obtaineth the crown above all take the shield of faith Other jewels are of great value but this is the fairest sparkling Diamond Among all duties prayer seems to challenge the garland of honour Concerning the work of my hands command ye me This is the Favourite in the Heavenly Court to whom the King of Kings can deny nothing This duty is of such weight that it is frequently put for Gods whole worship Seek ye the Lord seek his strength seek his face evermore Psa 105.4 5. Gods Temple which was the beauty of holiness the habitation of the most high was baptized by God himself with this name My House shall be called of all Nations an house of prayer Isa 56.7 Gods people which are higher then the Kings of the Earth are known to be nobly born by this practice This is the generation of them that seek him that seek thy face O Jacob Psa 24.6 Nay God himself is pleased to wear prayers Livery and to be distinguished by the royal Robes of his relation to this duty O thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come Psa 65.1 2. Pearles of a very high price are never set but in gold the choicest mettal The Worship and people of God are more worth then all this World but O how much is God worth yet all these glister gloriously in the ring of prayer There is no duty in my observation which hath so many precepts for it or promises to it as prayer and sure I am there is no duty which giveth more honour to God or receiveth more honour from God then prayer Prayer hath a twofold preheminence above all other duties whatsoever In regard of the universality of its influence and opportunity for its performance The universality of its influence As every sacrifice was to be seasoned with Salt so every undertaking and every affliction of the creature must be sanctified with prayer nay as it sheweth the excellency of gold that it s laid upon silver it self so it speaketh the excellency of prayer that not onely natural and civil but even Religious and spiritual actions are overlaid with prayer We pray not onely before we eat or drink our bodily nourishment but also before we feed on the bread of the Word and the bread in the Sacrament prayer is requisite to make every providence and every ordinance blessed to us Prayer is needful to make our particular callings succesful prayer is the guard to secure the fort royal of the heart prayer is the Porter to keep the door of the lips prayer is the strong Hilt which defendeth the hands prayer perfumes every relation prayer helps us to profit by every condition prayer is the Chymist that turnes all into Gold prayer is the Master workman if that be out of the way the whole Trade stands still or goeth backward What the Key is to the Watch that prayer is to Religion it winds it up and sets it a going It is before other duties in regard of opportunity for its performance A Christian cannot always hear or always read or always communicate but he may pray continually No place no coâ—pany can deprive him of this priviledge If he be on the top of a House with Peter he may pray if he be in the bottom of the Ocean with Jonah he may pray if he be walking in the field with Isaak he may pray when no eye seeth him if he be waiting at table with Nehemiah he may pray when no ear heareth him If he be in the mountains with our Saviour he may pray If he be in the prison with Paul he may pray where-ever he is prayer will help him to find God out Every Saint is Gods Temple And he that carrieth his Iemple about him saith Austin may go to prayer when he pleaseth Indeed to a Christian every house is an house of prayer every closet a chamber of presence and every place he comes to an Altar whereon he may offer the sacrifice of prayer Prayer is an humble lifting up the heart or pouring out the soul to God in the name of Christ It is a crying Abba Father As Scripture is Gods Letter wherein he openeth his mind to man so Prayer is mans Letter wherein he openeth his mind to God It is fitly resembled to Jacobs Ladder the bottom of which was on earth but the top reached to Heaven A thought can fly speedily to the uttermost parts of the earth so can prayer in a moment to the highest heavens One of the Fathers compareth it to a chain one end of which is tied to mans tongue the other end to Gods ear Another Ascensus mentis ad Deum A lifting up the mind to God Paul calls it a making known our requests to God Phil. 4. Jamblicus a prophane writer calleth prayer Rerum divinarum ducem lucem copulam qua homines cum Deo conjunguntur The guide and light of Divine truths the band whereby God and man are joyned together Clavis instarqua Dei penetralia aperiuntur Like a key that openeth Gods secrets Austin calls it Dei sacrificium diaboli flagellum Christiani subsidium A sweet savour to God a terror to the Devil and a shelter to a Christian Bernard calls it Vinculum invincibilis â—he Conqueror of him who is invincible Luther saith It is omnipotent Archimedes made such an engine that saith he Could I but finde where to fasten it I would not doubt but to remove the whole earth with it Such an engine is Prayer By prayer fire hath been quenched waters divided the mouths of Lions stopped iron gates opened the bottles of heaven opened and stopped the course of nature overturned diseases removed health restored sin subdued grace bestowed Kingdoms supported Church enemies scattered the blind restored the dead enlivened devils dispossessed and the blessed God himself conquered The Jews have a proverb Sine stationibus non staret mundus alluding to their standing posture in prayer the World would not stand without prayer When a great fire in Constantinople had fastned on a great part of the City took hold of the Church flamed in at several of the windows the Bishop ran into the Church fell down on his knees and would not rise from prayer till the fire was vanquished And as prayer hath hindred fire so it hath brought down water The Legions of Christians under Aurelius in a time of drought intreated rain of God and prevailed for which they were called The lightening Legion Prayer is the Midwife to bring all those mercies into the world to the Beleever which are conceived in the womb of the Promises It is the Christians messenger which he sends to Heaven for the supply of his necessities and like Jonathans bow it never returneth empty Oftentimes as the Eccho doubleth the voyce so doth the answer the prayer when the soul like Gehezi asketh but one talent God like Naaman forceth two upon it The Lord is rich unto all that call upon him Rom. 10.12 Prayer is
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
like Moses three strokes fetch water out of a rock Ah couldest thou that hast heard of this God by the hearing of the ear but see him with the seeing of the eye thou wouldest quickly abhor thy self in dust and ashes How ugly how loathsom would sin be couldst thou behold the Glory Holiness and Grace of that God whom thereby thou hast offended Ah how great an evil must that be which is so opposite and offensive to the greatest good Think also on the blood of the dearest Jesus which was let out by thy lusts and surely when thou beholdest those knives before thee which made those bloody mortal wounds in his blessed body Anger and Grief will both strive within thee for the mastery Meditate on thy wants He that is ignorant what he ailes cannot complain at least so as to be relieved The messenger who knoweth not the errand upon which he comes must expect to be sent back as wise as he came Do as the good Huswife when she is going to market where provision is to be had doth First she considereth with her self what her family needs what food what cloaths what her Husband what her Children what her self and accordingly disposeth her monâ—y at Market so when thou art going to God by prâ—yer who is able to supply all thy necessities consider what thou wantest what pardoning mercy what purifying mercy what sin thou didst lately foil and art afraid it will recover again that thou mayst beg strength to pursue the victory what lâ—st lately got the better of thee that thou maist intreat pardon of it and power against it what grace thou art defective in either in reference to thy calling or relations or any condition that thou mayst request God to bestow it on thee what new providence hath befallen thee or new work is laid upon thee that thou mayst beseech God to give the sutable grace and power This consideration of thy wants with the weight of them will make thee more urgent and instant with God for supply they that feel hunger how hard will they beg for bread poor prisoners that are ready to famish for want of food how earnest are they for relief Bread bread for the Lords sake Remember the poor prisoners for the Lords sake Confideration of thy soul-necessities and of what infinite concernment the releif of them is to thee will make thee feel thy wants and then thou wilt be importunate with God for mercy A man that considereth not his indigencies is like a full stomack that loaths the honey comb Consider thy Meâ—cies meditate on the several particular passages of Gods providence towards thee from thy birth to this moment how many devils thou hast been delivered from how many journeys thou hast been preserved in that seasonable succour God hath sometimes sent thee in dangers what sutable support he hath afforded thee in distress what counsel he hath given thee in doubts what comforts he hath vouchsafed thee in sorrows and darkness Make past mercies by meditation present with thee How many years hast thou lived and every moment of thy life hast breathed in mercy Do not forget former favours bestowed on thee or thine The Civet box when the Civet is gone still retains it scent the vessel when the liquor is gone hath still a savour of it So when thy mercies are past and spent thou shouldest still have the scent and savour of them in thy spirit Meditate upon the number of thy present mercies personal domestical national temporal spiritual How many are the mercies which thou enjoyest in bed at board at home abroad Thy house thy barns thy children thy body thy soul are all full of blessings thou hast many positive many privative mercies Many O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which thou hast done and thy thoughts to us ward they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee If I would declare and speak them they are more then can be numbered Psal 40.4 Think of them particularly meat swallowed down whole doth not yield such nourishment as when it is cut into small pieces If jewels are bundled up together their riches and worth are hid they must be viewed and considered one by one then their value will appear Meditate on the nature of them how freely they are bestowed When thou wast Gods enemy he fed thee and cloathed thee and maintained thee as when a man turneth his back upon the Sun the Sun even then refresheth him with his beams so when thou didst depart away from God he even then followed thee with goodness like the fountain he giveth his pleasant streams to thee gratis For alas thou art less then the least of all Gods mercies worse then any loathsome Toad or poisonous Serpent This will be an excellent file to set off the mercies of God in their lively lovely colours that David so great a King should do so much for such a dead Dog as Mephibosheth did exceedingly affect his heart 2 Sam. 7. So do thou think with thy self What am I and what is my Fathers house that the Lord should do so much for me Meditate upon the fulness and greatness of thy mercies What distinguishing mercies are thy Body-mercies they are more then God oweth thee and more then he bestoweth upon others Alas many want health liberty food rayment sleep limbs senses reason and possibly thou enjoyest them all But Oh! of what concernment are thy Soul-mercies the image of God the blood of Christ eternal Life the Gospel of thy Salvation Sabbaths Sacraments and seasons of grace God hath not dealt so with every people as with this Nation nor with every person as with thee Thou art as the Psalmist phraseth it laden with benefits hast such a weight such a burthen of benefits upon thy back that thou canst hardly stir or stand under them Hast thou not blessings of the womb blessings of the field blessings of the Throne blessings of the foot-stool blessings in thy going out blessings in thy coming in which way canst thou look and not see blessings where canst thou tread and not stand on blessings thy whole life is in this respect a bundle of blessings these thoughts before prayer may stir thee up to bless the giver If thou shouldst bless men when they curse thee much more shouldst thou bless God when he blesseth thee Meditate on the God to whom thou art to pray Consider his Majesty and greatness Nehemiah calls him The great and terrible God Nehem. 1.5 He is so great the Heavens and heavens of heavens cannot contain him that the Earth Heavens and Ocean are in comparison of him as nothing yea less then nothing and vanity Think of his attributes and infinite excellencies God is in Heaven and thou art on Earth therefore let thy words be few Eccles 5.2 As God riseth in our thoughts self falleth That Sun discovereth all our dust O how are we ashamed of our drops when we stand by this Ocean This serious apprehension of thy
