Practical Piety, To the reader
The EPISTLE TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
Dear Chriſtians,
ALbeit, the enſuing Inſtructions were purpoſely framed for my own Charge, yet finding them to grow under my hand to a more full Treatiſe then was at firſt in my thoughts, and that now they are like to come into many hands, I conceive it needful to ſay ſomething by way of Preface, that what I have written may be more uſeful to any that ſhall think fit to read it.
That which I have to ſay, concerneth the matter handled, and the manner of writing.
The matter is wholly practical, ſave that neceſſity hath compelled me for the eſtabliſhing of practical Truths, to mixe here and there that which is ſomething controverſal.
All (as you may ſee) is referred unto two heads, that is, Chriſtian, and Family-duties; Of each ſort there are four. I ſhall, before-hand, give you a taſt of them all.
The firſt, of the firſt ſort, is the reading of the Scriptures, 1.which may well be put in the firſt place, becauſe the written Word, is not only the Foundation of our Faith aEph. 2. 20., and the well-ſpring of ſaving wiſdom b2 Tim. 3 15., but alſo the ground of Godlineſs cTit. 1. 1., the guide of Practiſe dProv. 1. 10, 11., and a divine Directory for the performance of every good duty, whereby not only the Miniſter and Man of God, but the People of God, the Sons and Daughters of the Lord God Almighty, are educated unto, and throughly furniſhed for, every good work e2 Tim. 3. 17.. For the Scriptures are compoſed, not as the writings of Heathens, for vain-glory, but for mens Salvation; and the Spirit of God hath written them in a plain language, that all may eaſily ſee what is ſaid (at leaſt, as far as fufficeth, for the guiding of their faith and carriage, and the ſafety of their ſouls,) and that no ſimple men (as Chryſoſtom ſpeaks fConcione. 3. De Lazaro.,) might make this excuſe that the Scriptures are hard: for though there be difficulties therein, to take down mens pride; yet there is enough ſo plain, that not only Gods workman g2 Tim. 2. 15., (that is, the Miniſter) but any workman may ſee the way to Heaven, if he have eyes to ſee it; for, to ſee, requires ſight as well as light.
In the next place, there is more particular Inſtructions given concerning the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and 2.that not without need; For where Salvation lies at the one end, and Damnation at the other, there's great need of Direction; that where we ſeek for the better of theſe, we may not find the worſe.
In the handling of this Subject, I have been conſtrained unto a little further ſearch, both to give an account of my own ſollicitouſneſs about that Sacrament; and withall, by reaſon of the different perſwaſions of ſome learned and godly men, who I hope, will candidly interpret my Diſcourſe, becauſe I have endeavoured to ſpeak according to the ſenſe of Scripture, the conſentient judgement of the Church of God, and with declaration of due reſpect to thoſe from whom I ſomewhat diſſent.
This Sacrament-doctrine I have, in the cloſe, digeſted into Queſtions and Anſwers; not only becauſe that way of teaching is moſt eaſie and familiar, but alſo to lend ſome aſſiſtance unto godly Chriſtians for the better preparing of thoſe belonging to their charge for that great Ordinance, by the inſtructing and catechiſing of them before-hand in thoſe things which it concerns ſuch as would be worthy Communicants to be acquainted with; what I have now publiſhed for this end, I have long ſince framed, and have ſtill uſed in the viſiting of the Families of thoſe committed to my care, that they might come to the Sacrament with more knowledge and conſcience: But that which I conceived fit for them, will not be, (I ſhall hope), unprofitable to others. How many wayes have painful Paſtors uſed to acquaint the People of this Nation, with God and his Ordinances, and to work in them a reverent reſpect thereunto, ſome one way, and ſome another? But whether it be I or they h1 Cor. 15. 11., it's the ſame thing for ſubſtance, and (perhaps) ſome may think ſo well of this way as to receive ſome benefit by it, and then I have what I aim at in it.
