Dies Dominicus redivivus; or, The Lords Day enlivened or a treatise, as to discover the practical part of the evangelical Sabbath: so to recover the spiritual part of that pious practice to its primitive life: lamentably lost, in these last declining times. By Philip Goodvvin M.A. preacher of the Gospel, and pastour of the publike congregation at Watford in Hartford shire.

As the woman in the Gospell who hid her leaven in three measures of meal, till the whole lump was leavened; Thus the Lord layes his Grace in these three parts: body, soule, and spirit, till the whole man is sanctified. Now such a man so spirited, is fit to be in the spi∣rit on the Lords Day. On the Lords Day in the spirit. [Spirit] it is taken as refer∣ring both to God and man. The Spi∣rit of God, and the spirit of man meet∣ing.

2. What it is for a godly man, on the Lords Day to be in the Spirit. [In the Spirit,] This notes,

• Both his soules habitual condition, as settled;
• And his soules actuall condition, as moved.

1. The soul of a sanctified man accord∣ing to his settled condition considered, is [in the spirit,] Being by grace habi∣tually planted, and effectually put into God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

John. 17.21. That they (sayes Christ to his Father) may be one in us. [In us] That they are, not in thee onely, nor in

me alone, but [in us,] viz. Father, Son, and holy Spirit. Every gracious soul

• Rests in God,
• Abides in Christ, and
• Lives in the Spirit.

1. In God there is a resting, Psal. 37.7. The soule of every true Believer (sayes a learned Writer)

Hath a double Mansion,

• One wherein it rules, viz. the bo∣dy, and
• The other wherein it rests, viz. God.

The soule of every Saint is settled in God, as in its centre. The force of some temptation may seeme to unsettle his soule, and as it were to separate it from God, but then as Noah's Dove out of the Ark it finds no rest, back again it comes. God is its centre; and out of God truly it can never be taken. mau∣gre all the malice of hell.

2. In Christ there is his abyding, John 15.7.

• In the heart of Christ, and
• In the hand of Christ.

As by force none can pluck him from the strength of Christs hand: So by

fraud none can take him out of the lov of Christs heart.

In Christ

• Not onely as a man,
• But as a member.

Not the least bone of Christs mysti∣call body can be broke off, nor the smallest stone be struck out of this building. The weakest branch ever abides in this vine.

3. In the Spirit, there the believing soul lives, Gala. 5.25. If ye live in the spirit, walk in the spirit. That life by which the soules of Saints live,

• Both for its entrance,
• And its progresse,

It is in the Spirit; the Spirit being the Principle,

• From which their life was first recei∣ved,
• And by which their life is after pre∣served.

As man is kept alive by his soules be∣ing in the body;

So a Saint is kept alive by his souls being in the Spirit.

It is through the Spirit that converted Christians are set into God, and put into Christ. Therefore sure the ho∣ly Spirit does not leave their soules

out of himself, but they are likewise in the Spirit, Rom. 8.9. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. In the Spirit thus are not onely some, but all the Saints of God. And in the Spirit thus are Gods servants not onely upon the Sab∣bath-day, but at all other times; they are never out of the Spirit, nor ever shall. Yea, in the Spirit thus is the whole man of every good man;

• The man whole, if
• Not the whole man.

The man whole is so in the Spirit, as that he is a spiritual man, Gal. 6.1. Take him with his bodily part, and about his weekly work, yet he is a spiritual man, and a man that is in the Spirit.

Now to be in the Spirit on the Lords day, though 'tis to be in the Spirit thus; yet it is more then thus, to be on the Lords day in the Spirit.

So in the Spirit signifies the spiritual transactions of mans sanctified soul, as it is moved and acted by the Spirit of God, and as mans renewed spi∣rit, through the Spirit of God moves and acts, upon the Lords day exercised in the Spirit; That is,

• In the graces of the Spirit, and

• In the comforts of the Spirit.

1. In the Spirit,] That is in the graces of the Spirit exercised all the Lords day: then acting in graces

• Various, and
• Vigorous.

