his servants upon is reasonable and easie and pleasant and delightful 't is the works of Piety and Charity that he requires to love God above all and our Neighbours as our selves These are the two great commands and upon these hang all the Law and the Prophets Mat. 22.37 c. Love is the fulfilling of the Law Rom 13.10 And is not this a pleasant and delightful duty and is it not reasonable that we should love God our great Benefactor in whom we live and move and have our being and our Brethren that are of the same flesh and blood To believe in him also is our duty and is it not reasonable when we can never prove that ever he deceived any To praise him also is our work this is an Angelical work fit for Heaven and Heaven-born Souls and will be the work of Eternity where Saints and Angels shall make up one quire to Trumpet out the prayses of God To hold communion with him this is a Christians happiness here and to converse with him in Glory is Heaven it self 'T is no wonder then that the Service of God is called perfect Freedom and his Servants are called his Free-men 1 Cor. 7.21 'T is no wonder that Christ tells us his Yoak is easie and his Burthen is light Mat. 11.30 for all those that feel it find it so through Divine Assistance I know to a Carnal Heart and unsanctified Soul it appears otherwise but 't is the Galls Sores and Putrified Corruption of Nature that makes it so the easiest Yoak upon a galled Neck seems uneasie Learn but this one Lesson get but this one Qualification to love God above all and all the rest will prove easie Love makes Labour light the Love of Christ constrained the Apostle Paul and made him willing not only to be bound but to dye for Christ then Prayer would be no difficult Duty for who would not willingly go to him he Loves and pour out his requests into his Bosom when he knows he shall have a supply and hath such promises as those ask and you shall have seek and you shall find knock and it shall be opened to you Psal 50.15 Praise also then will be a delightful Duty how apt are we to Commend those we Love and speak well of them Hence it is that the Saints and Angels in Heaven are not weary of this work even to Eternity Communion with God is no toylful but delightful Duty for Union and Communion with God is the Souls Happiness nay 't is here a Heaven upon Earth and will be their Heaven for ever which is sweet here though much interrupted what will it be then when we enjoy him Face to Face and see him as he is here it fills the Heart full of such Joy as no Stranger shall ever meddle with Prov. 14.10 I know the world brags of their pleasures in the Devils Service and are afraid to be Christians for fear of losing them but this is but one of the Devils Lime-twigs in which he fetters them and one of the deceits of the Father of Lyes a true Christian finds by Experience more true Joy more ravishing delight in one days Communion with Christ than ever he did in the Service of sin for in the midst of laughter the sinners heart is sorrowful and the end of that mirth is Heaviness But a Believer may eat his Meat with Joy and drink his Wine with a merry Heart for God accepteth his Work Eccl. 9.7 And with joy they can draw waters out of these Wells of Salvation Isa 12.3 Yea shout for joy if he be of an upright Heart Psal 32.11 There is none in the world that has more true Cause of Joy than they have here they are under the Divine Protection of God and are sure to want nothing that is good and when this Earthly Tabernacle shall be dissolved they have a Kingdom prepared for them But what is the Devils work which he imploys his Servants about 'T is the basest drudgery the most servile Slavery the most sordid unreasonable Dangerous work in the world he sets them to hate God who is the chiefest good to hold up weapons of defiance against him from whom they have their Life and Breath and Being to Blaspheme his Name abuse his Creatures break his Commandments Persecute his Children both by Hand and Tongue pluck the Stars out of his Right Hand the Signet of his Finger the Apple of his Eye his Jewels those whom his Soul Loveth yea to de-throne him and set up the Devil in his place yea he makes them so mad upon it that they will venture Life and Limb in the Prosecution yea Liberty and Estate and Ruine their own Souls and as many more as they are able and will not be perswaded by Ministers Parents or their Godly Friends from such Courses when the Devil enters into these Swine they run headlong till they Ruine themselves 4. Motive Thou shouldst serve the Lord because he best deserves thy Service he hath done more for thee than all the World besides and that which all the World cannot do It was he that Created thee and gave thee a Being when thou wast nothing It was not long since there was nothing heard of thee and God had no need of thee he was Infinite in his Perfection and Glory before thou wast and thou hast added nothing to his Happiness and wilt not own him for thy Creator Yea he hath made thee a Rational Creature when he might have made thee a bruit Beast he made thee capable of Communion with himself yea in his own Image when he might have made thee a Dog or Toad or Serpent or the most despicable Worm that crawls under thy Feet what Excellent Faculties hath he bestowed upon thee As Undestranding Will Affections Memory Conscience and such like Yea he hath made thee Little lower than the Angels Psal 8.4,5 Thou wast the Clay and he was the Potter he might have made thee a Vessel of dishonour and shall the thing formed say to him that formed it why hast thou made me thus Not only so but he hath given thee thy Limbs and thy Senses when thou mightest have been Blind or Lame or Deaf or Dumb and is not this a Mercy thou hast the use of Reason when others run raging in the street Mad Frantick or Lunatick Yea 't is he that maintains thee at his own Cost and Charges 't is his Corn and his Wine that feeds thee his Wool and his Flax that Cloaths thee 't is his Silver and his Gold that inriches thee all is his and all is his free-gift thou deservest not the Crumbs that fall under thy Table and is all this nothing Hos 2.5 c. Yea hadst thou these things of thy own they could do thee no good without his Blessing Food could not nourish nor Cloaths keep thee warm he gives thee Peace when thou mightest have been in bloody War Health when thou mighest have been on thy sick Bed and
Seeds-man and the Word to the Seed Now you know the Ground must be prepared before the Seed be cast in otherwise thou canst not rationally expect a Crop The Body must be prepared and the humours gathered to an head before Physick work kindly what business of moment can be done without preparation And can we think in this business of so great concernment it is sufficient to rush hand over head without consideration Some preparation should be made before the Sabbath came in setting thy Heart as well as thy House in Order the Command is to remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy And when the day is come there are some Duties required before thou rush into the Congregation perform those Duties in thy Family and in thy Closet that are required beg of God a blessing upon the Ordinance and upon the Minister that he may speak a word in season to thy Soul that it may meet with thy Corruption and may strengthen thy Grace and benefit thy Soul how canst expect a Blessing that dost not beg for it This is one cause that many go away barren because they came unprepared Lay thy Heart open before God say as Samuel speak Lord for thy Servant heareth In thy Prayer open thy Soul to God unlap thy Ears and desire a Plaister offer up thy Sin-sick Soul to this Physitian that he may pour Oyl and Wine into thy Wounds who knows but this may be the Time of Love wherein God may say unto thy Soul Live Come with a resolution to deny thy self thy Carnal wisdom and whatsoever shall be found contrary to the will and Command of God Come not with a Resolution to oppose God in any thing though it be never so cross to flesh and blood or to thy Carnal will or Interest or be never so opposite to thine own Natural Inclination or Appetite Why should we come to know our Duty if we will not do it Or our sin if we will not leave it The word of God seldom works upon a fore-stalled affection If thou knowest and know thou mayst if thou carefully observe it what hath usually hindred thee in times past from profiting by the Word take heed of that for the time to come Sometimes thou wilt find that it was Pride thou sets up thy own will against God Sometimes passion this put thy Heart out of Frame for the Duty Sometimes Worldlyness this filled thy Heart with vain thoughts Beware of these for the time to come Especially beware of these sins which are most predominant in thy Soul for this will spoil the Duty Come with a strong Resolution to Obey God in every thing When he forbids any sin resolve to