life by ranging the whole world into certaine sections and seuerall rankes and orders All that euer were or now are in the world may be generally deuided into two sorts called or vncalled Now compare these together and we shall find that the number of the vncalled the Apostles times only excepted hath alwaies exceeded the number of the called those I meane that were called by an outward calling through the ministery and preaching of the word To begin from the beginning and so to proceed and descend lower From the beginning of the world to the departuâ—e into Aegypt which was aboue two thousand yeeres the Church was shut vp in the families eyther of the holy fathers before the flood or of the Patriarchs onely they of their housholds called vpon the name of the Lord only they made profession of religion in the true worship of the true God the rest were Idolatrous and profane people that cast off the Lords yoke Afterwards the Church beganne to be inlarged and the bounds thereof extended the whole people of Israel were called and accounted the people of God according vnto the promise made vnto Abraham and all the rest of the world Gen. 17.7.8 Rom. 9.4 Isay 55.5 Hosea 1.10 Ephes 2.12 Luk. 1.79 a people that were no people vnto whom God did not so much as afford the outward ordinarie meanes of saluation but suffered them to sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death though we denie not but that some few might be extraordinarily called euen as many as ioyned themselues vnto him Now what was Israel to the multitude and ouerflowing of the Gentiles which were scattered ouer the face of the earth euen as a plant among many people Exod. 19.5 Deut. 7.6.7 14.2 a pearle amongst many pebles one grape of a cluster or as the gleaning after the haruest Well to goe on to succeeding ages after many generations the Lord vpon iust cause Acts 13.46 Rom. 11.20 1 Thes 2.16 forsaking the Iewes for a long time as wee see and casting them off from being his people as they were in former times the Gentiles of whom wee are according to the promise succeeded them Rom. 11.17 and were planted in in their roome And yet how small is the number euen of them that are called in comparison of those that remaine vncalled to this present day This will be easily perceiued if it bee dulie considered how many thousands yea thousand thousands of Infidels Pagans barbarous Turkes and mis-beleeuing Iewes there be which sit in darkenesse and in the valley of death without God vvithout Christ so without the meanes of Saluation not hauing so much as the knowledge and outward profession of true Christianitie and godlinesse For one Christian euen in outward profession there are many who eyther neuer heard of the name of a Christian or else hate it and are profest enemies vnto it Turcisme Iudaisme Paganisme hauing ouerspread most nations like a winter floud these things then being rightly obserued wee see clearly that the greatest part of the world in times past hath beene and yet now is vncalled and therefore out of the way of saluation To passeouer therefore those numberlâ—sse multitudes of such as neuer had any calling and to leaue them to tâ—e s cret counsell of the Lord for as farre aâ— God hath made knowne vnto vs in his reuealed VVill there is no meanes of saluation for them or any of them continuing in that estate Let vs come vnto that other sort those I meane that are outwardly called by the preaching of the Word which soundeth amongst them and make an outward profession of Christ and his Gospell within how narrow a roome are they confined vvithin the borders of Europe the skirts of Asia vnder Turkish bondage and tyranny and that remote and almost vnknowne part of Africa vnder that Aethiopian gouernour Prester-Iohn and not else-where except it bee a sprinkling here there of some fewe that are scattered in the Indies or in some other Countries They are euen shut vp as it were in this Angle and corner of the world as is apparent to those that are of knowledge and cast their eie vpon this larger frame And yet how few euen of them that haue receiued this outward calling are and shall bee saued Let that saying of our Sauiour himselfe testifie Mat. 20.16 Many are called by an outward calling and externall profession but few euen of those that are so called are chosen to vvhich also that holy Apostle of his Rom. 9.27 out of the