Christ was preached to them not only Ceremonially but also Doctrinally but yet Mystically He was called a Rod a Branch †Isa 11.1 Water Wine Milk * Ch. 55.1 a Fountain †Zec. 13.1 this was mystical Doctrine their ignorance of which is sometime bewailed Ah Lord God! they say of me Doth he not speak Parables * Ezek. 20.49 N B The Gospel to the Jews was like an inestimable treasure in a dark gay Glasse Simile overlaid with fair Flowers painted with Pictures to signifie the Substance within but they like children were apter to eye the Out-side than the Inside The Gospel to Us is like the same treasure in a Clear glasse Simile plain without gays and pictures so that we can see the inside Simile Or it 's like the same treasure in an open earthen vessel or Shell as the word signifies †2 Cor. 4.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Testa A Shell Moses put a vail over his Face and when Moses is read the vail is upon their Heart i e their minds were blinded * Ch. 3.13 Hence little Faith much Fear darknesse and dread dwell together Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me †Isa 49.14 they would conclude it from a crosse Providence e g The Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valour and Gideon said Oh my Lord if the Lord be with us why then is all This befallen us but now the Lord hath forsaken us * Judg. 6.12 13. Thus subject were they to slavish fear and a spirit of bondage But we being under a clear Gospel have much light light and joy are joyned together †Ps 97.11 peace cometh by the knowledge of God * 2 Pet. 1.2 If a fearful child meets his father in the Dark Simile he dreads him as Death for thinks he that man will Kill me but if he meet him in the Light he runs into his Arms. Hence Christians under clear Gospel light are said to have the Spirit of Adoption crying Abba Father †Rom. 8.15 i e Father Father child-like with much freedom from fear This is called the Spirit of the Son God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father * Gal. 4.6 The excellency of which Spirit appears in this viz it acts a Soul to own God as a Father under the most Dismal dispensation like the Spirit of the Son under the Fathers wrath crying My God my God though as forsaken in that dismal Dooms-day of his Death which made the air Dark and the earth Quake Howbeit some Persons at Times did Act faith very Nobly under the Law also e g When death is at the Door if Esther the Queen will not speak a word to the King for life Noble Acts. yet Mordecai will beleeve Deliverance shall arise for the Jews from another place †Est 4.14 David will not fear when his Sins compasse him about * Ps 49.5 nor when all Nations compasse him about like Bees †Psal 118.10 nor if the Earth be removed and the Mountains into the midst of the Sea * Ps 46.2 If Gods Zeal Strength Bowels Mercies and all are restrained yet Evangelical Isaiah will say to God Doubtlesse thou art our Father †Isa 63.15 16. Shadrach Meshach and Abed-nego will believe in their God in the very Face of the furious King and at the Mouth of the Seven-fold fiery furnace * Dan. 3.16 And Daniel will do the like in the lions den †Ch. 6. And some did Noble acts by faith a Catalogue of which we have upon record * Heb. 11. ¶ 6 The Jews were under the M L as pointing at Christ to Come to justifie by blood not then in Being e g If a man sin against any of the ten commandments of the Lord and his sin come to his knowledge by the law is this knowledge of sin and by it is the Conscience troubled he shall bring his Sin-offering a Kid of the goats a Male without blemish and kill it and his sin shall be forgiven him †Lev. 4. Thus the M L by its Scourge sent the Sinner to the C L the Sacrifice and Type of Christ and the Type pointed to Christ himself then to come for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them †1 Cor. 10.4 Before faith came i e faith in Christ actually crucified we were kept under the Law shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed * Gal. 3.23 i e when Christ the Object of faith should be revealed as manifest in the Flesh and So believed on in the world †1 Tim. 3.16 faith in Christ actually crucified Christ was Virtually crucified from the foundation of the World And under the Law they were Virtually redeemed from the Curse of the Law but not Actually redeemed but when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the law Actually to redeem them that were under the law * Gal. 4.4 5 ¶ 7 The Jews were under many and great Promises of temporal Blessings annexed to their obedience to the Law even a full land flowing with Milk and Honey the glory of all Lands †Ezek. 20 6. Thus we are not under the Law as the Jews were Of the great judgments they were under the execution of for their Disobedience to the M L I say nothing but they happened to them for Ensamples or Types and they are written for OVR admonition upon whom the Ends of the world are Come * 1 Cor. 10.11 ¶ N B A threefold Affirmation Under the Ministry of the Gospel the C W requires as perfect obedience of them that are under it as it did under the ministry of the Law 2 Under the ministry of the Gospel there is as high a degree of Holiness required of justified Persons as there was under the ministry of the Law It 's a Mad mistake to think the Law requires obedience to the law A mad mistake but the Gospel requires no obedience to the law 3 Under the Ministry of the Gospel the Law is to be preached to prick the Heart and prepare for Christ as Peter did by charging the Jews with the Murder of Jesus †Act. 2.36 37. They that say Nay in effect say Peter Paul Jesus himself James and John whom he Surnamed the sons of Thunder * Mar. 3.17 were all a company of Dunces in their Doctrine Therefore to say Before Christs death the Jews were all by nature under the law as a C W A 3 fold Folly but we are all freed from it since Christs death under the Gospel Or 2 They in a State of nature or in a justified State were under the law for a rule of life but not we Or 3 They were under the law to humble and prepare them for Christ but not we these are false foolish
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
