a Mountain to pray and as he prayed the fashion of his countenance was altered and his raiment was white and glistering Thus for a Saint to be set in Sabbath-Prayer that his grace is vigorous and his face is glorious This is then to be in the spirit Yea upon the Lords Day to be in the prayses of God on high and in the high praysings of God As adoring God for his goodnesse received from him So admiring God for goodnesse perceived in him In such Sabbath-celebrations of God blessed for ever and of Christ for ever blessed of God as to say Psalme 45.1 2. My heart is inditing of a good matter my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Thou O King art fairer then the Children of Men God hath blessed thee for ever c. Some birds how sweetly do they sing when they soare up into the aire and in a sun-shine-day sit in trees upon the highest Twigs Thus some of Gods Saints upon the Sabbath-day with hearts meeting and mindes mounting O the melody that they make in heavenly Hallelujahs unto God Of such it may be safely said they are in the spirit upon the Lords Day This will be further unfolded In that which followes In the Spirit That is in the comforts of the Spirit considered In their heights And breadths Heights of comfort Upon the Sabbath the soul sanctified may be carried in comforts high Both for matter And measure The matter of the comforts wherein the soul of a Saint may upon the Sabbath ascend is exceeding high Higher comforts had John in Patmos then Adam in Paradise The Apostle upon the Lords day had comfortable converses with God in Christ which our first parents had not in the day of their Innocency They rejoyced in God a Creator But not in Christ a Redeemer And they be far lower delights in which the most of men do since solace themselves upon the Sabbath-day Upon Gods holy day men find onely their own pleasure Esay 58.13 But Gods Saints can find soul refreshing comforts in Christ the Lord upon the Lords day With delights in the Lord their hearts leap Yea and the measure of their comforts may mount their minds so high upon this holy day as to make them to be like Moses upon mount Pisgah viewing Canaan flowing with milk and hony The soul of a sincere Christian upon the Sabbath may be as it were swimming in a Sea of sweet delights unto the Land of promise He whose heart hath been as a Boat that could not be got up because of low water all the week yet it hath been brought up in a high spring-tyde of spiritual comfort upon the Lords day Comforts so high that he is ready to sing with Simeon a Nunc dimittis Now Lord let thy servant depart in peace Now the man would gladly die and be gone to God content never to see his habitation or relations on earth more his soul being so fired and filled with joy upon Gods holy day in his house of prayer Esay 56.7 Breadths of comfort Upon the Sabbath the pious soul spreads it self in sweet delights God having given to a good man for his comfort as Caleb did to his Daughter the upper and the lower springs A Christian in his lower comforts the further he goes the narrower they grow and the lesser they be but in his comforts upward the higher he rises the greater are their encreases when he is most lively let in they are most largely let and laid out Sabbath comforts may be exceeding broad All things that meet being made into comforts and. All things for comforts being made to meet Into comforts are made all things that meet the soul of some Saint in the service of the Sabbath The crosses of the world are the encreases of comfort Gods rod and his staffe cause comfort Psal 23.4 As sufferings abound consolations abound 2 Cor. 1.3 The more outward troubles the more inward triumphs The Apostle was never so in the Spirit of comforts as when he was a prisoner at Patmos Under his greatest confinements he had his sweetest enlargements His every day-afflictions encreased his Sabbath-comforts To his soul nothing was sad when the Sabbath came Yea upon the Lords day a believer being in the Spirit the worst evils greaten the best comforts Sin remitted Hell removed Death vanquished Divel conquered do all encrease his comforts Out of every eater comes meat He gathers grapes of thorns and figs of thistles Upon Sodom sayes Salvian God rained hell out of heaven Upon the Sabbath God to his Saints raises Heaven out of Hell Hell Divel Death Sin Crosses Curses all encrease their Sabbath-Cordials Yea upon the Sabbath a gathering of all comforts considered according To several sorts And seasons Comforts of differing sorts receive a Sabbath-change Earthly comforts are made heavenly those delights that lye in worldly relations possessions promotions creature-accomodations and contents in the Spirit are made spiritual As a man in carnal comforts makes all comforts carnal so a Saint in spiritual delights makes all delights spiritual The upper and lower springs run all into one stream and upon the Lords day become all as of one kind Comforts of differing seasons are brought within the Sabbath-compasse A Christians case becomes such That in Spirit good past is then with him presenr And good future he is then present with in Spirit Things past come in for comfort at present Luther reports that sometimee and especially upon a Sacrament-day the death of Christ was as full and fresh upon his spirit as if he were then at mount Calvary and as if that were the very day and hour wherein our dear Lord died Thus a Christian may be so in the Spirit of comfort upon the Sabbath-day as if that were the very day when Christ broke the bars of the grave flung the stone off the Sepulchre and rose again from the dead Or as if it were the very day when with the holy Apostles he stood and saw the Lord Christ taken up into heaven to sit down at the right hand of God Now to his comfort he can recal the comforts found in former dayes and duties That very Sabbath his soul comfortably possesses all the Ordinances of Jesus Chhist He sees as it were the Lord opening his bowels his bosom and drawing out both brests of his blessed Word and Sacraments bidding his soul suck and be fully satisfied And unto things future he comes for his present comfort Not onely as at a distance a believer may look at heaven and the felicities thereof but his soul in the Spirit of comforts may be so carried out as if heaven were already possessed 'T was a brave expression of the Martyr to his cruel tormentors Work your will upon my weak body as for my soul it is in heaven already and over that Caesar hath no power And as such may be a Christians case in the day of his sufferings so may it be in THIS DAY of his service Jerom professes
of families must upon the Lords day be diligent in houshold-duties We find in the 4 th of Mark yea and likewise Luke 14. how our Saviour on the Sabbath day when he had publikely preached to the people as a Minister of the Gospel he after privately examined his Disciples and further instructed them as a Master of a family From which example of Christ an excellent Expositor observes Chemnit examen cap. de dieb fest how unto the sanctification of the Sabbath besides publike duties there is work to be done in Families as instructing servants repetition of Sermons reading Scriptures counselling and quickning such as are under our care that all may keep holy the Lords day So we see the matters men are exhorted unto I come now to consider the motives by which hereunto men are to be exhorted These are of two sorts Some more driving and Others more drawing Motives that more drive unto diligence in these Duties may arise by observing concerning the Christian Sabbath these four things The necessity of it's continued being The Jeopardy of its future losing The uncertainty of its sudden regaining and The possibility of its present cursing 1. The being of the Lords day is necessary note Negatively and Affirmatively Not that God needs any Sabbath-service or such holy duties as additionals to his Dignity Indeed as to us the honour of God seems to sink when Sabbaths cease And the supporting of Sabbaths seems the advancing of Gods glory but the intrinsecal glory of God can receive no increase God would be infinitely