Londons Lamentation, Part 1 (7 of 7)

Londons Lamentation · Part 1 (7 of 7)

p. 232Sixteenthly and laſtly, Was London in flames on the Lords 16Day, and was the prophanation of that day, one of thoſe great ſins that brought that dreadful judgement of fire up…n London, that hath turned that glorious City into a ruinous heap? then Oh that all that have been ſufferers by that …am…ntable fire, (and all others alſo) would make it their …uſineſs, their work, their Heaven, to ſanctifie the Sabbath, …nd to keep it holy all their dayes, that the Lord may be no more provoked to lay London more deſolate, than 'tis laid this day. Let it be enough, that this day of the Lord hath been ſo greatly prophaned, by ſinful om…ſſions, and by ſinful commiſſions; by the Immorality, D…bauchery, Gluttony, D…unkenneſs, Wanto…neſs, Filthineſs, U…cleanneſs, Rioting, Revelling and Chambering, that multitudes were given up to before the Lord appeared againſt them in that flaming fire that hath laid our renowned City in Aſhes. Let it be enough that the Lord has been more diſhonoured, and blaſphemed, that Chriſt hath been more reproached, deſpiſed and re…uſed, and that the Spirit hath been more grieved, vexed, provoked and quenched on the Lords Day, than on all the other dayes in the week. Let it be enough, that on this day of the Lord, many have been a playing, when they ſhould …ave been a praying; and that many have been a ſporting, when they ſhould have been a mourning for the afflictions of Joſeph. And that many have been a courting of their Amos 6. 6.Amos 6:6Miſtriſſes, when they ſhould have been a waiting on the Ordinances: And that many have been fitting at their doors, when they ſhould have been inſtructing of their families: and that many have been walking in the Fields, when they ſhould have been a ſighing and expoſtulating with God in their Cloſſ…ts; and that many have made that a day of common labour, which God hath made to be a day of ſpecial reſt, from ſin, from the world, and from their particular callings. Oh that all men who have paid ſo dear for prophaning of Sabbaths, would now bend all their force, ſtrength, power and might, to ſanctifie thoſe Sabbaths, that yet they may enjoy on this ſide eternity? &c.

p. 233But you will reply upon me, How is the Sabbath to be ſanctified? Queſt.

I ſhall endeavour to give a clear, full and ſatisfactory Anſwer Anſw. to this neceſſary and noble Queſtion. And therefore take me thus.

Firſt, We are to ſanctifie the Sabbath, by reſting from all 1ſervil labour and work on that day. Exod. 20. 10. But the Exod. 16. 29, 30. Neh. 13, 15, 16, 17, 18.Exod 16:29Exod 16:30Neh 13:15Neh 13:16Neh 13:17Neh 13:18ſeventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou ſhalt not do any work; thou, nor thy Son, nor thy Daughter, thy manſervant, nor thy maid-ſervant, nor thy cattel, nor thy ſtranger that is within thy gates. Jer. 17. 22. Neither carry forth a burden out of your houſes on the Sabbath Day; neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the Sabbath Day, as I commanded your fathers. Iſa. 58. 13. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleaſure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, and ſhalt honour him, not doing thine own wayes, nor finding thine own pleaſure, nor ſpeaking of thine own words. Here are three things diſtinctly obſervable in the words:

1. Words.

2. Works.

3. Pleaſure.

Not doing thine own wayes, that is, works: not ſpeaking thine own words: not finding thine own pleaſure. Now mark, we have ſtronger reaſons to engage us to a ſtricter obſervation and ſanctification of the Lords Day, than they had for their Sabbath: which may be thus evinced.

(Not to ſpeak of their double Sacrifices upon their S…bbath, Numb. 28. 9, 10.Num 28:9Num 28:10which (as ſome think) might typifie our double devotion on the Lords Day: nor yet to ſpeak of thoſe ſix Lambs, whereby others conjecture, was fore-propheſied the abundant ſervices in the time of the Goſpel, Ezek. 46. 1.-5.)

Firſt, Our Motives are far greater, and more efficacious: For,

Firſt, Our day hath many priviledges above theirs: witneſs p. 234the honourable T…tles given to it by holy and learned men. As the Queen of dayes, Princeſs, Principal, Primate, a Royal day, higher than the higheſt, the firſt fruits of the days; yea, ſaith Hierom, The Lords Day is better than any other common day, than all Feſtivals, New-moons, and Sabbaths of Moſes. By theſe Titles 'tis evident, that the Ancients had the Lords Day in very h…gh eſteem and veneration. Sirs, look, what Gold is among inferiour Mettals, and what among other Grain, &c. the ſame is the Lords Day above all other dayes of the week.

Secondly, Their Sabbath was celebrated for the memorial of the Creation; ours for the great work of Redemption. But,

Thirdly, Theirs was celebrated for their deliverance out of Aegypt, ours for our deliverance from Hell. Now if the Jews were bound, and that for a whole day not to do their own works, nor ſpeak their own words, nor find their own pleaſure; how much more ſolemnity belongs to our Lords Day? O, what a day is the Lords Day! and how ſolemnly and devoutly ought it to be obſerved and ſanctified? But,

S…condly, We have greater means and helps for the ſanctification 2of the Sabbath, than the Jews had for a long time; or than the Primitive Chriſtians had for three hundred years. Mark, the holy obſervation of the Sabbath among them, came in by degrees long after the day was ſettled; and the reaſon was this, becauſe for a good while they had no word written to be read, nor no Synagogues built to read it in. It was well nigh a thouſand years, or above a thouſand years after the giving of the Law, before the reading of the Law in Synagogues came up. For a long time they had no Books among them, but the five Books of Moſes; and thoſe Books neither, were not well underſtood by the common people. And it is further obſervable, that the children of Iſrael being in Aegypt under ſore preſſures, afflictions and cruel bondage, &c. neither did, nor could keep the Sabbath in any ſolemn manner, not being permitted either to reſt, or enjoy any ſolemn aſſemblies. And when they were in their wilderneſs condition, they had many ſtations, diverſions and incurſions p. 235of enemies, ſo that they could not keep the Sabbath in any ſolemn publick manner, as afterwards they did when they were ſetled in peace and ſafety in the Land of Canaan. And ſo the Primitive Chriſtians for three hundred years liveing und…r very great and violent Perſecutions: they neither did, nor could keep the Lords Day with that ſolemnity that they ſhould or would; but as for place, they met not openly, but ſecretly in Woods, and Deſarts, and Holes, and Caves, and Dens of the earth: and ſo for time, ſometimes they met in the day, and often they met in the night. But as for us, who have lived, and do live in theſe dayes of the Son of man, what rare means and helps, what abundance of means and helps, what choice and precious means and helps have we had, and ſtill have (in ſpite of all oppoſitions from high or low) to enable us to ſanctifie the Sabbath. And O that all the means and helps, that we yet enjoy, may be ſignally bleſt to that purpoſe. But,

Thirdly, The Heathens by the very light of nature, held 3it but reaſonable, that the dayes conſecrated to their Gods, ſhould totally be obſerved with reſt, and ſanctity, the Flamins which were their Prieſts, affirmed, that the Holydayes were polluted, if any work were done upon the ſolemn dayes; beſides it was not lawful for the King of the Sacrifices, Macrob…us l. 1. c. 16.and the Flamins their Prieſts to ſee a work done on the holy dayes; and therefore by a Cryer it was proclaimed, that no ſuch things ſhould be done: and he that neglected the Precept, was fined; and beſides the fine, he which did ought unawares on ſuch dayes, was to offer Sacrifices for expiation. And Scaevòla the High Prieſt affirmed, that the wilful offendor could have no expiation. Now ſhall Heathens be ſo ſtrict in the obſervation of their holy dayes, and ſhall not Chriſtians be as ſtrict in their obſervation of the Lords Day? Theſe Heathens will one day riſe in judgement againſt the ſlight obſervers, and the groſs prophaners of the Lords Day. But,

Secondly, We muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath, by preparing ou… 2ſelves before hand for that day, and all the duties of that day. Eccleſ. 5. 1, 2.Eccl 5:1Eccl 5:2Hence it is that God hath fixt a Memorandum upon this p. 236Command, more than he hath upon any other Command. Exod. 20. 8. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Sabbath dayes are our Market-dayes. Now men that are worldly wiſe, they conſider before hand, what to buy, and what to ſell. The Husband-man dungs, dreſſes, plowes, harrows, and all to prepare it for ſeed. I will (ſaith holy David) Pſalm 26. 6.Ps 26:6waſh my hands in innocency: ſo will I compaſs thine Altar, O Lord. Signifying that to holy performances, there ought to be holy preparations. When the Temple was to be built, the Stones were hewen, and the Timber ſquared and fitted, before they were brought to the place where the Temple ſtood. The Application is eaſie.

Firſt, The Jews had their preparations, Mark 15. 42. And 1now when the Even was come, (becauſe it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, &c.) Their preparation began at three a clock in the after-noon, which the Hebrews called the Sabbath Eve. The Jews (as I have read) were ſo careful in their preparation for the Sabbath, that to further it, the beſt and wealthieſt of them, even thoſe that had many ſervants, and were Maſters of Families, would chop Hearbs, ſweep the houſe, cleave wood, and kindle the fire, and do ſuch like things, &c.

S…condly, The Heathens did uſe to prepare themſelves by 2a ſtrict kind of holineſs, before they would offer Sacrifices to ſeveral of their Gods. They had (as Authors write) their ſtone pots of water ſet at the doors of their Temples, where they uſed to waſh before they went to Sacrifice.

Thirdly, The works of the day are great and glorious: 3and what excellent works are there in nature, but requires ſome previous preparation? &c.

Fourthly, Conſider the Dignity, Majeſty, Authority and Purity 4of that God, with whom you have to do in all the duties of the day. When men are to converſe and treat with earthly Princes, or to give them entertainment, how do they prepare and make ready? And will you carry it worſe towards 1 Tim. 6. 15, 16.1 Tim 6:151 Tim 6:16the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, than men do carry it towards mortal Princes, whoſe breath is in their noſtrils, and whoſe glory ſhall aſſuredly be laid in the duſt? &c.

p. 237Fifthly, Conſider if you do not prepare your ſelves befor… 5hand for that day of the Lord, and all the duties of that day, what difference will there be between you and the worſt of Hypocrites, Formaliſts, Superſtitious or prophane perſons, who ruſh upon holy duties, as the Horſe ruſheth into the Battel. Doſt thou dreſs up thy houſe, thy Husband, thy ſelf, thy children? ſo do the worſt of perſons. If you do not prepare for the duti…s of the day, and to meet with God in thoſe duties, what ſingular thing do ye? Matth. 5. 27.

Sixthly, Conſider what bleſſed yearnings you have made 6on thoſe Sabbaths, wherein you have been prepared to meet with the Lord, and to manage the duties of thoſe dayes. O the joy, the peace, the comfort, the communion, the ſatisfaction, the enlargements, that you have then met with: and on the other hand conſider, what poor yearnings you have made of it, when you have been careleſs and raſh, and have not prepared your ſelves for the duties of the day, and for the enjoyment of God in thoſe duties. Oh how flat, how cold, how dull, how dead, how ſtraitned, have you been on thoſe Sabb…ths, wherein you have not prepared to meet with the Lord? &c.

