followed Infants you see though uncapable were not freed even such as hang upon their Mothers breast and though they had not actually sinned yet were a part of that sinful lump of mankind and deserved judgement as well as others and therefore should be timely traind up in this Christian duty and their cries for meat and the very bellowing of the Beasts might stick something upon the heart of man and help further to humble and break it yea many of those little ones being Gods Elect their presence may be an arguing with God to spare as the presence of Jehosophat moved Elijah to come to Ahab 2 Kings 3.19 this was one Motive why the Lord would not destroy Niniveh because there were sixscore thousand souls in it that knew not the right hand from the left But though all these come and 't is their duty to come yet all come not rightly prepared and qualified for that work if thou wouldest indeed stand in the Gap and turn away the wrath of God from the Land thou shouldest be one in Covenant with God and one that hath the work of grace upon thy Soul one that hath a friend in Court an interest in Christ the Mediator and canst through him go boldly to the Throne of grace one that can without lying call God Father and lay claim to the share in his promises one that art reconciled to God through the blood of his Son such a one is like to prevail for mercy 't is not those that howl for Corne and Wine he regards 't is not the crying of the Swine or the bellowing of Beasts he matters if there be a full Congregation of unconverted Sinners that resolve to love and not leave their sins I question whether these mens cryes do not prevail more to bring down judgments than mercies when men covenant with â—od and promise obedience and never intend to perform it this is but a mocking of God that will not be mocked and the breaking of the Covenant with him that can and will avenge the quarrel of his Covenant we cannot deceive him though we come with Tears in our Eyes If there be not sorrow in the Heart our Crocodile Tears will not Advantage us But if there be but weak gifts and parts if the Heart be right yet they will be owned God looks not so much at the out-side as the inside of Duty Though I know those that carry on the work especially in Publique should be men of parts and Abilities and 't is well if all were thus Qualified 't is a sweet Conjunction where Grace and parts meet they should know their own Sins and the Sins of the Nation to bewail and confess them Ezra 9.4.6 Nehem. 1.6,7 They should know their own wants and the wants of the Nation Dan. 9.11.18 In a word every Novice in Religion is not fit for so high a Duty and therefore Christ himself Excuseth his Disciples for not Fasting not onely because the Bride-groom was with them but as 't is conceived because they were not yet fit for so high a duty Luke 5.36,37 Mat. 9.15,16 2. Direct Wouldst thou Fast as thou oughtest to do and as God requires 't is not enough to be rightly Qualified but come prepared to the duty there is scarce any thing of moment can be well done without preparation much less such a Solemn work and such an extraordinary duty Now the preparation requisite is partly External and partly Internal the External helps forward the other and they are such as these On the Evening before lay aside thy Bodily Labour betimes that thou mayst trim up thy Lamp to meet the Bride groom the day following and prepare thy Heart against the next days duties and take that Evening but a moderate Supper such as will help and not hinder thee in the ensuing duty and continue as long as thou canst without prejudice to thy Health or hinderance to thy duties of the day following for thou shouldst deny thy self in sleep as well as in other Comforts of this Life but all this should be but in reference to the main work and so no further to be used than it is helpful to it Now the main work is to get the Heart into a melting frame and humble temper for what good will it do us to come and go with the Heart unbroken Now that it may be so the consideration of thy sins and the sins of the Nation with the several aggravations of them will be of great use when they are prest home upon the Spirit by serious Meditations Call to mind therefore thy Original Guilt and the pollution of thy Nature and how the whole Man Soul and Body is defiled by it and thy best Duties stained as also thy Actual Sins many for Number and hainous for Nature Call to mind the Sins of thy Youth and of thy riper Age the Sins of thy Calling general and particular thy Relation Sins and how thou hast failed in every Relation thou hast been in Thy Sins of Omission Commission and Participation thy Sins of knowledge and Ignorance of weakness and wilfulness against the Law and against the Gospel against God and against Man with the several aggravations of them as against a great deal of Love