English Reader The most Necessary of all which to know are These c et caetera and the rest or and so forth Sc scilicet to wit Viz Videlicet to wit or that is to say i e id est that is e g exempli gratiâ as for example q d quasi dicat as if he should say And the same q d serves for as if She should say as if You should say as if They should say as if I or We should say It is easily understood in Reading N B Nota Bene Mark this well O T Old Testament N T New Testament Q Question A Answer Ob Objection Sol Solution D Doctrine R Reason U Use For you to Learn these Lessons Three As easie is as A B C. Which you may Learn with little Leasure Then Read with Knowledge Profit Pleasure As for Hebrew Greek and Latine Words which I lay in your Way they will be no Stumbling-block except you will Make them so For you have it in English which you may Read on without Stumble or Stop And I desire you may So Read as to Reap much Good Fruit by the Labour of Your Loving Friend J W. London May 26. 1681. The General Contents of the First Dialogue A Salutation and Preambulation to the Education of Children Parents equally concern'd in Education Education reduced to two General Heads viz. Instruction and Correction First Instruction The word opened 1 Gen. Head Instruction by Doctrine and Example 1 By Doctrine The word Doctrine opened What D to instruct Children in Twenty Documents for Instruction by D. The Scripture to be Searched for more Any thing in the Bible Vseful even the words of wicked men Devils Proper Names 2 Instruction by Example Word opened Example by Works and Words Circumstances of Education Seven Direction if Children Will or Will not hear The Parent Corrected for Carnal Language The Second General Head viz. Correction 2 Gen. Head Correction twofold viz. with Word and Rod. 1 Correction with Word Six Directions for Word Correction 2 Correction with the Rod Scriptural Account of Rod fourfold The Parallel of Rod and Staff Seven Directions for Rod Correction Fourteen Ob against Rod Correction Answ Two ways great wasters of Time and many more wicked ways Witnessed against Advice of a Civil Secular Concern delivered in 12. Documents The danger of Riches discoursed Counsel concerning Childrens Children PRAYER for a Blessing on Education Prayer For and With Children 1 Prayer For them in Private Ten great effects of Prayer consider'd to encourage to Prayer Time and Times in a day for Private Prayers 2 Prayer With Children in Family Ten directions for Family Duty Objections against Family Duty Answ Parents to take their Children into their Closets and Pray with them there Parents to teach Children to Pray Objections against that Answer'd Parents to procure the Prayers of Praying Persons for their Children Ten Corollaries to quicken Parents to their Whole Duty contained in this Conference THE PARENTS PRIMER AND THE MOTHERS LOOKING-GLASSE In a Dialogue between A MINISTER and a FATHER Minister GOd Save you Sir with your good Wife Whither are you walking this way this morning Father To See Mr. C. What News Sir Min. News I said in my heart what I should have When will this Common Question be out of use Since the Popes Plot appeared the Protestants have spent more Time in Talking of it than All the Papists in England are worth And you living so near us are like our London Christians and they Too like the Athenians who spent their time in Nothing else but to Tell or to Hear some New Thing And if there be no New we talk over the Old without End And every Day is alike If this was the way to do our work viz Self-Examination Humiliation and Reformation for the Sins that provoke God to suffer this Bloody Beast thus to Push at us I would not Oppose it But it 's the way to Hinder Every good work in Heart and Life And to render us Ridiculous to the DEVIL and the POPE to see what a Talking Trade we drive and how we spend our Dayes while Death lies at our Doors Fath. I confess we spend Too much Time that way Min. Confession without Reformation Preambulation is to Poor Purpose Are these two little Lads which follow you Your Children Fath. Yes they are both mine Min. Can you tell me any Good News of Them Fath. They are Pretty good Boys when they Please Min. They had need be made Better to which end I pray what Good Discourse have you had with them by the way for you are now come a Mile from Home Fath. OH HO I have told them the name of yonder Church Steeple And of That I point at with my Cane And of yonder High Brick House with abundance of Chimneys Min. And is this the Best Discourse you have had Fath. The Best yes truly What Discourse should a man have with Children Min. What Discourse Godly Discourse Fath. What with Children Min. Yes with Children to Choose Fath. What Reason is there for That Min. There is Great Reason for it which I shall not Now Render but one thing I shall Render which is Greater than Reason Fath. What is that I pray Min. God's Solemn Command And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine Heart Deu. 6.6 7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine House and when thou walkest by the Way and when thou liest Down and when thou risest Vp Fath. I believe Few Fathers or Mothers do so Min. In that you believe Truth but it 's Sad Truth to believe yet Too True I may well say For of othis I have made Much Observation for Many Years in Many Countries in Professing Families without number After all which Observation I may say with Solomon There is an evil which I have seen under the Sun Ecl. 6.1 and it is Common among men Such men have Many a Day been to me an Amazing Consideration viz That ever Persons professing Faith in gods Word of Truth which testifieth the Misery of ALL Mankind that their Children are in a Sad Condition is one part of their Profession who have been Sensible of their Own Misery and Instruments to bring Poor Children into a Miserable World in a Miserable Condition and yet so Careless to bring them Out of this Condition And so little concerned for a Safe passage Out of this World over Hell to the desired Haven Ezek. 19.14 this is a Lamentation and Shall be for a Lamentation Fath. But some Count that this Command was given to the Jews only Min. Read and Compare these two Texts * Deut. 4.10 Ch. 6.7 and you will see it is the Moral Law or Ten Commandments that Parents are Commanded to teach their Children To say This Law belongs to the Jews only is plainly to say We Gentiles are Lawlesse And may
