I Shall wave all the Opinions I have read, concerning the beginning of the Sab­bath; because I would not here enter into a Controversy with any Man.

The Sentiments of Men are various, yet how different soever they may be otherwise, sure I am, all agree in this: That a due Pre­paration the Even before, will be a great help to perform the Duties of the Day fol­lowing.

The Primitive Christians used to spend the greatest part of Saturday Night, in Fast­ing, Watching, and Prayer; to fit them for the Duty of the subsequent Day: from whence, I suppose, our Church borrows the Custom of reading the Collect for the Sunday, upon the Eve foregoing. Nay, so zealous were they in God's Service, that upon the ringing of the Bell to Church, the Plowman used to leave the Plow, and the Tradesman his Shop, to join with the Minister in pub­lick Prayers, for a Blessing on the Sabbath.

[Page 8]Which Devotion of theirs, because this our degenerate Age is, for the most part, strangely averse to; and very few, if any, will have recourse to the House of God, there to perform their duty: Let them re­pair to their private Oratory; Let them enter into their Closets; Let Conscience there call an Audit in their Breasts; and both impartially judge the actions of the Week past: and how the Case stands, at pre­sent, between God and their Souls. Beg, O beg of God, Dear Christian! to give thee a true sight and sense of all thy Sins: which thou maist do in this following Prayer.

• 1. How have I this Week kept my Heart? Have I been diligent in putting away evil thoughts of sundry sorts? and have I kept my mind exercised with good and holy Me­ditations? Have I thought humbly of my self? Charitably of my Neighbour, and re­verently of my Maker and Redeemer?
• 2. How have I this Week kept the Door of my Lips? Have not I uttered many idle, vain, and unprofitable words? Have I spoke of my Neighbour with that Love and Cha­rity, as I would have others speak of me? Have I had that compassion of others defects, as of my own?
• 3. What aim had I in all my actions? Have I done them so purely for the Love of God, as I ought? or had I any Worldly re­spect in the doing of them?
• 4. How have I kept my Senses this Week? [Page 10] Have not mine Eyes gazed upon wanton ob­jects. Have not mine Ears listned unto filthy Communication? And my taste delighted it self in Gluttony and Drunkenness?
• 5. Have I been so truly thankful for God's Mercies, as I ought to have been?
• 6. Have not I, this Week, omitted my Prayers? Slovered them over? or suffered my thoughts to wander in them?

Lastly, Have not I been guilty of some crying Sin, that might justly cause God to reject them.

These Queries proposed, and thy Heart, O Christian! upon Enquiry, declaring thee guilty: with me say,

Beware of sitting up late your self on the Saturday Night, or of causing others to do so; Lest when you go into the House of God, to join with the multitude in Prayer, you are fitter to sleep than pray: differing little from the dead Bodies, asleep in their Graves. The one sleeps above the Earth; the other underneath it.

And when you are laid in your Bed, let not your mind run on Worldly thoughts: but think of the infinite Majesty of God, that you are then to meet, think of the great weight and importance of the holy Ordinan­ces, then vouchsafed you; how they concern thy Salvation or Damnation, thy Everlasting Life or Death. Meditate on the short time thou hast to enjoy the Sabbath in: how near thy Life is to an end: how easily God can take down this Earthly Tabernacle: how there is no working, no labour, no striving in the other World, to which thou art go­ing; and continue thus musing till the fire of Meditation begin to burn. If thou thus lea­vest thy Heart with God on Saturday Night, no doubt but you will find it with him the next Morning.

AS soon as sleep hath unseal'd thine Eyes, lift up thy Soul in Thanksgiving to thy Maker for preserving thee that night, and af­fording thee a good beginning of a new day; especially a Sabbath day; to labour for his Glory, and the good of thine own Soul. And that you may be incited to perform this Act of praise, consider these several motives.

1. That perhaps many others not so sinful as thy self, have been hurried from their Beds to the Bar of Judgment; from a Bed of Down they have been cast into a Bed of Flames: yet God in his infinite Mercy hath spared you until now, to Repent, and pre­pare your Accounts.

2. Consider that many others are visited by God Almighty with Sickness, so that they cannot serve God in the Publick Assemblies: while you enjoy your health and free liberty, to go with the multitude into his Courts.

3. Consider that you are now brought to the beginning of another day, which when past, you shall never see again.

[Page 14]Thou maist possibly see more Sabbath Days; but that space of time when the Sun is once set, thou shalt never see again any more. How careful then should'st thou be to improve this Day, so that it may turn to the best account. Solomon sends Man to School to the Ant, to learn this good Husbandry ( Prov. 6.6, 7, 8.) Oh that we were as wise for the Bread of Life, that came down from Hea­ven; as the poor Pismire for Bread, that springs out of the Earth!

The Sabbath is an Harvest; and he that sleeps away his time in Harvest, is a Son that causeth shame.

The Seaman, or Mariner, observes his Wind and Tide, otherwise he cannot get to his intended Harbour: but Seasons of Grace are not like the Tides; of which, if you miss one, you may get another. How care­ful then shouldst thou be to improve every Minute?

Our Saviour Christ said to his Disciples concerning the Loaves and Fishes, Gather up the Fragments that nothing be lost. The like advice I give you concerning the Lord's Day: Gather up the Parcels thereof, Let no part of it be lost, no not the least Minutes; which are pretious: to this end, Spiritualize all the objects you meet with in the Day; as thus.

