The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. How a Chriſtian may make Religion his buſineſs in ſpiritual Performances and religious Actions.
FIrſt, Make Godlineſs thy buſineſs in religious Duties. I ſhall put that firſt in order which is firſt in nature and excellency; and truly Friend, thy ſpecial care muſt be here; thy greateſt diligence will be little enough when thou comeſt ſolemnly into Gods preſence. Cleanly men, waſh their hands and bruſh their cloaths every day, but when they are to dine with a King, they will waſh and ſcour their hands, they will bruſh their cloaths over and over again, that their hands may be if poſſible clean from the leaſt dirt, and their garments from the leaſt duſt: The true Chriſtian is in all company and in the whole courſe of his life, every day careful to keep his ſoul clean, and his conſcience clear, nay to encreaſe his Godlineſs, but when he draweth nigh to God, and he hath more ſpecial care and extraordinary caution; though Tradeſmen are all the year long doing ſomewhat at their callings, either caſting up their accounts, or gathering in their debts, or amending ſomething in their commodities which are amiſs; and therefore have no time for idleneſs, yet at ſome times of the year they are full of trading, their ſhops are crowded with cuſtomers, they are all the week either ſending out or taking in wares; now this time calls for their greateſt diligence and watchfulneſs.
The time of ſacred duty is a Chriſtians market day, wherein he is much imployd, and therefore it calls for his greateſt diligence. He that leaves his Shop, or loyters in it at ſuch a time, muſt expect that his Shop will quickly leave him. The Husbandman hath his ſeaſons to Plow and Sow in, which if he be heedleſs and careleſs about, that either his ſeed be ſmutty, or his ſervant ſlothful, he can look for but a mean and poor harveſt. The hours of praying, and reading, and hearing, are the Saints opportunities and ſeaſons of grace; if he be not then careful and conſciencious to Plow up the fallow ground of his heart, and to ſow to the Spirit; his return will be very inconſiderable, he will Reap but a thin crop. But truely friend if thou haſt no reſpect to thy ſouls good, God hath to his own glory, and though he ſtoop to thee, ingiving thee leave to ſeek his face, and hear his voice, yet he will not be ſlighted by thee. He is a glorious and jealous Majeſty, and eſteemeth it a diſparagement to him, for any to wait upon him without their beſt attire; Though Ʋzzah be dead, yet he ſpeaketh to thee to take heed how thou toucheſt the Ark.
A Prince may be pleaſed, if his Kitchin be but indifferent neat and handſom, but he looks that in his Parlour (where he gives entertainment to his friend) all things ſhould be in Print. Where Gods ſpecial walk is amongſt his Candleſticks, and amidſt his Myrtle Trees, there Godlineſs muſt be our ſpecial work, Holineſs becometh thy houſe, O Lord for ever. Pſa. 93. ult. Godlineſs doth always ſute the back of a Saint: This gracious garment is a glorious ornament to him, whatever he is doing or where ever he is going; but the apparel doth become him beſt in his approaches to the holy God. No Hangings, no Tapeſtry becomes Gods houſe ſo well as Holineſs; and no place is ſo proper as the Houſe of God for this coſtly, comely furniture.
God is more honored or diſhonoured in our Religious actions, then in all the actions of our lives; in them we do directly and immediately pretend his Honor and Service, and therefore if we do not walk in them watchfully, and intend them ſeriouſly the greater is our ſin. For a treſpaſs committed againſt holy things, the Jews were to bring a Ram to be valued by the ſhekel of the Sanctuary; for a treſpaſs againſt their brethren, a Ram was required, but no ſuch valuation expreſſed; whence Origen infers, Aliud eſt peccare in ſanctis, aliud extra ſancta: It is one thing to ſin in holy things, another thing to ſin beſide them, and he urgeth that place in Samuel, 1 Sam. 2.25. If a man ſin againſt another man the Judge ſhall judge him, but if a man ſin againſt the Lord, who ſhall intreat for him? Lev. 5.15. and 6.6. When men are ſome way off in a Kings eye, they will be comely in their carriage; but when they come into his Preſence-chamber to ſpeak with him, they will be moſt careful: Becauſe Saints are always in Gods ſight, their conſtant deportment muſt be pious and ſeemly, I have kept thy precepts, for all my ways are before thee, Pſal. 119.68. But becauſe the Ordinances of God are the very face of God, and they who worſhip him therein do ſolemnly appear before him, therefore at ſuch ſeaſons they are bound to be moſt holy and ſerious, Exod. 23 17. Pſal. 42.2. The ſaying of the Sage Orator hath ſome weight, Iſocrat. ad Demon.Worſhip the gods at all times eſpecially in publick; that is in their ſacrifices. God is very curious how men carry themſelves in his Courts, and commandeth thee Reader, be to eminently pious when thou appeareſt in his preſence. Do but obſerve under the Law how choyce he was about all things relating to his Worſhip; the Tabernacle muſt be made of the beſt wood, the pureſt gold, the fineſt linnen, and every part and pin of it done exactly according to Gods own precept; the perſons called to ſet it up muſt be rarely gifted and ſingularly endowed for that very purpoſe. He that offereth ſacrifice muſt be without blemiſh, For whatſoever man he be that hath any blemiſh, he ſhall not approach, a blinde man, or a lame man, or he that hath any thing ſuperfluous, or a flat noſe, or he that is broken faced, or broken handed, or crooked backt, or a Dwarf, or that hath any blemiſh in his eye, or the ſcurvy, or is ſcabbed; no man that hath any blemiſh of the Sons of Aaron the Prieſt ſhall come nigh to offer the Offerings of the Lord made by fire, he hath a blemiſh, he ſhall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God, Levit. 21.17, 18, 19, 20. So the ſacrifice alſo muſt be perfect without ſpot, If it were blind, or broken, or maimed, had a wen, the ſcurvy, or were ſcabbed, Levit. 22.19, 21, 22, 24. It muſt not be offered, it muſt be a male without blemiſh, of the beſt of the flocks, nay the beſt of theſe beaſts, the fat (even all the fat) which covereth the Inwards, Lev. 3.3. And what is the ſubſtance of all theſe ſhadows, but this, That God will be ſerved by holy men in the pureſt, holieſt manner; that we muſt be very exact both as to our perſons and performances when we are in his preſence; that he expects the beſt of living Sacrifices, the hearts and ſpirits of men, nay the beſt of the beſt, all the heart, and all the ſoul, and all the ſtrength, Prov. 23. Joh. 4.24. Matth. 22.37. O how much is an ordinary, ſlight performance below and unſucable to ſo great and glorious a Prince. Religion is as tender a thing as the apple of thine eye; by playing with the eye it may be put out; by dallying with duties thou mayſt ſpoil all.
