fruitless service What measure of care we give God in duties the same measure of comfort we may expect from duties Eccles 5.1 Keep thy feet when thou goest to the house of God and be more ready to hear then to give the Sacrifice of fools Thine heart like Dinah is apt to wander abroad especially from the way and Worship of God it behoves thee then to have a strict hand over it if thou wouldst keep it at home Observe consider thy feet so the word signifieth The feet of the Harlot abide not within her house neither will thy affections easily within the House of God doth not experience tell thee that they love to be gadding and therefore require a strong and vigilant guard Parents set their Children before them at Church and have their eyes much upon them because otherwise they will be toying and playing truly so will thy heart if thine eye be not on it Alass thy heart in duty is like one that looks through an Optick Glass on some small object with a Palsie hand its long before he can discern it and as soon as he hath found it so unsteady is his hand that he hath lost it again therefore it behoves thee to keep it diligently and to watch it narrowly There is a bottomless depth of deceit in thine heart how unwillling is it to a duty how much wandring in a duty how soon weary of a duty The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who knoweth it Jer. 17 9â— Take notice of the center of the poison the heart is deceitful a deceitful hand is nothing so dangerous as a deceitful heart when poyson gets to the very seat of life in what danger is a â—oul of death Here is also the measure of the pollution The heart is deceitful above all things the best part is unspeakably poisoned The Prophets expression hath a three fold gradation First there is deceit in mans heart it is a word used of ways Isa 40.5 which are full of windings and â—urnings and therefore are hard to be found so is mans heart full of nooks and corners slights and craft and so doth easily supplant us it hath not onely weakness and proneness to be deceived by others but also an activeness and aptness to deceive it self Secondly there is the degree of its deceit and indeed it is beyond all degrees The heart is deceitful above all things No creature so sly and subtle as mans heart Nothing in this World can equal it for tricks and wiles Nay as this deceit of mans heart is so great that none can match it so also it is so deep that none can find it none can fadom it Who can know it The largest the longest line of mans understanding can never search to the bottom of this Sea Thirdly Here is the danger of it The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked It is not deceitful in such a degree so much through weakness as through wilfulness it is desperately carried towards deadly courses It devotes it self wholly to deceive and destroy How many pretences will it have to make thee to omit holy performances if thou overcome them how subtle will it be to make thee heedless and heart-less in the service of God It will fill thee with cares and thoughts of the World purposely to choak the good seed of the Word if at any time thou wind it up to any seriousness in an ordinance how quickly and how swiftly like a Clock or a Jack doth it run down Surely Reader the Master that hath such a cozening Servant must look narrowly to him if he would not be cheated by him If thou dost not watch at the Altar the Birds will devour the Sacrifice Those that were before the Throne day and night were full of eyes behind and before and within Rev. 4.6 and 8. Extraordinary heed is necessary when we come into Gods House We had need to have our eys about us when we come to deal immediately with him who is of purer eys then to behold iniquity The Athenians in time of their Sacrifice had a Monitor to bid them be serious calling on them Hoc agite mind the work ye are about Plut. Cyprian observeth that in the Primitive times the Deacon oft cried out to the people Sursum corda lift up your hearts and the Pastor stird them up with Oremus attendamus Let us pray let us attend Commanding their greatest attention when they were about Religious actions Eutychus was Drowsie while he was hearing which had like to have cost him his life God will not be slighted when he is speaking to the children of men Christ commandeth thee to take heed how thou hearest Luk. 8.18 The heart is needful in hearing more then the ears We read of those that had ears and yet heard not Audientis corporis sensu non cordis assensu Aug. Isa 6.9 10. Mat. 13.13 It is one thing to hear and another thing to heed a Sermon Let him that hath an ear hear what the spirit saith to the Churches Rev. 2. When the word passeth through both ears as waters through a leaking Vessel no wonder if it be unprofitable Least it should do so let us give the more diligent heed saith the Apostle Heb. 2.1 If men be told of the dreadful end of sin and the great danger of their precious souls and they mind it not will they ever strive to prevent it Our proficiency by the Word depends not a little
upon our earnest attention to the Word Luk. 19.48 It s said there the people were very attentive to hear him They hanged on Christ as if their ears and minds had been tyed to his tongue or as eagerly as the little Bird on the Dams Bill for Corn. In prayer also be heedful watch unto prayer Mark 13.33 Nehemiah when building did work and watch watch and work because of his Enemies when thou art at prayer temptations without will be waiting corruptions within will be working and therefore its requisite for thee to be watching Those that performe their duties as Papists say their Pater nosters and Musitians play their Lessons with their Fingers when their minds are busied about other things will make but harsh and displeasing Musick in Gods ears O God saith the Psalmist thou art terrible out of thy holy places Psa 68.35 The Sanctuary or place of Worship was divided into three parts thence called thy holy places now out of them God was comfortable to his watchful and diligent Servants but terrible to the slothful and negligent He is terrible not onely in the high places of the field but also in the holy places of the faithful How canst thou expect that God should heed thy prayers when thou dost not heed them thy self Wouldst thou give Almes to a Beggar that by his carriage and language should slight both thee and thy bounty If a condemned malefactor were suing to a Prince for his life and in the midst of his intreaties should see a Moth or a Fly and leave his suit and follow after that would this wretch deserve a pardon And is it not as unreasonable that God should grant thy requests if thou wilfully follow those foolish objects which thy heart or the Devil offer to thee in the midst of thy prayers monstrous compositions wherein is the face and voice of a man the heart and feet of a beast must needs be odious to God O bind thine heart to its good behaviour when thou goest into Gods House Men put Locks and Fetters on Wild Horses whom no inclosure can keep in This watching the heart in duties will fasten and tye it as with cords to the Altar Secondly Act grace in duties the acting of grace in a duty is the grace of a duty The Christian must attend on the means of grace in a gracious manner the manner of performing duties Non tantum considerandum est id quod agimussed etiam quibus circum â—antiâ—s Caâ—et in Thom. 1 〈◊〉 quest 9. is the most spiritual part of them and therefore must most of all be minded God made a breach on them who sought him not after the due order 1 Cron. 15.13 If the matter of thy performance be according to the word and thou wilfully fail in the manner thou wilt instead of a blessing meet with a blow God had Sacrifices from the Jews of his own appointment for the matter and yet they were unsavoury to him Isa 1.13 14 15. It is the manner which makes or mars every action that is the form which specificates all our devotion grace is Gods own Image abundantly amiable in his eye and that must be Stampt on all our Coyn of duties or they will never be currant with Heaven Kings suffer no Coyn to go in their Dominions but what hath their own stamp Tamberlane would not own a pot of gold which his Souldier found and brought him because it wanted his Fathers impression Christ will own no performances unless they have his Fathers Picture somwhat of his Image on them Indeed the Christian hath no natural power for these spiritual performances but God gives him his Spirit for this purpose that he might be enabled to do sacred duties with sutable graces we know not how to pray as we ought but the spirit helpeth our infirmities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.26 Man is impotent but the spirit is an able assistant helpeth our infirmities The word is either an allusion to a Nurse which helps her weak little Child to go so the spirit affords his hand and helps us to go to God in duties or as the composition of the word imports it s an allusion to those who lift at a weighty peice of Timber too heavy for one alone one man tugs and puls hard but he cannot wag it till one stronger then he comes and helps him then he bears it away chearfully so the Christian be puls and hales at his own heavy heart in a duty to perform the duty aright and yet makes nothing of it till the spirit comes and helps him and then he goes along comfortably through the duty As to Preaching there is required external mission so to every prayer and performance there are required internal motions therefore we find the spirit of grace and supplication joyn'd together Zach. 12.10 Samsan when his lock was cut off became like another man the Christian when the spirit withdraweth that grace be not acted he performeth duties like a carnalman It is the bâ—eath of the Spirit of God in a duty which is so sweet and savory to God gifts may do somwhat as to the outward part of a duty as a Carver may make an Image with the external lineaments of a man but unless grace and spiritual life be in it it is but the counterfeit the resemblance of a true duty The two special graces which I shall speak of to be acted in Religious exercises are fear and faâ—th upon these two feet David walked into Gods House I will go into thine House in the multitude of thy mercies there was his faith and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy Temple Psa 5.6 here is his fear The Christian like a Net must have both the lead of an holy Fear and the cork of a lively Faith if he would catch any thing out of the waters of the Sanctuary if the cork of Faith was without the lead of Fear the Net would lie too high if the lead of Fear were without the cork of Faith the Net of the Soul would fall too â—owâ— and so nothing would be caught but both together lay in the likest place for a good draught 1. Fear and awful apprehensions of Gods infinite Majesty is requisite in our religious actions This must he the hand-maid to wait upon the Mistris of the soul in all its addresses to the King of Heaven Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Psa 2.11 God alloweth an humble familiarity in the walks of Obedience yet he will always have the children of men to know their distance And though this habit of Fear must be ever in our hearts as fire was constantly on the Altar yet he expects that it should be blown up and flame out at the time of offering sacrifice â—â—od non netur coâ—â—â—m uâ— quod â—temâ—â—ur 〈◊〉 â—li ur Act. de ira c lib. 8. Our greatest reverence is then most needful when we approach the great God in
we to serve him with fear and trembling in every ordinance In a word Let us have grace whereby we may serve him acceptably with reverence and godly fear for our God is a consuming sire Heb. 12.28 29. Mark the way to serve God acceptably is to serve him reverently As the Quaver addeth a grace to the Musick and makes it more acceptable to us so an holy trembling graceth our performances and makes them more acceptable to God 2. Perform religious duties with Faith as well as Fear Fear will keep the heart awful and Faith will make it chearful in the service of God Let us draw nigh to God with full assurance of faith Heb 10 2â— In Ordinances man draweth nigh to God but if he would do it with acceptance he must do with affiance with faith By Faith Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice then Cain Heb. 11.4 Faith doth instrumentally justifie both our persons and performances because it looks up to and lays hold on Christ who justifieth both meritoriously God is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity now there are many sins in our best services we must therefore carry all our sacrifices as the Israelites did Exod. 28.38 to our High Priest who will take away the inuqitie of our holy things and procure their acceptance with the Lord He shall purge them as gold and silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness then shall the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord Mal. 3.2 3 4. It is a prophefie of Christ He shall purge away the dross from our duties and then they shall be pleasing to God It was a sacred Law among the Molossians that whosoever came to the King with his son in his arms should be pardoned whatsoever offence he were guilty of The Athenian General therefore when banished his Country fled to Admetus King of the Molossians his deadly enemy and prostrated himself before him with his Son in his arms and found favour God and man are enemies there is no appearing before this dreadful King without his Son in our arms and with him there is no fear of a repulse In him we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him Ephes 3.12 As God and man are angry Christ is medium reconciliationis he makes them friends as God and man are reconciled Christ is medium communionis he is the means of their fruition of each other Therefore Reader whatever thou dost whether thou prayest or hearest or singest or readest do all in the name of Christ Col. 3.17 Consider thy admission into Gods presence is by Christ No man cometh to the Father but by the Son Joh. 14.6 Through him we have access unto the Father Eph. 2.18 It is his blood which hath purchased thee this gracious priviledge He alone hath turned the seat of Justice into a Throne of Grace When thou approachest God he would be a fire to consume thee not a Father to imbrace thee were it not for his Son Consider also thy assistance in duties is from Christ Without him thou canst do nothing Joh. 15.3 O how dull and dead is thy heart in the most solemn duty unless this Lord of life quicken it Though thou hast a real principle of spiritual life yet unless Christ draw thee give the quickning and enciting Grace thou canst not run after him in a duty Further Thine acceptance in the Ordinances of God is through Christ O how unsavoury would thy best duties be were it not for the odors of his most sweet sacrifice The golden Censor and the Incense under the Law typified that all our performances must be perfumed and presented by Christ before they can be accepted with God The smoke of the Incense must ascend with the Saints prayers before they can be pleasing The incense which signified the merits of Christ is the pillar of smoak in which the beleevers performances mount up to Heaven Rev. 8.3 4. No wonder that David begged so hard Let my prayers come before thee like incense The Priests when they went into the Tabernacle to sacrifice were commanded to put off their own and to put on the holy garments provided for them Exod. 28.43 intimating that none must approach God in the rags of their own but in the robes of Christs Righteousness The Ark which was a special type of Christ without of Shittim wood speaking his Humanity within of wrought gold typifying his Deity did signifie thus much to us it covered the two Tables so Christ the Law there God gave his gracious answers and was propitious to his people so God accepteth the persons and prayers of men in Christ Ephes 1.6 If the Patriachs were welcome to Pharoah it was for Josephs sake and if the people of God are welcome at any time to him it is for Jesus sake Faith in Christ is the eye which ravisheth the heart of God Thou hast stoln away mine heart with one of thine eyes Cant. 4. Of all the Virgin-Graces none find such favour in his sight This this is the Hester on whose head he sets the Crown when she appears before him though it be contrary to the Law of Works he constantly holds out the golden Scepter of Grace He is so delighted with her beauty so ravished with her comeliness that he granteth her request be it to the half or whole of his Kingdom Therefore Reader when thou goest to God be sure to take Christ along with thee as ever thou wouldst speed Let thy prayers and petitions be in his name with an eye to his promise Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name I will do it Joh. 14.13 Let thy Prayses and thankâ—givings be in his name according to his precept Giving thanks always and in all things unto God and our Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephes 5.20 To be short As an holy Priest offer up all thy spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Thirdly If thou wouldst make Religion thy bufiness in holy duties Perform them to give God glory by them and to receive grace through them Ordinances must be used both as a testimony of our subjection to God and as the way of communion with God God is present in his Ordinances 1. In majesty and beauty and in that respect our end in them must be to give him glory 2. In communication and bounty and in that respect our end in them must be to receive Grace from him Psal 27.4 Rev. 2.3 6. Exod. 20.24 Gods eye is very much on our ends in duties he takes notice when he is neglected and self exalted When ye fasted and mourned even these seventy years did ye all fast unto me even to me And when ye did eat and when ye did drink did ye not eat for your selves and drink for your selves Zich 7.6 7. God seeth when self-credit or self-profit is the end of a performance Matth. 6 1 2. Hos 7.14 He weigheth all our actions by