ejaculatory prayer for his Murderers Father forgive them for they know not what they do and as an answer to it we find some thousands of them presently converted Truely Reader I would commend these ejaculations as an excellent receipt for all companies and in all conditions If thou art a stranger to it thou dost not know the vertue of it It is as some write of the herb Panaces a universal remedy for all diseases a special though cheap preservative both against the evil of sin and suffering This is the best way to avoid dangers to overcome difficulties and to prosper us in our lawful designs Gen. 24.12 When thou receivest a sudden mercy hearest unexpected good news thou mayst presently rear an Altar and offer up a Sacrifice of praise to God If thou art protected through grace from any transgression in which thou wast falling or afflictions of which thou wast affraid thou mayst suddenly dispatch a Messenger to Heaven with thanks who will be more welcome there then thou art aware of So did a good Servant Gen. 24.26 and a godly Souldier and governour Iudg. 7.15 I will bless the Lord at all times saith David his praise shall be continually in my mouth When thou art in a suddain plunge thou mayst dart up a thought to God for counsel or protection these short breathings would prepare thee for a long race There are indeed some seasons for prayer which must by no means be slighted when the Spirit of God stirreth in thee and cometh for thee then make haste to God Courtiers watch for convenient seasons to present their petitions to their Kings and will be sure to lay hold of such seasons If the King himself offer any discourse relating to their requests then they will close and strike in When the Spirit of God in a morning or evening or in the day time commandeth thee to go and cry to God for pardon and life I speak of regular motions for no other come from the Spirit then is a fit time to present thy requests he sendeth for thee for that end Take heed of delaying or denying Thou saidst seek ye my face my heart said thy face Lord will I seek Suitors have their mollissima tempora fandi their special times of wooing Hester waited once and again for a fit time to beg her life and the lives of her people of the King and when Ahashuerus put her upon it gave her an opportunity she then did it and prevailed Whatsoever actions thou entrest upon whether Civil Natural or Religious let prayer be to thee as the Baptist to Christ the messenger to prepare the way before thee Bonaventure that Seraphical Doctor being asked by Aquinas How he got such Divine knowledge pointing to a Crucifix in his study said Ille est liber meus by praying to that Crucifix A Christian by praying to God in the name of a crucified Christ may get saving knowledge Be confident of this those mercies will be most savoury which come flying to thee upon the wings of prayer Those favours are suspicious which steal in at a window and come not in at the door of prayer How sweet was that water to Sampson whieh streamed to him in the channel of prayer Judges 15.19 he called the name of it En-hakkore the well of him that prayed Jacob saw God smiling in Esau's smooth countenance because prayer was the Sun which scattered and cleared that sky When thou canst say of the mercy which God giveth thee as Hannah of Samuel For this childe I prayed saith she he is the travel of my soul as well as of my body he is the fruit of my heart as well as of my womb when thou must say For this blessing I prayed many a time did I weep and make supplication and lo I have prevailed Such a mercy will be a double mercy a Samuel indeed Asked of God and Dedicated to God As Jesus Christ was more welcome to Mary his Mother when she and his Father had sought him sorrowing so those blessings especially spiritual will be received with most joy which were sought with most sorrow What thou winnest with prayer thou wilt wear with prayer But it may be Reader thou art one that art so far from constant praying that the garment of the Atheist will fit thy back very well They call not upon God Psal 14.4 if so bethink thy self for thou livest like a Beast as Nebuchadnezzar did though thou hast the shape of a man They are become brutish and have not sought the Lord Jer. 10.21 Brutes are like Mutes O it is a dreadful condition to be possessed with a dumb Devil When men once grow speechless it s a sign death is hard by If that bloody Butcher can but muzzle thy mouth and with cords hinder thy crying expect the stroke of the ax Or possibly that livery which Eliphaz made for Job though it was much below him yet will become thee Thou restrainest prayer before God Job 15.4 The pulse of thy soul faulters thou layest by thy prayers as some do their best cloathes till they go to Church again or for some Holy-day O this is a sad sign that prayer which should be thy element is thy torment Friends that love one another long to converse together and take all opportunities of sending to and hearing from each other Hadst thou any love to the blessed God it would be so with thee But as painfulness in speaking often argueth unsound inwards so thy inconstancy in praying giveth thee cause of suspecting thy spiritual unsoundness and insincerity CHAP. XIV The Subsequent duties after Prayer THirdly I shall speak to the consequents or those duties which must follow after prayer and they are principally two Watching and Working 1. Watching for an answer Pious prayers are precious commodities and who unless a mad man or a fool will throw away what is of value and worth When thou hast shot thine arrow observe where it lights and how near it flew to the mark Wise men when they have delivered their petitions to their Prince watch and wait sometimes a year together all the while longing and looking for an answer Thy requests to God are of infinite concernment thy Heaven thy eternal happiness is involved in them with what holy impatience then shouldst thou desire an answer In the morning I will direct my prayer unto thee and will look up Psa 5.3 The words discover Davids posture in prayer and his practice after prayer His posture in prayer I will direct my prayer unto thee Disponam tibi Calvin The word is an allusion to an Archer or to a General as some observe on it 1. To an Archer and then the meaning is I will be up betimes and take as good aim as I can possibly at the mark and so draw my bow and direct my arrow that I may hit it 2. To a General and then it importeth thus much I will rise early and set my requests to God as Souldiers
So God giveth others outward portions some of the good things of this life but to thee O Christian he giveth a Benjamins mess his image his spirit his son himself a worthy portion a goodly heritage because he loveth thee Others have a little meat and drink and wages but thou hast the inheritance Others like Jehosaphats younger Sons have some Cities some small matters given them but thou like the first born hast the Kingdom the Crown of glory others feed on bare elements thou hast the Sacrament others stand without doors and thou art admitted into the presence Chamber others must fry eternally in Hell flames and thou must enjoy falness of joy for evermore O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever To him that chose thee before the foundation of the World for his mercy endureth for ever To him that called thee by the word of his grace for his mercy c. To him that gave his onely Son to dye for thy sins for his mercy c. To him that entred into a Covenant of grace with thee for his mercy endureth for ever To him that hath provided for thee an exceeding and eternal weight of glory for his mercy endureth for ever O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Remember the poor on that day Gods bounty to thee in spirituals may well provoke thy mercy to others in carnals The Jews at their Passover released a Prisoner in remembrance of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage Surely at the Lords Supper when thy heart is warmed with Gods compassion to thee thy hand should be enlarged in contribution to the poor in remembrance of thy redemption out of slavery to sin and Satan The Primitive Christians had their collections for the poor and the Lords Supper both on a day On the first day of the week Because the Saints like the wall being then heated by the Sun should reflect that heat on the passengers on others Acts 20.7 2 Cor. 16.1 Thy cup runneth over O let others drink with thee Thy Charity may make thy Coffer lighter but it will make thy crown heavier It was a notable expression of one who having given much away was like to want and asked what she would do I repent not of my charity for what I have lost in one World I have gained in another 2. Faithfulness The Sacrament is a strong engagement to sanctity Sacramentum est juramentum At the Lords Supper thou takest a new Oath of Allegiance to the King of Saints whereby every wilful iniquity after it becomes perjury 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuam a Hedge The Greek word for an Oath cometh from a word signisieth an Hedge to shew that an Oath should keep men in and prevent their wandering out of the field of Gods word It is the character of an Harlot She forgetteth the Covenant of her God Prov. 2.17 I know that the Devil will come to sit with thee after Supper Flies love to settle on the sweetest perfumes When Israel had drunk of the Rock which followed them which Rock was Christ then Amalek fought them When Jesus Christ had received the Sacrament of Baptism then the Devil pursued him with his fierce assaults When thou hast been at the Table expect the Tempter That subtle theif will hear of the new treasure of grace which is brought into thy house thy heart and will use all his pollicy and power to rob thee of it thy care must be by stronger Bolts and Locks then ordinary by greater diligence and watchfulness then before to secure it Surely Reader If thou didst but find the Saviour in the Sacrament thou canst not but fear sin after the Sacrament Thou hast seen what sin cost Christ didst thou not at the Table see the Lord Jesus hanging on the Cross Didst thou not thus bespeak thy soul Look O my soul who hangeth there Alass it is thy dearest Redeemer See his bloody head bloody hands bloody back belly his body all over bloody But O his bleeding soul Dost thou not hear his lamentation My God My God why hast thou forsaken me What thinkest thou is the cause of all this Ah t is thy sins which is the source of all these sorrows And canst thou joyn with them or love those lusts that hate the Lord Canst thou wound him whom God hath wounded and crucifie the Lord Jesus afresh Hath not thy Saviour suffered enough already O here is a Medicine instar omnium instead of all to kill those diseases of thy soul It is said of the Souldiers of Pompey that though he could not keep them in the Camp by any perswasion yet when Pompey threw himself upon the ground and told them If ye will go ye shall trample upon your General Then saith Plutarch in the life of Pompey they were overcome Truely if nothing will disswade thee from sin yet this consideration that it is a trampling upon thy blessed Saviour should prevail with thee Though thou shouldst be marching never so furiously yet as Joabs Souldiers when they saw the dead body of Amasa stay'd their march and stood still when thou seest the mangled wounded peirced crucified body of thy Saviour thou shouldst stop proceed no further How many arguments mayst thou find in this ordinance to be close in thy obedience The greatness of Christs love calleth for graciousness in thy life The love of Christ constraineth 2 Cor. 5.14 Other Motives may perswade but this compelleth If deliverance from the yoke of Pharoah were such a bond to obedience what is deliverance from sin wrath hell mayst not thou Reader say with the Jews After such a deliverance as this should I again break thy Commandements woulst thou not be angry with me till thou hast consumed me Ezr. 9.13 They that receive such courtesies if any men the World sell their liberty and ought to be Christs servants 〈…〉 Friend hath God wiped off the old score wilt thou run again in debt did Christ speak peace to thee at the Table and wilt thou turn again to folly O Reader when thou art tempted to sin say with the Spouse I have washed my feet how shall I defile them I have washed my soul how shall I pollute it with sin I have given my self wholly to God before Angels men and how can I do this great wickednes sin against my God against my Saviour against my Covenant There is a beast some write which if she be feeding doth but turn her head about forgeteth what she was doing O do not thou after thou hast fed on the bread of life forget what thou wast doing but as at the Sacrament thou hast remembred Christs death so do it after by dying to sin all the days of thy life O do not use this ordinance as Papists do the Popes Indulgences to purchase a new licence to sin Judas went from the Supper to betray his Master Absolom