If the Egyptians did reverence Mercurius Triſmegiſtus ſo much, that they did forbear, out of reſpect to him, to pronounce his name raſhly; what reſpect ſhouldſt thou bear to Ordinances which are the name of God? Exod. 20.24. How fearful ſhouldſt thou be of taking the name of God in vain.
The blind Heathen were choyce and devout in the ſervice of dumb Idois; they ſerved them in white, an embleme of purity. They thought nothing too good for thoſe falſe Gods, for whom the worſt was not bad enough. Solon, the Athenian Law-giver, enacted, that none ſhould ſerve the Gods, Obiter, or by the by; that their ſacrifices ſhould be all ſelect and choſen, and that the Sacrificers ſhould purifie themſelves ſome days before hand. Lycurgus had made a law that no man ſhould be at any great charge in a ſacrifice, leaſt he ſhould grow weary of Divine ſervice, yet when Phidias the famous carver adviſed the Athenian, to make the ſtatute of Minerva of marble rather then Ivery 1. Becauſe it was more durable, this reaſon was approved. 2. Becauſe leſs chargeable; at the mention hereof, with much rage and wrath, they commanded him ſilence. They had an higher reſpect for thoſe lies and falſhoods, then many have for the true God. Eraſ. praef in adag.When they were going to offer ſacrifice, their Prieſt cryed foreign who is here. Thoſe preſent anſwered foreign many and good. Were they ſo choice and chary in the ſervice of their dunghil deities; and wilt not thou friend be circumſpect and conſciencious in the ſervice of the living God? did they think nothing coſtly enough for inanimate creatures, and wilt thou offer to the Lord thy God, that which coſt thee nothing? Can thy box of precious oyntment, though it be worth never ſo much, be beſtowed better then on thy deareſt Saviour, and can thy care and caution, thy love and labour be employed better then in his ſervice? Or doſt thou think that the falſe Gods were more affected with their diſhonour, or more to be feared in their diſpleaſure, then the living true God. Doſt thou not know that he will be ſanctified in them that draw nigh to him, Lev. 10.3. great perſons are impatient of contempts and affronts, eſpecially when they are offered to them in their own houſes: God will ſooner overlook thy forgetfulneſs of him in thy trade or travails, then in his Tabernacle. When thou draweſt nigh to him, there he will be ſanctified, either in thee or upon thee. If thou refuſe to give him glory in his ſervice, beleive it, he will get himſelf glory by thy ſuffering; His Worſhip is his face, and look for his fury, if thou dareſt him to his face.
The waters of the Sanctuary, are like the waters given to a ſuſpected Wife, if ſhe were innocent, it witneſt her honeſty, made her fruitful if barren, and did her good; but if ſhe were guilty ſweld her belly, rotted her bowels, and did her hurt. If thou make godlineſs thy buſineſs in the ordinances of God, thou mayſt get much ſpiritual good, thou mayſt meet Chriſt in them, receive grace through them, and thrive as the babe by the breaſts, in health and ſtrength, but if thou like the horſe in the Mill, onelyonly goeſt thy round in Religious duties, never minding the true end of them, nor thy carriage in them, thy prayer will be an abomination, the word a ſavour of death unto death, and the very ſacrament a ſeal of thy damnation. It doth therefore nearly concern thee to hearken to that counſel which I ſhall give thee from the word, to prevent thy miſcarriage in the duties of Gods worſhip; For preparation to duties, I ſhall ſpeak, when I come to treat of ſanctifying the Lords day.
Firſt, Be heedful and watchful over thy ſelf, when thou art about religious duties. Heedleſs ſervice is fruitleſs ſervice; What meaſure of care we give God in duties, the ſame meaſure of comfort we may expect from duties, Eccleſ. 5.1. Keep thy feet when thou goeſt to the houſe of God, and be more ready to hear then to give the Sacrifice of fools. Thine heart like Dinah, is apt to wander abroad, eſpecially from the way and Worſhip of God; it behoves thee then to have a ſtrict hand over it, if thou wouldſt keep it at home: Obſerve, conſider, thy feet, ſo the word ſignifieth.
