it at first If it be why dost leave it If thou now leave off all thy Labour and all the pains that ever thou hast taken will be utterly lost in reference to Salvation If the Righteous forsake his ways all his Righteousness shall not be remembred to him in his sin he shall dye Ezek. 18.24 It may be thou hast gone many a Mile to hear Sermons spent many an Hour in Prayer and Humiliation many a Day in Fasting and Humbling thy Soul and wilt thou lose all thy Labour at the last Nay wilt thou now dishonour that God which time was thou seemedst to Honour And wilt thou strengthen the hand of Wicked Men in their wickedness And weaken the hands of poor doubting Dhristians And sadden the Hearts of the godly Wilt thou bring the Blood of Souls upon thy own head If not hold on in a course of Holy Duty Whatever opposition thou meet with in the way Heaven will make amends for all the sweat and blood thou losest and Hell will be sower sauce to thy sweet Meat What madness is it to leave thy work a little before thou shouldest receive thy Wages 4. Direct Let all the Duties thou performest either to God or Man proceed from a right Principle from a Heart sanctified by Grace and purified by Faith and seasoned with Love Make the Tree good and his Fruit will be good but a Corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit. An evil Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit nor a good Tree evil Fruit. 'T is impossible that a Corrupt Fountain should send forth sweet Water or a filthy Vessel sweet Liquor Let the Love of God be the strongest Motive to thy Obedience and let this engage thy heart to every Duty Though thou shouldest do the duty required if thou do it not in obedience to that Command God will not own it Whatever thou dost do all to his Glory and in Obedience to his Command or thou wilt lose thy Reward let thy heart say in sincerity Propter te propter te Domine it is for thy sake and in Obedience to thy Command that I do it and for no sinister respect whatsoever Hypocrites may do the thing which God Commands but from another ground and for another end they savour of the Cask and smell of self-Interest they reach no higher than themselves as water ascends no higher than the Fountain Head Jehu did what God Commanded in destroying Idolatry and rooting out Ahab's Posterity but all this while he hath a Kingdom in his Eye But the Love of God Oyls the Chariot-Wheels of a Christians endeavours it carryeth him above beyond and out of himself God tells him what he would have done a Christian never examines the Command by any Carnal Interest whether he may reap gain or loss Honour or Disgrace by it come what come will he resolves to do it if God command it whatever stands in his way though he meet Death it self in the Face he will go on God calls him and with Samuel he cryeth out Speak Lord for thy Servant heareth he knows he that sets him on work can bear him out Now all Service that ariseth not from this ground is slavish and mercinary and merits nothing at Gods hands but blows he that doth the thing Commanded and knoweth not of the Command doth not Obey God in the work and if he know that it is Commanded and doth it yet not because it was Commanded but upon other account God will not Reward this as Obedience The Pharisees knew that Prayer Fasting and Alms-deeds were Commanded duties yea they performed those duties but not because God Commanded them but that they might be applauded by Men therefore Christ sends them to men for a Reward Mat. 6.1,2,3 c. The performance of a duty will do us little good if we cannot say with the Apostle The Love of Christ constraineth us Many are constant attenders upon the Ordinances not out of Love to God or Obedience to his Will or any delight they have in the duty but for fear of punishment or hope of reward either from God or Man or for popular Applause or one thing or other of that Nature and these Men perhaps in the mean time have their handS upon the works and their Hearts busied in the Devils Service and they look upon Gods Service as a Slavery and glad when they are Released But a sincere Christian is like the Servant mentioned Exod. 21.15 that saith I Love my Master I will not go Free though there were neither Reward in Heaven for my Obedience nor punishment in Hell for my disobedience I will do it because 't is my Masters will and I delight in the work it self this Love of God in the Soul is as weights to the Clock or as Oyl to the Jack it sets it on work for God love makes labour light they do it for Conscience sake Rom. 13.5 when others do it for gains sake Saul obeys for a Kingdom and Jehu for a Crown and when this was obtained their Obedience was over they are like to Dogs they follow their Master till they meet with Carrion examine now thy heart what is the ground of thy obedience if it be lower than thy love to God and desire to obey him 't is not right 5. Direction Let all thy duties whether to God or Man be performed in the manner which God requires now Christ himself tells thee God is a Spirit and he that worships him must worship him in Spirit John 4.24 and the Apostle tells us that bodily exercise profiteth little but godliness is profitable unto all things 1 Tim. 4.8 'T is not the Motions of the Body nor the moveing of the Lips 't is not Bowings Couchings Cringings that he is affected with if the Heart and Affections go not along this is one main difference between a sincere Christian and an Hypocrite both may do the same Duty both may joyn in the same Prayer and both may hear the same Sermon yet one may be accepted and the other not nay for the Bulk and Materiallity of the Duty the Hypocrite may exceed the other the Pharisees they fasted they gave almes they made long Prayer they tythed Mint and Anice and yet all this while lay under the Curse and were Enemies to God and persecutors of Christ their heart was absent from their duty and it was not right to God they lost all their labour in Heavens way because they had little trading with and little knowledg of God or their own hearts Hypocrites feed upon the husks of duty nnd never meet with Christ in the duty when a sincere heart hath trading with God and sweet communion with Christ himself if ever therefore thou wouldst perform pleasing Sacrifice to God be sure to wind up thy heart and affections unto God and never content thy self with any duty till thou meet with Christ in the duty duties are appointed to be done not for their own sakes but to help the Soul to mount
Many especially of the Younger sort they come to see and to be seen to shew their New Cloaths or observe the Fashion that other wear and being Examined this is most they can remember Many come that they may be accounted forward Prosessors and are tickled with popular Applause but when 't is more in Credit to Persecute than profess these perhaps follow that Profession Some come with the Butterflie to paint her Wings and these are all for gaudy Notions and store their Heads and not their Hearts with what they Learn some weary of their own Houses come to drive away the time perhaps to get a nap of sleep some come for fear of the Law lest that take hold upon them and some to stop the mouth of Conscience which otherwise will give them no rest some come to speak with a Friend which otherwise they knew not how to meet with so conveniently and as they came by chance 't is a great Chance if they receive any good by their coming Some come to enquire out some good bargain others to appoint some merry Meeting or some drunken match or Game at Cards or Dice or Bowls and perhaps some come on purpose to entrap the Minister in his Words or wrest them to a wrong Sentence these Mens memories are much like to Sives they keep the refuse all the best runs through Christ himself had such Hearers if these or like to these be thy ends thy heart is rotten thy Duties stink in God's Nostrils and they will never do thee good thou mayst expect a Curse from God and not a Blessing But a true Christian aims at higher ends viz. that he may know his Masters will and knowing may obey it and may glorifie him by obeying and by this means he may get nearer unto Christ and have and maintain more Communion with him that he may know more of the Excellency that is in Christ that he may be more enamoured on him that he may see more of his own heart and the deceitfulness of it and more of the vileness of sin to hate it more that we may have clearer Evidences of God's Love to his Soul and of his Interest in Christ these and such like are a Believers ends in hearing the Word If now thy ends be lower 't is a bad sign of an Hypocritical or Prophane heart 3. Direct If thou wouldst profit by the Word preach'd come unto it with thy heart rightly qualified and rightly disposed with thy affections rightly ordered One reason amongst others why so many come to and return from the Word empty is because the heart is not fitted for the Duty get thy heart in Love with God this is the way to thrive by his Word how greedily do we read a Letter from a Friend especially if we expect some promise in it of some great Courtesie the Word is Gods Epistle sent from Heaven stuff'd thick with gracious promises if we entertain hard thoughts of God we seldom profit by his word get a love also to his Word as David O how love I thy law it is my Meditation continually we remember that which we love What is the reason that many can remember an idle story or love song or stage play that cannot remember one passage or sentance in a whole Sermon why because they love it better exercise love also to the Minister or thou wilt hardly profit by his preaching prejudice is a great hindrance to the Soul See this in Ahab he had a prejudice against Micaiah and hated