his Ordinances God is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of his Saints and had in reverence of all them that are round about him Psa 89.7 When God intended to give the Law to Israel Exod. 19.11 12 14. the Jews must sanctifie themselves three days beforehand and when God came on the third day to deliver his pleasure to the people with what pomp and terror was proclamation made He descends in his Royal robes with a noble Retinue of Saints and Angels and with the dreadful ensigns of his Power Majesty and Jealousie Deut. 33.2 The Lord came from Sinai and rose from Seir he shined forth from mount Paran and he came with ten thousand of Saints from his right hand went a flery law for them Exo. 19.16 18 Then were there thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount and the voyce of the Trumpet exceeding loud so that all the people that were in the camp trembled And mount Sinai was altogether in a smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace and the whole mount quaked greatly and why is all this Why doth the Mighty possessour of Heaven and earth appear at that time in such state and royalty and magnificence with such a rich Train of Heavenly Courtiers with such Thundring Vallies of Shot with the Mountain Smoking under him and Trumpets sounding before him but to assure us that he is not so contemptible as to be slighted by any that he is not impotent but able to revenge himself on all that affront him nay to teach us that he will be feared and reverenced in all them that draw nigh to him Therefore he will make even Moses whom he knew face to face Heb. 12 21. at such a time exceedingly to quake and fear Civil or natural difference amongst us here below commandeth proportionable reverence the Subject must fear his Soveraign 1 Pet. 2.17 The Servant must obey his Master with fear and trembling Ephes 6.5 the Wife must see that she reverence her Husband Ephes 5. ult If there be such reverence due from one creature to another when they were all made of the same course earthly mold and must all be buried in the bowels of their common Mother when there is no essential but onely an extrinsecal difference between them what reverence is due from poor dust and ashes to the God of the Spirit of all flesh the King of Kings and Lord of Lords between whom and his creatures there is an infinite distance It behoveth us The worship of God is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a partic 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 valde pavere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quâ—d est more canis ad pedes alicujus tanqua m domini totum sese prostâ—rnere subjectionis gratia â—anch said Bernard to enter into the celestial Court at prayer time where the King of Heaven sits on his Starry stately throne environed with an innumerable company of glorious Angels and crowned Saints with great reverence and fear Ah with what humility should a poisonous poluted Toad creep and crawl out of a Ditch into the presence of so glorious and dreadful a Majesty The holy Servants of God were antiently called Nephalim from Nephal to fall down Prostrates or fallers because in the Worship of God thy usually fell on the earth The Elders of Israel trembled at the coming of Samuel 1 Sam. 16.4 and shall not we tremble when the great God cometh to us in his Ordinances Every Relation in which men stand to God calls for awfulness and dread of him If I be a Father where is mine honour If I be your Master where is my fear Mal. 1.6 but especially in the Saints approaches to him they must stand in aw of him When God appeared to Jacob at Bethel where he saw nothing but Visions of love he cryeth out This is none other but the House of God How dreadful is this place Gen. 28.17 The great Turk when he goeth into his Temple layeth aside all his state and hath none to attend him but a professour of the Law Therefore Reader Deut. 28.58 be perswaded to fear that glorious and fearful Name the Lord thy God That Name which is the greatest prop of thine affiance commandeth thy fear and reverence When thou hearest In the fear of God give audience to his word Act. 13.16 Poor peasants must be trembling when this Prince is speaking With meekness receive that word which will damn or save thy soul Alass with what fear should a condemned Prisoner attend to his King when every word he speaks is life or death It becomes the greatest Persons â—o be awful in Gods presence Constantine the Great when hearing a Sermon Euseb de vâ—t Constant. l. 3. c 17. would start out of his Chair of State being ravished with the word and stand up for a long time and being minded by his Courtiers that such a posture was unbecoming his high place he would not hearken to them Eglon though a fat unweildy man as soon as Ehud told him that he had a Message from God to him rose up to hear it Judg. 3.20 Abraham who had the honour and favour to be Gods friend yet when God spake to him fell on his face Gen. 17.3 Moses though high in the heart of God yet is hunâ—ble when he hears from God He boweth his head to wards the Earth and Worships Exod 34.8 When thou prayest put up thy petitions to him with awful apprehensions of him The vulg Lat. read that Psa 84.11 abjectus in domo Dei mei to be cast upon the Earth to lie prostrate in the House of God The Eastern Christians when they called on God threw themselves on the ground Luther prayed with confidence as to a Father but with reverence as to a God Remember when thou takest upon thee to speak unto the Lord yet thou art but dust and ashes Gen. 18.27 Thou art at best but a Beggar and a proud heart will not suit a Beggars purse The poor must use intreaties Prov. 18.23 The twenty four Elders fell on their faces and worshipped Rev. 4.16 So did Jesus Christ himself in prayer Mat. 26.39 O come let us Worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our Maker Psa 95.6 The Elephant that could not bow nor kneel was no fit Beast for a Sacrifice Go to the Sacrament Mat. 28.8 that representation of Christs suffering as the Disciples went from his Sepulchre with fear and great joy The Fathers call it misterium tremendum the nearer we draw to God in any Ordinance the greater must be our reverence In a Sermon we draw nigh to him as Pupils to their Tutor In prayer as Children to their Father but at a Sacrament we talk with God face to face We Sup with him and he with us If Angels vail their faces in his presence much more cause have
Hearing or Reading and I must tell thee that it concerneth thee now to be very watchful for many Birds wait to peck up the corn as soon as the Husbandman hath sowed it Our Saviour telleth us He that received seed among thorns is he that heareth the word and the care of this World and the deceitfulness of riches choak the Word and he becometh unfruitful Mat. 13.32 As High-way men watch the honest Countreyman as he cometh from the Fair where he hath sold his Cattel and filled his purse and then set upon him and rob him So do the cares of the world dog the honest Christian as he cometh from the Word where he got some Spiritual treasure and then fall upon him to plunder him Besides Satan is so subtle that he will be sure to haunt the soul after reading or Hearing the Word When any one heareth the Word then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart Mat. 13.19 The season then is worthy our observation When the Christian hath made a good meal then the Devil tryeth all his wiles and tricks to make him vomit it up again Servants when they carry full cups of wine in the midst of unlucky boys must be wary and watchful or they will spill it Some people take physick and though it doth them some good at present yet all is quickly marr'd by their neglect of those rules which should be observed afterwards The Word possibly when thou heardst it made some work among thy affections the beauty of Christs person was displayed before thine eyes and thy heart began to fall in love with thy Saviour the extremity of his passion was described to thee and thine heart began to loath the cause thereof thy sins Well now then thy conscience is a little warmed and awakened and the pores of thy soul opened shouldst thou go into the cold presently all would come to nothing If water be taken from the fire when it is a little warm it cooleth quickly he that would have it boil must rather encrease the fire There are two things which God requireth of thee after hearing and reading the Word namely Prayer and Practice 1. Prayer Petition for a blessing upon the Word and Thanksgiving for the blessing of the Word Petition for a blessing upon the Word After the seed is sown the influence of Heaven must cause it to spring up and ripen or otherwise there will be no harvest Paul may plant and Apollo water but God must give the encrease 1 Cor. 3.6 The Minister preacheth thou hearest but it is the Lord who teacheth to profit Thou mayest like Mary have Christ before thee in a Sermon and yet not know him till he discover himself to thee The Eunuch could read of Christ in the Prophet but could not reach Christ till God came to his Chariot There is a twofold light requisite to a bodily vision light in the eye and light in the air the former cannot as we experience in the night do it without the latter There is also a twofold light necessary to Spiritual sight beside the light of understanding which is in a man there must be Illumination from the Spirit of God or there will be no beholding the Lord in the glass of the Word When the Disciples had heard Christs Doctrine they were not able to understand or profit by his preaching and therefore they cry to him Lord open to us this parable When thou hast read or heard the Word go to God and say Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments Encline my heart unto thy Testimonies and not unto covetousness Psal 119.33 to 37. Intreat God to write his Law on the fleshly tables of thine heart Bernard observes bodily bread in the Cupboard may be eaten of Mice or moulder and waste but when it is taken down into the body it is free from such danger If God enable thee to take thy soul-food down into thine heart it is safe from all hazards Thanksgiving Consider what a distinguishing mercy what a precious treasure the Word of God is how without it thou hadst for ever been both unholy and unhappy how by it thou mayst eternally be both gracious and glorious and without question thou wilt finde cause to bless the giver for such a rare and profitable gift The Apostle ranketh this favour amongst the blessings of the highest form What advantage hath the Jew or what profit is there of Circumcision Much every way chiefly that unto them were committed the Oracles of God And the Psalmist mentioning this differencing-Mercy concludeth it with Praise ye the Lord Psal 147.2 ult The light of the Sun Moon and Stars is of such concernment to men that without them the beauty of the old Creation would be buried in darkness and therefore the children of God have given the Most High the credit of those greater and lesser Candles Psal 136.7 8 9. nay they have seen eternal love by those luminaries The light of Gods Law and Word is of infinitely more worth for by it the glory and beauty of the new Creation and that curious piece of mans Redemtion is seen and known What honor then doth God deserve for this favour Ptolomy King of Egypt was at great cost and charge to have the Law of the Jews translated by the Septuagint into Greek Euseb Hist. lib 5. cap. 8. Thou hast the Old and New Testament both at a cheap and easie raâ—e Thou mayest read thy Fathers Will in thy Mother Tongue thou hast in it a suitable Medicine for every Malady seasonable succour in all thy Miseries the costliest Cordials and choicest comforts without Money and without Price and surely all this deserveth thanks and praise Didst thou but know the misery of those places and persons who want the Word surely thy heart could not but be affected with thy mercy in the enjoyment of the word It is sometimes described by Famine I will send a famine not of bread and water but of hearing the Word of the Lord Amos 4. How dreadful are the concomitants and consequents of Famine what shrivel'd cheeks hollow eyes pale visages fainting hearts and trembling limbs have men in a famine they seem rather like walking Ghosts and moving carcasses then living creartures The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst the young child asketh bread and no man breaketh it unto them Their visage is blacker then a coal they are not known in the streets their skin cleaveth to their bones it is withered it is become like a stick The hands of the pitiful Women have sodden their own children they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people Lam. 4.4 8 10. These friend are the woful fruits of a bodily famine but a soul famine is the sorer