The third Chapter concerneth the Miniſtry, and may ſerve alſo as an help and incitement to a religious and profitable 3.hearing of the Word, albeit I make not a diſtinct Head of that Argument; for neglect of ſerious hearing of Sermons ariſeth from a low or no account of thoſe that preach them: As the preaching of the Word by men formed out of the clay iJob 33. 6., and called to that high office is Gods Ordinance for mans Salvation k1 Cor. 1. 21. 2 Cor. 4. 6, 7.; ſo the holding of ſuch in reputation is mans aſſiſtance for the receiving of the benefit of it, it being very unlikely that men ſhould be guided and ruled by thoſe whom they do not regard. As long as there was any hope of the Jews, the Preface to their profiting was this, They will reverence my Son lMat. 21. 37.; and a baſe opinion of him, or his being without any honour among them, made him uſeleſs to them mMark. 6. 3, 4, 5..
The thing much thought of in this part of the Treatiſe, was, and is, to help to reduce (if God pleaſe ſo far to bleſs poor endeavours) thoſe many Chriſtians, who, by reaſon of the diſtemper of the times (for I am more willing to fix it upon that, then to think that ſo diſmal a thing as their departure is, ſhould ariſe out of their own hearts), I ſay, who by reaſon of the diſtemper and tentation of the late times, have ſo dangerouſly forſaken a duely called Miniſtry, which God hath in ſingular mercy and compaſſion to mankinde n2 Chron. 36. 15.appointed, and, to the worlds end oMatth, 28. 20.conſtituted in his Church, for the perfecting of the Saints, by their work, and for the edification of the body of Chriſt, and in particular, for the preventing of their being toſſed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the ſleight of men, and cunning craftineſs whereby they lie in wait to deceive pEpheſ. 4. 12, 13, 14.. Into which evil of being wafted away from God and his wayes, they have ſadly fal'n, who have fal'n away from an Ordained Miniſtry, and therewithall from all Gods Ordinances; but if God love them, and they love God, he will certainly bring their hearts back again, q1 King. 18. 37.. If they be Children they cannot alwayes want bread, nor refuſe to receive it from thoſe Officers and Stewards, whom the Lord hath made Rulers of his Houſhold, to give them their portion of meat in due ſeaſon rLuk. 12. 42.. But howſoever it fall out with ſome of them, who under a pretence of being more perfect Saints, diſdain that Miniſtry, whereby (if God ſpeak true) Saints are to be perfected, and that till they come to a perfect man sEpheſ. 4. 13.or to a perfect manly knowledge, which will never be till they come to heaven t1 Cor. 13. 11.; I ſay, however it be with ſome ſuch (as namely, thoſe that have forſaken the written Word of God, of whom there is leaſt hope) Yet, the things here laid down will ſerve (I truſt) to confirm thoſe who through the great goodneſs of God have been upheld, and held in a right and regular way, notwithſtanding all ſolicitations and tentations to the contrary. As for others, all I ſhall ſay, is this, that perhaps ſome right Church-government, or ſome grievous Church-chaſtiſement, will at length, bring thoſe Profeſſors of Religion, and godlineſs together, whom a vaſt and too-unlimited a liberty, (good both for doing and undoing, as men were right or light) hath ſet ſo far and fearfully aſunder.
It's more then time for me to haſten to the fourth general head, wherein I have treated of the Chriſtian or 4.Lords-day Sabbath purpoſely, but in order thereunto have ſpoken ſomething of the Sabbath in generall.
The great difficulty that there is in this Argument, I do with all humility, and deep ſenſe of my own weakneſs, acknowledge, and therefore deſire not that any thing here affirmed ſhould be received but according as by Scripture, and Scripture-reaſon, it ſhall be found confirmed. But withal, I muſt crave leave to put the Reader in mind, that to judge rightly of, to reverence, relliſh and receive, this, and divers other practical Truths, (namely thoſe mentioned in this Treatiſe), two things are very needful,
1. A due reſpect to the General Rules of Holineſs laid down in the Word of God. And
2. A Principle of Grace in the Heart (for the natural man receiveth not ſpiritual things u1 Cor. 2. 14.,) that ſo there may be a conſenting and cloſing with the Reaſon of Scripture, and the wiſdom of God in the generalities thereof. Let all Chriſtians therefore in the fear of God, and ſetting the Word of God before their eyes, indifferently and conſcientiouſly conſider thoſe four things which I ſhall now propound, and preſent unto them.