When first awake, think that God Al­mighty [Page 15] can as easily awaken you out of your Graves from the sleep of Death; as he hath in your Beds, from the sleep of Nature: Let the rising out of your Beds, put you in mind of the Resurrection. And when you see the Sun, Let your Meditation be; That if the ri­sing of one Sun be so glorious, how glorious will that day be, when so many thousands of Bodies, far brighter than the Sun, shall ap­pear to accompany Christ at the great Assi­zes? Consider that this great Star must run in one Day, ten or twelve Millions of Leagues: and shall you make no progress in Virtue? Consider that unwearied Harbinger is gone to take you up a Lodging in the Grave: each Minute is so much deducted from your Life. Follow therefore the Coun­sel of the Son of God, Work while it is Day; for the Night cometh, when no Man can work. Let not then this Light burn in vain; but endeavour by your own good Works, to let your Light so shine before Men, that they may see your Works, and glorify your Fa­ther which is in Heaven.

As thou art putting on thy Apparel, re­member some of them were at first given as coverings of shame, being the effect of Sin; and that they are made of the Excrements and Offals of dead Beasts, so that thou hast very little cause to be proud of them. Nay in­deed, [Page 16] thou hast great cause to be hum­bled at the sight thereof: seeing the richest Apparel are but the fine covers of the foul­est shame. Therefore as thou art Cloathing thy Body, endeavour to Cloth thy Soul with Christ's Righteousness, as with a Garment: Lest while thou art richly apparelled in the sight of Men; thy Soul be found to walk na­ked in the sight of God.

Before thou betakest thy Self to thy Clo­set, breath forth thy Soul to God at thy first awaking, in this, or the like, short Ejacula­tion.

HAving thus fitted thy Self for thy Clo­set, before thou prayest take the wise Man's Counsel ( Ecclus. 18.5.23.) Prepare [Page 17] thy Self, and be not as one that tempteth God.

Now for thy better preparation observe these few Rules.

1. You are to remember when you settle your self in Prayer, you then place your self in the presence of God, whose Eyes indeed are upon all Men; but in a more especial manner upon those that call upon him in Prayer.

2. The consideration of his presence is to put you in mind, with what humble reve­rence both of Soul and Body, you ought to appear before so great a Majesty.

3. Lay aside all wrath and malice against your Neighbour. I will, saith the Apostle, that men lift up holy hands without wrath (1 Tim. 2.8.) St. Hierom confesseth this of him­self, that when he was angry he durst not enter into the Church, but totum animo & corpore contremuisse, He trembled very much both in Body and Mind. The Spouse of Christ is compared to a Dove, which some say is sine felle, without Gall. The very Hea­thens when they offered Sacrifice threw the Gall of the Beast away: and wilt thou offer to God the Gall of wrath, bitterness and re­venge, with the Sacrifice of Prayer?

4. Banish all Worldly thoughts out of your Heart. Our Saviour when he taught us [Page 18] to pray, by the Preface to the Petitions telleth us where our affections in Prayer should be, viz. in Heaven: Our Father, which art in Heaven. Therefore before you begin to pray, you are to resolve within your self, seriously to intend the Duty you are about, that your heart may not wander, but go along with your Prayers: Or if through weakness it happens to stray, to call it back again, and ask Pardon for it, in some such Prayer as this:

Having entred thy Oratory, propose these few Questions to thy Soul, and engage thy self to an Answer.

O my Soul! Wherefore art thou now re­tired into this place? What is thy design? What are thy Pretensions? Where is thy God, whom thou comest to treat with? Is he present? Doth he hear thee? Is he mer­ciful? Will he help thee? What is the busi­ness thou art to negotiate? Is it the saving thy Soul, or the satisfaction of Earthly de­sires? What words wilt thou use to move God to hear thee? What humble Gesture? What profound Reverence? Dost thou know who thou art before? Is not Gods Eye upon all, to observe Head and Heart, Lip and Life? Darest thou suffer thy thoughts [Page 19] then to wander? Will he be pleased with that Sacrifice he hath accursed, of drawing nigh to him with our Lips, when our Hearts are far from him?

Answer thy self briefly to every one of these Interrogatories, as thy own Conscience dictates to thee; for by this Discourse made to thy self, thou shalt be better prepared to discourse with God.

Having thus prepared thy self for Prayer, thou maist then fall down on thy Knees, and to thy ordinary Prayers (which must not on this Day by any means be omitted) add these following Heads of Prayers: suitable in some measure, to the solemnity of the Day.

1. You are to pray for the Minister, that God would give him the door of utterance, that he may open his mouth boldly to pub­lish the mysteries of the Gospel: that he may speak the word truly, sincerely, pow­erfully, and profitably; delivering that which is sutable and seasonable to your con­dition.

2. You are to pray for your selves, that he would banish out of your Head all wan­dring, worldly thoughts, which may distract your minds in the hearing of the word, and so choak that Heavenly Seed, make it Fruit­less: and that he would give unto you as at­tention to hearken; so Understanding to [Page 20] conceive, Wisdom to apply, Judgment to discern, Faith to believe, Memory to retain, and Grace to practise, what you shall hear: So that the word may prove unto you, not a Savour of Death unto Death, but of Life un­to Life; all which you may do in this fol­lowing Prayer.

You may also add this Prayer.

When you go to receive the Sacrament, use this Prayer.

AFter thou hast fitted thy Self for Church, thy next care must be carefully and conscientiously to perform Family-Duties: Jos. 24.15. Let others do what they will, I and my House (saith he) will serve the Lord. In order to the performance of which duty, take along with you these following Rules.

