Divine Worship must have a Divine Warrant this is principium eternoe Veritatis a maxim of everlasting truth and will prevail against all contrary assertions And assuredly there is no duty next to Prayer that is more pressed both in the old and New Testament by the most holy God although it be so little practiced by Sinful Man But waving the old Testament precepts which are liable to more exceptions the New Testament precepts are most cogent and they are principally three Eph. 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. and Jam. 5. 13. that in the mouth of three Witnesses this great truth might be established 3. The second Argument is taken from Divine presidents waving the Old-Testament in this also as before in Divine precepts and they are three likewise as Mat. 26. 30. Act. 16. 25. 1 Cor. 14. 15. The Example of Christ himself is the Regula Regulans rule ruling and the example of the Apostles is the regula Regulata rule ruled You cannot Write after a better Copy then after Christ and after his Apostles so far as they followed Christ His Pattern is for your Practice and he will not be a Saviour to you for happiness unless he be also a Samplar to you for Holiness you must either tread in his steps here in this world or you shall never lodge in his bosome in the World to come and you should follow them who through faith and patience do now Inherit the promises Heb. 6. 12. Follow the white-side though not the dark-side of this cloud of Witnesses Heb. 12. 1. 4. The third ground is Antiquity pure Antiquity This may give light when all other lights are out the laudable and comely customs of the primitive Church ought to be observed 1 Cor. 11. 16. as Water the neerer that it is to the Spring the purer doth it run in the stream so is Antiquity in customs the neerer to the Apostles times before the man of Sin arose to fowle them with his fowle foot Ezek. 34. 18. Rev. 13. 1. the purer they are and so are justly deserving a due esteem and diligent perusal in matters of fact which they must needs know better then others after them 'T is true the universal practice of Churches is no Rule for the word of God is the only rule and custom without truth is but a mouldy Errour and as a Cipher without a figure yet when the customes of the Church are backed with both Divine precepts and Divine presidents It should ever strike a Reverence upon the heart Gods word is truth Joh. 17. 17. and 't is that which must institute all Ordinances such customes as hold not a consonancy to the word are vain Jer. 10. 3. and ought to be abolished but in the duty of Singing custom and truth meets together 't was the practice of him that was truth it self and primum Cujusque Generis est mensura Reliquorum the first of the kind is a Rule to all the rest Christ was first in this Gospel-Ordinance and the Primitive Churches followed him herein as Justin Martyr Tertullian and others testify having their Cantus antelucanos Singing praises to God and Christ before day 5. The fourth Reason for reviving this Gospel Ordinance is the universal Obligation that lyeth upon all to performe it 'T is a natural duty as well as instituted and moral duty hence all lys under the Obligation of it Even all Creatures that receive mercy from God should return duty to God let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord Psal 150. last to wit in their kind and after their manner yea the whole Creation all the works of God whether Reptilia Aquatilia terrestria ceu Coelestia creeping things Fish Fowle Beasts below and Stars above shall praise God Psal 145. 10. all joins in consort with the Saints in praising work 'T is indeed chiefly Mans work as he is Gods Master-piece and endowed with both Speech and Reason above other Creatures Yet 't is not Mans duty only though it be his chiefly all Creatures do owe an Homage of praise to their Creator and all men may know either by the light of nature that this duty is natural or by the Law of God that it is moral besides what hath been said of ' its Institution in the Gospel 't is pitty that Man should rob God Or as the Hebr. is Mal. 3. 8. will Adam pillage Elohim to wit of his praise and 't is the greatest pitty that this should be done not only by Adam in general but also by any of the best of the Sons and Daughters of Adam 6. The fifth Argument is the Excellency of the duty above bare Reading Singing the word of God in meeter is fuller of Vigour and Spirit then Reading it in prose which of it self and in ' its own nature is a far more saint and seeble strain and hath not that sweet delectation in it to the Godly mind as frequent experience doth easily demonstrate how oft is a gracious Soul even elevated herein above it self thus David had his unspeakable ravishments in this Ordinance and therefore as being much vexed with his own natural dullness he stirs up himself as Deborah had done before him Judg. 5. 12. Awake Deborah Awake utter a Song So he awakes his tongue which he calls his glory his harp and his heart too for this duty wherein he found so much sweetness Psal 57. 7 8. 108. 1 2. 104. 33 34. 119. 103. 7 David did not only raise himself up from his indisposing drowsiness going out with Samson to shake it off from him Judg. 16. 20. but he reckons Gods statutes which he made his Songs in the House of his Pilgrimage to be better to him then thousands of Gold and Silver Psal 119. 52 54 and they were the rejoysing of his heart as his best inheritance Ver. 111. Thus should the word of Christ dwell in you Richly Col. 3. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Indwell in you It must be in you and in you again well digested and turn'd into juice and blood and this cannot be so well effected by a bare and cursory Reading the Word as it may be by Singing it wherein there is a distinct and fixed Meditation upon it and upon every Syllable of it while 't is leisurely founded out by the voice the longer that you ponder it in your mind the more likely may it have a strong influence on your affections this pausing and pondering doth chafe supple and work the word into your Spirit and so makes it both a refreshing and a ravishing Ordinance to you having a more spriteful violence upon your heart then bare Reading for hereby Gods word takes a deeper Impression upon you and those things that you did know before come to be better known and more graciously understood the Spirit of God Sealing them upon your Soul then doth the word of Christ dwell in you Richly and you give rich and liberal entertainment to it and you will account all other but
Psal 45. 1. Hobr. in Divine Meditation Flies will not touch honey while it is Teething hot 2 For promoting good hereby you may obtain more familiar Acquaintance with your God and a more distinct understanding of your self both which are worth a Kingdom 2ly 'T is profitable to others for Meditation makes a Man a full Man it makes him accomplished to serve out his Generation and to be a blessing to every Relation round about him It fully furnisheth him for every good Work 1 Tim. 4. 15. 2 Tim. 3. 17. 9. As this duty is pleasant and profitable So 't is 3ly a necessary duty as necessary as chewing the Cud is to beasts of that kind and as a due retaining of food is to man as well as beast 't is a general Observation that such persons as do cast up their meat by vomit or cast it out by stoole as soon as they have eaten it be always ill-thriven persons for though the stomack may catch hold of some small parcel of the food and thereby maintain a life such as it is for a time yet is it no better then a life-less life 't is a life so filled with distempers that it becomes a burden to it self whereas when the food is retained and a due fermentation is wrought in the Stomach to a compleat concoction then is nourishment Ministred as Col. 2. 19. to all the parts which makes a strong healthy and well-liking constitution As it is thus in the life natural So 't is in the Spiritual Psal 119. 11. Luk 9. 44. Job 8. 37. Gods word hid and sunk in the heart that has a Room for it makes a thriving fat Christian 10. Meditation as it is a pleasant profitable yea a most necessary though much neglected duty is two-fold 1. Occasional 2. Appointed First occasional wherein all occurrences of Temporal objects occasionally met with affords you some Spiritual Considerations Note first this requires a Spiritual heart to make a Spiritual improvement of every Temporal object that Divine providence presents to your Eyes ears and outward Senses David made a profitable prospect of the Heavens crying Lord what is man Psal 8. and Christ at the Well of Shilo he who was Jacobs Shilo speaks there of the water of life Gen. 49. 10. Joh. 4. 10. c. A good heart makes every external object a Divine blessing the Husbandmans plowing sowing and reaping c. The Trades-mans buying and selling his weighing and measuring c. may afford you sundry Spiritual instructions And note secondly If you gain no more by them then a bare beholding of them with the Eye the very brutes gain as much as you If you content your self with a bare natural use of the Creature without a Spiritual Improvement thereof you get not the one half of that advantage by the Creature for which the Creator gave it you the Beasts of the field and the Birds of the Air have so much themselves you do not use the Creature as Lord of the Creatures so God made Adam Gen. 1. 26. unless you find your Lord in the Creatures 11. Every Creature preacheth to that Man in whom the Spirit of God first inwardly preacheth Note thirdly you never need to want matter if you want not an heart you may be cast into such a Condition as whereby you may be hindred from good Actions as by sickness Imprisonment c. But there is nothing in all the World save a naughty heart can hinder you from good Meditations go to the Ant O sluggard saith Solomon do you see how busy she is in the Summer to make provision for an hard Winter how much more ought you to concern your self in your Summer of health and strength before the Winter of death and Eternity come upon you do you behold the Spider in your window Spinning clammy threeds out of her own bowels and weaving cunning Webbs to catch and entangle the silly Flie laying snares for her life then consider with a sigh O how doth Satan all this and much more against my pretious Soul and all out of himself too though you had not a desperately wicked heart Jer. 17. 9. to assist him when he speaketh a lie he speaketh it of his own Joh. 8. 44. 'T is the Devils cursed disposition 't is as impossible for Satan to do good as it is for a Toad to spit Cordials 12. Note fourthly 'T is richly worth your Observation also that this Spiritual limbeck Divine Meditation doth not spoile the earthly Subjects that it extracts Heavenly Instructions out of as material limbecks do plants c. Put in them leaving them Sapless and useless save only for burning As the laborious Bee flies over a field of Flowers sucks Honey out of each of them yet leaves them all as fresh and as fragrant as before it found them So you in extracting Coelestial Meditations out of your Terrestrial Employments and Enjoyments which is the Sublimest Mellification in stead of hurting or hindring them you do verily both advance them and advantage yea enrich your self Note the fifth In a word you may not be like the foolish Child when you look on the Book of the Creature only to behold the gawdy Pictures and Babies therein or to gaze upon the gilded leaves and cover there of but you must mind your lesson that every Creature doth especially learn you the Stork Crane and Swallow know their Seasons Jer. 8. 7. the Ox knows his owner and the Ass his Masters Crib Esa 1. 3. and will not you learn from hence to know yours 13. As to your further improvement of the Book of nature with ' its 3. leaves of Heaven Earth and Sea I refer you to my Crown and glory of a Christian From Page 125. to 145. I now pass from occasional to Appointed Meditation which is the Souls setting of it's self apart silently and seriously to work out some profitable Meditations upon some chosen Subject out of its own heart throughly at a fit time and in a fit place thus Isaac went out into the field to Meditate as above Gen. 24. 63. That which concerns matter of knowledg for finding out truth doth chiefly belong to Students Schollars Ministers of the Gospel but matters of affection for inflaming our loves to God in Christ and for abasing our selves to a self-abhorrency this is of Universal concernment the work of every Christian 14. This blessed duty hath ' its beginning in the head but ' its ending in the heart 1. 'T is a pondering some Divine truth in your mind until you be well acquainted with it until you be seasoned with the Savour of it until it settle and take rooting in your Spirit until it beget in you good affections and fire your Soul in love to that truth 2. 'T is like the rubbing of a Man in a Swoon it as it were chases in the Oile of grace with a warm hand or rather with a warm heart 3. 'T is like the selvedge that keeps all the