But you may ſay, Wherein doth our preparation for the Sabbath Queſt. conſiſt?

In theſe three things. Anſw.

Firſt, In a holy care, ſo to order all our worldly buſineſs 1and affairs on the day before, that they may not encreaſe upon us on the Lords Day, to trouble us, or diſtract us in the duties of that day.

Secondly, In putting iniquity far from you, in laying aſide 2all ſuperfluity of naughtineſs, that you may receive the ingrafted Job 11. 14, 15. James 1. 12.Job 11:14Job 11:15Jas 1:12word with meekneſs, which is able to ſave your ſouls. When the veſſel is unclean, it ſowres quickly the ſweeteſt liquors that are poured into it. And ſo when the heart is filthy and unclean, it loſes all the good, it might otherwiſe gain by Ordinances. If the ſtomach be foul it muſt be purged before it be fed, or elſe the meat will never p. 238nouriſh and ſtrengthen nature, but encreaſe ill humours. So the ſouls of men muſt be purged from ſoul enormities and groſs impieties, or elſe they will never gain any ſaving good by Ordinances. 2 Tim. 2. 21. If a man therefore purge himſelf from theſe, he ſhall be a veſſel unto honour, ſanctified and meet for the Maſters uſe, and prepared unto every good work, &c.

Thirdly, In acting your graces in all the duties of the day. Sleepy habits will do you no good, nor bring God no glory: 3all the honour he hath, and all the comfort and advantage Iſaiah 50. 10.Isa 50:10you have, is from the active part of grace: and therefore you muſt ſtill be a ſtirring up the grace of God that is in you, 2 Tim. 1. 6. Stir up the gift of God that is in thee. I know the Apoſtle ſpeaks of the Miniſterial gift: but it is as true of the work of grace: for the Greek word foreign. ſignifies grace, as well as gift. Stir up the grace of God in thee. Mark the phraſe, it is a remarkable phraſe: for in the Original it is to blow up thy grace, foreign, juſt as a man blowes up a fire that growes dull, or is hid under the aſhes: blow up the grace of God in thee. Some think, that it is a Metaphor taken from a ſpark kept in aſhes, which by gentle Calv…n and others.blowing, is ſtirred up till it take a flame. Others ſay, it is an alluſion to the fire in the Temple, which was alwayes to be kept burning. Look as the fire is encreaſed and preſerved by blowing; ſo are our graces preſerved and encreaſed by our acting of them. We get nothing by dead and uſeleſs habits: Talents hid in a Napkin, gather ruſt. Look, as the nobleſt faculties are imbaſed, when they are not improved, when they are not exerciſed. So the nobleſt graces are imbaſed, when they are not improved, when they are not exerciſed. Grace is bettered and made more perfect, by acting: neglect of our graces, is the ground of their decreaſe and decay. Wells are the ſweeter for drawing: and ſo are our graces for acting. We had need pray hard with the Spouſe, Cant. 4. ult. Awake O North wind, and come thou South, blow upon my garden, that the ſpices thereof may flow out: let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleaſant fruit. Satans grand deſign, is not to keep men from going the round of duties, nor yet to keep men from attending on Ordinances, but his grand deſign, is to p. 239hinder the exerciſe of grace. All other exerciſes without the exerciſe of grace, will do a Chriſtian no good; as you may ſee Luke 22. 31, 32, 33. 1 Tim. 4 8 Iſa. … 1.-8. Neh. 7. 4, 5. 6.Luke 22:31Luke 22:32Luke 22:331 Tim 4:8Isa 1Neh 7:4Neh 7:5Neh 7:6by comparing the Scriptures in the Margent together. The more grace is exerciſed, the more corruptions will be weakned and mortified. As one bu…ket in the W…ll riſes up, the other go…s down; ſo as grace riſes higher and higher, corruptions fall lower and lower. There was two Lawr…ls at Rome, and when the one flouriſhed, the other withered; ſo where grace flouriſhes, corruptions wither. As the houſe 2 Sam. 3. 1.2 Sam 3:1of David grew ſtronger and ſtronger; ſo the houſe of Saul grew weaker and weaker. So as grace in its exerciſe grows ſtronger and ſtronger. So ſin like the houſe of Saul, will every day grow weaker and weaker. If you keep not grace Mark 4. 40.Mark 4:40in exerciſe, it may moſt fail you, when it ſhould ſtand you moſt in ſtead. If a man uſes a knife but now and then, he may have his knife to ſeek when he ſhould uſe it. That Sword grows ruſty in the ſcabbard, that is uſed but now and then. You know how to apply it. But,

Thirdly, You muſt ſanct…fie the Sabbath, by looking upon 3the enjoyment of Sabbaths and Ordinances, as your great happineſs by looking upon every duty as your dignity, and by Prov. 8. 34, 35. Pſalm 27. 4. Pſalm 42. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Pſalm 63. 1, 2, 3:Prov 8:34Prov 8:35Ps 27:4Ps 42:1Ps 42:2Ps 42:3Ps 42:4Ps 42:5Ps 63:1Ps 63:2Ps 63:3looking upon every work of that day, as carrying a reward with it. Pſalm 19. 11. And in keeping of them there is great reward: not only for keeping, but alſo in keeping of Gods commands, there is great reward. A gracious ſoul would not exchange the joy, the peace, the comfort, the aſſurance, the communion, the delight, the ſatisfaction that it enjoyes in the wayes of obedience (before pay day comes, before the Crown be put on, before the full reward is given out) for all the Crowns and Kingdoms of this world. David was a King, a great and glorious King; yea, the beſt King in all the world, and yet he eſteemed it as a very high honour to be the loweſt Officer, a door-keeper in Gods houſe, Pſ…lm 84. 10. A day in thy Courts, i… better than a thouſand: I had rather be a door-keeper in the houſe of my God, (or I had rather ſit at the threſhold, as the Hebrew runs) than to dwell in the tents of wickedneſs. 1 Kings 10. 8. Happy are the men, happy are theſe thy ſervants which ſtand continually before thee, p. 240and that hear thy wiſdom: ſaid the Queen of Sheba concerning Solomons ſervants. O then how many thouſand times more happy are they who hear Chriſt in his Ordinances, who ſee Chriſt in his Ordinances, and who enjoy Chriſt in his Ordinances on his own day. Of all dayes the Sabbath Day is the day wherein Chriſt carries his people into his Wine-cellar, wherein he brings them to his Banqueting▪houſe, and his banner over them is love. This is the day wherein he ſtayes his Cant. 2 4, 5, 6.Song 2:4Song 2:5Song 2:6people with Flaggons, and comforts them with Apples, and wherein his left hand is under their head, and his right hand doth embrace them. O the ſweet communion, the ſweet diſcoveries, the ſweet incomes, and that bleſſed preſence, and thoſe glorious anſwers and returns of prayer, that the Saints have had on Sabbath dayes. Chriſt in his Ordinances on the Sabbath day, doth as Mary, open a box of precious Ointment which diffuſeth a ſpiritual ſavour among them that fear him. Though many ſlight Ordinances, and many deny Ordinances, and many oppoſe Ordinances, and many Many in theſe dayes are like old Barz…lla…, that had loſt his taſte and hearing, and ſo cared not for Davids Feaſts and Muſick. 2 Sam. 19 35.2 Sam 19:35fall off from Ordinances, and many pretend to live above Ordinances, and under that pretence, vilifie the Ordinances as poor, low, weak things, yet the beauty and glory of Gods Ordinances, will one day convince the world of the excellency of the Saints, Ezek. 37. 26, 27, 28. I will ſet my Sanctuary in the midſt of them for evermore. My Tabernacle alſo ſhall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people. And the Heathen ſhall know, that I the Lord do ſanctifie Iſrael, when my Sanctuary ſhall be in the midſt of them for evermore. I doubt not, but there are many thouſands of the precious ſervants of the Lord, who are able to tell this poor, blind, dark world, from their experience, that they have ſeen, and felt, and taſted, and enjoyed more of God in his Ordinances on this day, tha… ever they have enjoyed on any other day. But,

Fourthly, You muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath, by riſing as early 4in the morning, as your age, ſtrength, health, and ability, Pſal. 139. 18. Gen. 22. 3. Job 1. 5.Ps 139:18Gen 22:3Job 1:5and bodily infirmities will permit. Abraham roſe up early in the morning to offer up his only Son. And Job roſe up early in the morning, to offer up burnt-offerings. So David, p. 241my voyce ſhalt thou hear in the morning. O Lord, in the morning Pſalm 5. 3.Ps 5:3will I direct my prayer unto thee (or martial my prayer, as the Hebrew runs) and will look up (or will look out as a watchman looks out of his Watch-Tower, to diſcover an approaching enemy) So Pſalm 130 6. My ſ…ul waiteth for the Lord, more than they that watch for the morning: I ſay, more than they that watch for the morning. Pſal. 88. 13. In the morning ſhall my prayer prevent thee. That this may the more work, and the better ſtick ſeriouſly confider of theſe hints, &c.

Firſt, God is the firſt Being; and therefore of right deſerveth 1to be ſerved firſt. If you can find any being before Dan. 7. 2…. Chap. 2. 20, 21, 22.Dan 7:2the being of that God, who is bleſſed for ever, let that being be ſerved firſt: if not (as I am ſure you can't) then let the firſt being be firſt ſerved. But,

Secondly, As God is the firſt being, ſo he is the beſt being: 2he is the choiceſt and chiefeſt good; and therefore ought to be firſt minded and ſerved, Pſal. 4. 6. Pſal. 73. 25. Pſal. 144. 15. But,

Thirdly, As God is the beſt being, ſo he is the greateſt being: 3as he is the choiceſt and the chiefeſt good, ſo he is the Mal. 1. ult.Mal 1greateſt good, the greateſt Majeſty, the greateſt Authority; and therefore he ought to be firſt ſerved. But,

Fourthly, God gives the greateſt rewards and the fulleſt 4rewards, and therefore he ought to be ſerved firſt. He gives Pſalm 19. 11. Matth. 5. 12. 2 John 8.Ps 19:11Matt 5:122 John 1:8a Crown of righteouſneſs, 2 Tim. 4. 8. A Crown of life, Rev. 2. 10. A Crown of glory. James 1. 12. A Crown of immortality. What han't men done, what won't men do, what do'nt men do for earthly Crowns? A Crown is the top of Royalty: and how many Princes have ſwum through the blood of thouſands to their earthly Crowns. O how much more active for God, ſhould that glorious Crown make us, which he has laid up for all that love him. But,

Fifthly, Chriſt roſe early in the morning before day, and 5went into a ſolitary place to pray: and why ſhould not we Mark 1. 35, 36.Mark 1:35Mark 1:36make it our buſineſs, our work, our Heaven to write after ſo noble a Copy: we cannot glorifie Chriſt, more than by our conformity to him, than by imitating of thoſe p. 242bleſſed patterns that he hath ſet before us. But,

Sixthly and laſtly, The children of Iſrael roſe up early in 6the morning on the S…bbath day, to o…er up burnt-offerings Exod. 32. 4, 5, 6.Exod 32:4Exod 32:5Exod 32:6and peace-offerings to an Idol. So Papiſts, Turks and Heathens are early in the mornings at their devotions: and the Harlot riſes early in the morning to trapan the luſtful youth, Prov. 7. 15. Therefore came I forth to meet thee diligently, to ſeek thee: or as it runs in the Hebrew, In the morning came I forth to meet thee. Now how ſhould this put Chriſtians to a holy bluſh, to ſee the very baſeſt and worſt of people to take more pains to go to Hell, than themſelves do to go to heaven. Shall they riſe early to ſerve their Idols, and ſhall not we riſe early to ſerve our God, and ſave our ſouls? O Sirs, did you but love Chriſt more, and Sabbaths more, and duti…s more, you would then be more early in your communion with God, as the Spouſe was. Mary Magdelen loved Cant. 7. 11, 1….Song 7:11Song 7:1Chriſt much, Luke 7. 47. And ſhe came early to the Sepulchre to ſeek him. She came to look after Chriſt as ſoon as it began to down, Matth. 28. 1. Mark 16. 1, 2. Luke 24. 1. Joh. 20. 1. Men that love the world, can riſe early to gain the world. Now ſhall nature do more than grace? Shall the love of the world, out-do the love of Chriſt? the Lord forbid. And thus I have done with thoſe Conſiderations that ſhould quicken you up to ſanctifie the Sabbath, by riſing as early in the morning, as your age, health, ſtrength, ability and bodily infirmities will permit. But,

Fifthly, You muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath, by a Religious 5performance of all the duties of the day.