do thou hear and amend Charles the great did set his Crown upon the Bible intimating thereby that his Crown his carriage as a King should be according to the commands of the word O do thou hide this word in thine heart that thou mayst hold it forth to thy companions by the hand of an holy conversation Walk according to this Rule A good Wish about the word wherein the former heads are epitomized THe holy Scriptures being of such authority The Introduction as the hand writing and heart of God himself and so singular a mercy to me that by the guidance of this Star I am directed as the wise men to Jesus Christ I wish in general that I may set an high price upon every part thereof that every peice may be currant with me for his sake whose Image and superscription it beareth O that my carriage before at and after hearing may witness to God and my conscience Preparation for hearing that I esteem the law of his lips above thousands of Gold and Silver In particular I wish that as the Jews when they went to hear the law Preparation for hearing by laying aside evil frames sanctified themselves and washed their cloaths so before I go to read or hear the word I may sanctifie my soul and wash my heart from all superfluity of naughtiness and with meekness receive that ingrafted word which is able to save my soul Prejudice I wish that like Jehoshaphat I may prefer one Micaiah before four hundred false Prophets yet that I may ever make a difference betwixt an evil Ministers Preaching and practice and even when the Minister is full of grace may so distinguish between the treasure and the vessel as not to vallue the Message for the Messengers sake but to bid the workman welcome for the words sake I wish that I may be so sensible of my owninability to profit by this holy ordinance By prayer and of the speakers impotency to Preach home to my conscience that I may cry mightily to my God that he would open my heart to receive the word with all affection and so direct the Arrows which the Preacher taketh out of the quiver of Scripture that they may hit and pierce my dearest corruptions Consideration I desire that the consideration of the words excellency may cause me to prize it highly Of its necessity may make me to improve it diligently and of its efficacy may move me to go to hear as a Prisoner going to a bar to be tryed for my everlasting life or death Good ends in hearing I wish that the weight of the word may sink so deep into my heart that I may never hear Sermons to pick flowers of Oratory or to please my fancy but to receive virtue from Christ for the drying up my issue of sin and that I might cleanse my ways by taking heed thereto according to Gods Word Worldly thoughts laid by That the noise of the World may never hinder me from hearing the voiee of my God At hearing I wish that when I come into the place of worship I may set my self solemnly as before the Judge of quick and dead Seriousness as in Gods presence and as in the presence of the Lord with fear and awe give audience to his word If I were hearkening to an earthly Prince I would be serious O with what reverence should I hear from the blessed and onely Potentate Because without application the word will be unprofitable Application of it I wish that I may never draw a curtain before my own Picture but overlooking others may see my own face in the glass of the law O that by faith I may so take down the hook of the word as to be caught and taken by it Renovation by it My prayer is that the Gospel may come to me not in word onely but in power also that I may go to it as clean paper for any inscription as soft wax for any impression which my God shall be pleased to make upon me O that I might behold the Lord so effectualy in that glass as to be changed into his Image from glory to glory In special I wish that my sins may be placed by me in the front of this spiritual battle as Uriah purposely to be slain and that those smooth stones which are taken out of the silver streams of the Sanctuary may be thrown by so skilful and powerful a hand that they may sink deep into the foreheads of those uncircumcised ones After hearing Petition for a blessing to their death and destruction I wish that after the seed is sown I may beg that the showres of Heavens blessing may accompany it that it may spring up in the fruits of righteousness to the glory of my God and good of my precious soul And because the Gospel is a dish which is not set on every Table Thanksgiving for the Word though free grace bestoweth it on me I wish that I may rise from this spiritual food before I have given thanks to the Master of the feast Practice I desire finally that as I looked like a Saint in hearing I may live like a Saint after I have heard that those blossoms of good purposes which sprouted forth while the Minister was preaching may ripen into practice that whatsoever characters others are known by to be Christians I may be known by this ear mark to be one of Christs sheep even by hearing his voyce so as to follow him wheresoever he goeth Though others like petty Chapmen deal onely in some particular commodities and those such as will serve their own turns I desire that I may deal with the Word by whole-sale and esteem all Gods Precepts concerning all things to be right O that I might order my whole conversation aright and at the last see the salvation of my God! Amen CHAP. XVIII How a Christian may exercise himself to Godliness in receiving the Lords Supper and 1. Of the Nature of that Ordinance and preparation for it VVHen God had caused his everlasting Decree to fall in labour and had delivered it by giving the world a being and upon infinite consultation had formed Man to be his Vice-Roy over all the works of his hands he embarqued him with all abilities needful for such a voyage in the bottom of the Covenant of Works Adam set forth fully furnished with skill and richly fraught with all the Fortunes Hopes and Happiness of Mankinde but he had scarce lanched out of sight before Satan who knew very well the worth of the prize envying man the Haven of bliss to which he was sailing and envying God who was the owner the honor of such of a venture raised a storm whereby the Vessel through the unfaithfulness of Adam the Pilot ran upon a Rock and miscarried O what a joyful spectacle was that to Satan What a doleful sight to Adam to behold himself and all his posterity
will it be for me to finde death about the lips of Christ to fall into Hell with a stumble at the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven How exceedingly am I concerned to set my heart to all the words which I shall hear this day for it is not a vain thing but it is for my life Deut. 32.46 47. Urge thy soul in earnest with these particulars As Elisha stretching himself upon the young dead child at last got life and quickning into it so thou forcing and stretching as it were these things upon thy heart mayst quicken it how dull and dead soever it is Thirdly if thou wouldst prepare thy self for the Word entreat God to bless it to thee The operations of the Spirit must accompany the administration of the Word or it will be ineffectual It is the Spirit that quickneth John 6.63 The fire burneth naturally and the water cooleth naturally but if the fire of the Word ever burn up thy corruptions or the water of the Word refresh thee with real consolations it must not be by its own nature but by a Divine power If thine eye be opened by that eye-salve of Scripture to see Christ in his native beauty or thy self in thy natural deformity God must anoint thine eyes therewith therefore David beggeth this favour at Gods hand Open mine eyes that I may see wonderful things out of thy Law Psal 119.18 As good sight as David had he could not read in Gods Law without Gods light If the door of thine heart be opened by this key to give admission to the King of Glory Gods hand must turn the key The Lord opened the heart of Lydia that she attended to the words of Paul Acts 16. Paul might have preached his heart out before Lydia's heart would have opened to let the Word in if God had not undertaken the work If the Sword of the Word pierce thy soul hack and hew and slay thy most beloved sins those enemies within thee which would not have Christ to reign over thee the arm of the Lord must weild it The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God 2 Cor. 10.4 Surely that voice of Thunder must come from Heaven which can pluck up the strong trees of thy natural unbelief and senslessness and pull down the high Towers of pride and self If the Word which is called a Seal Rom. 6.17 ever imprint thy Saviours Image on thee to thy Regeneration God must adde weight to the Seal or it will make no stamp He hath of his own will begotten you by the Word of Truth James 1.21 He that made the Watch can make it strike right and he that made the Word can make it strike home even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow Hebr. 4.12 If the Word which is called life John 6.63 quicken thee to thine eternal Salvation God must breathe on thy dry bones and bid thee live I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 It was the Angels troubling the waters which made the Pool of Bethesda medicinal to the diseased people And it is not the water of the Word which can heal thy soul-sicknesses unless the Angel of the Covenant work in it and with it Elijahs mantle could not divide the waters of Jordan but the Lord God of Elijah did it The Preacher may shew thee thy Lesson but God onely can help thee to learn it Reader before thou hearest Remember it is Gods prerogative to open thine ear Mine ear hast thou boared Psal 40.6 There is a thick film in thine ears naturally which hindreth thine hearing thine ears are stopt that Sermons can have no passage Now God alone can with his Seringer dissolve the wax congealed there and break through the skin whereby thou mayest come to hear and live Remember that the seeing eye and the hearing ear the Lord hath made them both Prov. 20.12 Therefore intreat him to open thine eyes that thou mayst see his comely face in the Glass of the word and to open thine ears that thou mayst hear his lovely voice in the word and to open thine heart that thou mayst receive grace from him through the word Say as David Shew me thy way O Lord teach me thy paths Make me to understand the way of thy precepts so shall I talk of thy wondrous works Psa 25.4 Psa 119.27 And be not discouraged either at the misteriousness of the word or at thine own dulness for he that made the lock can help thee to a key that will fit all its wards But be sure thou forget not to commend thy Minister to God As thy duty is to beg a door of entrance for thy self so a door of utterance for thy Pastor Withall praying for us that God would open to us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ Col. 4.3 Ephes 6.19 Thy profit by him will be not a little furthered by thy prayer for him He that loves his child will often remember the Nurse that feeds it He that loves his precious soul will often mind the Preacher that prepareth and bringeth its spiritual portion I have known some to praise their Cooks highly when they would prevail with them to dress a Dish curiously for their palates I am sure thy way is to pray for thy Pastor fervently if thou wouldst have him provide such food as may be for thy souls pleasure and profit Starve the Mother and you starve the child in her womb If the Heavens do not favour the Hils with shours they cannot fatten the Valleys with their chalky streams If the Pipes be broke which convey water to our houses from the River we can expect no supply 4. Let thine end in going to hear be to please God and profit thy soul Propound a good endin hearing if thou wouldst have a good end of hearing Some go to Church for nothing like the Athenians the greatest part knew not wherefore they were met together Act. 17. They have as much as they come for They come for nothing and they often go away with nothing Others go to carp and catch at the Preacher as the Herodians went to Christ to entangle him in his talk Mat. 22.15 These go not to hear Gods word but to do the Devils work and he will pay them their wages These flie to the carcass not to defend it but to devour it A third sort go to hear wit and parts neat expressions and an affecting graceful pronounciation like the Jews to hear Ezekiel Lo thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument Ezek. 33.32 These go to hear man not to hear God They hear out of curiositie not out of conscience they desire to have their ears tickled
