The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. How to exerciſe our ſelves to godlineſs on a Lords Day.
BEcauſe the Lords Day is the ſpecial time for Religious Duties, I ſhall therefore Reader, give thee here ſome particular directions for thy Sanctification of it, and Edification by it.
As of all actions, none call for more care then holy duties; ſo of all ſeaſons for thoſe actions, none commandeth ſo much caution and Conſcience as the Lords Day.
The firſt Command teacheth us the object of Worſhip; the ſecond, the matter of Worſhip; the third, the manner of Worſhip; the fourth, the time of Worſhip.
That God is to be worſhipped, Time of worſhip is juris naturalis, one of ſeven is juris poſitivi.that ſome time muſt be ſet apart for that work, is Moral, Natural, and written on the Tables of all our hearts; but that one day of ſeven muſt be conſecrated to this end, is Moral, Poſitive, and written on the Tables of ſtone.
All Nations have had their ſeaſons for Sacrifice, even the Heathen who worſhipped dumb Idols, had their Feſtivals and Holy days. It is reported of Alexander Severus, Emperor of Rome, that he would on a Sabbath Day lay aſide his Wordly affairs, and go into the Capitol to Worſhip his gods. Among thoſe that acknowledge the true God, the Turks have their Stata tempora, ſet times of devotion, nay, they have their Fryday Sabbath.
But to keep the Lords Day upon a conſcientious ground, and in a religious manner, is peculiar to the true Chriſtian. In the primitive times, the obſervation of this day was eſteemed the principal ſign of a Saint. Indeed our Sanctification of it, is by God himſelf counted a ſign that he hath ſanctified us, Exod. 31.13.
It is obſervable, that God hath fenced this Command with more hedges then ordinary, to prevent our excurſions:
1. It is markt with a Memento above other commands, Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy; partly, becauſe of our forgetfulneſs; and partly, becauſe of its concernments.
2. Its delivered both Negatively, and Affirmatively, which no other commands is, to ſhew how ſtrongly it bindes.
3. It hath more Reaſons to enforce it then any other Precept; Its Equity, Gods Bounty, His own Pattern, and the Days Benediction.
4. Its put in the cloſe of the firſt, Eſt caput Religionis & totum Dei cultum continet. Willet in Exod. 35.1.and beginning of the ſecond Table, to note, that the obſervation of both Tables, depends much upon the Sanctification of this day.
It is conſiderable alſo, that it is more repeated then other of the Commands, Exod. 20.31. & 14.34. and 24.35. & 1.19. Levit. 3.28.30.
God would have Iſrael know, Omni tempore Sabbato debere ceſſare, Aug. in Exod. quaeſt. 160.in thoſe forequoted places, that their buſieſt times, earing and harveſt, and the very building of the Tabernacle, muſt give way to this Precept.
On the Lords Day we go into Gods Sanctuary, and his pleaſure is, that we reverence his Sanctuary, Levit. 19.30. The Jews indeed made a great ſtir about their outward reverencing the Temple: Willet in loc.They tell us, they were not to go in with a ſtaff, nor ſhoes, nor to ſpit in it, nor when they went away, to turn their backs upon it, but go ſideling, Ezek. 8.16. but certainly Gods meaning is principally, that we do with inward reverence and ſeriouſneſs worſhip him in his Sanctuary.
Reader, I deſire thee to take notice, that the more holy any action is, the more heedful thou oughteſt to be about it: Upon which account, the duties of this day require extraordinary diligence; for they have a double die of holineſs upon them, they are double gilt: Thy task on that day, or the exerciſes thereof, are of Divine Inſtitution, and ſo is the time, the day: Thou haſt Gods hand and ſeal to the duties, he commands thee to pray, hear, ſing, meditate, receive the Sacrament; and thou haſt alſo Gods hand and ſeal to the day, Acts 20.7. 1 Cor. 16.2. Revel. 1.10. It is conſiderable, that in the fourth Command, God doth not ſay, Remember the ſeventh day, to keep it holy; but, Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy; this Zanchy takes great notice of: further, the ſeventh, or a ſeventh, is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; ſo then the morality of that Command is one day of even. The Jews ſeventh day was buried in Chriſts grave, though its ſhadow walked a little while after. Take heed how thou obſerveſt this day, Gods eye is very much upon thy behavior in his houſe; therefore in the Tabernacle, the place of publike worſhip, it was commanded, Ne putes te in domo Dei male poſſe converſari, & occultari. Oleaſter.Exod. 25.37. Thou ſhalt make ſeven lamps, and they ſhall light the lamps that they may give light: to teach us, that nothing there eſcapes his ſight, for in his houſe there is always light: His eye beholds all thy commiſſion of evil, and all thine omiſſion of good there: In his Sanctuary thou canſt not ſin in ſecret; there are ſeven Lamps to diſcover thy miſcarriages in the Lords houſe, and therefore it behoves thee to be very pious in that place. Afterwards, when the Temple was built, and became heir to the Tabernacle, as that ſucceeded this in the Celebration of Gods Worſhip, ſo alſo in Gods obſervation of all the works done there: Mine eye (ſaith God) ſhall be there perpetually, 1 Kings 9.3. There is a threefold eye of God preſent in the Aſſemblies of his people.
1. There is the eye of obſervation and inſpection: God ſeeth what uprightneſs and ſeriouſneſs there is in thy prayers and performances; God eyeth and takes notice, what integrity and fervency thou haſt in thy ſervices and ſacrifices: Mine eyes are upon all their ways, Jer. 16.17. Whether thou art praying, or reading, or hearing, or ſinging, his eye is upon thee; and whether thou performeſt thy duties ſlothfully and ſluggiſhly, or dutifully and diligently, he obſerveth thee: His eyes behold, and his eye-lids try the children of men.
2. There is the eye of favour and benediction: Gods eye can convey a bleſſing as well as his hand: I will ſet mine eyes upon them for good, Amos 9.4. And Gods eye can ſpeak his good will as well as his heart: Mine eye and my heart ſhall be there; that is, in my houſe, 2 Chron. 7.16. The affection of the breaſt is ſeen at the brows, Mine eye ſhall be upon the faithful of the Land, Pſal. 101.6. Gods eye is in his houſe, to approve and bleſs thee, if thou ſanctifie him in Ordinances. Friend, keep the Lords Day with care and conſcience, perform thy duties with ſuitable graces, and Gods eye will be upon thee, thou ſhalt ſee his love in his pleaſant and gracious looks. Jeſus Chriſt beholds and approves the gracious performances of his people; he ſeems to ſay to them, as Paul to the Coloſſians, Though I am abſent from you in the fleſh, yet am I preſent with you in the Spirit, joying and beholding your order, Col. 2.15.
3. There is the eye of fury and indignation: Gods looks will ſpeak his anger, as well as his blows: His fury is viſible by his frowns; Mine eyes ſhall be upon them for evil. Gods ſight can wound as deeply as his Sword. Job ſpeaks of him, He ſharpneth his eyes upon me, Job 16.9. Wilde Beaſts when they fight, whet their eyes, as well as their teeth. An Enemy enraged, looks on his Antagoniſt, as if he would look through him. He ſharpneth his eyes upon me, as if he would ſtab me to the heart with a glance of his eye; ſo an Expoſitor gloſſeth on it. If thou wait on God irreverently, Worſhip him careleſly, and prophaneſt his Day, either by Corporal labour, or Spiritual idleneſs, thou mayeſt not expect his eye of favour, but of fury: If ye will not hearken unto me, to hallow the Sabbath, then will I kindle a fire, which ſhall devour the Palaces of Jeruſalem, and none ſhall quench it, Jerem. 17. ult. Ezek. 22.26, 31. Gods ſeverity hath been remarkable on the Prophaners of his Sabbath. The firſt blow given the German Churches, was on the Lords Day, which they careleſly obſerved; on that day Prague was loſt. When men diſturb Gods reſt, God doth uſually deprive them of reſt. The day of the Lord is like to be a dreadful day to them that deſpiſe the Lords Day.
Truly God is as jealous in his Courts under the Goſpel as he was under the Law. Chriſt, whoſe eyes are as a flame of fire, walks in the midſt of the Golden Candleſticks throughout the World; He obſerves how holy duties are performed, and how his holy day is ſanctified; When two or three are gathered together in his name, he is in the midſt of them, Mat. 18.20. He is in the midſt of us, to behold our inward and outward carriage in his Courts; he obſerveth in praying, what confeſſions are made of ſin, with what confuſion of face, and contrition of heart, what petitions are put up for grace and pardon, with what integrity of ſpirit, and fervency of affection. He obſerveth in hearing, whether men hear with attention ſutable to that word which is able to ſave their ſouls, whether men receive the truth in the love of it, whether they reſolve on ſubjection, and to give themſelves up to that form of Doctrine which is given down to them, or whether men hear Sermons as Children turn over books meerly for the gays that are in them; He goeth down into the garden of Nuts, to ſee the fruits of the Valley, Cant. 6.11. He ſeeth the rotten bough of Hypocriſie, the leaves of profeſſion, without the fruits of an anſwerable converſation, He ſeeth all thine unripe, ſowre, indigeſted duties.