The feet of the Harlot abide not within her houſe, neither will thy affections eaſily within the Houſe of God; doth not experience tell thee that they love to be gadding, and therefore require a ſtrong and vigilant guard. Parents ſet their Children before them at Church, and have their eyes much upon them, becauſe otherwiſe they will be toying and playing; truly ſo will thy heart, if thine eye be not on it. Alaſs thy heart in duty is like one that looks through an Optick Glaſs on ſome ſmall object, with a Palſie hand, its long before he can diſcern it, and as ſoon as he hath found it, ſo unſteady is his hand that he hath loſt it again; therefore it behoves thee to keep it diligently, and to watch it narrowly: There is a bottomleſs depth of deceit in thine heart, how unwillling is it to a duty? how much wandring in a duty? how ſoon weary of a duty? The heart is deceitful above all things, and deſperately wicked, who knoweth it? Jer. 17.9…. Take notice of the center of the poiſon, the heart is deceitful; a deceitful hand is nothing ſo dangerous as a deceitful heart, when poyſon gets to the very ſeat of life, in what danger is a …oul of death. Here is alſo the meaſure of the pollution; The heart is deceitful above all things, the beſt part is unſpeakably poiſoned. The Prophets expreſſion hath a three fold gradation. Firſt, there is deceit in mans heart, it is a word uſed of ways Iſa. 40.5. which are full of windings and …urnings, and therefore are hard to be found; ſo is mans heart full of nooks, and corners, ſlights and craft, and ſo doth eaſily ſupplant us, it hath not onelyonly weakneſs and proneneſs to be deceived by others, but alſo an activeneſs and aptneſs to deceive it ſelf. Secondly, there is the degree of its deceit, and indeed it is beyond all degrees. The heart is deceitful above all things; No creature ſo ſly and ſubtle as mans heart; Nothing in this World can equal it for tricks and wiles; Nay as this deceit of mans heart is ſo great that none can match it, ſo alſo it is ſo deep that none can find it, none can fadom it, Who can know it? The largeſt, the longeſt line of mans underſtanding, can never ſearch to the bottom of this Sea. Thirdly, Here is the danger of it, The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and deſperately wicked. It is not deceitful in ſuch a degree, ſo much through weakneſs as through wilfulneſs, it is deſperately carried towards deadly courſes. It devotes it ſelf wholly to deceive and deſtroy. How many pretences will it have to make thee to omit holy performances? if thou overcome them how ſubtle will it be to make thee heedleſs and heart-leſs in the ſervice of God? It will fill thee with cares and thoughts of the World, purpoſely to choak the good ſeed of the Word; if at any time thou wind it up to any ſeriouſneſs in an ordinance, how quickly, and how ſwiftly like a Clock or a Jack, doth it run down. Surely Reader, the Maſter that hath ſuch a cozening Servant, muſt look narrowly to him, if he would not be cheated by him. If thou doſt not watch at the Altar, the Birds will devour the Sacrifice.
Thoſe that were before the Throne day and night, were full of eyes behind and before and within, Rev. 4.6, and 8. Extraordinary heed is neceſſary when we come into Gods Houſe. We had need to have our eys about us, when we come to deal immediately with him who is of purer eys, then to behold iniquity. The Athenians in time of their Sacrifice, had a Monitor to bid them be ſerious, calling on them, Hoc agite, mind the work ye are about, Plut. Cyprian obſerveth that in the Primitive times, the Deacon oft cried out to the people, Surſum corda, lift up your hearts; and the Paſtor ſtird them up with, Oremus, attendamus, Let us pray, let us attend; Commanding their greateſt attention when they were about Religious actions.
Eutychus was Drowſie while he was hearing which had like to have coſt him his life, God will not be ſlighted when he is ſpeaking to the children of men. Chriſt commandeth thee to take heed how thou heareſt. Luk. 8.18. The heart is needful in hearing more then the ears. We read of thoſe that had ears and yet heard not, Audientis corporis ſenſu non cordis aſſenſu Aug.Iſa. 6.9, 10. Mat. 13.13. It is one thing to hear, and another thing to heed a Sermon; Let him that hath an ear, hear what the ſpirit ſaith to the Churches, Rev. 2. When the word paſſeth through both ears, as waters through a leaking Veſſel, no wonder if it be unprofitable. Leaſt it ſhould do ſo, let us give the more diligent heed ſaith the Apoſtle, Heb. 2.1. If men be told of the dreadful end of ſin, and the great danger of their precious ſouls, and they mind it not, will they ever ſtrive to prevent it? Our proficiency by the Word depends not a little upon our earneſt attention to the Word, Luk. 19.48. Its ſaid there, the people were very attentive to hear him. They hanged on Chriſt, as if their ears and minds had been tyed to his tongue, or as eagerly as the little Bird, on the Dams Bill for Corn.
In prayer alſo be heedful, watch unto prayer, Mark 13.33. Nehemiah when building, did work and watch, watch and work, becauſe of his Enemies; when thou art at prayer, temptations without will be waiting, corruptions within will be working; and therefore its requiſite for thee to be watching.
Thoſe that performe their duties, as Papiſts ſay their Pater noſters, and Muſitians play their Leſſons with their Fingers, when their minds are buſied about other things, will make but harſh and diſpleaſing Muſick in Gods ears, O God, ſaith the Pſalmiſt, thou art terrible out of thy holy places, Pſa. 68.35. The Sanctuary or place of Worſhip was divided into three parts, thence called thy holy places; now out of them God was comfortable to his watchful and diligent Servants, but terrible to the ſlothful and negligent. He is terrible not onelyonly in the high places of the field, but alſo in the holy places of the faithful.
How canſt thou expect that God ſhould heed thy prayers, when thou doſt not heed them thy ſelf; Wouldſt thou give Almes to a Beggar that by his carriage and language ſhould ſlight both thee and thy bounty? If a condemned malefactor were ſuing to a Prince for his life, and in the midſt of his intreaties ſhould ſee a Moth or a Fly, and leave his ſuit and follow after that; would this wretch deſerve a pardon. And is it not as unreaſonable that God ſhould grant thy requeſts, if thou wilfully follow thoſe fooliſh objects which thy heart or the Devil offer to thee in the midſt of thy prayers; monſtrous compoſitions, wherein is the face and voice of a man, the heart and feet of a beaſt, muſt needs be odious to God; O bind thine heart to its good behaviour, when thou goeſt into Gods Houſe. Men put Locks and Fetters on Wild Horſes, whom no incloſure can keep in. This watching the heart in duties, will faſten and tye it, as with cords to the Altar.
