him the mighty God or the host of Heaven as the Ammonites or the Devil as the Indians or the Belly as the Glutton or Riches as the Covetous or the Cross as the Papist is unholiness There is a civil worship due to men Gen. 48.11 but sacred worship is due onely to God and he is a jealous God who will not give his glory to strangers nor his praise to images The Heathen worshipped several gods the Assyrians worshipped Belus the Tyrians Baal the Athenians Diana the Samians Juno the Lemnians Vulcan the Moabites Chemosh the Syrians Rimmon the E Kronites Baalzebub the Babylonians Bell those Infidels as one observeth well had their Deos mortuos Idols mortales men mortiferos Lusts therefore its considerable that when the Apostle speaketh of the Gentiles during the time of their unregeneracy whilst they served false gods he saith they lived without God Eph. 2.12 False gods are no Gods an Idol is nothing 1 Cor. 4.8 Thirdly The extent In heart and life Godliness is the worshipping God in the inward motions of the heart and the outward actions of the life where the spring of the affections is clear and the stream of the conversation runs clear there is true godliness the Egyptians of all fruits would make choice of the Peach to consecrate to their goddess and they gave this reason for it because the fruit thereof resembleth an heart and the leaf a tongue As they gave heart and tongue to the false god we must to the true God Heart-godliness pleaseth God best but Life godliness honours him most the conjunction of both make a compleat Christian In a godly mans heart though some sin be left yet no sin is liked in his life though sin may remain yet no sin reigns His heart is suitable to Gods Nature and his life is answerable to Gods Law and thence he is fitly denominated a Godly man In heart Hypocrisie is a practical Blasphemy I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not Gods eye taketh most notice of the jewel of spiritual devotion the eyes of men of the cabinet of outward adoration My son give me thy heart saith God Pro. 33.26 The Heart is the King in the little world Man which giveth Laws both to the inward powers and outward parts and reigneth and ruleth over them at pleasure The life of Godliness lyeth much more in the heart then in the life and the Saints character is from their inward carriage towards God they worship God in the Spirit Phil. 3.3 A great French Peer is called le bon Chrestien the good Christian because they say it is never rotten at the core God is a Spirit and he will be worshipped in spirit and in truth Joh. 4.24 In truth that is scripturally opposite to the inventions of mens heads In Spirit that is sincerely opposite to the dissimulation of mens hearts The deeper the belly of the Lute is the pleasanter the sound the deeper our worship comes from the heart the more delightful it is in Gods ears And Life godliness as it sets God on the Throne of the conscience so it walks with God in the conversation Though the spiritual as the natural life begin at the heart yet it doth not end there but proceeds to the hands the same water appeareth in the Bucket which is in the Well As when the heart is like a dunghil full of filth it sends forth a noisom and unsavoury stench in the life so when the heart is like a box of musk it perfumes and sents the tongue and eyes and ears and hands and whatsoever is near it with holiness Worship is called the name of God Ps 29. and worshipping a praising him 2 Chron. 7.3 Because as a man by his name so God by his worship is known in the world and those that worship him in their practices do before the eyes of the world give him praise Fourthly The Rule according to his revealed will Every part of Divine Worship must have a Divine Precept As the first Command teacheth us what God is to be worshipped so the second Command teacheth in what way he will be worshipped The Tabernacle and all the instruments thereof yea the very snuffers and ash-pans were to be made exactly according to the pattern in the mount Exod. 25.40 Heb. 8.5 Typifying that all the exercise of worship used by the Church whether in Doctrine or Discipline must be conformed to the written Word Gal. 1.8 Our Religion must be not onely rational but regular our worship must be both universal and canonical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this canon or rule peace be unto them The Saints service must be Word-service 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ro. 12.1 so the word is rendred by our Translators 1 Pet. 2.