the heaven and the earth the sea and all that is in them and rested the seventh day and hallowed it Thus injoyning both by his own Example and Command the perpetual Observation of that particular seventh-Seventh-day in order of Time in its successive course in every weekly revolution as the appointed day for holy Rest That day and that only and no other day of the Week Thou LORD art worthy to receive the Glory and the Honour and the Power For thou hast created all things and through thy Will they are and were created O that those who dwell on the Earth and every Nation and Kindred and Language and People would fear him and give Glory to him for the hour of his Judgement is coming And that they would worship him that made the Heaven and the Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters The Father Son and holy Spirit they are the Creators They the Aelohim who spake Creatures into their Existence and Being of which adored Almighties an account is given in that Historicall Narration which doth contain a Diary or Journal of the first seven days The Father Aelohim It is spoken of him in the forty fifth Psalm Aelohim the Aelohim of Christ anointed his Son by his Spirit which Son also is Aelohim expresly so called in the same Psalm Thy throne O Aelohim ever and perpetual the scepter of thy kingdom is righteonsness The Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews sheweth that this was spoken unto the Son of God by his Father And the holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Aelohim and the Spirit Jehovah by Isaiab In the second Book of Samuel this Spirit of Jehovah or this Spirit of Jehovah as Paul elsewhere is also called The Aelohim of Israel It is Aelohim who dwells in his people as in a Temple So saith Moses which Paul applyeth to the holy Spirit These three are the Creating one Thus Solomon the Preacher chargeth young men to remember their Creators in the days of their youth Where Aeloh my Makers those who making me that giveth the Psalms in the night So would Elibu have had Job to say The same hath Eliphaz in the same Book Should a man be more righteous than Aelohim Should a man be purer than his Makers Hence is Tzijon incouraged in the later days not to fear For saith Jehovah by his Prophet Isaiah to her Thy Makers is thy Husbands Thus doth the Psalmist call for an Hallelu-jab or praise ye Jab Sing ye to Jehovah a new Song his praise in the Church of gracious Saints let Israel rejoyce in his Makers in those who making him Let the Sons of Tzijon be glad in their King the whole Creation should joyn in this song of praise for this Reason which is common to the whole World of them for he commanded and they were Created I now propound it to serious examination according to the Word whether much of this glorious Mystery be not included in the first Words of the holy Scriptures Bereashith baraa Aelohim and in that word Jehovah mentioned a little after the short History of the Creation as the Creator and Maker which is to be left to further disquisition For I am inciting and encouraging of Religious Students and of Christian Disciples to deeper researches into the best Learning This Word has in it the signification of an Head so that this is not barely In the Beginning but it doth set out that first capital Beginning of all things In and By Christ the constituted Head of all Inquire whether it should therefore be rendred in the Head-captain or in the Head-captainship or in-by the Captain or the Chieftain or Head-commander or in him who is the Head-Captain or in the appointed Head or Captain the Preposition is properly In. And when it doth point out the immediate principal cause it is in by Let the diligent Inquirer about this collate some other Scriptures that doth relate unto this matter It was in-by Christ that the Father made these hidden ages For this is spoken of the Son of God whose Godhead is strongly proved by the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews in the beginning of it by divers â—itations out of the Old Testament brought into the New It was in by Wisdom that Jehovah did Found the Earth and prepared the Heavens and made All his Great Works All things were created by Jesus Christ which is a great honour put upon our LORD The Father created all things If you ask by whom It was by Jesus Christ All things were made by him Christ was the Head-Captain of all the Host of the Heavens and of the Earth and he is the chief Head of his Body the Church Both these are affirmed of Christ with an eye to this In and By In by him who is the Image of the Invisible God the first-born of every creature were all things created which are in Heaven and which are upon Earth which are Visible and which are Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions Governments or powers All things were created by him and to him and he is before all things and all things consist together by him and he is the head of the body There is one LORD Jesus Christ by whom are all things He is expresly called Reashith the appointed head of Jehovah's ways before his works from then speaking evidently of the creation As the words themselves in that place of the Proverbs do plainly declare He was anointed to this principate and is again and again called Roash the head Roashith is the name of one of the Types of Christ the First fruits are so called in the Old Testament And so is he in the New the First-fruits of them who sleeping It is not without great reasons and weighty considerations that this first written word should set out Christ as the Head Captain or constituted head or appointed Captain For all skillful Lexicographers agree that the original-propriety and root significancy of this word hath that of an head in it in its true first meaning to which the Scriptures do agree and divers Scriptures do speak of Troops of Bands of Hosts of Companies of Souldiers under an Head-Captain to this Honour and Office was Christ assigned and appointed by his Father which also this word doth remarkably set out If it be a composition of Roash an Head or Captain or Head-Captain and Shith to put or to place in martial order or in Battle-array For thus we may find the word used The LORD Christ doth put his Hosts or Armies into Rank and File in their Order with art and care Proper names are often compounded in the Hebrew wherein that Tongue doth delight though it doth not so easily admit of composition in appellatives The context favoureth the Interpretation with other Scriptures collated For in this History of the Creation we may read of the Hosts of this
