rising THE Iews craved a sign and those that mocked said come down and we will believe but that being the time of suffering he disdained the motion the sign of the Prophet Ionah which was of rising up and opposit to their coming down being appointed all other signs were rejected and because that of Ionah was fulfiled let 's believe and go before him unto Galile by interpretation transmigration or going over that going from infirmity to vertue from mortality to eternity from contumely to glory we may more fully participat of those sore-expected joys in being treated yea feasted in the company of our ever to be adored Saviour Worshiping our Lord begining to practise and celebrat our Sabbath when the Jew rendeth his acting not only contrary to him but spiritualizing his superstitious deportment thereon he will kindle no fire that day let us blow up that of the spirit in the hearth of our hearts for elevating our thoughts and raising our minds upward heavenward to this day they alleadge the destruction of Ierusalem solely to have flowed from the neglect of the Sabbath in putting no difference between the holy and prophane Ez. 22. Let us compute it's desolation to spring from â—he innocent blood shed on the preparation day for the Sabbath and in hiding their eyes from the Lord of the Sabbath they will not put so much as their finger to any serwill or country work let us not fear to exercise our selves about works of piety charity or necessary with both our hands our Lord giving â—s example whose servants I mean the Christians whom they keep being put by them in this day to their drudgery which yet and by the way might be rectified by Christiâ—â— laws and magistracy as they will not writ nor blot out what is written on that day let the errata's of our soul be reviewed and weekly 〈◊〉 be exactly corrected that the next weeks impression of our civil or spiritual conveâ—â—s may be both more clean clear and holy being emended from our former mistakes by religious watchfulnesse and future taking heed do they knock on the door when calling unto a preparing for the Synagogne it is 〈…〉 to provoke to love and to good works They will not on that day begin a journey and justly having killed him that was the Way yet let us walk and be undefiled in the way of the Law of the Lord keeping our feet from the filthinesse that is our affections from those lusts that are in the world through sin they crowned our Lord with thorns let us adorn both his holy Temples in exalting his two fold nature by a firm adhering to the truth thereof and laying out for him and his the best of our substance somewhat of our rich possessions entering by the gate of the Church into that of Paradise from which impenitent Iews as the Reprobated Theif are for ever excluded The sixth Psalm and the twelth are entitled pro octavo for the eight in the Vulgar translation from which some will have many mysteries to emerge particularly the change of the Sabbath for respecting our Lords entry into Jerusalem in our computation on Palm Sunday the day of his rising will be one of the seventh but not upon the seventh the prophesies therefore and conquests also of our Saviour to be by us celebrate in the Church the eight day after that account will be the Lords day in the new Testament beginning our holy day when the murtherers of our Lord endeth his Mosaical weakly feast it is nearer to affirm that as God had Circumcision Sabbaths and other rites to difference his people from the masse of the world it is fit to have now some difference to discriminat his Church and since there is a change of the Temple of the Sacrifice of the Circumcision of the Paschal supper of the Priest a necessity may easily be suggested of an alteration of the Sabbath heightned when we consider that Christ came to work a new creation Isa. 65. for which a celebration of an old Sabbath had been incongruous and his kingdome beginning from and his resting dated at the Resurrection how consonant is it to name this day the Lords day and in the proportion all it's followers HIS sleeping or resting on the seventh day in the grave typifying that the old Sabbath dyed with him as all other changeable ceremonies of the law which none ought to judge us in respect of a Sabbath or a holy day since Christ hath triumphed on the eight let us rejoice beholding as badges of his victory the scares of his wounds the print of the nails the wound in his side not only as probable tokens of his rising but as jems to adorn his royal body as a testimony of his victory and as some think to be seen yet in heaven that as in his Church militant he hath bread and wine continually as visible memorials of his bloudy agony and death for his peoples stronger confirmation so in the triumphant the scares of his wounds remain in his