A37049:1038
A37049:1038
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
8. All these reach both words and thoughts, nothing to the hindrance of these is to be admitted in either; there are •one of our words and thoughts that day, but they would in a special manner be Gods, and in it we should be spent as his, and endeavour to be within view of Heaven, to make some Essay of glorified Saints exercise there, and to have the Sabbath as a little prelude of that everlasting Sabbath and rest in the bosom of God.
8. All these reach both words and thoughts, nothing to the hindrance of these is to be admitted in either; there are •one of our words and thoughts that day, but they would in a special manner be Gods, and in it we should be spent as his, and endeavour to be within view of Heaven, to make some Essay of glorified Saints exercise there, and to have the Sabbath as a little preludy of that everlasting Sabbath and rest in the bosom of God.
The Fourth way of considering this sanctification is positively, to wit, as to the Duties, wherein the Sabbath is to be spent, which are shortly, all duties of immediate worship, whether they be inward, as meditation, self-examination, heart-prayer, either e ••culatory or more continued, heart-sorrow for sins, &c. or outward, as vocal prayer and singing of ⟨p. 290⟩Psalms, reading the Scriptures and other pious Books, hearing the word, &c. or whether they be secret which may be both inward and outward, or private in Families, as reading of the word, conferring on it, repeating Sermons, praying together, &c. or public; as joining with the Congregation in prayers and praises, hearing the word read, and the sense given, hearing of Sermons, participating of the Sacraments, when dispensed, joining in solemn humiliations and thanksgivings, when they fall necessarily or more conveniently to be on the Sabbath; All which and such like are proper duties for that day; to which liberal laying up, and giving for the relief of the poor according to ability, and as God blesseth every man would be added as a suitable duty of it, though it be no duty of immediate worship.
The Fourth way of considering this sanctification is positively, to wit, as to the Duties, wherein the Sabbath is to be spent, which are shortly, all duties of immediate worship, whether they be inward, as meditation, self-examination, heart-prayer, either e ••culatory or more continued, heart-sorrow for sins, &c. or outward, as vocal prayer and singing of ⟨p. 290⟩Psalms, reading the Scriptures and other pious Books, hearing the word, &c. or whether they be secret which may be both inward and outward, or private in Families, as reading of the word, conserring on it, repeating Sermons, praying together, &c. or publick; as joyning with the Congregation in prayers and praises, hearing the vvord read, and the sense given, hearing of Sermons, participating of the Sacraments, when dispensed, joyning in solemn humiliations and thanksgivings, vvhen they fall necessarily or more conveniently to be on the Sabbath; All vvhich and such like are proper duties for that day; to vvhich liberal laying up, and giving for the relief of the poor according to ability, and as God blesseth every man vvould be added as a suitable duty of it, though it be no duty of immediate vvorship.
The fifth way is to consider the sanctification of the Sabbath complexly, before it come, when it's come, and after it's past.
The fifth way is to consider the sanctification of the Sabbath complexly, before it come, vvhen it's come, and after it's past.
1. Then the night before (not secluding a suitable remembrance throughout the week) remember it 1. by timous leaving of worldly business, it's a great encroachment on the Sabbath, though too too usual to continue longer at work the night before, then any other night of the week, as if folks would gain the day of rest, out of Saturnsdays night and Mondays morning.
1. Then the night before (not secluding a suitable remembrance throughout the week) remember it 1. by timous leaving of vvorldly business, it's a great incroachment on the Sabbath, though too too usual to continue longer at vvork the night before, then any other night of the vveek, as if folks vvould gain the day of rest, out of Saturnsdays night and Mondays morning.
2. By not suffering this little times leaving of work, to be idly spent, but being taken up with endeavours, 1. To abstract the mind from other works as well as the hand, and to have the heart put in a lively frame. 2. To mind the work of the day which is coming, and to have a suitableness to it. If ye ask what suitableness should we have to it? Answ. Endeavour 1. to be as if ye were about to meet God, to tryst, as if it were, visibly with him, and solemnly to treat and enter in marriage with him. 2. To be like Heaven, and in a special manner in some sort to imitate God, as if ye were already entered into his rest, and had rested from your own works. 3. To be as if ye were to dye, and to step into Eternity, for this resting should mind us of that, and was, and is still, specially appointed (though yet no Ceremony) •o mind us of Gods separating of us from others for himself, that we may rest eternally with him.
