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
the order of Aaron nor as a Prophet for their unction shewed their lawfull successour whereas he succeeded none for all before him were thieves and robbers Iohn 10. insinuating that all the Prophets were either after him or came along with him art thou the Christ said the Messengers to Iohn is not this the Christ said the woman of Samaria that is he who was to be the Messiah the anointed one and this name of Christian from Vnction is most proper for men to use they if believing receiving some measure of that holy oyl the Spirit of God which was given to him without measure But some contrary to this name delight in the word Catholick and some of these Catholicks again glorie in the appellation Iesuits and both of these scandalously use some countries in particularly in Italy and in Rome it self to make the glorious and honourable name of Christian to signify an Idiot a Dolt a very fool which shews their impious arrogance in boasting of what is proper to Rome nor Romes Doctrine as now taught the word Catholick being of no worth unlesse Holy be added and their spiritualiz'd pride in stamping the name Iesus upon a few making him the head of a faction assuming a name so glorious so ineffable as if salvation were only to be found in their colledges and Christ himself to be only of their order GIVE us the name of Christian signifying out hops in his Authority and the sense of it also as heirs of his purchase together with the obligation of it as being bound to his doctrine chiefly first in reprobating the worlds vanity for Io. 6.15 perceiving that they would come and take him by force to make him a King he departed next strennously to exercise repentance for he was the lamb slain then fervidly to exercise Charity for he prayed for his enemies and lastly studying purity in the whole man for he taxed the Pharisees for cleaning the outside of the Cup. SO being Christians in truth let 's leave others to boast of being Catholicks and brag of their Iesuitism we shal exult in our Lord Iesus Christ honouring revering but not dareing to assume the name Iesus there being no other name under heaven by which we can be saved Christian including only our duty obedience and respect unto Christ whereas Iesus imploys his office and benifits towards us and therefore no project how devoutly so-ever carried on ought to appear under that notion in the world and truly the interpretation of the same being known the inapâ—nesse thereof as to Ignatius Disciples would as clearly appear as the incongruous name Cosmographers give to the Magelanican sea calling it Mare Pacificum that is peaceable whereas the Pilot finds it still rageing and stormy which they are to that degree that they are a burthen a curse and cursed by the generality of that Church wherein they so monstrously breed and if obedience Laws designs scops give names they are neither to be called Ignatians nor Iesuits but Popelings IESVS is his name and Salvation is his office and our profession proclaims our acceptance of him for a Saviour yet who will â—enter a cut or a bruise because he hath a salve or oyntment or break his arm upon confidence of a skilfull Chirurgeon So no lesse warrinesse against offending issueth from the knowledge of a born Redeemer whom we are to use not as Mountebanks for sale of their balsoms viz try his efficacy or skill by putting our selves upon spiritual hazards and run risks in eternal concerns but as wise men avoid both danger and infection and either happening consult him as we do a learned wise Phisician agaiâ—â—t the impurity of our birth unrulinesse of our lâ—â—es and horrour of our death against all which he is a Saviour and ready to help for he was called Iesus IT hath been an old complaint that the celebration of our Lords Nativity in these days hath been polluted by Pagan-like behaviour as if by it we had been liberate from God Sabbaths and Temptations and tyed to nothing but idleness gluttonness and wantonnesse not as God but as if the Devil had been incarnat and this is not of yesterday for we find the Ancients exprobating the case with Christians for their beholding observing some wanton rites of Ianus at this time celebrated yet their zeal was attended with greater knowledge then to raze these dayes out or expunge them from the Kalendar but rather their people from sin the observation of which time being accounted by them as it is yet with the Churches of the Saints at home or abroad reform'd a godly a goodly practice the protestants in Holland France Switzerland Germany c. joins in this practice with the Church of old and we as Brethren ought in charity not to condemn them though we withdraw our Amen In not consenting to that observance LET us abhorring the lasciviousnesse of the Gentile the scandalous practice of the irreligious equally avoiding the maliciousnesse of the Iew serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling Circumcising our selves in our flesh externally by seemlinesse in our apparel to be in our actings irreprehensible and in our speech that it be not contemptible and in the Spirit also internally which consists likewise in three as in our thoughts that they be holy in our affections that they be pure and in our purposes that they be honest all which is most necessary though they may be thought severe as was cutting off the prepuce of the foreskin under the Law by â— knife importing how fast sin stuck and how dear lust is BVT off it must or we shall be cut off râ—ther then which let it go and as about this time there was for our good a new birth a new mother a new Son a new Song a new Marriage a new Spouse a new Brid a new Testament a new Inheritance a new Sacrifice a new Sign a new Child a new Yâ—ar we ought to have new lives laying aside the old leaven of malice wrath envy and all uncharitablenesse going beyond that is exceeding the superstitiousness not to say the righteousness of those Pharisees the Iews who will not eat what is either sour or bitter on their new-years-day but sweet almonds figs rasins as also fish a type of that candor inoffensivenesse that they are to shew towards all the year after before whom their good works must abound and multiply as fish in the Sea that is numerously exercising our selves sincerely at all times in the things that may accompany Salvation and wherewith one may edifie another unto which Circumcion of old did morally enforce and Christs Baptism with ours also doctrinally proposeth IN the Kingdome of Portugal there hath been for above three hundreth years an order of Knight-hood entitled of Iesus Christ that King being Soveraign of the order and held in great esteem not to sensure the Acts of Princes if Cnicht or Knight in our old Saxon English be interpreted a servant as Iames and S.
or any thing relating to the death of Christ had been appointed for a curse so ineffable are the Mysteries of his CROSSE and horrours of his suffering and yet his drinking thereof that is the enduring and undergoing of them exceedingly pourtrays the vehemency of his desire for accomplishing mans happinesse which all his Sermons miracles actings watchings fastings evince saying still I thirst but at last conquered and triumphed over the Devils and men makeing us this day to blesse the Lord in the house of the Lord as did our elder Brethren in the day of Iehosophat when fighting againâ—t the Moabits and Ammonits in this same ground calling it Baracha that is blessing 2. Chro. 20. THE curses being removed due to fallen man for sin maketh no death to be though the sinner may dâ— accursed wherefore in death the tree is still and may be used though in honour to our Saviour the use of the crosse was abolished by Constantin the first Christian Emperour haveing seen before his famous battel with the Infidel Maxentius in the South a shining crosse in the air with this inscription in hoc vince he conquer'd by which the Church had peace round about Christ sent his Disciples two and two into every City where he was to come to prepare eyes ears and heart for his own reception that at his comeing they might receive the Holy Ghost so eminent was his thirst so longing his desire whether in eaâ—th or heaven for mans benefit for mans Salvation DAVID in many things was a typ of Christ and in this prefigured him also that as the Hart panted after the water brooks so panted his soul after God David in Christ was crucifâ—ed and Christ in David thirsted as the Hart which beast bearing naturally an antipathy to Serpents first sucks them out of their holes then rents them they again when not prevailing by force claspeth about his horns lyeth on his back to bit he for defence roulleth on his back and brusing them â—layeth them with which he is so heated that he is not at rest until he drink the applicablenesse of which to Christ is conspicuous who by the power of his breath commanded the Devils out of the possessed and by lying on his back a few hours in the grave overcame their greatest force before which how mightily he did glocitare pant and roare out that terrible cry My God my God why hast thou forsaken me an expostulation in death shewing the things he suffered and contents of what we are to do speaking this for his peoples instruction in taking inspection in calamitous times into the principal cause of their distressâ—s where faulty with the thief to say we indeed justly if otherwise sinceâ—ity appear in our tendencies to please him then to plead with him Remember Lord said Hezekiah I have walked before thee with a perfect heart why then should I dy Childlesse why should thy promise made to my Father David fail in me THOVGH with Iob for a while we suffer for secret causes yet with him let us hold fast our Faith as Christ not saying O God but My God my God why hast thou forsaken me words that discover so much of a man that but for to Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise we might demure upon his being God and in themselves hard to be understood yet this is perceptible that in strong temptations the truth of things being hid we judge of them and of