Children or else you do nothing Some parents think if they whip a way their Own Anger though not the Childs Humour the work is Done There is a little Pleasure for the parents Passion performed Read and the poor child Put into a Passion †Eph. 6.4 in both which some Service for SATAN is done and That is all So much for this Rank of Directions Now If you have any Objections against Rod Correction bring them Forth Fath. I perceive by these two Last Directions Object 1 against Rod Correction if my Children commit Great Faults they must be Sorely Whipt But I have such a tender Love and Pitie to my Children that I cannot sind in my heart so to whip them I know not what miserie they may endure when I am Dead and I do not intend to Torment them while I Live Min. I like not such Love I am not pleased with such Pitie Love Pitie do you call it Fath. Yes What else should I call it Min. Hatred and Cruelty Fath. That is Very Strange Min. And it is Very True Fath. I believe not Such Truth Min. Will you refer it to the GOD of Truth and believe Him Fath. God forbid I should refuse that Min. Then hear the Answer of GOD. Jehovah He that spareth the Rod Hateth his Son but he that Loveth him chasteneth him Betimes †Pro. 13.24 Min. So now I hope you will believe it's Truth Fath. I dare not deny it but I understand not how it's hatred and Cruetly Min. The Proverb will partly prove it viz Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child Foolish Pitie spoils the Citie By sparing the Rod you choose rather to have your Child howl for ever in Hell under Gods Wrath than to cry a little under a mans Rod. This pitiful Pity to the Body is Cruelty both to Body and Soul And it makes a Man rather a Paricide than a Parent Fath. But may not I forbear when my child cryes Grievously Object 2 and Grieves me Min. No no Let not thy soul spare for his Crying * Pro. 19.19 The Rod signifies Nothing without Smart Your love is such that you would fain deal ill with your Child and ill requite your Father also N B God did not spare his Only Son for his Strong Crying and Tears viz O my Father if it be Possible let this cup passe from me †Mat. 26.39 Father Save me from this hour * Joh. 12.27 From which he delivered him Not but delivered him Up to the Crused Death of the Crosse for your sake And you will not Whip Your Son with a Rod that cuts not Skin Deep for his sake They that will not Correct a son at Gods Command are very unlike to Kill a son at Gods Command †Gen. 22. as Abraham offer'd to do his Son his Only Son Isaac whom he loved Fath. When I go to whip my child for a fault he Cries and Begs Object 3 and Promises to do so no More and then I think I do well to spare him Min. And does he keep his promises Fath. I consesse he fails me in that Min. Why do you trust him then Fath. Because I hope he will be better next Time Min. Now you turn Child This is a very Cheat. And what a Shame is it for a Man to be Cheated by a Child and by his Own whom he Knows hath Deceived him This will encourage a child to do Any thing for he will think it's but Crying a little when the Rod comes and promising to do so no More and my Father will Spare me and I shall come off Clear And this will learn a Child to set Light by his Father and So will he come under that Curse †Deu. 27.16 Faith If I whip my Children Object 4 it makes them take Gods name in Vain by crying O Lord Lord O God so I think I had better let them alone Min. That Cry is an Accident and not your Intent And you leave Off because they give you cause to go On for they are to be whipt for that Cry And it is a sign they want good government But take heed you do not pretend Piety when you intend foolish Pity or pretend Conscience when you intend Negligence Faith But one of my children hath such Passions Object 5 and Fits when Crossed or Whipt that I fear it will die Quite away Min. Fear not its Dying in doing your Duty But let us hear the Answer of GOD to this Critical Case Jehovah Withhold not Correction from the Child for if thou beat him with the Rod he shall not Die * Pro. 23.13 Min. So I hope That fear is removed Fath. But how may I understand this he shall not die Min. Thus. 1 He shall not die under the Rod Correction shall not Kill 2 He shall not die as a Malefactor by the hand of the Magistrate For want of the Parents Rod some come to the Magistrates Sword i e the Gallows 3 He shall not die an Eternal Death Thou shalt beat him with the Rod and shalt deliver his Soul from Hell †Pro. 23.14 Through Gods blessing Correction shall Issue in the Childs Conversion Fath. A man cannot Convert a child by all the Instruction Object 6 and Correction in the World Min. By the same Argument all Ministers Living may leave Preaching But who would be thus deceive by SATAN To make men Proud he will suggest great matters by Doing To make men neglect their Duty Satans deceit he will suggest their Doing will come All to Nothing All the Education in the World cannot Save a child But when by Neglect a child is Lost the same Satan will suggest if the Parents Duty had been Performed the Child had been Savewd 2 Though You cannot Convert your children GOD can Convert them By you And make you Instruments in their Regeneration as well as in their Generation In their Second Birth as well as in the First If you Will not be Instruments in Gods hand Tell him so If you Will Do your Part and leave God to do His. The endeavour and Care belongs to You the Cure belongs to GOD. 3 Though you cannot Convert vert them you can Restrain them For want of This god threatned to Judge Eli's house for Ever 4 this Restraint will prevent much Trouble if God convert them by Other means Trouble for Sin at Conversion from it accords with the Measure of-Sin in the Commission of it The Greater sin Before conversion the Greater sorrow At and After conversion the Parent blames the Preacher for the Childs Terrour when the fault is in the Father and Mother 5 If your Children should Never be Converted but for Ever Damned this Restraint will prevent much Torment 6 And God will be Glorified by your Service You will be Instruments of his glory And shall be Rewarded though Israel be not Gathered * Isa 49.3 4 5. Fath. But I see no good Object 7 whipping and
worship Idols Our being under this Law Asserted take Gods name in Vain prophane the SABBATH dishonour Parents Kill Steal commit Adultery and what the DEVIL and We will Fath. But we Gentiles are under the Gospel the grace of which teacheth us to Deny ungodlyness Min. There is none to Deny if there be no Law Proved by being Opposed But this Position of Mine We are Under the Law needs No more Proof then this Contradiction of Yours We are Under the Gospel N B. The preaching of the Gospel is the Proffer of a Pardon This plainly proves Persons under this Proffer to be Condemned They are Condemned by the Law They are Under it or could not be Condemned by it It 's for Sin which is the Transgression of the Law But where No Law is there is No Transgression And so no need of Remission N B. Under the Gospel a Person is either 1 In a Condemned State under the Proffer of a Pardon or 2 In a Justified State under the Priviledge of a Pardon In both States he is under the Law In the former its Clear he is under the Curse of the Law In the latter he is freed from the Curse and Condemning power of the Law but he is not freed from the Commanding power of the Law It 's to be his rule Of life Temporal and Spiritual that thereby God may be Glorified though not his rule For life Eternal that thereby he may be Justified Gal. 3.10 He that obeys the Law for Justification is under Condemnation And he that believes the Gospel for