asking his face and favour Paul tells you of your great need both of the shield of Faith that is defensive Armour and of the darts of prayer which is offensive Armour Ephe. 6. 16 18. Now this dart will not wound your Spiritual Enemies unless it be well-pointed steeled and sharpened with Zeal when the Souldier strikes with his full strength then doth he give his Enemy the Mortal wound Solomon saith what you do you must do with all your might Eccles 9. 10. you must much more pray the best of duties with all your might David danced before the Lord with all his might 2 Sam. 6. 14. surely he much more prayed with all his might he prayed and cryed with his whole heart Psal 119. 58 145. Sampson also bowed himself with all his might at the pillars of Dagons Temple Judg. 16 30. and surely had he not prayed with all his might likewise Ver. 28. he should never have been enrolled in that little Book of Martyrs amongst those great Favourites of Heaven Hebr. 11. 32. 24. You must therefore go forth in praying Work as the Sun in its strength Judg. 5. 31. and come as a Prince to God Job 31. 37. you should ask as a Son Isa 45. 11. as a Kings Son Judg. 8. 18. Jacob as a Prince had power with God and prevailed Hos 12. 4. and so should all the seed of Jacob do putting forth all the strength both of Soul and Body as he did in wrastling work Christ prayed so earnestly that he prayed himself into an horrid Agony so as to sweat clods of blood Luke 22. 44. Daniel prayed himself sick Dan. 8 27. and Nehemiah prayed himself pale Neh. 2. 6. Hannah also was so transported in prayer that old Eli thought she had been drunken 1 Sam. 1. 13 14. lastly Elijah put himself into such a posture of prayer as could not but strain all the strings of the heart he puts his head between his knees to pray 1 King 18. 42 45. and by this renting of his heart Joel 2. 13. so prayer is called and earnest prayer Jam. 5. 17 18. he procures the Key of Heaven to open and shut it at pleasure he prayed in his prayer as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports there was the prayer of his heart in the prayer of his Tongue or he prayed and the Spirit prayed too in his prayers according to Rom. 8. 26. while we make Intercession in our prayers the Spirit makes Intercession in and for us lastly he did not say his prayers but he prayed his prayer Thus must you set all your faculties and graces at work which all should be exerted and exercised in prayer do not poure out your Speech only but your Spirit also into your Fathers bosom Rom. 1. 9. then only is it an heart-transforming duty Luke 9 29. and then also thundrings comes out of the Temple Revel 11. 19. then breaks he Mighty Arrows Psal 76. 3. 25. Thus must you be Instant in prayer as well as constant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifies extension First of the duty Secondly of the affections in the duty Act. 26. 7. serving God Instantly with a vehement extension of Soul and you must continue instant Rom. 12. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 constant as well as instant a Metaphor from hunting Dogs that give not over the game till they have got it all along pursuing it with their utmost strength and skil The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same Root Eph. 6. 18 signifies invincible constancy or continuing in utmost strength So Col. 4. 2. you must not only be constant in respect of the time of your prayer but also be instant in respect of the strength of your affections you must keep up your heart upon the Wing of elevated affections desiring with David that your raised frame may be kept for ever upon your heart 1 Chron. 29. 18 when Divine wings are given you as Revel 12. 14. and you have a Divine wind the breathings of the Spirit in your Divine wings as Zech. 5. 9. then keep in the wind and upon the wing you may not flag and flatten in the duty If the world whisper in your Ear or if the tempter jog you on the elbow Answer them both as Nehemiah did the Adversary I am about a great work and I cannot attend you Neh. 6. 3. why should the work cease while I come down to you a Bell may be long in Raising but when once at the height it Rings most Tuneably but all the difficulty and skill is to keep it there that it cease not before the time 26. In a word as prayer is your Embassadour to Heaven so it must be accomplished as an Embassadour 1. It must be the Action of your Soul bodily exercise profits little 1 Tim. 4. 8. much Action and little affection availes not Soul-prayer when 't is alone is accepted but wo to Body-prayer when 't is alone Soul-prayer is necessary and Body-prayer is comely for you are to glorify God with both 1 Cor. 6. 20. you must lift up your heart Psal 25. 1. as well as your hands to your God 2. Not only your Soul must be in it but an intent Soul your heart-strings screwed up to the highest note Thus prayer is called a striving to an Agony as the Greek word imports Rom. 15. 30. and a wrestling so Rachel wrestled with God in prayer as well as her Husband Jacob Gen. 32. 24. Gen. 30. 8. with great wrestlings she obtain'd a Son and called him Napthali i. e. my wrestling every mercy you win by wrastling in prayer you may name it Napthali my wrastling 3. You must pray with your understanding as well as with your affections 1 Cor 14. 15. otherwise 't is but Barbarisme you bring to God and Psal 47. 8. you must understand your wants and your weaknesses and have the sense of them upon your heart This will make you cry and cry loud and your Soul will follow hard after God and his mercies Psal 63. 1 8. 4. Be clothed with Humility 1 Pet. 5. 5. walk humbly through the work of prayer Micah 6. 8. Come in forma pauperis Thus did Abraham Gen. 18. 27. the Centurion Matth 8 8. and the woman of Canaan Matth. 15. 27. Content with Crums if she may not have bread and content to be a Dog so she may be but Christs Dog 5. In faith Jam. 1. 7. you aske and miss because you aske amiss not beleiving that as Gods love mov'd him to make the promise so his truth binds him to perform it 6. By the help of the Spirit Rom. 8. 26. Mary would not serve alone she would have Martha's help Luke 10. 40. So you must have the help of the Spirit being all infirmity in your self you must go forth in his strength Psal 71. 16. get his hands on your hands and heart as 2 King 13. 16. to draw the bow of prayer and leane on him Cant. 8. 5. not on self Prov. 3. 5. 27.
3 6 25. Your Joseph your Jesus I dare assure you will be kinder to you if you so come unto him then ever that Joseph was to his Brethren whose rough words were indeed somewhat discouraging but his smooth deeds were wonderfully encouraging he sent them laden home not only with Corn but with their Money too Gen. 42. 7 27. 44. 1. Food as much as they could carry 22. Thirdly bring Enlarged hearts The greater your Vessel is and the wider mouth it hath 't is not only the sooner filled but you carry so much the more water home from the Conduit also Joh. 4. 7 28. Christs Ministers that beseech you in Christs stead 2 Cor. 5. 20. are compared to Clouds Jude 12. Upon a three-fold account 1. As they are driven to and fro 2. As sustained like Clouds full of water by the mighty power of God 3. As dropping down refreshing rain upon the droughty Earth now as the dry ground gapes for Rain so should you for the word Hebr. 6. 7. Deut. 32. 2. Ezek. 21. 2 They waited for Job as for the Rain Job 29. 23. Which in those hot Countrys was heartily longed for and highly prized and they opened their mouth wide to him as for the latter Rain That is they listened as for life and gaped as if they would have eaten his words Such a Divine thirst Davids Soul abounded with in his dry and thirsty land Psal 63. 1. 42 1. 2. 119. 20 81 And the Spouse Cant. 2. 4. Crying stay me with flagons 't is not a drop or a spoonful or a little Cup full that will quench her thirst but she must have whole Flagons You should come to an Ordinance just as Behemoth came to Jordan in his thirst Job 40. 23. The Elephant is such a thirsty Creature that he swalloweth abundance of water at one of his Mighty draughts he fancies when he comes to drink he can drink up a River and draw up great Jordan at one draught into his mouth and so great is his thirst that he is said to take the whole River with his Eye Ver. 24. his belly is better fill'd it seems then his Eye O that you could come with such an intent Soul to the Ordinance as if you could swallow up the whole blessing of the Ordinance your Self and drink it all up at one draught Suppose you could thus Monopolize and appropriate the blessing yet this would be no damnifying of others there is no envy in Spiritual things which may be divided in Solidum in the whole each Soul may have a whole blessing without wronging one another 't is otherwise in Temporals the World admits not of Rivals as being conscious of ' its own scantness and not having enough for all 23. Fourthly Be Reverent as to God The over-grown Heathen though a King Eglon shames and condemns many hearers in our day no sooner doth he hear Ehud say I have a Message from God unto thee O King but presently he arose from off his seat to receive it with Reverence though it proved a sad Message Judg. 3. 20. Yet the worshippers of the true God do not now raise up themselves nor raise up their hearts to receive a Message from God to them though it be not a Message of death and destruction as that to Eglon was but a Message of Life and Salvation Fisthly be earnest you must hear the word of God earnestly as blessed Baruch is said to repair the Wall of Jerusalem earnestly Neh. 3. 20. That is with all his heart Soul and strength being vexed with himself that he had begun no sooner The Hebrew word Hicherah hence the Latin Ira for Anger signifies there he burst out into an heat as being angry at himself that he had done no more and at others also that they had done so little Hereupon in an holy sume and fervency he finishes two parts and that quickly while others were busy but about one piece a ready heart makes riddance of Gods work and will kindle ' its own heat from other Mens coldness and quicken it self from others slothfulness what you do you must saith Solomon do with all your might Eccles 9. 10. If every Civil work much more this Spiritual which is of greatest Importance the strength of your affections must be here as well as in Prayer 24. In a word Sixthly to hear with Intention is to have your heart affected with that you hear so as it may not only burn in your heart as theirs did Luke 24. 32. but also melt kindly under it as Josiahs tender heart did at the hearing of the Law 2 Chron. 34. 27. yea and rejoyce greatly when you are made to understand it as the people did Neh. 8. 12. your heart leaping within you at it as the Babe sprang in Elizabeths womb when not the Lord himself but The Mother of our Lord spake to her Luke 1. 41. not only hear but feel Gods voice 1 Joh. 1. 1. 1. You must desire earnestly to hear Gods voice as well as hear Mans God saith in this Ordinance to his Angels of the Churches as he said at the Creation as some sense it to the Angels that left not their first state and habitation Jude Ver. 6. let us make Man Gen. 1. 26. So here let us both join together to make Sinners Saints Ministers of God are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fellow-labourers with God 1 Cor. 3. 9. and who would not but labour heartily with so sweet a companion he joins his Spirit to their word and makes them Preach all sorts of Sinners into another even the Divine Nature you may not then be satisfied till you feel God speak as well as hear man speak till God speak to your heart with a strong hand as he did to the Prophet Isa 8. 11. till he Single you out from others and speak to you with efficacy Many hear a Noise of Christ that do not hear the voice of Christ Act. 9. 7. with 22. 9. Eightly mix Faith with the word be sure you mingle the Word with Faith those two meeting together makes a precious Confection a blessed mixture Heb. 4. 2. 25. The third particular is retention of memory the Word 1. It must be laid up in the head you hear must not be like breath upon steel that is soon on and as soon off again nor as day flies call'd Ephemerae that are bred at noon and dead at night Nor as the morning-dew that soon goeth away Hos 6. 4. The Sun arising soon licks it up from off the Earth In the hearing of the Word a blessed dew falls from the drops of it Deut. 32. 2. but it should not go away as the dew If you cannot stay it but it will go away then pray that however some Manna may still remain as Exod. 16. 14 15. the Manna did come down with the dew Ver. 13. Christ that bread of life Job 6. 32. comes down in the Ministry of the word Psal 110. 3. the dew covered