and Light against Knowledge and Conscience Promises and Resolutions Vows and Covenants Means and helps c. And not only thy own sins but the sins of thy Family The sins of thy Relations ought to be Considered yea the Sins of the Nation of Superiours and Inferiours of Princes and Governours for these should be Confessed as Daniel doth Dan. 9.2,3 c. The Sins of Superiours Inferiours and Equals for from the greatest to the least all have sinned and come short of what they should do The Abuse of Mercy which we have had in general in the Nation or in particular our selves David could mourn in secret when Men kept not God's Law and we should be mourning in Sion And be sure come not before the Lord to confess or bewail any one Sin that thou dost not repent of and resolve to leave Nor to bewail the Omission of any one Duty which thou art not resolved for the time to come to practice Nor to beg for one Mercy that thou art not resolved to Labour for as well as to Pray for For if thou regardest Iniquity in thy Heart God will not hear thy Prayer Psal 66.18 Shouldest thou come with a resolution to Live in sin and pray for the Pardon of it thou dost but mock God that will not mocked and takest his Name in vain when thou sayest Lord when wilt thou give me this Mercy God may say Man when wilt thou leave thy Sin When wilt thou give me thy Heart If thou say never God will return thee the like Answer Never think by thy Prayers to benefit thy self or the Church if thou wilt not reform thine own Heart And as thou must consider thy sins so also thy wants what Mercies thou wouldest beg for
cry out Lord what is Man c. Psal 8.3,4 Look upon the Earth hanging like a Ball in the open Air stayed upon nothing see how 't is garnished with Trees and Plants and Herbs and Flowers Inhabited with a Hundred sorts of several Creatures all Cared for by the great House-holder Behold the Subserviency of one Creature to another and every one seems rather made for another than himself the Sun and Moon and Stars pour out their Influence on the Earth the Earth again yields Grass and Herbs and Fruits for Man and Beast the Beasts are for Food or Service to Man there is no Corner of Nature's Garden but yields Matter of Admiration and Praise also to God The Works of his Providence also are full of Mystery and Wonder and may fill the Heart with Admiration and the Mouth with Praises to see how the World is Governed and the Creatures all provided for But especially Observe his Providence to his Church in all Ages which is a Bush on fire and not consumed Lambs in the midst of Wolves and yet safe See his Providence to Noah when the whole World was drowned to Lot when Sodom was burnt to Abraham Isaac and Jacob to the Church in Egypt and in the Wilderness To Joseph and to David to the Jews in Haman's time to the Apostles Athanasius Luther and generally down from the beginning of the World to this day descend to our own Nation how wonderful hath his Mercies been to us How strange was his bringing us out of Popish darkness How wonderful his preserving us from being reduced back again How great his Deliverance from the Spantsh Invasion and after from the Powder Treason and many other Hellish Plots hatc'd in Hell against God's People upon Earth How hath he continued our Peace our Plenty our Health our Liberty yea the Gospel among us notwithstanding the Rage and Malice of the Devil and his Instruments If we consider our own particular Mercies and that as we are Men or as we are Christians As a Man thou art his Creature and shouldst bless him for thy Creation he made thee of nothing when he had no need of thee he made thee a rational Creature capable of Communion with himself when he might have made thee a Dog or Toad or the most despicable Creature that ever fell out of his hands And doth not this deserve praise He covered thee in thy Mothers womb and through him thou wast born David blesseth him for that Psal 139.13 Thou wast born in an Age of Light under the Gospel thou mightest have been born in Turky or India or the most barbarous place in America he provided for thee when thou couldest not provide for thy self he gives thee Food and Raiment and blesseth them to thy Use without which they could not Feed thee or keep thee warm he hath given thee thy Limbs and Senses when thou mightest have been blind or lame or deaf or dumb Thou hast thy health and strength thy wit and reason when thou mightest have been upon thy Bed of Languishing or running raging in the Streets thou hast fire and water two great Favours were they wanted thou hast the ground to tread upon the Air to breath in which thou hast not deserved and many thousand other Mercies and canst not yet see Cause to be thankful Peace and Plenty Health and Liberty is given in to thee But if thou art a Christian thy Obligations are much more thou shouldest then praise God for his