signifies Nothing to be Protestants and Professors Such contracts of believers and unbelievers being as contrary to God as Darkness to Light I conclude are of the Devil He hath sometime No such infallible way to Ruin a Christian as this Then he tempts some one of his Servants to love such a one And sends him with his Suit A bargain from the bottomless pit dressed up with his Tongue tipt with Goodly Talk Deceitfully addicted to Sermons To praise the best Preachers To complain of Sin In all points to feign a Conformity to Christianity If it will not do great Love and Trouble is professed And it will be his Death or he shall Drown himself if his desire be denyed But if granted she shall have what Liberty she will Ask such a Shechem Never so much Dowry he will give it let him but have the Damsel to wife †Gen. 34.12 And when the Devils will is Done and they be once One they are soon Two Then she is Frowned upon and Frumpt and Fisted and excluded at the door She would not hear God's warning Word and shew shall feel Gods scourging rod. It shall be a Serpent a Scorpion a Plague Better be bound Hand and Foot to a Dead body and burried Alive than thus married Christians are Strangely stupified when carelesse of Gods Word in such a Weighty concern And they shall be Strangely punished to be awakened and humbled and Happy they if ever saved Yea Happy are they if they may have the happinesse to go through a Hell upon earth to Heaven Fath. How if my child make a Promise to such a Person Before I know it Min. Then you must break it After you know it and the Lord shall forgive it * Nu. 30.3 4 5. ¶ To all which of Education I adde these two Exhortations For childrens Children for Time to come 1 If you Live to it and have Time and Opportunity for it Teach your childrens Children †Deu. 4.9 Let them be brought upon your Knees to that End Not to take their parents work out of their hands but to help them on in this Great good work Education While you live think not your Time too much for GOD were it to our-last the age of Methuselah But 2 Live or Die Lay a very solemn Injunction upon your children to teach Their children And to lay the like Injunction on their children to teach Their children Thus leave an Inheritance to your childrens Children †Pro. 13.22 Make your practice profitable to Posterity to convey conversion from Generation to Generation that Religion may run in a Blood and flourish in your Families throughout All generations so long as the Sun and Moon endures These Scriptures do not stand for Cyphers which I will only relate and leave with you to Ponder at leasure Hear me I will declare that which Wise men have told from their Fathers and have not hid it * Job 15.18 I will utter dark sayings of old which we have heard and known and our Fathers have told us We will not hide them from their Children shewing the generation to Come the praises of the Lord. For he established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our Fathers that they should make them known to their Children That the generation to Come might know them even the Children which should be born who should arise and declare them to Their children †Psal 78.2 to 7. Hear ye Children the instruction of a Father c. For I was my Fathers son he taught Me also c * Pro. 4.1 3 4. The father to the children SHALL make known thy Truth †Isa 38.19 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy Grand-mother Lois and thy Mother Eunice and I am perswaded that in thee also * 2 Tim. 1.5 The Elder to the Elect Lady and her Children whom I love in the truth for the truths sake which dwelleth in us and shall be with us for ever I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy Children walking in Truth as we have received a Commandment from the Father †2 Job 1 2 4. Those things which are revealed belong unto Vs and to our Children for Ever * Deu. 29.29 Fath. Now Sir I suppose we are at an end Min. NO no the great work is yet behind Fath. A great Work behind STILL what is That I wonder Min. It 's PRAYER Parent Prayer for a Blessing PRAYER for a Blessing upon Instruction by Doctrin and Example and upon Correction by Word and Rod that Education may end in Salvation N B Let Prayer and Endeavour be linked together He that Prayes and not Endeavours mocks God He that Endeavours and not Prayes mocks himself Prayer is to be performed with much Frequency Fervency and Solemnity You are to be very Serious when by instruction and correction you speak to a Child how much more Serious and Solemn when by prayer you speak to God Thus pray FOR them and WITH them First Pray For children FOR them Lift up prayer as for children that stick in the Birth when there is not strength to bring forth †2 Kin. 19.3 4. Lift up thy hands for the life of thy young children * Lam. 2.19 Pray For them as if they were at point of Death Pray For them as if they were at brink of Hell Pray For them as if they were possessed with the DEVIL e g. Master I Beseech thee look upon my Son for he is my Onely child And lo a spirit taketh him and he suddenly cryeth out †Luk. 9.38 39. And oft-times it hath cast him into the Fire and into the Waters to destroy him * Mar. 9.22 The poor mans prayer improved Improve this thus LORD have mercy on my child an evil spirit is in him and he cries out Rudely and Wickedly And it oft casteth him into the Fire of Fury of Envie of Lust And into the Waters of Sinfull Pleasures of Drunkennesse the water of danger of Drowning and Damning And I brought him to thy Disciples and they could not cure him †Mat. 15.16 So you q d I have brought him to the Sermon and to such a Disciple to Document him reprove convince convert and recover him and Still he lies at the Point of death LORD come down ere my child die * Job 4.49 Help from Heaven is the Point parents must Come to and Prevail for or their children go down to Hell ¶ And to encourage you Ten Con. Consider how Prevalent prayer hath Been and what great things it hath Done e g. ¶ 1 Prayer hath made the Sun and Moon to Stand still †Jos 10.12 ¶ 2 It hath made the Sun go Backward * 2 K. 20.10 ¶ 3 hath fetched Fire from Heaven †1 Kin. 18.36 37 38. ¶ 4 hath fetched Water from Heaven *
Jam. 5.18 ¶ 5 hath fetched a Soul from Heaven †Act. 9.40 ¶ 6 hath fetched an ANGEL from Heaven * Jud. 13.8 ¶ 7 It hath fetched GOD from Heaven †Psal 18.6 9. ¶ 8 It hath fetched a Person out of Prison who was Guarded and Chained and shut in with an Iron Gate * Act. 12.4 5 6 10. ¶ 9 It hath helped a Soul out of a Hell upon earth even out of All trouble †Psal 116.3 4 8. ¶ 10 It hath held Gods Hands from destroying * Exo. 32.10 and hath prevailed with God for Special blessing †Gen. 32.28 As a Prince had Jacob power with God and prevailed He kneeled down Jacob and rose up Israel A Divine Dignity He took his brother by the heel in the Womb and by his strength he had power with GOD yea he had power over the ANGEL and prevailed Even the Lord God of Hosts the Lord is his Memorial * Ho. 12.3 4 5. Godlinesse is a Mystery there is no trade like Beggery Carnal beggery at Mans door is a Poor trade but spiritual beggery at GOD's gate is a Rich trade A rich Trade A praying Christian is like a Courtier who gets more by One suit in Season Simile than a toyling Trades man gets in 20 years A little of God's Gold got by prayer is worth more than a Great many Guinys ¶ PRAY then with All perseverance lest you play the Hypocrites part Of him Job gives you a Character in a Quaere viz Will he alwayes call upon God †Job 27.10 NOT He. God shall hear from him in Hell * Lu. 16.24 And it may be first in the hour of Death He will cry when God kills him †Ps 78.34 Simile like the Swine when the Knife is at his throat It was a sad Argument that Atheist used