kingly Prophet doth well accord Isa 10.22 Though the number of the children of Israel were as the sand of the Sea yet shall but a remnant be saued All are not Israel which are of Israel neither shall all that are of the Church militant be of the Church triumphant Euen of those that are called the fewest are saued And this will be better conceiued of vs if wee consider what a multitude there are First * Bellarm. pref in lib. de Pont. Nisi per Petrum non peruenitur ad Christum among the Papists that Antichristian Synagogue who make indeed a profession of Christ and Christian religion haue glorious shewes to the eyes of the world faire titles without truth boasting strangely that they and none but they are of the true Catholike Apostolike Church * Bellar. lib. 4. de Not. Eccl. cap. 4. Constat nostram solam esse veram EcclesiaÌ„ vid. cap. 5.6 that they haue the keyes of Heauen in their keeping onely and shall haue Heauen-gates hereafter set open vnto them all other being excluded and shut * Coster Enchir. Conclusio Absque dubio in aeternum peribunt Gal. 5.4 Iohn 16 2. Gal. 4.29 2 The. 2.11 out and yet indeed are cleane out of the way of saluation yea persecute them that walke in it thinking that therein they doe God good seruice and walke blinde-folded in those crooked pathes of their owne inuentions and idolatrous worship and superstitious obseruances which tend vnto euerlasting perdition and condemnation Reuel 14.9.10.11 18.4 2 Thes 2.12 Yea euen amongst vs where the name of Christ is truely called vpon For thousands there bee in the bosome of this our Church vvho are called indeed Christians being baptized into the name of Christ and wearing the outward badge and cognisance of a Christian vvho notwithstanding are as farre from saluation as hell is from heauen as their vvicked courses and vaine conuersations doe euidently vvitnesse to their faces Isa 3.9 and euen proclaime with loud voice to the vvhole world For some although they haue the name of Christians are in truth no better then plaine Atheists vvanting euen the outward profession of that vvhich they beare the name of making their pleasures their profits their honours and preferments yea their bellies their Gods Phil. 3.19 altogether deuoting themselues to their seruice neuer thinking of God nor regarding to walke
neuer deceiue g 1 Ioh. 4.20 thy selfe with the vaine dreames of thine owne braine but know thy selfe and confesse as the trueth is that thou art not yet vnited vnto Christ that thou hast no part in him but art a stranger from him from that life of grace and glory which flowes from him yea that thou art of that serpentine h Gen. 3.15 seed which is alwayes at enmitie with the redeemed of Christ one of that vvicked race and of Sathans brood i Ioh. 3.10 a childe of the curse and an heire of perdition k Phil. 1.28 who could neuer abide the sonnes of the promised l Gal. 4.29 If thou sayest thou art in the light thou giuest God the lie m 1 Iohn 2.9.11 nay thou art couered vvith darkenesse and walkest like one blinded vnto thine owne destruction in that place of vtter darkenesse and euerlasting desolation Gracious Lord as thou hast in the riches of thy mercies vnited me vnto CHRIST and so through him to all that are his making vs all members of one body vvhereof he is the Head so vnite my heart and soule I humbly pray thee in an entire loue and affection vnto thee and vnto thy Sonne my blessed Lord and Sauiour and in him and for his sake to all those in vvhom I can see any signes or euidences that they are ingraffed into that mysticall body together with me children of the same Father brethren of the same Sauiour and Heires of the same grace and glory which thou hast freely promised to all thine O let mee neuer hate despise or vvrong the least of them in any sort for thereby I should shew my selfe to be very vnnaturall but let mee loue them delight in them n Psal 16.3 and seeke to doe o Gal. 6.10 them vvhat good I can by any meanes Let mee root out of my heart all sinister conceits and wicked surmises which are the very bane of true Christian loue and Charitie and let me bend my selfe alwayes to thinke the best of p 1 Cor. 13 them and to doe the best for them according to their necessitie and my ability yea let them alwayes bee deare vnto mee and precious in mine eyes and so much the more as they shall appeare to be more neerely and firmely