him and therefore his wholesom counsel was rejected 1 Kings 22.8 c. The Pharisees also having a prejudice against Christ carp't and cavilled with him but few or none believed in him which of the Scribes and Pharisees have believed on him all his gratious words would not win upon them and when a People have a prejudice against their Pastour ten to one they profit little by him Come also with a believing heart the word which they heard profited them not because it was not mixt with faith in them that heard it Heb. 4.2 If the Devil can but bring us to this distrust in God and to call in question the truth of his word he hath what he would have for who will leave a certain Inheritance for an uncertain Hope and take much pains when they doubt of a recompence or leave beloved Sins or perform self denying duties upon such uncertainties they should bring also humble hearts to the duty for 't is the humble that God will teach when he looks upon the proud afar off James 4.5 1 Pet. 5.5 A proud Spirit is like Laodicea and thinks himself rich and wants nothing when he is poor and blind and miserable and naked Rev. 3.16,17 If there be any in the Congregation that set themselves against God and his Word 't is commonly the Proud and self conceited Persons it were them that set themselves against Jeremy Jer. 42.3 It were the Proud men that said he spake falsly in the Name of the Lord. He that comes with absence of his own wants is most like to have a supply he that comes with a conceit of his own righteousness is likely to go away empty he fills the hungry with good things but the rich he sends empty away Luk. 1.53 He that thinks he knows any thing knows nothing that he ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 Come therefore to the Ordinance with an Hungring Longing Thirsting Panting desire after this Bread of Life and Sincere Milk of the Word for then thou art most like to prevail for somthing to fill thy Soul A full Soul loatheth the Hony-comb but to an hungry Soul every bitter thing is sweet many Promises are made to the hungry those that hunger and thirst after righteousness are blessed Mat. 5.6 these thirsting Souls shall have Wine and Milk Christ and his Graces without Money or Moneys worth Isa 5.51 Come not with a slight apprehension of or a slight desire after it lest it be denyed thee set not light by it as those that were bidden to the Wedding Mat. 22.2 c. David had high prizing thoughts of it it was sweeter to him than honey and the honey-comb yea better than thousands of Gold and Silver Psalm 19.10 and to Job better than his appointed food this made David meditate in it day and night and by this means he came to have more understanding than his Teachers bring also a mind free from Worldly cares and fears and desires these are the Thorns that choak the Word Mat. 13.22 Bring not the Love of any sin along with thee for this will make the Word unprofitable he that saith I will not be made clean God may say thou shalt never be made clean resolve to obey the Word in the strictest passages of it 4. Direct Wouldest thou profit by the Word Preached 'T is necessary then that thou make some preparation for the receiving of it The Heart of Man is compared to the Ground the Minister to the
the Sacrament but without Faith they cannot be laid hold upon 6. Direct Having shewed you what Preparation is necessary and also what Qualifications and how thou shouldst stand affected when thou comest to this Ordinance I shall next shew thee how to demean thy self in the very Act of Receiving For thy External behaviour or outward demeanour it should be such as is suitable to the Ordinance and to the presence of the Great God Reverent Grave Seemly and such as bespeaks Humility and self-abasing not Light and wanton and gazish but such as becomes a Guest at such a Table yet beware of such Voluntary or Superstitious Humility such as the Papists and some others use which hath no Footing in the vvord of God the surest way is to take the Scripture for our Guide But for thy Inward Carriage which is most to be regarded be sure thy Heart be not wanting for God cannot endure Heartless Service if this Instrument be not in Tune the Musitioner is bad here if any where God calls Son give me thy Heart and nothing else will serve turn but the Heart and the Heart broken and bleeding Come with the Heart humbled God cannot endure a proud Person especially in an Ordinance that hold forth that which may humble thee here is Christ Crucified and his Blood shed for thy sin thou wast the Traytor that betrayed him the Judge that Condemned him and the Executioner that put him Death and will not this work upon thee Is it nothing to have Blood lying upon thee the Blood of the Innocent the Blood of a Friend the Blood of a King yea the Blood of the Son of God What ingenious Spirit but would melt at such a Consideration Every Sacramental Action of the Minister may further thy Meditation and help thee up to Heaven in thy Contemplation When thou beholdest the Minister who stands in the place of God setting apart and Consecrating the Bread and Wine by the Word and Prayer will not this bring to thy Mind the Love of God to thy Soul Who from Eternity set apart his only Son Jesus Christ to be thy Mediator and Advocate thy Surety and thy Saviour well may it be said God so Loved the World c. May not the thoughts of this furnish thee with Heart-raising Heart-warming Meditations And when thou seest thee Bread broken and the Wine poured out doth not this Lively represent the bitter Death and bloody Passion of the Son of God Jesus Christ thy sweet Saviour and Redeemer his Body was broken his precious blood was shed for the Remission of thy sins which otherwise could not have been forgiven Ah! what a wicked thing then is sin when nothing would satisfie Divine Justice but the death of the only begotten Son of God When the Bread and Wine thus separated thus set apart from common use are held forth to thee apprehend God himself giving Christ yea Christ offering himself with all his Treasures to be thy Husband thy Surety thy Mediator and thy Saviour Ah! what Soul-refreshing thoughts may this produce Well mayst thou say with David Lord what is Man that thou art mindful of him Or rather Lord what am I that thou regardest me and hast provided such a Feast of Fat things for me with Wine on the Lees When thousands are laid aside as good as I by Nature And when thou receivest the Elements at the Ministers hand let thy Faith lay fast hold and clasp fast about the Lord Jesus Christ and take him as given by God to be thy Husband and Resolve that the Devil and all his Instruments shall never draw off thy Affections from him but thou wilt all others being forsaken prove his faithful Spouse And when thou Eatest and Drinkest the Bread and Wine let thy Faith feed upon those Spiritual dainties hereby represented upon this Nectar and Ambrosia this Bread and this Water of Life Receive him and all the Benefits of the New Covenant by Faith and in the whole Action let thy Heart Close with God Father Son and Holy Ghost and let the whole bent of thy Soul be set upon him and by such Meditations stir up thy Heart to bless God and praise him for his Mercy and to Love him above all and to vow Obedience to him and as thou lookest upon thy sin with one Eye to hate and abominate it so look upon Christ with the other to keep thee from despair as he is offered up in the Sacrament a Sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice and beg of God humbly yet believingly that he will accept of this Sacrifice as satisfactory for thy sin and pardon what is past and give thee power against Sin for the time to come Consider also the giving and receiving of this Sacrament is a further ratification of the Covenant as I said before wherein God offers Christ and all his Benefits and promises to be thy God and the God of thy Seed And thou promisest that thou and thine will Serve the Lord. Let this strengthen thy Faith in his Promises for he will never break his word and let it strengthen thy Resolution that thou wilt never break with him then this will be to thee an Happy Ordinance 7. Direct If thou wouldst receive Benefit by the Sacrament behave thy self well after thou hast received it All thy work is not done nay most is to be done when thou hast turned thy back upon the Congregation 't is not the making a Vow but the making it good the fulfilling of it that is the most of the work 't is not the preparing for the Duty or carrying thy self well in the Act of Receiving though this be necessary that is sufficient God expects some after-work A Servant that is refresht with wholsom meat and drink ought not to be Idle nor to spend his time vainly there is a greater tye lyes upon him to diligence and pains taking So he that comes from such a Feast and is refreshed with such Dainties should be more Active Lively Quick and Disposed to Spiritual Exercises plung not thy self too suddenly into worldly business distract not thy thoughts about things here below for as in sweats 't is dangerous to cool over-suddenly So 't is here when the Affections are raised to Heaven let them not suddenly grovel upon the ground when they are heated let not the cold wind of the World suddenly benumb them And when thou dost set about Worldly business remember there is a business of greater concernment lyes upon thy Hands and therefore do all in Subordination to God Redeem some time for Divine Meditation to consider what thou hast been about and with whom thou hast had to deal Thou hast been renewing that Covenant between God and thy Soul which was made in Baptism and therefore look to it that thou make it good It is better not to Vow than to Vow and not perform Consider whether God makes good his Promise Sealed by this Sacrament if not doubtless the fault is thine own God