happy though men keep no day holy we need his service not he our obedience When our Saviour sent Luk. 19. to unloose the Colt the Disciples were to give the owner this reason thereof The Lord hath need of him We call indeed to a careful keeping of the Sabbath but we do not say the Lord hath need of it The gods of the Heathen need the supports of such as serve them but so does not the God of heaven Hence sayes the holy Apostle Act. 17.24 25 God that made the world and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth dwells not in temples made with hands neither is worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all life and breath and all things One well observes of the Angels Chrysost in Matth. Hom. 9 they are not poor though they have no flocks of sheepe they are not in want though silver gold they have none they do not need these things because they have better things abide them Thus God does not want our service in Sabbaths neither needs he any of our duties on holy dayes because of those most perfect felicities and glorious excellencies that are in himself abiding As the Lord is omniscient and needs not any man to assist his knowledge So the Lord is all-sufficient and needs not any thing to help his happinesse And therefore the necessity of Sabbath-observance does not referre to God But to observe Sabbaths the necessity is in reference to us for a double cause viz. Necessitas duplex Praecepti Medii Gods Injunction towards us and Our condition towards God 1. 'T is necessary for us to observe the Sabbath day in all its duties because of Gods injunction And here 't is meet of two things to take good notice to wit Every command of God causes a necessity of our obodience and here is a necessity of our obedience because of Gods expresse command 1. Whereever God gives a word of command there is a work of our obedience necessary I had rather sayes Luther obey the Lords commands then to work Miracles If Miracles need be wrought God will do his own work but 't is needfull we obey commands for God will not do mans work As God by his promises binds himself to vouchsafe mercy So God by his precepts binds us to perform duty As God promising mercy requires our faith so God commanding duty requires our obedience Obedience 't is a debt which as we certainly owe so we must necessarily pay Some they owe to God the debt of passive obedience as they are his prisoners all they owe to God the debt of active obedience as they are his creatures 2. Here God gives a word of manifest command and therefore visibly to obey is necessary Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day Exod. 20.8 Touching this commandement That the Sabbath day be kept holy we may observe Who was the Giver of it Mediatorem hic appellat Christum declarans quòd ipse ante legem fuerit legem tulerit Chrysost In principio mundi Christus Mediator erat hominum etfi nondum erat homo c. Orig. Ambros lib. 4. in Luc. and To whom it was given 1. He who gave this Sabbath Command was Christ the Mediatour He who came down upon Mount Sinai and gave the whole Law is called Jehovah Exod. 20.2 Deut. 4 11. This the Septuagint translate Lord And the same the holy Apostle applies to the Mediatour our Lord Christ Gal. 3.19 And Origen Chrysostome Ambrose with almost all the Ancients in expounding that place of the Apostle do affirme that 't was Christ the Mediatour both of the Old and New Testament by whom the Law was given So Calvin Junius Marlorat and other able Writers since assert upon the same text We are therefore to look upon this sanctifying the Sabbath as that for which Christ hath given a positive Command 'T was not a Mosaical Ceremony pointing to Christ but 't is a Moral duty appointed by Christ and so to remain under the Gospel and government of Christ untill Christ shall deliver up the Kingdome to God the Father and set an end to all times and things in this world 2. He to whom this Sabbath-Command was given is every one Individually Thou Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day Thou Not as a Jew but as a man every man both Jew and Christian Herein whosoever exempts himself deceives himself Yea and of all the commands not any have such a Memorandum upon it as that which concerns the sanctifying of the Sabbath Remember As it related to a duty to be performed in dayes past so it related to a people that in dayes past should still perform that duty A Christian Church to come Remember If men forget all the rest yet let them remember this and if they well remember this not any of the rest will be forgoten That which Luther affirms of the first may wel be referred to the 4. Commandment that in the observance of that obedience to all the rest is comprized 2. The Sabbath day in all its duties is necessary for men to sanctifie because of their condition whether they be considered As unregenerate Or as regenerate 1. For men in an unregenerate estate they need to have a holy Sabbath observed And of such there are two sorts Some in a sinful estate and know it not and others that know
the day of his Birth but I never read of any that cursed the day of his New Birth This is the day of rescuing the prey from the mighty the day of opening the Prison-dores and setting the captive free Exod. 12.42 It is a night much to be observed to the Lord for bringing them out from the Land of Egypt This is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations So may we say of the Sabbath 'T is a day much to be observed to the Lord for bringing souls from the bondage of sin This is the day much to be observed to the Lord of all the children of God throughout all generations This hath been the day of many a spiritual Marriage or the day of Gods espousing many souls to Christ Thus hath God honoured this his holy day highly And as for this holy day it doth highly honour God exalting all that appertains to God It beautifies the service of God It dignifies the servants of God 1. Hereby the service of God is beautified Eccles 3.11 Every work sayes the Wise man is beautiful in its season Holy duties are best in season upon holy dayes Preach the Word sayes the Apostle 2 Tim. 42. Be instant in season and out of season rebuke exhort c. In season That is upon the Sabbath day Out of season That is in the week-time So several sound Expositors upon the place Prov. 25.11 Words spoken in season are like apples of gold in pictures of silver Thus Prayers made and Sermons preached in season are as golden apples in silver pictures one helping to honour the other The golden apples grace the silver pictures and the silver pictures set out the golden apples Thus the Sabbath-service advances the Sabbath-season and the Sabbath-season exalts the Sabbath-service and all lifts up the honour of God who hath prepared silver dishes for golden apples and put golden apples into silver dishes Appointing blessed dayes for sacred duties and sacred duties for blessed dayes 2. Hereby the servants of God are dignified God in giving the whole Law and so in proclaiming the Command for the sanctifying of the Sabbath made use of the Ministery of Angels not for necessity to him but dignity to them 'T was an honour to the Angels to be present and assistant when the Sabbath was set forth Gala. 3.19 .. Thus God in the continued management of the Sabbath and carrying on the sanctification thereof in the world makes use of the Ministery of men as a dignity to them Among other respects there are two most remarkable things that do dignifie the office of Ministers above all other Functions The subject they are imployed for viz. The Souls of men And the Season they are imployed in viz. The Sabhaths of God Other callings their work lies upon the week-daies but the Minister in his businesse lies bound for the Sabbath O let not any earthly discouragements sink the soules of my dear brethren but let 's honour that God who hath so honoured us as to bend and bind our businesse to this blessed Day Hath God magnify'd our office to labour on this day Let us magnifie our office by this days-labour Steadfast immoveable abounding in the Lords work upon the Lords day That God who hath blessed