A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 38
CAP. XXXVIII.
Of thoſe Chriſtian and religious duties which we ought to performe on the Lords Day, for the ſanctifying of it.
§. Sect. 1 That if wee would ſanctifie the Lords Day, we muſt prepare for it before it commeth.
BEſides the duties of a godly life which are eueryevery day to bee performed, of which wee hauehave already ſpoken, there are others which more ſpecially belong to the Lords Day, of which wee are now to intreate. For howſoeuer we ought to deuote our ſelues in the whole courſe of our liues to Gods ſeruice, yet this Day is to be ſet apart, and conſecrated wholly after a peculiar manner to Gods immediate worſhip, ſo as wee may not in any part thereof doe the duties of our callings, or any of our owne workes, which tend to the aduancing of our worldly ends. Whereof I will ſpeake the more briefly, becauſe I hauehave in part touched already the mayne points and ſumme of the fourth Commandement, and becauſe alſo diuers of my learned and godly Brethren hauehave excellently laboured in this Argument; leauing nothing for me after their plentifull harueſt, but ſome few gleanings, vnleſſe I would picke out of their ſheaues, and ſay the ſame things againe which they hauehave better ſaid already. And yet becauſe my deſire is, that this Treatiſe ſhould be perfect in all its parts, I will briefly ſpeake of theſe duties, and giuegive ſome directions for the ſpending of this Day in ſuch a manner, as may be acceptable vntounto God, and profitable for the inriching of our ſoules with all ſpirituall graces, and the aſſuring and furthering of our ſaluation. And firſt, if we would rightly ſanctifie the Lords Day when it commeth, there is required before-hand a due preparation; neither can any action of waight and worth be well performed, which is ſuddenly and raſhly vndertaken; and ſcarce euer thought on before it bee attempted, eſpecially if there be much and mighty oppoſition, which will be neuer wanting in theſe religious duties, that ſo neerely concerne our ſaluation, till we come to keepe a perpetuall Sabbath in Gods Kingdome, ſeeing our ſpirituall and malicious enemies, the deuill, world, and our owne fleſh, leaue no meanes vnaſſayed, which may make all Gods holy ordinances vnprofitable vntounto vsus.
§. Sect. 2 Of our general preparation in the whole weeke.
Now this preparation is either generall or more ſpeciall. The generall, is in the whole weeke before, by performing thoſe Chriſtian and religious duties, of which I hauehave formerly intreated. For if the heart be kept continually in good plight and order, ſeaſoned with the louelove of piety, and ſettled in a good courſe, then the duties of the Lords day will be eaſie and familiar, ſweete and delightfull. And as he that keepeth himſelfe in breath by running eueryevery day, holdeth out well when he is put to his beſt ſpeed, and runneth that race for the getting of the Garland; whereas he who taketh his eaſe, is purſie and ſhortwinded, and running with much paine and difficultie, tyreth before he come to the goale; ſo if we would eueryevery day inure our ſelues to run our ſpirituall race, in the performance of all holy duties, wee ſhould finde our ſelues long-winded, actiue, and able to hold out, when as on the Lords Day wee are put (as it were) to our beſt ſpeede, for the obtaining of the Garland of grace, and Crowne of glory: whereas if wee ſpend the weeke in ſlothfull eaſe, and pamper our ſelues to the full with ſenſuall delights; If we giuegive our hearts liberty to range after worldly vanities, and fix them wholy vponupon earthly pleaſures and profits; if we let our tongues looſe to diſcourſe onelyonly of ſenſuall and terrene affaires, and neuer acquaint them with the language of Canaan; and if all our actions being ſuteable to them both, are wholly imployed about temporary obiects; then ſhall wee finde it impoſſible on the Lords day to withdraw them from their common haunt; ſeeing for want of vſe, religious exerciſes will be tedious and vnpleaſant vntounto vsus, and though we with ſome force bring them to holy duties, yet finding no taſte nor delight in them, they will euer and anon ſteale away, or violently breake from vsus, and roue and range after worldly vanities.
§. Sect. 3 Of ſpeciall preparation to be vſed in the Euening before the Lords Day.