Secondly, Act grace in duties, the acting of grace in a duty, is the grace of a duty. The Chriſtian muſt attend on the means of grace, in a gracious manner; the manner of performing duties, Non tantum conſiderandum eſt id quod agimusſed etiam quibus circum …anti…s Ca…et in Thom. 1 … queſt. 9.is the moſt ſpiritual part of them, and therefore muſt moſt of all be minded. God made a breach on them who ſought him, not after the due order, 1 Cron. 15.13. If the matter of thy performance be according to the word, and thou wilfully fail in the manner, thou wilt inſtead of a bleſſing, meet with a blow. God had Sacrifices from the Jews of his own appointment for the matter, and yet they were unſavoury to him, Iſa. 1.13, 14, 15. It is the manner which makes or mars every action, that is the form which ſpecificates all our devotion; grace is Gods own Image, abundantly amiable in his eye, and that muſt be Stampt on all our Coyn of duties, or they will never be currant with Heaven. Kings ſuffer no Coyn to go in their Dominions, but what hath their own ſtamp. Tamberlane would not own a pot of gold which his Souldier found and brought him, becauſe it wanted his Fathers impreſſion. Chriſt will own no performances unleſs they have his Fathers Picture, ſomwhat of his Image on them.
Indeed the Chriſtian hath no natural power for theſe ſpiritual performances, but God gives him his Spirit for this purpoſe, that he might be enabled to do ſacred duties, with ſutable graces; we know not how to pray as we ought, but the ſpirit helpeth our infirmities, foreign.Rom. 8.26. Man is impotent, but the ſpirit is an able aſſiſtant, helpeth our infirmities. The word is either an alluſion to a Nurſe which helps her weak little Child to go, ſo the ſpirit affords his hand and helps us to go to God in duties, or (as the compoſition of the word imports) its an alluſion to thoſe who lift at a weighty peice of Timber, too heavy for one alone, one man tugs and puls hard, but he cannot wag it, till one ſtronger then he comes and helps him, then he bears it away chearfully; ſo the Chriſtian be puls and hales at his own heavy heart in a duty: to perform the duty aright, and yet makes nothing of it till the ſpirit comes and helps him, and then he goes along comfortably through the duty. As to Preaching there is required external miſſion, ſo to every prayer and performance there are required internal motions; therefore we find the ſpirit of grace and ſupplication joyn'd together Zach. 12.10. Samſan when his lock was cut off, became like another man, the Chriſtian when the ſpirit withdraweth, that grace be not acted, he performeth duties like a carnalman. It is the b…eath of the Spirit of God in a duty, which is ſo ſweet and ſavory to God, gifts may do ſomwhat as to the outward part of a duty, as a Carver may make an Image with the external lineaments of a man, but unleſs grace and ſpiritual life be in it, it is but the counterfeit, the reſemblance of a true duty.
The two ſpecial graces which I ſhall ſpeak of to be acted in Religious exerciſes are fear and fa…th, upon theſe two feet David walked into Gods Houſe. I will go into thine Houſe, in the multitude of thy mercies, there was his faith; and in thy fear will I worſhip towards thy holy Temple Pſa. 5.6. here is his fear. The Chriſtian like a Net, muſt have both the lead of an holy Fear, and the cork of a lively Faith, if he would catch any thing out of the waters of the Sanctuary; if the cork of Faith was without the lead of Fear, the Net would lie too high; if the lead of Fear were without the cork of Faith the Net of the Soul would fall too …ow… and ſo nothing would be caught; but both together lay in the likeſt place for a good draught.
1. Fear and awful apprehenſions of Gods infinite Majeſty, is requiſite in our religious actions; This muſt he the hand-maid to wait upon the Miſtris of the ſoul in all its addreſſes to the King of Heaven. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling, Pſa. 2.11. God alloweth an humble familiarity in the walks of Obedience, yet he will always have the children of men to know their diſtance. And though this habit of Fear muſt be ever in our hearts, as fire was conſtantly on the Altar, yet he expects that it ſhould be blown up and flame out at the time of offering ſacrifice. …od non netur co…m u…, & quod …tem… …ur … …li. ur. Act. de ira c lib. 8.Our greateſt reverence is then moſt needful, when we approach the great God in his Ordinances. God is greatly to be feared in the Aſſembly of his Saints, and had in reverence of all them that are round about him, Pſa. 89.7.
When God intended to give the Law to Iſrael, Exod. 19.11, 12, 14.the Jews muſt ſanctifie themſelves three days beforehand; and when God came on the third day to deliver his pleaſure to the people, with what pomp and terror was proclamation made? He deſcends in his Royal robes with a noble Retinue of Saints and Angels; and with the dreadful enſigns of his Power, Majeſty and Jealouſie. Deut. 33.2.The Lord came from Sinai, and roſe from Seir, he ſhined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thouſand of Saints, from his right hand went a flery law for them. Exo. 19.16, 18Then were there thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount; and the voyce of the Trumpet exceeding loud, ſo that all the people that were in the camp trembled. And mount Sinai was altogether in a ſmoke becauſe the Lord deſcended upon it in fire, and the ſmoke thereof aſcended as the ſmoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly; and why is all this? Why doth the Mighty poſſeſſour of Heaven and earth, appear at that time in ſuch ſtate and royalty, and magnificence, with ſuch a rich Train of Heavenly Courtiers, with ſuch Thundring Vallies of Shot, with the Mountain Smoking under him, and Trumpets ſounding before him? but to aſſure us that he is not ſo contemptible as to be ſlighted by any; that he is not impotent, but able to revenge himſelf on all that affront him; nay to teach us that he will be feared and reverenced in all them that draw nigh to him. Therefore he will make even Moſes whom he knew face to face; Heb. 12 21.at ſuch a time exceedingly to quake and fear.