the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth so great Salvation Heb. 2.3 Open unto Christ when he knocketh at the door of thy heart with the finger of his Spirit Do not bid him come to morrow lest that morrow never come It s good we say to make Hay while the Sun shines for the Heavens may be cloudy It s good to embrace a present opportunity for time is bald behind thou canst not assure thy self of a second Sabbath Seasons of grace are not like Tides that a man may miss one and take another What Christ said of himself is true of Sabbaths The poor ye have always with you but me ye have not always Time thou hast always with thee while thou livest but the Sabbath thou hast not always Nay within a shorter time then thou imaginest God may deprive thee both of time and opportunity both of Week days and Lords days and if thou art now sleeping and snoring when thou should be waking and working what a cut will it be to thy heart to reflect upon the Sabbaths which thou hast had and lost enjoyed and mispent Jerusalem in the days of her affliction and of her misery remembred all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old Lam. 1.9 So Reader if thou shouldst neglect to improve Sabbaths now in the day of thy misery or rather in the everlasting night of thine affliction in hell thou wilt remember thy Sabbaths seasons of grace and all thy pleasant things which thou hadst in the days of old Good Lord what a rueful woful remembrance will it be to call to mind the means the mercies the helps which were afforded thee to have avoided Hell and attained Heaven and yet thou like a fool or rather a mad man didst dally about them and delay till the Market was done Now is the time for thee to accept of grace because now is the onely time that grace will accept of thee O that thou wouldst know in this thy day the things which concern thy peace before they be hid from thine eyes Fourrhly Esteem the publique Ordinances the chief work of the day and let thy secret and private duties be so managed that thy soul may be prepared for them and profited by them Duties in thy closet and family are of use and have their blessing but to put God off with these and neglect the publique Worship is to rob God of a greater sum to pay him a lesser The Sacrifice of the Jews on that day was double they offered Sacrifice in the Tabernacle besides their Lambs for the daily Sacrifice It is worthy our observation that the Sabbath and publique Service are by God himself joyned together and therefore let no man put them asunder Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my Sanctuary I am the Lord Lev. 19.30 They that despise Gods Sanctuary cannot observe Gods Sabbath Every thing is beautiful in its season Private duties are beautiful and in season every day but publique Ordinances are never so lovely and beautiful because never so much in their prime and season as on a Lords Day In publique Worship God receiveth the highest praises I will praise thee in the great Congregations Psal 29.9 In his Temple doth every one speak of his glory I had gone with the multitude to the House of God with the voyce of joy and praise with a multitude that kept holy day Psal 42.4 The gracious God is pleased to esteem it his glory to have many Beggars thronging at the beautiful gate of his Temple for Spiritual and Corporal alms What an honor is it to our great Landlord that multitudes of Tenants flock together to his house to pay their rent of Thanks and Worship for their All which they hold of him How loud and lovely is the noise of many golden Trumpets Good Lord what an eccho do they make in Heavens ears Deus pluris facit preces in Ecclesia quam domi factas non ob locum sed ob considerationem multitudinis fidelium Deum communi consensu invo cantium Riv. in Cath. Orth. When many skilful Musicians play in consort with well-tuned and prepared Instruments the Musick cannot but be ravishing to God himself Methinks its a notable resemblance of the sweet melody which is made by the Celestial Quire above Psal 68.26 Bless ye God in the Congregation even the Lord from the fountain of Israel for he loveth the gates of Zion above all the dwellings of Jacob Psal 87.2 As in publique God receiveth the highest praises so there he bestoweth the richest mercies Blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy Courts We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy House even of thy holy Temple Psal 65.4 Here is Davids Position and its proof His Position is That the Templer or Inhabitant in Gods House is an happy man Blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy House The proof of it is from the quality and quantity of the provision which God makes for them that are of his Houshold For the quality of it it is not onely good but Goodness which word signifieth not onely the good will which God beareth to but all the good things which God bestoweth upon his people Pardon Peace Love Grace every good thing all good things are in the womb of that one word Goodness Gods provision for his people is beyond all their knowledge or apprehension There be four ordinary ways by which men come to the knowledge of good things either by hearing them immediately themselves or by hear-say from others or by the sight of the eyes or by discourse of Reason But from the beginning of the World men have not seen nor heard nor perceived by the ear nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what God hath provided for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 Isa 64.4 The love discovered there is an unknown love the joy bestowed there is unspeakable joy All the costliest dainties prepared for Heavens Table the fulness of joy and pleasures for ever at Gods right hand are expressed by this one word Goodness Psal 31.19 So that the quality of the provision is beyond all exception it is Goodness For its quantity it is to satisfaction We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house even of thy Holy Temple The Saint shall have enough of this luscious fare to content him Indeed the Christians full meal is reserved for him till he comes to eat bread in the Kingdom of Heaven but here he hath enough to stay his stomach He is very well satisfied that his allowance in this World is sufficient God calls him in the other World to greater work and so will give him a greater allowance for suitable strength but God doth not in this World underkeep him He feeds proportionable to their employments nay to their satisfaction and contentment all
glory Fourthly On the Kingdom of the house of David his annointed Fifthly That he would send Elias the Prophet Sixthly That he would make them worthy of the days of the Messiah and of the life of the World to come After this prayer the Guests with soft and low voices said unto themselves Fear ye the Lord all ye his holy ones because there is no want to them that fear him The young Lions want and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall want no good thing Alas alass how few Gentiles spend half that time in devotion at their Tables which the pious among the Jews did Many go from their food as the Cow from her fodder taking no notice of the Author of it and like the Idolatrous Israelites they sit down to eat and drink and rise up to play Exod. 32.6 They sit down to Eat and Drink and rise up to play the Beast to play the Atheist Remember every creature of God is good if it be received with thanksgiving 1 Tim. 4.4 but this thanksgiving must not be onely in thy words but also in thy works thy unblameable conversation and thy charitable contribution must speak thy thankfulness When the Master hath fed the Servant he expects that he should go about his business and do the work appointed him That strength which thou receivest from God must be improved for God It s good to bless God with thy lips but best of all to bless him with thy hands and in thy life God will judge of thy thankfulness by thy conversation Think thus with thy self This is the God that feedeth me that satisfieth me with good things how sweet how comfortable are his mercies What sweet refreshment have I had from the creatures when some better then my self want food Others have it but their lives abhor bread and their souls dainty meat Job 3.20 Why should I not love fear and trust and serve this God! I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living O be ashamed to live at Gods cost and to do Satans work Be not like the young Mulets which when they have sucked their fill turn up their heels and kick at their Dam. Further thy duty is to manifest thy thank fulness by supplying the wants of the needy Job would not eat his morsels alone but the Fatherless had a share with him Job 31.16 17. The forementioned Author observes that the Heathen were not forgetful when they were feeding of their absent friends Gods hand is open to thee why should thy heart and hands be shut against the hungry bellies and naked backs Thy goods extend not to Gods Person therefore they must to Gods poor Psa 16.2 Have a Monitor within thee to call upon thee when at meals Remember the poor Remember the poor Remember poor Christ and hungry Christ and naked Christ by this test he will try thee for thine eternal estate and upon the neglect of this he will sentence thee to the eternal fire Mat. 25.41 If thou art a rich person do thou frequently mind this duty Great House-keepers must be Good House keepers All must contribute according to their abilities to the poors necessities but where God gives much he requires much he expecteth an harvest sutable to the seed he soweth It is credibly reported of Mr. Sutton Founder of Suttons Hospital that he used often to repair into a private garden Fullers Church Hist of Brit. where he poured forth his prayers unto God and amongst other passages was overheard frequently to use this expression Lord thou hast given me a liberal and large estate give me also an heart to make a good use it I am confident an heart to use wealth aright is a greater mercy then the greatest heap of wealth I had rather have a little with an heart to improve it for God then much then millions without such an heart Make thee friends of the unrighteous Mammon that when that failes thee thou mayst be received into the Celestial habitation Iustin lib. 51. When Dionysius the Syracusian Tyrant saw what heapes of gold and silver his Son had hoarded up in his closet he asked him what he meant to let it lie there and not to make friends with it to get the Kingdom after his death O Son saith he thou hast not a spirit capable of a Kingdom The rust of many a rich mans wealâ—h will eat his heart with pain and torment in the other World and the Apostle calls upon such to weep and houl for the miseries that are coming upon them James 5.1 2 3 4. God findeth fault with them that could fare on the finest bread and fattest flesh themselves and yet forget the afflictions of others Amos 6.5 How many riotous rich men are there that though