our own state worse then they are the ingemination shews innocence to be enflamed because it suffered and the affluence of his sorrows so directed as to Ecclipse in him the wonted consolations in the Fathers fellowship which though wanting yet he endured his own zeal unexpressibly irritating him for â—ins removing his teeth on the CROSSE being set on edge because we in the field so greedily had eaten sour grapes CEDRON is also said to be black from it's shadinesse as being shadow'd by the mount of Olives over which David pâ—ssed bare-headed and weeping his Son our Lord was appointed for the same pilgrimage though not upon the same ground David weeping for his Son who had moved Rebellion Christ weep'd for sins committed by Rebellion David saw something in himself meriting that blacknesse and therefore cry'd Christ saw that nothing was in man that deserved clearnesse yet that his head might want no oyntment and that his garments might be always white he travelled towards this black brook under Olives the very place inspiring this observe that because of it's fruitfulnesse of oyl used in medâ—caments and one of the ingredients of the Samaritans recipe for the cure of the wounded traveller our Lords death is declared proper for cure of our spiritual wounds for strengthning our weaknesse in wrestling against principalities and powers Devils who may by permission embitter our waters yet as the horn of the Vnicorn is medicinal in healing infected fountains the plunging whereof by it causing other beasts to drink securely so application to his CROSSE as Moses to the tree Exod. 15. maketh our bitter waters to become sweet our afflictions to become easy our burthen to become light he having antidoted their evil by drinking that is by bearing of them before us yea by it our sins shall our very lusts shall have a tendency for good the remembring of Piters sin made him bitterly weep yet may we not say it made him diligently to watch he afterward not comparing himself with others attested his own Love not falling back again into the condemnation of the Devil by over-rating of himself FILTH or Earth may cause ones hands to scour the better and after washing to become the whiter this was designed in his blood viz. that we should be pure white and holy by washing our selves therein his bloud having that property to make our very garments white as in the vision Reve. â— hinting at that remission of sin which by blood was obtained in the Law As Herod therefore sought this Holy Childs life to take it and destroy it let us seek his death that is the benefit of it that we may live by it and in it with as great earnestnesse as he laid it down for he is said to drink of the brook in the way IN the way that is walking forward that is takeing no rest untill as Naomi he had setled his Church he being that Goel Ruth 3.9 the next kinsman appointed Redeemer of his Church and by right of inheritance to betroth the Gentile Church as Ruth unto himself he as Boaz being a Jew born in Bethlehem not by pulling of his shoe but by being stripped of his garments yea robbed of his life Judas lingred as did Lot but was â—oused with a what thou dost do quickly a charge not enjoyning diligence but evidencing impatience wishing for and suggesting sufferance of that which a treacherous heart had in dissimulation contrived and concealing from the other Apostles his treason by this declaration least a moments stay had been
self experience the brusing of the serpents head PROVIDED he come not as Iudas to betray him or his cause for love of this present world the poyson whereof infecting the heart of Iudas to mercilesse treacherie eating up the bowels of compassion made to retaliat his crime his own bowels to be cast into the earth yet not so low but they stand as a beacon that we may avoid an evill custome pilfring and stealing the consequence thereof an evill conscience and the perfection of that the place prepared for hypocrites and unbelievers but what Pilat said thy own nation have delivered thee unto me may both Turk and Pagan say of Christ the lives of Christians scandalizing the nations through avarice pride interest and malice contradicting that good confession My kingdom is not of this world securing Pilat from fear of rebellion or disturbance in his Government by stratagems of war or engines of State whereas by both we seek not only to invade the territories and dominions of those differing from us but maligâ—s corrupts deâ—ames enviously calling away away with them who in principles of Religion are one with our selves AS Iudas avarice one the on hand â—o Peter's Arrogance is to be avoided on the other ingoing over this brook he also went with Christ arrogating to himself what was not in him he seemed as the Pharisee to despise others and gave to his Master a flat contradictory speech in the vehemency of his supposed constancy a warning for the strongest to say I am weak since his fall from the occasion of it a Woman a Maid a Wench pricks the bladder of self confidence and causes the informed to bear a low sail least if by his example doctrine be not drawn of humility Pride become our ruine as we see in those days in which holinesse that is strictnesse getting an honourable name becomes a shelter a pent house for more subtile sinners their subtilty being only in this viz in a high ungrounded conceit of themselves from which if we this day arise it shall be good-friday forgetting the lâ—cks which by many of you is eat this day as a proper food as well as the onyons and garlike of earthly sensuality makeing the breath of our Spiritual converse too too ranky fâ—ast upon the sour herbs of lowly and repentant considerations being circumcis'd Israelits and proper for the Paschal Lamb of the Gospel compensing the dâ—shonour we have given the most high by sinfull because fleshly dainties by the sorrow and sighings bitter reflections from a mortified because converted soul for denying the Lord that bought us being first remembred by the Cock croâ—ing next by Iesus looking that is by the sound of the word next by meditation thereof remembring he said the Lord resisteth the proud but giveth Grace to the humble as the justifying the Publican in the paâ—able discovers THE ancients in their baptism did dip or sprinkle three times the baptized in remembrance of the holy Trinity or the three dayes lying in the grave of the Son of man that even in this demersion they might be conformed to the sufferings of their Lord and how hath S. Pa. boasted of his being crucifyed with Christ and presseth to the likenesse of his death for our being crucified by keeping from the filthinesse of the flesh and walking with Zacharias Righteously one hand being nailed that is bound up against the injustice of the world and with Elizabeth Blamlesly the other hand detained from the intemperance of the world making straight paths for our feet in a prudent heeding of our ways our hearts and sides pierced with the spear or sword of the word of God and thence as bloud and water to flow forth Love to God charity to man crowned with the sharp thorns of inward compunction for our folly and of outward compassion for our Brothers adversity beholding the solidity of this world to be but emptinesse of a Spunge and all it's delights as Vineger to the teeth forbearing to drink of that Myrhe of envy malice and all uncharitablenesse wherewith the world doth in extremity furnish her prisoners and captives as Christ knew THEN may the soul cry the prince of this world cometh and findeth nothing in me and again Father into thy hands I commit my Spirit which at the bowing down of the head in giving up the Ghost by dying to sin shall cause thy soul be cloathed with the fin linnen of the Saints and be admitted into the Paradise of joy the body being hid during the three days of suffering what God shall impose labouring to keep a good conscience and grieving for the abominations of the world after which in the morning of the Resurrection by the Ministry of the Angels meet the Lord in those mountains of Galile whereof he hath told us that is in the clouds IF any will be so charitable as who should not to heed and see where Christ is laid remember he hath been laid in three Sepulchers or places first in the Vnity of the two new Testaments which is as the Virgins womb next in the bosome of the Church which is as the manger the third is Iosephs rock which is the soul and heart of the elect watch this last and make it as sure as you can but wake him not by the noise tumult or rumbling of unruly and unholy because unruly cogitations which are not pleasing to him but rather provide oyntments with Nicodemus of Myrhe in continence and chastity of spiritual sorrow for all delinquencies of Aloes in withdrawing from such as are disorderly and cleansing your selves from the sin that so easily besets makeing a mixture of both these by eyeing the doctrine of the Law which requires inoffensivenesse towards God and man and working them into an oyntment wherewith to enbalm the poor members of the body of Christ refreshing them that their loines may blesse you THE Paschal lamb was slain in the evening so was Christ which it prefigured giveing up the Ghost about the ninth hour that is three in the afternoon he came to give light unto the world which by his life doctrine and miracles he did effectuat and none hateth him but they who hate the light least he should detect their evil deeds he came in the evening of the world to enlighten the Gentiles and be the glory of his people Israel he crossed the bâ—ook Cedron in the evening before he suffered still endeavoring to have the end of things good Iudas leaveth him in the evening Peter boasted of himself in the evening he enlightned both because he forwarned both favoring neither the one nor regarding the other looking still to the close of things a policy yet Christianity mantaiâ—s allowing good beginings but approveth only continuance in good Indâ—â— had a fair morning and began well ended miserably selling his Master and buying his own damnation for three pound fifteen shilling sterling his rendition of it not abating one farthing of the guilt his confession at it not assoiling