the day for our work will blesse our work in the day 2. The Sabbath consider'd as Christian hath honour Christianity brings on dignity Theodosius accounted himself more noble as he was a Christian then as he was an Emperour Hence Luther professed He had rather be a Christian beggar then Heathen Alexander Our Sabbath is Christian and therefore excellent The excellencie of our Christian Sabbath may be seen by two sorts of things Some more Principal Some lesse Principal The principall things that put a price upon the Sabbath lie In the appointing of it and In the abyding of it This day may appear precious if we ponder The person by whom and The reason for why 't was appointed 1. The person through whom this appointment came was Christ and his Institution August de temp Serm. 36. To this Austin applies that prediction of the Prophet Psal 118.24 This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad therein Jesus Christ himself set out this Sabbath-time Christ in person Christ in the Apostles THE LORD CHRIST Coelum eâ— Christus non patiantur hyperbolen O how excellent is he Christ and Heaven says Luther in their praise can be no excesse Too little we may speak never too much All the excellencies of God and man meet in Christ That then must needs be excellent whereof Christ is the Author That Child is nobly born which can call Christ Father The Sabbath derives its pedigree from Christ 2. The reason upon which this Day was ordained was Christ in his Resurrection The Resurrection of Christ was the first degree of his exaltation Had he not risen from the dead he had never ascended into heaven never sat down at the right hand of God And therefore his rising day may well be our resting day that day on which Christ took the first step to all his great honours is an honourable day and a day much to be honoured God hath highly honoured this day As by converting on it the Souls of men So by raising on this day the Body of his Son 2. We may see this days excellency in its permanency As the Priesthood of Melchizedeck was more excellent then the Priesthood of Aaron because of its order for ever Hebr. 7.17 So the Sabbath of Christians is more excellent then all the Sabbaths of the Jews because it continues To this Sabbath it might be said in regard of all the Jewish Sabbaths They shall perish but thou remainest and they shall all wax old as doth a garment As a vesture shalt thou roul them up and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy years shall not fail Heb. 1.11 12. To this day all the powers of earth hell shall never put a period Lastly we may look into the large dignity of this Day From the timing of it and From the naming of it 1. This day is so tim'd as is a help to its honour 'T is the first day in the week We have a rule That the first in every kind is more excellent then all the rest August de civit De. ili 11. Cypria Serm. de Spir. S Austin Cyprian and other of the Ancients much advance the excellency of the Sabbath from the circumstance of time That 't is the seventh Day The number seven being most perfect that which they say comprises many mysteries of moment But that which is more meet for us to consider is the settling of our Christian Sabbath upon the first day of the week Luke 2.23 we read how 't was written in the Law that every Male that first opened the womb was called holy to the Lord our Sabbath it is
that day which first opened the womb of time that day which first opens the womb of every week and therefore may well be kept holy to the Lord and be accounted honourable in the world Whereas the Jewes Sabbath was upon the last ours is upon the first day of the week So that the Jewish Sabbath might well say concerning the Christian as John Baptist of Christ There comes one after me that is to be preferred before me 'T is more excellent as 't is time 2. Our Sabbath as it is named transcends in excellency Heb. 1.9 't is said of Christ in respect of the Angels He hath obtained a more excellent name then they so may it be said of our Sabbath in respect of all the Judaicall Sabbaths It hath obtained a more excellent name then they it is called THE LORDS DAY True there is excellency in the name Sabbath as it signifies rest Rest is the Centre to which all living creatures move Rest is the perfection and satisfaction of all creatures after their tyring and troublesome motions But in this name excellencie more abounds THE LORDS DAY As it made much for the honour of Jacob when he had another name added Israel Jacob signified The supplanter of weak man Israel signified The prevailer with a strong God The latter the far more excellent name This is the honour of the Sabbath it hath another name and the former was not like this last THE LORDS DAY There is admirable excellency in all that is called the Lords The Lords Gospel The Lords People The Lords Praier The Lords supper 1. The Lords Gospel There is excellencie The Law of God hath beauty but the Gospel excells in glory The Jewish Rabbins were wont to say That upon every letter of Gods Law hang Mountaines of admirable matter But Luther of the Gospel goes further saying That the shortest line and the least letter thereof is more worth then all Earth and Heaven The very Angels look out from Heavens Glory stooping down to see into the glory of the Gospell 1 Pet. 1.12 1. The Lords people There is excellencie They are the honour of the earth the glory of the world the ornaments of Townes and Cities As one pearl says Chrysostome is more worth then a thousand pebbles So one pious man is more precious then ten thousand sinners The whole wicked world may say to a Saint as the people of Israel to David Thou art worth ten thousand of us 2. Sam. 18.3 We may say of Saints in the world as our Saviour said of the Lilies of the field Solomon in all his glory was not cloathed like one of these Matth. 6.29 3. The Lords prayer There is excellency Some have called it The Abridgement of the Bible and others Tertul. li. de orat ca. 1. Cypr. ser de orat Dom. The Epitome of the Gospel And several observe that though it be little for phrase of words yet it is great for matter and sweet for order pithy and precious in every part A short prayer may be full of God as there may be little of God in a prayer that is long The Lords prayer is as it were a Breviary and Compendium of the great God Infolded Gods worth and Mans wants 4. The Lords Supper There is excellency 'T is that Ordinance wherein Saints the most excellent of persons and wherein faith the most excellent of graces hath the highest activities Here the precious blood of Christ and the precious faith of Christians meet Cypr. de coe Dom. Here faith sayes Cyprian layes its mouth close to the wounds of Christ and sucks in sin-killing and soul quickning blood O blessed be God! Thus 't is evident what is the Lords is excellent And is not the Lords day Let us observe All time from the Beginning was precious Gospel-time is more precious then any before it The Lords day is the most precious part of Gospel-time 'T was a brave expression of Galeacius Garacciolus that Italian Marquesse when a great summe of money was offered him to draw him to his own Popish Countrey and kindred Let all their money perish with them who account all the wealth of the world worth one dayes Communion with Jesus Christ One Sabbath-dayes society with a Saviour ought to be of higher esteem then all the honours of the earth O let us not sink down the dignity of this day in our hearts but every way let us labour to lift up its Honour higher and higher For As 't is sad to debase it So to advance it is good 1. To debase and despise the Lords day is common now in our Nation Men for the most part make no more of this then of any other day Cant. 5.9 What is thy beloved more then another beloved say they to the Church extolling of Christ Upon this she fell to a more full discovery of the dignities and excellencies of Christ Some had need set up Gods Sabbath-honour the more there are so many that say in their hearts What is the day of the Sabbath more then another day yea and indeed it is no more as many in their lives sinfully make it