they cannot eat and drink all with sobriety will rather spoil it by gluttony and drunkenness then let the poor have part with them like Children who will rather crumble away their food then impart any to their fellows O how justly was the rich man denyed a drop in the other world when he denyed a crum in this world Willet Hexap in Levit. How many covetous Muck-worms like Hogs are nourished onely to be destroyed they are good for nothing whilst they are alive the Hog is neither good to draw as the Ox nor to bear as the Horse nor to cloath us as the Sheep nor to give milk as the Cow nor to keep the House as the Dog but good onely to be kild Such are these scraping wretches good for nothing till they come to the Knife Like barren trees they do but cumber the ground and serve for no use till they are cut down for the unquenchable fire And truely their hearts will never bewail him dead whose bowels did not bless him alive His life did not deserve a prayer nor his death a tear who laid out that to serve his pride which God laid in to serve the poor Reader if God have dealt thee a considerable portion of outward good things consider that thou art but Gods Factor he is the Merchant The Factor knoweth that the goods transported to him are his Masters goods and he must dispose them according to directions from his Master All thine estate is Gods thou art but his servant his Factor he gives thee order in his word to dispose it thus and thus to such poor members of Christ so much to one and so much to another and he will shortly reckon with thee how thou obeyest his directions and if thou forbearest charity now thou wilt then be counted and found as real a theif before the whole world as ever servant was that put hundreds into his own purse which his Master appointed him to pay to other persons Withhold not thy goods from the owners thereof Pro. 3.27 from them to whom it is due either by the law of justice or by the law of love Rom. 13.8 And truly Charity is the best way to plenty He gets
are all called to be Souldiers Our whole life is a warfare All the days of my appointed time Job 14.14 An Expositor reads it Ad agendum natâ—milites Cicer. All the days of my warfare I will wait till my change come The Souldiers life is no lazy life Armies are wholly for action especially when they deal with such subtile strong adversaries that assault them day and night without ceasing Who can conquer three such mighty Monarchs as Flesh World and Devil are or force his way through their temptations and suggestions unless he fight in earnest and make it his business That fire if ever any had need to be hot that must melt and overcome such hard mettal and that hand if ever any had need to work hard that will remove and level such high mountains If the silly Hare pursued by such a pack of Hounds offer once to stand still or lye down she is sure to be torn in pieces and devoured There is a time saith the holy Bishop Hall Holy observ 20. when Kings go not forth to warfare our spiritual war admits no intermission it knows no night no winter abides no peace no truce this calls us not into Garison where we may have ease and respite but into pitcht fields continually we see our enemies in the face always and are always seen and assaulted ever resisting ever defending receiving and returning blows if either we be negligent or weary we dye We can never have safety and peace but in victory There must our resistance be couragious and constant where both yielding is death and all treaties of peace mortal Secondly There is a necessity of making it our main work Because of the multiplicity of businesses that is incumbent on every Christian That stream had need to run freely and with full force that must be divided into many channels That estate had need to be large that must be parted among many children Who can count the variety of works that every Christian must be engaged in how many Dangers he must wade through how many Snares must he avoid how many Taunts and Mocks must he abide how many Temptations must he conquer how many Graces must he exercise how many Lusts must he mortifie how many Duties must he perform every relation every condition calls for answerable duty and diligence every Ordinance must be improved by him every Providence must be sanctified to him Mercies must like a ladder mount him nearer to Heaven Misery must like the famine to the Prodigal force him to hasten to his Fathers house His Wife his Children his Servants his Neighbors his Friends his Enemies his shop his closets his visits his journeys do all require suitable service and who can perform it that is not diligent and sedulous Consider him in reference to Gods immediate Worship he must pray hear read meditate watch fast sanctifie Sabbaths sing Psalms receive the Sacrament and in all walk humbly reverently and uprightly with his God Consider him in reference to poor men he must love mercy and supply their necessities according to his ability and not like a muck-heap good for nothing till carried forth whatever men he deals with he must do justly love his Neighbor as himself and as God gives him opportunity provoke them to mind Grace and Sanctity as Musk perfume if possible all that he comes near Consider him in reference to himself he must live soberly vigilantly his heart is like a subtle sturdy theif ever seeking to break the goal and therefore must have a strong guard his corrupt nature is like fire and his whole man like thatch and therefore he must keep a narrow watch his Sences are the Out-works which Satan is ever assaulting by them to gain the Royal Fort of the Soul that he must defend them with care and courage day and night What is said of the Husbandman is true of every Christian His work is never at an end The end of one work is but the beginning of another He must always be imployed either in dunging dressing ploughing sowing harrowing weeding or reaping his ground he hath no leisure to be idle and lazy who hath so much work lying upon his hand Nullus mihi per â—tium exiit dies partem etiam noctium studiis vendico non vacosomno sed juc cumbo oculos vigilia fatigatos cadentesque in opere detinco Sen. epist 67. Seneca thought Philosophy cut him out so much work that he was necessitated to spend every day and part of the nights in making it up Christianity a nobler Mistris as she gives better wages so she commands greater work that her servants may say well with the Emperor Let no day pass without a line and with Solomons Houswife not let their candle to go out by night Prov. 30. The French Duke de Alva could say when he was asked by Henry the Fourth Whether he had seen the Eclipse of the Sun That he had so much business to do upon Earth that he had no time to look up to Heaven Sure I am the Christian may say with more truth and conscience That he hath so much business to do for Heaven that he hath no time to mind vain or earthly things That servant who doth ponder the strictness of his Master consider the shortness of his time conceive the largeness of his task and beleeve the weightiness of his work how it must be done or he is undone for ever will be easily convinced that it nearly concerns him that it highly behoves him to shake off sloth and sluggishness to gird up the loins of his mind to give it the precedency in all his actions to pursue it with industry against all opposition to persevere in it with constancy to his dissolution and in a word to make it his main business his principal work CHAP. VIII A Complaint that this Trade is so dead and the Worlds trade so quick THe Use which I shall make of this Doctrine shall be either by way of Complaint or Counsel First By way of Lamentation If Godliness ought to be every ones principal business How sadly should it be lamented that this calling is so exceedingly neglected What one man is there of many that doth follow this trade and exercise himself to Godliness Men generally cry out Trading is dead their particular callings are gone they make no considerable returns they stand in their shops all the day idle But may not God rather complain The holy heavenly trade is decayed and dead general callings are left and lost Why stand ye all the day idle and refuse to work in my vineyard While the Devil has whole droves to do his drudgery the Flesh vast flocks to flatter its fancies and the World many millions to admire and adore its vanities the ways of Sion mourn they are unoccupied none come to the solemn feasts all her gates are desolate While the Lawyers Closet is filled with Clients for counsel about their Estates the Physicians
our aims Now as duties are considerable in a twofold respect so a Christian must have in them a twofold end 1. Duties are considerable as services in relation to the command and so a Christian must mind them that he may testifie his obedience to God and his dependance on him Thou hast commanded me to keep thy precepts diligently O that my ways were directed to keep thy commandments Psal 119.5 6. Warn the unruly comfort the feeble minded support the weak be patient towards all men rejoycing evermore pray without ceasing in every thing give thanks For this is the will of God concerning you 1 Thess 5.14 15 16 17 18. God required the Israelites to bring a sheaf in a Ghomer about a pottle for all their increase of the fruits of the earth Lev. 23.10 whereby they acknowledged that they receive all from him Though man be unable to satisfie Gods Justice by all his devotion yet God will be owned and acknowledged in holy duties Copy-holders though they have the profiâ—s of their Houses and Lands to themselves yet pay some small Quit-Rent and at certain times do suit and service to the Lord â—f their Manor acknowleding thereby that the Fee-simple is his and they enjoy theâ— through his favour The earth is the Lords and thâ— fulness thereof He is the mighty possessor of heaven and earth and though he gives the earth by leases for lives as it were and copies to the children of men yet the Fee-simple and original right is still in himself and he hath appointed seasons daily and weekly for duties wherein Christians should acknowledge that they hold all of him and enjoy all through his grace and good will The worshipping of God in his Ordinances is the homage which as creatures we ow to our Maker and as Christians we owe to our Redeemer God alloweth us the comfort of our mercies but he reserveth to himself the credit of our mercies and hath appointed the hours of prayer to be the set times for the payment of this small Quit-rent infinitely inferior to our engagements to his sacred Majesty Truly Reader This end must be minded in thine attendance on the means of grace namely to give God glory by acknowleding his Soveraignty over thee and bounty to thee or else when thou bendest the bow of thine heart and shootest thy spiritual arrows thou wilt never hit the mark 2. Duties are considerable as means in relation to the Promise and so they are channels cut out by Christ to convey grace into the hearts of men therefore thine end in this respect must be to derive grace from the God of all grace through the means of grace The place of Ordinances is called by some The door of Heaven because there Christ gives his alms his dole Others call it The Celestial Exchange between God and his people God doth there exchange mercies for duties and they exchange Glory for Grace At the Tabernacle saith God I will meet with the children of Israel and it shall be sanctified by my glory And I will dwell a-among the children of Israel and will be their God Exod. 29.43 45. When God comes to his house he never comes empty handed If Paul comes with the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ with what clusters of blessings is the true Vine laden with what a train of Graces and Comforts is this great King attended I will meet with the children of Israel there When Jacob met Joseph they kist and wept Gen. 46.29 But when God meets the Beleever they have a merrier meeting they kiss and rejoyce And I will dwell among them Who can imagine the house which God keeps where he dwells the dainties the delicates which he provides for his friends and Family Great Princes have great provision in their Courts answerable to their quality but what provision doth the great God make surely answerable to his infinite majesty The table in the Tabernacle was furnished with so many loaves as there were Tribes in Israel Moses unveyled