is a work that is wages to it self as you will find within Psal 19. 11. In as well as for keeping Gods commands there is great reward 'T is verily as the work of glorified Saints and of glorious Angels it being of the same nature with theirs whose work is their wages O then you may rationally conclude with your self from hence What a shame it is that I who am created to an Eternal being and that do possess an Immortal Soul should spend 20. 30. 40. or 50. Years in Vanity if not in Villany all the time wearing the livery of a cursed Master being a Slave to Sin and Satan and never look up to God the best Master and the Supreme good Alas you may hop from Mountain to Hill Jer. 50. 6. And go Satans round Jab 1. 7. yet find no rest with Noah's Dove for the Soles of the Feet of your Soul until you come to the Ark of this blessed work your Soul is Created with such vast Capacities as nothing bears proportion either to ' its being or to ' its wants below God no Created being hath Room enough in it to entertain so ample and so endless a guest 't is of such unlimited desires that nothing but the Immortal God can satisfy an Immortal Soul Secondly Observe the method which is first general in the whole duty of Man to God this is held out in those three general Names 1. Of godliness 2. Of Religion 3. Of Christianity Together with the necessity of each then Secondly you have more particularly the many good duties of Man to God both personal and relative Treated upon and that with as much perspicuity and plainness as so little a Book would admit of If you meet with any passage that seems obscure ascribe it to the Curtnes of my stile who indeavours to say much in a little and after some acquaintance herewithal with a little pondering you will be able through grace to understand the darkest Sentence If you desire direction in natural and civil Actions c. As well as in Religious I refer you to my little piece called the Crown and glory of a Christian If either in that or in this any thing may be blest to your Soul and bring you further of from Sin and nearer God which is the best thing in the World Psal 73. 28 both for Living and Dying let God have all the glory for the gift how mean soever bestowed on me how unworthy soever 2 Cor. I. II. And let me have the Relief of your Prayers for further abilities and your faithful Improvement of those poor performances which I commend to your Candour and your Soul to God and to the Word of his grace Subscribing my Self to be Yours in the best Bonds Christopher Nesse London this 10th of April 1678. Short Rules for your general Direction Let your Thoughts be Divine Awful and Godly Talk be Little Honest and True Works be Profitable Holy and Charitable Manners be Grave Courteous and Cheerful Dyet be Temperate Convenient and Frugal Apparel be Sober Neat and Comly Will be Ready Obedient and Constant Sleep be Moderate Quiet Seasonable Prayers be Short Devout and Frequent Recreations be Lawful Brief and Seldom Mind be Suitable to your Means Memory be Of Death Judgment and Glory Conscience be Void of offence to God and Man Task be Always doing or receiving good Conversation be In Heaven while your commoration be on Earth Latter-End be That of the Righteous Hopeful in the Lord not Hopeless in Sin A well-wish to your weal in both Worlds Utinam Saptres Praeterita Malum Commissum Bonum Omissum Tempus Amissum Intelligeres Praesentia Vitae Brevitatem Salvandi Difficultatem Salvandorum Paucitatem Praevideres Futura Mortem quâ nihil inevitabilius Judicium quo nihil terribilius Infernum quo nihil intolerabilius I wish you would First make a wise use of things past to wit evil committed good omitted and time lost and gone Secondly consider things present to wit the shortness of life the difficulty of Salvation and the fewness of those that are to be saved Thirdly Foresee things to come to wit death than which nothing is more unavoidable the day of Judgment than which nothing is more terrible the pains of Hell than which nothing is more Intolerable A Christians Walk and Work on Earth c. CHAP. 1. 1. YOU must know that Man is the master-piece of the Worlds ' Maker God calls as it were a Counsel in Heaven saying Let us make man Gen. 1. 26 Us all us the whole Wisdom of the Trinity was exercis'd in the making of Man The consultation and deliberation therein plainly demonstrates that there was then the bringing forth of a piece of work of greatest moment and importance and therefore what is said of Behemoth He is the chief of the ways of God Job 40. 19. may more eminently be said of Man he is the chiefest of the ways and of the works of God The Sun Moon and Stars are but the work of Gods fingers Psal 8. 3. But man is the work of his hands Psal 139. 14 15. Job 10. 3. 8. Hence David speaking of Man first wonders and then speaks and when he hath done to speak he hath not done to wonder Psal 8. 1. 9. 2. Every Creature of God is indeed a wonder yea little Creatures those Decimo-sexto's of the Creation are great wonders as well as the great Behemoth and other large Folio's thereof for the infinite Wisdom and Power of the Creator is manifest in couching up both life and motion in such a little compass as in Insects Flies Ants c. But Man is the greatest wonder as having the excellency of all other Creatures in him he is the abridgment of all wonders You believe that God is a Spirit and you see that the World is a Body Man is an Epitome of both 1. Of God in respect of his Spirit And 2. of the World in the composition of his Body as if the great Jehovah on purpose to set forth a plain mirrous of himself and his work designed to bring into this one narrow compass of Man both the infiniteness of his own nature and the vastness of the whole world all together 3. The soul of Man resembles the circumference of Heaven as being everywhere over the little world his brain the Sun that gives light to this little world and the senses stand round about it as so many Stars His heart represents the Earth in its Center his liver is as the Sea from whence flows the blood in all its circulations the like correspondency you may easily imagine in all other parts too long to particularize Hence is it that Tertullian calls the World a great Man and Man a little world Man the Microcosm is Gods Text as it were and all other Creatures in the Macrocosm or great world are as so many plain Commentaries upon that dark Text. 4. You may learn a little further herein if you would have yet more
Christopher Nesse aetatis Succ 56 1678 Minnister of the Gospel in fleet Street London A Christians Walk AND WORK on EARTH Until he attain to HEAVEN Which May serve as a Practical guide and a plain Direction in his Pilgrimage thither through his personal and Relative Duties Marvelously useful to all persons and Families of all Ranks and Qualities both in City and Country By Christopher Nesse Minister of the Gospel in Fleet-Street-London 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Torah Or Lex Lux Prov. 6. 23. Gods word is Davids Lantern and Candle Psal 119. 105. Blessed is he that Readeth Revel 1. 3. Printed for Dorman Newman at the Kings Arms in the Poultrey 1678. To the Right Worshipful and Worthily Honored Sir William Waller Knight Living in Westminster c. And to the Right Worshipful and very Vertuous and Religious Lady his comfortable Consort c. And to their two hopeful Olive-Plants Mr. Richard and Mris Katherine Waller Grace mercy and peace be Multiplyed Noble Sir YOu are a blessed branch of an Honourable stock whom I hope Divine Providence hath thence extracted for some more than Ordinary Generation-work and will after all your Interchanges of Occurrencies that now attend you in due season fix you as an Orient Star in your proper orbe and station to diffuse some delightful light and benign influence to your Generation The ground of my Hope hereof for I profess against speaking either at Random or in Flattery as fearing my Maker is this Besides your Natural Candour Sublime Temperature and sweetness of Disposition I have observed in you something that is supernatural both of parts and of Piety 1. Of paris in the Excellency of your Pen both in publick Print and in private Manuscripts your true Relation of the sad estate of the Reformed Churches in forrain Countrys is the former and your graciously composed Letter you sent me from France when you laid under great weakness there is the latter Testimony 2. Of Piety in your owning avouching and acknowledging the great Jehovah to be your God Deut. 26. 17. Pro. 3. 6. I do personally know that you have made Prayer to God your Refuge while under misery and praise of God your Recompence when under mercy From hence I do both hope and conclude that your God whom you serve will assuredly own and Honour you There is an eternal truth in that blessed word of God they that honour me I will honour 1 Sam. 2. 30. 't is a bargain of Gods own making we may bind upon it such as acknowledge and avouch the Lord for their God God will undoubtedly acknowledge and avouch them for his Servants God never gives such Excellent endowments in vain but he honours them with Suitable Exercises and opportunities in the World Fame follows Vertue closer then the shadow doth the Body and true Piety is as a thousand Eschutcheons in it self Godliness of it self is great honour as well as gain though no more be gained but Godliness it self Honored Madam THe very bosom-Disciple of Christ dedicates his second Epistle unto the Elect Lady one undoubtedly Eminent both in favour with God and in Estimation among the Churches for her shining Faith and Holiness which are rarely found in great Persons and to her Children rejoiceing in their Gracious carriage and Conversation 2 Ep. Joh. v. 1. 2. both the Honourable Mother and Her Honourable Children had this Elders the Apostles unfeigned and well-founded Love In Saluting therefore your Lady-ships hands and the hands of your dear and delightful Children with this Dedication is no untrodden path wherein not only this beloved Disciple but also the Fathers of the Church Jerome especially hath walked before me I doubt not to say without Vanity that you are an Elect Lady having known your manner of Conversation for some few Years both in your devotion to God publickly and privately and in your Communion with Saints together with your Religious Education of your sweet Children I know you have taught them the good ways of the Lord. Gen. 18. 