sayings in a Literal sense is absurd foolish agrees not with faith or good life N B Blessed are your eyes †Mat. 13.16 take this literally and its ridiculous to think their eyes were Blessed and all the body and soul beside Cursed but this is by your figure Synechdoche when a Part is put for the Whole or è contra but the whole 3 dayes and 3 nights are not put for parts bits and moments as you imagine ¶ If your Qu be An let us come towards a Close I have given you a true account of the Day of Jesus's death of the Time of his burial of the Time he lay dead of the Time of his resurrection But you neither tell when Jesus Died or how long he lay Dead or when he Rose for you have nothing in the Bible to prove your opinion by 1 The day of Jesus's death is not said to be the 6 day 2 The Sabbath ensuing is not said to be the 7 day 3 The first day is not said to be the morrow after That Sabbath but when it s spoken of it s thus phrased viz the first day of the week * Joh. 20.1 When the Sabbath was past †Mar. 16.1 i e the moral Sabbath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the end of the Sabbaths * Mat. 28.1 i e Ceremonial and Moral N B This moral Sabbath fell in between two Ceremonial Sabbaths viz the first and last dayes of unleavened bread and after the 16 of Nisan Such a Sabbath we read of called the second Sabbath after the first †Lu. 6.1 Mat. 12.1 idem so called because it followed the first i e the Passeover Sabbath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Second first Sabbath so called because it fell after the first and before the second Ceremonial Sabbath Scaliger de emend temp It was the next Moral Sabbath after the 16 of Nisan which day was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Deutera or second day of the 7 the Wave-day from whence they counted the Pentecost The Disciples rubbing the cars of Corn * Lu. 6.1 tell us it was at this time of year which we are treating of i e at beginning of Harvest which began the 16 of Nisan the first of the 50 dayes Hence the name of the month 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Abib which signifies an ear of corn this is in March †Buxtorf Heb LEX Pag 1. The fiftieth day was at end of Harvest in April or May. Fath. Well! you go quite crosse to the common account of the Church for Ages and to Christians and learned Ministers now living I fear this will be offensive if I should make it known Min. And as crosse to my self you would say if you knew how much its against the hair with me to displease men I design not to displease or please men farther than for their profit My main design is to please God and my Conscience if in so doing I do accidentally displease men I must harden my self in that sorrow †Job 6.10 And may I but engage God and my Conscience to stand by me I have enough were all the world to rise up in arms against me As for mens Hearts they are in Gods Hand and with him I leave it to turn them To or Fro me as he please I have learned to know I am not to live by mens Smiles nor to die by their Frowns ¶ Sir Concession you are at liberty to tell your Authors what I have told you but counsel them not to Back-bite me for that is uncomely If they have any thing to reply more than your Self desire them to do it to my Face But let them know their Replication must come from holy Scripture else it will be lost labour It will be in vain to tell me I oppose the opinion of the Church for So many ages or I am opposite to the Church that now is National or Congregational †I mean all in separation from the National and so in Pag 213. or to this or that learned Minister or Dr. The Question with me concerning an opinion is not Whose is it but What is it If they bring any thing out of Philo Josephus Manasse Ben Israel or any of the Talmudical Doctors or Jewish Rabbies that will give light to a Dark Text I will embrace it but if it comes to darken a Clear Text or to disprove a Plain Text I shall utterly reject it and therefore to convince me it will be in vain to produce it Fath. I presume you have not been long of this perswasion Did you never speak of the time of Christs resurrection in Preaching pray what account did you give the people of it Min. Sir I shall deal ingeniously with you The Author's way in his Work I have sometime preached a Sermon for the observation of the Sabbath day For a beginning I directed to the morning supposing it to be the time of Jesus's rising But I secretly thought I wanted a bottom for I could not tell what time in the morning Jesus rose and was as if my heart did not stand by me in it I marvel now in what Mist I was groping at Noon day for the time of Jesus's rising in the morning for that was not at all to be expected Nor need the time of his resurrection be expressed when the time of his Burial viz Even and the time of continuance in the Grave viz 3 dayes and 3 nights are both expressed The shame of this Bottomlesse counsel for a beginning of the Sabbath I am willing to bear but I knew no better yet my ignorance will not excuse my negligence I should have made better Search But I was never concerned about it till you and I had talked under the Tree since that I have been much perswaded that the Common count for the day of Christs death was not True but that he lay longer dead And because I had never discoursed any man concerning it I searched some Expositors of Texts relating to it and found them all opposite to me so I see if I went on I must go against the Stream And seeing I could find nothing For me I sought to find all I could Against me and to know the Full strength of this Stream This being found I laid these learned Authors By and fell to work by the search of the Scriptures and Prayer for I could not give it over And though many a time after Much study and Little hope I have been Crushed as if I should give up the ghost yet I could Not give it over but continued in prayer to God viz that if the Common count of the day of Christs death was true he would cause me to acquiesce in it but if my perswasion was true that he would be pleased to help me to understand it and make it out to You and not leave me to erre in it To this purpose I did implore God with many prayers and
A Self righteous Rock that hath been building twenty or thirty years To pull all Down to Rase it to cast it Away as a Menstruous Cloth and say unto it Get thee Hence * Isa 30.22 this goes against the Hair To deny Sinful Self and Religious Self of So long standing are Mighty Works Once more I must say Begin Betime Your Lads seem to be seven or eight years Old You should have begun five or six years Ago N B. From a Child 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From an Infant thou hast Known the Holy Scriptures †2 Tim. 3.15 N B. Parents Expressions make Impressions upon Childrens Memories e g A Godly Woman being often in Trouble did for her comfort usually use these words The Lord liveth * Psal 18.46 At length she Sat Silent as one Swallowed up in Sorrow A Pretty speech which her child observing Said Mother is God Dead now And this Shamed her out of her Sorrow This Instance shews the Aptness of Children to remember what they hear from their Parents and the Usefulnesse of Children to their Parents if Well Educated Out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained Strength to Still her Enemy †Psal 8.2 By this Childs Words it seems Satan was Stilled from his busie buffeting of the Childs Mother ¶ 2 The Time of Day When thou sittest in thy house When thou walkest by the way When thou liest down When thou risest up * Deu. 6.7 Take Any opportunity any Seasonable Time and some Unseasonable Be instant In season Out of season †2 Tim. 4.2 Write Apelles Posie upon your Posts viz Let No Day passe without a Line Draw One Line a day at Least Do Duty Daily Fift The Place Where When Circum 5. expresses ' Time and implies Place q d Where thou sittest viz To Work To Rest To Eat 1 To Work Talk of Gods Work Men can talk of the World at their Work 2 To Rest Talk of Eternal Rest and Eternal Wrath. Men can talk of the World when they are Weary 3 To Eat Talk of the Bread of Life Turn Temporal Mercies into Spiritual Discourses Let Eternity be your Table-Talk This leads me to testifie against the Vain Table-Talk of Prophane and Professing People which profits not Soul Body Man Woman or Child yet as Common as the Day And which if a Stranger be at Table consists much of a Company of such common Silly Complements as I am ashamed to name viz Pray eat Table trash You are very wellcome I am Sorry I am no better provided I doubt I did not cut well Pray pick a bit where you like You do not think your self welcome And Finally I see I have but troubled you to sit down At which Trash I wonder people do not Blush and with Shame sweep it out at Door as Dirt. It 's Sad to consider what Superfluity of Vanity flows from the Mouths of Professors And it s a Marvel men have not Worded away All their Mercies N B. Moses Table talk Moses had a Great Stranger at His Table and with him Aaron and all the Elders of Israel and they came to eat bread before GOD * Exo. 18.12 As in his Presence with Reverence to feed with Fear lest their Table be made a Snare To feed without Fear is Fearful Such are called Clouds without Water Trees without Fruit Twice Dead to whom is reserved the Blacknesse of Darknesse for Ever †Jude 12 13. Jesus table talk See some of Jesus Christs Table-Talk who saith to YOU Learn of ME. Mat. 9.10 11 12 13. Lu. 7.36 40 to 50. Ch. 11.37 to 51. Ch. 14.7 to 25. Ch. 15.4 to 32. Ch. 22.14 to 39. But let us see where we are Where thou walkest by the Way Talk of the Way to Heaven and Hell Walk is frequently full of Empty Vain Talk let your Walk be full of Vertuous Talk Where thou liest Down i e in Bed an Embleme of the Grave In which Bed a man is as Buried Alive above ground all but the Head And that is an Embleme of Christ the Christians Head Embleme who keeps out of the Grave while his Body the Church is buried Death hath No more dominion over Him * Ro. 6.9 Where thou risest Vp i e out of thy Bed in the Morning an Embleme of the Resurrection of the Body out of the Grave by vertue of Christs Resurrection and Life By Reason of the Head being kept out of the Bed while the Body Sleeps the Body Rises in the Morning for if the Head was buried in Bed as the Body is the whole would be Smothered and Dead So by vertue of Christ the Head who is Above ground above Death Alive THE Resurrection and Life shall Saints be Raised out of their Sleep I instance these Emblems to shew you how Lying Down and Rising Up does minister occasion of Talking to your Children Sixt. The Manner How Circum 6. 1 Speak Plainly In all Points Study the most Plain Expression and Explication of Words imaginable What I speak not so Plain to you I leave with you to Explain to them I speak to a Man you to Children Simile That Key which will most easily open the Door though made of Iron or Wood is to be used rather than a Key of Gold that will not open it So such Plain Wooden Words which do open Truths rather than Fine Words which like Paint on a Window that lets not In but keeps Out the Light I have heard a Man a Teacher of Men speak to a Child in such a Pathetical Rhetorical Mystical Strain without Consideration of Condescension to the Childs Understanding that I have Utterly abhorred it And had much rather Such had sat Silent though it was to my Own which I Much Desire should hear the Words by which they may be SAVED ¶ 2 Talk Enticeingly speak Pleasantly Alluringly Affably Kindly Winningly Deliver things in words of Down Speak Roses and Hony into their Hearts Let your lips drop as an hony comb e g. Come my Sweet Child Thou must not do SO That is SIN SATANS Service He would have thee to Hell to pay thee with Eternal Pain But do Thus This is GODS Service Love GOD Serve Him Fear Him and it will be well with Thee for Ever I do SO love thee I Long to have thee Saved I cannot Endure thou shouldst be Damned Be Ruled without the Rod it grieves me to whip thee c. Thus Win them by working on the Will You know the Phrase John is a good Boy when Will is at Home an Up-hill way is a Down-hill way to a Willing Mind Let the Law of Kindnesse be in your Tongue and your Children will arise up and Call you Blessed †Pro. 31.26 28. ¶ 3 Talk frequently Thou sahlt teach them Diligently to thy Children Heb thou shalt Whet them to thy children * Deu. 6.7 The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To whet hath