our aims Now as duties are considerable in a twofold respect so a Christian must have in them a twofold end 1. Duties are considerable as services in relation to the command and so a Christian must mind them that he may testifie his obedience to God and his dependance on him Thou hast commanded me to keep thy precepts diligently O that my ways were directed to keep thy commandments Psal 119.5 6. Warn the unruly comfort the feeble minded support the weak be patient towards all men rejoycing evermore pray without ceasing in every thing give thanks For this is the will of God concerning you 1 Thess 5.14 15 16 17 18. God required the Israelites to bring a sheaf in a Ghomer about a pottle for all their increase of the fruits of the earth Lev. 23.10 whereby they acknowledged that they receive all from him Though man be unable to satisfie Gods Justice by all his devotion yet God will be owned and acknowledged in holy duties Copy-holders though they have the profiâ—s of their Houses and Lands to themselves yet pay some small Quit-Rent and at certain times do suit and service to the Lord â—f their Manor acknowleding thereby that the Fee-simple is his and they enjoy theâ— through his favour The earth is the Lords and thâ— fulness thereof He is the mighty possessor of heaven and earth and though he gives the earth by leases for lives as it were and copies to the children of men yet the Fee-simple and original right is still in himself and he hath appointed seasons daily and weekly for duties wherein Christians should acknowledge that they hold all of him and enjoy all through his grace and good will The worshipping of God in his Ordinances is the homage which as creatures we ow to our Maker and as Christians we owe to our Redeemer God alloweth us the comfort of our mercies but he reserveth to himself the credit of our mercies and hath appointed the hours of prayer to be the set times for the payment of this small Quit-rent infinitely inferior to our engagements to his sacred Majesty Truly Reader This end must be minded in thine attendance on the means of grace namely to give God glory by acknowleding his Soveraignty over thee and bounty to thee or else when thou bendest the bow of thine heart and shootest thy spiritual arrows thou wilt never hit the mark 2. Duties are considerable as means in relation to the Promise and so they are channels cut out by Christ to convey grace into the hearts of men therefore thine end in this respect must be to derive grace from the God of all grace through the means of grace The place of Ordinances is called by some The door of Heaven because there Christ gives his alms his dole Others call it The Celestial Exchange between God and his people God doth there exchange mercies for duties and they exchange Glory for Grace At the Tabernacle saith God I will meet with the children of Israel and it shall be sanctified by my glory And I will dwell a-among the children of Israel and will be their God Exod. 29.43 45. When God comes to his house he never comes empty handed If Paul comes with the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ with what clusters of blessings is the true Vine laden with what a train of Graces and Comforts is this great King attended I will meet with the children of Israel there When Jacob met Joseph they kist and wept Gen. 46.29 But when God meets the Beleever they have a merrier meeting they kiss and rejoyce And I will dwell among them Who can imagine the house which God keeps where he dwells the dainties the delicates which he provides for his friends and Family Great Princes have great provision in their Courts answerable to their quality but what provision doth the great God make surely answerable to his infinite majesty The table in the Tabernacle was furnished with so many loaves as there were Tribes in Israel Moses unveyled c. 27. p. 10 signifying that God keeps a constant and plentiful table in his Church for all Beleevers Ordinances are canales gratiae Conduit-pipes whereby the water of life is derived from Christ into the hearts of Christians As the light and beams of the Sun is the vehiculum or chariot to convey the heat and influence of the Sun to the world so the Ordinances of God are the chariots whereby God conveyeth the heat of his Grace and the influences of his Spirit to men and women Saints behold his face in the glaâ—â— of Ordinances and are changed into his image from glory to glary 2 Cor. 3.18 Those Divine graces which are for meat to satisfie and for medicine to heal the soul are found growing onely upon the banks of the waters of the Sanctuary Clark Mâ—r. part 2. p. 213. therefore go to Ordinances as the Viemaâ— lim a bird in America flieth to the fields for the dew which falls down from Heaven thereupon which it liveth Socrates one day meeting Zenophon the Son of Corillus in a certain Port Town â—â—og of aeâ— in viâ— stopt him with his staff and asked him Where was the place where several commodities were to be had He answered readily In such a place Then saith Socrates Where is the place that a man might be made good Zenophon answered he could not tell Then follow thou me saith Socrates and thou shalt learn and from that time he became Socrates Schollar The Ordinances of God are the places for both there true riches and vertue may be had the Temple is both the Exchange for traffique and a School for learning The good Mastâ—r teacheth his Schollars there those lessons which make them wise to salvation Reader the Ordinances are the food of the soul milk for babes and meat for men do thou feed on them to get spiritual health â—nd strength It is a shame for a Christian to be like an Anâ—â—busie about a molehil never to grow greater Goâ—o those wells that the vessels of thy soul may be filled with living water David longed as a Woman with Child so the word signifieth to see the beauty of the Lord and receive of his bounty in the Sanctuary Psa 84.2 and 63.1 2. and 27. Thou goest to the Market to supply thy bodily necessities and art ashamed to come home empty Dost thou not come to the Ordinances of God for the releif of thy soul indigencies and art thou not greived to come away poor and beggarly Merchants take in some goods from one part some from another part and at last come home richly laden do thou get some true riches at prayer some from the word and then how comfortably mayst thou conclude thy duties Do not rest in the formal performance of duties as the Harlot that cryed out Prov. 7.14 I have had my peace-offering to day and therefore all must be well but as the people when Moses went to speak to
God for them Exod. 33.8 they all looked after him to see what speed what success After thine attendance on Ordinances long and look for the fruit of them If a man present a Petition to a King he gives attendance to see whether it will be granted or no. It is a contempt both of Gods Majesty and Mercy for thee to throw down thy prayers before him and then to run away not caring what becomes of it When thou hast been speaking to God hearken what God will speak to thee for he speaketh peace to his people and to his Saints that they return no more to folly Let down thy Net into the Waters and expect to catch somwhat which may feed thy soul if thou fish all night and as the Disciples catch nothing look for the coming of Christ in the morning and that purposely to give thee a good draught of fish Reader remember thine errand at ordinances is to get grace thou hast Gods promise to them and his power and faithfulness both ingaged for its performance and it s thy fault and folly if thou goest hungry from a full table and empty from a free and large treasure Be as wise for thy soul as others are for their bodies The Country Tradesman wants commodities he goeth to London where is a Merchant that hath variety and abundance when he comes there he doth not spend his time in seeing fashions and visiting friends but in going to this and that Ware-house as his occasions require to buy Wares and you see sometimes what considerable quantities he sends home Go thou and do likewise Thou complainest that thou wantest grace go to Christ who hath variety and sufficiency for thy supply but do not go to see men or to be seen of men but to see God and to be transformed into his likeness go to this and that duty as shops where Christ sits and sels and buy Wine and Milk without Money and without price little dost thou know were this but thy business how certainly how liberally he would satisfie thee Why should the Tradesman be a better Husband for corruptible wares then thou art for durable riches Alas alas Christ is more willing to sell then thou canst be to buy to give then thou art to ask Balaam as bad as he was when he had prepared seven Altars and offered seven Sacrifices could expect to meet God and canst thou O Christian contentedly miss him surely he is a pittiful beggar that can go to the gate of a bountiful Peer where is plenty of provision for the poor and come away willingly without his Almes A good wish about religious Duties in general wherein the former Heads are Epitomized THe immediate Worship of the infinite God being a work of the greatest weight that ever I did or can possibly undertake yea that men and Angels are capable of I wish therefore that I may never enter rashly upon it but may ordinarily take some pains before hand The Introduction to the directions analised to aw my heart by a serious apprehension of the unconceivable greatness jealousie and holiness of that God to whom I am approaching how he is resolved to be sanctified either actively or passively Preparation in every one that draweth nigh to him and by a savoury consideration of the unspeakeable consequence of the duty in which I am ingaged how it concerneth the unchangeable welfare of my never dying soul in the other World I wish that all the time of the duty I may look as narrowly to my heart Attention as ever keeper did to that prisoner for whose escape he was to dye and bind it to the Altar as they of old their Sacrifice with the strongest cords of all watchfulness and circumspection imaginable Acting grace I wish that I may perform each part of the duty with sutable grace and to this end that all my graces may be upon the wing ready upon the least call to mount up to Heaven as several strings of a Vial wound up to their due height and pitch each in their place upon the least touch as occasion shall be to make Mâ—siâ—k in the ears of the Lord my God O that while my beloved sitteth at his Table my Spikenard may send forth a pleasant smell In particular Fear I wish that I may be so sensible of the infinite distance which is betwixt the incomprehensible Lord of Heaven and me a poor worm who lie groveling here on earth that I may both in my carriage and language affections and expressions behave my self throughout the ordinance with all godly fear humility and reverence I wish that I may be so truely affected with the sins and unworthiness of my person and performances and my Saviours infinite meritoriousness that I may carry all my Sacrifices to the High-Priest of my profession beleiving assuredly that they being perfumed with the odours of his death Faith and presented by his hands shall be Offerings of a sweet smelling savour to my God The end of duties Finally I wish that all ends of pride merit and self set a side I may therefore attend on duties that I may by my poor Peppercorn acknowledge those millions of eternal obligations by which I am bound to my God and also that by those Buckets O that they might never come up empty to me I may draw water out of the Well of Salvation Amen CHAP. XII How a Christian may exercise himself to Godliness in Prayer And first of Prayer in general and of the antecedents to it THe infinite and glorious God though be be so high that he humbleth himself to behold things in Heaven and so holy that the Heavens are unclean in his sight is yet so gratious that he condescendeth to and converseth with poor sinful dust and ashes amongst all those ways which he hath appointed the children of men to walk with him in Prayer is one of the fairest and pleasantest In this duty the children of God whisper him in the ear open their minds and unbosom themselves to him as his intimate friends and favourites He hath been pleased to command it not onely out of his Dominion over them and for his own glory He that offereth praise glorifieth me but also out of his compassion to them and for their good that by prayers as men far distant do by letters there might be a constant and uninterrupted intercourse and correspondence betwixt Heaven and earth Men by discoursing together come to be acquainted at first and continue their acquaintance by sending to and hearing from one another Prayer which is the speech of man with his Maker is a special means whereby he comes to be acquainted with God as also to increase and continue this acquaintance Prayer indeed bringeth Heaven down to man and prayer carrieth man up to heaven It is the chief duty wherein all the graces meet they shine brightly like so many glorious Stars in this Firmament Of all graces faith
blessing of an Idol Isa 66.3 I shall therefore for thy right management of this duty which is of such weight and importance to thee speak to these three particulars 1. To the Antecedents or those things which must go before prayer 2. To the Concomitants or those things which must accompany prayer 3. To the Consequents or those things which must follow after prayer 1. To the Antecedents of prayer Preparation is necessary before prayer Zopher acquainteth Job how his prayers might come to be prevalent If thou prepare thine heart and stretch out thine hand unto him Job 11.13 The heart is the Forge where these Vessels for the Sanctuary are formed and fashioned and made in secret the tongue is but the thop wherein they are exposed to publique view therefore the heart must do its work well before the tongue can commend its ware the heart must indite a good matter before the tongue will be as the pen of a ready writer God commandeth us both to look to our hearts and mouths when we are in his house be not rash with thy mouth to utter any thing before God and keep thy feet when thou art in the House of God Eccles 5.1 2. The former is a bridle for our mouths and expressions the latter is a guard for our hearts and affections In reference to the Antecedents 1. Some things which will further the duty must be used 2. Some things which will hinder the duty must be refused First Those things which will further the duty are meditation and the stirring up of grace Meditation will be helpful to the matter of prayer The quickning and stirring up of grace will be helâ—ful to the manner of the duty First Meditation Meditation fits the soul for supplication Meditation fils the soul with good liquor and then prayer broaches it and sets its a running David first mused and then spake with his tongue Lord make me to know mine end Psa 39.3.4 Nay to assâ—re us that meditation was the Mother which bred and brought forth prayer he calls the child by its parents name Give ear to my words O Lord consider my meditation Psa 5.1 Meditation is like the chargeing of a piece and prayer the discharging of it Isaac went into the field to meditate Gen. 24.63 The Septuag the Geneva translation and Tremelius in his marginal Notes on it read it to pray and the Hebrew word Suach used there signifieth both to pray and meditate whereby we may learn that they are very neer a kin like twins they lie in the same womb in the same word meditation is the best beginning of prayer and prayer is the best conclusion of meditation When the Christian like Daniel hath first opened the windows of his soul by contemplation then he may kneel down to prayer Prayer is a building which reacheth up to Heaven meditation layeth in all the costly materials which are requisite for this building He that would make any riddance of his work must take care that all his materials be brought in before-hand if they be to fetch when he comes to work he will make long and tedious Church-work indeed Something thou art to meditate on relating to thy self somthing relating to God Those things which relate to thy self are thy sins wants and mercies There are three