1. Whether it be not more for Gods glory, the preſerving and perpetuating of Religion, and the intereſt and commodity 1.of the Souls of men, to have a ſet and intire day wherein to meet together in publike Worſhip for the knowing, acknowledging, ſerving and enjoying of God, then it is to have no ſuch day?
2. If ſuch a day be granted, Whether it be not needful 2.and beſt, that it ſhould be within that proportion of time, which God himſelf hath deſcribed and preſcribed in the fourth Commandement, that is; Whether it muſt not be a weekly day, or whether it will ſerve as well (for the aforenamed ends) to have it left to men to lay out for their God, a day of their own deviſing, and within ſuch a circuit of time as they think fit? If any will reſt a matter of ſo great a moment upon Eccleſiaſtical conſtitution, I wonder what company of men may or will aſſume ſo much to themſelves as to appoint a day in their own deviſed diſtance, and impoſe it to be obſerved on the whole Community of Chriſtians; And if there be not in all the Chriſtian world the ſame ſet day, how will the honour of God be diminiſhed, which by the meeting of all the people of God together, to do homage to him, at one and the ſame time, is ſo remarkably heightened?
3. If there muſt be a weekly day of Gods own Inſtitution, whether there be any other day of the week that can lay ſo 3.good a claim to that ſacred Inſtitution, and that hath ſuch a divine Character put upon it, as the firſt day of the week, on which our Saviour reſted from all his work; and compleated the Redemption of Man-kind in his glorious Reſurrection, on which our great Lord hath ſet his own Name, and that recorded in Scripture xRev. 1. 10., wherein alſo the holy Obſervation thereof is preſented in Chriſtian meetings, and ſuch acts and exerciſes as ſuit with the ſolemn time of Chriſtians aſſembling themſelves together yAct. 20. 7. & 1 Cor. 16. 1,, And which is generally confeſt to be an Apoſtolical Preſcription, and ſo amounts to a divine Inſtitution z1 Cor. 14. 37.?
4. This day being divinely inſtituted, whether God will 4.not be, that day, better ſerved, and the ſpiritual profit of Chriſtians better provided for, by making it an intire day of Reſt holy to the Lord and to ſpiritual uſes; or by mixing our work with Gods, and Play with Piety.
Such things as theſe, (and more weighty communications of better Writers) being ſeriouſly conſidered, will, I doubt not, work on thoſe who deſire to walk with God, willingly and thankfully to ſequeſter themſelves from all other things to enjoy a bleſſed communion with their Lord every Lords-day, and one day in ſeaven to be (as it were) in Heaven.
Thus of the firſt part of this little Tractate, and of the Chriſtian duties therein contained.
The Second part treateth of Family-duties.
I begin with Family-Catechiſing, an exerciſe exceeding needful & uſeful, that they that are young may be acquainted 1.with God betimes, and thereby, if they die ſooner, may be fitter for his Kingdom, and fitter for his ſervice, if they live longer. God would have all to be ſaved, and come to the knowledge of the Truth a1 Tim. 2. 4.; but, as blind Paſtors and People, ſo blind Houſholders and Houſholds, fill hell bMat. 15. 14.; And mean while make the World much worſe then elſe it would be; For, Families are the original of all other greater Societies; and want of Religious Education there, is the cauſe why there are ſo few good ſervants; for how ſhal an ignorant Son or Daughter that hath no knowledge or conſcience, be a good Servant? And why there are ſo few good Wives and Husbands; for how ſhall they be good together, that were never bred up to be good aſunder? Yea, is it not from hence, that there are ſo many leſs ſound, or leſs godly Miniſters, namely, becauſe they have not been ſo trained up as young Timothy was, who from a child had known the holy Scriptures c2 Tim. 3. 15.? Its true, that ſometimes Religion is in the houſe, and yet not in the heart (at leaſt, of moſt in the Houſe) but, if it be in the heart, I am ſure it will be in the houſe dDeut. 6. 6, 7. Joſh. 24. 15. Act. 10. 1, 2.: Yea, (as there ſhall be occaſion) in every houſe eAct. 20. 20.; for, the grace that is in a ſincere and right heart, is like the oyntment of ones right hand, which bewrayeth it ſelf fProv. 27. 16., being ever un-ſatisfied, unleſs it diſperſe and ſend abroad the ſweet ſavour of the knowledge of Chriſt in every place g2 Cor. 2. 14., eſpecially, the Vicinity, but moſt of all the Family.