ministry of God And these Ten words were written with the Finger of God upon two Tables of Stone †Ex. 31.18 and put into an Ark of Shittim-wood * Deu. 10.3 5. very Durable and counted incorruptible There was nothing in the Arksave the two Tables †2 Chro. 5.10 for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy Name * Ps 138.2 God will magnifie the Law and make it Honourable If the Ark set forward the enemy must Flee before it †Nu. 10.35 If the Ark go through Jordan the waters must make way * Jos 3.15 16 If the Ark be set up by Dagon then Dagon must Down †1 Sa. 5.2 3 If Dagon will try the other fall he shall lose his Head and Hands and have nothing left but his Stump * Ver. 4. which can neither Invent nor Act as head and hands do If the law of God be in the Heart the reproach of men is not to be feared for the Worm shall eat them like Wool †Isa 51.7 The Ark containing the two Tables was a Sacred Symbole of Gods presence God will be with his Law and with the Lovers of it God will keep them as the Apple of his Eye who keep his Law as the apple of Their eye as he hath commanded * Ps 17.8 Pro. 7.2 The ark a triple Type And the Ark was a type of Christ who is the End of the law 1 It was made for him to Keep 2 He was made to keep That 3 He keepeth it for Our use Ark-like N B As Jesus obeyed the law for our justification Perfectly in love to GOD and to the Law A sweet Simile and to Us so we are to obey the law in our conversation Sincerely in love to GOD and to the Law and to the Lord Jesus Was the onely wise God twice 40 dayes and 40 nights engraving Ten Words upon Two Tables of Stone and will vain man make them Void it is easier for Heaven and Earth to passe than One Tittle of the Law to fail †Lu. 16.17 Twelfth and Last Note 12. A deep Decalogue The ten commandments are a Vast Continent The M L is the fountain of all laws viz Moral Ceremonial Judicial and Evangelical They all belong to it it is the Root they are the Branches they are contained in it and may be reduced to it on these two commandments i e the ten hang all the Law and the Prophets * Mat. 22.40 Here if we consider man in his three-fold State viz of Innocency of Sin and of Grace we may see the M L containeth mans duty in every State ¶ First in Innocency Adam being capable of receiving it Ten in One. Break one break all God gave him the ten commandments in One commandment this is clearly implyed in Adam's breaking them All by breaking that One. As the Sanction of the law is Disjunctive viz Do or die and the Injunction of the law Copulative viz Do this and that and all so is the law it self Copulative i e so linked together that in breaking one he brake all This M L then contained Adam's duty in innocency e g in the first commandment thou shalt have no other gods before me that Negative implyeth this Positive thou shalt have me for thy God i e by thy obedience to my M L for no other was in use yet all other Laws were Conditionally contained in it ¶ Second Consider man in his Fallen State and there other laws fall in as usefull they being conditionally and providentially prepared thereunto 1 The judicial law cometh and killeth him Adam's Death Adam's Soul died i e he was as disable to recover his Fall by a C W or any other way as a Dead man is to live And death of Body followed and death of Soul and Body passed upon all men †Ro. 5.12 2 Man being fallen the law of faith falleth in for his Recovery for this implicit Positive precept is still in force viz thou shalt have me for thy God This must of Necessity imply thou shalt beleeve on my SON q d For having Lost me thou hast No other way left to Find me to be thy God Thus the law for Faith appears to be implyed in the first Commandment as I fore-told you 3 Man being fallen Ceremonial Sacrifices fall in as usefull from Adam's Fall to Christs Death at which time they ceased And since Christs death Moral Judicial and Evangelical laws are contained in the M L for mans use in a Fallen State ¶ Third Consider man in a State of Grace and the same laws are contained in the M L for his use viz Moral Judicial Evangelical laws The first commandment containeth many Evangelical laws this implicit Positive precept thou shalt have me for thy God implyeth thou shalt Beleeve in me and in my Son for faith in Christ is a Christians daily duty And Repentance Love Humility Hope Fear are implyed in this first precept thou shalt have me for thy God It is q d If I be thy God thou shalt Repent of thy Sins against me thou shalt Love me thou shalt walk Humbly with thy God and Hope in thy God and Fear thy God e g Beleeve in the Lord your God * 2 Chro. 20.20 Repent and turn from your Idols †Ezek. 14.6 thou shalt Love the Lord thy God * Deu. 6.5 Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord †Ja. 4.10 Let Israel Hope in the Lord * Ps 130.7 thou shalt Fear thy God †Lev. 25.17 these and the like are Branches of the first commandment The second commandment containeth Laws against Idolatry Will-worship of mans invention worshipping of Images Pictures the Sun Moon or Stars * Deu. 4.19 and laws for the True worship of God The third commandment containeth Laws for Prayer Praise giving of Thanks for godly Discourse in Private and Publick which includeth Preaching And laws against Swearing Cursing Blaspheming and Murmuring against God and speaking of God vainly idlely formally unprofitably proudly The fourth commandment containeth Laws for the Sanctification of the Sabbath day and Laws against the Prophaning of it This commandment is called Custos primae tabulae and this first Table containeth all mans duty to God The fift commandment containeth Laws for honouring of Parents and Ministers and Magistrats godly Governours and pious Princes called in Scripture Fathers †Isa 49.23 and Laws against dishonouring them and for Correction for disobedient children The sixt commandment containeth Laws against all kinds of Murder unjust Battels Quarrels Blows with hand or heart to hurt in any part The seventh commandment containeth Laws against Adultery of every degree Fornication Incest Sodomy Buggery all uncleannesse wantonnesse wearing of apparel contrary to the Sex whether Male or Female * Deut. 22.5 The eight commandment containeth Laws against all kinds of Thefts Robberies Rapines Sacriledge antiscriptural Usury †Ex. 22.25
The resurrection was Tipified to be on the first day of the 50 by the Wave-Sheaf of first fruits which was a pregnant Type of Christs resurrection on that day who was waved before the Lord by the Earthquake at his rising that morning and called the first fruits * 1 Cor. 15.20 And the 50 day that famous Pentecost was Sealed for a New Sabbath by the gift of the holy Ghost to the Apostles by vertue of which 3000 souls †Act 2.41 were converted as first fruits to God and the Lamb. And this Harmony hath been a Confirmation of this opinion viz Christs death on the Sixth day for many generations Min. If so its high time it was laid low I hope the best of that Bp he was no horned Beast but this his opinion I approve not If I had no better foundation for my opposite opinion I am not ashamed to tell you I should be ashamed to own it This is such another Proof as Adams fall was and to as much purpose as the Story in the Greek Epigram viz Two deaf men pleaded a Cause before a deaf Judge But let us look on these 50 dayes The 50 dayes discussed in the letter of the Law And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath from the day that ye brought the Sheaf of the Wave-offering 7 Sabbaths shall be complete even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number 50 dayes * Lev. 23.15 16. This morrow or Wave-day is the first of the 50 dayes 7 weeks is 49 dayes the morrow after the seventh Sabbath is the fiftieth day as the Greek word Pentecost signifies and when the day of Pentecost was Fully come †Act. 2.1 i e when the seventh Sabbath was past the 7 weeks were complete then the Pentecost was fully come N B The 50 day begins another week on the same day of the week that the first day of the 50 began the first week of the 7 so that the first day and 50 day fall both on the same day of the week This a Child can tell but I mind you of it though a man that you may see your 2 great dayes for confirmation of your opinion Stand and Fall together And now I tell you these 2 dayes did not fall on the first day of the week Your famous Pentecost fell Not on the first day But why do I talk let us to work That the Passeover was killed on the 14 day that the Passeover Sabbath was on the 15 day on which Jesus died and that the Sheaf was waved on the 16 of Nisan is as plain as A B C by your rule Jesus rose from the dead the next day after his death buried at Even and rose in the Morning But suppose Jesus had rose on this Shake-sheaf day †As your Author calls it yet what Type of Christs resurrection was this Sheaf there was an he-lamb without blemish * Lev. 23.12 offered on that day too which was as much a Type of Christs Death on that day as the Sheaf could be of his Resurrection by this rule Jesus both died and rose in a day into what a wildernesse will the wit of man lead us N B This wave-day on which you say Jesus rose was the first day he lay in the grave if your Author had said The lamb was a Type of Jesus's death Before that day and the wave-sheaf a Type of his resurrection After that day there