body before the glorified for more fervent and eternal Iubilation THESE same wounds when seen and felt besids his own faithful Testimony so strengthned the Apostles that the ghastly frownings of an incensed crew in this wicked world was but a whet-stone to edge their zeal for publishing this truth this glorious truth of the Resurrection for though it be said he was stole yet who durst rouz this young lyâ—n and a little more money would have made the Souldiers tell another tale he quickned in the grave by receiving in the second time his soul then rose from out of the grave astonishing death amazing the keepers yet so heartning and heating his Disciples that they spurn and disdain the threats of men accounting all the worlds wrath or fawning to that degree of naughtinesse as to comput it dung in comparison of the excellency in the knowledge of the rising from the dead all created beings in the power of man being but a cypher to the Resurrection Christ by it and in him themselves conquering and flying above all the pouder Crakers the ungodly should frame or fire to disturb the power of it's Doctrine or the progresse of it's publication the voice of all the Martyrs being like the call of Heliâ—dorus who refusing to sacrifice to Idols and being tormented for denyal cryed out aloud O Lord Iesus Christ assist me and when the crown of the Chuâ—ch is now beheld to have been but made the puâ—er by the fires of devouring persecutors and the ancient Stanza or holy Doxology of our Quires now heard in giving glory to the Father and thought upon who so dul as not to anticipate the rehearsal and suggest the fam'd answer given to the same Martyre is yet returned to all Saints witnesses and confessors be not affraid for I am with thee FORâ—s â—s unhurt with torture how have the heathen and Iews been braved and out-braved by Christians through the hope of the Resurrection Paul was thought
is his body How rudely will other skip tread walk and frisk upon 〈◊〉 ground as if it were their own furroâ— their own tale their own house their 〈◊〉 Romance Certainly the Gospel is scandaliz'd by the sordidnesse of some mens unclean fingering mouthing writing yea Printing of the person of Iesus so contumeliously that it would be Death in Turky to word it so of Mahomet I know intimacy and acquaintance is pretended yet that ought not to offer rudenesse to the serenity of his countenance the sanctity of his Laws the dignity of his person the excellency of his being which are infring'd to that degree of mockage that were he once again upon Earth he might say to such what a great yet affable Emperour said unto a Churle who confidently made invitation yet nigardly served up his meat which was I did not think there had been such Familiarity betwixt us BELIEVE it what in the state by policy in the Church by Simony in trade by defrauding in Religion by opinionating in faction by abetting in the road by stealing in the Sea by pyratting in common talk by filthy discourseing in print by unholy applying in the house by slandering in designs by oppressing in the counting house by tricking and in our hearing of the word with itching our holy and ever-glorious Lord is made and accounted as a common thing wash your hands therefore you sinners purifie your hearts you Hypocrites for how unprosperously all this is done is known long ago to the Jew and may in due time be evidenced to us Gentiles if so besotted as not already to have full instruction since this new thing hath been created on the Earth A woman shall compass a MAN This Generation old because so long lying in wickedness seemeth incapacitat for amendment But as when S. Paul was weak that is in himself then was he strong that is iâ— Grace and as when the impotent Man complained of his want of a man to assist him towards a cure Iohn 3. The MAN in the text said Rise take up thy bed and walk it is hoped there is an holy seed in the womb of our Mother Church springing toward and hastning forward the desire of the godly and truly Religions of the Nations some holy Simeon that is obedient hearer expecting the Lords salvation and some devout Anna's that is gracious and merciful waiting that is praying for the Redemption of our Israel from the division-ating hub-ubs wherewith she is entangled in practising and perswading for peace and Holiness which as from the womb of a Mary or Mara of all or any that is in bitternesse for our grosse back-slidings shall hasten the production of comfort and tranquility in the knowledge of a Iesus born to save us from our sins MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE CIRCUMCISION OF Our Lord and SAVIOUR Unfolded and applied Circumcision Day Tolbooth Church 1671. New Years Day Tolbooth Church 1671. LUKE II. XXI And when eight days were accomplished for the