IV. Prayer is to be made for things lawful," and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death." V. The reading of the scriptures with godly fear; the sound preaching, and conscionable hearing of the word, in obedience unto God, with understanding, faith, and reverence; singing of psalms with grace in the heart; as also the due administration and worthy re IV. [1 John v. 14. See letter k.] 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; Ver. 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. John xvii. 20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. 2 Sam. vii. 29. Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. Ruth iv. 12. And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman. P 2 Sam. xii. 21. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. Ver. 22. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? Ver. 23. But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. With Luke xvi. 25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Ver. 26. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Rev. xiv. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. a1 John v. 16. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. V. Acts xv. 21. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day. Rev. i. 3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. $2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. t James i. 22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, de. ceiving your own selves. Acts x. 33. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. Matt. xiii. 19. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. Heb. iv. 2. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Isa. lxvi. 2. For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. Col. iii. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Eph. v. 19. Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing W ceiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ; are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God: besides religious oaths and Vows, solemn fastings, and thanksgivings upon special occasions,a which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in a holy and religious manner.b VI. Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is, now under the gospel, either tied unto, or made more acceptable by, any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped every where in spirit and in truth; as in private families' and making melody in your heart to groom is with them? but the days will the Lord. James v. 13. Is any among come, when the bridegroom shall be you afflicted? let him pray. Is any taken from them, and then shall they merry? let him sing psalms. Matt. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. [1 Cor. xi. 23. to verse 29.] Acts ii. 42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. * Deut. vi. 13. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. With Neh. x. 29. They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his judgments and his statutes. y Isa. xix. 21. And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. With Eccl. v. 4. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou last vowed. Ver. 5. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Joel ii. 12. Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. Esth. iv. 16. Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish. Matt. ix. 15. And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bride fast. 1 Cor. vii. 5. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. a [Ps. evii. throughout.] Esth. ix. 22. As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. b Heb. xii. 28. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. C VI. John iv. 21. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. d Mal. i. 11. For from the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. 1 Tim. ii. 8. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. e John iv. 23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Ver. 24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Jer. x. 25. Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy daily, and in secret each one by himself; so more solemnly in the publick assemblies, which are not carelessly or wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God, by his word or providence, calleth thereunto.i VII. As it is of the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in his word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath, to be kept holy unto him: which, from the beginning of the world to the name: for they have eaten up Jacob, every one that keepeth the sabbath and devoured him, and consumed him, from polluting it, and taketh hold of and have made his habitation deso- my covenant; Ver. 7. Even them will late. Deut. vi. 6. And these words, I bring to my holy mountain, and which I command thee this day, shall make them joyful in my house of be in thine heart; Ver. 7. And thou prayer: their burnt-offerings and their shalt teach them diligently unto thy sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine children, and shalt talk of them when altar; for mine house shall be called thou sittest in thine house, and when an house of prayer for all people. Heb. thou walkest by the way, and when x. 25. Not forsaking the assembling of thou liest down, and when thou risest ourselves together, as the manner of up. Job i. 5. And it was so, when some is; but exhorting one another: and the days of their feasting were gone so much the more, as ye see the day apabout, that Job sent and sanctified proaching. Prov. i. 20. Wisdom crieth them, and rose up early in the morn- without; she uttereth her voice in ing, and offered burnt-offerings ac- the streets: Ver. 21. She crieth in the cording to the number of them all: chief place of concourse, in the openfor Job said, It may be that my sons ings of the gates: in the city she have sinned, and cursed God in their uttereth her words, saying, Ver. 24. hearts. Thus did Job continually. Because I have called, and ye refused: 2 Sam. vi. 18. And as soon as David I have stretched out my hand, and no had made an end of offering burnt- man regarded. Prov. viii. 34. Blessofferings and peace-offerings, he bless- ed is the man that heareth me, watch. ed the people in the name of the Lord ing daily at my gates, waiting at the of hosts. Ver. 20. Then David returned posts of my doors. Acts xiii. 42. to bless his household. 1 Pet. iii. 7. Like- And when the Jews were gone out of wise, ye husbands, dwell with them the synagogue, the Gentiles besought according to knowledge, giving honour that these words might be preached unto the wife, as unto the weaker to them the next sabbath. Luke iv. vessel, and as being heirs together of 16. And he came to Nazareth, where the grace of life; that your prayers he had been brought up: and, as his be not hindered. Acts x. 2. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. Matt. vi. 11. Give us this day our daily bread. b Matt. vi. 6. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and, when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Isa. lvi. 6. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, and stood up for to read. Acts ii. 42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. VII. k Exod. xx. 8. Remember the sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Ver. 10. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: Ver. 11. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath-day, and hallowed it. Isa. lvi. 2. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week,1 which in scripture is called the Lord's Day, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath." m VIII. This sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs before-hand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations; but also are taken up the whole time in the publick and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. Ver. 4. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant. Ver. 6, 7. [See in letter 1.] 1 Gen. ii. 2. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. Ver. 3. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. 1. Cor. xvi. 1. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Ver. 2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. Acts xx. 7. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight. m Rev. i. 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. Exod. xx. 8, 10. [See letter] With Matt. v. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Ver. 18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. VIII. Exod. xx. 8. [See letter ] Exod. xvi. 23. And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, To-morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord; bake that which ye will bake to-day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you, to be kept until the morning. Ver. 25. And Moses said, Eat that to-day; for to-day is a sabbath unto the Lord: to-day ye shall not find it in the field. Ver. 26. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. Ver. 29. See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days: abide ye every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. Ver. 30. So the people rested on the seventh day. Exod. xxxi. 15. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath-day, he shall surely be put to death. Ver. 16. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. Ver. 17. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. Isa. lviii. 13. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words. Neh. xiii. 15. In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath-day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. Ver. 16. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Ver. 17. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath-day? Ver. 18. Did not private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.P I. A CHAP. XXII.-Of lawful Oaths and Vows. LAWFUL oath is a part of religious worship, wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth or promiseth; and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he sweareth.b II. The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear, and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred. Yet as, in matters of weight and moment, an oath is warranted by the word of God under the New Testament, as well as under the Old; so a law e your fathers thus, and did not our to spare you I came not as yet unto God bring all this evil upon us, and Corinth. 2 Chron. yi. 22. If a man upon this city? yet ye bring more sin against his neighbour, and an oath wrath upon Israel, by profaning the be laid upon him to make him swear, sabbath. Ver. 19. And it came to and the oath come before thine altar pass, that, when the gates of Jerusa in this house: Ver. 23. Then hear thou fem began to be dark before the sab- from heaven, and do, and judge thy bath, I commanded that the gates servants, by requiting the wicked, by should be shut, and charged that they recompensing his way upon his own should not be opened till after the head; and by justifying the righteous, sabbath; and some of my servants set by giving him according to his right. I at the gates, that there should no eousness. burden be brought in on the sabbathday. Ver. 21. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. Ver. 22. And I commanded the Levites, that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. P Isa. lviii. 13. [See in letter. Matt. xii. 1. to the 13th Verse.] I. Deut. x. 20. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. b Exod. xx. 7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Lev. xix. 12. And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord. 2 Cor. i. 23. Moreover, I call God for a record upon my soul, that II. Deut. vi. 13. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. d Exod. xx. 7. [See letter b.] Jer. v. 7. How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. Matt. v.34. But I say unto you, Swear not at all: neither by heaven; for it is God's throne. Ver. 37. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. James v. 12. But above all things, my brethren, swear not; neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. e Heb. vi. 16. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 2 Cor. i. 23. [See letter b] Isa. lxv. 16. That he who blesseth himself in the earth, shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth |