her affliction and of her miferies all her pleasant things that he had in the daies of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her, the adverfaries faw her, and did mock at her Sabbaths. Ezek. 20.20. Hallow my Sabbaths, and they shall be a fign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God. Ifa.56.2. Bleffed is the man that doth this, and the Son of man that layeth hold on it, that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing evil. V.4. For thus faith the Lord unto the Eunuches that keep my Sabbaths, and chuse the things that please me, and take hold of my Cover Sant. V.6. Also the fons of the stranger that joyn themfelves to the Lord, to ferve him, and to love the Name of the Lord, to be his fervants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from pollu ting it, and taketh hold of my Covenant. V.7. Even them will I bring to my holy Mountain, and make them joyful in my house of pray er: their burnt Offerings and their Sacrifices hall be accepted upon mine Altar: for mine houfe fhall be called an house of prayer for all peaple. Mark 2.27. And be faid unto them, the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. V.28. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath. Pfal.92. Title. A Pfalm or Song for the Sabbath day. Mat.5.17. Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets, I am not come to defroy, but to fulfill. Luke 4.16. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and as his cuftome was, he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day, and Stood up for to read. Acts 20.7. And upon the first day of the week, when the Difciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech untill midnight. 1 Cor.16.1. Now concerning the Collection for the Saints, as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia, even fo do ye. V.2. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay up in flore as God hath profpered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. Rev 1.10. I was in the Spirit on the Lords day. Pal.118.24. This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoyce and be glad in it. 2. Hearing the Word. We live in an age wherein (through the rich mercy mercy of God)there is much good preaching; but 'cis a general complaint there is fo little profiting. We fee not thofe gracious effects of the Word, that were to be defired and wifhed. And certainly one main reafon of it, is, few take care to hear in a right manner, as they ought to do. That therefore thou maift fo hear, as to profit I fhall fhew thee, 1. What thou art to do before thou hearest, by way of preparation. 2. What thou art to do in time of Hearing. For the Firft: Thou must prepare thy heart before thou comeft to hear. Rafh entring on duties, is feldom fucceffeful: If the ground be not prepared, the feed is loft that is fown therein. Flow up the fallow ground of your hearts, faies the Prophet, Fer.4.3. and fow not among thorns. In a fallow piece of ground (you know) thorns and briers, weeds and thistles ufe to grow. And fuch athing is mans heart naturally, which if let alone, and no paines taken with it, will quickly be overgrown with burtful cares, ftinking lufts, and distempered affections. And therefore St. Fames adviseth, Fam.1.21. That before we go to hear the Word, we should lay apart all filthineffe, and fuperfluity of naughtineffe, i. e. all evil frames of heart. And how hard a matter that is, I appeal to the experience of every true and fincere Chriftian. That holy man Gerfon profeffes he many times spent fome hours before he could get his heart in tune for folemn duties. Gods children have entred comfortably on duties, when they have been ferious and careful in their preparations for them. To help thee therefore to prepare thy heart for the Word, take thefe Directions. 1. Lay afide (as much as poffibly thou canst) all worldly thoughts, cares and businesses, that thy mind may be free for God, and the impreffions of his Word and holy Spirit, On Saturday night, shut up the gates of thy heart againft the world,as Nehemiah, Chap.13.v.19.20. did the gates of Ferufalem, on the evening of their Sabbath. If any Merchants come, any worldly thoughts or bufineffes, let them ftay without till the Sabbath be over. The work of mens Callings, is not only in their hands, but in their minds and beads. A Minifter may have a great Congregation, &yet but a few hearers, if their minds be stuft with the world before they come: if they bring their trades, their bargaines, their plow, their worldly bufineffe along with them. As therefore we read of Abraham, in Gen.22.5. That when he went up to the Mount to offer Sacrifice, he left his fervants and the Affe in the valley behind him; fo fhould we our worldly cares and bufineffes, when we go to worship God, and to hear his Word. 2. Confider and meditate on the great con· cernment and importance of the Word. 'Tis the ordinary ordinary means God hath appointed for the working that great work of converfion (without which no falvation) and for the edifying and building p thofe that are already favingly wrought upon, Jam. 1.18. of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth. 1 Cor. 4.15. I have begotten you in Christ Fefus (faith Paul) through the Gofpel. Rom.10.17. Faith cometh by hearing. Indeed fin and confequently death came by hearing at the first, by our first Parents listening to, and believing a tempting Spirit. But new Faith, and confequently life comes by Hearing, through the operation of the bleffed Spirit of God in the Word, Rom. 1.16. The Gospel 'tis the power of God unto falva tion. Labour therefore to have an high value and efteem of the preaching of the Gospel. God hath appointed his Ordinances, not in Sovereignty only, but in Mercy to us. As our Saviour faid of the Sabbath, Mark 2.27. The Sabbath was made for man, & not man for the Sabbath: So may I fay of all the Ordinances of God, they were ordained for man, for mans benefit, and not man made for them. And therefore the great benefit, that (with Gods bleffing) may be expected from them (if we duly attend upon them) should make us highly value them. Indeed it is one of the devils ftratagems in this age, to urge the efficacy of the Spirit, as a plea for the neglect of means. Whereas Gods Spirit doe |