Circumcising of the Child his name was called Jesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the womb AS we find no nation the old Savages of Mount Atlas excepted but found a necessity and from natural as wel as politick causes gave proper and distinct names to things and persons so in civiliz'd nations ingenuity and law prompted them to pitch upon a time proper for designing their issue by them When Cain Abraham or Lot were so denominated is not so far as I know upon record but Christianity hath generally observed and followed near about the time of the Iews who were strictly tyed to the observance of the eight day from Isaac who was but eight days old when he felt the knife and afterward in all ages each Male was to have the sign of the Covenant in his foreskin under the penalty of being cut off a phrase among the Iews intimating a liablenesse to the wrath and vengeance of the Lord in the highest measure and was concluded to be the greatest most cursed of all threatnings in Scripture as a punishment not inflicted by man but an impending vengeance of God on earth imprinting say some the certainty of dying Childlesse and towards heaven say others importing the Gospel's Anathema Maranatha the offendour peculiarly being seperate for a curse when the Lord cometh as hateing his holy institution for which also his indignation may be felt in being cut off in the midst of their dayes as is evident in Moses tarrying in the Inn fearing to go down to Egypt wherefore that irregularity in no rite might be charged upon the Son of God now born of the seed of Abraham when eight dayes were accomplished they came to the Circumcision of the Child and called his Name Iesus Circumcision importeth bloud and since without that there is no remission withal being to speak of a Saviour I know no better object to present before you then a ruddy then a bloudy IESVS for because of the Circumcision he may say to the Church his wife a bloody spouse art thou to me and her name since Abel may be Aceldama a field of bloud as being bought with a price of bloud and still sprinkled with that bloud which bought it as that field was with his bloud who took that price as the text imports Acts 1. or she may be called Damascus a bag of bloud where and because our Brother the Lord as Abel was slain by his brethren Iewish Cainits out of envy and whose bloud at this time beginning to be shed crys loud to heaven speaking better things CIRCVMCISION is a short word yet of a large sense and as applied here maketh three miracles to be discovered First the eternal God who was before all worlds and made time dividing it between day and night is found to be eight days old next the impassible Lord of Glory unto whom there be no augmentation or increase nor diminution or lessening of parts is made lesse by the foreskin Lastly the ineffable Iehovah who is above all Names in heaven or earth is called IESVS IT was and is ordinary with God to ratifie his pretious promises to the Church by appending signs as seals reason it self being dim except the eye perceive something illustrious or takeing in things purely natural how much more in spiritual the bow in the cloud the dew in Gideons fleece the change of Abrahams name the whole pedagogy of Law and among others this sign of Circumâ—cision held in so great veneration as to be reckoned above that is greater then the Law for it was before the Tables preferred to the Sabbath for even on that day it was not to be omitted hence S. Paul wisely caveating the Philippians Philip. 3. against its use reflects not upon the word yer presseth its neglect and chargeth warrinesse under the notion of Concision Being then purely a pareing or cutting of the flesh not a sign of the Covenant which as such not only with Iews but with
must not be reckoned among the faithfull but as uncircumcised be deny'd entrance into the holy temple the holy Citty holy IESVS being only King of the Iews that is of the Circumcision not of the letter but of the Spirit not of the Body but of the Inward-man and the precept being given to Ioshua intimats that as death and lust enter'd upon all by one MAN we are not free from either untill by his Antityp Iesus we be redeemed from our actual or original transgression by applying faithfully his life and bloud as expiatory for sin denying ungodliness and worldly lusts which is a deliverance from our vain conversation and in one sense a being crucified to the world and in another Ciâ—cumcised in our foreskin they being with some as it superfluous and no way necessary for felicitating soul or body THE Hebrews say Sem was born circumcis'd and he was happy but that the foreskin is not necessary is figured in the eight day seven being allowed in proportion and revolution of time to all in common but the right