practice it as they ought we might bring you examples from the beginning of the World to this day of the godly in all Ages that have thus worshipped thus served God though many in all Ages the more is the pity have given that to the Divel which is due to God alone many have sacrificed to Devils and worshiped and served the Creature more than the Creator blessed for ever Rom. 1.25 To prove that 't is so now I need not instance in the Indians that know no better nor in the Papists that worship stocks and stones and the works of their own hands which iS forbidden Exod. 20.5.6 Isa 2.8 And swear by God and our Lady as the Israelites did by God and Malchon and some other Mediators with Christ but how many may we find serve the Devil the World and the Flesh though they covenanted to fight against them in their Baptism if the Devil bid them sweaty they will swear if he bid them be drunk they will be drunk or if he bid them lye or steal or decieve they will obey let God say what he will to the contrary Yea though he set them upon the hardest difficultest dangerous work they will do it though they venture life and limb in his service but let them at the end brag of their wages that so love the work but as with Paul Acts 24.14 In the way which men call Heresie so worship the God of your Fathers 2. Motive Thou shouldest serve God for he is the best Masters yea there is no other that deserves thy best service but him The tongue of Men nor Angels cannot express the excellency that is in God our Cockle shells cannot comprehend this Ocean what qualifications canst thou desire in a Master that are not to be found in God as the abstract for all the excellency that is to be found among the Creatures is but as a drop of this Ocean a ray of this Sun and a spark of this fire Wouldst thou have one that is able to defend thee and see that thou art not wronged Here is Omnipotency it self if he set thee on work he can bear thee out The Devil may shake his chain and wicked Men may gnash their teeth at thee hurt thee they cannot all the powers of darkness can do thee no wrong The Devil could not touch one of Jobs cattel without Commission sealed in Heaven and if thou faithfully serve him he will never grant any Commission but what shall be for thy good Rom. 8.28 He is El Shaddai a God able to destroy or remove all rubs out of his way But no other Master can defend thee against him Or wouldst thou have a merciful loving or tender hearted Master the World cannot afford thee such another never was there indulgent Father or tender hearted Mother more careful over their only child than God is over all his servants Isa 49.15 Can a Woman forget her sucking child that she shall not have compassion on the Son of her Womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee saith the Lord. Behold I have engraven thee upon the palms of my hand thy walls are continually before me Never was Goldsmith more careful of his gold that it shall not be in the Furnace longer than need is than God is of his People they shall be no longer in the Furnace of affliction then necessity requires till their dross is consumed and they refined Or wouldst thou serve a wise Master One able to direct thee and instruct thee in thy work One able to counsel thee what to do and what to forbear Here is one that is Wisdom it self yea the Fountain of Wisdom The foolishness of God saith the Apostle is wiser than the wisdom of Man 1 Cor. 1.25 That is that which in the eyes of the World is foolishness he can over wit and over work all his Enemies and thou canst not be in such a strait but he can help thee nor in so much danger but he can deliver thee as he did Israel at the Red Sea Daniel in the Lions Den the three Children out of the fiery Furnace Jonah out of the Whales belly and Peter out of Prison Or wouldst thou serve a Master that is faithful and just that will make good his word and fulfil his promise God is such a one he is more faithful than the Sun and Moon in their courses Hath he said it and shall he not do it hath he spoken it and shall he not bring it to pass Heaven and Earth shall fail before one tittle of his word shall fail till all be fulfilled The experience of five Thousand years cannot produce one example when God hath falsified his word Or wouldst thou serve some honorable Person God hath the highest titles of honor he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the Ruler of Princes he is the Lord of Heaven and Earth the Castles of a thousand hills are his yea all the Beasts of the Forrests all Nations to him are but as a drop of a Bucket or the small dust of the Ballance Never fear then he is able to pay thee thy wages David delighted more in being his servant than in being King of Israel never any lost by his service wouldst thou serve one that is loving and kind why he is love it self see one act of his love John 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed in him should not dye but have everlasting life See the love of the Father in giving and the love of the Son in dying and wouldst thou serve a patient Master He is infinite in Patieâ—ce if thy heart be right he will bear with much Now what Master in the World wilt thou compare to him if none why wilt not serve him and yet alas most men serve the Devil his sworn Enemy one of these two thou must thou dost serve for these are the two grand Commanders and the one or the other all Men obey The Devil is thy sworn Enemy and seeks thy Soul to destroy it 1 Pet. 5.8 He offers much indeed but cannot pay thee he hath nothing of his own but his vitious qualities what he shews thee is but what he baits his hook with or with the Fowler his snares not to feed thee but to entrap thee he hunts for thy Soul like a blood hound and nothing will serve him but thy dishonor The World also will deceive thee and promise pleasure and pay pain it will never pay thee thy wages and wilt forsake such a Master as God is and commit thy self to such known cheats Heaven and Earth may stand amazed at thy folly well remember thy wages they will give thee 3. Motive As he is the best Master so he sets his servants about the best work when the Devil sets his about the basest drugery A wise servant before he is hired would know his work that he may demand answerable wages Now the work which God sets
and a Title to glory In a word how you may avoid Misery and attain everlasting Happiness and is not all this worth your serious consideration Again here is a Rich Legacy bequeathed to you by your Heavenly Father even exceeding great and precious Promises more worth than the World and are not these worth the reading At these Breasts of consolation thou mayst suck and be satisfied for they can never be drawn dry thou wilt never repent the pains thou takest this way This Word also is excellent in it self and therefore called the Word of Salvation Acts 13.26 as pointing out the only way to Salvation the Word of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 as holding out Christ the only Recōnciliator the Word of Life Phil. 2.16 as pointing out the only way to Life Here also is contained our Evidence for Glory and all we have to shew for Heaven this tells us what Qualifications are necessary to Salvation here we find a Redeemer a Saviour a Surety to discharge our Debts and Redeem the Soul out of the Slavery of Satan yea out of the hands of Divine Justice This is God's Love Letter wherein he makes Love to sinful Souls and offers them Christ for a Husband and Heaven with him for a joynture here thou maiest find a cure for a wounded Conscience and a sin sick Soul when neither Men nor Means neither Food nor Phisick can do thee good here is a Plaister pointed out to draw out the Vennom of sin and staunch the blood yea the way to Eternal Life is here chalked out and shall we trifle in such things as these many are the Promises made to those that walk after this Rule Rom. 3.12 and many are the threatnings against those that contemn it Deut. 19.20 Porv. 1.23,24 Isa 6.9,10 1 Sam. 2.25 Methinks such considerations should breed an appetite to it 6. Direction If thou wouldest profit by the word be sure to carry thy self well in the time of hearing we must take heed how we hear as well as what we hear if thou shouldest make these preparations as before directed yet all may be spoiled at last Resort therefore timely to the Ordinance 't is more fit for thee to wait for God than God waite for thee late coming argues a weak stomack hungry Persons will not strive to be last at a feast and an hungry Soul will make haste where meat is to be had and when thou art there behave thy self reverently set thy self as in the presence of the great God say as Jacob this is no other than the house of God and the gate of Heaven and carry thy self as if God were present looking upon thee many by their light behaviour manifest their little zeal didst apprehend God present before the eye of thy Soul it would keep thine eyes from sleeping and thy heart from wandring joyn with the Minister in every part of Gods worship God is the God of order and not of confusion a private Prayer is most suitable for a private place and private duties as before should be performed in the Closet be more ready to hear than to offer the sacrifice of Fools Eccles 5.1 When the Minister prayes joyn with him and pray with Devotion when he sings sing with the understanding when he preacheth here with attention attend not only to the words but to the sence and not only to the sence but also to the Divine Obligation that lyes upon thee draw out all thy strength in the performance of the duty hear as if it were for