What are they? Queſt.

1. Publick. Anſw.

2. Private.

What are the publick duties that are to be performed on that Queſt. day?

p. 243Fi…ſt, To aſſemble your ſelves with the people of God, to Anſw, hear his Word, Neh. 8 1.-9. M…tth. 13. 54. Joel 1. 13. 114. Chap. 15. 16. Luke 4. 16, 17. John 20. 19, 26. Acts 2. 1. 44. 46. Acts 5. 12. 1 Cor. 11. 20.

Secondly, Prayer, Pſalm 5. 7. Pſalm 42 4. Pſalm 118. 24, 225, 26. Iſ…. 56. 7. Matth. 21. 13. Acts 1. 13, 14. Acts 2 46, 47. Acts 16. 13. Heb. 13. 15.

Thirdly, The Adminiſtrations of the Seals, Acts 2. 46. 3Chap. 20. 7. 1 Cor. 11. 20, 33.

Fourth…y, Singing of Pſalms, Hymns, or Spiritual Songs, 4Pſalm 92. 1. Matth. 26. 30. 1 Cor. 14. 15. James 5. 13. Heb. 2. 12.

Fifthly, Works of Mercy and Charity, Nehemiah 8. 9, 10, 511, 12. 1 Cor. 16. 1, 2.

Sixthly, and laſtly, The Cenſures of the Church: as caſting 6out of communion the obſtinate, and in receiving ſuch into communion, as the Lord hath received into communion and fellowſhip with himſelf, 1 Tim. 5. 20, 21. 1 Cor. 5. 4. 2 Cor. 2. 6, 7. Rom. 14. 1. Chap. 15. 7. &c.

What are the private duties that are to be performed on that Queſt. day?

Firſt, Prayer in our Families and Cloſets, Coloſſi…ns 3. 17. Anſw. Luke 18. 1, 2. 1 Theſſ. 5. 18. Epheſ. 6. 18. See my Treatiſe 1on Cloſet Prayer, &c.

Secondly, Reading of the Word, Joſhuah 1. 8. Deut. 6. 26, 8, 9, 10. Chap. 11. 19. and Chap. 4. 10. John 5. 35. Col. 3. 16. Rev. 1. 3.

Thirdly, Meditation, Pſalm 1. 2. Pſalm 119. 97. 1 Cor. 314. 5. 1 Tim. 2. 11, 18.

But on what muſt we meditate? Queſt.

1. Upon the holineſs, greatneſs and graciouſneſs of God. Anſw.

2. Upon the perſon, natures, offices, excellencies, beauties, glories, riches, fulneſs, and ſweetneſs of Chriſt.

p. 2443. Upon the bleſſed truths that we either hear or read.

4. Upon our own emptineſs, nothingneſs, baſeneſs, vilene…s and un worthineſs.

5 Upon the works of Creation and Redemption.

6. Upon our ſpiritual and internal wants.

7. Upon that eternal reſt that is reſerved for the people of God, Heb. 4 9.

Fourthly, Inſtructing, examining and preparing of your 4fam…lies, according to the meaſures of grace you have received, Deut. 6. 7. Deut. 11. 18, 20. Gen. 18. 19, 20. Joſhuah 24 15.

Fifthly, Singing of Pſalms, James 5. 13. Coloſſ. 3. 16. Epheſ. 5. 19.

Sixthly, Holy Conference upon the Word, Luke 14 8, 9, 610, 11, 12, 15, 16. Chap. 24. 14, 17, 18. Col. 4. 6. Mol. 3. 16, 17, &c.

Seventhly, Viſiting and relieving the ſick, the poor, the 7diſtreſſed, affl…cted and impriſoned Saints of God, Matth. 15. 34.-40. James 1. 27, &c.

Now mark when the Publick Ordinances may be enjoyed in Chriſts way, and in their liberty, purity and glory, it will be your wiſdom ſo to manage all your family duties and cloſet duties, as that you do not ſhut out more publick Worſhip. It is more obſervable, that the Sabbaths and publick ſervice are joyned together. Lev. 19. 30. Ye ſhall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my Sanctuary, I am the Lord. Now what God hath ſolemnly joyned together, let no man put aſſunder. Every Chriſtian ſhould make it his great care, that private duties do not eat up publick Ordinances, and that publick Ordinances do not ſhut out private duties. More of this you may ſee in 6my Diſcourſe on Cloſet prayer. But,God is totus …culus, all eye. As the eyes of a well-drawn Picture are faſt…ed, on the which way ſoever thou turneſt: ſo are the eyes of the Lord.

Sixthly, You muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath, by managing all the duties of that day, as under the eye of God. Gods eye is very much upon his people whilſt they are in Religious duties, and ſervices. Therefore in the Tabernacle, the place of Gods publick Worſhip, it was thus commanded, Exod. 25. 37▪ Thou ſhalt make ſeven Lamps, and they ſhall light the Lamps, that they may give light. To teach us that nothing p. 245there eſcapes his ſight: for in his houſe there is alwayes light: and ſo when the Temple was built, Mine eyes (ſaith God) ſhall be there perpetually. It was an excellent 1 Kings 9. 3.1 Kgs 9:3ſaying of Ambroſe, If thou canſt not hide thy ſelf from the Sun, which is Gods Miniſter of light, how impo…ſible will Ambroſ. Offic. l. 1. c. 14.it be to hide thy ſelf from him, whoſe eyes are ten thouſand times brighter than the Sun. Subjects will carry themſelves ſweetly and loyally, when they are under their Soveraigns eye: and children will carry themſelves dutifully, when they are under their P…rents eye: and ſervants will carry them ſelves wiſely and prudently when they are under their M… ſte…s eye. Gods eye is the beſt Tutor to keep the ſoul in a gracious frame. It is good to have a fixed eye on him whoſe Job 31. 5, 6. Prov. 15. 9. Cha. 5. 20, 21.Job 31:5Job 31:6Prov 15:9eye is alwayes fixed on thee. The beſt way on earth to keep cloſe to Gods Precepts, is alwayes to walk as in his preſence: no man on earth, by day or night, can draw a curtain between God and him. There is a threefold eye of God that is preſent in the aſſemblies of his people. As,

Firſt, There is the eye of obſervation and inſpection: God 1ſeeth what uprightneſs and ſeriouſneſs, what in…egrity, ingenuity and fervency you have in his ſervices. Mine eyes are upon all their wayes, Jer. 16. 17. Pſalm 16. 8. I have ſet the Lord alwayes before me. Pſalm 119. 168. I have kept thy prec…pts and thy Teſtimonies; for all my wayes are before thee. J…b 31. 4. Doth not he ſee all my wayes, and count all my ſteps. O Sirs, whether you are praying, or hearing, or reading, or meditating, or ſinging, or receiving the Lords Supper, or Mal. 3 17.Mal 3:17conferring one with another; The eye of the Lord is ſtill upon you. But,

Secondly, There is an eye of favour and benediction Amos 29. 4. I will ſet mine eyes upon them for good, 2 Chro. 7. 16. Mine eye and my heart ſhall be there: that is, in my houſe. Gods eye is here to approve, and to bleſs, and to encreaſe the graces, the comforts, the communions, and the enjoyments of his people. But,

Thirdly, There is the eye of fury and indignation. Gods 3looks can ſpeak his anger, as well as his blows. His fury is viſible by his frowns. Mine eyes ſhall be upon them for evil. p. 246Gods ſight can wound as deeply as his ſword. He ſharpneth Job 16. 9.Job 16:9his eyes upon me: ſ…ith Job. Wild Beaſts when they fight, wh…t th…ir eyes as well as their teeth. He ſharpneth his eyes upon me, as if he would ſtab me to the heart with a glance of his eye: he that waits on God irreverently, or worſhips him car leſly, or that prophaneth his day, either by corporalla bo…r, or ſpiritual Idleneſs, may well expect an eye of fury to be fixt upon him, Jer. 17. ult. Ez…k. 22. 26, 31. B…t,

S…venthly, You muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath, by preſſing after 4immediate communion with God and Chriſt in all the duties …ſ…lm 27. 4. …ſal… 42. 1, 2 …ſ…m 43 4 Pſa…m 63. 1, 2▪ …ſa…m 84. 1, 2.of the day. Oh, do not take up in duties, or Ordinances, or priviledges, or enlarg…ments, or meltings, but preſs hard after intimate communion wi…h God in all you do. Let no duty ſatisfie thy ſoul, without communion with God in it C…n. 7. 4. The King is hil'd in the Galleries; that is, in his O…dinances. The Galleries, the Ordinances, without King Jeſus be enjoyed in them, will never ſatisfie the Spouſe of Cant. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4.Song 3:1Song 3:2Song 3:3Song 3:4Chriſt. What is a purſe without money, or a T…ble without meat, or a Ship without a Pilot, or a fountain without water, or the body without the ſoul, or the Sun without light, or the Cabinet without the Jewels: no more are all Ordinances and duties to a gracious ſoul without the enjoyment 2 Kings 2. 13, 14. The Sea ebbs …nd flowes, the M…on …ncreaſe… and decreaſes ſo it is with Saints in their communion with God in Ordinances: ſ…metimes they riſe, and ſometimes …hey fall: ſometimes …hey have more, and ſometimes leſs communion with God.2 Kgs 2:132 Kgs 2:14of God in them. Moſes had choice communion with God in the Mount, and that ſatisfied him. The Diſciples had been with J…ſus, and this was a ſpring of joy and life unto them. John 20. 20. Then were the Diſciples glad, when they ſaw the Lord. Here is the Mantle of Elijah, but where is the God of Elijah: ſaid Eliſha: So ſaith a gracious ſoul, here is th…s Ordinance and that Ordinance, but where is the God of the Ordinance? Pſalm 101. 2. O when wilt thou come unto me. O Lord, I come to one Ordinance and another Ordinance, but when wilt thou come to me in the Ordinance? when ſhall I be ſo happy, as to enjoy thy ſelf in the Ordinances that I enjoy? The Waggons that Joſeph ſent to ſetch his Father, were the means of bringing Joſeph and his Father together. All the Ordinances ſhould be as ſo many Wagons, to bring Chriſt and our ſouls nearer together. Mans p. 247ſummum bonum ſtands in his communion with God: a… Scripture and experience evidences.