which has any sound sooting either in Holy Scripture or in created Nature And yet how long and how far have these mis-countings prevailed Not only amongst Ethnick Philosophers but also amongst professing Christians and do so still unto this day There is a measure of our days and Jehovah is he who must make us for to know what it is There are divers phrases in Scripture note-worthy here As one day and days one a long one of days a day of constituted or of instituted Time a day-morrow or After To fill up the number of ones days Six days of the working days of this Earth yet the day great the day to be hot the day to descend greatly until the inclining or declining of the day until the firm preparing of the day to fill up a seventh of days to number days the strength of the day an Evening of a day the seasonable time of a day in a day the looking forth of this day days turning away or turning the faces or declining towards their end The blowing or breathing forth of that day at break or dawning of it a day of the East the days of Harvest The Spirit or wind or breathing of the day The remitting of a day to or towards the Evening The days of Heavens The days of years Days over or upon an year Also yesterday A day in a day From day unto night From the light until or unto the halfing or dimidiating of the day or the middle division of it into parts These with several other such like would have their use for the determining of divers practical cases That Wo should awaken conscience which is threatned against those who putting darkness to light and light to darkness as those do who make one half of a day from Midnight to Noon half dark and half light at Aequinox and the other half of the day from Noon to the next Midnight that light and that dark Contrary to the established order in the Law of the Creation This is the daily measure of time For we read of Time in the Scriptures Opportune time The Opportune time of the gift of the Evening the Opportune time of the going in of the Sun called the Opportune time of the Evening from the Morning and unto the Opportune time of the set season for instituted worship observe this The Sun knoweth his going in The constituted time of the days The constituted or instituted times of Jehovah a day of convention This daily time is made up of hours as hours are of minutes a minute or minute-time or moment we meet with in the Word one minute a moment in a day one a moment a minute quickly gone into a moment like as a moment like unto much even as a moment As a little of moment a moment little or a finall minute moments minutes of time An indivisible point of time a minute or moment is a very short space of time a moment one every moment That word which signifies a moment is derived from a root which is to cut off on to break asunder because it is one of the least particles and minute parts of time broken off as it were the most minute-fragment of time These minutes and moments do fill up an hour such a number of them And this kind of knowledge an ingenious enquirer doth know now to make some good improvement of is divers cases relating unto these parts of Time O how sweet and satisfactory would it be to understand even these little minute things in a Scripture-way For here we may meet with an hour an hour one That same hour The Chaldee word for an hour comes from an Hebrew root which doth signifie he looked he beheld Because Men in their actions do intend the hour as it passeth away The Teller or Nuntiatrix of Time An ascending Horologue which doth point out the degrees by which the Sun before Noon hath ascended and after Noon doth descend The ascensions of that Sun the goings up the goings in of it The measures of daily Time might in this Scripture-way much heighten there understandings O who will give that we may be Redeemers of Time The Doctrine of weeks is proved from primitive pure created nature in seven days as the Creator made them There were seven distinct days severally created in order of time and no more which being ended another week begins An whole full complete week doth consist of seven days not of six or fewer days not of eight or more days because Aelohim made all in these several distinct days He made no less and he added no more Hence those Scripture phrases of three weeks of days or three sevens of days a feast of weeks or of sevens of days a feast of weeks or of sevens of those weeks or sevens In your weeks or sevens A week or a sevenny A seven-night a seven-morn or Septiman two sevennies or weeks weeks or sevennies a week one the cut off half of the week to fill up a week this to number a seven of sevennies weeks seven and weeks sixty and two weeks seventy To compleat or fill up three weeks of days For Jehovah to keep to us weeks of Statutes of Harvest according to the Hebrew they are weeks of Ordinances relating to the feast of seven weeks or seven Sabbaths A sevenny of years and a seven sevenny of years The beginning day of the week is called one day because till a second day came there was only that one day and the last day of the week is called the seventh day because there is no further day in that week There is a great Remark and a special honour put upon this number of seven in the Scriptures as the number of perfection a complete number The seventh day pointing out the weekly Sabbath The seventh Moon was a peculiar dignified Moon the seventh year was a specially separated Sabbatical year The seven-times seventh year was a singularly honoured year for Jubilee Moons or Months took in these days and weeks Hence we read of a Moon or Month of days two days or a Month or days The Moony-Innovation of days One to the Month or one day a Month that fifth The Son of a Moon or of a Month From the sufficiency or fulness of the Innovated Moon in his Moon Behold an Innovated Moon the morrow The number of our Moons or Months is with Jehovah Aelohim three Innovated Moons or Months He or It shall touch that Moon or Month that seventh When will he pass over this Innovated Moon This an Ascension of an Innovated Moon or his Moon or Month to the Moons of the year The night-part of the day is a part of the Innovated Moon There are twelve Moons or Months these do make up a complete full year The first Moon the head of Moons There is a Moon in the year which has more of a full head for divers Evenings together then
