The Practical Sabbatarian, Chapter 37

The Practical Sabbatarian · Chapter 37

p. 369CHAP. XXXVII. Some further Directions conducing to the ſame End.

Dir. 6 LEt the whole man be employed on the Sabbath.

1. All the parts of the body. The tongue in prayer, the ear in attending, the knee in ſubmiſſion, the eye in contemplation, the hand in charitable contribution. This Rom. 12. 1.Rom 12:1would be a ſacred ſymphony, and make the body not only a a reaſonable, but an acceptable ſacrifice.

2. All the faculties of the ſoul muſt underſtand their ſeveral offices and tasks.

1. The underſtanding muſt drink in truth, as the tender Deut. 32. 2.Deut 32:2herb the ſmall rain, and the new mown graſs the ſeaſonable Nondum in obſervatione externorum exercitiorum Sabbati plena eſt ſanctificatio niſi eo fine, quó inſtitutum eſt, ut piè ſanctè et interiùs haec gerantur; Qui eſt ſabbatiſmus internus. Leid. Prof. Cant. 5. 16.Song 5:16ſhowers. Then the underſtanding muſt be as the lights of the Sanctuary, of very great uſe.

2. The will muſt embrace the Doctrines of the Goſpel. The underſtanding ſees the commodity, the will buys it: The underſtanding faſtens the eye upon the treaſures of the Goſpel, but the will faſtens the hand; the underſtanding is the purveyor of truth, but the will brings it home.

p. 3703. The affections muſt be employed in purſuing Chriſt, and in holy meltings in ſacred duties; the ſoul muſt be all afloat in loves, and delights on Gods bleſſed day; then our affections muſt follow the prey, our dear Jeſus, our Beloved, who is altogether lovely.

4. The Memory muſt be the Scribe to ſet down every heavenly counſel, every thing which drops from the heart of God; As that King of Syria, whoſe Ambaſſadours catched at every word, 1 Kings 20. 33. The Memory muſt record every ſoul-concernment, it muſt be the Exchequer where the riches of Ordinances are repoſited, and laid up: And after all, we muſt with the Virgin Mary ponder all thoſe things in our hearts, Luke 2. 51. Thus both ſoul and body muſt be Luke 2. 45.Luke 2:45eſpouſed in Sabbath ſervice; they muſt, as Joſeph and Mary, go both together to ſeek Chriſt, as the two Diſciples which went to Emmaus, both muſt joyn in converſing with Chriſt, Luke 24. 15. Though the body act the part of Martha in Luk. 10. 29, 41.Luke 10:29Luke 10:41the week, and is cumbred with many things, yet it muſt act Maries part on the Sabbath, and mind onelyonly the one thing neceſſary, and lie at Gods feet in holy diſpenſations. Body and ſoul on the Sabbath, are as thoſe two Diſciples, that went to Chriſts Sepulchre, John 20. 4. but the ſoul is that Diſciple, which out-runs the other, and comes ſooneſt to the end of their Enquiry; the ſoul comes quickeſt in, and cloſeſt up to Chriſt. Mariners obſerve that the two ſtars, Caſtor and Pollux, when they are aſunder, they prognoſticate Intus eſt, in corde eſt ſabbathum noſtrum Auguſt.foul weather, but when together, they portend a fair and calm ſeaſon: ſo when we bring onelyonly the body to the Ordinances of a Sabbath, it portends nothing but ſorrow and diſappointment, but when ſoul and body both meet in ſacred duties upon this holy day, it is a good prognoſtication Mat. 6. 24.Matt 6:24of fair weather to the Chriſtian, ſmiles from above, Luke 16. 13.Luke 16:13and peace from within. In the duties of a Sabbath, we muſt ſtudy devotion, but not diviſion; we muſt not think to pleaſe the fleſh, and to pleaſe the Lord too, on his own day.

p. 371Direct. 7 Works of mercy do very well become the Sabbath: This is a day of love and mercy. If in the times of the Law, the Law of Circumciſion, a painful Ordinance, was not to be omitted, Opera miſericordiae, nemo illo die facere prohibet, ut ſub v…n…re egeno curare aegrotum, Opem, & conſilium afflicto, & laboranti afferre: Cujus cura illo die nobis maxime commendatur. Rivet. in Decal.John 7. 22. Much more in the times of the Goſpel, a law of Love, muſt bind us, and oblige us on a Sabbath. Love is under a Command, as well as Circumciſion, John 13. 35. Rom. 13. 10. Mercy, it is the very muſique of Gods Attributes, Pſalm 108. 4. it is the Almoner to provide for mans wants, it is the ſervice of Angels, Luke 22. 43. And it is the comely dreſs, which ſets off the beauty of a Sabbath. That we have a Sabbath, is an Act of divine mercy; and we cannot duly keep a Sabbath, without employing our ſelves in the works of mercy. Tertullian, in one of his Apologies, joyns Prayer, reading of the Scriptures. and giving Almes together, as being all equally the duties of a Sabbath: With him joynes iſſue Learned and profound Huc referenda ſunt reliqua miſericordiae opera quibus ſabbatum minime profanatur. Juſt. Mart.Chemnitius, who, ſpeaking of the Church of Brunſwick, ſaith, That upon the Lords day a great multitude of people are gathered together, to praiſe God, to hear his Word, to receive the Sacrament, to holy Prayer, to give Almes, and other exerciſes of godlineſs. Thus Charity is mingled with other holy duties. Gualter cryes out, Let us admire the goodneſs of God in giving us a day of Reſt; and ſhall not our bowels Dei bonitatem exoſcul…mur, qui nobis conſecravit quietis diem. Gualt.be ſofteſt on that day, when Gods mercy is ſweeteſt? Mans pitty is a good handmaid to wait on Gods bounty. That day which is a day of life to us, ſhould be a day of love from us: Charity on a Sabbath, is like fire put to Juniper, it turns it into a perfumed flame. Now there is a four-fold Charity we muſt exerciſe on Gods holy day.

1There is Charitas oeconomica, Charity to our Families. It is very obſervable, that every clauſe in the 4th Commandement, Manifeſtè praecipitur mandati verbis, quieti ſabbati rationem habendam eſſe, ſervorum, & ancillarum; quo quiſ que admonetur de aſſectu charitatis erga domeſticos ſuos, et inſatiabilis avaritiae impetus reſtringitur. Muſcul. Quo magis à dei dilectione recedimus, eò magis à proximi diſtamus; quantum verò dei …haritati adhaeremus, tantum et proximi, et proximi deo conjungimur. Biblioth. Patr.is an injunction to Charity: We muſt be tender to our ſervants, they muſt not work: we muſt be compaſſionate to our Children, they muſt not toyl: we muſt pity our beaſt, that muſt not drudge: we muſt have bowels to the ſtranger within the Gates, he muſt reſt and be refreſhed: ſo that we may ſay with the Apoſtle, Rom. 13. 8. Love is the fulfilling of the Law. The Command for the Sabbath is p. 372written in golden Letters of love and Charity. The Lords day muſt be ſpent, not in the ſweats of labour, but in the ſweets of duty; not in weariſome toyl, but in holy reſt. Parental, or deſpotical rigour, is an open breach of this Command, which breaths nothing but ſweetneſs and indulgence. The Sabbath is no day for the forge, or the plow, it was never ſet apart to waſte our ſpirits, but to mind, and negotiate the affairs of our ſouls. Biſhop Andrews ſaith, Mercy on a Sabbath, is the ſanctification of a Sabbath. Surely, thoſe Governours of families do highly prophane the Sabbath, where the maid-ſervant muſt toyl at the fire, to provide for their luxury; The man-ſervant muſt be no otherwiſe employed, then to ſerve their company; Children muſt wait and ſerve at the table, to ſhew the grandure of the family; where, inſtead of ſinging Pſalmes, there is clattering of Diſhes, and inſtead of gathering Manna, there is gathering up of fragments, and inſtead of a compoſed lying at Chriſts feet Politicum illud eſt; ut qu…es concedi debeat iis qui ſubſunt alienae poteſtati Jer 17. 21, 22. Pſalm 105. 27.Jer 17:21Jer 17:22Ps 105:27in holy Ordinances, there is nothing but hurries, noyſe, and confuſion. Here it might be expoſtulated: Shall ſervants have no breathing for their ſouls? no neceſſary pauſes to mind eternity? Is not this more then Aegyptian bondage? Is not not this to cauſe our families to return back to the Land of Ham, to their wonted captivity and thraldome? Can ſuch Governours diſciple it after Chriſt, and yet have no bowels Quae officia hic demandata, etſi videantur levia, et ruſticae, …bi de pecore aberrante red… cendo, et aſino ſublevando agitur; non tamen nobis talia erunt. ſi perpendamus finem legulatoris, qui non tam animalium rationem habuit quàm hominum. Riv.to the immortal ſouls of their inferiours? Chriſt ſhed his blood for precious ſouls: and theſe will not diſpence with a humour, with their pride, with a feaſt, with an entertainment, for the good and advantage of a never dying ſoul. But ſuch cruelty and oppreſſion, ſaith Dr. Bound, is the ſcandal of Chriſtianity, and unravels all that mercy which is folded up in the fourth Commandement. God in the Law commands us to pity, and ſhew mercy to our enemies Oxe, Exod. 23. 4. to an Oxe, which is a beaſt to be fatted for the ſlaughter; to our enemies Oxe, whoſe enmity might damp our charity, and yet here we muſt ſhew compaſſion: How much more muſt the ſoul of a Child, or a ſervant be precious to us? Shall thy ſervants here lie among the pots, and hereafter among the flames, and wilt thou do nothing to prevent p. 373it? Wilt thou not give them Sabbath room to ſayl to Heaven in? Surely, this is the dregs of tyrannie. Well then, this piece of Charity we muſt ſhew upon a Lords day; we muſt be tender to our families, we muſt call them from all toyl and labour to wait on God in his ſacred inſtitutions. In a word, to deſpiſe our ſervants on a Sabbath, ſo as to think they are onelyonly fit to drudge here, is an act of pride ond inſolency, Such remember not, that Paul wrote an Epiſtle to Philemon for his ſervants ſake: and to employ our ſervants Philem. v 16.on a Sabbath, and not regard what becomes of them hereafter, is an act of inhumanity, and ſuch forget that the poor receive the Goſpel, Mat. 11. 5. The lame & the maimed were brought to the Kings feaſt, Luk. 14. 21. and the difficulty Mat. 10. 25.Matt 10:25lies, how the rich man ſhall get to heaven, Luk. 18. 25. Nay, Mat. 19. 24.Matt 19:24Chriſt himſelf took upon him the form of a ſervant, Phil. Mat. 16. 26.Matt 16:262. 7. Thy ſervants ſoul is of an higher price, then the world. Mat. 11. 25.Matt 11:25It is obſerved by a worthy man, That in the fourth Commandement, Reſt is granted to thoſe who have moſt need of it, to the poor ſervant, and the friendleſs ſtranger; to ſhew, that it is even a duty of nature to be pittiful, and charitable to our families upon Gods holy day.