thy Life for thy Soul for Eternity as indeed it is Deut. 32.46,47 Set your hearts upon all the words which I testifie among you this day which you shall command your Children to observe for it is not a vain thing for you because it is your life and through this you shall prolong your daies and you must not only hear with attention but with understanding also for how can you profit by it or what good will it do you if you understand it not and yet some Ministers the more is the pity seek to hide their meaning in a Cloud of words and deliver their message either in an unknown tongue or in unknown Notions and 't is the folly of some hearers that delight in those Sermons they understand not the Mass bites not but what wise man will delight to gnaw bones that may have flesh Paul had rather speak five words in the Church to edification than two thousand in an unknown tongue 1 Cor. 14.19 and when thou dost understand it prove it by the Scripture and take it not upon trust 't is Christs counsel search the Scriptures and the Apostles try all things and hold fast that which is good and the Bereans are commended for so doing Act. 17.11 and when you have found it to be wholesome meat apply it to the heart this is the summ of all and without this it will do you little good what good will Meat do if not eaten or Phisick if not taken or a Plaister if not applyed do as an hungry man doth lay hold on something to feed upon when nice stomacks carve away all to others now he meets with this man or that man but did he say nothing to thee will another mans meat feed thee or another mans Physick make thee well close with it thy self lay thy heart open to the Word strive not against it submit to it indeavour not by subtil Distructions cunning Evasions false Glosses partial Interpretations to evade the force of it or blunt the edg but with David when reproved cry out I am the man wrest not out of Gods hand if any sin be reproved reform it if any duty prest practice it if the Minister teach thee any thing thou knowest not before remember it and bless God for it 7. Direction If thou wouldest profit by the word preached demean thy self well then after hearing 't is not enough to give diligent attention nay to perform all the fore-going duties for the most of the work lyes behind when the Minister hath done thy work begins thou must call it to mind ruminate upon it do as the clean Beasts under the Law chew the Cud what ever slips out of thy memory will do thee little good 't is what thou remembrest is most like to profit thee Now to this end call to mind the Ministers Method what was his Text how divided how explained what observations he raised how they were proved by what Scriptures by what reasons how he applyed them what marks or motives he gave under such Uses c. If he take not this method which is exceeding good for the memory yet observe at least what design he followed what he driv'd at what sin he reproved what duty he prest what grace he excited and thus doing thou wilt gather up some gleanings of this Sermon especially observing if he prest any duty thou neglectest or reproved any sin thou livest in if all the rest be forgotten remember this and
up to Heaven upon their wings which is the place of its rest in them the Soul is trading with God for Christ and if we make not this use of them they will do us no good God regards not so much the external part of duty though this is not to be disregarded as he doth the internal he looks especially at the carriage of the heart in the duty my Son saith he give me thy heart if this be present many infirmities shall be past over if this be absent though the duty be never so gloriously acted in the eye of of the World it is hateful in the eye of God Cain and Abel both offered Sacrifice and in the matter of their Sacrifice we know not the one exceeded the other yet one was accepted and the other rejected why what was the matter because the one was accompanyed with Sincerity the other with Hypocrisie and as God so all good Men make it their business to look to the heart in duty they carry it along with them to God and offer it at his feet they know the more of the heart is in the duty the better God loves it and the more of the heart is in the sin the worse it is they look more and grieve more at the miscarriage of the Heart in a duty when it lyes dead or dull than at a mis expression or external failing when thou comest therefore unto God in duty gather in thy scattered thoughts and affections and let them meet here as lines do in a Center or as the Sun-beams in a burning glass this will make thy Prayers Hot and Fervent which otherwise would be Cold and Remiss when our Spirits are raised by the Spirit of God and the Flesh kept under in the duty then we are like to prevail 't is not the Multitude of loose or lone and cold expressions will serve turn the Pharisees out-did many Christians in long Prayers but 't is the Spiritual performance that God requires cold Petitions do but put denyals into Christs mouth we must perform every duty as if it were for Life and Death for Eternity yea as if it were our last duty that ever we should perform such performances as these are acceptable to God and beneficial to Man 6. Direction Thou must perform all thy duties as in a right Manner so to a right End for the End either Makes or Marrs the Action now the Ends are such as God himself hath appointed in his word Now God never ordained duties or good works to be trusted in for Salvation thou canst never merit Heaven by thy Prayers or other Duties they were not commanded for this end indeed they are a causa sine qua non of Salvation for though they cannot save us yet we shall not be saved in the neglect of them they are the way to the Kingdom though not causa regnandi Christ hath purchased to himself a peculiar People zealous of good works they are of special use for us in the way that God hath appointed us to walk in God hath appointed us to do them and threatened us and will punish us if we neglect them as I shall more fully prove when I treat of them particularly and that it is Gods will and command is enough to satisfy an honest heart though there were neither reward nor punishment for the doers or neglecters of them this is the way to glorify God John 15.8 Hereby is our Heavenly Father glorified when we bring forth much fruit Mat. 5.18 Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven By this means also we may be instrumental of others Conversion Wives are commanded to carry themselves so holily and wisely that thereby unbelieving Husbands may be won to the Faith 1 Pet. 3.1 and as they may do good to others so they may bring comfort to themselves these breathings out of Grace will be an Evidence to the Soul of the love of God when we find the Spirit helping our infirmities teaching us how and for what to pray these products of Grace will yield the Soul no little satisfaction yea by this means we obtain many blessings from God what sweet returns of Prayer have the Saints had how often hath God answered them in the very Petitions they have asked Christ bids them ask and they shall have seek and they shall find knock and it shall be opened to them and how many can experience this truth though God promise the mercy yet he will be sought to for it and what sweet and ravishing incomes of the Spirit of God have Christians oftentimes in the Hearing Reading Meditating and conferring of the word of God receiving of the Sacrament and other Religious duties and what Satisfaction and Comfort 'T is true we must not trust to them for comfort as the Cause but as the Instrument Hezekiah found Comfort upon his sick Bed from the Faithful performance of God's Will But this is not all one special end why God appointed them is to bring the Soul nearer unto Christ by them and to this end we must use them they are as Ladders to help us up to Heaven to lift us above our selves to lay hold upon Christ we must make use of them as a Traveller doth of a Boat or Bridge to help us over unto Christ or as he doth of a Staff or Stile to help him in his Journey though they in themselves have no Excellency yet they help us over where true Treasure is though they be empty in themselves and vain to those that trust in them yet are they enriching to the Saints that trust not to them but use them for the ends appointed but many like Foolish Lovers wooe the Maid when they should Court the Mistress or like Foolish Travellers play with the Stile or fall in Love with the Boat and neglect their way they trust to their duties but these were never appointed to save us or to make up Christ's Merits Satisfactory for this is sufficient but that it may help us to lay hold upon Christ's Satisfaction Use them therefore for that end 7. Direct When thou hast done all this and all that thou canst say thou art an unprofitable Servant and hast done no more nay not so much as was thy duty Luke 17.10 And take heed of resting in or trusting to any thing but Christ for Justification or Salvation trust not to thy duties for they will deceive thee and prove like Egyptian Reeds not only break but run into thy hand they were never appointed for this end to trust to them let the Papists brag never so much of their Works of Supererogation or of their Merits let the Ignorant Person brag of his good meaning his good heart and his good serving God let the Civil Man brag of his paying every Man his own and upright dealing and the almost Christian of his Repenting Returning and Reforming alas all this will deceive them