vnited vnto thee that thus I may please thee and haue assurance that I am a liuely member of CHRIST IESVS the Head of his Church and my blessed LORD and Sauiour to whom with thee and thy Spirit be all prayse and glory both now and euermore Amen A wicked life and the profession of Religion how ill they agree AS is a precious Pearle in the dirt or a Iewell of Gold in a Swines snout so is the name of a Christian or the profession of Religion in one of a wicked and prophane life How vnbeseeming a thing is it How ill doe they agree How is the glory and beautie of the one stained and blemished by the vilenesse and basenes of the other Either therefore let men neuer take this honour vnto themselues to be called and accounted Christians and to weare the badge and cognisance of Christs holy and redeemed ones or else let them as it is meet they should cast away the cloaks of shame wherewith they haue couered themselues heretofore and abandon all their former sinfull and euill courses wherein formerly they haue walked to the dishonour of God a Rom. 2.24 the disgrace of their profession b 1 Pet. 2.12 Tit. 2.5 yea and to the increase of their owne condemnation if they continue in their wickednesse c 2 Pet â— 21 O blessed Lord as it hath pleased thee in the riches of thy mercies to call me to the knowledge and the acknowledgement of thee to the profession of thy glorious name euen of thy Christ to be called a Christian and to stand vpon the priuiledges and royall prerogatiues which belong vnto those that are indeed his redeemed ones bought with his most precious bloud so I humbly beseech thee to make my life and conuersation euery way answerable to my calling and profession Let me consider oft and seriously of the dignitie and excellency whereunto I am aduanced aboue those that are aliants from thee strangers from thy couenant d Ephes 2.12 without Christ without God and without the name of Christianity and godlinesse children of the night e 1 Thes 1 5.5 and of darkenesse and let me alway be ashamed to doe any thing whereby I may in any sort bring a staine vpon that which is and should be my glory or a dishonour to that blessed and glorious name after which I am called causing others through my folly and wickednesse to speake euill of thee and of thy grace and truth yea let the very thought of this that I should be so ouertaken at any time as Lord thou knowest what my fraily and weaknesse is if I be not continually strengthened and supported by thee let it euen cause me to blush within my selfe and to hang downe my head with griefe and sorrow and withall to stirre vp my selfe to walke more carefully f Ephes 5.15 and circumspectly all my daies striuing and indeauoring as to haue the name of a Christian so to follow the example of Christ g 1 Pet. 2. to tread in his steppes and to walke as he hath walked setting him alwaies as a patterne and president before me as to haue the shew so likewise the power of godlinesse in my whole life and conuersation and to walke worthy of the vocation h Ephes 4.1 wherewith thou hast honoured mee shining forth as a light in this sinfull world i Phil. 2.14 1 Pet. 2.9 and shewing forth the vertues of thee my Lord and Sauiour who hast called me out of the darknesse of sinne and ignorance into that maruellous light of thine both of grace and of glory that thus they that are enemies to thy trueth and seeke by all meanes to bring reproch vpon that glorious profession vvith vvhich thou hast graced thy seruants hauing nothing concerning me to speake euill of iustly thy great name may be glorified thy Gospell adorned that worthy calling vvhereunto thou hast called me beautified my soule and conscience comforted and both bodie and soule eternally saued in that great day vvherein thou hast appointed to iudge the world in righteousnesse by him vvhom thou hast ordayned Lord of all things Christ my righteousnesse to vvhom with thee O Father and thy blessed Spirit be all praise and glory both now and for euermore Amen A Christian eyther the best or the worst of all men most happie or most miserable A CHRISTIAN is eyther the most happie of all other men or the most miserable Most happie if he hath the trueth of that vvhich hee beareth the name of being a Christian not onely in outward profession but also in inward affection manifesting it selfe by action and outward conuersation Most miserable if