2There is Charitas crumenae, a charity of the Purſe, which Petit pauper ſuum pauculum temporarium, Da, et recipies magnum eternum, Aug.we muſt likewiſe ſhew on the Sabbath. Now we muſt find objects to be the Ciſterns of our bounty, we muſt here occurrere ut ſuccurramus, meet ſome, whom we may miniſter to. Auguſtine, his rule is a golden Rule on this day, The poor petitions a little of our temporals, give it him, thou ſhalt receive it in eternals. But if we object our inability: It is replyed, It is not how much, but out of how much, God looks at. The widdows two mites was a commended charity, even by Chriſt himſelf: But let this caution be minded, Caution.let us take heed in our giving, that we do not take away on other dayes to give on this day, rob the week to Recondet Chriſtianus apud ſe, & cumulet auctum que deinceps, et cu… latum deferat. Sclat.adorn the Sabbath; this is pride, not charity, and the greateſt portion is given to Satan: But let our charity on the day of the Lord, be according to the ſimplicity of the Goſpel, and ſo our charity may make our purſe the lighter, but it will make our Crown the heavier, and what we have p. 374laid out in one world, we have laid up in another. In the Conſeruntur eleemoſinae ſec. diſcretionem unius cujuſ que propter egenorum ſubſidium, aegrotorum et exulum ſolamen.primitive times there were collections for the poor every Lords day, 1 Cor. 16. 1, 2. A conſecrated day being fitteſt for a conſecrated dole: the week day being the ſeeds time, the Sabbath the harveſt for Chriſtian charity. This ſacred ſtock (as one calls it) which is laid up in the week day, will be put to the higheſt, and the holieſt uſury on the Lords day, if the hearts of the poor be filled with food and gladneſs, and the backs of the poor wear the livery of our bounty. Juſt. Mart.Juſtin Martyr, ſpeaking of the order of Chriſtians upon the Lords day in his time, affirms, That Almes are given Chryſoſt. in 1 Cor. 11. Hom, 43.1 Cor 11according to the diſcretion of every man, for the relief of the poor, the fatherleſs, and the baniſhed. Chryſoſtome obſerves, that the duty of charity is moſt ſeaſonable on a Sabbath, becauſe it is a day wherein God appears in his beſt and largeſt bounty to us, then he gives us his ſweeteſt ordinances, then he enricheth us with Goſpel priviledges, then he drops Qui aliquià recondit, et theſaurizat pauperibus, hic ſibi ipſi theſaurum, comparat, et coelo reponit. Alap.down upon us his divine graces. In our Churches at this day, the poors bread is ſet up for diſtribution on the Lords day, which imports the ſweet correſpondency between that day, which is a day of love, & the duty, which is an act of charity. A learned man takes notice, that this cuſtome of relieving the poor on the Lords day, was grown obſolete at Conſtantinople, till the worthy Chryſoſtome reſtored that commanded duty. And this cuſtome well becomes the Sabbath, for what are we but Almes-men at the throne of Gods grace on the time of Gods day? Indeed the Sun of Righteouſneſs as on this day aroſe, and ſcattered his beams of light and love, and the world rejoyced in that appearance; let us ſcatter our hounty and laudable charity on this day, that the poor Conferre in pauperes debemus in diem dominicum. Buc.may rejoyce in our ſeaſonable contributions; Let us remember the word foreign, 1 Cor. 16. 2. we render it, laying by, but it is treaſuring up. He that layes up, and treaſures for the poor, layes up an everlaſting treaſure for himſelf. And let us conſider, charitable words are not enough; the love of the tongue only is flattery, not charity, it is adulation, and not affection. Words are cheap, and the pities of language Nehem. 8. 10. Johannes ArchiepiſcopusNeh 8:10are at no coſt, or charge. The belly is not filled with p. 375roſeat phraſes, nor the back cloathed with the embroydery Alex…n…nus, …, eò plus al…nde recipi…b…t; hinc ipſe Deo dicere ſolebat, videbo Domine, quis citiùs deficiet, an tu mihi dando, an ego ali… diſtribuendo. Alap.of indulgent language; only to bid the poor be filled, or be cloathed is not compaſſion, but diriſion: And therefore on the Sabbath, our love muſt be the charity of the purſe, and not only of the lip; we muſt act good works, and not only give good words: Faith acts not without love, Gal. 5. 6. and love acts not without works, Heb. 13. 16. When we are bleſſing God on a Sabbath, let the poor be bleſſing us, it will be ſweet harmony, when our heart, and the poors loyns both praiſe God together. On the Sabbath we muſt appear before God, Pſal. 42. 2. And the Old Law commands us not to appear before God empty, Deut. 16. 16. Charity on any day is Silver Bullion, but on the Sabbath is Golden Ore. Let us therefore on that holy day, feed the hungry, refreſh the thirſty, receive ſtrangers, cloath the naked, viſit the ſick, and comfort thoſe in priſon; this will redound to our account in that day, when acts of Charity are the recorded Mat. 25. 36.Matt 25:36characters of a ſincere and ſympathizing Saint, Mat. 25. 35. And happily capacitate us for the donative of a Crown.

3There is Charitas Corporalis, Mercy and Charity to the bodies of others. It is recorded of our Saviour, that uſually upon the Sabbath he viſited the Sick, healed the Criples, Mar. 1. 30, 31. Inſigniora miracula edidit Chriſtus in diem Sabbati. Athan.Mark 1:30Mark 1:31reſtored the Blind; and in this he leaves himſelf a preſident to others, and a pattern for holy imitation. We meet with divers Miracles which Chriſt wrought on the Sabbath; on this day, the eye of his pity guided the hand of his power; his ſtrength and his ſweetneſs both conjoyned in acting; and on this day Chriſt would be both Paſtour and Phyſician: And in his miracles on the Sabbath divers things are obſervable.

1. He cures all varieties; he healeth partial and external diſtempers, Mat. 12. 13. he healeth the moſt durable and Nihil extrà legem fecit Chriſtus curans in die Sabati. Iren.laſting diſtempers, John 5. 8. he healeth the moſt chronicall and habitual diſtempers, Luke 13. 10, 11. he healeth the moſt threatning, and drowning diſtempers, Luke 14. 4. Nay, Chriſt on the Sabbath diſlodgeth Satan himſelf, Mark 1. 34. Diabolus vocatur poteſtas aeris, quia in Aere miſcet ventos tonitru, fulgura; et in A cre (i. e.) in mundo, inter homines poteſtatem ſuam exercet eos tentando, et vexando et quoquo modo nocendo. Aquin.Satan at his word ſhall fall as lightning, though he be Prince of the Air, and God of this world. Chriſt caſteth out many p. 376Devils on the Sabbath; Legions of Spirits are but atomes which ſcatter at his rebuke, and diſperſe themſelves after new enquiries. Thus all varieties of diſeaſes are cured by Chriſt on a Sabbath; and will ye know why upon this day? becauſe this day is a ſeaſon of ſhewing mercy.

2. That which is obſervable in Chriſts cures upon the Sabbath, is, he juſtifies all his Cures, as the ſanctification, and not the prophanation of the Sabbath, Luke 13. 15, 16. Works of mercy are the perfume, not the pollution of a Sabbath; not its eclipſe, but its obſervation. And this Chriſt ſhews by the cuſtome of the rigorous Jewes themſelves, and Magnae eſt ſtultitiae prohibere hominem à ſanatione in diem Sabbati. Theoph.by the light of nature, Luke 14. 5. Chriſt is the Lord, not the Task-maſter of the Sabbath: And mans weale is to be carried on that day, by cures as well as ordinances, and the ſick bed, as well as the ſick ſoul is to be viſited. Mercy is the ſweetneſs, and the epiphonema of a Sabbath.

Iraeneus avers, that the true ſanctification of the Sabbath Vera Sabbati ſanctificatio eſt, in operibus miſericordiae. Iraen.lies in works of mercy. We then keep the Sabbath, when we are pitiful to our own ſouls, and to our brothers body; and we may ſerve God on that day, as well in a dungeon in viſiting a priſoner of Chriſt, as in the ſanctuary in waiting on an Ordinance of Chriſt. Iraeneus obſerves, Chriſt did more works of Charity upon the Sabbath, then upon other Multò ſaepiùs Chriſtus in die Sabbati officia charitatis praeſtitit quàm aliis diebus. Iren.dayes. And let us in this imitate both our Prieſt and Pattern, who died for us, and muſt go before us; and we taking up this practice weekly, let us follow him. Surely melting bowels do bear a ſymphony with mercifull Sabbaths. On the firſt day of the week, the day of our Sabbath, God created Gen. 1. 2,Gen 1:2the world out of a chaos of confuſion, Chriſt reſtored the Mark 16. 2.Mark 16:2World from ſin and deſtruction; and on the ſame firſt day Acts 2. 3.Acts 2:3of the week, the holy ſpirit enlightned the world in falling down ſolemnly upon the Apoſtles, and redeemed the Church from Judaical miſapprehenſion: And ſhall theſe glorious works which have put ſuch a bright emphaſis upon the Chriſtian Sabbath, not ſoften our bowels to pity the groans of the ſick, the ſights of the priſoner, and comfort thoſe who are in trouble and dejection? On this day, the ſpark Buc. in Mat. 12. 11.Matt 12:11of our love ſhould turn into a flame, the drops of compaſſion p. 377ſhould ſwell into a ſtream. Bucer makes the viſitation of the Luke 10. 33.Luke 10:33ſick to be a principal duty of our Sabbath. On which day Infundit vinum et oleum Samaritanus: vinum denotat legem, oleum gratiam Evangelii: Sacramenta ſunt quaſi alligamenta quibus labia vulnerum alligantur. Chemnit.Chriſtians ſhould turn good Samaritans; they ſhould drop tears into thoſe wounds they cannot drop Oyl into, and pour in the wine of conſolation, if they have no other to offer, as a ſacrifice of mercy. Bleeding hearts become a bleſſed Sabbath. One well obſerves, It doth behove us, as occaſion is offered, to ſpend ſome time of a Sabbath in viſiting the ſick, becauſe this will fill our minds with holy meditations, and fill our mouths with heavenly diſcourſes, and fill our hearts with ſerious apprehenſions of death and judgement, which will ſhortly encounter us, and there is no avoiding the ſtroke of the one, or the Bar of the other.

There is Charitas ſpiritualis, ſpiritual Charity, which is Verbis exprimi non poteſt, quantum homo, qui ad imagirem dei conditus eſt, et pro quo unigenitur dei filius proprium ſuum ſanguinem fudit, quem deni que ſp. ſanctus per verbum Evangelii, ad communionem filiorum dei vocavit, et ſanctificavit, irrationalibus et brutis animalibus praeſtet. Lyſ.moſt appoſite to the Lords day. One well argues, If our mercy on a Sabbath muſt extend to the Oxe and the Aſs, Luk. 13. 15. much more to man, who is Gods Vice-Roy upon Earth, bears his own image, and is enriched with that nature, which Chriſt himſelf took upon him; and if in outward things we muſt miniſter to him, viz. man, much more in ſpirituals and heavenly, by how much the ſoul tranſcends the body; and the wants of the ſoul are more dangerous, and for the moſt part leſs felt then thoſe of the body, and therefore to ſuccour them is more neceſſary, and leſs diſpenſable. Surely this is the higheſt mercy, to pull men out of the pit of deſpair, out of the mire of prophaneneſs, out of the dungeon of ignorance, to unfetter chained ſinners, to conſolate and advice diſtreſſed ſouls. It is obſervable, our Saviour did not only heal the poor woman of her bodily infirmity on the Sabbath, but delivered her from the chains of Satan, with which ſhe had ſo long been held, Luke 13. 16. It is our great work on a Sabbath to ſhew mercy to diſtreſſed ſouls. On the Lords day Chriſt roſe for our juſtification, Rom. 8. 34. which was a ſpiritual benefit, not for ſupply, but for our juſtification, not for the encraſie of our bodies, but for the reſcue of our ſouls. And the Apoſtle notes it with a foreign, yea rather, in the Text forementioned. And in ſoul advantage every Chriſtian may have a ſhare; they p. 378may have ſoft bowels, who have not full purſes; every one may give ſavoury counſel, put up ardent prayers, labour to ſet home convictions, nay, enter into heavenly diſcourſes, and ſo endeavour to draw thoſe who go aſtray to the Sheepfold of the Great Shepherd of their ſouls. Every one may 1 Pet. 2. 25.1 Pet 2:25bleed over ſinful revolters, and as St. John, who ran after 1 Pet. 5. 4.1 Pet 5:4the young man, when he was extravagant in his practice, they may run weeping after ſtraying tranſgreſſours. This willing mind, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 2 Cor. 8. 12. may lodge 1 Theſ. 5. 14.1 Thess 5:14in the breaſt of the meaneſt perſon; there may be zeal in the heart, when there are rags on the back, and when their apparrel is more contemptible then John the Baptiſt's leathern girdle and Camels hair, Mat. 3. 4.

And that which enforces this duty, is,

11. The excellency of the work. To inſtruct, to admoniſh, comfort, and pray for Brethren, is the greateſt mercy, the ſofteſt pity, nay, even the work of Chriſt himſelf, who ſhed not only his tears, but his blood to ranſome immortal ſouls; how did Chriſt grieve for a hard heart, weep over an unbelieving City, and lay down his life for poor loſt ſinners! To Mark 3. 5.Mark 3:5reſcue poor periſhing ſouls is a heavenly work, and well Luke 19. 42.Luke 19:42is becoming a heavenly Sabbath.Mat. 18. 11.Matt 18:11

22. The reward of the Service. Not a tear we drop over a wandering ſinner, but will turn into a pearl. The Apoſtle ſpeaks expreſly, Jam. 5. 19. Brethren, if any of you have erred from the truth, and one hath converted him, let him know, that he hath converted a ſinner from going out of his way, he ſhall ſave a ſoul from death, and ſhall hide a multitude of ſins. This text it ſeems informs us of a double reward:Rom. 10. 14.Rom 10:14

1. The ſalvation of a ſoul, the purchaſe of Chriſt himſelf; 1 Tim. 4. 16.1 Tim 4:16ſouls were the gains of his victories, Iſa. 53. 11. The Redemption of ſouls was the reward of all his ſufferings.Luke 22. 32.Luke 22:32

2. Here is the covering a multitude of ſins; which onelyonly Heb. 12, 15, 16.Heb 12:15Heb 12:16ſpeaks bleſſedneſs, Pſal. 32. 1, 2. And it may likewiſe be inferred from this text of Scripture; That God hath made us Heb. 3. 13.Heb 3:13Guardians one of another; Acts of ſpiritual charity belong to the care of all Chriſtians: God hath not onelyonly ſet conſcience to watch over the inward man, but hath ſet us to p. 379watch over the outward converſation one of another, We muſt exhort one another while it is to day, Heb. 3. 13. eſpecially Luke 24. 17.Luke 24:17while the light of Sabbaths continues to us. When the two Diſciples were travelling to Emmaus, Chriſt joyns with them; this bleſſed Phyſician came to comfort, to ſatisfie, and to inform them, they were poor diſtracted, timorous perſons, and theſe he viſits; Chriſt will not leave them in a maze, and intricated with inexplicable apprehenſions, but he will bring them home to the knowledge of the truth; and this is Chriſts Sabbath days work; He ſpends time in opening Scriptures, preaching and proving his ſalvifical reſurrection, till the cold and dead hearts of theſe Diſciples were warmed, and did burn within them, and then he departed from them. In this, Chriſt was our ſafe and ſeraphical pattern; let us go and do ſo likewiſe: But this duty of charity to ſouls is comprehenſive, and ſpreads it ſelf into Luke 10 37.Luke 10:37many branches.