Godhead had been so many gracious mistakes in her of the Angels Anunciation so it may be some are now offended and those even good at this memorial of our Lords passion accounting it Idolatry to speak so particularly of his death at this time and indeed as Mary so the Church of Christ which is his Mother is yet wounded by slanders and misreports and made to drink of the brook and taste of those black waters some of her Children offer to her But know that as Christ was innocenâ— for all his dâ—inking and harmlesse though crucifiâ—d to death as Iudas will proclaim him though not yet judged by Pilat who found no fault in him and his wife who accounted him a Just man as he was Ceremonialy being circumcis'd Moraly being subject to his parents politically paying tribute religiously for he gave eyes to the blind knowledge to the ignorant IN summe the reid heifer was to be without spot and he was found without sin though put to death as seditious and with seditious persons executed as most guilty whence that word King is affixed on the Cross in scorn to the Iews for except for one crime two dyed not in one day among them therefore the three dyed as troublers of the peace thou art said the other thief in the same condemnation viz. with our Saviour as dying for the same cause with them and they suffering all for one thing viz. Sedition Luk. 23. yet as Christ If I have done evill bear witnesse of the evill if not why smytest thou me so me thinks this day speaks to our Opinionators I say this day in which he was lifted up and though innocent accounting it superstition to behold him on it or it to mind us of him his white robâ—s this day worn darkly shews his non-guiltinesse and the voice of our Brothers bloud calling to heaven it is strange if the sound may not be observed we find Pilat to have been a Bastard and in sober sadnesse there is none will condemn Christ nor Christs Disciples that are legitimatly begotten of the Church whether ancient or modern in this holy service of attending to behold the man for know THE Church reformed keepeth this day and others relating to the mysteries of our redemption expressed in sacred Writ as Germany Helvetia Hungaria Transylvania Suitzerland France Holland haveing printed Sermons in and upon those days preached and were the least of these three memorable things said to be in the death of Christ observed we should not account them Children of the Church who would condemn these there brethren one is Patience be not therefore offended that the Church primitive observed such days holily though they could not as they did not attempt to make them holy or that the Church Reformed estimats them worthy of celebration being anual catechisms for edification the other is Humility and none here ought to be so unsober in their talk or so haughty in their own conceit as to account the Church of God for so many ages not so wise nor the present Church not pure nor so holy as themselves the last is Charity and therefore let none condemn them in this their practice noâ— us their brethren in our conformity to which if they assent not they may withdraw but not judge for the Lord cometh the judge is even at the door IF this will not stop some mens mouths but will still call crucifie it crucifie it I shall â—ay more then Father forgive them for they know not what they do for as the brazen serpent was lifted up when the Isralites were stinged with serpents though as Naturalists observe looking upon brasse is hurtful to those so affected who knoweth but as the Centuâ—ion such who may come to crucifie this service or with the rabble to behold Christ dy in a discourse may go with Augustine somewhat affected and smitting their breasts and though nothing of this be yet to the patient Humble and Charitable Soul it is a lifting of him up for imitation and let no man trouble these for in those they bear about the marks of the Lord Iesus FOR fear of disturbing the good-man of the house or troubling his family wherein our Lord eat the passeover and wherein it was made ready for him among other mysteries he retired into a garden there to be taken by the Iews it being a matter of greater moment to scandalize to trouble the soul to disturb the peace of the Church even in this particular in repeating the story of the passion then some of our pretended Zelots do imagine the Church in all it's vicissituds having accounted this a good-good-day indeed bearing about and holding up the instruments and fruits of her Lords death as trophies of that victory which he had and she expects to have over all her enemies IN it dehorting from sin particularly from reproaching or tempting to reproach the observers of it least either the curse of the serpent or the reprobation of the thief be their portions for as there were three about the tree of life one condemned for ever and two pardoned so about the CROSSE an Embleme of life and Hierogliphick of eternity among the Egyptians and figured upon the breast of their filthy Idol Sâ—rapis though not figured as the Crux Immissa thus ✚ whereon it is thought our Saviour dyed but of that Commissa after the form of a Roman T. whereon also it 's given Moses lifted up the brazen Serpent I say about the CROSSE there were also three two carried to paradise and one left in his sin from whose punishment reasons against taunts upon known sobriety might be multiplied and drawn unto that leangth as to cause the diâ—cerner glory in the CROSSE professing their belief in him who was crucified and slain burying him boldly in the new sepulcher of a new because broken heart this day AND if any yet say the bloud that is the guilt of the contempt of this service be on us and our Children I say again fear â—he issue for the affixing of a Iewish taunt upon a Christian exercise may have a Iewish that is a cursed end the CROSSE it self teaching better things the height thereof typifying our aspiring to things above the breadth of it to the works of charity below the length of it perseverance in that good untill the end the depth of it that good will of God in his own bosome yet now revealed for our beholding of his Son finishing the work of our redemption ACCORDING therefore to the custome of the Jews let one be released from death by judgement it was done as some say in remembrance of their delivery from Egypt at the passeover of Isaac's with others from being sacrificed of Ionathans from Saul however let it be our duty in those days of judgement to let the Church Reformed escape and then we trust to stand not fall in judgement And as Annas and Caiphas Herod and Pilat at Christs death were ruleing together pointing at the division and contention
of the people yet united and agreed against him let us for his sake not fal out with one another but agree to crucifie those lusts of envy whispering uncleannesse back-biting which war against the Church WE are not graduaâ—s in all Arts knowing but in part and ought not to be positive in our determining Christ is dead leaving us an example of humility seldom found in the Chambers of the Censorious this day we preach of our freedome from the curse of the â—aw and I charge by the Lord Iesus judge of quick and dead and who before Pontius Pilat witnessed a good confession curse not the day for us nor us for the day cry out rather with Tremel that famous Iew when demanded at his death if he continued Christian Jewish converts though to the degree of Priest-hood being to be suspected answered in detestation of his cursed country-men let Christ live and Barâ—abas be crucified AS Kings judge not their Crowns sufficiently honourable without the CROSSE shewing it's victory and conquest be on the top thereof judge your worth to be of no worth if not virâ—uated by the doctrine thereof whereby as Friends or Sons we shal have happinesse in receiving or understanding the nature and wealth of these legacies he left his relations Leaving on the CROSSE Persecution to his Apostles Peace to his disciples his body to the Iudge his Garment to the souldiers if they were such which is doubted being rather servants to the executioners and called souldiers in a general way as armed and guarding him for death the number four makeing it probable his Mother to his beloved Paradise to the thâ—ef and his Spirit to his Father which last shall not be received if not attended with Marâ—s tears Iohns respect Theifs confession Ioseph of Arimathea's a Jew his justice Simon of Cyrene a gentile his asistance when Christ in his poor flock is at a pinch with Christs own Purity Humility and Love which alone and together shall cause thy conclamatum est or consummatumest thy end to be happy for then it s finished i. e. the Law and Prophets in thy obedience and the desire of the holy Angels in thy conversion BVT whereas some think Romes doctrine is here asserted alleadging we symbolize with Papists know it is not Romish though taught at Rome but the doctrine of the Church taught in the purest times that were and of the Greek Church that is enemies to Rome more then we and as the Iews made Christs death the medium or mean to keep the Romans from them and it proved the very cause that brought them it 's evident the Reformed Church might say to such concluders for this and several other positions and inferences verily verily one of you shall betray me c. THANKFVLNES for our mercies in enjoying the truths of the Gospel might be more becomeing that our eyes might be towards him for Grace Mercy and peace from his merits blood and wounds and what ever properly may be produced and effected by them walking after that light shewn us by oyl from him the olive in the religious performance of Borgius Duke of Gant who seven times a day presented himself before God praying for seven gifts conform to that seven times our Saviour shed blood desireing for the honour of the Circumcision to attain wisdom and chastity for what he shed in the garden knowledge and abstinence for what he shed in being scourged tendernesse and charity for what he shed when crowned