him and grace 1. Faith must look out for Christ Consider that Jesus Christ is the very soul of the Sacrament without him it is but the carcass of an Ordinance Christ and the Scripture bring comfort Christ and prayer cause spiritual profit Accedat Christus ad elementum fiet Sacramentum Christ and the elements make a Sacrament Christ and the Sacrament make a rare feast Therefore be sure thou look out for Christ Rest not in the bread and wine but look farther When thou sittest at the Table let the speech of thine heart be Saw ye him whom my soul loveth Turn to God and say as they to Philip Sir I would fain see Jesus Lord I would fain see Jesus Christ Let neither word nor prayer nor elements nor all things content thee without Christ As Isaac told his Father Father behold here is the wood and the fire but where is the Lamb for a burnt offering So do thou look up to thy Heavenly Father Father behold here is the Preacher and here is the Scripture here is the bread and here is the wine but where is the body and blood of my Saviour Lord where is the Lamb for a Sacrifice Father Father Where is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World If the Angels that are present at the Sacrament should speak to thee give them occasion for the same language which they gave the Woman at the Sepulchre We know whom thou seekest thou seekest Jesus which was Crucified come see the place where the Lord lay Come see the promise see the elements in which the Lord lyeth Mat. 28.5 6. If the Spirit of God seeing thee so eager and earnest for a sight of Christ should put by the hangings behind which the Lord Jesus hid himself purposely to be sought and present him to thee with his glorious retinue of graces and comforts with the precious fruits of his grievous passion and bespeak thee thus Chear up poor Christian behold the Lamb of God Behold King Jesus with the Crown of thorns wherewith his foes crowned him in the day that he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with greifs Behold King Solomon with the crown wherewith his Father crowned him in the dâ—â— of his Espousals and in the day of the gladness of his heart O Friend what would such a sight be worth to thee I am confident thou wouldst value it above all the silver in the World Well be of good comfort do but look for him and he will look after thee Say to him as the Spouse Make haste my Beloved be thou like the Hart and Roe upon the Mountains of Spices Make no tarrying O my God and doubt not but he will answer thee almost as he doth his Spouse in a sense of mercy not of judgement Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to thee according to thy faith Reader act Maries part and thou shalt meet with Maries portion When Mary went to the Sepulchre John 20.13 she looketh into it seeth the linnen but not the Lord and presently falleth a weeping O saith she they have taken away my Lord They have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid him Jesus Christ could now no longer absent himself he heard the voice of her weeping and gave her a gracious meeting Mary saith Christ Rabboni saith Mary Now her heart cleaves to him and her hands clasp about him and she hears that golden Message Go to my brethren and tell them I go to my Father and your Father So when thou comest to the Table and seest the linnen and not the Lord Jesus be not satisfied O dart up thy complaints to Heaven Lord I came not to see the linnen I came not for the bread and wine I came to see Jesus Christ O Lord what shall I do they have taken away my Lord and I know not where to finde him Ah Lord whâ—â— is the Word to me without Christ but as a conduit without water and what is the element to me without Christ but as a cup without wine O what wilt thou give me if I go from thy Table Christless Thou mightest be confident that Jesus Christ would hear such sighs and would hasten away to bless and kiss thee 2. Faith must look up to Christ for grace Look up to Christ as a Treasury of grace for the supply of all thy necessities and put thy hand of faith into this Treasury and thou shalt take out unsearchable riches Austin puts the question how a Christian may put out a long arm to reach Christ in Heaven and answers Crede tenuisti Believe and thou hast taken hold of him Christ is a full breast faith is the mouth which draweth and sucketh the breast and getteth spiritual nourishment out of it The blessed Saviour is a precious and deep mine but faith is the instrument whereby we dig the gold out of it As the Spanish Ambassador said of his Masters Treasury in comparison of that Treasury of S. Mark in Venice In this among other things my Masters Treasury differeth from yours in that my Masters Treasury alluding to his Indian Mines hath no bottom as I see yours to have For thy comfort know that the riches in Christ are inexhaustible and his bags are bottomless He can supply all thy needs Philip. 4.13 When thou art at this Ordinance look on Christ as a Fountain running over with the Water of Life and the Sacrament as a Channel cut out by Christ himself to convey Living Water to thy soul Thou art diseased go in this Ordinance to Christ as a Physician to heal thee Thou art an indigent beggar go to Christs Door I mean the Sacrament with an expectation of a large dole Do not sit down in despondency as the Patriarchs in a scarcity of food but since thou hast heard there is corn in Egypt bread enough in thy Fathers house sufficiency of grace in Jesus Christ go make haste to this son of Joseph who is Lord of the Countrey and hath the command of all the store houses in the Land and will load thee with more then thou canst desire Are thy wants many he hath infinite wealth Hast thou no Money to buy no Merits to offer why he selleth without money and without price They that bring Money have it returned back in their sacks for he takes none Whosoever will may drink of the Water of Life freely Revel 22.17 The Sacrament is as a Conduit which receiveth water from the River therefore when thou hast brought the Vessel of thy soul to the Conduit thy work must be by faith to turn the Cock and then it will run freely and fill thy Vessel be sure that thou minde the promise This is my Body This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood Thy faith will be celestial fire to extract the quintessence and spirits of the Promise 3. Faith must receive Christ and apply him to thy soul When thou puttest forth
To thy duty at the Sacrament 3. To thy duty after the Sacrament First To thy duty before the Sacrament and herein my counsel is that thou wouldst prepare thy self solemnly for this Ordinance The Jews had their preparation for their Passover John 19.24 It was the preparation of the Passover Nay they took their Lamb the tenth day of the moneth and did not kill it till the fourteenth Exod. 12.3 and as some of their Writers observe they tied it all the while to their bed posts that in the interim they might prepare themselves for it Our Lord Jesus when he was to eat the Passoever and institute the Supper would have so much as the house in which he would do it prepared before-hand Mark 14.15 The ancient Fathers and primitive Christians used to sit up whole nights at prayer before the Lords Supper which they called their Vigiliae Reader thy care must be to trim thy lamp and make sure of oyl in the vessel now thou art going to meet the Bridegrom Samuel spake to the inhabitants of Bethlehem Sanctifie your selves and come to the Sacrifice so say I to thee Sanctifie thy soul and then come to the Sacrament 1 Sam. 16.9 Joseph prepared himself by shaving himself and changing his raiment before he went unto Pharaoh And wilt not thou prepare thy self by putting thy soul into the holiest posture thou canst when thou art to go in unto the King of Heaven and Earth He that would make a good meal even when he is to feast at anothers cost must prepare his stomack beforehand by moderate fasting or exercise God expecteth that the hands be pure but especially that the heart be prepared The good Lord saith Hezekiah pardon every one that prepareth his heart though it be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary 2 Chro. 30.18 19. the King speaketh of those who came to the Passover with some ceremonial pollution yet had moral purity and his words are to this purpose Lord though several of my people have failed in regard of external purification let it please thee to pardon them if they have minded internal preparation Friend there is no hope of remission without this heart-preparation The Devil himself would not come into an house till it was ready swept and garnished Mat. 12. And dost thou think that Jesus Christ will come into thy heart while it lieth nastily and sluttishly before the filth of sin be swept out and it be garnished with the Graces of his Spirit Surely that room had need be richly hung with the embroidery of the Spirit in which the glorious and blessed Potentate will sup and lodge Where thy expectation is great from a person there thy preparation must be great for him Dost thou not look like Herod to see some miracle done by Jesus some extraordinary thing for thy soul Therefore I say to thee as Joshua spake to the Israelites Sanctifie your selves for to morrow the Lord will do wonders amongst you Josh 3.5 O sanctifie thy self and to morrow on the Sacrament-day the Lord will do wonders for thee he will feast thee at his own Table he will feed thee with his own flesh he will give thee that love which is better then wine he will embrace thee in his arms and kiss thee with the kisses of his mouth he will delight thine eyes with the sight of his beautiful Person ravish thine ears with the sound of his precious promises and rejoyce thine heart with the assurance of his gracious pardon O do but sanctifie thy self and to morrow the Lord will do wonders for thee This preparation consisteth in a serious examination of thy self and a sincere humiliation for thy sins Thy serious examination of thy self must be First Of the Good in thee Secondly Of the Evil done by thee Let a man examine himself and so and no otherwise let him eat of this bread and drink of this cup 1 Cor. 11.28 Examine himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some take it to be a Metaphor of a Goldsmith as he trieth Gold in the fire whether it be pure or no so thy duty is to try thy graces by the fire of the Word whether they be true or not So the word is used 1 Pet. 1.7 Others take it as an allusion to Ministers who are tried whether they are fit for their office or no 1 Tim. 3.10 so thou oughtest to try thy self whether thou art fit for this Ordinance or no. This examination must be First Of the Good in thee Thy duty is to examine thy self in general concerning thy Regeneration or spiritual life The Sacrament is childrens bread and it must not be given to dogs Dogs must be without doors not within snatching the Meat from the Table Men must prove their right to the Purchase before they take Possession He must have an interest in the Covenant of grace who will finger the seal of the Covenant It is high Treason to annex the Kings broad Seal to forged Writings Thy Navel is like a round Goblet which wanteth not liquor thy belly is like an heap of Wheat set about with Lillies Cant 7.2 The words are Christs praise of his spouse for her fruitfulness in bringing Children forth and her faith fulness in bringing them up By the Navel Expositors agree that Baptism is understood by which as children by the Navel the members of the Church are nourished even then when they are so feeble that they cannot feed themselves but their whole sustenance is conveyed to them by others By the belly is meant the Lords Supper Now observe the provision how the Table is furnished and the persons which are to sit at it For the provision Thy belly is like an heap of Wheat Ainsworth on the words observeth that in those times they brought their Corn in and stackt it up in heaps so that as the belly distributeth to every part of the body its proportion of nourishment and as an heap of Wheat satisfieth the hunger of and affordeth strength to a whole Family so doth the Church by this Sacrament bestow on all her children through Christ that food which is needful for health and strength The persons which are to eat of this Wheat set about with lillies They must be Saints and are compared to Lilies First For their innocency they are Lilly-white Secondly for their glory and Nobility Mat. 6.29 Pliny telleth us that Lilies are next to the Rose for Nobility Plin. l. 22. c. 5. Christ is the Rose of Sharon the plant of most renown but his Church is next to him Thirdly for the savour Cant. 4.12 The graces of beleivers are like sweet perfumes and sented as far as Heaven The Lords Supper is a Sacrament not of Regeneration but of sustentation When the Prodigal came to himself then the fatted Calf was killed for him Luk. 15. Men must have natural life before they can eat natural meat and men must have spiritual life before they can eat spiritual meat It was an ancient