had been some shadow of Reason in his assertion So you may see that your Pentecost proof is perished and your invincible Arguments are overcome Fath. You say the Jews translated the Passeover to the next day did they not also translate the Pentecost from their Sabbath to our Sabbath and so make it fall on the first day Min. If so that proves a false Pentecost to fall on the first day but it s no proof for Christs resurrection on the Wave-day nor is the Pentecost to be reckoned from Christs resurrection as our Calender men count but the 16 of Nisan is the Standing Rule to count the Pentecost from Calender count false 2 If the Pentecost fell on the 7 day Sabbath the Jews would translate it to the first day by their rule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gahaz Godwyn but that year the Pentecost did not fall on the 7 day nor on the first day not on their Sabbath nor on Ours neither Fath. If the Pentecost fell not on the first day why did the Disciples observe it and countenance Ceremonies which were to cease Min. The Disciples being few about 120 †Act. 1.15 were at Jerusalem because Christ had commanded them to continue there * Ver. 4. The Pentecost being an holy Convocation in which work was forbid †Lev. 23.21 the Disciples might meet on that day though the Pentecost was to cease as a Church may do now if work be forbid by Authority though they approve not the day 2 Suppose the Pentecost not to be observed yet the Disciples might not understand the cessation of Ceremonies so suddenly they were hardly brought off Ceremonies some years after 3 The Pentecost keeping the day of the month changed the day of the week every year and could not be on the first day 2 years together Paul's Pentecost practice yet it was Pauls yearly practice to be at Jerusalem at Pentecost e g I will tarry at Ephesus untill Pentecost for a great door and effectual is opened unto me * 1 Cor. 16.8 9. i e at Ephesus and yet q d I will tarry but till Pentecost and then I am for Jerusalem When they desired him to tarry longer with them he consented not but bad them farewell saying I must by All means keep this Feast that cometh in Jerusalem †Act. 18.20 21. Paul hasted if it were Possible for him to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost * Ch. 20.16 Not because it was the first day as your Authors imagine of this †Act. 2.1 for the first day was the unlikest day of All for Christians to regard the Pentecost after Christs resurrection because on that day they met in remembrance of That Nor to support the Pentecost though he went on the account of no other day but for advantagious opportunities of preaching Jesus to the Jews Paul could call the Gentiles together but he could not command the Jews therefore he would watch for such Prizes as Ceremonial Sabbaths pun into his hands by bringing the multitude together And sometime for his encouragement he had liberty of preaching in their Synagogue on a Sabbath freely offered the rulers of the Synagogue sent unto them saying Ye men and brethren if ye have any word of exhortation for the people say on then Paul stood up as in his Element and said Men of Israel give audience * Act. 13.15 16. And Paul thought good to smile on some Ceremonies for a season for
affinity with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To repeat which signifies the Word Cuts and Pierces by Frequent Repition An Edge-Tool is Whet by many Motions and Rubs upon the Whet-Stone and the Stone made Bright thereby So is the Word Sharpened Simile and the Heart Brighten'd and Quickned by Frequent Repition But this requires Discretion i e so to whet as to set an Edge On and not whet it Off again in which work wisdom is profitable to direct †Ecl. 10.10 She openeth her mouth with Wisdom and in her tongue is the Law of Kindnesse * Pro. 31.26 A law hath Force and Power to prevail So words spoken with Wisdome The words of the Wise are as Goads †Ecl. 12.11 they will Prick and as Nails fastened then is a Word well Driven when it Nails the Heart to God Do not Do and Undo as you will if you Overdo Children must not be over-Driven Let my Lord pass over before and I will lead on Softly as the Children be able to endure * Gen. 33.14 Then shall the Lambs feed after their Manner †Isa 5.17 N B. Children well educated have Two Titles in the Bible to teach Parents the Necessity of Frequent Instruction with Discretion 1 Arrows * Psal 127.4 Will a Knotty Crooked Stick be made a Straight Arrow with ease without Work and Art 2 Pollished Stones †Psa 144.12 Will Rough Rocky Cragged Stones become Smooth Pollished Stones sit for a Princes Palace without Pains and Skill in Paring and Hewing No nor some With it neither who after Hewn are Slain as fit for nothing but Slaughter * Ho. 6.5 It s sad when the sword comes to contemn the Rod †Ezrk. 22.13 The Rod is to Convert and Save The Sword to Kill and Damn When the sword does it's Work it contemns the Rod because that did not Do it's Work But Frequent Instructions are Frequently Effectual The waters wear the Stones * Job 14.19 How so If a Flood fall on a Flint at Once it wears it not but it's falling by a Drop at once Does it Gutta cavat lapidem The soft drop hollows the hard Stone i e by falling from the Eaves of an House off the End of a Straw Thus words Frequently falling from Parents Mouths upon Childrens Hearts Smal Acts continued will produce Great Effects Seventh Circum 7. The End to Which Children are Educated viz That Children may be Converted and Saved Soul and Body from Hell to Heaven That Parents may be Satisfied and Comforted in them in Life and Death That God may be Served and Glorified by them And They Glorified with GOD for Evermore So much of the Circumstances of Education Fath. If my Children be willing to hear and learn Instruction how shall I Carry it to them Min. If your Children deserve Praise Pray let them have it i e So much as will encourage them to Be and Do better Not too Much I pray Praise may soon Spoil Caution As the fining pot for Silver and the furnace for Gold so is a man to his Praise †Pro. 27.21 i e so is a mans Praise to Him The fining pot and furnace Try the silver and Gold Simile and discover the Drosse so a mans Praise will Try what mettal he is made of it will discover his drosse i e Pride Vanity Levity A man can neither be too Worthy nor too Wary of Praise Fath. How if All the good Instruction I can give them hath No good Operation upon them Min. If Words will not Work try what Tears will do Go King Edwards way to Work viz K. Edw. the 6th When he could not prevail against Cranmer and Ridley with Arguments he Wept he fell a Crying and then they were overcome Tears are Crying Words Crying Words heard as High as Heaven the Lord hath heard the voice of my Weeping * Psal 6.8 Tears have Piercing Tongues One would think the Tears of a Father should break a Heart of Flint Fath. How if Crying Words will not work on the Hearts of my Children Min. Then try what Dying Words will do when That Day Comes Dying Words Leave Dying Words behind you to work when You are Dead Dying Words may be Living Words by which you may speak when Dead as Abel Did †Heb. 11.4 Gather your Children about you Death-Bed as Jacob did Jacob called unto his Sons and said Gather your selves and hear ye sons of Jacob and hearken to Israel your Father * Gen 49.1 q d Come my Dear Children Hear the words of your Dying Father But Do not defer any one Dayes Duty till your Dying Day A Dying Dayes work is a Great Dayes work of it Self without any work that layes Behind It 's the Greatest Dayes work of All the Dayes of a mans Life Die a little word a great work The Word Die is but Small but the Work Die is Great Besides should you defer your Duty till you come to Die your Children will think you want Sleep and and are Light-Headed your talk being unusual and strange and so will not regard your words Do your Duty Daily while you Live that when you come to Die you may say to your Children as Mr. Bolton said to his when he was Dying viz None of you will Dare to meet me out of Christ in the Judgement Day Now let us come to the Second General Head viz Correction But Do you not See One of your Sons hath given us the Slip. Pray Recall him quickly Fath. HO Sirrah Whither go You Come again quick I charge you Come not near that Coach there You Jackanapes will you Offer it I would fain see that Ay Do I would you Durst Min. OH Good Lord have merey on these Poor Children Parent corrected What words are here from a Father to a Child Sirrah Jackanapes Atat Papae Apage OH Alas Out upon it I would fain see that Do I would you Durst What is the Childs Disobedience desirable to the Father Consequently the Childs Damnation in Hell is desirable Under the Law the disobedient Child was stoned to Death under the Gospel is Damned to Hell Now I come to Direct you to Correct your Children it appears you need Correction your Self Fath. Why does he Anger me then I use to speak so in my Anger I cannot Help it I mean him no Hurt Min. Why does he Anger me I thought I had been Speaking to a Man all this while Because your Son is a Child You will be So too Because He angers You You will anger GOD. I use to speak so OH How do you Accuse your self by this Excuse By this Reply when a man is Accused of a Sin he Accuses himself of a Thousand more to clear One and all that Aggravates that One. If I should ask such a man Friend why do you Swear I am used to it I cannot Help it it 's an old Custom from my Cradle This