with thorns humility and fear what he shed when his hands were nailed counsel and compassion for what he shed when his fâ—et were pierced courage and perseverance and for the blood which issuâ—d from his side godâ—inesse and patience that being therewith sprinkled seven times as the leaper under the Law he might be pronounced clean that as Christ himself said when I am lifted up I will draw all men unto me he might do that all in men that is all spirits souls and bodies being raised that as sinners we may detest our follies as penitents receive hope as Iust prepare for the Crosse apprehending with all Saints the extent of the love of God revealed by it answering in carriage and manners to our Saviours triumvirat the three beheld him in the garden having Peters confession owning him for the Son of God Iohns affection in standing by him to the last Iames devotion in fervent calling upon him for it 's said his knees were hard as a camels by frequent kneeling in prayer by which despair being closed up there shall never be cause finally to say my God my God why hast thou forsaken me FORSAKEN may be Ierusalems proper name as it was once her nick-or by-name Isa. 62.4 once the Ioy now the scorn of the whole earth formerly for her inhabitants delight and to Forrengers admiration her coasts furnished her with abundance of necessaries of delights her meadows storing her with milk her woods sweetning that milk with honey her vallies storing her with wheat and barley her mountains as high in charity as in height though brassy bowelld out of compassion heated themselves and in case of reluctancy did beat and knock one another that she might have plenty of mettal for her strengthning 8. Deut. 9. And she her self thinking it dishonourable always to take gâ—ve them again gold silver pretious gums spices and honour in such plenty that Israel became the glory of all the Lands Eze. 20.6 Yet now hath not where withall to buy her self bread save what relats to our glorious Saviour his sepulchre and it's temple being the greatest ornament within or without her walls besides which so insignificant is her poâ—t that when Selymus the Turkish Emperour came on purpose to behold so fam'd a place he almost disdained to take on nights logding within her avenues and quarters her pristine and Jewish glory lying contemptibly in the dust the very ground where Solomons temple stood being covered with a Mahomeâ—an Mosk into which if any Iew enter he is certain to meet with death at his comeing out AT such a distance hath her Lord husband put her for multiplyed adulteries and so tarâ—ly hath he drawn up her bill of divorce that neither the Art power reason indulgence graets priviledges Heathens Egyptians Iews Christians Turks could ever cause her have a good coat a clear face much lesse a fair one Christianity was at much pains for pitys sake to have her restored to her Lords bed and for fourscore years was their Kings and Patriarchs of Jerusalem in Jerusalem fighting for and preaching up our Lord Jesus but in the most perswasive entreatings and more earnest solicitations I mean their bloodiest and most chargeable encounters to preserve her there were seen and heard almost as many hundreths of terrible visions astonishing cracks and sights in the Heaven Earth and Air evidenceing heavens dissent from such amicable proposals God resolving in probability to make her a-cast-away from Royalty since she crucified her King having only
the soul for in ordinary law the money was neither his nor their's to whom he gave it being the price of the highest sacriledge and of which as of the censures of Dathan and Abiram God was to have been heir and by consequence the poor which the consciences of the Scribs knew and therefore laid it out upon and for strangers as their own charity he makeing no confession of his former theifts discovered not the manner of his apprehension hâ—â—ged himself a sad ending a fearful close a dismal evening of such a fair day as the Apostleship presented to him IT is much to purchase but a greater mercy to secure goodnesse and grace if therefore there be any good thoughts this day for Christ saying if it be so why am I thus with Peter sink not for fear with him is love and forgivenesse with Iudas sell him not for greed let not the cares pelf or trash of this world chock that good seed remembring that Peter and Iohn was only sent to prepare the passeover before he suffered the first signifieth a rock the other grace and such as are established by grace in their heart are only they with whom Christ the truth of the passeover shall be found for because with the cup of remission of sin which shall in the evening of their days as the bloudy mark secure them from the destroying Angel FRIENDSHIP of old was effiged bodily with an open side discovering the very frame figure and position of the heart without which it was concluded true amity and fellowship could not be secured and is not true kindnesse represented on the CROSSE where bodily our Lord hung with a peirced side not only shewing but the heart emptying it self unto us pouring forth bloud and water not blood only for justification as by beasts slain under the Law but water also for purifying the vessels of the young men that they be holy and this visibly from the heart being sub dio of the Brook that is of the field not the wells of a house dying that is drinking at Ierusalem a publick City at a passeover a holy feast not in the town but on a mount not privatly massacred but publickly adjudged by Pontius Pilat not in the Temple by Tumults least Jews should plead a priveledge but in the open Air by the hands of the Gentiles for purifying of the air from the defilments of both Nations clearing it also that he dyed for both and is as clear as the parting of his garments which yet being divided in four equal parts projects his merits to be open to be applied by many in the four quarters of the world that in the self same day wherein there passed four glorious occurences eminent passages in relation to the Church the day of his death though at long distance being the selfsame day in which Abraham was called from Vr of the Caldeans in which the Israelits were called out of Egypt with whom went a mixed multitude and in which the decree went forth to build the holy City to which the Gentiles contributed these three meeting with this according to the time of the passeover and the best computation denoteth the general influence his Death the last of the famous four hath upon all the world and in evidence whereof he would not dy a privat death chusing rather to drink of the brook in the sight of the Nations that is in the way IT is said he was crucified with his back to the citty as if his prophannesse had been so great that his face was not worthy to behold their holy Temple but was it not if true a shrewd sign of the fulfilling of that prophesy I will shew them the back and not the face in the day of their calamity Je. 18 â— hath so long taken his countenance from them that that wherwith they apbraided Iesus of his being a Friend to publicans to sinners is now their greatest and most ordinary employment in point of trust among the Turks they being under that disgrace that in no Nation are they martial'd or embodyed in an army for the field and as they alwayes resisted the Holy Ghost and became the murtherers of the just one still they persist in that obduration seeking the bloud of his followers and Disciples polluting in their desperate malice the pure annual celebration of this our Lords death with crucifying to death Christian children in derision of our Saviour and oft to their own destruction in the shedding of their own bloud as murtherers and banishing their posterity as the vilest of miscreants as from England France and many other places IT is stupendious what is recorded touching that mystery of iniquity the necessity the Jews are in of haveing Christian blood a secret not known to many Rabbies discovered but An Dom. 1500. by a converted Rabbi of Ratisbon avouching that they at point of death annoint the sick with Christian blood in these words If he who is promised in the Law and Prophets be already come and Jesus who was erucifi'd be the true Messiah let the blood of this innocent man who dyed with faith in him wash thee from all thy sins and also conduct thee to Eternal life So that his blood upon them among them and by them triumphs AND of old after the destruction of Jerusalem those of Tiberias would whisper into the ears of their dying relations believe in Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified whom our Princes slew upon the CROSSE for he is come and will judge thee at the last day SO that yet he lives his drinking being but in the way Everlastingnesse or Eternity having no power upon his sufferings for by this phrase Way understand the brevity of his passion being but to taste of death which as a sleepy drench a potion of popy water had a while dominion over him and then he awaked to their shame sorrow and astonishment as the wisest of them at this day declare observing since his death their desolation finding no term of their captivity as in the other two nor promise of a third return to Canaan which either from policy or conscience made those Iews who of late An. Dom. 1666. had the eyes of the world upon them pretending to a restauration give out that they were the posterity of the ten Tribs carried away into Babylon who never returned and not of the two who did and therefore not the successors of such who put Iesus the Son of Mary to death which yet did not hold him for wanting sin whereby the dead are fettered in their graves he first stouped drank dyed and then lift up his head it being impossible for death to retain him because of innocence BVT as at his death his very disciples were offended that is in a Scripture sense stumbled at the Crosse and it 's not to be questioned but something of doubting entered into Maries soul as if all her hopes memorials relations revelations about her Sons kingship Government