Dalilah prevailing upon Sampson he lost his locks and his strength and became like another man The Devil with divers hath prevailed so far against the Sabbath that it hath lost its life and lustre glory and honour and is become like another day which I am sure is no sign of good to come Some say that if the Sun which is the chief of planets be Eclipsed it signifies great Commotions Mutations Destructions I dare say that when the Sabbath which is the chief of dayes is clouded and covered over with black opinions and practices it intimates heavy evils to come O how do men pollute that which God hath sanctified and debase that day which God hath dignified Act. 10.15 What God hath cleansed call not thou common And what God hath honoured O man account not thou base 2. To advance this day is its due and our duty And indeed could we in England but recover the Sabbaths honour that this Sabbath-Sun might shine again in its beauty and lustre and our Horizon be filled with the bright beames thereof it would remove the fogs of filthy errors prevent the inflicting of sad calamities regain the credit of contemned Ordinances Joh. 12.32 as there the Lord of the Sabbath said If I be lifted up I will draw all men to me So may the Sabbath of the Lord say If I be lifted up I will draw all to me Then all the things of God shall rise As when Christ was risen Matth. 27.52 Many bodies of Saints which were asleep in their graves arose and went into the holy City c. Thus were the Christian Sabbath raised the whole body of Christian Religion would be brought out of its grave and many of Gods Saints that are as it were now asleep upon the beds of sad seducing errors would arise and come forth to the holy service of God
The former and The latter Some men they take the one but then leave the other and will not let the Lord have his time entire They say of the Lords day as she in the Kings of the living child Divide it Divide it Yea they make the time of the Sabbath like the Vaile of the Temple at Christs death to be rent in twain viz. between the Lord and the World or which is worse between the Lord and their lusts whereas not a bone of Christs body was to be broke so not an hour in his day As not a member of that so not a minute of this As our Saviour said concerning the loaves and the fishes Gather up the fragments let nothing be lost so he seems to say concerning his holy Sabbath Gather up the parcells thereof let not minutes be lost which are precious like the least parings of gold It hath been perillous to clip a Kings Coyn t is more dangerous to clip the Lords day O the dreadful death and doome of Ananias who kept back part of the price and brought onely a certain part and laid at the Apostles feet whereas before 't was all in his own power Act. 5.3 4. But this holy time was never ours nor ever was any part thereof in our power therefore to keep back any hour of this holy day is worthy of death If no part be the Lords why do you give him any if the whole be the Lords why do you put him off with part 2. The places wherein religious exercises are to lye upon the Lords day being Both publike And private Some rest in the publike and neglect the private And others are all for the private and contemn the publike First There are some all whose religion upon the Lords day lyes at Church no praying reading of Scriptures repeating of Sermons instructing their charge or any such duty done in their houses all the day long 'T is said Exod. 12. that there was a great cry at midnight in all the dwellings of Egypt for there was not a house where there was not one dead but not so much as upon the Lords day from the dwellings of divers does any holy cry go up to heaven 'T is doubtfull in divers houses there are not any alive by grace to bewaile them that lye there dead in sin while yet 't is easie to hear and evident to see what rudenesse they suffer in their children and servants on the Sabbath day Hast thou kept the commandement of the Lord said Samuel to Saul in destroying all Amelek What then means the bleating of the Sheep and lowing of the Oxen which I hear to day So may we say to many a man hast thou kept the commandement of the Lord in observing his Sabbath What meanâ— then the laughing and sporting and foolish talking of children and servants which is then heard in their houses Such parents and ungoverning governours sure the Lord will one day charge with the breach of his blessed Sabbath See what God sayes to Eli 1 Sam. 2.29 Wherefore kickest thou at my sacrifice and honourest thy sons above me c did Eli kick at the sacrifice of God no but his sons did and he restreined them not and therefore Gad accounts it upon him Will not God thus say to some Fathers and Masters Wherefore prophane ye my Sabbath and why have ye polluted my holy day for they so do in their children and servants whom herein they do not restrain They are careful to provide for family necessities but carelesse to perform family-duties though it be the Lords day when they should look to all within their gates Exod. 20.10 2. There are others what they do in Gods service on the Sabdath 't is private for in the publike Assemblies they are seldome or never seen For the Israelites to sit still in their houses when a thick darknesse was abroad in all parts of the land was excusable I pray God there be not a near approach of such a time upon England when through worse then an Egyptian darknesse people be constreined to stay at home in their houses But to lye at home on the Lords day while through the open light of the Gospel the land is like Goshen is an inexcusable evil And sure Chrysost in Act. 3. Hom. 9. Hom. 2. in 1 Cor. 1. 't is no good presage when people despise publike Ordinances even on the Lords day does not to such the Lord say 1 Sam. 2.29 Wherefore do ye kick at my sacrifice and at mine offering which I have commanded in my habitation Read but those Gospel-Prophesies and Promises Isay 2.2 3. Isay 56.7 Mich. 4.1 which import the gatherings of Gods people for his publike worship There are those who withdraw themselves from such duties and while they think to prejudice others they do themselves the greatest wrong 'T is clear they do not onely fall from holy ordinances but they fall into ugly errours and filthy evills many of them come to act Chrysosto Serm. cont Anomeos Chrysostome concludes that there is nothing more causes stablenesse in the truth and keeps up holinesse of life and corrects opposite vanities and vices then a constant frequenting of the publick assemblies and a careful and chearfull there hearing the holy Word of God And hence Augustin so earnestly exhorts and perswades in some of his Sermons Aug. de tempore Ser. 251. not to separate but to congregate upon the Lords Day and to the Gospel publickly preached to apply themselves Just Mart Apol. 2. Justin Martyr reports of the Christians in the primitive times how they would call one another out of their houses to meet together in the most solemne manner they might upon the Lords Day And if we come out of the Ocean of the Ancients and go into the streames of our late * Calv. in Deut. 5. c. Pet. Mart. in 1. Sam. 1.3 Bucer in Math. 12.11 Zanch. in 4. Precep Bullinger Gualterus in Act. Writers as they all urge the observance of the Lords Day so they presse the practice of publike duties in open assemblies as most necessary unto the right and religious observation thereof Give me leave I hope I dote not on any holinesse of places but prize the publike gatherings of Gods people especially upon the Lords Day to tell you that such servants the Lord hath had in preceding times that would pitch upon places of publike worship not onely therein to serve the Lord but to suffer for the Lord therein thither they would run to die where they use to pray and rather then they would be driven from them they would be destroyed in them thinking it good going together from thence to heaven Eusebius reports that under the cruell persecution of Dioclesian many thousand Christians were burned in the Temple of Nicomedia being assembled to celebrate the Day of Christ And another mentions how at Ments in Germany Hieron Epistol ad Geront the Citie being taken in the Church were
