A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 1 That we must rise betimes on the Lords Day.

And thus much concerning the rest, and things from which we must abstain on the Lords Day; The second thing to be considered, is the sanctifying of this rest, by consecrating it unto those duties of Gods service, which upon this day he requireth of us. For it is not sufficient, that we refrain from working, and do nothing, seeing our beasts do this as well as we, but we must make it an holy rest, abstaining from our own works, that we may do the works of God. In which regard it is called, not only a Sabbath, and day of rest, but Gods Sabbath and Holy-day, wherein he enjoineth us to do him service. And if he abhorreth idleness at all times, and condemneth the neglect of our own works in all the rest of the week, then much more if we be idle upon his Day, and spend that time which he hath allotted to his own service, in sloth and idleness. Neither doth the Lord simply require a rest for it own sake (seeing in it self it is less profitable and acceptable then action and labour) but as being a sanctified rest, it is a means to fit us for his service, which is the end of it, unto which if we attain not, it is vain and unprofitable, yea wicked and sinful. Now the duties of Gods service, whereby this rest is sanctified, are either private or public; the which, because they are interchangeably mixed with one another, therefore I will observe a mixed method in handling of them. The first private duty, is, that we awake and rise as timely this day to do God service (and if we be Governors of families, that we cause those who are under our charge to do the like) as we do (or ought to do) on any of the week days to do our own works. Yea, seeing Gods works are of much greater weight and worth, then our own, and our spiritual gain of grace, and means of furthering the salvation of our souls, and our everlasting happiness in the life to come, are incomparably more excellent then earthly riches and delights, therefore as we are watchful on the week days to pursue these, and are willing to abridge our selves of our ordinary sleep, when we have any good opportunity offered for the compassing of