bound hand and foot with grave cloaths being afterward to wear the same robes not so Christ death having no more dominion over him Rom. 6. being swallowed up in victory as Moses rod swallowed up those of the Magicians as the wide Ocean doth the smal drop in which it is to be more seen as the Sun the dark cloud which it either scatters or illuminats THIS Lyon of the tribe of Iudah overcomeing that devourer of men even in the grave his deepest den resolving from first to last for conquest in the Manger in the Hall on the Crosse in the rock their mocks their blasphemy their swords their guards for had he been possessed by the tomb or his holy body seen corruption after his Viniger and Gal what benefit had men accrew'd by his death It was therefore a religious error of Mary Magdalen and the other Mary to come early to the sepulchre with oyntments being grounded upon their thoughts of finding death whereas he was up before to take possession of his new purchase having so punctualy payed the contracted for sum for sin unto the Father thereby becomeing Lord of heaven and heir of the utmost coasts of the earth MAKE his Resurrection a question and for once put it to probation Davids seed in whom the Kingdom was to be established 2. Sam. 7. Adams sleep and his awaking out of that after Eva his spouse had been forming the promise of ransoming from the grave Hâ—s 13. Isaac's delivery from being sacrific'd in the old Testament an Angel from heaven Christs own prophesy Peters testimony Thomas believing in the New doth almost overstock us with sufficient proofs his eating drinking walking talking priviledging the expression yea the simplicity of the arguments brought against us by the Jews evidenceth it's reality for if he were stole why was he not resceu'd If by his Disciples why were they not questioned and if either of these be true how is it known to them since the watchers declare they were asleep what more the order and neatnesse in disposing of the grave cloaths the confident declarations of the pious women and the calamities the Apostles chearfully underwent evinceth the Resurrection to be no fallacy IT was attended with that power that the watchers became as dead men when they came to apprehend him or to eat up his flesh they stumbled and fell amazed at some discovery of unexpected Majesty but here beholding an Angel from heaven preparing to liberat the innocent it was just on the other hand to strick as if not altogether dead the guilty and give check to unbelief especialy when heaven is at pains to refute impertinencies as their keeping was since it flowed from cruelty not piety earth also labouring by an earth-quake to invalidat their strength shaking their greatest confident that is their armes causing them unfit to handle the weapon their ground disableing them to stand their authority to keep him in the grave being recalled by a stronger then either was Pilat or the Councill FOR yet once more was the earth to be shaken and the desire of the Nations then to come which was the Messiah that is Christ sent to all Nations for as at the giving of the Law their were Earthquaks and shakeings even in heaven by the thunder and smoak shakeings of the Sea at the makeing way for his people so once more he will as in Christs suffering the sun was darkned the rocks rent here at his rising there was a shakeing of hearts upon earth and moveing of Angels of heaven some being shaken out of their dumps doubt fears and sinful carnal condition others not desireing him being shaken out of their wits out of their lives out of their armes and justly having refused him whose face was lovely and society desired by all Nations by Angels and Men unto whom they should run as the camp to the standarâ— as the eagles to the carcaâ—e bringing as subjects to their Prince all their desireable things offering unto him not only of the best of the fruits of the land as gold frankincense and Myrbe but the choisest of their hearts as love fear joy obedience which all Nations ow unto him and the elect have payd being shaken with the wonder of so great a mystery as his death and rising again from the dead which the unbelieving Iews denying and mercenary Souldiers striving to obstruct he that sitteth in heavens did laugh at the confederacy and said in spite of them in the morning of the Resurrection thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee THE mountains skipping like Rams and the little hills like lambs to respect him in his exite from the grave and prepare his people to admire believing his heroick atchiefment of subduing Hel and Death curbing by it and shakeing their insolence who cry'd we have no King but Cesar and said crucifie him crucifie him but on the other hand comforting his followers with a fear not ye for I know that ye seek Iesus he is not here for he is risen so that the Church may salute Iesus as the Angel Gideon the Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valour Judg. 12. for hath it ever been heard since the beginning of the world that any wrought wonders in their death or that wonderfully raised himself again to life Iesus excepted whose Resurrection is the sine qua non of the joy in all believers the living having no hope no comfort save in it and by it IT was refreshing news to the eleven and unto these two unto whom he was seen in breaking of bread and so much the more cordial was his perception that he was at first concealed from them having wrapped up the face of his Humanity in a skreen by the power of his Divinity which no sooner drawn aside then they behold the Lord that bought them which brought new life and vigour to the heart-broken and doubting Disciples breaking that silence which for grief had been more then half an hour in the heaven of their society where sorrow had caused mutenesse about fourty hours for so long it is reckoned he lay dead Adam after the ejectment from paradise is never recorded to have spoak and after the second had admittance we can find among the Apostles little mirth but now all preach and teach Angels descend women walk Peter and Iohn run the two talk whence the Church of old this day sung the Psalms of Invitation inviting all creatures to praise the Lord because Iesus who was crucified is not here viz. in the grave but risen come said the Angel see the place where the Lord lay affoording matter for deep contemplation Iesus discovering the truth of his being Saviour who was crucified a holy abridgement and true repetition of his passion He is not here discovering the truth of his being dead and his once being there come see the place where the Lord lay by Lord acknowledging the soveraignity of Iesâ—â— and by the word lay enforceing a belief of his
day we may truly pronounce that the Godlesse are not this day raised the communication of those two who went to Emmaus discovers the truth of this who though sadned at their Masters Death yet were not Spiteful at the instruments thereof speaking how the chief Priests and the Rulers delivered him to be condemned without any other epithet expressing rancour there be who will have these Luke and Cleophas Luke is rising up and Cleophas hath glory in his name and surely the rising from darknesse and deadnesse with the desire of being glorious is to go to Emmaus which by interpretation is desire of counsel and how happy were it if this age would advise with and about it self touching the verity of Christ and Him risen together with the duties dâ—pending thereupon leaving Ierusalem and all its gâ—udinesse to walk those sixty furlongs Morally these two physically trod it is a number arising from multiplying of ten by six The Ten Commandments being appointed by IEHOVAH for the rule of our Actings and the renouncing this present World amending our Lives crucifying Self voyding Hypocrisie keeping of the Heart wâ—tching over the door of our Lips being the six paces to be observed in our going over the moral Law We cannot chuse but have Christ with us and our eyes to see Him with great â—oy where now because glorified He shal not only eat bread with us as in the History but shall sup with us and we with him as in the Revelation unto which a serious reflection and deep meditaâ—ion upon the Cross and sufferings of our LORD this passage examplifies to be a fertil-mean LAY your ear to the holy Communication these two had and it 's properly a devout imagination to conceit Luke speaking Brother Cleophas can you forget the clamour of the Priests against our Master when Pilat was determined to let Him go how they cryed away with Him crucifie Him not this Man but Barabbas yea a murtherer whereas our Master shed no mans bloud but went about doing good to every body and that in such a way by commanding praying advising that I should have sworn he had been the Son of God whereas now I conjecture his Faâ—her haâ— smitten them with blindnesse as he did he Sodomites with Hemroids as the Philistens with fire as did Elisha the Capâ—aiâ—s oâ— sâ—me other way had been found as by a vâ—ice from heaven for his sons delivery but to lay hold on that tattle of his appearance to the women is to be swallowed up of errour Luk 24.11 their brains their early rising their â—eaâ— hath certainly disturbed them and made them fancy they saw God knows what and as some think the bells Clâ—â—k Dear Brotheâ— might Clâ—ophas say I should almost be of yâ—ur mind but when I remember of Lazarus whom you mind me of for you know we heard a voice from Heaven I sâ—y when I think upon him How fresh how well-coloured he was raised by a Loud not Cheâ—ping voice with words we understood not dark Phrases as Conjurers and Charmers 〈◊〉 to do I must conclude him to bâ— the Son of God though I confesse I marvel he wrought no miracle to save himself from scâ—urging from dying and since he said he was King of the Iews he came not down from the Crosse that they might believe this I confesse sticks with me this I am sure of if he be alive this day he will be so to morrow and next day also and we shall see it and know it his goodnesse sweetnesse kindnesse and merciful disposition towards all in distresse but especialy to us makes me confident he will not concâ—al