16. (3.) Instruction. This in such cases was peculiarly incumbent on the people of old,—namely, that they should instruct their chil- dren and their families in the nature of the ordinances whereby they worshipped God. This is that which God so commended in Abra- ham, Gen. xviii. 19, “I know Abraham,” saith he, “that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lorp, to do justice and judgment;” in which expression the nature and observance of all ordinances is required.
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SECT. 16-18.] OF THE LORD’S DAY. 457
Thus is it incumbent on them who have others under their charge to instruct them in the nature of this service which we observe unto the Lord. It may be this is not, this will not be necessary upon every return of this day; but that it should be so done at some ap- pointed season, no man that endeavours to walk uprightly before God can deny. And the omission of it hath probably caused the whole service, amongst many, to be built on custom and example only. Hereon hath that great neglect of it which we see ensued ; for the power of their influence will not long abide.
17. We have done with preparatory duties.
II. Come we now to the day itself, the duties whereof I shall pass through with an equal brevity. And they are of two sorts:—(1.) Public; (2.) Private: whereof the former are the principal, and the latter subordinate unto them; and those of the latter sort are either personal or domestical.
18. The public duties of the day are principally to be regarded. By public duties, I intend the due attendance unto and the due per- formance of all those parts of his solemn worship which God hath appointed to be observed in the assemblies of his people, and in the manner wherein he hath appointed them to be observed. One end of this day is, to give glory to God in the celebration of his solemn worship. That this may be done aright and unto his glory, he him- self hath appointed the ways and means, or the ordinances and duties wherein it doth consist. Without this, we had been at an utter loss how we might sanctify his name, or ascribe glory to him. Most probably we should have set up the calves of our own imagi- nations, to his greater provocation. But he hath relieved us herein, himself appointing the worship which he will accept. Would we, therefore, give full direction in particular for the right sanctifying of the name of God on this day, we ought to go over all the ordinances of worship which the church is bound to attend unto in its assem- blies. But this is not my present purpose. Besides, somewhat of that kind hath been formerly done in another way. I shall there- fore here content myself to give some general rules, for the guid- ance of men in the whole; as,—
(1.) That the public and solemn worship of God 1s to be preferred above that which is private. They may be so prudently managed as not to interfere nor ordinarily to intrench on one another; but wherever on any occasion they seem so to do, the private are to give place to the public: for one chief end of the sacred setting apart of this day, is the solemn acknowledgment of God, and the perform- ance of his worship in assemblies. It is therefore a marvellous undue custom, on the pretence of private duties, whether personal or do- mestical, to abate any part of the duties of solemn assemblies; for
458 PRACTICAL OBSERVANCE [EXERC, VI.
there is in it a setting up of our own choice and inclinations against the wisdom and authority of God. The end of the day is the solemn worship of God, and the end is not to give way to the most specious helps and means.
(2.) Choice is to be made of those assemblies for the celebration of public worship where we may be most advantaged as unto the ends of them, in the sanctification of this day, so far as it may be done without breach of any order appointed of God: for in our joining in any concurrent acts of religious worship, we are to have regard unto helps suited unto the furtherance of our own faith and obedi- ence. And also, because God hath appointed some parts of his wor- ship, as in their own nature and by virtue of his appointment are means of conveying light, knowledge, grace, in spiritual supplies unto our souls, it is certainly our duty to make choice and use of them which are most meet so to do.
(3.) For the manner of our attendance on the public worship of God, with reverence, gravity, order, diligence, attention, though it be a matter of great use and moment, yet not for this place to handle; nor doth it here belong unto us to insist on those ways whereby we may excite particular graces unto due actings of themselves, as the nature of the duties wherein we are engaged doth require.
19. (4.) Although the day be wholly to be dedicated unto the ends of a sacred rest, before insisted on, yet,—
[1.] Duties in their performance drawn out unto such a length as to beget wearisomeness and satiety, tend not unto edification, nor do any way promote the sanctification of the name of God im the worship itself. Regard, therefore, in all such performances, is to be had,—1st. Unto the weakness of the natural constitution of some, the infirmities and indispositions of others, who are not able to abide in the outward part of duties as others can. And there is no wise shepherd but will rather suffer the stronger sheep of his flock to lose somewhat of what they might reach unto in his guidance of them, than compel the weaker to keep pace with them to their hurt, and it may be their ruin. Better a great number should complain of the shortness of some duties, who have strength and desires for a longer continuance in them, than that a few who are sincere should be really discouraged by being overburdened, and have the service thereby made useless unto them, I always loved, in sacred duties, that of Seneca concerning the orations of Cassitis Severus, when they heard him, “ Timebamus ne desineret ;”—“ We were afraid that he would end.” 2dly, To the spiritual edge of the affections of men, which ought to be whetted, and not, through tediousness in duties, abated and taken off Other things of a like nature might be added, which for some considerations I shall forbear,