Reader, If I were to counſel thee how to ſpend a Market day ſo, that thou mighteſt gain much wealth and treaſure, I doubt not but thou wouldſt hearken to me; I am now to adviſe thee how to ſpend the Lords day, the Market day for thy ſoul, ſo, that thou mayſt get the true treaſure, durable riches and righteouſneſs; I pray thee to hear and obey the directions which I have to deliver thee from the Lord, for that end.
Firſt, Make preparation for the day. There is ſcarce any work which admits of any conſiderable perfection, but require ſome previous preparation. In works of nature, the ground muſt be dunged, dreſſed, plowed, harrowed, and all to prepare it for the ſeed. In works of Art the Muſitian tuneth his Viol, ſcrewing up ſome of his ſtrings higher, letting ſome down lower, as occaſion is, and all to prepare it for his leſſon, and indeed without this he would make but ſad M…ſick. Truely Friend thus it is with us in matters of higher moment; hearts, like ſoil, muſt be prepared for the ſeed of the Word (how many a Sermon hath been loſt, becauſe this was wanting!) and the Viols of our ſouls muſt be tuned to praiſe God, or otherwiſe they will ſound but harſhly in his ears.
The Prieſts were to waſh in the Laver, when they went into the Tabernacle, and when they came near to the Altar to Miniſter upon pain of death, Exod. 30.19, 20. Signifying that to holy performances there is required holy prepartion; Sutable to which is Davids ſpeech, I will waſh my hands in innocency, ſo will I compaſs thine Altar, Pſa. 26.
When the Temple was to be built, the ſtones were hewn, and the timber ſquared and fitted, before they were brought to the place where the Temple ſtood; there was neither ax, nor hammer, nor any uſe of them in the Temple: And what doth this ſpeak, but that the Chriſtian muſt be polliſhed and prepared to be a ſpiritual Temple, an habitation for the God of Jacob, and alſo fitted for his worſhip, which was then in the Temple.
There is no duty but requires ſome previous diſpoſiti on. A little break-faſt quickens the appetite to a good dinner; duty fits the heart for duty; Conſider prayer. The Chriſtian muſt be poor in ſpirit, that would prevail in prayer for ſpiritual riches. The veſſel muſt be empty before it can be fil'd. O Lord, thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cauſe thine ear to hear, Pſa. 10.17. for hearing; the weeds muſt be pluckt up before the grain be thrown into the ground; Wherefore laying aſide all malice and all guile and Hypocriſies, As new born born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the word, 1 Pet. 2.1, 2. In ſinging; the lungs muſt be good, the inwards clean, before the voice will be ſweet and clear. O God, my heart is fixed, my heart is fixed, I will ſing and give praiſe, Pſa. 57.7. So for the Lords day, the Iſraelites had their preparation. It was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Mark. 15.42.
The preparation for the Lords day, conſiſteth partly in care ſo to order Worldly buſineſſes, that they may not incroach on the Sabbath; Some expoſitours obſerve that the word Remember, in the fourth Command, enjoyneth a provident foreſight and diligent diſpatch of earthly affairs on the day before, that nothing may remain to diſquiet us in, or diſturb Gods day of reſt; There is an obſervable place, If thou keep thy foot from my Sabbath, Iſa. 58.13. that is from treading on my holy ground with the dirty feet of earthly affairs, or affections. The Jews preparation began at three of the clock in the afternoon, Inritibus Paganwhich the Hebrews called the Sabbath Eve; The antient Fathers called Caena pura, from the Heathen (ſay ſome) whoſe Religion taught them in their Sacrifices to certain of their Gods, to prepare themſelves by a ſtrict kind of holineſs, at which time they had a Supper conſiſting of meats holy in their opinion.
The Jews were ſo careful in their preparation, Buxto…. Syna gog Iud. c. 10. extalm…d.that ſaith mine Author, to further it, the beſt and wealthieſt of them, even thoſe that had many ſervants, and were Maſters of Families, would chop hearbs, ſweep the houſe, cleave wood, kindle the fire and do ſuch like things. The marriner that intendeth a voyage, putteth his Ship off from Land; ſo truly, Friend, if thou woulſt lanch Heaven-ward upon a Lords day, there is a neceſſity that the Veſſel of thy heart be put off from the earth. When our bleſſed Saviour was teaching the people, he was diſturbed by one that told him, Behold thy Mother and thy brethren, ſtandwithout deſiring to ſpeak with thee, Mat. 12.47. So when thou art hearing, or praying, or about any Religious Ordinance, what an hinderance, what a diſturbance will it be for thy heart to ſuggeſt to thee, Man, thy calling, thy companions, or ſuch and ſuch things which lye upon the ſpoil through thy negligence in the week-days, they all ſtand without deſiring to ſpeak with thee. If thou wouldſt avoid diſtraction, prevent the occaſions; As Iſaiah ſaid to Hezekiah, Set thine houſe in order againſt thy deaths day; So I ſay to thee, Set thy houſe in order, and thy heart in order againſt the Lords day.
The main preparation of the heart for a Sabbath, lyeth in removing the filth of Sin, Accedentiad divina myſteria dei que contemplationem deponenda ſunt calceamenta, i.e. paſſiones, affectiones ſimul & rationes humanae & terrenae. Cor. a Lapid. in Exod 3.and in quickening, and awakening grace, ſin muſt be removed; If the ſtomach be foul, it muſt be purged before it be fed, or the meat will nouriſh and ſtrengthen, not nature, but the ill humours; If a man purge himſelf from theſe (It is true of evil affections, as well as evil perſons) he ſhall be a Veſſelunto honor, ſanctified and meet for the Maſters uſe, and prepared unto every good work, 2 Tim. 2.21.
Superfluity of naughtineſs, muſt be laid aſide before we can receive the word with meekneſs, James 1.21. When the Veſſel is unclean, it ſowres quickly the ſweeteſt liquors powred into it; when the heart is unclean, it loſeth the good it might receive by the truths of God.
As ſin muſt be caſt out, ſo grace muſt be called up; Grace is like fire apt to be deadiſh and dull, thy duty is before-hand, therefore to blow it up; Moſt people upon a Sabbath adorn their bodies, with their beſt cloaths; but, Alaſs, who almoſt attireth his ſoul as he ought on this day, when he is going to meet the bleſſed Redeemer!
Reader, Suppoſe thou wert a perſon of great quality and eſtate, and the King ſhould ſend thee word, that he would dine with thee to morrow, what preparation wouldſt thou make for his entertainment? would not thy firſt work be to cleanſe thy houſe, by cauſing the duſt to be ſwept out, the flores to be waſht, nay rubd, every thing to be neat and cleanly? Wouldſt thou not put up thy choiceſt Hangings, lay on thy richeſt Carpets, bring out thy beſt plate, adorn thy room with thy coſtlieſt furniture, endeavour that all things ſhould be in print, ſomwhat ſuitable to the dignity of ſo great a Prince. I tell thee, that the great King of all the World, doth give thee notice in his Word, that on ſuch a day, being the Sabbath, he intends to ſup with thee: Now friend, what preparation wilt thou make, to teſtifie thy reſpect to this bleſſed and onelyonly Potentate? Canſt thou beforehand do leſs then ſweep out the duſt of ſin, and waſh the room of thine heart clean, adorn it with the beſt furniture, the Graces, the embroidery of the Holy Ghoſt. Truly unleſs this be done, Chriſt will not think himſelf welcome, nay all thy pretended entertainment of him, will be not onelyonly infinitely unworthy of, but alſo provoking to ſo jealous and glorious a Prince.