2. By not suffering this little times leaving of vvork, to be idly spent, but being taken up vvith endeavours, 1. To abstract the mind from other vvorks as vvell as the hand, and to have the heart put in a lively frame. 2. To mind the vvork of the day vvhich is coming, and to have a sutableness to it. If ye ask vvhat sutableness should vve have to it? Answ. Endeavour 1. to be as if ye vvere about to meet God, to tryst, as if it vvere, visibly vvith him, and solemnly to treat and enter in marriage vvith him. 2. To be like Heaven, and in a special manner in some sort to imitate God, as if ye vvere already entered into his rest, and had rested from your ovvn vvorks. 3. To be as if ye vvere to dye, and to step into Eternity, for this resting should mind us of that, and vvas, and is still, specially appointed (though yet no Ceremony) •o mind us of Gods separating of us from others for himself, that vve may rest eternally vvith him.
Then 3. for furthering of this, look back on the Week past, and endeavour to have things clear before the Sabbath come, and all by-gone quarrels removed, that there may be no standing controversies against you to begin the Sabbath with.
Then 3. for furthering of this, look back on the Week past, and endeavour to have things clear before the Sabbath come, and all by-gone quarrels removed, that there may be no standing controversies against you to begin the Sabbath vvith.
4. Pray with special solemn seriousness in reference to that day, that ye may have peace for what is past, that ye may be in a right frame for the day; that the Minister may be helped to speak as it becometh; that others may be fitted to hear and join; that the Word and other Ordinances may be richly blest of God; and that the mercy of having the Ordinances may be minded, with praise to the gracious giver of them, and suitably improved.
4. Pray vvith special solemn seriousness in reference to that day, that ye may have peace for vvhat is past, that ye may be in a right frame for the day; that the Minister may be helped to speak as it becometh; that others may be sitted to hear and joyn; that the Word and other Ordinances may be richly blest of God; and that the mercy of having the Ordinances may be minded, vvith praise to the gracious giver of them, and suitably improved.
2. When the morning of that sweet and desirable day cometh (after we have fallen asleep in a special manner, as it were in the Lords arms, the night before, and left our selves there) 1. We would timely begin the work, and beware that either carnal thoughts get in, or the time be idly slipped over, but I say we would begin the work early; for it's for that end appointed, and sinful thoughts will not be kept out, but by filling the room otherwise with what is spiritually profitable. Show forth Gods loving kindness in the morning, saith the Psalm for the Sabbath, to wit, the 92. Let therefore the Meditation of somewhat of these, or such like, begin with us, even when we are making ready, 1. somewhat of God himself, whose day it is; 2. of heaven, and that happiness that is there; 3. of the works of God, who gave us and all the world • being, and who only preserveth the same; 4. of Christs redemption, and as closed and perfected on this day; which especially should be minded; that so thinking of our many and great obligations, and of the misery we had been in, had not that work of Redemption intervened, we may begin the day with a due impression of Gods greatness and goodness; of our own sinfulness, weakness, and misery; and of this bl used remedy and out▪gate.
2. When the morning of that sweet and desirable day cometh (after we have fallen asleep in a special manner, as it were in the Lords arms, the night before, and left our selves there) 1. We would timely begin the work, and beware that either carnal thoughts get in, or the time be idly slipped over, but I say we would begin the work early; for it's for that end appointed, and sinful thoughts will not be kept out, but by filling the room otherwayes with what is spiritually profitable. Shew forth Gods loving kindness in the morning, saith the Psalm for the Sabbath, to wit, the 92. Let therefore the Meditation of somewhat of these, or such like, begin with us, even when we are making ready, 1. somewhat of God himself, whose day it is; 2. of heaven, and that happiness that is there; 3. of the works of God, who gave us and all the world • being, and who only preserveth the same; 4. of Christs redemption, and as closed and perfected on this day; which especially should be minded; that so thinking of our many and great obligations, and of the misery we had been in, had not that work of Redemption intervened, we may begin the day with a due impression of Gods greatness and goodness; of our own sinfulness, weakness, and misery; and of this bl ssed remedy and outgate.
2. We would address our selves to solemn prayer in secret, and that at greater length then on other days, and with insisting with special petitions relating to the day, with all the seriousness we may win it.
2. We would address our selves to solemn prayer in secret, and that at greater length then on other dayes, and with insisting with special petitions relating to the day, with all the seriousness we may win it.
3. We would take a view of our own hearts, to see how and where we left the night before, and endeavour to have clearness betwixt the Lord and us as to our state, and otherwise maintained; and renewed if it was; or attained if it was not.
