A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 41
CAP. XLI.
Of the publike duties of Gods ſeruice on the Lords Day.
§. Sect. 1 That we muſt ioyne with the Congregation in all the duties of Gods ſeruice.
ANd thus hauing placed our ſelues in Gods holy Aſſembly, we are to ioyne with them in all duties of Gods ſeruice, with vnanimity of heart, and vniformity in action and geſture, as becommeth thoſe that profeſſe themſelues to be of the ſame communion of Saints; carefully auoyding the proud, ſuperſtitious and ignorant practice of thoſe, who in Gods publike ſeruice make a rent in the Congregation, reading of a booke when others are praying, and praying priuately to themſelues, when they ſhould ioyne with the reſt of the people in the hearing of Gods Word. Firſt then, when the Miniſter prayeth, we are to ioyne with him as being our ſpokes-man, who in our name, as well as his owne, maketh knowne our ſuits vntounto God, and returneth vntounto him praiſe and thankeſgiuing for all his benefits. In which regard, we are to accompany him in this holy exerciſe, with ſuch reuerence and attention, zeale and deuotion, faith and feruency of ſpirit, as if his tongue were the interpreter of our harts. But of the duties of prayer I hauehave ſpoken before, and therefore here paſſe them ouer. Secondly, wee muſt apply our ſelues to heare the Word diligently and attentiuely, when it is read vntounto vsus by Gods Miniſter, not ſlighting it ouer as a duty of ſmall moment, which we may as well performe at home; ſeeing this miniſteriall reading in the Congregation, is more effectuall for our ſpiritual good, then our priuate reading; euen as a Sermon preached, is more powerfull and effectuall then a Sermon read, becauſe theſe publike meanes are Gods holy ordinances, the which hee accompanieth with his grace and holy Spirit, infuſing by them more vertue and vigour into thoſe who rightly vſe them, then by priuate exerciſes.
§. Sect. 2 Of our hearing of the Word, and what is required vntounto it.
The third duty is, that we carefully and diligently heare the Word of God preached vntounto vsus, with all reuerence and attention, alacrity and cheerfulneſſe, faith, humility, and a good conſcience. Firſt, we muſt heare the Word with all reuerence and feare; and to this purpoſe wee muſt remember that we are in Gods ſight and preſence, who taketh notice of all our carriage and behauiour. Secondly, conſidering that the Miniſter Act. 10. 33. Eſa. 66. 2. 2. Cor. 5. 20.ſpeaketh not in his owne name, but as Gods Ambaſſadour, we muſt heare that which he ſpeaketh, not as the word of a mortall man, but as it is indeed 1. Theſ. 2. 13. Luk. 10. 16.the Word of the euerliuing God, whereby one day wee ſhall bee iuſtified or condemned. Moreouer, we muſt heare it with all attention; and not ſuffer our eyes to roue, and our minds and hearts to bee carryed away with Luk. 4. 20.wandring thoughts, but our eyes muſt be faſtened vponupon the Preacher, as the eyes of our Sauiour Chriſts hearers were vponupon him; and like them, Chap. 19. 48.we muſt hang vponupon his lips, as the child vponupon his mothers breſts, to ſucke from them the ſincere milke of the Word, that we may grow vp thereby. 1. Pet. 2. 1.Neither muſt we want only affect the froth of humane wit and eloquence, but the pure and powerful Word of God which is able to ſaue our ſoules; not ſuch flaſhes and idle conceits as tickle the eare, but neuer pierce the heart; and worke a preſent delight, but neither informe the iudgement, nor reforme the affections, but ſound doctrine, and wholeſome nouriſhment. For no more is the Miniſter bound to preach the Word in the demonſtration of the Spirit and power, plainly and profitably, then the people to hunger after the ſincere milke of the Word, and the wholeſome food of their ſoules, which is fit to nouriſh them vntounto euerlaſting life. Thirdly, we muſt heare the Word with alacrity and cheerfulneſſe, ſeeing Pſal. 110. 3. Eſa. 2. 2. Pſal. 122. 