leave it when he Commands any Duty set about it for to what end else dost thou hear if it be only to know thy duty and not to practice it it will but procure thee the more stripes but many are like those silly Women mentioned by the Apostle ever Learing and never come to the knowledge of the Truth And they are like Balaam let God deny them never so oft they will come again faln they would have a dispensation to sin and go to Heaven in a sinful way But we must with good Old Ely say 'T is the Lord let him do with me as he listeth Or like Paul Lord what wouldest thou have me to do Come also with a good stomach then the Word would be savoury to thee such a man will not strain courtesie and carve all from himself but greedily feed upon something Now he meets with such a man saith one now he hit such a one home but what is this to thee Is nothing there that thou canst eat Get also some Acquaintance with the state of thine own Soul how the matter stands between God and thee or otherwise thou canst hardly divide the Word aright and apply it there are threatnings for obstinate sinners and there are promises for the penitent there is Milk for Babes and strong meat for Men. How wilt know thy own portion if thou know not the state of thine own Soul If a sick man come to an Apothecary's shop and may make choice of what Medicine he pleaseth and yet neither know his Disease nor what will Cure it he may as well take nay 't is more like that he will take that which is hurtful than that which is helpful So a poor humbled sinner oft-times lays hold of the threatning which belongs not to him and the presumptuous man of the promise And lastly when Death comes say to the World stand by as Abraham to his Servants I will come again 5. Direct If thou wouldest profit by the Word Preached come to the Ordinances with an hungring thirsting desire after it this is the Food of Life and 't is only the hungring Soul that is rightly qualified for it The full Soul loatheth the Honey-Comb Prov. 27.7 What should a full stomack do at a Feast Or a full Soul at a Sermon How sweet how good how precious was the Word to David Psal 19.10 And to Job better than his appointed Food Job 23.12 And how pitifully doth David complain when he found the want Psal 120.5 And how earnestly did he desire it And thirst after it Psal 42.1,2 As ever Chased Hart did for the Water-brooks and hadst thou ever tasted the sweetness of the word or rather of God in the word I needed not words to have perswaded thee to love it But that I may set some edge upon thine Appetite I shall desire thee to consider with me these few things first consider whose word it is is it not the word of that great God that made Heaven and Earth and all things therein contained One that is able to make it good both in the promises and threatnings and is also Faithful and will make it good Heaven and Earth shall fail rather than one tittle of his word be un-fulfilled and shall we slight a Message sent from such a one Had a Potent Prince sent a Message whether a promise or threatning how diligently should we have read it And how greatly should we have been affected with it with Joy or Sorrow Now God sends his Messengers with a Message of peace if we will accept it if not they are to denounce war yea and threaten everlasting ruine and destruction and yet who regards it Read the contents of his Letter Deut. 28. throughout Nay the matter of this word of God is of greatest concernment were it but for trifles it were no matter but it is concerning Life and Death nay the everlasting Salvation or Damnation of Soul and Body and therefore not to be slighted they are Fools that Jest with such edged Tools Here are Instructions drawn up how you may avoid Hell and attain Heaven how you may get rid of sin and get out of the Slavery of Satan how you may have a Remedy for your sin-sick Souls and a Plaister for your Wounds how you may get an Interest in Christ
and a Title to glory In a word how you may avoid Misery and attain everlasting Happiness and is not all this worth your serious consideration Again here is a Rich Legacy bequeathed to you by your Heavenly Father even exceeding great and precious Promises more worth than the World and are not these worth the reading At these Breasts of consolation thou mayst suck and be satisfied for they can never be drawn dry thou wilt never repent the pains thou takest this way This Word also is excellent in it self and therefore called the Word of Salvation Acts 13.26 as pointing out the only way to Salvation the Word of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 as holding out Christ the only Recōnciliator the Word of Life Phil. 2.16 as pointing out the only way to Life Here also is contained our Evidence for Glory and all we have to shew for Heaven this tells us what Qualifications are necessary to Salvation here we find a Redeemer a Saviour a Surety to discharge our Debts and Redeem the Soul out of the Slavery of Satan yea out of the hands of Divine Justice This is God's Love Letter wherein he makes Love to sinful Souls and offers them Christ for a Husband and Heaven with him for a joynture here thou maiest find a cure for a wounded Conscience and a sin sick Soul when neither Men nor Means neither Food nor Phisick can do thee good here is a Plaister pointed out to draw out the Vennom of sin and staunch the blood yea the way to Eternal Life is here chalked out and shall we trifle in such things as these many are the Promises made to those that walk after this Rule Rom. 3.12 and many are the threatnings against those that contemn it Deut. 19.20 Porv. 1.23,24 Isa 6.9,10 1 Sam. 2.25 Methinks such considerations should breed an appetite to it 6. Direction If thou wouldest profit by the word be sure to carry thy self well in the time of hearing we must take heed how we hear as well as what we hear if thou shouldest make these preparations as before directed yet all may be spoiled at last Resort therefore timely to the Ordinance 't is more fit for thee to wait for God than God waite for thee late coming argues a weak stomack hungry Persons will not strive to be last at a feast and an hungry Soul will make haste where meat is to be had and when thou art there behave thy self reverently set thy self as in the presence of the great God say as Jacob this is no other than the house of God and the gate of Heaven and carry thy self as if God were present looking upon thee many by their light behaviour manifest their little zeal didst apprehend God present before the eye of thy Soul it would keep thine eyes from sleeping and thy heart from wandring joyn with the Minister in every part of Gods worship God is the God of order and not of confusion a private Prayer is most suitable for a private place and private duties as before should be performed in the Closet be more ready to hear than to offer the sacrifice of Fools Eccles 5.1 When the Minister prayes joyn with him and pray with Devotion when he sings sing with the understanding when he preacheth here with attention attend not only to the words but to the sence and not only to the sence but also to the Divine Obligation that lyes upon thee draw out all thy strength in the performance of the duty hear as if it were for thy Life for thy Soul for Eternity as indeed it is Deut. 32.46,47 Set your hearts upon all the words which I testifie among you this day which you shall command your Children to observe for it is not a vain thing for you because it is your life and through this you shall prolong your daies and you must not only hear with attention but with understanding also for how can you profit by it or what good will it do you if you understand it not and yet some Ministers the more is the pity seek to hide their meaning in a Cloud of words and deliver their message either in an unknown tongue or in unknown Notions and 't is the folly of some hearers that delight in those Sermons they understand not the Mass bites not but what wise man will delight to gnaw bones that may have flesh Paul had rather speak five words in the Church to edification than two thousand in an unknown tongue 1 Cor. 14.19 and when thou dost understand it prove it by the Scripture and take it not upon trust 't is Christs counsel search the Scriptures and the Apostles try all things and hold fast that which is good and the Bereans are commended for so doing Act. 17.11 and when you have found it to be wholesome meat apply it to the heart this is the summ of all and without this it will do you little good what good will Meat do if not eaten or Phisick if not taken or a Plaister if not applyed do as an hungry man doth lay hold on something to feed upon when nice stomacks carve away all to others now he meets with this man or that man but did he say nothing to thee will another mans meat feed thee or another mans Physick make thee well close with it thy self lay thy heart open