their Lord their founder and their finisher bring forth your bravery to entertain Christ 9. The second thing required in the Ordinance is self-excitation you must stir up your self as Deborah did calling up her own Soul saying awake awake Deborah awake awake Judg. 5. 12. open there all the Springs of your Soul for Christ as Christ opened all the veines of his heart for you 1. Open all your desires and affections for him come to this Ordinance as Behemoth to Jordan with a mighty and an all exhausting thirst upon you Job 40. 23. bring strong affections and a lusty appetite to this Supper where 't is a vertue Sublime to to be an holy glutton and to drink hearty draughts of the blood of Christ that you may go away from the Supper as Christ did from his Baptism filled with the Holy Ghost Mat. 3. 16. you must consider what is before you as Prov. 23. 1. but in that duty 't is not your work to restrain but to provoke appetite and the rather because Christ so exceedingly thirsted after your Salvation Luke 12. 50. though he knew it would prove so costly to him Christ saith with desire I have desired to Eat this Supper with you Luke 22. 15. that had no need for himself of either you or it how much more should you say with desire I have desired to Eat this Supper with Christ who is at all the charges pain and pains himself and all for your Eternal profit 10. Secondly excite and quicken up all your faculties as the affections those hand maids of the Soul give attendance to meet Christ the mistical David just as the Virgins of Israel met literal David in their Singings and dancing 1 Sam. 18. 6 7 8. every one Singing their part appointed them accordingly hope is sent out to wait for this King of glory and if he come not desire is sent out to fetch him Love Delight and Joy receives and entertains him all these Virgins go out to meet this blessed bridegroom Mat. 25. 1. having first swept the House clear and cast all the filth away into the brook Kidron 2 Chron. 30. 14. Math. 13. 14. Jam. 1. 21. and brought forth their best bravery Arras hangings Persian Carpets rich stools all their Plate and Jewels to wit all the graces of the Spirit far surpassing Aarons rich garments that were for glory and beauty all to prepare a large upper-Room for entertaining the King of glory even so all the faculties of the Soul must be stirred up to Improve their Interest in such a blessed guest as 1. your understanding must look round about him and behold him altogether lovely from this Sycamore-Tree as Zacheus Luke 19. 3 4. Cant. 5. 16. 2. Your will must offer up both Sword and Keyes c. As the Major doth to his Prince at his entertainment 3. Your memory must be ready to Register every act of love to your Soul remembring his loves more then Wine Cant. 1. 4. In a word Christ must be led into every Room of your heart and Lastly all your graces must be excited and made ready to receive each their Alms from Christs fulness as saving knowledg justifying Faith sincere Repentance servent love c. All come to touch him for healing vertue well knowing that Christ comes with a Royal heart into the Soul to give abundantly and like himself no mean gift can come from so noble an hand and heart and that all this may be done you must use the third thing required to wit strong Invocation coming as a Prince to him Job 21. 37. and begging his grace in all with your whole heart Psal 119. 58. 11. The third general is your Improvement after all When Faith and all your other graces together with your affections and the faculties of your Soul have plaid their part in the Mount and brought you even to a Transfiguration as was done both to Moses and to the Messias Exod. 34. 29. Luke 9. 29. then 1. You must tremble to lose that luster and glory that God hath put upon you by your conversing with him If he hath made you one of his Jewels by communicating his presence to you Mal. 3. 17. then shine as a Jewel in all your Relations that all which see you may acknowledg you to be a seed the Lord hath been blessing Isa 61. 9. 2. Be thankful to your Lord for this inestimable benefit Psal 116. 12. be of a rendring disposition and that in your life as well as with your lip If Davids condescension to such a dead Dog as Mephibosheth accounted himself was so admired by him 2 Sam. 9. 7 8. how much more by you that in rigour of Justice might be fed with Wormwood and have the waters of gall to drink Jer. 9. 15. yet the Lord gives you the flesh of his own Son to be meat indeed to you and his blood to be your drink indeed Joh. 6. 55. that might say I will not feed you at all Zech. 11. 9. 3. Let it be an everlasting obligement on you to keep far from every evil matter Exod. 23. 7. The Oath of God no less is a Sacrament is upon you lay Gods charge upon all your corruptions Cant. 2. 7. you are Vas Signatum shall you Sin Neh. 6. 12. your all is for the Prince Ezek. 44. 3. do singular things for Christ that doth singular things for you Mat. 5. 47. The seventh Walk of a Christian wherein all the other Walks do meet is the Lordy-Day CHAP. XI 1. COnsiderations and 2. Directions before in and after it 1. Consideration Remember to keep holy the Sabbath-day Exod. 20. 8. you must first Consider the Number of it Before the fall when Mans nature was pure that the Lord God gave Man but one Commandment to wit that of not eating the forbidden Fruit but after the fall when Mans nature was defiled God gave him ten Commandments and those mostly prohibitive to stop his proneness and strong Inclinations unto evil The first of the tenth doth teach you the Object of Worship The second the matter of Worship the third the manner of worship both of outward and inward worship in all these as the fourth teaches you the time of worship inwardly and outwardly also The time of worshipping God is not left to mans own liberty for then the loose heart of man would keep no time at all though time of worship as well as that God is to be worshipped is Juris naturalis written on the Tables of mans heart yet one of seven is Juris positivi and written on the Tables of stone both which are the Writings and the workmanship of God as Exod. 32. 16. The fourth Commandment closes up the first Table 1 As the most powerful means to keep all the three former and 2 As it draws into one the whole worship of God and lastly as it makes Gods worship known to the World which otherwise would not be so well known as it is by keeping a day
10. and that from a greater work as Jer. 23. 7 8. otherwise there would be no equality The 5 Argument is the prophecies of the old Test that the Sabbath of the new Test should be on the first-day of the week as the Institution of Circumcision on the eighth-day the Psalms on Shemineth or eights and Psal 110. 3. with 118. 24. Math. 21. 42. Act. 4. 11. speaks all of this day as the latter Scripture expounds the former c. The 6 Argument is the prerogative of this day above other days as on this day 1 The light was Created and the Angels of Light also 2 Israel went through the Red Sea Ancients say 3 God fed them with Manna 4 Also on this day the star appeared to the wise men and 5 That Christ fed 500. with 5 Loaves and 6 Was Baptized on it however rose upon it And 7 is Gods Judgments upon profaners of it and the 8 The constant and continued custom of the Church to keep it in all ages since Christ 13. The second thing after the pregnant considerations is the practical and profitable Directions how the Christian Sabbath may be Sanctified so as to bring a Spiritual blessing into the Soul The first Direction prepare to meet your God O Christian Amos 4. 12. there is no work either Natural or Artificial but it requires preparation how much more this Religious work the Husbandman prepares for his Husbandry and the Musician for his Musick and shall not you that are part of Gods Husbandry 1 Cor. 3. 9. have your Soil prepared for the Celestial seed O pray to the only preparer of hearts Prov. 16. 1. to the skilful Musician that he may tune your harp your heart to Sions Songs and Sabbath-services that you may make melody therewith and therein to the Lord Eph. 5. 19. The second Direction is set some time apart at least the evening before the Sabbath to trim your Lamps for meeting your Bridegroom Math. 25. 7. The Traveller makes all ready over night for his Journey intended next morning and that Oven which is heated the night before will be the sooner fitted for baking in the following day the Jews had their preparation for the Sabbath the evening before it Mark 15. 42. Joh. 19. 31. their preparation to the Sabbath began at three a Clock in the afternoon having Sabbatulum ante Sabbathum afore Sabbath before the Sabbath Those of Tiberias began the Sabbath sooner then others as those of Trephore continued longer laying down this as their Rule as Buxtorf relates Tutius est tollere de profano addere ad Sacrum quam tollere de Sacro addere ad profanum 'T is safer to pinch a part of the week-day than the least part of the Sabbath-day Our own Chronicles tell us that the Saxons in those dark times were so devout as not to allow their secular affaires to entrench upon their Sabbath-days Devotion and therefore began their preparation at three in the afternoon on the last day of the week insomuch that our forefathers at the Ringing of the Bell to Prayer at that hour the Husband-man would give over his labour in the Field and the Trades-man his work in the Shop and set themselves to prepare for the Sabbath Clarks Engl. Martyr Pag. 30. Tells of Edgars Law to this purpose And Tacitus saith Nox diem ducere videtur the night seems to lead the day as the evening in Gen. 1. is all along set before the Morning and therefore the evening before must belong to it O how the Devotion of those dark days condemns the Indevotion of our more knowing times wherein Men are so far degenerated from their Auncestors Zeal that they dare entrench upon the holy time either in worldly works or in foolish games as if the waters of the Sanctuary that full-Sea of knowledg promised Esa 11. 9. had extinguished the fire of the Sanctuary to wit that former Zeal and fervent devotion in Solemnizing Gods Sacred Sabbath in the entire extent of it ☜ I the longer insist upon this second Direction because usually as men measure to God in preparation God remeasureth to men in performance of his blessing I have found my best Prognosticks about what communion with God I should enjoy on the Sabbath-day from the Divine influences I have had upon my heart the evening before 15. The third Direction is Remember not only to prepare for it but also to long after it as a day of desires to your Soul the preface Remember spreads it self over all the duties of the Sabbath before in and after also Drusius tells of an holy Jew that would usually go out early in the Morning of the Sabbath and having put on his best Apparrel would cry out Veni sponsamea come my blessed Bride thou art welcom as being exceeding glad of ' its comming If you with the Mariner have lanched out your heart the Ship out of the Haven of Worldly mud over night you will long for the Morning as Psal 130. 6. to hoise up Sail for your Voyage to the Cape of good Hope and you cannot then but rise early as Israel did in their Siege of Jericho upon the Sabbath day Josh 6. 15. have not you the strong holds of Sin as they had the walls of Jericho to batter down O long for this Queen of days as the Antients cal'd it for your Souls market-day having cast up all your Spiritual wants overnight Say with David my Soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord O when shall I come and appear before him c. Psal 8. 42. 63. 1. 42. 1 2. 16. The fourth Direction is Improve every part and parcel of the Lords Sabbath for your Souls edification and advantage either publickly or privately in holy and Religious exercises the Hebrew word Shamer to keep the Sabbath signifies such a careful and diligent keeping as is that of Gold or precious things which a man would not lose any part or parcel of how careful is the Gold-Smith of keeping the very filings of his Gold and the Apothecary in his beating of Pearl to Powder is extraordinary watchful that the least dust of it fly not out of his Mortar and why Because a little of such things is very pretious and of great value Thus the smallest part of this Holy-day is of great price take heed of loseing the least moment of the pretious Sabbath one Inch whereof the Damned in Hell would give worlds for if they had them but improve the whole day for Gods glory and your Souls good O then that practice of too many persons in too many places in making Gods Sacred Sabbath the very voider and dunghil for all refuse-businesses putting them off to that day must needs be a great provocation to the most high and holy God 't is a Scripture wonder will a man rob God or Hebr. will Adam plunder Elohim Mal. 3. 8. Seeing the whole day is consecrated both by God and also as
58. 13 14. Psal 37. 4. 21. The ninth and last Direction is be careful to close up the Sabbath with a gracious frame of heart when with Zacheus you have got a view of your sweet Jesus from top to toe upon the Sycomore Tree of some Gospel-advantage though low of stature in your self this is your after duty be sure you take Christ home with you and joyfully receive him there as he did Luke 19. 3 4 5 9. he is you 'l find the most blessed guest that brings Salvation with him as well as a Supper Rev. 3. 20. Reflect then upon the whole carriage of your heart all the day and falling down upon your knees 1 Beg pardon for your drowsiness or distraction for your want of fervency of Spirit in serving the Lord Rom. 12. 11. And a Sabbath frame of Soul 2 Return praise for the Angels moving the waters in order to any healing either the weakness of your grace or the strength of your Corruption lose not the warmth of the day in the cool of the evening for want of watchfulness and let Sabbath day thoughts abide with you all the week-days then week-day thoughts will less trouble you on the Sabbath day Of Family-Duties the first Pregnant Considerations second Practical and profitable Directions CHAP. XII 1. HItherto of the walk of a Christian in personal Holiness a short discourse of his Relative Holiness in the close of all Consider the first 't is true a man is what he is in private and in personal Actions habitually either good or evil and 't is as true that a man who is good privately and personally cannot but be good Relatively also he will labour to be good in all Relations be will desire and endeavour to be holy as a Father as a Husband and as a Master this holds true in all other Relations Superiour Inferiour or Equal as a Wife as a Child and as a Servant Yea as a Magistrate and as a Minister c. All persons are Really what they are Relatively unsound hearts like the Piller of smoak in the Wilderness will have a dark side as well as a bright because they be not what they seem to be they be not to God what they seem to be to men you may not be like the Candle in a dark Lantern that gives but light one way but rather as the Candle set upon the Candlestick that disperses its light every way into every corner of the House you must not be diligent in one Relation and negligent in another but be holy in all Relations wherein God has set you 2. The second Consideration is Religion in Truth disperses it self into every Relation and makes the New-Creature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a publick-Creature for the good of others a blessing Gen. 12. 