A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

CAP. XXXVIII.

Of those Christian and religious duties which we ought to performe on the Lords Day, for the sanctifying of it.

§. Sect. 1 That if wee would sanctifie the Lords Day, we must pre∣pare for it be∣fore it com∣meth.

BEsides the duties of a godly life which are euery day to bee performed, of which wee haue already spoken, there are others which more specially belong to the Lords Day, of which wee are now to intreate. For howsoeuer we ought to deuote our selues in the whole course of our liues to Gods seruice, yet this Day is to be set apart, and consecrated wholly after a pecu∣liar manner to Gods immediate worship, so as wee may not in any part thereof doe the duties of our callings, or any of our owne workes, which tend to the aduancing of our worldly ends. Whereof I will speake the more briefly, because I haue in part touched already the mayne points and summe of the fourth Commandement, and because also diuers of my learned and godly Brethren haue excellently laboured in this Argument; leauing nothing for me after their plentifull haruest, but some few glea∣nings, vnlesse I would picke out of their sheaues, and say the same things againe which they haue better said already. And yet because my desire is, that this Treatise should be perfect in all its parts, I will briefly speake of these duties, and giue some directions for the spending of this Day in such a manner, as may be acceptable vnto God, and profitable for the inriching of our soules with all spirituall graces, and the assuring and furthering of

our saluation. And first, if we would rightly sanctifie the Lords Day when it commeth, there is required before-hand a due preparation; nei∣ther can any action of waight and worth be well performed, which is sud∣denly and rashly vndertaken; and scarce euer thought on before it bee at∣tempted, especially if there be much and mighty opposition, which will be neuer wanting in these religious duties, that so neerely concerne our saluation, till we come to keepe a perpetuall Sabbath in Gods Kingdome, seeing our spirituall and malicious enemies, the deuill, world, and our owne flesh, leaue no meanes vnassayed, which may make all Gods holy ordinances vnprofitable vnto vs.

§. Sect. 2 Of our general preparation in the whole weeke.

Now this preparation is either generall or more speciall. The generall, is in the whole weeke before, by performing those Christian and religious duties, of which I haue formerly intreated. For if the heart be kept con∣tinually in good plight and order, seasoned with the loue of piety, and settled in a good course, then the duties of the Lords day will be easie and familiar, sweete and delightfull. And as he that keepeth himselfe in breath by running euery day, holdeth out well when he is put to his best speed, and runneth that race for the getting of the Garland; whereas he who taketh his ease, is pursie and shortwinded, and running with much paine and dif∣ficultie, tyreth before he come to the goale; so if we would euery day inure our selues to run our spirituall race, in the performance of all holy duties, wee should finde our selues long-winded, actiue, and able to hold out, when as on the Lords Day wee are put (as it were) to our best speede, for the obtaining of the Garland of grace, and Crowne of glory: whereas if wee spend the weeke in slothfull ease, and pamper our selues to the full with sensuall delights; If we giue our hearts liberty to range after world∣ly vanities, and fix them wholy vpon earthly pleasures and profits; if we let our tongues loose to discourse onely of sensuall and terrene affaires, and neuer acquaint them with the language of Canaan; and if all our actions being suteable to them both, are wholly imployed about tempo∣rary obiects; then shall wee finde it impossible on the Lords day to with∣draw them from their common haunt; seeing for want of vse, religious ex∣ercises will be tedious and vnpleasant vnto vs, and though we with some force bring them to holy duties, yet finding no taste nor delight in them, they will euer and anon steale away, or violently breake from vs, and roue and range after worldly vanities.

§. Sect. 3 Of speciall pre∣paration to be vsed in the Euening be∣fore the Lords Day.

The more speciall preparation is to be vsed on the euening before the Lords day, wherein two things are to bee performed. First, wee must re∣moue all impediments which might hinder vs in our rest and the sancti∣fying of it: and secondly, we must vse the helpes which may further vs in these holy duties. The maine hindrances which must be remoued, are two, worldlinesse, and wickednesse. By the former I vnderstand our earthly and ordinary businesse, worldly cares and cogitations, which if they keepe possession in our hearts, they will choke the seed of Gods Word, distract vs in our prayers and meditations, and make all holy exercises cold, for∣mall, and vnprofitable vnto vs. For the preuenting whereof it is much to be desired, that we would (as much as in vs lyeth, and so farre forth as will stand with the necessary duties of our callings) so order and dispose of all