1. See that your Servants and Children waste not away the Morning in sleep and idleness.

2. Cause them to join together in Prayer, reading, or any other Godly Exercise, Gen. 18.19.

3. Make them accompany you to Church, command their Bodies, though you cannot their Souls.

4. Inform your selves and them, what a great and glorious Majesty and Master you are to serve: a God so glorious, that the very Angels vail and cover their Faces, not being able to behold the brightness of his Glory. And if this lowly Reverence be per­formed [Page 24] by them, who are in such nearness to God; what posture is low enough for us, who, in comparison of those Heavenly Spi­rits, are viler than the ground we tread on.

5. Make them sensible, what poor Worms and wretched Creatures they are, Dust and Ashes; their Hearts full of Putrefaction, and a sink of Sin: and therefore ought to come crawling, crouching and trembling, to the Throne of Grace.

6. Examine what Preparation they have made for the Sabbath; whether they have not spent more time and care to dress their Body for the Eye of Man, than to deck their Soul for the Eye of God. Whether they have prayed in private for a blessing on God's Or­dinance.

7. Inform them seriously of the great work they go about, what a weighty work it is, how that their Weeks Works are but toys and trifles in comparison of it. What are Sheep, Oxen, or Shops; to Grace, Christ, and Heaven? Exhort them all to be careful and serious in God's work, in Soul-Salvation-Work: and therefore they ought to prepare themselves with all their might.

Remember the Fourth Commandment binds you to look to all within your care, both Man-Servant and Maid-Servant, &c. Whosoever rides them unnecessary Journeys [Page 25] on that day, the groans of the tired Beast, will rise up in judgment against them, and condemn them for breaking God's Com­mand.

As Motives hereunto, consider

1. That it is God in a Family, not Man only that maketh it to prosper: so that if thou wouldest have it go well with thy Fa­mily; then oughtest thou to set up the worship of God in it. The Lord blessed the House of Obed-Edom for the Arks sake: so God will bless thy House, if the Ark, that is, his worship be there. Wouldst thou have thy Family flourish, set up the worship of God in it. Let no wicked Person remain in thine House. He that will not pray and join in the worship of God with thee; Let him not eat with thee. Make Joshua's resolution; As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord.

2. Remember you must be accountable to God for those Souls he hath committed to your charge: you ought therefore to take care that they be trained up in the fear of the Lord. See that none of your Family be given to any Vice, viz. Swearing, Drinking, Lying, or the like. Make choice of such Servants as fear God: chuse for him some­what, and not altogether for your self. En­quire in the first place, whether they will submit to his word: if not, let them not [Page 26] come under thy roof. As thou wouldst not have the Devils Company in thine House; so do not entertain any of his Friends and Servants; but rather let it be an Harbour and Habitation of God's Children: for so shalt thou be blessed. You know that God blessed Laban for Jacob's sake: so may you likewise expect a Blessing, if you entertain such in your House.

NEglect not publick Ordinances upon pretence of serving God in private: that God Almighty gives his Blessing both to private and Family-Duties, is most cer­tain; but to put God off with these, and neglect publick Worship: is to rob him of a greater summ, and pay him with a less.

It is worth our Observation, that the Sab­bath and publick Worship of God, are by him joined together; therefore let no Man put them asunder: Ye shall keep my Sabbath, and reverence my Sanctuary, I am the Lord your God. They then that despise God's San­ctuary, cannot observe God's Sabbath. Do but consider David's Tears for the want, and his Prayers for the fruition of Publick Ordi­nances; even then, when he had opportu­nity [Page 30] for private Performances: and surely then thou wilt esteem the Ministry of the word no mean mercy. See his sorrow for the want of them! I was driven (saith he) from the Sanctuary, when I did but think of it, my Soul was poured out like water; for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the House of God. Psal. 42.3. My Soul was poured out (that is) was over-whelm'd with grief, and even ready to dye; when I compare my present condition with my former happiness, in the fruition of religious Assemblies.

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 men, Cursed be they before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day, from the inheritance of the Lord. (1 Sam. 16.19.)

How pathetically does he bemoan his own Soul? Woe is me, for I dwell in Meseck, and have my habitation in the Tents of Kedar! The loss of his Father, Mother, Wives, Chil­dren, Lands, Liberty, nay life it self; would not have gone so near his Heart, as the loss of the publick Ordinances. As his sorrow was great for the want; so was his Soul most earnest for the fruition of them.

How many Prayers does he put up for the liberty of the Tabernacle Psal. 43.3, 4.) and Psal. 27.4. One thing have I desired of the [Page 31] Lord, which I will seek after: viz. That I might dwell in the Tabernacle of the Lord, and visit his holy Temple. And (Verse 8.) When thou saidst, seek my face; my heart said unto thee, thy face, Lord, will I seek. David at this time was banished the Temple, and he among other reasons useth this argument to restore him to his happiness; as if he had said: O God thou hast commanded me to wor­ship thee in the Temple. To appear before thee is my delight; my heart desires to seek and see thy face there. Thus he prays to God for the performance on his side, that he might be enabled to obey God's Precept. Peter and John went up to the Temple at the hour of Prayer (Acts 3.1.) and St. Paul reasoned in the Syna­gogue every Sabbath day (Acts 13.14.) those that by their practices contemn publick worship, have neither Christ nor the 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: if thou forsakest the Assembly of God; how useful thou maist be to others Bodies, I know not: but I am sure thou art neither to thine own Soul, or theirs; in neglecting God's ser­vice.

Consider the condition of Primitive Chri­stians, who were forced to serve the Lord [Page 32] with fear, and attend his Ordinances with trembling: who built Churches under ground, rather than they would want the op­portunity of serving God in Publick.