Justification without regard to the Law in his Conversation Jam. 2.20 is in the Same Condition The former expects Salvation by Dead Works without Faith The latter expects Salvation by a Dead Faith without Works Both in a Sad Dead Condition And what ever be the State yet Dead or Deeply Sleepy is the Soul of such a Parent who neglects his Children so contrary to this GREAT Command * DEU VI. VI VII Fath. I cannot deny your Doctrine And seeing you are disposed to enter into So Serious a Discourse about my Children I desire your Advice and Counsel in their Education And I will omit the Businesse I was going about for this is I see of Greater Concern Min. With a very good Will I like your motion Well But it will take up Much Time And therefore let us Seat our Selves in yonder Shaddow from the heat of the Sun as Abraham did Gen. 18.1 4. when the Lord appeared to him And if we spend our Time Well God will be with Us also Fath. We are come to the Place I see here are convenient Seats I am glad I met with you so Near it Min. Very convenient Come Sir Sit You Down with your Wife as one And with your leave let your Children Sit Down with us and hear our Discourse Fath. Let it be so We are all Seated I pray proceed Min. Seeing Providence hath placed us together upon this Account I am glad your Wife is present because so much concerned For by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parents in theh plural not two Fathers but a Father and a Mother is intended Joh. 9.2 e g. Master who did sin this man or his Parents And the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Achild comes of the Root and Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies both To Beget and to Bare e g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who hath begotten me these * Isa 49.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I Bare him with sorrow †1 Ch. 4.9 Mat. 19.5 Parents Parallels they twain shall be one Flesh Parents are Parallels Equally concerned When one is Dead the Care and Industry of the Living is to be Double But if one be Dead while Alive the Care of the Living is to be Trible For the Dead Parent will not Help but Hinder the Living Fath. We desire to hear our dutie Min. The Education of Children Education two Heads is a Greater Work than the Greatest part of Parents in the Whole World are aware of And that I may be as usefull to you in One Conference as I can I shall reduce my Advice and Discourse to these two General Heads viz Instruction and Correction Fath. What is Instruction Let me hear the word handled Min. Instructiō is a Latine word Instruction opened of Instruo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To set in order Instruction is a setting in Order for Children are Out of order both in Heart and Life e g. The Soul in Every Faculty is out of order The Imagination Deviseth evil The Memory Retains evil The Understanding is Dark and Misjudgeth evil and good The Will is Opposite to the Will of God The Affections Love evil and Hate good And this disordered Soul puts the Body out of order in Every Part. e g. The Eye Beholds vanity The Ear Hears it The Tongue Talks it The Hands Work it The Feet Follow it God set All in good order by Creation but the Devil put All out of order by Temptation and all into Confusion and Desolation And the simple verb Struo from whence comes Instruction signifies To build The Lord God formed Man * Gen. 2.7 The rib which the Lord God had taken from Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he Builded into a Woman †Ver. 22. This Stately Structure which God set up by Creation Satan hath pulled down by Temptation Now No Man can build upon That Foundation which God at first set ADAM upon There is no coming At it for the Flaming Sword But if you SO Instruct your Children as to bring them Unto and build them Upon Jesus Christ that Sure Foundation they shall be Safer than Ever was Adam in Innocencie in Paradise For the Gates of Hell shall Never prevail against them Fath. That is a Very desirable condition Indeed How shall I So Instruct my Children Min. By Word and Deed or by Doctrine and Example Instruction by D and Exam. Fath. How by Word or Doctrine Min. The Word Doctrine 1 By Doct. is derived of the Latine Word Doctrina Learning of Doceo To teach as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Doctrine comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To receive for you must Receive it from GOD as you are desired to do Receive I pray thee the Law from his Mouth †Job 22.22 And your Children are to receive it from You. Hear O my Son and Receive my sayings * Pro. 4.10 Fath. What Doctrine am I to Instruct them in Min. The Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures Tit. 2.10 2 Jo. 9. Pro. 4.2 Tit. 2.1 Called The Doctrine of GOD The Doctrine of CHRIST Good Doctrine Sound Doctrine Fath. Draw me out some Documents and lay some Lessons before me to learn my Children Min. Take these twenty First Doc 1. Of God Teach them to know God Himself His Eternity in his
beating children doth And I have heard Mr C say it hath done his Hurt and if it were to do Again he would Never do it let Preachers say what they please Min. I shall please to say this for him He that will learn of none but himself is like to have but a Fool for his Master No wonder if he slight a Minister for he will defie the Almighty and charge Infinite Wisdom with Folly viz To appoint to no purpose To command Correction to Cure and Mend children which makes them Worse Shall any teach GOD knowledge †Job 21.22 God is so wise he Cannot be taught by Men. Some are so Unwise they cannot be taught by men And Mr C is so wise he Will not be taught by men He will neglect Correction till a Child is Hardened Then under Provocation fall on in a Passion To which Correction God cleaves his Curse And then Mr C will cast it Quite off for he sees no good it does Because he may not do it in the Devils way he will not do it at all This Pest is so provoking I Passe it as not fit to be spoken to with Patience Fath. I suppose there are as wise men Object 8 who do not so strictly Instruct and Correct their Children as there are that do Min. Tell not me of their Wisdom if the Word of the Only Wise God was never their Rule Or if they have left Off to take heed to the Lord * Ho. 4.10 The Wise men have rejected the Word of the Lord and What Wisdom is in them Heb the wisdom of What Thing †Jer. 8.9 not of the Stork Turtle Crane Swallow they know their appointed Times but such people know not the Judgment of the Lord * Ver. 7. Nor of the Oxe or Asse That knows his Owner This his Masters Crib but Israel doth not Know †Isa 1.3 poor silly Ant the pitifull Pi smire is preferred before Such wise men * Pro. 6.6 Vain man Heb Empty man would be Wise ie counted so though man be born like the Wild Asses Colt †Job 11.12 Man is so much a Beast that he knows not he is a Beast till God hath taught him And he Never learns to be a Man till he learns to know he is a Beast Ignorance is a Great enemie to Knowledge but there