bloodiest work amongst our spiritual Enemies This is preaching to purpose This is also the best disposition requisite in a Religious hearer For our Gospel came not to you in word onely but in power 2 Thess 1.15 When the Word of God cometh like a mighty rushing winde rooting up the tall Trees of thy sins bringing down high thoughts overturning all before it when as fire it burneth within thee consuming thy lusts and turning thee into its own likness making thee holy spiritual and heavenly O this is excellent hearing this is hearing to purpose The word is Preached to many and not to their profit They hear the Minister as Chickens hear the Hen the Hen cals to the Chickens to come to her they lye scraping in the dust still many times and will not hear her till the Kite come and devoureth them So God endeavoureth in his word by his Ministers to cluck sinners to himself Wisdom cryeth understanding putteth forth her voice But they lie scratching and digging in the earth and will not hear him till at last the Devil comes and destroyeth them but when the word cometh with power the soul heareth it as Peter heard the Cock He goeth out and weepeth bitterly when he hears of the boundless mercy which he hath deserted and the matchless misery which he hath deserved and the infinite love which he hath abused and the righteous law which he hath transgressed he is cut to the heart he goeth out and weeps bitterly The word is compared to rain Deut. 32.2 now the rain fals upon flints and doth no good makes no impression Ministers drop it on many to as little purpose as Bede did when he Preached to an heap of stones They spend their strength in vain and labour in vain nay like many high-ways and low grounds they are the worse for these showres But this rain fals on others to much advantage My Doctrine shall drop as the rain and my speech shall distill as the dew as the small rain upon the tender grass and as the showers on the hearbs Deut. 32.2 The fine soft showrs of the word soaks into their affections softeneth their hearts and makes them fruitful in holiness The Naturalists observe of the Salamander that though she live in the fire constantly yet she is never the hotter How woful is the condition of thousands who live all their days under the Word of God in which is kindled the heavenly fire of Gods infinite love in Christ to poor sinners and the hell-fire of the hideous horrid nature of sin yet they are never the hotter neither warmed with the former nor scorched with the latter nay though these fires are sometimes by the workmen who divide the word aright heated as I may say seven times hotter then ordinary by discovering the freeness without yea against desert fullness a known unknown love and fastness whom he loveth he loveth to the end of this divine affection and by declaring the ugliness and loathsomness of corruption in its contrariety to a righteous law and a gratious Lord and in its opposition to the souls happiness and perfection that the very Ministers who take them up to put them into this fire are themselves with the extremity of its heat turned into a live Coal or all in a flame of love to the blessed God and hatred against his and their enemy sin yet these hearers like the three Children are not touched with all this fire their garments are not so much as singed nor the least smell of the fire on them O woful wonder What little comfort can poor Ministers take in their lives when they converse with such dead carcasses though they cut them with the laws curse pierce them to the quick one would think with the terrible day of judgment and the unquenchable fire yet they ail nothing feel nothing and complain not at all Reader when thou art hearing let thy care be that thy soul may be changed into the similitude of the Scripture that the word may come with power When the threatnings are shot off do thou fall down before them with fear My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy righteous judgements When God thundred Josiahs heart trembled When thou viewest the precepts and patterns in the word labour to resemble them It is said of the Earl Elzearus one much given to passion that he was cured by reading and hearing of Christs patience When the glad tidings of peace are Preached let thine heart leap with hope O let the nearer approach of the sun call forth and ripen thy fruits of righteousness When the law comes like a corrosive eating out thy festered flesh and corruption when the Gospel is like a lenitive both refreshing and refining thee then they come with power when the threatnings like wine search the wound and the promises like Oyl heal it then itcometh with authority and majesty If search be made by a reproof for thy beloved sin do not like Rachel hide it neither do thou fret when thy sore is touched but hold thine arme forth to that knife which should prick thy vein and let out thy bad blood Be not angry when a Prophet smites thee in the Name of the Lord Beleive it he that hates thy sins most loveth thee best If thou favour thy lusts so much as to keep them safe from the Sword of the spirit it will prove like Jorams respect to Jehu thine own destruction Their hearts surely were very rugged which cryed out Prophesie unto us smooth things Those feet are very sore or gouty which cannot go but in downy mossie walks where the ground yeilds to them Let a reproof be welcom for his sake that sendeth it Thy father knoweth that a bitter potion sometimes though not pleasant yet is profitable to thee As the working of physick kindly and well commendeth both the Physitian and body of the Patient so the powerful operation of the Scriptures whether of the purging potions of judgements denounced or cordial julips of mercies discovered do highly applaud both the skill of thy Saviour and state of thy soul It is written of Philetus a Disciple of Hermogenes the Conjurer that going to dispute with St. James the Elder the Apostle Preached Christ to him so powerfully that he returned to his Master and told him Magus abieram Christianus redeo I went forth a Conjurer but am come back a Christian O how happy will it be for thee if whatever thine end were in going to Church yet when thou returnest thou canst upon good ground say I went forth proud but am come home humble I went to Church a bondslave of Satan but am returned a free man of Christ I went out earthly carnal a malicious and obstinate sinner But for ever blessed be the most high God I am come back an heavenly spiritual and gracious Saint CHAP. XVII Of the Christians duty after Hearing THirdly I proceed now to the third thing which is Thy behaviour after
famine How many starve for want of the bread of life Thou sittest it may be at a full Table but couldst thou conceive what millions famish for lack of this spiritual food thou wouldst pray to God earnestly to pity such places and praise him heartily for providing so plentifully for thee Their misery is sometimes set forth by darkness and the shadow of death Darkness is dreadful though but external T was one of the greatest plagues which befel the Egyptians When Job would curse his day with a witness what is his wish Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it let a cloud dwell upon it let the blackness of the day terrifie it Job 4.4 It was sad when Paul and his companions saw neither Sun nor Stars in many days but O how sad is it when men see not the Sun of righteousness shining in the Heavens of the Gospel all their days Such may enjoy the light of Gods providence but they enjoy not the light of his countenance How can they work that want the light of the word to direct them or how can they walk surely they that walk in the dark stumble the dark corners of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty and fall even into Hell Where no vision is the people perish O Reader what infinite cause hast thou to bless the Lord that thou art not in their condition If thou hast any compassion for the poor dark dead souls be instant with the Lord pray O send out thy light and thy truth that thy ways may be known upon earth and thy saving health unto all Generations If thou hast any affection to thy own soul praise God for his Law Blessed be the Lord who hath shown us light Procopius reporteth that nigh to the Pole where the night endureth for many Months together the Inhabitants in the end of their long night get up to the top of the Mountains striving who shall have the first sight of the Sun and as soon as they see it they embace and hug each other crying out Ecce Sol apparet Behold Lo the Sun the Sun appeareth This poor Island had a long night of darkness when the people in it served dumb Idols and Devils blessed for ever be the unsearchable goodness of God the Sun of the Gospel hath appeared amongst us Nay as it s said of Rhodes it may be said of England The Sun always shines on it What shall we render to the Lord for this benefit On the town house of Geneva is writen upon a Marble Table in letters of gold Post tenebrass Lux. After darkness light In remembrance of and thankfulness for their deliverance from the pride power tyranny and abominations of the Pope Anno. 1535. I doubt not but we in these parts of the World have as much cause to set up a Monument of praise and thanks to the blessed God for bestowing upon us the light of his glorious Gospel and freeing us from the power of that man of pride who exalteth himself above all that is called God Reader Is it not a priviledge for thee to sit by the fire of the word when many poor souls are freezing in the cold for thee to walk in the light of the word when many sit in darkness and the shadow of death for thee to be clothed out of the rich Wardrobe of the word when many have their nakedness appearing to their eternal shame nay what an advantage hast thou that when thousands and millions have none to give them bread but starve and famish thou hast a Table fairly spread and fully furnished with all sorts of food both for necessity and delight yea and if sickness hinder thee from coming down to Dine or Sup with thy brethren and sisters upon that day of exceedings the Lords day thy God is so tender of thee that he sendeth thee somewhat up to thy chamber alloweth thee his Bible and blessing at home for thy nourishment and comfort O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and his wonderful works to the children of men 2. Practice when the Preacher hath done in the Pulpit the Hearer must begin in his practice He heareth a Sermon best who practiseth it most what one saith of Psa 119. I may say of the whole Scriptures They are verba vivenda non legenda words to be loved more then to be read or heard A Christians life should be a legible comment on Gods Law The strokes in Musick must answer to the notes and rules set down in the Lesson It is observable that the blood was to be sprinkled on Aarons right ear right thumb and great toe of his right foot Exod. 29.20 the first did note his right hearing the Word the second and third his working according to it and walking in it The doing not the hearing or reading Christian goeth away with the blessing And he said yea rather blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it Luke 11.28 The occasion of the expression is confiderable one of Christs hearers having tasted was so taken with the lusciousness of his Doctrine that she could not before all the company forbear commending the tree for the fruits sake Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps which thou hast sucked Yea rather saith Christ Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it In which words he doth not deny her assertion but her inference or the foundation of it Mary though happy yet was not so happy in bearing the essential as in keeping the Written Word of God She was rather blessed in having Christ formed in her then in having him formed of her It was her greater honour and happiness to be a member of Christ then to be the Mother of Christ The Porter is not so rich by carrying a bag of Gold as the Merchant that oweth it The Christian onely that keepeth the word of Christ is truely related to Christ the Word Matth. 12. ult It is reported of the Nobles of Polonia that when the Gospel is read they lay their hands upon their Swords and begin to draw them intimating thereby that they will defend it with the hazard of their lives Saints must be ready to die for the Gospel but a Christian may defend it as truely by an holy life as by a bloody death A scandalous conversation is an offence to Religion and openeth the mouths of its enemies but as fire is a good defence to a man in a Wilderness against the fury of ravenous beasts so the heat of grace flaming and the light of holiness shining in the lives of professors defendeth the word against its opposers A Sermon practiced is a Sermon in print and by it the hearer teacheth all the Week long The Romans were commended for obeying from the heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the form of Doctrine delivered to them Rom. 6.17 In the Original it is whereunto they were delivered A good hearer as I said before
to the precept Lord Deut. 6.6 7. let my house on thy day be like thy house employed wholly in thy Worship and let thy gracious presence so assist us in every Ordinance that the glory of the Lord may fill the house I wish 5 Discipline in a Family That I may manifest my love to the Souls in my family by manifesting my anger against their sins My God hath told me Thou shalt not hate thy brother Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sin upon him Lev. 19.17 If it be my duty not to bear with the corruptions of neighbours much less of my servants and children Should I suffer them in unholiness I should bring them up for Hell Those deepest purple sins many times are those which are died the Wool of youth O the sad aches which many have when they are old by falls which they received when they were young Let me never like Eli honor my sons or servants above my God lest my God judge my house for ever for the iniquities which I know because my children or servants make themselves vile and I restrain them not Lord let me never be so fand and foolish as to kill any in my family with Soul-damning kindness but let my house be as thine Ark wherein there may be not onely the golden pot of Manna seasonable and profitable instructions but also Aarons Red suitable and proper reprehension and correction I wish 6 See that all be well employed That I may never expose my family to the suggestions of Satan by allowing any in laziness but may be busie my self in my particular vocasion and see that others be diligent in their distinct stations The lazy Drone is quickly caught in the honeyed glass and kild when the busie Bee avoideth that snare and danger O that I and mine might always be so employed in the work of our God that we may have no leisure to hearken to the wicked one Adams store-house was his work-house Paradise was his place of labour Lord since thou hast intrusted every one in my house with one talent or other wherewith he must trade cause me and mine to labour and work in this and to look after rest in the other World I wish 7 Peace and love must be maintained in the family for the furthering of holiness and purity in my house That I may be careful to keep it in peace Our bodies will thrive as much in Feavers as our Souls in the flames of strife Satan by the Granado's of Contention will hope in time to take the Garrison Where strife is there is confusion and every evil work Jam. 3.16 O that love which is the new Commandment the old Commandment and indeed all the Commandments might be the livery of all in my family That there might be no contention there but who should be most holy and go before each other in the path