A Demonstration of Family Duties, Proposition 20 – Proposition 29
XX. PROPOSITION. Meditation on the Word (as likewiſe on the works) of God is a divine ordinance, in which the people of God ought to exerciſe themſelves daily.
PROOF. This Propoſition is directly expreſſed, Joſh. 1.8. This booke of the law ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou ſhalt meditate therein day and night. And accordingly the godly-wiſe have beene wont to exerciſe themſelves. See Gen. 24.63. The Patriarch Iſaac vvent out into the field to meditate at eventide: It ſeemeth it was his uſuall courſe, David was frequent herein. See Pſal. 119.… O how I love thy law! it is my meditation the day.
I. REAS. Becauſe godly meditation very profitable and helpfull to furniſh a ſtore the heart with good matter to be u… red, according to occaſion offering it ſel… The moſt wiſe king Solomon had good … perience herein. See Pſal. 45.1. My he… inditing a good matter; I ſpeake of the things wh… I have made touching the King: My tongue is … pen of a ready vvriter, &c.
II. REAS. Becauſe good meditation … much affect the heart, according to … ſubject that is meditated upon. See Pſ… 119.15. I vvill meditate (ſaith David) on … precepts: and have reſpect unto thy vvaies: A… he had ſaid, A meditation on Gods precep… is ſingularly uſefull to worke my heart u… a reſpect of Gods waies, and therefore I w… meditate on them. So likewiſe verſ. 55. ibi… I have remembred thy Name, O Lord, in the nig… and have kept thy lavv; As if he had ſaid, M… remembring and meditating on thy Na… in the night ſeaſon hath beene effectuall … ſtirre me up, unto the obſerving & keeping of thy law.
OBSERV. Meditation is either occaſio… nall; or ſet and deliberate.
I. Occaſionall meditation is a making uſe …f ſuch things as by the providence of God …o offer themſelves to our eyes, eares, &c. … we are in our callings, as the circumſtances will permit. Thus Peter meditated on his …eliverance out of priſon. See Act. 12.11.
II. Set and deliberate meditation is, when here is a purpoſed ſequeſtring ones ſelfe part, to performe this exerciſe more tho…oughly, and a making uſe of ſome fit and …lect matters to be meditated on; and then …larging the minde and affections there…bouts. See Gen. 24.63.
XXI. PROPOSITION. The moſt ſeaſonable and fitting …ime of every day, ought to be …llotted and taken for the daily …orſhip and ſervice, which God …equireth his people to performe unto him.
PROOF. The Lord himſelfe giveth this direction unto his people of Iſrael. See Numb. 28.1, 2. And the Lord ſpake unto Moſes, ſaying; Command the children of Iſrael, and ſay unto them, My offering, and my bread for my ſacrifices, made by fire for a ſvveet ſavour unto me, ſhall yee obſerve to offer unto me, in their due ſeaſon. Levit. 23.4. Theſe are the feaſ… the Lord, even holy convocations, vvhichwhich yee… proclaime in their ſeaſons.
I. REAS. Becauſe Time being a nece… ry and unſeparable adjunct of every actio… be done, therefore the moſt ſeaſonable… convenient time ought to be diſcerned… laid hold on thereunto. Eccleſ. 3.1. … every thing there is a ſeaſon, and a time to … purpoſe under the heaven, &c.
II. REAS. Becauſe ſeaſonable perform… ces of any buſineſſes takē in hand, doe m… beautify and adorne the ſame. Eccleſ. 3.1. God hath made every thing beautifull in his ti… Prov. 15.23. A word ſpoken in due ſeaſon … good is it?
OBSERV. When in Scripture the peo… of God are required to doe any duety … waies, or continually; viz. 1 Theſſ. 5.… 17. Rejoyce evermore. Pray without ceaſing, … The meaning ſeemeth to be that thank… ving and prayer, and other religious duti… and exerciſes, ought to be performed at ſ… ſonable and fitting times for performa… thereof. Otherwiſe the duties of their p… ticular callings would be wholly interrup… and neglected, which yet are allowed … enjoyned to be done. 2 Theſſ. 3.10. Alb… theſe are not to be left undone. Math. 2… ▪ 23. Alluſ. For as Mephiboſheth his ea… …read continually at Davids table, 2 Sam. 9.7. …mported that he did eate every day at Da…ids table, at uſuall meale-times, or at the …ccuſtomed times of eating: ſo it is in this …aſe alſo of time for religious duties, viz. in …he ſeaſons thereof.