Believe it, thy profit by a Sabbath, depends not a little upon thy preparation for the Sabbath; till the matter be prepared, how can it receive the form, Job 11.12, 13. Thou haſt enjoyed many Lords Days, and it may be got little ſoul-ſaving good: Thou goeſt to the Houſe of God, where a table (in the preaching of the Goſpel) is ſet before thee, ſpread with all the dainties of Pardon, Love, Grace, Peace, and Eternal Life, at which others ſit and feed, their Souls are fill'd with Marrow and Fatneſs, and their mouthes praiſe the Lord with joyful lips; but thou haſt no ſtomack, canſt eat little, and ſavour nothing: I dare be the Phyſician to tell thee the cauſe & cure of this; the cauſe is, Thy ſtomack is foul, thy heart is unclean; and therefore as a man that hath a cold, or ſome diſeaſe predominant, cannot relliſh his meat, but complains ſometimes of the meat, ſometime of the Cook, when the fault is in himſelf; ſo thou canſt taſte no goodneſs in the beſt meat, neither Prayer, nor Scripture; neither Sermon, nor Sabbath are ſavoury to thee, yet it may be thou blameſt the Preacher, he doth not dreſs the meat to thy mind, when the fault is in the foulneſs of thy affections: Thy cure muſt be, to purge out this old leaven, to take ſome pains beforehand in cleanſing thy heart. When the ſtomack is clean, as after purging or faſting, how ſweet is a piece of bread! So if thou wouldſt but in ſecret ſearch thy ſoul, vomit up thy filth, by a penitent confeſſion, cleanſe thine heart by ſincere contribution, and wouldſt then frequent the publique Ordinances, thou wouldſt finde prayer ſweet, preaching ſweet, the Sacrament ſweet, every ſervice ſweet: O how wouldſt thou love the habitation of Gods Houſe, and the place where his honor dwelleth!
Prepare to meet thy God, O Chriſtian; betake thy ſelf to thy chamber on the Saturday night, confeſs and bewail thine unthankfulneſs for, and unfruitfulneſs under the Ordinances of God; ſhame and condemn thy ſelf for thy ſins; entreat God to prepare thy heart for, and aſſiſt it in thy Religious performances; ſpend ſome time in conſideration of the infinite Majeſtie, Holineſs, Jealouſie and Goodneſs of that God, with whom thou art to have to do in ſacred duties; ponder the weight and importance of his holy Ordinances, how they concern thy ſalvation or damnation, thine everlaſting life or death; how certainly they will either further thine unchangeable welfare, or encreaſe thine endleſs wo; meditate on the ſhortneſs of the time thou haſt to enjoy Sabbaths in, how near thy life may be to an end, how ſpeedily, and how eaſily God may take down thine earthly Tabernacle, how there is no working, no labouring, no ſtriving in the other World, to which thou art haſtning, and continue muſing and blowing, till the fire burneth; thou canſt not think the good thou mayeſt gain by ſuch fore-thoughts, how pleaſant and profitable a Lords Day would be to thee, after ſuch a preparation. The oven of thine heart thus baked in (as it were) over night, would be eaſily heated the next morning; the fire ſo well raked up when thou wenteſt to bed, would be the ſooner kindled when thou ſhouldſt riſe: If thou wouldſt thus leave thine heart with God on the Saturday night, thou ſhouldſt finde it with him in the Lords Day morning.
Secondly, Poſſeſs thy ſoul in the morning with the greatneſs of thy priviledge, in the enjoyment of a Sabbath, and ſuch ſeaſons of grace: Look upon thy work that day, as thy reward; thy duty on that day, as thy greateſt Dignity. O what a favour, what an honor, what happineſs doth God vouchſafe to thee, in affording thee ſuch a golden ſeaſon! David, though a King, the Head of the beſt people in the World, eſteemed it an honor to be the loweſt Officer in Gods Houſe; to be a Doorkeeper there, to fit at the threſhold, as it is in the Hebrew, Pſal. 84.10. If the Queen of Sheba could ſay, when ſhe ſaw the wealth, and heard the wiſdom of Solomon, Happy are theſe thy men, happy are theſe thy ſervants, which ſtand continually before thee, and that hear thy wiſdom; and bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael, which delighted in thee, to ſet thee on the Throne of Iſrael; becauſe the Lord loved Iſrael for ever, therefore made he thee King, 1 Kings 10.8, 9. mayeſt not thou when thou beholdeſt the beautiful face of thy Saviour, in the glaſs of Ordinances; and heareſt the ſweet delightful voyce of Jeſus Chriſt, a greater then Solomon; when thou ſeeſt the delicate and plentiful proviſion, the feaſt of fat things, of wine on the lees well refined, which he makes for his people, upon better ground ſay, Bleſſed are thy ſervants that hear thee daily, watching at thy gates, waiting at the poſts of thy doors, Prov. 8.34. Bleſſed are they that dwell in thy houſe, they will be ſtill praiſing thee: And bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael, which delighted in thee, to ſet thee on the Throne of Iſrael; becauſe he loved Iſrael for ever, therefore hath he made thee King.
The Ordinances of God are called an appearing before God; the fruition of them is a ſeeing his face: Capernaum, becauſe of them, was ſaid to be lifted up to Heaven. Who can tell what honor it is to appear in the preſence of this King; or what happineſs it is to ſee his comely countenance! Thoſe that enjoy this, are lifted up to Heaven.
Iſrael was an unparallel'd people, becauſe of this incomparable priviledge; For what Nation is there ſo great, which hath God ſo nigh unto them? Deut. 4.7. In the Ordinances of God, the Chriſtian hath ſweet communion, with raviſhing delight in, and enflamed affection to the bleſſed God; in them he taſtes God to be gracious, hath the Firſt-fruits of his Glorious and Eternal Harveſt.
Well might the French Proteſtants call their place of publique meeting Paradiſe: Well might David cry out, Pſal. 84.1, 2. & 27.4. How amiable are thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hoſts! At the Tabernacle God did meet David: Who can tell what joyful greeting there was at that holy meeting; what ſweet kiſſes, what loving embraces God gave his ſoul?
As the Ordinances are Heaven in a glaſs; ſo the Lords Day is Heaven in a map: This is to be valued at an high rate, becauſe therein we enjoy all the means of communion with God, in the higheſt degree and meaſure, without interruption. The Hebrews call thee Week days prophane days, but this is an holy, pious day. The Greeks call them working days, but this is a day of ſweet reſt. Other days are common and ordinary handmaids, but this is fitly termed by the Jews, the Queen of days: Many Daughters have done wiſely, but thou haſt excelled them all: Many days, as Lecture-days, Faſt-days, Thankſgivingdays, have done vertuouſly, have done valiantly; but thou, O Queen of days, haſt excelled them all: They, like Saul, have ſlain their thouſands of Spiritual Enemies; but thou haſt ſlain, as David, thy ten thouſands: They, like the people, muſt worſhip afar off, but thou, like Moſes, mayeſt draw near, go up into the mount: There is none like thee, whom God knoweth face to face. Well may other days ſay to thee, as the people to David, Thou art worth ten thouſand of us: Well might the good Soul run to meet thee in the morning, and ſalute thee with Veni Spouſa mea, Come my ſweet Spouſe, thee I have loved, for thee I have longed, and thou art my deareſt delight.
Take heed of counting the Sabbath thy burden, and thine attendance upon that day on the Ordinances of God, thy bondage: It argued ſpirits full of froth and filth, to cry out, When will the new Moon be gone, that we may ſell our corn; and the Sabbath, that we may ſet forth wheat, Amos 8.5. Count Religious duties, not thy fetters, but thy greateſt freedom.
Think what the Phaenix is amongſt birds, the Lyon among beaſts, Fire among the Elements, that is the Lords Day among the days. Ordinary days, like wax in a ſhop, have their uſe, are worth ſomewhat; but this like wax to ſome Deeds, or which hath the Kings Seal to it, is worth thouſands. What is ſaid of that Day of the Lord, may in a gracious ſenſe be ſpoken of the Lords Day, There is none like it, before it, neither ſhall be after it. Upon this day Chriſt carrieth the Soul into his Wine-cellar, and his Banner over it is Love: Upon other days he feeds his members upon this day, he feaſts them; they have their ordinary every day, but upon this day exceedings; Upon this day he brings forth his living water, his beſt Wine; On this day, he gives the ſweeteſt bread, the fineſt flower, the true meat, his own body. On this day he met the two Diſciples and made their hearts warm, and even burn within them by the fire of his words; On this day, Saints that ſlept, aroſe out of their beds, their graves; Mat. 27. On this day, the Holy Ghoſt deſcended on the Apoſtles; On this day, the Lord brought forth the light of the World in Creation; On this day, Chriſt brought forth the light of his new Heavens and new Earth by his Reſurrection; On this day, St. John had his glorious Revelation, containing the Churches ſtate to the Worlds diſſolution; On this day, he viſited his dear Apoſtles with grace and peace; ſaying to them, Peace be unto you, behold my hands and my feet. On this day, he burſt aſunder the bands of death, he broke in peices the gates of Hell, he led captivity captive, trampled upon Principalities and Powers, and and triumphed over, grave, ſin, the curſe of the law, and Satan; Upon this day, he ſtill rides triumphantly in the Chariot of his Ordinances, conquering and to conquer, caſting down high thoughts, and ſubduing ſinners to himſelf. It may be ſaid of the Sabbath as of Sion, This and that man was born in her and the higheſt himſelf ſhall eſtabliſh her. The Lord ſhall count when he writeth up the people, that this man was born then, Selah. Pſa. 87.56. O bleſſed day, how many thouſands ſouls have known thee the day of their new births! How willing have the people been in thee day of Gods power in the beauties of holineſs from the womb of the morning, thou haſt the dews of thy youth. Bleſſed art thou among days, from hence forth all generations ſhall call thee bleſſed. Bleſſed be the Father who made thee; bleſſed be the Son who bought thee; bleſſed be the Spirit who ſanctifieth thee, and bleſſed are all they that prize and improve thee. Reader, thou haſt not a drop of true holineſs, if thou doſt not bleſs God (as is reported of the Jews) at the coming in, and going out of this holy and bleſſed day.