the ioyfull light of that glorious Kingdome nor enioy so fully the desired presence of his Creator and his blessed Sauiour f Iohn 12.26 and Redeemer after whom his soule longeth g Can. 1.14 Phil. 3.23 Lord when it pleaseth thee ease mee of these bonds deliuer mee out of this Prison and set mee at libertie among thy Saints in glory that I may behold the brightnesse of thy face and enioy that promised saluation the very hope and expectation vvhereof is the stay and comfort of my life in this bondage of sinne and misery vnto vvhich I am daily subiect Come Lord h Reuel 22 17 Iesus come quickly Amen Christians in this world are vnknowne men THe life of the Children of God whiles they liue in this world is hid a Col. 3.3 with Christ in God They are not knowne b 1 Iohn 3. to the world being masked and shrowded vnder the vayle of c Rom. 8.3 weake sinful flesh Their naturall life and outward estate is not different from others All things come alike to all d Eccles 9. Their Persons are exposed to contempt disgrace e Iob 30.8.9.10 reproach and many iniuries which the proud and disdainfull world who are not worthy of them f 1 Cor. 4.9.10.11 Heb. 11.38 doe continually most vniustly offer vnto them delighting euen to sport themselues of them Their bodies are subiect to much miserie g 2 Cor. 4.7.8.9 10. and 11.6 to ignominie and basenesse and for the most part to more sicknesses weakenesses and infirmities then others and in the end to death h Gen. 3.19 Heb. 9.27 as vvell as others They dye like other men and are couered with the same mould taking vp their lodgings vvith the rest of the sonnes of Adam in the dust and in the chambers of darkenesse i Iob 10.21.22 17.13.14 hauing Corruption for their Father and the Worme for their Mother and Sister The spirituall life also of their Soules wherein all their glory k Psal 45.13 in this life consisteth the redemption of their bodies l Rom. 8.23 Phil. 3.21 being wholly reserued for the estate after this life euen the day of the generall and glorious resurrection as it is not discerned of the world so many times of themselues neyther but very dimmely and when it is in best estate it is but weake m 2 Cor. 12 9. Psal 119.4 and needes the quickning grace of Gods Spirit for the increasing and confirming of it Blessed Lord hasten that glorious appearance of thine that so this vayle being remoued I may be fully restored vnto that promised light and liberty which my soule longeth after and liue in thy sight for euer receiuing from thee continually that accomplishment of grace and glory which thou hast reserued for me in thy Kingdome Sabbath day the religious obseruation of it how necessary IT is not the Law of Man but the vnchangeable decree and ordinance of GOD himselfe the chiefe Law-giuer that the Sabbath-day which in the Apostles dayes * Acts 20.4.5.6.7 1 Cor. 16.1.2 and of the Apostles themselues a Olim certè priscis illis hominibus in summo precio Sabbathum fuit quam quidem solennitatem Dominus in Diem Dominicum transtulit Athan. Hom. de Semente Sabbathum est signum vt sciatur dies Creationis Idem in Mat. 11. Aug. Epist ad Ianuar. 119. cap. 13. Idem lib. 22. de Ciuitate Dei cap. 30. Chrisost in Genes 2. Homil. 18. Hieron contra Pelag. lib. 3. Beza in Apocalyps 1.10 Spiritu sancto procul dubio illud Apostolis dictante pro prioris seculi Sabbatho siue die septimo assumptus suit dies huius mundi primus in quo c. Vide Fulke Rhem. Test in eund loc Sect. 6. Iun. praelect in Gen. 2.3 P. Mart. in Gen. 2. Bulling in Rom. 4.5 Zanch. de operibus Dei lib. 1. cap. 1. no doubt by authoritie from CHRIST and by the direction of his Spirit b Iohn 14.26 Acts 1.3 1 Cor. 11.23 guiding them therein as in all other truth was changed and called the Lords-day should be religiously obserued of all euen to the comming of Christ Hee giues vs a speciall watch-word of remembrance to stirre vp all to the greater care and diligence hereof c Exod. 8.20 Remember the Sabbath-day to keepe it holy as if in no vvise hee would haue this forgotten at any time or slightly regarded as it is of the most This alone hath a Preface prefixed and both the affirmatiue and negatiue part expressed the like to be found in no other Commandement as if fore-seeing what libertie men vvould take vnto themselues herein he would of purpose set bounds on euery side to fence and to keepe vs continually within compasse of this