is that eternal day expected by the Elect and forestall'd already in those occult joys which emerge from liveing Soberly Righteously and Godlily in this present world and their names being written in heaven contemplats upon the felicity their Spirit shall possesse the week of this wearisome world being brought to its final period IT is said of Severus that no day passed wherein he did not something that was good and beneficial to others and without much arguing its evident how soon our Lord amply discovers earnestnesse passionatly to offer himself a Lamb indeed for the sins of the world in his yeelding so easily so suddenly to breath a vein as a wise Physician for the cure of his mystical body now in a Spiritual raveing and sinfull feaverish distemper Man go thou and do thou likewise do good and yet more good and by whom thou art accounted base of them at last thou shalt be had in honour God incarnat having here begun to lay down his life for thee be not ashamed to lay it down for another at least estimat what can be done for thy Brother and reckon that to be a debt due from thy Saviours stupendious humility WE mistake if we conclude our selves heavenly born untill as heaven we influence the Earth with benign aspects and Eight times or days or duties must passe over us before we ought to repute our selves of the seed of the faithfull or circumcis'd for in the opinion of Holy Bernard we must first be just in our dealings with men he who would raise high must build low and Iacobs ladder had its foot on the Earth another is the avoiding of Fellowship with evil men Christ was separate from sinners and his followers must hate the Congregation of wicked doers A third is watchfulnesse and observance of Enemies Our Saviour not being ignorant of Satans devices disappointed his stratagems he left him unresolved of his being the Son of God in the wilderness and of his wanting original sin by Circumcision in the Cradle and in both prevail'd Another is Sobriety as becometh men the Believers life is a warfare and if lust pleasure or cares of this world overcharge that day may come unawares upon us Luk. 21.34 Another is patience in all things we suffer among men for a few evill days we must neither with Cato put out our lives nor with Thrasillus run out of our wits but keeping a good heart we shall never want a place not to say a whole wherein to hide our head Another is Humility Our Lord humbled himself to the Death and that the soul with Mary be exalted Remember he visited her in her low estate Luk. 1.48 The seventh is Piety and Devotion in which by contemplation the Chilâ— of Grace celebrating a Sabbath by resting from works of sin and walking with God ought not to be reckon'd a Son of Belial but as on the eight day declared by the Angel of a good Conscience or rather is by the Priest of the new Testament called the Son of God and gets a new name which none knoweth but he that hath it Revel 2.17 THERE are who will have the eight day to imply the eight ages of the world reckoning the first from Adam to Noa the next from him to Abraham the third from him to Moses the fourth from him to David the fifth from David to Christ the sixâ—h from Christ to the end of the world the seventh to the Dead the eight represents the Resurrection at which time all the true soâ—s of the Faithfull shall receive their true name and true inheritance in being saved from their sins and approved for their Sanctity But the more sound and far more probable ground for fixing upon the eight-day was because of the infants strength being then more able to bear the sharpnesse and smart of the knife then when newly born and yet not after the eight day for they growing stronger and imagination more forcible the pain had been greater that time was therefore chosen when the skin as more tender could renew and repair it self but it is nice that to this day the Iews circumcise none but on the eight day that is to say never at night however it be it 's said that the pain is greatest on the third day nature tending then to a healing for which cause Simeon and Levi slew the Shechemits according to which its given out that the three offended in each sin viz. our selves our neighbour and our God the third and last is the forest and its remembrance most dejecting as appears from Davids confession in matter of Vriah and Iosephs admiration in the temptation of his Mistris THOVGH I conjecture not that the eâ—ght day was allowed for the body of the infant to be inflenc'd by the seven planets yet according to the Doctor of that Philosophy concluding the sun to operat upon the head and heart we may alludingly teach that the beams of the sun of Righteousness must shine and operaâ— upon the head heart of Adams Sons before they can have a living Soul or be brought forth