spend their Time in Foming out Fume to smoke the Air where they Sit Walk Ride or lay in Bed As if men were Born to take Tabacco Should it please God to raise a man from the Dead who died Anno 1580 and say Come I will send thee to see the Exercise of England the man would Wonder what men are Doing This Smoking Trade at Every Turn would be as great a Wonder to Him as his Rising from the Dead would be to Them It 's bewitching ¶ 3 It is a Venity which hath a bewitching Faculty It works on the Will and makes men Willing to be bewitched with it It takes away appetite from Bread the Staffe of Life and begets an impetuous appetite after it Self And so brings a man under it's power which Paul in All Points resolve against All things are Lawful but all things are not Expedient all things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the Power of any †1 Cor. 6.12 ¶ 4 It 's an Epidemical Infectious Contagious Vice where is it's like under the Sun Both Sexes Men and Women All Degrees of Men from the DUKE to the Dray-man on the Dung-hill All Sects in point of profession of Religion In a word All Men some few excepted are more or lesse Vitiously addicted to it ¶ 5 This bewitching weed this Indian Henbane Hot Henbane is Hot and Dry in a High Degree It Dries away the Juice and Moisture of the Body till it be like a Bottle in the Smoke It inflames the Blood It distempers and intoxicates the Brain And doth the whole Man much hurt Physical ¶ 6 It 's strongly Physical therefore not fit for Food nor Fashion Too much of the Best Food will Soon fit a man for the Worms Too much of the Best Physick will Send a man to the Same Place Tabacco is a Physical Herb. To take Physick at every turn both Full and Fasting At every meals meat in Conclusion a Potion Another in Bed As oft as men Meet on Any Occasion to take a Potion And abroad in the Cold Air to open the Veins and Pores of the Body to let in Death This is a MAD TRADE An ill master ¶ 7 Where Tabacco hath got the Mastery it is a great Enemy And the more a man Loves it and keeps it Company as if it were a Friend The more it is an Enemy And he that is under this Slavery is not at Liberty to order either Body or Soul as he should Nor does he seem to Care what becomes of one or the other Let such beware lest they lose Both by the Love of Tabacco Let such take heed they do not So smoke away their Time as to smoke to Eternity in the sulpherous smoke of Fire and Brimstone which ascends up for Ever and Ever †Rev. 14.10 11. Caution And let them that Preach Down any one Vice in their Pulpits take heed they do not Set Up this unparallel'd Vice for another in their Practice And the same I say of All Professors of godliness ¶ 8 The time may come when if they Had it and that would Do Prodigal Parents would give Rivers of Oyl and Sack-fulls of Silver and Gold for the Golden hours they suffer to Swim Down these Two Streams and will not use them for the Education of their poor perishing children Job was very Officious for his Children he Sent to them he Sanctified them he Sacrificed for them he rose up Early to do it he did it according to the number of them All i e he did his duty to Every one for Job said It May be my sons have Sinned * Job 1.5 How many do know Certainly their sons have sinned Notoriously and yet let it passe unpardoned Thus did Job continually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the dayes †Ver. 5. as long as they lived And yet when Dead what a Doleful Ditie doth he makes with his Elegie * Ch. 29.2 5. If So how may Carelesse Parents Howl if by Sudden death their Children Fall Fath. Pray did you never take Tabacco Min. Take it Yes truly and that took Me too into Custody and Slavery But having got Liberty it shall Never take me more nor I That by the help of God in whose Fear I forsook it Fath. I will never take Tabacco again as I have done Two Pipes a day shall be All. The good lawfull convenient use of it you allow Min. True but that respects him that can So use it Who can have Himself and It at Command make it his Servant not his Master Take it and Leave it as he List which Few can do In these three words Good Lawfull Convenient are implyed two more viz UndersTanding Thanksgiving What you take of this Physick you must Understand to be Proper for your Distemper and take no more than does you Good and for which you may with Boldness and Acceptance to God give Thanks †1 Tim. 4.4 Far be it from you to take it for Fashion-sake Or to p lease the Palate Or to shew that piece of Breeding so called which every Clown hath so long since learn'd And as to your Two Pipes because I doubt you cannot Command it I conclude it 's your Safest way to cast it Quite off For if it be not a Servant in Subjection it will be a Mast er in Dominion It 's like an encroaching Parasite give him an Inch he will take an Ell. It 's like the Pope of Rome Simile He must Up or Down now in England And if with you all England would Expell this Vanity as I pray they may do Popery it would be a Thousand times better for where it does a Grain of Good it does a Masse of Mischief Were Englands Wealth well Ordered England would live Well If what the Rich Wast in this bewitching Weed was given to the Poor provided they leave Wasting it would make them all Rich. And the Rich not the Poorer but the Richer i e with the Reward they shall receive of the Lord who lend to Him by relieving the Poor * Pro. 19.17 But if men have Smoked away their Senses it 's in vain to say Lo how Black is this Crow or how White is this Snow Well So or So it gives me some Content that I have thus far cast Contempt upon the Abominable Abuse of this Honourable Creature Tabacco which hath almost England at Command beside Other Countries And whether I call this a Testimony for God against this Vanity of Vanities or No yet Take it SO. ¶ Sir in pleading against Sin Vanity Carnality I plead for GOD against whom it is Enmity And whether You or Others will Hear or Forbear †Ezek. 3.11 yet I will endeavour to deliver my Soul * Ver. 19. For Gods hand is taking hold of Judgment In the hand of the Lord there is a Cup it is full of mixture †Psal 75.8 i e of Judgments without mixture
Double destruction Body and Soul both at once An evil Counseller As evil as the Devil will speak Death in at the Ear as the DEVIL at first did Evil Counsel is enough to bring the KING of a Nation to Confusion and Destruction I have read of a king A Kings Confession who confessed at his Execution that such Evil Instruments brought him to the Block Evil discourse Infects How oft is Death Blown into Souls by an Infectious Breath Seventh Docu 7. Restraint Take heed of allowing them too much Liberty to wander abroad upon Pleasure Dinah must go Gadding to see the daughters of the Land and she comes home Deslowed †Gen. 34.1 And much more mischief follows Simeon and Levi in their cursed anger Kill their Confederates whom they had Coozened into a Covenant * Ver. 25. And it was a wonder that Damsels walk did not end in the Destruction of Jacob and his House as he feared †Ver. 30. I may say to you as Paul bid the Colossians say to Archippus viz Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfill it * Col. 4.17 Every parent is an Archippus who hath received a Ministry of the Lord in Charge for children Archippus is a Greek word which signifies A governour of horses Children are Wild Colts †Job 11.12 who when grown Head-strong will not regard the crying of the driver * Job 39.7 ¶ Sir you should seriously consider what a Roaring Lyon the Devil is †1 Pet. 5.8 and how diligently he deviseth to Devour your children And that it 's not your Own conversion that will prove their preservation from Temporal or Eternal destruction but Their godly education God hath sworn that Noah Daniel and Job shall deliver neither Son nor Daughter by their Own righteousnesse * Ezek. 14.20 It 's not parents imputative righteousnesse for Justification nor inherent righteousnesse for Sanctification that will Save their children But it 's their righteousnesse in Conversation viz Godly Education by which they must become their Saviours It 's not the Conversion of a Father nor of an Emperour that can secure a poor child from Satan the Devourer And therefore a Child was he who cryed out for joy at the Emperours conversion O! the Emperour is a Christian q d Emperour Now we shall have Halcion dayes a Heaven upon Earth To whom a wiser person thus replyed But the DEVIL is not a Christian yet And so long as he is not Converted nor Confined to the bottomlesse pit Christians must look for No lesse mischief then he can do Them and Theirs too He will go to the End of his Bounds to a Hairs Breadth 〈◊〉 And here let me adde this Caution Caution 〈◊〉 â—hen your children are under Convictions enquire into Satans Temptations For if once the children be come to the Birth it will be on the Devils part a day of Rebuke and Blasphemy †2 Kin. 19.3 Rebuke to Conviction Convertion Faith Hope Prayer q d It 's too Soon thou art too Young or too Good to need such a Change Or it s too Late thou art too Old and too Wicked to be saved Blasphemy by such suggestions from SATAN against GOD CHRIST the Spirit of grace that the foul may think Unpardonable The Sum of all which is 1 to make a soul Secure and Presume on salvation Without conversion or 2 to drive a soul to Despair of salvation With conversion Eight Docu 8. Examination Take an Acount of your childrens Practices Purposes Pretences Even a Child is known by his Doings whether his work be pure and whether it be right * Pto. 20.11 The neglect of this Duty had like to lost David's Life Absalom intends Rebellion and he pretends Religion I pray thee let me go and pay my Vow which I Vowed to the Lord in Hebron †2 Sam. 15.7 And the King said Go in peace * Ver. 9. Poor David Ah pitifull reply David should have Sifted the businesse about q d How now what Vow a Vow to the Lord and defer to pay it for 40 Years †Ver. 7. what fiery Fit is this you are fallen into how comes it to passe you are Now so conscionable who have been So long carelesse Had David been Considerate Absaloms design had been Frusâ—â—â—â—â— But David makes No more to do Go in peace q d Absalom is in a Very good mind I hope he will Now be a Comfort to me A way goes Absalom to make War with his father This turns David's Tune his Harp into mourning * Job 30.31 Behold my Son which came forth of my bowels seeks my Life †2 Sam. 16 11. And besides Absalom's Death and David's Dolorous Grief this causes a Slaughter of Twenty Thousand men That Phrase hath Too much foundation In nomine Domini incipit omne malum Ninth Docu 9. Partiality Take heed of fond Partiality It 's of evil Consequence It sets that Root which bears Gall * Deu. 29.18 And sets children together by the Ears And makes them Murder one another e g Isaac loved Esau but Rebekah loved Jacob †Gen. 29.28 Isaac called Esau HIS son * Ch. 27.1 and Rebekah spake to Jacob HER son †Ver. 6. Esau was Isaacs boy Jacob was Rebekahs boy What is the fruit of this parental partiality even Esau's Partiality and Enmity to his Father Mother and Brother Esau hated Jacob q d He hath All my mothers heart she hath None for Me and I will have as little for Her The dayes of mourning for my father are at hand then will I Slay my brother Jacob * Ver. 41. q d Not while my loving Father lives to grieve him but when he is Dead and my mother under Dolour I will Double it by my brothers Murder She thinks Birth-right and Blessing and All too little for him but he shall not Long enjoy it nor She him At Esau's threat Jacob flees for his Life yet takes not Warning but loves Joseph more than All his children †Gen. 37.3 For which Love his brethren Hate him conspire to Slay him and Sell him into Egypt to his fathers Sorrow And Gods Providence in this will not justifie Jacobs inordinate Affection nor his sons evil Action N B. Children can quarrell Too soon of their own Heads though parents set them not together by the Ears e g. Two Brothers walked abroad in a Star-light night Said A A Sad Story Would I had a Pasture as large as this Element Said B. Would I had as many Oxen as there be Stars Said A Mr Jer Burroughs and Camerarius Where would you feed them all Said B In your Pasture A What whether I will or no B Yes whether you will or no. A What in Spight of me B Yes in Spight of you And thus from Words to Blows till they Sheathed their Swords in each others