1We muſt ſtudy to draw ſinners to repentance; we muſt ſet before them the ſeverity of Gods Juſtice againſt all impenitent Triſtitia tan…ùm propter peccatum facta eſt, à quo nata eſt, ideò ut tinea ipſum corrodit, et abſumit. Chryſoſt.ſinners; the free grace of God muſt likewiſe be intimated and unfolded; and endeavour muſt be uſed to diſplay the riches of divine mercy to humble, broken-hearted penitents; what ſweet embraces, heaven-breathing kiſſes, and claſping armes returning Prodigals ſhall have, Luke 15. 20. God hath ſoft bowels for ſoft hearts, his eye pitties a tender ſpirit, he meeteth a yielding ſinner, and when the ſtubborn offendour layes down his weapons, he is preſently and pleaſingly 2 Chr. 34. 27.2 Chr 34:27reconciled: If we bow, we ſhall not break.

2We muſt inſtruct the ignorant in points and doctrines neceſſary to ſalvation. No cloud ſo black as that of ignorance, it is that dark night makes us ſtumble and ſtray; knowledge is the firſt-born of graces, and is the conduct of our ſteps. A knowing Chriſtian muſt file off the chain to wander from Chriſt. The murder of our Saviour is charged by the Apoſtle upon ignorance, 1 Cor. 2. 8. Infidelity, that killing ſin, is the blackneſs of this darkneſs. Palpable darkneſs was the judgement of Aegypt, and ſpiritual darkneſs is the woe of every ſinner. Let us then endeavour to break this p. 380cloud where ever we eſpy it hang over the ſoul: and let us remember, inſtruction is often the fruit of correction, God chaſtens to inform, Pſal. 94. 12. But it is the neceſſary fore-runner of ſalvation. Our Saviour ſaith, John 17. 3. This is life eternall to know God, and him whom he hath ſent, Jeſus. Pſal. 51. 13.Ps 51:13Chriſt. Knowledge is the morning ſtar which fore-runs the Dan. 12. 3.Dan 12:3Sun of faith, which lightens every one which comes into the world of ſanctified ones; we muſt know Chriſt, before we can embrace him, and ſo obtain life by him. To inform others then, is part of a Sabbath days work, and the diſcharge of that duty, which being made proſperous by divine benediction, may lead both thy ſelf and others to an eternal reſt.

3We muſt comfort the comfortleſs, who are dejected through the number, and the hainouſneſs of their offences. The penſive, ſorrowfull ſinner, is as the Traveller who fell among thieves, Luke 10. 30.Luke 10:30and was ſtript, and wounded; and our duty is, (eſpecially on Ex parabolâ hominis in latronum manus incidentis, myſterium redemptionis per Chriſtum collig…tur, et homo vulneratus eſt Δ damus per peccatum lapſus. Ambroſ.the Lords day) to poure the oyle of gladneſs into theſe wounds. We muſt ſet before this mourner, the all-ſufficiency of Chriſts ſacrifice, the gracious offers of the Goſpel to burdened tranſgreſſors; in this ſence, it is better to go on a Sabbath to the houſe of mourning, then to the houſe of feaſting, Eccleſ. 7. 2. If ſo be the tears of the penitent, be as one of the Fathers ſaid, The wine of Angels, ſurely they ſhould be the motives of Saints to wipe off thoſe tears by words of Scriptural comfort and conſolation, Rom. 15. 4. Let us ſhew ſuch Chriſts ſmiles, to quiet their ſighs, let us tell them of the freeneſs of the promiſe, of the willingneſs of Chriſt to be reconciled, Mat. 11. 28. And that if the prodigal Son draw near, the Father will not keep at a diſtance. We are commanded to ſpeak comfortably to Gods weeping ones, and to tell them their iniquities are pardoned, Iſa. 40. 1, 2. In this we ſhould imitate the Sun, which often ſhines in a ſhowre, and puts a gilding upon the falling drops.

We muſt on the Lords day, exhort and ſtir up ſuch as have Heb. 10. 24. foreign.Heb 10:24begun well, to hold out patiently and conſtantly. The Crown is at the end of the race. The throne is given, not to the Souldier, but to the Conquerour, Rev. 3. 21. Let us tell young p. 381profeſſors, they that endure to the end ſhall be ſaved, Mat. 24. 13. Perſeverance is a pearl in a Chriſtians graces; it is not 1 Cor. 9. 24.1 Cor 9:24to begin only, but to finiſh our courſe, 2 Tim. 4. 7. OnelyOnly Non omnes currentes accipient bravium, ſed tantùm bene e… ritè currentes, ad metam uſq. Alap.Conqueſt ſhall wear the ſpoyles of a glorious eternity. To ſet forwards toward Sion, and then to recoyle, this is to ſlight, not to get heaven. Happineſs is gained by forcing, not by fre…zing, Mat. 11. 12. not by growing more luke-warme, but more importunat…. Chriſt is the Omega, as well as the Alpha, Rev. 1. 8. and ſo is Chriſtianity too. The Arrow which ſhoots home hits the mark. The Sun doth not only riſe in the morning, but it goes off with flying beams in the evening. The Saint muſt ſet with Chriſt in his heart, as well as riſe with Chriſt in his eye. And theſe things we muſt ſuggeſt to initiated Chriſtians, a work becoming Gods holy day.

5We muſt rebuke and rèprove ſuch as are tainted with ſcandal, for their offenſive miſcarriages. Thus John reproved Herod for Herodias her ſake, Luke 3. 19. Thou muſt not ſuffer ſin upon thy Brother, leaſt it fall upon thy ſelf; and although this be an unthankfull office, it muſt not be declined. Indeed Levit. 19. 17.Lev 19:17ſin is often lovely, but ſinners paſſions muſt not obſtruct a duty of Religion; Wounds muſt be waſhed, though they Gal. 4. 15.Gal 4:15ſmart in the waſhing. Thy reproof may be thy Brothers balm, which if neglected, may be his bane: Thoſe who are of Davids ſpirit will prize ſmiting more then ſmiles, and reproof as an excellent oyle, Pſal. 141. 5. which is one of thoſe creature comforts which expreſs the wealth of the world, Pſal. 4. 7. And oyle for its ſoftneſs, as well as value and worth. The checks of a righteous man, are the breaking of a ſtone upon a pillow, like a ſword anointed with balſom, which woundeth and healeth at the ſame time; and ſuch rebuke is the oyle of gladneſs too it iſſues in nothing but peace and conſolation.

6We muſt reconcile differing and jarring Chriſtians. And this is an eminent branch of ſpiritual charity; to reconcile God to man, was the fruit of Chriſts paſſions, and is the bleſſed Phoenix which aroſe from the aſhes of all his ſufferings, Col. 1. 20. To reconcile man to God is the labour and Illi rectiùs pacifici ſunt, qui primò in corde u…, deinde inter ratres diſſentientes pacem faciunt, & concordiam. Hieron.attempt of all faithfull Miniſters, 2 Cor. 5. 19, 20. But to p. 382reconcile man to man, is the duty of every real Chriſtian, and a work moſt agreeing to the ſweetneſs of a Sabbath, a duty crowned with the promiſe of the greateſt royalty, Mat. 5. 9. The day of Chriſts Reſurrection (our bleſſed Sabbath) was a reconciling day, It reconciled truth to the Promiſes, Mat. 20. 19. Mat. 27. 63. Mark 8. 31. Mark 10. 34. Luke 24. 7. John 20. 9. it was the accompliſhment of the reconciling work of mans Redemption; And on this day, the ſoul of Chriſt was re-united to his body, which was at a diſtance before: No work then more befits the Lords day, then the healing of diviſions, and the praying down animoſities between Chriſtians.

7On this bleſſed day we muſt endeavour to reſolve doubtfull Chriſtians. Doubts are the wedges in the ſoul, which both wound and pain; to pluck out theſe wedges by Scripture Qui diſceptat, & dubitat. ſ… n… licitum, necne ſi manducat, peccati, & damnationis incurrit rectum.force, is a duty becoming the beſt of days. A doubting Chriſtian is upon a rack, he is as a ſhip upon the Sea in the night, he fears he ſhall either daſh upon the rock of errour, or ſink in the quick-ſands of miſtake, he wants the Pilotiſm of a knowing and faithful Chriſtian, he toſſes to and fro, and knows not how to come to harbour: Now it is ſpiritual love and charity to relieve this naval pilgrim. Oecumen.Doubts are not only painfull and vexatious, but harmful and noxious.

1. They are the enemies of faith, Mat. 21. 21.

2. They are the evidences of frailty, Mat. 28. 17.

3. They are the hazard of the ſoul, Rom. 14. 23.

4. They are the diſobedience of a poſitive and peremptory command, Luke 12. 29. And

5. They cat out all the profit of prayer, 1 Tim. 2. 8. Haeſitantiae opponitur fidu…ia, quae neceſſaria eſt omni oranti.Doubts like cares, they are the thorns of the ſoul, which rend and tear the minde with convulſions and diſtractions: And therefore the Apoſtle is ſo urgent in his command, Rom. 14. 1. That new and crude Profeſſors be not admitted to doubtfull diſputations; that was the way to unhinge Mark 11. 24.Mark 11:24them from the faith, and to take them off from the profeſſion of Chriſtianity, which would ſeem nothing to them but a labyrinth and a maze wherein men may loſe, but not p. 383ſave themſelves. This is charity then becoming a Sabbath, to ſatisfie the doubts of poor trembling Chriſtians, and to become as a harbor to a tattered bark. Thus ye have ſeen the ſeverals of that ſpiritual charity which the meaneſt Chriſtian may give, and the humble, if wanting Chriſtian, will receive.