Seeds-man and the Word to the Seed Now you know the Ground must be prepared before the Seed be cast in otherwise thou canst not rationally expect a Crop The Body must be prepared and the humours gathered to an head before Physick work kindly what business of moment can be done without preparation And can we think in this business of so great concernment it is sufficient to rush hand over head without consideration Some preparation should be made before the Sabbath came in setting thy Heart as well as thy House in Order the Command is to remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy And when the day is come there are some Duties required before thou rush into the Congregation perform those Duties in thy Family and in thy Closet that are required beg of God a blessing upon the Ordinance and upon the Minister that he may speak a word in season to thy Soul that it may meet with thy Corruption and may strengthen thy Grace and benefit thy Soul how canst expect a Blessing that dost not beg for it This is one cause that many go away barren because they came unprepared Lay thy Heart open before God say as Samuel speak Lord for thy Servant heareth In thy Prayer open thy Soul to God unlap thy Ears and desire a Plaister offer up thy Sin-sick Soul to this Physitian that he may pour Oyl and Wine into thy Wounds who knows but this may be the Time of Love wherein God may say unto thy Soul Live Come with a resolution to deny thy self thy Carnal wisdom and whatsoever shall be found contrary to the will and Command of God Come not with a Resolution to oppose God in any thing though it be never so cross to flesh and blood or to thy Carnal will or Interest or be never so opposite to thine own Natural Inclination or Appetite Why should we come to know our Duty if we will not do it Or our sin if we will not leave it The word of God seldom works upon a fore-stalled affection If thou knowest and know thou mayst if thou carefully observe it what hath usually hindred thee in times past from profiting by the Word take heed of that for the time to come Sometimes thou wilt find that it was Pride thou sets up thy own will against God Sometimes passion this put thy Heart out of Frame for the Duty Sometimes Worldlyness this filled thy Heart with vain thoughts Beware of these for the time to come Especially beware of these sins which are most predominant in thy Soul for this will spoil the Duty Come with a strong Resolution to Obey God in every thing When he forbids any sin resolve to leave it when he Commands any Duty set about it for to what end else dost thou hear if it be only to know thy duty and not to practice it it will but procure thee the more stripes but many are like those silly Women mentioned by the Apostle ever Learing and never come to the knowledge of the Truth And they are like Balaam let God deny them never so oft they will come again faln they would have a dispensation to sin and go to Heaven in a sinful way But we must with good Old Ely say 'T is the Lord let him do with me as he listeth Or like Paul Lord what wouldest thou have me to do Come also with a good stomach then the Word would be savoury to thee such a man will not strain courtesie and carve all from himself but greedily feed upon something Now he meets with such a man saith one now he hit such a one home but what is this to thee Is nothing there that thou canst eat Get also some Acquaintance with the state of thine own Soul how the matter stands between God and thee or otherwise thou canst hardly divide the Word aright and apply it there are threatnings for obstinate sinners and there are promises for the penitent there is Milk for Babes and strong meat for Men. How wilt know thy own portion if thou know not the state of thine own Soul If a sick man come to an Apothecary's shop and may make choice of what Medicine he pleaseth and yet neither know his Disease nor what will Cure it he may as well take nay 't is more like that he will take that which is hurtful than that which is helpful So a poor humbled sinner oft-times lays hold of the threatning which belongs not to him and the presumptuous man of the promise And lastly when Death comes say to the World stand by as Abraham to his Servants I will come again 5. Direct If thou wouldest profit by the Word Preached come to the Ordinances with an hungring thirsting desire after it this is the Food of Life and 't is only the hungring Soul that is rightly qualified for it The full Soul loatheth the Honey-Comb Prov. 27.7 What should a full stomack do at a Feast Or a full Soul at a Sermon How sweet how good how precious was the Word to David Psal 19.10 And to Job better than his appointed Food Job 23.12 And how pitifully doth David complain when he found the want Psal 120.5 And how earnestly did he desire it And thirst after it Psal 42.1,2 As ever Chased Hart did for the Water-brooks and hadst thou ever tasted the sweetness of the word or rather of God in the word I needed not words to have perswaded thee to love it But that I may set some edge upon thine Appetite I shall desire thee to consider with me these few things first consider whose word it is is it not the word of that great God that made Heaven and Earth and all things therein contained One that is able to make it good both in the promises and threatnings and is also Faithful and will make it good Heaven and Earth shall fail rather than one tittle of his word be un-fulfilled and shall we slight a Message sent from such a one Had a Potent Prince sent a Message whether a promise or threatning how diligently should we have read it And how greatly should we have been affected with it with Joy or Sorrow Now God sends his Messengers with a Message of peace if we will accept it if not they are to denounce war yea and threaten everlasting ruine and destruction and yet who regards it Read the contents of his Letter Deut. 28. throughout Nay the matter of this word of God is of greatest concernment were it but for trifles it were no matter but it is concerning Life and Death nay the everlasting Salvation or Damnation of Soul and Body and therefore not to be slighted they are Fools that Jest with such edged Tools Here are Instructions drawn up how you may avoid Hell and attain Heaven how you may get rid of sin and get out of the Slavery of Satan how you may have a Remedy for your sin-sick Souls and a Plaister for your Wounds how you may get an Interest in Christ
is stored with wholesome truths which otherwise would be barren and empty of any thing that is good and stored only with Vanity and Folly this seasons it and fills it with good things which otherwise would be a Cage of unclean Birds a very Sink of Sin and Filthiness this seasons the thoughts which produce Works and Actions Meditation in the Word is that which David was excellent at and every blessed Man should follow Psal 1.2 and Solomon adviseth to when he bid search for Wisdome as for Silver and dig for it as for fine Gold Prov. 24. this also hath a Promise of speeding annexed Prov. 2.12 c. This is the way which the faithful in all Ages have taken and hereby it was they became famous We finde Peter alone upon the House top a fit place for Meditation you may finde Isaac in the Fields meditating Gen. 24.63 Act. 10.9 Elijah upon Mount Carmel and Daniel by the Brook of Vlai and how Sapless and Unsavery are all the Pleasures in the World to a Man skill'd in Divine Meditation The Phylosophers that knew little of God and less of the Scriptures were so taken up with their Phylosophical Notions and Speculations that they oft-times mattered not their Meat or their Drink or their necessary recreations Archimedes was so taken up with his Geometrical Notions that when the City Syracuse was taken he was heedless yea when a Soldier stood ready to kill him would not be drawn off till Death it self ended his Contemplations if the Creature can bring such satisfaction what will the study of the Creator do and the Meditation of Heaven and Glory but alass where shall we finde a wise Man many read it not at all others cursorily few fruitfully most are forgetful hearers and forgetful readers but Meditation would fix it in the Memory 7. Direct If thou wouldst Read with profit apply what thou readest to thy self and bring thy heart to the Rule and thy Graces to this Touchstone and behold thy Face in this Glass of the Word to what end is Meat given but to be eaten or Physick but to be taken or a Plaister but to be applyed many read much and profit little because they apply not what they read to themselves perhaps they can apply it to others and say here is for such and such a man when they neglect their own Portion They are like the Pharisees they binde heavy burthens and grievous to be bourn and lay them upon other mens shoulders but they themselves will not touch them with one of their fingers but why wilt thou deal so liberally to others and deal so deceitfully with thy own Soul doth it want nothing or doth God speak nothing to thee but only to others In the things of the World thou art not so kinde thou wouldest not be deceived by another neither wouldest thou give away thy Estate with thy own hands to another and why art thou so injurious to thy Soul in things of a higher Nature thou wilt not deprive thy belly of Food nor thy back of Raiment must thy Soul only be deprived of both An hungry man will not thus dispose of his meat nor a covetuous man of his money and this thy liberality shewes thou hast neither a stomack to these spiritual dainties nor a desire after these spiritual and heavenly treasures This word is of general use to all every one hath his Portion for as God hath made nothing in vain so he hath spoke nothing in vain when therefore thou readest his Precepts wherein he commands duty and forbids sin perswade thy self that God is now particularly speaking unto thee and apply what is speaking to thy self as if there was