in his one prayer at Sea in a Tempest when he told God plainly He was no common begger Heylyn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 376. had never troubled him with prayer before if he would but hear him that time he would never trouble him again This argument which he thought to be two-fold For him he little thought to be ten thousand-fold Against him Fath. How oft in a day had I best to pray that I may persevere Min. As to your Time and Times in a Day for private prayer if you will take my Counsel follow David's Example viz Times for private prayer Three times a day Evening and Morning and at Noon will I pray †Ps 55.17 And Daniel's example he kneeled upon his knees Three times a Day and prayed * Dan. 6.10 And for a Type of our looking to Jesus in prayer his windows shall stand open towards Jerusalem though Death come in at them and carry him into the Lions Den. Daniel will Pray though he go into the Lions Den for it Some will not Pray Some do as Dives did Perish first and then Pray though they go into the Dungeon of Hell for it And though Daniel's prayer did not keep him Out of the lions den it kept him In the lions den which was to God a greater Glory and to Daniel a greater Mercy and to his enemies a greater Misery than if he had Never come there It was a Perilous time for Prayer Daniel's safety seems to lay in laying a Bed and laying prayer Down till the 30 Dog-dayes be out †Dan. 6.7 Daniels safe danger N B. In the most Perilous time for Prayer then it is most Safe to be in that Peril of prayer The danger layes in the Neglect of prayer take heed of That I have read of a Witch who much envied a godly man Of the Witch and sent her Imps oft times to destroy him But they usually returned with this answer We cannot come at him for he constantly prayes to God At length he being in Hast went out one morning without prayer And that day they did him a greater mischief than Daniel's Devils did him in the Lions Den viz brake some of his Bones This the Witch confessed when imprisoned Mr Hast Remember this that morning Mr Hast is so great a Husband as to call you out before you have been in your Closet First worship God he that forgets to Pray Bids not himself Good Morrow nor Good Day Fath. It would make a man afraid But I believe many go out in the morning without prayer and come Safe home at night too Min. NO wonder Them condemned Prisoners that lay at quiet in Fetters Allusion why should the Keeper of New-Gate hurt he knows they will be Hanged when it 's the Kings pleasure to appoint the Execution Day But if one to his great Damage do break away WO be to him if he can come at him God is not for speedy execution And what cares Satan for breaking mens Bones who are Subject to his Service No let them go whole-Footed and whole-Handed to Hell But if one break Prison for liberty to serve God OUT comes the roaring Lion with a Hue and Cry from Hell to devour Him if he may Second Pray With children Pray WITH them in your Family It 's to poor purpose for Parents to pray For children and not With them And for Masters to pray For servants and not With them Sir you are Master of a Family Set up the Worship of God in your Family or expect the Wrath of God to be rained down upon your Family †Jer. 10.25 Fire and Brimstone and an Horrible tempest * Psal 11.6 But what causes your Countenance to change Fath. I am frighted with fearfull words Min. This countenance is a Character of a guilty Conscience No wonder if you are Frighted It 's more Dreadfull to stand before the Drawn Sword of God's mouth without Shelter than to stand naked before Cannon Shot Fath. I desire direction for Family duty Min. First As to Time and Times Direct 1. Times for Family prayer when and how Oft. I affirm that you are to perform this duty of prayer In and With your family Twice in a day viz Morning and Evening And this without Fail except in a case of Necessity which hath no Law And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Command the children of Israel and say unto them MY offering and MY bread for MY sacrifices made by sire for a sweet savour unto ME shall ye observe to offer unto ME in their Due season †Nu. 28.1 Day by Day Morning and Even continally * Exo. 29.38 39. Though this be out of use as Ceremonial and so Practical it 's not out of use as Doctrinal and directive to Gospel duty Gospel duty contained in One of Gods Two Testaments Gospel duty Great New or Old is a greater Sum then many Gospelers imagine Masters give unto your Servants that which is Just and Equal knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven Continue in
die Spiritually in Soul who do not die Eternally in both Fath. That Israel were under a C W is hard to beat out of my Head Object 6 Min. A covenant between God and man is not Made except GOD require and Man consent 1 God did not Require it is contrary to his purpose of Salvation by Grace and if by Grace then is it no more of Works †Rom. 11.6 2 Man did not Consent If in saying All that the Lord hath spoken we will do †Exo. 19.8 they counted to comply with a C W they said they knew not what nor are they Commended for it But when they said to Moses Speak thou with us and we will hear but let not God speak with us lest we die †Ch. 20.19 then said Moses Fear not * Ver. 20. and said God They have Well said †Den. 5.28 i e to desire a Mediatour these are no signs of a C W. Nor did they Consent to a C W when they said Amen to the curses pronounced against him that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to do them †Deu. 27.26 but did acquiesce in the pronunciation of the Curse for him to whom it did belong Nor did Paul in saying As many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse * Gal. 3.10 say They were all so Nor doth Moses in describing the righteousnesse of the Law viz The man which doth those things shall live by them * Rom. 10 5. say They were so to live or that it was Possible for them The man that Doth shall Live is q d The man that emptieth the Ocean with a Spoon shall go into the depth of it and not be Drowned for to fulfill the Law and to empty the Sea are Parallel impossibilities Fath. But God speaks of a New Covenant Object 7 †Jer. 31.31 and this at Sinai is called Old * Heb. 8.13 so that it seems Not to be a C G as you call it nor that they were saved Before Christs death as we are since Min. There is some Circumstantial difference 1 The Old as it 's called comprehended the Promise of Canaan containing many Temporal blessings 2 The Jews were by it Obliged to Ceremonial service 3 Some few excepted it was confined to the Jews only 4 It was Sealed with the blood of Sacrifices Typical of Christ to Come These things being Transitory it is said to wax Old and vanish away †Heb. 8.13 yet the covenant is One and the Same in Substance AT Christ's death it was Sealed by his own blood Actively Before it was Sealed by his blood Virtually Since Christ's death it is Signified by