is one Greater ie Self-Conceitednesse Seest thou a man Wise in his own Conceit more hope of a Fool than of him * Pro. 26.12 They are the Wisest and Best Men who Best know they are Beasts †Psal 73.22 Pro. 30.2 Object 9. Fath. But we must not take Gods work out of his hand Min. No but we must take Our work into Our hand and not suffer Satan to take it Out of our hand Your words I once heard fall from a Ministers mouth but it was to me a Hateful Morsel When a Parent is expressing his desire to do his duty to his Children then for a Preacher to reply So so we must not take Gods work out of his hand Thus for him who should Provoke a parent to his work to Obstruct him in it O Hateful Sottish Sensuall Satanical Saying Fath. I have heard Mr. C. say Object 10 he beat one of his Boys and he Ran away and Never heard more of him to this Day It shall be an Item for Me. Min. SO Cursed correction There is Correction with an Execration and No Benediction and the parent punished by way of Retaliation His disobedience to GOD in not giving his son due Correction is punished by his sons disobedience to Him not counting Correction worthy of Acceptation The Father ran away from GOD the Son ran away from the Father Never heard of him more He may hear of him too Soon viz that he hath broken into some House or is turned High-way-man and taken to be both Hanged and Damned in One Day And for his fathers neglect to Howl for ever in Hell At which his father if not hardened may Howl in a Hell upon Earth And was his Father to be at his Sons Execution it 's probable he would desire to be Revenged on him for letting him come to Such an End As that Boy did who when he was going up the Ladder required to Kisse his Mother but to be Revenged on her Bit off her Nose saying Mr N. If you had given me Due Correction I had Never come to This. Let not your Lads laugh at it He would have Bit off her Head and Pulled out her Heart had it been in his Power If Parents be without Natural Affection for their Children Children will be without Natural Affection for their Parents Witnesse that Wicked Boys reply to his Wicked Mother who complained at Stake she was exceeding Dry viz Mr N. No Matter Mother you will Burn the Better Fath. One Story and another is enough to Distract a man You tell me of a Boy that was hanged because Not corrected Another tells me of a Man that was hanged because his boy Was corrected viz He beat his Son so that he died and then was Hanged for him It would make a man afraid to beat Children I think Min. That Man or Monster I knew and see Hanged in Cambridge Castle-Yard What then was it Due Correction that killed him God commands Parents to beat children From death not To death Had he used such a Rod as I have directed you to use and used it by the Rule of Gods Good Word he had done his child no Hurt But he with his Club Law regarded No such rule Devilish correction but was Ruled by his Passion and his Parent the DEVIL with whom it 's to be feared he is now in Hell Fire Fath. I suppose it 's the safest way Object 12 to erre on the Right Hand when all is done Min. I wish you knew the Right Hand from the Left in this matter To avoid One Extream you will run into Another Both Extreams are Bad and of two evils you will chuse the Worst I have exhorted you to use the Rod in Love And I exhort you to do All in Love But Fond affection Sinfull indulgence and Unseasonable smiles I dehort you From and charge you before God to beware Of as Vitious and Perilous And lest you Wink at this Warning Hear some of the Sad Effects of such Parental Vices of which a sew Instances ¶ 1 Adonijah His father David had not displeased him at ANY Time Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from his dayes Junius Nunquam Never displeased him in saying Why hast thou done so †1 Kin. 1.6 And what is the fruit of this fond affection even Adonijah's Self-Exaltation to his Own Destruction He exalts himself saying I will be King †ver 5. and that brings him home by the horns of the Altar where he hardly escapes * Ver. 50. Then to bring it about he must have Abishag to wife and that brings him Quite to
prayer †Col. 4.1 2 i e For them and With them Note these Phrases Cornelius prayed to God alway * Act. 10.2 Pray without ceasing †1 Thes 5.17 Thou shalt eat bread at my table continually * 2 Sa. 9.7 Was Mephibosheth such a Cormorant as to eat bread at David's table Day and Night is a man to do Nothing but Pray as if he was an Angel who hath no earthly trade to follow No the Sense of these Sayings Alway Direct 2. without Ceasing Continually is Do it Daily at Set Times ¶ 2 Choose the Fittest and Best part of these times i e Early in the morning and Early in the evening Then are you like to be Best disposed and your Service Best accepted They that seek me early shall find me †Pro. 8.17 Direct 3. ¶ 3 Choose the fittest Place Christ commends a close Closet to a Christan as a fit place for private prayer * Mat. 6.6 Such a place is also fittest for a Family which is freest from noise Distracting thoughts will come in too Soon though they be not sent in by Sounds and caused by Clamours abroad Direct 4. ¶ 4 Be not hindered by Trifles that is hatefull to God He that will not go to Heaven till there be nothing in the Way is Never like to come there Direct 5. ¶ 5 Lay all businesse By during the Time of the duty Order your Fire to be freed from that evil kind of Fore-cast of placing some Vessel upon it to be Stirred or Tended upon and took Off in prayer Cursed fore cast Some fore-cast is as good as Work but this is worse than Nought ¶ 6 Gather all your Family together Direct 6. to prayer Gather the people together Men and Women and Children and thy Stranger that is within thy gates that they may Hear and Learn and Fear the Lord †Deu. 31.12 All Judah stood before the Lord with their Little-ones their Wives and their Children * 2 Chro. 20.13 Both Young men and Maidens Old men and Children let them Praise the name of the Lord †Psal 148.12 13. Direct 7. ¶ 7 And Far be it from you for Ever to separate your children from Gods Service as some do who for a peaceable preparation for prayer Pack their children to Bed at 5 6 7 8 9 10 years of age with such a Salvo forsooth They will Cry or Sleep or Something and disquiet in duty Strange peace is This the way to train up a child in the way he should go is This the way to bring Up in the Nurture and admonition of the Lord If they Cry or Sleep it 's the Parents fault Late prayer or some disorder is the Matter Serve GOD and the Soul before you serve the Body Go to prayer before Supper And make a Law viz They that Cry shall be Whipt and they that Sleep shall go Supperlesse to Bed And do not drive your children away before the Duty Odious Order as if they were Dogs and leave your Dogs in their room as if they were Christians as some do Both which are abominations I have heard of a Youth who was Converted by an expression in prayer It was because he heard it If he had been Packed to Bed that night before Prayer to the prevention of his conversion