Seven Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 15
CHAP. 15. Of ſome particular duties pertaining to God directly in the firſt, ſecond, third, and fourth commaundements.
The ſecond point in this ſecond part of godlineſſe, wherein this performing of good duties doth conſiſt.NOw the rules and vertues hauing been ſet downe, which helpe to the practiſe of a godly life, I will ſhew in what points this life conſiſteth, and ſet downe a ſumme of it: but more briefly I will doe it, becauſe it may in ſome ſort be gathered by the deſcription of the vngodly life: and alſo for that no man can ſet downe all the particulars of it, but they muſt be learned and knowne of the true Chriſtian, out of good catechiſmes, and by daily and attentiue hearing of his ordinarie teacher, who is able to inſtruct him herein, and by a diligent ſearch into his owne life by the commaundements.
But yet to helpe the weake, that they may ſee how to drawe out of this whole treaſurie, and rich hoard of the commaundements, for the better ordering of their wayes, through their whole courſe, that which ſhall be neceſſarie (ſeeing they ſhall not alwaies hauehave other helpes at hand) I will ſet downe ſome of the chiefeſt, throughout them all. And firſt thoſe duties which directly pertaine to God (following the order, which I did in ſetting downe the ſinnes before:) According to that which is in the Apoſtle, where he ſaith, that the knowledge of ſaluation teacheth vsus to liue holily, &c. and to giuegive vntounto God, the things which are Gods.
Duties towards gods perſon.And firſt of all, to begin with the duties of the firſt commaundement (the life and light of all the reſt) it is firſt required, that we ſeeke and deſire to know God,Knowledge of God. though not perfectly (which we cannot doe) yet as he may be knowne of vsus, as his word doth reueale him to vsus: that in his nature and properties, he is ſpirituall, infinit, pure, holy, righteous, onelyonly wiſe, conſtant, omnipotent, onelyonly good, one in eſſence, three in perſon: and in his workes; as his conſtant decree, and execution of the ſame in creation and gouernment: in all moſt admirable; as wee ſee in the earth with hir furniture, wherewith we are beſt acquainted: although that be but as his footeſtoole, to conceiue of his glorie in heauen, which is as his throne. But alas, this knowledge of God is weake euen in many a true Chriſtian beleeuer: but that eueryevery one is then fit to learne it aright, when he is once a Chriſtian. Furthermore, we muſt acknowledge, that is, allow, and in heart, yeeld and conſent vntounto the truth of thoſe things which we know of him: that then we may ſafely and boldly beleeue in him, and cleaue to him. For this knowledge of his maieſtie cauſeth al his faithfull ones to be truely knit vntounto him, and to fixe their whole delight in him:Pſalm. 73.18. ſo that, they ſay with the Pſalmiſt: Whom hauehave I in heauen (O Lord) but thee? and who is he on earth, whom I deſire in compariſon of thee? So that none is, as the Lord, vntounto them.
We thus cleauing vntounto him, and knowing our ſelues to be ſafe vnderunder his winges, grow to put our confidence in him,Truſt. that he will helpe vsus in all our neceſſities and tribulations. And from this confidence, ariſe many other Chriſtian duties:Hope. as to hope and looke for that helpe which in confidence we aſſure our ſelues of, from the Lord: yea although meanes be wanting, yet we giuegive glorie vntounto God;Dan. 3. as the three children which being caſt into the burning fornace, committed themſelues vntounto his protection, although at that time they ſaw no likelyhoode of helpe at all. Againe, through this confidence, we are not afraide, no not in greateſt daungers, but are patient,Patience. and without murmuring hold our peace, becauſe we know,Pſalm. 3.7. the Lord hath done it: and that which is more, we count it good for vsus that wee are afflicted,Phil. 4 10. Rom. 52. Col. 1.11. Ioy. Phil. 4.4. Pſalm. 4.4. and receiuing all as from a father, doe reioyce ſoundly, and heartily in them, through hope at leaſt. And through the ſame confidence, we reioyce in eueryevery condition of life vnſpeakably: yet no otherwiſe, then as we be afraide to doe any thing, which may diſpleaſe God, as I ſhall ſay afterwards: becauſe we know, that although this is weariſomnes to the wicked; yet there is cauſe continually offered vsus, to be carefull, that in all things we may be approoued of him.