parts of prayer though I know some reckon the first rather an adjunct Confession Petition and Thanksgiving Now meditation gives each of these the work which they are to do like a faithful Steward it gives every one their proper and peculiar portion Meditation on our sins helpeth in confession Meditation on our wants helpeth in petition Meditation on our mercies helpeth in thanksgiving A Christian ought to keep a Catalogue at least in the Table book of his heart of these three particulars David did so He Registred his unrighteousness or the wrong he had done to God my sin is ever before me Psa 51.3 He thought much upon his wants and sufferings He often cryeth out I am poor and needy Psa 109.21 Psa 25. my sorrow is ever before me Psa 38.17 And for Gods mercies he did not write them in the Sand but he treasured them up in his memory Thy loving kindness is before mine eyes Psa 26.3 And though some of them were stale ancient mercies yet they were not sowre to Davids taste he did not throw them away as Old Almanacks out of date I will remember the days of old the years of antient times Psa 77. Rather then God should not be paid his thanks for favours to his Fore-fathers David would take the Debts from their score and set them upon his own File Confession of sin must be with shame and sorrow petition for mercy must be with faith and fervency Thanksgiving must be with admiration of God and delight in God Now it is meditation of our sins wants and miseries which provides fuel for the fire of these graces to work upon and which they break out into an Heavenly flame Meditate on thy sins Thy duty in prayer is to Indict Arraign and Condemn and Execute those Malefactors and Transgressors of the Royal Law which can never be done till they are apprehended If thou wilt kill those Foxes that spoil the Vine those lusts which hinder thy regenerate part from thriving thy care must be by meditation to hunt them out of their lurking holes and take them Thy wounds which stink and are so unsavoury to God must by serious consideration be searched and felt before they can be healed When thou art going to prayer do as Jehu when he went to sacrifice to Baal send out and fâ—â—châ—n all thy false Worshippers those Enemies of the true God that deny his supremacy and bowed the knee to the World or the flesh and then by an humble penitential confession and self judging cut them off Who ever bewailed his sins that did not know their sinfulness or who ever was ashamed that did not see his own nakedness When the Jews came to know that they were the betrayers and Murderers of the Lord Jesus then they were pricked to the heart O do that for thy self which God will do for many others set thy sins in order before thine eys thine original and thine actual thine omissions and commissions thy personal and relative thy secret and publique thy sins about natural civil or spiritual actions thy sins under mercies and against afflictions Say to thy conscience as Samuel to Jesse Are all thy Sons here Are all thy â—ins here if any be wanting to thy knowledge cause it to be sent for and brought and sit not down to Sacrifice before it come when this is done put them all into their own colours accent them with their several aggravations consider what light what love what motions of Gods spirit what convictions of thy own spirit they were committed against Above all meditate on the infinite Majesty Purity and Mercy of that God against whom thou hast sinned Those three Attributes duly weighed would
distance will quicken thee to reverence Gods greatness and mans vileness are both arguments to make man humble and wary in the Worship of God Couldst thou behold God in Heaven in what Majesty he there appeareth on his Throne of glory how his heavenly Courtiers vail their faces in his presence lay their Crowns at his feet and serve him though joyfully yet humbly and awfully with what reverence and holy fear wouldst thou go to prayer Meditate on his mercy and goodness what promises he hath made to prayer how bountiful he is to his suppliants He doth more then they can ask or think he gives liberally without upbraiding It was said of Severus the Emperor that he was more troubled that men asked nothing then that he gave much God delighteth both to be sought and found This is necessary to strengthen the faith He that commeth to God must beleive that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11.6 He that would pray and obtain a blessing must beleive Gods being that he is and Gods bounty that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Meditate on his rich bounty Abraham asked but one Son God gives him seed like the Stars in the Heavens for multitude the Debtor desires but forbearance and he freely forgives the whole Debt The shekel of the Sanctuary is double to the ordinary shekel God delighteth to see men joyful in his house of prayer Isa 56.7 to see their countenances commend his chear now meditation of his Royal bounty how he giveth like a King like a God will help thee to this hearty chearfulness Beleive before thou prayest that thy hand of prayer shall not knock at Heavens gate in vain that God will not send thee away sad It is reported of the Emperor Flavius that he should say I am sorry that any man should present a petition to me as if he were offering meat to an Elephant with a trembling hand Consider not onely his habitation which art in Heaven but also his relation to thee Our Father before thou callest he will answer and when thou speakest he will say here am I Isa 65.24 Thus when thou hast by meditation cut the Sacrifice in peices put the wood in order and laid all upon the Altar thou mayst by prayer put fire to them and offer up a Sacrifice to God of a sweet smelling savour Secondly As Meditation so the stirring up of thy graces is needful to further this duty Meditation will do much towards it as thou hast heard I shall therefore speak the less to it Every person that hath grace doth not always pour out his prayers rightly Graces must be exercised in our duties Grace may lie as fire under ashes upon the hearth of thy heart and be so far from flaming that it may not so much as glow and how then canst thou expect any warmth from it thy duty is therefore to stir up the coales and endeavour that the fire may blaze out It is the language of Canaan communication seasoned with grace which onely is savoury to God Cato being asked why he was so diligent to learn the Greek language in his old age answered I hear the Gods speak Greek and I would willingly speak to them in their own language All the words of God are gracious It s said of his Son Grace is poured into thy lips Psa 45.2 Those therefore that would not speak to God in an unknown language a tongue wich he understandeth not must accent all their expressions to him with grace It is the smell of the spice of grace in the Israelite not of Garlick and Onions in the Egyptian which is so pleasant and fragrant to God Who is this that cometh out of the Wilderness like Pillars of smoke perfumed with Myrrhe and frankincense with all powders of the Merchant Cant. 3.6 Some take the words to be the voice of the Angels those friends of the Bride groom admiring the Churches gracious expressions and continual assentions of her soul in her prayers to God others take them to be the words of Christ being ravished with the odoriferous smell of those graces which his Spouse acted in her Sacrifices he stood amazed at the beauty of her person and the sweetness of her breath the graciousness of her petitions What lovely Lady what woman is here so the Hebrew What peerless Paragon is this which sendeth up such Spiritual Sacrifices such sweet Incense kindled by the fire of Gods own Spirit laid upon a meritorious Altar ascending and fuming up like the rowllings and agglomerations of smoak to the Lord himself and more welcome and grateful then all the costly evaporations of myrrhe and frankincense and all powders of the Merchants The Angel which ascended to heaven in the flame of the Altar is said to do wonderously Judg. 13.19 20. It was wonderful both to Christ and his friends to behold the acceptance of his Spouses gracious performance how it ascended to Heaven elationibus fumi like pillars of smoak and came up for a memorial before God The desire of nature in prayer is like sparks which fly out of the tunnel of the chimney and then vanish but the desire of grace in prayer is like pillars of smoak which mounteth up to the highest Heavens When Jacobs sons went down to Egypt to fetch corn they carried some along with them to support them by the way when the Christian goeth to Christ by prayer for more spiritual food he must carry some along with him to strengthen him in the duty A little water poured into the pomp will fetch up much a little grace acted in a duty may help thee to much more As the ship is sometimes wind-bound that it cannot move towards its haven so without the exercise of grace the soul is wind-bound there is no stirring towards Heaven A graceless man in prayer as was said of Alcibiades may talk much but speaketh little 2. Some things which will hinder the duty must be refused All sin in general sin regarded in the soul makes prayers disregarded of God If I regard iniquity in my heart God will not hear my prayer Psa 66.18 He that expecteth pardon must throw down his Weapons of Rebellion The Child that asketh forgiveness of his Oaths must not desire it of his Father with Curses in his mouth When dust clogs the Wheel of the Watch or Clock they cannot strike true when sin hampereth and clogs the Wheels of the affections the mouth will never speak true or right in its Petitions He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law even his prayer shall be an abomination Pro. 28.9 It is high impudency for him that will not hear God to look that God should hear him When the sin of the petitioner is before Gods eyes his petitions cannot enter into Gods ears The wide mouth of sin out-cryeth the voice of his prayers as the Fish called the Remora though it be but little will stop a
have taken upon me to speak unto thee Lord who am but dust and ashes saith Abraham Gen. 18.27 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies which thou hast shewed to thy servant saith Jacob Gen. 32.10 I am a worm and no man saith David So foolish was I and ignorant even as a beast before thee saith Asaph I am more bruitish then any man I have not the understanding of a man saith Agur. O my God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee for our iniquities are encreased over our heads and our trespasses is grown up unto the Heavens saith Ezra I am a man of unclean lips saith Isaiah They all have learned the same Lesson as Scholars in the same form they all speak the same Language as children of the same Father It is reported of Aristippus the Cynick that he used to fall on the ground before Dionysius when he presented a petition to him O what posture is low enough when we go to the infinite and incomprehensible God in prayer He humbleth himself to open his eyes upon us well may we be humble when we open our mouthes and hearts to him Job 14.3 Reader if thou wouldst have thy prayers heard let them be humble God loves to walk in the low valleys Lord thou hast heard the desires of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart and wilâ— bow thine ear Psal 10.17 Though God behold the proud afar off and disdains so much as to open his eyes or give them a look yet he will be sure to draw near to the humble and vouchsafe to open his ears and his very heart to them Psal 138.6 Isa 66. â—2 He that can have his face shine and take no notice is a fit person to go up into the Mount and converse with God 2. Thy prayers must be hearty Thy tongue and heart must keep time and tune Give ear to my prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips Psal 17.1 If in prayer thou art as Ephraim a silly Dove without an heart and givest God onely the calves of thy lips they will be as unacceptable as Jeroboams Calves at Dan and Bethel which provoked the Lord to anger The Jews have this Sentence written in their Synagogues where they meet to pray A prayer without the heart is like a body without a soul What a deformed loathsome spectacle is a body without a soul truly so is thy prayer without thy heart God respecteth the heart in prayer above any thing men minde the expressions most but God mindeth the affections most Let us draw night to God with a true heart let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto God in the Heavens Heb. 10.22 Lam. 3.41 God looketh not so much to the Elegancy of thy prayers how neat they are nor to the Geometry of thy prayers how long they are but to the sincerity of thy prayers how hearty they are Senec. lib. 1. henefic cap 8. Socrates made more account of poor Aeschines for giving himself to him then of Alcibiades and other rich Scholars who gave him large presents God esteemeth infinitely more of an heart-sprung though broken prayer then of dissembling petitions cloathed with and drest up in the neatest and most gaudy expressions The heart is the mettal of the bell the tongue is but the clapper When the mettal of the bell is right and good as silver such will the sound be if the mettal of the bell be crackt or lead the sound will soon discover it to a judicious ear God can see the diseases and spots of the heart upon the tongue O it is dangerous to do as some Princes with their neighbours who set on foot a Treaty of peace for their own ends but resolve beforehand that it shall never be brought to any period As Jacob said to his mother If I dissemble my Father will finde me out and I shall meet with a curse instead of a blessing So say I to thee if thou dissemblest in prayer thy God will finde thee out and thou wilt meet with a curse a blow instead of a blessing There is no going to God as Jeroboams wife thought to go to the Prophet in a disguise Under the Law Notandum illud est quod quae offeruntur in Holocaustan interiorasunt quod exterius esi Domino no offertur â—tpel li Hom. 5. the inward parts were onely to be offered to God in Sacrifice The skin belonged to the Priests whence Origen inferreth That truth in the inward parts is that which is most pleasing in a Sacrifice Indeed others compass God about with lies and therefore highly provoke him They did flatter him with their mouth and they lyed unto him with their tongue for their heart was not right with him Psal 78.36 37. Hosea 11.12 It is sinful for thee to tell a lye to thy fellow Creature but how abominable is it to tell a lye to the Almighty Creator Thy prayer without thy heart will be Sacriledge not a Sacrifice When the heart is Rector chori cheif leader of the Quire then the voice is pleasant indeed in Gods ear The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth Psa 145.18 When the Wife giveth the Husband her heart and defileth not the Marriage bed he will if wise bear with many infirmities in her When the heart in prayer is devoted to God he is pleased out of his grace and goodness to pardon and pass by many imperfections in the duty but if that bed be prostituted to any other he gives a divorce to the Sacrifice and putteth it away for he is a jealous God Jacobs small present could not but be acceptable to Joseph because it was the best of the Land The heart of man is but little yet it is the best of man and therefore taken kindly by God The main enquiry at prayer is concerning the heart As Jonadab was asked by Jehu so is the Christian by God Is thy heart right as mine is Then come up into my Chariot then come to the Throne of grace and welcome Thirdly thy prayers must be fervent Prayer is a duty which consisteth not in words or expressions but in the working of the affection therefore it is called a crying to God Out of the depth I have cryed to thee Psa 130. a renting the heart Joel 2.13 as if the heart were by prayer torn in peices and a pouring out the soul as if the body had been left without life the soul being departed and ascended to Heaven in holy petitions The true Beggar is ever earnest for spiritual Almes he will not let God go without a blessing Gen. 32. Paulus Aemilius being to fight with the Macedonians would never give over Sacrificing to his God Hercules till he had some sign of victory The Christian is more urgent with the true God then the Heathen is with his God of clouts When Daniel prayed with what force were his words uttered with