Electing Love when he past by thousands and set his Love on thee for sending his Son into the world and for Christs Suffering for thy Sins for his Redeeming of thee with his precious blood for his Adopting thee to be his Child his Calling Sanctifying and Justifying thee for the Grace he hath given thee the promises he hath made to thee for the Gospel of his Son given to thee for his Spirit to direct thee his Ministers to teach thee thy own Conscience to check thee the Company of his Servants to encourage thee and generally for all the helps thou hast in Heavens way strength against Temptations Corruptions and Alurements Now Christian canst see any Cause of thankfulness Doubtless thou maist especially if thou consider all this is given thee freely without any desert on thy part 7. Direct Having sounded forth the praises of God for his Mercy which thou hast Received from him and blessed him for Church Mercies for State Mercies for Family Relation and Personal Mercies thy next work is to go to God to Petition him for the continuance of those Mercies that are enjoyed and granting those that are yet wanting for preventing the judgments feared and begging the removal of those that are felt when thou hast paid one Debt and Cancelled one Obligation thou maist go the bolder to borrow again In private thou maist tell him what Sins thou wouldest have mortified and what Graces strengthened and Increased what Temptations vanquished what doubts resolved and what other wants thou wouldst have supplyed for thy self thy Family thy Relations and Friends who lye under Sins or Sufferings or Temptations as also for the place where thou Sinnest the Nation of which thou art a Member For the removal of the judgments felt or feared the continuance of the Mercies enjoyed and the bestowing of those that are wanting The Reformation of what is amiss in Church or State the infatuating of the Counsels of blood-thirsty Enemies the Continuance of the Gospel in the power and purity of it for a supply of Faithful Labourers in God's Harvest and a blessing upon their Endeavours for a blessing upon the Government upon the Kings Majesty and his Royal Relations upon his Counsels Magistrates Ministers and all in Authority for the preservation of the Land in Peace and Plenty Health and Liberty and for the Church in general That God would protect them by his power direct them by his Spirit spread abroad the Gosspel to the Ends of the Earth make all the Kingdoms of the world the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ that he would root out every Plant which he himself hath not Planted and purge his Ordinance from every thing that offends and bring down the Potent Enemies of Christ and set Christ upon his Throne and pull down the Throne of Anti-Christ and bring in Jews and Gentiles to be one Fold under one Shepherd Jesus Christ the Righteous and finish those sinful days wherein we Live And in the Conclusion we should ingage our selves by Covenant that if God shall give in a return to those our Requests then will we praise and magnifie him and devote our selves more to his Service and in the Close of the Duty remember the Poor This is also a necessary work of the Day and that which God expects at our hands as a testification of our Thankful hearts and with what Conscience canst deny God this one Request who hath bestowed so much upon thee This was the Practice of the Saints in
thou may'st be take these Directions for Private Duties 1. Direct The first Duty I shall mention but not of least concernment is self-examination This indeed is private for it is between thee and thine own heart Be often enquiring at home what state thy Soul stands in to God and what interest thou hast in the Blood of Christ and what Title to Heaven this is a necessary though much neglected Duty Many that cast up their Shops to see whether they grow or decrease in the World and try their Evidences for their Lands to see that they are good take not so much pains for the Soul to see whether all be well there Union and Communion with God is a Christians chiefest happiness and without this there can be no felicity though we have the influence of all Earthly enjoyments yea though we had the Honours Riches and Pleasures of a thousand Worlds for all these end in a Snuff and will prove vanishing fading transitory things The Soul of Man is a precious Piece and therefore should be most regarded 'T is next to the Angels the chiefest Piece that ever droped out of the hands of God and was made in his own Image and the nearer any thing comes to the Image of God the nearer it comes to perfection for God is Perfection it self 'T is the greatest Purchase of the Blood of Christ that which was of Infinite Value more worth than the World was given to redeem it and Christ knew well enough the worth of Souls and would not give such a Rate for a thing