19. that neither of them might become degenerat plants but both of them the Heirs of the same promise Heb. 11. 9. By all which you have confuted that fond conceit of the World to wit that goodness and greatness are Inconsistent things whereas they have an happy and a comely Conjunction in you without Controversy greatness hath nothing greater in it then both an Heart to be willing and a power to be able to do good how much you are capacitated and Qualified by your first Birth which was honourable as to Earth but especially by your New-Birth which is more highly HoHonourable as to Heaven even your greatest Credit and Comfort in both Worlds hath been Manifest in many Fair and Legible Characters of long candour and kindness to me and to my Family But to bring those two streams into one Channel as God hath by his Covenant of Marriage made your two persons to be one Flesh Though I might say much more in a just commendation of you both yet I forbear not only lest I should so much as seem to give Flattering Titles which indeed I know not to do I have as little Art in it as heart to it in so doing my maker might snatch me away in that dangerous Sin of Flattery Job 32. 21 22. But chiefly because your modest Ears and humble Hearts do not love Salutations in the Markets Math. 23. 7. Ye would not have it published upon the House-tops either what God hath done for you or what ye have done for God Therefore I shall only crave your pardon for affixing your Honourable Names to this little Book which is not done either altogether to seek your Patronage as the manner is for it hath License to go abroad into the World or to beg your hand to help me higher in the World for I am less then the least of those mercies of my God that I do already enjoy and I would lay at Gods foct as the righteous Man did Isa 41. 2. in these things but 't is to express my gratitude to you who have both watered this work and furthered it with your sweet Influences I do here present you with the Walk and Work of a Christian upon earth until he come at the end to Heaven both these are weighty and worthy of all Acceptation First The Walk here doth infinitely transeend the best walk in your garden or in the best spring-garden in the whole World 'T is a walk wherein you may not only walk hand in hand with the Angels of God both those that are Terrestrial to wit Christians and those that are Coelestial to wit Cherubims but also with the God of Angels himself even as a Man walks hand in hand with his friend thus Enoch walked with his God Gen. 5. 24. Secondly The work here is verily Angelical as well as Evangelical work a work that is Honourable to the most Honourable upon Earth giving more of Honour to them then it can receive
Gentile ended in this New and Honourable Name which before was promised to Sion as above There was a Coalition of Jew and Gentile into one Church and by Consequence an abrogation of the differing Names Hence this common Name was given to both believing in Christ by God himself according to his promise but Oh what a shameful thing it is that this New and Honourable Name should be at this day a Name of Reproach amongst the Papists in Rome and Italy by whom it is usually abused to signify a fool or a dolt as Dr. Eulke on Act. 11. in his Annotations upon the Rhem. Testam plainly proveth out of their own Authors Thus those same who have changed Gods glory into their own shame as to things in their Superstition and Idolatry have done no less as to Names in their ignorance and debauchery by a righteous Judgment of God upon them 2 Thes 2. 11. 35. But you must know that a Worthie Title is put upon you an Honourable Name is given to you in your becoming and being a Christian which signifies the Anointed of the Lord even the sacred Name of Christ of whom the whole family in Heaven and Earth is named Eph. 3. 15 is called upon you A name that will honour you if you honour it and that will highly exalt you if you exalt it Austin tells of one who had a Crown set upon his head consisting indeed of many Crowns as he was an Emperour yet he made not all this the Crown of his rejoycing but prefer'd this as a greater Crown that the name of Christ was called upon him this he accounted his greater honor and the Title to Psalm 118. shews you that David accounted it a greater honour to be the servant of the Lord than to be the King of Israel The highest Title or name upon the Earth is nothing to this no though it should endure so long as the Earth endures here 's Eternity of Honour and such an Honour as reaches from Earth to Heaven 36. The great difficulty you will find is to Answer this Name to honour and exalt this Name that it may honour and exalt you 't is an easy matter to be a Christian in name but to be a Christian indeed there 's the difficulty to have our natures to Answer our name as to have self to crucify self is no easy work if you be but almost a Christian as Agrippa you shall be but almost happy too You will not find it easy to offer an holy violence upon your self even to the plucking out of your right Eye and the cutting off of your right Hand Yet this you must do if you will Answer your name and be a Christian indeed and enter in at the strait gate by an holy violence your heart is Weak Ezek. 16. 30 as well as your hand and no less than the mighty hand of God can enable you for this mighty Work 37. Therefore I must tell you the Holy Scripture owns none to be Christians but such as be according to Christ and as the Anointed of the Lord there is a powerful influence in true Christianity that must spread it self over three things 1. Over your Conscience Heb. 13. 18 and therefore there must be the answer of a good Conscience 1 Pet. 3. 21. 2. Over your Communication Prov. 10. 20. your Tongue must be as choice Silver having a good Sound by a tincture of the Spirit of Christ upon it And 3. over your Conversation Eph. 4. 1. you must be of a Christ-like Conversation walking worthy of that high calling Phil. 4. 13. Of a Religious Godly and Christian Conversation in the General CHAP. II. 1. AS all those three names aforesaid to Wit Religion Godliness and Christianity do joyntly agree in this one great truth that man must serve his Maker both in heart and life according to his revealed Will not only in the harsher dispensation of Moses whose first Miracle was the turning water into blood but also and that especially in the sweeter dispensation of the Messias whose first Miracle was the turning of water into Wine that cheers the heart of Man and therefore Christianity the last of the three doth contain in it the whole duty of Man to God yea in the nearest and dearest Relation to wit in Christ even so the last of those three to which Christianity communicates an effectual influence to wit conversation may in its Latitude comprehend the concerns of Conscience and communication also as appears by the Sequel 2. The Apostle Peter tells you of all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 15 and of all holy Conversation 2 Pet. 3. 11. Those two Expressions are extensive comprehending the whole duty of Man Relating to God to himself and to others in thought word and deed all conversation and all manner of conversation There is one conversation of your thoughts another conversation of your words and a third conversation of your deeds and all respecting either your God or your self or others in wharsoever capacity or Relation you stand either in Church or World 3. Touching your conversation in the general before I descend into particulars you must know it must be a worthy conversation worthy of that sacred name that is called upon you the more unworthy that a Christians conversation is the greater pollution is cast upon that Sacred name which is put upon him the more Sacred his name is the greater is his guilt and the more accursed Such an one is the basest of Men and like a wither'd Vine good for no use Ezek. 15. 4. Or like Unsavory Salt not so much as good for the dunghil Matth. 5. 13. but to be trodden under foot 4. 'T is a good conversation that commends a Christian and that only heart-service doth indeed please God best but never without life-service too which honours God most Matth. 5. 16 where the heart is made Suitable to Gods nature there the life will be Subject to his Law If Christ have his throne upon your Conscience his Scepter will appear upon your communication and upon your conversation also Thus an holy conversation doth not only commend a Christian before God Angels and Men but it also commends the God of the Christians to the World they glorify their Father Matth. 5. 16. Esa 61. 9. Peil 2. 15. 5. Besides your Christian conversation must not only commend you for a Christian but it must prove you to be a Christian It would not be Miracles if you could work them nor Revelations If you could be dignified with them nor signes and wonders if such a power were given from above to you that could any or all severally or joyntly prove you a Christian All those have been given to workers of Iniquity and such as have cast out Devils have been cast out to Devils themselves at last as Judas who was a Devil himself Matth. 7. 22 23. Joh. 6. 2 70. So then 't is the conversation which is all in all and justifies before Men
2 Cor. 6. 10. when you have got the Divine Art of contentment Phil. 4. 12. O Remember how the great Architect of the World had not a house to put his head in though he was the Carpenter Mark 6. 3. and the builder of all Heb. 11. 10. Math. 8. 20. Phil. 2. 7. 2 Cor. 8. 9. and how those great Favourites of Heaven wandred about in Sheep-skins c. Heb. 11. 37. 38. Having no certain dwelling place 1 Cor. 4. 11. Suppose you have none or but a mean one on Earth yet have you one and that a Magnificent one in Heaven 2 Cor. 5. 1. 6. The second Direction is having an habitation appointed you of God be sure you make the Lord your Counceller about a yoke-fellow whether you be Male or Female if you have a call thereunto Marriage quasi Marre-age or Merry-age 't is the making or marring of you for your whole life of all your civil affairs there is none of the like Importance as this having an Influence upon all your days you live in the World 't is like a stratagem in War that cannot be recal'd when you will according to your choice of a good or evil Spirit you bring into your bed and bosom you make your house a lasting Heaven or Hell You are mine and I am yours brevis quidem est Cantiuncula longum vero Epiphonema is a short Song but it hath a long undersong therefore an Errour herein being Irrecoverable you have need of Argus his hundred Eyes as well as Briareus his hundred hands and of Gods Counsel above all that you lay not the foundation of a lasting sorrow thereby and that your Conjugium prove not a Conjurgium a continual crossing instead of comforting one another when two are in one yoke and each draws contrary ways to the other Hereupon some say that Adam in his deep sleep was praying for a meet help Gen. 2. 21. and the Scripture saith expresly that Isaac went out to confer with God in Prayer and Meditation about this weighty matter Gen. 24. 63. a good Wife is from the Lord Prov. 19. 14. And so is a good Husband 7. The third Direction is let not that Doctrine of Devils that forbids to Marry 1 Tim. 4. 1 3. hinder you as if it were better to live upon the Common or as if the unmarried estate were more honourable without regard to the proper and peculiar gift 1 Cor. 7. 7 9. for Marriage is honourable unto all c. Heb. 13. 4. and God himself not Cecrops Lycurgus or Numa was the first Author and Institutor of it and that in Paradise yea and before the fall Gen. 2. 22. hence 't is cal'd the Covenant of God Prov. 2. 17. and though Paul the unmarried qua talis as 't is said went up to God which was a great honour yet Moses that was married had God to come down to him which was greater honour despise not this Divine medicine which if rightly applyed is your Arrival at the fair Haven marriage quasi merry-age the sweetest passage of your life a rest and center of your affections Ruth 3. 1. that it may be well with you this is desireable as well as honourable in both Sexes for the man misses his rib and would recover it and the woman the rib would be in her place under the Arm again 8. The fourth Direction is be careful to enter in by Gods way into Gods Covenant not as some that enter into Gods Ordinance to wit Marriage by the Devils portal to wit fornication so lays the Foundation of a curse and not of a blessing the Apostle faith let them marry only in the Lord 1 Cor. 7. 39. you must not marry in Pluto the God of Riches nor in Venus the Goddess of pleasure as the Heathens feigned but in the fear of the Lord the Rabbins observe that in the names of Ish and Ishah the Hebrew names of Man and Woman is included Jah the name of God and that if you take out Jod and He whereof the name Jah consists there remaineth nothing but Esch Esch which signifies fire fire the moral of it is good signifying that if you marry in any manner but in the Lord whose name is Jah Psal 68. 4. there will be nothing but fire fire nothing but brawling and doleful dissention a fire that burneth to the fire of Hell but if you marry in the Lord you marry also with the Lord and he cannot be absent from his own Marriage it was Christs presence at a marriage that turn'd water into Wine Joh. 2. 2 9. Jesus must be Invited to your Marriage as the principal guest but by no means invite the Devil quasi do-evil who is Abaddon and Appollyon Rev. 9. 11. the destroyer of all good Except the Lord be with you to build your house even in your foundation work which is always serious and weighty work all your indeavours will be but Arena sine Calce sand without lime that cannot hang together but like untempered Morter will fall asunder and you build in vain Psal 127. 1. 2. Except and except c. 'T is vain and 't is vain c. Should found in your Ears 9. The fifth Direction is if God have made you the husband of a Wife especially of such a one as hath the seven qualifications of a good one to wit grace race face arts parts portion proportion then 1 Be thankful to your God for so great a blessing Psal 116. 12. this was one of the first real and and royal gifts that God bestowed on Adam and that upon deliberation of Divine wisdom Gen. 2. 18. the Trinity in the unity had consulted before about mans first being let us make man c. Gen. 1. 26. Now the Unity in the Trinity consults about mans well-being and determins 't is not good for man to be alone I will make him an help-meet for him a piece so exactly cut out for him as answers him rightly in every Joint no such glorious Creature could Adam find among all the Creatures that passed before him hence the woman is the glory of a Man 1 Cor. 11. 7. O bless God for such a glorious Creature and rejoice at the recovery of your lost Rib Cant. 3. 11. Rejoice in the Lord the giver of that mercy 1 Cor. 1. 31. for marriages are made in Heaven before they be Solemnized on Earth 't is the work of God the Creator to provide an help-meet for Man his Creature Gen. 2. 18. Prov. 18. 22. Prov. 19. 14. And 2 Live with your Wife that God hath graciously given you as a Man of knowledg 1 Pet. 3. 7. where should knowledg and wisdom be but in the head if you have found by seeking God in Prayer as Isaac did a Wife that is a good Wife as name is used Eccles 7. 1. for a good name and Wool Esa 1. 18. for white Wool you have found a good thing a fit and faithful yoke fellow is a singular blessing and you have
of Honour from them Deo servire est regnare saith Augustin And David accounted it a greater honour to be Gods Servant then to be Israels King Psal 18. Title The great God is the most honourable Master who Employs his Servants in this most honourable work and will undoubtedly pay them with the most honourable wages even with an hundred fould in this life and in the World to come with life everlasting Mark 10. 30. I have no cause to doubt but that you are both of you already true Spiritual Pilgrims in this Divine walk and work And I cannot but be confident that you both do Ardently affect what soever may promote your Progress herein O that my poor Labours might contribute any thing to further your passage If but some few steps I could then wish every word were Ten every line a Leaf and every Leaf a Volum and that both my Tongue and my Pen might have ten-fold more of the Divine tincture upon them to be serviceable to you thereunto Your God and the God of your Fathers hath already done singular things for you and therefore he doth expect singular things from you Math. 5. 47. Where the Husbandman bestows his greatest cost there he expects his largest crop Your Trading and your Talents should be proportionable to whom much is given of them much is Required Luke 12. 48. I beseech you therefore as ye have received how ye ought to walk and to work in this paradise of christianity into which the second Adam hath graciously restored you as the first Adam cast you out in himself from thence so ye would abound more and more 1 Thes 4. 1. According to the Divine directions herein presented you That ye may follow the foot steps of your Father Abraham who followed God blind-fold when called as you have been out of one Land into another Heb. 11. 8. That ye may be called at last from Earth to Heaven in Soul and Body as ye are already in Spirit after ye have walked out your generation-work in Abrahams steps to be safely lodged in Abrahams bosom that the blessing of Abraham may come upon the hearts of your Son and Daughter and of their seed for ever and that your Walls and theirs may be continually before the Lord of the whole Earth Isa 49. 16. All this is the unfeigned desire and hearty Prayer which shall never be wanting of Your Worships sincerely and thankfully Devoted Christopher Nesse To the READER Candid and Christian Reader HEre I present you with the Walk and Work of a Christian upon Earth till he get to Heaven Wherein 1. Observe the matter And 2. The method hereof 1. The matter is twofold 1. Your Walk and 2. Your Work 1. As to your Walk there be three remarkable phrases in the holy Scriptures that all concern your Christian Walk 1. A walking with God 2. A walking before God And 3. A walking after God The first was that Walk of Enoch who is said to walk with God Gen. 5. 22 24. as a man walks with his friend with whom he is well agreed Amos 3. 3. hand in hand and heart in heart aequis passibus in equal pace and equipage And this he did not only for an hour or a day or a week or a month or a year but for 300 years Alas we can neither watch with Christ nor walk with God for the space of one single hour Mat. 26. 40. The second was the Walk of Abraham who is bid to walk before God Gen. 17. 1 that is to set himself evermore solemnly in Gods Presence as having the great God always in his Rear his Lieutenant-General and for his rereward Isa 52. 12. Thus the people of the God of Abraham had the cloudy pillar behind them in their passage through the red Sea Exod. 14. 19 20. where Jehovah himself brought up the Rear of 600000. Now to know that you are ever under Gods eye and ever before him this must needs make you walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accurately Eph. 5. 15. and not to take up one foot until you know where to set down the other walking exactly by line and by rule and as it were in a frame footing it rightly and uprightly as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Gal. 2. 14. striving to get to the very top of Godliness The third was the Walk of Israel who were commanded to Walk after the Lord Deut. 13. 4. as after the Captain-General of their salvation Heb. 2. 10. Thus the pillar of glory went before them through the wilderness and they followed after it in all their removes Exod. 13. 21 22. Thus Caleb with a better Spirit than that of the World walk'd after God fully Numb 14. 24. as the needle doth after the Load-stone that draws it Cant. 1. 4. Joh. 6. 44. you walk after a good guide while you walk after your good God and in so doing you cannot easily wander in this wilderness of the World This will be a blessed Antidote to you against cursed Apostacy 2 Pet. 3. 