2. to Family Relations and so by consequence to both Church and State whereof a Family is the Epitome being as the Philosopher saith the first Society in Nature as before the flood both were bound up in private Families as in a little volume so now the way to have both good is to have Families good whereof Churches and Kingdoms do consist to make them as great Folios Religious Families are blessed nurseries out of which are transplanted a good Son into one place a good Daughter into another and these bring a blessing along with them to those several places as Jacob did to Laban Gen. 30. 27 30. and Joseph to Potiphar Gen. 39. 23. those two blessed branches of the Patriarks Families though transplanted into a Forraign Soil carries a blessing to Forraign Countreys 3. The third Consideration is seeing 't is the Lord that sets the Solitary in Families Psal 68. 6. and appoints the bounds of your habitation Act. 17. 26. the placing of persons in this or that place and habitation is from the appointment of the Lord thereof as your being so your dwelling is from the Lord and this is not for wordly conveniency only but for the worship of God Deut. 6. 6 7. 11. 18. 19. which is your homage and quit-Rent you must pay to the Lord of all Act. 10. 36. Prov. 3. 6. Deut. 26. 17. Gen. 18. 19. Hereupon every new house was to be dedicated to God Deu. 20. 5. with Prayers and Praises as David did his Psal 30. title and as all should be Sanctified 1 Tim. 4. 5. the walls of your house are ever before the Lord Isa 49. 16. and therefore Holiness to the Lord should ever be writ upon them Zech. 14. 20. that your house may be as the house of David Zech. 12. 8. Psal 101. 2. and as Melanctons Prince a Church Court and Academy 4. The fourth Consideration is in two branches 1. Keep out Sin that grand trouble house Job 5. 24. 11. 14. 22. 23. do you visit your habitation 't is a great mercy deny'd to many put Iniquity far from your Tabernacle by Repentance and Reformation and while God fills your house with good things do not you fill it with evil Sins O let not this be your kindness to your friend 2 Sam. 16. 17. O do not thus requite the Lord Deut. 32. 6. your house should be all built of Irish-Oak as it were which cannot endure any venemous Spider to come near it 2. You must keep in the Ark as well as keep out Sin thus did David Psal 101. 2 3. he would set no wicked thing before him yet he did the holy Ark before which he danced with all his might 2 Sam. 6 14 16 17. 5. That you may be rightly guided in this last walk of a Christian to walk in your house with a perfect heart as David did Psal 101. 2. and both keep out Sin and keep in the Ark to wit Religion as Obed-edom did and was blessed for so doing 2 Sam. 6. 11. take these following directions the second thing propounded which relates First to the Governours of a Family and Secondly to the governed in it First to Governours the 1 Direction is wheresoever God hath set out the bounds of your habitation Act. 17. 26. though God say to you as Gen. 49. 13. Zebulun shall dwell by the Sea-shore an unruly Neighbour and that yields no good Air and it may be not an house to your liking in all things yet say this is the place appointed me of God and having God for your Portion there cry with David your lines are fallen to you in a pleasant place and that you have a goodly heritage Psal 16. 9 6. Gods company to give all good things to you Math. 7. 11. and to take all evil things from you makes a Cottage yea a Cave to become a Stately Court and a Princely Palace for where the King is there is the Court though you have not all to your mind yet this will make you say you have all as Jacob Gen. 33. 11. as Paul Phil. 4. 18. in having him that hath all yea though you have nothing in comparison yet possessing all things in him
is a work that is wages to it self as you will find within Psal 19. 11. In as well as for keeping Gods commands there is great reward 'T is verily as the work of glorified Saints and of glorious Angels it being of the same nature with theirs whose work is their wages O then you may rationally conclude with your self from hence What a shame it is that I who am created to an Eternal being and that do possess an Immortal Soul should spend 20. 30. 40. or 50. Years in Vanity if not in Villany all the time wearing the livery of a cursed Master being a Slave to Sin and Satan and never look up to God the best Master and the Supreme good Alas you may hop from Mountain to Hill Jer. 50. 6. And go Satans round Jab 1. 7. yet find no rest with Noah's Dove for the Soles of the Feet of your Soul until you come to the Ark of this blessed work your Soul is Created with such vast Capacities as nothing bears proportion either to ' its being or to ' its wants below God no Created being hath Room enough in it to entertain so ample and so endless a guest 't is of such unlimited desires that nothing but the Immortal God can satisfy an Immortal Soul Secondly Observe the method which is first general in the whole duty of Man to God this is held out in those three general Names 1. Of godliness 2. Of Religion 3. Of Christianity Together with the necessity of each then Secondly you have more particularly the many good duties of Man to God both personal and relative Treated upon and that with as much perspicuity and plainness as so little a Book would admit of If you meet with any passage that seems obscure ascribe it to the Curtnes of my stile who indeavours to say much in a little and after some acquaintance herewithal with a little pondering you will be able through grace to understand the darkest Sentence If you desire direction in natural and civil Actions c. As well as in Religious I refer you to my little piece called the Crown and glory of a Christian If either in that or in this any thing may be blest to your Soul and bring you further of from Sin and nearer God which is the best thing in the World Psal 73. 28 both for Living and Dying let God have all the glory for the gift how mean soever bestowed on me how unworthy soever 2 Cor. I. II. And let me have the Relief of your Prayers for further abilities and your faithful Improvement of those poor performances which I commend to your Candour and your Soul to God and to the Word of his grace Subscribing my Self to be Yours in the best Bonds Christopher Nesse London this 10th of April 1678. Short Rules for your general Direction Let your Thoughts be Divine Awful and Godly Talk be Little Honest and True Works be Profitable Holy and Charitable Manners be Grave Courteous and Cheerful Dyet be Temperate Convenient and Frugal Apparel be Sober Neat and Comly Will be Ready Obedient and Constant Sleep be Moderate Quiet Seasonable Prayers be Short Devout and Frequent Recreations be Lawful Brief and Seldom Mind be Suitable to your Means Memory be Of Death Judgment and Glory Conscience be Void of offence to God and Man Task be Always doing or receiving good Conversation be In Heaven while your commoration be on Earth Latter-End be That of the Righteous Hopeful in the Lord not Hopeless in Sin A well-wish to your weal in both Worlds Utinam Saptres Praeterita Malum Commissum Bonum Omissum Tempus Amissum Intelligeres Praesentia Vitae Brevitatem Salvandi Difficultatem Salvandorum Paucitatem Praevideres Futura Mortem quâ nihil inevitabilius Judicium quo nihil terribilius Infernum quo nihil intolerabilius I wish you would First make a wise use of things past to wit evil committed good omitted and time lost and gone Secondly consider things present to wit the shortness of life the difficulty of Salvation and the fewness of those that are to be saved Thirdly Foresee things to come to wit death than which nothing is more unavoidable the day of Judgment than which nothing is more terrible the pains of Hell than which nothing is more Intolerable A Christians Walk and Work on Earth c. CHAP. 1. 1. YOU must know that Man is the master-piece of the Worlds ' Maker God calls as it were a Counsel in Heaven saying Let us make man Gen. 1. 26 Us all us the whole Wisdom of the Trinity was exercis'd in the making of Man The consultation and deliberation therein plainly demonstrates that there was then the bringing forth of a piece of work of greatest moment and importance and therefore what is said of Behemoth He is the chief of the ways of God Job 40. 19. may more eminently be said of Man he is the chiefest of the ways and of the works of God The Sun Moon and Stars are but the work of Gods fingers Psal 8. 3. But man is the work of his hands Psal 139. 14 15. Job 10. 3. 8. Hence David speaking of Man first wonders and then speaks and when he hath done to speak he hath not done to wonder Psal 8. 1. 9. 2. Every Creature of God is indeed a wonder yea little Creatures those Decimo-sexto's of the Creation are great wonders as well as the great Behemoth and other large Folio's thereof for the infinite Wisdom and Power of the Creator is manifest in couching up both life and motion in such a little compass as in Insects Flies Ants c. But Man is the greatest wonder as having the excellency of all other Creatures in him he is the abridgment of all wonders You believe that God is a Spirit and you see that the World is a Body Man is an Epitome of both 1. Of God in respect of his Spirit And 2. of the World in the composition of his Body as if the great Jehovah on purpose to set forth a plain mirrous of himself and his work designed to bring into this one narrow compass of Man both the infiniteness of his own nature and the vastness of the whole world all together 3. The soul of Man resembles the circumference of Heaven as being everywhere over the little world his brain the Sun that gives light to this little world and the senses stand round about it as so many Stars His heart represents the Earth in its Center his liver is as the Sea from whence flows the blood in all its circulations the like correspondency you may easily imagine in all other parts too long to particularize Hence is it that Tertullian calls the World a great Man and Man a little world Man the Microcosm is Gods Text as it were and all other Creatures in the Macrocosm or great world are as so many plain Commentaries upon that dark Text. 4. You may learn a little further herein if you would have yet more
Religion is a great Nation Deut. 4. 7 and desolate Nations may say as Mary said in another case Oh Religion if thou had been here our Nation had not dyed nor been destroyed Though every shower on our land were a shower of gold every stone in it a pearl every beggar therein an honourable Senator every fool as wife as Solomon every weakling as strong as Sampson yet wealth honour strength and wisdom yea all is gone when this Ark Religion is gone you may then sing a doleful lamentation with Phineha's wife 1 Sam. 4. 21. the Glory is gone from England Oh you would not live to see Religion dye better you dead and gone a hundred times than Religion be dead and gone 18. Religion to wit in the power of it gives both a Relative and a real worth to your self in particular as it gives beauty and safety to your Nation in General 1. Real worth it makes you of Gods treasure Exod. 19. 5. of Gods jewels Mal. 3. 17 whereof the world is not worthy Heb. 11. 31. This makes you of the Blood Royal of Heaven not only in Alliance but in Union though never so poor in the world 2. Relative-worth this makes you more excellent than your neighbour though never so great and honourable if irreligious Prov. 12. 26. Hereby Abraham was a Prince among the Hittites Gen 23. 6. When others are in Scripture call'd vile you are precious others chaff you wheat others reprobate silver you refined gold others briars and thorns you a noble vine though your condition be never so mean in the world A living dog in this sense is better than a dead lyon Eccles 9. 4. The Jews say Those seventy souls that went down to Egypt with Jacob were of more worth to God than all the seventy Nations that were in the world besides They are the excellent of the earth Psal 16. 3. better Gentlemen as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Act. 17. 11. truly honourable Isa 43. 2 3. the very Chariots and horsemen of Israel One religious man saves a land Zech. 12. 5. Job 22. ult Jer. 5. 1. And if God could have but found ten righteous and religious persons in five wicked Cities he would not have destroyed them 'T is remarkable Abraham lest begging before God left baiting he might possibly have brought God to a lower number yea if but one in Jerusalem Jer. 5. 1. he would have saved it 19. You must therefore put an high estimation on Religion 't is the field wherein the pearl of great price lyeth and you are a wise merchant if you purchase that field Matth. 13. 44 45. Whatever it cost you you cannot pay too dear for this gold nay for this that is better than gold yea than the finest gold Job 28. 15. five several sorts of gold are there mentioned intimating if there be one sort of gold finer than another as indeed there is yet the finest thereof is not comparable to this heavenly wisdom yea 't is more precious than Rubies Prov. 3. 13. 8. 10 11. Solomon by his advantage of sublime wealth and wisdom had even ransacked the whole Creation to find out the most exquisite excellency of all created beings yet he proclaims the vanity and insufficiency of them all and prefers this above them all and Paul that great trader by sea and land 2 Cor. 11. 23 25 26. counts all but dung and dross yea dogs-meat as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Phil. 3. 