doubtlesse it had pleased the Devil to Purpose Direct 8 ¶ 8 Take heed of praying To persons Cauttion instead of praying For them i e by affected Phrases and tinkling Tones Hatefull is that prayer to GOD which is devised formed and phrased to please Man And No better are the Prayers of some persons The Devil is such a Chymist he can extract evil out of Good and Poyson a person with his Own Prayers by puffing him up with Pride in them Direct 9 ¶ 9 Precede Prayer with the Word The word and prayer are put together * 1 Tim. 4.5 Read a Chapter before Prayer And speak something to your Family from what you read Direct 10 ¶ 10 And let me commend the Annual reading over the Bible in a Family for a good Custom which may be thus performed There is in the O T Chapters 779. Psalms 150. Chapters and Psalms 929. In the N T Chapters 260. In both O T and N T Chapters 1039. In both O T and N T Chapters and Psalms in all 1189. There is in a Year 365 Dayes In Bissextile A Rule to read the Bible or Leap-Year 366. Read 3 Chapters a Day and read so many Psalms a Day when you are at them as to read them all in 20 Dayes in Bissextile and in 19 Dayes in another Year this reads the Bible through in a Year except One Chapter which is easily added to the last dayes Task Or if you have Bentley's Bible it hath 375 Leaves If you read one leafe a Day this does it except 9 leaves in Bissextile and 10 leaves in another Year which is not one leaf a Month more than one a Day In a word one quarter of an hour in 24 hours with a ready Reader reads the Blessed Bible in a Year And which of us does not trifle away Ten Times more Time than so Unworthy is that Person of the Name and far from the Nature of a Christians who thinks SO little time too Much to spend in Reading God's Precious Pure Blessed Word Thus far of Family Duty Fath. But hear me before you proceed any farther I am unfit for Family Duty because of my weaknesse to perform it Min. If you know what you say and be as Willing as Weak it is well for then you will venture on your Duty and trust to Gods Stregth which will carry you through what Ever he calls you to Sufficient for satisfaction is that One Promise as thy Dayes So shall thy Strength be †Deu. 33.25 Let the weak believe and say I am Strong * Joel 3.10 But tell me true is there not somewhat else at bottom Fath. Truly there is I am ashamed to pray in my Family among my Servants Min. Now you say Something though worse than Nothing The former was Weaknesse this is Wickednesse Ashamed to speak to GOD to serve GOD to be like GOD what ashamed of GOD OH dreadfull read this Text and Tremble Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the Glory of his Father †Mar. 8.38 According to Christs glory will the shame of such be i e Infinite To see what a glorious Person is ashamed to Own them To see what a Master they have been ashamed to Serve To see shamefull Spewing upon their Glory * Hab. 2.16 Shame is the punishment prepared for Christs implacable enemies HIS enemies will I cloath with Shame †Psal 132.18 It s like clothes 1 They are Visible so is Shame Simile 2 Unseparable while the Person is visible Dissimile so
is Shame It 's unlike clothes they Cover nakednesse shame Discovers it for ever What shall I say if Shame be your Sin take heed Shame be not your Sorrow The Sin of shame and the Sorrow of shame are Both unspeakable It 's written of Ajax the great Grecian warriour Ajax's dying saying of Shame that he Died with Shame and cryed No death like it And Christs enemies who are ashamed of him at last are like to cry No damnation like it ¶ Sir I must tell you though you deferve not to be told that you are ashamed of your Glory Grace makes a man glorious Within and godlinesse makes a man glorious Without Your Duty is your Dignity Do it and God will Dignifie you For it Them that honour me I will-honour * 1 Sa. 2.30 If any man serve me him will my Father honour †Joh. 12.26 You count it an Honour to serve an Emperour what is it then to be served By an Emperour yet all this is Drosse to the Service of God To be a Servant of the great God is a greater Honour than to be a Master of all the men in the world And yet is not this All for he that serves God him will God serve God will shut the Door after his servant Noah * Gen. 7.16 God will make the Bed †Psal 41.3 and he will wash the Feet * Jo. 13.5 He that will wait on God on him will God wait †Isa 30.18 Even GOD who is King of Christans King of Nations King of Kings King of Heaven and King of Glory At whose Splendor Angels Wonder and each one covers his Face with two wings as with a double Vail * Isa 6.2 Fath. I will object no more against prayer Min. Then I will direct more For prayer ¶ Pray with your children not only in your Family but sometimes do You Pray with children in Closet sometime let their Mother sometime let both father and mother take their children into their Closet and pray with them There 1 In this way you may the more Freely confesse their bad Herts and Faults to God bewail their Condition and speak to God for them 2 This way will make it manifest to GOD that you are in good Earnest for their Good 3 It will make it manifest to your Children that you have more than a common care of them as in Common among your Servants for it will shew them you have a Special respect for them 4 And it will have a Good Effect upon them If the heart of the fathers be to their children the heart of the children will be to their fathers †Mal. 4.6 Your Children will see the difference of this duty and You will see it for it Will work and it will NOT be so well without it ¶ Teach your children a right way to pray for themselves To teach Children to pray Teach them not to call God Father in a state of Nature as some parents do who teach their children to Lie to the Lord and speak Blasphemy against God But put them into Such a way to pray as Such may use viz To pray for the life of their Parents And for their Own life And for mercies to maintain life as meat drink clothing protection from danger And to pray for life for their Souls For a Sight and Sense of Sin For a Saviour For Pardon For grace in the Heart For a new Birth That they may be the children of GOD. And be saved from the power of Sin and SATAN and Hell Fire And may go to Heaven and be happy both in Body and Soul for Ever Fath. If children be wicked they may not pray Object for the praying of the wicked is Sin Min. So is the Plowing of the wicked sin too * Pro. 21.4 By your argument the wicked must not Plough i e follow a Calling for a Living but Beg Steal or Starve 2 I grant whether the wicked Plough or Play or Pray they sin yet they must Plogh and Pray too or do worse for the Neglect is worse than the Act. If to pray is Sin not to pray is a Worse sin And of two evils it 's best to choose the Least and refuse the Greatest 3 The wicked are Created to pray †Act. 17.26 27. 