XXII. PROPOSITION. Morning and Evening are the moſt ſeaſonable and fitting times of every day for the performance of the religious duties of prayer. …nd Scripture-exerciſes above mentioned.
PROOF. God the Father who hath put …he times and ſeaſons in his owne power, Act. 1.7. did appoint the morning and the …vening for his ſervice, day by day, even his …aily burnt offering of two lambs, Numb. …8.4. The one lambe ſhalt thou offer in the mor…ing, and the other lambe ſhalt thou offer at even, &c. And accordingly the godly, who have …ehaved themſelves wiſely in their waies, …ave ordered their courſe. See Pſal. 5.3. My voice ſhalt thou heare in the morning, O Lord, …n the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee. Pſal. 141.2. Let my prayer be ſet forth before thee …s incenſe; and the lifting up of my hands as the …vening ſacrifice.
I. REAS. Becauſe the variety of the … caſions and affaires of every day, and the … ceſſities of every night, are ſuch as have … of Gods counſell and encouragement in … outgoing of the morning and evening … every day and night; if ſo they may be m… to rejoyce. Now this ſhalbe effected … a ſeaſonable converſe with God morning … evening every day. See Pſal. 65.2. O… that heareſt prayer, unto thee ſhall all fleſh co… compar. verſ. 8. Thou makeſt the outgoing of … morning and evening to rejoyce.
II. REAS. Becauſe in the morning u… ally mens ſpirits are moſt freſh and ap… any undertakings, as is implied, Job, 11.… ▪ So that it is meeteſt to give unto God ſ… firſt fruits. Alluſ. Prov. 3.9. Honour … Lord with thy ſubſtance, and with the firſt fr… of all thine increaſe. And in the evening u… ally men are freeſt from the diſtractions … their worldly buſineſſes and imploymen… in regard of darkneſſe overtaking, as is i… plied, Pſal. 104.23. And in that reſpect … freeſt at ſuch time for Gods ſervice. S… Pſal. 3. verſ. 4, 5. I cried unto the Lord with … voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Sel… I laid me downe, and ſlept, &c.
OBSERV. Prayer & Scripture-exerciſ… morning and evening, are the godly … his keyes, to unlock and open for him … bleſſings to be enjoyed in the day time; and to lock and ſhut up the diſcomforts and dangers of the night ſeaſon: So that the Sunne …hall not ſmite by day, nor the Moone by …ight. Pſal. 121.6.
XXIII. PROPOSITION. Albeit Prayer and ſome Scripture-exerciſe ought to be converſed in both morning and evening every day; yet in ſome caſes, viz. of mercy and neceſſity, there may be an omiſſion thereof: otherwiſe not.
PROOF. The Paſſeover, that ſolemne ordinance of God for the Iſraelites, might …n ſome caſes be forborne and omitted for time; viz. in caſe of a journey, or ſome uncleaneſſe, &c. Numb. 9.13. So the religious duties for the day, when ſuch works doe interpoſe, as the time and occaſion will not permit to be performed, may be omitted at ſuch time. See Math. 12.7. I will have mercy, and not ſacrifice.
I. REAS. Becauſe the Lord God, who …s the onelyonly abſolute lawgiver (Iſaia. 33.22.) may diſpenſe with his owne law as ſeemeth good unto himſelfe, and as ſometimes he hath done. He diſpenſed ſometime wi… the ſixt commandement of the Decalogue▪ Thou ſhalt not kill; when he appointed Ab… ham to offer up his ſonne Iſaac. See Ge… 22.2. And with the eight commandemen… Thou ſhalt not ſteale; when he directed th… Iſraelites to ſpoile, or rob, the Egyptian See Exod. 3.22.