the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which is Permanent till Christ come so was the Ceremonial Sacrifice till he came to Die the blood of which signified Christ's blood Was to be shed as well as the Element of Wine signifieth it Is shed N B. Covenants are Certainly the Same if they accord in these 3 Substantials Subject End Condition Jesus Christ as Head of the Elect is the Subject Salvation is the End Faith is the Condition of Both and so is the way of Salvation the Same Before Christ's death the Jews were said to be under a yoke they were not able to bear †Act. 15.10 what then but we beleeve that by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved Even as they * Ver. 11. Identity or the Samenesse of Salvation We Jews even as they Gentiles for Christ and Salvation and the Way to it are the Same Jew and Gentile saved the Same way Before and After Christs death Before it they were under the Gospel clouded with the Law Since we are under the Gospel more clearly dispensed They that God taught saw it Then no more see it Now and from the Rest it is hid Fath. If the law was not delivered as a C W what signified the dreadfull delivery of it with Thunder and Lightning Object 8 and breaking the Tables when Israel Sinned Min. God by delivering the Law on Mount Sinai at first with his own mouth did signifie he had made a C W with Adam and in him with all Men and what he might justly require of men The thunder signified the dreadfull effects of the breach of that Covenant It 's being written on Tables signified it was written on Adam's Heart I will give thee Tables of stone and a Law which I have written †Exo. 24.12 they were the work of God without Moses i e without a Mediatour 2 The tables being broken when Israel sinned signified the C W was broken when Adam sinned and was never to be made with Man more God doth not say Moses mend the Tables thou hast broken but Hew thee two new Tables * Ch. 34.1 3 The law written on the Tables a second time signified or was an Embleme of the law written on the Heart of Christians according to the C G. 4 God by proclaiming his gracious name on Mount Sinai and giving the law there the second time to Moses alone †Ver. 3.5 6 signified he had made a C G with Christ for Christians and had given the law by Christ by Angels in the hand of a Mediatour N B This M L thus written not as a C W The Law the Rule but as it is the law of Christ IS a Christians rule of Life The Saviour is the Law-giver and Ruler * Isa 33.22 the Decalogue is the Sum it 's branched through the Bible for a rule of righteousnesse and Gospel obedience for all Christians in all Nations throughout all Generations Fath. But some say Object 9 The law as written in the Bible is not a Christians rule of life but as it is written in the Heart they act from a principle of Love are led by the Spirit of God and delight to do his Will Min. That a true Christian hath the law written in his Heart acts from a principle of Love is led by the Spirit of God delights to do his Will is True but the law as written in the Bible is not a Christians rule of life is not only False but Prefixt to the Rest makes all to be a piece of ridiculous Non-sense Pestilent Opinion This pestilent opinion hath 5 parts 1 The law as written in the Bible is not a Christians rule of life A. As the Gospel teacheth how to Beleeve and is a rule of Faith so the Law teacheth how to Live and is a rule of Life As the Gospel is an everlasting rule for Faith so is the Law an everlasting rule for Life As the Civil law is a rule of Civil life so is Gods Divine law a rule of Godly life Simile The law is as a Touch-stone Simile to try if gold be Good The law is as a Line to shew what is Straight and what is Crooked Simile A good work-man will have his Rule
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
for his Author I leave it with you to look That Jesus was virtually slain as soon as Adam sinned Ideny not no doubt he undertook for man before man was †Pro. 8.23 Rev. 3.14 but that Jesus's death which was 4000 years after mans fall must needs be on that day and hour of the week on which man fell I reject as ridiculous If such had said Jesus Rose on the week day and hour that Adam Fell it had carried a fairer colour If men must search as far as the foundation of the world for a foundation to falsifie the day of Christs death it is pity they are not better busied But if Adam's fall on the Sixth day be a proof for Christs death on the Sixth day let us lay aside the day of Christs death a little and begin with Adams fall ¶ 1 Adam was a glorious piece of Gods creation Adam's Fall his Soul and Body was an Epitomy of Heaven and Earth and an house for God to inhabit To say Adam fell on the Sixth day is to liken God his Maker to a foolish Builder who lets the house fall under his hand before he can finish it ¶ 2 It seems by Sacred Scripture that neither Adam nor Angels fell on the Sixth day for in the conclusion of the Creation at the Close of the Sixth day God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good and the evening and the morning were the Sixth day * Gen. 1.31 There is the Close up of the whole Creation complete ¶ 3 As it seems by Scripture Adam fell not on the Sixth day so it seems by Scripture he fell on the Seventh day and that is my perswasion And I will produce no other proof for it than the same Scripture your Author brings to prove Adam fell on the Sixth day viz that Hebrew Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adam in honour did not abide a night †Ps 49.12 It seems he fell that first night which was on the first Sabbath day natural which began at Even ¶ Note Satans old enmity against the Sabbath Satans enmity at the Sabbath 1 He mystically murdered Adam and all his posterity on the first Sabbath that ever was 2 The first Bodily murder we know of in the world Satan acted by the hand of his servant Cain on the Sabbath day and for a Sabbath dayes service as I suppose by this Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the end of dayes * Gen. 4.3 the Seventh day was the end of dayes for there never was more than 7 dayes 3 Satan sets his Servants a work many wayes to break the Sabbath And this enmity is not onely against Gods Sabbath but also against mans Soul In indignation against both this great governour drives on as if he would drive all before him into Hell fire At his command they curse swear whore pot pipe prate sport work play walk at pleasure all which paths lead to the Lake of fire The Sabbath is spent as if it was the Devils day and not Gods day It is the Devils great Trading day for Hell and the wickeds great Treasuring day for Wrath for sin on Other dayes does not fill the Vials of Gods wrath so fast as it doth on This day Adde to all Satans provoking his servants to persecute Saints on Sabbath dayes for the Service of God disturbing them in their meetings haling them to Prisions for using the liberty