17 18. and thus God must be your All and in All Col. 3. 11. he must be with you before you and behind you also that you may be as a Ship under Sail carried end-ways strongly by a favourable Wind and fearing neither Rocks nor Sands in the River of Gods Paradise Psal 46. 4. Gen. 2. 10. to 15. This same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Revel 10. 9 10. Or little Book is a rude draught or Plat-form or Land-Skip of the Gospel-garden of Eden the true Spiritual Paradise of pleasure the sublimest Spring-garden of Scriptural-Holiness wherein you have not only pleasant Rivers as above but also delightful walks far surpassing the best gardens and galleries that can be found in this Chabul 1 King 9. 12 13. or dirty world Herein you are directed not to be Idle nor to stand still but to go forward as walkers do and to walk Arm in Arm as it were not only with God but with his holy Angels Zech. 3. 4 5 7. Mat. 22. 30. Isa 57. 2. And that not in one walk only but in many Delectable walks whereof this blessed Paradise of Piety consisteth insomuch that as the laborious Bee in a fruitful field of fragrant Flowers when Tyred with one Flower flyeth to another even so you when wearied with one walk or duty for you may be weary in it when you are not weary of it then may you pass to another without nauseating upon any one only you may walk Orderly out of one Ordinance to another Secondly as to your work which is as the walk the best work in the World though it be least minded by the World 't is a work wherein you serve the most honourable Master that employs his Servants in the most honourable work and will reward them with the most honourable wages to wit with an hundred fold in this life and in the world to come again with life everlasting Mark 10. 30. yea 't
keep them in the legal way This is the one thing needful Luk. 10. 41 and 't is the bonum hominis the good of Man as well as the whole of Man to do justly to love mercy and to walk humbly with his God Mic. 6. 8. 'T is not only the good but also the chiefest good of Man attainable in this life to wit Conformity to God and Communion with God in the Duties of the first and second Tables of the Law 12. This whole and good duty of Man to God hath commonly three Names 1. Religion 2. Godliness 3. Christianity 1. 'T is call'd Religion a Religando from binding as it is a sacred bond that binds Man in his Duty to God There is indeed the cursed bond of iniquity Act. 8. 23 which binds the heart of Man to Sin and Satan But that may seem needless seeing Man's heart doth so naturally love the service of sin and you do not find your heart so apt to slip from the service of Satan so less need of this bond of iniquity as you are apt to slip from the service of God As therefore you cannot love the service of God unless it be supernaturally given you so a Religious principle must both bring you near to who in the fallen nature are afar of from God Eph. 2. 13. Psal 73. ult But also must bind your shppery heart fast to God that you may be Gods bundle tyed up on Earth to be carried up to Heaven Religion is the girding up of the loins of your mind Luk. 12. 35. 1 Pet. 1. 13 and he that is thus ungirt is certainly according to the Proverb unblest also 13. There is 1. A Natural Religion whereby Man fashions his thoughts words and deeds according to the light and law of Nature hereby also he hath a good or a bad opinion of himself according to the Conformity or Inconformity to Natures light and law And the more that the understanding of Man is enlightned the stronger is the obligation or bond to all duties of this Natural Religion But alas such darkness hath befallen the Gentile Natural Religion that they have made Gods of men and when they have so done brings down those Gods to play the men in murders thests and rapes as their own Poets are not ashamed to tell us 2. There is the Jewish-Religion which binds them to conform to all those Laws Moral Judicial and Ceremonial and to observe them according to the intention of the lawgiver and to judg of themselves by their having or wanting Conformity to those Laws 3. The Turkish-Religion in a word makes sensuality the best happiness and therefore to be abhorred by all that love Holiness 14. 4. The Popish-Religion which is almost as bad as the Mahometanism or the Turkish as Opander in his Epitom 12. Centur. pag. 275. large quarto sheweth by its Doctrine of Merit and Supererogation c sets up Man and not God yea makes God a debtor to Man to say nothing how it is pompous and flesh pleasing allowing of equivocations of buying and selling of pardons how it relies on the Infallibility of wicked Popes it hoodwinks the Laity it worships stocks and stones it overthrows Christs Humanity by giving to it ubiquity it destroys Christ's Satisfaction by purgatory and perfection it befools Temporal Princes it denies assurance it tolerates open stews it damns all Infants that dye unbaptized and much more of the same bran therefore it is not obligatory or binding to you as the word Religion signifies being a mere cento of Judaism and Heathenism and a composition of lying Doctrines 'T is Divine Truth and not Humane Error that binds the conscience 15. 1 There is the Protestant-Religion which truly abases Man and exalts God Those be the two Properties of the true Religion and such as do not so are always to be suspected for false Religions This last teaches us that a man being united by faith to Christ believes in him both for Satisfaction and Salvation though he come short of Gods Glory and his own Duty hoping to be saved by the Righteousness of Christ and not by any Righteousness of his own It holds out reconcilement to God and communion with God as the end and the Covenant of Grace as the means to that end Thus doth it bind God and Man together after the great breach by the fall yea it binds Man to God after his breaking from God and teaches him rightly to worship God the Father Son and Holy Ghost according to the holy Scriptures 16. There is but one true Religion that is binding to your soul Diversity of Religion is against the Essence of God which is but one there is but one Truth one true Religion that hath life and power in it all other are but carcasses yea spectrum's and phantasms You must know every difference in opinion makes not up a false and a differing Religion Those that agree together in fundamentals cannot be said to be of different Religions there may be a ruffling the Fringe in circumstantials where there is no rending the garment in substantials Abraham and Lot may take several ways yet be brethren still yea and be ready too to rescue each other from the common Enemy 17. Plato blessed God for three things 1. That he was made a man and not a beast 2. That he was a Gracian and not a Barbarian 3. That he was a Philosopher and not a Rustick You may add to this God-blessing work not only that you are born in a Region of Religion the land of Goshen and valley of Vision but that you are acquainted also with the power of it in your own heart For 1. Religion is the beauty and bulwark of your Nation 't is to it what the Palladium was to Trey which could never be destroyed so long as they possessed it 'T is as Sampsons lock which while he retains he retains his strength also and is unconquerable therefore as the Gracians first stole away that Image of Pallas from Troy and then destroy'd it and as the Philistines cut Sampsons lock and then conquer'd him So the Enemy of Truth would rob our Nation of Religion which is its muniment as well as its ornament Zeph. 2. 5. and then destroy it Religion is our turris a tuendo a Tower of defence Isa 5. 2 which is a Fort Royal against all Invaders So long as the Tabernacle stood in Shiloh the Kingdom flourished and there were no Ichabods in it but the Canaanites were subdued before them Josh 18. 1 c. as if the stability of the Tabernacle had given stability to the Kingdom The fall of the Tabernacle was the fall of the Kingdom Psal 78. 60 61 62 and that tribe perished first that lost the tabernacle first ver 67. Sion was double-top'd on the one hill stood the Temple and on the other the Pallace of the King as if the latter had its lustre and safety from the former that Nation that hath God nigh them in
Religion is a great Nation Deut. 4. 7 and desolate Nations may say as Mary said in another case Oh Religion if thou had been here our Nation had not dyed nor been destroyed Though every shower on our land were a shower of gold every stone in it a pearl every beggar therein an honourable Senator every fool as wife as Solomon every weakling as strong as Sampson yet wealth honour strength and wisdom yea all is gone when this Ark Religion is gone you may then sing a doleful lamentation with Phineha's wife 1 Sam. 4. 21. the Glory is gone from England Oh you would not live to see Religion dye better you dead and gone a hundred times than Religion be dead and gone 18. Religion to wit in the power of it gives both a Relative and a real worth to your self in particular as it gives beauty and safety to your Nation in General 1. Real worth it makes you of Gods treasure Exod. 19. 5. of Gods jewels Mal. 3. 17 whereof the world is not worthy Heb. 11. 31. This makes you of the Blood Royal of Heaven not only in Alliance but in Union though never so poor in the world 2. Relative-worth this makes you more excellent than your neighbour though never so great and honourable if irreligious Prov. 12. 26. Hereby Abraham was a Prince among the Hittites Gen 23. 6. When others are in Scripture call'd vile you are precious others chaff you wheat others reprobate silver you refined gold others briars and thorns you a noble vine though your condition be never so mean in the world A living dog in this sense is better than a dead lyon Eccles 9. 4. The Jews say Those seventy souls that went down to Egypt with Jacob were of more worth to God than all the seventy Nations that were in the world besides They are the excellent of the earth Psal 16. 3. better Gentlemen as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Act. 17. 