II. REAS. Becauſe God the Father wh… hath put the times in his owne power, h… ving an abſolute ſoveraignty over them; … is expreſſed, Pſal. 74.16. The day is thine, … night alſo is thine; may therefore diſpoſe… them according to the will of his ow… pleaſure. See Matth. 12.8. The ſonne of m… Lord, even of the Sabbath day.
OBSERV. The Soveraigne Lord Go… may doe with his owne, what he wil… Math. 20.15. Is it not lawfull for me to doe w… ▪ I will with mine owne? He may appoint th… ſame time to a worke of mercy or neceſſity which he hath ordinarily deſigned unto th… ſolemne ſerving of him. See Math. 12.7, 8.
XXIV. PROPOSITION. When by occaſion of works of neceſſity, any one is neceſſitate… to an omiſſion of ſuch religious ſerving of God in Prayer and Scripture-exerciſe, which ought to be performed morning and evening every day; Then ſuch omiſſion ought notwithſtanding to be very greivous, and taken to heart greatly by him, that is expoſed to ſo great ſtraits.
PROOF. This Propoſition is implied in another caſe intimated by our Saviour Chriſt when he had foretold the deſtruction of Ieruſalem unto his diſciples. See Math. 24.20. Pray that your flight be not on the Sabbath day. For it would be greivous to fly on the Sabbath day, conſecrated to religious ſerving of God, though neceſſity did compell thereunto; ſith by ſuch flight there muſt needs be an unavoidable omiſſion of the ſolemne worſhip of God. So it is in other caſes likewiſe.
I. REAS. Becauſe through an omiſſion of ſolemne ſerving of God, there muſt needs be a want of that bleſſed comfort and reviving, which is wont to be found in ſweet communion with God therein. This is evident from that complaint of David in his neceſſitated want of Gods ſolemne worſhip, occaſioned by Sauls perſecuting of him. Pſal. 63.1, 2. My ſoule thirſteth for thee; my fl… longeth for thee; in a dry and thirſty land, who no water is: To ſee thy power and thy glory, as have ſeene thee, in the Sanctuary. There is the ſame reaſon for complaint in regard of neceſſary omiſſion of ſolemne ſerving of God morning and evening.
II. REAS. Becauſe there is great dange… of ſpirituall diſtemper in the ſoule of a Chriſtian, through omiſſion of any daily duty … religion. For ſo the Apoſtle Paul giveth … underſtand, as it is implied, Hebr. 3.13. But exhort one another daily, while it is called▪ To day, leſt any of you be hardened through th… deceitfulneſſe of ſinne.
OBSERV. As the want of corporall repa… although it be but for a day, will occaſion and cauſe ſome faintings of ſpirits; as is to be ſeene in that fainting that was in the people in Sauls army, when they had had no foo… for the ſpace of one day: See 1 Sam. 14.2….29. So likewiſe in the want of ſpiritual repaſt to be taſted in Gods ordinances, th… ſoule or inward man, wilbe apt and ready … faintings; as David profeſſeth, Pſal. 84.… My ſoule fainteth for the courts of the Lord, &c▪ This is likewiſe appliable in the caſe of dai… ſerving of God.
XXV. PROPOSITION. Vnjuſt and ſleight pretences of want of leiſure, through ſome urgent neceſſity, for performance of religious ſervice at ſeaſonable times, ought carefully to be taken heed of and avoided.
PROOF. The Prophet Haggai doeth notably convince the Jews after their returne from the captivity, of groſſe failing, for a ſleight excuſing their delay of reedifying the Temple. Hag. 1. verſ. 2. Thus ſpeaketh the Lord of hoſts, ſaying, This people ſay, The time is not come, the time that the Lords houſe ſhould be built, &c.
I. REAS. Becauſe vaine pretences and excuſes do argue and bewray unſoundneſſe of heart and notorious hypocriſy, which God (the ſearcher of mens hearts and waies, Jerem. 17.10.) taketh notice of, and convinceth, as tending to apoſtacy. See 1 Timoth. 4.2. Speaking lies in hypocriſie, having their conſcience ſeared with an hot yron.