Christ hath given them 4 Satan is very busie with Saints on Sabbath dayes He tempts them to work and buy and sell when the Sabbath is begun in the Evening To lay in Bed in the morning To trifle away time when they are Up. To talk of controversies Saints both sleep and wake to Satan and impertineneies to absent from Sermons to Sleep to him at Sermons to Wake to him at Sermons by wandring thoughts a thousands wayes Here you may see by what spirit they are acted that are opposite to the Sabbath day Mr A and Mr L did not tell you they came with a message from the Devil yesterday to disturb you in your duty But let us proceed to the day of Christs death ¶ Here let me premise a few Cautions Cautions premised 1 Do not reflect on any thing that seems improbable for it may be True though at first it seem false Nor any thing that seems impertinent q d to what purpose is this prove the Point for it may be to some purpose though it presently appear not 2 This being an intricate point for its clearing some Scriptures must be opened and some reconciled which cannot be done with few words in which I must crosse my Self for I affect to contract things in few words 3 It being new and contrary to the commmon Creed you will Object your All against it your Objections you must hear orderly answered or it will be in vain to offer them 4 Be very punctual in observing the day of the month I shall have occasion to speak of with its beginning and ending else I speak into the Air. If I digresse or go forward or back ward from any Day or Thing before I have done with it care not to carry it in your head for I shall bring you to it again In a word before I proceed resolve to hear all or none at all Fath. I will hear what you have to say Min. To introduce the day of Christs death Of the day of Christs Death I must begin with its lively Type viz The Lords Passe-over This from its first institution was on the 14 day of the first month Abib or Nisan according to that Sacred account from the time of Israel's deliverance out of Egypt †Ex. 12.2 The Paschal lamb was to be taken up on the 10 day * Ver. 3. and kept till the 14 day †Ver. 6. probably that the sight of it might occasion Soul preparation And it was to be killed in the Evening * Ver. 6. Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 between the two Evenings i e say some Sun-set and Dark night Short work though they eat it in hast I do not think they prepared it in Post-hast Fath. What 2 Evens else had they Min. The division of the day by hours was not used when the Passeover was commanded the word hour except in Daniel is not in the O T. But they divided the day into 3 parts called Morning Noon Even †Ps 55.17 from 6 to 10 was Morning from 10 to 2 was Noon from 2 to 6 at night was Even The beginning and end of this last part were the two Evens between which the Lamb was killed and it was eat at night * Ex. 12.8 Our Lord Jesus who came to fulfill the Law kept this Passeover according to Law he commanded his Disciples to kill and prepare it upon the 14 day and he eat it with them at Night when the 15 day began †Mat. 26.17
to 20. Mar. 14.12 to 17. Luk. 22.7 to 14. Fath. You say I must punctually observe the day of the month how shall I know the 14 day ended and the 15 day began that Even Min. Very easily Pharoh rose up in the night * Ex. 12.30 and they were thrust out of Egypt †Ver. 39. that night in which they eat the Passeover And they departed from Rameses in the first month on the 15 day of the month on the morrow after the Passeover * Nu. 33.3 ¶ Here its necessary to Note viz A Day in Scripture falls under a two-fold consideration 1 An Artificial day of 12 hours from 6 to 6 of this Jesus speaks thus Are there not 12 hours in the day †Job 11.9 2 A Natural day of 24 hours from Even to Even of this Jesus speaks this night Verily I say unto thee that this Day even in this Night before the Cock crow twice thou shalt deny me thrice * Mar. 14.30 Christ calls the night Day ie the Dark part of the natural day THIS night Jesus Eat the Passeover Insticuted the Supper †M. 26.26 Foretold the Traitor at the Table * Lu. 22.21 Washed his Disciples feet †Job 13.4 Preached his Funeral Sermon for his Disciples consolation * Chap. 14 15 16. Concluded it with Prayer †Chap. 17. Then went out over the brook Cedron * Ch. 18.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which word signifies black sad over this brook David the Beloved passed when his life was pursued at which all the Countrey wept with a loud voice †2 Sa. 15.23 Then to the mount of Olives near 2 miles from Jerusalem * M. 26.30 Mar. 11.1 Job 11.18 NO rest I have a bloody baptism to be baptized with and How am I straitened till it be accomplished †Lu. 12.50 Then to Gethsemance exceeding sorrowfull even unto deaht fell on his face and prayed O my Father Did sweat quasi Great drops of blood falling down to the ground †Lu. 22.44 while his Disciples Sleep Then goes into a Garden * Job 18.1 to which Judas with his Cabal came with Lanterns Torches and Weapons †Ver. 3. where the Second Adam was taken in such a place as the First Sinned Christ was carried away with such an uproar as raised a young man out of his Bed with his Sheet about his back to see the Sight * Mar. 14.51 Jesus was led bound to Annas first †Jo. 18.13 who sent him bound to Caiaphas the high Priest * Ver. 24. and with him were assembled all the chief Priests Elders and Scribes †Mk. 14.53 Scaliger probably to keep the Passeover that night Jesus was mocked ¶ Mat. 26.20 to end Mar. 14.17 to end Lu. 22.14 to 66. Jo. 13.1 to Ch. 18.28 blindfolded buffeted spit in the face fear makes the Disciples forsake him and Peter deny him for which he wept bitterly This is an Epitomy of that nights proceedings of which at leasure read at Large ¶ ¶ In the morning the Jews consulted and delivered Jesus to Pilate the Roman Deputy †Mar. 15.1 to fulfill this Saying they shall deliver him to the Gentiles to Crucifie * M. 20.19 Pilate sent him to Herod †Lu. 23.7 he mocked him and sent him again to Pilate * Ver. 11. he examines him finds no fault in him †Ver. 4. would fain release him but the violent vox populi was such that he delivered Jesus to be Crucified * Mat. 27.24 25 26. THEN they Stripped him Crowned his head with thorns Smote him Spit upon him and I suppose plucked off his Beard †Isa 50.6 Ezra 9.3 Neh. 13.25 And at the third hour nailed him to the Crosse Fath. What time of the day was that Min. The Jews counted their day of 12 hours The Jews count of Lesser hours 12 in a day from our Six in the morning to Six at night thus 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 as we do from mid-day to mid-night Our 6 in the morning is their 12 so that their third hour is at 9 a clock Fath. But John saith It was about the Sixth hour before Jesus was Crucified * Jo. 19.14 Min. They had another way to divide the day The Jews Greater hours 4 in a day Godwyn viz as they divided the night of 12 