11. truly honourable Isa 43. 2 3. the very Chariots and horsemen of Israel One religious man saves a land Zech. 12. 5. Job 22. ult Jer. 5. 1. And if God could have but found ten righteous and religious persons in five wicked Cities he would not have destroyed them 'T is remarkable Abraham lest begging before God left baiting he might possibly have brought God to a lower number yea if but one in Jerusalem Jer. 5. 1. he would have saved it 19. You must therefore put an high estimation on Religion 't is the field wherein the pearl of great price lyeth and you are a wise merchant if you purchase that field Matth. 13. 44 45. Whatever it cost you you cannot pay too dear for this gold nay for this that is better than gold yea than the finest gold Job 28. 15. five several sorts of gold are there mentioned intimating if there be one sort of gold finer than another as indeed there is yet the finest thereof is not comparable to this heavenly wisdom yea 't is more precious than Rubies Prov. 3. 13. 8. 10 11. Solomon by his advantage of sublime wealth and wisdom had even ransacked the whole Creation to find out the most exquisite excellency of all created beings yet he proclaims the vanity and insufficiency of them all and prefers this above them all and Paul that great trader by sea and land 2 Cor. 11. 23 25 26. counts all but dung and dross yea dogs-meat as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Phil. 3. 8. in comparison of the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph. 3. 8. If the mountains of the earth were all pearl and the might rocks thereof were Rubies yea if the whole Globe of the Earth were one sparkling Diamond yet all this could not be weighed against the worth of Godliness one grain of grace is better than all the vast Entrado's of Spain then the gold of Ophir yea than all the riches of both Indies 't is better to be rich in faith than in gold and a man with a gold-ring is not comparable to a man with a gracious heart faith is more precious than gold 1 Pet. 1. 7 3 3 4. Gold is indeed the King of mettals and outshines them all on Earth as the Sun outshines all the Stars in Heaven yet is it but the shadow of this spiritual thing Zech. 4. 12. Exod. 25. 17. Cant. 5. 11. Revel 21. 18. Now there must be more worth in the substance than in the shadow therefore do not think you make a bad bargain though you part with all your treasure to purchase this field of treasure 20. In a word 1 'T is your best inheritance that hath most satisfaction and most duration in it and therefore must you say with Naboth God forbid I should part with my inheritance 1 Kings 21. 3. 'T is just so much the best of blessings as much as God is the best of beings hold it then as your life 2 'T is your best friend that will not only abide with you in this world for there are no bankrupts herein that ever truly received its power but 't will also accompany you into a better world Rev. 14. 13. Your first friend Riches cannot do so though desired that can only give something towards the journey to wit a winding-sheet and a Cosfin your second friend Relations can only bring you a little on the way to wit accompany you to the grave But this third and best friend Religion will go along with you to your journeys-end and stand before the Lord as being recorded in Gods Book of Remembrance 3 'T is your best teacher teaching you 1 to own the Lord as your right owner and true proprietary you had not your being from your self but from the first of beings and so your being must be for God as it was from God you are not your own 1 Cor. 6. 20 but you are his not only by Creation but also by choice purchase and conquest 2. To acknowledg him your just governour 't is meet the Artificer should govern his own workmanship however he deal with you and he is too kind to do you harm and too just to do you wrong 3. To avouch him your best benefactor more than a friend a master a father or a husband yea a God that gives you a being and well-being too Oh cry with David The God of my mercy Psal 59. 10. Therefore Religion must be your business all other things but your by-busines Aristotle studied Philosophy as his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the morning Eloquence as his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the evening only No concern like Salvation of the Soul 21. The second Name is Godliness this hath life and power in it There may be many carcases and forms of Religion but there is but one life one power ther is a forme of knowledg Rom. 2. 20. and a forme of godliness 2 Tim. 3. 5. yet both may want the power you may live by a
forme but you cannot die by a forme T is the power of godliness that is godliness indeed Godliness quasi Godlikeness it makes you like God as ungodliness makes you unlike God holy as he is holy 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. 22. As Godliness is the recovery of the Image and likeness of God which man lost by ungodliness in eating the forbidden fruit So 't is the whole frame of grace spreading like blessed leven over all the three measures of meal not only the understanding will and memory but also the Body Soul and Spirit Matth. 13. 33. 1 Thes 5. 23. through the gracious overshadowings of the holy Ghost Godliness is as it were God manifest in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. as God was manifest in the flesh of his Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bodily Col. 2. 9. Joh. 1. 14. So God is manifest in the Flesh of his Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spiritually as the Father Son and Holy Ghost are all said to take up their abode and to live to dwell to tabernacle and to temple in them Joh. 14. 23. 17. 23. Gal. 2. 20. Eph. 3. 17. Revel 21. 3. 1 Cor. 6. 19. Rom. 8. 11 c. 23. Godliness is a compound of all the graces of the Spirit as so many Ingredients to the making up of this blessed Composition 't is the life and exercise of every grace of faith and love of joy peace and praise of Self-denial and devotion of patience and obedience of hope and perseverance It containes in it your trusting in God your worshipping of God and your obedience to God yea lastly your very Victory and Triumph over all your Enemies the flesh the World and the Devil Godliness therefore must be the main thing that you must look for and labour after as 't is the main thing that God looks after Psal 14. 2. God looked down from Heaven what for Not to see how fair how strong how Rich how great how Honourable Men were but how good how godly how Righteous how Religious they were 24. Hence Solomon tells you that wisdom is the principal thing and with all your getting you must get it principally Prov. 4. 7. and one greater than Solomon even your blessed Saviour bids you Seek first the Kingdom of God and all other things shall be added unto you as paper and pack-threed are cast into the bargain Matth. 6. 33. Godliness is the Sublimest wisdom 't is wisdom that is from above Jam. 3. 17. and the fear of God is the beginning of this wisdom Psal 111. last Deut. 4. 6. Yea 't is not only the beginning of it but 't is also the middle and the ending thereof too Say the world what it will Godliness is the greatest gain 1 Tim. 6. 6. and brings a great deal of gain with it besides it self though it self be great gain Godliness is great gain of it self though no more be gained but it self having the promises of both lives annexed to it 1 Tim. 4. 8. 'T is a fat land and fruitful of all sorts of blessings at its gates are all manner of pleasant fruits laid up for those that do inhabit it Cant. 7. last 'T is a tree of life on which do grow Temporal Spiritual and Eternal blessings and you may count all the Stars sooner than all the mercies that come flying upon the wings of Godliness 25. Yea Godliness is not only great gain but 't is better than gain for you cannot carry your gain 1 Tim. 6. 7. out of the World but you may your Godliness and your works of Piety shall follow you into a better world Revel 14. 13. besides Godliness is such a blessed thing in it self that it is a reward to it self in as well as for keeping Gods commandments there is great Reward Psal 19. 11. therefore look upon it as not only your duty but also your priviledg not only your work but your reward too Wickedness is a punishment to it self in the many Cordoliums and heartquakes that do attend it but Oh the peace and pleasantness that is found in the pathes of Divine wisdom Prov. 3. 17. a sweet tranquillity of mind doth always attend upon a Godly life 26. You may aske all those blessed spies which the Lord hath sent to spie out this Land of Godliness as they did the Land of Canaan Numb 13. 17 18 19 20 27. they can tell you that the Land is a good Land a fat not a lean Land a land that floweth with Milk and Honey and they can shew you some of those blessed clusters of Canaans grapes saying this is the fruit of the land The plagues of the Lord fall upon those that bring an evil report upon this good land Numb 13. 32. with 14. 37. The Apostle tells you that Godliness is profitable unto all things The Babylonians faith Plutarch make 360 commodities of the Palm Tree but there is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a thousand benefits to be got by godliness Riches Honours Delights Pleasures life and length of days Seed and posterity are all entailed upon godliness Prov. 3. 15 16. Oh who would not then turn Spiritual purchaser and with all his gettings get Godliness with any pains and for any price the least dram whereof is saving and so better worth then the Riches of both Indies 27. They bring up an evil Report upon this good land that slanderously say Godliness doth beggar Men whereas 't is more truly said that ungodliness doth begger Men. That this contrary is the truth the Vales of Godliness are above the wages of wickedness the gleanings of the former is above the whole Vintage of the latter do but look into the world and you may behold many fair Estates have been melted away by Whoredom Idleness Pride and Drunkenness Such ungodly wretches are doubly undone by their own ungodliness they are undone in this life and undone in the life to come while the little that a godly Man hath by a special blessing of God upon his godliness doth encrease to a thousand Psal 37. 16. Abraham Job David and others were richer than any and so might Men be now If they could or would be as godly as they were They sought godliness and Gods Kingdom first and therefore other things sought them and so they would do us would we or could we but run the same method They did not read Gods truth backward making Earth their Throne and Heaven their footstool as the Heathens Vertue after Money Philosophy teaches to seek first bona Animi the good of the Soul and Divinity Regnum Dei the Kingdom of God then the over-plus shall be added as the wise God Judges meet the Proverb of blind Popery shall shame those slaunderers Meat and Mattens never hinders thrift 28. Another evil report upon godliness is that it destroys all mirth delight and pleasure alas Swine think that sheep have no pasture because they feed not upon draff as they do So the wicked World accounts godliness a Melancholy fancy