Civil or natural difference amongſt us here below, commandeth proportionable reverence; the Subject muſt fear his Soveraign, 1 Pet. 2.17. The Servant muſt obey his Maſter with fear and trembling, Epheſ. 6.5. the Wife muſt ſee that ſhe reverence her Husband, Epheſ. 5. ult. If there be ſuch reverence due from one creature to another, when they were all made of the ſame courſe earthly mold, and muſt all be buried in the bowels of their common Mother; when there is no eſſential, but onelyonly an extrinſecal difference between them; what reverence is due from poor duſt and aſhes, to the God of the Spirit of all fleſh? the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, between whom and his creatures there is an infinite diſtance?
It behoveth us, The worſhip of God is called foreign a partic foreign & foreign valde pavere foreign qu…d eſt more canis ad pedes alicujus tanqua m domini totum ſeſe proſt…rnere ſubjectionis gratia. …anch.ſaid Bernard, to enter into the celeſtial Court (at prayer time) where the King of Heaven ſits on his Starry, ſtately throne, environed with an innumerable company of glorious Angels, and crowned Saints, with great reverence and fear; Ah with what humility ſhould a poiſonous poluted Toad, creep and crawl out of a Ditch into the preſence of ſo glorious and dreadful a Majeſty? The holy Servants of God, were antiently called Nephalim (from Nephal to fall down) Proſtrates, or fallers, becauſe in the Worſhip of God thy uſually fell on the earth.
The Elders of Iſrael trembled at the coming of Samuel, 1 Sam. 16.4. and ſhall not we tremble when the great God cometh to us in his Ordinances.
Every Relation in which men ſtand to, God calls for awfulneſs and dread of him. If I be a Father, where is mine honour? If I be your Maſter, where is my fear? Mal. 1.6. but eſpecially in the Saints approaches to him, they muſt ſtand in aw of him. When God appeared to Jacob at Bethel, where he ſaw nothing but Viſions of love; he cryeth out, This is none other but the Houſe of God; How dreadful is this place? Gen. 28.17. The great Turk when he goeth into his Temple, layeth aſide all his ſtate, and hath none to attend him but a profeſſour of the Law.
Therefore Reader, Deut. 28.58.be perſwaded to fear that glorious and fearful Name, the Lord thy God. That Name which is the greateſt prop of thine affiance, commandeth thy fear and reverence.
When thou heareſt; In the fear of God give audience to his word; Act. 13.16. Poor peaſants muſt be trembling when this Prince is ſpeaking. With meekneſs receive that word which will damn or ſave thy ſoul. Alaſs with what fear ſhould a condemned Priſoner attend to his King, when every word he ſpeaks is life or death. It becomes the greateſt Perſons …o be awful in Gods preſence. Conſtantine the Great, when hearing a Sermon, Euſeb de v…t Constant. l. 3. c 17.would ſtart out of his Chair of State, being raviſhed with the word, and ſtand up for a long time; and being minded by his Courtiers, that ſuch a poſture was unbecoming his high place, he would not hearken to them. Eglon though a fat unweildy man, as ſoon as Ehud told him that he had a Meſſage from God to him, roſe up to hear it, Judg. 3.20. Abraham, who had the honour and favour to be Gods friend, yet when God ſpake to him fell on his face, Gen. 17.3. Moſes though high in the heart of God, yet is hun…ble when he hears from God, He boweth his head to wards the Earth and Worſhips, Exod 34.8.
When thou prayeſt, put up thy petitions to him with awful apprehenſions of him. The vulg. Lat. read that Pſa. 84.11. abjectus in domo Dei mei, to be caſt upon the Earth, to lie proſtrate in the Houſe of God. The Eaſtern Chriſtians when they called on God, threw themſelves on the ground. Luther prayed with confidence, as to a Father; but with reverence, as to a God. Remember when thou takeſt upon thee to ſpeak unto the Lord, yet thou art but duſt and aſhes, Gen. 18.27. Thou art at beſt but a Beggar, and a proud heart will not ſuit a Beggars purſe. The poor muſt uſe intreaties, Prov. 18.23. The twenty four Elders, fell on their faces and worſhipped, Rev. 4.16. So did Jeſus Chriſt himſelf in prayer, Mat. 26.39. O come let us Worſhip and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, Pſa. 95.6. The Elephant that could not bow nor kneel, was no fit Beaſt for a Sacrifice.
Go to the Sacrament, Mat. 28.8.that repreſentation of Chriſts ſuffering, as the Diſciples went from his Sepulchre, with fear and great joy; The Fathers call it, miſterium tremendum, the nearer we draw to God in any Ordinance, the greater muſt be our reverence. In a Sermon we draw nigh to him, as Pupils to their Tutor; In prayer, as Children to their Father, but at a Sacrament we talk with God face to face; We Sup with him, and he with us. If Angels vail their faces in his preſence, much more cauſe have we to ſerve him with fear and trembling in every ordinance. In a word, Let us have grace whereby we may ſerve him acceptably with reverence and godly fear, for our God is a conſuming ſire, Heb. 12.28, 29. Mark the way to ſerve God acceptably, is to ſerve him reverently. As the Quaver addeth a grace to the Muſick, and makes it more acceptable to us, ſo an holy trembling graceth our performances, and makes them more acceptable to God.