hours into 4 watches so they divided the day of 12 hours into 4 quarters each one Watch and Quarter contained 3 hours These quarters were called Great hours and took their name from the last of the 3 hours which closed the quarter The first from their 12 to 3 was called the third hour this is with us from 6 to 9. The second quarter from 3 to 6 was called the Sixth hour with us from 9 to 12. Mark means the end of the third hour at 9 a clock John means the beginning of the Sixt hour which begins when the third hour ends and thus they agree John tells not the hour of Jesus's Death but Matthew Mark and Luke all agree that it was After the ninth hour †M 27.45 Mar. 15.34 Lu. 23.44 i e after 3 a clock afternoon buried at Even ¶ Now we must take a step back Just a day long to the Even when Jesus eat the Passeover and so proceed At this Even when the 14 day ended and the 15 day began then began the first day of the 7 dayes of unleavened bread * Ex. 12.18 Lev. 23.6 Nu. 28.17 Ez. 45.21 Fath. Why then is the 14 day called the first day of unleavened bread †Mar. 14.12 Min. Partly because it was prefixt and joyned to them and partly because the Passe over was killed on the 14 day which was eat with unleavened bread at Even or beginning of the first day of unleavened bread And so sometimes all the 8 dayes are called dayes of unleavened bread †Act. 12.3 and sometimes the feast of unleavened bread * Lu. 22.1 But the dayes of unleavened bread properly so called were but 7 and exactly bounded †Exo. 12.18 N B The first day of the 7 was the Feast of the Passeover In the 14 day of the first month is the Passeover and in the 15 day of this month is the Feast * Nu. 28.16 17. Now before the Feast of the Passeover †Joh. 13.1 Jesus instituted the Supper gave Judas a Sop and after the sop Satan entred into him then said Jesus That thou doest do quickly * Ver. 26 27. Hence he bearing the Bag some thought Jesus had said Buy those things that we have need of against the Feast †Ver. 29. N B The first and last of these 7 dayes were holy Convocations Seven dayes shall ye eat unleavened bread in the First day there shall be an holy Convocation and in the Seventh day there shall be
an holy Convocation * Exo. 12.15 16. These were Ceremonial Sabbaths and commonly called Sabbaths But it s the first day of the 7 which falls under our consideration viz the 15 day of the month which you may see called a Sabbath †Lev. 23.11 15. N B THIS is the Sabbath which the Jews made to follow Jesus's Funeral and which you suppose to be the 7 day Sabbath Fath. Suppose Ay well let that passe at present Then it seems this Sabbath should have been that day on which Jesus died Min. It s well observed and by this I see you observe what I say The 15 day of the month on which Jesus died was the day but they deferred it to the day following and called the 15 day preparation day * Jo. 19.42 Fath. Why did they so Min. As when a fixt Fair falls on Sunday Jews Translation the Countrey keeps it on Munday so if this Passeover Sabbath fixed on the 15 day of the month fell on some certain dayes of the week the Jews had a Custome to Translate it to the next day by their Rule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Badu †Godwyn of which one Eleazar is said to be the Author who lived 350 years before Christs Birth * Hospinian de Orig fest P6 N B That this Sabbath was thus translated a man can no more deny than he can deny the Day to Spring or the Sun to Shine Fath. I cannot deny it but then I believe it was translated from the 6 day to the 7 day and so a double Sabbath Ceremonial and Moral and on that account called a high day †Joh. 19.31 Min. That I deny and this I affirm The high Sabbath no Sabbath that as to the Day it was no Sabbath at all Ceremonial nor Moral but one of their own invention Hence sometime it hath no Sabbatical Title e g John speaking of the day of Jesus's death saith It was the preparation of the Passeover * Joh. 19.14 it s no more but Passeover Matthew speaking of this high Sabbath calls it The next day that followed the day of Preparation †Mat. 27.62 Strange a Sabbath a Double Sabbath a High day and no other Title but the next day Thus God is pleased to drop words to see what notice men will take of them Fath. HOW no Sabbath why then is it called a High Day Min. The right day was a high day for on it Israel went out of Egypt with an high hand * Exo. 14.8 Why a High Sabbath And it was for a Monument of their miraculous deliverance e g This day shall be unto you for a Memorial †Ch. 12.14 Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt * Ch. 13.3 And thou shalt shew thy son c †Ver. 8. And it shall be for a Sign unto thee upon thine hand and for a Memorial between thine eyes * Ver. 9. And many such Solemn injunctions to remember this day with wonder viz That Pharoh who stood so many a Storm like a person Plague-Proof should rise up in the night †Ch. 12.30 and call for Moses and Aaron and say Go serve the Lord as Ye have said * Ver. 31. also take your Flocks and your Herds as Ye have said and be gone and blesse me also †Ver. 32. That six hundred thousand men besides women and children should be pulled out of Prison from two hundred years Tyranny and all in One night a night INDEED to be much observed to the Lord * Ver. 42. Upon this account that Sabbath day was an High day †Joh. 19.31 Good Josiah and some few Princely Persons spent at this Passeover oxen bullocks and small cattel forty one thousand 41400 cattel killed and four hundred * 2 Chro. 35.7 8 9. this was an High day And whether they kept the right day or the wrong it was all one in their esteem they pretended Reason for its Translation And in case of necessity Hezekiah translated this Passeover to the Second month †2 Chro. 30.2 and in such case there was an allowance * Num. 9.6 to 11. N B This temporal deliverance on the 15 day was a Type of Eternal deliverance by Christs death on the same day of the year And though this temporal deliverance was long before Christs death yet it was by Vertue of Christs death who was virtually slain before the First Passeover was killed This then should have been an High day on Christs account but him the carnal Jews laid Low they killed Christ on the Right day and kept the Passeover Sabbath on the Wrong Fath. Blesse us no Sabbath but the Scripture calls it a Sabbath Min. So does the Scripture call the Devil Samuel 5 times in few words †1 Sam. 28.12 to 20. Satan called Samuel and does not once tell us it was the Devil In calling the Devil Samuel God tells us what Saul and the Witch called him and leaves it with us to Judge whether a wicked Silly Witch had power to bring Samuel Soul and Body from Heaven and Earth So in calling that a Sabbath God tells us what the Jews called it and leaves it with us to Judge whether Jesus or the Jews were likest to break Gods Law If that was a C Sabbath not translated Jesus was a Sinner not a Saviour Fath. I know not what to