Go your way saith the Angel Tell his Disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee there ye shall see him When a King hath some extra-ordinary good news and sendeth a Courtier to acquaint his intimate friends with it but chargeth him Tell them all of it but be sure such an Earl have notice of it whoever you forget remember him All will conclude this is the favourite Peter thought that because he had forsworn Christ therefore Christ might justly forget him but Christ took such care that if but one in the World besides those two Women at the Sepulchre had notice of his Resurrection penitent Peter should be the man O the Rhetorique the power of an unfeigned tear Repentance hath more prevalency with the blessed God then all the robes riches crowns and Diadems of the greatest Potentates in the World O Reader if thou would have heavenly musick at the feast mind this holy mourning when Josephs brethren were sensible of their sin in selling him then and not till then he made them a feast Jesus Christ made the best wine that ever was of water The Bee Naturalists tell us gather the best hony of the bitterest hearb God hath solid joy for the broken bones the contrite spirit cast up the accounts betwixt God and thy soul see how infinitely thou art indebted to his Majesty Abhor thy self with Job Bemoan thy self with Ephraim and judge thy self as Paul enjoyneth his Corinthians in relation to this ordinance as ever thou wouldst have God at the Sacrament to seal thee a general acquittance Sacrament-days are sealing days God doth then seal his love and stamp his Image more fairly on the soul now if thy heart be melted into godly sorrow and made thereby like soft wax thou wilt be fit for this seal and stamp The Hart in grasing kills and eates a Serpent whith so inflames her that she can have no rest till she drink of the water brooks Repentance will make thee feel the scorching nature of that Serpent sin and thereby long for and relish the water of life 2. There must be a turning from sin Thou canst never communicate with true comfort if thou dost not communicate with a clear conscience Purch Pilgrim vol. 2. p. 1477. The Mahumetans before they enter into their Temples wash their feet and when they are entring in put off their Shoos As thy duty is to wash thy soul in godly sorrow so also to put off thy sinful affections before thou entrest into Gods house to partake of this Ordinance If God takes it ill when men take his Name into their mouthes who hate to be reformed how ill will he take it if such take the body and blood of his Son into their mouthes Christs body was not to see corruption neither will it mingle with corruption He lay in a new womb in a new tomb and he will lye in a new heart When sin is cast out then Jesus Christ will enter into thy soul Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you But mark how they must prepare themselves who would approach the Lord Cleanse your hearts ye sinners and purifie your hands ye double minded Ja. 4.8 9. The Jews before the Passover cleansed all their Vessels which they feared might have Leaven sticking to them burnt all the Leaven they could find and cursed all in their houses whether found or not found as their Antiquaries informe us Truely when thou goest to the Supper it concerneth thee to cleanse thy soul of the leaven of sin by an high indignation at it and hearty resolution against it Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump for Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us Therefore let us keep the feast not with the old leaven nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth 1 Cor. 5.7 8. Reader It would be a trampling under foot the blood of Christ and counting it as an unholy thing if thou shouldst go to the Table of the Lord with love to any lust For the Lords sake and for thy souls sake take heed of padling in the blood of Christ as if it were Kennel water Alass thou dost little less if thou partakest of the Sacrament without anger and indignation against every sin True repentance implyeth an aversion from sin If they shall humble themselves and turn from their evil ways 2 Chron. 7.14 The burnt Child will dread the fire The man that hath smarted for surety-ship will by no means be perswaded to come again into bonds Urge him to it never so much he will tell you he hath paid dear for it and therefore you must excuse him he is resolved nay hath vowed against it and though he be never so much intreated is still inexorable The Christian who hath truely repented is so sensible of the weight of sin and wrath of God that he is resolved never more to meddle with those burning coals Alas they are too heavy for him David that had repented of his sin would not drink of that water which had but been the occasion of hazarding mens lives though before he could drink the blood of Vriah Penitent Peter though before he was so full of self confidence that he preferred himself before the other Apostles Though all deny thee yet will not I yet afterwards though occasion were offered him of commending himself forbears it Peter lovest thou me more then these Lord thou knowest I love thee He saith not more then these O Reader It was Esaus expression The days of mourning for my father are coming and then I will slay my brother Jacob so say thou The days of mourning for the death of my dear Saviour and everlasting father are come and now I will slay my most beloved lusts now will I be revenged of them for their endeavour to rob me of my spiritual birth-right to wrong me of my eternal blessing This repentance exercised before the Sacrament would prepare thy stomach for the Feast it would cleanse it and cause it to savour the dainties there It would make the hungry and hunger is the best sauce Artaxerxes flying for his life fed on barly bread and a few dryed figs and said It was the best meal that ever he made When thou hast thus prepared thy stomach for this heavenly Banquet take heed of relying upon thy pains and preparation either for a right performance of the duty or for thine acceptance in the Ordinance Many a poor creature I am perswaded goeth with much humiliation for sin and cometh away without any consolation because they made a Saviour of their sorrow Praise thy Physition if he have made the sensible of thy sickness but do not provoke him by making thy pain to be the plaister for thy cure Alas thy preparation it self needeth much pardon if God should deal strictly with thee thy prayers would be found dung thy sighs unsavory breath thy very tears
comfort of thy life for a little perishing wealth and make thy whole time on earth bitter out of a love to a little fading Treasure It was the advice of the late Earl of Salisbury in his Book of Precepts to his Son That he should be exceeding careful whom he matched with because as in a project of War when an Army is foiled by the Enemy they seldom recover so to erre once in the choice of a Wife is usually to be undone for ever and the more cause there is of special care because he that seeketh out for a wife goeth to a Lottery where he shall meet with ahundred blanks for one prize But I am perswading thee to circumspection in this particular not upon a Politick but a Consciencious principle as thou wouldst exalt Religion in thy habitation Next to thy self thy Wife will be the best friend or worst foe that Godliness can have in thy Family Nay possibly and probably too if thy Wife should be wicked though thou art at present like a sound Apple thou mayst quickly be speckt by lying neer one that is all over rotten The nearer the relation the easier and speedier is the infection He that could overcome a Lyon to his glory was himself overcome by a woman to his sin and shame The most perfect man Adam the strongest man Sampson the wisest man Solomon were all betrayed by their Wives into the hands of their spiritual Enemies the meekest man Moses hearkened so much to his Wife that it was like to have cost him his life Some Expositors give this reason why Satan spared Jobs Wife when he slew his children not to comfort him surely the Devil did not love Job so well but to cross him by provoking him to curse God The Devil knew that none was so fit to present that poysonous potion with success to Job as his Wife that if he ever took it her fair hands must give it and her sugred words sweeten it Solomon saith Wo be to him that is alone surely it is also true Wo be to him who is not alone but hath a wicked wife like a snake in his bosom Reader Dost thou want a Servant choose for God not for thy self Let not thy main quaere be Whether he can do thy work but Whether he will submit to Gods Word Though the former must not be neglected yet the latter must be preferred It may be for advantage sake thou receivest a drunken or swearing person into thy house but dost thou consider that he will be an Achan a troubler of thy Family Canst thou think to do Gods work with the Devils tools Put off thy disguise of Christianity if thou esteemest thy particular calling above thy general Besides Dost thou know what thou hast done thou hast taken into thy house an Usher to instruct thy children in the black Art of Hell Believe it thy children will catch sins as soon as vermine from those that are of Satans ragged Regiment Thy Sons and Daughters are like Polypus in Aelian that turneth to the colour of that rock or weed in the Sea which lieth nearest Once more thou wilt be frustrated in the end of thy entertaining such a servant for they will never be faithful to their Master who are unfaithful to their Maker Constantius the Father of famous Constantine gave out That all such as would not deny the faith should be deprived of their honor and offices Whereupon several forsook the Faith others stuck close to the Truth Whereupon the Emperor when he had discovered those halting hypocritical persons turned them all out of their places saying That they who were false to God would never be faithful to man I do a little question his policy in the premises but his piety in the conclusion is out of question for they who will rob God of his glory will if opportunity serve rob men of their goods and good name too It is recorded to the credit of Queen Elizabeth that she would suffer no Lady to approach her presence of whose dishonesty she had the least suspition Friend mark and follow the man after Gods own heart Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me He that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight Psa 101.6 7. As thou wouldst have Gods company in thy family do not entertain his enemies into thy family What communion hath God with Belial As thou wouldst make Religion thy business avoid those quench-coals those hinderers of holiness Bid the workers of iniquity depart if thou wouldst keep the commandments of thy God Psalm 119.115 Secondly Mind holy performances in thy family Every Master of a Family is a Priest and his whole family should be a royal Priesthood offering at least morning and evening sacrifice to God Ita haâ—eto solicitudinem Dâ—musut aliquam tamen vacationem animae tribuas Hier. ad Celant acceptable through Jesus Christ The Jews had sacrifice in their Families as well as in the Tabernacle Exod. 12.2 Let me go I pray thee for our family hath a sacrifice in the City saith David to Jonathan 1 Sam. 6.20 It was prophesied that in the days of the Gospel the spirit should be poured down upon men and they should see Christ and mourn every family apart Zac. 2.10 It was the advice of Hierom to a pious Matron So take care of thine house as alway to allow liberty and time to thy soul the Governour hath the cure of the souls as well as of the bodies in his familie and if he mind their outward man and neglecteth their inward he is but a brute in humane shape for beasts feed the bodies of their young As the School fitteth young men for the University so holy performances in private prepare servants and children for and help them to profit by the Ordinances of God in publique A foundation well laid by the Master of a Family is a great help to the Minister when he goeth to rear and raise the building Confident I am our work would not have half that difficulty which now it hath if Masters of Families would but do their duties he that findeth his timber ready hewn to his hand hath a great advantage in setting up an house of him that must fell bark season and hew it himself It is no wonder that an Apprentice is so backward to his work and so bungling at it when he is wholly unacquainted with it and a stranger to it If Children and Servants were accustomed to religious exercises at home Sermons would not be so tedious nor Sabbaths so tiresome to them as they are The ordinary duties in Families are prayer reading the Word with instructing Children and Servants out of it and singing 1. Dr. Bernard in his life and death Prayer must be in families It s said of Bishop Vsher that he had Family prayer four
mindes that it hath made them distracted and mad and canst thou trample them as dirt under thy feet without any regard at all Because I would willingly be both faithful and helpful to thee I shall earnestly in the name of the blessed God beâ—eech thee as thou wouldst leave these dying comforts with a lively courage to minde and practice these two particulars without which thou canst never make Religion thy business Make sure that thy heart be throughly changed That building which reacheth up to Heaven must have a strong and sure foundation If the Watch be not of the right make it will never go true He must live in the Spirit who would walk in the Spirit Natural bodies follow the tendency of that body which is predominant in them Stones move downward Fire upward each would be at its Center thâ—t which stoppeth either offereth violence to it So it will be with thee thy life will be according to the tendency of thy heart if that be carnal and the flesh predominant such will thy life be if that be changed and the Spirit be predominant in it thy life will be spiritual also if the Law of God be written in thy affections then and not till then it will be legible in thy conversation O do not rest in Civility Morality Performances Priviledges or any thing short of renewing-grace It is the heart by generation cheifly polluted and it is the heart by Regeneration which must be purified or thou perishest eternally When an error is in the foundation of an house it will not be mended by daubing or rough-cast but must be pullâ—d down and built up anew If any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new Creature Old things are past away and all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17 O Friend consider that by the irrevocable decree and sentence of the living God None shall he saved but those that are converted and renewed And for the sake of thy precious soul give thy self no rest till this change be wrought I assure thee it concerneth thee for thine everlasting life or death dependeth upon it 3 John ver 3. Mat. 18.3 Heh 12.14 Be much with God in Religious duties Secret praying reading and meditating are great helps to piety The bottom of a Christians building is underground and out of the Worlds sight The greatest part of that trade which a Saint drives with God is unseen and his returns are unknown to the world Christ giveth his sweetest kisses and dearest embraces to his Spouse when she is alone Jacob met with the blessing when he had parted with his company and wrastled singly with the Angel of the Covenant Bread eaten in secret how sweet is it When God meeteth thy soul in a morning or evening prayer communion with his Majestie will be sweet to thee indeed Take heed of omission of duties in the Closet The Amalekite had not eaten in three days who was nigh death It is observed that the places under the Line are not so hot as some places at a further distance because though they have the beams of the sun falling perpendicularly to cause a more intense heat yet the nights there being longer then in some other parts the days are not so hot When the nights are long the days are very cold when there are long omissions of duties godliness will cool Ah didst thou but know what many a Saint hath gained by that hidden calling I am confident thou wouldst mind it what ever thou didst omit Remember how often and earnestly I have urged thee to this duty It is thy priviledge that though thou canst not every day have the showres of publick Ordinances yet mayst thou have the watering-pots of secret duties to make thy soul fruitful Let no day pass without thy morning and evening Sacrifices Fasting is bad for some bodies I am sure to fast from spiritual food is exceeding injurious to thy soul He that runneth into enormities as a Drunkard or Swearer or Adulterer c. he stabbeth his soul he that omiteth daily duties he starveth his soul Now what great difference is there between the death of the soul by stabbing and by starving If thy soul dye eternally it will be little comfort to thee to plead that thou didst not drink or swear as others O Friend let no day pass without secret duties if thou risest in the morning and followest thy calling all day and liest down at night and never desirest Gods company or askest his blessing I would know wherein thou dost God more service then the Ox or Ass For shame Friend do not thus play the beast any longer I have in this Treatise endeavoured to assist thee by discovering the Nature and Necessity of making Religion thy business I cannot but think that the Reasons which I have laid down for this duty will move any man who is not resolved to make himself eternally miserable It is no mean mercy that thou mayst adopt all thy natural and civil actions into the family of Religion that though like cyphers they signifie nothing of themselves yet having the figure of Godliness put before them they may signifie much and stand for thousands I shall Reader onely acquaint thee with some particulars which I treat of in the book and then leave thee and it to the blessing of God I am very large in directing thee about the immediate Worship of the Lord as knowing that is of greatest weight and worth No preparation can be too great for No devotion can be too gracious in Religious Actions Amongst many other Rites and Ceremonies of the Jews â—nt Margarit le R tibus lulaeoâ—um it is related that before the doors of their Synagogues they have an iron plate against which they wipe and make clean their shoes before they enter and that being entred they fit solemnly for a season not once opening their mouths but considering with whom they have to do Truly Friend it concerneth thee to be full of reverence when thou appearest solemnly in Gods presence Think of it He is a jealous God and will not be mocked they that dally with him undo themselves Serious piety will abundantly profit thee but careless service will highly provoke God Spiders cobwebs may better be suffered in a Cottage theâ— in a Kings Palace In the next place I proceed to Natural Actions and then to Recreations about both which thy care must be that they exceed not their bounds and that they taste and savour of Religion Mandrakes if duly taken is good physick but if immoderately it casts into a dead sleep and congeales the spirits It requireth much piety and prudence not to abuse those things whilst thou art using them Satan catcheth many a soul with these baits and then throweth them into the fire But if Religion be thy business that which is poison to others will be nourishing food to thee After these I speak to Particular Callings that they might be managed so as not to