a father may be a Motive to duty The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A father comes of the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he willed desired of the fathers affection to his children which doth Naturally descend to them with desire after their welfare If not Thus a man deserves not the Name of a father They who have been instruments to bring children into a State of Condemnation and care not to bring them into a State of Salvation are these Parents shall Paul travail in birth till Christ be formed in Christians * Gal. 4.19 and be so concerned as to wish himself accursed from Christ for his Kindred †Rom. 9.3 shall Ministers do their utmost to Save children shall the Devil do his utmost to Damn them and shall their own father that Begat them and their mother that Bare them carry it as if they care not whether they are brought forth for a Saviour or a Murderer and are these Parents Monstrum Horrendum NB. Neglect of duty to a Child to humour an angry Wife had like to cost Moses his Life for the Lord sought to Kill him * Exo. 4.24 Let carelesse parents have a Care God do not kill them Quite And let Parents hear themselves spoken to in these Texts Keep this man if by any means he be missing then thy Life shall be for his Life †I K. 20.39 If he Die in his iniquity his Blood will I require at thy hand * Ezek. 3.18 They that are under Such words abroad without Shelter and do not hear it Thunder are very Dull of hearing Second The childs tears at it's Birth Coroll 2. Childs Tears may he a Motive for parents to Pity and Duty These tears seem to Presage its Sorrow The poor child seems to cry to see into what a Stormy Sea it is Lanched in danger to be Swallowed up Soul and Body at once Or to see upon what a Shore of trouble it's Landed to wander in a wildernesse of Wo among wild beasts of Prey Yea so Cruel are the Devils Creatures that poor children are in danger of their Death before their Birth Cruel cruelty The cruel Claws of these wild Beasts sometimes tare the Young out of the Womb before they are Born * Am. 1.13 and the Old out of the Tomb after they are Buried †Ch. 2.1 Third Coroll 3. Childs Dead state The dead condemned State children are Born in and are in till Born again It is a Dead Life between the first and second Birth One passing by the house of a Sinful Sluggard said Here lies not lives Such a One. A natural life is a kind of a Lifelesse Worthlesse life The old youngman A strange Epitaph An old man converted a little before his Death would have this Epitaph on his Tomb Here lies a very Old Man of 3 years old Barlaam being asked how old he was said 45. Said the other Thou seemest to be 70. Yea said Barlaam if you reckon ever since I was Born but I do not Count the time I spent in Sin Lay this Dead Life to Heart Suppose you had a child condemned to Die yet so as there remains a possibility to procure a Pardon The execution hour is concealed in the Kings own breast It may be the child hath Ten Dayes to live it may be not Two Hours How would you bestir you in Such Case how restlesse Night and Day till your poor childs Pardon is procured except Jehoram-like you were bereav'd of Bowels †2 Chron. 21.19 and had not the least Pity left in you This is your childrens Case if unconverted As after the Sentence a malefactor is a Dead man so before the Second birth a child is a Dead child i e Sentenced and Condemned to be Hanged and Burned and Racked in Hell And peradventure you are driving on designs to procure Portions and not Pardons OH Miserable man to morrow may be thy Son or thy Daughters Damning day And if Once the secret set time be Out the poor child is Haled away into Endlesse Wo. Fourth Your condemned child Coroll 4. Supposed sad sense is also to be supposed under a Sad Sense of it's condemned condition Suppose you should Act as if as Insensible of it as a parent is of a childs Soul condemned state And at your Return in the evening after all the trifling Turns you take in a day your poor child should Quaere with a Sad Countenance Father where have you Been to day Here and There about This and That OH Father what have you not been with the King to day and do not know but I may be Hanged to morrow And as you sit Idleing Sleeping or Smoking in the house GOOD Lord father will you sit Thus and let me be Hanged What a Cutting consideration is This OH how Common is it for children to be in a Soul-condemned condition and will parents who professe to believe it Pipe and Pot and Prate away their time while their children stand on the brink of Everlasting Burnings will they take their Recreation while their children are under Condemnation near that execution and End to perish for Ever the Plague of Pharoh is upon such parents hearts WHAT Faith have such in Gods word what Life is in their faith the faith of DEVILS exceeds a Dead faith * Jam. 2.19 Fath. It is very Sad to consider a child in such Case Min. Very SAD in so saying you say Nothing It 's most Deplorable and Lamentable enough to make a mercifull man wish his head Waters and his eyes a fountain of Tears to weep Day and Night for children so Dismally miserable †Jer. 9.1 And its matter of mourning to think how Few Tears fall into Gods Bottle upon this account Fift Coroll 5. The inhumanity and cruelty of such carelesse parents Cruelty They are said to be more Savage than Sea-Monsters for even They draw out the breast and give such to their Young * Lam. 4.3 but these Men-Monsters are like the Ostriches in the wildernesse with a 7-fold Similitude 1 The Ostrich is between an unclean hatefull Bird and a Beast hath part of Both Ostrich defined but No part of Man as the Meraid hath A sad Character for a father 2 Faith outwardly with feathers †Job 39.13 So is a foul Pharisaical father 3 She is Proud What time she lifteth up her self on High she Scorneth the Horse and his Rider * Ver. 18. 4 She is Foolish because God hath deprived her of wisdom †Ver. 17. In danger she hides her Head and then thinks No body sees Her because She sees no body Man thinks he is Safe because he sees not God Man Cannot see he Will not see and then sayes God Shall not see * Psal 94.7 5 She is forgetfull of the great concern She leaveth her egges in the earth and forgetteth that the foot may Crush them or that the wild
all the Ten to signifie that Faith and a New Heart are necessary Antedecents for both Negative and Positive obedience to follow for a man must Be good before he can Do good Eight Note 8. Negatives include Positives Every Negative command includes a Positive command i e when God forbiddeth evil Expressely he biddeth good Implicitly e g Thou shalt have no other gods before me †Exo. 20.3 there is the evil of idolatry forbid Expressely thou shalt have Me for thy God there is the good of choosing God commanded Implicitly Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain * Ver. 7. this is the evil forbid thou shalt talk Vertuously and Graciously of thy God this is the good commanded Thou shalt not Kill commit Adultery Steal c †Ver. 13 14 15. these are evils expressely Forbid thou shalt Prevent murder adultery theft in Others by good counsel if thou canst this is good implicitly Commanded Positives include Negatives And Positive commands include Negative commands e g Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy * Ver. 8. there is good expressely Commanded remember it not to Prophane it with thy Own works words thoughts there is evil implicitly Forbid Honour thy father and thy mother †Ver. 12. is good Commanded dishonour them not is the evil Forbid Ninth Note 9. A negative includes negatives A Negative command includes Many negative commands The sin forbid is forbid in Act Word and Thought and the Occasion of it and whatsoever hath a Tendency to it And these Inclusive commands are Expressed as they are Branched out in the Bible e g Thou shalt have no other gods before me q d No National god imaginable no Personal or private god of wood to worship in thy House no god of Gold in thy Heart thy Self Wife Child House Land Friend Goods Gold shall not be thy gods as they will Be if loved more than Me. And see with what Caution the Occasion of idolatry is forbid in these Texts * Deu. 12.30 Thou shalt not Kill not with Hand Ch. 13.1 3. Mouth murder nor with Tongue to be a Mouth-murderer as some call a Slanderer and so we may call an evil Counceller Not with Heart to be a Heart-murderer he that hates his brother is a murderer †1 Joh. 3.15 Kill not by evil Counsel or bad Example neither Do nor Say any thing that may Tend to or Occasion thy neighbours death in Body or Soul Thou shalt not kill thy Self Not with violent Hands nor with Words spoken against thy own life nor by Carelesnesse of deaths and dangers nor by ill Diet not by Drunkennesse nor by Gluttony Plures periere Gula quam Gladio more die by the Board than by the Sword Thou shalt not commit adultery Not in Act nor in Heart whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his Heart * Mat. 5.28 Christ calleth a Thought an Act to signifie that Smal sin in Mans sight is Great sin in GOD's sight Thou shalt not occasion it by unclean Cogitations and Contemplations nor by adulterous Discourses with Delilahs Remove thy way F AR from her and come not nigh the door of her house †Pro. 5.8 Simile As he that carrieth Gun powder about him had need keep far from Fire so he that carrieth Corruption had need keep far from Temptation As when children meet a Horse Simile Cart or Cow they will if timerous run Ten times farther out of the way than need so let men learn to flee from Sin Keep thee Far from a false matter * Exo. 23.7 Avoid it passe not by it turn from it and passe away †Pro. 4.15 The law is Spiritual * Ro. 7.14 it forbids the Least evil motion and First carnal conception it commands our Spirits and Hearts to be holy it condemneth for the most Secret sin in the Soul It is called the Royal law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Kingly law †Jam. 2.8 it is the law of the King of Kings No earthly Kings law can condemn a man for a secret thought against the King Dissimile but this Divine Law of the King of Heaven can and doth it condemneth a man for the most Secret thought against the Law-giver Tenth Note 10. A positive includes positives A Positive command includes Many positive commands e g Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy q d Remember it to Prepare for it to begin it Early to spend it in holy duties in holy discourses in holy meditations to be in the Spirit to cause all under you to keep it holy Honour thy Father and thy Mother Honour them in Deed in Word in Thought in their Presence in their Absence in their Old Age when tempted by the Devil and by the disobedient to dishonour them when they Please thee when they Displease thee Rebuke and Correct thee N B A Negative command inclusively commands All