II. REAS. Becauſe ſuch hypocriticall pretences and excuſes will affoard no ſolid comfort in the latter end, to ſuch as make uſe of them; as is noted, Iſa. 33.14. The ſinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulneſſe hath ſurpriſed the hypocrites: who among us ſhall dwe… with the devouring fire? who amongst us ſhal… dwell with everlaſting burnings?
OBSERV. It is utterly a fault, to be addicted to excuſes; yea it will find out in du… time, and cauſe ruine. It was inexcuſable on Sauls part to command the Prieſt to withdraw his hand by occaſion of an unjuſt feare of danger. 1 Sam. 14.19. It was the fault of Felix to diſmiſſe the Apoſtle Paul as he was preaching, upon a pretence of taking a more convenient ſeaſon to ſend for him againe. Act. 24. verſ. 25. It was the ſinne of Jeroboam the ſonne of Nebat (who made Iſrael to ſinne) to hinder the ten tribes from going up to Jeruſalem to worſhip, pretending it would be too much paines for them. 1 King. 12.28. Thus it is in all vaine and unwarrantable excuſes.
XXVI. PROPOSITION. More or leſſe time ought to be ſpent every day in religious exerciſes according to the gifts, ſtate, degree, calling, and condition of perſons, as they ſhall require, or admit.
PROOF. See Luk. 12.48. VntoUnto whomſoever much is given, of him ſhalbe much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will aſke the more.
I. REAS. Becauſe God, who diſpenſeth his gifts diverſly, even to every one according to his ability of imploying them, viz. giving to one five talents, to another two, to another one: Math. 25.15. He doth accordingly reckon with them. verſ. 19. ibid.
II. REAS. Becauſe God graciouſly accepteth, and abundantly recompenſeth the religious ſervice, that any one doeth performe in trueth and ſincerity, according to his talent, whether it be more or leſſe. See 2 Corinth. 8.12. For if there be firſt a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
OBSERV. In the time of the Ceremoniall law the people of God were required to offer, onelyonly as their ſtate and ability would ſuffer. See an inſtance hereof in the caſe of a womans purification, Levit. 12.8. If ſhe be not able to bring a lambe, then ſhe ſhall bring two turtles, or two yong pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a ſinne offering: and the Prieſt ſhall make an atonement for her, and ſhe ſhalbe cleane. Our Saviour Chriſt likewiſe doth highly valew the widows farthing caſt into the treaſury. Mark. 12. verſ. 4…
XXVII. PROPOSITION. The daily worſhip and ſervice to be obſerved unto the Lord. Morning and Evening, ought t… be performed by the Famili… and houſholds of the people o… God.
PROOF. This Propoſition may be endently inferred from that propheticall imprecation, or threatning, Jerem. 10.2… Powre out thy fury upon the Families, that call … upon thy Name. And alſo from the approved teſtimony, which God himſelfe giveth un… Abraham touching this matter. See G… 18. verſ. 19. I know Abraham, that he will command his children, and his houſhold after him and they ſhall keepe the way of the Lord.
I. REAS. Becauſe God hath made a ſpeciall covenant of grace with the Families … his people: and therefore he expecteth a… looketh for ſpeciall religious family-duties from them. See Jerem. 31.1. At the ſame ti… ſaith the Lord, will I be the God of all the famili… of Iſrael, and they ſhalbe my people, &c.
II. REAS. Becauſe the members of the ſame family, doe uſually, and for the mo… part ſhare and partake more or leſſe both in the welfare, & in the miſeries of one another mutually. And therefore they ought to uſe the meanes that God hath ſanctified and ordained for the mutuall good and benefit of one another. Noah and his houſhold were preſerved in the Arke. Gen. 7.1, &c. Rahab and her houſhold were ſaved at the overthrow of Jericho. Joſh. 6.23. Obed-Edom & his houſhold were bleſſed becauſe of the Arke. 2 Sam. 6.11, 12. Nabal and his whole family were in danger of deſtruction together. 1 Sam. 25.17. Achan and his houſhold periſhed together. Ioſh. 7.24.