Consider also how David bemoan'd him­self, counting Swallows and Sparrows in this much better than he, because they could build their Nests in the Temple, while he was ba­nished from it. (Psa. 84.1, 2, 3.) How amia­ble are thy Tabernacles, O Lord? My Soul long­eth, yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God. Yea, the Sparrow hath found an House, and the Swallow a Nest for her self, where she may lay her young: even thine Altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God. Did David, being abridged thereof, thus bemoan him­self? Surely then we should count it a great Mercy, that we have Publick Churches and Oratories to go unto, without any lett or mo­lestation; that we have no Tyrants, no Fo­reign Enemies, no Rods, no Axes, no noise of War to affright us from God's publick Or­dinances: what cause of rejoicing is here?

But yet, if this liberty of ours make us wanton, and the plenty God gives us tempts us to Licentiousness: if instead of growing better we grow worse: if the Manna we have, do not make us to hunger and thirst after righteousness: we may have just reason [Page 33] to fear God will remove our Candlestick from us, and give it to a Nation that bring­eth forth better fruit than we have done.

Perhaps you say, you spend your time as religiously at home as you do at Church; that you Read, Pray, Catechise, and the like: but I must tell you, you do all this out of Season; you mis-time and misplace duty, and you should not use one Ordinance or Duty, in plain contempt and neglect of ano­ther; you cannot expect God's Presence, nor look for the gift of God's Grace, in a way of Disobedience to his Command, and neg­lect of his appointed means.

When God sets up the Ministry of the word in any place, his Spirit then opens his School, and expects that all that should be taught, should come thither: Now (saith the Learned Mr. Gurnal) whether is it most fitting, that a Scholar should wait of his Ma­ster at School; or that the Master should run after his Truant Scholar at play in the Field, to teach him there? And again, put Case (saith the Reverend Dr. Sherlock) any of you were a Father of a numerous Off-Spring, and that without any express Com­mand, most of your Children should agree by common consent to visit you together, to ask your Blessing, and pay their thankful ac­knowledgment to you for your care of their [Page 34] Education, and the liberal provision you have made for them; but one or two of them should chuse to come in private, when no body sees them, and obstinately refuse to come with their Brethren; though they were censured by them for undutifulness and ingratitude. Now if Man would not accept of such a private acknowledgment: shall we expect that God should? God is a publick Benefactor, and upon that account may chal­lenge publick Worship at our hands; nay indeed God himself instituted it. In the Jew­ish Church the Sacrifices were publickly of­fered up by the Priest: He likewise appoin­ted a publick place for Worship, viz. The Tabernacle at Jerusalem, which would have been of no use, if there had been no obliga­tion to publick Worship: and this is enough I should think, to satisfy any reasonable Man, of their obligation hereunto.

HAving thus fitted thy Family for God's House, repair with them to thy own Parish-Church: otherwise you will discou­rage [Page 35] your Minister, and set your Neighbours an ill Example.

Remove all prejudices against thy Pastor, especially these two, which because most common, I shall therefore instance in them. As (1.) Against his Parts. (2.) Against his Life.

I confess it is a mercy to sit under a Pastor that hath both Parts and Piety, Gifts and Grace too: and wert thou to chuse thy Dwelling, I would advise thee to bear with many outward Conveniencies to sit under such a Ministry: but suppose thy Teacher be, at least in thy thoughts, a Man of mean Parts, and his pains will yield thee lit­tle profit, that is no excuse for thy not hear­ing of him. Shall the Divine Herbert be Um­pire in the case: Consult his Church-Porch, and Page 15 th, he speaks excellently to our purpose.

A Condemn'd Person will esteem a Beggar when he brings a Pardon: How beautiful then are not only the Lips, but the hands of those that bring glad tidings or Peace?

Dear Christian Brother! I pray resolve me: Do the efficacy of the Ordinances de­pend on the parts of a Man, or on the pow­er of God? May not a costly treasure be brought to thee in an Earthly Vessel? Thou maist light a Candle as well by a Brimstone Match, as by a great Fire. A small Damsel was instrumental for Naaman's recovery both of his corporal and spiritual Leprosy: And who art thou that none must instruct thee, but such an one that like Saul, is high­er than others in gifts and abilities? I wish it proceed not from the Pride of thy Spirit: [Page 37] a picking Stomach argues a Diseased Body; and an itching Ear cannot argue a sound Soul. The industrious Bee sucks Honey from the Thyme, an harsh and dry Herb. The Meat is as good in a Pewter, as Silver-Dish. If thou goest to the Table only for Sawce, and the Church for Stile and Elegancy: I dare be bold to tell thee, that thy heart is not right towards God.

2. As to thy prejudice against his Life which gives the lye to his Lips. I must needs confess, the night ushers in more Stars than the day opens Eyes to behold a Ministers Actions, Ears to listen to their deportment, and Mouths to proclaim their actions through all Provinces: and they that forget their Sermons will remember their faults to Pa­tronize their own. But if the Providence of God should place thee under such a Minister (which is no small unhappiness) yet is he not to be rejected.

God Almighty fed Elijah by a Raven: and so may he feed thee with Heavenly Manna, by a sinful Minister; who may convert thy Soul. The reason is (as before) because the operation of the Word, does not depend on the Piety of the Preacher, but upon the free Grace and Power of God. A blind Man may hold a Candle and give light to others, while he himself remains in the dark. The Scribes [Page 38] and Pharisees were many of them vicious Persons, yet sitting in Moses's Chair, Christ commands his Disciples to hear them. He did not forbid them to hear their Doctrine, but to forbear their doings.

ORder thy business to come before the Prayers; for many and mischievous are the consequences of coming late.

