A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 40
CAP. XL.
That we muſt ſanctifie our reſt, by conſecrating it to the duties of Gods ſeruice.
§. Sect. 1 That we muſt riſe betimes on the Lords Day.
ANd thus much concerning the reſt, and things from which wee muſt abſtaine on the Lords Day; The ſecond thing to be conſidered, is the ſanctifying of this reſt, by conſecrating it vntounto thoſe duties of Gods ſeruice, which vponupon this day he requireth of vsus. For it is not ſufficient, that we refraine from working, and doe nothing, ſeeing our beaſts doe this as well as wee, but we muſt make it an holy reſt, abſtaining from our owne workes, that wee may doe the workes of God. In which regard it is called, not onelyonly a Sabbath, and day of reſt, but Gods Sabbath and Holy-day, wherein he inioyneth vsus to doe him ſeruice. And if he abhorreth idleneſſe at all times, and condemneth the neglect of our own works in all the reſt of the weeke, then much more if we be idle vponupon his Day, and ſpend that time which he hath allotted to his owne ſeruice, in ſloth and idleneſſe. Neither doth the Lord ſimply require a reſt for it owne ſake (ſeeing in it ſelfe it is leſſe profitable and acceptable then action and labour) but as being a ſanctified reſt, it is a meanes to fit vsus for his ſeruice, which is the end of it, vntounto which if we attaine not, it is vaine and vnprofitable, yea wicked and ſinfull. Now the duties of Gods ſeruice, whereby this reſt is ſanctified, are either priuate or publike; the which, becauſe they are interchangeably mixed with one another, therefore I will obſerue a mixt method in handling of them. The firſt priuate duty, is, that we awake and riſe as timely this day to doe God ſeruice (and if we be Gouernours of families, that wee cauſe thoſe who are vnderunder our charge to doe the like) as we doe (or ought to doe) on any of the weeke dayes to doe our owne workes. Yea, ſeeing Gods works are of much greater waight and worth, then our own, and our ſpirituall gaine of grace, and meanes of furthering the ſaluation of our ſoules, and our euerlaſting happineſſe in the life to come, are incomparably more excellent then earthly riches and delights, therefore as wee are watchfull on the weeke dayes to purſue theſe, and are willing to abridge our ſelues of our ordinary ſleepe, when we hauehave any good opportunity offered for the compaſſing of them; ſo ſhould we herein exceede on the Lords Day, wherein wee hauehave ſuch good meanes offered of inriching our ſoules with the ſpirituall treaſures of Gods ſauing graces, and of attaining vntounto the aſſurance of our heauenly ioyes, and thoſe pleaſures which are at Gods right hand for euermore; ſo farre foorth as the frailty and infirmity of nature will ſuffer, and not diſable vsus through drowzineſſe, cauſed by want of ſufficient ſleepe, vntounto the publike duties of Gods ſeruice. And therefore farre bee it from vsus that profeſſe Chriſtianity, to imitate the practice of carnall worldlings, who riſe betimes vponupon the weeke dayes to goe about their owne buſineſſe; but when the Lords Day commeth, lie long in bed, and (as they ſay) take vp their penny-worths of ſleepe, in which they were ſcanted by their earthly imployments, becauſe they thinke it an idle time, wherein they hauehave nothing to doe, ſauing to make themſelues ready and goe to Church; but rather, according to our profeſſion, let vsus imitate the example of our Sauiour Mar. 1. 35, 38.Chriſt, who did awake betimes to doe the workes of God, riſing before day to pray, and afterwards preaching in the Synagogue.
§. Sect. 2 Of meditations fit to be vſed on the Lords Day.