himself long but will come unto us and God who in the simplicity of our heart doth know we followed him not for any lucre we got by it shal setle us in the truth at last and reward us according to the integrity of our hearts therefore be not affraid at our return we shal know more and your bells clink may be retorted unto turned by a Crosse Proverb before the lame post make much of one there is few good a true axiome and holds here the women being of excellent endowments formeth hope of future comfort by a certainty of all things SVCH communication administrats such grace that it is no wonder if the fiery chariot of Religious gifts hasten to come down for conveying the heart aloft and the Spirit as at Pentecost to come with full information of all sâ—ving truths takeing the Scalls of doubtings from the eyes of the mind as Saul did from those of his body makeing it to be known for a truth that Christ is risen indeed and if he should seem as though he were to depart in the coldnesse of the heart to those conferences then be instant with thy Mane â—obiscum abide with us Luk. 24.29 the evening of thy dark and cold surmises clouds temptations and other perplexities being approaching and if serious he shal continue to the end and make appear that he is no stranger to thy affairs but well acquainted with whatso-ever hath shall or can befall thee comforting thy soul in all and all because of the Resurrection IT was a Iwell expression that fell from the mouth of the golden-mouth'd Father that at the Sun rising upon the day of the Resurrection it was defraying of just debt to begin teaching of brotherly kindness and charity applying the power of the Resurrection for cementing the hearts of men one towards another it appearing to unite God and Man yea gloriously procured it but how can these things be without a conformity to his death Not such as is fabled in the Legend of that Popish Saint Francis who is said to have the print of the nails and spear in his feet hands and side or such either as is recorded of the herb Granadille in America in which if we believe report the instruments of the Passion to the whip the piller and the thorns are visibly seen in the flour nor it may be with St. Paul to have the wales of the persecutors rod upon the flesh the gore blood lying and not cured in the blewness of the stripe upon the skin the Fellowship of his suffering even to his condemning by Pilat being to be answered by a severe sentenceing our selves singling out every sin and processing it before the barr of Conscience according to the judgement God makes thereof causing execution to follow with as much Zeal and as little delay as did the Jews after the Governours sentence of of which take one Coppy in record Take you Iesus of Nazareth a contemner of Cesar and one who calleth himself the Mesâ—iâ—h as hath been proved by the Testimony of his own Nation to the Common place of execution and in derision of his Kingly Majesty fasten him to the Cross but to evidence the uncertainty of this History â—ake it as another Coppy sayes it was I Pilat President of Ierusalem adjuageth thee Iesus of Nazareth for making thy self a King and for calling
thy self the Son of God and for making sedition among the people Ordereth according to the Laws of the Roman Empire thy fastning to the Cross and to be lifted vp unâ—ill thou die waveâ—â—g thâ—s every sin pretending to have rule and command hath forced us to deporable actings and by usurped Authority countermanded God harressing the soul by Sedition having seduced it from orderly and peaceably walking Pride Ambition Lust or Envy having been made King by the wills content ordering obedience to our Makerâ— dishonour and our own disquiet Redness of eyes Deadness of heart Fury in face wounds in the side Death in the fiâ—ld moving on uproar wandring thoughts as posts runing to and fro abbetting every lust almost to uâ—pardonable transgression in that sinfull stayedness as if because of Impudence Corruption had bâ—en of God for which it is to be adjudgâ—d to the 〈◊〉 by man who is established under God over the Common-wealth of his own Soul having Common-Laws and rules for discerning of matters which if not hearkned unto by passion fear or otherwise may cause deposition which Pilat feared who when called to Rome to answer for tirany fearing contumely and receiving affronts slâ—w himself as Herod also did who is thought to be aimed at in the parable of the unjust Steward and like him when layed aside for male-administration being banished by Caesar proved fellon de se a self Murtherer AND hark is it not perspicuous how that all the persecutors of our Lords body which is his Church or the instruments and abbettors of his Death as Judas in himself or the Patriarchs in his Tipe Ioseph in selling him have bought sorrow for twentie pieces of silver in common sickles the other for thirty of the Sanctuary they for their Brother had twentie five shillings sterling he for his Master three pound fifteen shillings and for a Courtezan a Draught a piece of silver a morsel of Bread a Madrigall a Song how oft is he betrayed into the hands of sinners men selling their Saviour to hugg their lust THEERFORE such as design profit by the Resurrection must conclude the additament of worldly pelf or carnall pleasure so basely purchased to be sordid and unhappy studying rather the particulars wherein Christ can be advanced that estimation may be made according to reall worth and the account of truth he being the Truth the way and the Life the first of Religious verity the next of holy Conversation the third of happiness eternall which are infinitly in true reckoning preferable above and beyond the deceitfull appearances of temporall possessions for appearances they only are as is to be seen in the agents of our Saviours Passion First of the Patriarchs who sold him in Ioseph for a bond-man next in Iudas who delivered him to them who condemn'd him as a Malefactor HE was slain by Cain in Abel and for that Cain is to be censured that is sin must be charged with his blood In Isaac after but he escaped and the Ram in the thicket served for a burn'd offering we as that Son of Laughter escape the hand of justice he is the other's seized upon found in the thorns of his Passion which were planted by our hands and made to tear his holy Body by our folly and since he hath also escaped let his endurance dash the lust of the Eye the lust â—f the Flesh and the Pride of Life which were the thorns that pricked him the nails that pierced him and the Envy that caused him to be persu'd for which Crown him with Roses and vailing our face as did Rebecca being ashamed for former delinquences let us as chast Virgins espouse him unto our selves returning into our houses dead in sin and crucified unto the World which is seemly Christ having suffered for it before us for that end having promised â—n the third day to raise us up we bearing our Cross in sincere sorrow not comming down from it by consuâ—ing with Flesh and Blood or keeping any one sin back through prophane Custome rive ed in us but bow down our heads in humility and give up the Ghost in constancie sleâ—pâ—â—g â—hat is resting in the seâ—enity of a good Conscience lookiâ—g for that hopefull assurance of the Resurrâ—ction and blessed hope of the fruâ—tion of the Spirit of holinesse with Hâ—avenly mindedness in which as by Aâ—gles we shall be comforted assured and solaced Untill we meet the Lord in the holy Mountain where he shall be seen as he is and we know as we arâ— Known WE are said in our Carnal-capacity to be dead in sin though alive by nature as having neither Life Breath nor Motion for things Heavenly the greatest vants of Heaven though set before us in Word and Sacraments or any other nourishing spirituall aliment benefiting us no more then the choicest Bâ—â—que savour or reâ—lâ—sh of the most delicious or 〈…〉 from the most artificial cook câ—uâ—d replenish saâ—isfie or fill the empâ—y because no 〈◊〉 entralls of one Deceas'd Buâ— tâ—at Spirit of Holiness which aiâ—â—d up IESVS shall uicken this mortal body and giving iâ— a living breath cause it become a living soul hungring and thirsting after righteousâ—esse groaning that so industriously it should have pulled misery upon it self which can only be compensed by being naked as all Crucified malefactors were in an Ingenuousâ—cknowledgment not putting on the Fig-leaf of an excuse as Adam but rather when reproved answer as CHRIST did Herod in silence which indeed may put flesh and blood into a heat a sweat pleasure and reâ—enge saying Let this be far from thee pitty by self and me who hath been ever with thee yet it must be endured For because of this thou cam'st into the World and Angels shall then comfort and strengthen in that â—avishing sentence the Father hath forgiven thee thy iniquity is taken away thou shalt 〈◊〉 die ONE Thief must be Crucified that is thy deceiâ—full Heart another must be peniâ—ent and beg mercy that is thine own Soul for delinquencie offending yet let it not be desperate as those without Hope but urging pressing as earnest for Salvation anâ— infallible note of prepared Paradise and then of all thy sinful courses cry they are finished Hanging still upon the Crosse by outstretched hands in Obedience securing thy Soul in all service within the Rock of thy Saviours merits fitting us for a Resurrection upon the third day First from the plague of the heart the boile of putrid Corruption as from the bed of Hezekia next from the belly of Hell in dismal frightnings and starrings of Conscience as from the Whale in Ionah and from the sentence of death passed in the breast of the Law as did Isaac from the Altar of his Father the third day being figured in that Patriarch that Saint that Prophet and a Day in which there was never one raised from the Dead HE excepted the third Day being keeped for him in Honour and therefore He is said to rise the third Day according to the