of little worth In a word 't is Eternal and shall last for ever and run parallel with the longest Line of Eternity and therefore pretious the vanity of Earthly enjoyments is seen in this as well as other things it 's uncertain and momentary duration Now this pretious and Immortal Piece is in great danger and without our care diligence and pains is like to be lost a thousand Enemies besiege it and set it round Enemies without and within and on every side without the Devil and the World who spread a thousand Snares to intrap it within Corruptions yea an inbred Traytor a false perfideous treacherous and deceitful heart these are Politick Subtile Crafty and malicious Enemies The Devil will make no peace with us but upon worse conditions than Nahash the Amonite offered to the Men of Jabish Gillead 1. Sam. 11.2 Vpon this condition will I make a Covenant with you that I may thrust out all your right Eyes and lay it for a Reproach upon all Israel but his conditions are the everlasting destruction of Soul and Body and if the Soul be once lost thou art undone for ever a thousand Worlds cannot redeem it though they were turned into a heap of Diamonds or a Globe of Gold Now art thou a rational Creature and canst thou see thy self thy better part in so much danger and art not sensible of it wilt thou so regard a Limb or Sence an Eye or a Tooth and shall the Soul be unregarded wilt thou Consult the Lawyer about thy Estate the Physitian about thy Health yea the Farrier about thy Horses and shall thy Soul be neglected God forbid Wilt take care for Trifles and neglect things of greatest concernment what greater note of a Fool can be expressed God is yet calling thee and the Door of Mercy is not yet shut against thee opportunities are yet offered thee and there is yet hopes but how long it may continue thou knowest not up and be doing make sure of Heaven while it may be had one of these days it will be too late examine thy self by the Word of God cleanse the Fountain that the Streams may be clear stub up the Root of Sin when others are Lopping at the Branches begin Reformation at the right end I should here have given you some Motives Rules Directions Marks and Characters to this purpose to guide you in this difficult work but this I have done already in another Treatise of that Subject called the Souls Looking-Glass to which I referr you if you have no better at hand Yea when by Examination thou knowest the truth of thy Grace yet is not Examination useless but consider the Growth of it also true Grace is of a growing Nature like a Grain of Mustard Seed that in time becomes a great Tree thy Growth should be in some measure answerable to the Food thou eatest the means of Grace thou enjoyest that which stands at a stay or declines may be suspected 't is not true 't is a Monster in Nature that is no bigger at twenty Years old than at two 't is sad when Men that should grow decline and lose their first love if this be thy case consider from whence thou art fallen and do thy first work consider who thou leavest and whither thou goest and what will be the Issue of it at least consider what thou dost which no Hypocrite in the World can do and never give thy self any rest till thou knowest that thou outstrip'st them all yea till thou canst Read thy Name Written in the Book of Life and canst call God Father and say with the Spouse my Beloved is mine and I am his Cant. 6.3 2. Direct The next Private Duty is when thou knowest that thou hast an Interest in God and a Title to Glory and canst without check of Conscience call God thy Father and Christ thy Head and Husband be sure then to keep close to him hold him fast and do not let him go like the Spouse Cant. 3.4 'T is said of Enoch and Noah that they Walked with God and thus in some measure doth every faithful Soul and this is the surest safest course thou canst take for there is none can hurt thee when thou art under his Wing no Enemy can molest thee while thou art under his Tuition trouble never grinds a Man till it finds him from God take heed of growing strange with God if thou suffer him to be gone thou may'st seek him sorrowing and not find him Many that are constant in Publick Duties are defective in Private but 't is Secret Duties that chiefly maintains Communion with God in those it is we most ingage our hearts to God and God to us now if thou wouldest keep this Communion with God some things are to be avoided some things done The things to be avoided are especially Sins but above all our Bosome Sins those that thou art most inclined to and most easiiest yeilds to and canst most hardly say nay these God is most Jealous of and these will make the greatest breach between God and the Soul and most havock among thy Graces these are they that most deeply wound the Conscience break thy Peace with thy God and if not forsaken will procure a Bill of Divorce 't is thy Sins which is the cause of all Judgement Temporal Spiritual and Eternal and withhold Mercies from thee The love of Sin and close walking with God cannot stand