And ſeeing we behold, how all good things doe flow to vsus from God,Thankfulnes. 1. Theſ. 5.18. therefore we offer vntounto his maieſtie, this other dutie, in all things to be thankfull: namely, with a kinde heart teſtifying, that all our well-fare commeth from him: and ſo doe we in our wants, and neceſſities lift vp our hearts vntounto him by prayer, for the obtaining of the things which we want.Requeſt. And when he thus bountifully imparteth to vsus all good things, which yet are but the ſmaller fruites of his fauour, (and yet, if they were not enough, he would ſend vsus more and greater) who doubteth that with al our hearts and ſtrength, we are affected to louelove him, more then wife, children, houſe, land,LoueLove. or whatſoeuer is of greateſt price in the world beſide? yea that in compariſon thereof, the beſt things of price, are reckoned but as doung?Phil. 3.8. Cant. 2.4.5. Pſalm. 16. And in token of this true louelove to God, we giuegive our ſelues to ſolace our ſoules in him, as Dauid, euen when he was in daunger of his life, did comfort himſelfe in his God, 1. Sam. 30.6. becauſe it is ſo ſweete and beautifull, to thinke and meditate oft times vponupon the infinit good things that doe flow from him vntounto vsus:Deſire Gods preſence. but moſt of all deſiring to inioy his preſence in heauen, which ſhall be with fulnes of pleaſures for euermore.
And further, becauſe all which know God, and put their confidence in him, and louelove him, are ouerwhelmed as it were, with the infinitnes and excellencie of his glorious maieſtie, therefore they are drawen to behaue themſelues more reuerently, and vprightly before him,Reuerence. then before the greateſt potentates in the world: and therefore are prepared to walke before him continually in an holy and childlike feare,Feare. 1. Pet. 1.17. Act. 9.31. deſiring that he will teach them by his wiſdome, direct them by his prouidence, and bleſſe their whole courſe, ſo as they may comfortably feele the ſame, through their life.
Now beſides theſe duties of holines which we owe directly to the perſon of God, meerely ſpirituall and inward,The ſecond commaundement. there are other whereby we worſhip him outwardly, which alſo are parts of this holines towards God: it followeth therefore, now to mention ſome of the chiefe points of this externall worſhip of God both publike and priuate; and in what manner it ſhould be vſed:Gods worſhip. but before it is to be knowne, that he will allow of no other meanes of worſhipping him outwardly, then he hath appointed and preſcribed himſelfe in his word.Iſay 1.12. Iohn 4.23. And therefore the office of the miniſterie it ſelfe (by which God is truely worſhipped publikely) muſt not be an office to ſacrifice and ſay maſſe for the ſinnes of the quicke and dead (which Gods word plainely condemneth) neither muſt it be any other then that which God acknowledgeth for his:Miniſterie. that is, a publiſhing and preaching of the Goſpell, and glad tidings of ſaluation by Ieſus Chriſt to penitent ſinners and beleeuers,Rom. 1.16. and a miniſtring of the ſacraments, which he hath ordained for the comfort of them.
Such miniſters they muſt be at the leaſt, which ſerue him, whatſoeuer graces they hauehave beſide, if they would that God ſhould acknowledge and take them for his: and after ſuch outward manner muſt they worſhip him in all dutifulnes of heart, both magiſtrate and priuate perſon, who will worſhip him aright: And amongſt the publike ſeruices of God, theſe are ſome and the principall,Publike prayers. with prayers by voice expreſſed, thankſgiuing, confeſſions of ſinnes,Cenſures. and ſinging of Pſalmes, the fruite of the lippes; with the cenſures of admonition, and excommunication, as cauſe doth require: which I knit together for breuitie ſake, ſeeing I hauehave onelyonly taken in hand, to ſet downe ſhortly, what the partes of Gods outward worſhip are, (not largely to handle them) that all may ſee the better hereafter, when I ſhall come to it, how the daily direction for a Chriſtians life, may fitly bee drawne out, and made vp of the whole body of godlines layde together in the commaundements.