yet are under Christ to the dignifying our nature and us being men who being but dust and ashes at best and worse when sinners at the highest yet where sin abounded grace much more abounding the Father receiving him into favour as our first fruits from the earth which obtained a blessing for the whole Harvest of Adams off-spring God saying to such in him sit at my right hand which sitting cleareth his merits to traâ—scâ—nd those workings or purchaseings of Cherubims and Seraphins who stand before the throne Luk. 1.19 for sit thou is to be expounded be thou my Fellow according to thy word shall all my People be ruled as Pharaoh said so heareth this Ioseph I am almighty God without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot Gen. 41.44 WHICH honour being given to Man who once heard dust thou art and to dust shalt thou return who was sent to the Ant accounted woâ—se then the Ox or the Ass not only sent to the birds of the Air to learn instruction but called the sons of the Devil discovers infinit love which should cause man perâ—ue that passage of sit thou iâ— his soul untill Gods love heat the hâ—art Christs merits cool the conscience and God's sit at my right hand Nobilitat the mind and Christs sitting secure the whole man he noâ— only resting for himself but preparing a place of rest for others MOREOVER the right hand is the high blessednesse peace and joy with satisfaction which God hath in Christs holy society upon the account of his obedience as Man in doing always his will for the left in the Parable denots enmity dissatisfaction and contrariety and in ordinary gestures inferiority â—t represents also three great properties therewith Christ is endowed the glory and â—onour of his Divinity this Sun of righteousnesse rising at his birth clouded by death did 〈◊〉 so to speak in his Fathers throne ending the day of his earthly appearance and worldly troubles in this felicity perfecting and finishing the work which he came to do â—ext the Authority of his Man-hood we will â—ay such a one sat fourty twenty or Fifteen â—â—ar in the chair meaning government and â—are so also doth Christ his sitting not being 〈◊〉 naked quiescence but expressing his vigiâ—ance and thoughts for and about the Church for as again Iames the third of this Kingdome gave in a Medal a Hen brooding over the Chickens shadowed with a Crown with this device Non dormit qui custodit he sleeps not who governs though they may rest yet in that rest there is life and comfort beneathed to others Our Lord by his word Sacraments and Miracles doth unweariedly uphold his Church and all her begotten by the mediatory office lastly there is in his sitting his power of judgeing Advocats and Counselours stand while Judges and Justices sit especially when they give sentence so he when executing the ungodly and sentenceing them for hateing mercy he haveing judgement on his left hand fire to burn consume and tear the fiery bloody Spirit and sits in sentenceing to evince the deliberatnesse of the judgement IT 'S true once Stephan saw him stand yet reflect that he is a Counsellour an Advocate for the Church and the gesture is not to be wondred at for still understand a Metaphor by which figure ye may finde he sits as a Judge stands as a pleader by the sentencing bloody Jewes and by the other intercedeing for patient Christians and again by standing he vows reveâ—ge to the enemies of his servants by sitting he absolveth the enormity of his Disciples sitting not denoting circumscription of place but the glory of the Deity wherein before alâ— worlds the SON was being from Eternity consubstantial to the Father and in latter dayes when Incarnate the glory of His flesh being exalted because in the God head to be adored above every creature He coming down by his birth enter'd into the field oâ— Warre fought against all his adversaries in strugling with death conquering that King of terrours in the power of his Resurrection and entring his Royal Citty He triumpheâ— in his Ascension as the Roman triumpheâ— haveing his prisoners in bonds and scattering medals and presents among the people in the Scripture phrase giving gifts unto â—en ending his troublesome journey to Earth in Heaven as he began having the 〈◊〉 of the Angels to Eccho him to the World the gratulations of the Quire at his ingresse into Heaven the Selah of all the Glorious Prophets the Euge of the goodly company of Martyrs together with the Religious Hymns of the Chuâ—ch both East and Weâ—t in all ages untill this day believing that he is gone to prepare a place for them if it were not so he would have told us Ioh. 14 2. HE was once thought a stranger in Ierusalem and was before that so obscure that his brethren did not believe on him which the Jewes yet presse as one great ground for their unbelief He acting as a Painter who drawing his most excellent draughts in the dark when finished exposeth his Tables to publick veiw so until now he carried himself strangly as to the Syrophenician woman and confineing his Discples to the lost sheep of Israel but now it is Go teach all nations suffering the Jewes to deride his Miracles to lye against his Resurrection but as he said it shall be and all the world must acknowledge Him the everlasting Son of the Father IN order to which the song of the Elect is HE that is God HATH raised up a horn of Salvation for us in the house of his servant David Luk. 1.69 an Horn indeed growing out of flesh yet more solid more firm then flesh yea exceeding all flâ—shly horns being borne of the Virgin behold flesh but conceived by the Holy Ghost behold his excellency above flesh yet when we perceive him at the right hand of God behold that horn raised and as the horn of the Unicorn causeth sweetnesse to all the imbitter'd waters of our Iericho even by the touch so doth the applying of his ASCENSION unto all our perplexities becomeing to all a horn of salvation Let the Iewes therefore blasphem if they will He is now made the Head of the Corner exalted raised above all the buildings either of Church or Synagogue virtuating them for beauty strength and lustre that as in the dayes of Elias the heavens were shut up so in the dayes of Iesus after a barrennesse of faith love and hope there was a cloud like the hand I might say like the footstep of a Man arising out of that Sea of Christs Passion suffering and a sound from thence of abundance of precious good things of Gods promising and Mans needing not to say asking in his ASCENSION the Church being now as a field which the Lord hath blessed by having Faith in Divinity expectation of bless in the hope of what he hath promised and Charity in the love and tendernesse he hath kindled for us so that the expression of
affirm that here they are breathed upon to dispose their minds already sanctified for the Spirits reception in a more solemn manner in the dayes of Pentecost MOREOVER a religious melancholy seazing on the vitals of their Spirits and belief of their Masters proceeding from or ascending to the Father in and for their behalf the Spirit being a pledge of Salvation the strength and life of the Soul is here given by an apt similitude of a breath foâ— as the visiâ—le body of Christ was not God so neither is the breath here felt to be estimate the spirit to confirm them that as the breath came from him so should or so did the Spirit proceed from him likewise which the Greek Church to this day denys affirming his procedure from the Father only which is seen say some in their punishment in looâ—ing their Imperiable Citty Constantinople their Emperour Crown and Kingdome being taken by the Turk upon this day in the Calendar An. Dom. 1237. wherein the nature gifts and proceeding of the Holy Ghost are taught explained and truly commemorat in the Orthodox and Latine Church MANY good things our Saviour had taught especialy about his Death and Resurrection which the Spirit was appointed to bring to their Remembrance the brain of man in it self being naturally dull hereby is cleared and as his birth purifieth ours as his life instructeth ours as his death destroyeth ours as his Resurrection preceedeth ours and as his Ascension prepareth ours so his sending down of the Holy Ghost helpeth us mightily in the reflecting upon these things against all infirmity whatso-ever oyling the wheels of the Soul makeing that lift up it self being otherwise bowed down and by this is said Woman or man thou art loosed from thy infirmity causing them still look forward oâ— like a religious pulley stil haleing or pulling the soul heaven-ward to a loveing of spiritual things contrary to the carnal mind spiritually hence the Sunday betwixt his Ascension and the Spirits descension is called from the entrance of the twenty eight Psalm Dominica exaudi as if from that time the Church of old and yet now had been still calling praying for and expecting a fuller portion of the Spirit this breath being but the first fruits untill the harvest a taste only of Canaeans grapes a warm breath a refreshing gale untill the mightier and rushing wind should blow when Iesus had been glorified THERE are two principal parts of the body viz. head and heart to which in the soul corresponds the understanding and the will it being led and moved by these as greater wheels and God in his Church hath to both of these in resemblance Christ and the Spirit the head and heart of his Congregation for understanding of and being guided unto the things concerning life and by these we know he loveth us and by that knowledge procureth in us Love and Ioy by divine illumination toward himself the Spirit being that Regius or great Divinity Professor teaching from within the mysteries of God for what ever David the Psalmist Amos the Prophet Daniel the Prince Peâ—er the fisher Samuel the Sâ—er or any other Priest Prophet or Patriarch taught were but lecturs of his composing words of his frameing sentences of his drawing up directing how to believe how to live how to walk and how to talk how to love and how to adore how to weep and how to pray all with admireable wisdom holy zeal and fervent charity THE Spirit was here given about the Resurrection before the Ascension after which the spâ—ce of ten dayes reckoning from the fortieâ—h that is from the Passeover for he was given again so