2. Perform religious duties with Faith as well as Fear; Fear will keep the heart awful, and Faith will make it chearful in the ſervice of God. Let us draw nigh to God with full aſſurance of faith, Heb 10.2…. In Ordinances man draweth nigh to God, but if he would do it with acceptance he muſt do with affiance, with faith; By Faith Abel offered a more acceptable ſacrifice then Cain, Heb. 11.4. Faith doth inſtrumentally juſtifie both our perſons and performances, becauſe it looks up to, and lays hold on Chriſt, who juſtifieth both meritoriouſly. God is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity; now there are many ſins in our beſt ſervices; we muſt therefore carry all our ſacrifices, (as the Iſraelites did, Exod. 28.38.) to our High Prieſt, who will take away the inuqitie of our holy things, and procure their acceptance with the Lord; He ſhall purge them as gold and ſilver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteouſneſs, then ſhall the offerings of Judah and Jeruſalem be pleaſant unto the Lord, Mal. 3.2, 3, 4. It is a prophefie of Chriſt. He ſhall purge away the droſs from our duties, and then they ſhall be pleaſing to God.
It was a ſacred Law among the Moloſſians, that whoſoever came to the King with his ſon in his arms ſhould be pardoned whatſoever offence he were guilty of: The Athenian General therefore, when baniſhed his Country, fled to Admetus King of the Moloſſians his deadly enemy, and proſtrated himſelf before him with his Son in his arms, and found favour. God and man are enemies, there is no appearing before this dreadful King without his Son in our arms, and with him there is no fear of a repulſe; In him we have boldneſs and acceſs with confidence by the faith of him, Epheſ. 3.12. As God and man are angry, Chriſt is medium reconciliationis, he makes them friends; as God and man are reconciled, Chriſt is medium communionis, he is the means of their fruition of each other. Therefore Reader whatever thou doſt, whether thou prayeſt, or heareſt, or ſingeſt, or readeſt, do all in the name of Chriſt, Col. 3.17. Conſider thy admiſſion into Gods preſence is by Chriſt: No man cometh to the Father but by the Son, Joh. 14.6. Through him we have acceſs unto the Father, Eph. 2.18. It is his blood which hath purchaſed thee this gracious priviledge. He alone hath turned the ſeat of Juſtice into a Throne of Grace. When thou approacheſt God, he would be a fire to conſume thee, not a Father to imbrace thee, were it not for his Son. Conſider alſo thy aſſiſtance in duties is from Chriſt; Without him thou canſt do nothing, Joh. 15.3. O how dull and dead is thy heart in the moſt ſolemn duty, unleſs this Lord of life quicken it. Though thou haſt a real principle of ſpiritual life, yet unleſs Chriſt draw thee, give the quickning and enciting Grace thou canſt not run after him in a duty.
Further, Thine acceptance in the Ordinances of God is through Chriſt. O how unſavoury would thy beſt duties be were it not for the odors of his moſt ſweet ſacrifice. The golden Cenſor and the Incenſe under the Law typified that all our performances muſt be perfumed and preſented by Chriſt, before they can be accepted with God. The ſmoke of the Incenſe muſt aſcend with the Saints prayers before they can be pleaſing. The incenſe (which ſignified the merits of Chriſt) is the pillar of ſmoak in which the beleevers performances mount up to Heaven, Rev. 8.3, 4. No wonder that David begged ſo hard Let my prayers come before thee like incenſe. The Prieſts when they went into the Tabernacle to ſacrifice were commanded to put off their own, and to put on the holy garments provided for them, Exod. 28.43. intimating, that none muſt approach God in the rags of their own, but in the robes of Chriſts Righteouſneſs. The Ark which was a ſpecial type of Chriſt (without of Shittim wood, ſpeaking his Humanity, within of wrought gold, typifying his Deity) did ſignifie thus much to us; it covered the two Tables, ſo Chriſt the Law; there God gave his gracious anſwers, and was propitious to his people, ſo God accepteth the perſons and prayers of men in Chriſt, Epheſ. 1.6. If the Patriachs were welcome to Pharoah it was for Joſephs ſake; and if the people of God are welcome at any time to him, it is for Jeſus ſake.
Faith in Chriſt is the eye which raviſheth the heart of God; Thou haſt ſtoln away mine heart with one of thine eyes, Cant. 4. Of all the Virgin-Graces none find ſuch favour in his ſight. This, this is the Heſter on whoſe head he ſets the Crown; when ſhe appears before him, though it be contrary to the Law of Works, he conſtantly holds out the golden Scepter of Grace: He is ſo delighted with her beauty, ſo raviſhed with her comelineſs that he granteth her requeſt (be it) to the half or whole of his Kingdom. Therefore Reader when thou goeſt to God be ſure to take Chriſt along with thee, as ever thou wouldſt ſpeed. Let thy prayers and petitions be in his name with an eye to his promiſe; Whatſoever ye ſhall ask the Father in my name, I will do it, Joh. 14.13. Let thy Prayſes and thank… givings be in his name, according to his precept, Giving thanks always, and in all things unto God and our Father, in the name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Epheſ. 5.20. To be ſhort, As an holy Prieſt offer up all thy ſpiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jeſus Chriſt.
Thirdly, If thou wouldſt make Religion thy bufineſs in holy duties, Perform them to give God glory by them, and to receive grace through them: Ordinances muſt be uſed both as a teſtimony of our ſubjection to God, and as the way of communion with God. God is preſent in his Ordinances. 1. In majeſty and beauty, and in that reſpect our end in them muſt be to give him glory. 2. In communication and bounty, and in that reſpect our end in them muſt be to receive Grace from him, Pſal. 27.4. Rev. 2.3, 6. Exod. 20.24. Gods eye is very much on our ends in duties; he takes notice when he is neglected, and ſelf exalted; When ye faſted and mourned even theſe ſeventy years, did ye all faſt unto me, even to me? And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did ye not eat for your ſelves and drink for your ſelves? Zich. 7.6, 7. God ſeeth when ſelf-credit, or ſelf-profit is the end of a performance, Matth. 6, 1, 2. Hoſ. 7.14. He weigheth all our actions by our aims. Now as duties are conſiderable in a twofold reſpect, ſo a Chriſtian muſt have in them a twofold end.