Another direction for the better obſervation of the Lords day may be, Let us ſeek God in Ordinances. Ordinances Direct. 8.are only an empty cloud, unleſs the preſence of God melt them into a fruitful ſhower. David ſaw the power and glory of God in the Sanctuary, Pſal. 63. 2. Ordinances are breathleſs inſtitutions, unleſs God breathe the breath of life Gen. 2. 7.Gen 2:7into them: The ſpirit muſt ſtretch himſelf over them, as the Prophet did over the child, before any life will come, 2 Kings 4. 35. In hearing God muſt open Lydia's heart, Acts 16. 14. In praying God muſt open our mouths, that Pſalm 51. 15.Ps 51:15we may ſhew forth his praiſe. The Sacrament is a gaudy Pſalm 119. 18.Ps 119:18pageant, if God be not preſent; what do we drink, if not John 6. 55.John 6:55Chriſts bloud? what do we eat, if not Chriſts body? It is the preſence of God makes an Ordinance the living child, 1 Kings 3. 22.1 Kgs 3:22otherwiſe it is no more then the dead child, or a ſpirituall abortion. The divine appearance, ſweetens, fills, ſanctifies, and makes effectual every Ordinance. David loved the habitation of Gods houſe, but it was becauſe that was the place where Gods honour dwelt, Pſal. 27. 4. When men go to a certain place to meet a friend, and they miſs him, they return ſorrowful and diſcontented. Chriſt is thy friend Cùm dei gloria in Chriſto, & in Evangelio, quaſi in ſpeculo intuemur, & per hoc, quaſi in eandem dei gloriam tranſ…rmamur, ſpeculantes, (i. e.) per ſpeculum videntes, non de ſpeculâ proſpicientes. Aug de Trin.who is to meet thee at Ordinances; if thou miſs him, go home ſorrowful. Ordinances without God, they are a table without meat, and ſo a living ſoul may depart hungry and thirſty. Sometimes Ordinances are compared to a glaſs, 2 Cor. 3. 18. Becauſe therein the Chriſtian beholds the glory of the Lord. Let us hear the language of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 84. 2. My ſoul longeth, yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord, my heart, and my fleſh cryeth out for the living Lord. Therefore David longed for Gods Courts, becauſe the Lord was in thoſe Courts. Sometimes the ſweet Singer of Iſrael compares his deſire to thirſt, of which creatures are more impatient then hunger, Pſalm 63. 1. p. 384Sometimes to the thirſt of a Hart, which creature being naturally hot and dry, in a very great degree, is exceeding thirſty; but ſtill the object of his thirſt is God, Pſal. 42. 1, 2. It was communion with God in his life, love, and graces, nay, in his comforts, which the Pſalmiſt breathed after, the ſweet ſmiles of Gods face, the honey dews of his Spirit; this was Davids Paradiſe of pleaſute, and his heaven below. When we go to Ordinances, let us with Moſes, go up into the Mount to converſe with God there. It is God in the Word cauſeth efficacy; It is God in Prayer cauſeth prevalency: It is God in Meditation which cauſeth ſuavity; It Pſalm 104. 34.Ps 104:34is God in a Sabbath cauſeth complacency. When we go to the waters of the Sanctuary, let us ſay as Eliſha to the waters of Jordan, where is the Lord God of Elijah, 2 Kings 2. 14. So, where is the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt? Where is thy Chariot, O Sun of Righteouſneſs? why is it ſo long Judges 5. 28.Judg 5:28a coming, why tarries it, what clogs the wheels? O when wilt thou come to me? Let us look on all holy duties and performances, as boats to ferry our ſouls over to God. Saul himſelf was ſad and ſorrowfull, when he enquired of the Lord, and the Lord anſwered him, 1 Sam. 28. 15. Indeed; God is not onelyonly the Maſter, but the Marrow of a Sabbath; and no Lords day can ſatisfie, without the Lord of the day; Antiquus dierum Chriſtus eſt; Ille enim corporaliter, & viſibiliter judicabit vivos, et mortuos, & Chriſtus ideò vocatur Antiqus dierum; ut ejus deſcribatur Majeſtas et aeternitas. Hieron.what is the beſt time, without the Rock of eternity? What is the beſt day, without the Ancient of dayes? What are Sermons, Sacraments, ſeaſons of grace, without our Beloved? They are nothing but broken Ciſterns, glorious dreams, gilded nothings, embalmed hearſes, and as a perfumed corpſe. Ah then, let not a Sermon ſatisfie, without Chriſt in a Sermon; let not reading a Chapter content, without we read Chriſt in that Chapter; As once Bernard deſpiſed that Book, wherein he did not read Chriſt. And let us alwayes remember, that Ordinances they are the inſtitutions of God, and, he that made a brazen Serpent heal, Num. 21. 9. can make his own inſtitutions effect our cure.

Object. But the poor ſouls greateſt Query is, How ſhall I meet with God in Ordinances? who ſhall open the door into the Gallery, where I may be with my Beloved?

p. 385Anſw. In anſwer to this; ſomething we have to do, as well as ſomething to enjoy; Our pain muſt go before our pleaſure; we muſt not be wanting to meet God, if we expect that God ſhould meet us. Therefore,

1We muſt be earneſt in Prayer, we muſt cry out, O ſend out thy light, and thy truth, let them lead me, let them bring me to thy holy Hill, to thy Tabernacle; then will I go unto the Altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy, Pſalm 43. 3, 4. We muſt make our addreſſes to God, if we look for his approaches to us. God ſends a Preacher to a praying Paul; God Acts 9. 11.Acts 9:11ſends an Angel to a praying Daniel: God comes himſelf to Dan. 9. 21.Dan 9:21a praying Solomon. Prayer is an humble ſummons for the 1 Kings 2. 3.1 Kgs 2:3divine appearance; it can not onelyonly tie Gods hands, Exod. Acts 10. 2, 3.Acts 10:2Acts 10:332. 10. and command returns, Iſa. 45. 10. But it can obtain Gods preſence. If Moſes ſay, I pray thee, God preſently Jam. 4. 8.Jas 4:8replies, My preſence ſhalt go with thee, Exod. 33. 13, 14. If thou wilt have God meet thee in Ordinances, let thy prayers be thy Harbingers to prepare room for him.

2Be ſerious in preparing for Ordinances. The Sun ſcatters the Clouds, before it ſhines in its brightneſs: The Bride dreſſeth her ſelf to meet her Bridegroom. And thou muſt Iſa. 61. 10.Isa 61:10compoſe thy ſelf with awful apprehenſions,Sponſa …rnata repreſentat eccleſiam, ornamentis gratiae, & fortitulinis decoratam, immò animam ſanctam gratiis, & ſpiritu adaptatam, et ſi debilis, et imperfecta. Haymo.

1. Of the Divine Majeſty, with whom thou art to converſe.

2. With the ſolemneſs of Gods Ordinance, thou art now going to enjoy.

3. With the ſweetneſs, and advantage of the ſeaſon, thou art now entring upon, and then God will meet thy prepared ſoul. Joſeph trimmed himſelf, and then he goes into Pharaoh's preſence. The Wiſe man adviſeth us▪ … keep our foot when we go into the houſe of God, Eccleſ. 5. 1. VVe ſhould do well, in our applications to holy Ordinances, to examine our ſelves, whether we are fit with looſe thoughts to meet with a dreadful Majeſty? Or with filthy hearts to meet with a holy God? Or with worldly and droſsy minds, to meet with Grn. 41. 14.our heavenly Father? Let us not complain, God retires, when we are not fit for his preſence. Let us then capacitate our ſelves by holy care, and ſerious preparation to enjoy God in Ordinances.

p. 3863Let us long for Gods preſence. God loves affectionate Proſelytes. A longing David ſhall ſee a loving God, Pſal. 63. 1, 2. The Spouſe is reſtleſs after her Beloved, and then ſhe meets him, Cant. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. The thirſting ſoul ſhall be fed Fames eſt illa melior, & ſanctior, quae eſt ſpiritualis, & jam in Chriſto habebit ſaturitatem, & invita aeternâ omnimodam ſatietatem ubi deus erit omnia in omnibus. Chemn.with milk and wine, Iſa. 55. 1. Grace and Righteouſneſs ſhall ſatisfie the bungry, Mat. 5. 6. The Pſalmiſt follows hard after God, Pſalm 63. 8. God meets with our purſuits, we ſhall then ſatisfie our ſelves in God, when nothing but God can ſatisfie us. Cold ſuitors ſhall not meet with Chriſt in his eſpouſals. VVhen the Wife longs, the Husband endeavours after the thing longed for. Mary Magdalen bemoaned the taking away of her Lord, John 20. 2. We may expect to meet with God, when his abſence is our greateſt. moan, and his preſence our ſweeteſt muſique.

4Let us come to Ordinances, with all reverential humility: God will look at him who is of a poor and a contrite ſpirit, Humilitas eſt via ad deum. Aug.and trembles at his Word, Iſa. 66. 2. God dwells in the humble heart, Iſa. 51. 15. God will raiſe thoſe who debaſe themſelves. Auguſtin tells us, That humility is the ready way Super quem requieſeit Sp. ſanctus, niſi ſuper humilem? ſuper humilem, non ſuper virginem. Bern.to God; It is the uſher who brings the ſoul into the preſence Chamber. Bernard notably obſerves, That the ſpirit of God reſted on the Virgin Mary, not for her Virginity, but for her Humility. And if Mary had not been ſo low in her own eyes, ſhe had not been ſo lovely in Gods. Alapide ſaith, Humility is a throne of Saphire, where God ſits in Majeſty. Let Humilitas eſt thronus Sappharinus, in quo deus cum Majeſtate reſide…. Alap.us then come to Ordinances with a ſubmiſſive ſpirit: God will caſt an eye upon the ſoul who lies at his feet; He ſent an Angel to Daniel, when he lay in his aſhes, Dan. 9. 3. 21. God rewar… the very counterfeit humility of Ahab, 1 Kings 21. 29. though his ſackcloath was but as Samuels mantle, the attire of hypocriſie. A dread of Gods preſence, brings Prov. 16. 19.Prov 16:19a ſweet ſence of it; and a trembling at the Word of God, goes Prov. 29. 23.Prov 29:23before a triumphing in the enjoyment of God. Job abhorred himſelf in duſt and aſhes, Job 42. 6. and then God hears him for himſelf, and his friends, and gives him intereſt upon intereſt for all his ſufferings and tribulation, Job 42. 10. A holy God will meet with an humble Saint.

Let us endeavour to be in the ſpirit upon the Lords day. p. 387Direct. 9.The extaſies of the Apoſtle John were on the Lords day, Revel. 1. 10. the rapture was accomodated to the ſeaſon. Chriſtians ſhould ſtudy to be above themſelves upon Gods holy day, then they ſhould walk in Galleries above the world. Hierome profeſſes, That he ſometimes found things ſo with himſelf, that it ſeemed to him, as if he had been triumphing Hieron. de Virginit. ſervand.among Troops of Angels, and ſinging hallelujahs with the Saints in Heaven, and walking arm in arm with Jeſus Chriſt. And Luther reports of himſelf, That ſometimes, eſpecially on a Sacrament day, the death of Chriſt was ſo full and freſh upon Luth.his ſpirit, as if then he had been upon Mount Calvary, and as if that was the day in which the Lord dyed. And Beleevers ſhould be ſo in the ſpirit upon the Sabbath, as if that was the very day, wherein Chriſt broke the bars of the Grave, rowled away the ſtone from the Sepulchre, and enfranchiſed himſelf from the reſtraints of the tomb. The Saints ſhould be carried out on this day, and make their ſallies into the ſuburbs of Heaven; In a word, they ſhould be in the ſpirit, which duty muſt firſt look upwards,

1We ſhould ſtrive to be in the aſſiſtances of the Spirit. Holy duties without the holy Spirit, are onelyonly the carcaſſes of Religion, like profeſſion without practice, which is offenſive and foreign. Chryſoſt.uſeleſs; ſuch ſervices bring neither glory to God, advantage to our ſelves, or benefit to others, and all are of no more ſignificancy; then a body when the ſpirits are fled away. On the morning therefore, we muſt inceſſantly beg the divine aſſiſtances of Gods bleſſed Spirit. It is the Spirit fits for Magiſtratical Luke 11. 13.Luke 11:13dignities, Num. 11. 25, 26. It is the ſpirit fits for miniſterial Numb. 27 18.Num 27:18ſervices, 2 Kings 2. 9. and it is the ſpirit fits us all for Chriſtian and holy duties.

1The Spirit directs us unto holy duties. Simeon came into the Temple by the ſpirit, Luke 2. 27. the good ſpirit directed him to meet Jeſus. How often doth Gods ſpirit excite, and provoke to holy Prayer, to ſecret meditation, and to thoſe cloſe, devotions, wherein the ſoul taſteth deepeſt of Chriſts flaggons, and apples. This inward Counſellour is often Cant. 2 5.Song 2:5reſtleſs in us, till it …end our knees, lift up our hands, and raiſe our hearts in ſacred approaches to the divine Majeſty. p. 388The Spirit leads the Saint into ſolitarineſs to converſe with God, as once it did lead Chriſt into the Wilderneſs to be temped Mat. 4. 1.Matt 4:1of Satan; this divine principle with us, is importunate Luke 4. 1.Luke 4:1till it put us upon enquiries after God.

2The holy Spirit quickens us in duties, John 6. 63. and makes us lively and vigorous. Corrupt nature takes off the wheeles in holy ſervices, flaggs and caſts a damp upon us in Chriſtus dicitur non ſpiritus vivens, ſed vivificans. foreign Spiritus vitarum. Theoph.ſuch heavenly intercourſe, but the Spirit oyles the wheeles, to make them go with greater ſpeed. When the ſoul is carried out by the Spirit, how full is it of holy hea…, divine zeal, and rare enlargement, as if of late it had converſed with a Seraphim, his tongue is the pen of a ready writer, Pſalm 45. 2. and his heart is like a bubbling Fountain; he melts in prayer, as the Cloud into drops: Paul aſſiſted by this good Spirit runs on till midnight, Acts 20. 7. and knows not how to break off his ſacred diſcourſes. And our ever 1 Cor. 15. 45.1 Cor 15:45to be admired Saviour, raiſed and quickned by the ſame ſpirit, wreſtles with God in prayer all night, Luke 6. 12. the very arteries of that duty were ſtretched out by that divine Spirit, which was given to Chriſt without meaſure, John 3. 34. The Spirit then, is the animation of our holy performances, without which they ſaint, and die away.