4 The wicked are Commanded to pray * Act. 8.22 5 Prayer is put up and recorded for Wrath to be poured out upon them because they Do not pray †Jer. 10.25 6 A precept for parents to teach children to Pray is Certainly implyed in these expresses for Education viz Train up a child in the way he should go * Pro. 22.6 Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord †Eph. 6.4 Fath. I have head a Professor say To teach children to Pray is the way to make them Hypocrites Min. He is not so sure of That as I am of This viz To let them go Prayerlesse is the way to harden them for Hell Fire OH what a Cutting Cry will this be One-day in Hell I am Damned because my parents did not teach me to Pray to be Saved He that forbids the wicked to Pray if he is not a wicked Man yet his is a wicked Act. And whatsoever be his Condition he is in that Point under Delusion Let such men say what they will I say teach your children to Pray And again I say Do it if in Dooms-day God do Blame you for it Caution Black Art I will be bound to bear it ¶ But Let not your children learn that Black Art of boldnesse by prayer viz To sin the more securely Like that Religious Beast I have paid my Vows therefore came I forth to meet thee come let us take our Fill of love * Pro. 7.14 15 18. Mr Tho Shephard Or like that London Monster who haunted Taverns Theatres Whore-houses all day but Durst not go out in the morning without prayer and Then so bold he durst bid the Devil do his Worst Or like such who serve God on the Sabbath day for a Licence to live licentiously all the Week after For if the Sacrifice of the wicked be Sin how much more when he brings it with a wicked mind †Pro. 21.27 Procure prayer ¶ Last Procure the prayers of Praying Persons for your children as much as may be and esteem of such Persons as Precious Had I an opportunity of Preaching to all the praying persons in England at Once I would exhort and beseech them All in general and Every One in particular to pray for ALL the children of the children of God Some have Observed and Asserted That the children of Many Prayers do Seldom miscarry So much concerning Prayer I shall come to a conclusion with Ten considerable Corollaries Te Corol. to quicken you to your Whole Duty contained in this Conference First 1. Coroll Fathers Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ab. The very Name of
a father may be a Motive to duty The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A father comes of the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he willed desired of the fathers affection to his children which doth Naturally descend to them with desire after their welfare If not Thus a man deserves not the Name of a father They who have been instruments to bring children into a State of Condemnation and care not to bring them into a State of Salvation are these Parents shall Paul travail in birth till Christ be formed in Christians * Gal. 4.19 and be so concerned as to wish himself accursed from Christ for his Kindred †Rom. 9.3 shall Ministers do their utmost to Save children shall the Devil do his utmost to Damn them and shall their own father that Begat them and their mother that Bare them carry it as if they care not whether they are brought forth for a Saviour or a Murderer and are these Parents Monstrum Horrendum NB. Neglect of duty to a Child to humour an angry Wife had like to cost Moses his Life for the Lord sought to Kill him * Exo. 4.24 Let carelesse parents have a Care God do not kill them Quite And let Parents hear themselves spoken to in these Texts Keep this man if by any means he be missing then thy Life shall be for his Life †I K. 20.39 If he Die in his iniquity his Blood will I require at thy hand * Ezek. 3.18 They that are under Such words abroad without Shelter and do not hear it Thunder are very Dull of hearing Second The childs tears at it's Birth Coroll 2. Childs Tears may he a Motive for parents to Pity and Duty These tears seem to Presage its Sorrow The poor child seems to cry to see into what a Stormy Sea it is Lanched in danger to be Swallowed up Soul and Body at once Or to see upon what a Shore of trouble it's Landed to wander in a wildernesse of Wo among wild beasts of Prey Yea so Cruel are the Devils Creatures that poor children are in danger of their Death before their Birth Cruel cruelty The cruel Claws of these wild Beasts sometimes tare the Young out of the Womb before they are Born * Am. 1.13 and the Old out of the Tomb after they are Buried †Ch. 2.1 Third Coroll 3. Childs Dead state The dead condemned State children are Born in and are in till Born again It is a Dead Life between the first and second Birth One passing by the house of a Sinful Sluggard said Here lies not lives Such a One. A natural life is a kind of a Lifelesse Worthlesse life The old youngman A strange Epitaph An old man converted a little before his Death would have this Epitaph on his Tomb Here lies a very Old Man of 3 years old Barlaam being asked how old he was said 45. Said the other Thou seemest to be 70. Yea said Barlaam if you reckon ever since I was Born but I do not Count the time I spent in Sin Lay this Dead Life to Heart Suppose you had a child condemned to Die yet so as there remains a possibility to procure a Pardon The execution hour is concealed in the Kings own breast It may be the child hath Ten Dayes to live it may be not Two Hours How would you bestir you in Such Case how restlesse Night and Day till your poor childs Pardon is procured except Jehoram-like you were bereav'd of Bowels †2 Chron. 21.19 and had not the least Pity left in you This is your childrens Case if unconverted As after the Sentence a malefactor is a Dead man so before the Second birth a child is a Dead child i e Sentenced and Condemned to be Hanged and Burned and Racked in Hell And peradventure you are driving on designs to procure Portions and not Pardons OH Miserable man to morrow may be thy Son or thy Daughters Damning day And if Once the secret set time be Out the poor child is Haled away into Endlesse Wo. Fourth Your condemned child Coroll 4. Supposed sad sense is also to be supposed under a Sad Sense of it's condemned condition Suppose you should Act as if as Insensible of it as a parent is of a childs Soul condemned state And at your Return in the evening after all the trifling Turns you take in a day your poor child should Quaere with a Sad Countenance Father where have you Been to day Here and There about This and That OH Father what have you not been with the King to day and do not know but I may be Hanged to morrow And as you sit Idleing Sleeping or Smoking in the house GOOD Lord father will you sit Thus and let me be Hanged What a Cutting consideration is This OH how Common is it for children to be in a Soul-condemned condition and will parents who professe to believe it Pipe and Pot and Prate away their time while their children stand on the brink of Everlasting Burnings will they take their Recreation while their children are under Condemnation near that execution and End to perish for Ever the Plague of Pharoh is upon such parents hearts WHAT Faith have such in Gods word what Life is in their faith the faith of DEVILS exceeds a Dead faith * Jam. 2.19 Fath. It is very Sad to consider a child in such Case Min. Very SAD in so saying you say Nothing It 's most Deplorable and Lamentable enough to make a mercifull man wish his head Waters and his eyes a fountain of Tears to weep Day and Night for children so Dismally miserable †Jer. 9.1 And its matter of mourning to think how Few Tears fall into Gods Bottle upon this account Fift Coroll 5. The inhumanity and cruelty of such carelesse parents Cruelty They are said to be more Savage than Sea-Monsters for even They draw out the breast and give such to their Young * Lam. 4.3 but these Men-Monsters are like the Ostriches in the wildernesse with a 7-fold Similitude 1 The Ostrich is between an unclean hatefull Bird and a Beast hath part of Both Ostrich defined but No part of Man as the Meraid hath A sad Character for a father 2 Faith outwardly with feathers †Job 39.13 So is a foul Pharisaical father 3 She is Proud What time she lifteth up her self on High she Scorneth the Horse and his Rider * Ver. 18. 