Publike faſts.To theſe may be added, publike faſts, when the people of God by ſome eſpeciall calamities either hanging ouer them, or alreadie vponupon them, or for greeuous tranſgreſſions againſt God, do abaſe and humble themſelues more earneſtly and feruently,Ioel. 2.12. Extraordinary thankes. to intreate God againſt them: Alſo publike thankſgiuing for ſome rare benefit or deliuerance ſent vponupon the Church: In all which publike actions the Lord requireth ſtreightly,Heſter. 9. beſides, that we ſhould louelove, deſire and procure them by all meanes that we can; ſo, that we ſhew all reuerence in the vſe of them: as by bowing our neckes in making our prayers,Luk. 18.13. Iohn 11.41. lifting vp of our hands, or eyes, as occaſion is offered; ſo caſting downe of lifting vp the countenance with cheerefulneſſe, as the matter heard requireth.
Priuate worſhip.An other part of Gods worſhip is, when the moſt of theſe now ſpoken of, are vſed priuately of vsus: Alſo the talking and conferring of the word of God, in mutuall inſtructing, admoniſhing, exhorting, comforting, or any way elſe which is fit for edifying; as ſinging of Pſalmes, and thankſgiuings in Chriſtian families, both ioyntly and ſeuerally, according to their particular occaſions and oportunities, and namely at meate and at reſt. And to conclude, we muſt all both magiſtrate, miniſter, and people carefully auoyde, and watch againſt all occaſions of ſuperſtition and idolatrie: and be zealous againſt the ſame, to the rooting out and aboliſhing of them, as much as in vsus lieth: and carefully retaine, and hold our company and familiaritie with the true profeſſors and worſhippers of God; and continue daily our frequenting of the places of publike aſſemblies of Gods people, and not breake off our fellowſhip, as the manner of ſome is: Neither giuegive or take occaſion, one or other of vsus, in our ſeuerall eſtates or places, of hindring or cooling our holy and comfortable proceedings in the Lords pure worſhip and ſeruice.
But ſeeing the Scripture teacheth, that he is not a Iew, which is ſo onelyonly in the eyes of men; neither is the drawing neere with the lips and bodie onelyonly,Manner ſpirituall. ſpirituall: therefore the manner of doing theſe duties in Gods outward worſhip, is alſo to be learned (as in a word I hauehave touched before) that as in themſelues they are good and godly; ſo they may, as they come from the beleeuers, be alſo ſweete and ſauourie in the Lords noſtrils, namely, that (as they proceede from faith) ſo they may be ſeaſoned with holie affections, as oft as they are offered to him.
So that wee are to know this, that when wee ſhall ſet vponupon any part of his worſhip, which now hath been ſpoken of, it is highly diſpleaſing to him, to goe about the ſame lightly, raſhly, falſely, hypocritically, and vnprofitably: for that were abominable to him, as a dead ſacrifice. But contrarily, wee muſt vſe them with al high reuerence, being prepared rightly before: wel affected in the vſing of them: and ayming at the moſt profitable end which he hath appointed, that ſo we may be approoued and allowed of him.
Now if I ſhould particularly declare how and after what manner, eueryevery part of the outward worſhipping of God ſhould be vſed, as I hauehave ſhewed in generall; I ſhould tarie too long in this matter:Hovv Gods worſhip is to be vſed. The word. Act. 26.18. Preparation. 1. Pet. 2.1. Iam. 1.21. Act. 10.33. but in ſome few of the principalleſt particulars I will ſhew it, that thereby may be ſeene what is required in the reſt. In the preaching of the word, being the way to inlighten vsus, firſt with faith; and after, to ſettle and eſtabliſh vsus in the truth; wee ſhould come prepared to the hearing of it after this manner: laying aſide all filthines of heart and hands, which might hold out wiſedome, we being readie and deſirous to receiue it with a hungrie ſoule: and therefore not raſhly, and little regarding what we goe about; neither comming with a captious and malitious purpoſe to heare. In the action it ſelfe, we ſhould be thus affected:In hearing. Iſai. 61. Act. 2.37. with our whole ſoule to marke and weigh the matter, that ſo we may bee touched with it accordingly: that is to ſay, with hearing our faults, wee ſhould bee pricked, and relent: with hearing promiſes, beleeue,2. Theſſ. 3.4. and receiue comfort by them: by doctrine of dutie, to be fullie reſolued to practiſe it: and therefore not to hauehave our heads full of other matters, running vponupon our profits and pleaſures, or in hypocriſie: and though wee take ſome delight in that which we heare, yet not to bee contented to reſt therein, without the feeling of the true worke of it in vsus. After wee hauehave heard,Hauing heard. wee ſhould giuegive all diligence to muſe and conferre of the things which we hauehave heard, examining them by the Scriptures, with the good men of Theſſalonica:Act. 17.11. and finding agreement betwixt both, with more boldnes to ſet our ſelues forward in eueryevery good way by the helpe thereof.