3The holy Spirit ſuſtains us in holy duties, Pſal. 51. 12. Mans ſpirit would quickly fail in wreſtling with God, was it Spiritus promptus, ſcil, graece foreign Hebraicè foreign alac…iter feſtinans: Lyrus habet duo vocabulà Dolanta. foreign rius, & foreign …ucundus.not under-propt by this good Spirit. The moſt ſparkling wine if it ſtand long, it will grow flat and dead; And though the ſpirit of man be willing, Mat. 26. 41. yet while it is in the body, it will be ſoon tired and flag in holy duties, which are ſo contrary to corrupt fleſh, but then the Divine Spirit comes in, and renews poor mans ſtrength like the Eagle, and ſo he runs through holy ſervices, and faints not; the annointing of the Spirit makes him agill and freſh, and holy Ordinances are not his burden, but his ſatisfaction. Believers offer their ſacrifices, as Chriſt did himſelf, Heb. 9. 14. through the eternal Spirit, who recruits them continually with additional ſtrength and vivacity.

4The bleſſed Spirit cauſeth us to overflow in holy duties, Job 32. 18. Our rich enlargements in Prayers, and other Goſpel p. 389ſervices, are from the good ſpirit of God, when the heart Pſalm 45. 1.Ps 45:1bubbles, and runs over in holy diſcourſe, and when the Eructans cor ſignificat cordis locutionem, cum nondum ad os pervenit, et querit illam emittere, & circum volvitur, et movetur huc et illuc, et volutatur egreſſum quaerens, quem prae gaudio non primo impe…u invenit, &c. Felix Praton.mind flutters and flyes high in holy meditation, and when our affections dilate, and follow hard after Jeſus Chriſt; all this is from the Spirits gracious, and divine aſſiſtance, 2 Cor. 3. 16. It is the holy Spirit ſpreads our duties like Gold to greater extenſions, and oftentimes makes the Saint in duty, query, whether he be in the body, or out of the body, 2 Cor. 12. 2. His heart is like the ſqueezed Grapes, overflowing with wine, which is better then the drink of Angels. It was the Spirit enlarged Solomons heart in that divine Prayer at the dedication of the Temple, 1 Kings 8. 22, 23. It was the Spirit enlarged Daniels heart in Prayer, to haſten deliverance from the Babyloniſh captivity, Dan. 9. 4. It was the Spirit enlarged Jonah▪s heart in Prayer; when the Whales belly was conſecrated into an Oratory, Numb. 18. 27.Num 18:27Jonah 2. 2. It is the Lords good Spirit, which makes mans Deut. 15. 14.Deut 15:14heart as the guſhing ſtreams, or the over-flowing Fat, or the Numb. 18▪ 30.Num 18:30dropping Wine-preſs, in ſervices Evangelical.John 3. 8.John 3:8

5It is the Spirit ſweetens duty. As Chriſt when he was at prayer, rejoyced in ſpirit, Luke 10. 21. Duties are ſadned by mans ſin, but are refreſhed by Gods Spirit. David acted Mat. 17. 1, 2.Matt 17:1Matt 17:2by this bleſſed Principle, delighted ſo much in duty, Luke 9. 29.Luke 9:29that he begs to ſpend his whole life in the Temple of God, Pſal. 27. 4. Ordinances become mellifluous by the concomitancy of Gods Spirit which often turneth them into a transfiguration. As it is reported of Baſil, that when Greg. Orat. de laud. Baſ.the Emperour came upon him, while he was at prayer, he ſaw ſuch luſtre in the face of holy Baſil, that he was ſtruck with terrous, and fell backwards. It is the Spirit raviſhes the Fructus ſpiritu… eſt gaudium, ſed impura voluptas eſt ſimilis voluptati, quâ afficiun… ſcabioſi, cum ſe ſcalpunt. Chryſ.heart, indulcorates and captivates the ſoul in holy duty, and toucheth the tongue with a Coal from the Altar, Iſa. 6. 6, 7. which turns all into a perfumed flame. The Apoſtle ſaith, the fruit of the ſpirit is joy, Gal. 5. 22. which is never ſo freſh and diffuſive as in holy ſervices. Ordinances are the ſpiritual opportunities, wherein the Comforter, John 14. 16. ſheds abroad his comforts in the ſoul.

It is the Spirit which helps our infirmities in holy duties: p. 390As in Prayer, Rom. 8. 26, 27. ſo in other ſpiritual ſervices: When we are flat, the Spirit quickens us: when we are contracted, as a ſhip becalmed, the Spirit fills our ſails, which is that VVind which bloweth where it liſteth, John 3. 8. Spiritus ſanctus poſtulat. (i. e.) poſtulare, et gemere facit; eſt hebraiſmus, quo kal ponitur pro Hiphil. Anſel.When we are ſad and dejected, the Spirit conſolates and chears us, and fluſhes us with that joy which is unſpeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1. 8. Oftentimes we cannot lanch forth in a duty; the Spirit then helps us off from the ſands: Many times we are dull in hearing, and then the Spirit opens the heart, Acts 16. 14. and makes us vigorous and attentive; And when we are at a loſs in Prayer, the Spirit puts life into our dead duty, and makes us groan, a ſign of Sex modis in orando erratur, primò ſi bonum temporale petimus animae nociturum, Secundò ſi à malo aliquo quod proſit nobis liberari oremus. Tertiò ſiquid petamus ex ambitione, ut filii Zebedaei petebant primus in regno Chriſti, quartò ſi quid petamus ex zelo indiſcreto, ut filii Zebedaei optabant ignem de caelo manaſſe in S…maritanos, Chriſtum reſpuentes, quinto ſi petatur ardentius, quod. utilius eſt differri ſextò, ſi▪ petamus ſtatum nobis incongruum.life, and furniſheth us with ſuitable petitions to accoſt, and lay ſiege to the throne of Grace; And when we are weak and ſtagger in a holy duty, the Spirit takes us by the hand, and ſets us with freſh ſtrength to finiſh our ſervice; the Spirit corrects all our errours in holy duties. A learned man obſerves, there are ſix great errours in Prayer:

1. When we petition ſome temporal good to the diſadvantage of the ſoul.

2. When we earneſtly deſire the removal of ſome affliction, which conduceth much to the good of the ſoul.

3. When we ask ſomething out of ambition, as the ſons of Zebedee, that they might have a prim…cy in the Kingdome of Chriſt.

4. When we petition any thing out of an indiſcrete zeal, as the ſons of Zebedee requeſted fire from Heaven to conſume the Samaritans who would not entertain Chriſt, Luke 9. 54.

5. When we are earneſt for that, which it was better it was delayed, that by this delay our prayers may be more importunate, and our perſeverance may be more fully diſcovered.

6. When we beg that ſtate of life in this World, which God ſees inconvenient for us.

Now the Spirit correct all theſe errours, and is the Cenſor of our miſcarriage in duty: He maketh us more wiſe, more humble, more heavenly, more ſelf-reſigning, more patient p. 391in duty. The guidances of the Spirit are the Pole-ſtar to direct us in every Ordinance▪ and holy ſervice. The Spirit is our advocate within us, John 14. 16. foreign, ſo the Greek, which fits us with holy pleas to ſue with, when we addreſs our ſelves to God, and carries out the heart to urge its caſe with greater earneſtneſs, with great weight and authority. The Spirit is the Preſident of our duties, to guide the ſoul that it write fair without blot. In a word, The Spirit helpeth our infirmities in duty: Not a good Angel, as Lyra; Not a ſpiritual man, a Miniſter, as Chryſoſtome; Not ſpiritual Grace, as Ambroſe; Not Charity, as Chryſoſt. tract in Joan.Auguſtine; But it is the Holy Ghoſt, as Pareus. And this bleſſed Spirit helpeth us, as the Nurſe helpeth a little Child holding it by the …eve; As the old man is ſtayed by his ſtaffe: or rather …peth together, as that word foreign, Rom. 8. 26. ſeems to imply; being a Metaphor taken from one, who is to lift a great weight, and being too weak, another claſpeth hands with him, and helps him: So the Spirit is ready to relieve us in all our ſpiritual duties.

7The holy Spirit ſucceeds, and proſpers our holy duties,

1It makes our duties prevalent with God. God attends, when we ſing in the ſpirit; God hears, when we pray in the ſpirit: Epheſ. 2 18.Eph 2:18as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, 1 Cor. 14. 15. VVhen this Dove moanes within us, Rom. 8. 26. God underſtands the groans of his own Spirit, and will give ſeaſonable anſwers: God Donum et efficacia orationis, non in verbis ſed in gemit… deſiderio affectu, et ſuſpiriis ignitis conſiſtit. Alap.gives his Spirit to aſſiſt in theſe duties; which he fore-determines to accept. Man ſpeaketh words in prayer, but the Spirit raiſes groans. Alapide obſerves, God is not ſo pleaſed with locution, as affection in that holy duty, not ſo much with expreſſions, as inexpreſſible ſighs, which are as incenſe in his acceptation, As the ſmoak of that Cloud, a ſign of Gods ſmile and favour, Iſa. 4. 5. A duty ſpirited by the Holy Ghoſt, ſhall never fail an expected end, for God knows the mind of his Spirit, as the Syriack reads it, Rom. 8. 27. As the Mother knows the groanes and cries of her tender Child, and preſently runs to help it, and to give it what it wants, and cries for. The Spirit is our interceſſour within us, as Chriſt is our interceſſour above us, whoſe pleas ſhall p. 3921 John 2. 1, 2.1 John 2:11 John 2:2not meet with a denial. The Spirit moving upon the waters, Gen. 1. 2. produced a World, and brought forth living Creatures: The Spirit moving upon the Word, the diſpenſations of the Goſpel, cauſes the New Creation, and makes living Chriſtians. O then, when we come under the Word, and are in the midſt of the waters of the Sanctuary, let us wait for the good ſpirit of the Lord: Other Birds drive away, but let the Dove come in. Pareus obſerves, Suſpiria perturbata ſemper exaudiuntur. Primó. Quid ſunt ſuſpiria ſpiritus. Secundò, Quia ſemper ſpiritus interpellat juxta placitum, et voluntatem dei. Pat.that the groans of the Spirit within us, ſhall not vaniſh into ayr, and that upon a double account:

1. Becauſe the Spirit comes from God, John 15. 26. and is his Commiſſioner in a gracious ſoul, and he will not deny his Leiger in a Saint.

2. The Spirit always intercedes according to the good will and pleaſure of the Lord; And pleaſing petitions ſhall not meet with a repulſe: what ſuits with the heart of God, ſhall open the hand of God; Congruous deſires ſhall be conquering deſires.

2The Spirit makes duties effectual to us: That Prayer which is animated by the Spirit, ſhall not onelyonly gain upon Gods heart, but melt ours. If the Spirit open our heart in hearing, we ſhall attend to the Word, and ſavingly entertain it. When Chriſt by the Spirit opened the underſtanding of the Acts 16. 14.Acts 16:14two Diſciples, Luke 24. 45. then they dived into Goſpel myſteries, and underſtood fully what was fulfilled concerning the death of the Meſſiah: When the Spirit brings home a Sermon, he makes it fire to burn up the droſs of the ſoul; Jer. 5. 14.Jer 5:14he makes it a hammer to break the hardneſs of the ſoul; Jer. 23. 29.Jer 23:29he makes it a two-edged ſword to divide between ſin and Heb. 4. 12.Heb 4:12the ſoul. Ordinances are kindly Phyſick, and work the cure ſweetly and effectually, if this Phyſick be given by the hand of the Spirit, if the third Perſon in the Trinity be our Phyſician; how then ſhould the neceſſity of the ſpirits aſſiſtance inflame our importunity, to ſue out that precious John 15. 5.John 15:5Promiſe for the attainment of it, recorded in Luke 11. 13. In Ordinances without the Spirit we can do noth…ng; Chriſt 1 Cor. 9. 26.1 Cor 9:26muſt work by his Spirit, or elſe in all our holy duties, we onelyonly beat the ayr, to uſe the Apoſtles phraſe.

p. 3932Let us ſtudy to be under the impreſſions of the Spirit on Gods holy day. The earth ſtands not in ſo much need of the beams of the Sun, as the ſoul doth of the influences of the Spirit.