E…ghthly, You muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath, by labouring 8after the higheſt pitches of grace and holineſs on this day. Every Chriſtian ſhould labour after an Angelical holineſs on Iſa. 58. 13.Isa 58:13this day: on this day every Saint ſhould walk like an earthly Angel. Mark, the Sabbath is not only called holy, but holineſs to the Lord, Exod. 31. 15. Six dayes may work be done, but in the ſeventh is the Sabbath of reſt, holy to the Lord (or as the Hebrew runs, holineſs to the Lord) which ſhews, that the day is exceeding holy, and ought to be kept accordingly. The Sacrifices on this day was to be double, Numb. 28. 9. And on the Sabbath day two Lambs of the firſt year without ſpot, and two tenth deals of flower for a meat-offering mingled with Oyle, and the drink-offering thereof. The Sacrifices here appointed for every Sabbath day, are full double to thoſe appointed for every day. ver. 3. and yet the daily ſacrifices, the continual burnt-offering: ver. 10. was not omitted on the Sabbath day neither. So that every Sabbath in the morning there was offered one Lamb for the daily ſacrifice, and then two Lambs more for the Sabbath: and this was appointed,

1. To ſhew the holineſs of that day above other dayes; and that God required more ſervice from them on that day, than he did on any other day.

Secondly, To teſtifie their thankfulneſs for the worlds Exod. 20. 11.Exod 20:11creation.

Thirdly, To put them in remembrance of Gods bringing them out of Aegypt by a mighty hand, and by a ſtretched Deut. 5. 15.Deut 5:15out arm.

Fourthly, For a ſign of their ſanctification by the Ezek. 20. 12. Heb. 4.Ezek 20:12Heb 4Lord.

Fifthly and laſtly, for to be a figure of grace, and a ſign of that reſt in Heaven that Chriſt hath purchaſed for his people with his deareſt blood. Now mark, as this day was a ſign of more than ordinary favours from the Lord, ſo he required greater teſtimonies of their thankfulneſs and holineſs on this day, than he did on any other day. Every day ſhould be a Sabbath to the Saints, in regard of their ceaſing p. 248to do evil, and learning to do well, but on the ſeventh day Sabbath our duti…s and ſervices ſhould be doubled. In Pſ…. 92. (which Pſalm is titled a Pſalm for the Sabbath) there is mention made of morning and evening performances, the variety of duties that are to be performed on this day, may very well take up the whole day with delight and pleaſure on this day in a more eſpecial manner, we ſhould labour to do the will of God on earth, as the Angels and Spirits of juſt men Heb. 12. 22, 23.Heb 12:22Heb 12:23made perfect do it now in Heaven: viz. wiſely, freely, readily, cheerfully, ſaithfully, ſeriouſly, univerſally and unweariedly. If we are not wanting to our ſelves, God on this day will give out much of h…mſelf, and much of his Chriſt, and much of his Spirit, and much of his grace into our ſouls. But,

Ninthly, You muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath, by managing all 9the duties of the day with inward reverence, ſeriouſneſs John 4. 23, 24.John 4:23John 4:24and ſpiritualneſs. 'Tis the pleaſure of God that we reverence his Sanctuary, Lev. 19. 30. Ye ſhall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my Sanctuary: I am the Lord. Tw…ce in this Chapter the obſervation of the S…bbath is commanded, that it may be the better remembred, and that men may know, that it is not enough to reſt on that day, but that reſt muſt be ſanctified by a reverent management of all their ſoul concernments in all our drawings nigh to God. We muſt look that our hearts lye under a holy awe and dread of his preſence. To the commandment of ſanctifying Gods Sabbath, this of reverencing his Sanctuary is joyned, Gen. 28. 16, 17.Gen 28:16Gen 28:17becauſe the Sabbaths were the chief times whereon they reſorted to the Sanctuary.

The Jews made a great ſtir about reverencing the Temple: they tell us, that they were not to go in with a ſtaff, nor ſhoes, nor to ſpit in it: nor when they went away, to turn their backs upon it, but go ſidelong. But doubtleſs the great thing God points at, and expects from his peoples hands on this day, is, that they do worſhip him with inward reverence, ſeriouſneſs and ſpiritualneſs. All other Worſh…p abſtracted from this, will neither pleaſure God, nor profit us, 1 Tim. 4. 8. For bodily exerciſe profiteth little. Oh labour p. 249to be very ſpiritual in all the duties of this day. Chriſt the Luke 1. 35, 36. Matth. 3. 16. John 1. 32. Chap. 6. 36. Heb. 7. 26. Chap. 9. 14. 1 Tim. 3. 16.Luke 1:35Luke 1:36Matt 3:16John 1:32Heb 7:261 Tim 3:16Lord of the Sabbath was ſpiritual in his conception, in his life and converſation, in his death and paſſion, in his reſurrection and aſcenſion: he was ſpiritual in his words, in his works, in his wayes, and in his worſhip; and therefore let us labour to be very ſpiritual in all we do on that day. Again, all the Ordinances of the day are ſpiritual, viz. the Word, Prayer, Sacraments, ſinging of Pſalms, &c. and therefore we had need to be ſpiritual in all the ſervices of that day. Again, the ends for which the Lords Day was appointed, are all ſpiritual: viz. the glory of God, the illumination, converſion, and ſalvation of ſinners, and the edification, confirmation conſolation of Saints: And therefore we had need be ſpiritual Epheſ. 6. 12.Eph 6:12in all the duties of the day. Again, the grand enemies that we are to encounter with on this day, are ſpiritual, ſin within and Satan without; and therefore we had need be ſpiritual in all we do. For there is no way to conquer ſpiritual enemies, but by ſpiritual weapons, and by ſpiritual 1 Cor. 10. 13.1 Cor 10:13exerciſes. Again, grace thrives moſt, and flouriſhes beſt in their ſouls, who are moſt ſpiritual in their duties on the Lords Day. Again, the more ſpiritual any man is in his duties on the Lords Dayes, the more ſecured and armed he will be againſt all ſpiritual judgments, which are the ſoreſt and dreadfulleſt of all judgements. Again, the more ſpiritual any man is in the duties of the Lords Day, the more that man acts like the Angels in Heaven, and like the Spirits of Heb. 12. 22, 23.Heb 12:22Heb 12:23juſt men made perfect. Again, this will d…fference you from hypocrites, formaliſts, and all prophane perſons. An external obſervation of the Sabbath, will difference you from Heathens; but a ſpiritual ſpending of the Sabbath, will difference you from hypocrites. An hypocrite never riſes ſo Luke 13. 14, 15.Luke 13:14Luke 13:15high, as to be ſpiritual in the Sabbaths of God. Mark, Sabbaths ſpiritually ſpent, are a ſure ſign of a ſincere heart, and of a ſaving eſtate. Now Oh that all theſe conſiderations Exod. 31. 13.Exod 31:13might greatly provoke you, and mightily encourage you to be very ſpiritual on the Lords Day, and in all the duties of that day. But,

Tenthly, You muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath, by being ſpiritual p. 25010.tual in all natural actions, and holy and heavenly in all 1 Cor. 10. 13.1 Cor 10:13earthly enjoyments. It is reported of a Scotch Miniſter, that he did eat, drink, and ſleep eternal life. Luther tells us, that though he did not alwayes pray and meditate, but did ſometimes eat and drink, and ſometime, ſleep; yet all ſhould further his account. That's a Chriſtian worth Gold, that hath learned that heavenly art, ſo to ſpiritualize all his natural actions, as that they ſhall turn to his account in the great day, Zach. 14. 20, 21. In that day ſhall there be upon the Bells Cal… renders it ſtables of ho…ſes, which are the moſt ſtinking and contemptible places; and yet theſe ſhould be holily uſed.(or Bridles) of the Horſes, Holineſs unto the Lord. And the pots in the Lords houſe, ſhall be like the bowls before the Altar. Yea, every pot in Jeruſalem and in Judah, ſhall be holineſs unto the Lord of Hoſts. Here is holineſs written upon the bridles of the horſes they ride on, and holineſs written upon the cups and pots they drink in. A holy and heavenly heart will be holy in the uſe of the meaneſt things that are for common uſe. Something of ſanctity ſhould run through every piece of your civility. Something of the ſpirit, life, and power of Religion, you ſhould ſhew in all parts of your common converſation on every day, but eſpecially on the Lords Day. T…rtullian ſpeaking of the carriage of the Primitive Chriſtians Te…tul. Apollog.at their meals: ſaith,

1. Our Table reſembleth an Altar, and our Supper a Sacrifice.

2. Our Table hath nothing ſavouring of baſeneſs, ſenſuality or immodeſty; we feed by meaſure, we drink by the rules of temperance.

3. We ſpeak and converſe, as in the preſence of God: every one repeateth what he knoweth out of the holy Scriptures, and his own invention to the praiſe of God.

4. As prayer began the Banquet, ſo prayer concludes it. If you beheld us, you would ſay, that we were not at Supper, but at a Lecture of holineſs. Should not the practice of theſe Primitive Chriſtians, put all ſuch Chriſtians to a bluſh in our day, who on the Lords Day are ſo carnal in the uſe of ſpiritual things, and ſo earthly in the uſe of heavenly things.

That is a memorable expreſſion that you have in Exod. 18. 12. And Aaron came, and all the Elders of Iſrael to eat p. 251bread with Moſes Father-in-law before God. Now mark, in See Deut. 12. 5, 7. 1 Chron. 29. 21, 22. The word Bread is uſed for all meat. Gen. 3. 19. Chap. 31. 14.Deut 12:5Deut 12:71 Chr 29:211 Chr 29:22Gen 3:19theſe words, you have,

1. The greatneſs of their courteſie: for though Jethro was a ſtranger and no Iſraelite, yet the Elders honoured him with their company. And Aaron and all the Elders came to eat bread with Moſes his Father-in law.

