A37049:1043
A37049:1043
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.
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 out▪gate.
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.
10. When the public worship is as to its first diet closed, let not your minds turn carnal, but depart reverently from it, cheering your selves in God, fixing the convictions, exhortations, directions, instructions, &c. in your mind, as ye have met with them, and be ruminating rather on these, then beginning to gaze or discourse with others on subjects that are not spiritual, and to edification.
10. When the publick worship is as to its first diet closed, let not your minds turn carnal, but depart reverently from it, chearing your selves in God, fixing the convictions, exhortations, directions, instructions, &c. in your mind, as ye have met with them, and be ruminating rather on these, then beginning to gaze or discourse with others on subjects that are not spiritual, and to edification.
11. As soon as ye can win, go in secret, and seek to have these things fastened and riveted betwixt God and you, and let that be your first work, and let the little time that interveneth betwixt the diets of public worship till you return, be spent suitable to the day and the end of the duties thereof.
11. As soon as ye can win, go in secret, and seek to have these things fastned and riveted betwixt God and you, and let that be your first work, and let the little time that interveneth betwixt the diets of publick worship till you return, be spent sutable to the day and the end of the duties thereof.
12. When all the public wo ship is ended, then ye would do according to the preceding tenth Direction; ye would withal retire a while in secret, and reflect on your carriage in public, and also see what good may be gotten of the d •y, and if there be any misses, neglects, or failings observed (as if there be a diligent search there will no doubt be) then be humbled, seek pardon through Christ, and resolve through grace to help these afterward; consider what was said, and like the noble Boreans, Acts 17. put it to the trial for your confirmation, by your considering and examining the Scriptures cited or spoken of; and endeavour yet more to have your hearts affected in secret with them.
12. When all the publick vvo •ship is ended, then ye would do according to the preceding tenth Direction; ye would withal retire a while in secret, and reflect on your carriage in publick, and also see what good may be gotten of the d •y, and if there be any misses, neglects, or failings observed (as if there be a diligent search there will no doubt be) then be humbled, seek pardon through Christ, and resolve through grace to help these afterward; consider what was said, and like the noble Boreans, Acts 17. put it to the tryal for your confirmation, by your considering and examining the Scriptures cited or spoken of; and endeavour yet more to have your hearts affected in secret with them.
13. Then call your Families and come together after secret seeking of God, and 1. be inquiring of one another what is remembered, that all being put together, ye may be helpful by your memories one to another; 2. ye would do this, not as if it were enough to tell over the words, but that the Doctrines and their Uses may be fixed, and ye affected with them; Therefore 3. ye would do this with other duties of reading, singing, and spiritual conference, as the occasion of it shall offer, with prayer to God before and after, being thus exercised till ye go again in secret to close the day as ye began.
13. Then call your Families and come together after secret seeking of God, and 1. be inquiring of one another what is remembred, that all being put together, ye may be helpful by your memories one to another; 2. ye would do this, not as if it were enough to tell over the vvords, but that the Doctrines and their Uses may be fixed, and ye affected vvith them; Therefore 3. ye vvould do this vvith other duties of reading, singing, and spiritual conference, as the occasion of it shall offer, vvith prayer to God before and after, being thus exercised till ye go again in secret to close the day as ye began.
14. Duties of Charity would be done, contributions made liberally according to our ability, and relief sent to others as we know their need; which also would be inquired after.
14. Duties of Charity vvould be done, contributions made liberally according to our ability, and relief sent to others as vve knovv their need; vvhich also vvould be inquired after.