the Conquest strive and stretch themselves to the utmost he that loytereth is as sure to lose as if he sate still The lazy World because Christ sends chapmen up and down with his wares to offer them to every house to every heart think to have them at their own ordinary rates but they shall find that grace which is many degrees short of glory is not to be had by sloth and idlâ—ness there must be lifting up the heart lending the ears seeking searching begging digging attention of the ouâ—ward intention of the inward man before men can understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Prov. 2.3 4 5. Though it be easie to let the backet into the Well yet it is hot work and hard labour to draw water out of the Well of Salvation The laborious Bee onely is laden with hony The desire of the slothful killeth him O si O si O tiosi because his hands refuse to labour Non est e terris mollis ad aslra via Seâ—â—c Prov. 21.5 He is full of wishing but far from working As the Cat he would fain have the Fish but is unwilling to wet his Feet his desires are destitute of sutable endeavours and therefore rather harm him then help him Like Ishbosheth he lazeth on his bed till he is deprived of his life He thinketh to be hurried in hast to Heaven to be carried as passengers in a Ship asleep in their cabins to their Haven but is all the while in a deceitful Dream There is no going to those Heavens where Christ is in his glory as the sick man came to the house where Christ was in his estate of ignominy let down in a bed He that will be but almost a Christian must be content to go but almost to Heaven Idleness is the burial of our persons and negliligence is the burial of our actions Writing on the Sand is easie but soon worn out It s mar'd witâ— a small breath of wind but writing on marble as it is more permanent so it costeth more pains An idle servant is in Gods esteem an evil servant he doth not distinguish betwixt a slothful and an unfaithful man His Word tells us that he hath bonds for those hands that are folded in the bosom when they should be working for a blessing that he hath fetters for those feet that stand still and stick fast in the mire and mud of sinful pleasures when they should be running the way of his precepts nay that he hath utter darkness for them that will not walk and work while they enjoy the light Matth. 25.26 and 30. He that takes his ease in this world must travel in the next Two things shew a necessity that Godliness must be made our business if ever we would make any thing of it First Because of the opposition we meet with in the way of Religion When the Wind and Tide are both with the Marriner he may hoise up his sail and sit still but when both are against him he must row hard or never think to come to his Haven The way to Heaven is like Jonathans passage against the Philistims betwixt two rocks the one Bozez dirty the other Seneb thorny the men of the world will be ever diligent either with dirt to bespatter their credits or with thorns to wound and pierce their consciences that walk in this path he must therefore have a mind well resolved to take pains and his feet well shod with patience that will go this way to Paradise The way of this world is like the vale of Siddim slimy and slippery full of lime-pits and stumbling-blocks to maim or mischief us Saints are Princes in all lands but as Princes that pass through a Country in disguise meet with many affronts so do Christians The flesh is like Birdlime which when the spirit would at any time mount up to Heaven with the wings of Faith and Meditation hampers and hinders it it is the holy souls prison wherein it is fettered and fastned that it cannot as it would walk at liberty and seek Gods precepts The Devil both a Serpent for craft and a Lion for cruelty doth out of his hatred to God make it his constant business by his power and policy to hinder Godliness As the Panther because he cannot come at the person he tears the picture where-ever he finds it We wrestle not with flesh and blood but with Principalities and Powers Ephes 6.12 While Satan reigneth in a creature all may be quiet and calm but if he be once cast out he will rage and roar to purpose While Israel serveth the Egyptians carrying their crosses bearing their burdens doing their drudgery all is well but when once they shake off Pharoahs yoke turn their backs upon Egypt and set out for Canaan with what force and fury are they pursued to be brought back to their former bondage Christ was no sooner baptized then buffetted he went as it were out of the water of baptism into the fire of temptation and if the Prince were all his time persecuted his Subjects must not expect to be wholly priviledged The cross is tied as a tag to the profession of Christianity Matth. 10.30 One Article in the Indenture which all Apprentices must seal to that will call Christ Master is to bear the cross daily Matth. 16. The Saints are as vessels floating on the waters of Meribah where Omne quod flat Aquilo est as Tertullian saith of Pontus no wind blows but what is sharp and keen The Hebrews were no sooner enlightned to their conversion but they indured a sharp fight of affliction their lightning was accompanied with a grievous storm Heb. 10.32 Holiness is usually followed with much hatred and hardship The enemies of mans salvation are impudent and uncessant ever raging never resting Plut. in vit Marcel What the Carthaginian Commander said of Marcellus may be truly spoken by us in regard of them Per varios casus per tot discrimina rerum Tendimus ad coelum That we have to do with those who will never be quiet either Conquerors or conquered but Conquerors they will pursue their victory to the utmost and conquered labour to recover their loss Satan especially is both wrathful and watchful to undermine souls He is fitly called Beelzebub the master Fly because as a Fly he quickly returns to the bait from which he was but now beaten Though Emperors may turn Christians saith Austin yet the Devils will not Doth not this fully speak the necessity of making Godliness our business Opposuit Natura Alpemque nivemque Deduxit scopulos montem ru oit Aceto Juv. Sat. 10. Can such difficulties be conquered without much diligence Who can eat his way like Hannibal through such Alps of opposition without hot water and hard work If like Sampson we would break all these cords of opposition in sunder we must awake out of sleep and put forth all our strength Saints
revealed Will. I hope thou art satisfied in the weight of the Reasons already delivered what canst thou say why thou shouldst not presently set upon the work Thou hast heard it is the great end of thy being and continuance in this world That it is an employment of the greatest concernment How it is Soul work God-work Eternity-work That it must of necessity be made the main business or otherwise all thy labour will be lost â—anst thou easily break this threefold cord let conscience judge between God and thee whether such a work as this is doth not deserve all thy time and strength thine utmost care and greatest diligence and ten thousand times more then thou canst possibly give it Thou hast also read how fiery and furious Worldlings Formalists Sinners are for their Dalilahs and Minions Oh why art thou so slothful to go in and possess the land Judg. 18.3 Themistocles seeing two Cocks fight Aelianâ— 2 Va. Hâ—st c. 28. when he was going to a battel pointed his Souldiers to them and said Do you see â—onder Combatants how valiantly they deal their blows with what fury they fight and yet they fight not for their Country nor for their Gods nor for the honour of their Ancestors nor for Glory nor Liberty nor Children What courage then my brave Countrymen should this put into our hearts on whose resolution all these depend and by whose valour they subsist So say I to thee Reader Dost thou see yonder Worldling how he rideth runneth toileth moileth sweateth wasteth his strength wrongeth his body makes a very pack-horse of it and will searce allow it time to eat or sleep Dost thou see yonder Superstitious person how zealous he is for the inventions of men laying his Estate Limbs Laberty and Life at the feet of his own Idol 〈◊〉 how like one upon a fiery Steed full of mettle he rides post out of Gods way and from Gods Word Nay dost thou see yonder Sinner what time he spends what miseries he endures what Wealth he wastes how hard he labours to gratifie his Lust And yet these work not for the Blood of Christ nor for the Love of the Father nor for the Graces of the Spirit nor from freedom from the Curse of the Law the slavery of Satan the torments of Hell nor for their Souls nor for their God nor for fulness of joy and the pleasures that are at Gods right hand for evermore What Zeal and Fervency should this put into our hearts Dear Friends and what diligence and industry into our hands when we work and trade for all these and if we make them our business our labour shall not be invain in the Lord. Exercise thy self to Godliness not to Superstition As the Ivy in time eats up the very heart of the Oake it groweth about so doth Formality and Superstition the very heart and life of Religion Let Gods Laws not thy own or others Lusts be the rule whereby thou governest thy heart and life Superstition saith an eminent Divine is to true Holiness Gurnal Christ incomp arm part 2. edit 2. p. 224. what the Concubine is to the true Wife who is sure to draw the Husbands love from her this Brat the Devil hath long put out to nurse to the Romish Church which hath taken a great deal of pains to bring it up for him and no wonder when she is so well paid for its maintenance it having brought her in so much worldly treasure and riches What some observe of Horse hairs that though liveless yet lying nine days under water they turn to Snakes may pertinently be applyed to superstitious Ceremonies which though at first dead or held at most but indifferent yet in continuance of time have quickened and done much mischeif There is a simplicity in the Word and Worship of God which I would intreat thee to look after I fear least your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ 2 Cor. 11.3 not as simplicity is opposed to wisdom but as simplicity is opposed to mixtures Compositions do but diminish and abate the vertue of Simples The more natural and simple the Wine is the more pure it is mixtures do but adulterate it The more simple the Worship of God is I speak of Gospel simplicity and order the more pure it is humane inventions and mixtures may abase it they cannot adorn it Gods Altar under the law must be of earth If thou lift up a tool upon it thou hast polluted it Exod. 20.24 25. Men are apt to think that by lifting up tools on Gods altar they polish it but God himself saith they pollute it When the Church was in her infancy she was drest in the swadling clothes of Ceremonies but since she is grown up God hath provided her other attire To the Jews the Sun of righteousness was behind and therefore the shadow of those Ceremonies was before They were in force and power but to us Gentiles the Sun of righteousness is before and therefore the shadow of ceremonies is behind When Christ came those shadows seemed to say as the Angels to Jacob Let us go for the day breaketh Gen. 32.26 at the death of Christ the Vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom to acquaint us that the Jewish Ceremonies must then vanish Mat. 27.51 Reader I would not be mistaken I do not advise thee against that order and decency which is commanded in the Worship of God nor against active obedience to authority in things that are circumstantial or not directly nor consequentially forbidden in Scripture but I would counsel thee to beware least like the Dog in the Fable whilst thou art snapping at any shadow thou dost not lose the substance and withal I must tell thee that as when the shadows grow long it s a sign the Sun is declining so when those shadows those even indifferent things increase usually the substance the light of holiness decreaseth When Corn runs out into straw and chaff those that feed on it may well be thin and lean but when it runs into ear and kernel thou mayst expect such as eat of it to be fat and well favourd when Religion runs into Formalities and Ceremonies her followers can never be thriving spiritually they may starve for all the gaudy flowers wherewith the several dishes on her table are decked and set forth it is the power of godliness alone which like wholsom and substantial food will distribute nourishment and strength to the inner man I expect nourishment from bread not from straw or stones because God hath annext his blessing to the former not to the latter I look for spiritual strength from divine institutions not from humane inventions because Gods promise is made to word-worship not to will-worship one would think the sparks of that fire wherewith Aarons Sons were consumed should fly in the faces of men and make them affraid to offer up to the Lord what he commanded them not Lev.