Thirdly, Conſider there is a preſent price put into thy hands, to get and increaſe grace, and therefore improve it. The wiſdom of a Chriſtian conſiſteth in obſerving his ſeaſons; the High God ſends man to School to the ſilly Ant, to learn this Art and peice of good Husbandry, Go to the Ant thou ſluggard, conſider her ways and be wiſe, which having no Guide, Overſeer, nor Ruler, provideth her food in the Summer, and gathereth her meat in the Harveſt, Prov. 6.6, 7, 8. The Ants are a feeble folk, but famous for their forecaſt, and deſerve ſaith one, to be fed with the fineſt of the Wheat, for the pattern they give to man. They labour not onelyonly all day, but even by Moon-light they gather huge heaps together, lay it out a drying in a warm day, leaſt it ſhould putrifie, & bite off the ends of the ends of the grain leaſt it ſhould grow; but obſerve the ſeaſon of this care and diligence; She provideth her food in the Summer, and gathereth her meat in the Harveſt. Then that time is the Ants opportunity; if ſhe do it not then, ſhe cannot do it at all; therefore ſhe makes uſe of that ſeaſon. O that Friend, thou wert but as wiſe for the bread which came down from Heaven, as this poor Piſmire is for the bread which ſprings out of the earth! Chriſtians are called Doves. The Turtle Dove is called in the Hebrew Tor, of the Original Tur, and thence comes our Latin Turtur, which ſignifieth to obſerve or ſearch, for ſo this Bird obſerveth her time of going and coming, Jer. 8.7. for ſhe departeth before Winter into ſome warm climate. The Lords day is the Summer, thine Harveſt time; Labour now for Chriſt and grace, or thou art loſt for ever. The Farmer that loyters at other times, will work hard and ſweat in Harveſt. If he do not reap then, he knows he can never pay his rent and feed his Family, but is ruined. Reader, if thou doſt not on a Lords day gather in grace, how wilt thou do to lay out grace in the week days? nay how wilt thou do to ſpend grace upon a dying bed, when thou art to ſtep into the other World! He that gathereth in Summer, is a wiſe ſon; but he that ſleepeth in Harveſt, is a ſon that cauſeth ſhame, Prov. 10.5. The Jews might gather no Manna on the Sabbath, but Gentiles muſt then eſpecially get the bread of life. The Water-man muſt obſerve when Wind and Tide are for his turn, and then beſtir himſelf, or otherwiſe he muſt come ſhort of his Haven. It concerns thee to mind Sabbaths; then the gales of the Spirit blow fair for thy voyage; then the waters of Ordinances run right for the port to which thou art bound; therefore do not then laze and loyter, but labour for thy God, thy ſoul, and thine everlaſting life; Therefore ſhall every one that is godly, ſeek thee in a time when thou mayſt be found. Pſa. 32.6.
The Muſitian muſt play his leſſon whilſt the inſtrument is in Tune, becauſe the weather may alter. The good Husband for his ſoul muſt buy of Chriſt gold to inrich him, and raiment to cloath him, while the Fayr laſts, for it will quickly be over. Eſau came too late and loſt thereby the bleſſing; many come too late and loſe their ſouls by it. To every thing there is a ſeaſon, ſaith God, Eccleſ. 3.1. The Lords day is thy ſeaſon when grace and mercy are tendered to thee; how will thou eſcape if thou neglecteſt (or careſt not for, as the word foreign ſignifieth) ſo great Salvation. Heb. 2.3. Open unto Chriſt when he knocketh at the door of thy heart with the finger of his Spirit. Do not bid him come to morrow, leſt that morrow never come,
Its good (we ſay) to make Hay while the Sun ſhines, for the Heavens may be cloudy. Its good to embrace a preſent opportunity, for time is bald behind; thou canſt not aſſure thy ſelf of a ſecond Sabbath. Seaſons of grace are not like Tides, that a man may miſs one and take another. What Chriſt ſaid of himſelf, is true of Sabbaths; The poor ye have always with you, but me ye have not always. Time thou haſt always with thee while thou liveſt, but the Sabbath thou haſt not always. Nay within a ſhorter time then thou imagineſt; God may deprive thee both of time and opportunity, both of Week days and Lords days; and if thou art now ſleeping and ſnoring when thou ſhould be waking and working, what a cut will it be to thy heart to reflect upon the Sabbaths which thou haſt had and loſt, enjoyed and miſpent! Jeruſalem in the days of her affliction and of her miſery, remembred all her pleaſant things that ſhe had in the days of old, Lam. 1.9. So Reader if thou ſhouldſt neglect to improve Sabbaths now in the day of thy miſery, or rather in the everlaſting night of thine affliction in hell, thou wilt remember thy Sabbaths ſeaſons of grace, and all thy pleaſant things which thou hadſt in the days of old. Good Lord, what a rueful woful remembrance will it be to call to mind the means, the mercies, the helps which were afforded thee to have avoided Hell, and attained Heaven, and yet thou like a fool or rather a mad man, didſt dally about them, and delay till the Market was done! Now is the time for thee to accept of grace, becauſe now is the onelyonly time that grace will accept of thee. O that thou wouldſt know in this thy day, the things which concern thy peace, before they be hid from thine eyes.
Fourrhly, Eſteem the publique Ordinances the chief work of the day, and let thy ſecret and private duties be ſo managed, that thy ſoul may be prepared for them, and profited by them. Duties in thy cloſet and family are of uſe, and have their bleſſing; but to put God off with theſe, and neglect the publique Worſhip, is to rob God of a greater ſum, to pay him a leſſer: The Sacrifice of the Jews on that day was double; they offered Sacrifice in the Tabernacle, beſides their Lambs for the daily Sacrifice. It is worthy our obſervation, that the Sabbath and publique Service are by God himſelf joyned together, and therefore let no man put them aſunder: Ye ſhall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my Sanctuary, I am the Lord, Lev. 19.30. They that deſpiſe Gods Sanctuary, cannot obſerve Gods Sabbath.
Every thing is beautiful in its ſeaſon: Private duties are beautiful, and in ſeaſon every day; but publique Ordinances are never ſo lovely and beautiful, becauſe never ſo much in their prime and ſeaſon, as on a Lords Day.
In publique Worſhip, God receiveth the higheſt praiſes: I will praiſe thee in the great Congregations, Pſal. 29.9. In his Temple doth every one ſpeak of his glory. I had gone with the multitude to the Houſe of God, with the voyce of joy and praiſe, with a multitude that kept holy day, Pſal. 42.4. The gracious God is pleaſed to eſteem it his glory to have many Beggars thronging at the beautiful gate of his Temple for Spiritual and Corporal alms. What an honor is it to our great Landlord, that multitudes of Tenants flock together to his houſe, to pay their rent of Thanks and Worſhip for their All which they hold of him! How loud and lovely is the noiſe of many golden Trumpets! Good Lord, what an eccho do they make in Heavens ears! Deus pluris facit preces in Eccleſia quam domi factas, non ob locum ſed ob conſiderationem multitudinis fidelium Deum communi conſenſu invo. cantium. Riv. in Cath. Orth.When many skilful Muſicians play in conſort, with well-tuned and prepared Inſtruments, the Muſick cannot but be raviſhing to God himſelf. Methinks its a notable reſemblance of the ſweet melody which is made by the Celeſtial Quire above, Pſal. 68.26. Bleſs ye God in the Congregation, even the Lord, from the fountain of Iſrael: for he loveth the gates of Zion, above all the dwellings of Jacob, Pſal. 87.2.