This is the right manner of hearing the word of God preached, which the Lord hath taught his people to endeuour after: as whereby he warranteth them ſingular fruite and bleſſing. And although this be but the vſe and helpe of one part of Gods worſhip; yet if wee were alike directed in all the reſt, how greatly (thinke wee) might a Chriſtian bee holpen and enabled to the true worſhipping of God by the ſame? which now being not knowne of many, neither reuerently practiſed, is a thing moſt vnſauourie and irkeſome vntounto them. Not much vnlike to this, is the true manner of the priuate exerciſe of Gods word in reading and conferring vponupon it:How conference and reading ſhould be vſed. that with high reuerence in hope to get profit thereby, and praying earneſtly for the ſame, we ſhould goe about it: whiles we are at it, withdraw our mindes from all other things; and after, applie it profitablie and readilie to vſe it.
How the Lords Supper ſhould be receiued.To the Lords Supper, if we deſire to finde it (as it is in it ſelfe an heauenlie banquet) we ſhould ſee that we come in our wedding garment, meet gueſts for ſuch a table, apparrelled with the robe of faith and repentance; without which, the Lord of the feaſt will neither looke vponupon vsus, nor welcome vsus, but expell vsus rather. Matth. 22.13.In the time of our receiuing, we ſhould be heauenly minded, much comforted and made glad, as feeding vponupon ſuch dainties, whereby our ſoules and bodies ſhal liue happily for euer. And afterwards, to be thankfull to the giuer of ſo great good things; and a long time after, to retaine the ſtrength we receiued by them, to the end wee may feele ourſelues readie to teſtifie the ſame by all dutifull obedience for the time to come.
Hovv prayer ſhould be made. Matth. 6.9.Of prayer alſo, which ſhall be more fully ſpoken of in another place, there is an holie and reuerent vſe to be made (though many are little acquainted with it) namely, that we ſhould ſeriouſly weigh Gods almightie power, and how fatherly he is affected to vsus, which two things ſhould be our pillars to leane vntounto, ſo that we may be the better prepared thereto: that whileſt wee are in powring out of our prayers vntounto him, wee may through this confidence,1. Tim. 2.8. feele our ſelues effectually moued to lift vp pure heart and hands vntounto him with cheerefulnes:Pſal. 116.13. and after bleſſing receiued, bee made more readily diſpoſed to pray often with thankſgiuing. And theſe are ſome of the chiefe duties to God, and in ſuch manner, as is before mentioned, they are to bee performed vntounto him.