yea and glorifies God too 6. Our Lord saith thus of himself if I do not the works of my Father believe me not Joh. 10. 37 his works should testify of him what he was Luk. 7. 20 21 22. His works must be the standard by which they must measure him whether he were the Christ or no and so a fit Foundation for their Faith Christs Vicar the Pope who causelesly calls himself so will not say thus as Christ said but will have all his precepts dispatched not disputed obeyed not examined though we be bid to try the Spirits 1 Joh. 4. 1 and although by his evil Example he drew thousands to Hell yet none must say so much as what dost thou 7. Whereas works must be the standing standard whereby all Men as well as Christ yea the Pope himself must be measured whether they be in Christ and Christ in them If you do not the works of Christ to wit such as he hath proposed for your Example Imitable works 't is a vain belief yea a mere conceit only to think your self a Christian and you do but put an everlasting cheat upon your own Immortal Soul your works tell the World what you are for those the World sees and hears and by them you either glorifie your Father in Heaven or give clear evidence that you have denied the Lord that bought you 2 Pet. 2. 1 and would Redeem you from a Vain Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18 2 12. 8. T is true you may be a Christian in truth though something of Sin remain in your heart yet then it must not be liked there Rom. 7. 15. and although something of Sin remain in your life yet then it must not Reign there Rom. 6. 14. And for the main course of your life you must be chast modest temperate meek gentle kind and pittiful You must bridle your passions mortifie your inordinate affections and in a word exercise all the graces of his Spirit in you and Godliness 1 Tim. 4. 7. 9. Your practice must be answerable to your profession You who carry Christs name that Sacred worthy name how exactly should you carry your self and what manner of person ought you to be 2. Pet. 3. 11 even a person to admiration as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies how accurate and how elevated above the Ordinary strain You must have your feet where other Mens heads are Prov. 15. 24 the way of life is above to the wise you must be a choice person as you have a choice name that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in him 2. Thes 1. 12. This glory of Christ shall rebound unto your glory and Christ accounts himself glorified therein 10. You must therefore be Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 15. your very civility must favour of Sanctity and your common commerce relish of Religion Holiness to the Lord should be Writ upon your Bridle when you Ride and upon your Cups when you Drink Zech. 14. 20 21 you should as 't is said of a Reverend Divine Eat and Drink and Sleep Eternal life Those very common Actions are as so many Steps in your Christian walk and way and therefore you should not despise them but with all seriousness refer them to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31 do all to God and his glory 11. Such as name the name of Christ should depart from Iniquity 2 Tom. 2. 19 and this loose professours not doing doth exceedingly promote Atheisme There is nothing enlarges the Gulf of Atheisme more then that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wide passage between the profession and the practice of pretenders to Christianity how can the profession of that be looked upon by others to be Honourable the practice whereof is not looked on by themselves to be so If the Sum of Christianity be good why do they not practice it and if it be not good why do they so much as profess it 12. See then that your Conversation may be in Heaven while your commoration is on Earth Phil. 3. 20 't is so Ish Exemplarily while you are Writing by Heavens Copy and 2dly Analogically according to Heavens Rule living by Heavens Laws yea 3dly Theologically going about your Earthly matters with an Heavenly mind which a carnal heart that makes Earth his Throne and Heaven his footstool can never do a Fly cannot make that of a flower that a Bee doth The Carnal man is like to the Duke de Alva that said he had so much business upon Earth that he had no leisure to look up to Heaven but you must have so much business in Heaven as to have no time to look down so as to love the vain and vexing things hereupon Earth 13. You must set Christ before you as the most perfect pattern of an Holy and Heavenly Conversation who as Athanasius said of him while he went about doing good upon Earth carryed about him every-where an Heaven you must resemble Christ If you be a Christian and walk as he walked you must live as one that comes down from Heaven to Earth and expects to go up from Earth to Heaven Christ did his Fathers will upon Earth and it was meat drink to him to do so Joh. 4. 34 as the Angels doth it in Heaven you must Imitate Christ and though you cannot do so in his Miracles yet you may and must in his Morals you must walk in Christs steps here or never expect to rest in Christs bosome hereafter 14. You must be the true Picture of Christ as every true Christian ought to be Every dawber cannot draw the Kings Picture some such make strangers think strangly of the Kings Person because of his dawbed ill-favoured pourtraiture And shall those dawbers be punished for Exposing a Mishapen Picture of the Kings person to open View then what shall become of those titular yet loose and licentious Christians whose lives should be a lively Representation of Christ If by their Carnal careless and scandalous Conversations they do cause the Name of Christ to be blasphemed among Unbelievers that do Judg of him by this counterseit mishapen Representation Surely Christ will not own those workers of Iniquity Though they have prophesied in his Name and eat and drunk in his presence Matth. 7. 23. Men use to hang out their well-drawn Pictures of some special friend in the most conspicuous place that it may appear to all beholders they rejoyce in it as a grace and ornament to them So must you shew forth the praises of him that hath called you 1 Pet. 2. 9. If the Image of Christ be stamped upon your heart you must shew it in your life in a good Conversation Jam. 3. 13. 15. Thus you ought to aske your own heart whose Image and Super-scription is this Is it Christs or is it Satans God forbid that Satan should Imprint his limbs and lineaments upon your Soul unrased out by Christ you have born the Image of the
the Manna hence is that promise of hidden Manna Revel 2 17. when the dew was gone the Manna remained for the people to gather O get an Omer full of this Angels food put it into the Golden Pot of a Sanctifyed memory and lay it up before the Lord. Ver. 33. 34. Heb. 9. 4. 26. You must with Mary Luke 25. 51. lay up all Christs sayings in your heart though there be but a little distance betwixt the head and the heart yet 't is a long time ere the Word get down from the former to the latter yet this must be done Luke 9. 44. let my sayings saith Christ not only Sink down into your ears and heads but also into your hearts the Word should be hid there Psal 119. 11. If you desire a preservative from Sin You must treasure it up there till it be kindly wrought upon your heart and become an Engrafted Word Jam. 1. 21. till you have an Inclination to it and a delight in it when it Incorporates and becomes one with you and you with it Thus the Word must Sink as well as Swim 't is not enough that it Swim in the head but it must also Sink down into the heart God promiseth to give an heart to know him Jer. 24. 7. in that New Covenant 't is not head to know him though the head be the seat of notional knowledg yet the heart is the seat of that which is practical and experimental The seed of the word abideth 1 Job 3. 9. only in honest and good hearts Luke 8. 15. there be three bad sorts of hearers to one good how oft doth Satan that Prince fowle of the Air pick up that seed which is sown on the high-way of the head and not in the heart 27. None ever that was wise went to the Well for a Pitcher of Water to spill it by the way Jewels are to be lock'd up carefully and not cast at our heels for fear of Theeves no wonder if the grand Thief Satan steal away that word you are careless of your self he is to blame for robbing you of your best Riches but who is blame-worthy that leaves ope the door The Samaritan Woman went to the Well for water to carry it home Joh. 4. 7. and Ruth gleaned in Boazs field to carry home to her aged Mother at Home Ruth 2. 19. Is the Lord kinder to you then Boaz was to Ruth who let her glean among the sheaves and bid his servants let fall handfulls on purpose that she might gather them Ver. 15. 16. be sure you beat out what you gather of the Corn of Heaven and carry it home with you and Scatter it not by the way our Memory must not be as the Sieve or broken Vessel that lets all the liquor of life run out if it be so naturally and in Worldly things as well as Heavenly yet know for your Comfort the oftner that the Vessel hath water in it though all the water run out yet it leaves the Vessel cleaner then it found it A retentive faculty is necessary to an healthful body until there be a due segregation and no less is it necessary to an healthful Soul yet must not your memory be as the Spunge to suck up puddle-water as well as purest Wine but rather like the Fan that blows away the chaff while the solid Wheat abideth and like those in Mat. 13. 