no other Man or Woman in the World besides thee or as if God by an audible voice called thee out by Name as he did Samuel and gave thee these Commands to observe these duties to do these sins to avoid and let it deterre thee from sin and quicken thee to duty as if God himself had spoken to thee from Heaven When a Minister reproves sin some guilty Consciences say he means me 't is true if thou be guilty the Minister doth mean thee and God means thee when the Word speaks against Drunkards Swearers Lyars then it means thee if thou art guilty of those sins When thou readest the pretious Promises which God hath made unto repugnant Sinners assure thy self if thou be such a one these promises will be made good to thee yea as sure as if thy Name were written by the finger of God in the Scripture and annexed to them yea as if they were made to none but thee and those threatnings thou reapest in the word of God against unrepenting Sinners assure thy self if thou be in that condition thou art as much concerned in them and they will be as certainly made good upon thee if thou continue in this condition as if they had been only denounced against thee and those reproofs which thou readest for sin take them to thy self as spoken by God to thee if thou be guilty of the sin reproved for assure thy self God means thee in them and those Marks and Characters of Divine graces and gracious Qualifications scattered through out the Scriptures make use of to try thy self by make use also of all the Admonitions God gives thee and of all the examples thou findest of Divine vengeance let them deterre thee from sin and all the examples of Holy Saints encourage thee in good and generally of all sorts of Directions Instructions c. thus doing thou wilt gather good by thy Reading CHAP. V. Directions for Meditation THE next Duty I shall speak of is Meditation a necessary though much neglected Duty Yea Christians themselves that make Conscience of other Duties and are much in hearing reading and Prayer yet are too backward yea unskill'd in the right performance of this duty But did they know the benefit of it and the incomes many receive by it they would not neglect it it brings much Advantage to a gracious Soul and stores it with many Heavenly Truths which those that neglect it never attain In this a man ingages all the powers of his Soul and bends his mind to consider and muse upon some Spiritual Object for I speak not of it here as wicked men use it to devise mischief but as a Christian duty Now Meditation is either Occasional and Sudden or else Solemn and Set for both are necessary both are beneficial The former is occasioned by Objects occasionally presented by the Providence of God either to the Senses or brought to the Memory and resembles those sudden Ejaculations suddenly occasioned only in the one a man speaks to God and in the other a man speaks to his own Heart Thus we see David by beholding the Sun Moon and Stars those glorious Lamps of Heaven he falls out into Admiration of God's Love to poor man in raising him above these and making him but a little lower than the
Angels Psal 8.1,2 c. Such occasional Objects were the grounds of many of Christs speeches and Sermons And a Christian by this means may learn something from every thing he either sees or hears That Meditation that is set and solemn is when a man separates himself from other Imployments and sequesters himself and thoughts from worldly affairs to consider of some portion of Scripture or some point of Divinity or some work of Nature for his own satisfaction and his Souls good That this is a Christians Duty few Christians will deny that it is a beneficial duty all that have tryed it in good earnest will easily confess experto crede Roberto That 't is too much neglected we may acknowledge with shame and sorrow Joshua was Commanded to Meditate in the Law of God day and night Josh 1.8 This was David's practice Psal 119.59 And this he makes the Character of a Godly and Blessed man Psal 1.2,3 It was Isaac's Custom as also Paul's and Peter's and many others This is the way to digest the meat we eat and can meat nourish if not digested This is the chewing of the Cud when we ruminate upon what we hear or see Meat undigested in the stomack feeds Diseases when 't is digested it feeds the Body What is the Reason so many good Sermons are lost amongst us And so many gracious Providences pass un-observed but for want of this Doubtless one Sermon well digested by Meditation would bring more nourishment to the Soul and breed more good Blood than now twenty do By Meditation a man searches and ransacks the Soul and finds out every dust-heap every Corruption and sees whether those Divine qualifications necessary to Salvation be there or no when others are strangers at home by this he gets light into the Understanding heat into the Affection and it puts Life into all his Duties By this he comes to see the Vanity of the World the emptiness of the Creature the vileness of Sin the beauty of Holiness and the fulness of Christ By this the Heart is taken off the World and set upon Heaven and sees by the Eye of Faith those things which are invisible By this he tramples upon sublunary things and fixes his Eyes upon things within the vail By this Stephen saw God and Moses talked with God and Paul was carried up into the third Heaven By this Afflictions are made light and the Cross easie and Christ's Yoak delightful this makes a man chuse Sufferings rather than sin and pain rather than sinful pleasure this helps the Soul to fly to Heaven and hold Communion with Christ himself and like the busie Bee to gather Honey from Flowers and Weeds which to effect take these following Directions 1. Direct Concerning Occasional Meditation though it be not what I chiefly intend yet being of daily Use I shall speak something of it at present A Christian that Trades for Heaven may have much Goods brought home in this Ship He may get Advantage by all he hears or sees or observes for there is nothing in God's Book or in the Book of Nature but will Instruct us in some necessary Lesson concerning God or our selves and mind us of something that may conduce to our Advantage And he that can make a good use of every thing he sees or hears and pick some Spiritual Food and refreshing from it must doubtless be a flourishing Cedar in the House of God and enjoy Heaven upon Earth and Spiritualize all the Creatures How often in Scripture may we read that Christ by occasional occurrances minds his Hearers of Spiritual things from a Well of water he Instructs the Woman of Samaria concerning the water of Life And by occasion of Bread he minds them of the Bread of Life and from a Sower and his Seed shews that a bad Heart is the cause that the Word proves unfruitful and many more such like David as before was hinted beholding the Heavens is raised up in his Meditation to God himself and his Love to Man Psal 8.1,2,3 c. Solomon sends the Sluggard to School to the Ant or Pismire that gathers in Summer for Winter And Christ sends those that are distrustful of their Fathers Providence to observe the Fowls of the Air how he feeds them And the Grass of the Field how he Cloaths it and no doubt but a wise man may make a Sanctified use of all these If a good wit can make a good use of every thing much more a good Heart Had we but this Art of Meditation every thing would yield a suitable object we have the whole world before us the greatest want is of a good Heart to improve these Objects that offer themselves to our view the least Creature would be useful if we were not wanting every day that passeth over our Heads may put us in mind of our latter end Thy Bed may mind thee of thy latter end and the time when thou must lye in the dust and thy rising up may mind thee of thy Resurrection The rising Sun may mind thee what a glorious day that will be when Christ with his Saints and Angels shall appear at Judgment each one shining as the Sun in his Lustre When Night approaches it may minde thee that thy daies are numbred and that thou hast now one fewer to spend than thou hadst in the Morning and mind thee what account thou canst give of it and make thee consider that the World cannot recal it Every Pain and Grief Ach and Trouble yea every gray Hair may mind thee of thy Mortality and how little beholding thou art to sin which brought all this into the World When thou seest the Heavens adorned with those beauty spots the Sun the Moon the Stars thou maist think if the Porch be so glorious what is the Pallace if the Pavement be so beautiful what is the Court the Throne it self When thou considerest their Beauty Altitude Magnitude Selerity and Influence thou maist well admire the Creator and with David cry out Lord what is man c. Who can but admire when he looks upon the Earth the Huge and Massy Globe the unweiley Creatures hanging in the midst of the Air of nothing distinguished into Hills and Dales and Woods and Rivers furnished with such variety of Trees and Grass and Herbs and Flowers and the numberless number of living Creatures Birds and Beasts and Fishes and creeping things and all provided for by the great Householder Who can behold the Rageing Sea kept within his Banks in the Ebbings and Flowings and view the Streams and Fountains the Springs and Rivers and not cry out the finger of God now among all these there is not one Fly or Flea not one Graspile or Leaf of a Tree but yields matter of Meditation and Admiration Ah! what a rich Soul will that be that gathers fruit from all these 2. Direct If thou wouldest perform thy duty well 'T is necessary thou set upon it with due preparation I speak not now of occasional