8. in comparison of the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph. 3. 8. If the mountains of the earth were all pearl and the might rocks thereof were Rubies yea if the whole Globe of the Earth were one sparkling Diamond yet all this could not be weighed against the worth of Godliness one grain of grace is better than all the vast Entrado's of Spain then the gold of Ophir yea than all the riches of both Indies 't is better to be rich in faith than in gold and a man with a gold-ring is not comparable to a man with a gracious heart faith is more precious than gold 1 Pet. 1. 7 3 3 4. Gold is indeed the King of mettals and outshines them all on Earth as the Sun outshines all the Stars in Heaven yet is it but the shadow of this spiritual thing Zech. 4. 12. Exod. 25. 17. Cant. 5. 11. Revel 21. 18. Now there must be more worth in the substance than in the shadow therefore do not think you make a bad bargain though you part with all your treasure to purchase this field of treasure 20. In a word 1 'T is your best inheritance that hath most satisfaction and most duration in it and therefore must you say with Naboth God forbid I should part with my inheritance 1 Kings 21. 3. 'T is just so much the best of blessings as much as God is the best of beings hold it then as your life 2 'T is your best friend that will not only abide with you in this world for there are no bankrupts herein that ever truly received its power but 't will also accompany you into a better world Rev. 14. 13. Your first friend Riches cannot do so though desired that can only give something towards the journey to wit a winding-sheet and a Cosfin your second friend Relations can only bring you a little on the way to wit accompany you to the grave But this third and best friend Religion will go along with you to your journeys-end and stand before the Lord as being recorded in Gods Book of Remembrance 3 'T is your best teacher teaching you 1 to own the Lord as your right owner and true proprietary you had not your being from your self but from the first of beings and so your being must be for God as it was from God you are not your own 1 Cor. 6. 20 but you are his not only by Creation but also by choice purchase and conquest 2. To acknowledg him your just governour 't is meet the Artificer should govern his own workmanship however he deal with you and he is too kind to do you harm and too just to do you wrong 3. To avouch him your best benefactor more than a friend a master a father or a husband yea a God that gives you a being and well-being too Oh cry with David The God of my mercy Psal 59. 10. Therefore Religion must be your business all other things but your by-busines Aristotle studied Philosophy as his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the morning Eloquence as his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the evening only No concern like Salvation of the Soul 21. The second Name is Godliness this hath life and power in it There may be many carcases and forms of Religion but there is but one life one power ther is a forme of knowledg Rom. 2. 20. and a forme of godliness 2 Tim. 3. 5. yet both may want the power you may live by a
yea and glorifies God too 6. Our Lord saith thus of himself if I do not the works of my Father believe me not Joh. 10. 37 his works should testify of him what he was Luk. 7. 20 21 22. His works must be the standard by which they must measure him whether he were the Christ or no and so a fit Foundation for their Faith Christs Vicar the Pope who causelesly calls himself so will not say thus as Christ said but will have all his precepts dispatched not disputed obeyed not examined though we be bid to try the Spirits 1 Joh. 4. 1 and although by his evil Example he drew thousands to Hell yet none must say so much as what dost thou 7. Whereas works must be the standing standard whereby all Men as well as Christ yea the Pope himself must be measured whether they be in Christ and Christ in them If you do not the works of Christ to wit such as he hath proposed for your Example Imitable works 't is a vain belief yea a mere conceit only to think your self a Christian and you do but put an everlasting cheat upon your own Immortal Soul your works tell the World what you are for those the World sees and hears and by them you either glorifie your Father in Heaven or give clear evidence that you have denied the Lord that bought you 2 Pet. 2. 1 and would Redeem you from a Vain Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18 2 12. 8. T is true you may be a Christian in truth though something of Sin remain in your heart yet then it must not be liked there Rom. 7. 15. and although something of Sin remain in your life yet then it must not Reign there Rom. 6. 14. And for the main course of your life you must be chast modest temperate meek gentle kind and pittiful You must bridle your passions mortifie your inordinate affections and in a word exercise all the graces of his Spirit in you and Godliness 1 Tim. 4. 7. 9. Your practice must be answerable to your profession You who carry Christs name that Sacred worthy name how exactly should you carry your self and what manner of person ought you to be 2. Pet. 3. 11 even a person to admiration as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies how accurate and how elevated above the Ordinary strain You must have your feet where other Mens heads are Prov. 15. 24 the way of life is above to the wise you must be a choice person as you have a choice name that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in him 2. Thes 1. 12. This glory of Christ shall rebound unto your glory and Christ accounts himself glorified therein 10. You must therefore be Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 15. your very civility must favour of Sanctity and your common commerce relish of Religion Holiness to the Lord should be Writ upon your Bridle when you Ride and upon your Cups when you Drink Zech. 14. 20 21 you should as 't is said of a Reverend Divine Eat and Drink and Sleep Eternal life Those very common Actions are as so many Steps in your Christian walk and way and therefore you should not despise them but with all seriousness refer them to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31 do all to God and his glory 11. Such as name the name of Christ should depart from Iniquity 2 Tom. 2. 19 and this loose professours not doing doth exceedingly promote Atheisme There is nothing enlarges the Gulf of Atheisme more then that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wide passage between the profession and the practice of pretenders to Christianity how can the profession of that be looked upon by others to be Honourable the practice whereof is not looked on by themselves to be so If the Sum of Christianity be good why do they not practice it and if it be not good why do they so much as profess it 12. See then that your Conversation may be in Heaven while your commoration is on Earth Phil. 3. 20 't is so Ish Exemplarily while you are Writing by Heavens Copy and 2dly Analogically according to Heavens Rule living by Heavens Laws yea 3dly Theologically going about your Earthly matters with an Heavenly mind which a carnal heart that makes Earth his Throne and Heaven his footstool can never do a Fly cannot make that of a flower that a Bee doth The Carnal man is like to the Duke de Alva that said he had so much business upon Earth that he had no leisure to look up to Heaven but you must have so much business in Heaven as to have no time to look down so as to love the vain and vexing things hereupon Earth 13. You must set Christ before you as the most perfect pattern of an Holy and Heavenly Conversation who as Athanasius said of him while he went about doing good upon Earth carryed about him every-where an Heaven you must resemble Christ If you be a Christian and walk as he walked you must live as one that comes down from Heaven to Earth and expects to go up from Earth to Heaven Christ did his Fathers will upon Earth and it was meat drink to him to do so Joh. 4. 34 as the Angels doth it in Heaven you must Imitate Christ and though you cannot do so in his Miracles yet you may and must in his Morals you must walk in Christs steps here or never expect to rest in Christs bosome hereafter 14. You must be the true Picture of Christ as every true Christian ought to be Every dawber cannot draw the Kings Picture some such make strangers think strangly of the Kings Person because of his dawbed ill-favoured pourtraiture And shall those dawbers be punished for Exposing a Mishapen Picture of the Kings person to open View then what shall become of those titular yet loose and licentious Christians whose lives should be a lively Representation of Christ If by their Carnal careless and scandalous Conversations they do cause the Name of Christ to be blasphemed among Unbelievers that do Judg of him by this counterseit mishapen Representation Surely Christ will not own those workers of Iniquity Though they have prophesied in his Name and eat and drunk in his presence Matth. 7. 23. Men use to hang out their well-drawn Pictures of some special friend in the most conspicuous place that it may appear to all beholders they rejoyce in it as a grace and ornament to them So must you shew forth the praises of him that hath called you 1 Pet. 2. 9. If the Image of Christ be stamped upon your heart you must shew it in your life in a good Conversation Jam. 3. 13. 15. Thus you ought to aske your own heart whose Image and Super-scription is this Is it Christs or is it Satans God forbid that Satan should Imprint his limbs and lineaments upon your Soul unrased out by Christ you have born the Image of the
loose threeds from ravelling out 4. 'T is as the hammer that drives the nail of Divine truth to the very head 5. 'T is as the Art of the Bee sucking Honey out of Flowers then in your Soul a Spiritual Deborah which in Hebrew signifies a Bee when it gathers the sweetness of many Spiritual Flowers and then works it up in the Hive of the hidden Man of the heart Lastly Meditation doth after a sort transform you into the Image of truth as 2 Cor. 3. 18. making truth one with you and you one with it and turning all you hear and Read into Juice and blood by a kindly digestion 15 That you may manage this Meditation the better and make work of your work you must consider there be three main steps herein to wit 1. Ingress 2 Progress 3. Egress the first step is the hardest as is shewn above Paragraph 5. 6. 7. therefore take those two grand Rules of Direction about your Ingress 1. Your heart must be prepared 2. your subject must be profitable as to the first you must pray your heart into a Meditating frame a praying heart is the best Meditating heart and a Meditating heart is the best praying heart those two twin duties like the City buildings shore up and succour each the other It is said of Gersom that he hath sometimes spent four houres in banishing bad thoughts and in working up his heart into Tune for this Angelical duty You may not begin this duty with a Raw and a cold but always with a warm heart 'T is a Rule in Physick Medicandum est cum coctis non cum crudis Your thoughts will be Raw till they be boiled in a warm heart Psal 45. 1. And raw Meditations have no healing Vertue in them to a sin-sick-Sin-Sick-Soul 16. When you have through Divine assistance prepared in some measure your heart then secondly make choice of some profiting Subject such as may edify your Soul you must not come to the bush which the Lord is in the midst of with your shoes of Worldly-mindedness upon you Exod. 3. 5. When you go up to Mount-Moriah with your offering you must with Holy Abraham leave the Servants and the Ass at the foot of the Hill Gen. 22. 5. When you are with Moses to ascend this Mount of Meditation the Law is peremptory the beast that touches the Mount shall surely die Exod. 19. 12 13. you must be better then a beast and more then a Man yea you had need be an Angel for this Angelical work 17 At your Ingress or entrance into this duty you will find earthly thoughts to proffer themselves and press upon you with Importunity but Heavenly thoughts must with Importunity be sued for and sought after When you would think of Heaven and Heavenly things then will you thoughts of Earthly things lay Ambushments in your way and Intercept you those Birds that have their Wings daubed with Bird-lime cannot Flie much less mount up towards Heaven you may not be like Martha who was cumbred about many things but with Mary you must chuse the better part for the Subject of your Meditation you may not be as the Scarabeus or Horse flie that passes over a whole field of Flowers and at last lights upon some filthy dung you must rather be a Deborah a Divine Bee as above that flies over the dung with abhorrency and fixes upon the most fragrant Flowers or as the Noble Hawk in her flight that passeth over Crows and Jack-daws as unworthy of her pursuit and falls upon Birds of better prey 18. If yet worldly thoughts hinder your entrance upon your work you must pray them away as Abraham did the fowles that trouble him in his Sacrifice Gen. 15. 11. And though they be thoughts that are needful enough as how to care for your Family at another time yet must you then say to them as Hushai said of the Counsel of Achitophel 't is not good at this time 2 Sam. 17. 