1. Duties are conſiderable as ſervices, in relation to the command; and ſo a Chriſtian muſt mind them, that he may teſtifie his obedience to God, and his dependance on him, Thou haſt commanded me to keep thy precepts diligently; O that my ways were directed to keep thy commandments, Pſal. 119.5, 6.
Warn the unruly, comfort the feeble minded, ſupport the weak, be patient towards all men, rejoycing evermore, pray without ceaſing, in every thing give thanks; For this is the will of God concerning you, 1 Theſſ 5.14, 15, 16, 17, 18. God required the Iſraelites to bring a ſheaf in a Ghomer, about a pottle, for all their increaſe of the fruits of the earth, Lev. 23.10. whereby they acknowledged that they receive all from him. Though man be unable to ſatisfie Gods Juſtice by all his devotion, yet God will be owned and acknowledged in holy duties. Copy-holders though they have the profi…s of their Houſes and Lands to themſelves, yet pay ſome ſmall Quit-Rent, and at certain times do ſuit and ſervice to the Lord …f their Manor, acknowleding thereby that the Fee-ſimple is his, and they enjoy the… through his favour. The earth is the Lords, and th… fulneſs thereof, He is the mighty poſſeſſor of heaven and earth, and though he gives the earth by leaſes for lives (as it were) and copies to the children of men, yet the Fee-ſimple and original right is ſtill in himſelf, and he hath appointed ſeaſons daily and weekly for duties, wherein Chriſtians ſhould acknowledge that they hold all of him, and enjoy all through his grace and good will.
The worſhipping of God in his Ordinances is the homage, which as creatures, we ow to our Maker, and as Chriſtians, we owe to our Redeemer; God alloweth us the comfort of our mercies, but he reſerveth to himſelf the credit of our mercies, and hath appointed the hours of prayer to be the ſet times for the payment of this ſmall Quit-rent (infinitely inferior to our engagements) to his ſacred Majeſty.
Truly Reader, This end muſt be minded in thine attendance on the means of grace, namely to give God glory by acknowleding his Soveraignty over thee, and bounty to thee; or elſe when thou bendeſt the bow of thine heart, and ſhooteſt thy ſpiritual arrows thou wilt never hit the mark.
2. Duties are conſiderable as means, in relation to the Promiſe; and ſo they are channels cut out by Chriſt to convey grace into the hearts of men, therefore thine end in this reſpect muſt be to derive grace from the God of all grace, through the means of grace. The place of Ordinances is called by ſome The door of Heaven, becauſe there Chriſt gives his alms, his dole. Others call it The Celeſtial Exchange between God and his people; God doth there exchange mercies for duties, and they exchange Glory for Grace. At the Tabernacle, ſaith God, I will meet with the children of Iſrael, and it ſhall be ſanctified by my glory: And I will dwell aamong the children of Iſrael, and will be their God Exod. 29.43 45. When God comes to his houſe, he never comes empty handed. If Paul comes with the fulneſs of the bleſſings of the Goſpel of Chriſt, with what cluſters of bleſſings is the true Vine laden? with what a train of Graces and Comforts is this great King attended; I will meet with the children of Iſrael there. When Jacob met Joſeph they kiſt and wept, Gen. 46.29. But when God meets the Beleever, they have a merrier meeting, they kiſs and rejoyce.
And I will dwell among them; Who can imagine the houſe which God keeps, where he dwells, the dainties, the delicates which he provides for his friends and Family. Great Princes have great proviſion in their Courts, anſwerable to their quality; but what proviſion doth the great God make? ſurely anſwerable to his infinite majeſty.
The table in the Tabernacle was furniſhed with ſo many loaves as there were Tribes in Iſrael, Moſes unveyled, c. 27. p. 10ſignifying that God keeps a conſtant and plentiful table in his Church for all Beleevers.
Ordinances are canales gratiae, Conduit-pipes whereby the water of life is derived from Chriſt into the hearts of Chriſtians. As the light and beams of the Sun is the vehiculum or chariot to convey the heat and influence of the Sun to the world; ſo the Ordinances of God are the chariots whereby God conveyeth the heat of his Grace, and the influences of his Spirit to men and women. Saints behold his face in the gla… of Ordinances, and are changed into his image from glory to glary, 2 Cor. 3.18. Thoſe Divine graces which are for meat to ſatisfie and for medicine to heal the ſoul, are found growing onelyonly upon the banks of the waters of the Sanctuary; Clark M…r. part. 2. p. 213.therefore go to Ordinances, as the Viema… lim, a bird in America flieth to the fields, for the dew which falls down from Heaven, thereupon which it liveth.
Socrates one day meeting Zenophon the Son of Corillus in a certain Port Town, …og of ae… in vi….ſtopt him with his ſtaff, and asked him, Where was the place where ſeveral commodities were to be had? He anſwered readily, In ſuch a place: Then ſaith Socrates, Where is the place that a man might be made good? Zenophon anſwered, he could not tell. Then follow thou me, ſaith Socrates, and thou ſhalt learn; and from that time he became Socrates Schollar. The Ordinances of God are the places for both, there true riches and vertue may be had; the Temple is both the Exchange for traffique, and a School for learning. The good Maſt…r teacheth his Schollars there thoſe leſſons which make them wiſe to ſalvation.
Reader, the Ordinances are the food of the ſoul (milk for babes, and meat for men) do thou feed on them to get ſpiritual health …nd ſtrength; It is a ſhame for a Chriſtian to be like an An…buſie about a molehil & never to grow greater: Go…o thoſe wells that the veſſels of thy ſoul may be filled with living water.