1The Spirit is a Spirit of Truth to guide the Underſtanding, John 15. 26. It is a Spirit of Counſel to enrich the mind, Iſa. 11. 2. and fill it with knowledge: How naked Eph. 5. 18.Eph 5:18is mans underſtanding, if it be not covered with the covering John 14. 17.John 14:17of Gods Spirit, Iſa. 30. 1.1 Cor. 12. 8.1 Cor 12:8

2The Spirit is a good Spirit, Neh. 9. 10. to ſanctifie the will: It is a holy Spirit, Epheſ. 1. 13. in relation to its effects and productions; it cures the will of its pertinacy and Rom. 1. 4.Rom 1:4ſtubbornneſs, and melts mans will into Gods. We may take 1 Cor. 12. 9.1 Cor 12:9an inſtance in Paul, Acts 9. 6.

3The Spirit is a Spirit of Grace, Zach. 12. 10. to beautifie the heart, and fructifie it with all the ſweet fruits of Righteouſneſs: It is more then the Sun to the Garden, It not 2 Theſ. 2. 13. Phil. 1. 11.2 Thess 2:13Phil 1:11onelyonly blows the flower, but it plants: The graces of the Spirit are thoſe ſtars which ſhine in the firmament of the heart, 2 Theſ. 2. 17.2 Thess 2:17thoſe vigorous principles, which carry out the ſoul to every good word and work.

4It is the ſpirit of Glory, 1 Pet. 4. 14. to ſublimate the affections, and raiſe them as high as heaven, Col. 3. 2. The ſpirit diſcovers glorious things to us, ſhews the ſoul its treaſury 1 Cor. 2. 12. Eph 3. 8. 2 Cor. 5 21. Rev. 1. 6. Cant. 7. 8. 13. Col. 3. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 7.1 Cor 2:12Eph 3:82 Cor 5:21Rev 1:6Song 7:8Song 7:13Col 3:111 Pet 2:7where its riches lie; It opens Chriſt to a believer, who is the Wardrob of our Robes; the Exchequor of our wealth, the fountain of our honour, the paradiſe of our delight, or to ſpeak in the Apoſtles language, who is all and in all to the believing ſoul.

5It is a ſpirit of life to quicken the whole man, Rom. 8. 2. God breaths into man, and ſo he becomes a living ſoul; the Spirit breaths into man, and ſo he becomes a living Saint. Gen. 2. 7.Gen 2:7Nay, God works all his works upon us, and in us, in Chriſt, by the ſpirit, it is the ſpirit makes us upright and ſincere, 1 Cor. 6. 11.1 Cor 6:11and ſo rectifies our obliquities, Pſal. 51. 10. It is the ſpirit ſnuffs the underſtanding, which is the candle of the Lord, Eph. 1. 17.Eph 1:17Prov. 20. 27. and ſo enlightens our darkneſſes. It is the ſpirit 2 Theſ. 2. 1….2 Thess 2:1fixes and eſtabliſheth us, and ſo ſettles our inconſtancies, p. 394Pſal. 78. 8. It is the ſpirit ſoftens and ſuples us, Iſa. 32. Sapientia hominis eſt, quâ res difficillimas ſcrutatur, et perveſtigare conatur. Cartwr.15. and turns our barren hearts into a fruitfull field, and ſo fills our vacuities: It is the ſpirit conducts us in our ſtraights, John 16. 13. and ſo prevents our miſcarriages: It is the ſpirit takes us up, Ezek. 3. 12. nay, lifts us up, Ezek. 3. 14. and ſo cures us of our pedantick and dreggiſh ſuccumbencies: for Man is the worm Jacob, Iſa. 41. 14. and will naturally grovel on, and immure himſelf in the Earth. The ſpirit of God is an excellent ſpirit, Dan. 5. 12. and will create in the 1. Cor. 12. 11.1 Cor 12:11believer thoſe excellencies, which will make him more excellent then his neighbour, Prov. 12. 26. The irrigations, and pouring forth of the ſpirit, Iſa. 44. 3. will make the ſoul freſh, 1 Cor. 12. 13. Corroborari in interiore homine, eſt intellectu, voluntate, caeteriſ que animae partibus ſuffulciri.1 Cor 12:13and green, and be in a ſpring of grace, which is moſt pleaſant to the eye of God and Man. This holy ſpirit upon us, Iſa. 59. 21. is not ſo much our covering, as our Crown, our ſtrength to encounter every temptation, Eph. 3. 16. Let us then, not as Sadduces miſ-believe the ſpirit, Acts 23. 8. But cry out, Lord evermore give us of this ſpirit. And to ſet our ſelves under theſe various and rare impreſſions,

1We muſt purifie our ſelves. The ſpirit is a holy ſpirit, which will dwell onelyonly in a clean heart; fleſh and ſpirit are combatants, and not cohabitants, they oppoſe one another; Gal. 5. 17.Gal 5:17then grace triumphs, when fleſh is ſubdued, and chaſed out of the field.

2We muſt ſupplicate our God. The ſpirit is given to the Petitioner, and not to the profeſſor; How much more ſhall your heavenly father, give the holy ſpirit to them that ask him, Iſa. 63. 11. Eph. 4. 30. 1 Theſ. 4 8. 1 Cor. 6. 19.Isa 63:11Eph 4:301 Thess 4:81 Cor 6:19ſaith our Saviour, Luke 11. 13. Earneſt prayer is the means to obtain the good ſpirit, whoſe works are ſo many and ſo marvellous, and whoſe operations are ſo ſecret and ſo ſoveraign.

2But ſecondly, as this duty muſt look upwards for the aſſiſtances, and the impreſſions of the ſpirit; So this duty muſt look inwards; we have not onelyonly to do with heaven on the Lords day, and to look up to Gods ſpirit; but we have to do with our own hearts too, and ſeek the ſpirit to proportionate Prov. 4. 23.Prov 4:23them to the holy ſervices of the Sabbath; and here our duty is two-fold;

p. 3951. We muſt be in the graces of the ſpirit, and that too in a double ſenſe.

1We muſt be in grace habitual; We muſt come as Saints to the duties of a Sabbath: That of the Apoſtle is highly obſervable; Our communion is with the Father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Joh. 1. 3. Obſerve the terms of Relation; Sancti eſt in ſpiritu vivere (i. e.) internam habere vitam, et animum gratiâ ſpiritu, etjuſtitiâ imbutum; ſancti eſt in ſpiritu ambulare (i. e.) ſecundum ſpiritus, et gratiae dictamen, ductum que incedere converſari, agere, operari, et Graecum foreign ſignificat, certo ordine, ſerie, et normâ incedere. Alap.the term Father ſpeaks us to be Children. It is not, our communion is with God, but with the Father and his Son. Saints properly are the gueſts of the Sanctuary. Chriſt in us is not onelyonly the hope of our glory hereafter, Col. 1. 27. but our hope of acceptance here. We muſt bring Benjamin, we muſt bring Chriſt, if we will ever ſee the face of God in Ordinances; wicked men defile, not enjoy an Ordinance, John 17. 21. They are ſpots, not gueſts in that holy Feaſt. It is onelyonly the ſpiritual man is fit for converſe with God; Princes converſe not with Beggars, nor God with ſinners: Chriſt in his incarnation tabernacled with the Sons of men, John 1. 14. But in his communion he converſes with the Sons of God; he gives his people the meeting, Mat. 18. 20. The Sun ſhines upon the ſtars, and they reflect its light with a glittering rebound. Chriſt when he aroſe again gave not the meeting to the world, but to his Diſciples, Luke 24. 36. And ſo in his bleſſed fellowſhip he viſits not the formaliſt, but the Saint; Chriſt in his ordinances influences his living Eph. 1. 22, 2….Eph 1:22Eph 1:2members, not glaſs eyes, the ſpeculative Atheiſt, not painted faces, the varniſhed hypocrite, not 'wooden legs, with the ſilken ſtocking upon them; the ſpruce and ſelf-deceiving moraliſt, who with Agag are ready to depoſe, the bitterneſs 1 Sam. 15 32.1 Sam 15:32of death is over.

2We muſt be on the Lords day in grace actual. On the Sabbath the ſoul is to be ſet on work in acting ſeveral graces, and ſome ſeem to be of a different nature; As faith and fear, heavenlineſs of mind, and humbleneſs of heart, repentings for ſin, and relyings on God, tremblings of the ſoul, and reſtings on Chriſt, a real longing for promiſed mercies, and yet a quiet ſtaying for thoſe mercies promiſe, by hope expecting good things to come, and yet by faith poſſeſſing thoſe things at preſent. This embroydery of grace muſt be on the heart of p. 396Lam. 3. 26,Lam 3:26a Saint upon the Sabbath; One of the Ancients compares Greg. Mor. l. 19. ſect. 30.holy men upon Earth, unto thoſe holy Angels of Heaven, Rev. 4. 8. that are ſaid to be full of eyes within and without. In the week the Saints muſt uſe their eyes without, Pſal. 77. 6.Ps 77:6looking after their neceſſary callings, and their occaſions in Hoſ. 6. 3.Hos 6:3the world; but upon the Sabbath, they more ſolemnly ſet Ex cognitione dei omnia utriuſ que tabulae officia tanquam ex fonte promanant et eatenus placent, quatenus illam praelucentem habent. Riv.on work their eyes within, looking inward upon the eſtate of their ſouls: knowledge muſt open its eyes, and repentance muſt drop its tears, every grace muſt be in ure and exerciſe. Indeed the Sabbath is the proper ſeaſon for the acting of our ſeveral graces, working as Bees in a Hive, making honey of every ordinance. Sorrow and confeſſion muſt begin, faith and prayer muſt carry on, and holy thankſgiving muſt conclude the duties of a Sabbath. Our hearing the Word muſt be introduced by holy appetite and deſire, we muſt long to be in the Courts of God; It muſt be entertained Pſal. 84. 2. Luke 8. 1. Heb. 4. 2. Mat. 13. 19.Ps 84:2Luke 8:1Heb 4:2Matt 13:19by faith and affection; it muſt be improved by zeal and an holy converſation: our lives muſt be comments on Gods ſacred truths; and ſo all other ordinances of the Sabbath muſt be the ſphears for our graces to move in, as ſtars in their Phil. 1. 27.Phil 1:27Orbs; and this is to be in the ſpirit on the Lords day.

2Let us ſtudy to be in the comforts of the ſpirit upon the Lords day: The joyes of the Holy Ghoſt are the muſick of heaven below, the hearts rapture, paradiſe in the boſome, the ſweet earneſt of future bleſſedneſs, they are the ecchoes of aſſurance, and the reverberations of a good God, and a good Conſcience. Spiritual comforts hath many ſprings, but all moſt pleaſing and complacential.

1They are the comforts of God, 2 Cor. 1. 3. who is a fountain above us. The Father of mercies leaves a ſeed of joy in the ſoul.

2They are the comforts of the Holy Ghoſt, Acts 9. 31. who is a bleſſed ſpring within us, John 7. 37. ſhedding thoſe grateful ſtreams of peace and joy, which drench the ſoul with unſpeakable delight.

3They are the comforts of the Scriptures, Rom. 15. 4. which are as ſweet Gardens without us; every promiſe being Conſolatio omnis nititur promiſſionibus gratuit…, Dav.as a ſweet roſe, every truth being as a flower of the Sun, and p. 397every threatning being as wholeſome worm-wood in this ſalvifical garden.

4They are the comforts of the Saints, Col. 4. 11. which are as lights about us for our more comfortable paſſages to Sancti nos ſolantur inviſendo, condolendo, neceſſitatibus noſtris adminiſtrando, et miſerrimas noſtras conditiones ſublevando. Dav.our reſt and happineſs. Communion of Saints being not only an article of our Creed, but an helper of our joy, in our travels to Canaan.

But to return to the comforts of the ſpirit; Gods people may find ſoul-refreſhing comforts in Chriſt the Lord upon his own day; and the meaſure of their comforts may mount their ſouls ſo high, as to make them like Moſes upon Mount Piſgah viewing Canaan, the heavenly Canaan, flowing with that which is better then milk and honey; the ſoul of a ſincere Iſa. 51. 12. 2 Cor. 1. 4. Luke 2. 29. Iſa. 56. 7.Isa 51:122 Cor 1:4Luke 2:29Isa 56:7Chriſtian may ſwim in a ſea of ſweet delight; he whoſe heart hath been as a boat, which could not be got up all the week, becauſe of low water, yet may be brought up in an high ſpring tide of ſpiritual comfort upon the Lords day, being ready to ſay with Old Simeon, Lord now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace, Luke 2. 29. the ſoul may be ſo Pſal. 94. 19. Iſa. 57. 18.Ps 94:19Isa 57:18filled with joy upon Gods holy day in his houſe of prayer, that he may be ambitious of his eternal Requiem in the boſome of Chriſt. Nay, upon the Lords day, a believer being in the ſpirit, the worſt evils may amplifie his beſt comforts, to think of ſin remitted, hell removed, death vanquiſhed, devil Gen. 42. 38.Gen 42:38conquered, all theſe make for him, that he may go down with Jud. 14. 14.Judg 14:14joy and triumph to the grave. Out of every eater comes meat; the upper and the neither ſprings run all into the Joſh. 15. 19.Josh 15:19ſame ſtream of comfort to the Saints: Every thing on a Sabbath is an occaſion of ſpiritual joy to them; If they look up Iſa. 29. 19.Isa 29:19to God, they will joy in the Lord, Rom. 5. 11. If they conſider Iſa. 35. 2.Isa 35:2the ſeaſon of a Sabbath, that is the time, nay, the term Iſa. 52. 9.Isa 52:9time for the ſoul, which is matter of joy, nay, as the joy of harveſt, Iſa. 9. 3. If they glance at the word, they receive the word with joy, Luke 8. 13. If they act their graces, this is with joy unſpeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1. 8. It was a brave ſpeech of a Martyr to his cruel tormentors; Work your will upon my weak body, as for my ſoul it is in heaven already, and over that Caeſar hath no power. So it may be the p. 398caſe of a Chriſtian upon a Sabbath, he may be as in heaven beginning his triumphal hallelujahs. It is no wonder then Intus eſt, in corde eſt Sabbatum noſtrum. Aug.if St. Auguſtine cry out, Our Sabbath is within, in our hearts; There indeed is the muſical ſpring of joy.