lawfull means to avoid the evil forbid and a Positive command inclusively commands All lawfull means to perform the good commanded On these things I have but Harped and Touched for One of these Ten Words is a great Text and to shew what is contained in a Commandment would make a long Sermon for thy commandment is Exceeding Broad †Psal 119.96 ¶ This tenth Note having some respect to the Sabbath A lesson for the Lords day leads me to leave this Lesson with you viz Fail not to learn your children to Reverence the Sabbath day FAR be it from you to follow our English Heathens Hatefull Heathens who let their children Loose to serve Satan on the Sabbath day Tell them of the Sore judgments God hath sent upon Sabbath-breakers for which Search the Scriptures and See the Practice of Piety Practice of Piety preferred one of the Best Books but one that ever was written and is like to rise up in judgment against many N B God delivered no other commandment as he delivered this for the Sabbath e g. 1 It hath a Memento presixt viz Remember 2 It is amplified with Arguments more than all the rest except the Second 3 It is delivered Positively keep it holy and Negatively thou shalt not do any work and so is no other commandment delivered FAIL not in this for the Fear of God this Glorious and Fearfull name THE LORD THY GOD * Deu. 28.58 Eleventh Note 11. Heaven and Earth made in Six dayes The GREAT GOD that was but Six dayes in making Heaven and Earth was twice Forty dayes and Forty nights in writing and delivering these Ten Words †Ex. 24.18 to remain a Law and Rule for mans life And Moses was as long waiting Ch. 34.28 prostrate on his Face fasting to receive them * Deu. 9.9 10 11 18. he did neither eat bread nor drink water but did uncessantly attend this Heavenly
they shall be a Sign between Me and You that ye may know that I am the Lord your God Ezek. 20.20 Blessed is the Man that doth this and the Son of man that layeth bold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it Isa 56.2 Also the sons of the Stranger that Joyn themselves to the Lord to serve him Every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it even them will I bring to my hold Mountain and make them joyfull in my House of Prayer Ver. 6 7. And he saw that Rest was Good and the Land that it was Pleasant and bowed his shoulder to bear and became a Servant unto tribute Gen. 49.15 LONDON Printed by J A for the Author 1681. The General Contents of the Third Dialogue THE Parents complaint of himselfe The Parents complaint of Mr S Mr A Mr L. Mr A with his Every day Sabbath confuted Mr L with his Never a day Sabbath confuted The change of the Sabbath for Mr S's conviction The beginning of the Sabbath the times contended for descoursed viz Morning Noon Even Midnight Six Objections against the true time Answered The time of Christs Resurrection occasionally discoursed The day of Adams fall occasionally discoursed Satans old enmity against the Sabbath Noted The month-day and week-day of Christs death discoursed The next day no Sabbath proved The Jews various division of the day into hours Of the Passeover Wave-day Seven-weeks Pentecost The Jews custom in Translating the Passeover The opinion of Pentecost on the first day disproved Of the Disciples meeting on the Pentecost Of Gods countenancing the Pentecost Of Jesus's exact observation of the Passeover and Sabbaths Moral and Ceremonial and the whole Law The day of Jesus's death declared and proved Divers Questions arising thereupon Answered An account of the Authors way in this work The Parent Cautioned and Counselled Ten Directions dropped for the Sabbath day Wherein we have an account Of The Day of Adams fall The day of Jesus's death Of The Sabbath ensuing the Wave-day the Pentecost Of The time of Jesus's burial The time Jesus lay dead Of The time of Jesus's Resurrection The beginning of the Sabbath All contrary to the Common Account A THIRD DIALOGUE Concerning the SABBATH-DAY Min. BEN BEN BEN Ben. Where what who calls me before I can see Min. O! Sleepy-head hear you not low hastily some one knocks at the door Pray rise and know the matter Ben. Sir I have been down to know his name and his businesse and he tells me it s he that sat so long with you under the Tree and he desires to speak with you Presently Min. Strike a light and let him in and tell him I will rise Fath. God Save you Sir I am compelled to come and visit you at an unseasonable time I hope you will hold me excused Min. Sir you are welcome to me but I wonder to see you in Town so Soon and am surprized to see you look so Sad. Pray what is the matter is all well at home Fath. All in health praised be God Parents complaint of Self but I am under Grief upon Grief It hath been a Sad time with me since we sat under the Tree though I concealed it from you in our last conference SAD I have Reason to be Sad indeed to think how sadly I have neglected my poor children Souls O to think how many times we have walked by the way and not a word of God! to think how many times they have been twatling about me in the house and not a word how many times they have been packed to bed and pulled out and not a Word of God have I spoken for their good O it hath cut me to the quick and put me upon prayer for pardon space and grace to do my duty And I did addict my self to it and began to find peace in it But yesterday after the afternoon Sermon as I was instructing my children about the Sabbath Parents complaint of Mr S Mr A Mr L. in came Mr S in anger and told me I kept the wrong day and said I should keep the Seventh day first appointed and never reprealed When he was gone Mr A came in and Laughed at me and my practice as a low thing viz to keep One day in a week and told me I should keep Every day as He did When he was gone Mr L came in and told me I should keep Never a day Sabbath for that command for a Sabbath was Ceremonial and long since ceased at Christ's death And my Children listened to this last with delight and now they slight the Sabbath and whatever I say for it and tell me Mr L is counted a wise man And under this Sorrow upon Sorrow I am so disquieted I am almost distracted In your last conference at end of the Tenth Note when you pressed it upon me to learn my Children to reverence the Sabbath I had a mind to ask you what Scripture proof we have for the change of the Day but I was loth to interrupt you but now being driven out in distresse I pray let me hear your reply to all these Opinions but chiefly for the change of the Sabbath Day Min. Did they use to be thus Opposite Fath. A little by the By when other businesse brought us together but now they came on Purpose and assaulted me as Never before Min. Just now as soon as you are set upon a Solemn work when the good seed is sown then comes the Devil †Lu. 8.12 Indeed you are to be pitied and so are they but I fear some of them will be plagued As for your former Sorrow it s Alway better than laughter * Ecl. 7.3 Sometimes better than joy there is sorrow that Dries the spirit this will Water it and so I praise God for it and passe it But this Last is the Pest that carries the Poyson in it for which I must provide some Antidote to expell it As for my reply to these persons Mr A who keeps every day Sabbath and Mr L who keeps never a day Sabbath Every day Never a day you may put them together for he that keeps Every day keeps Never a day and so look on them as two persons possessed by Satan above the dominion of God and under the dominiof the Devil But let us take them asunder again and speak to them apart ¶ 1 This Every day Sabbath is none of God's ordinance Mr A consuted for God's command is Six dayes shalt thou labour †Exo. 20.9 it must therefore be the Devils ordinance and to him it s observed as the Priests which God did not appoint are said to be ordained for the Devils * 2 Chro. 11 15. Mr A is blown up into the Air with a blast from the bottomlesse pit and puft up with Pride a Sabbath day a week is a weak thing with him he is a 7-fold Saint or under a 7-fold Deceit in the border of Heaven whence he is like
to fall into the belly of Hell ¶ 2) Mr L consuted Mr L who keeps Never a day Sabbath but slights the Sabbath as Ceremonial is to consider 1 The Sabbath was not given first to the Jews or seed of Abram as Ceremonies were Sabbath was made for Man but it was given to Adam as a Publick person for him and his posterity to be obeyed whether man stood or fell and this in Innocency before Ceremonies were in use And though Adam was not subject to wearinesse before sin yet a Sabbath was suitable for him as a Sacred cessation from his calling So God gave Adam a Sabbath and Blessed it i e to make it a blessing to him that kept it and Sanctified it †Gen. 2.3 i e he set it apart for holy use 2 The Sabbath was Certainly observed from Adam to the Law on Sinai though not much expressed in Genesis which is but a very short Epitomy of 2000 years Acts in which time many excellent acts were done which are omitted and not recorded Abrahams observation of the Sabbath day is without dispute because he is so commended for keeping Gods commandments * Ch. 26.5 And that the Sabbath was known to Israel before Sinai you may See †Exo. 16.23 the breach of which command is counted as the breach of all * Ver. 28. 3 This command for a Sabbath is one of the Ten delivered on Sinai before Ceremonies Josephus's Sabbatical river that runs six dayes and rests one will rise up in judgement with Mr L and Mr A. and wrote on two tables of Stone and put into the Ark as no Ceremony ever was Mr L playes the Papist who takes away one and leaves but nine 4 Christs precept for Prayer to prevent flight on the Sabbath which flight was to be 40 years after Ceremonies ceased proves the Sabbath no Ceremony Pray that your flight be not in the Winter q d that will wrong your Bodies neither on the Sabbath †Mat. 24.20 q d that will wrong your Souls Mr A and Mr L are brethren both under a 7-fold deceit to undeceive them let us put them together again to consider viz God in wisdom did so order the change of the Day that though it occasioned two Sabbaths to come together yet there was not Two in a week nor a week without One to signifie there must be nor more nor lesse than One Sabbath in One Week Fath. What say you of Mr S and of the change of the Sabbath Day Min. As for Mr S who denies the change of the Day The chang of the Sabbath I say Though the Change of the Sabbath be not founded out with a Trumpet on Sinai as the Command of the Sabbath was yet have we so much in Scripture as may Satisfie concerning it They that say Give me a plain precept for a practice or I will not regard it may mean Honestly but they speak Ignorantly For if from a Text we can draw a direct sound Inference to prove a practice that being the Sense of Scripture is to be regarded as Scripture it self The sense of Scripture we are to seek as Silver and if this be not to be regarded