OBSERV. It is remarkable throughout the holy Scriptures, how whole families, with their Governours, are many times made mention of together. Salvation came into Zacheus his houſe, when he became a ſonne of Abraham. Luk. 19.9. Cornelius feared God, and his houſe. Act. 10.2. Lydia was baptiſed, and her houſhold. Act. 16.15. The Gaoler with all his houſe beleeved. Act. 16.34. Paul baptiſed the houſhold of Stephanus. 1 Corinth. 1.16. The houſe of Oneſiphorus is prayed for by the Appſtle Paul joyntly. 2 Timoth. 1.16, &c.
XXVIII. PROPOSITION. Family-duties of religion ought to be performed both mornin… and evening, every day, by the whole family of the people o… God, joyntly, and together.
PROOF. Worthy Joſhua, that moſt vic… rious Generall of the Iſraelites, when h… had gotten the land of Canaan into the poſſeſſion, and driven out the inhabitance profeſſeth this for himſelfe, & for his who… family; Joſh. 24.15. As for me, and my ho… wee will ſerve the Lord. And according … this his moſt pious reſolution, the Iſraeli… do at the ſame time profeſſe in like manner. See Joſh. 24.16, 17, 18—21—24.
I. REAS. Becauſe every family of the people of God, is, as it were, a little Church or Congregation of Saints. See Rom. 16.… Philem. verſ. 2. And to the Church in thy ho… Now in a Church-aſſembly the worſhip … ſervice of religion ought to be performe by the congregation joyntly. See this Ne… 8.1. And all the people gathered themſelves tog… ther, as one man, &c. 1 Corinth. 11.33. Wh… yee come together, tarry one for another.
II. REAS. Becauſe God hath order the condition of families, for the moſt pa… in ſuch ſort, that there is convenient oppo… tunity for the members of thē to be preſe… together morning and evening every day; albeit in other parts of the day their affaires may call them to be abroad, and ſevered one from another. And this may ſeeme to be ſome reaſon of that direction, Deut. 6. verſ. 7. Thou ſhalt teach them, when thou lieſt downe, and when thou riſeſt up: that is, both morning and evening.
OBSERV. As it was one ordinance of the Paſſeover in the celebration of it, that it ſhould be eaten in every family by the members of it joyntly, and together: Exod. 12.46. And accordingly it was obſerved by our Saviour Chriſt, and his diſciples, who were his family: See Math. 26.18, 20. Mark. 14.14, 17, 18. Luk. 22.11, 14. So it ought to be in other religious family-duties; the Governour & the reſt of the family ought to joyne together.
XXIX. PROPOSITION. Albeit in prayer and Scripture-exerciſes, there ought to be a joyning together by the members of the family, morning and evening, every day, as hath beene ſhewed in the former Propoſition; yet notwithſtanding in the religious exerciſe of meditation it muſt be otherwiſe: viz. The ſeverall members of the family ought to meditate alone & apa… by themſelves; as opportunity i… the day time, or in the night ſeaſon, ſerveth thereunto.
PROOF. See this in the examples of God ſervants. Gen. 24.63. Iſaac went out into th… field to meditate at eventide. Pſal. 119.14… David ſaith, Mine eyes prevent the nigh… watches; that I might meditate in thy word.
REAS. Becauſe meditation is a worke … the inward man, or an act of the minde, a… heart, ſeriouſly diſcourſing of this or that and anſwerably affected. This is implied Pſal. 19.14. & 45.1. & 49.3. The meditation… my heart. And therefore others cannot joy… therein. See 1 Corinth. 2.11. For what m… knoweth the things of a man, ſave the ſpirit of m… which is in him?
OBSERV. If meditation indited in th… inward man of the minde and heart, ſha… afterwards be uttered by word of mouth i… the preſence of others; ſuch an utterance o… it, altereth and changeth the nature of the ſervice; whether it be in preaching, prayer conference, &c. Sith ſuch uttering is the good fruit of godly meditation of the heart. See Pſal. 45.1. My heart is inditing a good matter: I ſpeake of the things which I have made touching the King: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.