and soul was steeped in tears and his whole time from the womb to the tomb was spent in sorrows and sufferings full of tribulations And as Antichrist is called a man of sin because he is as Beza observes well Merum scelus Meer sin nothing but sin Isa 53.3 2 Thess 2.3 so the children of God should be men of holiness meer holiness made up of holiness nothing but holiness every part of them should be holy and every deed done by them should be holy holiness in their hearts should as the Lungs in the body be in continual motion and holiness in their life must run through all their words as the Woof through the whole Web. The Jews had their daily weekly monthly yearly addresses unto God to teach us that we must be always trading heavenward that there must be an unwearied commerce an uninterrupted intercourse betwixt God and our souls Saints lives are therefore compared to a walk and called a walking with God or a walking before God they must still walk as in company with him and tread every step as under his eye Gen. 5.22 and 17.1 The Planets because of their wandering nature are sometime nearer to sometime further from the earth yet always within the Zodiack the high-way of the Sun So the Christian though he be sometimes stooping to the earth in his particular calling sometime mounting up to Heaven in the immediate Worship of God yet he must always be in the path of godliness The highway of the Sun of Righteousness Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long saith Solomon Prov. 23.17 Whether a Christian be eating or drinking or buying or selling or plowing or sowing or riding or walking whatever he be doing or whereever he be going he must be always in the fear of the Lord Godliness must be his guide his measure and his end as the salt it must be sprinkled on every dish to make it savoury Thy life O Christian must be so led that it may be a continued serving of God The Precept is full though if a true Christian thou wilt esteem it thy priviledge that whatsoever thou dost thou art to do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 God must be the Alpha and Omega the beginning and end of all thy actions thy duty is to pass the whole time of thy sourjourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1.17 Every moment must be devoted to God and as all seasons so all actions must be sacred There is a Prophesie that in Jerusalem in that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses Holiness to the Lord and the pots in the Lords house shall be like the bowles before the Altar yea every put in Judah and Jerusalem shall be holiness to the Lord of Hosts Zach. 14.20 21. Mark the same Inscription is to be upon the bells of horses and on every pot wich was on the High Priests mitre Holiness to the Lord to teach us That every thing though but of common use should be sanctified to Gods service Vt quicquid aggrediatnr homines sit sacrificium Calv. in loc That every ordinary enterprize saith Calvin should be a sacrifice In the prosecution of this Exhortation I shall First Speak to the nature of this duty and Manner how a Christian must exercise himself to Godliness in the whole course of his life and in every part thereof Secondly I shall lay down some Means for the accomplishing this duty Thirdly I shall annex some Motives to encourage the Reader in this holy Trade and calling First As to the Manner how a Saint may in every passage of his life follow this Trade I shall divide my Discourse into these several Heads 1. How a man may make Godliness his business in religious actions or the Worship of God in general as also in his carriage in hearing or reading in Prayer at the Lords Supper and on the Lords day in particular 2 How a Christian may make Religion his business in his natural actions of eating drinking sleeping and cloathing 3. In his Recreations 4. In his particular vocation or calling 5. In reference to his Relations and Family 6. In his dealings with all men 7. In all conditions whether of prosperity or adversity 8. In all companies whether good or bad 9. In solitariness or when he is alone 10. On a weak-day from morning to night 11. In his visiting the fick 12. Vpon a dying bed CHAP. XI How a Christian may make Religion his business in spiritual Performances and religious Actions FIrst Make Godliness thy business in religious Duties I shall put that first in order which is first in nature and excellency and truly Friend thy special care must be here thy greatest diligence will be little enough when thou comest solemnly into Gods presence Cleanly men wash their hands and brush their cloaths every day but when they are to dine with a King they will wash and scour their hands they will brush their cloaths over and over again that their hands may be if possible clean from the least dirt and their garments from the least dust The true Christian is in all company and in the whole course of his life every day careful to keep his soul clean and his conscience clear nay to encrease his Godliness but when he draweth nigh to God and he hath more special care and extraordinary caution though Tradesmen are all the year long doing somewhat at their callings either casting up their accounts or gathering in their debts or amending something in their commodities which are amiss and therefore have no time for idleness yet at some times of the year they are full of trading their shops are crowded with customers they are all the week either sending out or taking in wares now this time calls for their greatest diligence and watchfulness The time of sacred duty is a Christians market day wherein he is much imployd and therefore it calls for his greatest diligence He that leaves his Shop or loyters in it at such a time must expect that his Shop will quickly leave him The Husbandman hath his seasons to Plow and Sow in which if he be heedless and careless about that either his seed be smutty or his servant slothful he can look for but a mean and poor harvest The hours of praying and reading and hearing are the Saints opportunities and seasons of grace if he be not then careful and consciencious to Plow up the fallow ground of his heart and to sow to the Spirit his return will be very inconsiderable he will Reap but a thin crop But truely friend if thou hast no respect to thy souls good God hath to his own glory and though he stoop to thee ingiving thee leave to seek his face and hear his voice yet he will not be slighted by thee He is a glorious and jealous Majesty and esteemeth it a disparagement to him for any to wait upon him without their best attire Though Vzzah be
dead yet he speaketh to thee to take heed how thou touchest the Ark. A Prince may be pleased if his Kitchin be but indifferent neat and handsom but he looks that in his Parlour where he gives entertainment to his friend all things should be in Print Where Gods special walk is amongst his Candlesticks and amidst his Myrtle Trees there Godliness must be our special work Holiness becometh thy house O Lord for ever Psa 93. ult Godliness doth always sute the back of a Saint This gracious garment is a glorious ornament to him whatever he is doing or where ever he is going but the apparel doth become him best in his approaches to the holy God No Hangings no Tapestry becomes Gods house so well as Holiness and no place is so proper as the House of God for this costly comely furniture God is more honored or dishonoured in our Religious actions then in all the actions of our lives in them we do directly and immediately pretend his Honor and Service and therefore if we do not walk in them watchfully and intend them seriously the greater is our sin For a trespass committed against holy things the Jews were to bring a Ram to be valued by the shekel of the Sanctuary for a trespass against their brethren a Ram was required but no such valuation expressed whence Origen infers Aliud est peccare in sanctis aliud extra sancta It is one thing to sin in holy things another thing to sin beside them and he urgeth that place in Samuel 1 Sam. 2.25 If a man sin against another man the Judge shall judge him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him Lev. 5.15 and 6.6 When men are some way off in a Kings eye they will be comely in their carriage but when they come into his Presence-chamber to speak with him they will be most careful Because Saints are always in Gods sight their constant deportment must be pious and seemly I have kept thy precepts for all my ways are before thee Psal 119.68 But because the Ordinances of God are the very face of God and they who worship him therein do solemnly appear before him therefore at such seasons they are bound to be most holy and serious Exod. 23 17. Psal 42.2 The saying of the Sage Orator hath some weight Isocrat ad Demon Worship the gods at all times especially in publick that is in their sacrifices God is very curious how men carry themselves in his Courts and commandeth thee Reader be to eminently pious when thou appearest in his presence Do but observe under the Law how choyce he was about all things relating to his Worship the Tabernacle must be made of the best wood the purest gold the finest linnen and every part and pin of it done exactly according to Gods own precept the persons called to set it up must be rarely gifted and singularly endowed for that very purpose He that offereth sacrifice must be without blemish For whatsoever man he be that hath any blemish he shall not approach a blinde man or a lame man or he that hath any thing superfluous or a flat nose or he that is broken faced or broken handed or crooked backt or a Dwarf or that hath any blemish in his eye or the scurvy or is scabbed no man that hath any blemish of the Sons of Aaron the Priest shall come nigh to offer the Offerings of the Lord made by fire he hath a blemish he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God Levit. 21.17 18 19 20. So the sacrifice also must be perfect without spot If it were blind or broken or maimed had a wen the scurvy or were scabbed Levit. 22.19 21 22 24. It must not be offered it must be a male without blemish of the best of the flocks nay the best of these beasts the fat even all the fat which covereth the Inwards Lev. 3.3 And what is the substance of all these shadows but this That God will be served by holy men in the purest holiest manner that we must be very exact both as to our persons and performances when we are in his presence that he expects the best of living Sacrifices the hearts and spirits of men nay the best of the best all the heart and all the soul and all the strength Prov. 23. Joh. 4.24 Matth. 22.37 O how much is an ordinary slight performance below and unsucable to so great and glorious a Prince Religion is as tender a thing as the apple of thine eye by playing with the eye it may be put out by dallying with duties thou mayst spoil all If the Egyptians did reverence Mercurius Trismegistus so much that they did forbear out of respect to him to pronounce his name rashly what respect shouldst thou bear to Ordinances which are the name of God Exod. 20.24 How fearful shouldst thou be of taking the name of God in vain The blind Heathen were choyce and devout in the service of dumb Idois they served them in white an embleme of purity They thought nothing too good for those false Gods for whom the worst was not bad enough Solon the Athenian Law-giver enacted that none should serve the Gods Obiter or by the by that their sacrifices should be all select and chosen and that the Sacrificers should purifie themselves some days before hand Lycurgus had made a law that no man should be at any great charge in a sacrifice least he should grow weary of Divine service yet when Phidias the famous carver advised the Athenian to make the statute of Minerva of marble rather then Ivery 1. Because it was more durable this reason was approved 2. Because less chargeable at the mention hereof with much rage and wrath they commanded him silence They had an higher respect for those lies and falshoods then many have for the true God Eras praef in adag When they were going to offer sacrifice their Priest cryed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who is here Those present answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many and good Were they so choice and chary in the service of their dunghil deities and wilt not thou friend be circumspect and consciencious in the service of the living God did they think nothing costly enough for inanimate creatures and wilt thou offer to the Lord thy God that which cost thee nothing Can thy box of precious oyntment though it be worth never so much be bestowed better then on thy dearest Saviour and can thy care and caution thy love and labour be employed better then in his service Or dost thou think that the false Gods were more affected with their dishonour or more to be feared in their displeasure then the living true God Dost thou not know that he will be sanctified in them that draw nigh to him Lev. 10.3 great persons are impatient of contempts and affronts especially when they are offered to them in their own houses God will sooner overlook thy forgetfulness
upon our earnest attention to the Word Luk. 19.48 It s said there the people were very attentive to hear him They hanged on Christ as if their ears and minds had been tyed to his tongue or as eagerly as the little Bird on the Dams Bill for Corn. In prayer also be heedful watch unto prayer Mark 13.33 Nehemiah when building did work and watch watch and work because of his Enemies when thou art at prayer temptations without will be waiting corruptions within will be working and therefore its requisite for thee to be watching Those that performe their duties as Papists say their Pater nosters and Musitians play their Lessons with their Fingers when their minds are busied about other things will make but harsh and displeasing Musick in Gods ears O God saith the Psalmist thou art terrible out of thy holy places Psa 68.35 The Sanctuary or place of Worship was divided into three parts thence called thy holy places now out of them God was comfortable to his watchful and diligent Servants but terrible to the slothful and negligent He is terrible not onely in the high places of the field but also in the holy places of the faithful How canst thou expect that God should heed thy prayers when thou dost not heed them thy self Wouldst thou give Almes to a Beggar that by his carriage and language should slight both thee and thy bounty If a condemned malefactor were suing to a Prince for his life and in the midst of his intreaties should see a Moth or a Fly and leave his suit and follow after that would this wretch deserve a pardon And is it not as unreasonable that God should grant thy requests if thou wilfully follow those foolish objects which thy heart or the Devil offer to thee in the midst of thy prayers monstrous compositions wherein is the face and voice of a man the heart and feet of a beast must needs be odious to God O bind thine heart to its good behaviour when thou goest into Gods House Men put Locks and Fetters on Wild Horses whom no inclosure can keep in This watching the heart in duties will fasten and tye it as with cords to the Altar Secondly Act grace in duties the acting of grace in a duty is the grace of a duty The Christian must attend on the means of grace in a gracious manner the manner of performing duties Non tantum considerandum est id quod agimussed etiam quibus circum â—antiâ—s Caâ—et in Thom. 1 〈◊〉 quest 9. is the most spiritual part of them and therefore must most of all be minded God made a breach on them who sought him not after the due order 1 Cron. 15.13 If the matter of thy performance be according to the word and thou wilfully fail in the manner thou wilt instead of a blessing meet with a blow God had Sacrifices from the Jews of his own appointment for the matter and yet they were unsavoury to him Isa 1.13 14 15. It is the manner which makes or mars every action that is the form which specificates all our devotion grace is Gods own Image abundantly amiable in his eye and that must be Stampt on all our Coyn of duties or they will never be currant with Heaven Kings suffer no Coyn to go in their Dominions but what hath their own stamp Tamberlane would not own a pot of gold which his Souldier found and brought him because it wanted his Fathers impression Christ will own no performances unless they have his Fathers Picture somwhat of his Image on them Indeed the Christian hath no natural power for these spiritual performances but God gives him his Spirit for this purpose that he might be enabled to do sacred duties with sutable graces we know not how to pray as we ought but the spirit helpeth our infirmities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.26 Man is impotent but the spirit is an able assistant helpeth our infirmities The word is either an allusion