On the Sabbath the soul is set a work in several graces, and such as seem to be of a differing nature, as faith, and fear, heavenlinesse of mind, and hum∣blenesse of heart, repeatings for sin, yet relyings on God: Tremblings of soul, yet restings on Christ. Dreading God in the justnesse of his Judgements, yet loving God whose judgements are just: A real longing for promised mercies, and yet a quiet staying for those mercies long: By hope expecting good things to come, and yet by faith possessing the same things at present: Utterly unsatisfied in Gods hiding his face, yet patiently waiting for God while his face is hid. And though this be the continued posture of gracious souls, yet into this they are put, and on in this they are kept through Sabbath-day-quicknings. [In the Spirit.] On this day grace is enlivened in them, and they

lively in grace. In gracious actings their hearts were before as the Cha∣riots of Pharaoh, that drove heavily: now in the activities of grace their hearts are as the Chariots of Amminadib that ran swiftly. Before the members of the new-man were as the lame Crip∣ple that lay at the gate: but then they became as the cured Cripple, Whose ancle-bones receiving strength, he stood up, and went on leaping and praysing God, Act. 3.8.

Yea, upon the Lords day the soul of a sincere Saint may be in the lively actings of grace,

• Both reflect,
• And direct.

1. Reflect actings;] That soul which in the week-season walks out in & with the body about the businesse thereof, upon the Sabbath-day it turns in upon it self, most seriously considering its own concernments. An ancient Writer spiritually expounding that place, Prov. 24.27. Prepare thy work without in the field, and afterward go in, and build thine house. Understands by the field man's body, and by the house the heart and soul of man. In the week a mans work more

lyes in the field, viz. about the busi∣nesse of his bodily being: but upon the Lords day his work more lyes in the house, viz. the work of the soul is more gathered then within it self. And as Christs Spouse-sayes, Cant. 1.7. They have made me to keep other Vineyards, but mine own Vineyard have I not kept: So up∣on the Sabbath (sayes a good mans soul within him) all the week I have been made to minde a multitude of worldly affairs, but mine own concernments have been set aside. Now return into thy self, O my soul: O my soul, now be∣think thy self. And is not this to be in the Spirit upon the Lords day? the soul of a Saint being then seriously set

• Upon deep intuitions, and
• Diligent Inquisitions.
• Narrowly looking in it self, and
• Throughly searching of it self.

One of the Ancients compares holy men on the earth, unto those holy An∣gels of heaven, Revel. 4.8. that are said to be full of eyes within and without. In the week Gods Saints make use of their eyes without, looking after their necessary callings and occasions in the world: but upon the Sabbath they

more solemnly set a work their eyes within, looking inward upon the true estate of their souls. Upon the Sabbath are a Saints most serious soul-searches, and heart-discourses: I communed with mine own heart, and my spirit made dili∣gent search, sayes David, Psal. 77.6. Upon the Lords day with great diligence is the soul of a Saint set,

• To find out things that are, and
• To find up things that were.

Within he finds so much of sin, and so little of God, as makes his heart lie low, and brings him to be in spirit poor, Matth 5.3. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Not poore of spirit, as if any without the Spirit of God were blessed; but poor in spirit, that is, good men poore in the spirit of their own mindes, out of a sight of soul-sins, and sense of soul-wants: or poor in spirit,] That is, sayes one, poore for the spirit. Of the spi∣rit they may discern little, but desire much.

That good they seek after which they never possesse;

And that good they seek for which seemes to be lost.

The woman in the Parable, Luk. 15.

having lost a piece of silver, She lights a candle, and sweeps the house, and seeks di∣ligently till she finds it. O this is good seeking in the spirit; upon the least losse of God, to go into the house of the Heart, and there using

• The candle of knowledge, and
• The Besome of Repentance.

Diligently seeking till somewhat more of God may appear. When hearts and hopes have been down and dead, yet then to look back, and call to mind mercies of old, tracing the former foot-steps of God in their soules, looking up, and reading over the Lords love let∣ters long since sent, and then comes quickening life into their hopes and hearts, Psal. 77.5, 6, 7, 8. Lam. 3.18, 19, 20, 21, 22. And though these gra∣cious actings may be at other times, yet I appeal to the most experienced Chri∣stians, whether they have not found themselves best bent about such Soule-work upon the Sabbath-day.

2. Direct actings.] Upon the day of the Sabbath the soules of Gods Saints may be set a work,

• Onwards towards the People of God, and

• Upwards towards the God of his People.

In grace admirably acting towards their Brethren.

• Both in sufferings scattered,
• And in service assembled.