to the Word strive not against it submit to it indeavour not by subtil Distructions cunning Evasions false Glosses partial Interpretations to evade the force of it or blunt the edg but with David when reproved cry out I am the man wrest not out of Gods hand if any sin be reproved reform it if any duty prest practice it if the Minister teach thee any thing thou knowest not before remember it and bless God for it 7. Direction If thou wouldest profit by the word preached demean thy self well then after hearing 't is not enough to give diligent attention nay to perform all the fore-going duties for the most of the work lyes behind when the Minister hath done thy work begins thou must call it to mind ruminate upon it do as the clean Beasts under the Law chew the Cud what ever slips out of thy memory will do thee little good 't is what thou remembrest is most like to profit thee Now to this end call to mind the Ministers Method what was his Text how divided how explained what observations he raised how they were proved by what Scriptures by what reasons how he applyed them what marks or motives he gave under such Uses c. If he take not this method which is exceeding good for the memory yet observe at least what design he followed what he driv'd at what sin he reproved what duty he prest what grace he excited and thus doing thou wilt gather up some gleanings of this Sermon especially observing if he prest any duty thou neglectest or reproved any sin thou livest in if all the rest be forgotten remember this and
Holiness to Heaven Read a List of more Heb. 11. But there is no word of encouragement to any other to expect Heaven nay God tells us in plain words they shall never come there 1 Cor. 6.9,10 Neither is there any one example of any that lived and dyed in their sinful course that ever was saved what may we gather hence but this if ever you would attain to true happiness serve God with a sincere heart 7. Motive Thou shouldest serve the Lord because as he is best able to reward thee for thy obedience and pay thee for thy work so is he best able to punish thee for thy disobedience For as all his promises are yea and a men faithful and true to his People so are his threatnings to his Enemies thou art not at liberty to choose thy own Master who thou wilt serve thou art ingaged to him and serve him thou must or do worse thou art his by right of Creation for whose is the Pot but the Potters And by right of Redemption he paid a price for thee and bought thee dear So also by Covenant right thou hast devoted thy self to his service and taken Press mony to fight his Battels and if thou revolt he will avenge the quarrel of his Covenant against thee Hence it is thou mayst well fear his wrath and expect his judgments if thou perfidiously betrayest thy trust and revoltest to the Enemy Christ himself bids thee not to fear those that can kill the Body and can do no more but fear him that can cast Body and Soul into Hell Luk. 12.5 If he be not glorifyed by thee he will be glorifyed upon thee if he have not the glory of thy Salvation he will have the glory of thy Destruction Luk. 19.27 Those mine Enemies that would not that I should raign over them bring them and slay them before my face God takes those for his Enemies that will not be ruled by him and will prove a sore Enemy to them And didst thou know what it is to be an Enemy unto God and what it is to have God to be an Enemy unto thee it would send thee trembling to thy grave 't is he that hath the keys of life and death at his girdle He kills and he makes alive he brings to the gates of death and back again and there is none that can deliver out of his hand He need not muster an Army against thee to destroy thee the least Fly or Gnat or Hair may end thy life if it have a Commission from God thou art but a Worm if he tread upon thee he leaves the dead behind him if he withhold thy breath thou returnest to the dust for thou hast no more breath than what he puts into thee how then canst thou grapple with the Almighty or contend with God were thy flesh of Brass and thy Sinnews of Iron were thy foundations as the Earth or as the Pillars of Heaven thou wert yet too weak who ever hardned himself against God and prospered whilst thou remainest his Enemy well mayst thou fear his heavy hand there is no judgment that ever thou readest threatned or ever executed upon sinful wretch that thou canst be secure from Thou knowest not but the Waters may drown thee as they did the old World or as the Red Sea did Pharaoh or fire from Heaven may consume thee as it did Sodom and Gomorrah and also Nadab and Abihu and the two Captains and their Fifties at the prayer of Elijah thou knowest not but the Plagues which fell upon Egypt may fall upon thee and consume thee or that thy life may be ended by the Sword the Famine or the Pestilence thou knowest not but an Angel may smite thee as Herod and thou mayst be devoured with Worms or that the Earth may open and swallow the quick as it did Corah Dathan and Abiram thou knowest not but thou mayst be struck dead for the next lye thou tellest as Ananias and Saphirah were or whether Bears may not devour thee as they did those Children that mocked the Prophet or whether thou mayst not be strucken with Leprosie as Gehazy or thy house may not fall upon thy head as upon Jobs Children In a word whatever a man destitute of Grace and Divine Protection may be brought to suffer thou hast no assurance but it may be thy Portion Read Deut. 28.15 c. Where thou mayst see thy own miserable condition but this is not all those spiritual judgments which are worse than these are seized upon thee Blindness of Mind Hardness of Hart Searedness of Conscience c. And eternal judgements dog thee at the heels and will certainly seize upon thee except Repentance prevent it as soon as Death makes a separation between Soul and Body never any Unregenerate Unrepenting Unrighteouss or Unclean Person shall ever go to Heaven John 3.7 Luk. 13.3 1 Cor. 6.9,10 Rev. 21.13 and there is no middle place for the Scripture owns no Purgatory Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God See the doom of the wicked servant Mat 24. last He was cut in peices and his Portion was appointed with the Hypocrites and that unprofitable Servant that improved not his Talent Mat. 25.30 He was bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness and all the wicked ungracious servants that improve not their Talents as God appointed shall then be bid Depart ye wicked into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41.48 This is Gods judgments to his Enemies and this is the Devils wages to his friends and servants who then would have such an Enemy or such a Master learn directions to serve God as followeth in those duties mentioned CHAP. II. Of Duties in General HAving in the fore-going Treatise shewed you the Excellency Necessity and Benefits of an Holy Life and the deadly danger of all unholy Course I hope many of you are resolved to alter that course of life you have too long already lived in and will begin to question what shall we do to be saved To this end in this part I shall point out some necessary duties which every Christian is bound to perform and lay down some directions by them for the right performance of them Now my desire is that you would resolve to practice what out of Gods word I shall prove to be your duty otherwise to what end shall I write them or you read them what say say you will you do it or will you not 't is not a slight business neither will a slight resolution serve your turn you will meet with many Racks in the way and therefore had need to be well grounded with many storms of temptations and therefore had need to lay a good foundation you have spent too much time already in the service of Sin and Satan and 't is pity you should any longer serve so bad a Master and now God gives you a call unto his service methinks it should