that we are to observe the feast of Pentecost when the HOLY GHOST came from heaven whereby they as all good men are made to look up before which we must meet and assemble so receiveing it in the Word breathed upon us on Earth this doubling of the Spirit being like the two-fold Commandement of loveing God who is in heaven and loving man who abideth upon Earth yet it 's but one command acting on different objects so it s also one Spirit given and acting for differâ—nt things or for discovery of that one great thing the Trinity FOR the Son having been visibly known among men the Father also revealed by the things that are seen there remained one thing to enforce the certainty and existance of three Persons that was the appearance of the HOLY GHOST who had once come as unto Noahs ark like a dove in the evening of the world upon Christ the Lord expressing the meeknesse peaceablnesse harmlesnesse of them who are as houses inhabited by him this was at his baptisme the next as is thought was in a cloud strengthning his constancy glorifying his purity and heating his fervency this was at his transfiguration A third was by a breath for animating a perplexed little flock about the removeal of himself from them a few dayes before his Ascension A fourth was in fire in tongues and this was after his glorious Session at the right hand of the Majesty on high giving them a noon-day knowledge to understand all Scripture power over all Devils wisdom against all Philosophers Eloquence against all Orators Patience against all Torments Gifts to convert all Nations Confidence in the love of God for subduing of unruly lusts Grace for persevering in all good works Lastly Ioy in the peace of a good conscience through Christ and him crucified whence it is sayd they were al filled with the HOLY-GHOST in contradistinction to those portions or draughts they had received before so diminute that it s said the HOLY-GHOST was not yet given q. d. in that ample and miraculous measure because Iesus was not glorified John 7.19 WHICH when done they are quasi overcharged and Speaking were thought drunk that is intoxicated which in a trope they were but not as the Jews â—uppos'd with wine but with the new-wine of the Spirit wherewith the old bottles of corrupâ—ed self could not be brimmed the Vine whence it flowed being above the liquor whereof stupâ—fied not the braine but transmented the Soul noâ— causing staggering but confiâ—ming in faith and joy as in the Citty by that River which maketh glad the Citty of God which they renewed by wind fire and tongues were capacitate to drink of the one blowing away the chaff the other heating the Spirit giving light also to the dark chamber of vain Imagination the last promoting to speak refinedly perswadingly being cleansed from carnall sordidness and earthly selfishness delighting in no talk but of the wonderfull works of God IT is usuall with Expositors to shew the analogy between things themselves and that which is represented by those things In how many wayes the Paschall Lamb and Christ doth agree the Red-Sea and baptisme the Cross and the brazeâ— Serpent Iesus and Aaron David and Ioseph is not of our province but how aptly doth wind represent the operation of the HOLY GHOST in those upon whom he cometh
a name among the many empty and flaunting tittles of the great Turk and the Catholick King both as relateing to Christ the last without honour the other with much profit arising from the customs and imposts exacted of pilgrims whom câ—riosity or superstition shall conduct unto that soyl where if any will engadge to avoid dishonest gain reconcile differences shun the company of infamous persons refrain from swearing perjury blasphemy drunkennesse and pay some money undergoing some ceremonies he may by the Pater Guardian of the Franciscan Convent be ordained a Knight of the holy sepulchre of our Lord Iesus Christ in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost of which order as most seemly the most Christian King is or was Soveraign HOW should our Christian Cities flourish in the fight of the Nations and the Theaters whereon our Lord coâ—quered and triumphed over all his adversaries I mean not the places whereon as Bethlehem Gethsemane Mount olivet and the rest but the Registers wherein these things are recorded as S. Mathew S. Luke S. Paul and the other Apostles if all that Travelled through the Holy Land of the Christian Dominions were qualifi'd for this Honour But to our shame as Turks in Ierusalem we make advantage our scope in designing honour to the Gospel so far crossing it's true intent of Godlinesse as it's crosse th'warts the projects of our self seeking lucre gain betraying in kissing Christ a-fresh in our covetous enterprizings and crucifying him while we Crown him as a King in the blaspheming and villany of our actings BY the Mapps of Ierusalem in Christs turnings and returnings from Annas to Caiphas from him to Pilat from him to Herod to Pilat back again from Gabbatha to Golgotha that he travel'd the best greatest part of the Citty over is visible to be seen he rendring thereby his passion more publick and offering the fruits thereof unto as many as would or will by faith come forth to behold him hath he not travelled through our lands and Kingdoms and as cursed Jews have we not scorned mocked compelled him to bear his CROSSE in our charging him with deplorable actings the most inhumane butcheries pretendedly said to proceed from the zeal of his Spirit Is he not dayly in his members persecuted by our uncharitable talking of and walking before one another whereby ruine may easily be predicted and a divorce suggested ready for sealing that we may abuse Gospel-priviledges no more as is seen in that Babylon where our Lord was crucifi'd wone once from the Turks by the slaughter of twenty thousand of them by the sword of Christians upon a Friday about three in the afternoon as if for once God would beautify Christian verity in that Unbelieving City by putting it in their hands who professed the Gospel and who wore the CROSSE on their cloathes the same day and hour his Son dyed upon the CROSSE FROM which let us fear least Mahomets growing greatnesse occasioned by our Unchristian broils provoke God to make him become a scourge and a CROSSE to our Cities and Nations pretending adherence to the Gospel but not receiving the same in the love thereof by bowing down our heads giving up the Ghost in walking with all lowlinesse of mind and dying unto sin MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE RESURRECTION of Iesus Christ unfolded and applied Pasch-Sunday April 3. Tolbooth Church 1670. Easter-Sunday April 3. Tolbooth Church 1670. PHILIP III.X. That I may know him and the power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings being made conformable unto His death THE holy men of God in Scripture mentioning the death of Christ seem oft as posters to haâ—t from and briskly to exped that subject intending to lodge that is to insist upon and rest in the doctrine of the Resurrection not slighting his passion as if not comfortable but because not satisfactory for Gods justice or mans happinesse unlesse the rising from the dead be a consequent thereof he stiled himself the first and the last I am said he he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for ever more Revel 1. SO our Creed as fearing to damp belief goeth forward in haste omitting many glorious passages in being crucified under Pontious Pilat unto the rising again the third day It is Christ that dyed saith S. Paul yea rather who is risen again Rom. 8. and verily it is usual to see his dying and rising handed together they being the cementing matter whereby God and Man the Soul and Happinesse Ioy and the Consâ—ience perfectly inseparably knit and united in one for what ever felicity can be concluded from the vertue of the latter depends upon those promises which evinceth the truth of the former seeing him dy that is perswasions of his Death the knowledge of which death and the fellowship of his sufferings that is being made conformable to his death being only the proper and effectual mediums of knowing the power of His Resurrection HERE the Apostle discovers his desire of knowledge and next to benefit thereby meaning the righteousnesse of Faith that is of Christ in point of doctrine about his Resurrestion and his imitation of the other referring to practise in being made conformable to his death so that we are enforced to speak first with Peter and before him with David of the Resurrection which is not rightly known untill the vertue efficary and energy of his death be understood consisting in the expiation of sin liberation of guilt acquisition of righteousnesse and the hope of â—mmortality the scope and tendency of the Resurrection being perfectly and inwardly for the applying of these things as from it towards our selves he being delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification CONCEIVE him dead sealed watched writ upon his Tombstone here lyeth Iesus Christ of Nazareth who was crucified An. M. 3982 Aetatis suae 33. yet by power did make a spoil of death his grave cloathes those ensigns of mortality laid by baffling the envy of the Scribs the fury of the people the force of Herod and in one morning confounded all the adversaries of his life HE dyed about the ninth hour about three in the afternoon order so requiring for about that time viz. in the coole of the day Adam was cast out of Paradise about which time also it was congruous for the second Adam to make his entry therein both in the evening enjoyning all in the Mystery to dy unto the worlds pleasures before night that is the eleventh hour which was to the master of the Vineyard the time of payment not of calling unto work BVT least we speak of as the woman sought the living among the dead see him raised for he is risen and thaâ— while it is yet dawning at break of day directing us to infer that he was no more to dy the linnen napkin within the sepulchre giving caveats to us against the surmise of his after using such apparel Lazarus indeed came forth