c. 27. p. 10 signifying that God keeps a constant and plentiful table in his Church for all Beleevers Ordinances are canales gratiae Conduit-pipes whereby the water of life is derived from Christ into the hearts of Christians As the light and beams of the Sun is the vehiculum or chariot to convey the heat and influence of the Sun to the world so the Ordinances of God are the chariots whereby God conveyeth the heat of his Grace and the influences of his Spirit to men and women Saints behold his face in the glaâ—â— of Ordinances and are changed into his image from glory to glary 2 Cor. 3.18 Those Divine graces which are for meat to satisfie and for medicine to heal the soul are found growing onely upon the banks of the waters of the Sanctuary Clark Mâ—r. part 2. p. 213. therefore go to Ordinances as the Viemaâ— lim a bird in America flieth to the fields for the dew which falls down from Heaven thereupon which it liveth Socrates one day meeting Zenophon the Son of Corillus in a certain Port Town â—â—og of aeâ— in viâ— stopt him with his staff and asked him Where was the place where several commodities were to be had He answered readily In such a place Then saith Socrates Where is the place that a man might be made good Zenophon answered he could not tell Then follow thou me saith Socrates and thou shalt learn and from that time he became Socrates Schollar The Ordinances of God are the places for both there true riches and vertue may be had the Temple is both the Exchange for traffique and a School for learning The good Mastâ—r teacheth his Schollars there those lessons which make them wise to salvation Reader the Ordinances are the food of the soul milk for babes and meat for men do thou feed on them to get spiritual health â—nd strength It is a shame for a Christian to be like an Anâ—â—busie about a molehil never to grow greater Goâ—o those wells that the vessels of thy soul may be filled with living water David longed as a Woman with Child so the word signifieth to see the beauty of the Lord and receive of his bounty in the Sanctuary Psa 84.2 and 63.1 2. and 27. Thou goest to the Market to supply thy bodily necessities and art ashamed to come home empty Dost thou not come to the Ordinances of God for the releif of thy soul indigencies and art thou not greived to come away poor and beggarly Merchants take in some goods from one part some from another part and at last come home richly laden do thou get some true riches at prayer some from the word and then how comfortably mayst thou conclude thy duties Do not rest in the formal performance of duties as the Harlot that cryed out Prov. 7.14 I have had my peace-offering to day and therefore all must be well but as the people when Moses went to speak to
the mark considereth what the reason was whether he did not shoot too high or too low or too much on the right hand or too much on the left hand takes the same Arrow again onely reformeth his former error and winneth the wager Secondly Working is necessary after prayer as well as Watching Begging and Digging must go together Thy duty is to pray as knowing assuredly that thou canst do nothing of thy self and yet to work as if thou wert to do all by thine own power He that doth not indeavour in a lawful use of those meant which God affordeth him to attain the mercies he needeth and asketh doth tempt not trust God and may expect a rod sooner then releif A good use may be made of that story A Carter having over-thrown his Cart sat in the way crying help Hercules help Hercules was counted by the Heathen a God for his strength O Hercules help At length one appeared to him in Herculus shape with a good Cudgel in his hand and beat him handsomely saying Ah thou silly lazy fellow dost thou call to me for help and sit still thy self arise and set to thy shoulder do thy part and I will do the rest If thou prayest for thy dayly bread be thou diligent in thy calling or else expect a crop out of the Ocean If thou prayest against some particular sins avoid the occasions of those sins If it be against Drunkenness avoid evil company If it be against Pride avoid and discourage such as will flatter thee for otherwise thou dost as he that runneth into the fire and prayeth to God that it may not burn him such a man mocketh God but himself most if thou prayest for Holiness and Grace hear read meditate watch use the means and expect a good issue from God Observe David his prayer was Set a watch O Lord before my mouth keep the door of my lips Psa 141.3 But now because he had committed the main charge of this unruly prisoner his tongue to God desiring him to lock the double doors of his lips and teeth fast upon it and to have a main guard always watching before the doors least it should break through and attempt an escape doth he therefore sleep himself thinking the prisoner was safe enough no he himself would be upon the guard I said I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my tongue I will keep my mouth with a a bridle while the wicked is before me Psal 39.1 2. David as he desired God to put a good bit into the mouth of this wanton beast so he would himself keep a strict hand and rein him in A good Wish about prayer wherein all the forementioned particulars are epitomized PRayer is one of my nearest and solemnest approaches to the most high God The Introduction to prayer analyzed and one of my choicest priviledges on this side the place of praise wherein I may go to my God at all times and acquaint him what I ail where it is well where it is ill with my poor soul I wish in general that I may never suffer this key to Gods own treasury to rust for want of use nor to be ineffectual to the opening of the Divine bounty by my unskilfulness in turning it that neither by my unfitness for the duty miscarriage at the duty nor misbehaviour after the duty I may demean my self unworthy of so great a favour so high an honor and so good a Master In particular I wish that I may at least morning and evening before I enter upon this ordinance The antecedents to prayer 1. Meditation Of sins whether in my closet or family make a privy search for those Barabasses which have moved sedition in my soul and murthered my dearest Saviour and that I may have such a sight of them all in their horrid nature and bloody colour that I may arraign them at the Tribunal of God with confusion of face and contrition of heart and may with all possible ardency plead for their execution Of wants I wish that my necessities may ever be in my memory that as the sick childe I may point readily to the place of my pain when ever I go to make my moan to my heavenly Father and that affected with the weight and importance of them I praying feelingly may pray the more fervently I wish that the many and weighty mercies which I unworthy Wretch enjoy Of mercies may be written so firmly in my minde and presented to me before prayer in the various and lively colours of their freeness fulness and seasonableness that I may never steal the custom of thanks from my God which is all he desires for those rich and full vessels which he sendeth me in every day but may pay him this impost of Praise and Glory with all uprightness and alacrity I wish that my Graces may never be like Jonah Quickning of grace asleep when I am to call upon my God but as the Heavenly Host they may be moving in their several places and fighting in their courses against my spiritual Enemies O that like holy Bradford I might never leave confession without sorrow for sin petition without some sense of the worth of mercies nor thanksgiving Laying asâ—â—â— what may hinde prâ—yâ—â— without some solace and joy in God the Author and Fountain of all my happiness I wish that I may draw nigh to God with a pure conscience and before I go to desire the lovely portion of his friends All sin in general give a bill of divorce to all my lusts and at least banish from the bed of my heart those enemies of his which would not have him to reign over me I wish that I may never desire mercy at his hands with the least degree of malice in my heart Anger but may love as Saints because they are Christs seed so sinners and them that hate me for Christs sake and as a special medicine against that poison whatsoever friend I should forget in my prayers I wish I may resolve before hand to remember in particular my Enemies to beg of God that he would pardon sanctifie and save them I wish that my affections may not as Sauls person Worldly thoughts be hid among the stuff of Worldly affairs when I should be busie about the concernment of an eternal crown but that I may leave those servants always at the door behind while I go in to speak to the King of Nations Concomitants of prayer and may all the time of the duty serve and seek the Lord my God without distraction I wish that I may be specially careful to look up to the Master of requests Person must be justified the Lord Jesus Christ First for the justification of my person and then for the acceptation of my prayer and that I may be so enabled with the hand of faith to put on the glorious robes of his perfect righteousness that neither the nakedness
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
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
the hand of thy body to take the bread and wine do thou put forth the hand of faith to receive the body and blood of Christ This is one principal act of Faith like Joseph of Arimathea to take Jesus down from his Cross and lay him in the new Tomb of thine heart Like Thomas put thy finger of faith into his side and cry out My Lord and my God Be not discour aged O penitent soul Are thy sins many His mercy is free Are thy sins weighty His merits are full Thou comest for bread and will thy Saviour give thee a stone He took notice of thy ferious preparation for this Ordinance and will he frustrate thine expectation at it Did he ever send hungry soul empty away The law of man provides for the poor in purse and will not the Gospel of Christ provide for the poor in spirit Is not his commission to bind up the broken hearted and can he be unfaithful Why shouldst thou mistrust truth it self Let me say to thee as the Disciples to the blind man Be of good chear he calleth for thee See how he casteth his eyes upon thee with a look of love as once upon Peter Observe he stretcheth out his Armes wide to embrace thee He boweth down his head to kiss thee He cryeth to thee as to Zacheus I must abide at thy house in thy heart to day O make haste to receive him and make him a feast by opening the doors of thy soul that the King of Glory may enter in Say to Christ Lord though I am unworthy that thou shouldst come under my roof yet thou art so gracious as to knock at the door of my heart and to promise if I open that thou wilt come in and sup with me and then call to him as Laban to Abrahams Steward Come in thou blessed of the Lord why standest thou without I have prepared lodging for thee Gen. 24. Truly Reader shouldst thou having mourned unfeignedly for thy sins now by unbeleif hang off from thy Saviour thou woulst much dishonour him and disadvantage thy self Christs greater things are for them that beleive If thou wilt now beleive thou shalt see the glory of God I am very consident if thou hadst been by the Cross broken heart when thy Saviour suffered and shouldst have kneeled down before him and said Dearest Saviour Why art thou now wrastling with the wrath of Heaven and rage of Hell He would have answered To satisfie poor soul for thy sins Again Why dost thou dye such a cursed death He would have said To take the curse of the law from thy back that so thou mightest inherit the blessing Once more Let not my Lord be angry and I will speak this once Blessed Redeemer Why didst thou cry out I thirst and drink Gall and Vinegar Thou mightest have heard such a reply To assure thee Thirsty sinner that I am sensible of thy thirst being scorched with that fury which is due to thy sins and that thou mightest drink of that love which is better then Wine But stay O weary thirsty soul but a while and by and by thou shalt see this side opened and blood issuing out to quench thy thirst O put the mouth of faith to that wound and what thou shalt suck thence shall do thee good for ever Reader I have read that the Souldier who peirced Christs side was blind and that the blood flying out upon him recovered his sight Sure I am that this blood sprinkled on thy conscience will