2. The graciouſneſs of their carriage: They came to eat bread with him before the Lord. That is, ſaith Calvin on the Tex…, in gloriam & honorem Dei, to the honor and glory of God Grace muſt ſpice every cup, and be ſauce to every diſh, or nothing will relliſh well with him, whoſe heart is ſet to ſanctifie the Sabbath: Aaron and all the Elders of Iſrael eat bread before the Lord: that is, they eat bread as in the preſence of God. Whilſt they were eating of bread, their hearts were under a reverential awe of God. Dian…es Temple was burnt down, when ſhe was buſie at Alexanders birth, and could not be at two places together. But God is preſent both in Paradice and in the wilderneſs at the ſame time: he is preſent both at board and bed; both in the family, and in the Cloſet at the ſame time. O that in all your natural, civil Pſalm 139.Ps 139and common actions you would carry it, as becomes his eye, his preſence, that fills Heaven and earth with his glory. But,

Eleventhly, You muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath, by managing 11all the duties of the Sabbath, with a ſpirit of holy joy and delight. There is no garment that ſo well becomes the upright, Pſalm 33 1. Pſalm 32, 11. Phil. 4. 4. 1 Theſ. 5. 16, 18.Ps 33:1Ps 32:11Phil 4:41 Thess 5:161 Thess 5:18as the garment of gladneſs. God hath laid his royal command upon us to rejoyce on this day. Iſa. 58. 13, 14. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleaſure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight (or as the Hebrew runs, delights: and ſo Tremelius reads it) the holy of the Lord, honourable, and ſhalt honour him, &c. Then ſhalt thou delight thy ſelf in the Lord, &c. Pſalm 118. 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will be glad and rejoyce therein Now if you compare this Text with Matth. 21. 22, 23. and Acts. 4. 11. you will find, that the precedent Verſes are a prophetical prediction of Chriſts reſurrection; and ſo this Verſe fore-tells the Churches joy upon that memorable p. 252and glorious day. A fe…ſt (ſaith Solomon) is made for laughter. Eccleſ. 10. 19.Eccl 10:19Now on this day the Lord of Hoſts is pleaſed more eſpecially and more abundantly to make for his people, A feaſt of fat things, a feaſt of wines on the lees, of fat things full of Iſa. 25. 6.Isa 25:6marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. On this day we enjoy the freeſt, and the fulleſt, and the ſweeteſt, and the choiceſt, and the neareſt communion of Saints: And what doth this call for, but a ſpirit of holy joy: on this day we enjoy all the precious Ordinances in a moſt ſolemn manner; and why then ſhould we not be joyful in Gods houſe of prayer? The Iſa. 56. 7. Luke 2. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.Isa 56:7Luke 2:10Luke 2:11Luke 2:12Luke 2:13Luke 2:14heavenly Hoſt ſung at his birth: and why ſhould not we ſing and rejoyce at his ſecond birth, his reſurrection from the dead. O Sirs, Sabbaths are the very ſuburbs of heaven: and who can be in the ſuburbs of heaven and not rejoyce? A beautiful face is at all times pleaſing to the eye; but then eſpecially when there is joy manifeſted in the countenance. Joy in the face puts a new beauty upon a perſon, and makes that which before was beautiful, to be exceeding beautiful; it puts a luſtre upon beauty. And ſo doth holy joy put a luſtre upon the day of God, the wayes of God, and the people of God. It is the duty and glory of a Chriſtian to rejoyce in the Lord every day, but eſpecially on the Lords Day: God reſerves the beſt wine, the beſt comforts, and the choiceſt diſcoveries of himſelf, and of his love, and of his Chriſt, and of his glory for that day, and all to make his people joyful in the houſe of Iſa. 56 7.Isa 56:7prayer. The Manichees were wont to keep their Faſts upon the Lords Day: which made Tertullian ſay, that that practice Lect. 15.of theirs was a deteſtable wickedneſs. To faſt on the Lords Day (ſaith Ignatius) is to kill Chriſt. But to rejoyce in the Lord this day, and to rejoyce in all the duties of this day, and to rejoyce in that redemption that was wrought for us on this day, this is to crown Chriſt, this is to lift up Chriſt. But,

Twelfthly, You muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath, by ſanctifying 12of the whole day to Gods ſervice; and not by fits, and flaſhes, and ſudden pangs. O Sirs, if the Lord was ſo ſtrict that he would not loſe a moments honor in a ceremonial day of reſt. (Lev. 23. 32. It ſhall be unto you a Sabbath of p. 253reſt, and ye ſhall afflict your ſouls in the ninth day of the monethmonth at even: from even unto even ſhall ye celebrate your Sabbath.) What ſhall we think the Lord expects upon this day which is mo-Pſalm 92. 1, 2. It is good to ſing of his loving kindneſs in the morning: and of his faithfulneſs every night. Jer. 17. 22. You ſhall do no work, but ſanctifie my Sabbath. Now that this may the better ſtick, conſider,

Firſt, God hath given you ſix whole dayes that you may Exod. 20. 9. Chap. 23. 12.Exod 20:9provide for your ſelves and families: and therefore do not deny him one day in ſeven. What an unrighteous thing is it, to buy by one meaſure which is greater, and ſell by another which is leſſer. Do not rob God of his time, who hath been ſo noble, as to give you ſix in ſeven. But,

Secondly, God reſted all the ſeventh day: he had finiſhed 2the creation in ſix dayes. God did not reſt on one part of Gen. 2. 1, 2, 3.Gen 2:1Gen 2:2Gen 2:3the ſeventh day, and work on the other part of the ſeventh day; but he reſted all the ſeventh day. And doubtleſs it is your wiſdom, duty and glory, to write after the coppy that God has laid before you. But,

Thirdly, The Sabbath is not to be an artificial day, but 3a natural day; viz. twenty four hours together: as you may ſee in Lev. 23. 32. From even unto even, ſhall ye celebrate your Sabbath. The dayes then were ſo reckoned. But,

Fourthly, You would not take it well at your ſervants 4hands, if they ſhould only work three or four hours in a day, and either trifle away the reſt of the time, or elſe ſpend it in doing their own work when they ſhould be a doing of yours, and do you think, that the great God will take it well at your hands, that when you have ſpent three or four hours in the duties of his day, that then you ſhould either trifle away or fool away, or play away, or ſleep away, or ſin away, the remaining part of his day? But,

Fifthly, This hath been the judgement of moſt judicious Divines in all ages. In the Counſel of Mexicon there was an Aſſembly of Miniſters out of all Nations in Chriſtendom, and they ordained a Canon concerning the Lords Day. The Canon runs thus, We ordain that people keep the whole Lords Day holy, and that they ſet themſelves the whole day to pray to p. 254God, and delight in God, and hear his word; and if a Countrey mans ſervant break this day, his puniſhment ſhall be to be beaten with ſevere blows (ictubus gravioribus are the very words of the Councel) and if a Lawyer offer to plead this day, he ſhall not have the benefit of his pleading or caſe; and if a Miniſter break this day, he ſhall be excommunicated half a year, and thrown …ut of the Church, and ſhall not be received into the Church again, but upon great humi…iation. It is a good obſervation of Muſculus upon Ex…d. 20. 8. God doth not ſay (ſaith he) r…member the Sabbath, to keep it holy: for he that keeps it an hour or two, keeps it holy: but remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy: he will have not a part of a day only, but a whole day kept holy. And Calvin upon theſe words, Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy; ſaith, we are to keep this day holy: and not a part of it, but all of it. I might produce a cloud of witn…ſſes in the caſe; but let theſe ſuffice. But,

Sixthly and laſ…ly, Conſider that the very Heathen have 6kept the whole day to their Idol Gods; and not a part. And ſhall we then put off God with a part of a day? Shall we be worſe than the Heathens? Shall we act below Heathens? Shall nature, ſhall blind devotion do more than Grace? The Lord forbid. But,

Th…rteenthly, You muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath, by ſuch an 13abſtinence or moderate uſe of all your lawful comforts, con…entments and enjoyments, as may tender you moſt apt and fit for the ſanctification of the Sabbath. Let your moderation …e known among all men alwayes; but eſpecially on the Lords day, be moderate in your eating, drinking, entertainments, Phil. 4. 5.Phil 4:5&c. Oh how do many by their immoderate uſe of lawful comforts on this day, indiſpoſe and unfit themſelves for the duties of the day! It is a Chriſtians duty every day to eat and drink ſoberly; Titus 2. 11, 12. The grace of God which bringeth ſalvation, hath appeared to us, teaching us to live ſoberly in this preſent world. It is both the duty and the glory The Greeks call Sobriety the Keeper and Guard of Wiſdom.of a Chriſtian, to be temperate in his diet. A little will ſatisfie nature; leſs will ſatisfie Grace, though nothing will ſatisfie mens luſts. Sobriety is a gift of God, whereby we p. 255keep a holy moderation in the uſe of our dyet, Prov. 23. When thou ſitteſt to eat, &c. conſider diligently what is before thee, and put the knife to thy throat. That is, be very careful and circumſpect in taking thy food, bridle thine appe…i…e, take heed thou doſt not exceed meaſure. He may endanger his health, his life, his ſoul, that gives way to his greedy appetite. Some read the words thus, For th…u putt…t a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Thou ſhortneſt thy life, and diggeſt as it were thine own grave with thine own teeth. Meat kills as many as the Musket; the Board as the Ch…yſoſt.Sword. I know that the bodies, ſtomacks, callings, conſtitutions, and climates, wherein men live, differ; and therefore In the hot Eaſtern Countreys men have lived long with par…hed Corn and a Cake, but their example is no rule for us. Phil. 3. 18, 19.Phil 3:18Phil 3:19no ſuch particular Rules (as to eating and drinking) can be laid down as ſhall be binding to every one. Yet this is certain, that a man that eats or drinks ſo much (on the Lords Day) as oppreſſes nature, and as unfits him for praying, working, or hearing work, or reading work, or cloſet work, that man is guilty of intemperance. Such who feed till they unfit themſelves for ſervice, are Belly-Gods. Paul wept over ſuch in his day, and ſo ſhould we in ours. Thou ſhouldſt uſe thy food O Chriſtian, as a help, and not as a hinderance to thee in thy Chriſtian courſe. A full belly never ſtudies well, nor never prayes well, nor never hears well, nor never reads well, nor never repeats well, nor never doth any thing well either on the Lords day, or any other day. What a ſhame is it to ſee a Chriſtian a ſlave to his palate on any day; but eſpecially on the Lords day. I may uſe the creatures ſo as to ſupport and chear nature; but not ſo as to clog it, and weaken it, and debaſe it. I may uſe the creatures as my ſervants, but I muſt never ſuffer them to be my Lord. Daniel was very temperate in his diet. Though there was not a greater born of a woman than John the Baptiſt, yet his Dan. 1. 8. Matth. 11. 11.Dan 1:8Matt 11:11fare was but Locuſts and wild-honey. A little bread was Baſils proviſion. Hilarion did ſeldom eat any thing till the Sun went down, and then that which he did eat, was very mean. Jerom lived with cold water, and a few dry'd Figgs. And Auguſtine hath this expreſſion concerning himſelf. Hoc L…b. 10. Confeſſionum.me docuiſti, Domine, &c. Thou Lord haſt taught me this, that I p. 256ſhould go to my meat as to a medicine; his meaning was, that he went to his meat, not to ſatisfie his appetite, but to repair nature. And Luther made many a meal with Bread and … He…ring. Socrates, Anacharſis, Cyrus, Caeſar, Herodicus, Auguſtus, and many other Heathens were very temperate in …h…ir diet. The old Gaules were very ſparing in their diet, …nd uſed to fine them that out-grew their Girdles. Theſe H…athens will one day riſe in judgement againſt thoſe nominal Chriſtians, who are intemperate both upon the Lords day, and other dayes alſo. But,