Law Hee doth not onely command vs but also perswade and yeelds a reason yea many and forcible reasons and motiues whereby as with so many cords wee might bee drawne vnto this dutie from his owne example and practise from his hallowing of it to a holy vse from the equitie of the obseruation of it since that hee hath giuen vs the other sixe dayes to our selues and taken this one onely to himselfe as his owne due which by no meanes hee vvould haue vvith-held from him They therefore that make little or no conscience of the due and diligent obseruation of this day by absenting themselues from the publique assemblies or by neglecting priuate duties prayer reading conference meditation examination of things heard in the publique Ministerie d Acts 17.11 much more they that openly prophane it by spending it eyther idly or wickedly in excessiue drinking gaming or other vnlawfull courses whatsoeuer outwardly they professe in word yet assuredly they are such as haue forgotten the Lord they refuse to follow him they transgresse his law and violate his holy ordinance which he hath appointed for their owne welfare if they could see it They remoue the ancient bounds within which he hath inclosed them vvhich who so doth shall be accursed e Deut. 27.17 yea though they were but the bounds and limits which men had established They cast away his yoke a note of the sonnes of Belial f Deut. 13.13 They sinne grieuously very dangerously They are enemies to their owne good friends to Sathan yea they are falne into the very snare of the Deuill who both in the infancie and prime-age of the Church and euer since when he could not roote out the whole Christian faith which spread it selfe into so many nations laboured mightily the subuersion and ouerthrow of this maine prop and pillar thereof by raising vp men of hereticall mindes who some through the pretended colour of Christian libertie others by the aspersion and false imputation of Iewish superstition and bondage and I know not what haue by this meanes gone about to open a wide dore to Atheisme licentiousnesse prophanenesse and so by little and little in an insensible manner
to ouerturne all Religion and Pietie * Tantum abest quin decorum ordo nisi ista politia moderatione obseruari possit vt praesentissima impendeat Ecclesiae perturbatio ruina si dissoluatur j. In briefe The neglect of the Sabbath day is the ruine of the Church Caluin Instit lib. 2. cap. 8. sect 32. A notable politie of that wilie serpent And a marueilous eyther blindnes or presumption in them who are so bewitched by him For what God hath hallowed how should man once dare to prophane or to accoūt common vnhallowed But those vvhom God who is the light of our eyes hath caused the light of his sauing grace to shine more clearly vnto are otherwise minded otherwise affected They acknowledge it not only a iust equal thing that the Lord should haue one day of many dedicated wholy deuoted to his seruice a shame it were that any should deale sparingly with him herin who hath bin so prodigal to them but also they accoūt it a great argument and euidence of Gods speciall care ouer them and singular goodnesse towards them vvho in this estate of their frailetie and weakenesse hath in mercy appointed so excellent a helpe and so necessary a meanes for them to gather spirituall strength and increase of grace vvhereby to stand out against Sathan their deadly foe and to walke on cheerefully comfortably and constantly through the wildernesse of this troublesome vvorld to that promised rest that heauenly Canaan yea they reioyce greatly in it g Isai 58.13 finde much sweetnesse and delight in it long for it before it comes and when it is come solace themselues in it exceedingly And no marueile for they see and finde that it is the market-day of their soules vvherein according to Gods appointment they gather that heauenly Manna that bread of life vvhereby they are nourished and strengthened all the vveeke after and increase daily in that spirituall life of grace and godlinesse till they come vnto that measure vvhich GOD hath allotted vnto them They see how hereby they recouer themselues from sinnes past arme themselues against sinne to come grow in knowledge increase in faith hope patience and all other Christian vertues haue the inward man repaired and in a word vvhereas on other daies their mindes are troubled and distracted