purge it from dead works to serve the living God O therefore bathe thy soul in this blood when thou art at the Sacrament say to God as the Eunuch to Philip Here is water what hindereth but I may be Baptized Lord here is blood here is a fountain what hindereth but I may wash in it Rom. 3.24 1 Joh. 1.7 Heb. 9.14 Gal. 6.14 Heb. 12.13 True Lord my person is unrighteous but thy blood is justifying blood My heart is polluted but O Christ thy blood is sanctifying blood My lusts are many and strong but thy blood is mortifying blood My soul is lost but sweetest Saviour thy blood is saving blood This Justifying Sanctifying Saving blood I drink I apply for these ends O let this blood be upon me and my children for ever AWay despair my gracious Lord doth hear Though Winds and Wave assault my keel He doth preserve it Herbert the bag he doth steer Ev'n when the Boat seems most to reel Storms are the Triumph of his Art Well may he close his eyes but not his heart Hast thou not heard what my Lord Jesus did Then let me tell thee a strange story The God of power as he did ride In his Majestick robes of glory Resolv'd to light and so one day He did descend undressing all the way The Stars his tire of light and rings obtain'd The Clouds his bow the fire his spear The Skie his Azure mantle gain'd And when they ask'd what he would wear He smil'd and said as he did go He had new cloaths a making here below When he was come as travellers are wont He did repair unto an Inn Both then and after many a brunt He did endure to cancel sin And having giv'n the rest before Here he gave up his life to pay our score But as he was returning there came one Who ran upon him with a Spear He who came hither all alone Bringing no man nor armes nor fear Recio'd the blow upon his side And straight he turn'd and to his Brethren cryd If ye have any thing to send or write I have no bag but here is room Vnto my Fathers hands and sight Beleive me it shall safely come That I shall mind what you impart Look you may lay it very near my heart Or if hereafter any of my friends Will use me in this kind the door Shall still be open what he sends I will present and somewhat more Not to his hurt sighs will convey Any thing to me Heart-despair away 2. The second Grace to be called forth is love And truly if thou hast acted thy faith in his Passion for and affection to thy soul I shall not in the least doubt but thy love to him will play its part The Creatures some tell us follow the Panther being drawn after her by her sweet odours When Jesus Christ out of infinite love offered up himself a Sacrifice for thy sins surely the sweet savour thereof may draw thy heart after him Because of the savour of thy good oyntments therefore the Virgins love thee Cant. 1.4 There is nothing in Christ but what may well command thy love He is the fairest of ten thousand He is altogether lovely But his bloody sufferings for thee and his blessed love to thee one would think are such Loadstones that if thou wert as cold and hard as steel would draw thy soul both to desire him and to delight in him Meditate a little more on his love to thee Publicans and
thy best friend in the World was so inhumanely used so barbarously but chered thou shouldst cry out as David in a holy passion As the Lord liveth the man the sin that hath done this thing shall surely be put to death When Antonius after Caesar was Murdered in the Senate house brought forth his Coat all bloody cut and mangled and laying it open to the view of the people said Look here is your Emperors Coat and as the bloody-minded Conspirators have dealt by it so have they dealt with Caesars body Upon this they were in an uprore and cryed out to slay the Murderers and took Brands and ran to the Houses of the Conspirators and burnt them down to the ground and as they apprehended the Murderers put them to death Reader thou seest at the Sacrament the wounds and blood of thy blessed Redeemer the dreadful painful death which thy Soveraign underwent O what canst thou do less then vow to be revenged on his Murderers thy corruptions and in an holy anger endeavour their speedy execution if thou wouldst have a full sight of sins filth and sinfulness go to Mount Calvary and behold thy Saviour hanging upon the Cross and good Lord what thoughts wilt thou have of thy lusts Physitians in unseemly convulsions advise their Patients to look into a glass that beholding their deformity they may strive the more against it The world never had such a glass as the sufferings of Jesus Christ for the discovery of sins loathsom ugly features and its horrid hideous hellish face now how should this light provoke thee to loath and hate sin O what Child would not abhor those weapons which murdered his dearest Father It was the glory of Alexander that as soon as ever he had opportunity he slew the Murderers of his Father upon his fathers Tomb. Truely Reader a Sacrament day is a special opportunity and thou wilt shew but little love to thine everlasting Father if thou dost not now put his Murderers to death upon those Monuments of his passion Now thou art at the Table think of thy unthankfulness ambition hypocrisie covetousness irreligion and infidelity and the rest how these crucified the Lord of glory and resolve through the strength of Christ that these Hamans shall be all hanged that these sins shall be condemned and crucified CHAP. XX. What a Christian ought to do after a Sacrament I Shall speak to thy duty after the Supper Thirdly Which consisteth mainly in these two things Thankefulness and Faithfulness 1. Thankefulness After such a Banquet as this is thou mayst well give thanks The Jews at their Passover did sing the hundred and thirteenth Psalm with the five following Psalmes which they called the Great Hallelujah A Christian should in every thing and at all times give thanks but at a Sacrament the great Hallelujah must be sung then God must have great thanks then we must with our souls bless the Lord and with all within us paise his holy name O Reader call upon thy self as Barak and Deborah did Awake awake Deborah Awake awake Barak utter a song and lead captivity captive thou son of Abinoam Judg. 5. Awake my love awake my joy utter a song a feast is made for laughter and wine rejoyceth the heart of man Friend is not this a rare feast where is thy chearful face Is not here good wine a cup of Nectar indeed the blood of the Son of God what mirth what musick hast thou to this Banquet of Wines Antiently it was the beginning and ending of Letters Gaudete in Domino Rejoyce in the Lord. It will be an excellent conclusion of this Ordinance to rejoyce in the Lord. O let thy soul magnisie the Lord and thy spirit rejoyce in God thy Saviour Luk. 1.46 47. The cup in the Sacrament is called the Eucharistical cup or the cup of blessing let it be so to thee Let thy heart and mouth say Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath visited and redeemed his people Luk. 2. Canst thou think of that infinite love which God manifested to thy soul without Davids return VVhat shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits His heart was so set upon thy salvation His Love was so great to thy soul that he delighted in the very death of his Son because it tended to thy good It pleased the Lord to bruise him Isa 53.10 Valde delectatus est Junius reads it He was exceedingly delighted in it Surely the mind of God was infinitely set upon the recovery of lost sinners in that whereas other Parents whose love to their children in comparison of his to Christ is but as a drop to the Ocean follow their children to their graves with many tears especially when they dye violent deaths he delighted exceedingly in the barbarous death of his onely Son in the bleeding of the head because it tended to the health and eternal welfare of the members Friend what manner of love hath the father loved thee with He gave his own Son to be apprehended that thou mightest escape his own Son to be condemned that thou mightest be acquitted his own Son to be whipped and wounded that thou mightest be cured and healed yea his own Son to dye a shameful cursed death that thou mightest live a glorious blessed life for ever Glory to God in the highest peace on earth and good will to men Alass how unworthy art thou of this inestimable mercy Thou art by nature a child of wrath as well as others and hadst been now wallowing in sin with the worst in the World if free grace had not renewed thee nay thou hadst been roaring in Hell at this hour if free grace had not repreived thee Thy conscience will tell thee that thou dost not deserve the bread which springeth out of the earth and yet thou are fed with the bread which came down from heaven with Angels food O infinite love Mayst not thou well say with Mephibosheth to David VVhat is thy servant that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am For all my fathers house were as dead men before my Lord yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own Table Lord I was a lost dead damned sinner before thee liable to the unquenchable fire and yet thou hast been pleased to set me among them that eat at thine own Table and feed on thine own Son O what is thy servant that thou shouldst take such notice of such a dead dog as I am Look abroad in the World and thou mayst see others refused when thou art chosen others past by when thou art called others polluted when thou art sanctified others put off with common gifts when thou hast special grace others fed with the scraps of ordinary bounty when thou hast the finest of the floor even the fruits of saving mercy As Elkanah gave to Peninnah and to all her sons and Daughters portions but to Hannah he gave a worthy portion because he loved her
that are in his inferior family His children have till they leave But Reader Where is the place of this good this great provision is it not in Gods House in his holy Temple in the publique Worship Great Princes bestow their Largesses and shew their Bounty Glory and Magnifience before much people If thou wouldst know where Believers have seen their best sights where they have heard their most ravishing sounds where they have made their most delightful meals it was in the House of God They have seen thy goings O God in the Sanctuary Psal 68.24 They have heard the joyful sound of thy Word They have been abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy House Do but consider Davids tears and grief for want of and his fervent prayers for the fruition of publike Ordinances even then when he had opportunities for private performances and surely thou wilt esteem the Ministery of the Word no mean mercy See his sorrow when he was driven from Gods Sanctuary When I remember these things my soul is poured out for I had gone with the multitude I went with them to the House of God Psal 42.3 4. My soul is poured out that is I am overwhelmed with grief and even ready to dye when I compare my present condition with my former happiness in the fruition of Religious Assemblies There is an Elegancy in the phrase Poured out the word is applyed to water or any liquid thing and in Scripture signifieth abundance Joel 2.28 My life is ready to be poured out as water upon the ground which cannot be gathered up again when I remember my former mercies and consider my present misery How bitterly and passionately doth he plead with Saul If the Lord hath stirred thee up against me let him accept an Offering but if they be the children of men cursed be they before the Lord for they have driven me out this day from the Inheritance of the Lord 1 Sam. 26. 19. How pathetically doth he bemoan it to his own soul Wo is me for I dwell in Meshech and my habitations are in the Tents of Kedar The loss of his Father Mother Wives Children Lands Liberty nay of his very Life would not have gone so near his heart as the loss of publique Ordinances As his sorow was great for the want so was his suit most earnest for the enjoyment of them How many a prayer doth he put up for the liberty of the Tabernacle Psal 43.3 4. 