Fourteenthly and laſtly, You muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath, 14…y abſt…ining from ſpeaking your own words. The Spouſes lips are like a thread of Sc…rlet: they are red like a thread of Cant. 4 3.Song 4:3ſcarlet in diſcourſing of a crucified Chriſt, and they are thin like a thred of ſcarlet, and not ſwelled with frothy, empty, worldly diſcourſes on the Lords dayes, or on other dayes. Such words as will neither profit a mans own ſoul, nor better …thers, are not to be ſpoken on the Lords day. It is Gods expreſs pleaſure, that we ſhould not ſpeak our own words on his day, Iſa. 58. 13. N…r ſpeaking thine own words. Caeſar paſſing through the ſtreets of Rome, and ſeeing many of the Ladies Pluta ch in the life of Pe…icles.playing with little Dogs, Monkies and Baubones, askt them, if the women in that Countrey had no children. So when men ſpend the Lords day in playing, ſporting, toying, or talking of this or that trifle, of this or that perſon, of this or that faſhion, of this or that vanity; we may ask them, whether they have no God, no Chriſt, no Heaven, no Promiſ…s, no Experiences, no Evidences to talk of. There are Matth. 12. 36. Alexander forgave many ſharp ſwords, but never any ſharp tongues, &c.Matt 12:36many idle talkers: of every idle word that men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall give an account at the day of Judgement. An idle word is a profuſe or needleſs word, uſed raſhly, or unadviſedly wanting a reaſon of juſt neceſſity, bringing neither honor to God, nor edification to others, nor conducing to any profitable end. And as there are many idle talkers, ſo there are many over-talkers; and they are ſuch who ſpend a hundred words, when ten will ſerve the turn. And as there Eccleſ. 5. 2, 3.Eccl 5:2Eccl 5:3are many over-talkers, ſo there are many that are only talkers, that can do nothing but talk. To fall under the power p. 257Prov. 14. 23.Prov 14:23or ſcourge of theſe mens tongues, is to fall under no eaſie perſecution. And as there are many that are only talkers, ſo there are many that are unprofitable talkers. The beginning of the words of their mouth is fooliſhneſs, and the end of his Eccleſ. 10. 13.Eccl 10:13talk is miſchievous madneſs. And as there are many unprofitable talkers, ſo there are many unſeaſonable talkers, that place one word where another ſhould ſtand. A wiſe man Eccleſ. 8. 4.Eccl 8:4diſcerneth time and judgement. And as there are many unſeaſonable talkers, ſo there are many raſh talkers, who ſpeak Chap. 5. 2.firſt, and think afterwards. God hath ſet a double bar about the tongue, the teeth and the lips, that men ſhould not ſpeak raſhly. Words once ſpoken cannot return. A man that thinks before he ſpeaks, ſeldom repents of what he ſpeaks. Silence is far better than raſh ſpeaking, or than vain ſpeaking, &c.

O Sirs, the tongue is the nimble Interpreter of the heart. If there be piety or iniquity at the bottom of your hearts, Matth. 12. 43, 44.Matt 12:43Matt 12:44your tongues will diſcover it. The ſtream riſeth not above the fountain. We know not what mettal the Bell is made of by the Clapper. What is in the Well will be in the Bucket: What is in the Ware-houſe will be in the ſhop. So what is in the heart, will be in the mouth; if there be any thing of God, of Chriſt, of grace, of heaven, of hell, of ſin, of the world, of ſelf in the bottom of your ſouls, your tongues will diſcover it. Man (ſaith one) is like a Bell, and his tongue Plutarch.like the Clapper. So long as this ſtandeth ſtill, he may be thought to be without any flaw, craze or crack in him; but let it once ſtir, and then he diſcovers himſelf preſently. No man can ſo change himſelf, but his heart may ſometimes be ſeen at his tongues end. Men watch Interpreters. Oh that on the Lords day eſpecially, you would make more conſcience of watching your tongues: if the tongue be not watched, it will be ſins Solicitor General; it will be a Bawd to all luſts: it will plead for ſin, and defend ſin, and leſſen ſin, and provoke to ſin, and ſhew the pleaſure of the heart in ſin. There are but five Virtues of the tongue reckoned up by Philoſophers; but there are twenty ſeveral ſins of the tongue reckoned up by Peraldus. The Arabians have a Proverb, p. 258Take heed thy tongue cut not thy throat. Many a mans tongue James 3. 3. 11. The Holy Ghoſt ſheweth the miſchief of the tongue, by the ſeveral characters by which he brands it. He calls it the flattering tongue, the double tongue, the deceitful tongue, the the lying tongue, the perverſe tongue, &c. Pſalm 52. 2. Prov. 18. 21. Eccleſ. 10. 12. Pſalm 19. 4. Pſalm 73. 9. Mat. 28. 13, 15.Jas 3:3Jas 3:11Ps 52:2Prov 18:21Eccl 10:12Ps 19:4Ps 73:9Matt 28:13Matt 28:15has cut his throat; that is, it hath been his ruine. Our Chronicles make mention of one Burdet a Merchant, who living at the Sign of the Crown in Cheap-ſide (in the dayes of King Edward the fourth, in the year 1483.) jeſtingly ſaid to his Son, that he would leave him heir of the Crown, meaning the Sign of the Crown where he lived: for which he was apprehended, and within four hours hanged, drawn and quartered. The tongue is often like a ſharp Razor, that inſtead of ſhaving the hair, cuts the throat. If a man do not look well about him, he may every day be in danger of dying by his tongue. Life and death (ſaith Solomon) are in the power of the tongue. Gaping mouth'd men, are noted for fools by Lucian: and a better and a wiſer man than Lucian hath told us, That the lips of a fool will ſwallow up himſelf. Ah how good had it been for many that they had been born dumb. The tongue can eaſily travel all the world over, and wound mens names and credits in this Countrey: and that in this City, and that in this Town, and that in this Family, and that it can in a trice run from one place to another: here it bites, and there it tears: in this place it leaves a blot, and in that it gives a wound: and therefore you have cauſe to watch your tongues on every day, but eſpecially on the Lords day. There are many whoſe tongues do more miſchief, and travel further on the Sabbath day, than they do on all the other dayes of the week. You ought to keep a ſtrict Guard upon your tongues every day, but on the Lords day you ſhould double your Guard. Satan without you, and that ſtrong party that he hath within you, will do all they can, ſo to oyle your tongues on that day, as to make you miſcarry more wayes than one, if you do not carefully look about you. Are there none on that day, that do watch your Jer. 20. 10. It is better for a man to watch and ſtop his own mouth by ſilence, than to have it ſtopt by others reproofs.Jer 20:10words to deride you and jear you? Yes. Are there none on that day that do watch your words, either to enſnare you or trapan you? Yes. Are there none on that day, that do watch your words, that they may find matter if poſſible either to reprove you, or to reproach you? Yes. Are there none on that day, that do watch your words, that do hang p. 259upon your lips, expecting to be inſtructed, edified, confirmed, comforted and ſtrengthned by you? Yes. Well then, if this be your caſe, how highly it doth concern you on this day, to watch your words, I ſhall leave you to judge. O Sirs, all your words, whether good or bad, are all noted and obſerved by God, as you may ſee by comparing the Scriptures Pſalm 139. 4. Iſa 59. 3. Jer. 33. 24. Chap. 44. 25. Mal. 3. 16, 17. Job 42. 7. Matth. 12. 37.Ps 139:4Isa 59:3Jer 33:24Mal 3:16Mal 3:17Job 42:7Matt 12:37in the Margent together. If a perſon were by us, that ſhould book all our words from Sabbath day morning to Sabbath day night, and the like on other dayes, would we not be very careful what we ſpoke. Why God is by and hears all. Athenodorus a Heathen uſed to ſay, that all men ought to be very careful of their actions and words; becauſe God was every where, and beheld all that was done and ſaid. And Zeno a wiſe Heathen affirmeth, that God ſeeth, and taketh notice of our very thoughts; how much more then of our words. O Sirs, how many men and women are there, that are choice of what they eat, that are not choice of what they ſpeak: that are curious about the food which goes into their mouths, leſt it ſhould hurt or poyſon them, who are no wayes curious about the words that go out of their mouths, leſt they ſhould hurt or poyſon others?

O… all the members in the body, there is none ſo ſerviceable to Satan as the tongue. And therefore Satan ſpares Jobs tongue; his grand deſign being not to make Job a begar, but a blaſphemer: Job was bliſtered all over by Satan, only his tongue was not bliſtered. Satan thought by that member, to work Job to fight againſt God, and the peace of his own ſoul. It is queried in the Schools, what was the firſt ſin of the firſt Angel that fell (for they aſſert that one fell firſt, then the reſt) Now there are very many opinions about it. Some ſay, it was envy, others diſcontent; and ſome ſay, it was their refuſing to undertake the charge that was given to them to Miniſter unto man. Others think it was a ſpiritual luxury; others ingratitude. The moſt and beſt ſay pride, but wherein that pride conſiſted, is not eaſily determined, nor by them unanimouſly reſolved; and by ſome it is as confidently obſerved, that it was a ſin of the tongue. Now if theſe laſt have hit the mark, how highly p. 260doth at concern us all, to ſet a watch before the door of our lips at all times, but eſpecially on the Lords day. Now conſidering how wonderful apt and prone Chriſtians are to be ſpeaking their own words. Yea, fooliſh, vain, worldly and unprofitable words on the Lords day. Give me leave …o offer to your ſerious conſideration theſe four things.

Firſt, Where the Lord hath commanded the whole man 1to reſt from ſervile works; there he commands the hand to reſt from working, the foot from walking, and the tongue from talking. But in the fourth Commandment, Thou ſhalt do no manner of work, the Lord hath commanded the whole Exod. 4. 10.Exod 4:10man to reſt from ſervile works. And therefore the tongue from talking of this or that worldly buſineſs. But,

Secondly, Thoſe things which as lets hinder the duties 2of the Lords day are forbidden. But worldly words as lets, hinder the duties of the Lords day: therefore worldly words are forbidden. But,

Thirdly, Where bodily works are forbidden, there thoſe 3things are forbidden which hinder the ſanctifying of the Sabbath as much or more, than bodily works do: but bodily works are forbidden in the fourth Commandment: therefore worldly words which hinder more the ſanctifying of the Sabbath, than bodily works do, are forbidden in the ſame Commandment. That worldly words do hinder the ſanctifying of the Sabbath, as much or more than bodily works, is evident by this (among other arguments that might be produced) that a man may work alone, but he cannot talk alone. But,

Fourthly, That Commandment which tyes the outward 4man from the deed done, that Commandment ties the tongue from talking of the ſame. But the fourth Commandment ties the outward man from worldly works, and therefore that Command ties the tongue from worldly words. Certainly all thoſe perſons that make the Lords day, a reckoning-day with workmen as ſome do, or a directing-day what ſhall be done the next week, as others do; or a day of idle talk about this worldly buſineſs or that, or about this perſon or that, or about this faſhion or that, or p. 261about this mans matters or that, or about this pleaſure or that, or about this profit or that, or about this mans calling or that, or about this Goſſips Tale or that, &c. All ſuch perſons are prophaners and no ſanctifiers of the Lords Day.

I have been the longer upon this particular, to confute and recover thoſe Chriſtians who give their tongues too great a liberty on the Lords Day.

Now in theſe fourteen particulars I have ſhewed you how the Sabbath is to be ſanctified. O Sirs, as you deſire to ſee London rebuilt, as you deſire to ſee London in as great (or greater) proſperity and glory, as ſhe hath been in: as you deſire to ſee her once more the Bulwark of the Nation: As Pſa…. 48. 12, 13. Cant. 6. 4. Iſa 60. 15.Song 6:4Isa 60:15you deſire to ſee her a ſhield and ſhelter to her faithful friends at home, and a terror and dread to her proudeſt enemies abroad. As you deſire that ſhe may be an eternal excellency Zech. 2. 5.Zech 2:5a joy of many Generations. As you deſire the Lord to be for ever a wall of fire about her, and a glory in the midſt of her: M…ke conſcience of ſanctifying the Sabbath in a right manner: Make it your great buſineſs and work to ſanctifie the Sabbath according to thoſe fourteen Rules which I have now laid down.

