Burgess - Houston-Packer Collection BT715 .B85 1652

S & c T. XI., iit,Gods Statutes, dndkeeping his 9udgements. 5 61 Dutycommanded bef*e Noi fo;only Chrift contint(eth and confirmeth this Dri= ty, revealingthe manner of it moreclearly. Thus you have many Precepts and Examples for prayer, yea and this is to be done fervently, humbly, inceffantly, and it is recorded as aGgn.of Past!Converfaon, Behold heprayéth, Aft 9.t t.and Zack.la. TheSpirit of Prayer and Supplication, wich mourning-and hearty grief is promifed under the Gofpel : Infomuch that you cannothave a fitter figne of á gracelefs manthen one who is not diligent in this Duty and woifhip of God ,Pray- et. For althoughour ownmanifold nefeLlìr.ies. of all forts might provoke tis td thisDuty, Godhash alfo fo diligently enjoynedir, that there might be an oppor- tunity to open the fountain of his mercy to us. Oh then how fewase there .that partake of this benefit ? Where is he of whom we may fay, Behold he prayeth, çonftanely, fervently, effeftually? nay in ffeadof Prayer there is curling, fweár- ingand blafpheming ; if they do pray, they have fotne (bort prayers of rote; which they utter-as Parrats underftanding nothing of it, and fo irreligioufly dit. charging of it : Now Prayer is three-fold, Private, perfonal Prayer, of which David !peaks much, and Chrift went many times spart to prayer. Tell me then, Doll Thou take Chriftscommand, Enter into :gaoler, Ànd!hutthfdoor :ifter thee; Marth.5. Dath God fee thyfecret groans, thy (met rears , thy private debate.. ments? grace,be in thee, thou wilt bediligent in this courfe. Then there is pith- lickprayer, of which the Prophet yeremiah !peaks, and Chrift alledgeth it, That hisbepfe (hallbe called au houfe of Prayer ; and our Saviour (peaksof twoor three; anycompany gathered together, Matth. t 8,zo. to ask any thingof theFather ib Chrtfts Name. Now this publick Prayer is altomuch obferved by thenew heart,fot therein is anunited firengeh and force to lay hold upon God, and God is in the midst of his people fo gathered together,to open his hand plentifully tobeftow on them his mercies. Laftly, There is Family-prayer, foyoArea, Iand mybonfeWillferve the Lord, 7o/&24. t5.. And God cakes fpecial notice of e4brabam, He knew erfbraham., would makehisFamily to ferve the Lord,Gen, a 8.19. 7erewiab .prayeth, Thgr God wouldpony hasrath noon theftfamilierthat call not onhis nane,Jcr.t o. a s.You may reade of the Churches in force Chrillians houles, beanie of the fpiritual worfhip of God therein. 1f thenGod had ever wrought this newheart in thee, howdili- gent wouldit thoube towalk in all the flames of Prayer, Private, Publick, Fa mily-prayer; Thou dareft not for a world fo finfully negleftthis worfhip of God; as thou ,docft; Think not that any civil and honert converfation in the world it enough without thiswor(hip. Oh but what unclean dens, yea noifome hela are Some mens families 1 Is prayer there ? Is there conftant religions calling upon God? No, in (lead of thefe,diffolutene ire and prophanenefle; Oh the pillars of thehoufe, and the wals thereofwill one day witneffe againft loch, The fecond Statute for religiousduties, I (hall only inftance in, iiofThe Lord: Thetdrds.,é day,and the ftriftholy Obfervatioaof that: Wheregodlineffe is, there they will Call the Sabhatho a delight, Ifa.58.13. andnot fpeak their own Words, or think their own thouglscs,hatis a promife to be fulfilled in thetimes oftheGofpel.Tliác the obfervationofa fevench day is not Jewifh, is plain, becaufe it was inftituted for Adana in innocency; fo that although Adam was made fb pure and holy; that in all hisworks of hiscalling, viz, To till thegarden,&c. he could not bur have anheavenly heart, yet Godwould have him to have one day, which GodWelled. and fanl}ified, for the whollyapplyingof hinifelf to the immediate worfhip of God; and for the continuation ofa fevenchday, though the Jewifhday be alter- ed, you have upon Chrifts Refurreetion plain examples ofthe alteringof it to the firfi dayof theweek, fo that we reade of their Church-affemblies on that day; and yobncalsit, TheLords day, Rev. a. All which conjoyned make it appear That there is a moraland perpetual obligation lyingUpon us to the diligent obfer- ving ofit. So then, Where Godputs his new Spiric,therehe make's a will ingneffe, a tenderconfcienceanddelight to fanftifie it; Oh then take heedof chore Lcenti- Cccc nus

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