its vain to use any Scriptural Reason or Argument in discourse as Paul used to do * Act. 17.2 Ch. 18.4 19. Ch. 24.25 or to Study and expound the Scripture by preaching Then put a Boy into a pulpit to read a Chapter for what other Sermon can an able Minister make if nothing but the very words of Scripture must be delivered But let us see some Scriptural proof for this practice ¶ 1 The stone the builders refused O T proof i e for a foundation for Faith and Practice is become the head †Ps 118.22 of the work of Redemption he hath laid the foundation and finished it by his Resurrection This is the day the Lord hath made i e the day of the week on which Jesus rose we will rejoyce and be glad in it * Ver. 24. i e to foresee it by Faith if we live not to see it by Sight Yet prayes pathetically and speedily for it Save now I beseech the O Lord †Ver. 25. God is the Lord which hath shewed us light * Ver. 27. i e to foresse this Day ¶ 2 Thus saith the Lord my salvation is near to come †Isa 56.1 i e Actually it was come before Virtually Blessed is the man that doth This and the son of man that layeth Hold on it that keepth the Sabbath * Ver. 2. i e a Sabbath in remembrance of Christ's Actual redemption ¶ 3 When these 7 dayes are expired i e Eight is a Sabbatical and Vital Number by the death and Resurrectiof Jesus it i e the Sabbath shall be upon the Eight day and so forward the first day added to seven is the eight day and I will accept you saith the Lord God †Ezek. 43.27 ¶ 1 After Jesus's resurrection he said to his Disciples All power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth * Mat. 28.18 which implies power to change the Sabbath And Christ gave them Commission to teach the Nations to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them †Ver. 19 20. i e nor more nor lesse N B If Jesus did not ordain the first day Sabbath the Disciples by their practice have taught England and other Nations to observe a New Sabbath of their Own invention ¶ 2 The Disciples assembled on the first day and shut the doors for fear of the Jews i e because it was in opposition to their seventh day Sabbath and Christ came and Sealed their New Sabbath with his sweet presence * Joh. 20.19 20. ¶ 2 Jesus was seen of the Apostles 40 dayes speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God †Act. 1.3 of which the Sabbath is One and none of the least ¶ 4 The Disciples came together to break bread upon the first day of the week * Chap. 20.7 in remembrance of Jesus for whose sake they observed that day ¶ 5 The congregation and Collection of the Churches of Galatia and Corinth upon the first day of the week was by the Apostles order †1 Cor. 16.1 2. to these at Corinth by writing and saith he the things which I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord * Ch. 14.37 ¶ 6 John being in Patmos said I was in the spirit on the Lords day †Rev. 1.10 A desert Island in the Aegean Sea He does not give the day this name but the day on which he was in the spirit he Signifies by its name so well know to the Churches to whom he wrote i e the Lords day so called upon the same account as the Supper is called the Lords Supper viz because Jesus who is Lord of all did institute both to be kept in remembrance of him ¶ 7. The first day is
in Heaven and Hell at once †Ps 139.8 And Jesus was in Heaven and Earth at once before his death * Joh. 3.13 and why not in Heaven and Hell at once after his death Take heed of unsound notions of a Saviour if Jesus hath not been in Hell for you I fear you must be there for your Self Fath. Well! let it passe If it be of such concern to know when the Sabbath begins tell me the time for there are divers opinions about it Min. I need not instance every hour of the day The Beginning of the Sabbath but onely the time contended for viz Morning Noon Even Midnight and the measure of the day viz 12 hours and 24 hours ¶ 1 I need not deny that it begins at Noon as the Gipsies count as if that time was contended for in England Not at Noon but though it be not the Plea it is the Practice of some professors who begin to assemble in Gods service after noon as it were by way of Recreation to serve God by the halves Such have lost half the Sabbath long since And it is to be wished they turn not Aminomians and Libertines to lose it all and themselves too at length for they by whom God is but half Served are like to be but half Saved ¶ 2 Some Roman-like plead for Midnight to begin and end the Sabbath Not at Midnight for which they produce two Texts 1 Paul preached on the first day till Midnight †Act. 20.7 which is no ground for this beginning for he preached till midnight because he was to depart next morning with a final Farewell 2 Samson arose at midnight and carried away the gate of Gaza * Judg. 16.3 which say such was a Type of Christs rising at midnight Samson was a Type of Christ in 20 things but that he was a Type of Christs death and resurrection in laying a piece of a night upon pleasure is a very unlikely matter Had he lay 3 nights and dayes in a dungeon there had been some colour for it ¶ 3 For the Morning many will plead Not in the Morning and so I suppose will you but I shall oppose this Time time it how you will and say what you can for it Fath. I will try that what if it begin at Spring of day and end at Dark night Min. Not so for in some Countries the day will be a month long North. for so long at least sometime of the year does day-light last Fath. What if the Sabbath begin at Sun-rise and end at Sun-set Min. Not so for in some Countries the Sabbath would be more than a Month long In Russia Muscovia Tartaria for so long goes the Sun a Circular course round about them in sight except Clouds come between as you would easily understand if I had a Globe in my hand Fath. We have Morning and Even all the year we may begin at morning and end at night Min. Not so it s no meet measure for the length of a Sabbath in June will be twice as long as in December Fath. But if we begin at Six and end at Six the Sabbaths will be all of a length all the year now I hope I have hit on it Min. Not so for a Sabbath must be the Seventh part of Time a natural day of 24 hours It is not enough to make one Sabbath equal with another but also equal with another day Fath. Then it must be from morning to morning from Spring of day to Spring of day or from Sun rise to Sun rise Min. Not so for then the precedent day hath two nights or this precedent night belongs to no day Not to the seventh day for that ends at Even nor to the first day if it begins in the Morning and so is cut off from both dayes like Job's cursed night which he would have disjoyned from the dayes of the year †Job 3.6 But who dares act so contrary to Gods ordinance who dare divide the night from the day and Separate what God hath Joyned Fath. I can say no more for the Morning Min. Then we are come to the fourth and last time under Instance Even the beginning of the Sabbath viz the Even and this I affirm to be the beginning of the Sabbath and from Even to Even is the measure of the Sabbath from the beginning to the end of the world At first where the Sixth day ended the Seventh day successively began so where the Seventh day Sabbath ended i e at Even the first day Sabbath began And thus of Ceremonial Sabbaths from Even to Even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath * Lev. 23.32 Fath. God made the day to beain at Even at first Object 1 but aster That world was drowned and a New world to spring out of the Ark it seems the beginning of the day was altered to morning for saith God Day and night shall not cease †Gen. 8.22 And morning is put before Even in this Psalm * Ps 92.2 the Title of which is A Psalm for the Sabbath day Ergo the Sabbath begins in the morning Min. God that made the world made the day to begin at Even from the beginning to the end of the world If after this God alters the order of his Words that does not alter the order of his Works Aaron was older than Moses †Exo. 7.7 therefore saith God These are that Aaron and Moses * Chap. 26. in the next verse it is these are that Moses and Aaron †Ver. 27. You may as well say Aaron was older than Moses at First but Moses was older than Aaron at Last while they lived gogether as to say The night was before the day at first but now the day is before the night Honour thy Father and thy mother * Ex. 20.12 the father is put first for Adam was first formed then Eve †1 Tim. 2.13 By order of the Creation of Man and first institution of Marriage the man is to be older than the woman else marriages are Monsters Yet God alters his order of words viz Ye shall fear every man his Mother and his father * Lev. 19.3 this is because children are more prone to despise their mothers than their fathers Render to Cesar the things that are Cesars and to God the things that are Gods †Mar. 12.17 by your argument Cesar was before God or to be preferred before him Fath. But some say Object 2 The seventh day was not butted and bounded with Even and Morning as the Six dayes were Ergo it did not begain at Even as they did it s a day without night Min. If a man had 7 pound in his purse Simile and tells you he hath spent just 6 pound does he need to tell you what remains Simile If I had 7 dayes natural allowed me to live in a house and tell you I have spent just 6
not expressed It is now a Maxime viz If the day begins in the morning Jesus did not rise on the first day Fath. Mary's coming to the sepulchre in the morning seems to signifie Jesus was to rise in the morning Min. Not at all it was not the least sign of his rising in the morning nor came they with any expectation of his Resurrection but to anoint him †Mar. 16.1 as if he had been to lay in the grave as another dead man When Jesues foretold his rising from the dead his Disciples questioned what the rising from the dead should mean * Chap. 9.10 When Jesus told them he should be mocked spitted on scourged put to death and rise the third day they understood none of these things †Lu. 18.34 And when they saw he was risen yet they knew not the Scripture that he must rise again from the dead * Job 20.9 Fath. But the plainest proof for Christs Resurrection in the morning you leave out †Mar. 16.9 Min. It seems you will bring it in but it will do you no service for the support of this opinion Take this Text as translated viz When Jesus was risen early and the Sense is when it was early Jesus was risen which does no more prove Jesus rose in the morning than to say at noon Jesus is risen proves he rose at Noon Or than that saying the next Even the Lord is risen * Lu. 24.34 proves he rose that Even Or that expression of Paul so long after Christs Resurrection now is Christ risen †1 Cor. 15.20 proves Jesus rose just then Fath. When then do you suppose Jesus rose Min. I do more than suppose for I am fully satisfied Time of Jesus's rising that Jesus rose from the dead in the Even when the Jews Sabbath ended and our Sabbath began for it is the Resurrection of Jesus that causes the Jews Sabbath to cease and gives Being and Beginning to our Sabbath which begins at â—â—en as I have proved This opinion of Christs â—â—â—ng at Even I will prove by the same Scripturâ— you produce to prove he rose in the Morning viz Jesus was risen early the first day * Mar. 16.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies both early and morning Sometimes when fo is translated morning it signifies a time long before day eg 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the morning rising up a great while before day †Mar. 1.35 The first day does not properly expresse the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first of the Sabbath ie the first Time or beginning of the Sabbath N B I am A Ω the beginning and the end the first and the last * Rev. 22.13 beginning and first are One end all last are One and all signifie Christs Eternity the former signifies he is From everlasting the latter that he is To everlasting This is to shew you that by first the beginning of the day is intended And this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first is sometimes translated beginning eg the latter end is worse than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beginning †2 Pet. 2.20 And thus we are to take this Text * Mar. 16.9 Jesus rose early a great while before day at the first or beginning of the Sabbath If some Critick was in our company he would tell us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sabbath signifies sometimes a week e g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I fast twice on the Sabbath †Lu. 18.12 i e two dayes a week Here its necessary to understand it a week for its improper to say I fast twice a day but there is no necessity of such a Sense here * Mar. 16.9 yet if I grant it all is One for the beginning of the week and of the Sabbath is at the Same time ¶ For farther satisfaction N B Jesus was Buried at Even And it was at the very End of the day for the day being almost at end and Christ with his companions still on the Crosse the Jews being netled with fear they should hang there on their high Sabbath besought Pilate that their legs might be broken †Job 19.31 and so dispatched Then came the Souldiers and braks the legs of the theeves * Ver. 32. but seeing Jesus dead brake not his legs †Ver. 33. but one of them with a spear pierced his side * Ver. 34. q d Thou hangest here like a hypocrite feigning thy self dead to save thy Shanks but I will give thee a touch shall try thee Now in the place where Jesus was crucified was a garden and in the garden a sepulchre there laid they Jesus for the sepulchre was nigh at hand †Ver. 41 42. They hurried him into that hole being hard by and had not time to carry him farther because their Sabbath was about to begin Luke saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sabbath began to shine * Luk. 23.54 i e with Star-light At this Juncture of time when that day ended and the next began was Jesus buried Ergo Jesus must needs rise in the Even to complete the time Prefixt for his laying dead Fath. If Jesus rose in the Even he lay but a day and a night in the grave for he was buried at end of the Sixth day and by your count rose at end of the Seventh day how then did he fulfill his word in rising on the third day Min. Jesus did fulfill his word and we must believe it if we understand it not more than the mystery of the Trinity But why do you say Jesus died on the Sixth day Fath. O! the Scripture is plain he died the day before the Seventh day Sabbath And I have seen it thus confirmed by the learned viz Adam fell on the Sixth day proved by this Text †Ps 49.12 and the Paschal lamb was slain on the Sixth day and Jesus died on the Sixth day and all about the same hour These are Parallel proofs Adam's fall on the Sixth day and the Lambs death on the Sixth day prove Jesus's death on the Sixth day and Jesus's death on the Sixth day proves Adams fall on the Sixth day as Jesus must dye virtually that day and hour Adam sinned so actually that day and hour of the week This mutual harmony makes all very clear Min. As pithily proved as if you had said The King of Spain and forty thousand men Went up the Hill and then came down agen What a fine story is here and very clear as sometime a thing looks for want of light to look on it Simile There is a sort of rotten wood that shines at Night but you see no lustre in it at Noon That the Paschal lamb was slain on the Sixth day as saith your Author see his pithy proof * Ex. 12.6 which Text tells the day of the Month not of the Week And whether he falsisies Ainsworth on Exod Pag. 37. Ainsworth whom he quotes
the week he shall cause the Sacrifice and Oblation to cease * Ver. 27. this One Week was an Ordinary week of 7 dayes the Midst of which is the Fourth day or Middle day The time Jesus lay Dead having 3 dayes before it and 3 dayes after it all which of these 3 last Jesus lay dead So you may see though the Week-day of Jesus's death so long since be not known to this Day yet this day was foretold before Christs Birth by the Scriptures of Truth in which God drops words in the Dark to see if men will feel after him †Act. 17.26 27. Thus I have given you the Testimony of Gods two Testaments to prove my Opinion Fath. I confesse this is more than I looked for but if Christ lay so long dead it will occasion some more Questions Min. Bring out them Questions and let nothing remain to broile at bottom Fath. If there was a day between the 2 Sabbaths why did the Jews go to Pilate for an Order to secure the Sepulchre on a high Sabbath * Mat. 27.62 and not stay till next day Min. As necessity hath no Law so necessity hath no Holy-dayes Necessitas non habet Ferias What cannot be done Before nor deferred till After may be done on the Sabbath It could not be done Before their crowns were so full of concern to get Christ crucified there wanted room for that consideration And they had been Up the night before that day Too but having Slept upon it and settled their wicked wits now Sir we remember that that deceiver said After 3 dayes I will rise again †Mat. 27.63 And it cannot be omitted till to morrow q d So he may be stole away to night by his deceitfull Disciples * Ver. 64. Fath. If there was a day for work between the Sabbaths why did not them zealous women bring their Spices on that day but stay till after the 7 day Min. Why lay the Popish Lords in the Tower why the Prisoners in Newgate Fath. Because they cannot get out Min. No more could they get in The Jews made the sepulchre Sure sealing the Stone and setting a Watch †Ver. 66. It was made fast for 3 dayes to prove Christ an Impostor Fath. Why did they stay till morning and not come at Even at the 3 dayes end Min. Why do not fearfull folk who are scared at their own Shadows go into Church-yards among graves at midnight Fath. Indeed because they dare not Min. No more durst they go into a Tomb at night to the Dead Frights make folks fearfull it had been a Terrible time with them When they came in the Morning they feared to go in Mary stooped down and looked in * Joh. 20.11 and the Disciple whom Jesus loved came Running to the Sepulchre yet went not He in †V. 2 4 5. Fath. How does your Opinion accord with this expression he rose again the third day * 1 Cor. 15.4 Min. This phrase the third day is most miserably mistaken if thus taken A miserable mistake viz Friday 1 Saturday 2 Sunday 3 as if the day of Christs Death and the day of his Resurrection were 2 of the 3 dayes for neither is the One or the Other any of that number But the third day must be understood by these Standing Rules viz the Son of man shall be 3 dayes and 3 nights in the heart of the earth †Mat. 12.40 The Son of man must be killed and After 3 dayes rise again * Mar. 8.31 Christ's enemies could remember his words though his friends forget them viz We remember that deceiver said After 3 dayes I will rise again †Mat. 27.63 The Angel said to the women He is risen as He said * Chap. 28.5 6. i e when the dayes and nights were ended which he prefixed On the first day said Cleopas to Christ To day is the third day since these things were done †Lu. 24.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is a dark Text and thus to be translated To day the third day is Gone since these things were done * PAS LEX pag 43. Esther fasted 3 dayes night and day †Est 4.16 yet she is said to put on her Royal apparell to approach to the King on the third day * chap. 5.1 completo die tertio Junius i e at end of the third day Thus my Opinion does accord with the Word but how does Gods word and You agree from the beginning of your count viz Friday at Even to the time when Jesus rose is but a Night and a Day and from the beginning to the end i e the next morning is but 2 Nights and a Day how did Jesus fulfill his word Fath. Synechdochically I suppose Jesus was buried a little bit before the Sixth day ended and I count That for a day and that he lay a moment on the first day morning and I count That for a day Min. Yet here is but 3 dayes and 2 nights here is not a Bit of a third night Fath. Then the night preceeding the Sixth day must make it up Min. And can you imagine this to be Christs meaning In all this you do little better than say Jesus the man of Sorrow Jested Joqued and Juggled with his death I wonder in what Darknesse we over-look this word NIGHT If Jesus had said The Son of man shall lay 3 Dayes dead you had some Plea for your Opinion for Day sometime signifies Day without Night and so Part of a day natural but it is 3 dayes and 3 nights And I would know where in all the Bible this phrase day night does once signifie Day without Night or Night without Day except in Heaven or Hell But your First day as you call a Bit is without Night and your Last day as you call a Night is without Day By your Synechdochical rule you may argue that Jesus lay 3 Years or 3 Ages dead for Day figuratively signifies a Year or an Age. A Hellhinge A most miserable mistake This taking Scriptures Figuratively which should be taken Literally is the Hinge on which them poor deceived people called Quakers turn all into confusion and overturn all the Fundamental truths of the Gospel viz The birth life death burial resurrection ascension intercession second coming of Christ the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment yea Heaven and Hell and all Figurative and Within †O! Great Gulf Monstrum Horrendum This is a piece of the Pride of that Humble people who count the Common literal sense of Texts too Low for them Fath. How may we know when a Scripture is to be taken in a Figurative Sense Min. When a Literal sense is absurd or contrary to the Analogie of Faith or good morality of Life e g To eat the flesh of Jesus to drink his blood to cut off a right hand to pluck out a right eye To take such