Secondly, being awakened out of ſleepe, we muſt in the firſt place ſettle our ſelues to performe thoſe religious and holy duties belonging to eueryevery morning, of which we hauehave formerly ſpoken, but with theſe differences; firſt, that wee reſpect in them the Lords Day, and make ſpeciall application of them vntounto that preſent occaſion. And ſecondly, that we doe in an extraordinary manner ſtirre vp our ſelues to performe them with more ardent zeale, and greater deuotion then at any other time. For example, we muſt awake with God, and in our firſt thoughts ſet him before vsus, and our ſelues in his preſence, that we may in a ſpeciall manner performe the peculiar duties of his ſeruice, which that Day aboue others he requireth of vsus. And firſt, we muſt deuoutly lift vp our hearts and ſoules to praiſe his holy Name, for preſeruing vsus the whole weeke and night paſt from all perils and dangers, continuing ſtill vntounto vsus, life, liberty, and all good meanes and opportunities, whereby wee are inabled yet once againe to ſanctifie his Sabbath, by performing vntounto him the duties of his ſeruice; earneſtly deſiring the continuance of his fauour, and the gracious aſſiſtance of his holy Spirit, to guide and leade vsus thorowout the day following, that wee may therein carry our ſelues in ſuch an holy and religious manner, as that all the ſeruice which we performe vntounto him, may be pleaſing and acceptable in his ſight, and may wholly tend to the aduancement of his glory, the edification of our brethren, the inriching of our ſoules with all ſpirituall graces, and the furthering and aſſuring of our ſaluation. After which ſhort Prayer, we are to ſpend ſome time in holy meditation, the ſubiect and matter whereof may bee the infinite and ineſtimable louelove and mercies of God, innumerable wayes ſhewed vntounto vsus, but eſpecially in giuing vntounto vsus his onelyonly begotten and dearely beloued Sonne, to dye for our ſinnes, and as this Day to ariſe againe for our iuſtification. In which, we may inlarge our ſelues as time and leaſure will ſerue, by calling to our remembrance the particular parts of Chriſts Paſſion, as his miſeries and afflictions in the whole courſe of his life, his betraying and apprehenſion, his haling to the Iudgement ſeate of mortall men, who was the Soueraigne Iudge of heauen and earth, his accuſing and condemning, who was innocent, that hee might acquit vsus who are malefactours. Alſo how he was railed and ſpit vponupon, ſcourged and tormented, clothed with purple and crowned with thornes, ſcorned and derided, numbred among the wicked, and crucified betweene two thieues, died the death, the bitter, ignominious, and curſed death of the Croſſe; and in his ſoule bore and indured for our ſakes the anger of God, much more heauy and intolerable then all his other ſufferings, which made him in that his bitter agony to ſweate water and blood, and to cry out vponupon the Croſſe; My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? VntoUnto which, we may adde in our meditations Iob. 3. 16.the manifold and exceeding fruits and benefits of his death and reſurrection redounding vntounto vsus, that ſo we may not onelyonly bee ſtirred vp to vnfained thankfulneſſe vntounto God the Father, who hath of his meere louelove Rom. 5. 8, 10. Phil. 2. 6.giuen his Sonne, euen when wee were ſtrangers and enemies, to doe all this for vsus; and to God the Sonne, who hath, being equall with his Father, thus humbled himſelfe to worke the great worke of our Redemption; and to God the holy Spirit, for applying the fruits and benefits of Chriſts paſſion and reſurrection vntounto vsus, making them effectuall for our iuſtification and ſaluation: but alſo hauing our hearts inflamed with the apprehenſion of this their louelove, we may be mooued heereby to louelove them againe, and bee made zealous in their ſeruice, thinking nothing enough which wee can doe, to glorifie them who hauehave beene ſo good and gracious vntounto vsus. We are to meditate alſo on our ſinnes which we hauehave falne into, eſpecially ſince the laſt Lords Day, either in the omiſſion or imperfect performance of good duties, or in the commiſſion of euill that we may ſeriouſly bewaile and repent of them, before we preſent our ſelues in the holy aſſemblies, to performe the publike duties of Gods ſeruice. Seeing hee will be Leuit. 10. 2.honoured in all that draw neere vntounto him, either in his mercy, by forgiuing the ſinnes of the repentant, or in his iuſtice, by puniſhing thoſe that continue in their impenitency. So alſo wee are to examine and ſearch out thoſe ſinnes and corruptions, vntounto which our fraile nature is moſt inclined, and wherewith wee hauehave beene moſt often ouertaken, that ſo going into Gods ſpirituall armorie, wee may fit our ſelues with ſuch weapons as may defend and ſtrengthen vsus againſt them; and get ſuch wholeſome preſeruatiues, as may keepe vsus from being tainted and infected, after our recouery, with the like contagious poyſon. Wee are likewiſe to examine our wants, and in what graces of Gods holy Spirit we are moſt defectiue, and in what holy duties wee are moſt backward and ſluggiſh, that ſo wee may ſupply our defects when wee come into this ſpirituall market, by applying ſuch doctrines and inſtructions, admonitions and exhortations, as ſhall be moſt fitting for this purpoſe.