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sincere milk of the Word The institutions of Christ not the inventions of men are the rule of worship Our work is not to make Laws for our selves or others but to keep the Laws which the great Prophet of his Church hath taught us that coyn of worship which is currant amongst us must be stampt by God himself Traditioni humanae nomen religionis applicant ut religio appelletur cum sit sacrilegium quia quod contra authorear est sacrilega mente in ventum est Amb. in Col. 2. We are to be governed as the point in the compass not by the various winds the practices of former ages or the fashions of the present generation which are mutable and uncertain but by the constant heavens Our devotion must be regulated exactly according to the Standard of the Word It is Idolatry to worship a false god or the true God in a false manner Men indeed are no sooner pluckt out of the pit of Atheism Nihiladeo offen dit hominum mentes ut sim plicitas divinorum operum Tertul. but they presently climb the high places of superstition delighting to go from one extream to another As a gay suit of apparel so the service of God in a gaudy dress is most taking with carnal eyes I have read of a Popish Lady in Paris that when she saw a glorious procession to one of their Saints cryed out Oh how fine is our Religion beyond that of the Huguenots they have a mean and beggarly religion but ours is full of bravery and solemnity But as Heraulds say of a coat of Arms The second commandment bindes to the true worship of the true God which is only as himself commandeth and by the means rites and services which he ordaineth Ainsw Arrows against Idols cap. 1. if it be full of gays and devices it speaks a mean descent so truly that manner of worship which is mingled with mens inventions speaks its descent to be mean namely from man To the Law and to the Testimonies if they speak not according to this it is because there is no light in them Isa 8.20 Such may
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
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
28. 43. page 127 Levit. 10.3 page 112 Deut. 6.13 page 15 Deut 32.46 47. page 46 47 1 Kings 9.31 page 338 339 1 Chron. 29.1 2. page 55 Joh 5.3 page 522 15 20 page 88 Psal 5 3 page 186 27 8 page 361 36 8 page 458 65 4 page 358 73 1 page 269 93 ult page 108 103 18 page 244 118 24 page 365 Prov. 14 1 page 551 6 6 7 page 353 23 1 2 3 page 421 27 8 page 471 Cant. 3 6 page 158 7 2 page 267 Jer. 17 11 page 114 Hos 2 21 22 page 485 Zach. 14 20 21 page 105 Luk. 11 28 page 241 13 24 page 63 John 4 24 page 18 Acts 10 33 page 223 24 16 page 101 Rom. 6 17 page 242 8 26 page 118 1 Cor. 11 27 page 258 11 28 page 266 11 29 page 262 Ephes 3 12 page 126 4 8 10 11 page 363 Phil. 2 12 page 11 3 10 page 29 3 18 page 11 Col. 3 17 page 126 1 Tim. 4 5 page 404 4 7 page 7 8 Heb. 12 28 page 125 1 Pet. 3.4 7 page 562 1 Joh. 4 9 page 299 REader the Authors absence from the Press hath occasioned many mistakes Thy candor must excuse some false stops and comma's and thy pen correct some verbal errors or thou wilt hardly finde sense in some places ERRATA PAge 3. line 2. adde some respect p. 4. l. 2. for determination read detection p. 6. l. 4. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 6. l. 24. for our Chappels r. our Churches p. 13. l. 25. for their backs r. the back p. 16. l. 8. for a very r. an aery p. 75. l. 4. for earthly mansion r. earthly mammon p. 76. l. 14. for their mouth r. their paws p. 83. l. 2. for conservations r. consecrations l. 6. for over beared r. overtired p. 95. l. 13. adde good p. 103. l. 23. for all their words r. all their works p. 132. l. 10. for thereupon r. there upon p. 149. l. 26. for and which r. by which p. 151. l. 6. della three p. 152. l. 30. for Devils r. dangers p 156. l. 6. for the faith r. thy faith p. 168. l. 22. for to buy or relieve r. to buy relief p. 175. l. 16. for the Lord r. thee Lord p. 184. l. 23. for wear with prayer r. rear with praise p. 249. l. ult adde never p. 284. l. 23. for wound r. wounds p. 287. l. 20. for which r. and p. 324. l. 30. add in p. 366 l. 30. some r. such p. 388. add evening p. 480. l. 1. for delightfulnes r. deceitfulness l. 18. for thirst r. thrift p. 516. l. 22. add a p. 522. l. 3. for the cursed r. the curse p. 524. l. 6. della to p. 533. l. 16. for me r. men p. 535. line ult for but the r. by the p. 545. l. 1. add thy p. 559. l. 28. for was in r. was not in 1 TIM 4.7 But refuse prophane and old wives fables and exercise thy self unto godliness Exercise thy self unto Godliness CHAP. I. The Preface and Coherence of the Text. THe unclean spring of ungodliness divideth it self like the third African gulf into two main cursed channels Atheism and Superstition In one of which Plin. nat hist lib. 5. cap. 4. all the children of men swim by nature and very many as the filly fish down the streams of Jordan till they descend into the lake of Sodom the dead sea of hell and perish Which of these two passages are most fatal and perillous seems worth our inquiry The waters in the former stream are deepest Atheism denieth the very being of God But to prevent sinking in these waters Nature her self hath provided some skin-deep bladders for though there be many Atheists