David longed (as a Woman with Child, ſo the word ſignifieth) to ſee the beauty of the Lord, and receive of his bounty in the Sanctuary, Pſa. 84.2. and 63.1, 2. and 27. Thou goeſt to the Market to ſupply thy bodily neceſſities, and art aſhamed to come home empty? Doſt thou not come to the Ordinances of God for the releif of thy ſoul indigencies, and art thou not greived to come away poor and beggarly? Merchants take in ſome goods from one part, ſome from another part, and at laſt come home richly laden; do thou get ſome true riches at prayer, ſome from the word, and then how comfortably mayſt thou conclude thy duties.
Do not reſt in the formal performance of duties, as the Harlot that cryed out, Prov. 7.14.I have had my peace-offering to day, and therefore all muſt be well; but as the people when Moſes went to ſpeak to God for them, Exod. 33.8,they all looked after him to ſee what ſpeed, what ſucceſs. After thine attendance on Ordinances, long and look for the fruit of them; If a man preſent a Petition to a King, he gives attendance to ſee whether it will be granted or no. It is a contempt both of Gods Majeſty and Mercy, for thee to throw down thy prayers before him, and then to run away not caring what becomes of it. When thou haſt been ſpeaking to God hearken what God will ſpeak to thee, for he ſpeaketh peace to his people, and to his Saints, that they return no more to folly. Let down thy Net into the Waters, and expect to catch ſomwhat which may feed thy ſoul; if thou fiſh all night and (as the Diſciples) catch nothing, look for the coming of Chriſt in the morning, and that purpoſely to give thee a good draught of fiſh.
Reader, remember thine errand at ordinances is to get grace, thou haſt Gods promiſe to them, and his power and faithfulneſs, both ingaged for its performance, and its thy fault and folly if thou goeſt hungry from a full table, and empty from a free and large treaſure. Be as wiſe for thy ſoul as others are for their bodies. The Country Tradeſman wants commodities, he goeth to London▪ where is a Merchant that hath variety and abundance; when he comes there, he doth not ſpend his time in ſeeing faſhions, and viſiting friends, but in going to this and that Ware-houſe as his occaſions require, to buy Wares; and you ſee ſometimes what conſiderable quantities he ſends home: Go thou and do likewiſe. Thou complaineſt that thou wanteſt grace, go to Chriſt who hath variety and ſufficiency for thy ſupply; but do not go to ſee men, or to be ſeen of men, but to ſee God, and to be transformed into his likeneſs; go to this and that duty, as ſhops (where Chriſt ſits and ſels) and buy Wine and Milk without Money and without price, little doſt thou know, were this but thy buſineſs, how certainly, how liberally he would ſatisfie thee? Why ſhould the Tradeſman be a better Husband for corruptible wares, then thou art for durable riches? Alas, alas, Chriſt is more willing to ſell, then thou canſt be to buy; to give, then thou art to ask.
Balaam, as bad as he was, when he had prepared ſeven Altars, and offered ſeven Sacrifices could expect to meet God, and canſt thou, O Chriſtian, contentedly miſs him, ſurely he is a pittiful beggar that can go to the gate of a bountiful Peer, where is plenty of proviſion for the poor, and come away willingly without his Almes.
A good wiſh about religious Duties in general, wherein the former Heads are Epitomized.
THe immediate Worſhip of the infinite God, being a work of the greateſt weight that ever I did, or can poſſibly undertake, yea that men and Angels are capable of; I wiſh therefore that I may never enter raſhly upon it, but may ordinarily take ſome pains before hand, The Introduction to the directions analiſed.to aw my heart by a ſerious apprehenſion of the unconceivable greatneſs, jealouſie, and holineſs of that God to whom I am approaching, (how he is reſolved to be ſanctified either actively or paſſively, Preparation.in every one that draweth nigh to him,) and by a ſavoury conſideration of the unſpeakeable conſequence of the duty in which I am ingaged, how it concerneth the unchangeable welfare of my never dying ſoul in the other World. I wiſh that all the time of the duty, I may look as narrowly to my heart, Attention.as ever keeper did to that priſoner for whoſe eſcape he was to dye, and bind it to the Altar (as they of old, their Sacrifice) with the ſtrongeſt cords of all watchfulneſs, and circumſpection imaginable. Acting grace.I wiſh that I may perform each part of the duty with ſutable grace; and to this end, that all my graces may be upon the wing, ready upon the leaſt call to mount up to Heaven; as ſeveral ſtrings of a Vial, wound up to their due height and pitch, each in their place, upon the leaſt touch (as occaſion ſhall be) to make M…ſi…k in the ears of the Lord my God; O that while my beloved ſitteth at his Table, my Spikenard may ſend forth a pleaſant ſmell. In particular, FearI wiſh that I may be ſo ſenſible of the infinite diſtance which is betwixt the incomprehenſible Lord of Heaven, and me a poor worm, who lie groveling here on earth, that I may both in my carriage and language, affections and expreſſions, behave my ſelf throughout the ordinance with all godly fear, humility and reverence. I wiſh that I may be ſo truely affected with the ſins and unworthineſs of my perſon and performances, and my Saviours infinite meritoriouſneſs, that I may carry all my Sacrifices, to the High-Prieſt of my profeſſion, beleiving aſſuredly, that they being perfumed with the odours of his death, Faithand preſented by his hands, ſhall be Offerings of a ſweet ſmelling ſavour to my God. The end of duties.Finally, I wiſh that all ends of pride, merit and ſelf, ſet a ſide, I may therefore attend on duties, that I may by my poor Peppercorn, acknowledge thoſe millions of eternal obligations by which I am bound to my God, and alſo that by thoſe Buckets (O that they might never come up empty to me) I may draw water out of the Well of Salvation, Amen.