it at first If it be why dost leave it If thou now leave off all thy Labour and all the pains that ever thou hast taken will be utterly lost in reference to Salvation If the Righteous forsake his ways all his Righteousness shall not be remembred to him in his sin he shall dye Ezek. 18.24 It may be thou hast gone many a Mile to hear Sermons spent many an Hour in Prayer and Humiliation many a Day in Fasting and Humbling thy Soul and wilt thou lose all thy Labour at the last Nay wilt thou now dishonour that God which time was thou seemedst to Honour And wilt thou strengthen the hand of Wicked Men in their wickedness And weaken the hands of poor doubting Dhristians And sadden the Hearts of the godly Wilt thou bring the Blood of Souls upon thy own head If not hold on in a course of Holy Duty Whatever opposition thou meet with in the way Heaven will make amends for all the sweat and blood thou losest and Hell will be sower sauce to thy sweet Meat What madness is it to leave thy work a little before thou shouldest receive thy Wages 4. Direct Let all the Duties thou performest either to God or Man proceed from a right Principle from a Heart sanctified by Grace and purified by Faith and seasoned with Love Make the Tree good and his Fruit will be good but a Corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit. An evil Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit nor a good Tree evil Fruit. 'T is impossible that a Corrupt Fountain should send forth sweet Water or a filthy Vessel sweet Liquor Let the Love of God be the strongest Motive to thy Obedience and let this engage thy heart to every Duty Though thou shouldest do the duty required if thou do it not in obedience to that Command God will not own it Whatever thou dost do all to his Glory and in Obedience to his Command or thou wilt lose thy Reward let thy heart say in sincerity Propter te propter te Domine it is for thy sake and in Obedience to thy Command that I do it and for no sinister respect whatsoever Hypocrites may do the thing which God Commands but from another ground and for another end they savour of the Cask and smell of self-Interest they reach no higher than themselves as water ascends no higher than the Fountain Head Jehu did what God Commanded in destroying Idolatry and rooting out Ahab's Posterity but all this while he hath a Kingdom in his Eye But the Love of God Oyls the Chariot-Wheels of a Christians endeavours it carryeth him above beyond and out of himself God tells him what he would have done a Christian never examines the Command by any Carnal Interest whether he may reap gain or loss Honour or Disgrace by it come what come will he resolves to do it if God command it whatever stands in his way though he meet Death it self in the Face he will go on God calls him and with Samuel he cryeth out Speak Lord for thy Servant heareth he knows he that sets him on work can bear him out Now all Service that ariseth not from this ground is slavish and mercinary and merits nothing at Gods hands but blows he that doth the thing Commanded and knoweth not of the Command doth not Obey God in the work and if he know that it is Commanded and doth it yet not because it was Commanded but upon other account God will not Reward this as Obedience The Pharisees knew that Prayer Fasting and Alms-deeds were Commanded duties yea they performed those duties but not because God Commanded them but that they might be applauded by Men therefore Christ sends them to men for a Reward Mat. 6.1,2,3 c. The performance of a duty will do us little good if we cannot say with the Apostle The Love of Christ constraineth us Many are constant attenders upon the Ordinances not out of Love to God or Obedience to his Will or any delight they have in the duty but for fear of punishment or hope of reward either from God or Man or for popular Applause or one thing or other of that Nature and these Men perhaps in the mean time have their handS upon the works and their Hearts busied in the Devils Service and they look upon Gods Service as a Slavery and glad when they are Released But a sincere Christian is like the Servant mentioned Exod. 21.15 that saith I Love my Master I will not go Free though there were neither Reward in Heaven for my Obedience nor punishment in Hell for my disobedience I will do it because 't is my Masters will and I delight in the work it self this Love of God in the Soul is as weights to the Clock or as Oyl to the Jack it sets it on work for God love makes labour light they do it for Conscience sake Rom. 13.5 when others do it for gains sake Saul obeys for a Kingdom and Jehu for a Crown and when this was obtained their Obedience was over they are like to Dogs they follow their Master till they meet with Carrion examine now thy heart what is the ground of thy obedience if it be lower than thy love to God and desire to obey him 't is not right 5. Direction Let all thy duties whether to God or Man be performed in the manner which God requires now Christ himself tells thee God is a Spirit and he that worships him must worship him in Spirit John 4.24 and the Apostle tells us that bodily exercise profiteth little but godliness is profitable unto all things 1 Tim. 4.8 'T is not the Motions of the Body nor the moveing of the Lips 't is not Bowings Couchings Cringings that he is affected with if the Heart and Affections go not along this is one main difference between a sincere Christian and an Hypocrite both may do the same Duty both may joyn in the same Prayer and both may hear the same Sermon yet one may be accepted and the other not nay for the Bulk and Materiallity of the Duty the Hypocrite may exceed the other the Pharisees they fasted they gave almes they made long Prayer they tythed Mint and Anice and yet all this while lay under the Curse and were Enemies to God and persecutors of Christ their heart was absent from their duty and it was not right to God they lost all their labour in Heavens way because they had little trading with and little knowledg of God or their own hearts Hypocrites feed upon the husks of duty nnd never meet with Christ in the duty when a sincere heart hath trading with God and sweet communion with Christ himself if ever therefore thou wouldst perform pleasing Sacrifice to God be sure to wind up thy heart and affections unto God and never content thy self with any duty till thou meet with Christ in the duty duties are appointed to be done not for their own sakes but to help the Soul to mount
up to Heaven upon their wings which is the place of its rest in them the Soul is trading with God for Christ and if we make not this use of them they will do us no good God regards not so much the external part of duty though this is not to be disregarded as he doth the internal he looks especially at the carriage of the heart in the duty my Son saith he give me thy heart if this be present many infirmities shall be past over if this be absent though the duty be never so gloriously acted in the eye of of the World it is hateful in the eye of God Cain and Abel both offered Sacrifice and in the matter of their Sacrifice we know not the one exceeded the other yet one was accepted and the other rejected why what was the matter because the one was accompanyed with Sincerity the other with Hypocrisie and as God so all good Men make it their business to look to the heart in duty they carry it along with them to God and offer it at his feet they know the more of the heart is in the duty the better God loves it and the more of the heart is in the sin the worse it is they look more and grieve more at the miscarriage of the Heart in a duty when it lyes dead or dull than at a mis expression or external failing when thou comest therefore unto God in duty gather in thy scattered thoughts and affections and let them meet here as lines do in a Center or as the Sun-beams in a burning glass this will make thy Prayers Hot and Fervent which otherwise would be Cold and Remiss when our Spirits are raised by the Spirit of God and the Flesh kept under in the duty then we are like to prevail 't is not the Multitude of loose or lone and cold expressions will serve turn the Pharisees out-did many Christians in long Prayers but 't is the Spiritual performance that God requires cold Petitions do but put denyals into Christs mouth we must perform every duty as if it were for Life and Death for Eternity yea as if it were our last duty that ever we should perform such performances as these are acceptable to God and beneficial to Man 6. Direction Thou must perform all thy duties as in a right Manner so to a right End for the End either Makes or Marrs the Action now the Ends are such as God himself hath appointed in his word Now God never ordained duties or good works to be trusted in for Salvation thou canst never merit Heaven by thy Prayers or other Duties they were not commanded for this end indeed they are a causa sine qua non of Salvation for though they cannot save us yet we shall not be saved in the neglect of them they are the way to the Kingdom though not causa regnandi Christ hath purchased to himself a peculiar People zealous of good works they are of special use for us in the way that God hath appointed us to walk in God hath appointed us to do them and threatened us and will punish us if we neglect them as I shall more fully prove when I treat of them particularly and that it is Gods will and command is enough to satisfy an honest heart though there were neither reward nor punishment for the doers or neglecters of them this is the way to glorify God John 15.8 Hereby is our Heavenly Father glorified when we bring forth much fruit Mat. 5.18 Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven By this means also we may be instrumental of others Conversion Wives are commanded to carry themselves so holily and wisely that thereby unbelieving