which leadeth to eternal pleasures Because marriage is a fellewship of the nearest union and dearest communion in this World and because the fruits of Religion will thrive much the better if cherished by the sweet breath and warm gale of love in this relation Lord let my wife be to me as the loving Hinde and pleasant Roe let me be ravished always with her love Let there be no provocation but to love and to good works Let our onely strife be who shall be most serviceable to thy Majesty in furthering one anothers eternal felicity Enable us to bear one anothers burthens and so fulfil the Law of Christ and to dwell together as fellow-heirs of the Grace of life that our prayers be not hindred In a word I wish That I may like Cornelius Conclusion fear the Lord with all my house So govern it according to Gods Law that all in it may be under the influence of his love and heirs of everlasting life Lord be thou pleased so to assist and prosper me in the management of this great and weighty trust that my house may be thy house my servants thy servants my children thy children and my wife belong to the Spouse of thy dear Son that so when death shall give a bill of divorce and break up our family we may change our place but not our company be all preferred from thy lower house of prayer to thine upper house of praise where is neither marrying nor giving in marriage but all are as Angels ever pleasing worshipping and enjoying thy blessed self of whom the the whole family in heaven and earth is named to whom be glory hearty and universal obedience for ever and ever Amen FINIS AN Alphabetical Table of the principal Heads contained in this Treatise A HOly affections requisite in Prayer page 172 173 A Christian should be Holy in his Apparel page 427 The ends of Apparel are four page 428 Sins about Apparel page 430 The Vertues to be exercised in Apparel page 435 Natural Actions vide Natural Two helps against Apostacy page 4 5 No Atheists in Principles page 2 B REligion bringeth a blessing along with it page 520 C A Christians duty to be godly in his particular Callings page 466 Men must be diligent in their Callings page 467 Righteous in their Callings page 474 Particular Callings must not incroach upon our general ib. To steal away the heart 476 Or time page 478 God must be sought to for a blessing on our particular Callings page 484 God must have the glory of success in our particular Callings page 487 Men must be Contented how ever God dealeth with them in their Callings page 490 A good Wish about a particular Calling page 493 A good Wish about a Ministers Calling 497 A threefold Care page 470 Charity to be minded 322 412 413 414. Christs great love to mankind 493 to 499. Christs sufferings largely described page 285 to 293 Constancy required in prayer page 178 D DRunkenness abouding 417 Its Mischiefs page 418 Holy Dutys require much Diligence page 106 Grace must be acted in Dutys page 117 118 Dutys are considerable in a twofold respect and must accordingly be minded for a two-fold end page 128 to 135 A good Wish about Religious Dutys page 136 No Duty should satisfie without Communion with God page 369 Vide Lords Day E A Christian must be holy in Eating and Drinking page 401 402 Christians must Eat and Drink Sacredly 403 to 415 Soberly 315 Seasonably page 425 Affairs of Eternity of great weight page 57 Self Examination a duty page 266 F FAith specially requisite in holy duties page 120 125 Faith necessary in hearing page 226 Faith necessary at a Sacrament page 271 Faith hath a three-fold act 303 Faith tried page 272 Religion must be set up in Families page 515 Irreligious Families do much hurt page 517 Irreligious Families are cursed page 521 Religious Families are blessed page 520 Those that would make Religion their business as they are Governours of Families must be careful whom they take into their
distance will quicken thee to reverence Gods greatness and mans vileness are both arguments to make man humble and wary in the Worship of God Couldst thou behold God in Heaven in what Majesty he there appeareth on his Throne of glory how his heavenly Courtiers vail their faces in his presence lay their Crowns at his feet and serve him though joyfully yet humbly and awfully with what reverence and holy fear wouldst thou go to prayer Meditate on his mercy and goodness what promises he hath made to prayer how bountiful he is to his suppliants He doth more then they can ask or think he gives liberally without upbraiding It was said of Severus the Emperor that he was more troubled that men asked nothing then that he gave much God delighteth both to be sought and found This is necessary to strengthen the faith He that commeth to God must beleive that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11.6 He that would pray and obtain a blessing must beleive Gods being that he is and Gods bounty that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Meditate on his rich bounty Abraham asked but one Son God gives him seed like the Stars in the Heavens for multitude the Debtor desires but forbearance and he freely forgives the whole Debt The shekel of the Sanctuary is double to the ordinary shekel God delighteth to see men joyful in his house of prayer Isa 56.7 to see their countenances commend his chear now meditation of his Royal bounty how he giveth like a King like a God will help thee to this hearty chearfulness Beleive before thou prayest that thy hand of prayer shall not knock at Heavens gate in vain that God will not send thee away sad It is reported of the Emperor Flavius that he should say I am sorry that any man should present a petition to me as if he were offering meat to an Elephant with a trembling hand Consider not onely his habitation which art in Heaven but also his relation to thee Our Father before thou callest he will answer and when thou speakest he will say here am I Isa 65.24 Thus when thou hast by meditation cut the Sacrifice in peices put the wood in order and laid all upon the Altar thou mayst by prayer put fire to them and offer up a Sacrifice to God of a sweet smelling savour Secondly As Meditation so the stirring up of thy graces is needful to further this duty Meditation will do much towards it as thou hast heard I shall therefore speak the less to it Every person that hath grace doth not always pour out his prayers rightly Graces must be exercised in our duties Grace may lie as fire under ashes upon the hearth of thy heart and be so far from flaming that it may not so much as glow and how then canst thou expect any warmth from it thy duty is therefore to stir up the coales and endeavour that the fire may blaze out It is the language of Canaan communication seasoned with grace which onely is savoury to God Cato being asked why he was so diligent to learn the Greek language in his old age answered I hear the Gods speak Greek and I would willingly speak to them in their own language All the words of God are gracious It s said of his Son Grace is poured into thy lips Psa 45.2 Those therefore that would not speak to God in an unknown language a tongue wich he understandeth not must accent all their expressions to him with grace It is the smell of the spice of grace in the Israelite not of Garlick and Onions in the Egyptian which is so pleasant and fragrant to God Who is this that cometh out of the Wilderness like Pillars of smoke perfumed with Myrrhe and frankincense with all powders of the Merchant Cant. 3.6 Some take the words to be the voice of the Angels those friends of the Bride groom admiring the Churches gracious expressions and continual assentions of her soul in her prayers to God others take them to be the words of Christ being ravished with the odoriferous smell of those graces which his Spouse acted in her Sacrifices he stood amazed at the beauty of her person and the sweetness of her breath the graciousness of her petitions What lovely Lady what woman is here so the Hebrew What peerless Paragon is this which sendeth up such Spiritual Sacrifices such sweet Incense kindled by the fire of Gods own Spirit laid upon a meritorious Altar ascending and fuming up like the rowllings and agglomerations of smoak to the Lord himself and more welcome and grateful then all the costly evaporations of myrrhe and frankincense and all powders of the Merchants The Angel which ascended to heaven in the flame of the Altar is said to do wonderously Judg. 13.19 20. It was wonderful both to Christ and his friends to behold the acceptance of his Spouses gracious performance how it ascended to Heaven elationibus fumi like pillars of smoak and came up for a memorial before God The desire of nature in prayer is like sparks which fly out of the tunnel of the chimney and then vanish but the desire of grace in prayer is like pillars of smoak which mounteth up to the highest Heavens When Jacobs sons went down to Egypt to fetch corn they carried some along with them to support them by the way when the Christian goeth to Christ by prayer for more spiritual food he must carry some along with him to strengthen him in the duty A little water poured into the pomp will fetch up much a little grace acted in a duty may help thee to much more As the ship is sometimes wind-bound that it cannot move towards its haven so without the exercise of grace the soul is wind-bound there is no stirring towards Heaven A graceless man in prayer as was said of Alcibiades may talk much but speaketh little 2. Some things which will hinder the duty must be refused All sin in general sin regarded in the soul makes prayers disregarded of God If I regard iniquity in my heart God will not hear my prayer Psa 66.18 He that expecteth pardon must throw down his Weapons of Rebellion The Child that asketh forgiveness of his Oaths must not desire it of his Father with Curses in his mouth When dust clogs the Wheel of the Watch or Clock they cannot strike true when sin hampereth and clogs the Wheels of the affections the mouth will never speak true or right in its Petitions He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law even his prayer shall be an abomination Pro. 28.9 It is high impudency for him that will not hear God to look that God should hear him When the sin of the petitioner is before Gods eyes his petitions cannot enter into Gods ears The wide mouth of sin out-cryeth the voice of his prayers as the Fish called the Remora though it be but little will stop a
of my person nor performance may appear to my shame The matter of prayer I wish that all the flowers which I present to my God in the posie of prayer may be gathered out of his own garden the Scriptures I mean that I may never exceed those bounds which he hath set me for the matter of my prayer but may use much caution that all those spices which I make my incense of may be of his own prescription and O that to this end his holy spirit who knoweth his mind fully Properties of prayer might draw up all my petitions for me I wish that my prayers may be ever presented upon the bended knees of my soul Humble and also in regard of my body in the lowest and most submissive posture Ah how humble should dust and ashes be when he takes upon him to speak to the most High God Hearty I wish above all that I may never mock the most jealous God in this duty by speaking Parrot like what I neither mind nor mean but whatsoever dish be wanting on the Table to which I invite my God my heart which I know he loveth above all may be there and that my prayer may be the travail of my soul and not the labour of my lips I wish that I may so feel my spiritual wants that my bowels may so pinch me that as the hungry and almost starved begger I may cry aloud for the bread of life yet not so much Fervent in regard of the extension of my voice as the intension of my spirit When I am petitioning for pardon and grace I wish I might beg as earnestly and beseech God as importunately as if it were in the power of my prayer to change his mind and procure the blessing but when I am asking temporals Caution I would not as the dry earth cry and cleave and gape for corn and wine and oyl but willingly be at my fathers allowance and desire no more then what his infinite wisdom seeth needful to hear my charges till I come to my blessed and everlasting home Constant I wish that I might observe that standing law according to which Heavens bounty is dispensed In all things to make my requests known to God and never expect though the mercies of God be never so ripe that any of them should fall down upon me in mercy unless I shake the tree by prayer I wish that every mercy may come flying to me upon the Wings of prayer and may fly back to God upon the Wings of praise that prayer may be the Mother to breed and bring forth all my blessings that not one child of them but may be named Samuel asked of God that when I first open my eyes in the morning I may then in some ejaculatory prayer open my heart to my God that at night prayer may make my bed soft and lay my pillow easie that in the day time prayer may perfume my cloaths sweeten my food oyl the wheels of my particular vocation keep me company upon all occasions and guild over all my natural civil and Religious actions I wish that after I have poured out my prayer in the Name of Christ Subsequents of prayer according to the Will of God having sowed my seed Waiting I may expect a crop looking earnestly for the springing of it up and beleiving assuredly that I shall reap in time if I faint not yea that though the promise may stick long in the birth yet it will at last bring forth when God will give me large interest for my forbearance Finally I wish that though before sorrowful having opened my mind to God about any suffering my countenance like Hannahs may be