1. You rob your self of the opportunity of private Prayers, for a blessing upon the publick.

2. You lose the benefit of publick Con­fession and Absolution; which are of huge esteem and value to all that are wisely Reli­gious.

3. You willingly deprive your selves of part of God's publick Worship, which is both a Sin, and a loss of so great account, as can­not easily be expressed, nor ordinarily be­lieved.

As you are going to Church, you may make use of this Soliloquy.

[Page 39]O my Soul! Let Ʋzza's Death make thee careful, how thou enters irreverently into God's House. If we be so careful to come with clean Apparel before an Earthly Prince, much more should we with clean Hearts and Souls, approach our Heavenly King. A Prince may not regard how his Servants go in his Kitchen; but when they come into his Presence-Chamber, he expects they should look to their Carriage and Words. God in­deed, O my Soul! expects more honour in our religious acts, than in the ordinary acti­ons of our Lives: for in the first, we direct­ly design his honour and service; and if we do not perform them seriously, the greater is our Sin.

Think then, O my Soul! how choice God was in the Law, about all things relating to his Worship: the Tabernacle and Tem­ple must be of the best Wood, the purest Gold, and the finest Linnen. The Persons must be without blemish ( Lev. 2.17.) the Sacrifice must be perfect, without spot; the best of the Flock, the best of the Beasts, the fat that covereth the inwards. And what, O my Soul, dost thou think was the substance of these shadows; but this? that God will be served by holy Men, in the purest and holiest manner: and that we must be exact, both as to our Persons and Performances.

[Page 40]Great Persons are impatient of contempt and affronts; especially when offered to them in their own Houses. God will sooner overlook thy forgetfulness of him in thy Trade, or Travels, than in the Tabernacle. When thou drawest nigh to him, he will be Sanctified, either by thee, or upon thee: if thou refusest to give him glory in thy Ser­vice; believe me, he will get himself Glory by thy Sufferings. His worship is his Pre­sence, his Face; and look for his Fury, if thou darest him to his Face.

The Waters of the Sanctuary, are like the Waters given to a suspected Wife: if Inno­cent they witness her Honesty, and made her Fruitful, though Barren before. But if guil­ty, they caused the Belly to swell, and the thighs to rot. If thou makest Godliness thy business in the Ordinances of God, it will make thee fruitful, if barren of good Works: but if thou beest formal and perfunctory, and goest thy round in religious Duties, never minding the true end of them, nor thy Car­riage in them: thy Prayer will be an abo­mination; the word, a savour of Death un­to Death; and the Sacrament a Seal of thy Damnation.

When thou comest at the Church-Door, say; Surely the Lord is in this place: how dread­ful is this place? It is no other but the House of God; the Gate of Heaven.

[Page 41] When you enter into the Church. O my Soul! where ever thou art, thou art under God's Eye; and therefore shouldest thou be no where prophane: but now thou art in his Church, thou art in his immediate Presence. How holy oughtest thou to be? How devout thy Behaviour? We read ( Exod. 25.37.) Moses was commanded to light up seven Lamps in his Tabernacle, the place of his publick worship: and why seven Lamps? What was the substance of these shadows? in short this: that nothing shall escape his no­tice. He seeth what uprightness and serious­ness there is in thy Prayers and performan­ces; whether thou art Praying, Reading, Hearing, or Singing: and after what man­ner thou dost them, whether slothfully or diligently. His Eye is always upon thee; and his Eye-lids try thy actions: to reward or punish them.

When you view the Baptisterion or Font. Give hearty thanks unto God for your Christen­dom, that by Holy-Baptism he hath called you to a state of Grace and Salvation through Jesus Christ: and humbly beseech him, that you may continue in the same to your Lives end. For if you Apostatize, you are guilty of an horrid Sin; and must answer for it at the great and terrible day of Judgment.

It was a custom in the primitive times, [Page 42] that such as were Baptized did wear a white Stole: a Ceremony, to signify the purity of Life, the Baptized was to lead. Eliodophorus, after his Baptism, turning a Persecutor of the Church , Marilla the Minister that Baptized him, in an holy indignation, brought forth in publick the white Stole, saying: This do I keep against thy coming to Judgment, to te­stify thy Apostasy from Christ. So be thou as­sured, O Christian! that the Water with which, the Minister by whom, the people be­fore whom thou wert Baptized, shall rise up against thee in Judgment; if thou dost not walk in newness of Life.

When you behold the Eleemosynary, or Poor's Box. How much am I bound to the good Provi­dence of my Heavenly Father, who hath rai­sed my condition in this World to be in the number of those that abound, not of them that want, since 'tis more blessed to give than to receive.

When you view the Communion-Table say, What shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits I have received at his hands; I will take the Cup of Salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord.

When you view the Pulpit. Remember how many good Lessons you have received thence, the which not being carefully practised, will rise up in judgment against you, in the great [Page 43] Day of your Tryal: resolve therefore for the future, to be a doer of the word, not hearer only, deceiving your own Soul.

When you view the Church-Bible upon the Desk. Remember, that this is the Book of Life; the sacred Code; the Divine Volume; the infallible Oracle of Heaven; and that you are obliged to consult it with all manner of Devotion, and to inform your selves thence, what is the will and pleasure of the great Ruler of the World.

When you have meditated a while on these objects, fall down on your Knees in your Pew; and offer up this, or such like Prayers.

[Page 44]Or

AS soon as the Minister begins the pub­lick Worship, lay aside all your other Meditations and Prayers, and apply your mind to attend diligently, and to join de­voutly in every part and passage of Divine Service; considering it is the great end of your coming to Church; and your business there is to serve the Lord, with your Chri­stian Brethren in publick.