§. Sect. 3 Of Prayer, Thankeſgiuing, and reading the Scriptures priuately on the Lords Day.
After ſome time ſpent in theſe and ſuch like meditations, we are in the next place to performe the duty of priuate prayer, which is to be fitted to the Lords Day. For proſtrating our ſelues before the Throne of grace, in the mediation of Ieſus Chriſt, we are to confeſſe and acknowledge, as our other ſinnes, ſo thoſe eſpecially whereby wee hauehave offended God in reſpect of his Sabbaths, and the duties of his ſeruice; as our originall corruption, whereby we hauehave vtterly disabled our ſelues, in all the powers and parts of our ſoules and bodies, to all holy duties and religious worſhip, and become apt and prone to the contrary ſinnes; and our actuall tranſgreſſions, whereby we hauehave broken all Gods Commandements, eſpecially thoſe which reſpect his Sabbaths and ſeruice; as the profaning of his holy Day by vtter neglect of all holy duties, or by imperfect performance of them, want of preparation, of reuerence and attention, faith and feruency of ſpirit in hearing the Word, and calling vponupon Gods name, want of care in laying it vp in our hearts and memories, and practiſing it in our liues, &c. And thus as in our Complaints wee are to bewaile other wants, ſo thoſe eſpecially which make vsus vnfit to performe any acceptable ſeruice vntounto God; and in our petitions, as wee are to beg other gifts and graces whereof we ſtand in need, ſo thoſe aboue others, which inable vsus to the better ſanctification of the Lords Day, in performing vntounto him his ſpirituall worſhip; as hungring and thirſting after the meanes of Gods glory, and our ſaluation, prepared hearts, and good conſciences, faith, and feruency of ſpirit, reuerence and attention in hearing the Word; and Gods bleſſing and aſſiſtance of his holy Spirit vntounto his Miniſter and Ambaſſadour, that he may ſpeake the Word powerfully and profitably, as to all the Congregation whereof we are members, ſo vntounto vsus eſpecially for our edification and building vp in all ſpirituall grace; the mortification of our ſpeciall vices and corruptions, the increaſing of our vertues, and confirming of our ſtrength, vntounto the performance of all Chriſtian and holy duties, wherein as yet we are moſt defectiue. And finally, in our praiſes and thankeſgiuing we are to magnifie Gods holy Name, as for all his bleſſings and benefits, ſo for thoſe eſpecially which reſpect this Day; As the giuing of Ieſus Chriſt to be our Sauiour and Redeemer, and cauſing Luk. 1. 78, 79.this Sunne of righteouſneſſe to ariſe and ſhine vntounto vsus; the continuance of his Sabbaths, and the light of his Goſpell, wherein hee reuealeth vntounto vsus his holy will concerning our ſaluation, and the meanes whereby we may attaine vntounto it: the peace, liberty and ſafety which we inioy, together with his ſpirituall fauours, for granting vntounto vsus his Word and Sacraments, and making them in ſome meaſure effectuall by the inward operation of his holy Spirit, for the begetting and increaſing of our faith, and the worke of Sanctification in vsus, and the like. With prayer we muſt alſo, as leiſure and opportunity ſerueth, ioyne the reading of ſome fit portion of holy Scriptures, for the better ſeaſoning of our hearts, and ſettling of our affections vponupon holy things, for the inflaming of them with the louelove of Gods Law, and with longing deſires after the publike meanes of our ſaluation. With which priuate exerciſes when wee hauehave prepared our ſelues, we muſt, if we be gouernours of families, vſe all good meanes for the fitting and preparing of our children and ſeruants for the publike ſeruice of God; not thinking it enough for thoſe that