I proceed from this, to the thing I principally aimed at, and indeed, only intended when I firſt ſet upon this work, 2,namely, to ſet forward the Duty of Family-Prayer; For, though God will do much for the houſe of Iſrael, and for every houſe in Iſrael, yet his Will is, to be ſought that he may do it for them hEzek. 36. 37.. Heaven is a rich ſtorehouſe, and we have a Joſeph there that is willing to nouriſh us, leſt we and our houſhold, and all that we have come to poverty iGen. 47. 11.; yet its neceſſary for us to go thither with our ſuits and ſupplications (as the ſons of Jacob went into Egypt with their ſacks) that ſo opening our mouths wide; the Lord Jeſus may fill them kPſal. 81. 10.. Ther's treaſure enough in God's Houſe for us and for our houſes; but when God hath put a Key into our hand (that is, Prayer) to open the door, we muſt either turn the Key, or not expect the Treaſure; men luſt, and have not; labour, and have not; fight and ſcramble for the world, and yet they have not (or have not in mercy, Hoſ. 13. 11.) becauſe they ask not lJam. 4. 2.. Now becauſe ſome weak Chriſtians may ſay with Jeremy, Behold, I cannot ſpeak (I cannot pray) for I am a child mJer. 1. 6., therefore I thought it would be profitable for their help and education (as it were) to the duty of Prayer, to put ſome Prayers into their hands (thought it be God only that muſt put a ſpirit of Prayer into their hearts nZech. 12. 10..) This is a courſe that heretofore hath found acceptance, but now it needs an Apology, conſidering that in late times, Forms have been ſo much out of requeſt, that God's external Ordinances and holy Inſtitutions, of one kind and another, have paſſed and ſuffered reproach, and that with divers of better report heretofore (but None but God knows who are his o2 Tim. 2. 19.) under the contemptible name of Forms of Religion, too low for Chriſtians of the upper Form. Now, if any yet there be, that count themſelves above Ordinances, I muſt leave them, as far above my perſuaſions. But as for modeſt Chriſtians, who, howſoever they may be ſomewhat doubtful about the uſe of Forms of Prayer, yet are teachable and capable of ſatisfaction, I ſhall endevour to give it them; And therefore I willingly acknowledg (and would have both thoſe of my own Charge, and other Chriſtians to know) that ſuch Forms are not ſo properly intended for grown and exerciſed Chriſtians (albeit (they being humble) will know they may receive help, and improvement from them) but they are compoſed for young Beginners; and for them alſo, not to tie them up, but to train them up (as they uſe to do little Children) to go firſt by a Form, that leaving the form, which was a great help at firſt, they may go, at length, on their own legs, without leaning on ſuch Supports.
Bleſſed Bradford, that high and humble Martyr, when he was in Priſon, wrote a prayer for his Mother that ſhe might learn how to pray for him, and deſired her to get it by heart, and to ſay it dayly; and he wrote another for all her houſe, to make uſe of in their Evening Prayer pActs and Mon. Vol. 3. p. 351. ſo p. 594. A Prayer to be ſaid at the ſtake by thoſe that God ſhall account Worthy to ſuffer..