of heaven hold off the sight of such a dismal day We read Gen. 21.15 16. of Hagar when the bread and water in the bottle was spent and her son ready to famish she went and sate her down at a distance saying O let me not see the death of my child And she looked toward him and left up her voyce and wept When Spiritual food shall faile will not a faithful Minister sit down sorrowfully saying O let me not see the death of my people Yea when holy Ordinances are gone how will other Christian Churches look over to England and lament saying VVe have a sister and she hath no breasts Can. 8.8 These are the deserved effects of our lamentable neglects of the Lords day when men cease from Sabbaths then God makes Sabbaths to cease Hosea 2 11. Men sinfully forget Gods Sabbaths and then God as a punishment causes Sabbaths to be forgotten Lam. 2.6 The Lord hath violently taken away his Tabernacle destroyed the places of assembly and caused the Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion 2. The principal of all precious things is hereby brought to depart even God himself When Gods Sabbaths service and servants leave a Land the Lord goes along with them I read of Nazianzene who being about to go from a place where he had Preached for some time a good man comes crying unto him O Nazianzene wilt thou go away and carry the holy Trinity with thee Father Son and holy Ghost all forsake such as are Sabbath-forsaken the Gospel of God and the God of the Gospel goes together In the departure of the Lords day the Lord of the day departs 2 The positive punishments for Sabbath-sins are considerable Both in their Diversity And in their Severity 1 God does execute divers judgements upon the neglect of the Lords day when God himself with his Sabbaths and service forsake a Land he lets in lamentable calamities and makes men suffer several wayes 2 Chron 15.5 6 7. For along season Israel was without the true God and without a teaching Priest and without Law And in those times there was no peace to him that went out nor to him that came in but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the Countries Nation was destroyed of Nation and City of City for God did vexe them with all adversity Gaulter in Act. 13. Homil. 88. A learned Expositor thus speaks In our dayes even among Christians the Sabbath is sinfully broken that blessed day abused which should be wholly consecrated to God and do we yet marvel what is the cause of our calamities I have heard that in Germany under their woful Wars there was at a time a very great convention sitting to consult what should be the cause of their calamities and the Major part pressed the not trimming of their Churches and adorning them with Images not considering how carelesse they were of the Lords day and the due worship of God The error with us is slighting of all publike places painful Preachings pure Administrations Gods holy Institutions of times and things yet we are not aware that these things work our wo. Let 's look into Levit. 26.2 Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my Sanctuary What if not I will make your Sabbaths to cease and bring your sanctuaries into desolation and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours vers 31. And is that all I will set my face against you they that hate you shall reign over you I will send wilde beasts among you and I will bring a sword upon you and several other sad miseries we meet in the Chapter The like Lamentations 2. The Lord hath violently taken away his Tabernacle caused his Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion and hath despised or suffered to be despised in the indignation of his anger the KING and the PRIEST contempt to be cast upon all that are appointed to rule and govern both in Church and State A great sin a grievous punishment and what further The wall of the Daughter of Zion is fallen her gates are sunk her bars are broaken the LAW is no more vers 7 8 9. Alas O the breaches God makes and bloodsheds God brings for breaking his Sabbaths The Christian world is filled with wars when the Lords day growes dimme When the Sun is darkned the Moon is turned into blood Joel 2.13 2. God does execute severe judgements for the Non-sanctifying of his Sabbaths In general upon people And also on particular persons Jer. 17.27 If you will not hearken to me to hallow the Sabbath day then will I kindle a fire in the gates of Jerusalem and it shall devour the Palaces thereof and it shall not be quenched Fire it holds forth the fierceness of anger evidenced in its most fearful effects The Lord by the mouth of the Prophet threatens fire fire Fire in the Palaces and Fire in the Gates Palaces Places of honour the beauty and ornaments of a City upon these shall be fire Gates Places of power where the strength of a City is laid and where justice is done here also fire Fire in the Palaces No keeping in and also Fire in the Gates No running out A devouring fire round about that all must feel and none can quench and all this comes for not keeping the Sabbath holy See how Nehemiah contends with transgressors against this holy time of the Sabbath What evil is this that ye do and profane the Sabbath day did not your fathers thus and did not our God bring all this evil upon them and upon this City yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath This sin heightens the wrath of God and causes great fires Nehem. 13.17 18. Not onely Nations but Particular persons have also been severely punished upon the same account as ther have been sad instances in several ages men made as monuments of Gods dreadful anger in divers places Tacit. Histor lib 5. Josephus Antiq. lib. 12 cap. 13. lib. 16. cap. 11. Pompey that great Souldier is reported sorely to suffer for defiling of Gods Sabbath and Sanctuary 'T is written of Herod the King who appointing some to pull up the Sepulchres of Gods Saints and to search for supposed treasures therein God made fire to rise out of the earth whereby such as searched were devoured Ecclesiast Histor 12. centur Magdeb. cap. 6. Histories are found full of examples of Gods fearful judgements upon such who upon supposals of earthly pleasure and profit have presumed to pull down the Sahbath of his Son in the solemn service thereof Joh. Fincel lib. 3. de mirac Many make mention of that miserable Woman who upon the Lords day dressing her flax fire flamed out thereof and the third Sabbath it so burned in the house that her children and self was consumed therewith Discipul de de tempore Serm. 117. Another carrying in his Corn upon the Lords day fire kindled in his Barn and burnt it to the ground I have
A Sabbath well spent As it is formidable to the Devil So 't is acceptable to God We go from Sabbath-day-duties Prayer well made Sermons well heard and Sacraments well received sayes Chrysostome as Lyons breathing fire terrible to the Devils themselves But that which is bitterly displeasing to the Devil is most sweetly pleasing to God So Calvin expounds that place of the Prophet Isay 58.13 Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight Or Delights in the plural as that worthy Interpreter renders it from the Hebrew and refers it not to men but to God saying That the right observation of the Sabbath is the delights of the Lord nothing to God more grateful And indeed no lesse from the place appears Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord HONOVRABLE and shalt honour him The Prophet seems to set down a double reason why the Sabbath should be the delights of the Lord viz. 