Husbands may be won to the Faith 1 Pet. 3.1 and as they may do good to others so they may bring comfort to themselves these breathings out of Grace will be an Evidence to the Soul of the love of God when we find the Spirit helping our infirmities teaching us how and for what to pray these products of Grace will yield the Soul no little satisfaction yea by this means we obtain many blessings from God what sweet returns of Prayer have the Saints had how often hath God answered them in the very Petitions they have asked Christ bids them ask and they shall have seek and they shall find knock and it shall be opened to them and how many can experience this truth though God promise the mercy yet he will be sought to for it and what sweet and ravishing incomes of the Spirit of God have Christians oftentimes in the Hearing Reading Meditating and conferring of the word of God receiving of the Sacrament and other Religious duties and what Satisfaction and Comfort 'T is true we must not trust to them for comfort as the Cause but as the Instrument Hezekiah found Comfort upon his sick Bed from the Faithful performance of God's Will But this is not all one special end why God appointed them is to bring the Soul nearer unto Christ by them and to this end we must use them they are as Ladders to help us up to Heaven to lift us above our selves to lay hold upon Christ we must make use of them as a Traveller doth of a Boat or Bridge to help us over unto Christ or as he doth of a Staff or Stile to help him in his Journey though they in themselves have no Excellency yet they help us over where true Treasure is though they be empty in themselves and vain to those that trust in them yet are they enriching to the Saints that trust not to them but use them for the ends appointed but many like Foolish Lovers wooe the Maid when they should Court the Mistress or like Foolish Travellers play with the Stile or fall in Love with the Boat and neglect their way they trust to their duties but these were never appointed to save us or to make up Christ's Merits Satisfactory for this is sufficient but that it may help us to lay hold upon Christ's Satisfaction Use them therefore for that end 7. Direct When thou hast done all this and all that thou canst say thou art an unprofitable Servant and hast done no more nay not so much as was thy duty Luke 17.10 And take heed of resting in or trusting to any thing but Christ for Justification or Salvation trust not to thy duties for they will deceive thee and prove like Egyptian Reeds not only break but run into thy hand they were never appointed for this end to trust to them let the Papists brag never so much of their Works of Supererogation or of their Merits let the Ignorant Person brag of his good meaning his good heart and his good serving God let the Civil Man brag of his paying every Man his own and upright dealing and the almost Christian of his Repenting Returning and Reforming alas all this will deceive them
Angels Psal 8.1,2 c. Such occasional Objects were the grounds of many of Christs speeches and Sermons And a Christian by this means may learn something from every thing he either sees or hears That Meditation that is set and solemn is when a man separates himself from other Imployments and sequesters himself and thoughts from worldly affairs to consider of some portion of Scripture or some point of Divinity or some work of Nature for his own satisfaction and his Souls good That this is a Christians Duty few Christians will deny that it is a beneficial duty all that have tryed it in good earnest will easily confess experto crede Roberto That 't is too much neglected we may acknowledge with shame and sorrow Joshua was Commanded to Meditate in the Law of God day and night Josh 1.8 This was David's practice Psal 119.59 And this he makes the Character of a Godly and Blessed man Psal 1.2,3 It was Isaac's Custom as also Paul's and Peter's and many others This is the way to digest the meat we eat and can meat nourish if not digested This is the chewing of the Cud when we ruminate upon what we hear or see Meat undigested in the stomack feeds Diseases when 't is digested it feeds the Body What is the Reason so many good Sermons are lost amongst us And so many gracious Providences pass un-observed but for want of this Doubtless one Sermon well digested by Meditation would bring more nourishment to the Soul and breed more good Blood than now twenty do By Meditation a man searches and ransacks the Soul and finds out every dust-heap every Corruption and sees whether those Divine qualifications necessary to Salvation be there or no when others are strangers at home by this he gets light into the Understanding heat into the Affection and it puts Life into all his Duties By this he comes to see the Vanity of the World the emptiness of the Creature the vileness of Sin the beauty of Holiness and the fulness of Christ By this the Heart is taken off the World and set upon Heaven and sees by the Eye of Faith those things which are invisible By this he tramples upon sublunary things and fixes his Eyes upon things within the vail By this Stephen saw God and Moses talked with God and Paul was carried up into the third Heaven By this Afflictions are made light and the Cross easie and Christ's Yoak delightful this makes a man chuse Sufferings rather than sin and pain rather than sinful pleasure this helps the Soul to fly to Heaven and hold Communion with Christ himself and like the busie Bee to gather Honey from Flowers and Weeds which to effect take these following Directions 1. Direct Concerning Occasional Meditation though it be not what I chiefly intend yet being of daily Use I shall speak something of it at present A Christian that Trades for Heaven may have much Goods brought home in this Ship He may get Advantage by all he hears or sees or observes for there is nothing in God's Book or in the Book of Nature but will Instruct us in some necessary Lesson concerning God or our selves and mind us of something that may conduce to our Advantage And he that can make a good use of every thing he sees or hears and pick some Spiritual Food and refreshing from it must doubtless be a flourishing Cedar in the House of God and enjoy Heaven upon Earth and Spiritualize all the Creatures How often in Scripture may we read that Christ by occasional occurrances minds his Hearers of Spiritual things from a Well of water he Instructs the Woman of Samaria concerning the water of Life And by occasion of Bread he minds them of the Bread of Life and from a Sower and his Seed shews that a bad Heart is the cause that the Word proves unfruitful and many more such like David as before was hinted beholding the Heavens is raised up in his Meditation to God himself and his Love to Man Psal 8.1,2,3 c. Solomon sends the Sluggard to School to the Ant or Pismire that gathers in Summer for Winter And Christ sends those that are distrustful of their Fathers Providence to observe the Fowls of the Air how he feeds them And the Grass of the Field how he Cloaths it and no doubt but a wise man may make a Sanctified use of all these If a good wit can make a good use of every thing much more a good Heart Had we but this Art of Meditation every thing would yield a suitable object we have the whole world before us the greatest want is of a good Heart to improve these Objects that offer themselves to our view the least Creature would be useful if we were not wanting every day that passeth over our Heads may put us in mind of our latter end Thy Bed may mind thee of thy latter end and the time when thou must lye in the dust and thy rising up may mind thee of thy Resurrection The rising Sun may mind thee what a glorious day that will be when Christ with his Saints and Angels shall appear at Judgment each one shining as the Sun in his Lustre When Night approaches it may minde thee that thy daies are numbred and that thou hast now one fewer to spend than thou hadst in the Morning and mind thee what account thou canst give of it and make thee consider that the World cannot recal it Every Pain and Grief Ach and Trouble yea every gray Hair may mind thee of thy Mortality and how little beholding thou art to sin which brought all this into the World When thou seest the Heavens adorned with those beauty spots the Sun the Moon the Stars thou maist think if the Porch be so glorious what is the Pallace if the Pavement be so beautiful what is the Court the Throne it self When thou considerest their Beauty Altitude Magnitude Selerity and Influence thou maist well admire the Creator and with David cry out Lord what is man c. Who can but admire when he looks upon the Earth the Huge and Massy Globe the unweiley Creatures hanging in the midst of the Air of nothing distinguished into Hills and Dales and Woods and Rivers furnished with such variety of Trees and Grass and Herbs and Flowers and the numberless number of living Creatures Birds and Beasts and Fishes and creeping things and all provided for by the great Householder Who can behold the Rageing Sea kept within his Banks in the Ebbings and Flowings and view the Streams and Fountains the Springs and Rivers and not cry out the finger of God now among all these there is not one Fly or Flea not one Graspile or Leaf of a Tree but yields matter of Meditation and Admiration Ah! what a rich Soul will that be that gathers fruit from all these 2. Direct If thou wouldest perform thy duty well 'T is necessary thou set upon it with due preparation I speak not now of occasional