gives thee Christ and thou givest him thy self if thou hold God will not flinch He promises Heaven and Happiness and thou promisest Love and Obedience And those Vows which thou madest in Baptism and renewest in this Sacrament must be fulfilled 't is an horrible thing to prove Treacherous to this God and to break Covenant with him God will avenge the Quarrel of his Covenant 'T is a dangerous thing to have God for an Enemy and our Consciences for our Accusers resolve therefore to make good thy Engagements and fulfill thy Vows Consider in the Sacrament what Entertainment thou hast met with from God and what welcome he hath given thee hast thou sped or no Did he meet thee in the Ordinance or hast thou had an Answer of thy Prayers or hast been frustrated of thy hopes and expectations If so examine thy Preparations and demeanour before and after the Duty haply thou maist find some miscarriage if so humble thy self and be more careful for the future take notice of the repulse and be humbled yet despair not Sometimes the Ordinance may be more beneficial after than at present as the Sacrament of Baptism usually is If thou hast met with some Fruit but not so much as thou expectest or desirest consider thou art not to be thy own Carver he deals his Mercies as he sees best thou must wait upon him in a longing Posture it will come in the most suitable Season if thou hast found any 't is more than thy desert bless God for it from whose bounty it proceeds If it be not so much as thou expectest 't is more than thou deservest 't is to be owned he that is not thankful for a little God will not trust him with much Thou givest him thanks for Bodily Food and wilt be thankful for Crumbs and not for Christ For Temporal Favours and not for Spiritual Mercies And this should be expressed in deeds as well as words thou shouldest live thanks as well as speak thanks And as Christ gives himself to thee so give up not only thy Name but thy Heart to him keep alive in thy Soul the Spiritual Fervor and maintain thy ground against thy Corruptions See how thy Graces grow and how thy Corruptions dye this is the way to grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Walk in the strength of one Ordinance to another and thus doing thou wilt be a growing Christian and thou wilt find through the Blessing of God upon thine Endeavours that the Sacrament which many get little benefit by is indeed a Soul-fatting Ordinance CHAP. XI Directions about Oaths THE next part of Divine Worship that I shall Direct you in is the right Use of an Oath for though rash swearing be an horrible sin as I intend God willing elsewhere to demonstrate Yet an Oath in it self is Lawful and necessary yea a Commanded part of God's Worship Thou shalt fear the Lord and serve him and shalt swear by his Name Deut. 6.13 The like we find Deut. 10.20 My work therefore in the first place will be to shew you what an Oath is and then to prove it Lawful and afterwards to give you Directions in this as I have done in other parts of God's Worship An Oath is a part of that Religious Worship which we owe to God in which being Lawfully called thereunto we call God to witness the Truth of what we Assert and our real intention to perform what we promise and to reward or punish us according to the Truth or Falshood of what we say That it is a part of Religious Worship the Texts before quoted serve to prove 2 Cor. 1.23 Moreover I call God for a Record upon my Soul that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth 2 Chron. 6.22,23 If a Man sin against his Neighbour and an Oath be laid upon him to make him Swear and the Oath come before thine Altar in this House then hear thou from Heaven and do and Judge thy Servants by requiting the Wicked by Recompencing his way upon his own Head and by Justifying the Righteous by giving him according to his Righteousness Lev. 19.12 Ye shall not swear by my Name falsly neither shalt thou prophane the Name of thy God Exod. 2.7 You see 't is a part of Religious Worship for herein God is called to be a Witness to Justifie or to Condemn who only knows the Integrity of the Heart and the sincerity of the Intentions yea sometimes 't is put for the whole Worship of God Isa 19.18 Where swearing to the Lord is meant worshipping the Lord Nay we have the consent of all Nations that always have esteemed an Oath Sacred and Venerable Poets Philosophers Heathens and Infidels make Conscience of this Religious Band and Reason shews it also for hereby we acknowledge the Wisdom Power and Justice of God His Wisdom in Searching the Heart and knowing the hidden thoughts and intentions of it His Power in being able to punish it and his Justice in giving every Man accoding to his desert and this Worship he will not give to another Jer. 12.16 They taught my People to Swear by the Name of Baal Amos 8.14 Zeph. 1.5 The Lawfulness of an Oath is confessed by most and denyed by few and those Contemptible we have Scripture warrant for it yea the Command of God as you have heard Exod. 22.10 Where an Oath was to be taken in the Case of lost Goods Isa 45.63 Vnto me every Tongue shall swear Isa 65.16 He that sweareth in the Earth shall swear by the God of Truth Now God would not have Commanded any thing that was sinful in it self as a part of his Worship Nay he doth not only Command it but lays down the qualifications of an Oath Jer. 4.2 Thou shalt swear the Lord Liveth in Truth in Judgment and in Righteousness and in what Cases it ought to be required Exod. 22.11 Neither can there any Reason be given why 't is not Lawful as well in Gospel times as under the Law it was not Ceremonious nor Typical neither in the Matter Form nor End Nay we have Examples of God himself and therefore 't is not intrinsâ—…cally Evil Gen. 22.16 By my self have I sworn saith the Lord Heb. 6.13 Because he could swear by no greater he sware by himself Jer. 44.26 I have sworn by my great Name saith the Lord Amos 4.2 The Lord hath sworn by his Holiness We have the Example of Christ Mat. 5.18 For Verily I say unto you till Heaven and Earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass till all be fulfilled compare this with Heb. 8.14 Surely Blessing I will Bless thee c. This is called God's Oath and frequent are the Asservations of Christ Verily verily we have the Example of the Holy Angels also Dan. 12.7 The Angel lift up his Hand and sware by him that Liveth for ever The like we have Rev. 10.6 we read of the Saints Swearing Gen. 14.22
together Sin is to Holy Spiritual Communion with God as Water is to Fire of an extinguishing Nature take heed therefore of the beginning of it brush and dash Babylon's Children when they are young and the Cockatrice Eggs before they break forth into Serpents entertain not a delightful thought of any Sin resist the first motions of Sin avoid all the occasions repell the Temptations and beware of the appearances of Evil and get as far from it as possibly thou canst for God and Sin cannot be entertained and Lodge together in one Soul thou must either break thy Peace with the one or with the other of these irrevocable Enemies thou canst not serve God and Mammon all Sin is of this nature yet some Sins are more abominable than others as Worldly-mindedness this will choak all that is good in thee it were the Cares of the World and the deceitfulness of Riches that choaked the Word and it became unfruitful Mat. 13.22 Pride also is a damning Sin and makes a Man set himself in the place of God and set up his own will for his Rule this turned Angels out of Heaven Adam out of Paradice and many into Hell Idolatry also is abominable when Men set up other Gods and serve them God will not take it at their hands many more there are of which we must be careful Some things likewise are to be done yea every Duty adds some strength and helps forward this Communion Private Meditations and Private Prayers are excellent helps to this end Meditation is an excellent help hereunto Ah what sweet and delightful tasts of of God may a Man have that Exerciseth himself in this Soul-fatting Duty Such a Man can find God in every Creature and like the Bee suck sweetness from every Weed and Flower he can get advantage by Prosperity and Adversity Health and Sickness yea every thing he knows sees or hears of yea every Creature will lead such a Man to God and Teach him some Lesson worth his Learning for as by the Vein the Mineral may be found or as the Stream leads to the Fountain so every thing leads to God and points out his Power Wisdome and Goodness yea the consideration and thoughts of Gods Attributes Word and Works may fill the Soul with admiration and make a Man fall in love with God every Chapter Verse and Line of Holy Writ is as a Ladder to lift thee nearer Heaven and draw thee nearer unto God such a Man knows how to Spiritualise every Evil and Morall Action and what ever he doth he can Ingage God for to reward him he can suck sweetness out of all cross Providences and when God seems to frown can turn the Curtain aside and see his pleased Face and view his Love in the dark Passages of his Providence Another means to maintain Communion is Secret Prayer when the Soul can power out it self into the Bosome of Christ with Faith and Fervency who hath promised to grant whatever they ask in his Name Ah what sweet Crumbs of Comfort doth many feel coming from Christ in such a Suit when a Man spreads his Case and Complaint before Christ as somtimes Hezekiah did the Blasphemous Letter how doth this Ingage God in his Cause if thou maintainest Life in these two Duties thou wilt maintain Communion with God and Life in thy Soul 3. Direct Another Duty Incumbent upon thy Soul is to store thy heart with knowledge and understanding without the which the mind cannot be good Prov. 19.2 and this is done in Private as well