3. We would take a view of our own hearts, to see how and where we left the night before, and endeavour to have clearness betwixt the Lord and us as to our state, and otherwayes maintained; and renewed if it was; or attained if it was not.
4. Too much time would not be spent in adorning or busking of folks bodies, or in making other provisions for them, but as the whole of it would be taken up in duties of worship (as we have before showed) so some part of it would be set apart for secret reading, yea, for secret praising, thanksgiving, and singing, an exercise not unbecoming that day, as that fore-cited Psalm for the Sabbath day showeth.
4. Too much time would not be spent in adorning or busking of folks bodies, or in making other provisions for them, but as the whole of it would be taken up in duties of worship (as we have before shewed) so some part of it would be set apart for secret reading, yea, for secret praising, thanksgiving, and singing, an exercise not unbecoming that day, as that fore-cited Psalm for the Sabbath day sheweth.
5. If thou be the Head of a Family, or livest in fellowship with others, then the family is gravely to be brought together, and every particular member is to join with the rest: And here also prayers and other religious duties are to be doubled according to the ceremonial doubling of Sacrifices on the Seventh-day-Sabbath under the Law; for in secret, in families, and in public, there would be more that day then in other days.
5. If thou be the Head of a Family, or livest in fellowship with others, then the family is gravely to be brought together, and every particular member is to joyn with the rest: And here also prayers and other religious duties are to be doubled according to the ceremonial doubling of Sacrifices on the Seventh-day-Sabbath under the Law; for in secret, in families, and in publick, there would be more that day then in other dayes.
6. Care and inspection would be taken so far as men can reach, that by none in the Society, neither secret nor private duties be neglected, nor public duties abstained from, but that each may stir up one another, and more especially those whose places lead them to it, to the suitable sanctification of the day in all the duties of it, and withal, it would be looked to, that none of the family be suffered to stay at home unnecessarily from the public worship, or to be absent from the family worship.
6. Care and inspection would be taken so far as men can reach, that by none in the Society, neither secret nor private duties be neglected, nor publick duties abstained from, but that each may stir up one another, and more especially those whose places lead them to it, to the sutable sanctification of the day in all the duties of it, and withal, it would be looked to, that none of the family be suffered to stay at home unnecessarily from the publick worship, or to be absent from the family worship.
7. Timely (that ye be not by haste discomposed) come to public, modestly apparelled (it's a shame to see how gaudily some come to public worship on the Lords day) grave in your walk, wary and circumspect in your words, that they be spiritually edifying and suitable; watch over your eyes, that carnal or worldly looks steal you not away, nor distemper your hearts, but especially over your hearts, that they wear not out of a spiritual frame.
7. Timely (that ye be not by haste discomposed) come to publick, modestly apparrelled (it's a shame to see how gaudily some come to publick worship on the Lords day) grave in your walk, wary and circumspect in your words, that they be spiritually edifying and sutable; watch over your eyes, that carnal or worldly looks steal you not away, nor distemper your hearts, but especially over your hearts, that they wear not out of a spiritual frame.
8. When ye come to the place of public worship, if it be ⟨p. 293⟩a while a beginning, be still watchful, and the nearer ye come to it the more watchful; for temptations will be very ready to divert or discompose; there would be a frequent intermixture of ejaculatory prayers in reference to every thing requisite for attaining and entertaining this composedness.
8. When ye come to the place of publick worship, if it be ⟨p. 293⟩a while a beginning, be still watchful, and the nearer ye come to it the more watchful; for temptations will be very ready to divert or discompose; there would be a frequent intermixture of ejaculatory prayers in reference to every thing requisite for attaining and intertaining this composedness.
9. When public worship beginneth, study to be (as Cornelius was, Acts 10.) present to join in prayer, and praise, to hear what God will say, to receive it, to l •y it up in your hearts, to be suitably affected with it, and to resolve through grace to practice it; (for blessed are they only who hear the word and do it): and this would be with delight, aiming aright at the end of the Ordinances, whatever they be, whereof we spoke somewhat on the second Commandment.
9. When publick worship beginneth, study to be (as Cornelius was, Acts 10.) present to joyn in prayer, and praise, to hear what God will say, to receive it, to l •y it up in your hearts, to be sutably affected with it, and to resolve through grace to practice it; (for blessed are they only who hear the word and do it): and this would be with delight, aiming aright at the end of the Ordinances, whatever they be, whereof we spoke somewhat on the second Commandement.