1. Where ever a good mans body be found or fixed, yet in spirit he goes vi∣siting his fellow-servants in prisons, and the forreign Churches of Christ in all their afflictions. Beza reports of Calvin, That he was so tenderly affected to Christi∣an Churches remote, as if he had carried them on his shoulders, or born them in his bosome, often sighing out, Ʋsque quo Do∣mine, How long Lord? more lamenting the Churches calamities, then his own ad∣versities. Thus the holy Apostle, 2 Cor 11.28, 29. Besides those things that are without, viz. severall sad af∣flictions upon his own body, that which cometh upon me daily, (more then all the rest) the care of all the Churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not, &c. Yea, and in such Christian compassions to others in affliction Gods dear Saints are most deep upon that day, wherein they see their own sweet liberties, priviledg¦es,

and Gods precious things peaceably possessed.

2. Where ever a good mans body abides, yet in soul he will be sure at some place in which Gods People pub∣likely meet for Sabbath-service. Da∣vid when in body he was banished, and lay hid in the Land of Hermon, yet he was in spirit at Jerusalem, and went with good people to the Temple for the ser∣vice of the Sabbath. My soul (sayes he) thirsteth for God, for the living God: Oh when shall I come & appear before God? [viz. In body also.] When I remem∣ber these things I pour out my soule within me; for I had gone with the multitutde, I went with them to the House of God with the voyce of joy, and praise, with a multitude that kept Holy Day, Psal. 42.1, 2, 3, 4. The Jewes that were bodily at Babylon, yet in soule they kept their Sabbaths at Jerusalem, Psalme 137.5, 6. Jonah, though his body was in the bottom of the sea, and belly of the Whale, yet in spirit he was in the Temple at Jeru∣salem: Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight, yet I will look again towards thy holy Temple, Jonah 2.4. Though the body of Saint John was a prisoner at

Patmos, an Island as some write near Affrica, yet was he in spirit with the Churches of Christ at Asia, and with them he kept the Lords Day. When Saint Paul was in body at Philippi, yet in spirit he was with Gods Saints in their assemblies at Corinth: I verily as absent in body, yet present in spirit, have judged concerning him that hath done this deed, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, when (viz. on the Lords Day) ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such a one to Satan, &c. So when he was in body at Rome, yet in spirit he was with Gods assem∣bled Saints at Colosse. Though (sayes he) I am absent from you in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit rejoycing to behold your order, (viz. in their Church-assem∣blies, &c. Colossians 2.5. But above all are the soules Sabbath-actings in Grace God-ward.

Though the body is then carried out by the soul,

Yet the soule to God is then carried beyond the body.

A mans soule is then so set, as that it incites the body, and the body is so

brought on, that it sayes to the soule, as Ruth to Naomi, Whither thou goest I'le goe, where thou stayest I will stay, thy God shall be my God, and thy peo∣ple my people, nothing but death shall part thee and me. As Joseph and Ma∣ry went together to seek Christ: So on the Sabbath soul and body in publike and private go together to serve God. Even upon week-dayes, when the body as Martha is about worldly and house∣hold-businesse, the soule as Mary sits at the feet of Christ. But upon the Sab∣bath, when they be both serving of God, yet the soul does the most and the best work. Body and soul are upon the Sab∣bath, as those two Disciples that went out to Christs Sepulchre, but the soule is as that Disciple which out-ran his fellow, John. 20.4. It comes quickest in, and closest up to Christ.

Yea. suppose the heart and mind of a good man may all the week-time be as a boat that beares upon the ground: yet upon the Sabbath the soule may be set as a boat upon a strong stream, and goes as a Ship full saile for God;

• In meditations of him,

• And applications to him.

O the admirable meditations this day on God! The mind that in the week hath been as the foot of Jacobs ladder stand∣ing upon the earth, upon the Sabbath the soule hath been as the top of that ladder reaching up to heaven in high thoughts of God. One observes of the Virgin Mary, when the holy Ghost had over-shadowed her, and that holy thing was conceived in her womb, she arose & went up into the hill-countrey, Luke 1.39. When the holy Spirit comes upon the soule of a Saint, and holy thoughts are conceived in the heart, O how the mind mounts up hill to God in heaven! Such a soule-frame is most frequent in Sabbath-time.