4 She is Foolish because God hath deprived her of wisdom †Ver. 17. In danger she hides her Head and then thinks No body sees Her because She sees no body Man thinks he is Safe because he sees not God Man Cannot see he Will not see and then sayes God Shall not see * Psal 94.7 5 She is forgetfull of the great concern She leaveth her egges in the earth and forgetteth that the foot may Crush them or that the wild
ministry of God And these Ten words were written with the Finger of God upon two Tables of Stone †Ex. 31.18 and put into an Ark of Shittim-wood * Deu. 10.3 5. very Durable and counted incorruptible There was nothing in the Arksave the two Tables †2 Chro. 5.10 for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy Name * Ps 138.2 God will magnifie the Law and make it Honourable If the Ark set forward the enemy must Flee before it †Nu. 10.35 If the Ark go through Jordan the waters must make way * Jos 3.15 16 If the Ark be set up by Dagon then Dagon must Down †1 Sa. 5.2 3 If Dagon will try the other fall he shall lose his Head and Hands and have nothing left but his Stump * Ver. 4. which can neither Invent nor Act as head and hands do If the law of God be in the Heart the reproach of men is not to be feared for the Worm shall eat them like Wool †Isa 51.7 The Ark containing the two Tables was a Sacred Symbole of Gods presence God will be with his Law and with the Lovers of it God will keep them as the Apple of his Eye who keep his Law as the apple of Their eye as he hath commanded * Ps 17.8 Pro. 7.2 The ark a triple Type And the Ark was a type of Christ who is the End of the law 1 It was made for him to Keep 2 He was made to keep That 3 He keepeth it for Our use Ark-like N B As Jesus obeyed the law for our justification Perfectly in love to GOD and to the Law A sweet Simile and to Us so we are to obey the law in our conversation Sincerely in love to GOD and to the Law and to the Lord Jesus Was the onely wise God twice 40 dayes and 40 nights engraving Ten Words upon Two Tables of Stone and will vain man make them Void it is easier for Heaven and Earth to passe than One Tittle of the Law to fail †Lu. 16.17 Twelfth and Last Note 12. A deep Decalogue The ten commandments are a Vast Continent The M L is the fountain of all laws viz Moral Ceremonial Judicial and Evangelical They all belong to it it is the Root they are the Branches they are contained in it and may be reduced to it on these two commandments i e the ten hang all the Law and the Prophets * Mat. 22.40 Here if we consider man in his three-fold State viz of Innocency of Sin and of Grace we may see the M L containeth mans duty in every State ¶ First in Innocency Adam being capable of receiving it Ten in One. Break one break all God gave him the ten commandments in One commandment this is clearly implyed in Adam's breaking them All by breaking that One. As the Sanction of the law is Disjunctive viz Do or die and the Injunction of the law Copulative viz Do this and that and all so is the law it self Copulative i e so linked together that in breaking one he brake all This M L then contained Adam's duty in innocency e g in the first commandment thou shalt have no other gods before me that Negative implyeth this Positive thou shalt have me for thy God i e by thy obedience to my M L for no other was in use yet all other Laws were Conditionally contained in it ¶ Second Consider man in his Fallen State and there other laws fall in as usefull they being conditionally and providentially prepared thereunto 1 The judicial law cometh and killeth him Adam's Death Adam's Soul died i e he was as disable to recover his Fall by a C W or any other way as a Dead man is to live And death of Body followed and death of Soul and Body passed upon all men †Ro. 5.12 2 Man being fallen the law of faith falleth in for his Recovery for this implicit Positive precept is still in force viz thou shalt have me for thy God This must of Necessity imply thou shalt beleeve on my SON q d For having Lost me thou hast No other way left to Find me to be thy God Thus the law for Faith appears to be implyed in the first Commandment as I fore-told you 3 Man being fallen Ceremonial Sacrifices fall in as usefull from Adam's Fall to Christs Death at which time they ceased And since Christs death Moral Judicial and Evangelical laws are contained in the M L for mans use in a Fallen State ¶ Third Consider man in a State of Grace and the same laws are contained in the M L for his use viz Moral Judicial Evangelical laws The first commandment containeth many Evangelical laws this implicit Positive precept thou shalt have me for thy God implyeth thou shalt Beleeve in me and in my Son for faith in Christ is a Christians daily duty And Repentance Love Humility Hope Fear are implyed in this first precept thou shalt have me for thy God It is q d If I be thy God thou shalt Repent of thy Sins against me thou shalt Love me thou shalt walk Humbly with thy God and Hope in thy God and Fear thy God e g Beleeve in the Lord your God * 2 Chro. 20.20 Repent and turn from your Idols †Ezek. 14.6 thou shalt Love the Lord thy God * Deu. 6.5 Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord †Ja. 4.10 Let Israel Hope in the Lord * Ps 130.7 thou shalt Fear thy God †Lev. 25.17 these and the like are Branches of the first commandment The second commandment containeth Laws against Idolatry Will-worship of mans invention worshipping of Images Pictures the Sun Moon or Stars * Deu. 4.19 and laws for the True worship of God The third commandment containeth Laws for Prayer Praise giving of Thanks for godly Discourse in Private and Publick which includeth Preaching And laws against Swearing Cursing Blaspheming and Murmuring against God and speaking of God vainly idlely formally unprofitably proudly The fourth commandment containeth Laws for the Sanctification of the Sabbath day and Laws against the Prophaning of it This commandment is called Custos primae tabulae and this first Table containeth all mans duty to God The fift commandment containeth Laws for honouring of Parents and Ministers and Magistrats godly Governours and pious Princes called in Scripture Fathers †Isa 49.23 and Laws against dishonouring them and for Correction for disobedient children The sixt commandment containeth Laws against all kinds of Murder unjust Battels Quarrels Blows with hand or heart to hurt in any part The seventh commandment containeth Laws against Adultery of every degree Fornication Incest Sodomy Buggery all uncleannesse wantonnesse wearing of apparel contrary to the Sex whether Male or Female * Deut. 22.5 The eight commandment containeth Laws against all kinds of Thefts Robberies Rapines Sacriledge antiscriptural Usury †Ex. 22.25