no more sad that I may never busie my self about Gods work the success and event of things nor like an idle lazy begger Working be careless about my own work but may in my place and to my power be industrious in the use of all those lawful means which his providence affords me for the enjoyment of my desires that as I did lift up my heart in praying so I may lift up my hands in working to God who dwelleth in the Heavens CHAP. XI How a Christian may exercise himself to godliness in hearing and reading the word and of preparation for hearing THe blessed God as he appointeth the Children of men their ends namely to serve him here and to injoy him hereafter so he doth also afford them directions about the way how they may attain and accomplish those ends He is our Master and cutteth out that work for us which he expecteth we should make up He bestoweth on all the starlight of nature which though it be but small and dull by reason of our first fall yet it ruleth and commandeth the night of the Pagan World and is sufficient to leave them inexcusable for not working and walking by it When Heathen shall be thrown into the Goal of Hell and bound with chains of everlasting darkness their own consciences will hinder them from the least thought of commencing a suite against God for false imprisonment because they are judged not by the Law Moral written in Tables of stone but by the Law Natural written in the Tables of their hearts But out of his infinite favour he is pleased to give some in those places where he intendeth to gather a people to himself for his eternal praise beside the twinkling Star-light of nature the clear and perfect Sun-light of Scripture to guide their feet in the ways of peace Which word is one of the most signal mercies that ever he bestowed upon the Sons of men the whole World without it being but a barren and rude Wilderness The Word of God is a Spring of living water a deep Mine of costly treasure a table furnished with all sorts of food a Garden wherein is variety of pleasant fruits the Churches Charter containing all her priviledges and her deeds many infesting her Title to the purchased possession It hath pious precepts for the Christians reformation and precious promises for his consolation If the Saint be afflicted it can hold his head above water and keep him from sinking when the billows go over his soul there are Cordials in it rich enough to revive the most fainting spirit If the Saint be assaulted the word is armour of proof whereby he may defend himself manfully and wound his foâ—s mortally If the soul be unholy this word can sanctifie it ye are clean through the word which I have spoken to you Joh. 15.3 this water can wash out all the spots and stains if the soul be an heir of Hell this word can save it From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Other writings may make a man wise to admiration but this onely can make him wise to Salvation This word which is of such unspeakable worth God hath deposited as a
special treasure into the hands of the Children of men that they might obey his will and know the just one And Reader it is thy duty to search and study this book When Kings send out their Proclamations either concerning acts of grace or some Law which their Subjects ought to obey they expect that all should take notice of them and give them the reading and hearing What an affront dost thou offer to the King of the whole World if thou turnest thy back upon his word I must tell thee it is no less then crimen loesae Majestatis He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Luke 10.16 Thou mayst think possibly that by neglecting to hear thou dost onely contemn the Preacher but beleive me it is a contempt of thy Maker Ministers are Gods Embassadors Now to deny an Embassador audience is one of the greatest disrespects which can possibly be offered him nay it is an affront to his Prince on whose errand he cometh and whose person he representeth and what is the conclusion usually of such bad premises but a bloody War Confider what thou dost when thou refusest him that speakest from heaven for if thou shuttest the windows of thine eyes from reading and the door of thine ears from hearing God may clap such a padlock of a judiciary curse upon them both that thou shalt never open thine eyes nor ears till thou comest as the rich Glutton to see Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom and to hear and bear thy part in those dreadful screechings and howlings which are in Hell It is a mercy that the Tree of Knowledge the Word of God is not forbidden but commanded fruit nay that it groweth in the very path to the Tree of life O why shouldst thou then like the Pharisees reject the counsel of God against thy own soul If thou art a childe of Adam I am sure thou hast thy deaths wound now by neglecting the Word thou like a frantick Patient throwest away that plaister which onely can cure thee Do not say thou wast not warned of thy danger and duty I do here shew thee the hand and seal of the King of kings to that Warrant to which I require thy obedience The Scripture is the Word of Christ and God commandeth thee upon thine allegiance to hear him Colos 3.16 Matth. 3.17 The Word is the Cabinet in which thy Saviour that Pearl of infinite price is laid up and therefore thou art commanded to look into it for this Jewell Search the Scriptures for they are they which testifie of me John 5.39 The Word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and speaketh such a diligent search as covetous men make for silver they spare for no labour that they may attain their Deified Treasure What shouldst not thou do for durables Riches and Righteousness But Reader if thou art a childe of God I doubt not but thou delightest to look into thy Fathers will and weightest every Word in it as knowing that in his Testament there is a great charge committed and a great legacy bequeathed to thee It is thy daily Companion and Counsellour thou darest not go without thy cordial being liable every day to faint nor without thy weapons being called every hour to fight The Scriptures are the light by which thou walkest and the tools with which thou workest Let me perswade thee to persevere in this gracious practice Take the counsel of the Author of it who is fittest to give Laws for thy carriage towards it Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly Colos 3.16 The Word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and signifieth to keep house with you Do not leave thy Bible as some do at Church and hear nothing of it all the week long but bring it home to thy house let it dwell with thee Let not the Word be as a way-faring man to tarry with thee but for a night and so be gone but let it be an inhabitant one that accompanieth thee to bed and board and with whom thou conversest continually as thy familiar and intimate friend Make thine heart as Jerome saith of Nepotians by his assiduous reading and hearing the Scriptures Bibliothecam Christi The Library of Jesus Christ I cannot but think that thou hast found the Bible so bountiful a Guest to pay thee so liberally for its board that thou hast bid it heartily welcome and wouldst not part with it for the whole world Agesilaws is commended saith Xenophon because he never went to bed nor rose up before he had looked into Homer whom he called his Sweet-heart Advise thou with a Divine at least as often as he did with a prophane Author Kings have their Counsellors and great men their Remembrancers Let Gods testimonies be the men of thy council Psa 119.24 Let not others negligence abate the least of thy diligence but rather by an Antiperistasis let their extreme coldness double thine inward heat As the fire is hotest when the weather is coldest so Davids heart boiled with zeal after it when the waters of others affections to it were frozen They have made void thy Law therefore I love thy Commandments above gold yea above fine gold Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right Psal 119.126 127 128. O consider what love the Saints of God have ever had to his Law Luther said That he hated the Books he made and could wish them all burnt lest the time spent in reading them might hinder the reading of the Scriptures O how love I thy Law saith David The godly have meditated therein day and night they have esteemed it above the sweetest honey and the finest gold the Martyrs in England have given much of their Estates for a few leaves of it and they laid down their lives before they would lose the precious fruit in it The French Protestants saith their Historian burnt in zeal to the Word whilest the bloody Papists burnt them for the Word Scipio Africanus was applauded for having usually in his hands the books of Xenophons Institutions of Cyrus O let this Book of books be often before thee and always in thee let it be thy mediation all the day One would think that he who knoweth and believeth the contents of the Word should hardly ever let a Bible be out of his hand at least he will lay it up as the two Tables in the Ark in his heart Scriptura est cor ipsa anima Dei Greg. One of the Fathers calls it The heart and soul of God Indeed as a man by his word discovereth his minde and will so God by the Gospel which is his Word revealeth his eternal good will to men It is the Copy of his everlasting love of which his Decree is the Original containing all his pecious thoughts before the foundation of the World of redeeming miserable man with the blood of his Son and making him an heir
render this Engine of the Word fruitless whereby the Strong-holds of his Kingdom have been battered and broken down Therefore as a Jaylor will sometimes let his prisoners have their hands and feet at liberty so long as the doors of the Prison are barred and bolted that they cannot run away So he will let thee have thy hand at liberty for some acts of charity and thy feet at liberty to walk in some path of civility so long as he can but have the doors of thine ear and heart lockt fast that thou canst not get from him He knoweth Christ waiteth at the outward door of the ear that he might thereby come to the inward door of thy heart and deliver thee a poor Captive out of his hands For this cause if it be possible he will keep the street door shut he will hinder thee from hearing as in Gods presence he will finde thee other work to do then to hear it may be he will get thee to play and toy as he doth many great ones or if not to be talking to thy pew-fellows or to be reading possibly somewhat finful at least somewhat unseasonable or to have thy heart in thine own house whilest thy body is in Gods house or as a childe though thou art at thy book he will make thee look off if but a Butter-fly come by he will set thee about some business or other unless thou art serious as in Gods sight that thou shalt never have so much leisure as to hear even when thou art in the Church It is reported of Henry the third King of France that in a solemn Procession at Paris hecould not be without his Jester who walking between the King and the Cardinal made mirth to them both in the mean time there was brave devotion Alas they that hear in jest will finde Hell to be hot in earnest Were not men Indians and Infidels in English habits did they but believe the invaluable worth of their souls the consequence and weight of their unchangeable estates what a searching trying time the hour of death will be and what dreadful terrible things will be seen at the day of Judgement Good Lord how would they hear The Minister need not call to them to attend to the Word of God they would of themselves give it their ears and mindes and hearts and think all too little for it 2. Apply the Word to thine own soul The Word is a salve of soveraign vertue Some talk of the Weapon-salve that it heals at a distance but the Word will not it must be applied to the sore or it will never cure The Word is seed preaching is the sowing of this soed application of it to thy heart is the harrowing of this seed into the earth If the seed be thrown on the ground and not harrowed in we can expect no harvest A good hearer is said to eat the Word Thy words were found by me and I did eat them Jer. 15.16 Eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled Prov. 9.5 It is not the bread in the cupboard of the Bible or on the table of a Sermon which will nourish thy soul unless it be by application of it to thy self eaten and taken down into thy stomack The glass of wine in thine hand will not make thy heart glad the precious promises in thine ears will not rejoyce thee they must by application be drunk down then they will refresh and comfort thy Conscience Faith is both the mouth to receive in and the stomack to digest this spiritual food It is worthy thy observation how frequently the Holy Ghost attributeth the famous effects and heroick acts of the Word to this Commander in chief under whose couragious and wise conduct it warreth The Word fighteth boldly and worketh miraculously under Faiths banner The Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation to them that believe Rom. 1.16 It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 so also 2 Tim. 3.15 Application is the life both of preaching and hearing If the Threatnings and Curses of the Law are preached faith is to them as the powder to the bullet causing them to make grievous havock and to do great execution upon the lusts of a man Faith turneth those stones as I may speak into bread and helpeth the Christian like Sampson to fetch meat out of the eater If the Precepts and Commands of the Law are preached Faith is the eye to see the Equity in them and the Excellency of them and Faith is the hand to put them into practice If the