in practice yet there be no Atheists in principles The being of a Deity was so fairly written on the tables of mans heart at first that though it be exceedingly blotted and blurred by the fall yet it is still legible Those Heathen as Caligula and others who endeavoured to extinguish that candle of the Lord which shewed them a first cause or being of beings could never accomplish it It is a part of that Law which is written in all mens hearts Rom. 2.15 The * Cicer. de rat deorum Orator could say That no Nation was so barbarous as to deny the being of a God †â—actant Inst Epicuâ— uâ—â—psum quem nibil pudendum pudet tamen Deum negâ—e pudet Mornaeâ—s de verit Christ relig c 1. Tullus Hostilius third King of the Romans who derided his Predecessor Numas sacrifices saying That Religion did but effeminate mens mind did himself as Lactantius in Instit observes worship the god Fear Idolatry is a clear proof that all men beleive a Deity otherwise they would never worship not onely the Sun as the Masagetes but dead men as the Grecians whom their Governours would appoint as the Romans Cats Dogs and Horses as the Aegyptians Idem ibid. and any thing rather then nothing Though there be saith a learned Author Nations without Kings without Laws without cloaths yet there are none without a God When man fell this truth stood The waters in the latter stream are not so deep but they seem more dangerous for Nature is a friend to Superstition though an enemy to Atheism It would give God some worship but it must be in its own way Atheism denieth the being of a Deity Superstition undermineth the authority of God The Atheist would have no God the Superstitious would be his own God his Will not Gods Word is the rule of his Worship In this gulph hath many a soul been swallowed up The Atheist turneth to the left hand the Superstitious to the right hand but he must turn to neither that will keep his feet from evil Prov. 4. ult The Text presenteth us with a caution against the poison of * Fabulosam doctrinam prophanam vocat eam quae in ritihus disciplina vitae aliquid excogitat praeter sacrae scripturae mentem Huic opponit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hoc est veram rationem colendi deum Aret. in loc â—ngiendum est in disciplina morali 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fabulosum hoe est quod speciem habet antiquitatis sed cum vero Dâ—i cultu non congruit Idem ibid. Superstition and propoundeth to us the golden Medium between the two extreams Avoid or refuse old wives fables and exercise thy self unto godliness The scope of the Apostle in this Epistle is to furnish Timothy with necessary directions for and to fortifie him against the opposition he should meet with in the work of the Ministry In this Chapter Paul doth prophetically forewarn Timothy of and practically forearm him a-against the Apostacy of the latter times In it first the Malady is described and 2. The Remedy is prescribed First The Apostacy is described 1. By the sure determination of it the Spirit speaketh expresly had it been doubtful it need not have been
the Thames in which all sorts of commodities are brought up for the releif of the Citizens of Zion Some say of Cornucopia that it hath all things necessary for food in it Prayer hath in it all things pertaining to this life and a better It is said of the Pope He can never want money while he can hold a pen His writing of Pardons and Indulgencies filleth his coffers It is more true of the Christian he need never want if he will but pray Prayer is a key to Gods own coffers wherein there are infinite and all sorts of comforts I have no friends said a good woman but I have a prayer and so long as I have a praying heart God will find a pitying heart and a helping hand It is but ask and receive seek and find knock and it shall be opened Matth. 7.7 8. The child presenteth his petition to his Father and at the foot of it there is Fiat quickly written Prayer is like the Spaniards Plate fleet which returns home worth thousands and millions A Courtier will sometimes get more by a petition to his Prince in a morning then some Tradesmen do all their lives A regenerate person being in favour at Court gaineth more by a morning 〈◊〉 then a wicked man though he works hard gets while he liveth I never said to the seed of Jacob seek ye me in vain Some asked but the cure of their bodies when God healed their bodies and souls too he hath forced many an unexpected favour upon an upright fervent prayer Prayer is not onely a Storehouse of mercies but a Fort-royal to defend the soul against miseries as some write of the herb Panaces it is good for all diseases When Satan entred the field against Paul the Apostle held up this shield of prayer to defend himself against his fiery darts For this I besought the Lord thrice 2 Cor. 12.7 Prayer hath stormed and surprised more Cities conquered and routed more