1Let us take heed of grieving the ſpirit, Eph. 4. 30. No fountain caſts out ſweet and bitter water: a grieved ſpirit will not daſh joyes upon the ſoul, the mournful Dove flies Offenditur ſpiritus verbis putidis, & etiam quo vis peccato. Hier.away. We muſt cheriſh the graces, if we will poſſeſs the joyes of the ſpirit. The birds ſing moſt ſweetly in the ſpring, when every thing is freſh and green; Gods ſpirit in the ſoul yields its freſheſt delights among flouriſhing graces, when the Peccata ſunt injuriae, & contumeliae ſpquae eum contriſtantur. Alap.ſeared boughs of corruption are broken down. Sin and vanity break the ſtrings of the ſpirits muſick, and chaſe away the Comforter from our coaſts; as birds huſhed away leave the place of their preſent abode.

2Let us not ſuſpend our anſwer to the ſpirits excitations. Let us liſten to every motion, and apply our ſelves to every counſel of this inward Monitor. Slighted advocates plead no more: we muſt hearken to every whiſper of the Holy Ghoſt, who firſt commands, and then comforts. To ſtir up to holy duties, to good works, to circumſpect walking is the office of the ſpirit; but to raviſh the ſoul with divine delights is the reward of the ſpirit. Obſerve holy David, Pſal. 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts thy comforts delight my ſoul. He was now acting the duty of meditation, and then the ſpirit beſprinkled him with dews of joy. A Deus per eſſentiem, eſt totus conſolatio, immò Mare & Oceanus conſolationis, quem in ſervos ſuos etiam in hac vitâ effundit.learned man ſaith, God is an Ocean of conſolation. Let not our ſin and diſobedience be ſuch banks and ramparts, that this Sea cannot overflow us with complacential effuſions. Obedience indeed and duty make way for the ſtreams of ſpirituall comfort. And to our caſe, let us keep the Sabbath circumſpectly, and we ſhall keep it comfortably: Let us follow the ſpirit in every duty, obey the dictates of the ſpirit in every Ordinance: When the ſpirit prompts us to prayer, let us tune our hearts to that duty, and not fold our hands in ſloth and negligence; when the ſpirit ſuggeſts to Prov. 6. 10.Prov 6:10us the import of an Ordinance, let us not be ſlight and careleſs in that holy inſtitution, and let us conſider the motions p. 399Prov. 24. 33.Prov 24:33of the ſpirit go before the melodies of the ſpirit.

3And thirdly, Let us ſtudy to be in the ſpirit on the Lords day. This duty muſt.

3Look downwards, we muſt avoid whatſoever oppoſeth the ſpirit, whatſoever may quench that celeſtial flame.1 Theſ. 5. 191 Thess 5:19

1We muſt on the Sabbath lay aſide all temporal cares. Cares at all times are thorns, Mat. 13. 22. But on a Sabbath they are thorns in a flame, not only ſcratching, but ſcorching. Indeed the Lords day is not without its cares, but they are heavenly, not worldly cares, care to pleaſe the ſpirit, not to pleaſe the fleſh, care to lay up treaſures in heaven, not to fill our coffers below. The ſoul then muſt be Divina benedictio Sabbati eſt, quâ ſibi deus ſtudia & occupationes aſſerit. Calv.cared for, how to prepare it for duty, how to pacifie it with pardon, how to beautifie it with grace, how to fit it for eternity. Head and heart muſt be at work on the Sabbath, but it muſt be for the ſoul, not for the outward man. But to ſet our ſervants on work in our callings, to be in our counting Mat. 16. 26.Matt 16:26houſe, to contrive buſineſs for the following week on Gods holy day; this is not only to defile the Sabbath, but to affront providence, as if God who takes care for the Lillies of the field, Mat. 6. 30. could not provide for the ſtrict obſervers of his holy day.

2We muſt throw away all worldly thoughts. How many are there whoſe thoughts are as freſh, and affections as vigorous towards the world upon the Sabbath day, as if they were trading in their ſhops, walking in the Exchange, or Exod. 8. 24.Exod 8:24poſting their Books, and purſuing their bargains; I may ſay to ſuch, as the Lord to Satan, Zach. 3. 2. The Lord rebuke Plaga muſcarum fuit foedo colluvies, quae fuit numeroſa, et moleſtiſſima, immò et nocentiſſima, et ideo moleſtiſſima, quia numeroſiſſima. Riv.thee; what is this but to turn time into a chaos, where there is no diſtinction between light and darkneſs, between the Egypt of the week, and the Goſhen of the Sabbath? This day is a day of light, life and ſalvation, and ſhall worldly thoughts, that judgment of lice or flies ſtain and ecclipſe it? Worldly imaginations on this day, they are the ſacriledge of the mind, the worm at the root of duty, the ſouls deſtructive avocation, the Shibboleth of a covetous man, the bluſter and groſs miſcarriage of a Chriſtian; they are the ſouls impriſonment when it ſhould be enlarged in the way of Gods Ordinances.

p. 4003We muſt take heed of unneceſſary diverſions. The heart is wholly to be ſet on God, on his own day. One obſerves, The Law is ſpiritual, and ſo is the fourth Commandment, and is not fully obeyed by outward conformity, but it requires the Rom. 7. 14.Rom 7:14inward truth and bent of the heart. Happily we ſhut up Pſal. 51. 6.Ps 51:6our ſhops on a Sabbath, ſo the Law of the Land commands; but do we ſhut up our hearts on a Sabbath, that nothing unſeemly may intrude? Do we bring our hearts and Chriſt together, and lock them both in, that nothing may interrupt their ſweet and mutual intercourſe? It is a vain thing to diſſemble with God on his own day; He can unriddle and will judge our ſplendid and varniſhed artifices. Let us not play the hypocrites, but walk in the ſpirit the whole ſtage of Rom. 8. 2.Rom 8:2the Sabbath. To keep our doors cloſe, is an empty ceremony, unleſs we keep our hearts cloſe to God and Chriſt in Ordinances, in Family and ſecret duties. Diverting imaginations are the cobwebs of the mind, the ſores which In dic Sabbati ab omnibus aliis curis, et ſtudiis omninò obſtinendum eſt. Gual.feſter the heart, as Dalilah her ſmiles did Samſon, and ſo entangle the ſoul that it cannot enjoy its freedom with Chriſt on his own bleſſed day. Such divertiſements diſturb the Muſick of Ordinances, and eat out the profit of holy Communion with God; if we will be working on a Sabbath, Let us work out our ſalvation with fear and trembling. Auguſtine Phil. 2. 12, 13. Aug. de temp. Serm. 251.Phil 2:12Phil 2:13ſpeaks moſt excellently in one of his Sermons, That we may be fit and ready for Gods ſervice on his own day, there muſt be nothing to cumber us, and we at that time muſt caſt off the interpoſition of worldly ſollicitude. And ſo Calvin preſſes, That on this day every man ought to withdraw himſelf wholly to God-ward, to mind him and his works, that we may be provoked to ſerve and honour him. The Sabbath is Gods freehold, and all impertinencies, whither fooliſh thoughts, 2 Tim. 2. 4.2 Tim 2:4vain diſcourſe, or unbecoming actions, if they enter upon it, they are treſpaſſers. In a word, we muſt be in the ſpirit, not in the fleſh, or the deeds of the fleſh, upon Gods holy and bleſſed day.

Dir. 10 We muſt be very watchful on Gods holy day. This is a day on which we muſt be on our guard. Chriſtians on other dayes are Souldiers, but on this day they muſt be ſentinels p. 4012 Tim. 2. 4.2 Tim 2:4The Sanctuary more eſpecially is our Court of guard. Chriſt ſpeaks to us now, as once he did to his Diſciples, Can Mark 14. 37.Mark 14:37ye not watch with me one day? Our Sabbaths are always beſieged with enemies, both within us and without us; and when the enemy is on the walls, nothing more neceſſary then a ſtrict watch.

1Let us watch our hearts. It is a fond piece of hypocriſie to watch our words and our actions on a Sabbath, and in the Hic ſc. ad cor, noct…rnas et diurnas excubias collo…emus. Cartw.mean time give ſcope and liberty to our wandring hearts to take its circuits and ranges. A flatulent and a gadding heart is a great diſturbance upon a Lords day; a man can neither pray, nor hear, nor meditate, but he is troubled and diſquieted. It is the counſel of the Wiſe man, to keep our hearts with all diligence, we muſt ſet double guards Prov. 4. 23.Prov 4:23upon them. The heart in it ſelf is a wandring Dinah, and will be ſlipping away to vanity, it is ready to fall into the ſnare; Corde nihil eſt fugacius. Berntherefore we muſt watch it warily, and check it ſpeedily, and over-awe it with the apprehenſion of Gods all-ſeeing eye. It is obſervable, that the Lord Jeſus appeared to his Rev. 1 14.Rev 1:14ſervant John upon his own day in a heart ſearching ſimilitude; His eyes were as a flaming fire, not only burning in jealouſie againſt ſin and ſinners, but bright and ſhining, as the ſearcher of hearts, and tryer of reins: And we ſhould do well to conſider that on the Lords day more eſpecially, our heart lies under the view of that fiery flaming eye of Chriſt, and he is the judge of all ſecrets, Rom. 2. 16. And this ſhould ſtop and bound our Quick-ſilver hearts. Let the terrour of the laſt day work upon our hearts on the Lords day. The ſeat of the judge is fitly reſembled by a cloud, not a throne of ſilver or gold, but a cloud; now as we know the clouds are ſtore houſes of refreſhing ſhowers, ſo alſo of ſtorms and tempeſts; and thus doubtleſs the day of the Lord will be a day of refreſhing to ſome, of terrour and amazement to others, and a great part of the tempeſt of that day will fall upon the hearts of men; God will have us accountable for ranging thoughts, and ſinful deſires, which are aggravated and receive a double dye upon a Sabbath. Indeed on this day one of our great works is to chain and faſten the p. 402heart to God; a looſe heart then only runs up and down and doth miſchief, it makes great waſte, and is as the Prodigal in his worſt fits.