Iniquity These had no better Excuse than Herod had for Murdering John Baptist nay not so good They Vow it intentionally he did not they perform willingly he with reluctancy Neither should Vows be to do things Superstitious as that of the Papists Pilgrimages to the Lady of Loretto and such like Nay 't is not every Lawful thing that should be the Matter of a Vow but something that is weighty and considerable and tends to some good End 't is Lawful to take up this stick or that straw to pare the Nails or clip the Hair but these things are not fit Matter for a vow 't is but a taking God's Name in vain and the abusing of the Ordinance to use it upon such trivial Accounts Neither should it be of such things which must be done whether they will or no as for a Man to vow that he will dye or come to Judgment but it should be of some necessary thing agreeable to the Scripture to Dedicate our selves to God to Obey his Commands as in Baptismal vows 1 Pet. 3.21 Of Thankfulness to God for Mercies Received thus the Psalmist Psal 22.25 My Praise shall be of thee in the great Congregation I will pay my Vows before them that fear him Psal 66.13 c. Or for other things as David vowed to give himself no rest till he had found out a place for God's House Psal 132.2 c. Numh. 6.2 As Hannah for a Son promises to give him to God for vows either bind us unto sin and these are unlawful or unto Moral Obedience which is Lawful or unto Ceremonial Obedience which was Lawful but now is not or unto something which is an help to Obedience as Fasting which is an help to Prayer abstaining from Wine and strong Drink which is an help to mortifie the Flesh to Alms-deeds c. Or some indifferent thing as Paul binds himself by a vow not to cherish his Hair for a time and from eating of Flesh in Case of Offence Acts 18.18 1 Cor. 8.13 The Rechabites abstaining from Wine and Strong Drink Jer. 35.6 And so we ought to do if we find our Nature inclined to Intemperance in the use of these Creatures Now these are most properly Matters for vows which are not Commanded Duties nor forbidden Sins but will be helpful to us in those Duties that are Commanded 4. Direct As the Matter of a Vow must be Lawful so also it must be possible and in a Man 's own power to perform and it should be in a Man's Choice whether he Vow or no and before the Vow whether he do the thing or no for if it be a Commanded Duty he is bound to it whether he Vow or no but if he Vow he hath a double engagement upon him and a double sin if he neglect for 't is better not to Vow than to Vow and not perform Eccl. 5.5 But a Vow properly should be a thing at a Man 's own Choice and also in his own Power but what a Man is bound to before as his Duty is not in his Choice 't is his Duty though he had not Vowed As to Obey the Will and Commands of God c. But yet to quicken and stir up our selves to Obedience 't is Lawful and I conceive many times necessary and useful to renew our Covenants and bind our selves to that which God in his Word hath bound us to and made our Duty as the Baptismal Covenant is oft renewed in the other Sacrament Yet had it been our Duty to have Devoted our selves to God's Service had we never Covenanted to do it and so in other particular Duties Now in so doing we make not our selves more Duties than we had before but stir up our selves better to perform them as if we vow a stricter watch over our Hearts a more constant course of Family Duties a more constant attendance upon the Ordinance and tye our selves to a set time for Meditation self-Examination and such like Duties David frequenty vows the perfotmance of that which were his Commanded Duties As of Sacrifice Thanksgiving and the like Now concerning things indifferent which we may either do or forbear 't is good before hand to consider our Ability to perform them and not after the vow to enquire God hath no pleasure in the Sacrifice of Fools Eccl. 5.4 As the Matter must not be sinful so neither impossible or out of our Power to perform as their vow was both that vowed never to eat Bread till they had killed Paul Neither should it intrench upon our Christian Liberty lay not a stumbling-block before thine own Feet Make not that Sin which God hath not made Sin except it be for a greater good and an apparent help in Heavens way as when a Man vows Chastity that knows not whether he have the Gift of Continency and so lays a snare for his own Feet and perhaps brings himself into a necessity of Sinning 'T is a sad thing that a Man should renounce Marriage and vow a Single Life when he knows not whether he hath Power to contian To remain Single is no sin nay in some Cases a Benefit where this gift is given But to vow it