The more ſpeciall preparation is to be vſed on the euening before the Lords day, wherein two things are to bee performed. Firſt, wee muſt remoue all impediments which might hinder vsus in our reſt and the ſanctifying of it: and ſecondly, we muſt vſe the helpes which may further vsus in theſe holy duties. The maine hindrances which muſt be remoued, are two, worldlineſſe, and wickedneſſe. By the former I vnderſtand our earthly and ordinary buſineſſe, worldly cares and cogitations, which if they keepe poſſeſſion in our hearts, they will choke the ſeed of Gods Word, diſtract vsus in our prayers and meditations, and make all holy exerciſes cold, formall, and vnprofitable vntounto vsus. For the preuenting whereof it is much to be deſired, that we would (as much as in vsus lyeth, and ſo farre forth as will ſtand with the neceſſary duties of our callings) ſo order and diſpoſe of all our worldly buſineſſes, as that they might bee wholly diſpatched and ſettled betimes on the Saturday, whereby we ſhould not onelyonly be preſerued from incroching vponupon the Lords Day (as it is the practice of many) for the effecting of our worldly affaires, which through our negligence and forgetfulneſſe being left vndone, doe then preſſe vponupon vsus as workes of neceſſity, but alſo we ſhould hauehave hereby conuenient leiſure, and fit time for our better preparation vntounto all thoſe holy and religious duties, which the next day are to be performed. And this is to keepe our foot from the Sabbath, Eſa. 58. 13. Eccl. 5. 1. Exod. 3. 5.namely, from treading vponupon Gods holy ground, and entring raſhly vponupon his right, when as wee appoynt and ſet apart an interim of time betweene our worldly affaires, and thoſe holy duties of the Lords Day, as it were certaine bounds betweene vsus and the Mount, to keepe vsus from violating Gods Commandement, wherein wee are to weane and ſequeſter our hearts from all worldly things, that they may bee wholly intent vntounto holy exerciſes. In which regard the ancient practice of the Church was very commendable, (and conſequently the neglect thereof to be lamented) which ordained that all labouring men, both in husbandry and trades, ſhould giuegive ouer their worke betimes vponupon Saturday in the afternoone, and reſort to the Church, that their bodies being refreſhed by reſt, and their minds prepared by prayer and meditation, they might be the better inabled to performe the publike and ſolemne duties of Gods ſeruice the Day following. The which being now neglected, and both Maſters and ſeruants taken vp with their laborious buſineſſe, later for the moſt part, that night then any other in the weeke, with watching and wearineſſe they are made altogether vnfit to performe Gods worſhip, their hearts being full fraught with their worldly affaires, not hauing had ſo much leiſure as to take a farewell of them; and their heads ſo drowzy and heauie, that they cannot hold them vp from nodding and ſleeping, euen in that time which is allotted to diuine exerciſes.
§. Sect. 4 That in our preparation we muſt purge our ſelues from all ſinfull corruption.
And as we muſt thus in our preparation purge our hearts from worldlineſſe, ſo muſt we with no leſſe care cleanſe them from all ſinfull wickedneſſe. 1. Pet. 2. 1, 2.To which purpoſe we muſt ſearch and examine them, if no ſinnes lye lurking in them vnrepented of, eſpecially ſuch as moſt hinder our profiting by the publike Miniſtery, as wrath and maliciouſneſſe, (and chiefly againſt our teachers) filthineſſe, diſſimulation, hypocriſie, preiudice and foreſtalled opinions, voluptuouſneſſe, couetouſneſſe, worldlineſſe, and ſuch like. And yet more particularly wee muſt call to our remembrance what ſinnes wee hauehave committed the weeke paſt, and ſeriouſly repent of them; leſt continuing in our wicked courſes, and cheriſhing our ſinnes, (as it were) in our boſomes, when we preſent our ſelues before God, they moue him to abhorre vsus, and our ſacrifices of prayer and thankeſgiuing, Eſa. 6. 9.and to giuegive vsus ouer to be further hardened by the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne: whereof it will follow, that our hearts becomming fat, our eares heauie, and our eyes ſhut, we ſhall heare, and not vnderſtand, and ſee, but not perceiue, that we might be healed and conuerted. And this the Lord required of the Iſraelites, that they ſhould firſt waſh them, and make them cleane, Eſa. 1. 16.(namely, in turning from their ſinnes by vnfained repentance) and then approch and come vntounto him. The which was typically ſignified by that commandement of waſhing their clothes, before the giuing of the Law; Exod. 19. 10.anſwerable vntounto which, is the ſanctifying and purging of our hearts by faith and repentance from all pollution of ſinne, before wee approch into Gods preſence to receiue his Word. For he will not turne vntounto vsus, nor by his gracious promiſes aſſure vsus of his fauour, till we turne from our ſinnes; nor ſuffer the precious liquor of his Word to be corrupted and ſpoyled, by powring it into our hearts, whileſt they continue in their pollution and vncleannes. Neither are we fit to receiue the ambaſſage of our reconciliation, till we hauehave made our peace with him. For if hauing offended Math. 5. 23, 24.our brother, we may not approch vntounto the Altar to offer our gift, till wee hauehave firſt ſought to be reconciled vntounto him; then much leſſe may we preſume to offer vntounto God any religious ſeruice, vntill firſt by our vnfained repentance, we hauehave made our peace with him. And if our fallow grounds muſt be prepared and plowed vp before they be ſowed, then muſt wee in like manner plow vp the fallow grounds of our hearts▪ as the Prophet exhorteth, Jer. 4. 4.before they can be fit to receiue the ſeed of Gods Word.