7. Family-cares have their proper Season but at this time they are unseasonable Suppose yet further that several good thoughts do come together into your mind at once know that this may hinder your entrance through the wiles of Satan also as when a great many people crowd in at a door all at once they all Stick fast and none can enter In this case you must single out from the rest your selected Subject that it may pass alone without crowding and reserve the rest to come singly on in their proper place and Season 19. Your selected Subject must be either something concerning God or something concerning your self First concerning God either his works or his word 1. Meditate on the works of God not only on such as are common to the World such as Creation and providence be but also on such as are proper and peculiar to his Church and Children We have thought on thy loving kindness saith the Church Psal 48. 9. we have silently mused Hebr. it being better admired then expressed So must you muse on Gods love to your Soul 1. on his electing love O think with your Self should not you give God a room in your heart at this time who gave you a room in his heart before times even from all Eternity Eph. 3. 11. 2ly on his redeeming love think then how God bestows Christ the best of all things even on you the worst of all things for you know more evil to your self then to all the World beside think also O this surpassing love of God in bestowing a Christ on you and not on others that for ought you know better deserved him and possibly might have made a better Improvement of him Joh. 14. 22. 20. And thirdly Meditate upon Sanctifying love O wonderful condescension that ever the Spirit of Holiness should vouchsafe to dwell in such a dirty dog-hole as your defiled Soul and that an House of unclean Spirits it may be a whole Legion of them for as Luther saith tot doemonia quot crimina So many Sins so many Devils Should ever become the Temple of the Holy Ghost And thus may you Meditate also upon Justifying love Fourthly which is such an Act of Divine grace as is equally vouchsafed to the weakest if true as to the strongest Saint to poor you if a Christian in truth as well as to great Paul or to the blessed Virgin and eternity shall not add to the matter of it though perhaps it may to the manner of it Fifthly upon Adopting-love which makes Sons and Daughters of Children of the Devil as well as of wrath and gives a lease of the best Inheritance not only for three lives yea not only for a thousand years but for eternity even for ever and ever 21. Lastly upon glorifying-love whereof indeed you are not Capable in this life Peter got but a glimpse of it at Christs transfiguration and he was plainly intoxicated with it so that he wist not what he said Matth. 17. 5. c. O admire that
you a worthless worm and wretch should hereby become not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like Angels Matth. 22. 30. but even advanced above Angels for glorifyed Saints are Sons of the Kingdom when glorious Angels stand by as servants In a word all these love-tokens are such transcendent priviledges that they can never be enough thought on and admired no though you should think upon nothing else and that so long as your life shall last yea though you should live as long as the World shall last and therefore God hath appointed an Eternity in a better World where you shall have no other Employment but to ponder them and to praise God for them Singing Hallelujahs to him that sits upon the Throne for evermore 22. As you must thus Meditate on Gods works so secondly upon his word whether precepts or presidents or promises or Ordinances thereof all which have sweet Honey in them to the Divine Bee Your second Subject is concerning your self as David did when he Eat in his Pallace 2 Sam. 7. 14. Saying with an humble heart Lord what am I Not what am I not As Nebuchadnozzar did with an haughty Spirit as he sat in his palace Dan. 4. 29 30. Humble David who had neither an haughty heart nor a lofty Eye Psal 131. 1 2. hath exceeding high thoughts of God and exceeding low thoughts of himself he cannot name any thing bad enough to compare himself unto in his Lord what am I he saith not Lord what a great Monarch am I Or what a great Man am I But he saith I am a worm and no Man Psal 22. 6. I am a dead-dog or a Flea 1 Sam. 24. 14. Lord what am I O Imitate this Holy David as you sit in your House I am the least of Saints and greatest of Sinners Eph. 3. 8. 1 Tim. 1. 15. But take heed of Nebuchadnezzers self admiration who Trumpets out his own glory when none asked him the Question as if he had done all whereas Babylon was built above a thousand years before he was born and God that builds all Cities Psal 127. 1. had done nothing God is not in all his thoughts Psal 10. 4. he exalts self and excludes God 23. Your second step herein is progress which is more easy then the first As a Bird hath the greatest lift when she rises up from off the Earth but when once got upon the Wing then she mounts up aloft not only without much straining difficulty but with much sporting complacency then doth she sing out her Melodious note throughly so long as she listeth and liketh as likewise a Ship hath always the most difficulty to hale out of Harbour where many times she sticketh fast in the Mud but if once got under Sail and a fresh gale of wind sitting right for her O how she sports in the waters as the Bird doth in the Air and goes on gallantly towards her desired Haven yea even in a stormy and tempestuous Sea let her have but Sea-room enough and then she feares not to be driven by the storm either upon Rocks or Quick-Sands as 't is thus with Birds Ships so with Bells 't is hard to get them up when once raised then rung with ease and delight just so it is with your Soul in this Divine work all your difficulty is to get up from the low Earth upon the wing with the Bird of the Air and to get out of the muddy harbour with the Ship of the Sea under Sail if once set a float and forward bound under a fresh gale of the Spirit of grace O how merrily do you mount upwards with the Bird and how gallantly do you go end-ways towards the Cape of good hope with the Ship so that an entrance is administred unto you abundantly into the Heavenly Kingdom 2 Pet. 1. 11. as it were with Colours flying Drums beating Trumpets Sounding yea with top and top Gallant entring into your Masters joy Matth. 25. 21 32. 24. For furthering your Progress take these short directions 1. Direct when you have turn'd what you should not think on out of doors as Sarah did Hagar and taken in what is necessary expedient and profitable for you to Meditate upon then in Gods strength Psal 71. 16. you must view your Subject round about and observe all it's circumstances as well as it's substance thus the Psalmist counsels you that you may think the better upon the loving-kindness of God in the midst of the Temple to walk round about Sion and tell the Towers of it and mark well her bulwarks yea consider her Palaces c. Psal 48. 9 12 13. Until you fully and distinctly know all 2. Direct Then you must dwell upon it with your doubled and redoubled thoughts and fix your Meditation pondering it in your mind until it have a kindly influence upon your affections until it become a Rooted and Engrafted consideration Mountains are barren because the Rain of Heaven run's off from them but valleys are fruitful because it resteth there the Wolf greedily swallows his meat hair and all so all goes from him into excrements he presently voids all so makes all void and never fatteneth 3. Direct Retain therefore your Subject and duty till you find something of God in it dropping down upon your heart till you find Elijahs God in Elijahs mantle working wonders for you 2 King 2. 14. Let neither go without advantage 4. Direct When you have found God in your Subject and duty retain him some while as Abraham did the Lord Christ Gen. 18. 3 4 5. saying pass not away I pray thee from thy Servant but rest with me for a while c. O then are you an happy Son or Daughter of Abraham when you can thus engage the Lords stay with you in this Divine duty 5. Direct Forget not to retain your own slippery heart 't wil linger as Lot in Sodom If the Lord of Angels help you not Gen. 19 16. be oft crying O quicken this loitering heart Psal 119. 37. and O unite this treacherous heart Psal 86. 11. 25. Your third step is Egress when you have through grace brought your Divine duty to some profitable Issue then 1. take down your Soul by degrees and not all on the sudden 't is a dead Bird that falls down like a stone without hovering upon the wing as the living ones do as nature cannot endure any sudden alteration so nor grace Deus Natura non faciunt saltum God and Nature make no leaps 2. Direct When down review your whole perambulation wherein you have been enlarged be thankful and wherein you have been straitned be humbled 3. Direct Take heed of the cold Air of Tentation when warm'd by this work The sweating labourer sometimes sits down over hastily catches cold and dies of a Consumption be walking gently in musing still that this befal not you Of Prayer CHAP. IV. 1. PRayer follows Meditation as twins follow each other in their birth they both lay in the same
that you offer not the Sacrifice of Fooles Thus also under the Law the inwards and feet were to be washed Levit. 1. 9. all which do teach you what due and true preparation you must make for your approaches unto God that you may lift up holy hands and an holy heart unto him in Prayer 1 Tim. 2. 8. those in Isa 1. 15. That came to God with their hands full of blood did as it were dare him to his face and they do no less that come with their hands or hearts full of any Sin 10. Secondly of those that are Concomitant or in Duty after preparing for it comes proceeding in it When your heart is fixed or prepared for God like the Instruments of Musick when the Treble is in Tune 't is easy to bring all the other strings into Tune also you can make no progress in Prayer unless this heart string be wound up to a due Note and all your graces and affections dancing attendance to the duty so then the First Direct or rule is clean Prayer be sure you stretch forth you hands in Prayer with an heart prepared for Prayer as Job 11. 13. If thou preparest thine heart and stretch forth thine hands and Ver. 14. If Iniquity be in thy hands put it far away and let not Iniquity be in thy Tabernacle and Ver. 15. then shalt thou lift up thy face without Spot and shalt be stedfast c. which teaches you that 1. your heart must be prepared to meet your God Amos. 4. 12. Humbly submitting to his Justice and heartily imploring his mercy 2. that you must stretch forth your hands in prayer as the Begger doth for Alms in forma pauperis to receive mercy or as men Beg quarter for their lives with hands held up over their heads or lastly as one that is falne into a ditch or deep dungeon and cannot get out holdeth up his hands and cryeth out for help you are faln into the dark dungeon of Sin and Christ is your blessed Ebedmelech that lets down a Rope of mercy his promises to draw you out as Jerem. 38. 12. with all tenderness if you cry unto him Psal 130. 1. 11. And thirdly those hands you lift up in Prayer must be pure hands 1 Tim. 2. 8. the Fountain of Divine goodness will not be laden at with fowle hands Esa 1. 15 16. The Apostle James gives you good Counsel cleanse your hands Jam. 4. 8. and the Prophet Jeremy cleanse your heart Jerem. 4. 14. and so doth blessed Paul cleanse your self from all filthiness both of flesh and of Spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. then shall you lift up your face without Spot That is you may come to God with comfort and confidence not casting down your countenance as guilty Cain did Gen. 4. 6. but looking up boldly and cheerfully as Steven did Act. 6. 15. they saw his face as if it had been the face of an Angel and then shall you stand stedfast in duty as a Pillar in the Temple Revel 3. 12. your heart being established with grace and your mind with peace to serve God without fear Luke 1. 74. Psal 112. 7. when the heart is thus fixed as Davids was Psal 57. 7. 108. 1. twice over in both places this makes duty more easy the expert Souldier having his Arms rightly fixed goes more cheerfully into the Battel then Prayer will be your business and you will make work of your work yea God himself will not strictly stand upon the exact purification of the Sanctuary but will certainly pass by all your other weaknesses 2 Chron. 30. 18. when he sees you prepare your heart to seek God Ver. 19. and when he beholds you to your ability sweep out the dirt wash the floor spread your best Carpets uncover your best Stools and bring forth your best Plate and Ornaments setting ope the Everlasting door of your Soul to entertain the King of glory Psal 24. 7 9. 12. The second Rule or Direction in duty is Cordial Prayer be sure you engage your heart in it Jerem. 30. 21. and in every part of it that your Prayer may be Cordial or a hearty prayer your Tongue and heart must be all a long Relatives and keep both time and Tune together the principal Element of prayer is the heart take prayer out thence and 't is but a dead thing that prayer which comes out of the head only and not out of the heart also is not prayer in Gods account Ephraim was a silly Dove without heart Hos 7. 11. The Jews no doubt had prayed much and oft during their seventy years Captivity yet Daniel denies that they had prayed at all Dan. 9. 13. yet made we not our prayer unto the Lord our God c. Seeing no Affection nor heart was in their prayers all was but lip-labour they gave God not the Calves of their lips as Hos 14. 2. but only the lips of their Calves which God esteemed no better then Jeroboams Calves when the Tongue prays without the heart 't is but an empty Ring the tinkling of a Cymbal 1 Cor. 14. 15. Expressions of the Tongue without Impressions on the heart makes no Melody in Gods ear non vox sed votum non Musica Chordula sed Cor. When the inward Sacrifice is not joyned with the outward God faith in contempt of it they offer me flesh Hos 8. 13. Flesh stinks in our Nostrils while it is burning when both were joined together God calls it his Honey-Comb with his Honey Cant. 5. 1. Eleazar the priest carried the Incense in his bosome to shew that prayer should come from the heart as he carried the Oil for the Lamps in his right hand the anointing Oile in his left hand and the meat offering upon his Shoulder as Rabbi Elias and Chaskuny upon Numb 4. 16. telleth us David found in his heart to pray his prayer to God 2 Sam. 7. 27. he did not only say his prayer with his lips but he also pray'd his prayer with his heart Prayer without the heart is like the Body without the Soul O how loathsome to man is this latter and as loathsome to God is the former then draw you near with a true heart Heb. 10. 22. 13. As your Prayer must be hearty or Cordial for quod cor non facit non fit that which the heart doth not is not done at all if your heart be Right God will give you his hand and you may come into the Chariot of Prayer as 2 King 10. 15. which is as the Chariot of Amminadab Cant. 6. 12. but if your heart be not right in the sight of God as Act. 8. 21. You have neither part nor portion in this matter and you do but take the Name of the Lord in vain and God will not hold you guiltless Exod. 20. 7. So it must be constant which is the Third Direction constant prayer and this constancy is two fold First in duty and secondly to duty The first relates to this or that