As in publique God receiveth the higheſt praiſes, ſo there he beſtoweth the richeſt mercies: Bleſſed is the man whom thou chuſeſt, and cauſeſt to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy Courts: We ſhall be ſatisfied with the goodneſs of thy Houſe, even of thy holy Temple, Pſal. 65.4. Here is Davids Poſition, and its proof: His Poſition is, That the Templer, or Inhabitant in Gods Houſe, is an happy man; Bleſſed is the man whom thou chuſeſt, and cauſeſt to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy Houſe: The proof of it is from the quality and quantity of the proviſion, which God makes for them that are of his Houſhold: For the quality of it, it is not onelyonly good, but Goodneſs; which word ſignifieth, not onelyonly the good will which God beareth to, but all the good things which God beſtoweth upon his people; Pardon, Peace, Love, Grace, every good thing; all good things are in the womb of that one word Goodneſs: Gods proviſion for his people is beyond all their knowledge or apprehenſion.
There be four ordinary ways by which men come to the knowledge of good things; either by hearing them immediately themſelves, or by hearſay from others, or by the ſight of the eyes, or by diſcourſe of Reaſon: But from the beginning of the World, men have not ſeen, nor heard, nor perceived by the ear, nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive, what God hath provided for them that love him, 1 Cor. 2.9. Iſa. 64.4. The love diſcovered there, is an unknown love; the joy beſtowed there, is unſpeakable joy: All the coſtlieſt dainties prepared for Heavens Table, the fulneſs of joy and pleaſures for ever at Gods right hand, are expreſſed by this one word Goodneſs, Pſal. 31.19. So that the quality of the proviſion is beyond all exception, it is Goodneſs. For its quantity, it is to ſatisfaction: We ſhall be ſatisfied with the goodneſs of thy houſe, even of thy Holy Temple: The Saint ſhall have enough of this luſcious fare to content him: Indeed the Chriſtians full meal is reſerved for him, till he comes to eat bread in the Kingdom of Heaven; but here he hath enough to ſtay his ſtomach: He is very well ſatisfied, that his allowance in this World is ſufficient. God calls him in the other World to greater work, and ſo will give him a greater allowance for ſuitable ſtrength; but God doth not in this World underkeep him. He feeds proportionable to their employments, nay to their ſatisfaction and contentment, all that are in his inferior family: His children have till they leave.
But Reader, Where is the place of this good, this great proviſion? is it not in Gods Houſe, in his holy Temple, in the publique Worſhip? Great Princes beſtow their Largeſſes, and ſhew their Bounty, Glory, and Magnifience before much people: If thou wouldſt know where Believers have ſeen their beſt ſights, where they have heard their moſt raviſhing ſounds, where they have made their moſt delightful meals; it was in the Houſe of God: They have ſeen thy goings, O God, in the Sanctuary, Pſal. 68.24. They have heard the joyful ſound of thy Word: They have been abundantly ſatisfied with the fatneſs of thy Houſe.
Do but conſider Davids tears and grief for want of, and his fervent prayers for the fruition of publike Ordinances, even then when he had opportunities for private performances; and ſurely thou wilt eſteem the Miniſtery of the Word no mean mercy: See his ſorrow when he was driven from Gods Sanctuary; When I remember theſe things, my ſoul is poured out: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the Houſe of God, Pſal. 42.3, 4. My ſoul is poured out; that is, I am overwhelmed with grief, and even ready to dye, when I compare my preſent condition with my former happineſs, in the fruition of Religious Aſſemblies. There is an Elegancy in the phraſe Poured out; the word is applyed to water, or any liquid thing, and in Scripture ſignifieth abundance, Joel 2.28. My life is ready to be poured out as water upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again, when I remember my former mercies, and conſider my preſent miſery. How bitterly and paſſionately doth he plead with Saul? If the Lord hath ſtirred thee up againſt me, let him accept an Offering; but if they be the children of men, curſed be they before the Lord; for they have driven me out this day from the Inheritance of the Lord, 1 Sam. 26. & 19. How pathetically doth he bemoan it to his own ſoul? Wo is me, for I dwell in Meſhech, and my habitations are in the Tents of Kedar: The loſs of his Father, Mother, Wives, Children, Lands, Liberty, nay of his very Life, would not have gone ſo near his heart, as the loſs of publique Ordinances: As his ſorow was great for the want, ſo was his ſuit moſt earneſt for the enjoyment of them; How many a prayer doth he put up for the liberty of the Tabernacle? Pſal. 43.3, 4. & 27.4. It is the one thing, the principal ſpecial requeſt which he begs of God: One thing have I deſired of the Lord, that will I ſeek after, that I may dwell in the houſe of the Lord all the days of my life; and verſe 8. how hard doth he pray for this priviledge: Thou ſaidſt, Seek ye my face; my heart ſaid unto thee, Thy face Lord will I ſeek: To ſeek the face of God in a general ſenſe, is taken for the ſubſtance of Religion, or to ſeek God, Pſal. 24.6. but by the face of God in a ſtrict ſenſe, is meant the Ark of God, and place of his reſidence: Now David at this time being deprived of this ineſtimable benefit, in the ardency of his zeal preſſeth God, with all the arguments he could deviſe, to reſtore him to that happineſs; among the reſt, he urged God with his own words, Thou haſt commanded me to worſhip thee in thy Tabernacle, to appear before thee, that is my deſire and delight, my heart would ſeek and ſee thy face there: Thus he preſſeth God for performance on his ſide, that he might be enabled to obey Gods precept.
Where God denyeth publique Ordinances, there he himſelf will be a little Sanctuary to his choſen, Ezek. 11.16. But where he affords them, he expects that they ſhould be attended: Chriſt himſelf went often into the Synagogues.
Peter and John went up into the Temple at the hour of prayer, Acts 3.1. On the Sabbath we went out of the City by a rivers ſide, where prayer was wont to be made, Acts 13.23. and Paul reaſoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath, Acts 18.4. Thoſe that by their practices contemn publique Worſhip, have neither Chriſt nor his Apoſtles for their pattern.
One of the Jewiſh Rabbies hath a ſaying, He that dwells in a City where there is a Synagogue, and cometh not to Prayers, Merito dicitur vicinus malus, is deſervedly ſtiled a bad neighbour. Beader, if thou forſakeſt the Aſſemblies of the Saints, how uſeful ſoever thou mayeſt be to others bodies, yet thou art a bad neigbour in neglecting ſoul-ſervice.
The Lord Jeſus Chriſt as he was faithful as a Son in his own houſe, took ſpecial care to provide and prepare ſuch publique ſervants, as might give every one their meat in due ſeaſon. The Miniſters of the word are his publique Officers appointed by himſelf to have the overſight of his Saints. They are both Fathers to beget, and Tutours to bring up his Sons and Daughters. They are his Stewarts to diſpenſe publiquely the myſteries of the Goſpel of peace. But little do they think, who ſet light by publique Ordinances, what a price Chriſt paid, that he might enable and qualifie them for his Churches profit. The gifts he beſtoweth on Paſtors are not the leaſt ſign of his good will to his people. Wherefore he ſaith, When he aſcended up on high, he gave gifts to men. And he gave ſome Apoſtles; and ſome Profits; and ſome Evangeliſts; and ſome Paſtours; and ſome Teachers. For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Miniſtry, for the edifying of the body of Chriſt, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the meaſure of the ſtature, of the fulneſs of Chriſt, Epheſ. 4.8, 11.12, 13. As Kings on the day of their Coronation, uſually appear in all their Majeſty and magnificence, and do ſome famous act (as of a general pardon or the like) which may ſpeak their love and reſpect to their Subjects. So Jeſus Chriſt when he rode Triumphantly in the Chariot of his aſcenſion into Heavens glorious City, to ſit and reign there at the right hand of the Majeſty on High, gave abilities to Miniſters, endowed them with anſwerable gifts and graces, that they might diſpenſe the Ordinances of God powerfully, and profitably, as a ſpecial fruit of his paſſion for, and a ſingular teſtimony of his affection to his Church.
I would wiſh thee therefore to be preſent at, and to continue to the end of publique Ordinances. David would be a Door-keeper in the Houſe of God. Becauſe a Door-keeper is firſt in, and laſt out. Friend, if thou wert feaſting ſome Noble perſon thou wouldſt not riſe from Table, unleſs neceſſity forced thee, before all were taken away, and thanks returned. I muſt tell thee that when thou art feeding with the bleſſed Potentate, it is much below good manners, to turn thy back upon him, without his leave and bleſſing.