Unto which I add, that although poor and low, yea, the loweſt, Chriſtians may and ſhould take more liberty in private between God and themſelves, and not be afraid or backward to groan out their deſires before the Lord; yet the aſſiſtance and ſupplies of Prayers made to their hands, is, for ſuch, needful to enable them to appear before others, and to be their mouth in the duty of Prayer: I ſay, needful, that neither the ſervice may be contemptible to thoſe that be bad, nor unprofitable and tedious to thoſe that be better. Briefly, Formes of Prayer (whereof the ea…e many in Scripture qNumb. 6. 23. Hoſ. 14 2, 1 Chron. 16. 7 Luke 11. 2. Mat. 26. 44.,) being framed according to Scripture, cannot be juſtly condemned; but I muſt add one thing more, and that is, that formal praying which idle Chriſtians, by the abuſe of forms, may ſoon fall into, can never be juſtified.
The third Family-duty is Repetition of Sermons, which, being carefully done, is the preſervative of a right Religion; 3.for why are people ever learning, and never come to the knowledge of the truth, or are eaſily carryed from it but becauſe they take Miniſters words, without Miniſters grounds? and ſo, when other Teachers bring them a new Doctrine, they like the laſt and the new Teacher, and ſell the former and the old truth; whereas, if they did review what they hear, and (as the noble Bereans rAct. 17. 11.,) ſearch the Scriptures, quoted by Miniſters, and ſo find by examination, that what they have heard, is founded on the Word of God, and upon the credit of a divine Teſtimony, they would not change their mindes (having grace in them) becauſe it is impoſſible for God to change His; nor can any word come from Him that is not perfect, and of perpetual verity. This recalling and repeating of Sermons, and endevouring that the Houſhold may ſee how they agree with Scripture, hath ever been the character of more Religious Families, and a great means to make all in it (eſpecially if they be called to give account of what they have heard, and heard again) to profit in Religion; For, as he that repeateth a matter ſeparateth very Friends ſProv. 17. 9., to wit, becauſe the repetition makes it freſh in memory, cauſeth a greater obſervation, and leaveth a greater impreſſion; ſo he that repeateth profitable matters, edifieth very Weaklings, and helpeth much the hearers, to underſtand, mark, and mind what hath been formerly delivered.
But whileſt I thus perſuade you to repetition, the ſaying of an excellent Servant of God tDr. Preſton.comes to my remembrance, which is this in effect, that as Kine and Sheep return not to their owners, graſs and hay, but, milk, and fleece, and fleſh; ſo Sermons are not to be returned and repreſented only by reading notes, but Chriſtians are to repeat them in their lives, by being ſound in opinion, growing in grace, and godly in all their carrage.
The laſt duty is, Singing of Pſalms, to be uſed principally on our Lords Sabbath day uPſal. 92. title., but every other day, needful; becauſe every day hath its mercy, for which God is to be praiſed; or if it hath its affliction, in that alſo God is to be bleſſed xJob 1. 21., and there are Pſalms ſutable to every affliction—to ſanctifie it unto us by miniſtring matter of Inſtruction—and to bear up our ſpirits in it, by affording matter of Conſolation. It is every day likewiſe, a profitable Exerciſe, becauſe the Book of Pſalms containeth in it abundant matter of heavenly meditation, and ſpiritual edification. And as it is both needful and profitable; ſo it is an exerciſe very pleaſant, for it awakeneth the ſoul, quickneth the ſpirits, cheareth up the heart, and generally reviveth both the inward and the outward man Other duties are a Chriſtians work, This is his holy recreation, begun here, and to be compleated in heaven. I cannot leave this, without reciting what Mr. Beza (that hath done ſuch eminent ſervice to the Church of God) relateth of himſelf; it's this, When by the goodneſs of God I hnd willingly forſaken my Countrey, and all that I had that I might freely ſerve Chriſt, it came to paſs at my firſt entry into the publick aſſembly of the Chriſtians, that the company did ſing this (that is, the 91) Pſalm; by the ſinging whereof, as though I had heard God himſelf calling me particularly, I felt my ſelf ſo comforted that I have kept it ſince that time moſt dearly graven in my heart: and I may truly witneſs this before God, that I have received marvellous comfort by it, both in ſickneſs and in ſorrow, not only by meditating it when I was ſmitten with the Peſtilence, and the ſame plague had infected my Family, even four times, but alſo in other moſt grievous tentations ySee this and more in Beza his argument of the 91 Pſalm prefixed before his Paraphraſe upon it.. Let all profit by his experience, and obſerve their own.