madness as to make them take up Arms against Heaven it self as seeking to kill a man only because God had made him alive They listened as little to him whom they saw as to Christ whom they heard but sought to kill him also as well as Christ Indeed who can believe the Testimony of a mere Creature that will not believe the Testimony of the Creator himself So that Hell is to be escaped by hearing Luke 16. 29. Esay 55. 3. Hear and live 12. The deafness of mans ear to hear the word of God causeth Christ to sigh Mark 7. 34. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he sighed as if himself felt and fainted under the burden of mans deafness Until Christ say Ephphatha be opened and boar the ear Psal 40. 6. God may speak once and twice and man not perceive it Job 33. 14 16. There be three vices in hearing which Christ must cure you of before you can be attentive to the Word of God 1. There is a Carnosity on the Tympanum Auris A fleshie excrescence upon the drum of the ear this must be removed to recover natural hearing so Carnal affections to the World will make you Spiritually deaf to the Word until you be Circumcised in ear as well as heart by Christ Act. 7. 51. Jer. 6. 10. Thus Herods carnality with Herodias made him deaf to Divine Doctrine Mark 6. 17 18. 2. There is abundance of bad humours in the brain that make a noise within so that a voice cannot be heard without Intus existens prohibet Alienum The head must be purged of those Vapours before hearing can be quick thus the heart must be purged of Pride passion or prejudice c. Those bad humours that deafs man to God the Jews ears were waxen fat herewith that they could not hear Christs voice Matth. 13. 15. 3. The Organ is sometimes hurt by a fall this is certainly done to the Inner-man by the fall of the first man our hearing is wounded till Christ cast out the deaf Spirit 13. Your heart thus purged by Christ for Vnguentum pretiosum Vasi faetido non committitur pretious Ointment may not be put into an unclean Vessel when Christ hath wakened Esa 50. 4. and opened your Ear Psal 40. 6. then attend the word with your ear not as the Word of Man but as the word of God 1 Thes 2. 13. with all due reverence and true affection looking beyond the instrument which yet God useth at the Authority and institution how the treasure is precious though in an earthen Vessel 2 Cor. 4. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Oyster-shells a bright Pearl may be found therein though contemptible in themselves by a Divine appointment that it should be so pleaseth God as before Therefore set your self Solemnly in Gods presence as Cornelius and his friends did Act. 10. 33. we are all here present before God to hear all things commanded thee of God and as the Corinthian Convert saw God in the Ordinance 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. when he found that it told him as once to the Samaritan Woman Joh. 4. 29. all that ever he did 't is a curious Critick Hebr. 4. 12. It finds and ferrets out secret Sins 14. Hereupon must you 1. Give your best attention to it your plus and your prius First and most as to a Divine Institution whereof God himself is the Author Christ himself the matter and Salvation it self of your precious and immortal Soul ' its end look well then to your foot Eccles 5. 1. as one that expects some blessed News from Heaven and concerning matters of greatest Importance Expecting that God will Magnisy his Word above all his name Psal 138. 2. and longing for a word in Season which will be to you as Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver Prov. 25. 11 20. yea looking upon the word as a part of Christs purchase and every Syllable thereof as it were written with his precious blood and therefore desiring not only to hear it but also to feel it and to taste of it that your heart as well as your hand may handle of the Word of life 1 Joh. 1. 1. 15. And 2. you must attend it often as often as you can redeem time from your other Employments to embrace such a blessed and golden opportunity the Reason is you will never find your heart in the same frame at the next opportunity that the Word left it in at your last audience of it This is the disadvantage of the Ministry above all other callings in the World a Minister of Christ never finds his work as he leaves it the Carpenter the Goldsmith the Potter and men of all callings find their work next morning as they leave it over-night but a Minister of the Gospel doth not find the hearts of his hearers the following Sabbath in the same frame as he left them in the foregoing he sent them away with warm hearts but they return to him again with cold hearts So that he hath a new fire to Kindle his Iron to heat again before it will be Malleable to the hammer of the word Jer. 23. 29. his wax that is now grown hard by lying in the cold to mollify again before it will take the Impression of the Divine Seal Rom. 6. 17. therefore doth he pray for this before he Preach you will assuredly and by wosul experience find your heart not as the materials in other callings abiding in the same frame and tenure as they are left but rather as the flesh of the Peacock which Naturalists say though Rosted over night will be Raw in the next morning pray then with David keep this frame for ever on me 1 Chron. 29. 18. when you are warm'd with the word and lay your Soul often under the droppings of the Sanctuary for reforming your affection as well as for Informing your Judgment Isa 28. 10. 16. Thirdly you must attend the word without drowsiness if you sleep at the word the envious one will be sure to sow his tares while you do so Matth. 13. 25. Remember Eutichus Act. 20 9. you may get a worse fall then he did you may fall from the high pinacle of profession to the low Pit of prophaneness from the third Heaven to the lowest Hell where you shall have no Paul to take you up and recover you did you ever see a Man sleep at his Markets and so goe home empty neglecting to buy the Provisions for himself and his Family that he came thither for Your errand to Gods Market for your Soul is or ought to be to buy the truth Prov. 23. 23. O go not home empty-handed empty-hearted did you ever see a man fall asleep in taking and telling of Money 's such an one cannot tell whether he take right Money or wrong and is easily Cheated Yet alas how many by so doing put an everlasting Cheat upon their own Souls falling not only into a natural but also into a Spiritual slumber while they are talking and
telling of Divine truth which is the only Currant Coin in the Court of Heaven 17. Alas poor Soul if you do so I cannot say of you as Christ once said of Lazarus Joh. 11. 12. If he sleep he shall do well but the contrary if you sleep in an Ordinance you both do and will do very ill you can neither take nor tell even saving truth when it is told out to your hand and to your heart As the Apostle faith what have you not Houses to eat and to drink in 1 Cor. 11. 22. So I say what Have you not Houses to sleep in But you will shame your self and despise the Church of God Shall I praise you in this I praise you not O little do you know what drops of the Divine unction that flows from the two blessed Olive-Trees Christ and his Spirit Zech. 4. 2 3 12 14 Runs by your Vessel while you shut the mouth of it by your falling asleep Spare-diet on that day is a good Antidote against that evil and sure I am a truly thirsting Soul that followeth hand after Christ Psal 63. 1 2 8. hath the right Spiritual Antidote as spare-diet is the natural against it Such as wake much in Taverns and Ale-houses will be sure to sleep much in the Ordinances and they that dare do so and can be pleased with themselves in so doing may justly suspect their own state and standing God-ward Such as sleep to God God will sleep to them and 't is just saith Mr. Robert Bolton that such be plagued with some sudden vengeance from Heaven for neglecting so great Salvation Hebr. 2. 3. to become Examples to others 'T is Gods great mercy Gods plagues are suspended God will sooner or later send out his Summons for sleepers 18. Fourthly you must attend the word without weariness as well as without drowsiness those two very often go together If Nero were so angry with Vespasian for being weary of and falling asleep at his Musick O what will the great God be if you both be weary of and fall asleep at his sacred Ordinance you must shake your self from sluggishness as Sampson did Judg. 16. 20. and not cry out O what a weariness is it Mal. 1. 13. and when will the Sabbath be over Amos 8. 5. as if in the stocks all the while you sit there but consider how Christ standeth and knocketh at the door of your heart and this he hath done many days and weeks and mongths and years yet is not weary Revel 3. 20. although the posture of standing be a wearisom posture and the action of knocking a wearisom action yet his leggs ake not with standing nor his hands wearied with knocking Esa 59. 1. shall the Master wait and wait long upon the servant without weariness and dare the servant be weary with waiting a while upon his Lord and Master Such as have maintenance from the Kings palace or are salted with the Kings Salt in their Salaries as Ezr. 4. 14. Must not be weary with waiting in his Service 't is the brand of the Child of Perdition to have eaten of his Masters bread and yet lift up his heel against him Psal 41. 9. Matth. 26. 23. 19. How many lift up their heels to go away from Christ in the Ordinance if they do not lift up their heels to war against him know you not saith the Apostle that the Saints shall Judg the world 1 Cor. 6. 2. but alas the very Ox and Ass doth Judg such persons by their knowing and waiting on their Masters Crib better then they Esa 1. 4. Some cannot sit above an hour as if all spoke after were unsanctified matter and born out of due time Surely 't is easier to hear with the ear then to cry with the voice there is straining and stretching of both lungs and sides in this but none in that yet the Worshippers of the Idol Diana could cry out with an extended voice for the space of two hours great is Diana of the Ephesians Act. 19. 34. yet some cannot hear with the ear above one hour O Consider your Lords Heaven and Happiness for which you are hearing and which is prepared for all that hear aright is more then of an hour long and shall man make the Ephah of his makers Worship so small Amos 8. 5. when his Maker hath made the Omer of his Wages so great Our work is not the tenth part of our Wages Exod. 16. 36. Shall the Cedar of Lebanon woo and suit the Thistle in Lebanon for a Marriage as 2 King 14. 9. And can the poor Thistle be weary of such beseechings 20. Fifthly you must attend the word without wandrings as well as without weariness you must serve the Lord without distraction 1 Cor. 7. 35. as before David loved the word of God so much that he hated all vain thoughts that would have distracted him in it Psal 119. 113. he as it were shrinks out of himself into his God when the wicked one touched his heart with wandring thoughts alas the Plaque of Flies is upon the fal'n nature of Man as it was upon the land of Egypt from Beelzebub the God of Flies pray the Lord so to expel them as not one may be remaining Exod. 8. 31. 10 19. Those flocks may not feed before the Mount of God Exod. 3. 4 3. and those Fowls may not rest on your heart as 2 Sam 21. 10. that as Haman would ravish the Queen the Soul even in the Kings presence Esth 7. 8. hang them Ver. 10. Gen. 15. 11. 21. The second duty in the Act of hearing is Intention as before Attention there must be Intention of the heart as well as Attention of the ear first Luke 19. 48. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pendebat ab ore ejus the people there were so intent and earnest in hearing the word of Christ that they did as it were hang their ears at Christs mouth and tied them to his very Tongue Thus you should hear as for your life and as for your last just as Prisoners hear their Prince that Judgeth them at the Bar when every word he speaks to them is either life or death Or as Benhadads servants did hear the King of Israel whom they expected to find a merciful King 1 King 20. 31 32 33. How did they watch every Word and how did they catch at the word brother you must hang on God in his Ministers as the Babe doth upon the breast and as the Bee doth upon the flower 2. Open your hearts Acts 16. 14. God bids you open your mouth wide and he will fill it Psal 81. 10. This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your narrow Soul and your narrow Faith will spoile you in this Ordinance you should bring large Sacks and such as will open wide when you come for the Corn of Heaven to the Lord of Heaven and Earth as the Patriarks did when they went in a Famine for Corn to the Lord of the land of Egypt Gen. 42. 2