The third commandement. Luk. 1.75.Now further we are commaunded not onelyonly in his worſhip, but alſo in our whole life, eueryevery where to ſeeke his glorie: for ſo he hath willed vsus, that we ſhould frame the whole courſe thereof holilie throughout the ſixe daies, that ſo we may glorifie him therein. And who doth not ſee, that this ſhould be ſo? namely, that in our life and behauiour we ſhould as well walke worthie the Lord in al things, as in the worſhipping of him both publikely and priuately, as we hauehave been directed before? That ſo there may be in theſe two commandements, fully laid foorth vntounto vsus, a ſumme of all outward duties, which in the ſixe daies we ought to performe vntounto him: and in the due practiſe of both, we may ſhew foorth the fruite of that knowledge, acknowledgement, faith, feare, and louelove of God, and all other inward graces, which we hauehave bin taught to honour him with, in our hearts, by the firſt commandement. Therfore, as I ſaid, the duties inioyned vsus in this third, doe moſt fitly go with thoſe of the two former: that not onelyonly in the time of preaching and prayer, and ſuch like exerciſes of religion, but alſo in our common and vſuall ſpeech and actions, we declare what a worthie and reuerend eſtimation wee hauehave of the Lord: as by ſpeaking all good of his name, word, and workes: and in our lawfull callings, by ordering and behauing our ſelues wiſely and graciouſly: that al which liue with vsus, may ſee that our religion is ioyned with the power of godlines: And that this bee done of vsus in all eſtates and conditions of our life, both in proſperitie and aduerſitie: and that as many as wee can preuaile with (our owne familie and charge eſpecially) wee labour to perſwade vntounto the ſame: yea and if wee at any time fall by infirmitie, yet that wee acknowledge the ſame, as cauſe requireth, and ſo returne to the Lord againe;Ioſhu. 7.19. as Ioſua exhorted Achan to doe; To be ſhort. Whether we eate or drinke, 1. Cor. 10.31. In all things to glorifie God.or whatſoeuer we doe els, all is to be done to the glorie of his name. And in mentioning the commoneſt of our actions, as our eating and drinking, he excepteth none; to the end, that wee may carie our ſelues in a ſtaied and well ordred courſe continually, whileſt wee ſhew that in the ſmalleſt matters, and in our actions, which ſeeme leaſt weightie, we be afraid to offend: as in our common talke, that it be ſauourie, and for edifying. And ſeeing we vſe the name of God very oft both in our common ſpeech, and particularly in an oth; his merciemercy, iuſtice,Col. 4.4. Pſal. 118.5.12. wiſedome, and power are to moue our hearts, as oft as we hauehave cauſe to ſpeak of him, with all high reuerence to vſe the ſame. But more eſpecially,In an oth. when iuſt occaſion of ſwearing by him is offered, wee ſhould diligently conſider the perſon of the Lord, how he is a reuenger of all ſuch as take his holy name in vaine: and the matter it ſelfe, about which wee ſweare, that wee doe it in truth, in righteouſnes and iudgement. In truth,In truth. ſo that whatſoeuer be affirmed or denied, may truly and for certaintie be affirmed or denied: and whatſoeuer be vowed or promiſed, be promiſed and vowed without fraud, and ſimplie. In righteouſneſſe, that there bee a iuſt cauſe of our ſwearing,In righteouſneſſe. and that which is agreeable to the will of God. In iudgement,In iudgement. that it bee done aduiſedly, not lightly, or raſhly, but that we may take comfort in performing that great dutie aright, namely, that wee hauehave made knowne the truth, which being made knowne by vsus, hath cut off ſome great doubt and controuerſie.
And ſo ſhould wee in the beholding of the workes of God (as the firmament; with the Sunne, Moone, and Starres: the earth with her furniture,In beholding Gods workes. as the corne, graſſe, trees, and her large proſpect) take ſweete feeling of Gods Maieſtie, and beautie which ſhineth in them, reioycing with reuerence, that he hath giuen vsus this cleere glaſſe to behold his face in (although this wee muſt know that in all theſe inferiour creatures and workes of his, wee ſee not any part of his throne, but onelyonly ſome part of his footſtoole:) which ſhould moue vsus therefore, in all our actions to beware of hypocriſie.
Seeing therefore we hauehave daily vſe of theſe, I thought good to make mention of them (yet in as few words as I could ſo large matters) how wee ought to vſe them: let the reſidue bee learned by ordinarie hearing thoſe, who being furniſhed with gifts fit for this purpoſe, are appointed of God to make his people ſound and skilfull in them: that they may ſhew to the world, that the honouring of God, as it is ſet foorth in his word, is another manner of life then the world is acquainted with, and ſo bringeth another manner of honour to him, and comfort to men, then the imbracers and louers of the world can be partakers of.
Thus I hauehave ſpoken of the behauiour which inwardly and outwardly, both in Gods holie worſhip and in our whole conuerſation towards God directlie, we are to ſhew in the whole ſixe daies throughout our life.