1.as the Lord loueth a cheerfull giuer, ſo a cheerfull receiuer and hearer, and in all duties eſpecially requireth the ſeruice of the heart. The which we ſhall the better doe, if we conſider that the Word is the ſpirituall ſeed whereby we are regenerate and begotten vntounto God, the food of our ſoules which preſerueth ſpirituall ſtrength, and nouriſheth them to life eternall, the light that guideth vsus in the way of ſaluation, the phyſicke that cureth vsus of our corruptions, the meanes of working in vsus all ſpirituall graces, and of aſſuring vntounto vsus euerlaſting happineſſe. Fourthly, wee muſt bring faith to the hearing of Gods Word, without which it will profit vsus nothing, Heb. 4. 2.as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh. By which faith we doe not onelyonly ſtedfaſtly beleeue thoſe things which are ſoundly deliuered out of Gods Word, but alſo effectually apply them vntounto our ſelues for our owne particular vſe, as if they were ſpoken to none but vsus. And thus wee muſt apply the threatnings of the Law for our humiliation, that wee may eſcape Gods Iudgements, inſtructions for our information, admonitions and reprehenſions for our repentance and amendment; counſels for our direction, and conſolations for our comfort. By which application we make the food of our ſoules our peculiar nouriſhment, for the begetting and increaſing of all Gods graces in vsus. Fifthly, we muſt heare the Word with humility, ſubmitting our ſelues vntounto it as Gods ordinance and Scepter of his Kingdome, to be ruled and gouerned, directed and inſtructed, admoniſhed and reproued by it, that ſo it may bee mighty in vsus to caſt downe the ſtrong holds of ſinne, and to make way for Gods graces againſt all oppoſitions of carnall reaſon, and proud will. Finally, wee muſt heare with a good conſcience, propounding vntounto our ſelues in this religious duty, the glory of God as our maine end, that knowing his will, we may ſerue him, in yeelding vntounto it intire and ſincere obedience; and next vntounto it, our owne ſaluation, by being edified thereby in our moſt holy faith, and more and more inriched with all ſanctifying and ſauing graces. And to the end that we may daily profit in attaining vntounto theſe ends, we muſt labour not onelyonly to conceiue and vnderſtand what we heare, but alſo to apply it vntounto our owne vſe for the ſanctifying of our hearts and affections, and not to heare it as an vnprofitable diſcourſe, ſuffering it to goe out at the one eare, as it commeth in at the other, but to lay it vp in faithfull memories, that we may bring forth the fruits of it in our liues and conuerſations. To which end we muſt carefully obſerue the Preachers method and order; as the coherence of his Text with that which went before, and followeth after, the maine drift and ſcope of the holy Ghoſt in that Scripture, the explication and meaning of the words; the diuiſion of the Text into its ſeuerall parts and branches; the maine poynts of doctrine which are gathered out of them ſeuerally and in order, how they are proued by Scriptures, or reaſons grounded on them, illuſtrated by ſimilitudes, and inforced by exhortations. And finally, the vſes which are raiſed out of them, for confutation of errours, admonition, reprehenſion or conſolation: or if this method be not obſerued (which ordinarily is moſt profitable in a mixt and vulgar auditory) but the maine poynt in the Text is handled by way of common place; then are we to obſerue his definitions of the vertue, vice, or other thing handled, the cauſes, effects and common affections, the ſubiect place, the time, and other adiuncts, the diſſentanies and contraries, the diſtribution of the whole into the parts, or of the generall into the ſpecials, and how eueryevery branch is followed, prooued, illuſtrated and applyed. Or if the Sermon want method, or wee skill to conceiue it, or memory to retaine it, (for it ſometime happeneth, that method which is the chiefe help of memory, through too much curioſity and multiplicity of diuiſions is a meanes to confound it) yet let vsus at leaſt obſerue thoſe things that are deliuered, which we knew not before, for the increaſing of our knowledge, and bettering of our iudgement, what vices are reproued, or vertues commended, with the reaſons and illuſtrations of them both, what hath moſt conuinced our conſciences, what hath been well preſſed and wrought effectually vponupon our hearts and affections, for the withdrawing of them from any ſinne, their inflaming with the louelove of any thing that is good, and the ſtirring of them vp to the imbracing and practiſing of any Chriſtian and holy duty.
§. Sect. 3 That we muſt ſtay in the Church from the beginning to the end of the Sermon.
The laſt duty in hearing is, that we continue from the beginning of the Sermon to the end, and as we are to come with the firſt, ſo wee muſt not (as the manner of many is) depart, till all the exerciſes of Religion being fully concluded, the whole Aſſembly bee diſmiſſed. For as it is great vnmannerlineſſe at a ſolemne feaſt, to riſe before the table is taken away, vnleſſe it be in caſe of ſickneſſe, weakneſſe, or ſome important buſineſſe; ſo they which depart from this ſpirituall Feaſt before it be ended, are either very vnmannerly and voyd of due reuerence and reſpect of Gods preſence, and his holy gheſts, and if they be not troubled with bodily infirmities, doe ſhew the ſickneſſe of their ſoules, when their ſpirituall appetite is ſo queazie, that they loath their nouriſhment, or that they thinke the imployment which they goe about, of greater waight, or at leaſt much more neceſſary, then the feeding of their ſoules with this ſpirituall Manna, and vſing the meanes of their ſaluation. Neither muſt we haſte away after the Sermon is ended, as though wee would ruſh out of priſon as ſoone as the doore is opened; but we muſt ſtay ſtill, that we may ioyne with the Miniſter and the Congregation in prayer and thankeſgiuing, if any bee (as there ought to be) after the concluding of the Sermon; ſeeing as in receiuing our corporall food, ſo alſo in the ſpirituall, we hauehave as iuſt cauſe and occaſion of praiſing God for benefits receiued, as of praying for his bleſſing vponupon them before we receiued them. But if it bee omitted, wee muſt ſupply this defect in reſpect of our owne particular, by lifting vp our hearts vntounto God, praiſing him for cauſing the light of his Goſpell to ſhine ſtill vntounto vsus, and for all the wholeſome inſtructions, admonitions, reproofes, and conſolations which he hath graciouſly at that time imparted vntounto vsus. And if there be a Pſalme ſung, we muſt ioyne with the Congregation, praiſing the Lord with minde and voyce, and making melody vntounto him with our hearts: which being ended, we muſt expect the bleſſing of God pronounced by the mouth of his Miniſter, with all reuerence and deuotion, eſteeming it of great efficacie, as if God himſelfe did bleſſe vsus by them. For ſo we reade, that God appoynting Aaron to pronounce Num. 6. 23, 24, &c.ſuch a bleſſing vponupon the people, ſaith, that he ſhould hereby put his name vponupon them, and he himſelfe alſo would bleſſe them. And therefore being of ſuch importance, we muſt not, through ouer-much haſte, leaue it behinde vsus as a needleſſe complement.
§. Sect. 4 Of our duty in receiuing the Lords Supper.
And if the Sacrament of the Lords Supper bee adminiſtred, hauing duly prepared our ſelues, we are to communicate with the reſt of the Congregation; Luk 22. 19.and not vnmannerly depart from this holy Feaſt, being inuited, when we ſee it ſet vponupon the Lords Table. For it is a part of Gods publike ſeruice, which is not left as arbitrary at our choyce, to doe, or leaue vndone, but expreſſely inioyned by our Sauiour, Doe this in remembrance 1. Cor. 11. 24, 25, 26.of me. It is a notable meanes of confirming and increaſing our faith, being the Lords Seale, wherewith he hath ratified his Couenant of grace and ſaluation with vsus; the which being often ſhaken with tentations, and wounded and weakened with our ſinnes, needeth often to be ſtrengthened and renewed. It is the badge and liuery whereby we are knowne to bee Gods ſeruants; and therefore comming to doe him ſeruice, we ought not to caſt it off, when the reſt of the family put it on. It is a teſtification of our thankfulneſſe to God and his Chriſt, for all their benefits, eſpecially that great worke of our Redemption; and a profeſſion of our faith, that we reſt vponupon the mercies of God, and the death and merits of Chriſt for our iuſtification and ſaluation, which wee are not to neglect when others performe it, but to take all good occaſions of teſtifying our faith, louelove, and thankfulneſſe vntounto them. It is a notable meanes to put vsus in mind of Chriſts death, and to apply all the fruits and benefits thereof vntounto our ſelues, when as wee ſee him crucified, his body broken, and his blood powred out before our eyes. It is the Sacrament of our vnion with Chriſt, and communion one with another, wherein wee are knit together in the bond of louelove, and make profeſſion that wee are fellow-members of the ſame body whereof Chriſt Ieſus is the Head; whereof if wee refuſe to communicate, hauing no good and neceſſary ground for it, wee ſhall make a rent in the body, and deny the communion and profeſſion of our louelove one with another.