'T is the holy of the Lord and 'T is the honour of the Lord. That sure is the delight of the Lord which is the holy of the Lord. A holy God cannot but delight in a holy day That which is so suitable to him must needs be acceptable with him And that which is the Lords honour is certainly the Lords delight The Sabbath it is the honour of God displayed 't is the great Engine God moves in this world to make out his honour As God hath honoured this day by making it holy for us so we much honour God by keeping it holy to him What is his honour is his pleasure 2. The Angels of God are greatly delighted to see Sabbaths observed which may arise from a double advantage viz. To themselves and To others Through our Sabbath-day-exercises Angels do much advantage themselves in that their knowledge comes hereby constantly to encrease Austin well observes that the Angels of heaven have Both their Morning and Also their Evening-knowledge Their morning-knowledge This they have by Creation from the Worlds beginning as soon as they were made they were able knowingly to contemplate God heavens glory and their own felicities Their evening-knowledge This they have by inspection and diligent observation of the affairs of the Church and Mysteries of the Gospel made manifest in the end of the World Ephes 3.10 1 Pet. 1.12 Those Gospel-discoveries of Christ upon the Lords day the Angels delight fully to look into and enlarge their knowledge by 2. Through Sabbath-day-exercises Angels see great advantage to others and this makes the day their delight This being the day wherein lost Goats are found strayed sheep are brought home and prodigal sons return to their Fathers house O the musik it makes in heaven and joy among the Angels of God Luk. 15. Luk. 2. we see what rejoycing was among the Angels upon the day of Christs Birth singing Glory be to God good will to men Tydings of great joy To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. If Angels reioyced at the day when Christ is born to men do they not rejoyce on the day wherein men are born to Christ Ut homâ—nes nascerentur ex Deo primo ex ipsis natus est Deus August in Joan. c. 2. The very end as Austin observes why God was first born of men was that after men might be born of God Therefore Angels who rejoyced at the other may well rejoyce at this Yea Angels who are present in the publike Assemblies of Gods Saints 1 Cor. 11.10 not only to observe but to assist them in Sabbath day-duties O how much is it Angels delight to find us this day fervent in praying painful in preaching diligent in hearing c Persons inferiour that herein find pleasure are Faithful Ministers and Faithful Christians 1. To Ministers that are faithful the Sabbath is a day of sweet delight Upon the Lords day labouring Either they have herein their desired successe Or they have not that successe herein they do desire Sometimes God gives them good successe in their Sabbath-Day-endeavous that is their delight Austin having preached an excellent sermon some of his hearers thinking to please him with their applause fell into his high praises the good man sighed saying Alas these are but leaves it is fruit we delight in The peoples fruit and profit is the Ministers delight and pleasure Let a faithful Minister meet with never so many molestations all the week yet if upon the Sabbath God prospers and the peoples profit lo this is his delight and comfort this his crown and joy John 16. it is said of a Mother she forgets her pain and travels for joy that a man-child is born into the world Thus a good Minister forgets all his week-day-difficulties and discouragements in the world for joy that a soul on the Sabbath is born again to God And if they have not such successe yet the day of their labour is the day of their delight 2 Cor 12.15 I will very gladly spend and be spent for your soules though the more abundantly I love you the lesse I be loved Here the Apostle in all his Ministerial paines seemes to have poore successe cold encouragement Little love for great labour Yet for the desired good of souls he gladly yea very gladly spends himself is spent Faithfull Ministers if they find good successe of their Sabbath-service then they rejoyce because they have a sure reward from God If upon the service of the Sabbath they have no such successe yet they can rejoyce because they have asure reward with God Isay 49.4 I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought yet SVRELY my Judgement is with the Lord my REWARD with my GOD. Vers 5. Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord. If Israel be gathered then are we glorious in the eyes of men If Israel be not gathered yet are we glorious in the eyes of God who looks more to our sincere intent in our work Nos octavâ die quae ipsa prima est perfecti Sabbeti festivitate laetamur Hilar Prolog in Psal pag. 335. then at the successeful event of our work We may well therefore make our labouring day our delighting day The day of our greatest paines the Day of our sweetest Pleasure 2. To Christians that are fruitful the Lords Day is a day of large delight This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad therein Psal 118.24 As there is not a day which the Lord hath not made So there is not a day wherein Saints may not be glad but as the Lord hath made this DAY to differ from all the rest so saints may be otherwise glad on this day then at any other times Which will be evident if we consider 2. The properties of Sabbath-joyes as to Gods Saints They are The safest and The sweetest They are The firmest and The fullest joyes 1. These are the safest joyes
Gods Saints are best brought together both In Body And Mind Christians being thus gathered upon the Lords Day lie in the readiest way for these high workings of the Spirit Act. 2.1 2. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place And suddenly c. Day of Pentecost This fiftieth day so the word imports it was the first day in the week Vid. Cypri de Spir. San 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the best affirm even our Lords Day They were all That is Basil de spi Sancto ca. 27. August de temp Ser. 251. all the eleven Apostles of Christ as is plainly expressed Act. 1.26 In one place In an upper Chamber at Jerusalem they were all Bodily gathered together With one accord Their minds were met as well as their bodies They were all in one house with one Heart waiting for the promises of the Lord. And suddenly there came That is with all speed the Spirit of God came down upon them so as never before for Manner and Measure The manner A sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind all about the house where they were sitting And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and sat upon each of them The measure And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake with other tongues August Ser. 2 ad fratr in eremo as the Spirit gave them utterance The Spirit spake in them and they spake in the Spirit the wonderfull works of God The Spirit was poured in upon them and they poured it out in the Spirit Gods work was wonderfull and thus being upon the Lords Day gathered they found such spiritual fierings and fillings That evil spirit oft assaults the souls of Gods Saints when they are solitary single and severed Matth 4.1 But the good Spirit of God descends upon the soules of his servants met in their solemn assemblies One well observes that the dry bones which the Prophet saw Ezek. 37. the Spirit of God did not enliven them while they lay scattered in the field but when the bones came together bone to his bone then the Spirit of life came into them and they stood up upon their feet vers 7 8 9. Thus Gods servants when together they are upon the Sabbath assembled then these kindlings and comfortable quickenings come Yea though their hearts and thoughts were all the week more scattered about in the world yet they are better gathered in to the Lord upon the Sabbath-day And the souls of Gods people put into such a Sabbath-posture are most prompt and best prepared for comfortable converse with God in the Spirit And in the Spirit on the Lords day some actually are that so they may the better For present receive the mysteries of Faith and For future perform the duties of obedience Faith That the apprehensions of this may hereby be enlarged and man unto the Dimensions hereof may hereby be better enabled By being in the Spirit a Christian is made more able to reach out unto the lengths breadths heights depths of faith and by believing to find out and fetch in the vast Mysteries of God in the Gospel Gospel-truths vailed are hereby clearly revealed and closely received Hence St. John