27.4 It is the one thing the principal special request which he begs of God One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life and verse 8. how hard doth he pray for this priviledge Thou saidst Seek ye my face my heart said unto thee Thy face Lord will I seek To seek the face of God in a general sense is taken for the substance of Religion or to seek God Psal 24.6 but by the face of God in a strict sense is meant the Ark of God and place of his residence Now David at this time being deprived of this inestimable benefit in the ardency of his zeal presseth God with all the arguments he could devise to restore him to that happiness among the rest he urged God with his own words Thou hast commanded me to worship thee in thy Tabernacle to appear before thee that is my desire and delight my heart would seek and see thy face there Thus he presseth God for performance on his side that he might be enabled to obey Gods precept Where God denyeth publique Ordinances there he himself will be a little Sanctuary to his chosen Ezek. 11.16 But where he affords them he expects that they should be attended Christ himself went often into the Synagogues Peter and John went up into the Temple at the hour of prayer Acts 3.1 On the Sabbath we went out of the City by a rivers side where prayer was wont to be made Acts 13.23 and Paul reasoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath Acts 18.4 Those that by their practices contemn publique Worship have neither Christ nor his Apostles for their pattern One of the Jewish Rabbies hath a saying He that dwells in a City where there is a Synagogue and cometh not to Prayers Merito dicitur vicinus malus is deservedly stiled a bad neighbour Beader if thou forsakest the Assemblies of the Saints how useful soever thou mayest be to others bodies yet thou art a bad neigbour in neglecting soul-service The Lord Jesus Christ as he was faithful as a Son in his own house took special care to provide and prepare such publique servants as might give every one their meat in due season The Ministers of the word are his publique Officers appointed by himself to have the oversight of his Saints They are both Fathers to beget and Tutours to bring up his Sons and Daughters They are his Stewarts to dispense publiquely the mysteries of the Gospel of peace But little do they think who set light by publique Ordinances what a price Christ paid that he might enable and qualifie them for his Churches profit The gifts he bestoweth on Pastors are not the least sign of his good will to his people Wherefore he saith When he ascended up on high he gave gifts to men And he gave some Apostles and some Profits and some Evangelists and some Pastours and some Teachers For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Ephes 4.8 11.12 13. As Kings on the day of their Coronation usually appear in all their Majesty and magnificence and do some famous act as of a general pardon or the like which may speak their love and respect to their Subjects So Jesus Christ when he rode Triumphantly in the Chariot of his ascension into Heavens glorious City to sit and reign there at the right hand of the Majesty on High gave abilities to Ministers endowed them with answerable gifts and graces that they might dispense the Ordinances of God powerfully and profitably as a special fruit of his passion for and a singular testimony of his affection to his Church I would wish thee therefore to be present at and to continue to the end of publique Ordinances David would be a Door-keeper in the House of God Because a Door-keeper is first in and last out Friend if thou wert feasting some Noble person thou wouldst not rise from Table unless necessity forced thee before all were taken away and thanks returned I must tell thee that when thou art feeding with the blessed Potentate it is much below good manners to turn thy back upon him without his leave and blessing Fifthly If thou wouldst make Religion thy business on a Lords day Tune thine
in their journey The feast which Moses made for his Father in Law and the Elders of Israel is called bread Exod 18.11 So also the entertainment of Christ at the House of one of the chief of the Pharisees Luk. 14.1 2. and the daily fare of the Disciples Acts 2.46 47. Elijah could be content with a Raven for his Cook Daniel sed and thrived upon Pulse he looked fairer by it then those that did eat of the Kings fare Brown bread and the Gospel are good chear said the Martyr John the Baptist could live upon locusts and wild hony The Apostles had some ears of Corn for a Sabbath days Dinner Though God is pleased out of mercy to afford us better provision yet our work must be to mind moderation O how great a curse is it for thee like Cham to be a servant of servants a servant to thy belly which should be a Servant to thee Thy soul in such a body is but a bright Candle in a greasie Lanthorn How much was that speech below a rational creature which Philoxenus uttered I wish that I had the throat of a Crane that the pleasure of my tast might last the longer The Spider is little else save belly but she is full of poison Besides it will be a poor account which such men can give for their expences this way at the great day God give thus our wealth for necessaries conveniencies and moderate delight not for prodigality and luxury Heliogabalus made whole meals of the tongues of Singing-Birds and Peacocks and brains of costly creatures He used to say That meat is not savoury whose sauce is not costly Many men have sold all their Lands for their Kitchin What a pattern doth the heir of all things give us of providence Joh. 6.12 Gather up the fragments that remain that nothing be lost Some indeed are Debtours to their bellies they pinch and pine them with penury not allowing them what nature requires whose Gold is their God They are worse then Cannibals eating their own flesh He that is cruel to his flesh troubleth his own house Prov. 11.17 But the bellies of most are debtours to them receiving much more then is fit or due as if they had been born to bow down to and worship their bellies If Esau had the Title of prophane for selling his birth-right for a mess of pottage when he was hungry Heb. 12. How prophane then are they that sell their estates and reason and health and souls and Saviour and salvation and all for a a moments brutish pleasure intemperate eating or drinking Our Lord Jesus commandeth his Disciples not to be curious about their diet Whatsoever is set before you eat Luk. 9. If it be wholesome though it be not toot-some accept it The Turks will drink no Wine because Mahomet their false Prophet fordids it Reader be thou temperate both in regard of the quantity and quality of thy food because the blessed Jesus the true Prophet of his Church commandeth it Thirdly thy duty is to eat and drink seasonably We read of eating in due season Eccles 10.17 As there is a season for spiritual actions when they are most profitable so there is a season for natural actions when they are most proper It s a foul fault not to observe fit hours for our food Our diet is unseasonable when we begin the day with it There is a wo to the Nation whose Princes eat in the morning Eccles 10.17 and a wo to the persons that rise up early in the morning to follow strong dring Isa 5.11 It is a bad sign when men leap out of their Beds into their Butteries and like Children call for their breakfasts as soon as they are up The Servant must wait on his Master till he hath fed After him is manners The body must wait on the soul till that hath broke its fast and had some spiritual refreshment with the blessed God The bodies place is after not before the soul The first of the day must ordinarily be given to the ancient of days God hopeth to hear from men before either their Butlers or Cooks hear from them He expecteth that we should serve him before we serve our selves though indeed our serving of him is the onely serving of our selves Moller pinsal 5.3 Mollerus observeth that David thence pleaded for early protection because he was early at his petitions He was early in the morning at his prayer and therefore he hoped that God would not come late at night with his answer Food is unseasonable when one meal treads upon the heels of another like Jobs Messengers The Holy Ghost speaks of some that are early up at it and continueat it till night Isa 5. Some make but one meal as it were all day If either meat or drink be offered them they can no more refuse it though they were full before then a Dog his bones Like Children and Chickens they are always feeding Too much Oyl puts out the Lamp Men eat and drink unseasonably when they turn the night into day and when God and nature call them to rest they ordinarily like the Roman glutton spend that time in pampering their bodies I have read of one that boasted he had not in so many years seen the Sun The Dutch will sit at a Wedding Feast from eight at night to four in the morning rising in the interim two or three times to ease nature and then to their dainties and Sweet-meaâ—s again They are industrious on the water and Gluttonous on the land Reader I hope though they are prodigal yet grace hath taught thee to be more provident of thy time CHAP. XXIV How a Christian may exercise himself to Godliness in his Apparel and Sleep Apparel and Sleep being of less concernment then some other subjects I shall speak but little to them yet because in these things we must walk by the rule of Gods Word I shall not wholly omit them And first for Apparel The Saints outward as well as his inward clothing must be sacred Spiritual Priests do all wear in a sense holy Garments Sin may cleave to our cloaths The Leprosie was not only in the Israelites houses but also in their Habits Lev. 13. Some persons carry the plague up and down in their Rayment their Garments are spotted with the flesh with pride and wantonness and prodigality A Christian may manifest grace in his Garments he may clothe his soul in covering the nakedness of his body his Garments may smell of Myrrhe Aloes and Gassia Psa 45. Exod. 19. Numb 11. As under the Law the cloaths of Gods people were washed and purified Ceremonally so our apparel under the Gospel if we observe Gods Counsell about it may be clean and pure spiritually For thine help herein Reader I shall speak briefly 1. To the ends of Apparel which must be minded 2. To the sins about Apparel which must be avoided 3. To the vertues in Apparel which must be manifested First To the ends
the Serpent as Eve to Adam a cross and a curse I wish in general that whilst I use my meat and drink and sleep and apparel I may never abuse them but that I may so ensure my right to them through Christ the heir of all things so taste the love of my God in them and make such an holy and sanctified improvement of them that I may have a spiritual title to natural good things may hold all in capite and the things of this life may be whet-stones to quicken my holiness and load-stones to draw my affections nearer to heaven In particular because the snare in eating and drinking is unseen and so the less suspicious About eating and drinking which must be done sacredly but the more dangerous I wish that I may never feed without fear but eat all my bread before the Lord that I may not as the horse and mule which hath no understanding drink of the streams Desiring a blessing and never look up to the spring but may acknowledge my God to be the author of every favour and be so sensible of the weakness of the creature to strenghten me without the influence of the creatour that I may constantly look up to heaven for a blessing on that food which springeth out of the earth I desire that my heart may so rellish the goodness of my God in the bounty of his hand Holy discourse at tablâ— that whilst I am filling my body I may by some savoury serious discourse feed my own and others souls that by the blessings of the footstool as by a lader I may mount up to the blessings of the throne Lord when thou remembredest me an unworthy wretch above many others let me not be so sordidly ungratful as to forget thy Majesty but as the rivers lead me to the Sea Thanks after meals so let common blessings direct me to thy self the Father Fountain of all my mercies open thou my lips that my mouth may shew forth thy praise O let not my thanks be onely verbal but cordial and reall Let thy mercy be returned to thy self again in sutable duty and thy beneficence by answerable obedience If I receive curtesies from men I esteem my self bound to requite them to my power ah why should not I then since I receive millions of mercies from my God improve all to his praise I desire that I may not as the Israelites bestow that corn and oyl on Baal or make provision for any sin with those favours which my God bestoweth on me but that all those