of my person nor performance may appear to my shame The matter of prayer I wish that all the flowers which I present to my God in the posie of prayer may be gathered out of his own garden the Scriptures I mean that I may never exceed those bounds which he hath set me for the matter of my prayer but may use much caution that all those spices which I make my incense of may be of his own prescription and O that to this end his holy spirit who knoweth his mind fully Properties of prayer might draw up all my petitions for me I wish that my prayers may be ever presented upon the bended knees of my soul Humble and also in regard of my body in the lowest and most submissive posture Ah how humble should dust and ashes be when he takes upon him to speak to the most High God Hearty I wish above all that I may never mock the most jealous God in this duty by speaking Parrot like what I neither mind nor mean but whatsoever dish be wanting on the Table to which I invite my God my heart which I know he loveth above all may be there and that my prayer may be the travail of my soul and not the labour of my lips I wish that I may so feel my spiritual wants that my bowels may so pinch me that as the hungry and almost starved begger I may cry aloud for the bread of life yet not so much Fervent in regard of the extension of my voice as the intension of my spirit When I am petitioning for pardon and grace I wish I might beg as earnestly and beseech God as importunately as if it were in the power of my prayer to change his mind and procure the blessing but when I am asking temporals Caution I would not as the dry earth cry and cleave and gape for corn and wine and oyl but willingly be at my fathers allowance and desire no more then what his infinite wisdom seeth needful to hear my charges till I come to my blessed and everlasting home Constant I wish that I might observe that standing law according to which Heavens bounty is dispensed In all things to make my requests known to God and never expect though the mercies of God be never so ripe that any of them should fall down upon me in mercy unless I shake the tree by prayer I wish that every mercy may come flying to me upon the Wings of prayer and may fly back to God upon the Wings of praise that prayer may be the Mother to breed and bring forth all my blessings that not one child of them but may be named Samuel asked of God that when I first open my eyes in the morning I may then in some ejaculatory prayer open my heart to my God that at night prayer may make my bed soft and lay my pillow easie that in the day time prayer may perfume my cloaths sweeten my food oyl the wheels of my particular vocation keep me company upon all occasions and guild over all my natural civil and Religious actions I wish that after I have poured out my prayer in the Name of Christ Subsequents of prayer according to the Will of God having sowed my seed Waiting I may expect a crop looking earnestly for the springing of it up and beleiving assuredly that I shall reap in time if I faint not yea that though the promise may stick long in the birth yet it will at last bring forth when God will give me large interest for my forbearance Finally I wish that though before sorrowful having opened my mind to God about any suffering my countenance like Hannahs may be no more sad that I may never busie my self about Gods work the success and event of things nor like an idle lazy begger Working be careless about my own work but may in my place and to my power be industrious in the use of all those lawful means which his providence affords me for the enjoyment of my desires that as I did lift up my heart in praying so I may lift up my hands in working to God who dwelleth in the Heavens CHAP. XI How a Christian may exercise himself to godliness in hearing and reading the word and of preparation for hearing THe blessed God as he appointeth the Children of men their ends namely to serve him here and to injoy him hereafter so he doth also afford them directions about the way how they may attain and accomplish those ends He is our Master and cutteth out that work for us which he expecteth we should make up He bestoweth on all the starlight of nature which though it be but small and dull by reason of our first fall yet it ruleth and commandeth the night of the Pagan World and is sufficient to leave them inexcusable for not working and walking by it When Heathen shall be thrown into the Goal of Hell and bound with chains of everlasting darkness their own consciences will hinder them from the least thought of commencing a suite against God for false imprisonment because they are judged not by the Law Moral written in Tables of stone but by the Law Natural written in the Tables of their hearts But out of his infinite favour he is pleased to give some in those places where he intendeth to gather a people to himself for his eternal praise beside the twinkling Star-light of nature the clear and perfect Sun-light of Scripture to guide their feet in the ways of peace Which word is one of the most signal mercies that ever he bestowed upon the Sons of men the whole World without it being but a barren and rude Wilderness The Word of God is a Spring of living water a deep Mine of costly treasure a table furnished with all sorts of food a Garden wherein is variety of pleasant fruits the Churches Charter containing all her priviledges and her deeds many infesting her Title to the purchased possession It hath pious precepts for the Christians reformation and precious promises for his consolation If the Saint be afflicted it can hold his head above water and keep him from sinking when the billows go over his soul there are Cordials in it rich enough to revive the most fainting spirit If the Saint be assaulted the word is armour of proof whereby he may defend himself manfully and wound his foâ—s mortally If the soul be unholy this word can sanctifie it ye are clean through the word which I have spoken to you Joh. 15.3 this water can wash out all the spots and stains if the soul be an heir of Hell this word can save it From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Other writings may make a man wise to admiration but this onely can make him wise to Salvation This word which is of such unspeakable worth God hath deposited as a
Manna the Bread of Heaven and what a condition is thy poor soul in then They that have the Green-sickness care not for solid food but hanker after trash They have souls sadly sick that neglect the good Word of God and long after the fancies and wit of men God doth by the foolishness of preaching save them that believe that he alone might have the glory of their salvation That the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.7 When men nibble at the bait of Humane Eloquence and are caught the skill of the Angler is applauded but when men bite at the naked hook the simplicity of the Gospel all will grant this to be a miracle and say This is the finger of God Dost thou not see that as Daniel and his companyons thrived better and looked fairer with feeding upon pulse then the other Captives who fed on the Kings dainty provision Optimi concionatores ad vulgus sunt dixit Lutherus qui puriliter trivi aliter populariter sim lieiâ— sime dâ—cent Melch. Adam in vita So those Christians in every Parish look abroad where you will thrive more in holiness and are fairer in Gods eye who feed on plain naked Scripture then those whom no dishes will please but such as are curiously cooked for a Kings Palate Thou wilt not believe but that thy face may be seen in a glass where the sides are not guilded thou wilt chuse an horse not by its trappings and fine furniture but by its usefulness and serviceableness Why shouldst thou be so childish as to be in love with no garments but what are daubed with Silver lace when other plain raiment will warm thy body as well Reader if the fault be not thine own thou mayest gain much nay I must say most good by plain preaching Those that dwell by the Sea side gather up those precious commodities bequeathed to the Sea at the death or wrack of the ship when the Sea is lowest which they cannot do when the waters are highest I do not here plead for vain repetitions and tedious circumlocutions nor for them that dress their meat so slovenly that their Guests loath it I know it s below the Majestie of a King when he is delivering his minde by his Ambassador to play the Orator but it is not below him to speak sense and reason Wise men love a neat compact discourse but it must be more full of matter then words convincing the judgement and working upon the affections Plain solid Sermons are most acceptable to pious and serious souls There is a vast difference between washing the face of a Discourse clean and painting it the former is lawful and commendable the latter sinful and abominable Ministers must minde the capacities of their Auditories and not put that meat into their mouthes which their teeth cannot chew nor their stomachs concoct Their Sermons of quiddities haeccieties and School nicities may in the opinion of giddy men tend to their own praise but never to their hearers profit Such men when their children ask bread give them stones which may choak them but will not cherish them It is pity he should ever teach School that will not speak to his Scholars so as they may understand him But the worst supposition is Thy Teacher may be untaught himself his life may give the lye to his lips As to this prejudice 1. Remember That an accusation must not be received against an Elder except under two or three witnesses thy charity O Christian and the Dignity of his Calling must both move thee to be slow to believe As it is sinful to raise up an evil report Constantine the Emperor said That if he saw a Bishop committing uncleanness he would rather cover that foul fact with his Imperial robe then suffer it to be divulged to the dishonor of the Gospel so it is sinful to take up an evil report whoever laid it down ready for thee But secondly if thy Pastor like a wooden Vessel giveth that wine to thee which he never tasteth nor savoureth himself be not therefore wholly discouraged If it be true that thy Minister is false to God and his own soul that he onely wears Christs livery that he might the more unsuspected do the Devils work I confess it is matter of great lamentation the good Lord take care either for their conversion or ejection for certainly they being listed under Christs colours and false to their Captain do his adversary the Devil double service The sins of Teachers are the Teachers of sins they who forget their Sermons will remember their sins to patronize their own But if the providence of God should binde thee to such a Pastor which is no small unhappiness consider that God fed Elijah by a Raven and surely he can feed thee by an unclean creature He increaseth sometimes his Enemies gifts that they might be instrumental to increase his peoples graces It is unquestionable in my judgement though some I know doubt it that a sinner may convert a soul and my reason is this because the operation of the word doth not depend upon the piety of the Preacher but upon the free grace and power of the Lord. Yet I must also confess that I beleive that God doth not so often vouchsafe to his enemies as to his friends that honour and happiness But as bad as he is God may use him to do thee good As the best Ministers Sermons are not to be received for their good lives sake so the worst Ministers Preaching is not to be rejected because of their evil practices A blind man may hold a Candle to give light to others whilst he himself remains in the dark the Sun of righteousness may convey the light of holiness into the house of thine heart through this sluttish Window Thou mayst derive water from the Fountain of life through a leaden pipe A deaf bell may be useful to call a Christian to Church and he that never heard so as to live may call a soul to Christ Wholesom Sugar may be in a poisoned Cane The Egyptian Jewels were helpful to the Tabernacle David made the spoiles of the Gentiles service able to the Temple and surely the son of David can make the parts and guifts of an Egyptian an Enemy to God serviceable to thy soul The Pharisees in the days of Christ were many of them vicious persons yet they fitting in Moses Chair Christ doth not deny them audience but commandeth his Disciples to distinguish between their words and their works he doth not forbid them to hear their Doctrine but enjoyn them to forbear their doings Mat. 23.2 3. 2. The second thing requisite to preparation is this Before thou goest to hear labour to affect thine heart with the necessity excellency and efficacy of the word There was half an hours silence in Heaven before the seventh Trumpet sounded thy duty is to weigh the nature and end of the word before thou goest
as arrant a dissembler as he was pretended to hate such ingratitude Is this thy kindness to thy friend saith he to Hushai why hast thou left him when thou art by any finister carriage departing from Christ give conscience leave to ask thee Is this thy kindness to thy friend Ah why dost thou leave him serve him thus thy sins will be more sinful because God is more merciful to thee then to others The children of Israel have onely the Seventy read done evil from their youth up Jer. 32.30 As if there had been no sinners in the world but they their priviledges being greater then others their provocations were more grievous The unkindness of a friend hath much of an enemy in it David was not much troubled at Shimei's rayling but Absoloms rebellion pierced his very soul My son that came out of my bowels hath lifted up his hands against me Wilt thou give thy Saviour cause to complain He that did eat bread with me hath lift up his heels against me Psal 41.3 He that did eat at my table nay eat of my flesh and drink of my blood he hath lift up his heart and his hand and his heel against me It was an aggravation of Sauls fall he fell as though he had not been anointed 2 Sam. 1. And it will be a sad aggravation of thy fall if thou shouldst fin as if thou hadst not been at a Sacrament It is reported of an Elephant that being faln down and by reason of the inflexibleness of his legs unable to rise a Forrester came by and helped him up with which kindness the Elephant was so taken that he followed the man up and down did him much service and never left him till his dying day Reader the moral is plain thou wast faln and never able to rise of thy self The Lord Jesus Christ forsook his Father in Heaven and his Mother on Earth suffered unconceivable sorrows to help thee up what love shouldst thou have to him what service shouldst thou do for him Thou canst not do less since he hath redeemed thee out of the hands of thine enemies then serve him in holiness and righteousness all thy days As the Hop in its growing follows the course of the Sun from East to West and will rather break then do otherwise So shouldst thou in all thy actions follow the course of the Sun of Righteousness and rather dye then deny him When Moses came from the Mount where he had been conversing with God his face shined Exod. 34.30 When thou goest from the Table where thou hast had sweet communion with thy God The face of thy conversation must shine so with holiness that others may take notice of it It s said of the High Priest and Elders that observing the language and carriage of Peter and John They marvelled and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus Acts 4.13 So thy words should be so gracious and thy works so exemplary after a Sacrament that all those with whom thou hast to do may marvel and take knowledge that thou hast bâ—en with Jesus that at the Table thou didst sup with Christ and Christ with thee I shall onely answer a doubt or two from a troubled Conscience and conclude this Ordinance Object 1. But possbly thou wilt say O penitent Soul I have been at the Sacrament and found little joy what shall I do Answ Though thou didst not finde any ravishing comfort at the Table yet it may be thou mightst receive more grace from Christ When thou didst not spring upward in Joy thou mightst root thy self more downward in Humility Here is no loss Heaven is the proper place for comfort Earth for Grace I expect my reward in another World if I can but do my work well here I shall be satisfied A serious Christian may well be contented with solid peace without extasies Therefore be not discouraged Object 2. But I finde no peace no calmness of spirit I fear my heart was so dead and dull that I did neither act grace in the ordinance nor receive grace through the ordinance for I saw never a smile in Gods face all the while Answ Didst thou not go in thine own strength if so no wonder that thou art disheartned Jacob told his Wives I perceive that your Fathers countenance is not towards me as at other times but what was the matter This Jacob say Labans sons hath taken away all that was our Fathers he hath got his riches The glory of God as I may say is his Wealth his Treasure The riches of his glory Rom. 9.23 Now if thou didst rob God of any part of his treasure by thy self-confidence it is no marvil that thy fathers countenance was not so pleasant towards thee as at other times In brief I would wish thee to reflect both upon thy preparation for and carriage at the Ordinance and if thou findest thy self faulty confess and bewail it hereby thou mayst yet attain the efficacy of the Ordinance When Physick is taken down and doth not work Physitians often give their Patients something to quicken it and it proves exceeding instrumental for the diseased persons good A sincere lamentation of thy negligence before or carelesness at the Table supposing that thy heart be right with God will much help forward the operation of the Sacrament If thou findest that thou wast faithful in the discharge of thy duty then by no means despond but wait Food doth not nourish as soon as it is taken into the body there must be time allowed for concoction The strongest meats are longest in digesting but they give the most and the best nourishment Faith and Prayer will at last like skilful Midwives deliver the promises safely of those blessings which did stick for a time in the birth It is good that thy soul should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of God There is light sown for thee O thou child of light who walkest in darkness and be confident it will spring up A good Wish about the Lords Supper wherein the sormer Heads are Epitomized THe Lords Supper being one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian Religion The Introduction a lively representation of my dearest Saviours bleeding passion and blessed affection and a real taste of that eternal Banquet which I shall hereafter eat of in my Fathers house at his own Table I wish in general that I may never distaste the person of my best friend by abusing his picture that I may not go to the Lords Table as Swine to their trough in my sin and pollution but may receive those holy elements into a clean heart Motives to preparation Christs inspection O that my lamp might be flaming and my vessel filled with oyl when ever I go to meet the Bridegroom I wish in particular that my soul may be so throughly affected with Christs special presence at this sacred Ordinance that I may both prepare for it and proceed at it