§. Sect. 5 That in our preparation we muſt vſe al helps which may further vsus in the ſanctifying of the Lords Day.
Secondly, we muſt in this preparation vſe all helpes, which may further vsus in the ſanctification of the Lords Day; as namely, thoſe common Pſal. 119. 20. Pſal. 42. 1, 2.meanes of prayer, reading the Word, and other holy writings, meditation, &c: and more eſpecially we muſt worke as much as may be, longing deſires in our hearts after the Lords Day, that therein wee may come into Gods holy aſſemblies, and be made partakers of his holy ordinances; and that we may truly ſay with Dauid; My ſoule breaketh for the longing that it hath vntounto thy iudgements at all times. And againe, As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes, ſo panteth my ſoule after thee, O God: my ſoule thirſteth for God, for the liuing God. O when ſhall I come and appeare before God? For if wee expect it not with deſire, we ſhall not greatly reioyce in the fruition; if it be not our longing before it approch, it will not when wee inioy it, be our delight. Now to ſtirre vp theſe longing deſires after it, wee muſt meditate on the excellency of this Day aboue all others, ſeeing God hath conſecrated it vntounto his worſhip and ſeruice as his owne peculiar, drawing neerer vntounto vsus in all viſible ſignes of his preſence, and admitting vsus to come neerer vntounto him then at other times. Let vsus thinke on the ſpirituall beauty and brauery of Gods Houſe, and of his holy Aſſemblies graced and adorned with his ſpeciall fauours, and with the light of his countenance, which infinitely excelleth the Sunne in brightneſſe and comfort, whereby the Church becommeth faire as the Moone, cleere as the Cant. 6. 10.Sunne, and terrible as an army with banners: with which ſpirituall beauty being rapt vp and rauiſhed, let vsus cry out with Dauid; O how amiable are Pſal. 110. 3.thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hoſts! My ſoule longeth, yea euen fainteth for the Pſal. 84. 1, 2, 10.Courts of the Lord; my heart and my fleſh cryeth out for the liuing God, &c. A day in thy Courts is better then a thouſand; I had rather bee a dore-keeper in the Houſe of my God, then to dwell in the tents of wickedneſſe. Let vsus meditate on the ſingular priuiledges which the Lord on this Day imparteth vntounto vsus with a liberall hand, admitting vsus into his Chamber of preſence, and communicating himſelfe vntounto vsus, by giuing vsus free liberty to ſpeake vntounto him about all our wants and grieuances, and to offer vntounto him our ſuits and petitions, with a gracious promiſe that hee will heare and grant them; yea into his Councell chamber, where he imparteth vntounto vsus all his ſecrets, and the chiefe counſels of his Kingdome; and not only cauſeth the great Charter of our peace, and manifold priuiledges, to be read and expounded vntounto vsus, but alſo ſealeth it by his Sacraments for our owne peculiar vſe. Finally, let vsus conſider of the manifold benefits which the Lord on that Day communicateth vntounto vsus. For it is Gods Feſtiuall, wherein hee nouriſheth our ſoules vntounto life eternall, if wee bring a good appetite to this ſpirituall banquet. It is his great Seale Day, wherein hee ſigneth and ſealeth vntounto vsus a generall pardon for all our ſins, and all our ſpirituall euidences of our heauenly inheritance, both by the priuie Signet of his Spirit, and the great Seale of his Sacraments. It is the Day of Gods largeſſe, wherein he bountifully beſtoweth vponupon vsus the ineſtimable riches of his ſpirituall graces; and the day of muſtring and training his ſouldiers in the ſpirituall warfare, wherein he armeth them at all poynts with the ſpirituall armour, and infuſeth into them ſuch ſtrength and courage, that they become inuincible, and obtaine victory ouer their ſpirituall enemies. Finally, it is Gods market Day, wherein he freely offereth all ſuch wares Eſa. 55. 1.as are needfull for vsus, without money; and to ſtore vsus with all prouiſion which ſhall be neceſſary for the preſeruing of our ſpirituall life, the whole weeke following. And who would not long after ſuch a market, wherein is aſſured gaine without loſſe? Who would not before-hand thinke of all his wants, which he may hauehave ſupplied ſo eaſily and good cheape? And rather then by forgetting them, to liue in penury and miſery, who would not, before he commeth to this market, ſeriouſly conſider of his wants? take ſure notice of them, and rather then faile by forgetfulneſſe, put them into his Writing-Tables, for the better ſtrengthening of his memory, that ſo when he commeth to this ſpirituall market, he may make prouiſion of what he chiefly needeth, and not be to ſeeke when hee is to make his bargaine?