48. you must gather the good fish into this Vessel of a Sanctified memory and cast the bad away as Moses slay the Egyptian when you meet him but save the Israelite alive wise Virgins distinguish 'twixt meat of Gods sending and that of the Devils cooking 28. The consequent duties after hearing be 1. What concerns your self keep in everlasting remembrance Prov. 4. 20 21 22. as you must not be like the hour-glass that runs out one way as it comes in the other way or as the Hogshead that lets go the Wine but retains the dregs So you must be like those Vessels that let go the bran but retain the pure Wheat 't is your Spiritual health and life Ver. 21. 22. 2. Meditate upon what you thus remember 1 Tim. 4. 15 which is as the bellows of the Soul that kindles holy affections if you chew the Cud you are a clean Sacrifice 3. Repeat it the whole Book of Deuteronomy is but a Repetition of Moses former Sermons in his foregoing Books as a man that comes into a Garden of Flowers and Spices is not content with the present fragrancy thereof but carries home some of them in a Nose-gay for his future Refreshment when you have been in the Garden of Spices and felt the Savour of Christs ointments carry some home and pound them for use Repeating yea and Conferring is as the pounding of those Spices this makes them smell sweeter indeed 4. Turn all into Prayer that you may not only repeat it in your lips but especially in your life Luke 11. 28. Ezek. 33. 32. Jam. 1. 23. The best Repetition of Sermons is in the life Sermons should be felt and lived as well as heard then is the root of the matter or word Hebr. indeed in you Job 19. 28. when it brings forth fruit Col. 1. 6. and the stalk of wickedness Ezek. 7. 11. Will be out grown The fourth Religious duty another walk of a Christian is the Singing Ordinance CHAP. VI. 1. SEeing the Saints are called Singing Birds Cant. 2. 10 12. the time of the Singing of Birds is come 'T is a thousand pitties that any of those Singing Birds should lose this Singing Ordinance as if it were still Winter with them and as if the Spring-time of grace were not come upon them or as if it were the mowting Month with them as it is with some Singing Birds which having some dist emper in their Voices Tongues or Breasts Sing not at all in that Month. The Saints of the most high God should rather be as the Canary-Birds that warble out their pleasant Notes all the Months of the Year seeing the time of the Singing of Birds is come upon them And they are made able to say in the witnessings of the Holy Ghost Rom. 9. 1. that their Sins are pardoned their persons are accepted off and their names are writ in the Lambs Book of life This is the true Singing time and they should rejoice in this Luke 10. 20. and rejoice evermore 1 Thes 5. 16. yea in every thing give thanks Phil. 4 4 6. always warbling out the high praises of the most high God which is ever comely for the upright Psal 33. 1. 8. The Method of my discourse upon this Subject shall in Gods strength be thus managed 1. In showing you the grounds reasons and Arguments at least some of them that may be alledged for it 2. The Answers to those Objections that are usually urged against it and of both briefly First of the first of those The first Argument to enforce this Religious duty is taken from the Divine precept all
trivial trash to this true treasure 8. The sixth Reason to enforce this Gospel-duty is as it is an Ordinance that is comfortable to Man oft sweetning his Spirit for God and Godliness so it is an Ordinance very acceptable to God not only Solomons Prayer to God but also his praising of God had a most gracious acceptance with God The fire that came down from Heaven upon his Sacrifice 2 Chron. 7. 1. as a visible evidence of acceptation was after both his praying and praising work 1 King 8. 55 56. 62. He blesses the Lord in a standing posture as well as the People when he had done praying to the Lord in a kneeling posture Ver. 54. 56 57. and this Ordinance of Singing praises to God is the more acceptable to him as it hath a more copious and ample profession of Piety in it then in other Ordinances when the word of Christ dwells in us Richly to make us Sing indeed Col. 3. 16. for 't is an Ordinance that contains in it an universal personal performance and Action every one must be an Actor in sounding out the praises of the God of Israel Psal 148. 11 12 13. both Princes and Peasants both young Men and Maidens both old Men and Children None are two high to do God Homage in their persons not by a proxy but as they are bound to do it as men so they are doubly-bound to it as great men and none are two low to pay this tribute of personal praise to God Hereupon the Psalmist Summons in all things to pay their Rent to God Factouring as it were among all Animate and Inanimate things to bring forth their proper praises to God 9. This duty hath such acceptance with God that he hath put a double honour upon it 1. In this World 2. In the world to come 1. Here God hath honour'd it with gracious effects far above the reach of either Nature or Art in two things 1. In allaying the evil Spirit 1 Sam. 16. 24. The sound of Davids Harp which could not be available alone was quickened with the spiritual Song wherein the breathings of the Spirit were these altogether made Saul well altogether 2. In Ministring to the good Spirit 2 King 3. 15. Elishah finding himself indisposed calls for a Minstril supposed to be some Godly Levite skilful in singing Davids Psalms upon his Instrument of Musick this prepared him for Prophecying which without Divine influence he could not have effected 2. Hereafter God honours it with making it the only and whole work of the other World where sighing is turned into singing sighing Hosannas into singing Hallelujahs David awakes up his glory to sing on Earth Psal 57. 8. but singing in Heaven shall be glory it self 't is a grace here as 't is glory hereafter it will be work and wages both 10. The seventh Argument for the singing-Ordinance is 't is prositable to the Church as well as comfortable to Man and acceptable to God in as much as it hath a greater Communion unto mutual edification in it then in other Ordinances Eph. 5. 19. speaking to your selves herein c. And Col. 3. 16. Teaching and admonishing one another hereby this is done not only as there is a personal performance of every ones part in this duty above others but also as there is a shoring up of one anothers Spirits and Affections in it like City-buildings that bear up one another not like those in the Country that stand alone and bear up themselves upon their own single bottom besides when this singing work is carryed on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with joint consent this heaves upward every Petition more forcibly and takes Heaven as it were by storm and violence especially when Melody is made in the heart which is the best Tune to every Psalm Can the roaring Boys of the World stir up and provoke one another to Mad Merriments among their Cups by their loose and lewd Catches and may not the Saints provoke one another Heb. 10. 24. unto a Spiritual jollity in a sober sense to be expressed in Psalms When Spiritualized unto Spiritual Songs this is good fellowship of the best sort 11. 'T is pitty then that this honouring God with our glory as David that sweet singer of Israel calls it Psal 57. 7 8. should have so much dishonour and disgrace cast upon it either as to manner or as to matter either by those that are good or by those that are evil The Papists and Popish persons do indeed deride us for singing Geneva Jiggs as they stile the singing Psalms And others cry the duty down as a Novelty whereas the Antients tell us that Christians in their times were wont to sing Psalms in their very journeyings And that Maids and Servants made it their practice in their dayly work assuredly the Devil would do to the Church now as Balak with the Devils spel-man Balaam would have done to the Church in the Wilderness who when he could not cut off the whole Camp of Israel would be content to have part thereof cursed Num. 23. 13. 27. Thus Satan when he cannot Plunder the Church of all the Ordinances at once he will play at smaller-games rather then be Idle and endeavour only to cut her off from this Ordinance and the blessing of it 12. Now to Answer the Objections which is the second thing propounded The first Objection is that singing is comely for the upright only Psal 33. 1. So none else ought to Sing praises but they Answer the first the word only is not in the Text and it may be duty in sinners as well as comely in Saints 't is true high Speech so praise is being the proper work only of glorifyed Saints and of glorious Angels becomes not a fool Prov. 17. 7. Or a Nabal Hebr. that is a sapless or worthless fellow in whom all true worth is withered God likes not fair words that come out of a foul Mouth why do such take Gods word in their Mouth when they hate to be Reformed Psal 50. 16 17. The lepers lips should be covered according to the Law Levit. 13. 45. and laudari ab illaudato to be praised by a praisless person is no praise at all Christ silenced those Devils that confessed him the Son of the most high God Mark 5. 7. Luk. 4. 41. O then rather cover your lips with the leper or resolve to reform and let not your life give your lips the lie be not as the Blacks that are white in the Mouth only 13. The second Answer to this first Objection is all persons both Saints and Sinners do lay under an Obligation to this duty as it is both a natural and a moral or instituted duty as before 't is a duty enjoined upon all though all cannot perform this duty a like and after a comely manner or with an Evangelical Spirit 'T is true the old heart cannot sing the new Song Psal 3 3 3. the new Song before the Throne Rev. 14.