Thus have I given a Summary account of the matters handled in this Treatiſe: Concerning each of which, I earneſtly deſire the Reader to caſt his eye upon the Margent, to ſearch the Scriptures alleaged, and weigh the Reaſons annexed: for I ſhall eaſily grant that a mans conſtitution is apt to inſinuate it ſelf into his meditation and diſcourſe, perhaps too much (for in every conſtitution, as there is a vertue, or an help to vertue; ſo a danger alſo) and divers other things may lead a man aſide before he is aware; Albeit therefore, I am not conſcious to my ſelf of offering any thing, but that which (as far as my underſtanding reacheth) is right, and do abhor to impoſe upon the conſciences of men, which God alone can bind; yet, let the Reader, in the reading of mine, or any mans words elſe, ſet ſtill before him the Word of God.
The manner of Writing (which is the other thing I mentioned) I have ſpoken ſomewhat to in the former Epiſtle. It is not ſo plain and perſpicuous as (in regard of the common ſort of Chriſtians) I intended, but the Babes of Chriſt will here find milk; that is, many things fitted to their capacity, and if there be any ſtronger meat, it will ſuit better with more mature Chriſtians. All men know, or may know, that Miniſters are neceſſitated to extend ſuch abilities as God hath given them, to the utmoſt (which is hardly done without ſome obſcurity) for the pleading of the cauſes of God: And that becauſe, as fleſh and bloud riſeth up in arms, & muſtereth all its forces againſt the truth of God; ſo doth it alſo againſt the way of godlineſs; whereby, tho the adverſaries thereof, cannot deſtroy it, yet they prevail ſo far as to darken it, and to caſt ſo many miſts before mens eyes, that it is not eaſie for the ordinary Traveller to diſcern the right way, nor for their Guides to clear it up unto them.
However, I hope they that have good and honeſt hearts, will hereby receive ſome good; and from others, that write of the ſame things, they may receive more; and by humble and faithful Prayer to God, with diligent ſtudying of his Word, moſt of all.
I crave pardon for being ſo tedious in this Epiſtle, which becauſe it may ſerve, not only for an introduction, but as a Supplement alſo to that which followeth; the Reader may pleaſe the rather to bear with it.
I have nothing now to do, but to leave with Chriſtians this one neceſſary Admonition; that is, not to content themſelves with thoſe outward exerciſes of Religion that they ſhall here find urged, but to ſtudy, and by theſe helps, to ſtrive after the power of Godlineſs. For though a man cannot be Pious and Religious, without obſerving the external means of Godlineſs, the principal whereof, was the Sanctification of the Sabbath (as one that was not ſo good a friend to the Sabbath as he ſhould have been, notes well tPrimr.) yet all outward duties loſe their end and their eſtimation, yea, they ſerve as ſad witneſſes againſt them that uſe them moſt, if the reality of Religion, and the power and exerciſe of grace, doth not appear in their converſation; for, The exerciſes of Religion, are for the exerciſe, and are not to be performed (much leſs to be reſted on) in ſtead of Godlineſs uSicut hodiè concionum au litum, cujus finis eſt pietas, mulli pro ipſa pietate habent, &c. Scult. & Bockſtad. in Epiſt. ad Rom. cap. 10. v. 5., but to nouriſh Godlineſs, and to ſtead us in the way of Holineſs.
When Paul plants, and Apollo waters, the Lord give the increaſe! And ſo ſanctifie unto you theſe poor labours, that thereby one cubit may be added to your ſpiritual ſtatute.
May I attain that end, and obtain your earneſt prayers for the paſſing of the little remainder of my pilgrimage here in fear, and faith, and faithfulneſs; you will abundantly recompence him, who is, and ſhall remain,
Yours ſincerely, in the ſervice of the Goſpel, as long as God ſhall think fit to imploy ſo unworthy a ſervant, William Thomas.