in the second birth yet let none pin their abideing in pollution upon God for the Sun beams shine in the Ministry of the Gospel but many as the swine in a hot day tumbles the more in the pudle and what is vitiously observed of circumcised nations as Egyptians Saracens that no people is more lascivious may shamefully be applied to Christians none being more filthy more unclean then they who have been washed being the more defi'd thereby that they commend it yet mockingly rise not from forbidden pleasures from condemn'd delights Mahomet in a great measureâ— encourageing those passions allays the guilt of his Disciples but being discharged by Christ by Christians are to be the more abhorred THE Iews circumcised but in one part and that part by which the whole body is most defiled where lust and luxury tyranniz'd and
Scripture A Sabbath also interveening in which it is observed therâ— was never Man raised either in Old or New Testament and CHRIST being the Heaâ— of the RESURRECTION shewed in this a purpose not to disjoyn Himself from those before risen but to continue Communion chused another time which was the third Day Leaving the Sabbath I might say Saturday-Sabbath to rest with His Grave-cloathes as never more to be used and aâ— we learn from the Current of Antiquity from the Vniversal practice of the Church in times in and so near the Apostles that the head of the Institution is not found making it the more venerable though some factiously in our â—â—yes rant at the observance designed the Day of the RESURRECTION for solemn â—ppearance before the Throne of GOD â—hich was so rever'd both weekly and annually that the Precepts 1. Cor. 5. Let â— keep the feast and that other expression â—â— I. I was in the Spirit on the Lords day â— by many understood to belong to the â—early Feast of the RESURRECTION 〈◊〉 observed REMAIN not therefore with Lazarus the Grave-cloaths of sinful custome four â—yes by thinking upon likeing of by doing 〈◊〉 then continuing in the acts of concupisence or such no doubt stinke in the nostirles of 〈◊〉 and shall be killed by Death but rise 〈◊〉 third day that is this Morning with â—ur LORD and appear unto them that â—ow you talking of the Kingdom of GOD 〈◊〉 walking in the Holy City and be more â—â—rious more sublime more majestick 〈◊〉 before as Ioseph was when he was taken 〈◊〉 prison and as IESVS was when He 〈◊〉 from the Grave that Christian being Christian who is not conform to the 〈◊〉 suitable to the RESURRECTION CHRIST which we shall be if we rise and talking saluâ—ing our Brethren with Peace and again peace be unto you that they mâ—y perceive we intend for Galile forsakeing terren desirâ—s there abiding now Faith Hope and Charity Faith in the RESURRECTION of the flesh Hope in the expectation of eternal life and Charity in the holy catholick Church expressed in our Creed by the Communion of Saints IAMES of Aragon upon his Conquest of the Mâ—jorca Islands fancied and created an Order of Knight-hood called of Redemption their service peculiarly respecting â— liberation of Prisoners and Captives theiâ— habit was alwayes to be white Is not ouâ— IESVS appointed for deliverances anâ— did He not by entring into the Prison of thâ— Sepulchre say to each of us detained under igâ—norance force and fraud what the Angeâ— said to Peter Arise up quickly cast thy garment about thee and follow me Actâ— 12.18 Abiding no longer with the possessed amonâ— the Tombs of the Dead Graves of lust noâ— Iayls of sinful custome let us go forth witâ— Him who is so to speak Soveraigne of thaâ— Order other Redeemers in comparison 〈◊〉 Him delivering from a flea-bit he shielâ—ding from a thunder-bolt a sword a poyson 〈◊〉 arrow a burning fire a â—aging Sea a â—inging Serpent a roaring Lyon and a â—â—wing heart-worm assaulting all at once without hopes of rescue except from His Almightinesse alone BVT how justly doomed are they who â—eing once freed will run the second time to 〈◊〉 stocks who being washed and shaved with Ioseph will return to their former â—ench polluting themselves afresh with â—he noysomnesse of dung-like-corruptions â—allowing in the myre of ungodly chambering and wantonness drunkenness and excess â—aining thâ—se Vestuâ—es they have put on in embracing Gospel-Truths Swine-like lying down in the pond pool and puddle of filâ—hy conversation WRITE rather after the Coppy of the â—â—imitive Christians who in this Feast of the RESURRECTION and many dayes after refused to or did not kneel in Prayâ—r judging that a more sorrowful posture then was adâ—quat or fit for so joyful a season is their frequent Allelujahs expressed this to be but stood the LORD being risen as though their joy chearfulnesse and zeal had perfectly assured them their next motion should be toward Heaven It was Christs Pasch for He left the