Promises and Comforts of the Gospel are preached Faith is to them as Induction to a Minister it gives him actual possession of them it makes them his own Faith in the Threatnings causeth Humiliation Faith in the Precepts causeth Subjection and Faith in the Promises worketh Consolation If at any time thou goest from hearing dead and undone thou mayest say to Faith as Martha to Christ If thou hadst been here my soul had not dyed The unbeliever like a man in a swoon shuts his mouth against those life-recalling Cordials which are before him in the Gospel Other sins wound the soul but Unbelief like Joab strikes under the fifth rib and kills outright Unbelief spoileth all An Unbeliever is dead he cannot hear Christ in his Word he is blind he cannot see God in the Gospel like Hagar though a Fountain be before him he beholdeth it not Unbelief makes the Word like rain upon Rocks wholly useless and fruitless What is said of the Essential Word is true of the Revealed Word It can do no mighty works because of their unbelief Unbelief is a Bulwark whereby sin secureth it self against all the darts and shot which the Word dischargeth at it What was the reason that the Word was not helpful to the Jews Heb. 4.2 The word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it Unbelief was the crack in the Glass through which this inestimable Water of Life did leak out and so was lost Nay What made the Word hurtful to them This leaven of Unbelief sowred all 1 Pet. 2.8 That Rock on which Faith builds an house which reacheth up to Heaven Unbelief stumbleth at and tumbleth the soul into Hell 3. Let the Word come with Authority and Power to thy Conscience This is one of the chiefest ingredients that goeth to the composition of a Preacher that he speak as Paul did in demonstration of the Spirit and of power 1 Cor. 2.4 By this force wherewith he spake and execution which he did that incomparable pattern of Preachers the Captain of our Salvation was distinguished from the Pharisees who in discharge of this holy Ordinance onely made false fire He taught as one having Authority and not as the Scribes And the people were astonished at his Doctrine Matth. 7.2 ult ver He is the best Souldier who in this Warfare makes
abuse of the Sacrament cast out by the Carthaginian Council to give it to dead men The invitation is not to Enemies but friends Eat O friends drink abundantly O beloved Cant. 5.1 The waters of life is onely for the thirsty and the bread of life onely for the hungry the Shew-bread under the Law was to be eaten onely by the Priests Lev. 24.9 so the bread of the Sacrament is to be eaten onely by such as are spiritual Priests unto God as Saints are Rev. 1.5 Reader examine thy self therefore whether thou art born again or no. Look into the Word of God and compare thy self with the Characters which are there given of new born Creatures They are sometimes described by their hearts God is good to Israel to such as are of a clean heart Psa 73.1 Their hearts are clean not with a legal cleanness which denyeth the being of sin in them In that sense none can say I have made my heart clean this spotless robe is reserved for the Saints wearing in the other World but with an Evangelical cleanness which denyeth the dominion of sin over them this cleanly garment is the Saints ordinary attire in this world We call River-water clean water though there be some kind of illness and impurity in it because it will not like pond water mingle with it and suffer the filth to rest there but worketh it out and seadeth it forth in its scum and froth Now how is it with thee Friend Doth sin rest quietly in thee or is it resisted by thee Dost thou love sin or loath sin Dost thou count it thy pleasure or thy poison When the body is dead Vermine crawl in it without opposition When the soul is dead lusts abound in it and reign without any considerable disturbance An unclean heart is quickly overcome by sin As when a Chimny is foul it is apt to be fired by every spark that flieth up whereas when it is clean though many flye up it remaineth safe so when the heart is unclean Satan can no sooner throw in his fiery Darts but presently it is in a flame whereas a clean heart is like wet tinder not so soon burning when he strikes fire Godly men as they have clean hearts so they have clean hands Job 17.9 The hand is the instrument of action by clean hands the Spirit of God meaneth clean and holy actings Saints are described by their lives They walk after the Spirit They order their conversations aright Per brachium fit judicium de corde was Galens rule Physitians feel the pulse of the Arme that they may know the state of the vitals Now how beats the pulse of thy conversation according to that judge of the soundness or sickness of thy constitution Dost thou walk in reference to thy self soberly in reference to others righteously in reference to God religiously Rom. 8.1 5. Tit. 2.12 Thy duty is to examine thy self in particular also of those graces which are specially requisite in a Communicant Of thy knowledge to discern the Lords body There is a competency of knowledge needful if thou wouldst receive acceptably Dost thou know the threefold estate of man His Innocency Apostacy and Recovery What a pure piece he was how holy when he came out of Gods hands what a miserable polluted creature he hath made himself by disobeying God and harkning to the Tempter what a glorious remedy God hath provided to restore man to his primitive purity Dost thou know God as he discovereth himself in his works but especially as he is represented in the Glass of his word Dost thou know Jesus Christ his two Natures his three Offices how he executeth them both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation Dost thou know the nature and end of the Lords Supper An ignorant person can no more discern Christs body then a person stark blind can discern the bread God hath expresly forbidden lame and blind Sacrifices Mal. 1.8 The Hypocrits Sacrifice is Lame for he halteth in Gods Way The ignorant persons Sacrifice is blind for he can give no account of his own work When the Leprosie was in the head the Priest was to pronounce the party utterly unclean exclude him the Camp Lev. 13.44 Do not say though thou art ignorant yet thy heart is good when God himself saith Without knowledge the mind is not good Fish stink first in the head and then the whole body putrifieth Examine thy Faith This grace is thy spiritual taste without which thou canst relish nothing on the Table This is the Bucket and if it be wanting I may say to thee as the Woman to Christ The Well is deep and thou hast nothing to draw with This is the hand to receive Christ Joh. 1.12 This is as the Armes whereby we imbrace Christ They embraced the promises by faith Heb. 11.13 As loving friends that have been a great while asunder when they meet together hug and embrace each other in their Arms so the Christian who longeth to see Jesus Christ in the promises when at a Sacrament he meeteth him huggeth and embraceth him in the Arms of faith Examine not so much the strength as the truth of thy faith The wings of a Dove may help her to mount up towards Heaven as well as the wings of an Eagle Try whether thy faith be unfeigned 1 Tim. 1.5 What price dost thou set upon Christ To them that beleive Christ is precious 1 Pet. 2.7 An unbeleiver like the Indians seeth no worth in this golden Mine but preferreth a peice of Glass or a few painted Beads mean earthly things before it but a beleiver like the Spaniard knoweth the value of it and will venture through all stormes and tempests that he may enjoy it Dost thou prise the precepts of Christ the promises of Christ the people of Christ the person of Christ is that altogether lovely in thine eyes and the passion of Christ Is thy greatest glory in Christs shameful Cross Dost thou esteem it above the highest Emperours most glorious Crown One of Englands Kings bestowed as much on a Crucifix as the revenues of his Crown were worth in a Year God forbid saith Paul that I should glory save in the Cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 Doth thy faith purifie thine heart Having their hearts purified by faith Acts 15.9 The hand of faith which openeth the Door to let Christ into the heart sweepeth the heart clean Faith looks to be like Christ in glory and faith labours to resemble Christ in grace An unbeleiver like a sluttish Woman though he keep the room of his life a little clean which others daily observe yet he cares not how dirtily those rooms of his inward man lye which are out of their fight unbeleiving and defiled are joyned together Tit. 1.15 Examine thy love The primitive Christians kissed each other at the Supper which they called Osculum pacis A kiss of peace They had their feasts of charity Jude v. 12. The bread which we eat is it not the
enter upon family duties Namely to read the word of God to call upon the name of God and to sing to the prayse of God 7. Let as many of thy family as can convâ—â—â—enny be spared accompany thee to publick Ordinances Vide more of this in Cap. 27. Remember the command Thou thy Son thy daughter thy man-servant and maid-servant and all within thy gate Do not pamper their bodies and starve the souls of thy houshold It is Recorded of Dr. Chaterton Mr. of Emannel Colledge that he never caused any of his Servants to stay at home on a Lords day barely to dress meat be able to say with Cornelins who feared the Lord with all his house we are all here present before God 8. As thou art going to the place of publique Ordinances consider with thy self that thou art going to converse not with men but with God even with that God who searcheth the heart who will not be mocked and who is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity that thou mayst hereby be quickened unto uprightness and seriousness and to dart up some ejaculatory prayer to God for aid and assistance 9. In every part of publique worship carry thy self with reverence humility love faith and sincerity Hear sing pray receive the Sacrament as one that doth all in Gods sight as one that is working for his immortal soul and as one that within a few days shall enter the gates of death and never have a season more for such sacred duties Depart not from the Church till all be done In a Court of civil Judicature thou willt stay till the Court riseth If thou wouldst have Gods blessing with thee do not leave it behind thâ—â—â—â— As thou comest from the Church meditate on what thou hast heard chew that meat which the Minister hath put into thy mouth thereby thou mayst get much spiritual nourishment 10. When thou art come home usually let nothing hinder from prayer either in thy family or closet wherein I would advise thee to turn the heads of the Sermon and Chapters read into Petitions as also to beg pardon of thy wandrings in the Worship of God and beseech him who with his own hand wrote the Law in two Tables that he would write the word Read and Preached in the Tables of thine heart 11. At Dinner take heed of excess whereby thy body will be unfitted to serve thy soul yet do not pinch or punish thy body because the day is a day of joy and delight I would wish thee to watch thy heart and tongue all the day long but especially at meals that thou mayst not think thine own thoughts nor speak thine own words If thy self or others start any unseasonable or earthly discourse at Table give conscience leave to speak to thee as Judas to the Apostles What needeth this wast What needeth this wast of precious time of so rich a treasure as every part of this day is Let the first dish at Table be Gods I mean when a blessing is desired let presently some savory discourse be offered hereby fin may be prevented The Jews had two notable defeats on the Sabbath day because they would not defend themselves Iosephus l. 12. c. 8. l. 14 c 8 the first defeat was by Antiochus the second by Pompey the Great Reader if thou wouldst not have Satan to foil thee on a Lords day keep a strict watch over thy thoughts words and works After Dinner as time will give leave either Sing or Pray with thy family or repeat what thou hast heard or busie thy self in Godly conference chiefly about what was Read or Preached that morning 12. Neglect not afternoon Ordinances Some Persons are like some Physitians Fore-noon men they must be sought to in the morning onely if you would find them about Religious duties Friend If thy soul ever met thy Saviour in publique duties thou canst not but love and prize them at an high rate In the close of the day sometimes God sendeth in the cheif blessing of the day A Sabbath Tide hath brought in many a good draught of Fish Be present at serious in publique Ordinances As an error in the first concoction can never be mended in the second so an error or carelesness in publique cannot be mended by carefulness in private 13. When thou returnest from publique Ordinances take some time to meditate on the word or Works of God thou mayst read over the eighth particular in the twenty one Chapter to help thee therein 14. Do not lessen thy secret or private duties on that day let them rather be increased then diminished The Offerings under the Gospel were Prophesied to be greater then under the Law Under the Law one Lamb was to be offered Under the Gospel six Lambs Numb 28. Ezek. 46. 15. Call thy Children and Servants to account what they have learned that day and explain what they understand not hereby thou wilt benefit both thy self and others Chemnitius observeth that our blessed Saviour in the 4. of Mark and 14. of Luke Examen de dieb fest after he had instructed the people as a publique Preacher on the Sabbath day did examine and teach his Apostles as a private Master of a Family 16. At Evening Sing Pray and if thou canst repeat the heads at least of both the Sermons Plutarch reporteth of a River which runneth sweet in the morning and bitter at night Let it not be said of thee that thy Morning was like Nebuchadnezzars Image of Gold and thy evening like the feet of it of clay 17. Before thou goest to rest examine thy self what thou hast got or lost that day Reflect upon the carriage of thy heart in the several duties as also what welcome thou hadst at the Throne of grace what covered dishes were brought thee by the spirit from Gods own Table that accordingly thou mayst beg pardon or return praise If thou hast been melted with Gods affection obtained any strength against thy corruptions or received any degree of grace take heed of ascribing the glory to thy self In Justinians law it was decreed That no Work-man should set up his name within the body of that building which he made out of another mans cost If thou didst pray or hear or sing or read or meditate with any life or delight seriousness or sincerity in any measure agreeable to his Word and Will all was from God there was not a stone used by thee towards this spiritual building but it was taken out of his Quarrey As he is the Author so let him have the honour 18. Be watchful over thy self at the latter end of the day with all imaginable circumspection that the last part of the day may be the best part of the day Some Souldiers prevail in the day but lose all again at night because they are slothful when their Quarters are beaten up by their Enemies Some lose at night what they got in the day like Hannibal they know how to obtain a