And O the close applications this day made to God,

• In prayer, and
• In praises!

A good Expositor gives this glosse upon what the Apostle does here ex∣presse, I was in the Spirit; That is, he was in prayer upon the Lords Day.

• It is one thing to be at prayer,
• And another to be in prayer.

There is never a day comes over a good mans head, but he is at prayer; but to be in prayer on the Lords Day, that is more. Not only praying by the Spirit: but in the Spirit of prayer.

Prayer does not onely ascend to God from the soule: but the soule it self ascends to God in prayer.

• In prayer wrestling with God, and
• With God reasoning in pray∣er.

So that such beames break out, as make the mans heart burn, and his face shine. It is reported of Basil, that the Emperour Valence coming in upon him while he was in prayer, he saw such lustre in his face, as struck him with terrour that he fell back. Luk. 9.29. And Jesus went up into a Mountain to pray: and as he prayed, the fashion of his counte∣nance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. Thus for a Saint to be set in Sabbath-Prayer, that his grace is vigorous, and his face is glorious; This is then to be in the spirit: Yea, upon the Lords Day to be in the pray∣ses of God on high, and in the high praysings of God,

As adoring God for his goodnesse

received from him, So admiring God for goodnesse per∣ceived in him.

In such Sabbath-celebrations of God blessed for ever, and of Christ for ever blessed of God, as to say, Psalme 45.1, 2. My heart is inditing of a good matter, my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou, O King, art fairer then the Children of Men, God hath blessed thee for ever, &c. Some birds how sweetly do they sing, when they soare up into the aire, and in a sun-shine-day, sit in trees, upon the highest Twigs! Thus some of Gods Saints upon the Sabbath-day with hearts meeting, and mindes mounting, O the melody that they make in heavenly Hallelujahs unto God. Of such it may be safely said, they are in the spirit upon the Lords Day. This will be further unfolded

In that which followes.

In the Spirit;] That is, in the com∣forts of the Spirit, considered

• In their heights,
• And breadths.

Heights of comfort.] Upon the Sab∣bath the soul sanctified may be carried in comforts high,

• Both for matter,
• And measure.

The matter of the comforts wherein the soul of a Saint may upon the Sab∣bath ascend, is exceeding high. Higher comforts had John in Patmos, then Adam in Paradise. The Apostle upon the Lords day had comfortable conver∣ses with God in Christ, which our first parents had not in the day of their In∣nocency;

• They rejoyced in God a Creator,
• But not in Christ a Redeemer.

And they be far lower delights in which the most of men, do since solace themselves upon the Sabbath-day. Up∣on Gods holy day men find onely their own pleasure, Esay 58.13. But Gods Saints can find soul refreshing comforts in Christ the Lord, upon the Lords day. With delights in the Lord their hearts leap. Yea, and the measure of their comforts may mount their minds so high upon this holy day, as to make them to be like Moses upon mount Pisgah, viewing Canaan flowing with milk and hony. The soul of a sincere Christian upon the Sabbath may be as it were swimming in a Sea of sweet de∣lights

unto the Land of promise. He whose heart hath been as a Boat that could not be got up because of low water all the week, yet it hath been brought up in a high spring-tyde of spiritual comfort upon the Lords day. Comforts so high that he is ready to sing with Simeon a Nunc dimittis: Now Lord, let thy servant depart in peace. Now the man would gladly die, and be gone to God: content never to see his ha∣bitation or relations on earth more, his soul being so fired and filled with joy, upon Gods holy day, in his house of prayer, Esay 56.7.

Breadths of comfort.] Upon the Sab∣bath the pious soul spreads it self in sweet delights, God having given to a good man for his comfort, as Caleb did to his Daughter, the upper and the lower springs. A Christian in his lower comforts the further he goes, the narrower they grow, and the lesser they be: but in his comforts upward, the higher he rises, the greater are their en∣creases: when he is most lively let in, they are most largely let and laid out. Sabbath comforts may be exceeding broad:

All things that meet being made in∣to comforts, and. All things for comforts being made to meet.