Fifthly, If thou wouldſt make Religion thy buſineſs on a Lords day, Tune thine heart to ſpiritual joy and delight therein. Holy alacrity and joy is not onelyonly a crown and credit to, but alſo a ſpecial part of Chriſtianity. The Kingdom of God conſiſteth not in meats and drink, but in righteouſneſs, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghoſt, Rom. 14.17. Gods ways are not ſo bad, but that the Travellers in them may be chearful; His work is good wages, and therefore its no wonder that his Servants are ſo joyful.
Becauſe beleivers have ever cauſe of comfort, therefore they are commanded always to rejoyce, Phil. 3. Whether their ſins or ſufferings come into their hearts, they muſt not ſorrow as they that have no hope; In their ſaddeſt conditions, they have the ſpirit of conſolation. There is ſeed of joy ſown within them, when it is buried under the clods, and appears not above ground. But there are ſpecial times when God calls for this grain to ſpring up; They have ſome red letters, ſome holy days in the Calendar of their lives, wherein this joy as Wine at a Wedding, is moſt ſeaſonable, but among all thoſe days it never reliſheth ſo well, it never taſteth ſo pleaſantly as on a Lords day, joy ſutes no perſon ſo much as a Saint, and it becomes no ſeaſon ſo well as a Sabbath. Joy in God on other days is like the Birds Chirping in winter, which is pleaſing, but joy on a Lords day is like their warbling Tunes, and pretty notes in Spring, when all other things look with a ſutable delightful aſpect. This is the day which the Lord hath made (he that made all days, ſo eſpecially of this day, but what follows) we will rejoyce and be glad therein, Pſa. 118.24. In which words we have the Churches ſolace or joy, and the ſeaſon or day of it. Her ſolace was great. We will rejoyce and be glad. Thoſe expreſſions are not needleſs repetitions, but ſhew the exeuberancy or high degree of their joy. The ſeaſon of it. This is the day the Lord hath made, Compare this place with Mat. 21.22.23. and Act. 4.11. and you will find that the precedent verſes are a prophetical prediction of Chriſts Reſurrection, Sic. Arnob.and ſo this verſe foretels the Churches joy upon that memorable and glorious day. And indeed if a feaſt be made for laughter, Eccleſ. 10.19. Then that day wherein Chriſt feaſteth his Saints with the choiceſt mercies, may well command his greateſt ſpiritual mirth, A thankſgiving day hath a double precedency of a faſt day; On a Faſt-day we eye Gods anger; On a Thanksgiving-day we look to God favour. In the former we ſpecially mind our own corruptions. In the latter Gods compaſſions, therefore a Faſt-day calls for ſorrow, a Thanksgiving day for joy. But the Lords day is the higheſt thanksgiving day, and deſerveth much more then the Jewiſh Purim, to be a day of feaſting and gladneſs, and a good day.
On this day we enjoy the Communion of Saints and ſhall we not delight in thoſe excellent ones, Pſa. 16.3. On this day we have fellowſhip with the bleſſed Saviour, and ſhall we not fit under his ſhadow, with great delight? Cant. 1. On this day we are partakers of the Ordinances of God and ſhall we not be joyful in the Houſe of prayer? Iſa. 56.7. On this day we have ſpecial converſe with the God of Ordinances, and who would not draw water with joy out of the Well of Salvation? Iſa. 12.3. Surely whilſt we are in the midſt of ſo much Musk, we muſt needs be perfumed. Who can walk where the Sun ſhines ſo hot, and not be warmed?
It is Gods precept (as well as thy priviledge) to make Gods day thy delight, If thou call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, Iſa. 58.13. Delights, Tremel reads it. Thy delicate things according to the Septuag. Whether thou art meditating on Gods works, or attending on Gods Word, which are the two principal duties of the day, they both call for delight and joy.
If on this day of reſt thou conſidereſt the work of creation, and Gods reſt, it behoveth thee to follow Davids pattern, Thou Lord haſt made me glad through thy works, I will triumph in the works of thy hands, Pſa. 92.4.
If thou conſidereſt the work of Redemption, and Chriſts reſt, ſurely out of the carcaſs of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, thou mayſt get ſome Honey as may delight thy ſoul, and force thee to ſing, My ſoul doth magnifie the Lord, my ſpirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour, Luk. 1.46, 47. The babe in the womb leapt for joy of him before he was born. The heavenly hoſt ſung at his birth, and wilt not thou at his ſecond birth, his reſurrection from the dead. O let the Primitive Chriſtians ſalutations be thy conſolation, The Lord is riſen.
If thou meditateſt on glorification, and thine own reſt canſt thou do leſs then rejoyce in hope of glory, what Priſoner ſhackled with Satans temptations, and fettered with his own corruptions, in the dark Gaol of this World, can think of the time when his Irons ſhall be knockt off, and he enjoy the pleaſant light and glorious liberty of the Sons of God, and not be tranſported with joy? What heir in his minority, baniſht from his kindred and country, can think without comfort of his full age, when he ſhall have the full fruition both of his eſtate and friends; doubtleſs friend, the Sabbaths of the holy, are the Suburbs of heaven. In heaven there is no buying, no ſelling, no ploughing, no ſowing, nothing but worſhiping God, communion with him, fruition of him, and delight in him; There remains a reſt for the people of God. There they reſt from their labours; If thou on a Lords day turneſt thy back upon the World, and goeſt up into the mount, converſing with, and rejoycing in the bleſſed God, what doſt thou leſs then begin thine eternal Sabbath here. Such a Lords day can be no leſs then Heaven in a looking glaſs, repreſenting truly, though darkly, thy future eternal happineſs; There is no perfume ſo ſweet to a Pilgrim, as his own ſmoak.
When thou art attending on the word, truely that Aquavitae, that hot water may well revive thy ſpirit. Thy teſtimonies are my delight, ſaith David, I have rejoyced more in thy teſtimonies, then in all manner of riches, Pſa. 119.24, 77. The Word of God is ſometimes called a treaſure, and what beggar would not rejoyce in a treaſure; ſometimes fire, and truly Reader thine heart is frozen, to purpoſe if this fire do not heat it; Salomon tell us, As cold water to a thirſty ſoul, ſo is good news from a far Country, Prov. 25.25. The Word of God contains the beſt news that ever ears heard. Peace on earth, good will towards men; and the glad tidings of the Goſpel come from Heaven a far Country. What canſt thou ſay then? why they ſhould not be as welcome and refreſhing to thee as cold water to a thirſty ſoul.
Variety of things that are excellent is not a little ground of complacency in them. Variety of choice voices pleaſe the ear, variety of curious colours delight the eyes; variety of dainties are acceptable to the taſte. Nero promiſes rewards to them that invented new pleaſures. God hath for that purpoſe diſht out his worſhip into ſeveral and various duties, that it might be more pleaſant to us. Sometimes we ſpeak to God, ſometimes we hear from God, ſometimes we are praying for ſupply of our neceſſities, ſometimes we are prayſing him for his infinite excellencies, ſometimes our mouthes are open to ſing, ſometimes our ears are open to hear the Sermon, ſometimes our eyes are open to ſee the Sacrament. The ſame meat is dreſt ſeveral ways to make it the more welcome, and ſo the more ſtrengthning to us. Hippocrates obſerves that that food which nature receives with delight, though not ſo good in it ſelf, affords better nouriſhment then that which is more wholeſome, againſt which nature hath a reluctancy. Reader, thy delight and pleaſure in the ſacred Ordinances of the Lords day will help to make them more profitable to thee. Some colours which do delight, do alſo ſtrengthen the ſight.
Sixthly, if thou wouldſt make godlineſs thy buſineſs on a Lords day, Let no duty ſatisfie without communion with God in it. Ordinances are the Galleries and Gardens (and for that end appointed) wherein God and thy ſoul may walk together. For this cauſe they are called a glaſs, becauſe therein the Chriſtian beholds the glory of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3.18. As Zacheus climbed up to the Sycamore Tree to ſee Jeſus, and when he once had a ſight of him, he came down joyfully; ſo go thou up into the Trees of duties for this purpoſe, that thou mayſt ſee God in Chriſt; and unleſs this be granted thee, come down ſorrowfully. When men go to meet a friend at a certain place, and they miſs him, how diſcontentedly do they go away?