2We muſt watch againſt Satan. The old Serpent who deluded our firſt Parents, is the great adverſary of the Sabbath, which was the firſt inſtitution; the evil one ſtrives to Gen. 3. 1, 2, 3.Gen 3:1Gen 3:2Gen 3:3cloud the riſing Sun, the early day of divine worſhip ſet apart by God from the worlds infancy. It was the policy of Pompey, Veſpaſian, and Titus, moſt ſorely to aſſault Jeruſalem on the Sabbath day: Upon the Sabbath day are the Devils Die Sabbati non licet pomum ad carbonem admovere, ut aſſetur; Nec allium, quod edere velit, decorticare, ſaltantem pulicem capere, Arborem non licet aſcende re, ne ramum frangas. Munſt. ex Rabbin.moſt deſperate deſigns; He is ever bad, but worſt on the beſt dayes; we muſt look for a harming Devil on a helping day. Let us trace the evil one all along, and we ſhall eaſily diſcern his malice againſt the bleſſed Sabbath. Firſt, Satan ſtirs up the Jews to clog the Sabbath with ſuperſtition: Ridiculous were the aſſertions of that Nation concerning Sabbath obſervances, As, it is not lawful to put an apple to roaſt on the Sabbath day, or to peel a head of garlick, or to take a flea leaping upon the body, or to climb a tree, leaſt we break a bough on that day, &c. Vanities more fooliſh, as Gerard obſerves, then the Sicilian ſcomms or toys. After, by the inſtigations of Satan, a perſecution is raiſed againſt the Church, which laſted ſome Centuries of years, beginning in the time Beati martyres in judicium vocati, à Proconſule interrogati ſunt, num Dominicum ſervaſti? Cui reſpondebant ſe Chriſtianos eſſe, et Dominicum congruâ religionis devotione celebraſſe, quia intermitti non poteſt. Baron.of Nero; And then, Dominicum ſervaſti, &c. Haſt thou kept the Lords day, was one of thoſe enſuaring queſtions which brought many Chriſtians to the crown of Martyrdom. In ſucceeding ages, the great artifice of Satan hath been to debauch the world into a contempt of the Lords day, which is notably ſet down by worthy Dr. Hackwell in theſe words, After ages much degenerating from the ſimplicity of the Primitive times, they ſo infinitely multiplyed holy days beyond all meaſure and reaſon, that the Lords day began to be ſleighted, which no doubt is an eſpecial occaſion of that thick cloud of ſuperſtition which over-ſhadowed the face of the Church. In theſe laſt dayes Satan hath been a perverting ſpirit in the mouths of the Prophets, ſome decrying the ſtrictneſs of the Sabbath as rigorous and Judaical; others confining holineſs 2 Chr. 18. 22.2 Chr 18:22only to the publick worſhip, leaving the people afterwards p. 403to the ranges of their own corrupt fancy, to bowl, to wreſtle, &c. and to follow any exerciſe which may ſuit with corrupt nature; others ſhake the foundation of the Lords day, as if that bleſſed day was only the iſſue of a prudential Canon of the Church; but what this Church was, where the Council was held, who the preſident, and what the Members of it, we could never yet learn or underſtand, but yet ſome clamorouſly avouch the Lords day is bottomed only upon Eccleſiaſtical Authority: And then if the Azor. inſtitut. Moral. ps. ſecunda. l. 1. c. 2.Sabbath lie at the pleaſure of the Clergy, as one worthily obſerves, Covetous men, who are about their Farms and their Oxen, will eaſily ſet at naught a humane Ordinance, and prophane perſons will hardly be whiſtled into publick or private duties for a device of men, but will give themſelves free leave for doing or neglecting, if there be nothing found in Scripture to bind conſcience. Others have raiſed the Jewiſh Sabbath out of the grave of Chriſt, to walk as a Ghoſt up and down the world, when the Lords day hath for more then ſixteen hundred years been its peaceable ſucceſſor. And thus Satan hath every way endeavoured to invalidate the power, and ecclipſe the glory of the bleſſed Lords day, the holy obſervation of which, he is the greateſt enemy of. And to this day this Apollyon and Abaddon, a deſtroyer in any language, attempts Rev. 12. 9.Rev 12:9nothing more induſtriouſly then to draw men into a ſluggiſh and ſinful frame, either to idle away Sabbaths, or to ſpend them profuſely in riot and prophaneſs. How many proud perſons waſte the Sabbath at a Glaſs or dreſſing box? How many intemperate perſons drown their Sabbath Eph. 5. 18. 1 Pet. 4. 3.Eph 5:181 Pet 4:3in luxuries and exceſs, and are fill'd with wine inſtead of the holy ſpirit? How many are catched at the bait of a Procul abjiciamus impura carnis opera, et inſanum voluptuandi ſtudium. Wal.mad eagerneſs after pleaſure and delight, as Walaeus calls it? But let us watch againſt all theſe wiles and depths of Satan: And indeed we ſhould double our guards, for there is not an Ordinance but Satan attempts to evacuate, and make it a barren womb, and a dry breſt to the ſoul. If Joſhua ſtand before the Lord, Satan will be at his right hand, Zach. Rev. 2. 24.Rev 2:243. 1. He curſedly …nvies all our converſes with God, and would raiſe a cloud and thick darkneſs to hinder the tranſmiſſions p. 404of divine love: Now he cannot beat life out of the Ordinance; prayer will be a prevailing duty, maugre Satans malice; and therefore he would beat love out of us, he would take us off by his ſnares and enticements; either he would diſturb us by his temptations, or charm us by his perſwaſions, or diſengage us from holy and cloſe communion with God by his flatteries and inſinuations. This Serpent for his ſubtilty, and Lion for his cruelty, will, like Tertullus Gen. 3. 1. 1 Pe. 5. 8. Luke 22. 31.Gen 3:1Luke 22:31to Paul, Acts 24. 5. attempt us moſt forcibly when we are pleading the cauſe of our ſouls in holy Ordinances on Gods holy day. If the Sons of God preſent themſelves before the Lord, Satan comes among them, Job 1. 6. If we attend in hearing the word, the wicked one comes, and is Mark 4. 15.Mark 4:15ready to catch away the ſeed which is ſown in the heart, Mat. 13. 19. Satan enters Judas at the Paſſeouer, John 13. 1 Theſ. 2. 18.1 Thess 2:1827. and ſome Divines aſſert, at the Sacramental Supper. How often doth Satan raiſe noiſe and diſturbance, to divert our thoughts, and damp our deſires, when we are engaged in holy prayer, that ſo our diſtractions may ſower and diſaffect our moſt melting devotions?

And therefore let us caſt our ſelves upon this threefold experiment.

1Let us Petition the Lord to fetter and chain up this roaring Lion, ſo to muzzle him, that he may be a Lion without a paw, and a Serpent without a ſting. God cannot only tread Satan non deponit Odium, ſed vertit ingenium et cruentas inimicitias, ad quietas convertit inſidias▪ Leo.Satan under his own, but under our feet, Rom. 16. 20. He can pinion Satan with a check and a rebuke, Zach. 3. 2. He can chaſe him away with the prohibition of a word, Mat. 4. 10. He that can bind Satan for a thouſand years, Rev. 22. can ſhackle him for a few Sabbaths. Satan is a cruel, but a conquered enemy, Heb. 2. 14. He is a wolf in a chain. Now prayer cannot only obtain the good ſpirit, but Apoſtolus ait, Deus conteret ſatanam ſub pedibus noſtris, ut indicet infirmitotem. noſtram et ſalutem.can reſtrain and bind up the evil one, and bridle both his injections and diſturbances; and if thou prayeſt that thy enemy ſtrike not, Chriſt will pray that thy faith fail not, Luke 22. 32. to ſhield off the fiery darts of the Devil, Eph. 6. 16. And to ſtand againſt the wiles of the evil one, Eph. 6. 11. Brayer can exerciſe the evil ſpirit; faſting and prayer can p. 405Acts 26. 18. 2 Cor. 2. 11.Acts 26:182 Cor 2:11caſt Satan out of our bodies, Mark 9. 29. much more out of our duties.

2Reſiſt the Devil. It is the Apoſtles counſel, 1 Pet. 5. 9. and the benefit will be, He will fly from thee: Now this Satan vetus hoſtis eſt, cum quo praeliam gerimus, ſex mille annorum complentur, ex quo hominem Diabolus oppugnat, omni genere tentandi et artes at que inſidias deficiendi uſu ipſo vetuſtatis addidicit. Par ex Cypr. lib. de Exhort. Martyr. ad Fortunat.reſiſtence muſt be made by reſting upon Chriſt by faith, ſo taking in Chriſt as our ſecond in the encounter, and being fixed in holy reſolution, as the Apoſtle hints in the fore-cited Text. It is true as Paraeus obſerves out of Cyprian, Satan is an old and experienced enemy, but the ſhield of faith can ſecure us, and the ſword of the ſpirit can ſubdue him. Chriſt put him to flight with a Scriptum eſt, It is written. Satan only batters yielding combats. The bird is eaſily caught which flies into the ſnare. His fierceſt ſtroks are avoided by repulſe. We beſt reſiſt him, when we will not admit him into parley. Let us remember he is the God of this world, and ſo cannot interpoſe for hurt in ſpirituals, unleſs we give him the advantage. If he be a Prince, it is of the Air, 2 Eph. 2. And ſo by his own power cannot endamage us in things heavenly and divine. He never conquers, but when we let fall the weapons. We never loſe, but give away the Victory, and his inſultation is the reward of our puſillanimity.

3Let us not tempt the tempter by a frothy and ſlight ſpirit. Indeed corrupt hearts are his territories and claim: Satan maketh his greateſt rapes on wandring and light ſpirits, he Gen. 34. 1, 2.Gen 34:1Gen 34:2is Beelzebub, a God of flies, who buzzes about vain diſpoſitions Pſal. 108. 1.Ps 108:1with his troubleſome aſſaults; and therefore on Gods Luke 11. 15.Luke 11:15bleſſed day, let us ſay with the Pſalmiſt, our heart is fixed, Pſal. 57. 7.Ps 57:7our heart is fixed, Pſal. 57. 7. If our hearts are centerd in God, we are above the attachments of the evil one. Fooliſh men uſually meet Satans temptations; but being immured in Ordinances, and onelyonly minding Chriſt in our devotions, this common enemy chained at Chriſts Croſs, as Origen ſpeaks, will leave us as he did our Maſter, and dear Redeemer, Mat. 4. 11.

3We muſt watch our Corruptions; they are never ſo violent in their ſallies, as on Gods own day. Pride will go in the moſt gariſh dreſs on the Sabbath, and many happily will p. 406ſtudy more to bring a new faſhion, then a new heart into the Congregation. Ʋlcerous conſciences on this day will quarrel with divine truth, or at leaſt with the meſſengers of it: Corrupt wounds will not endure the lanching, nor ſcornfull ſinners the reproof. Our hearts are never ſo treacherous as Jer. 17. 9.Jer 17:9on this day; then they are prodigal of time, ſluggards in Homines ſunt fallaces, et inſidioſi, et putant de…m ipſum poſſe decipi, et illi meros fumos obſiciunt. Calv.duty, enemies to the faithfull preaching of the Word, then they poure out their ſwarms of vam and impertinent thoughts, and catch at any diverſion to give them breath from cloſe communion with God; and then ſlight and formal Chriſtians wind up the clock of the tongue, and that ſtrikes nothing but vanity. Indeed naturally there is an open oppoſition in our hearts to ſtrict religion, and particularly to the preciſe obſervation of Gods day; and this oppoſition like rivers which are damm'd up, breaks forth then moſt violently. As we know, Snakes will get into the greeneſt graſs, and Spiders into the faireſt houſes, ſo our corruptions beſet us moſt, and beſiege us moſt cloſely in holy duties, and the moſt ſpiritual converſes; and therefore let us moſt ſtrictly eye theſe Serpents in the boſome, obſerve their firſt motions, Venienti occurrite morbo.and ſtrangle them in their birth. Young twigs are eaſily plucked up, weeds when low, they onelyonly ſoften the walk, but when grown higher, they deform and unbeautifie the garden. Let us let out the water of the firſt bliſters of corruption. If thou art proud, then ſay, did Chriſt come out of a Grave this day, and ſhall I come out as a Bridegroome out of a Bride Chamber? If thou art worldly, ſay, Chriſt Iſa. 61. 10. Joel 2. 16.Isa 61:10Joel 2:16roſe this day, in order to his aſcention to heaven, and ſhall ſublunary vanities entangle my ſoul this day? If thou art ſluggiſh and unactive, ſay, the Sun of righteouſneſs roſe this Mal. 4. 2.Mal 4:2day, whoſe motion of all motions is the ſwifteſt; and ſhall I be clogged with unſeemly dulneſs and hebetude? If thou art ſad and deſpondent, ſay, Chriſt roſe this day, to fill up the joyes of his people, to conſummate and finiſh his victories, foreign; cantus fuit Chriſtiano rum ſibimetipſis oc…urrentium in primord… Eccleſiae.which by holy faith become the Saints conqueſt, and ſhall my ſpirit be down and ſink on this triumphant day? If thy heart wander this day, ſay, the glorious Morning Star this day appeared in the worlds Horizon, after a three dayes p. 407cloud, and what more bleſſed object to fix my heart upon? Rev. 22. 16.Rev 22:16That ſtill the riſings of thy corrupt heart, which way ſoever it wind it ſelf, may be kept down, and ſtopt from Sabbath defilement. Now a little care may prevent a great deal of ſin: We muſt therefore.

1. Eye and obſerve,

2. Bitterly bemoan,

3. Pray againſt,

4. Forcibly check and keep down theſe unnatural productions of the unregenerate part; and ſuppreſſed corruptions Exod. 14 30.Exod 14:30are like ſlain Aegyptians, they will not diſturb the Iſraelites travelling towards Canaan: So they will be the ſpectacle of our joy, not the obſtacle of our duties, and we may with a Pſal. 119. 32.Ps 119:32pleaſing liberty run the wayes of Gods Commandments, upon his own holy day.