many a Sermon hath been lost because this was wanting and the Viols of our souls must be tuned to praise God or otherwise they will sound but harshly in his ears The Priests were to wash in the Laver when they went into the Tabernacle and when they came near to the Altar to Minister upon pain of death Exod. 30.19 20. Signifying that to holy performances there is required holy prepartion Sutable to which is Davids speech I will wash my hands in innocency so will I compass thine Altar Psa 26. When the Temple was to be built the stones were hewn and the timber squared and fitted before they were brought to the place where the Temple stood there was neither ax nor hammer nor any use of them in the Temple And what doth this speak but that the Christian must be pollished and prepared to be a spiritual Temple an habitation for the God of Jacob and also fitted for his worship which was then in the Temple There is no duty but requires some previous dispositi on A little break-fast quickens the appetite to a good dinner duty fits the heart for duty Consider prayer The Christian must be poor in spirit that would prevail in prayer for spiritual riches The vessel must be empty before it can be fil'd O Lord thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear Psa 10.17 for hearing the weeds must be pluckt up before the grain be thrown into the ground Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and Hypocrisies As new born born babes desire the sincere milk of the word 1 Pet. 2.1 2. In singing the lungs must be good the inwards clean before the voice will be sweet and clear O God my heart is fixed my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise Psa 57.7 So for the Lords day the Israelites had their preparation It was the preparation that is the day before the Sabbath Mark 15.42 The preparation for the Lords day consisteth partly in care so to order Worldly businesses that they may not incroach on the Sabbath Some expositours observe that the word Remember in the fourth Command enjoyneth a provident foresight and diligent dispatch of earthly affairs on the day before that nothing may remain to disquiet us in or disturb Gods day of rest There is an observable place If thou keep thy foot from my Sabbath Isa 58.13 that is from treading on my holy ground with the dirty feet of earthly affairs or affections The Jews preparation began at three of the clock in the afternoon Inritibus Pagan which the Hebrews called the Sabbath Eve The antient Fathers called Caena pura from the Heathen say some whose Religion taught them in their Sacrifices to certain of their Gods to prepare themselves by a strict kind of holiness at which time they had a Supper consisting of meats holy in their opinion The Jews were so careful in their preparation Buxtoâ—â— Syna gog Iud. c. 10. extalmâ—d that saith mine Author to further it the best and wealthiest of them even those that had many servants and were Masters of Families would chop hearbs sweep the house cleave wood kindle the fire and do such like things The marriner that intendeth a voyage putteth his Ship off from Land so truly Friend if thou woulst lanch Heaven-ward upon a Lords day there is a necessity that the Vessel of thy heart be put off from the earth When our blessed Saviour was teaching the people he was disturbed by one that told him Behold thy Mother and thy brethren standwithout desiring to speak with thee Mat. 12.47 So when thou art hearing or praying or about any Religious Ordinance what an hinderance what a disturbance will it be for thy heart to suggest to thee Man thy calling thy companions or such and such things which lye upon the spoil through thy negligence in the week-days they all stand without desiring to speak with thee If thou wouldst avoid distraction prevent the occasions As Isaiah said to Hezekiah Set thine house in order against thy deaths day So I say to thee Set thy house in order and thy heart in order against the Lords day The main preparation of the heart for a Sabbath lyeth in removing the filth of Sin Accedentiad divina mysteria deique contemplationem deponenda sunt calceamenta i.e. passiones affectiones simul rationes humanae terrenae Cor. a Lapid in Exod 3. and in quickening and awakening grace sin must be removed If the stomach be foul it must be purged before it be fed or the meat will nourish and strengthen not nature but the ill humours If a man purge himself from these It is true of evil affections as well as evil persons he shall be a Vesselunto honor sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work 2 Tim. 2.21 Superfluity of naughtiness must be laid aside before we can receive the word with meekness James 1.21 When the Vessel is unclean it sowres quickly the sweetest liquors powred into it when the heart is unclean it loseth the good it might receive by the truths of God As sin must be cast out so grace must be called up Grace is like fire apt to be deadish and dull thy duty is before-hand therefore to blow it up Most people upon a Sabbath adorn their bodies with their best cloaths but Alass who almost attireth his soul as he ought on this day when he is going to meet the blessed Redeemer Reader Suppose thou wert a person of great quality and estate and the King should send thee word that he would dine with thee to morrow what preparation wouldst thou make for his entertainment would not thy first work be to cleanse thy house by causing the dust to be swept out the flores to be washt nay rubd every thing to be neat and cleanly Wouldst thou not put up thy choicest Hangings lay on thy richest Carpets bring out thy best plate adorn thy room with thy costliest furniture endeavour that all things should be in print somwhat suitable to the dignity of so great a Prince I tell thee that the great King of all the World doth give thee notice in his Word that on such a day being the Sabbath he intends to sup with thee Now friend what preparation wilt thou make to testifie thy respect to this blessed and onely Potentate Canst thou beforehand do less then sweep out the dust of sin and wash the room of thine heart clean adorn it with the best furniture the Graces the embroidery of the Holy Ghost Truly unless this be done Christ will not think himself welcome nay all thy pretended entertainment of him will be not onely infinitely unworthy of but also provoking to so jealous and glorious a Prince Believe it thy profit by a Sabbath depends not a little upon thy preparation for the Sabbath till the matter be prepared how can it receive the form Job 11.12 13. Thou hast enjoyed many Lords
Days and it may be got little soul-saving good Thou goest to the House of God where a table in the preaching of the Gospel is set before thee spread with all the dainties of Pardon Love Grace Peace and Eternal Life at which others sit and feed their Souls are fill'd with Marrow and Fatness and their mouthes praise the Lord with joyful lips but thou hast no stomack canst eat little and savour nothing I dare be the Physician to tell thee the cause cure of this the cause is Thy stomack is foul thy heart is unclean and therefore as a man that hath a cold or some disease predominant cannot rellish his meat but complains sometimes of the meat sometime of the Cook when the fault is in himself so thou canst taste no goodness in the best meat neither Prayer nor Scripture neither Sermon nor Sabbath are savoury to thee yet it may be thou blamest the Preacher he doth not dress the meat to thy mind when the fault is in the foulness of thy affections Thy cure must be to purge out this old leaven to take some pains beforehand in cleansing thy heart When the stomack is clean as after purging or fasting how sweet is a piece of bread So if thou wouldst but in secret search thy soul vomit up thy filth by a penitent confession cleanse thine heart by sincere contribution and wouldst then frequent the publique Ordinances thou wouldst finde prayer sweet preaching sweet the Sacrament sweet every service sweet O how wouldst thou love the habitation of Gods House and the place where his honor dwelleth Prepare to meet thy God O Christian betake thy self to thy chamber on the Saturday night confess and bewail thine unthankfulness for and unfruitfulness under the Ordinances of God shame and condemn thy self for thy sins entreat God to prepare thy heart for and assist it in thy Religious performances spend some time in consideration of the infinite Majestie Holiness Jealousie and Goodness of that God with whom thou art to have to do in sacred duties ponder the weight and importance of his holy Ordinances how they concern thy salvation or damnation thine everlasting life or death how certainly they will either further thine unchangeable welfare or encrease thine endless wo meditate on the shortness of the time thou hast to enjoy Sabbaths in how near thy life may be to an end how speedily and how easily God may take down thine earthly Tabernacle how there is no working no labouring no striving in the other World to which thou art hastning and continue musing and blowing till the fire burneth thou canst not think the good thou mayest gain by such fore-thoughts how pleasant and profitable a Lords Day would be to thee after such a preparation The oven of thine heart thus baked in as it were over night would be easily heated the next morning the fire so well raked up when thou wentest to bed would be the sooner kindled when thou shouldst rise If thou wouldst thus leave thine heart with God on the Saturday night thou shouldst finde it with him in the Lords Day morning Secondly Possess thy soul in the morning with the greatness of thy priviledge in the enjoyment of a Sabbath and such seasons of grace Look upon thy work that day as thy reward thy duty on that day as thy greatest Dignity O what a favour what an honor what happiness doth God vouchsafe to thee in affording thee such a golden season David though a King the Head of the best people in the World esteemed it an honor to be the lowest Officer in Gods House to be a Door-keeper there to fit at the threshold as it is in the Hebrew Psal 84.10 If the Queen of Sheba could say when she saw the wealth and heard the wisdom of Solomon Happy are these thy men happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee and that hear thy wisdom and blessed be the Lord God of Israel which delighted in thee to set thee on the Throne of Israel because the Lord loved Israel for ever therefore made he thee King 1 Kings 10.8 9. mayest not thou when thou beholdest the beautiful face of thy Saviour in the glass of Ordinances and hearest the sweet delightful voyce of Jesus Christ a greater then Solomon when thou seest the delicate and plentiful provision the feast of fat things of wine on the lees well refined which he makes for his people upon better ground say Blessed are thy servants that hear thee daily watching at thy gates waiting at the posts of thy doors Prov. 8.34 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will be still praising thee And blessed be the Lord God of Israel which delighted in thee to set thee on the Throne of Israel because he loved Israel for ever therefore hath he made thee King The Ordinances of God are called an appearing before God the fruition of them is a seeing his face Capernaum because of them was said to be lifted up to Heaven Who can tell what honor it is to appear in the presence of this King or what happiness it is to see his comely countenance Those that enjoy this are lifted up to Heaven Israel was an unparallel'd people because of this incomparable priviledge For what Nation is there so great which hath God so nigh unto them Deut. 4.7 In the Ordinances of God the Christian hath sweet communion with ravishing delight in and enflamed affection to the blessed God in them he tastes God to be gracious hath the First-fruits of his Glorious and Eternal Harvest Well might the French Protestants call their place of publique meeting Paradise Well might David cry out Psal 84.1 2. 27.4 How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts At the Tabernacle God did meet David Who can tell what joyful greeting there was at that holy meeting what sweet kisses what loving embraces God gave his soul As the Ordinances are Heaven in a glass so the Lords Day is Heaven in a map This is to be valued at an high rate because therein we enjoy all the means of communion with God in the highest degree and measure without interruption The Hebrews call thee Week days prophane days but this is an holy pious day The Greeks call them working days but this is a day of sweet rest Other days are common and ordinary handmaids but this is fitly termed by the Jews the Queen of days Many Daughters have done wisely but thou hast excelled them all Many days as Lecture-days Fast-days Thanksgiving-days have done vertuously have done valiantly but thou O Queen of days hast excelled them all They like Saul have slain their thousands of Spiritual Enemies but thou hast slain as David thy ten thousands They like the people must worship afar off but thou like Moses mayest draw near go up into the mount There is none like thee whom God knoweth face to face Well may other days say to thee as the people to David Thou art