Dead they expected their Pasch and being ready for the Father stood as alive frequenting the Holy Communion the pledge of Eternal Salvation Young Converts appearing in Church cloathed in white Raiment the badge of that purity acquir'd in their Baptisme of which Sacrament we partaking let us keep this Feast with holy Innocence batâ—ing the Garment that is but spotted with the flesh our news and tydings our salutes and complements being as theirs was The Lord is risen THE Answer in our Lives like theirs also in Words The LORD is risen indeed MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE ASCENSION OF THE SON of GOD Unfolded and applied Holy-Thursday May 20. High-Church 1669. Ascension-Thursday May 20. High-Church 1669. JOHN VI. LXII What and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before IN the History of the holy Gospel that express exactnesse of method and dependence in answering and questioning in other Arts studied and required is not alwayes to be found Our Saviour who knew the heart to detect the deceits therein answering oft according to them for confutation and discovering raâ—her then conforme unto or observe contexture of words and purposes Among which these words are evidently to be seen where speaking of and proving Himself to be the true Bread which came down from Heaven inferreth thence a necessity of the Jews eating that is of believing upon Him and from Himself perceiving their murmuring at the impossibility or absurdity of that matter demandeth What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before Whereas of his ascending up there was no preceding controversie YET as there is a secret digested Art by the wisdom of the Spirit in the compileing of that sacred Record in general so there may be avowed a hidden connexion even of these words to the former for His assertion of His coming down from Heaven implieth evidently His being there and that He was there He proves by His Descending thence which words when the Jews were offended at to enstall their admiration and heighten their wondering He proposeth His What and if c. A QVESTION which proposeth ground for yet expecteth no answer prophesying of though but supposing His ASCENSION and both by way of Question the speech being suspensive and seemingly defective q. d. surely ye will wonder much more then that I whom you see a man like unto your selves shall ascend up where He that is the Son of God was before that is I before I was the Son of man and this being a greater matter then my coming down you will if you see it certainly be more offended at me or believe the other was true Offering it as conditionall by putting an if to it yet would have it positively to be understood and expounded that He shall go up and it may be some of you may see it which will creat a greater certainty or breed a greater indignation ASCENSION supposeth
Arethuse in his Martyrdome is adequate and fitted to the Christians sublimated Spirit for he when hung up in Air exposed to Bâ—es Waspes and Flies being annointed not to say daubea with honey â—yeing his persecutors with a kind of conâ—umely said How am I advanced despising 〈◊〉 that are below me on earth the Soul life the designs acts of the Believer being but a Comment upon Evangelick Precepts and Christs like graces I might say Ascendings ADAM is known to be put from Paradise in the cool of the day that is about the evening admit it to be the ninâ—h hour or three in the afternoon Then it followeth that the second Adam enter'd the Heavenly Paradise when the first Adam was exil'd the Earthy And about that time too did the Dove bring the Olive Branch to Noah It cannot therefore be blame worthy to conjecture that the fourtieth day after the Resurrection about the same time our LORD both in Soul and Body enter'd in a manly pace and majestick walk upon Heavens street and passing through the throng of Angels took that place at the right hand of the Father resting there as in an Ark haveing got no rest for the sole of his foot since his comeing thence I mean about the ninth hour for it is said He appeared to the eleventh as they sate at meat yeild that to be the sixth hour or high noon after which he talked and went before them unto Bethania Luk. 24.50 or to Olivet upon which Mount Bethania stood from Ierusalem a Sabbath days journey the distance of the peoples march from the Tabernacle in the wildernesse that is two thousand Cubits or above half a mile from the City a convenient walk for the Citizens contemplation in fair weather and for pleasure after which journey discoursing and blessing He ascended to his Father the Olive-branch of Reconciliation in his mouth saying I have finished the work thou gav'st me to do Father glorifie thy Name and ME with that glory which I had before the beginning