say of the translation of the day But for Jesus's dying on the 6 day the Scripture is clear besides invincible Arguments I have yet to bring The Scripture saith Jesus rose on the first day you dare not deny it and though it does not say Jesus died on Fryday or the 6 day yet in saying he died the day before the Sabbath and rose in the end of the Sabbath * Mat. 28.1 I think it s as plain as if the 6 day had been named Min. Mistake not the State of our difference We differ not about the day of Jesus's Resurrection except the Time of the day viz you for the Morning the midst of the day I for the Even the beginning of the day But our difference is in the day of Jesus's Death you say it was on the 6 day I deny it and do plainly tell you your proof by Inference from Scripture is no better than a Blind Conjecture Let me hear your invincible Arguments also Fath. I have read in learned Authors The R d Bp of for One. that the two dayes which bounded the feast of 7 weeks viz the first day and the 50 day fell that year both on the first day of the week That the first day of the 50 followed the Passeover Sabbath is as clear as the Sun †Lev. 23.11 15. seeing Jesus rose on that first day and lay dead on the 7 day and died the day before it s also as clear as the Sun that he died on the 6 day Moreover saith my Author
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
the Jews Carnal nor Spiritual could endure their Ceremonies should be suddenly forsaken Thou seest brother how many Thousands of Jews there are that believe and they are All zealous of the Law †Act. 21.20 i e the C L so the Christians counselled Paul to countenance them and he did so * Ver. 23 26. Not to uphold Ceremonies but to get an interest in their affections that by degrees as they could bare it he might bring them Off and had he not done so they had cast him off Thus to the Jews he became a Jew to gain the Jews †1 Cor. 9.20 Fath. But if Pentecost was not on the first day why did God countenance it by giving the Disciples the holy Ghost on that day Min. Because I would not onely Silence but also Satisfie you I have been willing to give you all the advantage I can by stating things fairly for you and will do so still Suppose then the Disciples met contrary to the mind of God and knew it yet for fear or favour of the magisterial Jews they conform to keep the Pentecost if God will be gracious what then I will not again curse the ground for mans sake for the imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth * Gen. 8.21 Let my Lord I pray thee go among us for it is a Stiff-necked people †Ex. 34.9 Strange Arguments Gods Word is mans rule but Gods Will is Gods rule and if God will be gracious to man when man walks contrary to his Will will man say Lord what doest thou mean to have mercy on me Will man call God to his Bar and bring him into judgement for his mercy Mercy or judgment if it be the will of God it is just Yea if God should command man contrary to his own command e g If God will forbid man to murder upon pain of Death and then command a man to kll his own Son * Gen. 22.2 who will say unto him What doest thou †Job 9.12 God did not make man to consult what promises God should make to man nor when he should fulfill them God gave the Disciples a promise of the Spirit and he took this time Pentecost to fulfill it ¶ 2 I would form a foundation for a Question for your consideration viz The 50 dayes bounded Harvest the first day was at Beginning of harvest begin to number the 7 weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the Sickle to the Corn * Deu. 16.9 The fiftieth day was at End of harvest Harvest was in the land of Canaan a Type of Heaven The 50 dayes contained 7 Sabbaths a number noting Perfection These dayes were all linked to the Passeover and all Typical of eternal life Jesus began to observe this time with the Passeover before his death It being so Quere I Quere whether this Pentecost was not to be kept that God might give the Disciples a little Heaven on Earth to signifie what an eternal Sabbath they should have in Heaven Typified by these preceeding Sabbaths which at this day Pentecost were consummated If you can Answer this Question in the Affirmative then your Question Why did God countenance the Pentecost is resolved Fath. I may take it into consideration another time But Suppose the Jews did not translate the Passeover Sabbath it fell on the 7 day Sabbath then they kept the 15 day and Jesus rose the 16 and Wave-day this proves Pentecost on the first day and Christs death on the 6 day too Min. Now I can follow you no farther I dare not Say the word suppose in this case nor dare I think such a wicked thought But though I dare not Follow you I dare Meet and withstand you to the Face If you say the Jews kept the right day you say Jesus kept the wrong day If you say the Jews did not Translate the Passeover to the day after the right day you say Jesus did Anticipate it the day before the right day viz Jesus died on the 14 day and killed the Passeover on the 13 day contrary to the Law In so saying you make Jesus a Transgressor Thus by justifying the Jews and condemning Jesus you hope to Hit it Monstrum Horrendum this proof comes from the bottomlesse Pit and there being no other way in the world to prove your opinion rather than fail you will make Jesus the Saviour and actual Sinner at which attempt what is that heart that will not tremble Should you Suppose You and I are now in the East-Indies or London stands on the Main Ocean or there is no difference between Heaven and Hell I would as soon consent Fath. But we may Reason and Question Christ was Lord of the Sabbath and had power to change the Sabbath might not he change the Passeover and be no transgressor Min. Though Jesus was Lord of the Sabbath he was made under the Law †Gal. 4.4 and Subject to it Though he was the Sabbaths Lord the Law was his Lord and had him at command on which account it was honourable * Isa 42.21 And though Jesus changed the Sabbath it was not while he was under the Law but at his Resurrection when he had fulfilled it Jesus stood in mans stead he was a debtor to the whole Law the payment of which debt the Law required ot the last mite Christs person is taken into custody imprisoned in the grave till the debt be discharged and justice satisfied at his resurrection being acquitted he was taken from prison and from judgment †Isa 53.8 alluding to a debtour who hath satisfied the creditour Then Jesus changed the Sabbath Fath. It seems Jesus justified his Disciples in an unlawfull deed on the Sabbath day for they eat Other mens Corn * Mat. 12.1 Min. Not in the Least the Law allowed that deed e g When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbours then thou mayst pluck the ears with thine hand †Deut. 23.25 As for Davids eating the Shew-bread and the Priests prosaning the Sabbath by killing their Sacrifices * Mat. 12.3 4 5. these according to the Letter of the Law were unlawful but not according to the Sense of the law which provided liberty for works of Charity and Necessity And Jesus in pleading these practices to excuse his Disciples doth q d You count David and the Priests blamelesse in these necessitous acts and yet condemn my Disciples in the same Case Fath. But Jesus refused to go up to the feast of Tabernacles †Job 7.8 which Law he was under as well as this of the Passeover and if he could dispense with That why not with This Min. Jesus refused to go up by way of vain Ostentation as his unbelieving brethren would needs have him go for say they Shew thy self to the World * Ver. 4. that Jesus resused saying Go ye up to this feast †Ver. 8. q d by way of Ostentation if you