art a good Husband for thy soul I doubt not but thou esteemest thy time in the week days at so high a rate that thou darest not sqander it away in doing nothing or in that which is worse then nothing but O what worth what price wilt thou set upon an opportunity upon a Lords day How diligent wilt thou be to improve the least peice of that day God giveth thee six whole days for thine own works do not deny to him one whole day in seven Let thy conscience be Judge Is it not unrighteousness to buy by one measure which is greater and sell by another measure which is lesser when the day is consecrated to God as the goods of Ananias it is dangerous to keep back any part of it for our own use Do thou all the day long live and walk as it were in the other World Make it a Sabbath a day of rest 1. From sin and wickedness this is thy duty every day but especially on this day Every sin on a Sabbath is double the season is a great aggravation of the sin The wicked indeed are like the raging Sea which cannot rest but every day bubble up mire and dirt Isa 57.20 2. From the World and the works of thy calling Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore for it is holy unto you Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death for whosoever doth any work therein that soul shall be cut off from among his people Exod. 31.14 The Jews were to rest from works of least importance as gathering sticks he that fetched in sticks was sent out of the World with stones and of greatest concernment as building the Tabernacle and though the Christian now hath more liberty yet he hath no leave at all to pollute the day by wickedness or to prophane the day by any earthly work which might have been done before the day or may be done as well after it May I not say to thee of this day as Elisha to Geehezi Is this a time to receive money and garments and sheep and oxen and men-servants and maid-servants 2 Kings 5.26 Is the Sabbath a time for civil affairs The Sabbath day is therefore called a day of restraint Deut. 16.8 because then men are forbidden all work saith Junius As none were ever losers by laying afide their own works to attend Gods Worship he took care of Israels safety whilst they were in his service that none of their Neighbours though bitter enemies should so much as desire their Cities Exod 34.24 so none I am confident were ever gainers by inching in some part of their callings unnecessarily at the end of Gods day and by setting God aside to serve themselves the very time will be a Canker to consume their estates And as they that take Crocus into their stomachs bring up not onely ill humours but that also which would prove good nourishment So some have had experience that their prophanation of Gods day to increase their estates hath forced them to vomit up the whole God hath given thee days enough for thy calling space enough to mind it in thou needst not trespass upon his holy day upon his holy ground It was no small aggravation of Adams sin that though he had choice of fruits he would eat of the forbidden fruit so it will much increase thy sin if when thou hast choice of time for thy trade thou shouldst meddle with it on a Sabbath Reader Debet totus dies festivus à Christiano expendi in operibus bonis Grostead in precept as thy duty is to rest the whole day from wickedness and worldly work so also to imploy the whole day in Gods Worship be either praying or reading or hearing or singing or meditating or discoursing with others about the Works or Word of God Be always taken up either with publique Hoc sensu loquitur propheta Sià primo mane incipimuslauda re dâ—um continuandas esse ejus laudesad ultimam noctis partem Calvin in loc private or secret duties In the 92. Psalm that Psalm for the Sabbath v. 1 and 3. we are exhorted to shew forth Gods loving kindness in the morning and his faithfulness at evening Now we know that in Scripture sense the morning and the evening are the whole day The whole day is Gods by ordination and why should not it be his by observation God hath dedicated this day wholly to hsi own Worship now every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord. Lev. 27.28 The Pope and Church of Rome have half holy days as St. Blacies day which is holy in the forenoon onely but God and the Church of Christ have no half holy days Observe how exact God is in expressing a whole natural day From evening to evening you shall keep the Sabbath Lev. 23.32 Their days were reckoned from evening to evening from the creation but ours because Christ rose in the morning from morning to morning If thou hast any sincere delight in God and esteem of the true riches I cannot but think that thou wilt be covetous of the smallest part of Gods day and wish as R. Jose Iewish Antiq. l. 3. c. 3. Ex Buxtorf Comment mas that thy portion may be to begin the Sabbath with those of Tiberias because they began it sooner then others and to end it with those of Tsepphore because they continued it longer then others If thy soul ever met God on a Sabbath thou wilt surely be ready to say with Joshua Thou Sun stand still in Gibeon Iosh 10 12. and thou Moon in the vallies of Ajalon O that the day were longer that I might have more time to fight the Lords battels against my spiritual enemies Eightly If thou wouldst make Religion thy business on a Lords day Meditate therein on the word and works of God Consider his works This is part of the work of the day David in that Psalm for the Sabbath gives thee a pattern O Lord how great are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep Psa 92.5 Is a dishonour to a workman to make excellent peices and to manifest abundance of Skill and Art and ingenuity and then not to have them taken notice of God hath done his mighty works to be remembred and wondred at It s said of Pythagoras that he lived sequestred from men in a cave for a whole year together that he might meditate on the abstruse points of Philosophy I wish thee to an easier and pleasanter task to sequester thy self some time every Lords day to ponder the infinite perfections which appear in the operations of his hand God will be both admired and magnified by his people on earth as well as in Heaven which none can do but those that seriously consider his works Men have been much wondred at for some peculiar rare works though in them a Christian should look farther even to God the Author of their skill and wisdom The very Greeks acknowledged somewhat like this that all
my meditation all the day Psa 119. The reason why some men profit so little by the word is want of meditation If a man eat his food and as soon as it is in his stomach vomit it up again it is no wonder if he get little strength by it or if he pine and consume away Truly if Sermons enter in at one ear and out at the other making no stay with thee I shall not marvail if they work no change in thee CHAP. XXII Brief Directions for the Sanctification of the Lords day from morning to night REader beside those general directions which I have largely insisted on I shall annex here some short directions how thou mayst spend a Lords day from the begining to the end of it as may be most for the honour of God and the furthering thine own everlasting good 1. Be sure thou takest some paines with thy heart the afternoon or evening at least before to prepare thy soul for the ensuing Sabbath As our whole life should be a preparation for death yet the nearer we draw to the night of our dissolution the more gloriously as the setting Sun we should shine with holiness so in the whole Week we should be preparing for the Lords day but the more the day doth approach the more our preparation must increase The bigger the Vessel is the more Water may be carried from the Fountain According to the measure of the Sacks which the Patriarchs carried to Joseph so were they filled with Corn by Joseph preparation doth not onely fit the heart for grace but also widen the heart that it may receive much of the Spirit of God Some Servants when they are to bake in the Morning put their Wood in the Oven over night and thereby it burneth both the sooner and the better Men make much the more riddance of their work who being to travail a great journey load their Carts or put up their things and lay them ready over night If thou art a Christian thy experience will tell thee that after thou hast on a Saturday called thy self to account for thy carriage on the foregoing Week bewailed thy miscarriages before the Lord in particular thy playing the Truant on former Lords days when thou shouldst have been learning those Lessons which Christ hath set thee in his Law and hast been earnest with God for pardon of thy sins and a sanctified improvement of the approaching Sabbath I say thy experience cannot but teach thee that thy profit after such preparation will make thee abundant amends for thy pains and that thou hast the best visits the sweetest kisses when thy lips thy heart are thus made clean beforehand 2. If the weakness of thy body do not hinder rise earlier on the Lords day then ordinary When the Israelites were encompassing Jericho on the seventh day they rose early in the morning and according to many Expositors it was on the Sabbath day the walls of Jericho fell down Josh 6.15 One main work which thou hast to do on a Lords day is to batter down the strong holds of sin to conquer those Canaanites which would keep thee out of the promised land do thou rise early for this end He that riseth and setteth out early goeth a considerable part of his way before others awake It s sordid to lie lazing and to turn upon thy bed as a door on the hinges and never the farther off upon any day butmost sad and sinfull on a Lords day 3. When thou first awakest turn up thy heart to God in praise for his protection the night past for the light of another day especially of his own day and in Prayer for the light of his countenance and for assistance in every duty and his direction throughout the day As thou art rising if no other more profitable Subject offer it selfe to thy thoughts Meditate how the night is spent the day is at hand it concerneth thee therefore to put off the works of darkness and to put on the armor of light When thou thinkest on the nakedness of thy body how unseemly it would be for thee to walk up and down without raiment do not forget the nakedness of thy soul by sin and how uncomely thou art in the sight of God without the robes of Christs righteousness and the graces of the Holy Ghost 4. When thou art drest let nothing hinder thee from thy secret devotion When thou art in thy closet consider of the price which God hath put into thy hand the value and worth of a Lords day the weight and concernment of the duties therein and the account thou art ere long to give for every Sabbath and season of grace These thoughts as heavy weights on a clock would make thee move more swiftly in the work of the day After some time spent in meditation in some short yet reverent and hearty petitions intreat Gods help in the present and subsequent duties of the day After which read some portion of the Scripture and pour out thy soul in prayer Get thy heart effectually possessed with this truth That God must work his own work in thee and for thee or it will never be done that as the Spirit moved on the waters at first and then the living creatures were formed so the Spirit must move upon the waters of Ordinances before they can produce or increase spirituall life Hereby thou wilt be stirred up to more fervent supplication for and more importunate expectation of help from heaven In thy prayers remember all the assemblies of the Saints that they may see Gods beauty power and glory as they have sometimes beheld them in his sanctuary Intreat God to cloath his ordinances with his own strength that they may be mighty through him for the bringing in and building up many souls In speciall when thou art at prayer think of the Preachers of the Gospel Conceive that thou hearest every one of them speaking to thee as Paul to his Romans I beseech thee for the Lord Iesus Christs sake and for the love of the spirit that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me Rom. 15.30 Their work is of infinite weight it is God-work Soul-work Temple-work Not one of them but may say with Nehemiah on a Lords day upon much greater reason O I am doing a great work Nehem. 6.3 Their opposition is great The Devill will do what may be to hinder them the world hates them their own hearts will distub them Their strength is small their graces are weak Alas what can they do O therefore pray for them 5. After thy secret duties thou mayst if nature require refresh thy body with convenient food Thy God alloweth thee to cherish though not to overcharge thy outward man I shall speak to thy carriage about eating and drinking in the twenty third chapter and therefore omit it here Vide Family duties in Cap. 27 6. In the next place it will be fit that thou call thy family together and
enter upon family duties Namely to read the word of God to call upon the name of God and to sing to the prayse of God 7. Let as many of thy family as can convâ—â—â—enny be spared accompany thee to publick Ordinances Vide more of this in Cap. 27. Remember the command Thou thy Son thy daughter thy man-servant and maid-servant and all within thy gate Do not pamper their bodies and starve the souls of thy houshold It is Recorded of Dr. Chaterton Mr. of Emannel Colledge that he never caused any of his Servants to stay at home on a Lords day barely to dress meat be able to say with Cornelins who feared the Lord with all his house we are all here present before God 8. As thou art going to the place of publique Ordinances consider with thy self that thou art going to converse not with men but with God even with that God who searcheth the heart who will not be mocked and who is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity that thou mayst hereby be quickened unto uprightness and seriousness and to dart up some ejaculatory prayer to God for aid and assistance 9. In every part of publique worship carry thy self with reverence humility love faith and sincerity Hear sing pray receive the Sacrament as one that doth all in Gods sight as one that is working for his immortal soul and as one that within a few days shall enter the gates of death and never have a season more for such sacred duties Depart not from the Church till all be done In a Court of civil Judicature thou willt stay till the Court riseth If thou wouldst have Gods blessing with thee do not leave it behind thâ—â—â—â— As thou comest from the Church meditate on what thou hast heard chew that meat which the Minister hath put into thy mouth thereby thou mayst get much spiritual nourishment 10. When thou art come home usually let nothing hinder from prayer either in thy family or closet wherein I would advise thee to turn the heads of the Sermon and Chapters read into Petitions as also to beg pardon of thy wandrings in the Worship of God and beseech him who with his own hand wrote the Law in two Tables that he would write the word Read and Preached in the Tables of thine heart 11. At Dinner take heed of excess whereby thy body will be unfitted to serve thy soul yet do not pinch or punish thy body because the day is a day of joy and delight I would wish thee to watch thy heart and tongue all the day long but especially at meals that thou mayst not think thine own thoughts nor speak thine own words If thy self or others start any unseasonable or earthly discourse at Table give conscience leave to speak to thee as Judas to the Apostles What needeth this wast What needeth this wast of precious time of so rich a treasure as every part of this day is Let the first dish at Table be Gods I mean when a blessing is desired let presently some savory discourse be offered hereby fin may be prevented The Jews had two notable defeats on the Sabbath day because they would not defend themselves Iosephus l. 12. c. 8. l. 14 c 8 the first defeat was by Antiochus the second by Pompey the Great Reader if thou wouldst not have Satan to foil thee on a Lords day keep a strict watch over thy thoughts words and works After Dinner as time will give leave either Sing or Pray with thy family or repeat what thou hast heard or busie thy self in Godly conference chiefly about what was Read or Preached that morning 12. Neglect not afternoon Ordinances Some Persons are like some Physitians Fore-noon men they must be sought to in the morning onely if you would find them about Religious duties Friend If thy soul ever met thy Saviour in publique duties thou canst not but love and prize them at an high rate In the close of the day sometimes God sendeth in the cheif blessing of the day A Sabbath Tide hath brought in many a good draught of Fish Be present at serious in publique Ordinances As an error in the first concoction can never be mended in the second so an error or carelesness in publique cannot be mended by carefulness in private 13. When thou returnest from publique Ordinances take some time to meditate on the word or Works of God thou mayst read over the eighth particular in the twenty one Chapter to help thee therein 14. Do not lessen thy secret or private duties on that day let them rather be increased then diminished The Offerings under the Gospel were Prophesied to be greater then under the Law Under the Law one Lamb was to be offered Under the Gospel six Lambs Numb 28. Ezek. 46. 15. Call thy Children and Servants to account what they have learned that day and explain what they understand not hereby thou wilt benefit both thy self and others Chemnitius observeth that our blessed Saviour in the 4. of Mark and 14. of Luke Examen de dieb fest after he had instructed the people as a publique Preacher on the Sabbath day did examine and teach his Apostles as a private Master of a Family 16. At Evening Sing Pray and if thou canst repeat the heads at least of both the Sermons Plutarch reporteth of a River which runneth sweet in the morning and bitter at night Let it not be said of thee that thy Morning was like Nebuchadnezzars Image of Gold and thy evening like the feet of it of clay 17. Before thou goest to rest examine thy self what thou hast got or lost that day Reflect upon the carriage of thy heart in the several duties as also what welcome thou hadst at the Throne of grace what covered dishes were brought thee by the spirit from Gods own Table that accordingly thou mayst beg pardon or return praise If thou hast been melted with Gods affection obtained any strength against thy corruptions or received any degree of grace take heed of ascribing the glory to thy self In Justinians law it was decreed That no Work-man should set up his name within the body of that building which he made out of another mans cost If thou didst pray or hear or sing or read or meditate with any life or delight seriousness or sincerity in any measure agreeable to his Word and Will all was from God there was not a stone used by thee towards this spiritual building but it was taken out of his Quarrey As he is the Author so let him have the honour 18. Be watchful over thy self at the latter end of the day with all imaginable circumspection that the last part of the day may be the best part of the day Some Souldiers prevail in the day but lose all again at night because they are slothful when their Quarters are beaten up by their Enemies Some lose at night what they got in the day like Hannibal they know how to obtain a