came to receive such close and clear revelations from God which he could never have reached had he not on the Lords day been in the Spirit His whole Book that is so mysterious to others Jerom. epist ad Paulin. things therein were perspicuous to him To him therefore several of the Ancients so apply that Ambros lib. 3. de Spir. Sancto cap. 21. August de civit Dei lib. 20. cap. 17. Revel 22.1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life clear as Crystal proceedinding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. Things to him issued from God all pure and clear This made John the Baptist a greater Prophet then Esay or any other before him things intricate to others were explicate to him Now the Apostle could not have been capable of such clear discoveries had he not been first in the Spirit upon the Lords day Upon the Lords day being in the Spirit a Christian rides in the Chariot of faith triumphant from earth yea possibly as out of Hell into Heaven where he sees those glorious mysteries of mercie that concerns his souls comfort yea and what may be of singular concernment for the souls of others Obedience That the several conditions of this may be the better fulfilled Both in service And suffering Gods servants by being in the Spirit are abundantly fitted Both for Affliction And Action Act. 20.22 23 24. And now sayes the Apostle behold I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there save that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me But none of these things move me neither count I my life dear to my self so that I may finish my course with joy and the Ministery which I have received of the Lord to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God O what a fixed frame of heart had the holy Apostle to honour God both By doing And dying He was bound in the Spirit The Spirit that is compared to winde did now upon the Apostle blow with such a full gale that he went as a ship full saile unto the Port God had appointed The spirit of this good man did not hang loose but was girt up to go thorow with the work whatever came The Spirit hemm'd it about loosened him from all that might any way hinder but so gathered up his heart for God and the Gospel as to further him in his way and work One telling a Martyr that it was hard to burn It is indeed said he for him that hath his soul liâ—ked to his body as a Theefs foot in his fetters but for him that hath his soul set above his body it is easie to burn Kindle fire I come Saviour Another having put one foot into the flame steps back saying The flesh shrinks and sayes On earth it is better to burn The Spirit sayes In heaven it is sweet to shine The flesh sayes wilt thou shorten thy life The Spirit sayes It is nothing nothing to life eternal The flesh sayes Wilt thou leave thy friends The Spirit sayes Christ and his Saints society is better c. And so in the power of the Spirit he flings himself into the fiercest flames And the souls of Gods Saints may expect such Spiritual supports in the dayes of their suffering who serving God have been in the Spirit on the Lords day The truth of all which some have sensibly found 2. That others of Gods Saints possibly may find their souls thus in the Spirit on the Lords day This proved By the properties of the Lords Spirit towards them and By the properties of their spirits towards the Lord. As for the Spirit of the
them suffer yet their hearts stick to God All this is com upon us yet our heart is not turned back though thou hast sore broken us c. Psal 44.17 yea when Satan makes them sin yet their hearts hold to God 'T is said of Peter his heart did not forsake Christ when his tongue denied him Corde tenuit illum quem voce negavit Greg. But these men when they do not outwardly sin yet in heart they go away from God They do not onely in heart fall back but they draw back their hearts from God Heb. 10.38 Now they that thus daily draw back their spirits from God they cannot be in the Spirit on the Lords day 2. Against the Lord they turn their spirits The spirits of all unconverted are turned against God Both by Original corruption And by actual rebellion Rom. 8.7 The carnal mind is enmity against God 'T is more then if he had said The carnal man is an enemy to God The mind the best part of corrupt man is enmity which notes monstrous malevolence The Greek word is in the plural Enmities To import multiplyed perversnesse As there are many excellencies in God for man so there are many enmities in man against God Enmities against all the Attributes of God Enmities against all the Ordinances of God Enmities against all the actings of God in the world The spirit of man from his birth is bitterly bent and utterly turned against God But further every man does act up his spirit in rebellion against God blessed for ever Turns his spirit against God This Eliphas does falsly charge upon that good man Job 15.13 But this charge may truly be drawn up against every evil man he turns his spirit makes his mind to swell against God The least risings of spirit against God a good man groans under and grieves for Hieron epest 32. ad Abiga There is nothing once said a precious man that I have all my life more laboured against then a swelling mind a stiffe neck and a stubborn heart A wicked man he hardens his heart stiffens his neck and turns his spirit against God He heightens his inward corruption and becomes a hearty enemy against God by thoughts words and deeds Col 1.21 Or if there be outward restraints from evil works yet his spirit is turned against God The impenitent theefe when his body was nailed to the Crosse yet his spirit was turned against Christ A mans body may be bound from sin and yet his heart bent against God The bow of the bad heart may be bent up though no arrowes of evil works or words be shot out Peter Martyr in Genes A Learned Writer makes the Rain-bow in the heavens an admirable Embleme of peace For though sayes he we see a bow yet we see no string or arrow An unregenerate mans heart is a bow that hath both strings and arrows The strings of the bow are the corruptions and ill dispositions of the heart and the arrows are the evil cogitations and thoughts thereof A multitude of these arrows a man le ts fly in the face of God which argues the acted enmity of his heart against God he is at heartwarre with his spirit is bent against the Lord such cannot be in the Spirit on the Lords day Lastly on the Lords day these cannot be in the Spirit For The gifts of the Spirit they abuse and The grace of the Spirit they oppose 1. The Spirit of God in the gifts thereof they pervert The Holy Ghost helps them to knowledge remembrance utterance c. These they take and turn them to a wrong use As the Israleites who took their ear-rings jewells and bracelets of gold and therewith made an Idol As the Divell he hath large knowledge and great abilities but of all he makes an ill use so it is his design upon sinfull men that whatever good things God gives them for his praise and their profit may be imployed to their harme and Gods dishonour As Eve whom God gave to Adam for his meetest help was made the Engine of his greatest hurt Of this rib sayes one the divell made a dart and wounded man to death with that should have sweetened his life Basil Divers act the Divells part they take things given them for their chiefest good and turn them to the greatest evil CoÌ„rruptio optimi pessimi As the divells could never have been such vile and venemous spirits as they are had they not once had excellencies above other creatures And so there are several that could never have been so transcendently sinfull in prodigious opinions and practices as now they be had they not had rare parts and admirable abilities above their Brethren And can we think that they who thus abuse the gifts of the Spirit should be in the Spirit on the Lords Day 2. The Spirit of God in the graces thereof they resist Act. 7.51 Ye stifnecked and uncircumcised in heart and cares ye do alwaies resist the Hâ—ly Ghost viz. in all his gracious workings Men who make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof they make opposition against