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Lev. 23.

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Wherein is contained a fpecial Duty of all, when they came to worship God at thefe Feasts, viz. to bring a Prefent, a Heave-Offering; which was a kind of Tribute of Thankfulnefs unto God, and withal an Acknowledgment of his fupreme Dominion over all. According to this Rule, at the Feast of the Passover the Jews brought a Sheaf of the First-fruits of their Harvest unto the Prieft, and he was to wave it before the Lord: And until this was done they might eat no Corn in the green Ear. And at this Feast they paid their Firstlings and Tithes of Cattle. At the Feaft 17, 22. of Pentecoft, when Harveft was ended, they brought two wave Loaves of their new Corn, at which Time alfo they paid Tithes of Corn, fo much as was threshed; and a Tribute alfo of a Free-will Offering of their Hand. To this may be referred the Precept of not gathering their Land clean, but that fomething fhould be left to the Poor to glean; which was a fecondary Offering to God himself. At the Feast of Tabernacles they offered Firft-fruits and Tithes of Wine and Oil, which was the Offering of that Seafon. And in the Commandment of this Feast, we alfo find a Deut. 24. Precept of not gathering the Grapes and Fruit clean, in behalf of the Poor.

21.

Q. How far are Chriftians obliged to any Imitation in this Particular?

A. They are certainly bound not to appear before the Lord with empty Hands. It is not enough to give at other Times, but it is a proper Piece of the Worship to be practifed at holy Seafons. For the Actions of Men in holy Affemblies are not like their private Actions at other Times; for all the Actions in Publick are to be accounted as one Action of the whole Body,

3

every

every Prayer, the Prayer of all as one. Whatfoever Worship God requires of any one alone, the fame he requires alfo of all met together as one, being God of the Body as a Church, as well as of any one Member as a Chriftian. In reference to Offerings in holy Affemblies, thus St. Paul ordains, thus the primitive Chriftians, Cor. 16, practifed, as is plain from Justin Martyr and 2. Irenæus.

Q. How are Festivals prophaned?

A. When they are not regarded nor diftinguished from Common Days; when they are made Inftruments of Vice and Vanity; when they are spent in Luxury and Debauchery; when our Joy degenerates into Senfuality, and we exprefs it by Intemperance and Excefs. And it is a very great Aggravation of our Sins at fuch Times, to abufe the Memory of the greatest Bleffings, by making them Occafions of offending God.

Q. What are the Advantages of a serious Obfervation of Feftivals?

A. It teftifies our great Regard to the Inftitutions of the Church, and our Obedience to our fpiritual Superiors, to whom we ought to fubmit, Heb. 13. as to thofe that watch for our Souls. It fixes in7. our Thoughts the great Mysteries of our Redemption. It fills our Hearts with a thankful Senfe of God's great Goodnefs. It raises our Minds above the World, and inures us to a fober Frame and Temper of Soul. It kindles a prudent Zeal and Fervour in performing the Offices of Religion; and is very apt to produce a Readiness to do or fuffer any thing for the Name of Jesus.

The

The PRAYERS.

I.

Fight Ob. A mighty God, who hast established in thy

fervation of Holy

Church, Paftors, and Teachers, and Governours, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the Days. Work of the Miniftry, for the edifying of the BoEph.4.12.dy of Christ; make me careful to obferve all

thofe Inftitutions, which are enjoined for thefe admirable Ends; and always to esteem Days fet apart for thy Worfhip, and dedicated to thy Service, as a great Relief to the Infirmity of my Nature, which is not capable of an uninterrupted Contemplation of thee. Let not the Affairs of this Life, nor my Eagernefs in obtaining the good Things of it, fo far engrofs my Thoughts, as to make me neglect thofe happy Opportunities of working out my own Salvation. Let not the Love of Pleasure prevail upon me to consume them in fenfual Enjoyments; but grant that my Rejoicing may be accompanied with Temperance and Moderation, and dispose my Mind, by all the Refreshments of my Body, to Serve thee with greater Diligence and Chearfulnefs all my Days. Make me conftant at these Holy Seafons in attending thy publick Worship, and let me enter thy House with recollected Thoughts, compofed Behaviour, and with a thankful and devout Temper of Mind. Let me hear thy Word with ferious Attention, and with a particular Application of it to the State of my own Soul. Let me approach thy Altar with fervent and heavenly Affections, and with firm' Refolutions of better Obedience. Let me com

memorate

memorate the Mysteries of my Redemption with profound Humility, with exalted Thoughts of thy wonderful Goodnefs, and with thankful Acknowledgments of thy great Love demonftrated to the Sons of Men. Let the mortified Lives of thy Saints raise me above the Pleafures of Sense; and let the Pattern of their Piety and Devotion, their Humility and Charity, their Meeknefs and patient Sufferings, be always fo lively imprinted upon my Mind, that I may transcribe their Example in my Life and Conversation. That thus obferving these Days of Reft here below, 1 may celebrate an Eternal Reft with thee hereafter in thy Heavenly Kingdom, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

II.

Saints.

Lord God, in whofe Sight the Death of For the thy Saints is precious, and though their Imitation Departure is taken for Mifery, yet is their Hope full of Immortality; and having been a little chaftifed, they are now greatly rewarded. Let' the Memory of what they endured, fupport thy Servants who are engaged in Combats and Trials here below. Abate the Power and Malice of their Enemies; that all those who hate and perfecute thy Church, may be brought to Repentance, or miscarry in their cruel Designs against it; that thy Name may be celebrated to all Generations; that thy Kingdom and thy Coming may be haftened; that thy Saints may obtain the Confummation of their Blifs, by the Refurrection of their Bodies, and receiving the Crown of Righteoufnefs, which thou haft prepared for all that put their Truft in thee; and

that

that I with them may praise thy Name for ever
and ever.
Amen.

Gen. 2.3.

CHA P. I.

The Lord's Day.

WHAT Part of our Time bath God ap

propriated to his immediate Service?

A. One Day in Seven, which he hath commanded to be kept Holy. And we ought the rather to pay Obedience to Divine Authority in this Particular, because it hath liberally indulged the remaining Part of our Time to our own Ufe.

Q. What do you mean by keeping a Day Holy?

A. Setting it apart for the Exercises of Religious Duties, both in Publick and Private; abftaining from the Works of our ordinary Calling, or any other worldly Affairs and Recreations, which may hinder our Attendance upon the Worship of God, and are not reconcileable with folemn Affemblies, and may defeat thofe Ends for which the Day was feparated' from common Ufes.

Q. What Day was anciently fet apart to this Purpose?

A. The Seventh: For God having in fix Days' made Heaven and Earth, the Sea, and all that' in them is, he rested the feventh Day, and hallowed it.

Q. What mean you by God's refting from his
Works?
A. That

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