Reconcile us to his Father 'T is he in whom he is well pleased and through him he cannot be offended He is the High-Priest that Offers up the Prayers of his People when he hath perfumed them with the Incense of his own Righteousness Rev. 8.3 'T is he that presents their Prayers to God and makes them acceptable which otherwise would be abominable He is the Altar whereon a broken Heart must Offer up the Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise Now when I speak of going to God in the Name of Christ I do not only mean using Christ's Name to God or Concluding our Prayers with such words through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Though this is Lawful if serious yet not sufficient we read of some Mat. 7.22 that had Preached in his Name and in his Name had cast out Devils and in his Name had done many wonderful works and 't is probable they had prayed in his Name also and yet he would not own them But those that come in his Name must believe in him for Salvation roul themselves upon him lay hold upon him by a Lively Faith for their Lord and Saviour for their Head and Husband for their Mediator and Advocate and give up themselves wholly unto him Take him upon his own terms as he is offered in the Gospel to love him above all and forsake all others for him to obey him in all though all the World be offended at it to resign up our selves and all we have to be at his dispose to be willing to be any thing do any thing suffer any thing he would have us and so to come with Confidence to God trusting in the Merits of Christ believing that for his sake we shall have our sins pardoned our wants supplyed and our Souls saved He is the only way to the Father and without him we can have no Admittance he opens the doors and brings us into the Presence-Chamber Eph. 2.18 He is the only Mediator between God and Man Heb. 9.14 1 Tim. 2.5 Now God never gave any such Honour to the Saints nor Angels in the Scripture though he denies them none that is their due Many Promises we have that whatsoever we ask in Christ's Name shall be given us John 14.13 But no promise in Scripture of prevailing in any other Name Nay the contrary for if Noah Daniel and Job departed Saints whom God dearly Loved could not be heard for Son or Daughter Ezek. 14.14 c. What hopes can we have of others Perhaps the Papists will tell us they do not pray to Saints or Angels that they should help them but only Mediate for them but who made them Mediators There is only one Mediator between God and Man even the Lord Christ Jesus 1 Tim 2.5 And there is no other qualified for the Office 'T is necessary that he must be both God and Man that is to Mediate between God and Man and that he be perfectly Righteous which no Son of Adam Christ excepted ever was All others have Oyl little enough and none to spare Neither doth the Scripture make mention of any other nay excludes all other For Christ is called the only Mediator None can make our imperfect prayers acceptable to God but he none can be present in all places to receive all Petitions but he The Saints and Angels are but finite Creatures and cannot be in all places at once and what assurance can we have when we pray that they are present and hear all prayers and understand all Languages How can Peter or the Virgin Mary at the same time be present at Rome Venice London and ten thousand places at once if they are not Infinite As we have no Precept in Scripture to make these our Mediators no more have we Examples of any that did though there were many Saints then dead Job 5.1 To which of the Saints wilt thou turn 'T is Christ alone that knows that meaning of the Spirit in the hearts of the Faithful Rom. 8.27 And in his Name we must go to God if we would be heard 5. Direct If thou wouldst put up prevalent Prayer at the Throne of Grace look well to the matter of them ask nothing of God but what thou hast some ground to believe thou shalt receive from God Every thing will no more bear a Prayer than every stream will a Ship Thou oughtest not to pray for those things which are against the Glory of God the Edification and good of the Church and thy own and others Salvation They are rather Curses than Prayers that are poured out by wicked men for the Extirpation of a Faithful Ministry and the rooting out of the Godly or the power of Godliness and these will prevail for a Curse upon the Head and Heart of the Imprecator Thou must not pray for a Commission to break thy Sovereign's Laws this will not be granted Or to do things contrary to his revealed or for any thing evil in it self or that which is contrary to God's Nature to grant or contrary to his Eternal decree Thou must not pray for a dispensation to sin and for assistance in the Act of Sin or to reconcile God and Mammon or Christ and Belial or for Salvation without Sanctification or for Pardon of Sin without Faith and Repentance Neither oughtest thou to pray for Trifles and things of small concernment 't is not fit for a Subject to go to his Prince to beg a Point or a Pin. Neither shouldest thou pray for that which thou wilt not endeavour to get Many could wish for Heaven that will not work for Heaven But thou maist pray for all those good things for Soul or Body for this Life or that to come for thy self or others which are necessary which God hath Commanded thee to ask or promised in his Word to give Thou hast a good Foundation for thy Faith to ask what Divine Writ Warrants thee to ask or promises shall be given And thou must beg them as they are promised what is absolutely promised thou maist beg absolutely And what is conditionally promised beg it if God see it good for thee Ye ask and have not saith the Apostle because ye ask amiss The Apostles are reproved that would have asked Fire from Heaven to burn up the unprofitable Samaritans Luke 9.54 Every Petition should be grounded upon the Word of God and not upon Carnal Conceits We should ask what God thinks fit and not what we our selves think fit It was an unanswerable Petition of the Mother of Zebedee's Children that her Sons might sit one at Christ's Right Hand and the other at his Left in his Kingdom If we ask any thing according to his Will he will grant it us 1 John 5.14 Where God Commands us to ask and promises us to give here is a double ground of assurance Now the good things we should beg of God for our selves or others are either Spiritual or Temporal Those which are Spiritual are absolutely necessary to Salvation or they are not
the Sacrament but without Faith they cannot be laid hold upon 6. Direct Having shewed you what Preparation is necessary and also what Qualifications and how thou shouldst stand affected when thou comest to this Ordinance I shall next shew thee how to demean thy self in the very Act of Receiving For thy External behaviour or outward demeanour it should be such as is suitable to the Ordinance and to the presence of the Great God Reverent Grave Seemly and such as bespeaks Humility and self-abasing not Light and wanton and gazish but such as becomes a Guest at such a Table yet beware of such Voluntary or Superstitious Humility such as the Papists and some others use which hath no Footing in the vvord of God the surest way is to take the Scripture for our Guide But for thy Inward Carriage which is most to be regarded be sure thy Heart be not wanting for God cannot endure Heartless Service if this Instrument be not in Tune the Musitioner is bad here if any where God calls Son give me thy Heart and nothing else will serve turn but the Heart and the Heart broken and bleeding Come with the Heart humbled God cannot endure a proud Person especially in an Ordinance that hold forth that which may humble thee here is Christ Crucified and his Blood shed for thy sin thou wast the Traytor that betrayed him the Judge that Condemned him and the Executioner that put him Death and will not this work upon thee Is it nothing to have Blood lying upon thee the Blood of the Innocent the Blood of a Friend the Blood of a King yea the Blood of the Son of God What ingenious Spirit but would melt at such a Consideration Every Sacramental Action of the Minister may further thy Meditation and help thee up to Heaven in thy Contemplation When thou beholdest the Minister who stands in the place of God setting apart and Consecrating the Bread and Wine by the Word and Prayer will not this bring to thy Mind the Love of God to thy Soul Who from Eternity set apart his only Son Jesus Christ to be thy Mediator and Advocate thy Surety and thy Saviour well may it be said God so Loved the World c. May not the thoughts of this furnish thee with Heart-raising Heart-warming Meditations And when thou seest thee Bread broken and the Wine poured out doth not this Lively represent the bitter Death and bloody Passion of the Son of God Jesus Christ thy sweet Saviour and Redeemer his Body was broken his precious blood was shed for the Remission of thy sins which otherwise could not have been forgiven Ah! what a wicked thing then is sin when nothing would satisfie Divine Justice but the death of the only begotten Son of God When the Bread and Wine thus separated thus set apart from common use are held forth to thee apprehend God himself giving Christ yea Christ offering himself with all his Treasures to be thy Husband thy Surety thy Mediator and thy Saviour Ah! what Soul-refreshing thoughts may this produce Well mayst thou say with David Lord what is Man that thou art mindful of him Or rather Lord what am I that thou regardest me and hast provided such a Feast of Fat things for me with Wine on the Lees When thousands are laid aside as good as I by Nature And when thou receivest the Elements at the Ministers hand let thy Faith lay fast hold and clasp fast about the Lord Jesus Christ and take him as given by God to be thy Husband and Resolve that the Devil and all his Instruments shall never draw off thy Affections from him but thou wilt all others being forsaken prove his faithful Spouse And when thou Eatest and Drinkest the Bread and Wine let thy Faith feed upon those Spiritual dainties hereby represented upon this Nectar and Ambrosia this Bread and this Water of Life Receive him and all the Benefits of the New Covenant by Faith and in the whole Action let thy Heart Close with God Father Son and Holy Ghost and let the whole bent of thy Soul be set upon him and by such Meditations stir up thy Heart to bless God and praise him for his Mercy and to Love him above all and to vow Obedience to him and as thou lookest upon thy sin with one Eye to hate and abominate it so look upon Christ with the other to keep thee from despair as he is offered up in the Sacrament a Sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice and beg of God humbly yet believingly that he will accept of this Sacrifice as satisfactory for thy sin and pardon what is past and give thee power against Sin for the time to come Consider also the giving and receiving of this Sacrament is a further ratification of the Covenant as I said before wherein God offers Christ and all his Benefits and promises to be thy God and the God of thy Seed And thou promisest that thou and thine will Serve the Lord. Let this strengthen thy Faith in his Promises for he will never break his word and let it strengthen thy Resolution that thou wilt never break with him then this will be to thee an Happy Ordinance 7. Direct If thou wouldst receive Benefit by the Sacrament behave thy self well after thou hast received it All thy work is not done nay most is to be done when thou hast turned thy back upon the Congregation 't is not the making a Vow but the making it good the fulfilling of it that is the most of the work 't is not the preparing for the Duty or carrying thy self well in the Act of Receiving though this be necessary that is sufficient God expects some after-work A Servant that is refresht with wholsom meat and drink ought not to be Idle nor to spend his time vainly there is a greater tye lyes upon him to diligence and pains taking So he that comes from such a Feast and is refreshed with such Dainties should be more Active Lively Quick and Disposed to Spiritual Exercises plung not thy self too suddenly into worldly business distract not thy thoughts about things here below for as in sweats 't is dangerous to cool over-suddenly So 't is here when the Affections are raised to Heaven let them not suddenly grovel upon the ground when they are heated let not the cold wind of the World suddenly benumb them And when thou dost set about Worldly business remember there is a business of greater concernment lyes upon thy Hands and therefore do all in Subordination to God Redeem some time for Divine Meditation to consider what thou hast been about and with whom thou hast had to deal Thou hast been renewing that Covenant between God and thy Soul which was made in Baptism and therefore look to it that thou make it good It is better not to Vow than to Vow and not perform Consider whether God makes good his Promise Sealed by this Sacrament if not doubtless the fault is thine own God
received take notice of your unworthiness the more to exalt the Mercies received But Confession of Sin so as to Afflict the Soul with them is not suitable to the day Bring thy Family in due time to the Publick if it be publickly Observed otherwise carry it on in Private and pay your Vows in the great Congregation and behave your selves in the remaining part of the day as be-you were Directed in the Observation of the Sabbath for this time is Consecrated and made Holy to God and should be wholly spent in his Service And thou shouldest be as careful of thy Thoughts thy Words and thy Affections as though it were a Sabbath for there is no danger of keeping them too intent upon God When thou comest into the Congregation thou maist say as Jacob Gen. 28.17 This is no other but the House of God and the Gate of Heaven for here is done the work that shall be done in Heaven As for the oher expressions of Joy as Ringing of Bells shooting off Guns making of Bone-fires c. they are so far Lawful as they help forward the Work and raise the Heart to an higher pitch of Joy and rejoycing in the Lord. 5. Direct Having thus disposed and prepared thy Heart for the Work and set thy self as in the Presence of the ever-living God that sees and knows and takes notice of thee set thy self then upon the work of Glorifying God and render thanks to him from thy Heart for all the Benefits thou hast Received Praise is comely for the Saints And this Religious Thankfulness of which we speak is thy Duty Now 't is either External or Internal the Internal is to carry a thankful Heart to God and this is every days Duty External is when the Thankfulness of the Heart is expressed in Words or Actions the former without the latter is not sufficient the latter without the former is little worth Now the External manifestation of thy thankfulness is either Private or Publick Private by thy self or Family Publick in the great Congregation and this also is either Ordinary or Extraordinary Ordinary and this should be done at every time when we come together to Worship of God The Extraordinary is upon Extraordinary Occasions as some great Deliverances or the obtaining some great Mercies or the bringing down some great Enemies of the Church this the Church ought to bless God for and Offer this Sacrifice of Praise in the Name and Mediation of Christ who prays over all our Prayers for us and Offers our Praises performed with the Incense of his own Righteousness Now 't is requisite as I said before that a Catalogue of those Mercies God hath given in as a return of Prayers be laid up either in a Book or in the Memory for if we neglect or forget them how shall we speak of them to God's praise 't is not enough to remember them but we must also mention them to his praise Thus David I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul He acknowledgeth God the Author of his Mercies and doth not Sacrifice to his own Nets as many do and burn Incense to his Drags Hab. 1.16 But as the Church not unto us Lord not to us but to thy Name be the Praise he acknowledges frequently his own worthlessness that he may exalt God Lord saith he what is Man that thou shouldst be mindful of him Or the Son of Man that thou regardest him Psal 8.4 I am less than the least of thy Mercies saith Jacob I am less than the least of thy Saints saith Paul Yea when it comes let it be a Free-will Offering do it chearfully readily willingly as the Saints and Angels do it in Heaven heartily not heavily God Loves a chearful giver and matters not grumbling Service Be as willing to return Thanks as ever thou wast to have the Mercy Set thy Heart on Work in this Duty stir up thy self like the Psalmist Psal 103.1 Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me Praise his Holy Name Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits 'T is not enough to Praise him with the Lips or bring our Bodies before him but the Heart and Life should Praise him the Heart should Indite thy Praises and thy Tongue utter them and thy Life and Conversation Seal to them thou shouldst do thanks and Live thanks as well as speak