as Publick partly by Reading and Conference Reading the Scriptures and other good Books this will notably encrease knowledge and understanding but this I have already given Directions in and desire thee to make use of them Meditation also is a fruitful Duty even that which is occasional whereby thou mayst gather Observations and learn many Lessons for thy Souls good from every Creature thou hast to deal with but this I have already treated of but this is not all but if thou art Converted strengthen thy Brethren we were not Born for our selves If thou hast a Family studdy and endeavour their Conversion also teacheh them in the way they should walk for to that purpose God hath given thee Authority over them thou art a King a Priest and a Prophet in thine own House Rule then in thy Family as a King Instruct as a Prophet and Pray amongst them as a Priest God will be served in thy Family as well as in thy Closet or in the Publick therefore somtimes Particular Houses are called Churches because in them God is Worshiped To this End prepare then what thou canst for the Publick Ordinance by Instruction Admonition and Encouragement remove what rubs thou canst out of their way to believing and obeying shew them the necessity of Faith in Christ and obedience to Christ and if thou canst help it let none serve thee that will not serve God this was Davids resolution Psal 101.2 c. Require an Account at their hands what they learn and what benefit they receive press these things more upon their Spirits and fasten it upon their Mind that it may not be let slip by repeating the Sermons or so much of it as shall be necessary for their good and press home and drive at what the Minister drives at in his Sermon Reading the Scripture also is an useful means to encrease knowledge in thy self and Family and should be done in Private in thy Family and in Secret by thy self redeem time to this End and if possible make them understand what they Read drive the Nail to the Head this is the way to expell Ignorance and to get Knowledge this cannot but work some Knowledge in the hearts of them that hear it In this Word is contained the Wfll of God concerning Mans Obedience and here is a Legacy left us by our Fathers Will the Promises which are our Evidences for Heaven and all we have to shew for Glory and shall this be neglected by us or meanly esteemed Some may Object they have long tryed this means and see little profit by it but do thy Duty and leave the success to God Paul may Plant and Apollos Water but God gives the encrease yet there must be Planting and Watering or good Fruit cannot be expected God serves his Providence by the use of means The Bereans were commended for searching the Scriptures and Christ himself commends this Lesson to the Pharisees this Book of the Law should not depart out of thy Mouth but thou shouldest Meditate therein for ever Josh 18. Psal 12. This Word of God should dwell plentiously in you Col 3.16 It was Abraham's Practice to teach his Children and Servants the fear of the Lord Gen. 18.19 This also is Pauls Counsell Eph. 6.4 Yea and God's own Command Deut. 6.6,7 The Words that I Command thee this day shall be in thy Heart and thou shalt Teach them diligently unto thy Children thou shalt talk of them when
the Soul bleed to Eternal death without remedy or regard they may curse the time that they were Born of such unnatural Parents They are Naturally Ignorant and they must be taught they are Corrupt and must be amended or they will be undone Oh consider what will become of thy Children an Hundred Thousand Years hence they will be either in Heaven or Hell in endless Torments or Eternal Joys and 't is much to be feared they will miscarry Were they but in Slavery thou wouldest seek their Liberty and wilt thou do nothing to help them out of Spiritual Thraldome what comfort maist thou have of them if thou prevail and be Instrumental of their Conversion how wilt thou Ingage them for ever to love thee and obey thee but what discomfort are they like to be if they serve the Devil and Sin what ground of hope is there they should be true to thee that prove false to God and if they perish through thy neglect the Blood of their Souls will be charged upon thee and without Repentance perish they will Oh! how necessary then is knowledge in parents for where the Blind leads the Blind both falls into the Ditch and what thoughts will you have at your meeting in Hell Set therefore upon this Duty betimes before it be too late Train them up when they are young in the way they should walk that when they are old they may not decline it Delays are dangerous Life is short the time of Death is uncertain the Heart grows harder and Sin grows stronger the Devil gets better hold and surer possession every Day makes them more unfit than other for Repentance A Twig when young is easily bent but when old it will break before it bend follow them again and again with Exhortations to an Holy Life deal seriously with them take the fittest Seasons for the Work let them see the danger of Sin and the Beauty of Holiness and Treat them with so much Compassion that they may see thy love to their Souls use also so much Zeal and Fervency that they may see it is not Trifles thou pressest them to take the fittest Time and Place never in Passion seldome in Publick shew them God's Word for it turn them to the Chapter and Verse this if any thing will silence them If thou find an Inclination in them follow it home encourage the good and discourage the bad let them find thou makest a difference between the one and the other this Course will bring Glory to God Peace to thy self and Benefit to thy Relations 7. Direct For a Conclusion of the whole be sure in the performance of all those forementioned Duties both Publick and Private to keep a clear Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Man and let the Ground of all thy performances be the Command of God and thy strongest Motive be thy love to God and thy dear Redeemer and let no sinister End or by Respect whatsoever prevail with thee let God's Glory be thy End and Aim and the main Design thou drivest on let thy endeavour be to set the Crown upon God's Head and not upon thine own Consult not thy self till thou canst truly say in all thy Duties Propter te Propter te Dimine this I have done for God and not for my self But if vain Glory or a desire of Popular Applause or Merit or any such-like sinister Respects Fly-blow thy Duties they will stink in God's Nostrils and all thy Duties will be lost and thy labour will be in vain he that propounds a wrong End to himself will lose all the pains he takes as he that Shoots at a wrong Mark will hardly hit the right But if thy Duty proceed from a right Principle a heart Purified by Faith and if 〈…〉 Fountain a Purified and Sincere Heart and from a Principle of Love to God and are directed to a right End his Glory continues with thy own happiness then are they like to be a pleasing Sacrifice unto God for where the Fountain is clear the Streams will be good but till the Heart be right their proceedings will be defiled Though Man Judge the Heart by the Actions God Judgeth the Actions by the Heart he is Hoker lebh Scrutator cordes the searcher of the Heart and the tryer of the Reins and gives every Man according to his ways Jer. 17.9,10 The Heart is the Fountan of all the Thoughts Words and Actions now if the Fountain be filthy so are the Streams Sweet Water and bitter cannot proceed out of the same hole if an Apple be rotten at the Coare it will not be long before the outside rot also If the Heart be rotten it sooner or later breaks forth and rots the Life and Conversation also as it did in Saul Simon Magus and many others An inbred Distemper will appear outwardly and a Soar not sound at the bottom will Fester and break out at length Sincerity is like a skilful Alchymist it turns all into Gold weak performances defective Duties shall be accepted a Sigh a Groan a Desire shall be understood and answered But Hypocrisie on the contrary turns Gold into Dross and Duties into Sin and the most Glorious performance into abomination take heed therefore of this and labour for the other Faith also is requisite in all thy Duties leave not that behind thee in any Duty if thou meanest to speed if Faith be absent God will not be present without Faith ' is impossible to please him No Prayer can pierce Heaven thar is not pointed by Faith Heb. 6.11 he that comes to God must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of those that dilligently seek him The Word Preached will not prove it if it be not mixed with Faith in those that hear it nay without Faith there can be no Salvation Mark 16.16 he that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Joh. 3. last Self-denyal also is requisite when thou hast done all say thou art an unprofitable Servant God gives Grace to the Humble but looks upon the Proud afar off yea the Apostle saith he resisteth the Proud or sets himself in Battel aray against him bring not a proud heart along with thee if thou wouldest speak with God in a Duty submit to his Will though thou see not a reason for his Command there is yet reason enough why thou shouldest obey as Abraham did content thy self to be at Gods dispose do thy Duty and he will do his Work but Limit him not to Time Place Manner Measure or other Circumstances depend upon him as Hannah did when she had prayed she looked no more sad Take heed when thou hast done thy Work of Heart-rising Thoughts or proud vain Glory lest it make thee lose thy Reward this will spoil thy Duty and make thee lose thy Reward deny thy Self and he will not deny thy Reward the lower thou thinkest of thy Duties the better God thinks of them and will