of God in Ordinances but also the Marrow of his day that no Lords day may satisfie me without the Lord of the day Alass what is the best time without the Rock of eternity what is the best day without the Ancient of days what are the Ordinances of God without the God of Ordinances what are Sabbaths Sermons Sacraments and Seasons of Grace without the dearest Saviour but as broken Cisterns glorious Dreams or guilded nothings I have read of a good soul who answered his Friend Speak to me while you will no words can satisfie except you mention Christ write to me what you will it will not satisfie except in your Letters I may read Christ O that in no Sermon I might be contented till I hear Christ and that in no Chapter I might be pleased till I can read Christ that as the Needle touched with the Load-stone never resteth till it turn to the North so my heart may be reâ—â— less in holy duties till it turneth to and hath fellowship with the Lord of Heaven The Lords day is an excellent resemblance of my future blessedness wherein I shall enjoy my Saviour fully and my God shall be all in all to me Lord let never this day pass without some taste of those celestial pleasures Meditation on the Works and Word of my God being a duty most in its prime and season on a Sabbath day I beg that what time I spare from publique private or secret performances I may imploy to this purpose that I may behold my God to be infinite in wisdom power and goodness in his foot-steps of creation and stand amazed at that rare Workmanship those curious contrivances of his which Angels look into with admiration that appear in his Master-peice that work of Redemption and for his word let my heart be able to say with David O how love I thy law it is my meditation all the day I wish that I may watch over my thoughts words Watchfulness and actions all the day long in special that as when the holy things belonging to the Sanctuary were to be removed they were covered all over lest any dust should soil them so I may cover my heart with such circumspection that no dust of sin may cleave to it O that I might be so wise and watchful that there may not be the least minute of the day wherein I may not either do or receive some good Lord let no Sabbath pass without some saving good to my precious soul I desire Finally Conclusion of the day that I may not lose the heat of the day in the cool of the Evening I mean that what good If gain from my God through his Ordinances in the day may not be lost by my negligence at night but that as a wise Commander I may then double my Guard and expect with much importunity some evening dews of comfort and grace O that I might so keep the Sabbath of my God chuse the things that please him and take hold of his Covenant that I might so turn away my foot from the Sabbath from doing my pleasure on his holy day Is 56.4 5. and 58.13 and call the Sabbath my delight the holy of the Lord that I may have with the Eunuch within the House of my God a name better then of Sons and Daughters even an everlasting name that shall not be cut off Amen A Good Wish to the Lords day HAil thou that art highly favoured of God Luk. 1.28 thou map of Heaven thou golden spot of the week thou Market-day of souls thou Day-break of eternal brightness thou Queen of days the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among days I may say to thee what the Angel said to Daniel Dan. 9.23 O day greatly beloved Psa 45. Thou art fairer then all the Children of time grace is poured into thy lips God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of gladness above thy fellows Of the Jewish Sabbaths and other Festivals in comparison of thee it may be spoken They perish but thou remainest and they all wax old as a Garment Heb. 1.11 12. And as a vesture hast thou folded them up and they are changed but thou shalt maugre the malice of men and Devils continue the same and thy years shall not fail As the Temple succeeded and exceeded the Tabernacle this was fleeting that was fixed so dost thou all former Sabbaths they were but morning stars to usher in thee the Sun and then to disappear Other Festivals in all their Royalty are not arrayed like unto thee All the graces triumph in thee all the Ordinances conspire to enrich thee the Father ruleth thee the Son rose upon thee the Spirit hath overshadowed thee Thus is it done to the day which the King of Heaven delighteth to honour Thou hast not onely a common blessing with other days by the law of nature but a special blessing above all other days from the love of thy Maker Let thousands mark thee for their new birth-day Exod. 12.42 be thou a day as it was said of that night to the Jews much to be Remembred much to be observed to the Lord for bringing many out of worse then Egyptian bondage Esther 8.16 be thou to them a day of light and gladness of joy and honour and a good day On thee light was created the Holy Ghost descended life hath been restored Satan subdued sin mortified souls sanctified the Grave Death and Hell conquered O how do men and women flutter up and down on the Week-days as the Dove on the waters and can find no rest for their souls till they come to thee their Ark till thou put forth thy hand and take them in O how do they sit under thy shadow with great delight and find thy fruit sweet to their taste O the mountings of mind the ravishing happiness of heart the solace of soul which on thee they enjoy in the blessed Saviour They are sorry when the days shorten for thy sake they wish for thee before thou comest they welcome thee when thou art come and they enjoy so much of heaven in thee that thence they love and look and long the more for their eternal Sabbath Go forth O thou fairest among Women and be thou fruitful in bringing forth Children to thy Maker and Husband Gen. 24.60 Be thou the Mother of thousands and of millions and let thy seed possess the Gate of them that hate them Do thou like Rachel and Leah build up the House of Israel do thou worthily in Ephratah and be thou famous in Bethlehem Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O thou mighty and gracious day and in thy Majesty ride prosperously because of meekness righteousness and truth let thy right hand teach the terrible things let thine arrows be sharp in the hearts spiritual enemies whereby the people may fall under thee Psa 132. The Lord hath chosen thee he hath desired thee for his habitation
Thou art his rest for ever in thee he will dwell for he hath desired it Let him abundantly bless thy provision and satisfie thy poor with bread let him cloath thy Priests with salvation and let thy Saints shout aloud for joy lot thine Enemies be cloathed with shame but upon thy head let the Crown flourish let Nations bow down to thee let Kingdomes fall down before thee Let all the Kingdomes of the earth become the Kindomes of thy Lord and of thy Christ be thou honoured as long as the Son and moon shall endure even throughout all Generations Thou art like Joseph a fruitful bough even a fruitful bough by a Wall whose Branches run over the Wall The Archers have sorely greived thee and shot at thee endeavouring to weaken thy morality and hated thee but thy bow abode in strength by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob from thence is the Shepherd the stone of Israel Even by the Lord of Sabbaths who shall help thee and by the Almighty who shall bless thee with blessings of Heaven above blessings of the deep that lieth under blessings of the breasts and of the womb the blessings of this day have prevailed above the blessings of all other day let them be continued and increased on the heads of this holy and honourable day and on the head of that day which is separate from it brethren Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after thy hurt let them be turned back and put to confusion that desire thy ruine let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee let them that love thy sanctification say continually Let the Lord be magnified who delighteth in the prosperity of his Saints and therefore hath set apart his Sabbath for their soul good Thou like Jacob hast got away the blessing from the other days yea thy God hath blessed thee and thou shalt be blessed Blessed are they that bless thee and cursed are they that curse thee In a word The Lord be gracious to thee and delight in thee and cause the light of his countenance to shine upon thee let all thine Ordinances be cloathed with power and be effectual for the conversion and salvation of millions of souls Let thy name be great from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same Finally farewel sweet day thou cream of time thou Epitome of eternity thou heaven in a glass thou first fruits of a blessed and everlasting harvest did I say farewel A welfare I wish to thee but O let me never lose thee or take my leave of thee till I come to enjoy thee in an higher form to see the Sun of righteousness who early on thy morning rose and made a day indeed while the natural Sun was behind face to face and to know thy Maker and Master as I am known of him when I shall be a pillar in the Temple of my God and shall go out no more but serve him day and night to whom for the inestimable dignity and priviledge of his own day be Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen Amen CHAP. XXIII How a Christian may exercise himself to Godliness in natural actions And first in eating and drinking AS thy duty is to make religion thy business in religious Secondly so also in natural actions A good Scrivener is not onely careful how he makes his first and great letters his flourishes but also the smallest letters nay his very stops and comma's A Scribe instructed for the Kingdom of heaven is heedfull not only that the weightest actions of Gods immediate worship but also that the meaner passages of his life be conformable to Gods law A wise builder will make his Kitchin as well as his Parlor according to rule A holy person turns his natural actions into spiritual and whilst he is serving his body he is serving his God It is said of a Scotch Divine That he did eat Non semper ore non semper meditor sed vestio dormio edo bi bo haee omnia si in fide fiunt tanquam recte facta divino judicio approbantur Luth. in Gen. 33. drink and sleep eternal life Luther tels us that though he did not always pray and meditate but did sometimes eat and sometimes drink and sometimes sleep yet all should further his account the latter as truly though not so abundantly as the former And indeed it is our priviledge that natural actions may be adopted into the family of religion and we may worship God as really at our tables as in his temple Saints must not like brute beasts content themselves with a natural use of the creatures but use them as chariots to mount them nearer and cords to bind them closer to God Piety or Holiness to the Lord must be written upon their pots Zac. 14.20 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. â—31 Philo observeth that the ancient Jews made their feasts after sacrifice in the temple that the place might mind them of their duty to be pious at them It is a memorable expression Exod. 18.12 And Aaron came Sancti manducant et bibunt in conspectu Dei Origen in loc and all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses father in law before God In which words we have the greatness of their courtesie and the graciousness of their carriage For their courtesie though Jethro were a stranger and no Israelite yet the elders honored him with their company And Aaron and all the elders came to eat bread with Moses father in law But mark the graciousness of their carriage they came to eat bread with him before God that is In gloriam et honorem Dei to the honor and glory of God saith Calvin They received their sustenance as in Gods sight and caused their provision to tend to Gods praise God takes it ill when we sit down to table and leave him out Zach. 7.6 When ye did eat and when ye did drink did ye not eat for your selves and drink for your selves He sends us in all our food we live at his cost and therefore our eating may well be to his credit who is the Master of the feast The Jews according to some had officers at every feast whom they called Praefecti morum their work was the inspection of the guests that none should disorder themselves I must tell thee Gods eye is upon thee every meal he takes notice whether thy behaviour is as becometh a Saint And truly friend It behoves thee to use religion as a bridle in thy mouth to hold thee in when thou art eating and drinking Thy throat is a slippery place and sin may easily slip down It s no hard matter to sin whilst the thing thou art about is not sinfull How many feed without fear and thereby fatten themselves to the slaughter Jude ver 12. We read of some whose tables are snares in which they have been