will it being so Fashionable the world cannot hate you * Ver. 7. for it they will love their won 2 Jesus refused to go with Them because the Jews sought to kill him †Ver. 1. not at the feast for fear of an uprore * Mat. 26.5 but to Way-lay him q d He will come with his kindred as other people use to do and so we shall Snap him by the way Therefore said Jesus I go not up Yet to this feast q d till Ye are gone for my time is not yet fully come †Job 7.8 q d my Meet time to go or my time to be Taken when it is I shall not seek to Save my self But when his brethren were gone up then went he also up unto the feast not openly * Ver. 10. i e by the way for at Jerusalem about the Midst of the feast Jesus went up into the Temple and taught * Ver. 14. And in the last day that Great day of the feast Jesus stood and cryed saying If any man thirst let him come to me and drink * Ver. 37. So you see Jesus did not refuse to go up to this feast Fath. But you have said Hezekiah changed the Passeover in case of necessity †Pag 253. Min. Hezekiah's Salvation did not depend upon his perfect obedience to the Law if it had he had never been Saved but upon Christs perfect obedience without which He nor We shall never be Saved Fath. If Christ kept the Passeover a Day before the Right day he kept it Min. Suppose you say to a Servant Do such a work to Morrow No Sir faith he I will do it to day Nay say you I am resolved to have it done to Morrow Away goes he and does it to Day does this servant Obey or Disobey you Fath. I confesse he Disobeys me even in doing the work which I command him Min. How many times hath God plainly expressed his mind in this matter in the Law which Jesus was under viz That the Passeover should be killed the 14 day of the month by your Own confession Christ was disobedient if he changed the day N B Suppose you could prove Jesus did Anticipate the Passeover and not sin and that the Jews kept the 15 day yet except you prove the 15 day of the month to be the 7 day of the week you neither prove Jesus rose on the Wave-day nor Pentecost on the first day nor Jesus's death on the 6 day and so you are never the near But if Jesus had brake any Sabbath or Law of God in the Least he could not have been in the Least any Saviour †Ja. 2.10 And that Jesus failed in the least Jota Jod Point or Tittle is folly wickednesse madnesse in a man once to imagine Before Christ would have broken any Command he upholding the whole Creation would have let Heaven and Earth fall for had he failed a Tittle of fulfilling the whole Law Gods purpose of Salvation had fell ERGO this is an infallible Maxime A Maxime viz On the 14 day of the first month Nisan Christ killed the Passeover according to All the Rites of it * Nu. 9.3 and on the 15 day he was killed himself the 16 and Wave-day was the first day Jesus lay dead therefore he rose not That day nor could Pentecost fall on the first day So your Pentecost opinion is utterly overthrown and that for Jesus's death on the 6 day will follow and you shall never recover them again while the World stands Fath. I confesse I cannot at present tell what more to plead for One or Other But though you deny Jesus died on the 6 day you do not declare on what other day he died Min. Nor was it proper for me out of the place every thing beautifull in his time †Eccl. 3.11 I could easily have done that at first in few words but the work was to Answer your Objections against my Judgment and your Arguments for your Own Having done that I can shew my Opinion with pleasure but not with submission to better judgments as some finely phrase it When I speak my thoughts of what I am uncertain it shall be with such submission but when I am well assured of the truth of what I say I shall neither submit to better nor worse to Stand or Fall by this or that mans perswasion I desire a better foundation than mans Praise for my Opinion And what that is concerning the day of Christs death I will now declare and were it to the whole World with your Self I would declare it viz Week-day of Jesus's death declared The 15 day of the first month Nisan on which Christ was Crucified and Died fell that year on the Fourth day of the week i e Wednesday at end of which Day our Blessed Jesus was Buried from which time to the end of the 7 day Sabbath was 3 dayes and 3 nights N T proof the Term of time our Lord foretold he should lay in the grave * Mat. 12.40 So there was two dayes between the day of Jesus's death and the 7 day Sabbath And one day between that high Sabbath and the 7 day Sabbath had the Jews kept the right day there had been two dayes between their high Sabbath and the 7 day Sabbath which you say were both on a day The Reason of this Translation Reason of translation was because it fell on Wednesday for if this Sabbath fixt on the 15 day fell on Munday Wednesday or Fryday the Jews Custome was to translate it to the next day Godwyn by the Rule 172 Badu That year it fell on Wednesday they kept it on Thursday the 16 or Wave-day so now you may see your Wave-day and Pentecost were on Thrusday Fath. I begin to Stagger have you any more proof for the day of Jesus's death Min. What need of more proof than Christs Own words but this Old world being so full of Novelty I thought a New Opinion must have a New Proof too take one then out of the O T. O T proof And after 62 weeks shall Messiah be cut off but not for himself †Dan. 9.26 these are extraordinary weeks And he shall confirm the covenant with many for One week * Ver. 27. there is no Prefix in the Hebrew to render it for one week but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one week he shall confirm the covenant with or rather For many i e for all the Elect by being cut off according to the covenant †Zech. 9.11 And he shall cause the Sacrifice and Oblation to cease the Sacrifice was the yearly Passeover * Ex. 12.27 the Oblation was the daily Sacrifice †Num. 28.2 3 4. Dan. 9.21 these two viz the Yearly Type and the Daily Type of Christs death when he the Substantial Sacrifice was sacrificed for us then he caused them Shadows to cease But when in the Midst of
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
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