of God in Ordinances but also the Marrow of his day that no Lords day may satisfie me without the Lord of the day Alass what is the best time without the Rock of eternity what is the best day without the Ancient of days what are the Ordinances of God without the God of Ordinances what are Sabbaths Sermons Sacraments and Seasons of Grace without the dearest Saviour but as broken Cisterns glorious Dreams or guilded nothings I have read of a good soul who answered his Friend Speak to me while you will no words can satisfie except you mention Christ write to me what you will it will not satisfie except in your Letters I may read Christ O that in no Sermon I might be contented till I hear Christ and that in no Chapter I might be pleased till I can read Christ that as the Needle touched with the Load-stone never resteth till it turn to the North so my heart may be reâ—â— less in holy duties till it turneth to and hath fellowship with the Lord of Heaven The Lords day is an excellent resemblance of my future blessedness wherein I shall enjoy my Saviour fully and my God shall be all in all to me Lord let never this day pass without some taste of those celestial pleasures Meditation on the Works and Word of my God being a duty most in its prime and season on a Sabbath day I beg that what time I spare from publique private or secret performances I may imploy to this purpose that I may behold my God to be infinite in wisdom power and goodness in his foot-steps of creation and stand amazed at that rare Workmanship those curious contrivances of his which Angels look into with admiration that appear in his Master-peice that work of Redemption and for his word let my heart be able to say with David O how love I thy law it is my meditation all the day I wish that I may watch over my thoughts words Watchfulness and actions all the day long in special that as when the holy things belonging to the Sanctuary were to be removed they were covered all over lest any dust should soil them so I may cover my heart with such circumspection that no dust of sin may cleave to it O that I might be so wise and watchful that there may not be the least minute of the day wherein I may not either do or receive some good Lord let no Sabbath pass without some saving good to my precious soul I desire Finally Conclusion of the day that I may not lose the heat of the day in the cool of the Evening I mean that what good If gain from my God through his Ordinances in the day may not be lost by my negligence at night but that as a wise Commander I may then double my Guard and expect with much importunity some evening dews of comfort and grace O that I might so keep the Sabbath of my God chuse the things that please him and take hold of his Covenant that I might so turn away my foot from the Sabbath from doing my pleasure on his holy day Is 56.4 5. and 58.13 and call the Sabbath my delight the holy of the Lord that I may have with the Eunuch within the House of my God a name better then of Sons and Daughters even an everlasting name that shall not be cut off Amen A Good Wish to the Lords day HAil thou that art highly favoured of God Luk. 1.28 thou map of Heaven thou golden spot of the week thou Market-day of souls thou Day-break of eternal brightness thou Queen of days the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among days I may say to thee what the Angel said to Daniel Dan. 9.23 O day greatly beloved Psa 45. Thou art fairer then all the Children of time grace is poured into thy lips God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of gladness above thy fellows Of the Jewish Sabbaths and other Festivals in comparison of thee it may be spoken They perish but thou remainest and they all wax old as a Garment Heb. 1.11 12. And as a vesture hast thou folded them up and they are changed but thou shalt maugre the malice of men and Devils continue the same and thy years shall not fail As the Temple succeeded and exceeded the Tabernacle this was fleeting that was fixed so dost thou all former Sabbaths they were but morning stars to usher in thee the Sun and then to disappear Other Festivals in all their Royalty are not arrayed like unto thee All the graces triumph in thee all the Ordinances conspire to enrich thee the Father ruleth thee the Son rose upon thee the Spirit hath overshadowed thee Thus is it done to the day which the King of Heaven delighteth to honour Thou hast not onely a common blessing with other days by the law of nature but a special blessing above all other days from the love of thy Maker Let thousands mark thee for their new birth-day Exod. 12.42 be thou a day as it was said of that night to the Jews much to be Remembred much to be observed to the Lord for bringing many out of worse then Egyptian bondage Esther 8.16 be thou to them a day of light and gladness of joy and honour and a good day On thee light was created the Holy Ghost descended life hath been restored Satan subdued sin mortified souls sanctified the Grave Death and Hell conquered O how do men and women flutter up and down on the Week-days as the Dove on the waters and can find no rest for their souls till they come to thee their Ark till thou put forth thy hand and take them in O how do they sit under thy shadow with great delight and find thy fruit sweet to their taste O the mountings of mind the ravishing happiness of heart the solace of soul which on thee they enjoy in the blessed Saviour They are sorry when the days shorten for thy sake they wish for thee before thou comest they welcome thee when thou art come and they enjoy so much of heaven in thee that thence they love and look and long the more for their eternal Sabbath Go forth O thou fairest among Women and be thou fruitful in bringing forth Children to thy Maker and Husband Gen. 24.60 Be thou the Mother of thousands and of millions and let thy seed possess the Gate of them that hate them Do thou like Rachel and Leah build up the House of Israel do thou worthily in Ephratah and be thou famous in Bethlehem Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O thou mighty and gracious day and in thy Majesty ride prosperously because of meekness righteousness and truth let thy right hand teach the terrible things let thine arrows be sharp in the hearts spiritual enemies whereby the people may fall under thee Psa 132. The Lord hath chosen thee he hath desired thee for his habitation
eyes shall behold strange women and thine heart shall utter perverse things Pro. 23.20 Excess turnes men into swine and then they are fit for legions of divels Intemperance calls off the guard thy watchfulness and then the enemies may enter thick and threefold They that are not sober cannot be vigilant 1 Pet. 5.8 How unfit is a man in his intemperance for any duty Ambrose observes Tabulas legis quas accepit abstinentia conteri fercit ebriteas Amh. cap 6 de Ebri Aug. Confess lib 10. As Moses received the tables fasting so he broke them when the people had been feasting judging them at that time very unfit to hear the law It may be thou art not a drunkard but yet usest to exceed in eating Austin avoided the sin of drunkenness sed crapula non nunquam surrepit servo tuo he sometimes transgrest in eating but Lord saith he thou hast taught me to use my meat as my medicine Let thy rational faculty command thy sensitive consider how contrary to reason it is for a man like a Dolphin to have his mouth in his maw and like the Ass-fish Epicharmus cals the Ass-fish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a one as varieth from the ordinary course of nature to have his heart in his belly and how contrary to Religion it is to have the Kitchin for thy Church a Table for thine Altar and the Belly for thy God Luke 21.34 Take heed lest your hearts be overcharged with surfeting and drunkenness and so that day come upon you unawares God alloweth us sometimes a liberal use as in days of Thanksgiving and at Marriages but never a lustful abuse of his Creatures Secondly Thy duty is to be temperate as to the quality of thy diet Though here no certain quality of food can be set down God allowing something to the conditions and much more to the weakly and sickly constitutions of men yet in general this must be observed that we make not provision for the flesh Rom. 13.12 We may preserve the flesh but we must not provide for the flesh Our Enemie is strong enough already we need not put more Weapons into his hands To live after the flesh is the sign of a sinner Rom. 8.13 It s intemperance for a person in health to study and strive how he may gratifie his palate The Spirit of God cals it a sowing to the flesh Gal. 6.7 The Husbandman plots contrives and labours how he may sow his seed to his best advantage A Fleshmonger will be meditating in the morning before he riseth with what art his dinner may be so sauced and drest that if possble he may excell a beast in carnal delights he is sowing early that he may reap liberally The Christian may take his food but his food must not take him It s sinful to be given to our appeties It s not un lawful to eat dainties but it is unlawful to set the mind upon them We may receive them into our stomachs but not into our hearts When thou sittest to eat with a Ruler consider diligently what is before thee and put a Knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite be not desirous of his dainties they are deceitful meat Pro. 23.1 2 3. In which words we may take notice 1. Of a supposition If thou be a man given to appetite For a man to be given to Wine it notes his extraordinary love to and likeing of that liquor For a man to be given to Women it speaks his excessive care and endeavour to enjoy that brutish and ungodly pleasure For a man to be given to prayer Psa 109.4 it speaks prayer to be his trade his imployment the work which he chiefly minds and putsueth For a man to be given to God Rom. 12.1 it notes the soul to be wholly at Gods service to go when God bids him go to come when God bids him come so for a man to be given to his appetite it implyeth that all his projects are to please his palate he is a caterer for the flesh wholly subject to that sence altogether at the devotion of his appetite our appetites are given to us but we must not be given to our appetites as Heliogabalus who was served in at on meal with 7000. Fish and 5000. Fowles And 2. here is an imposition Be not besirous of his dainties this is a disswasion from the former irregular affection We may eat and digest dainties but we may not crave and desire dainties God made man not for fleshly dainties but for spiritual delights It is a beastly principle and practice to be at the command of provender as Apicius the Roman who wrote ten books of directions how to set forth a feast with all sorts of dainties and it s said the expences of his Kitchin amounted to two millions of Gold 3. Here is a position For they are deceitful meat The desire of dainties is a deadly desire There is murder under the meat Ordinary nay Manna extraordinary fare would not satisfie the sweet-tooth'd Israelites they lusted for quailes but God gave them their desire they had flesh and death together Some read the former verse thus Thou puttest a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite To pamper the body is the way to destroy soul and body too Dainties entice to excess He that erreth in the quality of his food will quickly exceed in the quantity They that plot night and day to please the flesh declare publiquely that they have nothing of the spirit sensual not having the spirit Jude v. 19. The flesh and the spirit are like two Buckets in a Well as the one mounts up the other falls down There is a flat opposition between sowing to the flesh and sowing to the Spirit Gal. 6.7 Nay the Apostle is express in the mention of this kind of intemperate men They serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies Rom. 15. All the Servants of Christ are Soveraigns over the flesh Ordinances are ineffectual to persons that are sensual Rain falls off as it falls on upon an Oyled post When the waters of the Sanctuary flowed the Miry places that is sensual hearts could not be healed Ezek. 47.11 Behemoth lyeth in the Fens that is saith an Expositour the Devil in fleshly men Job 40.21 Epicurus saith one whilst he favoureth his fleshly palate doth neglect the heavenly palace There is a distinction of diet to be considered in regard of bodies in regard of estates and also in regard of times all which piety and prudence must direct the Christian about But sure I am it is a duty to keep under the body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I club it down beat it black and blue and to bring it into subjection 1 Cor. 9.27 They that acquaint us with the Jewish customs tell us that their Ordinary meals were neither many in a day nor costly they were called Arucoth which signifieth such ordinary fare as travellers have
who cannot hear what is spoken by reason of the clacking and noise which is made there Christ calleth and the Spirit of God cryeth to them but their eares are stopt with earth that they hear not As we say of fire and water they are good Servants but bad Masters Keep them within their bounds and they are exceeding useful but when they go beyond their bounds how hurtful are they What mischief hath fire done in England what sad work hath water made in Holland The same is true of our particular callings they are faithful Servants but they are dreadful Masters Keep them within their limits and they are helpful to our selves our relations and our neighbours but suffer them once to transgress their bounds and they will make miserable work they will rob God wrong the soul nay often ruine it eternally When those that were born slaves and servants come once to be Kings and Commanders they are ever the worst Tyrants Now if thou wouldst not have thy particular calling to incroach upon thy general take heed that it steal not away thy heart nor thy time 1. Take heed that thy particular calling steal not away thy heart from thy general calling If the Mistris keep her distance and maintain her authority over her maidens she may find them obedient and serviceable but if she grow fond of them and familiar with them they will grow saucy and incroach upon her Reader keep thy inward distance and maintain that authority which God hath given thee over the things of this life and then all will be well butif once thou doatest on them and delightest in them expect to have them thine hinderances in all holy exercises The World may have thy hands but it must not have thy heart Thy actions may be about thy particular calling but thy affections must be above it Set your affections on things above and not on things below Collos 3.2 Thy occupation is as the first Adam of the earth carthly but thy conversation must be like the second Adam the Lord from Heaven heavenly A Christian should follow the things of this World with such a slightness and indifferency of Spirit as Wicked men do the things of a better World The holy Angels behold our earthly affairs but as strangers to them It is happy for him that can carry himself towards his own estate as if it were another mans An heathen could say I do not give but onely lend my self to my business Surely then a Saint should go through th World as one in a deep study Rebus non me trodo sedcousmodo Senec de benef his mind being the whilst intent upon a better object Brutish Horseflies fasten on Dunghils Swallows make their nests of earth They who have no Heaven hereafter may give their hearts to the earth but Christian if thou lovest thy soul though riches increase set not thine heart upon them Love not the World nor the things of the World Psa 62.10 This is a certain truth the hotter thy love is to the World the colder it is to the Lord. When the sap of Worldliness is in a man he will never flame well heavenward The Ship may sail in the water and be safe but when the water getteth into the Ship it sinketh it Thou mayst work about thy earthly affairs and all may be well but if thine affairs once work themselves into thee then thou art in danger Thy God alloweth thee to warm thy self at the Sun of creature comforts but not to turn Persian and worship it The Riviers lightly salute the earth as they pass along and make no stay but pass forward to the Ocean Thy affections should but slightly touch the earth weeping for worldly crosses as if thou wepst not and rejoycing for Worldly comforts as if thou rejoycedst not and so pass on to the Ocean of thy happiness It s said Germanicus reigned in the Romans hearts Tiberius onely in the Provinces Thy general must reign in the City in thy heart thy particular calling onely in the Suburbs of thy hands Reader if the World ever get into the throne of thine inward man fare wel all Religon I have read of a custom among the Germans to know whether their children be bastards or not to throw them in Fluvium Rhenum into the River Rhine If they floated above then they acknowledged them to be their own but if the waters carried them away then they esteemed them as Bastards Truely Reader if thou canst float above the waters of thy worldly imployments thou art a child of God but if that carry thee away by lying near thy affections look to thy self and fear thy condition It is not the greatness of mans estate or employment so much as the nearness of it to his heart which will hinder holiness A small hat held near our eyes will hinder our sight of the Sun which a great mountain a far off will not do A little near the affections will hinder our sight of Christ when thousands far from the heart may as imployed further it Besides the closer we lay the flowers of our earthly mercies to our breasts the sooner they wither A nosegay in the hand will continue fresh and sweet as is generally observed much longer then when it is stuck in the bosome 2. That thy particular calling may not incroach upon thy general be careful that it steal not away thy time Thy piety Reader and thy prudence is so to order thine affairs relating to heaven and earth to God and thy family that they may not interfere or cross each other A wise foreceast will much help thee in this particular As to the winding a skein of silk he that begins at the right end will make quick riddance of it so to the dispatching of Wordly imployments that they may not prove heavenly impediments he that hath discretion to forecast them well may do very much However thy duty is to give the affairs of thy soul and thy God precedency I know the Devil and thy corrupt heart will often justle and quarrel with thy Closet and Family duties by suggesting to thee that they must of necessity be omitted because otherwise such and such concernments of thy calling upon which the welfare of thy self Wife and Children doth depend will be neglected As when Moses spake of the Israelites sacrificing to God then Pharoah spake of work to put them off so when thou art thinking of entring upon the performance of duties whether in secret or private thy back friend the evil one will send thee a message either by thy Wife or friend or thine unregenerate part that some other affairs of weight call for thy company elsewhere and therefore a dispensation must be granted thee at present as to thy solemn devotion Friend if thou lovest Jesus Christ take heed of hearkening to such temptations let the flesh but once obtain such a conquest over thee and thou shalt hear of it again it will pursue its victory to