That which followeth next, is that part of holines & obedience which is to be giuen to the Lord, one day in ſeauen:The 4. commandement. Nothing differing from all the three former,Holy keeping of the ſeuenth day. Exod. 20.10. ſauing that, all our owne workes though lawfull on other daies, are on this day, as much as is poſſible, to be laid aſide, that is, except in caſe of neceſſitie: and the whole day to be beſtowed in his worſhip, and ſeruice, and in things directly tending to the ſame. So that, by vertue of this part of Gods honour, we are not reſtrained from our ſinne onelyonly (which we are forbidden eueryevery day) but from common labour alſo, which is an hinderance from the conſecrating of the whole day vntounto God: And therefore lawfull workes being forbidden, we may aſſure our ſelues, that much more he condemneth the intermixting of vaine and fooliſh Enterludes and Playes, with ſuch like miſſpending of the time: and the filling of mens mouthes as well as their heads with worldly cares and dealings, to too common on that day, although not tolerable on other.
But becauſe the Lord knoweth how prone, and readie we are to wearines of well doing,Varietie of holy exerciſes. therefore he hath not onelyonly appointed ſome part of this day to be paſſed in publike, and other ſome in priuate exerciſes of godlines; but alſo he hath giuen vsus great varietie of both ſorts, that ſo the whole time may be beſtowed without tediouſnes and toyle; euen from our preparing our ſelues to the ſanctifying of it, at our vpriſing, vntounto the laſt duties at our lying downe: which mercifull and wiſe regarde of his, ouer vsus, if it cannot mooue vsus to giuegive our ſelues to practiſe this part of holines (whatſoeuer our excuſes be) we plainely ſhew, that our mindes are earthly and carnall, and that we doe but fauour our ſelues in worldlines, or profanenes, idlenes and eaſe, when we reaſon againſt it, as being too preciſe.
Publike aſſemblies.The publike duties, are the reuerent aſſemblies of Chriſtians in the preaching of the word, in prayer, and adminiſtring of the ſacraments, on that day eſpecially to be vſed, howſoeuer on other dayes by occaſions oft intermitted: All of them are moſt bleſſed helps for the eſtabliſhing of vsus in an holy life. Of the priuate, ſome doe particularly concerne our ſelues alone: ſome are as well for the benefit of others,Priuate exerciſes. as for our owne comfort: for our ſelues, we are to meditate on the works of God, vponupon his wonderfull workes, which he hath done for the ſonnes of men;Pſalm. 92. that ſo we may feele his goodnes many waies; and from the ſweetnes which we perceiue in the creatures, we may be lifted vp, to behold the beautie and fauour of the creatour.
We are alſo to thinke of the doctrine which we hauehave heard, that it may the eaſilier be imprinted in vsus. And on this day we are more freely to conſider of our eſtate: how we proceede in the religious keeping of our couenant with God: and how we grow in the aſſurance of Gods merciemercy, and our redemption: or whether we goe not backe, or ſtand not at a ſtay. And eueryevery way as our neede ſhall moſt require, we are to vſe our examinings of our ſelues, meditations and thankſgiuings on this day, not only for our preſent comfort; but for our more fruitfull walking all the weeke following. Conference of good things, tendeth as well to the edifying of others, as our ſelues. Beſide the which there are other duties to be don to them, as to do the workes of merciemercy to them, as well in viſiting them in their ſickenes, releeuing their neceſſities, breaking off their diſagreements, and reconciling them who were at variance, as in ſpirituall comfortings of them, as God doth inable vsus. And theſe al laid together are as a continuall direction for the holy vſe of the Sabboth to vsus (euen as the daily direction which I ſhall adde afterwards, is to ſerue a Chriſtian daily as long as he ſhall liue:) for the profitable and heauenly ſpending of the Sabboth is the market of the ſoule, in the which, he, who is wiſe, will prouide and ſtore himſelfe for all the other dayes of the weeke, wherein it is like he ſhall hauehave little helpe, but much diſcouragment, as in the world may be ſeene. And this holy paſſing of the Sabboth muſt be religiouſly regarded of al the Chriſtian family, as the charge giuen to the gouernor thereof doth ſhew: and of the ſtranger alſo who ſhall come vnderunder his roofe. This is the ſum of the holines, which we are to ſhew towards God: he that deſireth to heare more fully of this matter, which I may not handle at large, let him reade ſuch treatiſes as are written of that argument.