to a Nurse which helps her weak little Child to go so the spirit affords his hand and helps us to go to God in duties or as the composition of the word imports it s an allusion to those who lift at a weighty peice of Timber too heavy for one alone one man tugs and puls hard but he cannot wag it till one stronger then he comes and helps him then he bears it away chearfully so the Christian be puls and hales at his own heavy heart in a duty to perform the duty aright and yet makes nothing of it till the spirit comes and helps him and then he goes along comfortably through the duty As to Preaching there is required external mission so to every prayer and performance there are required internal motions therefore we find the spirit of grace and supplication joyn'd together Zach. 12.10 Samsan when his lock was cut off became like another man the Christian when the spirit withdraweth that grace be not acted he performeth duties like a carnalman It is the bâ—eath of the Spirit of God in a duty which is so sweet and savory to God gifts may do somwhat as to the outward part of a duty as a Carver may make an Image with the external lineaments of a man but unless grace and spiritual life be in it it is but the counterfeit the resemblance of a true duty The two special graces which I shall speak of to be acted in Religious exercises are fear and faâ—th upon these two feet David walked into Gods House I will go into thine House in the multitude of thy mercies there was his faith and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy Temple Psa 5.6 here is his fear The Christian like a Net must have both the lead of an holy Fear and the cork of a lively Faith if he would catch any thing out of the waters of the Sanctuary if the cork of Faith was without the lead of Fear the Net would lie too high if the lead of Fear were without the cork of Faith the Net of the Soul would fall too â—owâ— and so nothing would be caught but both together lay in the likest place for a good draught 1. Fear and awful apprehensions of Gods infinite Majesty is requisite in our religious actions This must he the hand-maid to wait upon the Mistris of the soul in all its addresses to the King of Heaven Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Psa 2.11 God alloweth an humble familiarity in the walks of Obedience yet he will always have the children of men to know their distance And though this habit of Fear must be ever in our hearts as fire was constantly on the Altar yet he expects that it should be blown up and flame out at the time of offering sacrifice â—â—od non netur coâ—â—â—m uâ— quod â—temâ—â—ur 〈◊〉 â—li ur Act. de ira c lib. 8. Our greatest reverence is then most needful when we approach the great God in
our aims Now as duties are considerable in a twofold respect so a Christian must have in them a twofold end 1. Duties are considerable as services in relation to the command and so a Christian must mind them that he may testifie his obedience to God and his dependance on him Thou hast commanded me to keep thy precepts diligently O that my ways were directed to keep thy commandments Psal 119.5 6. Warn the unruly comfort the feeble minded support the weak be patient towards all men rejoycing evermore pray without ceasing in every thing give thanks For this is the will of God concerning you 1 Thess 5.14 15 16 17 18. God required the Israelites to bring a sheaf in a Ghomer about a pottle for all their increase of the fruits of the earth Lev. 23.10 whereby they acknowledged that they receive all from him Though man be unable to satisfie Gods Justice by all his devotion yet God will be owned and acknowledged in holy duties Copy-holders though they have the profiâ—s of their Houses and Lands to themselves yet pay some small Quit-Rent and at certain times do suit and service to the Lord â—f their Manor acknowleding thereby that the Fee-simple is his and they enjoy theâ— through his favour The earth is the Lords and thâ— fulness thereof He is the mighty possessor of heaven and earth and though he gives the earth by leases for lives as it were and copies to the children of men yet the Fee-simple and original right is still in himself and he hath appointed seasons daily and weekly for duties wherein Christians should acknowledge that they hold all of him and enjoy all through his grace and good will The worshipping of God in his Ordinances is the homage which as creatures we ow to our Maker and as Christians we owe to our Redeemer God alloweth us the comfort of our mercies but he reserveth to himself the credit of our mercies and hath appointed the hours of prayer to be the set times for the payment of this small Quit-rent infinitely inferior to our engagements to his sacred Majesty Truly Reader This end must be minded in thine attendance on the means of grace namely to give God glory by acknowleding his Soveraignty over thee and bounty to thee or else when thou bendest the bow of thine heart and shootest thy spiritual arrows thou wilt never hit the mark 2. Duties are considerable as means in relation to the Promise and so they are channels cut out by Christ to convey grace into the hearts of men therefore thine end in this respect must be to derive grace from the God of all grace through the means of grace The place of Ordinances is called by some The door of Heaven because there Christ gives his alms his dole Others call it The Celestial Exchange between God and his people God doth there exchange mercies for duties and they exchange Glory for Grace At the Tabernacle saith God I will meet with the children of Israel and it shall be sanctified by my glory And I will dwell a-among the children of Israel and will be their God Exod. 29.43 45. When God comes to his house he never comes empty handed If Paul comes with the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ with what clusters of blessings is the true Vine laden with what a train of Graces and Comforts is this great King attended I will meet with the children of Israel there When Jacob met Joseph they kist and wept Gen. 46.29 But when God meets the Beleever they have a merrier meeting they kiss and rejoyce And I will dwell among them Who can imagine the house which God keeps where he dwells the dainties the delicates which he provides for his friends and Family Great Princes have great provision in their Courts answerable to their quality but what provision doth the great God make surely answerable to his infinite majesty The table in the Tabernacle was furnished with so many loaves as there were Tribes in Israel Moses unveyled c. 27. p. 10 signifying that God keeps a constant and plentiful table in his Church for all Beleevers Ordinances are canales gratiae Conduit-pipes whereby the water of life is derived from Christ into the hearts of Christians As the light and beams of the Sun is the vehiculum or chariot to convey the heat and influence of the Sun to the world so the Ordinances of God are the chariots whereby God conveyeth the heat of his Grace and the influences of his Spirit to men and women Saints behold his face in the glaâ—â— of Ordinances and are changed into his image from glory to glary 2 Cor. 3.18 Those Divine graces which are for meat to satisfie and for medicine to heal the soul are found growing onely upon the banks of the waters of the Sanctuary Clark Mâ—r. part 2. p. 213. therefore go to Ordinances as the Viemaâ— lim a bird in America flieth to the fields for the dew which falls down from Heaven thereupon which it liveth Socrates one day meeting Zenophon the Son of Corillus in a certain Port Town â—â—og of aeâ— in viâ— stopt him with his staff and asked him Where was the place where several commodities were to be had He answered readily In such a place Then saith Socrates Where is the place that a man might be made good Zenophon answered he could not tell Then follow thou me saith Socrates and thou shalt learn and from that time he became Socrates Schollar The Ordinances of God are the places for both there true riches and vertue may be had the Temple is both the Exchange for traffique and a School for learning The good Mastâ—r teacheth his Schollars there those lessons which make them wise to salvation Reader the Ordinances are the food of the soul milk for babes and meat for men do thou feed on them to get spiritual health â—nd strength It is a shame for a Christian to be like an Anâ—â—busie about a molehil never to grow greater Goâ—o those wells that the vessels of thy soul may be filled with living water David longed as a Woman with Child so the word signifieth to see the beauty of the Lord and receive of his bounty in the Sanctuary Psa 84.2 and 63.1 2. and 27. Thou goest to the Market to supply thy bodily necessities and art ashamed to come home empty Dost thou not come to the Ordinances of God for the releif of thy soul indigencies and art thou not greived to come away poor and beggarly Merchants take in some goods from one part some from another part and at last come home richly laden do thou get some true riches at prayer some from the word and then how comfortably mayst thou conclude thy duties Do not rest in the formal performance of duties as the Harlot that cryed out Prov. 7.14 I have had my peace-offering to day and therefore all must be well but as the people when Moses went to speak to
like Moses three strokes fetch water out of a rock Ah couldest thou that hast heard of this God by the hearing of the ear but see him with the seeing of the eye thou wouldest quickly abhor thy self in dust and ashes How ugly how loathsom would sin be couldst thou behold the Glory Holiness and Grace of that God whom thereby thou hast offended Ah how great an evil must that be which is so opposite and offensive to the greatest good Think also on the blood of the dearest Jesus which was let out by thy lusts and surely when thou beholdest those knives before thee which made those bloody mortal wounds in his blessed body Anger and Grief will both strive within thee for the mastery Meditate on thy wants He that is ignorant what he ailes cannot complain at least so as to be relieved The messenger who knoweth not the errand upon which he comes must expect to be sent back as wise as he came Do as the good Huswife when she is going to market where provision is to be had doth First she considereth with her self what her family needs what food what cloaths what her Husband what her Children what her self and accordingly disposeth her monâ—y at Market so when thou art going to God by prâ—yer who is able to supply all thy necessities consider what thou wantest what pardoning mercy what purifying mercy what sin thou didst lately foil and art afraid it will recover again that thou mayst beg strength to pursue the victory what lâ—st lately got the better of thee that thou maist intreat pardon of it and power against it what grace thou art defective in either in reference to thy calling or relations or any condition that thou mayst request God to bestow it on thee what new providence hath befallen thee or new work is laid upon thee that thou mayst beseech God to give the sutable grace and power This consideration of thy wants with the weight of them will make thee more urgent and instant with God for supply they that feel hunger how hard will they beg for bread poor prisoners that are ready to famish for want of food how earnest are they for relief Bread bread for the Lords sake Remember the poor prisoners for the Lords sake Confideration of thy soul-necessities and of what infinite concernment the releif of them is to thee will make thee feel thy wants and then thou wilt be importunate with God for mercy A man that considereth not his indigencies is like a full stomack that loaths the honey comb Consider thy Meâ—cies meditate on the several particular passages of Gods providence towards thee from thy birth to this moment how many devils thou hast been delivered from how many journeys thou hast been preserved in that seasonable succour God hath sometimes sent thee in dangers what sutable support he hath afforded thee in distress what counsel he hath given thee in doubts what comforts he hath vouchsafed thee in sorrows and darkness Make past mercies by meditation present with thee How many years hast thou lived and every moment of thy life hast breathed in mercy Do not forget former favours bestowed on thee or thine The Civet box when the Civet is gone still retains it scent the vessel when the liquor is gone hath still a savour of it So when thy mercies are past and spent thou shouldest still have the scent and savour of them in thy spirit Meditate upon the number of thy present mercies personal domestical national temporal spiritual How many are the mercies which thou enjoyest in bed at board at home abroad Thy house thy barns thy children thy body thy soul are all full of blessings thou hast many positive many privative mercies Many O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which thou hast done and thy thoughts to us ward they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee If I would declare and speak them they are more then can be numbered Psal 40.4 Think of them particularly meat swallowed down whole doth not yield such nourishment as when it is cut into small pieces If jewels are bundled up together their riches and worth are hid they must be viewed and considered one by one then their value will appear Meditate on the nature of them how freely they are bestowed When thou wast Gods enemy he fed thee and cloathed thee and maintained thee as when a man turneth his back upon the Sun the Sun even then refresheth him with his beams so when thou didst depart away from God he even then followed thee with goodness like the fountain he giveth his pleasant streams to thee gratis For alas thou art less then the least of all Gods mercies worse then any loathsome Toad or poisonous Serpent This will be an excellent file to set off the mercies of God in their lively lovely colours that David so great a King should do so much for such a dead Dog as Mephibosheth did exceedingly affect his heart 2 Sam. 7. So do thou think with thy self What am I and what is my Fathers house that the Lord should do so much for me Meditate upon the fulness and greatness of thy mercies What distinguishing mercies are thy Body-mercies they are more then God oweth thee and more then he bestoweth upon others Alas many want health liberty food rayment sleep limbs senses reason and possibly thou enjoyest them all But Oh! of what concernment are thy Soul-mercies the image of God the blood of Christ eternal Life the Gospel of thy Salvation Sabbaths Sacraments and seasons of grace God hath not dealt so with every people as with this Nation nor with every person as with thee Thou art as the Psalmist phraseth it laden with benefits hast such a weight such a burthen of benefits upon thy back that thou canst hardly stir or stand under them Hast thou not blessings of the womb blessings of the field blessings of the Throne blessings of the foot-stool blessings in thy going out blessings in thy coming in which way canst thou look and not see blessings where canst thou tread and not stand on blessings thy whole life is in this respect a bundle of blessings these thoughts before prayer may stir thee up to bless the giver If thou shouldst bless men when they curse thee much more shouldst thou bless God when he blesseth thee Meditate on the God to whom thou art to pray Consider his Majesty and greatness Nehemiah calls him The great and terrible God Nehem. 1.5 He is so great the Heavens and heavens of heavens cannot contain him that the Earth Heavens and Ocean are in comparison of him as nothing yea less then nothing and vanity Think of his attributes and infinite excellencies God is in Heaven and thou art on Earth therefore let thy words be few Eccles 5.2 As God riseth in our thoughts self falleth That Sun discovereth all our dust O how are we ashamed of our drops when we stand by this Ocean This serious apprehension of thy