[Page 45]1. Therefore when the Minister exhorts you out of the Word of God, to confess and acknowledge your Sins and Wickedness, har­den not your heart, but with all possible hu­mility, both of Body and Soul, say after the Minister in the Confession of your Sins; and endeavour to let your Heart even melt and bleed in the bewailing your Offences: and to this, and every act of Divine Worship, neglect not to say, Amen. For that is as it were the Seal to confirm to your Soul, the benefits thereof. The Hebrews have a saying, that whosoever says Amen with all his might, opens the Doors of Paradise.

2. After Confession, when the Minister comes to the words of Absolution; bow down your Head and say softly in your Heart: Lord, let this Pardon pronounced by thy Mini­ster, be effectual to my Soul; and Seal thereunto the Forgiveness of all my Sins.

3. The Psalms and Hymns are to be an­swered Verse by Verse, with the Minister, that so all may join and bear a part in the Service of God; for in his Temple do every Man speak of his Honour: and here, though you cannot read, yet your Heart may join with them that do read; and your Mouth also may shew forth the praise of God, by saying after every Psalm, Glory be to the Fa­ther: adding always, Amen; to shew and ex­press [Page 44] [...] [Page 45] [...] [Page 46] how affectionately you desire the Glory of God.

Be not silent, nor ashamed, publickly and audibly, to make Confession of your holy Chri­stian Faith, when you are thereunto called by the Minister; for this is a duty you owe both to God and Man. It is an act of God's Worship, and a Declaration that you hold the same Faith with all true Christians: and therefore it is required of you, not only with the Heart to believe unto Righteous­ness; but with the mouth also, that Confes­sion be made unto Salvation.

And when the Confession of Faith is pub­lickly pronounced, do not sit and loll, as if you were not concern'd at it; but stand up with the rest of the Congregation: to sig­nifie and declare, that you will stand to this Faith, and earnestly contend for it, as being the same which was once given to, or by the Saints, the holy Apostles.

I have read that it is a Custom in Poland, that the Gentlemen draw their Swords all the while the Creed is a reading: intimating thereby that they will defend it with their Lives and Blood. Be you, Christians, as rea­dy to assert and maintain your holy Faith; and resolve to attest it with your dearest Blood, if there be occasion.

If any Child be brought to Church to be [Page 47] Baptized; sit not still, as if not concerned in that Office: but let it remind you of your own Vow; and put up this short Prayer in behalf of the Infant.

When any Woman comes to be Churched, reflect on the Mercies that thou receivest from God, to make thee thankful; and with a low Voice, put up this Prayer to God.

When you see any come to be Catechised, make not light of it, but after this, or the like manner pray.

When you hear the Banes of Matrimony published in the Church, fall not into Laugh­ter (as the manner of some is;) for it ill be­comes the Sacredness of the place, and ar­gues [Page 48] out irreverence to God. We should show our selves better Christians, by falling down on our Knees, and praying at the same time for a Blessing from God on them. O let us then reflect on our own Vow and Pro­mise in Marriage, how we have performed it: and let us make it also an occasion of a fresh Engagement in our selves, to keep it most strictly.

I am not of the opinion of the Papists, that Marriage is a Sacrament; but I look upon it as a most solemn engagement among Men, and Sacred: being a Vow made before God, and witnessed by many: and therefore a sub­ject proper for seriousness and devotion. When you sing unto God, let your heart make melody: Take heed, that when your Voice is high, your Heart be not dead, flat, and low.

1. When the Word is read and preached; mind it: and say, this is the Word of God, 'tis his Command, and dare I disobey it? O that my ways were made so direct, that I might keep God's Statutes!

2. When you hear the Curses denounced against Sinners, tremble if thou beest guilty of any of the Sins.

3. When you hear God's Calls and Invi­tations, his rich Promises and Allurements, say: What, shall I refuse them? Doth God [Page 49] knock at them: and shall not the Everlasting Doors of my Heart fly open, that the King of Glory may enter in?

Lastly, While the Minister is pronouncing the Blessing, post not away (a fault too com­mon every where) but hope, desire, and be­lieve it shall come down upon you. Remem­ber the punishment of Judas, he stayed not for the Blessing, but went away, and dis­patched himself. That you may not forfeit God's Protection, and be given over by the Almighty, as he was: I pray stay till the Blessing be pronounced; and after it is en­ded, fall down on your Knees, and offer up this short Ejaculation.

WHen it is now almost time to repair to the Evening Service, call as ma­ny of your Servants as can be well spared, that they may accompany you to the publick Assembly: command their Bodies, though you cannot their Souls. And it may not be amiss (but right edifying) if some one Per­son read a Psalm suitable to the present un­dertaking, of going to worship God: such as the 84. Psal. or the 119 th; one, or two parts of it being taken at a time, as occasion [Page 59] shall serve; to which reading all ought reve­rently to attend.

And this being done, let the same Rules and Directions which were given touching going to Church in the Morning, be obser­ved in the Evening: and let all (as before) resort to the publick worship; where your carriage ought to be the same, as was before directed.

Surely unless you and your House appear thus the second time before God; you can­not be said duly to sanctify the Lord's Day: but only to do it by halves. And now to move you to this duty:

Consider you are bound in justice to God to do it. Because God hath set a day, not a piece of a day apart for himself; and we should be more afraid to steal away God's time, than to steal away Mans Goods: the one is Theft; but the other Sacriledge.