caught by Satan Psal 69.22 Job feared his Sons had sinned in their eating and drinking Job 1.5 There are more guests every meal then thou invitest to thy table The devil lyeth in ambush behind the lawfull enjoyment and will certainly surprise thee before thou art aware if thou art not watchfull The fatal wound he gave Adam at first was in his throat By getting him to eat he brought him and us all to die If Adam strengthned with his perfect original purity was yet caught with this hook sure I am it concerns thee to beware of the bait Have a care lest the quinsie in thy throat kill thee Satan is a subtile angler thou art a poor filly fish be carefull lest he take thee by the teeth and send thee to the fire God hath given thee a rule as for his table when thou art eating of that body which is meat indeed and drinking of that blood which is drink indeed so for thy table when thou art feeding on ordinary creatures He sends in thy provision and he gives thee direction according to which and no other thou mayst use it A tenant who holds lands of his Lord may not use them otherwise then according to the conditions on which his Lord let them to him If he do the premises are forfeited Now the great God who is Lord of the whole earth giveth his creatures to thee conditionally that thou make use of them according to his will revealed in his word if thou usest them otherwise thou makest a forfeiture and mayest expect every moment that he should take possession For thy direction I shall here set down the conditions upon which God giveth thee thy food That thou use it sacredly soberly and seasonably First Thy duty is to eat and drink sacredly Piety must be mingled with all thy provision or else t will be poison Grace must spice every cup and be sauce to every dish or nothing will rellish well Water taken from the fountain quickly corrupts and becomes unsavoury but in the fountain its sweet indeed Godliness will cause thee to enjoy the creatures in God the fountain of them and thereby they will be pleasant to thee The daily bread which the Israelites did eat was made of the same corn with the shew bread which was always before the Lord to teach us B. Babington in loc that we should be holy as in Gods sight when we are eating our ordinary bread Exod. 25.30 Therefore Saints are said to eat to the Lord Rom. 14.6 As they eat by him so they eat to him Thy piety at meales consisteth in begging a blessing before thou eatest in holy expressions and affections when thou art eating and in thanksgiving after thou hast eaten 1. In begging a blessing upon thy food The creatures on thy Table are Gods creatures and I must tell thee that thou art more bold then welcome if thou makest use of his goods without asking his leave He expecteth though not to be satisfied for his mercies yet to be acknowledged and sanctified in his mercies Every creature of God is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer 1 Tim. 4.5 By the word All the creatures were polluted to us by the first Adam but they are purified to us by the second Adam Psa 8. The word of promise to Christ the heir of all things is our warrant and speaks our permission And prayer The word gives us leave to use them and prayer brings down a blessing upon them The word sheweth our right to them through Christ and prayer acknowledgeth Gods right Gen. 9.3 to them and us Gods blessing onely is the staff of bread Exod. 23.25 Man liveth not by bread alone but by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God Mat. 4.4 Bread doth not nourish us by its own power but by Gods Word of promise He can easily withhold his blessing and then bread will strengthen no more then chips of bords And when I have broken the staff of your bread ten women shall bake your bread in one Oven and they shall deliver your bread again by weight and ye shall eat and not be satisfied Lev. 26.26 Even Heathen Princes begun their solemn Feasts with Sacrifices The Israelites would not eat before Samuel came because he used to bless the Sacrifice 1 Sam. 9.13 Our blessed Saviour though he were Lord of all yet would not feed before he had looked up to Heaven and blessed the fish Mark 6.41 Paul though amongst many Infidels yet before meat would desire a blessing in presence of them all Acts 27.35 He is worse then an Ox or Ass who will not acknowledge his owner Isa 1.5 Reader God can give thee soure sauce to thy sweet meat if thou dost banish him thy Table he can make thy meat lye so hard and heavy at thy stomach either by sickness Job 33.20 or sorrow Psa 107.17 that thou shalt never digest it whilst thou livest When thou art at thy merriest meeting he can send such a mournful terrible message as to Belshazer carousing in his cups that shall make thine eares to tingle and every joynt thou hast to tremble He can make thy feast to end either as Adonijahs in a fright or as Absoloms sheep-shearing in a funeral When thine heart is merry with Wine he can summon thee as Ammon into the other World Thy wisest way therefore is to beseech his company whomsoever thou wantest The fruits of trees under the law were the three first years unclean the forth year offered to God and after that free for the owners All thy comforts are by reason of sin unclean and cursed to thee if thou wouldst have them clean and blessed they must be sanctified by the Word of God and prayer The Elephant is said to turn up towards Heaven the first Sprig that he feedeth on O Friend wilt thou be worse then a beast For shame be not so Swinish as to feed on the Acorns and never look up to the tree that bears them 2. In holy expressions and affections when thou art eating Whilst thy body is filling thy soul must not be forgotten Though it be not unlawful at meales to talk of other matters yet its pitty Saints should ever meet to eat earthly bread and not have some discourse of their eternal Heavenly banquet How often did our Saviour at such a meeting raise the hearts of his company to better meat Luk. 5.31 As their outward man was feeding he feasted their inward man When the Publican was at much cost to make him a great feast he entertains him and the rest too with better chear The whole neeed not a Physitian but the sick I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance When one of the chief of the Pharisees invited him to his Table observe how he teacheth the Guests humility and the Master of the Feast charity Luk. 14.7 8 12 13. His Lips dropt Honey to sweeten and make all their Dishes savoury One of the
eyes shall behold strange women and thine heart shall utter perverse things Pro. 23.20 Excess turnes men into swine and then they are fit for legions of divels Intemperance calls off the guard thy watchfulness and then the enemies may enter thick and threefold They that are not sober cannot be vigilant 1 Pet. 5.8 How unfit is a man in his intemperance for any duty Ambrose observes Tabulas legis quas accepit abstinentia conteri fercit ebriteas Amh. cap 6 de Ebri Aug. Confess lib 10. As Moses received the tables fasting so he broke them when the people had been feasting judging them at that time very unfit to hear the law It may be thou art not a drunkard but yet usest to exceed in eating Austin avoided the sin of drunkenness sed crapula non nunquam surrepit servo tuo he sometimes transgrest in eating but Lord saith he thou hast taught me to use my meat as my medicine Let thy rational faculty command thy sensitive consider how contrary to reason it is for a man like a Dolphin to have his mouth in his maw and like the Ass-fish Epicharmus cals the Ass-fish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a one as varieth from the ordinary course of nature to have his heart in his belly and how contrary to Religion it is to have the Kitchin for thy Church a Table for thine Altar and the Belly for thy God Luke 21.34 Take heed lest your hearts be overcharged with surfeting and drunkenness and so that day come upon you unawares God alloweth us sometimes a liberal use as in days of Thanksgiving and at Marriages but never a lustful abuse of his Creatures Secondly Thy duty is to be temperate as to the quality of thy diet Though here no certain quality of food can be set down God allowing something to the conditions and much more to the weakly and sickly constitutions of men yet in general this must be observed that we make not provision for the flesh Rom. 13.12 We may preserve the flesh but we must not provide for the flesh Our Enemie is strong enough already we need not put more Weapons into his hands To live after the flesh is the sign of a sinner Rom. 8.13 It s intemperance for a person in health to study and strive how he may gratifie his palate The Spirit of God cals it a sowing to the flesh Gal. 6.7 The Husbandman plots contrives and labours how he may sow his seed to his best advantage A Fleshmonger will be meditating in the morning before he riseth with what art his dinner may be so sauced and drest that if possble he may excell a beast in carnal delights he is sowing early that he may reap liberally The Christian may take his food but his food must not take him It s sinful to be given to our appeties It s not un lawful to eat dainties but it is unlawful to set the mind upon them We may receive them into our stomachs but not into our hearts When thou sittest to eat with a Ruler consider diligently what is before thee and put a Knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite be not desirous of his dainties they are deceitful meat Pro. 23.1 2 3. In which words we may take notice 1. Of a supposition If thou be a man given to appetite For a man to be given to Wine it notes his extraordinary love to and likeing of that liquor For a man to be given to Women it speaks his excessive care and endeavour to enjoy that brutish and ungodly pleasure For a man to be given to prayer Psa 109.4 it speaks prayer to be his trade his imployment the work which he chiefly minds and putsueth For a man to be given to God Rom. 12.1 it notes the soul to be wholly at Gods service to go when God bids him go to come when God bids him come so for a man to be given to his appetite it implyeth that all his projects are to please his palate he is a caterer for the flesh wholly subject to that sence altogether at the devotion of his appetite our appetites are given to us but we must not be given to our appetites as Heliogabalus who was served in at on meal with 7000. Fish and 5000. Fowles And 2. here is an imposition Be not besirous of his dainties this is a disswasion from the former irregular affection We may eat and digest dainties but we may not crave and desire dainties God made man not for fleshly dainties but for spiritual delights It is a beastly principle and practice to be at the command of provender as Apicius the Roman who wrote ten books of directions how to set forth a feast with all sorts of dainties and it s said the expences of his Kitchin amounted to two millions of Gold 3. Here is a position For they are deceitful meat The desire of dainties is a deadly desire There is murder under the meat Ordinary nay Manna extraordinary fare would not satisfie the sweet-tooth'd Israelites they lusted for quailes but God gave them their desire they had flesh and death together Some read the former verse thus Thou puttest a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite To pamper the body is the way to destroy soul and body too Dainties entice to excess He that erreth in the quality of his food will quickly exceed in the quantity They that plot night and day to please the flesh declare publiquely that they have nothing of the spirit sensual not having the spirit Jude v. 19. The flesh and the spirit are like two Buckets in a Well as the one mounts up the other falls down There is a flat opposition between sowing to the flesh and sowing to the Spirit Gal. 6.7 Nay the Apostle is express in the mention of this kind of intemperate men They serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies Rom. 15. All the Servants of Christ are Soveraigns over the flesh Ordinances are ineffectual to persons that are sensual Rain falls off as it falls on upon an Oyled post When the waters of the Sanctuary flowed the Miry places that is sensual hearts could not be healed Ezek. 47.11 Behemoth lyeth in the Fens that is saith an Expositour the Devil in fleshly men Job 40.21 Epicurus saith one whilst he favoureth his fleshly palate doth neglect the heavenly palace There is a distinction of diet to be considered in regard of bodies in regard of estates and also in regard of times all which piety and prudence must direct the Christian about But sure I am it is a duty to keep under the body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I club it down beat it black and blue and to bring it into subjection 1 Cor. 9.27 They that acquaint us with the Jewish customs tell us that their Ordinary meals were neither many in a day nor costly they were called Arucoth which signifieth such ordinary fare as travellers have