believe there is either God or Devil or Heaven or Hell Here is an eye for a Parish what Doctrine will this person preach who hath took such a Degree from the Devil and Hell Another denied the Being of God to an honest mans face who affirmed it said the A theist I will prove there is no God thus viz I will fall a Swearing as fast as ever I can Swear and let your God come and hinder me if he Can. And so fell into a Swearing fit and Belched out abundance of Oaths as long as he list then insulted over the honest man with a Where is your God intimating that he had infallibly disproved his Being O the patience of God! who did not turn such a wretch's Swearing into Roaring It 's because the Second commandment is not preached that men have so many false Ideas of God in their minds Some imagine God to be an Old Man sitting in Heaven A sort of Indians who will do them no hurt and so fear the Devil only but yet serve both They light up One candle to God that he may Help them another to the Devil that he may not Hurt them Some few fancy God to be all Severity and so despair of mercy Many imagine God to be all Mercy and so take liberty for Iniquity Antinomians are much like the Hereticks of old who held that under the Law God was a severe Judge but under the Gospel all Mercy But if God be changeable why may he not be all Justice again and that in Judgment to them It 's because the Third commandment is not preached that men use the name of God so lightly vainly irreverently in discourse Of God in preaching For and From God in prayer To God And that men Swear so sadly and frequently even All oaths small and great from God Save me to that dreadfull God Damn me which last I tremble to relate They that not onely neglect to pray God to Save them but also do daily dare God to Damn them I have No hope of their Salvation nor No doubt of their Damnation they take Long steps to the Lake that is but a little before them They that swear God Save me may possibly be penitent pardoned and Saved but this dreadfull God Damn me is like to prove an unpardonable Oath to All that use it It 's because the Fourth commandment is not preached that the Sabbath is so Slighted so Slept away so talked away about Trifles and that Christians are so carnal in spiritual duties and enjoy so little of God It 's because the Fifth commandment is not preached that Children are at such a Passe and do so many wayes despise disobey dishonour their Parents and Kick up their heels at Correction when it comes It 's because the Sixth commandment is not preached that there are so many Murders with Heart Hand and Tongue It 's because the Seventh commandment is not preached that there are so many Adulteries in Act Word Heart which sin is sometimes of sad consequence e g One sent Luther a letter to tell him this Story viz A letter to Luther A widdow had a child by a Scholar and the Priest would not baptize it except she would discover the Father At this she killed the child and Hanged her self The Scholar hearing this Hanged himself The Priest hearing this Hanged himself It 's because the Eighth commandment is not preached that there are so many Thefts with Hand and Heart And so much immorality and want of Common honesty among professors so much fraud and deceit in dealing the Least of which is not to be allowed but condemned and he that uses it not to be trusted more or lesse for he that is unjust in the Least is unjust also in much * Lu. 16.10 Never trust him with a Guiny who will deceive you of a Peny It may seem a small matter for a Weak woman under Strong temptation to take an Apple but the Lord God said unto the woman What is this thou hast done †Gen. 3.13 A Question enough to make a man Quake It 's because the Ninth commandment is not preached that there is so much evil Speaking backbiting devouring sowing discord that surpassing service of Satan It 's because the Tenth commandment is not preached that men are so Covetous With this cord sin is drawn as with a cart-rope * Isa 5.18 Covetousnesse comes of the love of the world that root of all evil †1 Tim. 6.10 If this sin live in the Heart I know not what sin will die nor what sin such a Soul shall escape the Snare of What multitudes of murders doth it make men commit how doth it make men murder and ruin even their own relations sometimes themselves and all I could tell you many a Dreadfull Story had I time take 2 or 3 for a taste ¶ One left his Lover for a Richer In July 1681. A Knight that I can name The forsaken damsel Drowned her self by London Bridge This Ladies death struck this Knight with grief and Death for in few hours after he died And now their Relations are lavishing out their hundreds at Law for the thousands these unhappy Lovers left behind ¶ Two fatherlesse Females lived in a Lone house Mr W. Their Uncle who that day paid them their Portions came with his Sons at Midnight to murder them for their Money He was killed and his Sons taken and hanged by means of a Stranger who lost his way and lodged there that night which is a Story of such Singular Circumstances I am sorry I have not time to tell it out ¶ A man being long at Sea at length came home to see his Father and Mother Mr C. Mr W. This Seaman had a Sister living at Towns end whom he called to see as he came in the Even and she knew him But coming to his Parents they knew him not He delighting to keep them in the dark for that night to make merry with it on the morrow made himself a stranger and desired a nights lodging They lodge him in a barn which he accepts but desires them to lodge his bag of Money in the house They take it in and in the night consult to kill him for it and did so and so were soon made rich But in the morning his sister came betime to see her brother They understanding what they had done ran Mad and so were hanged Sir these are no Idle Tales Fath. Truly these are Sad Stories And I see now this defect in preaching sin Down and duty Up by opening the glasse of the Law to shew sin is the cause why sin lives so much under Sermons What symptoms of the sin of Pride in the Heart is in the Habit it troubles me to see in what a Garb some go that I could name Min. O! pray take heed of that it is good sleeping in a whole skin Trouble you if you and I were well awake it
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