Armies then old mens heads or young mens hands then all the policy and power on earth Prayer is like the ring which Queen Elizabeth gave to the Earl of Essex bidding him if he were in any distress send that ring to her and she would help him God commandeth his people if they be in any perplexity to send this ring to him Call upon me in the day of trouble I will hear thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psa 50.15 O what a priviledge dost thou enjoy Reader in having freedom of access to the Throne of Grace The Persian Kings took state upon them and enacted that none should come uncalled upon pain of death But the gates of Heaven as the Aediles at Rome are always open Thou hast liberty night and day of presenting thy petitions in the name of â—hrist to the King of the whole earth and needst not fear so thy prayers be according to Scripture directions so much as a chiding for thy presumption The poets say that Litae Prayers are Jupiters Daughters and always about the Throne If it be esteemed such a favour to have an earthly Princes ear what a favour art thou invested with that hast the ear of the blessed and onely Potentate Elisha offered his courteous Host a great kindness when he asked her wilt thou be spoken for to the King 2 Kings 4.13 Some purchase that liberty as the chief Captain his Roman freedom with a great sum but thou mayst speak to the King of Kings thy self and be welcome and needst not be at the charge of having either Saints or Angels thy mediatours or any of those Heavenly Courtiers to bring thee into the Kings presence The Son of God himself will do it for thee gratis In him we have boldness Ephes 3.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 liberty of speech freedom to speak all thy mind to lay open thy very inwards to God If thou art in doubts about thy spiritual estate and about thy title to the inheritance of the Saints in light thou mayst by prayer go to him who is marvellous in counsel and have his advice for nothing If any disease appear in thy soul which thou fearest may endanger its life at least hinder its peace and health thou mayst by prayer knock up the true Physician at mid-night and prevail with him to hasten to thy help and cure If thou art surrounded with many and bloody Enemies that thou knowest not what to do nor where to go thou mayst by prayer send post to Heaven and thou needst not fear but Christ will meet the Messenger half was and come in timely to thy rescue If thou art bound wiâ—h the bond of iniquity and like Peter watched narrowly night and day nay though thou art encompassed round with the black guard of Hell lest thou shouldst make an escape yet prayer without ceasing would knock off thy chains break open the Prison doors and in spight of all the Legions of Devils that kept thee set thee at liberty If thou art like the Psalmist over-whelmed with sorrow this sighing into Gods eares by prayer will ease thy heart When the Glass of thy soul is so full of those strong spirits fear and grief that it threatneth to burst thou mayst give it vent by prayer to God and there will be no danger Whilst thou art in this valley of teares thou art encompast with Enemies hast many and urgent necessities doubts and dangers but prayer like Moses will go before thee ingage him on thy side that will overcome them all and guide thee all the way through the Wilderness of this World to the very borders of Canaan and never leave thee till thou comest to enter into the place of praiâ—e But Reader the more richly this Vessel of prayer is laden the more careful and skilful must the Pilot be that steers it lest it suffer Ship-wrack Queens that have great heirs in their wombs must be tenderly used lest they miscarry If prayer be so bountiful a friend as thou hast heard thou oughtest to be the more fearful of abusing it Princes who allow firourites their eares yet expect that they should know their distance and ask in such a maâ—â— as they appoint and such things for the matter as will be consistent with their honour to give or else instead of a grant they may meet with a repulse and a sharp reproof Haman though he were so intimate with the King that he had his Hand and Seal at pleasure found by woful experience what it was to abuse the Kings favour by desiring the satisfaction of his own lust in that which was exceedingly to the Kings loss The Incense under the Ceremonial Law was a tipe of prayer Let my prayer come before thee like Incense but if it had not been made exactly both for matter and manner according to Gods own prescription who himself gave special direction about it Exod. 30.34.35 36. as sweet as the Spices were it had been loathsom and unsavoury to him the burning of Incense had been but as the
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
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
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