of the world For of them whom thou hast given me have I lost none but the Son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled AS on the ninth hour of the day some will have his Ascension there wants not them who affirm it was on the fifth of May â—he fifth day from the Sabbath even Thursâ—ay the day in which he was presented in â—he Temple the fourtieth day after his Birth â—s holy to the Lord being the first-born So the fourtieth day after his appearing from the belly of the grave about the same time or hour He presented himself in the Temple of the Ierusalem above as holy harmlesse and the first-born from the dead having after his Resurrection never enter'd into the Temple below that Type being dissannull'd â—nd haveing câ—nsumate all Temple-service Heaven he made his Throne Angels receaving thereby the product of their wishes the Archangels the ultimate of their desire Man being restored and enstated in the person of the Son of God whose Tutors and Ministers they had been for that end into that pâ—istin glory which by a Saâ—anicall trick had been cheated from them even from Union with God and dominion over the Creature which now in Christ he hath made sure unto him in heaven and though the wicked may reckon this security poor because distant and invisible being in a far Countrey yet let them not send the messengers of Lust Ambition or Rebellion after him discovering a dislike as if thaâ— man should not reign over them for there He is and there He will sit untill such and all other his enemies be made his footstool and thence shall he come to judge in the clouds both the obedient and refractory whether Angels or men the fear of which ought to beget in us that reverentiall awe it did in one Elias not the Prophet who is said to have been most timerous alwayes dreading the approach of death the comeing of the Iudge the pronouncing of that sentence Go ye cursed BE rather induced to ascend after him to be with him by going up in such duties as are thought to be enjoyned in the Psalms called of degrees being humble in prayer as Psal. 120. delineats next stedfast in hope then ardent in desire then fervent in meditation and because of many remora's and difficulties we meet withall in these be invincible in patience then strong in confidence holy in chearfulnesse observers of providence fearfull of offences thankfull for victories serious in supplications meeke in converse particular in pleadings charitable in families and encouragers unto all good the performance whereof in a holy sense will make each of you Adam hamahalah or a man of degrees for as these Psalms were of old sung by the Levits upon the steps in their ascent unto the Court of the Women at the feast of Tabernacles for their excellency form shortnesse and sweetnesse of the matter by these vertues as by stairs we shall ascend being men in this for it is a reasonable service into Heavens great Court rejoycing with exceeding great joy in tasting those pleasures which are at Gods right hand therein for ever THE Priest under the Law was to bless the people at dismissing or finishing of the Temple-service one form whereof is to be found Numb 6.23 and others were institute by the authority of Rulers it was pronounced standing with hands stretch'd abroad and with a raised voice as if he would have forced into or put upon the people the mercies in those formes expressed which is promised in these words And I will blesse them Grace ratifying the Priestly benediction when bottom'd upon Divin law for the Congregaâ—ions obtainment of the desired good which ordinarily in Religious-zeal was tarried for by the people who are said to wait for Zacharias Luk. 1.21 the Lords Priest which with that of the parent poor and dying Christian are known to be signally efficacious which made our Lord the Priest of the New Testament when leaving his little flock to put his blessing upon them and with stretched out hands also Luke 24.50 evincing the removeal of the curse of the Law in his bearing of the curse for them in his own body upon the tree and that he was going to pray for them and for their sin that security might be purchas'd knowledge of the truth obtained and eternall life the summe of all mans salvation assured unto them and alwayes to be intreated for by him which being done while he was with them in the world should likewise be done at his abode with the Father before whom as with open armes He was continually to interceed for mercy to the Elect in general and to his Disciples in particular as Friends who could not who did not part with this their Master no more then Elisha would from Elijah and though with that Servant they had not the spirit of their Master duplicated or doubled upon them yet greater works then he did they do because He is gone to the