I know there is a deſperate oppoſition and contrariety in the hearts of carnal men, to the ſtrict obſervation of the Sabbath. When Moſes had firſt received a Commandment Exod. 16. 25. 31.Exod 16:25Exod 16:31concerning the obſervation of the S…bbath, his Authority could not ſo prevail with the Jews, but that ſome of them would be g…dding abroad to ſeek Manna on the Sabbath day, contrary to an expreſs prohibition: yea, when it was death Chap. 31: 13, 14, 15, 16.to gather ſticks on that day: yet in contempt of Heaven it ſelf, one ventures upon the breach of the Law. How ſadly and frequently the Prophets have lamented and complained of the breach of the Sabbath, I have in this Treatiſe already diſcovered; and therefore need ſay no more of it in this place. The horrid prophanation of this day in France, Holland, Germany, Sweden, and in th…ſe three Nations, England, Sc…tland, and Ireland, and among all Proteſtants every where elſe, is and muſt be for a ſore lamentation. The Sabbath in all Ages hath been more or leſs crucified between prophaneneſs p. 262and ſuperſtition, as Chriſt the Lord of the Sabbath was crucified between two Thieves. When the obſervation of the Sabbath came to be more ſacred and ſolemn in publick performances (which was about Nehemiahs time, as is conceived) preſently after Satan ſtirred up ſome Hypocrites who …un into ſuch an extream of ſuperſtition, that they held that they might not ſtir out of their places, nor kill a flea, and a thouſand ſuch like fooleries. Yea, ſome dangerous fooleries they laboured to diſtill into the people; as that they might not draw a Sword to defend themſelves in a common Invaſion, &c.

For a cloſe, remember this, that there are no Chriſtians in all the world, comparable to thoſe (for the power of godlineſs and heighths of grace, holineſs and communion with God) who are moſt ſtrict, ſerious, ſtudious and conſcientious in ſanctifying of the Lords day. Such as are careleſs, remiſs, light, ſlight, formal and carnal upon the Sabbath day, they will be as bad, if not worſe, on every other day in the Week. The true reaſon why the power of godlineſs is fallen to ſo low an ebb both in this, and in other Countreys alſo, is becauſe the Sabbath is no more ſtrictly and conſcientiouſly obſerved in this Land, and in thoſe other Countreys where the name of the Lord is made known. The Jews were never ſerious in the obſervation of their Sabbaths, till they ſmarted ſeventy years in Babylon for their former prophanation of it. And who can look upon the aſhes of London, and not ſee how dearly the Citizens have paid for their prophaning of the Lords day. And Oh that all theſe ſhort hints might be ſo bleſt from Heaven, as to work us all to a more ſtrict ſerious and conſcientious ſanctifying of the Lords day, according to thoſe Directions or Rules, that I have in this Treatiſe laid before you.

And thus I have done with thoſe Duties that are incumbent upon thoſe who have been burnt up by that late dreadful fire that hath turned London into a ruinous heap.

p. 263I come now to thoſe Duties that are incumbent upon thoſe whoſe habitations are yet ſtanding as monuments of divine Wiſdom, Power and Grace. O Sirs, the flames have been near you, a devouring fire hath conſumed many thouſand habitations round about you; and you and your habitations have b…en as ſo many brands pluckt out of the fire. O how highly doth it concern you, ſeriouſly and freq…ently to lay to heart, the ſingular goodneſs and kindneſs of God towards you, manifeſted in the mighty preſervations, protections and ſalvations that he has vouchſafed to you, when you were ſurrounded with all manner of hazzards and dangers. O that you would ſtrive as for life to come up to duties which are certainly incumbent upon all thoſe who have eſcaped the burning flames.

But you will ſay, What are they? Queſt.

Theſe that follow. Anſw.

Firſt, It highly concerns you who have eſcaped the fiery 1diſpenſation, to take heed of thoſe ſins which bring the fiery Rod, and which have turned many of your neighbours out of houſe and home. What they are, I have already declared 2 Pet. 2. 6. Luke 17. 32. Jer. 7. 12. 1 Sam. 4. 11. Pſalm 78. 602 Pet 2:6Luke 17:32Jer 7:121 Sam 4:11Ps 78:60at large: If thoſe ſins that have brought the fiery judgement upon your neighbours, are to be found among you, you have cauſe to fear the fiery Rod, or elſe ſome other judgement that ſhall be equivalent to it. If you ſin with others, you ſhall ſuffer with others; except there be found repentance on your ſide, and pardoning grace on Gods. The Lord hath puniſhed your neighbours with that judgement of judgements, the fire; and he expects that you ſhould take notice thereof, and be inſtructed thereby, to take heed of thoſe ſins that they have been judged for, elſe the ſame, or worſer judgements will certainly befall you. Becauſe Jer. 3. 8. Obad. 11, 12, 13, 14.Jer 3:8Edom made no good uſe of Jeruſalems ſufferings, therefore the Lord threatens her, that ſhame ſhould cover her, and that ſhe ſhould be cut off for ever. God expects, that the judgements that he hath executed upon all round p. 264about you, ſhould awaken you out of ſecurity, and work in you a holy dread of his name, and provoke you to repentance for what is paſt, and engage you to a more exact walking with him for the time to come. But,

Secondly, It highly concerns you, not to think thoſe who 2are burnt up to be greater ſinners, than your ſelves who have Iſa. 5. 22. 23, 24. Chap. 51. 17, 22, 23. …er. 25. 15. 30.Isa 5:22Isa 5:23Isa 5:24eſcaped the conſuming flames. Some there were that told Chriſt of certain Galileans▪ whoſe blood Pilate had mingled with their Sacrifices (an argument of Gods ſore diſpleaſure in the eye of man, to be ſurpiſed with a bloody death even in the act of Gods ſervice) But Jeſus anſwered, ſuppoſe Luk. 13. 1, 2, 3.Luke 13:1Luke 13:2Luke 13:3ye that theſe Galileans were ſinners above all the Galileans, becauſe they ſuffered ſuch things: I tell you nay: but except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh. And Chriſt confirmeth it by another parallel to it, of the men upon whom the Tower in Sil…am fell, Luke 13. 4, 5. Or thoſe eighteen upon whom the Tower in Siloam fell, think ye that they were ſinners above all men that dwell in Jeruſalem? I tell you nay; but except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh. Doubtleſs there are many fifties in London, whoſe habitations are laid deſolate, who were more righteous, than many of thoſe whoſe houſes have eſcaped the conſuming flames. Judgements many times begin at the houſe of God: The hand of God is many times 1 Pet. 4. 17. Ezek. 9. 6. Job 1.1 Pet 4:17Ezek 9:6Job 1heavieſt upon the holieſt of people. Job was ſtript of all his earthly comforts, and ſet upon a Dunghill to ſcrape his ſores with Potſheards; and yet Job had not at that time his fellow in all the Eaſt Countrey, for a man fearing God, and eſchewing evil. Job was a perfect peerleſs man, and yet had his habitation laid in aſhes, and his ſubſtance deſtroyed, when his neighbours round about him, enjoyed their all without diſturbance. Doubtleſs many of them whoſe houſes are turned into a ruinous heap, were good people; people of unblameable lives, people of exemplary lives; yea, earthly Angels, if compared with many of thoſe who have eſcaped the fiery Rod. Many have drunk deep of this cup of wrath who are a people of his choiceſt love: and therefore do not judge all them to be greater ſinners than your ſelves, that p. 265have not eſcaped the fiery Rod, as well as your ſelves. You who have eſcaped the conſuming flames, ſhould make other mens laſhes your leſſons, and their burnings your warning…. You ſhould not ſo much eye what others have ſuffered, as what your ſelves have deſerved. But,

Thirdly, It concerns you to be much in bleſſing of God, 3that your habitations are ſtanding, when others habitations are laid deſolate round about you. But here look that your thankfulneſs is, 1. Reall. 2. Great. 3. Cordial. 4. Practical. and 5. Conſtant. No thankfulneſs below ſuch a thankfulneſs will become ſuch whoſe habitations are ſtanding Monuments of Gods free mercy. I have largely preſt this duty before, and therefore a touch here muſt ſuffice. B…t,

Fourthly, Be not ſecure: do not ſay, the bitterneſs of death 4is paſt; as Agag did when he came before Samuel ſtately and 1 Sam. 15. 32.1 Sam 15:32haughtily with the garb and gate of a King. Many times when wicked men are in the greateſt ſecurity, they are then neareſt the higheſt pitch of miſery. Is there not guilt enough upon all your hearts, and upon all your habitations, to expoſe them to as great a deſolation as London lyes under. Anſ. Yes, yes. Why then do not you get off this guilt by frequent exerciſes of faith in the blood of Chriſt, or elſe prepare to drink of the ſame cup that London hath drunk off, or of a worſe. Ponder ſeriouſly and frequently upon theſe Scriptures, Iſa. 51. 17. Awake, awake, ſtand up O Jeruſalem, which haſt drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury, thou haſt drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. Verſe 22. Thus ſaith thy Lord, the Lord, and thy God, that pleadeth the cauſe of his people: behold, I have taken out of thy hand the cup of trembling; even the dregs of the cup of my fury, thou ſhalt no more drink it again. Verſe 23. But I will put it into the hands of them that afflict thee: which have ſaid to thy ſoul, bow down, that we may go over: and thou haſt laid thy body as the ground, and as the ſtreet to them that went over. Jer. 25. 15. For thus ſaith the Lord God of Iſrael unto me, take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cauſe all the Nations, to p. 266whom I ſend thee; to drink it. Verſe 17. Then took I the cup at the Lords hands, and made all the Nations to drink, unto whom the Lord had ſent me. Verſe 18. To wit, Jeruſalem, and the Cities of Judah, and the Kings thereof, and the Princes thereof, to make them a deſolation, an aſtoniſhment, an hiſſing, and a curſe (as it is this day) Verſe 28. And it ſhall be, if they refuſe, to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then ſhalt thou ſay unto The particular Kings and Kingdoms that muſt drink of this cup are ſet down from verſe 19. to verſe 28. See Lam. 4. 21. Ezek. 23. 31, 32, 33, 34.Lam 4:21Ezek 23:31Ezek 23:32Ezek 23:33Ezek 23:34them, thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, ye ſhall certainly drink. ver. 29. For lo, I begin to bring evil, on the City which is called by my name, and ſhould ye be utterly unpuniſhed? ye ſhall not be unpuniſhed: I will call for a ſword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. When Jeruſalem hath drunk of the cup, if God be God, the Nations round ſhall certainly drink of it. God hath begun with London: poor London hath drunk deeply of the cup of Gods fury: and therefore let the Nations round repent, or prepare to drink of Londons cup. Moſt of thoſe ſins that bring the fiery Rod (if not all) are to be found in all the great Cities of the world. And therefore let all the great Cities in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland, England, Ireland, Scotland, &c. take warning by Londons deſolation, and prepare to meet the Lord in the way of his fury: let them ceaſe from doing evil, and learn to do well: let them repent in duſt and aſhes, leſt they are laid in duſt and aſhes. Let them break off their ſins, leſt God throws down their walls and habitations by furious and devouring flames. Let all thoſe whoſe habitations are ſtill ſtanding, remember that the ſame ſins, the ſame wrath, and the ſame malicious hands that has laid ſo many thouſand habitations deſolate, can lay theirs alſo deſolate, except they reform and turn to the Moſt High.