thanks this is every days Duty especially when we receive signal Mercies we should return answerable thanks when National Mercies National thanks should be returned Psal 50.15 Moses did so at the Deliverance at the Red Sea Exod. 15.1 Deborah and Barak did so Judg. 5.12 The Jews also when delivered from Haman's Plots Est 8.11.17 And there is great reason it should be so for Praise is due to none but God and to him the Vow should be performed all our Springs are in him and all our Mercies are from him yea every good and perfect gift and this is the very End for which he gives them and 't is all he requires for them this Pepper-corn of Homage is all his Rent who is the great Land-Lord and though it be due from all yet he expects it from his own People especially he will extort his own from others in another way and none but his People can do it to please him This is to his Saints a fore-tast of Glory where it must be their constant Work 'T is a beneficial Duty also for Thanksgiving for one Mercy is a real yea a prevailing Request for another Those that Offer praise Glorifie God And yet we see how negligent most are in this Duty few take notice of the Mercies they Receive but like Swine eat the Acorns or Crabs and regard not whence they come Ten Lepers were cleansed and but one returns thanks many are sensible of their wants and with the Horse-Leach cry give give yet are not sensible of their enjoyments to return thanks yea suffer some petty Cross to hide a thousand Blessings and keep them out of their sight 6. Direct When thou art thus prepared thus fitted go on in re-counting the Mercies thou hast Received and bless God for them this is the main Work of the Day Now forasmuch as Mercies are various all Men receive not alike yet all receive some for which they should be thankful give me leave to lead you by the Hand a little and shew you some the rest you may Observe your selves Bless God for what he is in himself and what he is to his Creatures in himself admire his Essence for fathom it thou canst not the like we may say of his Attributes his Eternity Immutability his Power Wisdom Holiness Justice and Truth c. Thou maist spend thy days also in Admiring him in the Works of his Hand lift up thy Eyes to Heaven and see the Sun the Moon and Stars those Glorious Lamps those Beauty spots of Heaven observe their Distance Courses Influence and Virtues and well thou maist
thou may'st be take these Directions for Private Duties 1. Direct The first Duty I shall mention but not of least concernment is self-examination This indeed is private for it is between thee and thine own heart Be often enquiring at home what state thy Soul stands in to God and what interest thou hast in the Blood of Christ and what Title to Heaven this is a necessary though much neglected Duty Many that cast up their Shops to see whether they grow or decrease in the World and try their Evidences for their Lands to see that they are good take not so much pains for the Soul to see whether all be well there Union and Communion with God is a Christians chiefest happiness and without this there can be no felicity though we have the influence of all Earthly enjoyments yea though we had the Honours Riches and Pleasures of a thousand Worlds for all these end in a Snuff and will prove vanishing fading transitory things The Soul of Man is a precious Piece and therefore should be most regarded 'T is next to the Angels the chiefest Piece that ever droped out of the hands of God and was made in his own Image and the nearer any thing comes to the Image of God the nearer it comes to perfection for God is Perfection it self 'T is the greatest Purchase of the Blood of Christ that which was of Infinite Value more worth than the World was given to redeem it and Christ knew well enough the worth of Souls and would not give such a Rate for a thing of little worth In a word 't is Eternal and shall last for ever and run parallel with the longest Line of Eternity and therefore pretious the vanity of Earthly enjoyments is seen in this as well as other things it 's uncertain and momentary duration Now this pretious and Immortal Piece is in great danger and without our care diligence and pains is like to be lost a thousand Enemies besiege it and set it round Enemies without and within and on every side without the Devil and the World who spread a thousand Snares to intrap it within Corruptions yea an inbred Traytor a false perfideous treacherous and deceitful heart these are Politick Subtile Crafty and malicious Enemies The Devil will make no peace with us but upon worse conditions than Nahash the Amonite offered to the Men of Jabish Gillead 1. Sam. 11.2 Vpon this condition will I make a Covenant with you that I may thrust out all your right Eyes and lay it for a Reproach upon all Israel but his conditions are the everlasting destruction of Soul and Body and if the Soul be once lost thou art undone for ever a thousand Worlds cannot redeem it though they were turned into a heap of Diamonds or a Globe of Gold Now art thou a rational Creature and canst thou see thy self thy better part in so much danger and art not sensible of it wilt thou so regard a Limb or Sence an Eye or a Tooth and shall the Soul be unregarded wilt thou Consult the Lawyer about thy Estate the Physitian about thy Health yea the Farrier about thy Horses and shall thy Soul be neglected God forbid Wilt take care for Trifles and neglect things of greatest concernment what greater note of a Fool can be expressed God is yet calling thee and the Door of Mercy is not yet shut against thee opportunities are yet offered thee and there is yet hopes but how long it may continue thou knowest not up and be doing make sure of Heaven while it may be had one of these days it will be too late examine thy self by the Word of God cleanse the Fountain that the Streams may be clear stub up the Root of Sin when others are Lopping at the Branches begin Reformation at the right end I should here have given you some Motives Rules Directions Marks and Characters to this purpose to guide you in this difficult work but this I have done already in another Treatise of that Subject called the Souls Looking-Glass to which I referr you if you have no better at hand Yea when by Examination thou knowest the truth of thy Grace yet is not Examination useless but consider the Growth of it also true Grace is of a growing Nature like a Grain of Mustard Seed that in time becomes a great Tree thy Growth should be in some measure answerable to the Food thou eatest the means of Grace thou enjoyest that which stands at a stay or declines may be suspected 't is not true 't is a Monster in Nature that is no bigger at twenty Years old than at two 't is sad when Men that should grow decline and lose their first love if this be thy case consider from whence thou art fallen and do thy first work consider who thou leavest and whither thou goest and what will be the Issue of it at least consider what thou dost which no Hypocrite in the World can do and never give thy self any rest till thou knowest that thou outstrip'st them all yea till thou canst Read thy Name Written in the Book of Life and canst call God Father and say with the Spouse my Beloved is mine and I am his Cant. 6.3 2. Direct The next Private Duty is when thou knowest that thou hast an Interest in God and a Title to Glory and canst without check of Conscience call God thy Father and Christ thy Head and Husband be sure then to keep close to him hold him fast and do not let him go like the Spouse Cant. 3.4 'T is said of Enoch and Noah that they Walked with God and thus in some measure doth every faithful Soul and this is the surest safest course thou canst take for there is none can hurt thee when thou art under his Wing no Enemy can molest thee while thou art under his Tuition trouble never grinds a Man till it finds him from God take heed of growing strange with God if thou suffer him to be gone thou may'st seek him sorrowing and not find him Many that are constant in Publick Duties are defective in Private but 't is Secret Duties that chiefly maintains Communion with God in those it is we most ingage our hearts to God and God to us now if thou wouldest keep this Communion with God some things are to be avoided some things done The things to be avoided are especially Sins but above all our Bosome Sins those that thou art most inclined to and most easiiest yeilds to and canst most hardly say nay these God is most Jealous of and these will make the greatest breach between God and the Soul and most havock among thy Graces these are they that most deeply wound the Conscience break thy Peace with thy God and if not forsaken will procure a Bill of Divorce 't is thy Sins which is the cause of all Judgement Temporal Spiritual and Eternal and withhold Mercies from thee The love of Sin and close walking with God cannot stand