for ought I know by thy going to Church without thy company thou mayest lose the blessing and efficacy of the Ordinances How canst thou expect that God should have any care of thy soul when thou tramplest the precious souls of others under thy feet which he hath given thee special charge of O Reader think of it Are not thy children and Servants strangers to God and alienated from his life through the ignorance that is in them And is not the Ministery of the Word appointed to turn men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God How shall they be converted if the Ordinances of God be neglected Though a person be dangerously diseased if he observe his purging days according to the advice of his able Physician there may be hopes of recovery but if he neglect the means if he perish it will be no marvel If thy children and Servants are holy canst thou expect the fire of Grace should continue or encrease whilst thou takest away the fuel Dost thou think that Spiritual Life can be maintained without Spiritual Meat In private also be watchful over thy Family that all under thy charge be present at holy duties as Singing Praying repetition of Sermons and the like Thou art careful that in the Week days they do work diligently and why shouldst thou not be as careful that they do Gods work on his day Is thy work of greater concernment then Gods or dost thou love thy self the poor withering World I mean above the blessed God Examine those who waited on the Word of God in publique what good they have got what lessons they have learned from the great Master of Assemblies Our Saviour after Sermon asked those of his Family Have ye understood all these Sayings Mat. 13.5 Hereby thou wilt make them more attentive in publique Ordinances and better their memories as also by this means thou mayest quicken thy own affections Suffer none of thy house to spend any part of the day either in idleness pastimes or worldly business Thou art accountable to God as well for sins of permission as for sins of commission and it will another day be imputed to thy charge if the day be prophaned by thy carelesness If thou wouldst not suffer for others do not suffer others in sin Fifthly Let Discipline be set up in thy Family When Jacob would dedicate his house to God he commandeth all his Family to change their garments and put away their strange gods Their change of garments did signifie that change of heart and life which he desired should be his housholds livery Gen. 35.1 2. As the Governor of a Family must be a Priest to pray and a Prophet to teach so also a King to rule to be a terror to evil doers and an encouragement to them that do well in his family Let not wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacle Job 11.14 Zophar meaneth not a natural or personal though so the word is sometimes taken as 2 Cor. 5.1 but a domestical and civil Tabernacle Though sin may come into thy house by children or servants commission yet it must not dwell there but be cast out by severe reprehension Wickedness is a bold guest it will come uncalled but it must be more bold then welcome it must not dwell in thy Tabernacle It is said of Cato he would bear with faults any where rather then at home Bishop Jewel at night called his servants to an account how they had spent the day and after prayer admonished them accordingly Thy duty is to warn the unruly 1 Thess 5.13 to acquaint them of sin how near and dear soever to thee with the dishonor they bring thereby to God the disgrace to the Gospel and the disadvantage and destruction to their own souls If the fault be the first or of infirmity or not so great a sin as to waste the conscience and poyson thy family by its pattern let the medicine thou appliest for its cure be milde Earthen glasses must be tenderly washed when iron vessels must be scoured with wisps Of some have compassion making a difference Jude v. 22. Who would that is wise give the same physick to an infant which would purge a lusty grown person Isa 28.27 28. For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument neither is a cart-wheel turned about with the Cummin but the fitches are beaten out with a staff and the Cummin with a rod. If the crime be crimsom and scandalous or repeated or justified rebuke sharply hard knots must have strong and sharp wedges Others save with fear pulling them out of the fire Jude v. 23. In such a case weak physick will onely stir not remove the disease and thereby leave the Patient in a worse condition then it found him Nettles touched gently sting the more A prick with a rapier is more dangerous sometimes then a wound with a sword because the latter wideneth the orifice and thereby maketh the place more open to the plaister which should heal it It is much better for them to be preserved in brine and pickle then to rot in flesh-pleasing and fondness Kindeness and bearing with such in thy family is like the kiss of Judas to Christ a betraying them and like Joabs salutation to Abner destroying and killing them Be sure therefore not to bear with any under thy charge in sin Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them He is a drone unserviceable to his house his hive who hath lost this sting of reproof Pious Asa would not suffer sin in his own Mother Asa removed his mother Maachah from being Queen because she made an Idol in a grove and Asa cut down her Idol and stamped it and burnt it at the brook Kidron 2 Chron. 15.16 Patient Job would not suffer sin in his own Wife Thou speakest like a foolish woman Job 2.6 Plain-hearted Jacob would not suffer sin his his own Children Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the Land Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruel Gen. 34.30 and 49.7 David would not abide sin in a Servant Psal 101.7 nor Edward the sixth in his own Sister Let thy reproofs against sin be mingled with and so managed that they may manifest love to to their souls When the nail is dipt in grease it entreth without renting the board When reprehension is dipt in and tipt with love it will probably enter the heart without cutting it in pieces with rage and revenge Prudence may do much towards the advancement of the offendors profit in this particular Though thy words should be soft yet thine Arguments should be hard against the sin committed To this end let thy reproofs be as near as may be in Scripture phrases that the offendor may see it is not so much man as God who rebuketh him for his fault The Word is a hammer if well laid on it will drive the nail of
Families page 523 Mind Religious duties in their Families page 529 Prayer must be in Families page 530 The Scriptures must be read in Families page 533 Psalmes must be sung in Families page 536 Governours of Families must give a good pattern page 538 All in a Family must be imployed page 549 The Governour of a Family must take care that his whole Family sanctifie the Lords day page 542 He must set up Discipline in his Family page 545 He must maintain love in his Family page 553 Godly Fear requisite in holy duties page 120 Fervency requisite in Prayer page 172 G THe things of God are the things of the greatest weight page 53 Godliness taken two ways page 8 9 Godliness Vide Religion Godly men meet with much opposition in the way to heaven page 65 Godliness must be our principal business page 94 95 In every part of our lives page 102 103 H A Good Harvest Gods gift page 485 486 It is our duty to Hear the word page 200 Evil Frames hinder us in Hearing page 205 Prejudice against the Preacher must be laid aside by them that would profit by Hearing page 206 to 211 The Heart must be affected with the weight efficacy and excellency of the word which we Hear page 212 Prayer requisite before hearing page 216 Right ends in Hearing to be minded page 221 False ends in hearing to be avoided page 220 Worldly thoughts hinder our Hearing page 221 222 We must hear as in Gods presence page 223 We must pray after we have Heard Vide the Word God looks much after our Hearts page 17 170 Heaven not to be obtained without diligence labour page 60 to 65 Humility required in prayer page 167 168 I IDolaters are zealous and prodigal page 418 419 Idleness the evils of it page 552 Intemperance a great sin page 417 The mischeifs of Intemperance page 418 419 Joy in God seasonable on a Lords day page 364 L LOrds day of divine institution page 337 338 God takes special notice how we keep the Lords day page 339 Preparation needful for a Lords day page 342 Wherein preparation to a Lords day consisteth page 343 to 346 Lords day a great priviledge page 348 Lords day a spicial season to get and increase grace in page 353 Publique Ordonances chiefly to be minded on the Lords day page 356 to 362 The whole Lords day to be sanctified page 372 Brief Directions for the Sanctification of the whole Lords day page 381 to 391 A good Wish about the sanctification of the Lords day page 391 A good Wish to the Lords day page 396 Lords day Vide Families and Meditation Love of Christ Vide Christs Love to Christians tried page 273 Love a help to Godliness page 553 M. MAn created for Religion Vide Epistles and page 39 Good Counsel about Marriage page 425 Meekness requisite in a Wife page 562 Meditation needful before prayer page 138 Meditation a duty on a Lords day page 377 Ministers must be godly page 6 and 498 A Minister must be industrious page 6 7. 502 People must pray for their Minister page 219 220 Ministers must act from right principles and for right ends page 499 500 Ministers must be able 501. Compassionate 504. Faithful 501 Full of courage 505. Ministers must Preach plainly purely prudently and powerfully page 507 to 510 Ministers must pray for their people page 510 Administer Sacraments 511. Chatechise 510. Visit people page 512 Ministers must be exceeding tende what example they give their people ib. Ministers must not be discouraged if their labours be not successful page 513 Ministers must give the glory of their success to God page 514 N HOw a Christian in Natural Actions may make Religion his business page 400 A good wish about Natural Actions page 441 O OBedience required page 322 341 Obedience must be in heart and life page 17 18 Obedience must be Canonical page 19 Ordinances their ends and use page 130 131 Ordinances Vide duties and Lords day P GOd hath an extrodinary respect for a Penitent soul page 277 278 Perseverance required page 35 Perseverance in prayer page 189 Pleasures Vide Recreations The excellency of Prayer page 137 138 The Prevalency of Prayer page 141 142 Prayer hath a twofold Preheminence above all other duties page 138 The Nature of Prayer page 140 The Antecedents to Prayer page 147 Meditation an help to Prayer page 148 Meditation of our sins wants and miseries needful before Prayer page 149 to 155 Meditation of God helpful to Prayer page 155 Quickening and stirring up of grace needful to Prayer page 157 Sin hindreth Prayer page 159 160 Anger hindreth Prayer page 161 Worldly Distractions hinder Prayer page 162 Gods Word must be the rule for the matter of our Prayers page 163 The Person Praying must be holy page 165 Prayer must be Vpright 170. Humble 167. Fervent 172 Constant page 178 What it is to Pray Continually page 180 A Caution about fervency in Prayer page 176 Its an ill sign to be Prayerless page 184 185 After Prayer wait for an Answer page 186 Means must be used for the obtaining our Prayers page 191 Preparation to Religious duties needful page 343 Preparation to Hearing Vide Hearing Preparation to the Lords day Vide Lords day R REcreations are lawful 446. they must not be our occupation 450 they must be used for good ends 454. In due season page 456 Recreations are unseasonable on a Lords day page 457 458 and in times of the Churches sufferings page 461 A good wish about Recreations page 462 Religion must be our business page 10 What Religion is page 13 14 The several derivations of the word Religion page 13 What it is to make it ones business 21. It implieth to give it precedency 22. To pursue it with industry 26. To persevere with constancy page 35 Why Religion must be made our business page 39 Religion is the end of mans creation page 40 Religion is a work of the greatest weight 45 to 49. It is Soul-work 49. It is God-work 52. It is Eternity-work page 57 The necessity of making Religion our business page 60 to 70 Religion much neglected page 72 The neglect of Religion bewailed page 73 79 Our greatest care must be about Religious duties page 108 Vide Godliness and Duties Repentance consisteth in mourning for sin and turning from sin page 276 280 S SAints called Lillies why page 268 Saints shamed by sinners page 88 89 92 93 Scripture a great mercy page 198 Vide Hearing and the Word Sacrament of the Lords Supper a seal of the Covenant page 251 The Sacrament a resemblance of Christs death 252. An evidence of his love 253. A great Supper in four respects page 253. The excellency of the Sacrament page 255 Much care about the Supper page 255 256 The danger of receiving the Supper unworthily page 256 to 262 Christ takes notice how men prepare for the Sacrament page 257 Preparation requisite before it 264 265. Wherein preparation for it consisteth page 266 to 279 Our dependance must be on Christ for assistance after our greatest preparation for the Sacrament page 282 Subjects to be meditated on at a Sacrament 285. Christs sufferings 286 to 293. Christs love 293 to 300. Our own sins ib. Graces to be exercised at the Sacrament 300. Faith in its threefold act 303 to 310. Love 312. Repentance page 315 What a Christian should do after a Sacrament page 319 320 Men to be very careful in the choice of Servants page 526 527 Sinners very zealous for sin page 87 88 89 Sobriety vide Temperance Sleep how to be ordered page 437. Its ends 440. Quantity page 437 Season page 439 Soul-work weighty page 49 The welfare of the body dependeth on the Soul page 51 The Souls excellency page 50 T. TEmperance commended page 416 Vide Natural Actions and Eating Thankfulness enjoyned 413 415. For the Word 236. For the Sacrament page 319 U. VNgodliness brancheth it self into Atheism and superstition page 1 2 Uprightness acceptable to God page 171 Unthankfulness page 408 W GOod Counsel about the Choice of a Wife page 525 526 Word why called the grace of God page 203 Gods power alone can make the Word effectual page 217 218 When the Word cometh with power then it profiteth page 229 Its woful to live under the Word and not to be changed by it page 231 We must bless God for his Word page 237 The Word must be obeyed page 240 241 242 Word Vide Hearing Worldlings eager for the World page 74 to 78 Our Worship of God must be inward and outward page 14 to 19 Man made for the Worship of God Vide Man God is very choice in his Worship page 109 110 Gods Worship must be according to his Word page 19 20 God alone the object of Worship page 16 Its ill to dally with Gods Worship page 112 Much Watchfulness required in the Worship of God page 113 Y YOuth Vide Family instruction FINIS