Ananias goods to God it is dangerous to keep back any part of it for your own use Act. 5. 1 2 5 10. and not keep it wholly and in every part of it holy to the Lord. 17. The fifth Direction is make this day a day of your delights as before a day of desires delight in the day and in every duty of the day account the Sabbath not only your duty but also your priviledg not only your work but your wages too Isa 58. 13. Call the Sabbath your delight and if it be not so you may not call it so surely it was not so to those Worldly wretches that cryed when will the Sabbath be over c. Amos 8. 5. as if they had been in the stocks all the while they were keeping a Sabbath The Greek word for delight is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag Psal 37. 4. c. Which comes from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifies Paradise or place of pleasure to intimate the Lord and his Sabbaths may not be as stocks to you but as a Paradise and a place of pleasure you should take as much delight therein as in walking the Round in the choicest Spring-garden O how should you bless God for the Sabbath as Neh. 9. 14. and rejoice in it as in the day the Lord hath made for Spiritual delight Psal 118. 24. counting it so and making it so not only a delight but also holy and honourable and because holy therefore honourable O may you but be in the Spirit on this Lords day as Rev. 1. 10. and tast how good the Lord is Psal 34. 8. in the dainties of holy duties and in his heart refreshing and Soul-ravishing Ordinances you will find most incomparable pleasure therein and far-far exceeding all the dirty delights of sensualists and Sabbath breakers Prov. 14. 10. Job 27. 10. 18. The sixth Direction be not weary of it before it be over The whole Sabbath should be spent without weariness in works of Piety mercy and necessity and in none else here 's variety to prevent nauseating in works of Piety you may pass from one Ordinance to another as the Bee flys from one flower to another and not be weary and from works of Piety you may go to works of Charity and from thence to works of necessity for your own natural nourishment O then here is no need of crying out what a weariness is it as Mal. 1. 13. or when will it be over as Amos 8. 5. as if in little ease all the while Carnal hearts know not indeed how to wear out the Sabbath 't is such a weariness to them and therefore they wish it over full loth would they begg Davids office out of his hand of being a door-keeper in the house of God who must be first in and last out Psal 84. 10. and what would they do to spend an everlasting Sabbath in Heaven that are so troubled and tyred with a short one on Earth not without a world of wilful distractions but the Spiritual heart that is rapt up and ravished in Spirit Rev. 1. 10. and is in the fear of the Lord and in the comforts of the holy Ghost all the day long Prov. 23. 17. can wish with Joshuah that the Sun stood still on that day for more killing of Sin and quickning of grace 19. The seventh Direction is be sure you make it a right day of restraint to you as it is called Deut. 16. 8. Jomegnatsereth diem Interdicti a day of prohibition from all Improper work the same word is used Numb 16. 48. and the Plague was stayed or restrained by either 1 Intreaty as 2 Sam. 24. 21. or 2 By Authority and Commands or 3 By strength and force all these ways you should Remember to keep the Sabbath if you keep not your heart with all keepings Prov. 4. 23. You can never keep the Sabbath holy The Plague of your heart mentioned 1 King 8. 38. will not be stayed or restrained unless you 1 Offer upon Christ your Altar Heb. 13. 10. Your Intreaties to God with David 2 Sam. 24. 21. and 2 Unless you lay Gods charge and command upon your extravagant heart to keep within compass Cant. 2. 7. Yea and 3 You must use holy force and Violence going but in Gods stregth Psal 71. 16. to restrain your loose slippery and treacherous heart both from wicked and from worldly work on that day for in the former work you keep the day to Satan and in the latter to your self but not to your Saviour in either besides every wicked work is cursed Sin any day but 't is doubly so on the Lords-day the season being a great aggravation of the Sin like that in Est 7. 8. 't is a ravishing the Queen of days before the very face of the King of Kings and every Worldly work done on Gods-day can never expect Gods blessing but will be a Canker and may say with Jacob I shall bring a curse and not a blessing Gen. 27. 12. he that did but gather a few sticks a small business some may say was paid home with stones because he did presumptuously on that day Numb 15. 30 32 35 36. If you must do no manner of work save only the three works of Piety Charity and Necessity no manner of Worldly work much less wicked work O do not eat forbidden fruit when you may eat of all the Trees in the garden on your six days do not your own works but cease from them Heb. 4. 10. nor speak your own words on this high and holy day Isa 58. 13. Exod. 31. 14. 20. The eighth Direction is never satisfie your Soul with spending one Sabbath without enjoying something therein of the Lord God of Sabbath never content your self with Elijahs Mantle without the Lord God of that Mantle 2 King 2. 14. O let it not be enough to you as it was not enough to Absolom to live in Jerusalem 2 Sam. 14. 32. without seeing the Kings face cry with David in every duty of the day O when will God come unto me Psal 101. 2. To miss of a good friend is sad to meet him is joyful Psal 73. 25. If you miss of this your best friend this will justly fadden you as it did even Saul himself 1 Sam. 28. 15. If you meet him and miss him not If your friend the King of Saints Rev. 15. 3. Sit at your Table then your Spiknard will send forth the smell thereof Cant. 1. 12. Such a sign of sweet friendship and fellowship must needs fill your heart with joy unspeakable and full of glory as it reminds and represents your Communion in Heaven and make the Sabbath a delight indeed to you then shall you delight your self in the Lord and he will not only cause you to ride upon the high places of the Earth but also upon the heights of the Heavens where you shall keep an everlasting Sabbath in which all Sabbaths meet and whereof there is no evening Is
obtained favour of the Lord Prov. 18. 22. as this calls for abundance of praise to your God so for abundance of prudence to your Consort which is the weaker Vessel and so ought to be handled as a Venice glass with all tenderness even as Christ and his Church Eph. 5. 29. 10. The sixth Direction is if God make you the head and Governour of an house and Family then learn in the first place to rule your little house well to wit your self he that hath no rule over his own Spirit is very unfit to take the rule over others Prov. 14. 29. 16. 32. and Eccles 7. 9. Anger may rush into a wise-mans bosom but it shall not rest there he dare not let the Sun go down upon so evil a guest and Counseller sury dwells and domineers in no house or heart not only till the Sun go down a whole day but while it go round a whole year Eph. 4. 26. but where a fool is the Master of the Family a troubler of his own house that brings all to nothing Prov. 11. 29. his livelihood by a secret curse Vanishes into Smoak and if not his life by fretting yet his liberty goes away for he shall be servant to the wise in heart none Triumphed in Rome but such as had five Victories nor you in Heaven without Victory over your five senses 11. The seventh Direction is be careful to lead an Exemplary and a convincing Life that you may be a pattern of Piety to your whole Family patterns are so prevalent both to good and evil that Pelagius did think though amiss Sin came into and is continued in the World by imitation and not by propagation be sure you shew Piety at home as well as abroad 1 Tim. 5. 4. and be not like the stage-Players that act the part of both great and good men upon the stage but follow them into the Tiring-House where they dis-robe themselves and then it will appear they are but very Rogues and vile-Varlots every man is what he is at home and in private If Godliness be writ in a fair Character and in large and lovely Letters in the leaves of your life 't will invite your Children and Servants to Read like and love it who otherwise possibly would never have heeded it the Master of a Family is the Ordinary Looking-glass whereby the whole Family do dress themselves Regis ad exemplum totus Componitur Orbis as is the politick-head so are the People the body and as is the domestick-head so usually is the houshold good or evil as it is with a fish if the head be sweet all 's sweet if it stink all 's putrifying The Office of an head is great in guiding and going before the whole body in Josephs dream Gen. 37. 9. behold the Sun the Moon and the Stars c. the Father of the Family should be as the Sun full of Heavenly light in himself and communicating of his light to enlighten the Moon his wise and the Stars of several Magnitudes his Children yea and the Air and the Earth too to wit all his Servants 12. The eighth Direction is if you be the Wise or Mother of the Family you must be of a wise Conversation which wonderfully wins as well as wooes all you are related to towards Conversion as well as Conviction 1 Pet. 3. 1 2 3 4 5 6. you must be as the Moon in Josephs dream shining out in your Orb in your husbands absence and yet vailing to him as the Moon to the Sun when he is present and in his power being Subject to him in all his lawful commands or restraints O that you may be fair as the Moon Cant. 6. 10. Shining bright in all Vertues and Graces while you are ordering your Family-affaires as Sarah and Abigail c. And though you may have sometimes a dark side towards the Earth yet as the Moon in her very Ecclipse you may have a bright side towards Heaven which may never be Ecclipsed you should be to your Husband what Davids harp was to Saul in his fury and Phrensy 1 Sam. 16. 23. when your Husband is at any time as who is not at some time transported into passion see that you cast Milk and not Oile upon the flames of his Anger that you may quench that fire and not more enflame it by adding another fire your own anger to it 't was once a blessed Expedient in a godly Couple though both Cholerick to live lovingly together for forty years without ever any fallings out betwixt them by yeilding evermore to each others passions and never being angry both together 13. The ninth Direction is to both the Sun and the Moon the Husband and the Wife jointly that you live together as heirs of the grace of life that your Prayers be not hindred 1 Pet. 3. 7. Alas you are Men and Women Subject to many passions and infirmities Act. 14. 15. Jam. 5. 17. and not Angels freed from all frailties of the Flesh and therefore you have need to be enriched with all grace whereby you may perform the duties enjoy the comforts undergo the cares and resist the Temptations that do attend your persons and conditions as becommeth the Gospel you profess Phil. 1. 27. and your praying much with and for each other without hindrance 1 Pet. 3. 7. will with Gods blessing wonderfully encrease and Spiritualize your mutual affections one to another either jarring will make you leave praying or praying will make you leave jarring Isaac and Rebeccah were the most loving Couple we Read of Gen. 24. 67. For they were a praying Couple Gen. 25. 21 22. he prayed for his Wife constantly as the Hebrew signifies and she prayed down her passions prudently he got the mercy desired and she the Oracle Abraham obeys God in things grievous to him Gen. 21. 11 22. 2 3. and Sarah hindered him not by saying why do you so for she was a straight Rib and Satan cannot use it to break the head As the Husband must be a Son of Abraham so the Wife must be a Daughter of Sarah 1 Pet. 3. 6. O happy house with such Couples and where there is but one will the Wives swallowed up in the Husbands and the Husband in the Lords will 14. The tenth Direction to both is neglect not to let up the Worship of God in your Family this is not only to entertain the Ark of God but even God himself the Ark was the sign of Gods presence no sooner is David settled on his Throne but he will settle Religion and therefore sends for the Ark 2 Sam. 6. 1 2 3. 'T is come to Obed edoms Ver. 10. And brought a blessing with it thither V. 11. David then crys O when wilt thou come unto me Psal 101. 2. he would have the blessing Ark come to his house as well as to Obed-edoms and not only the Ark of God but also God himself Arise thou and the Ark of thy strength Psal 132. 8.