is to vow a thing that is not in their Power God hath assured no Man that he will give him this gift and if he do not give it it is not to be had he requires no more than he gives he that will not put New Wine into Old Bottles nor suffer his Disciples to Fast till they were able will not require this at their hands which he knows they cannot bear Christ himself tells us 'T is a saying all Men cannot bear Mat. 19.11 And the Apostle tells us all Men have not this Gift 1 Cor. 7.7 And this hath proved a Snare to many who can neither Marry nor contain but the Apostle tells us 't is better Marry than burn and God hath provided Marriage for those that cannot contain And why then should any put a Bolt upon this door against themselves And for the rest of Monastical vows as they had their rise either from Infidels or were grounded in Superstition so are they besides yea contrary to the Law of God For herein Men Worship God after their own Inventions and Teach for Doctrines the Commandments of Men and when they look for a Reward God will ask them who required these things at their Hands They vow Poverty that they may Live at ease and in plenty by the Sweat of other Mens brows This takes Men from a Lawful Calling which they should follow 1 Cor. 7.20 Let every Man abide in the Calling wherein he was Called And from their Honest Labour which is Commanded 2 Thes 3.10 If a Man will not Labour let him not Eat It makes them neglect their Duties to their Relations in providing for their Families a Commanded Duty 1 Tim. 5.8 He that provides not for his Family hath denyed the Faith and is worse than an Infidel Their Regular Obedience makes them slight the
and Promises of Reformation which they forget as soon as the danger is past and return with the Dog to the vomit and the washed Sow to her wallowing in the Mire CHAP. XIII Directions in Fasting THE next Duty I shall Direct you in is that Useful though much neglected Duty of Fasting which though in it self is no part of Divine worship neither is it Commanded for it self yet when 't is performed in a right manner and to a right End is a notable help in other Religious Duties and a good Spur to put us forward to worship God and fits us for his worship Now before I shew you what a Fast is I shall shew you what Fast I mean for there are Fasts of several sorts and 't is not the bare abstinence from Meat that is sufficient There are some necessary Fasts when men Fast whether they will or no as when they have nothing to eat and this is too oft the Poor mans and the Prisoners Fast but this is against their wills and so not thanks-worthy Again there is a Natural Fast when a man abstains from Food for want of a Stomack as the other did for want of Meat and this is the Sick mans Fast and oft-times the Rich man Fasts also this also is in-voluntary and deserves no praise There is also a Physical Fast undertaken for Healths sake this is not it we Treat of and there is a daily Fast when Men use the Creatures very temperately and moderately not to please or satisfie their Appetite but to maintain their Life and strength to do God service they eat to live and not live to eat and live to serve and praise God and this should be every Christians Fast There is also a Superstitious Fast such as the Papists use an abstinence from certain meats upon Religious Accounts when in the mean time they fully gorge themselves with other meats every way as nourishing and provoking to Lust and this upon the Account of Merit And there is also a Civil Fast when upon Politick Accounts some sorts of meats are forbidden at some times as with us Flesh in the Lent for the encouragement of our Trade of Fishing and for the preservation of Cattle There are some Miraculous Fasts as that of Moses and Elijah and of Christ himself all which Fasted forty days together and tasted no Food but these are for our Admiration not for our Imitation There is also a Spiritual Fast an abstinence from Sin which all should Imitate and there is a Hypocritical Fast such as the Pharisees used to be seen of Men Mat. 6.2 c. These hang down the Head like a bulrush Isa 58.5 And there is a Diabolical Fast wherein the Devils Service is promoted A Fast for strife and debate and to strike with the Fists of Wickedness Isa 58.4 Such a Fast Jezebel Proclaimed when under pretence of Religious Worship she took away Naboath's Life for his Vineyard 1 Kings 21.8 c. This is of the Devils Invention But there is a Religious Fast set apart upon a Religious Account for a man to Afflict his Soul and this is that we now speak to which is the Sanctifying or setting apart a day or some portion of time to the Lord upon some extraordinary Occasion by the voluntary abstinence from meat and drink and other Comforts of this Life as also from Labour and Worldly business so far as Mercy Comeliness and Necessity will permit for the more