the Spirit and withstand the works thereof And though as with bellowes they blow up the Divells fire yet as with buckets of filth they quench out the sparks of the Spirit As when the Angells were entred into Lots house the men of Sodom from every quarter compassed the house by force and fury to fetch them forth Genes 19.3 Thus when any good motions enter into the hearts and minds of some men they are up in arms and out of quiet till they can crush them and cast them forth How oft do they in effect say to the Spirit as Pharaoh to Moses Get thee from me see my face no more till at length the Spirit replyes to them as Moses to Pharaoh Be it as thou-hast said Lo I will see thy face no more for ever Exodus 10.28.29 Some when they are in soule affrighted they would have the peace of the Spirit to calme them but though they are in sin polluted they will not have the grace of the Spirit to cleanse them And because they regard not the grace of the Spirit they resist the Spirit of grace And can such be in the Spirit upon the Lords Day Indeed the Lords Day is the main time they thus gainsay the Spirit of God upon the Sabbath-day they most beat back Gods blessed Spirit and can they this day be in the Spirit Object Upon the day of the Sabbath sure some sinfull men meet with Spirituall movings and therefore they may this day be in the Spirit Answer By way of concession By way of distinction Upon the Lords day as at other times men may by a false spirit be forcibly moved have stronge impulses strange raptures and revelations from a lying spirit As the Divell can transform himself into an Angell of Light so he can conforme himself to the Spirit of Light And as Satan can in
the seventh day the Sabbath day the hearts and souls of Gods Saints are subâ—ect to fall from those heatings and heightenings they then have in duties holy But then they struggle in holy heats of heart to rise higher and to fix faster Psal 108.1 O God my heart is fixed my heart is fixed Fixed and loosened and fixed again Warmed and cooled and kindled again so as that the fire is greater and flame hotter More abounding and abyding through the businesse of Gods blessed day Thus when Gods Spirit flowes in upon us and our spirits fall in with God so as with agility to act and with stability to be set in all sweet wayes of Sabbath-works This is Spiritually to spend the Lords day 2. The Motives that may incite all Gods Saints to such a Spiritual spending the Gospel-Sabbath may arise from things of two sorts observable viz. Some more antecedential and Some more consequential Arguments from things antecedent which may set all the servants of God upon a Spiritual passing this present day may be to consider Sabbath-ward these four things all which we find to be spiritually viz. The Ordainer of it The Ordinances in it The ends for it and The opposits against it 1. The Ordainer of this day the Lord Christ the things Spiritual concerning him we may discern by considering of him Both as he once was And as he now is 1. Christ the Lord of the Sabbath was Spiritual In his Conception and Birth In his Conversation and life In his Passion and death In his Resurrection from the dead And in his Ascension to heaven 1. Christ in his Conception and Birth was spiritual he being conceived of the holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin â—nd the Angel said unto her The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Luk. 1.35 36. 2. Christ in his Conversation and life was Spiritual Lo the heavens were opened uâ—to him and the Spirit of God descending like a Dove lighted upon him Matth. 3.16 Joh. 1.32 His joyes were Spiritual Luk. 10 21. His words were Spiritual Joh. 6.63 All his wayes in the world both towards God and men were Spiritual Heb. 7.26 3. Christ in his Passion and death was Spiritual He through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9.14 Even when he was condemned in the world he was justified in the Spirit 1 Tim. 3.16 4. Christ in his Resurrection from the dead was Spiritual Rom. 1.4 He was declared to be the Son of God by the Spirit of holinesse in his resurrection from the dead Rom. 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus dwell in you c. Christ put to death in the flesh but quickened in the Spirit 1 Pet. 3.18 5. Christ in his Ascension to heaven was Spirituall As he went up to God by a Spiritual assistance so upon a Spiritual design viz. to send down the holy Spirit of promiâ—e Joh. 16.7 It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter the Spirit of truth will not come unto you but if I depaâ—t I will send him unto you which we find fulfilled Act. 1. Act. 2. 2. Christ the Lord of the Sabbath he is Spiritual Both in his positive condition And in his Relative transactions Considered in himself according to his glorified estate he is all Spiritual His blessed body is now brought beyond all humane infirmities filled with beauty clarity agility impassibility immortality through the eternal Spirit In his humbled estate he was endowed and adorned with the Spirit what then in his honoured estate God gave him then the Spirit not by measure Joh. 3.34 O what immense and immeasurable fillings of the Spirit were in a crucified much more in a glorified Christ Such an infinite fulnesse of the Spirit is fixed in Christ whereby he is compleately fitted to the perfect performance of all his excellent offices Yea and Christ in his actings is now every way Spirituall Both in what he does with God for men And in what he does with men for God With God for men Christ hath his Spiritual exercise Christs acting as an Advocate with the Father 1 Job 2. His appearing and pleading our cause in the presence of God Heb. 9.24 His making Intercession at the right hand of God Rom. 8.33 As this is founded in the sufficiency of his Merit So it is performed by the efficiency of his Spirit As a meer man Christ does not manage his Mediatorship with God but Christ in Spirit presents unto God the Father for his members His deserts and His desires Both what for his people he hath purchased and what to his people God hath promised that they may perfectly possesse Joh. 17.21 23 24. And with men for God Christ acts all Spiritually As Christ executes his Priestly office in heaven So he fulfils his Prophetical and Regal office on earth in a way of Spirituâ—l working As with Ordinances by the Spirit does Christ teach So by the Spirit with officers does Christ govern As his Kingdom is Spiritual which he governs So his government is spiritual of his Kingdome It is through the Spirit that Christ does such great things in our dayes as it was through the Spirit that Christ did so many good things in the dayes of his flesh Being anointed with the holy Ghost he went about dâ—ing good Act. 10.38 He now sits on his throne in heaven yet by the holy Ghost he transacts manifold and marvellous things on earth By the Spirit he writes his Law in the hearts of his people and rules his people by the Law in their hearts Leads his flock in the way they should walk and Feeds his flock as they walk in the way c. Thus Christ the Lord of the Sabbath is Spiritual And shall not we be Spiritual in the Sabbath of the Lord 2. The Ordinances in the Lords day are Spiritual likewise Go through all the appointments of God that are for this dayes exercise Are they not Spiritual If we seriously consider things that concern The Word Prayer Sacraments Singing of Psalmes Collections for the poor c. Are they nor all duties to be spiritually done Doth not Both the precepts of God binde us hereto And the practise of the binde us hereto Godly 1. For the Word As it is of a Spiritual nature So it is in a Spiritual manner to be managed Both on the Ministers and On the peoples part Every part of Gods precious Word is Spiritual The Law is Spiritual Rom. 7.14 The Gospel that is Spiritual Rom. 1.11 Yea because the Law in Spirituality comes short of the Gospel the Gospel in glory out-goes the Law As it is excellently opened 2 Cor. 3.6 7 8. They that preach the glorious Gospel that is so surpassingly Spiritual must endeavour to do it in the evidences and efficacies of the Spirit