our worldly businesses, as that they might bee wholly dispatched and set∣tled betimes on the Saturday, whereby we should not onely be preserued from incroching vpon the Lords Day (as it is the practice of many) for the effecting of our worldly affaires, which through our negligence and forgetfulnesse being left vndone, doe then presse vpon vs as workes of ne∣cessity, but also we should haue hereby conuenient leisure, and fit time for our better preparation vnto all those holy and religious duties, which the next day are to be performed. And this is to keepe our foot from the Sab∣bath, * 1.1 namely, from treading vpon Gods holy ground, and entring rashly vpon his right, when as wee appoynt and set apart an interim of time be∣tweene our worldly affaires, and those holy duties of the Lords Day, as it were certaine bounds betweene vs and the Mount, to keepe vs from vio∣lating Gods Commandement, wherein wee are to weane and sequester our hearts from all worldly things, that they may bee wholly intent vnto holy exercises. In which regard the ancient practice of the Church was very commendable, (and consequently the neglect thereof to be lamen∣ted) which ordained that all labouring men, both in husbandry and trades, should giue ouer their worke betimes vpon Saturday in the after∣noone, and resort to the Church, that their bodies being refreshed by rest, and their minds prepared by prayer and meditation, they might be the better inabled to performe the publike and solemne duties of Gods seruice the Day following. The which being now neglected, and both Ma∣sters and seruants taken vp with their laborious businesse, later for the most part, that night then any other in the weeke, with watching and wearinesse they are made altogether vnfit to performe Gods worship, their hearts being full fraught with their worldly affaires, not hauing had so much leisure as to take a farewell of them; and their heads so drowzy and heauie, that they cannot hold them vp from nodding and sleeping, euen in that time which is allotted to diuine exercises.

§. Sect. 4 That in our preparation we must purge our selues from all sinfull cor∣ruption.

And as we must thus in our preparation purge our hearts from world∣linesse, so must we with no lesse care cleanse them from all sinfull wicked∣nesse. * 1.2 To which purpose we must search and examine them, if no sinnes lye lurking in them vnrepented of, especially such as most hinder our pro∣fiting by the publike Ministery, as wrath and maliciousnesse, (and chiefly against our teachers) filthinesse, dissimulation, hypocrisie, preiudice and forestalled opinions, voluptuousnesse, couetousnesse, worldlinesse, and such like. And yet more particularly wee must call to our remembrance what sinnes wee haue committed the weeke past, and seriously repent of them; lest continuing in our wicked courses, and cherishing our sinnes, (as it were) in our bosomes, when we present our selues before God, they moue him to abhorre vs, and our sacrifices of prayer and thankesgiuing, * 1.3 and to giue vs ouer to be further hardened by the deceitfulnesse of sinne: whereof it will follow, that our hearts becomming fat, our eares heauie, and our eyes shut, we shall heare, and not vnderstand, and see, but not per∣ceiue, that we might be healed and conuerted. And this the Lord requi∣red of the Israelites, that they should first wash them, and make them cleane, * 1.4 (namely, in turning from their sinnes by vnfained repentance) and then approch and come vnto him. The which was typically signified by that

commandement of washing their clothes, before the giuing of the Law; * 1.5 answerable vnto which, is the sanctifying and purging of our hearts by faith and repentance from all pollution of sinne, before wee approch into Gods presence to receiue his Word. For he will not turne vnto vs, nor by his gracious promises assure vs of his fauour, till we turne from our sinnes; nor suffer the precious liquor of his Word to be corrupted and spoyled, by powring it into our hearts, whilest they continue in their pollution and vncleannes. Neither are we fit to receiue the ambassage of our recon∣ciliation, till we haue made our peace with him. For if hauing offended * 1.6 our brother, we may not approch vnto the Altar to offer our gift, till wee haue first sought to be reconciled vnto him; then much lesse may we pre∣sume to offer vnto God any religious seruice, vntill first by our vnfained repentance, we haue made our peace with him. And if our fallow grounds must be prepared and plowed vp before they be sowed, then must wee in like manner plow vp the fallow grounds of our hearts▪ as the Prophet exhor∣teth, * 1.7 before they can be fit to receiue the seed of Gods Word.

§. Sect. 5 That in our preparation we must vse al helps which may further vs in the san∣ctifying of the Lords Day.