cords of love may draw me nearer and bind me closer to himself I live at thy cost enable me to live to thy credit Let thy loving kindness be ever before me that I may walk in thy truth I wish that I may not only take my food piously Soberly as from Gods hand but also use it temperately as in Gods eye Excess hath been abhord by mere heathens Beasts know when they have drunk enough and by no beating will be forced to more and shall I who beside my reason have the help of Religion perish in the waters like the Swine possessed with devils O let my sensitive faculty be such a servant to myrational and both so serviceable to my God that I may use my food as my Physick receive it sparingly and for healths sake to become thereby more instrumental for the glory of my Saviour I do not live to eat but eat to live why then should I use my food as if like the Locust I were all belly or as some beasts made only to be filled and fatted for the slaughter I wish that I may observe the seasons for feeding my body Seasonably as well as those golden opportunities for my soul that I may not prefer the beast before the Angel within me but may usually every morning serve my God before my self and refresh my inward before my outward man In a word I beg that all my pots may be so spiced with piety and all my meat so sauced with religion that whether I eat or drink or whatever I do I may do all to the glory of my God that so when I shall eat and drink no more in this infirm estate I may drink of the rivers of his own pleasures and eat of that tree of life which groweth in the midst of Paradise I wish in general Apparel that my cloaths as well as my closet may be perfumed with godliness that the smell of my garments as Isaac said of Jacobs raiment may be as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed I desire in particular that I may so observe the ends for which apparel is appointed that I may wholy forbear those vices about them which my God forbideth and truly exercise those vertues on them which my God commandeth I wish that since garments are given me to cover my nakedness I may never discover the lust of my spirit in any lewd or loose attire on myflesh nor ever be proud of those rags be they never so gaudy or costly which call aloud to me to be humble as being the signs of my first and most dreadful sin and shame I desire that I may not be of the number of them that wast their wealth about that which is at the mercy of the moth yet that I may not through covetousness offer my self by my cloaths to just contempt but may so walk between the two extreams as one who wears the livery of Beligion that my God may never be dishonoured nor the Gospel disgraced by any spots in my garments O that my soul may so put on the garments of my Elder brother and the graces of the holy Spirit that thereby I may be known as Davids daughters by their raiment of divers colours to belong to the heavenly Court and thereby be prepared to walk with my God in the white of glory Sleep I wish that I may observe the ends of sleep how my God alloweth it for the strengthning not the weakening of nature that I may not by excess herein turn my friend into an enemy and whilst I seem to indulge my flesh wrong both flesh and spirit too O that prudence and piety might both so guide me that I may ever be watchful against his incroaching adversary and not like a Dormouse live as if I were born to sleep Finally I wish that I may be so sensible of the worth of those narrow streames of time because of their tendency to the boundless Ocean of eternity that like holy Hooper I may be spare of sleep sparer of diet and sparest of time that I may redeem it as much as may be conveniently from those natural actions which are necessary and that when eating drinking and clothing and sleeping and days and weeks and years and ages shall be no more I may eat of my Saviours hidden Manna drink of the new Wine in my Fathers kingdom be arrayed with the White
Families page 523 Mind Religious duties in their Families page 529 Prayer must be in Families page 530 The Scriptures must be read in Families page 533 Psalmes must be sung in Families page 536 Governours of Families must give a good pattern page 538 All in a Family must be imployed page 549 The Governour of a Family must take care that his whole Family sanctifie the Lords day page 542 He must set up Discipline in his Family page 545 He must maintain love in his Family page 553 Godly Fear requisite in holy duties page 120 Fervency requisite in Prayer page 172 G THe things of God are the things of the greatest weight page 53 Godliness taken two ways page 8 9 Godliness Vide Religion Godly men meet with much opposition in the way to heaven page 65 Godliness must be our principal business page 94 95 In every part of our lives page 102 103 H A Good Harvest Gods gift page 485 486 It is our duty to Hear the word page 200 Evil Frames hinder us in Hearing page 205 Prejudice against the Preacher must be laid aside by them that would profit by Hearing page 206 to 211 The Heart must be affected with the weight efficacy and excellency of the word which we Hear page 212 Prayer requisite before hearing page 216 Right ends in Hearing to be minded page 221 False ends in hearing to be avoided page 220 Worldly thoughts hinder our Hearing page 221 222 We must hear as in Gods presence page 223 We must pray after we have Heard Vide the Word God looks much after our Hearts page 17 170 Heaven not to be obtained without diligence labour page 60 to 65 Humility required in prayer page 167 168 I IDolaters are zealous and prodigal page 418 419 Idleness the evils of it page 552 Intemperance a great sin page 417 The mischeifs of Intemperance page 418 419 Joy in God seasonable on a Lords day page 364 L LOrds day of divine institution page 337 338 God takes special notice how we keep the Lords day page 339 Preparation needful for a Lords day page 342 Wherein preparation to a Lords day consisteth page 343 to 346 Lords day a great priviledge page 348 Lords day a spicial season to get and increase grace in page 353 Publique Ordonances chiefly to be minded on the Lords day page 356 to 362 The whole Lords day to be sanctified page 372 Brief Directions for the Sanctification of the whole Lords day page 381 to 391 A good Wish about the sanctification of the Lords day page 391 A good Wish to the Lords day page 396 Lords day Vide Families and Meditation Love of Christ Vide Christs Love to Christians tried page 273 Love a help to Godliness page 553 M. MAn created for Religion Vide Epistles and page 39 Good Counsel about Marriage page 425 Meekness requisite in a Wife page 562 Meditation needful before prayer page 138 Meditation a duty on a Lords day page 377 Ministers must be godly page 6 and 498 A Minister must be industrious page 6 7. 502 People must pray for their Minister page 219 220 Ministers must act from right principles and for right ends page 499 500 Ministers must be able 501. Compassionate 504. Faithful 501 Full of courage 505. Ministers must Preach plainly purely prudently and powerfully page 507 to 510 Ministers must pray for their people page 510 Administer Sacraments 511. Chatechise 510. Visit people page 512 Ministers must be exceeding tende what example they give their people ib. Ministers must not be discouraged if their labours be not successful page 513 Ministers must give the glory of their success to God page 514 N HOw a Christian in Natural Actions may make Religion his business page 400 A good wish about Natural Actions page 441 O OBedience required page 322 341 Obedience must be in heart and life page 17 18 Obedience must be Canonical page 19 Ordinances their ends and use page 130 131 Ordinances Vide duties and Lords day P GOd hath an extrodinary respect for a Penitent soul page 277 278 Perseverance required page 35 Perseverance in prayer page 189 Pleasures Vide Recreations The excellency of Prayer page 137 138 The Prevalency of Prayer page 141 142 Prayer hath a twofold Preheminence above all other duties page 138 The Nature of Prayer page 140 The Antecedents to Prayer page 147 Meditation an help to Prayer page 148 Meditation of our sins wants and miseries needful before Prayer page 149 to 155 Meditation of God helpful to Prayer page 155 Quickening and stirring up of grace needful to Prayer page 157 Sin hindreth Prayer page 159 160 Anger hindreth Prayer page 161 Worldly Distractions hinder Prayer page 162 Gods Word must be the rule for the matter of our Prayers page 163 The Person Praying must be holy page 165 Prayer must be Vpright 170. Humble 167. Fervent 172 Constant page 178 What it is to Pray Continually page 180 A Caution about fervency in Prayer page 176 Its an ill sign to be Prayerless page 184 185 After Prayer wait for an Answer page 186 Means must be used for the obtaining our Prayers page 191 Preparation to Religious duties needful page 343 Preparation to Hearing Vide Hearing Preparation to the Lords day Vide Lords day R REcreations are lawful 446. they must not be our occupation 450 they must be used for good ends 454. In due season page 456 Recreations are unseasonable on a Lords day page 457 458 and in times of the Churches sufferings page 461 A good wish about Recreations page 462 Religion must be our business page 10 What Religion is page 13 14 The several derivations of the word Religion page 13 What it is to make it ones business 21. It implieth to give it precedency 22. To pursue it with industry 26. To persevere with constancy page 35 Why Religion must be made our business page 39 Religion is the end of mans creation page 40 Religion is a work of the greatest weight 45 to 49. It is Soul-work 49. It is God-work 52. It is Eternity-work page 57 The necessity of making Religion our business page 60 to 70 Religion much neglected page 72 The neglect of Religion bewailed page 73 79 Our greatest care must be about Religious duties page 108 Vide Godliness and Duties Repentance consisteth in mourning for sin and turning from sin page 276 280 S SAints called Lillies why page 268 Saints shamed by sinners page 88 89 92 93 Scripture a great mercy page 198 Vide Hearing and the Word Sacrament of the Lords Supper a seal of the Covenant page 251 The Sacrament a resemblance of Christs death 252. An evidence of his love 253. A great Supper in four respects page 253. The excellency of the Sacrament page 255 Much care about the Supper page 255 256 The danger of receiving the Supper unworthily page 256 to 262 Christ takes notice how men prepare for the Sacrament page 257 Preparation requisite before it 264 265. Wherein preparation for it consisteth page 266 to 279 Our dependance must be on Christ for assistance after our greatest preparation for the Sacrament page 282 Subjects to be meditated on at a Sacrament 285. Christs sufferings 286 to 293. Christs love 293 to 300. Our own sins ib. Graces to be exercised at the Sacrament 300. Faith in its threefold act 303 to 310. Love 312. Repentance page 315 What a Christian should do after a Sacrament page 319 320 Men to be very careful in the choice of Servants page 526 527 Sinners very zealous for sin page 87 88 89 Sobriety vide Temperance Sleep how to be ordered page 437. Its ends 440. Quantity page 437 Season page 439 Soul-work weighty page 49 The welfare of the body dependeth on the Soul page 51 The Souls excellency page 50 T. TEmperance commended page 416 Vide Natural Actions and Eating Thankfulness enjoyned 413 415. For the Word 236. For the Sacrament page 319 U. VNgodliness brancheth it self into Atheism and superstition page 1 2 Uprightness acceptable to God page 171 Unthankfulness page 408 W GOod Counsel about the Choice of a Wife page 525 526 Word why called the grace of God page 203 Gods power alone can make the Word effectual page 217 218 When the Word cometh with power then it profiteth page 229 Its woful to live under the Word and not to be changed by it page 231 We must bless God for his Word page 237 The Word must be obeyed page 240 241 242 Word Vide Hearing Worldlings eager for the World page 74 to 78 Our Worship of God must be inward and outward page 14 to 19 Man made for the Worship of God Vide Man God is very choice in his Worship page 109 110 Gods Worship must be according to his Word page 19 20 God alone the object of Worship page 16 Its ill to dally with Gods Worship page 112 Much Watchfulness required in the Worship of God page 113 Y YOuth Vide Family instruction FINIS