vvith worldly businesse this day they haue libertie to recall themselues as it were to draw neere vnto the Lord and sweetly to repose themselues in him who is their peace rest and happinesse and therefore they ioy reioyce herein Againe their Sabbath-day heere on earth as it doth expresse * Ambros in Psa 119. calleth aeternam vitam magnū Sabbathum August lib. 22. de ciuit Dei ca. 30. Sabbathum maximum where he saith it prefigureth the rest of the bodie and soule so it doth put them in minde of that eternal Sabbath which they shall celebrate for euer in the heauens that peace that ioy and that perfect rest and happinesse vvhich they shall shortly bee made partakers of for euer in those glorious mansions those celestiall habitations It is as it were a mappe or an Embleme to them of that Angelicall life which their soules longeth after and the very remembrance vvhereof doth vvonderfully refresh their grieued minds and languishing spirits vvhiles they vvander in this wearisome vvildernesse where they haue so many enemies continually assayling them so many difficulties with vvhich they are continually incumbred The sanctifying of this day doth bring them as it were from Aegypt to Canaan and from Babell vnto Sion i Heb. 11.10.16 It cals them home to their owne countrey giues them a view of it though a farre off and affords them a tast of that spirituall and heauenly life vvhich afterwards they shall liue for euer in glorious manner How therefore can it bee but that they should reioyce in it and in no vvise thinke it burdensome vnto them as carnall and worldly men doe O my God forgiue me that I haue had no more care of this dutie heretofore and teach me to be more mindfull of it hereafter As thou hast appointed this day to be wholly bestowed vpon thee and thy seruice so I humbly pray thee to guide me therein vvith thy grace and spirit that it may be my delight to consecrate it as * Isa 58.13 glorious vnto thee O let me not by any meanes pollute it by doing mine owne waies nor seeking mine owne will no not so much as speaking a vaine word but let me giue my selfe therein wholly to the duties k Act. 16.13 Psal 122. Nehe. 8.8 Act. 17.11 Psal 92.1 145.5 Mal. 3.16 1 Cor. 16.1.2 vvhich thou requirest of me both publique and priuate as hearing thy word preached with all reuerence and carefull attention reading the same prayer meditation and godly conference whatsoeuer else whereby I may be furthered or a means to further or helpe forward others in the wayes of grace and godlinesse that thus being obedient vnto thy commandement vnto which I am tied by so many bonds thy blessing may be vpon me thy spirit may dwell with me I may daily more and more be built vp in sauing knowledge and true holinesse I may grow strong in thy feare finding the powers of sinne and Sathan euery day more and more weakened in me and after that I haue at thy appointed times indeuoured to keepe a holy and religious Sabbath heere on earth I may hereafter keepe an eternall Sabbath with thee in the heauens praysing and magnifying thee vncessantly and enioying that perfect rest and happinesse which thou hast promised and I daily expect and hope for that only through the merits of thy deare Son my blessed Sauiour to whom with thee thy spirit be all praise now for euer Prophanenesse how fearefull the end of it will be THe Fig-tree a Math. 21 19 was accursed because it had leaues onely but brought forth no fruit how much more they then that haue cast away the leaues also hauing not so much as the shew and outward profession of religion and godlinesse It 's a heauie and dreadfull sentence which is to be pronounced against the vnprofitable seruant that hath not improued the Lords talent which he gaue vnto him and made the best vse of it for his masters aduantage so as might be most for his glory and the good and benefit of others amongst whom he liued b Math. 25 30 Cast that vnprofitable seruant into vtter darkenesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth O then what shall become of those that are not onely fruitelesse and vnprofitable in their course but prophane and openly euill so as the world doth point at them and cri◠shame vpon them though they are so hardened many of them that they neuer blush for it c Ier. 5.3 6.15 nor will be ashamed but d Hose 7.10 glory in it that doe not onely omit that which is good setting themselues