§. Sect. 5 Of our duties to be performed when Baptiſme is adminiſtred.
So likewiſe if the Sacrament of Baptiſme be adminiſtred, wee are not to depart, before this holy action bee finiſhed, but to continue in the Congregation, not as idle ſpectators, but as being tyed heereby to performe diuers Chriſtian duties both vntounto God, our ſelues, and the party baptized. In reſpect of God, we are to ſtay the adminiſtration of this Sacrament, that wee may ſhew our reuerence to his holy ordinances, and glorifie his bleſſed Name, for granting vntounto his Church and vsus, the vſe of them. Secondly, in reſpect of our ſelues, that wee may renew our Couenant with God, by calling it afreſh to our remembrance, together with his ſweet mercies, and gracious promiſes in Ieſus Chriſt; and alſo our owne vow and couenant which we hauehave made with him in our Baptiſme, that we may renew our reſolutions and indeuours to performe it daily in more perfection, and in the meane time take occaſion vponupon our ſlips and failings to bewaile our wants and imperfections. That we may alſo call to mind what fruits we hauehave found of our Baptiſme, and whether wee hauehave felt the vertue of Chriſt Ieſus his death effectuall for the mortification of our ſinfull corruptions, and of his Reſurrection for our ſpirituall quickening vntounto newneſſe of life. Laſtly, in reſpect of the party baptized wee ought to ſtay, that we may performe vntounto him ſuch Chriſtian duties as God requireth. Firſt, to commend him vntounto God by our prayers, that hee may be truly regenerate, ingraffed into the body of Chriſt as a liuely member, and ſo made partaker of his death, merits, and all his benefits. Secondly, that we may, as free-men of this Chriſtian Corporation by our preſence, giuegive our aſſent to his outward admiſſion into the Congregation. And finally, that we may, with the reſt of the people, ioyne in praiſing and giuing thankes vntounto God in his behalfe, for admitting him as a new member into the communion of Saints, and entertaining him for a ſeruant of his owne family. All which duties we neglect, if wee depart before the celebration of the Sacrament, and as much as in vsus lyeth, make them vtterly voyd by our ill example; for if all ſhould doe as wee doe (as eueryevery one may thinke ſuch liberty belongeth vntounto him, which he ſeeth taken by another) there ſhould not any at all be left to performe them. The laſt action which is to be performed at our departing out of the Congregation (or before, if the cuſtome be ſo) is, that if there be any collections for the poore, we contribute towards them, according to our ability, and their neceſſity, and that with a willing and cheerfull mind, knowing that 2. Cor. 9. 6, 7. Heb. 13. 16. Prou. 19. 17.with theſe ſacrifices God is well pleaſed; that what is thus giuen, is lent vntounto the Lord, who will bountifully repay it in this world, and the world to come; and giuen to Chriſt himſelfe in his poore members, who of his free and meere grace, will reward theſe workes of mercy, with an heauenly and euerlaſting Math. 25. 34.inheritance in his Kingdome. And theſe are the publike duties of Gods worſhip and ſeruice, which wee ought to performe in the Congregation on his Day: And that not onelyonly in the morning (with which ſome content themſelues) but we muſt renew them, or the moſt of them in the afternoone; as Prayer, hearing the Word, and ſinging of Pſalmes, &c. ſeeing God euen in the time of the Law would hauehave an euening, as well as morning ſacrifice offered vntounto him, and therefore will not hauehave his ſeruice more negligently performed in this greater light of the Goſpell, wherein he affoordeth vsus more plentifull meanes of our ſaluation. For the performance of which duties I ſhall not need to giuegive any other directions, then thoſe which I hauehave before ſet downe for the morning exerciſe.