God Almighty hath consecrated to his own Service the seventh part of our time; but if you come only in the Morning, you give him but the 14 th part of it: nay, I fear, too many spare him only that time which their Morning attendance takes up, in our publick Assembly, on the Lord's Day. Now I ap­peal to thy own Conscience, Christian Bro­ther! Whether it be a meet and fit thing, that rational Persons, Created by God, re­deemed [Page 60] by Christ, should afford to the Worship and Service of Christ, and the great Concern of their immortal Souls, but two hours at the most on the Lord's- day: and that time perhaps spent in a formal, customary, cold, heartless Worship of the infinitely holy and just Deity; the tremen­dous, impartial Judge, both of Angels and Men. The Jews kept a whole day▪ holy in a grateful Memory of the lesser benefit of the Creation; and their Deliverance out of Aegypt: and shall we grudge to spend a whole day, in remembrance of our Delive­rance from Hell, and Death eternal?

We have not only greater Motives, but we have greater Means: they had only Mo­ses and the Prophets; but we have Christ and the Gospel: they had the Shadow; we the Substance. And shall we that have more Means and Helps, put God off with less Du­ty, smaller Service, and shorter Performan­ces? Nay, the very Heathens, guided by the Light of Nature, gave whole Days to their Dunghill Deities: and shall we Christians refuse it to a true God? You give your Bo­dies two Meals a-day, and will you feed your Souls but once? It was a rational Discourse of Joseph to his Mistress, (Gen. 39.9.) My Master hath kept nothing from me but thee, because thou art his Wife: how then can I [Page 61] do this great wickedness, and sin against my God?

God hath kept no Days in the Week from us, but only the First Day, because it is his Sabbath: how can we do this great Wickedness then, and sin against him? Na­than's Parable to David, may be applied to thee, O thou most prophane Sabbath-brea­ker! Hath God only one Day, which he hath kept to himself, and sanctified to his Service, and laid as it were in his Bosom: and shall Men be so unworthy, when their Hearts tempt them to Vanity, even to take this day to please and gratifie their own corrupt hearts in? When they are rich in time, and have six days for themselves; To entrench upon the Lord's Day: it is some­thing too much. Nay, as it is unreasonable, so is it plainly contradictory to our own Prayers that day: for upon every Lord's Day Morning, as we make it our open Con­fession, so likewise a publick Prayer, after the reading of the Fourth Commandment: Lord, have mercy upon me, and incline my heart to keep this Law. As much as to say; Lord, we acknowledge we have neglected thy Day; we pray thee therefore pardon all our un­christian Sabbath-breaking for the time past, and give us Grace to observe the Christian Sabbath better for the future.

[Page 62]Now shall we confess in the Forenoon, and transgress in the Afternoon? Will you beg pardon in the Morning, and sin again the same Sin before Night? Will you open your mouths to ask God's Grace, to sanctifie and keep holy the Sabbath-Day: and, it may be, prophane it in a graceless manner as soon as you are out of the Congrega­tion?

But now to draw to a Conclusion. You that God Almighty have blessed with Families, I beseech you to take care of making any Vi­sits on that day after Evening-Service, for by that means you may become guilty of a double Sin. 1. In neglecting to worship God your selves, in your Family. 2. In hin­dering others from doing that Duty. But if the Weather invite you into the Fields, let your Walk be such as Isaac's was, to medi­tate: and that you may not want matter to exercise your Thoughts about; when you divert your self in the Field, meditate on these Ten Particulars.

• 1. The Greatness and Goodness of that God that you paid your Homage unto.
• 2. With the Vileness of Sin, and your selves, because of it.
• 3. With the Sweetness of Christ, and the Greatness of his Love, and Mercy.
• [Page 63]4. With the Excellency of that heavenly Work you have been about, and the Gain of Godliness.
• 5. With the Vanity of the World, and all things therein.
• 6. With the Worth and high Value of your immortal Souls.
• 7. With the Rage, Subtilty, and Dili­gence of your Souls Enemy.
• 8. With the Deceitfulness of your Hearts.
• 9. With the Terrour and Torment of Hell.
• 10. With the unspeakable and everlasting Glory of Heaven.

2. Endeavour to spiritualize every Object you see.

As you walk and travail by the King's High­way, say; I am the way, the truth, and the life, saith my blessed Redeemer: the Way I must follow, the Truth I must believe, the Life I must hope for; the Way which lead­eth me, the Truth which teacheth me, the Life whereunto he bringeth me: the Way is undefiled, the Truth is infallible, and the Life without end; blessed are they that walk in this way that leads to everlasting life.

When you behold pleasant Grounds, and va­riety of Objects; O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all; the Earth is full of thy Riches.

[Page 64] When you perceive a gentle Brieze of Wind; Come, Holy Spirit, blow upon my Garden, that the Spices may flow out; make my Mind calm, serene, and quiet, breath upon me, and revive me with the Light of thy Countenance.

When you hear a Clock strike, or perceive by the Sun the Hour of the Day.

O how fast do hour after hour come on; Time hastening to be swallowed up of Aeter­nity! So teach me, O Lord, to number my days, that I may apply my heart unto Wis­dom; wisely providing for that long day, wherein the Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in his Wings.

When you see an high place: Thy Mer­cy, O Lord, reacheth unto the Heavens, and thy Faithfulness to the Clouds.

When you perceive a Dunghill: O make me to know my self, and discover to me my false deceitful Heart, and the Odiousness and Loathsomness of my Sins, that I may hate them with a perfect hatred.

When you behold a stately House. O God, make me in love with that City which hath foundations, whose Maker and Builder is God. Oh when shall this earthly house of this Tabernacle be dissolved, and I received into that Building, the House not made with hands, aeternal in the Heavens!

[Page 65] When beholding any Children or Infants. O Lord, out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings dost thou prepare Praises for thy self.