Alas, what are the Ordinances without God, but as a Table without meat, from which a living ſoul muſt needs depart thirſty and hungry? David loved the habitation of Gods houſe, but it was becauſe it was the place where Gods honour dwelt, Pſa. 27. David longed for the courts of God, more then for his Crown relations or poſſeſſions, or any outward comforts, but it was becauſe God afforded there his gracious preſence; Gods glorious preſence is in his Church Triumphant, but he is graciouſly preſent in his Church Militant. My ſoul longeth, yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord; my heart and my fleſh eryeth out for the living God, Pſa. 84.2. His deſire was as eager and earneſt as of a longing woman with child, who is ready to faint away and dye if ſhe be not ſatisfied: Sometimes he compares his deſire to thirſt, of which creatures are more impatient then hunger. Pſa. 63.1. Sometimes to the thirſt of an Hart after the water-brooks, which creature being naturally hot and dry, in a very great degree, is exceeding thirſty; but the object of his deſire, of his thirſt, was God. My ſoul thirſteth for God, for the living God, O when ſhall I come and appear before him! Pſa. 42.1, 2. To ſee thy beauty and glory, as I have ſeen thee in the Sanctuary. It was communion with God in his life and love, in his graces and comforts, which the Pſalmiſt ſo much longed for. The ſweet ſmiles of Gods face, the honey dews of his Spirit, were Davids Paradiſe of pleaſure, his heaven upon earth.
They that come to duty meerly for duty, know not what it meanes to meet with God, and therefore though they neither ſee his face nor hear his voice, yet are contented, like thoſe that were born in ſome dark Dungeon, and never yet ſaw the Sun, they are well enough ſatisfied without it; but thoſe who have ſeen it, and know that that light is pleaſant, if they look up to the heaven of Ordinances, & ſee not the Sun of righteouſneſs, its no longer day with them; The true Diſciples met together the firſt day of the week, and enjoying Jeſus among them, rejoyced indeed; but they are onelyonly glad in duties, when they had ſeen the Lord, John 20.20. They were glad when they had ſeen the Lord.
Reader, when thou goeſt to the Ordinances of God, go to meet God in the Ordinances. As Moſes, go up into the Mount of duties to converſe with thy Maker. Go to view the beauty of his face when thou enquireſt into his holy Temple. When thou goeſt to prayer, let it be in hope to get thy heart nearer to heaven.
When thou goeſt to hear, mind communion with him that ſpeaks from heaven, and then onelyonly rejoyce in the word, when as the ſtar to the wiſe men, leads thee to the place where Chriſt is. It is God in the Word which cauſeth efficacy, it is God in prayer who cauſeth prevalency, it is God in the Sacrament who cauſeth alacrity, it is God in a Sabbath who cauſeth complacency.
When thou goeſt to the waters of the Sanctuary, ſay as Eliſha at the waters of Jordan, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? Where is the God and Father of my Lord Jeſus Chriſt? Why is thy Chariot, O Son of righteouſneſs ſo long a comming! Why tarry? what clogs the wheels of thy Chariot? O when wilt thou come unto me, Pſa. 101.2. When thou comeſt from the Ordinances, and haſt not met God in them, though thou haſt ſhewed never ſo great parts or gifts, or outward devotion, ſay as Abſolom, All this avails me nothing, ſo long as I may not ſee the Kings face. 1 Sam. 28 15.Saul himſelf was ſad and ſorrowful, when he enquired of the Lord, and the Lord anſwered him not; and canſt thou O Saint be joyful when thy beloved hath withdrawn himſelf!
Look upon performances as boats to ferry thy ſoul over, and give it a paſſage to God, and take heed of going contentedly from God without God; Pſa. 43.3, 4.let thy prayer be, 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.
Seventhly, Sanctifie the whole day to Gods ſervice; Be early up in the morning, and as late as thy body will permit at night. The Iſraelites when they were to batter down the ſtrong holds of Jericho, roſe up early in the morning, Judg. 6.15. Upon the Lords day thy work muſt be to batter down the ſtrong holds of ſin; riſe early, loſe no time. Do not loſe the leaſt moment (if it be poſſible) of this ſacred day. The very filings of Gold are of worth; The ſmalleſt part of this holy day is of great price; The word Shamur to keep (the Sabbath) Lev. 19.30. ſignifieth to keep with care and diligence as a great treaſure, of which a man would loſe none. When men beat Ginger, they will (if good Husbands) be careful that little fly out of the Mortar; but if they beat pearl, they are extraordinary watchful, that not the leaſt of that be loſt, becauſe a little of that is of great value. Reader, if thou art a good Husband for thy ſoul, I doubt not but thou eſteemeſt thy time in the week days at ſo high a rate that thou dareſt not ſqander it away in doing nothing, or in that which is worſe then nothing; but O what worth, what price wilt thou ſet upon an opportunity upon a Lords day? How diligent wilt thou be to improve the leaſt peice of that day? God giveth thee ſix whole days for thine own works; do not deny to him one whole day in ſeven. Let thy conſcience be Judge; Is it not unrighteouſneſs to buy by one meaſure which is greater, and ſell by another meaſure which is leſſer? when the day is conſecrated to God, as the goods of Ananias, it is dangerous to keep back any part of it for our own uſe.
Do thou all the day long live and walk as it were in the other World; Make it a Sabbath, a day of reſt. 1. From ſin and wickedneſs, this is thy duty every day, but eſpecially on this day; Every ſin on a Sabbath is double, the ſeaſon is a great aggravation of the ſin. The wicked indeed are like the raging Sea, which cannot reſt, but every day bubble up mire and dirt, Iſa. 57.20. 2. From the World and the works of thy calling; Ye ſhall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you. Every one that defileth it, ſhall ſurely be put to death; for whoſoever doth any work therein, that ſoul ſhall be cut off from among his people, Exod. 31.14. The Jews were to reſt from works of leaſt importance, as gathering ſticks (he that fetched in ſticks, was ſent out of the World with ſtones) and of greateſt concernment, as building the Tabernacle; and though the Chriſtian now hath more liberty, yet he hath no leave at all to pollute the day by wickedneſs, or to prophane the day by any earthly work which might have been done before the day, or may be done as well after it.
May I not ſay to thee of this day, as Eliſha to Geehezi? Is this a time to receive money and garments, and ſheep, and oxen, and men-ſervants, and maid-ſervants? 2 Kings 5.26. Is the Sabbath a time for civil affairs? The Sabbath day is therefore called a day of reſtraint, Deut. 16.8. becauſe then men are forbidden all work, ſaith Junius. As none were ever loſers by laying afide their own works to attend Gods Worſhip; he took care of Iſraels ſafety whilſt they were in his ſervice, that none of their Neighbours though bitter enemies, ſhould ſo much as deſire their Cities, Exod 34.24. ſo none I am confident were ever gainers by inching in ſome part of their callings unneceſſarily at the end of Gods day, and by ſetting God aſide to ſerve themſelves; the very time will be a Canker to conſume their eſtates; And as they that take Crocus into their ſtomachs, bring up not onelyonly ill humours, but that alſo which would prove good nouriſhment; So ſome have had experience that their prophanation of Gods day to increaſe their eſtates, hath forced them to vomit up the whole, God hath given thee days enough for thy calling, ſpace enough to mind it in, thou needſt not treſpaſs upon his holy day, upon his holy ground. It was no ſmall aggravation of Adams ſin, that though he had choice of fruits, he would eat of the forbidden fruit; ſo it will much increaſe thy ſin, if when thou haſt choice of time for thy trade, thou ſhouldſt meddle with it on a Sabbath.
Reader, Debet totus dies feſtivus à Chriſtiano expendi in operibus bonis Groſtead in precept.as thy duty is to reſt the whole day from wickedneſs and worldly work, ſo alſo to imploy the whole day in Gods Worſhip, be either praying, or reading, or hearing, or ſinging, or meditating, or diſcourſing with others about the Works or Word of God: Be always taken up, either with publique, Hoc ſenſu loquitur propheta, Sià primo mane incipimuslauda. re d…um, continuandas eſſe ejus laudesad ultimam noctis partem. Calvin in loc.private or ſecret duties. In the 92. Pſalm, that Pſalm for the Sabbath, v. 1, and 3. we are exhorted to ſhew forth Gods loving kindneſs in the morning, and his faithfulneſs at evening. Now we know that in Scripture ſenſe the morning and the evening are the whole day; The whole day is Gods by ordination, and why ſhould not it be his by obſervation; God hath dedicated this day wholly to hsi own Worſhip, now every devoted thing is moſt holy to the Lord. Lev. 27.28.
The Pope and Church of Rome have half holy days, as St. Blacies day, which is holy in the forenoon onelyonly; but God and the Church of Chriſt have no half holy days. Obſerve how exact God is in expreſſing a whole natural day. From evening to evening you ſhall keep the Sabbath, Lev. 23.32. Their days were reckoned from evening to evening, from the creation; but ours (becauſe Chriſt roſe in the morning) from morning to morning.