11 13. If you have not this garment on your back at your comming in to the Supper You may have fetters upon your feet at your going out from thence from the Table you may pass to the tormentors as he did If your conversation be unlike your high calling and Company 5. The third part of the Jewish purification was the purging out of Leaven Exod. 12. 18 19. as the Jew was not to eat the passeover until he had purged all Leaven out of his House so nor we the Lords Supper till we have put away every known Sin 1 Cor. 5. 7. you can never expect the comfort of that Ordinance while you hide any of that old Leaven in any corner of your heart There is indeed the Leaven of a corrupt Faith of corrupt manners and of corrupt nature This last which is as the fretting-leprosy Levit. 14. 44 45. you cannot chide out of doors as Sarah did Hagar but 't will be a ruful inmate within you making you cry O wretched Man or Woman that I am Rom. 7. 24. So long as the walls of your House of clay standeth and until the Stones and Timber be thrown down it cannot be purged out but the Leaven of corrupt Doctrin which soures the whole Lump or truth of the Gospel and that of a corrupt Communication and Conversation which soures both our selves and others with us both these should you both find out and cast out Psal 34. 13 14. If not with as much Ceremony yet with as much seriousness as the Jews did their Leaven The first Jewish Ceremony that carries resemblance was the Jew began to purge within and to banish all Leaven found within his own House It teachs you to mind within-doors-work 't is not enough to purge your mouth and your hands but especially your inside your heart and not so much other mens as your own Jer. 4. 14. your own House and heart the second was not so much as the least morsel or crum of Leaven must be spared which shows you that you must account the least Sin both hateful to God and hurtful to man so it may not be indulged The third Ceremony was the Jew Searching the House with a Candle and finding but a mite or crum thereof in any corner by sweeping even that little he carries out with great Solemnity learn you hence that a little poison is poison sweep every cranny of your Soul your Conscience 2 Tim. 1. 3. your affections 1 Tim. 1. 5. your senses Psal 1. 19. 37. your speeches Psal 39. 1. that your whole House may be possessed in holiness and honour 1 Thes 4. 4. a little Leaven mars all 1 Cor. 5. 6. 6. The second general is the true participation after a due preparation yet this you may know for your comfort that your God will not stand exactly or Rigorously upon every circumstance required in this purification of the Sanctuary provided you prepare your heart with all your might as David 1 Chron. 29. Ver. 1 2. this is plainly taught you for your Encouragement in 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. that where the heart is prepared to seek and meet God according to our best endeavours he will not insist upon the exact purification of the Sanctuary which consisted on those three parts aforesaid but will pass by and pardon all our other weaknesses and imperfections at the Prayer of his Vine-dressers Luke 13. 7 8. 2 Tim. 1. 16. God will yield something to their Prayers even when he might come forth in severity against a person or people happy are they then that have Praying vine-dressors set over them saying with Samuel God forbid I should Sin against the Lord so as not to pray for you 1 Sam. 12. 23. and the good Lord pardon every one that is not so exactly prepared in such a case God accepts of the will for the deed 2 Cor. 8. 12. and looks more at the willingness of the offerer then at the worthiness of the offering and you must put a difference betwixt being unworthy and eating unworthily all believers are in themselves unworthy of Christ and Salvation yet being in Christ they are accounted worthy Luke 21. 36. Rev. 3. 4. 7. Thus you 1. Being in Christ for you must be bred before you be fed and be begotten born and live before you be nourished Mark 5. 43. no stranger to Christ no uncircumcised in heart must eat thereof Exod. 12. 43 48. Rom. 2. 29. and 2. Having prepared a large upper Room a raised and an enlarged heart Mark 14. 15. Luke 22. 12. then 3. Open the gates and the everlasting doors of your Soul that the King of glory may come in Psal 23. 7 9. yet withal say 4. with the Centurion Lord I am not worthy that thou should come under my roof Mat. 8. 8. nor am I worthy that I should come to thy Table and with Mephibosheth who was loved for Jonathan sake as you for Jesus-sake wilt thou look Lord on such a dead Dog as I am so as to let me eat bread at thy Table 2 Sam. 9. 7 8. O that you may trim your self as he did to welcom hom ehis Lord the King 2 Sam. 19. 24 25 28. In this trembling frame must you draw near to the Lords Table not approaching with a common Spirit but well knowing that no other Ordinance is urged with that strength and Severity as this is 1 Cor. 11. 29 30. and no duty doth strike such a terrour upon the Consciences of Men as this doth insomuch that even evil persons do think they must be good at that time and have then good words good works and good Prayers c. 8. There be three things especially required of you in your participation of this Ordinance First self-examination there ought to be a search as well as a Sacrament 1 Cor. 11. 28. 1. Examine your state as Lapidists do their Stones that you put not an everlasting cheat upon your own Soul thinking your self one of Gods Jewels when indeed you are but a Bastard Diamond 2. Examine your wants as coming to your Soul market what Sin you have to Subdue and what grace to strengthen none goes to market but they do enquire what their Family-wants be 3. Examin your sins search for them as the woman did for the lost groat she sought and swept swept and sought with a Candle in her hand till she found it Luke 15. 8. you must take Davids Lantorn and Candle Psal 119. 105. and search till you find all your Sins saying to your own Soul as Samuel to Jesse are these all the Sons that thou hast 1 Sam. 16. 12. are these all thy Sins if any one do not yet appear sit not down till that be fetched especially if it be a Mordecai Sin that will not bow to Christ or a Dalilah Sin that hinders your Soul most from a Resignation to Christ 4. Examin your graces as knowledg Faith Repentance Love Zeal Obedience all those should be ready to wait on
trivial trash to this true treasure 8. The sixth Reason to enforce this Gospel-duty is as it is an Ordinance that is comfortable to Man oft sweetning his Spirit for God and Godliness so it is an Ordinance very acceptable to God not only Solomons Prayer to God but also his praising of God had a most gracious acceptance with God The fire that came down from Heaven upon his Sacrifice 2 Chron. 7. 1. as a visible evidence of acceptation was after both his praying and praising work 1 King 8. 55 56. 62. He blesses the Lord in a standing posture as well as the People when he had done praying to the Lord in a kneeling posture Ver. 54. 56 57. and this Ordinance of Singing praises to God is the more acceptable to him as it hath a more copious and ample profession of Piety in it then in other Ordinances when the word of Christ dwells in us Richly to make us Sing indeed Col. 3. 16. for 't is an Ordinance that contains in it an universal personal performance and Action every one must be an Actor in sounding out the praises of the God of Israel Psal 148. 11 12 13. both Princes and Peasants both young Men and Maidens both old Men and Children None are two high to do God Homage in their persons not by a proxy but as they are bound to do it as men so they are doubly-bound to it as great men and none are two low to pay this tribute of personal praise to God Hereupon the Psalmist Summons in all things to pay their Rent to God Factouring as it were among all Animate and Inanimate things to bring forth their proper praises to God 9. This duty hath such acceptance with God that he hath put a double honour upon it 1. In this World 2. In the world to come 1. Here God hath honour'd it with gracious effects far above the reach of either Nature or Art in two things 1. In allaying the evil Spirit 1 Sam. 16. 24. The sound of Davids Harp which could not be available alone was quickened with the spiritual Song wherein the breathings of the Spirit were these altogether made Saul well altogether 2. In Ministring to the good Spirit 2 King 3. 15. Elishah finding himself indisposed calls for a Minstril supposed to be some Godly Levite skilful in singing Davids Psalms upon his Instrument of Musick this prepared him for Prophecying which without Divine influence he could not have effected 2. Hereafter God honours it with making it the only and whole work of the other World where sighing is turned into singing sighing Hosannas into singing Hallelujahs David awakes up his glory to sing on Earth Psal 57. 8. but singing in Heaven shall be glory it self 't is a grace here as 't is glory hereafter it will be work and wages both 10. The seventh Argument for the singing-Ordinance is 't is prositable to the Church as well as comfortable to Man and acceptable to God in as much as it hath a greater Communion unto mutual edification in it then in other Ordinances Eph. 5. 19. speaking to your selves herein c. And Col. 3. 16. Teaching and admonishing one another hereby this is done not only as there is a personal performance of every ones part in this duty above others but also as there is a shoring up of one anothers Spirits and Affections in it like City-buildings that bear up one another not like those in the Country that stand alone and bear up themselves upon their own single bottom besides when this singing work is carryed on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with joint consent this heaves upward every Petition more forcibly and takes Heaven as it were by storm and violence especially when Melody is made in the heart which is the best Tune to every Psalm Can the roaring Boys of the World stir up and provoke one another to Mad Merriments among their Cups by their loose and lewd Catches and may not the Saints provoke one another Heb. 10. 24. unto a Spiritual jollity in a sober sense to be expressed in Psalms When Spiritualized unto Spiritual Songs this is good fellowship of the best sort 11. 'T is pitty then that this honouring God with our glory as David that sweet singer of Israel calls it Psal 57. 7 8. should have so much dishonour and disgrace cast upon it either as to manner or as to matter either by those that are good or by those that are evil The Papists and Popish persons do indeed deride us for singing Geneva Jiggs as they stile the singing Psalms And others cry the duty down as a Novelty whereas the Antients tell us that Christians in their times were wont to sing Psalms in their very journeyings And that Maids and Servants made it their practice in their dayly work assuredly the Devil would do to the Church now as Balak with the Devils spel-man Balaam would have done to the Church in the Wilderness who when he could not cut off the whole Camp of Israel would be content to have part thereof cursed Num. 23. 13. 27. Thus Satan when he cannot Plunder the Church of all the Ordinances at once he will play at smaller-games rather then be Idle and endeavour only to cut her off from this Ordinance and the blessing of it 12. Now to Answer the Objections which is the second thing propounded The first Objection is that singing is comely for the upright only Psal 33. 1. So none else ought to Sing praises but they Answer the first the word only is not in the Text and it may be duty in sinners as well as comely in Saints 't is true high Speech so praise is being the proper work only of glorifyed Saints and of glorious Angels becomes not a fool Prov. 17. 7. Or a Nabal Hebr. that is a sapless or worthless fellow in whom all true worth is withered God likes not fair words that come out of a foul Mouth why do such take Gods word in their Mouth when they hate to be Reformed Psal 50. 16 17. The lepers lips should be covered according to the Law Levit. 13. 45. and laudari ab illaudato to be praised by a praisless person is no praise at all Christ silenced those Devils that confessed him the Son of the most high God Mark 5. 7. Luk. 4. 41. O then rather cover your lips with the leper or resolve to reform and let not your life give your lips the lie be not as the Blacks that are white in the Mouth only 13. The second Answer to this first Objection is all persons both Saints and Sinners do lay under an Obligation to this duty as it is both a natural and a moral or instituted duty as before 't is a duty enjoined upon all though all cannot perform this duty a like and after a comely manner or with an Evangelical Spirit 'T is true the old heart cannot sing the new Song Psal 3 3 3. the new Song before the Throne Rev. 14.