Fifthly, It highly concerns you whoſe houſes are ſtanding 5monuments of Gods mercy, to ſhew much love, bowels, pity Gen. 18. Pſal. 102. 13. 2 Cor. 11. 29.Gen 18Ps 102:132 Cor 11:29and compaſſion to thoſe who are burnt up and turned out of all, who are houſeleſs, harbourleſs and pennyleſs this day. God takes it well at our hands, when we pity thoſe whom he thinks meet to puniſh. One of Gods great ends in puniſhing of ſome, is to ſtir up pity and compaſſion in others p. 267towards them. It ſhould melt your hearts to ſee other mens ſubſtances melted in the flames. God hath threatned an Obad. 12. 13.evil, an only evil without the leaſt mixture of mercy, to ſuch as ſhew no mercy to thoſe in miſery. Whoever have James 2. 13.Jas 2:13beh…ld London in its former proſperity and glory, that cannot lament to ſee London laid deſolate? The aſhes of London ſeems to cry out, have pity upon me O my friends. They that J…b. 6. 14.will not lament upon the burnt Citizens as the greateſt objects of their pity, may one day be ingulfed under the greateſt miſery. He was a N…bal, a ſapleſs fellow, who ſhut up all bowels of pity againſt David in his miſery. They were curſed … Sam. 25. 10, …. …ſalm 137. 6, 7, 8.Edomites, who did behold the r…i…e of Zion, and no… mourn over it. Let all burnt Citizens remember, that uſually God pities them moſt, whom men pities leaſt: but burnt Citizens are not to be mocked or mena…ed, but mourned over.

Sixthly, It highly concerns you whoſe houſes are ſtanding 6monuments of Gods mercy, to lift up a prayer for all thoſe as are fallen under this heavy judgement of fire. When Numb. 11. 1, 2, 3. 2 Kings 19. 4.Num 11:1Num 11:2Num 11:32 Kgs 19:4you are in the Mount, be ſure you bear the ſad condition of the burnt Citiz…ns upon your hearts, Nehem. 1. 3. And they ſaid unto me, the remnant that are left of the captivity there in the Province, are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jeruſalem alſo is broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire. Well, what doth Nehemiab do? Anſw. He lifts up a prayer for them, verſe 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. O Sirs, your prayers muſt not be pen… or confined to your own private intereſts, but extended to the benefit of all Gods ſuffering ſervants. Philo the Jew, diſcourſing of Aarons Ephod, which he put on when he went to pray, ſaith it was a repreſentation of the whole world, having in it all colours to repreſent the condition of all ſtates of all people whatſoever. 'Tis brave when we are in the Mount, to bear the conditions of others upon our hearts, as well as our own, eſpecially theirs, whom the hand of the Lord hath ſeverely reacht. The beſt of men Rom. 1. 9. 2 Tim. 1. 3.Rom 1:92 Tim 1:3have been much in prayer for others; witneſs, Moſes, David, Job, Jeremiah, Daniel, Paul. And it is very obſervable, that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt who is our great pattern, was p. 268very much in this noble work, for you ſhall find in John 17. that he puts up but one petition for himſelf in verſe 1. which petition is repeated again in verſe 5. And all the reſt of his time he ſpent in praying both for the converted and unconverted. Now ſhall our Lord Jeſus Chriſt put up many requeſts for others, and but one for himſelf, and ſhall we put up all our requeſts for our ſelves, and not one for others? Among the Perſians, he that offered Sacrifice, prayed for all Herodot. lib. 1.his Countrey men. Theſe Perſians will one day riſe in Judgement againſt many who are called Chriſtians, and yet make no conſcience of lifting up a prayer for thoſe that are under the afflicting hand of God. He that prayeth for himſelf and not for others is fi…ly compared (by ſome) to an Hedge-hogg, who laps himſelf within his own ſoft down, and turns his Briſſels to all the world beſides. The Jews have a ſaying, That ſince the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, the door of prayer hath been ſhut up. Oh that we had not cauſe to fear, that ſince the burning of London, the door of prayer both for our ſelves and one another, hath b…en too much ſhut amongſt us. O that all you whoſe habitations are ſtanding, would ſeriouſly conſider

1. That none need prayer more than the burnt Citizens.

2. You do not know how ſoon their caſe may be yours: the ſame hand, or hands, that hath made them deſolate, may make you deſolate alſo.

3. Elſe what do you more than others.Matth. 5. 47.Matt 5:47

4. To pity and pray for thoſe that are in miſery, is honourable and commendable.

5. 'Tis one of the moſt compendious wayes in the world, to prevent all thoſe calamities and miſeries that now you fear, and that you think you ſhall ſhortly feel.

6. To lift up a prayer for thoſe whoſe ſufferings have been ſore, is no coſtly nor chargeable duty, and therefore buckle to it. But,

Seventhly, It highly concerns you whoſe houſes are ſtanding 7monuments of Gods mercy, ſeriouſly to conſider, that ſome mens eſcaping of very great Judgements, is not properly a preſervation, but a reſervation to ſome greater deſtruction: p. 269witneſs thoſe Kings who eſcaped the edge of the Gen. 14. and Chap. 19. compared. Exod. 14. 28. 1 Kings 19.Gen 14Exod 14:281 Kgs 19Sword, and were afterwards deſtroyed by fire and brimſtone from Heaven: and witneſs Pharaoh, who eſcaped all the ten plagues of Egypt in order to his being buried with his Hoſt in the red Sea. And witneſs Sennacherib, who eſcaped the Sword of the deſtroying Angel, in order to his falling by the ſwords of his own Sons. Upon what diſcontentment his Sons roſe up to ſlay him, is uncertain. Some ſay, it was becauſe he preferred their younger Brother Eſharhaddon to Caſtal…o….the Kingdom, who was the laſt of the Aſſyrian Monarchs: for after him, the Monarchie was tranſlated from the Aſſyrians to the Babylonians. R. Solomon, as Lyra cites him, ſaith Ly…a. If Tob…t may be credited, he lived not fifty five days after his return to N…neveh. Tob. 2. 24Tob 2:24that the great men of the Countrey having loſt each one his Son, Brother, or friend, in that expedition againſt Jeruſalem, were ſo provoked, that they meant to deſtroy him, which he hearing, fled to the Idols Temple, and prayed and vowed, that if his God would deliver him from this danger, he would give theſe two Sons for Sacrifice to him: then they hearing of this, came and ſlew him there. I ſhall leave you to your choice, whether you will give credit to this relation, or look upon it as a Rabinical invention. In this Judgement that fell upon Sennacherib, there are theſe things remarkable:

1. That he ſhould ſee ſo great and well prepared an Army Iſa. 37. 36. The mighty Monarchs of Aſſy ia uſed to go forth to war, with 500000. and ſometimes with 1000000. men; and therefore this ſlaughter may well be underſtood of the Grandees of his Army. Wherefore Joſe…hus ſaith, he fled with his Army.Isa 37:36ſo ſuddenly deſtroyed.

2. That the ſtorm ſhould mainly fall upon the great ones of his Army, 2 Chron. 32. 22. And the Lord ſent an Angel which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the Leaders and Captains in the Camp of the King of Aſſyria. From whence we may eaſily gather, that ſome of the weaker ſort, ſome of the refuſe of the Army were ſpared; the prime men and great Officers of his Army being only ſmitten. Upon which account the King and his ragged Regiments became contemptible.

3. That he ſhould be forced to fly into his own Countrey with ſhame and contempt; his General and great Officers being deſtroyed, he had no heart to keep the field, having none to order the Battel, and the dread and terror of the p. 270Lord and his Judgements abiding upon him and his Army, he provides for his own ſafety by fleeing home with his routed ſcattered troops.

4. That himſelf ſhould be ſlain, and that in the Temple of his Idol, and in the very act of his Idolatry, and that by his own Sons that came out of his own bowels; as the Holy Ghoſt obſerves; 2 Chron. 32. 21. And when he was come into the houſe of his God, they that came forth of his own Bowels; ſlew him there with the ſword. Certainly this was a far greater Judgement, than if he had fallen by the ſword of the d…ſt…oying Angel. And witneſs thoſe very perſons, who eſcaped Peſtilence, but were not burnt in the very flames, as well as their houſes and eſtates. O Sirs, though you have eſcaped the burning flames; yet you do not know, what other Judgements you may be reſerved to; and therefore be not ſecure; but be wakeful and watchful, and provide for the worſt. Unexpected Judgements many times ſeiſe upon perſons, and ſlay them as the Souldier ſlew Archimedes, whilſt …e was baſie in drawing lines in the duſt. Take heed of ſaying, ſurely the worſt is paſt.

Eighthly and laſtly, Do not rejoyce in the fiery calamity 8that hath paſt upon others: do not glory in your neighbours ruines. The Fire-flye leaps and dances in the fire; Prov. 24. 17, 18. Seriouſly ponder upon Chap. 25. and Chap. 35. of Ezeki…l, and Lam. 1. 21. 2 Sam. 16, 17, 25. and Lam. 3. 14, 45.Prov 24:17Prov 24:18Lam 1:212 Sam 16:172 Sam 16:25Lam 3:14Lam 3:45and ſo do many wicked men rejoyce in the ſufferings of others. Such as rejoyce in the ſufferings of others, are ſick of the Devils diſeaſe; but from that diſeaſe the Lord deliver all your ſouls. 'Tis ſad to inſult over thoſe whom God hath humbled; 'tis high wickedneſs to triumph over thoſe to whom God hath given a cup of aſtoniſhment to drink. Such as make the deſolations of their neighbours to be the matter either of their ſecret repaſt, or open exultation. Such may fear, that the very dregs of divine wrath is reſerved for them. 'Tis bad playing upon the Harp, becauſe others have been put to hang their Harps upon the Willows. We muſt not pray with him in the Tragoedie, that it may rain calamities; nor with Clemens his Gnoſtick, give me calamities that I may glory in them. There cannot be p. 271a greater evidence of a wicked heart, than for a man to be merry, becauſe others are in miſery. So without repentance ſuch may one day dance in infernal flames, who have ſung and danced at the remembrance of Londons flames, Prov. 17. 5. He that is glad at calamities, (that is, at the calamities of others) ſhall not be unpuniſhed. If God be God, ſuch as congratulate our miſeries, inſtead of condoling them, ſhall be ſure to be puniſhed with the worſt of puniſhments: for ſuch do not only ſin againſt the Law of Grace, but alſo againſt the very Law of Nature: the Law of Nature teaching men to ſympathize with thoſe that are in miſery, and not to rejoyce over them, becauſe of their miſeries. O Sirs, do not make others mourning your muſick, do not make others tears, your wine; as you would not be made drunk at laſt with the wine of aſtoniſhment.

FINIS.