what fire was his Sacrifice offered O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord defer not for the Lords sake That wine is best which is fullest of these heavenly spirits Winter fruits are sowre and unplesant to men and so are cold petitions to God Dan. 9.13 Reader when thou art praying for pardon how shouldst thou even poure out thy soul Alass when thou considerest if God do not pardon I perish eternally if sin be imputed I am damned how should thy heart cry out Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness after the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquities again Wash me from mine iniquities and cleanse me from my sin and again Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities once more Deliver me from blood guiltiness O God thou God of my salvation Psa 51.1 2 11 14. When thou art begging grace and purity with what earnestness shouldst thou pray beleiving how destructive sin is to thy precious soul and how offensive to the jealous just and Almighty God and in what absolute necessity thou standest in of holiness without which thou canst never see God As when the Clock strikes the Wheels within move notably we may hear them run round so when thy tongue is pleading with God for remission of sins and repentance towards God for the Son of God the Spirit of God and thine everlasting Salvation how should thine heart move what work should there be among thine affections to enforce those weighty petitions This fervency is necessary to prepare thy soul for the mercy thou desirest What men get lazily they spend lavishly but that food which a devout woman longeth for she prizeth much and eateth with most delight When one whispered Demostenes in the ear that he was beaten and desired him to plead his cause the Orator would not believe him till at last the man cryed out Now saith he I feel your cause It is the intension of the Spirit which giveth efficacy to our petitions It is not the length of the arm but the strength of it which draweth the bow so as to make the arrow fly fast and far Fervency to prayer is as wings to the Bird by which it mounteth up to heaven The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous prevaileth much James 5.16 When prayers are drivel'd like rhume out of a mans mouth they fall down at his feet The Mother will let the childe alone if it onely whimper and whine a little in the cradle but when it crieth outright then she hasteth to take it up This poor man cryed was not dull and drowsie there is his fervency and the Lord heard him and delivered him out of all his troubles Psal 34.9 here is his prevalency There is no getting to the Indian Mines by the cold Northerz Seas though because it is a shorter cut some have attempted that way but they lost their labour Other duties are a serving God Prayer is a seeking God Now they that seek him early shall finde him Prov. 8.17 A low voice doth not cause a loud eccho neither doth a lazy prayer procure a liberal answer Sleepy requests cause but dreams meer fancied returns Where there is a cushion of ease under the knees and a pillow of idleness under the elbows there is little work to be done When Daniel had been fervent all day at prayer an Angel is sent to him at night with an answer Importunity prevaileth with an unjust Judge much more with a righteous and gracious God Though God be Almighty yet a fervent prayer through his grace hath held his hands Let me alone Exod. 32. Who holdeth the Lord saith Austin Moses earnest cry was the cord which I may speak with reverence fastned Gods hands Prayer is a sword to wound both sin and Satan but fervency is the edge of it doing the execution Zeph. 18.2 Cor. 12. For this I besought the Lord thrice When a man strikes his Enemies with his full strength then the wounds are made The lack of this fervency is the loss of many prayers The lazy petition tires before it comes half way to Heaven indeed it is eaten up as the cold honey of Wasps and Flies of wandring thoughts when fervent prayers like honey boiling over the fire is free from such ill guests An idle prayer like a lazy beggar wandreth and gaddeth up and down and as a rowling stone gathereth no moss The working of the affections in prayer like Davids harp allayeth those Devils which would disturb the Christian in this duty When a man is intent upon the God to whom he prayeth and eager after the mercies for which he prayeth though the World whisper him in the ear he cannot hear though Satan jog him by the elbow he will not heed him But here a caution will be seasonable The fire of thy fervency must be from Heaven not such strange fire as Nadab and Abihu offered to the Lord I mean it must not be the voice of nature an earnest cry for the enjoyment of creatures but the voice of the Spirit an importunate desire for conformity to and communion with the Lord Jesus Christ We read of those that howled upon their beds for corn and wine and oyl Hosea 7.17 Many like children roar are much out of quiet disturb others with the noise they make but it is for clouts for a Babey Who will shew us any good The voice of a Saint must be as of a wise son at full age for the inheritance Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me The Petitioner herein must be very careful he that rides apace had need to be sure that he is in the right way or else the freer his horse is the more he wandreth to his loss The greater the fire is the more watchful we must be that it be kept within the chimney the more earnest our affections are the more we must minde what our petitions be The promises of God must be the foundation of our prayers What he promiseth to give I may pray to receive Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 119.49 but its dangerous for the building to jet out upon the Kings high-way beyond the foundation this may cause the house to fall or be taken down Because godliness hath the promise of this life I am bound to pray Give me this day my daily bread Temporal good things must be part of the matter of my prayer but because God promiseth these things conditionally so far onely as he seeth fit for his honor and my comfort therefore I must pray for them conditionally The Apish childe that crieth and squeeketh for the knife to be its own carver and will not be satisfied with its Parents feeding it deserveth the rod our prayers both for the matter and the manner must run parallel with Gods promises Prayer is a putting Gods promises into suit but he that sueth a Bond must minde the condition
of my person nor performance may appear to my shame The matter of prayer I wish that all the flowers which I present to my God in the posie of prayer may be gathered out of his own garden the Scriptures I mean that I may never exceed those bounds which he hath set me for the matter of my prayer but may use much caution that all those spices which I make my incense of may be of his own prescription and O that to this end his holy spirit who knoweth his mind fully Properties of prayer might draw up all my petitions for me I wish that my prayers may be ever presented upon the bended knees of my soul Humble and also in regard of my body in the lowest and most submissive posture Ah how humble should dust and ashes be when he takes upon him to speak to the most High God Hearty I wish above all that I may never mock the most jealous God in this duty by speaking Parrot like what I neither mind nor mean but whatsoever dish be wanting on the Table to which I invite my God my heart which I know he loveth above all may be there and that my prayer may be the travail of my soul and not the labour of my lips I wish that I may so feel my spiritual wants that my bowels may so pinch me that as the hungry and almost starved begger I may cry aloud for the bread of life yet not so much Fervent in regard of the extension of my voice as the intension of my spirit When I am petitioning for pardon and grace I wish I might beg as earnestly and beseech God as importunately as if it were in the power of my prayer to change his mind and procure the blessing but when I am asking temporals Caution I would not as the dry earth cry and cleave and gape for corn and wine and oyl but willingly be at my fathers allowance and desire no more then what his infinite wisdom seeth needful to hear my charges till I come to my blessed and everlasting home Constant I wish that I might observe that standing law according to which Heavens bounty is dispensed In all things to make my requests known to God and never expect though the mercies of God be never so ripe that any of them should fall down upon me in mercy unless I shake the tree by prayer I wish that every mercy may come flying to me upon the Wings of prayer and may fly back to God upon the Wings of praise that prayer may be the Mother to breed and bring forth all my blessings that not one child of them but may be named Samuel asked of God that when I first open my eyes in the morning I may then in some ejaculatory prayer open my heart to my God that at night prayer may make my bed soft and lay my pillow easie that in the day time prayer may perfume my cloaths sweeten my food oyl the wheels of my particular vocation keep me company upon all occasions and guild over all my natural civil and Religious actions I wish that after I have poured out my prayer in the Name of Christ Subsequents of prayer according to the Will of God having sowed my seed Waiting I may expect a crop looking earnestly for the springing of it up and beleiving assuredly that I shall reap in time if I faint not yea that though the promise may stick long in the birth yet it will at last bring forth when God will give me large interest for my forbearance Finally I wish that though before sorrowful having opened my mind to God about any suffering my countenance like Hannahs may be no more sad that I may never busie my self about Gods work the success and event of things nor like an idle lazy begger Working be careless about my own work but may in my place and to my power be industrious in the use of all those lawful means which his providence affords me for the enjoyment of my desires that as I did lift up my heart in praying so I may lift up my hands in working to God who dwelleth in the Heavens CHAP. XI How a Christian may exercise himself to godliness in hearing and reading the word and of preparation for hearing THe blessed God as he appointeth the Children of men their ends namely to serve him here and to injoy him hereafter so he doth also afford them directions about the way how they may attain and accomplish those ends He is our Master and cutteth out that work for us which he expecteth we should make up He bestoweth on all the starlight of nature which though it be but small and dull by reason of our first fall yet it ruleth and commandeth the night of the Pagan World and is sufficient to leave them inexcusable for not working and walking by it When Heathen shall be thrown into the Goal of Hell and bound with chains of everlasting darkness their own consciences will hinder them from the least thought of commencing a suite against God for false imprisonment because they are judged not by the Law Moral written in Tables of stone but by the Law Natural written in the Tables of their hearts But out of his infinite favour he is pleased to give some in those places where he intendeth to gather a people to himself for his eternal praise beside the twinkling Star-light of nature the clear and perfect Sun-light of Scripture to guide their feet in the ways of peace Which word is one of the most signal mercies that ever he bestowed upon the Sons of men the whole World without it being but a barren and rude Wilderness The Word of God is a Spring of living water a deep Mine of costly treasure a table furnished with all sorts of food a Garden wherein is variety of pleasant fruits the Churches Charter containing all her priviledges and her deeds many infesting her Title to the purchased possession It hath pious precepts for the Christians reformation and precious promises for his consolation If the Saint be afflicted it can hold his head above water and keep him from sinking when the billows go over his soul there are Cordials in it rich enough to revive the most fainting spirit If the Saint be assaulted the word is armour of proof whereby he may defend himself manfully and wound his foâ—s mortally If the soul be unholy this word can sanctifie it ye are clean through the word which I have spoken to you Joh. 15.3 this water can wash out all the spots and stains if the soul be an heir of Hell this word can save it From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Other writings may make a man wise to admiration but this onely can make him wise to Salvation This word which is of such unspeakable worth God hath deposited as a
of the eternal weight of glory Those gracious and mysterious purposes of his which were hid in the night of many ages when the Sun of Righteousness once appeared in the Horizon of the Gospel were visible and legible to every eye He hath brought Life and Immortality to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 The Apostle calls it The grace of God and The word of his grace Tit. 2.11 Acts 20.32 not onely because the rain of the Word goeth by coasts as a gift of grace Psal 147.19 20. He causeth it to shower down upon one City and not on another Amos 4.7 and not onely because like a seal it stampeth grace the image of God upon the soul Acts 2.37 but chiefly because on the stage of the Word the grace and favour of God to mankinde is fully displayed The Gospel presenteth us with the whole method of Gods grace and love to poor sinners This world is the Theatre in which Grace acteth its part the Triumph of Justice is reserved for the other World and the Gospel is the Throne on which Grace sits and from whence it holds out its golden Scepter The language of the Law is no less then a sentence of death but the Gospel alloweth a Psalm of mercy and in it Grace reigneth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 playeth the King commandeth in chief unto Justification of life Rom. 5.17 18 21. But the more precious this Water of Life is the more fearful thou shouldst be of spilling it Kings cannot endure that their Acts of Grace should be tampled under foot Abused favour turneth into greatest fury Men surfeit soonest of the greatest Dainties and further their Misesery by that which was given them as in Mercy Our Saviour therefore commandeth Take heed how ye hear Luke 8.18 There are two special Lessons which Christ commendeth to his Scholars The first concerneth the matter of their hearing Take heed what ye hear Mark 4.24 Ministers are Christs Ushers Christ himself is the head-Master now Christ forbiddeth the pinning our faith upon our Ushers sleeve The Bereans have an honorable crest put into their coat of Armes by God himself to distinguish them in nobility from others for bringing the coyn offered to them to the touchstone of the Scripture to try whether it were true gold or counterfeit And these were more noble then those of Thessalonica because they received the Word of God with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Acts 17.11 Men must not like Children take down whatever their Nurses put into their mouthes whether meat or poison but know how to distinguish between good and evil Our faith must not stand in the wisdom of men but in the Power of God All weights and measures must be compared with and tryed by the Kings Standards The Copy is no farther authentique then it agreeth with the Original Deed. The second Lesson concerneth the manner of their hearing take heed how ye hear The richest Cordial may be lost as it may be taken It will be requisite therefore to give thee some prescription how thou mayst take this costly Physick to thy greatest profit In reference to which duty I shall speak 1. To thy preparation for it 2. To thy carriage at it 3. To thy behaviour after it 1. As to thy preparation for hearing the word I shall request thee from God to mind these ensuing particulars 1. Empty thine heart of evil frames and prejudice Evil frames The dish must not be sluttish into which we put these spiritual dainties If the stomach be cloged with filth and flegm it cannot digest and concoct our food The light of the Sun as pleasant and delightful as it is to sound is yet offensive and painful to sore eyes This part of preparation is injoyned us by the Spirit of God Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and all superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls Jam. 1.21 If the body be feaverish the sweetest Syrup will tast bitter If any ill humour or lust be predominant in thee like the full and foul stomach thou wilt loath even the hony comb The Table book of thine heart must be wiped clean before any new thing as the Law of God can be written in it Briars and Thorns must be stubbed up before the ground be capable of the grain As evil humours because of the Doctrine taught so prejudice against the person teaching must be removed Prejudice against the Preacher is the greatest prejudice to the Hearer A condemned person will esteem a begger when he brings a pardon How beautiful are not the lips onely and hands but the meanest parts the feet of them that bring the glad tydings of peace I confess it is a mercy to be related to a Pastor who hath both parts and piety gifts and grace and if thou art to chose a dwelling I would wish thee to bear with many outward inconveniences to sit down under such a Ministry But suppose thy teacher at least in thy thoughts is a man of mean parts wilt thou thence conclude his pains will yeild thee little profit Truely shouldst thou gratifie Satan so far it would be the speediest way to find a truth in what thou dost fancy Friend friend doth the efficacy of the ordinance depend on the parts of man or on the power of God May not a costly treasure be brought to thee in an earthen Vessel Consider thou maist light thy candle as well it may be better with a brimstone match as at a great fire Christ taught his Apostles by a little Child Mat. 18.2 A small damsel was instrumental for Naamans recovery both of his spiritual and corporal leprosie And who art thou that none must instruct thee but such a one as like Saul is higher then others by head and shoulders in gifts and abilities I wish it be not from the pride of thy spirit that none is worthy enough to teach thee thy Grammar Lesson but some head of the Vniversity A picking stomach I am sure argueth a diseased body and then a squemish heart and itching ear cannot argue a sound soul The industrious Bee Plut. sucks honey from the Thime an harsh and dry hearb The Meat is as good in a Pewter as in a Silver Dish It may be thou goest to Table onely for the sauce to Church for the stile and elegancy of the language if so I dare be bold to tell thee that thine heart is not right in the sight of God Dost thou not know that it is the naked sword which doth the Execution that a crucified Christ is the great conquerour not a pompous gaudy Messiah which the Jews dreamed of Paul is commanded to Preach not with Wisdome of words least the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect 1 Cor. ◠17 so 〈◊〉 verse 27 28. Truly if thou lustest after the Quails of some new dish it is a sign that thou louthest