Into comforts are made all things that meet the soul of some Saint in the ser∣vice of the Sabbath: The crosses of the world are the encreases of comfort. Gods rod and his staffe cause comfort, Psal. 23.4. As sufferings abound, conso∣lations abound, 2 Cor. 1.3. The more outward troubles, the more inward tri∣umphs. The Apostle was never so in the Spirit of comforts, as when he was a prisoner at Patmos. Under his great∣est confinements he had his sweetest enlargements. His every day-afflicti∣ons encreased his Sabbath-comforts. To his soul nothing was sad when the Sabbath came. Yea, upon the Lords day a believer being in the Spirit, the worst evils greaten the best com∣forts. Sin remitted, Hell removed, Death vanquished, Divel conquered, do all encrease his comforts. Out of every eater comes meat. He gathers grapes of thorns, and figs of thistles. Upon Sodom (sayes Salvian) God rained hell out of heaven. Upon the Sabbath God

to his Saints raises Heaven out of Hell. Hell, Divel, Death, Sin, Crosses, Cur∣ses, all encrease their Sabbath-Cor∣dials.

Yea, upon the Sabbath, a gathering of all comforts, considered according

• To several sorts,
• And seasons.

Comforts of differing sorts receive a Sabbath-change: Earthly comforts are made heavenly, those delights that lye in worldly relations, possessions, pro∣motions, creature-accomodations and contents, in the Spirit are made spiritu∣al. As a man in carnal comforts makes all comforts carnal: so a Saint in spi∣ritual delights makes all delights spi∣ritual. The upper and lower springs run all into one stream, and upon the Lords day become all as of one kind. Comforts of differing seasons are brought within the Sabbath-compasse. A Christians case becomes such,

That in Spirit good past is then with him presenr, And good future he is then present with in Spirit.

Things past come in for comfort at present. Luther reports, that sometimee,

and especially upon a Sacrament-day, the death of Christ was as full and fresh upon his spirit, as if he were then at mount Cal∣vary, and as if that were the very day and hour wherein our dear Lord died: Thus a Christian may be so in the Spirit of comfort upon the Sabbath-day, as if that were the very day when Christ broke the bars of the grave, flung the stone off the Sepulchre, and rose again from the dead. Or as if it were the very day when with the holy Apostles he stood and saw the Lord Christ taken up into heaven, to sit down at the right hand of God. Now to his comfort he can recal the comforts found in former dayes and duties. That very Sabbath his soul comfortably possesses all the Ordinances of Jesus Chhist. He sees as it were the Lord opening his bowels, his bosom, and drawing out both brests of his blessed Word and Sacraments, bidding his soul suck, and be fully satis∣fied. And unto things future he comes for his present comfort. Not onely as at a distance a believer may look at heaven, and the felicities thereof, but his soul in the Spirit of comforts may be so carried out, as if heaven were already

possessed. 'Twas a brave expression of the Martyr to his cruel tormentors: Work your will upon my weak body, as for my soul it is in heaven already, and over that Caesar hath no power. And as such may be a Christians case in the day of his sufferings: so may it be in THIS DAY of his service. Jerom professes that he had sometimes found things so with himself, that it seemed to him, as if he had been triumphing among Troops of Angels, and singing Hallelu∣jahs with the Saints in heaven; Yea, walking arme in arme with Christ in the Galleries of eternal glory. The Apostle is to this purpose, 2 Cor. 12.2, 3. I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body I cannot tell, or out of the body I cannot tell, God knowes; such a one caught up into the third heaven. And I knew such a man, whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell, God knowes; how he was caught up into Paradise, & heard unspeakable words, &c. This of the Apostle St. Paul does import the highest pitch of a persons being in the Spirit. And of such a being in the Spirit the Apostle St. John does here speak his experience,

I was in the Spirit on the Lords day.

This for Explication.

Now for Confirmation.

Upon the Lords day good mens thus being in the Spirit, See

• Why 'tis sensible to some, and
• How 'tis possible to others.

Notes

• Bernard.
• Gregor. moral. lib. 31. cap. 17.
• Gregor. moral. li. 19. Sect. 30.
• August lib. 1. de Serm. Do. in monte Ambros. lib. 5. in Luc. cap de bea∣tit. Basil. in re∣gulis con∣tract. quaest. 205.
• Hieron. Epist. 17.
• Vid. Aret. in Locum.
• Bernard. in F••st. Pen-Pentec. Serm. 1.
• Greg. Orat. de laudib. Ba∣silii.
• Hieron. in lib. de vir∣gin. Seru.