serious humbling of the Soul before God and pouring out our requests to him for the preventing or removing of Judgments felt or feared or the begging the Mercies we want or the continuance of those we enjoy That such a kind of Fast is Lawful the Scripture is evident it was Commanded Lev. 23.27,28 Exod. 33.5 Joel 2.15 Mat. 6.16,17 9.15 1 Cor. 7.5 And such a Fast was Observed Esther 4.16 Dan. 9.2,3,4 c. 1 Cor. 7.5 Acts 13.23 We have the Examples of the best men yea of Christ himself in so doing Nay Jews Turks Papists Protestants c. all agree in this that it is a Duty though they differ in the manner and Ends of the Duty Yet must we not look upon it as any part of Religious worship or desirable for it's own sake for 't is a thing indifferent in it self and 't is to be used so far forth as it conduceth to the main design of God's Honour and the good of the Soul and serves to the Ends propounded in the Scriptures which is the humbling of the Soul and making us more sensible of our wants and more fervent in our Prayers And Experience shews when it hath been joyned with fervent Prayer very great things have been wrought by it great Deliverances have been got great Mercies procured and great Judgments diverted Now this Religious Fast is either Publique or Private Publique when Commanded by Publique Authority and generally Observed as Joel 1.19 Jonah 2.7 2 Chron. 30.13 And Private when 't is performed by a Person or Family Esther 4.6 And of this Fast Christ speaks Mat. 6.17,18 Now that you may keep a Fast as it ought to be kept take these following Directions 1. Direct If thou wouldest prevaile with God in such a duty as this either to beg the mercy wanting for thy self or others or to divert the judgment felt or heard 't is necessary that thou be rightly qualified for the work for an unqualified Person is like to do but little good a fast as I told you was either publick or private that which is publick is commanded by Authority and here all men are enjoyned for to come and indeed 't is every mans duty because every man hath offended for high and low rich and poor noble and ignoble young and old one with another none are excepted no not the Bridegroom or the Bride nor the child that sucks upon the Mothers breast Joel 2.16 Gather the People sanctify the Congregation assemble the Elders gather the Children and those that suck the Breasts Let the Bridegroom go forth out of his Chamber and the Bride out of her Closet c. nay the very Beasts of the field are not exempted Jonah 3.7,8 Let nither man or beast heard or flock taste any thing let them not feed or drink water but let man and beast be covered with sack cloath and cry mightily unto God yea let them turn every one from his evil ways and from the violence that is in his hands who can tell if God will turn or repent c. In this fast the Minister most commonly is their mouth to God and Gods mouth to them yet they have need of qualifications for the duty for though he perform much of the external part of the duty yet the internal rests upon them thy heart should be qualified to put up an acceptable prayer to God great ones are not excepted from this duty for their sins are great yea perhaps greater and admit of greater aggravations than others do and their examples much
goodness of God in them value them according to their worth as Jacob did Gen. 22.9.10 Lord saith he I am less than the least of thy mercies which thou hast shewed me for with my Staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two Bands David when he beheld the glorious Lamps of Heaven the wonderful works of God brake out into admiration Lord what is Man that thou art mindful of him or the Son of Man that thou regardest him Psal 8.3.4 Outward mercies but especially Spiritual should will affect the heart if laid home by meditation 2. Direct When thou keepest a day keep it to the Lord and not to thy self Let thy ultimate end and aim be Gods glory and the main design thou drivest on be his praise 't is true in all Duties this should be regarded but especially in this for this Time is set apart meerly upon that account to praise him with an inlarged heart and if thou propound lower ends than these God will not own thy work These days are appointed to praise God and not as many abuse them and pamper the Flesh 't is the Apostles advice and doubtless our Duty 1. Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever you do do all to the praise and glory of God And if in our ordinary course we should drive on this design much more in this extraordinary Duty in so solemn a day and exercise here the joy of the Lord should fill the heart Spiritual and not Carnal Joy the praise of the Lord should fill our Mouths not vain laughter we should speak out the great works of God which he hath done for our Souls and whatsoever suits not with this is unsuitable for the occasion but 't is a sad thing that many that pretend Conscience in the observation of Saints-days blame all those thot look upon them as indifferent I say that those to whom honest Labour at other times Lawful is held a great Transgression yet make no Conscience at all of serving God upon these days but spend their time vainly and prophanely neither to the benefit of Soul or Body These think they serve God better at an Ale-house at a Cock-pit or Bear-baiting or Stage-play at Cards or Dice or other unlawful Games than they can in an honest Calling But is this the Feast that God hath chosen to eat and drink and rise up to play This may serve turn if we worshiped such an Idol as Israel then did Fxod 32.6 But shall we serve our God with such service as the Heathen did Baccus He is a Spirit and must be worshiped in Spirit and in Truth and is eating and drinking to Gluttony and Drunkenness this Spiritual Service that is commanded Shall we praise God for his Creatures by intemperance and abuse of them Yet are not these the Exercises of some of the greatest Sticklers for such Festivals Look into an Ale-house and see whether more meet not there upon such days as these than the whole Week beside and many an Oath sworn and many a Lye told and many a vain word spoken at such times and upon such occasions yea much Drunkenness Debauchery Quarrels Fightings and sometimes Murder is there committtd And is this Gods Feast or the Devils Sacrifice It more suits an Heathen Idol than an holy God Is this the place where God is like to meet thee or wouldest have Death meet thee here or is the Discourse of the Company suitable to the work of the Day wilt thou thank God for thy Reason when thou hast lost the use of it by drinking and transformed thy self into a Beast or canst then remember Gods benefits to praise him for them when thou canst not remember what thou dost 'T is far from me to Judge any Man that keeps those days as days of Thanksgiving ought to be kept And 't is far from me to approve of them as they are kept I know the Godly are allowed to eat their Bread with Joy and drink their Wine with a merry heart but it is Spiritual not Carnal Joy They ought upon Thanksgiving days to cease from their Labour but that is not all then they keep it but as a Beast But as a Fast is a help to humiliation and makes Prayers the more fervent so Feasting in an holy manner elevates the Soul and makes praises the more hearty when we freshly tast Gods goodness in the Prevision made for us Labour in both is forbidden as 't is an hindrance in the Duties in hand but 't is sad that God is more dishonored in those days pretended to be set apart to honour him in than in all the days of the Year besides but God will not own such Servants nor accept of such Service when Men think there is nothing but work forbidden upon that day or nothing more than idleness required but many would glorifie God much better in a Lawful Calling than at an unlawful Exercise or unnecessary Recreation I know Recreation is Lawful as I hope in due time and place to demonstrate and give Directions in it But why should we take Gods time for our use if these days be appropriated to Gods Service let them be spent in his Service if for our Recreation let us never put the Title of Holy-days upon them let them be left indifferent to be used or not used at pleasure or People kept from dishonouring God in them 3. Direct In the observation of these days see thy grounds be good and that thou hast a lawful calling to it or otherwise God will not own it 'T is true Thanksgiving is a work of every day but every day is not to be observed as an holy Festival to God come not superstitiously to it as the Papists nor profanely as the Sensualist nor wickedly as the profane Enmies to God and Godliness See thou be invited to it by real mercies received and in giving thanks mistake not Judgements for Mercies and Mercies for Judgments 't is true we ought to Observe all God's Providences and Bless God for all Chastisements as well as others that is for the good which we receive by them as Job 1.21 But this should be with Humiliation not Exultation If thy Foundation be rotten the Building cannot be good there are many that heartily rejoyce and give thanks also to God after their manner for the downfall of the Church and the extirpation of the Power of Godliness I fear our times are not barren of Examples of this Nature This was the Sin of the Ammonites and will be the Sin of those that are guilty Ezek. 25.6 Because thou hast clapped thy Hands and stamped with thy Feet and Rejoyced in thine Heart with all despight against the Land of Israel therefore I will stretch forth my hand against thee and deliver thee for a spoil to the Heathen c. See God takes it ill when Men exult over his People in distress and if they praise him for Correcting them 't is unpleasing Service to him