and so is the time the day Thou hast Gods hand and seal to the duties he commands thee to pray hear sing meditate receive the Sacrament and thou hast also Gods hand and seal to the day Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 Revel 1.10 It is considerable that in the fourth Command God doth not say Remember the seventh day to keep it holy but Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy this Zanchy takes great notice of further the seventh or a seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God so then the morality of that Command is one day of even The Jews seventh day was buried in Christs grave though its shadow walked a little while after Take heed how thou observest this day Gods eye is very much upon thy behavior in his house therefore in the Tabernacle the place of publike worship it was commanded Ne putes te in domo Dei male posse conversari occultari Oleaster Exod. 25.37 Thou shalt make seven lamps and they shall light the lamps that they may give light to teach us that nothing there escapes his sight for in his house there is always light His eye beholds all thy commission of evil and all thine omission of good there In his Sanctuary thou canst not sin in secret there are seven Lamps to discover thy miscarriages in the Lords house and therefore it behoves thee to be very pious in that place Afterwards when the Temple was built and became heir to the Tabernacle as that succeeded this in the Celebration of Gods Worship so also in Gods observation of all the works done there Mine eye saith God shall be there perpetually 1 Kings 9.3 There is a threefold eye of God present in the Assemblies of his people 1. There is the eye of observation and inspection God seeth what uprightness and seriousness there is in thy prayers and performances God eyeth and takes notice what integrity and fervency thou hast in thy services and sacrifices Mine eyes are upon all their ways Jer. 16.17 Whether thou art praying or reading or hearing or singing his eye is upon thee and whether thou performest thy duties slothfully and sluggishly or dutifully and diligently he observeth thee His eyes behold and his eye-lids try the children of men 2. There is the eye of favour and benediction Gods eye can convey a blessing as well as his hand I will set mine eyes upon them for good Amos 9.4 And Gods eye can speak his good will as well as his heart Mine eye and my heart shall be there that is in my house 2 Chron. 7.16 The affection of the breast is seen at the brows Mine eye shall be upon the faithful of the Land Psal 101.6 Gods eye is in his house to approve and bless thee if thou sanctifie him in Ordinances Friend keep the Lords Day with care and conscience perform thy duties with suitable graces and Gods eye will be upon thee thou shalt see his love in his pleasant and gracious looks Jesus Christ beholds and approves the gracious performances of his people he seems to say to them as Paul to the Colossians Though I am absent from you in the flesh yet am I present with you in the Spirit joying and beholding your order Col. 2.15 3. There is the eye of fury and indignation Gods looks will speak his anger as well as his blows His fury is visible by his frowns Mine eyes shall be upon them for evil Gods sight can wound as deeply as his Sword Job speaks of him He sharpneth his eyes upon me Job 16.9 Wilde Beasts when they fight whet their eyes as well as their teeth An Enemy enraged looks on his Antagonist as if he would look through him He sharpneth his eyes upon me as if he would stab me to the heart with a glance of his eye so an Expositor glosseth on it If thou wait on God irreverently Worship him carelesly and prophanest his Day either by Corporal labour or Spiritual idleness thou mayest not expect his eye of favour but of fury If ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath then will I kindle a fire which shall devour the Palaces of Jerusalem and none shall quench it Jerem. 17. ult Ezek. 22.26 31. Gods severity hath been remarkable on the Prophaners of his Sabbath The first blow given the German Churches was on the Lords Day which they carelesly observed on that day Prague was lost When men disturb Gods rest God doth usually deprive them of rest The day of the Lord is like to be a dreadful day to them that despise the Lords Day Truly God is as jealous in his Courts under the Gospel as he was under the Law Christ whose eyes are as a flame of fire walks in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks throughout the World He observes how holy duties are performed and how his holy day is sanctified When two or three are gathered together in his name he is in the midst of them Mat. 18.20 He is in the midst of us to behold our inward and outward carriage in his Courts he observeth in praying what confessions are made of sin with what confusion of face and contrition of heart what petitions are put up for grace and pardon with what integrity of spirit and fervency of affection He observeth in hearing whether men hear with attention sutable to that word which is able to save their souls whether men receive the truth in the love of it whether they resolve on subjection and to give themselves up to that form of Doctrine which is given down to them or whether men hear Sermons as Children turn over books meerly for the gays that are in them He goeth down into the garden of Nuts to see the fruits of the Valley Cant. 6.11 He seeth the rotten bough of Hypocrisie the leaves of profession without the fruits of an answerable conversation He seeth all thine unripe sowre indigested duties Reader If I were to counsel thee how to spend a Market day so that thou mightest gain much wealth and treasure I doubt not but thou wouldst hearken to me I am now to advise thee how to spend the Lords day the Market day for thy soul so that thou mayst get the true treasure durable riches and righteousness I pray thee to hear and obey the directions which I have to deliver thee from the Lord for that end First Make preparation for the day There is scarce any work which admits of any considerable perfection but require some previous preparation In works of nature the ground must be dunged dressed plowed harrowed and all to prepare it for the seed In works of Art the Musitian tuneth his Viol screwing up some of his strings higher letting some down lower as occasion is and all to prepare it for his lesson and indeed without this he would make but sad Mâ—sick Truely Friend thus it is with us in matters of higher moment hearts like soil must be prepared for the seed of the Word how
worth ten thousand of us Well might the good Soul run to meet thee in the morning and salute thee with Veni Spousa mea Come my sweet Spouse thee I have loved for thee I have longed and thou art my dearest delight Take heed of counting the Sabbath thy burden and thine attendance upon that day on the Ordinances of God thy bondage It argued spirits full of froth and filth to cry out When will the new Moon be gone that we may sell our corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth wheat Amos 8.5 Count Religious duties not thy fetters but thy greatest freedom Think what the Phaenix is amongst birds the Lyon among beasts Fire among the Elements that is the Lords Day among the days Ordinary days like wax in a shop have their use are worth somewhat but this like wax to some Deeds or which hath the Kings Seal to it is worth thousands What is said of that Day of the Lord may in a gracious sense be spoken of the Lords Day There is none like it before it neither shall be after it Upon this day Christ carrieth the Soul into his Wine-cellar and his Banner over it is Love Upon other days he feeds his members upon this day he feasts them they have their ordinary every day but upon this day exceedings Upon this day he brings forth his living water his best Wine On this day he gives the sweetest bread the finest flower the true meat his own body On this day he met the two Disciples and made their hearts warm and even burn within them by the fire of his words On this day Saints that slept arose out of their beds their graves Mat. 27. On this day the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles On this day the Lord brought forth the light of the World in Creation On this day Christ brought forth the light of his new Heavens and new Earth by his Resurrection On this day St. John had his glorious Revelation containing the Churches state to the Worlds dissolution On this day he visited his dear Apostles with grace and peace saying to them Peace be unto you behold my hands and my feet On this day he burst asunder the bands of death he broke in peices the gates of Hell he led captivity captive trampled upon Principalities and Powers and and triumphed over grave sin the curse of the law and Satan Upon this day he still rides triumphantly in the Chariot of his Ordinances conquering and to conquer casting down high thoughts and subduing sinners to himself It may be said of the Sabbath as of Sion This and that man was born in her and the highest himself shall establish her The Lord shall count when he writeth up the people that this man was born then Selah Psa 87.56 O blessed day how many thousands souls have known thee the day of their new births How willing have the people been in thee day of Gods power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning thou hast the dews of thy youth Blessed art thou among days from hence forth all generations shall call thee blessed Blessed be the Father who made thee blessed be the Son who bought thee blessed be the Spirit who sanctifieth thee and blessed are all they that prize and improve thee Reader thou hast not a drop of true holiness if thou dost not bless God as is reported of the Jews at the coming in and going out of this holy and blessed day Thirdly Consider there is a present price put into thy hands to get and increase grace and therefore improve it The wisdom of a Christian consisteth in observing his seasons the High God sends man to School to the silly Ant to learn this Art and peice of good Husbandry Go to the Ant thou sluggard consider her ways and be wise which having no Guide Overseer nor Ruler provideth her food in the Summer and gathereth her meat in the Harvest Prov. 6.6 7 8. The Ants are a feeble folk but famous for their forecast and deserve saith one to be fed with the finest of the Wheat for the pattern they give to man They labour not onely all day but even by Moon-light they gather huge heaps together lay it out a drying in a warm day least it should putrifie bite off the ends of the ends of the grain least it should grow but observe the season of this care and diligence She provideth her food in the Summer and gathereth her meat in the Harvest Then that time is the Ants opportunity if she do it not then she cannot do it at all therefore she makes use of that season O that Friend thou wert but as wise for the bread which came down from Heaven as this poor Pismire is for the bread which springs out of the earth Christians are called Doves The Turtle Dove is called in the Hebrew Tor of the Original Tur and thence comes our Latin Turtur which signifieth to observe or search for so this Bird observeth her time of going and coming Jer. 8.7 for she departeth before Winter into some warm climate The Lords day is the Summer thine Harvest time Labour now for Christ and grace or thou art lost for ever The Farmer that loyters at other times will work hard and sweat in Harvest If he do not reap then he knows he can never pay his rent and feed his Family but is ruined Reader if thou dost not on a Lords day gather in grace how wilt thou do to lay out grace in the week days nay how wilt thou do to spend grace upon a dying bed when thou art to step into the other World He that gathereth in Summer is a wise son but he that sleepeth in Harvest is a son that causeth shame Prov. 10.5 The Jews might gather no Manna on the Sabbath but Gentiles must then especially get the bread of life The Water-man must observe when Wind and Tide are for his turn and then bestir himself or otherwise he must come short of his Haven It concerns thee to mind Sabbaths then the gales of the Spirit blow fair for thy voyage then the waters of Ordinances run right for the port to which thou art bound therefore do not then laze and loyter but labour for thy God thy soul and thine everlasting life Therefore shall every one that is godly seek thee in a time when thou mayst be found Psa 32.6 The Musitian must play his lesson whilst the instrument is in Tune because the weather may alter The good Husband for his soul must buy of Christ gold to inrich him and raiment to cloath him while the Fayr lasts for it will quickly be over Esau came too late and lost thereby the blessing many come too late and lose their souls by it To every thing there is a season saith God Eccles 3.1 The Lords day is thy season when grace and mercy are tendered to thee how will thou escape if thou neglectest or carest not for as