When beholding a beautiful Woman. O Lord, let not this Creature's Face be her Pride, or the Beholder's sin or shame.

If you see any Cattle to stray, think with your self. O God, how apt am I to go out of thy way. I have erred and strayed, O Lord, like to a lost Sheep.

By such holy Ejaculations as these you may banish all Worldly thoughts out of your Mind, and keep the Devil (that is always busy to hinder the good Seed of the Word from taking effect) better out of your heart, than Teresa's holy Water, or St. Anthony's Sign of the Cross.

When you come home observe the same Rules that were given you before to be pra­ctised after Dinner, viz. to read the Scri­pture, sing Psalms, meditate, repeat the Word, &c. but when you have done all, look upon your selves as unprofitable Ser­vants, and that you come short of what God requires or deserves at your hands. O what heavenly, fervent and zealous Prayers doth such a God deserve, such rich Mercy call for! God is worthy a better Tongue to praise him, and a better Heart to love him. [Page 66] Disown therefore all your own Righteous­ness, and expect all the Blessings you have prayed for, through the alone Merits of Jesus Christ.

THE Day thus happily sliding away, draws on the Night-season, and there remains an Evening Exercise in order to even out Accompts with the great Father of the Fa­mily, concerning our days labour in his Vine­yard.

Before therefore you take your repose at night, look over your days work, search back into every hour of the day, humble your selves, and be heartily sorry for your mis­carriage; bless God if you have received any good: Put these Questions to your Soul ere you betake your self to your rest.

First, How did I ly down or rise up, was God in my thoughts or no?

Secondly, How did I put up my Prayers in my Closet, did they proceed from my Heart, or Lip only? Have I gone this day with Joy into the House of Good, have I heard [Page 67] [...]he Word, and treasured it up in my Heart? Have not I aimed more at the information [...]f my judgment, than at the warming of my [...]ffections? was it curiosity or piety that led [...]he thither? have I gathered my thoughts [...]ogether in the publick Prayers of the Church, [...]nd have my heart and desires gone along with the Supplications which the Minister of God put up to Heaven? Have not I thought [...]f my Farm, Trade, and Oxen, while I have [...]een repeating after him? Have I read in pri­ [...]ate, have I called my Family together, read [...]o them, instructed them, made them give [...]e an account of what they did remember? When I received the holy Sacrament, were [...]y thoughts fixed on the Cross of Christ, [...]nd were my Soul affected with the great [...]ystery of God's Love, and did I meditate [...]n the Word as soon as I left the Church? [...]as not the World in my Heart as soon as [...]e word was out of the Minister's? Did not [...]eat and drink at Table more to please my [...]ppetite than to repair the decayed strength [...]f my nature? Was my Discourse holy at [...]e Table, when I craved a Blessing? was [...]ot my mind more intent on the meat before [...]e than on the God above me? have not I [...]een intemperate at my Meals, and eat and [...]rank more than nature required? have I af­ [...]r Dinner set my Servants to read, and did [Page 68] I pray for them and with them. Have not [...] this day been guilty of some crying Sin, fo [...] which God might justly punish me as he di [...] the Fool in the Gospel, with Death, &c.

If upon enquiry you find you have mad [...] any progress in Vertue, got ground of Satan and mastered your Corruptions; give Go [...] the Glory, by whose Grace you overcam [...] them, and return him thanks in this following Prayer.

But if upon enquiry you find, that yo [...] have been guilty of many Frailties and Imperfections, if you have not been so devout [...] you ought to have been in your Prayers: a [...] fect your Soul with the sense of your Sin i [...] this following Prayer.

[Page 70]But if upon Inquiry, you find you have greatly broken the Sabbath-day, neglected his publick Worship, relapsed into some crying Sin, which without God's great Mer­cy will bring upon you speedy Death and Damnation; affect your Soul with this Prayer.

Then fail not to add to this, this usual Prayer for the Evening.

Before thou goest to bed, be sure to offer unto God thine Evening Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving. This was shadowed out unto us under the Law, where the Lord re­quired his Evening Sacrifice, as well as the Morning: therefore much more doth he re­quire it of us under the Gospel. And truly if thou liest down in thy sins unrepented of, thou mightest haply awaken with Hell-flames about thy Ears. Thou mayst better and safe­lier sleep with a Serpent in thy Bosom, than with a Sin upon thy Soul; the one can only punish thee temporally, the other torments thee aeternally. Before ever then thou suffer the Temples of thy head to take any rest; beg, O Christian Brother, not only Pardon of thy Sins, but his Protection from all Dan­gers: which you may do in this following Prayer.

Whilst thou art going to bed, exercise thy Mind with these holy and heavenly Me­ditations. As thou art pulling off thy clothes, think how it will not be long before thou be stripped of all, and go out of the World, as naked as thou camest; as Job excellently expresseth it, Naked came I, &c.

And when thou art laid upon thy bed to take thy Repose, let it mind thee of thy Grave, thy Sheets of thy Shroud, and thy Sleep of thy Death, which indeed is the sha­dow of it; and labour to fall asleep with the sweet Meditation of it; and to that end, while thou art awake, exercise thy Mind with these or such like Meditations.

[Page 74]Beg of Christ, That you might imitate him in his Death, which you may do in these short Prayers.

Thus have I finished my imperfect Piece. And, O my God, as I began it by thy Goodness, [Page 76] so I end it with thy praise. Let not the weak­ness and simplicity of the Agent be the Readers discouragement: but, O my Heavenly Father, give me thy Grace to live up to these Rules, lest whilst I preach and write to others, I my self be­come a Cast-away.