hauehave the charge of others, to performe priuate duties by themſelues, vnleſſe they cauſe their inferiours alſo to ioyne with them. But eſpecially, before wee goe to the Church, we muſt call them all together vntounto prayer, wherein, after the confeſſion of our ſinnes, and earneſt petition for all neceſſary graces, wee are to deſire the aſſiſtance of Gods holy Spirit, for the ſanctifying and preparing of the whole family, that they may in ſome acceptable manner performe all good duties which belong to the Sanctification of the Lords Day. Neither muſt we (as many doe) thinke it ſufficient, that wee bring our families to Gods ſeruice, nor neglect the duty of priuate prayer, becauſe it is to be performed publikely in the Congregation, and ſo cauſe one duty to ſhoulder and thruſt out another, but wee muſt ioyne them together, ſeeing the priuate ſeruice of God is not onelyonly on his holy Day acceptable in it ſelfe, but a notable and neceſſary meanes to fit and prepare vsus for the right performance of his publike worſhip. In which reſpect, as we muſt be carefull that the publike ſeruice doe not exclude the priuate, either morning or euening; ſo much more, that the priuate doe not hinder the publike: but we muſt ſo order and diſpoſe of theſe family-exerciſes, as that they may be finiſhed in ſeaſonable time, and not hinder vsus from comming to the beginning of publike prayer with the reſidue of Gods people.
§. Sect. 4 Duties to be performed when we are going to the Church.
After all which duties performed in the family, we are, when we are ready to goe vntounto the Church, or when wee are in the way, to ſpend that time in holy Meditations, thinking with our ſelues that we are going, not vponupon ſome ſlight or ordinary buſineſſe, but to preſent our ſelues in the glorious preſence of the great King of heauen and earth, who being infinite in all holineſſe and perfection, and a God of ſuch pure and piercing eyes, that he ſeeth not onelyonly our outward actions, but ſearcheth the heart and reines, hateth and abhorreth all impurity and corruption, diſſimulation and hypocriſie, all cold, formall and negligent ſeruice, and will bee worſhipped of vsus in ſpirit and truth. Let vsus call to minde that we are going, not to conferre with our companions, or with mortal men, not much ſuperiour vntounto vsus, but to ſpeake and make our ſuits to Gods ſupreme and moſt glorious Maieſty, & to heare him ſpeaking vntounto vsus by his Ambaſſadours, in whoſe preſence the heauens are vncleane, and the bleſſed Angels hide their faces. And that not about ordinary and ſlight matters, but ſuch waighty and important buſineſſe, as no leſſe concerneth vsus, then the eternall ſaluation or damnation of our bodies and ſoules. Finally, that we are going about ſuch affaires as will (according as we diſpatch them) make vsus much better or worſe. For, the Word ſhall proſper, to the atchieuing of that Eſa. 55. 11.end, for which God ſends it, and ſhall neuer returne in vaine; either it will ſoften vsus like wax, or harden vsus like clay; either it will be Gods ſtrong power 2. Cor. 2. 15, 16.to our ſaluation, and the ſauour of life vntounto life, or the ſauour of death vntounto Rom. 1. 16. 2. Cor. 2. 15, 16.death, for our deeper condemnation, and by performing this duty in hearing of it, we ſhall be neerer heauen or hell. And hauing with theſe and ſuch like meditations brought our ſelues to the place of diuine worſhip, let vsus enter into it with all feare and reuerence, as into Gods owne Houſe and place of his glorious preſence; ſaying with Iacob, Surely the Lord is in Gen. 28. 16, 17.this place; how dreadfull is this place? this is none other but the Houſe of God, and this is the gate of heauen.