Victory but not to improve a Victory Usually the Evenings are cold though the days are hot 19. As Oratours at the close of their speech use all their Art and Skill to move the affections of their Auditors so at the close of the Lords day put forth all thy grace and spiritual strength to prevail with God for a blessing Say of the Sabbath as Jacob to the Angel I will not let the go without a blessing 20. Labour to keep the influence of Lords day Ordinances warm upon thy spirit all the week after let not thy devotion pass away with the day Some Children when they put on new Shooes on a Sabbath are very careful to keep them clean are unwilling to set their feet to the ground for fear of dirt but in the week days will run up to the Ankles in Water or Mire O let not childrens play be thy earnest but endeavour that thy practices in secret and private in thy calling and in all companies on the Week days may be answerable to the great priviledges which thou didst enjoy and the grace which thou didst receive on the Lords day A good wish about the Lords day wherein the former heads are Epitomized THe first day of the Week being of divine institution The Introduction and Baptized by God himself with that Honorable name of the Lords day partly in regard of its Author This is the day which the Lords hath made partly in regard of the blessed Redeemer who rose that day and Triumphed over the Grave the Devil the Curse of the Law and Hell it being a day Sanctified for the glory of my Saviour of which I may say as of Jacob The Lord hath chosen it to himself for his peculiar Treasure Psa 135.4 and a day set apart for the spiritual and eternal good of my precious soul wherein I may enjoy communion with my God in all his Ordinances without interruption I wish in general that as the Spirit may be in me in the week days so that I may be in the Spirit on the Lords day filled therewith and enabled thereby to have my conversation all the day long in Heaven O that my care in fitting my soul for it my holy carriage at it and my sutable conversation after it may testifie that I had rather be a Door-keeper in the House of my God then to dwell in the Tents of Wickedness and that I esteem one day in his Courts better then a thousand else-where I wish in particular that I may prepare for it Preparation as for a Wedding day wherein Christ and my soul are to be espoused together and to that end before it cometh may be careful so to order my earthly affairs that they may not incroach upon this Holy ground and so open the door of my heart and adorn it with spiritual excellencies that the King of Glory may enter in and think himself a welcome Guest in my soul O that I might never give my God cause to complain of me as once of the Jews Your Sabbaths and solemn feasts I cannot away with for your hands are defiled As Nehemiah shut the Gates of the City that no burdens might be carried in on the Sabbath day so let me secure the Gate of my heart that no Worldly things may disturb me in Sabbath duties O let me not like Martha be careful and troubled about many things but on this day especially sit at Christs feet mind the one thing necessary and chuse the good part which shall never be taken from me I wish that I may long more for it then ever a Bride-groom did for his Bride that when it is come in I may bid it heartily Welcome and that as my Saviour rose early that morning to justifie me so I may rise early on this day to glorifie him I desire that this holy day may be an high day in my account both because the Lord of the Sabbath hath separated it to sacred uses and because it is the day of his resurrection whence so much good cometh to my soul Esteem the day as a priviledge By his passion he layd down the price of my redemption but by his rising again the Judge of Quick and dead sending his officer an Angel to roul away the stone open the prison door and let him out he manifesteth to the world that the debt is discharged and the law fully saatisfied O of what value should this day be to me My Redeemers humiliation indeed was like Josephs imprisonment but his delivery out of the grave like Josephs enlargement and preferment whereby he came into a capacity to advance and enrich all his relations I pray that I may look on this day as a special season to sow to the spirit in and improve it accordingly A price to get and increase grace I believe that my God will not hold him guiltless that takes his name or spends his day in vain O let me not like a foolish child play by that candle which is set up for me to work by lest I go to the bed of my grave in the dark of sin and sorrow Publique Ordiuances to be esteemed the chiefest work of the day I wish that I may not neglect either secret or family duties on this sacred day but yet that I may so perform them that they may be helps not hinderances to publique Ordinances that since God loveth the gates of Sion above all the the dwellings of Jacob I may set an high price upon and have an ardent love to the habitation of Gods house and the place where his honor dwelleth Delight in it that as a true child of my heavenly Father I may love most and like best that milk which is warm from the breasts of publick ordinances I wish that I may call the Lords day my delight it being a day wherein I enter into the suburbs of the holy City and begin that work of praysing pleasing and enjoying my God which I hope to be employed in to eternity that it may be my meat and drink to do the Will of my God O that I might so savour the things of the Spirit and so taste the Lord to be gracious that love may be the Loadston to draw me to my closet family and to Church and season every service I am called to upon the Sabbath Sanctifie the whole day Because every part of this day is of great price more worth then a whole World I desire that not the least moment of it may be squandred away but as the Disciples after the miracle of loaves I may gather up with care and conscience the smallest fragments that nothing be lost My God giveth me good measure heaped up pressed down shaken together and running over why should I be niggardly to him to my self indeed for it is my profit not his when he is so liberal so bountiful to me I wish in regard the blessed God is not onely the Master Communion
they must not starve they say and will not work therefore they must steal 2 Thes 3.12 When Servants are idle many times they rob their Masters Talebearing also is one of the fruits that groweth upon this tree When Servants are idle they run tatling from house to house making difference amongst Neighbours 1 Tim. 5.13 Pro. 11.23 Carping Momus was never found working Truly Friend thou canst not think the wrong thou dost thy family if thou suffer them like Milstones to consume themselves thus for want of work Mr. Graenham in his works St. Greenham as Bishop Hall calleth him when a Woman tempted much by the Devil came to him for advice gave her this direction Never be idle but be always well imployed for in my own experience I have found it when the Devil came to tempt me I told him that I was not at leasure to hearken to his temptations but was busie in my calling and thereby resisted his assaults Seventhly Maintain peace and love in thy family Contentions will hinder Religion Strife like fire is wholly opposite to the water of grace As in times of warring the laws of men are silent in a state inter arma silent leges so in jarring families the Laws of God can be little heard God was not in the tempestuous rough wind nor in the fire but in the still low voyce 1 Kings 19.12 Live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you 2 Cor. 13.11 If thy house be in a flame it is time for thy best friends to be gone Thy House should be a lesser Heaven in it thy God must be worshipped and glorified but in heaven there are no storms tempests ascend no higher then the middle Region Where God is served with perfect purity there is perfect peace As in the Ringing of Bells where every one keepeth its place and time and order they make an harmonious sound and delight the Daughters of Musick but when they jar and strike against each other their noise is harsh and distastful The holy performances of Families that live in love are Heavens musick but brawlings in houses make prayers ungrateful and have too much resemblance of the yellowings in Hell When the wind of contention is high the smoak of thy incense cannot ascend it will be beaten down again In stormy weather one but a little way distant sometimes cannot hear his Neighbour calling storms of passions will hinder Gods hearing thy petitions It s said that in Cimmeria there is no light and truely its more sad that in some Families there is no love The Husband is against the Wife and the Wife against the Husband Master and Servants Parents and Children are ever quarreling Seven Devils could agree in one heart nay a Legion which is seven thousand six hundred twenty two if Varro may be believed in another and yet seven persons cannot agree in one house The language in it is usually like Billings gate and the carriage often like Bedlam But the hand of the Devil is in all this who knoweth his best time to fish is when the waters are troubled When there is a tempest raised in the spirits of men we may quickly know that Satan was the Conjurer to raise the high winds He knoweth one way to take an house is by firing it Truely Satan hath a mighty advantage against an Idle and a brawling family As the Dog he devoureth the sheep in peices which he could not do whole When Cyrus came near Babylon with his great Army and finding the River by reason of its depth unpassable he divided it into many Channels whereby the main River sank so on a suddain that his Army went over and took the City Thus by division doth Satan conquer and surprise families There is mention made of a dispute betwixt Mars and Pallas Ioh. Bodin Method Hist c. 6. which of them should have the honour to give the name to the City of Athens at length is was resolved that he should give the name who could find out that which could most conduce to the benefit of the City Hereupon Mars presented them with a stately Horse signifying Wars and divisions but Pallas came in with an Olive Branch the emblem of peace Upon which the City chose Pallas to be their Guardian as knowing that unity is the way to prosperity Godliness in a family ebbeth and floweth much Plin. Nat. Hist lib. 2. according to the wranglings or love in a family As the Lapis Tyrrhenus Pliny speaketh of which being entire swimmeth but broken every part of it sinketh to the bottom Truely thy family may float above water while it is whole and undivided but if it be in peices it will quickly sink But I must especially commend this duty to the governours of families Husbands and Wives Children are seldom so impudent and servants may either be made quiet within or be turned out of doors but if the chief strings jar all the melody is marr'd Observe how the Holy Ghost giveth this particular precept in order to the promotion of piety in a family The Wife must be of a meek and quiet spirit and the Husband must give honour to the Wife as unto the weaker Vessel as heirs together of the grace of life that prayers be not hindered 1 Pet. 3.4 7. We may consider the injunction and the reason of it the injunction is first to Wives They must be of meek and quiet spirits quiet not quarrelsom meek not murmuring through peevishness or mad with passion A contentious wife is a continual dropping saith Solomon Pro. 19.13 The man would stay at home but her tongue like rain dropping through the roof upon his head where-ever he sitteth down drives him out of his house Where is godliness in the mean time The wise man saith again It s better to dwell in the Wilderness amongst venemous creatures then with such a Wife Pro. 21.13 when she should be praying she is like a mad Dog barking or biting Such a Wife saith Lycophron is but a cold armful This made Sylla say I had been blessed if I had continued a Batchelor Upon this ground I suppose Julian the Apostate whose mouth was often black with blasphemies said that Moses instead of meet-help might have written meet-hinderer But certainly whatsoever some mens perversness may drivel and utter or some womens peevishness occasion a woman if of a godly and quiet spirit is the greatest comfort on earth and a great help she may be to her Husband in his journey to Heaven The Injunction is secondly to the Husband he must honor his Wife as the weaker vessel as his fellow-heir of the grace of life He must honor her not be bitter to her He must give her his greatest love not deny her a good look Some Husbands are so Currrish and Crabbed they are always raging and fretting at their Wives nay like those that are distracted they sometimes beat and tear their Wives themselves For they two are one
thine and others salvations A good Wish about the Government of a Family wherein the former heads are epitomized THe Government of my Family being a special talent and trust committed to me by the blessed God The introduction and being a business of exceeding concernment both in regard of its influence upon the whole Kingdom which is raised or ruined by the good or wicked management of Families and in reference to the everlasting estates of the precious Souls in it wherewith I am charged I wish in general That I may never like a rotten post endanger the whole building of Church and State in any degree by my unfaithfulness in my place nor be so unmerciful and unnatural as to see that bloody Butcher Satan drive my children and servants like silly sheep to the Shambles of Hell and never stir or strive to rescue them out of his hands But thâ—t my resolution and practice may be according to Joshua 's religions pattern that whatsoever gods others serve whether the World or the flesh yet I and my house may serve the Lord. O that I might so walk in the midst of my house with a perfect heart that Grace like Maries box of Oyntment may perfume the whole house with its savour and that in every corner of it as it was said of holy Hoopers there may be some sent of godliness In particular I wish That I may keep my house so cleanly swept from the filth of sin Motives to exalt godliness in a family and so curiously furnished with the ornaments of the Spirit that it may invite the noblest Guest the ever glorious God to take up his abode in it My God hath told me Gods blessing will be on a god y family That the House of the Righteous shall stand Pro. 12.7 though sin rotteth the timber and maketh the houses of the wicked to fall that in the house of the Righteous is much treasure Prov. 15.6 even when there is but little silver thâ—t he blesseth the habitation of the Righteous Prov. 3.33 Surely his blessing can make my bed easie my sleep sweet my food savoury my cloaths warm my dwelling pleasant my children hopeful my wife a meet help my ground full of plenty and all I set my hands to to prosper O my soul what an argument is this to move thee to exalt holiness in thy house Thy God will bless it nay that God whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain will come and dwell in it Without question his coming will as to Zacheus bring salvation to thy house the company of this King will turn thy Cottage into a Court and his presence will change thy dwelling were it a Prison into a Palace O! let nothing be in thy house which may be distasteful to so great and so good a Friend Let no sin dwell in thy Tabernacle but let Holiness to the Lord be written on every person room and vessel in it that whatsoever name other houses are known by the name of thy house may be from henceforth and for ever Jehovah Shammah The Lord is there I wish Gods curse will be on a wicked family That I may so give credit to the Word of Truth which saith That the Curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked that the flying Roll of Curses the length whereof is twenty cubits and the breadth ten cubits shall enter into the house of the Thief and into the house of him that sweareth falsly and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof Zach. 5.2 3 4. and that he will pour out his wrath upon the Heathen which know him not and upon the families that call not on his name That I may tremble for fear that Atheism should raign in my house and so it should be ranked amongst the irreligious and markt for vengeance Alaâ— what a direadful noise do those Murthering pieces make in mine ears The Curse of God will canker all my comforts and blast all my blessings and that both speedily and irresistibly But O my soul meditate a little upon the latter Text which is a Prediction as well as a Petition What a bitter potion doth thy God give thee to purge Atheism out of thy family Consider its nature it is Wrath Pour out thy Wrath. Gods Anger is terrible like fire burning and overturning all before it if but a spark of it light upon his own people Psal 99. â— aâ—d 85.4 how pitifully do they roar out We are consumed by thine anger Cause thine anger towards us to cease O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger Truly no wonder that they thus bewail it for who knoweth the power of his anger Eut his Wrath is anger in the greatest degree Anger boiled up to the height O how scalding is this boiling Lead If the wrath of a King be the Messenger of death What is the wrath of an Almighty God This wrath can stuff thy bed with thorns and appoint wearisome nights unto thee it can sauce thy dishes with poyson infect thy raiment with plague sores fill thy body with torturing distempers thy soul with horrors and terrors it can waste all thy wealth in a moment and turn thy Wife Children and all thy comforts into amazing crosses and terrifying curses Hell it self is nothing else but this wrath to come one Spoonful one Drop of it will turn an Ocean of the sweetest Wine into Gall and Wormwood Wouldst thou be an Atheist in thy family for all the World to live one hour under this scorching wrath Alas it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of thy God for thy God is a consuming fire Observe further its measure pour out thy wrath When thy God poureth out his Spirit he giveth it in an extraordinary degree The persons upon whom it was poured are said to be full of the Holy Ghost If thy family be irreligious thou mayst expect this scalding wrath not by drops but by shorews to come pouring down upon it O my soul let this thought soak and sink so deep into thee that thou mayst dread the omission of duties in thy family as much as the unquenchable fire Let his favour make thee chearful in his service and let his anger make thee fearful of the least sin in thy house To this end I wish that I may use much circumspection whom I admit into my dwelling Directions for the exalting godliness in a Famâ—ly that as those who are to plant an Orch-yard get the best grafts they can so that mine house may be an Eden the garden of the Lord a Paradise on earth 1 Take heed whom thou makest members of thy Family I may as my occasions require look out for the choycest flowers the best and fruitfulest trees the holiest Christians in the Country O let me never make my house a Pest-house by taking in irreligious and infectious persons and such as