If thou haſt any ſincere delight in God, and eſteem of the true riches, I cannot but think that thou wilt be covetous of the ſmalleſt part of Gods day, and wiſh as R. Joſe, Iewiſh Antiq. l. 3. c. 3. Ex Buxtorf. Comment maſ.that thy portion may be to begin the Sabbath with thoſe of Tiberias, becauſe they began it ſooner then others, and to end it with thoſe of Tſepphore, becauſe they continued it longer then others. If thy ſoul ever met God on a Sabbath, thou wilt ſurely be ready to ſay with Joſhua, Thou Sun ſtand ſtill in Gibeon, Ioſh. 10 12.and thou Moon in the vallies of Ajalon; O that the day were longer, that I might have more time to fight the Lords battels againſt my ſpiritual enemies!
Eightly, If thou wouldſt make Religion thy buſineſs on a Lords day, Meditate therein on the word and works of God. Conſider his works; This is part of the work of the day. David in that Pſalm for the Sabbath, gives thee a pattern, O Lord how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep, Pſa. 92.5. Is a diſhonour to a workman, to make excellent peices, and to manifeſt abundance of Skill and Art, and ingenuity, and then not to have them taken notice of. God hath done his mighty works to be remembred, and wondred at. Its ſaid of Pythagoras, that he lived ſequeſtred from men in a cave for a whole year together, that he might meditate on the abſtruſe points of Philoſophy. I wiſh thee to an eaſier and pleaſanter task, to ſequeſter thy ſelf ſome time every Lords day, to ponder the infinite perfections which appear in the operations of his hand. God will be both admired and magnified by his people on earth as well as in Heaven, which none can do but thoſe that ſeriouſly conſider his works; Men have been much wondred at for ſome peculiar rare works, though in them a Chriſtian ſhould look farther, even to God the Author of their skill and wiſdom. The very Greeks acknowledged ſomewhat like this, that all Arts come from God, in making Minerva the Daughter of Jupiter, and to have had her generation in his Divine brain; but alas the choiceſt peices of men to the ſmalleſt Works of God, are but as childrens houſes of dirt to the ſtatelieſt Courts of Chriſtendom. Archites was much extolled for cauſing a Dove of Wood to hang in the Air, being equally poiſed with its own weight; but what is this to the work of God in hanging the earth upon nothing? Job 26.7. The earth is the heavieſt and loweſt Element. A little peice of earth held up and let fall, will never ceaſe moving till it come to reſt upon ſome ſolid body; and yet behold the great maſs of earth with innumerable bodies upon it, hangs faſt in the midſt of the open Air, having no viſible Pillar nor foundation to reſt upon. Well might God reckon it to Job among his wondrous works, Job 38.4, 5, 6. Ʋpon what be the Sockets of it faſtened? Ariſtotle himſelf could not but admire it. Archimedes was famous for contriving the motions of the Sun, Moon and Stars in his Horology; but alaſs what is this to the glorious heavens themſelves, which God ſtretcht out like a Curtain, and to the Noble Hoſt of great and glittering bodies, keeping their Rank and File, and being not onelyonly incredibly ſwift, but alſo regularly and orderly in their motions! The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the Firmament ſheweth his handy work. There is ſo much of God appearing in the Heavens, that many have taken them for God, and given them divine worſhip. Naturaliſts tell us that the head of Nilus cannot be found, but many ſweet ſprings iſſuing from it are diſcovered. Though thy finite capacity can never reach fully the fountain and head, Gods infinite Being and Excellencies; yet thou mayſt finde many refreſhing ſtreams which flow from it. A little River will lead thee to the Ocean Ohow much of the goodneſs, power and wiſdom of God appeareth in the work of creation! The Rabbies ſay that in every Apex of the Law there is a Mountain of ſenſe; ſure I am that in the ſmalleſt Creatures there is abundance of the Creatour; How doth the Wiſdom of God ſhine forth in the exquiſite workmanſhip, variety, order, ſubordination, and ſerviceableneſs of the Creatures one to another, that David might well cry out, O Lord, how marvellous are thy works, in wiſdom haſt thou made them all.
Pontanus, Scultet. Annal.Chancellour of Saxony, propoundeth to be viewed and weighed the moſt beautiful Archwork of Heaven, reſting upon no poſt but Gods power, and yet ſtanding faſt for ever. The clouds as thin as the liquor contained in them; behold, ſaith he, how they hang and move though weighty in their burden, thy ſalute us onelyonly, or threaten us rather, and paſs we know not whither; How doth his goodneſs appear in furniſhing the World ſo richly for the ſupply of his Creatures! the earth is full of thy goodneſs. Luther in his Colloquia Me…ſ. tells us that God is at more charge every day to maintain Sparrows, then all the yearly Revenues of the King of France are worth; but eſpecially towards man, in making him ſo excellent a Creature, and in making ſo many excellent creatures for him.
His power is alſo evident both in creating ſuch great and noble creatures of nothing (he uſed not the leaſt tool or inſtrument in making the Heavens and earth) and in having them all at his beck and bidding, at his call and command; the greateſt do him homage, and the ſmalleſt do him ſervice. The Sun as ſtrong and ſwift as he is (moving as ſome write every hour 16000 Miles) yet he flies back like a Coward if God ſpeak but the word, Joſh. 10.12. Job 9.5, to 10. He armeth Flies and Lice; and what Execution did they do upon the Egyptians?
Cambden tels us the Armes of the Shagburies in Warwick-ſhire, being Stars, Camb. Britain.are found engraven in the very ſtones within their Manor of Shagbury; Whether that be true or no, I know not; but ſure I am that the Armes of the Infinite God, his eternal power, manifold wiſdom, and matchleſs goodneſs, are ſo plainly written on his works in the World, in that firſt volume of Creation, that he that runs may read them. Solomon tels us, God hath ſet the World in mens hearts; namely, that the skilfulneſs of the Workman may be admired in the exactneſs of his works, Eccleſ. 3.11.
I might draw thee farther, and ſhew thee (but that I would not be ſo large) how theſe glorious perfections of God are Printed in a larger letter, in a fairer character, in the ſecond volume, the work of Redemption. This is the object of Angels admiration, and ought to be of thy meditation.
Truly thy duty is to read God in the firſt book, the book of the creatures; and more eſpecially in the ſecond, in Jeſus Chriſt upon his own day.
Thy meditation of Gods works, as it will give honour to God, ſo it will not a little further thy ſpiritual good; When David conſidered the work of creation, …a. 8.1. to 4he falls preſently upon exalting God, and debaſing himſelf. When I conſider the Heavens, the work of thy hands, the Moon and the Stars which thou haſt made, O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, and thy glory above the Heavens; there he ſets God up high; but then be caſts himſelf downlow, What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the ſon of man, that thou doſt thus viſit him!
When thine heart is like Wax hardened, bring it by meditation to the warm beams of this Sun, and they will ſoften it.
So when David conſidered the work of Redemption, how doth he magnifie God, and vilifie himſelf. What am I! and what is my Fathers Houſe, that thou haſt brought me up hitherto! and yet this was a ſmall thing in thine eyes O God; for thou haſt alſo ſpoken of thy ſervants houſe for a great while to come, 1 Chron. 16.16, 17. O Friend, as rubbing the Limbs with hot Oyls is a great means to recover them when they are benumb'd; ſo when thy heart is dull and dead, on a Lords day, if thou wouldſt but ply it with the meditation of the infinite love and goodneſs of God in ſending his Son to dye for thy ſoul, it would be a Soveraign means to quicken and revive it.
Conſider alſo the Word of God which thou haſt heard on that day; Do thou like Mary, ponder it in thine heart. Meditation to the word, is what fire is to water; though water be naturally ſo cold, yet put fire under it, and it will make it hot and boyling; ſo though thine heart be cold in regard of affection to the word, put but this fire under it, and it will boyl with love to it; O how love I thy law! there is his heat of affection (the expreſſion is both by way of interrogation and acclamation, ſhewing the fervency and intenſion of his love) but what was the fire which cauſed it? it is my meditation all the day, Pſa. 119.
The reaſon why ſome men profit ſo little by the word, is, want of meditation. If a man eat his food, and as ſoon as it is in his ſtomach vomit it up again, it is no wonder if he get little ſtrength by it, or if he pine and conſume away. Truly, if Sermons enter in at one ear and out at the other, making no ſtay with thee, I ſhall not marvail if they work no change in thee.