Secondly, we must in this preparation vse all helpes, which may further vs in the sanctification of the Lords Day; as namely, those common * 1.8 meanes of prayer, reading the Word, and other holy writings, medita∣tion, &c: and more especially we must worke as much as may be, longing desires in our hearts after the Lords Day, that therein wee may come into Gods holy assemblies, and be made partakers of his holy ordinances; and that we may truly say with Dauid; My soule breaketh for the longing that it hath vnto thy iudgements at all times. And againe, As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes, so panteth my soule after thee, O God: my soule thirsteth for God, for the liuing God. O when shall I come and appeare before God? For if wee expect it not with desire, we shall not greatly reioyce in the fruition; if it be not our longing before it approch, it will not when wee inioy it, be our delight. Now to stirre vp these longing desires after it, wee must me∣ditate on the excellency of this Day aboue all others, seeing God hath consecrated it vnto his worship and seruice as his owne peculiar, draw∣ing neerer vnto vs in all visible signes of his presence, and admitting vs to come neerer vnto him then at other times. Let vs thinke on the spi∣rituall beauty and brauery of Gods House, and of his holy Assemblies graced and adorned with his speciall fauours, and with the light of his countenance, which infinitely excelleth the Sunne in brightnesse and comfort, whereby the Church becommeth faire as the Moone, cleere as the * 1.9 Sunne, and terrible as an army with banners: with which spirituall beauty being rapt vp and rauished, let vs cry out with Dauid; O how amiable are * 1.10 thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! My soule longeth, yea euen fainteth for the * 1.11 Courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the liuing God, &c. A day in thy Courts is better then a thousand; I had rather bee a dore-keeper in the House of my God, then to dwell in the tents of wickednesse. Let vs meditate on the singular priuiledges which the Lord on this Day imparteth vnto vs with a liberall hand, admitting vs into his Chamber of presence, and com∣municating himselfe vnto vs, by giuing vs free liberty to speake vnto him about all our wants and grieuances, and to offer vnto him our suits and petitions, with a gracious promise that hee will heare and grant them;

yea into his Councell chamber, where he imparteth vnto vs all his secrets, and the chiefe counsels of his Kingdome; and not only causeth the great Charter of our peace, and manifold priuiledges, to be read and expoun∣ded vnto vs, but also sealeth it by his Sacraments for our owne peculiar vse. Finally, let vs consider of the manifold benefits which the Lord on that Day communicateth vnto vs. For it is Gods Festiuall, wherein hee nourisheth our soules vnto life eternall, if wee bring a good appetite to this spirituall banquet. It is his great Seale Day, wherein hee signeth and sealeth vnto vs a generall pardon for all our sins, and all our spirituall eui∣dences of our heauenly inheritance, both by the priuie Signet of his Spi∣rit, and the great Seale of his Sacraments. It is the Day of Gods largesse, wherein he bountifully bestoweth vpon vs the inestimable riches of his spirituall graces; and the day of mustring and training his souldiers in the spirituall warfare, wherein he armeth them at all poynts with the spi∣rituall armour, and infuseth into them such strength and courage, that they become inuincible, and obtaine victory ouer their spirituall enemies. Finally, it is Gods market Day, wherein he freely offereth all such wares * 1.12 as are needfull for vs, without money; and to store vs with all prouision which shall be necessary for the preseruing of our spirituall life, the whole weeke following. And who would not long after such a market, wherein is assured gaine without losse? Who would not before-hand thinke of all his wants, which he may haue supplied so easily and good cheape? And rather then by forgetting them, to liue in penury and misery, who would not, before he commeth to this market, seriously consider of his wants? take sure notice of them, and rather then faile by forgetfulnesse, put them into his Writing-Tables, for the better strengthening of his memory, that so when he commeth to this spirituall market, he may make prouision of what he chiefly needeth, and not be to seeke when hee is to make his bar∣gaine?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Esa. 58. 13. Eccl. 5. 1. Exod. 3. 5.
• * 1.2

  1. Pet. 2. 1, 2.
• * 1.3

  Esa. 6. 9.
• * 1.4

  Esa. 1. 16.
• * 1.5

  Exod. 19. 10.
• * 1.6

  Math. 5. 23, 24.
• * 1.7

  Jer. 4. 4.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 119. 20. Psal. 42. 1, 2.
• * 1.9

  Cant. 6. 10.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 110. 3.
• * 1.11

  Psal. 84. 1, 2, 10.
• * 1.12

  Esa. 55. 1.