the Man Christ Jesus And thus it was in the Figure and Type of Christ's Mediatory Office the true lawful high Priest was ever but only one in a course of succession who went into the Holy of Holies once a year not without blood which he offered for himself and for the misdeeds or ignorances of the people to make Atonement for them to cleanse them from all their sins before Jehovah whereby was signified that Christ that Faithful Great chief High Priest being once entred into Heaven by his own Blood hath found a Ransoming or obtained an Eternal Redemption For such an high Priest became us Holy Innocent Undefiled separate from sinners and becoming higher than the Heavens to whom it was not needful every day as to the High Priest to offer up Sacrifices first for his own sins afterwards for the fins of the people For that he did once when he offered up himself We have such an High Priest who is set at the Right Hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens He that is Malchitzedech the King of Righteousness is this Priest the Eternity of his Priesthood is established for ever by his Father by an Oath which Priesthood cannot pass over from one to another either by succession or by descent as that of the High Priests did of Old but it doth and will abide everlastingly in himself This Jesus Christ that Righteousâ— One is the Advocate of his people or their Spokesman who appears on their behalf before the Face of God ' and to make intercession for them Oâ— the blessedness of those who have this Mediator to be a Redeemer of them an Interceder for them He gave himself for them a Ransom for them that he might redeem them He reconciles them in the Body of his Flesh through his Death making peace by the Blood of his Cross He by the everlasting Spirit offered himself unblameable unto God! His Blood purgeth their conscience from dead works to serve the Living Godâ— For by one Oblation he hath Consecrated for ever those that are sanctified The chastisement of their Peace did lie upon him He is the Price of their Redemption He is their Surety He was faithful in all the House of God He sits at the Right Hand of the Majesty in the heavenly highest place far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not in this world only but also in that which is to come all things being made subject under his feet Who shall condemn them Christ is able perfectly even unto the full end to save them by him only they come unto God! he always liveth to intercede for them He prayes not for the World but for those whome the Father has given him and who believe on him that they all may be One as the Father in Christ and Christ in the Father that they also may be one with the Father and with the Son that the World might believe that the Father sent Christ How earnest was Christ in his Prayer to his Father that he would Sanctifie these by his Truth that he would keep them in his Name from the Evil one that they might have his joy fulfilled in them It is Christ's desire that where he is there they also may be that they may behold his Glory which the Father hath given him and that the Love wherewith the Father hath loved Christ may be upon them Christ doth know that the Father heareth him always How ready are such as have Fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ praysingly to say as that multitude of the heavenly Host in their Song Glory to God in the highest heavens on earth peace good will towards men This Christ is the LORD Unto all Authoritative Power is given in Heaven and in Earth And O how much is there that doth depend on this That LORDship which is here intended and meant is Christ's Kingly Dominion his Royal Government into the Office whereof he is called it being one of his Glorious Names King of kings and LORD of Lords For so it is written in the Revelation that was made known unto John No man can say the LORD Jesus if not in the holy Spirit It is a gift in the holy Spirit even to acknowledge this believingly to apply it and obeyingly in all things to be subject to it Thus we read in the Prophet Isaiah A child shall be born unto us and a Son given to us upon whose shoulder the dominion shall lye and his name shall be called Wonderful Counseller The mighty strong God The Father of hidden ages The prince of peace Of the increase of his dominion and peace shall be no end upon the throne and in his kingdom to stablish it and to strengthen it with judgment and with justice from henceforth for ever The zeal of Jehovah of hosts shall do this This is applyed to him who is God-Man and can belong to no other Ezekiel saw this in that glorious Vision wherein was presented before him a Throne of Royal Majesty upon which was a likeness as the form of Man and this was the form of the likeness of the Glory of Jehovah This was the representation of him who is Jehovah-Man of Jesus Christ the ever Blessed LORD of Glory whose the ruling of the whole World is All the Creatures must stoop of him He is she Head-Captain of all the Hosts of Heaven and of Earth for so did the Scriptures bring him in To this doth that Revelation answer which was made known to John Who saw one like unto the Son of man He that calleth himself the first and the last and did appear as an absolute complete Governour wise for Counsel and strong for Power Like unto this was that which Daniel saw in the night-visions For behold there came one like the Son of man in the clouds of heaven after that he came to the ancient of days and they caused him to come near before and to him was given dominion and honour and the kingdom that all people nations and toâ—gues should honour him his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not perish or be taken away and his kingdom shall not be destroyed This was the shining forth of Christ's Princely Honour of his Kingly Administration who was God-Man And by this was manifested the great Mystery of the Work of Redemption which doth further demonstrate the Mediatorship of Christ Who came from his Father in Heaven to Men on Earth and having finished his message here he ascended from men on Earth to his Father in Heaven there to present himself before him on the behalf of those whom the Father gave unto him This is he of whom the Prophet Jeremiah spake that he shall reign and prosper one of the stock of David as Man and yet withal he who should be called Jehovah-zidkenu Jehovah our Righteousness So that he is Jehovah-Man The same
Catholick admittance no man can give an account but with respect to some impressions on the minds of men from the Constitution and Law of our Natures with the Tradition of a Sabbatical Rest instituted from the Foundation of the World A Week is spoken of as a known account of Days in Time Thus they acknowledge As also that those of the Philosophers who resolved their Observations into things Natural or Physical do esteem the Septenary Number Sacred A Septenary Revolution of Days unto which they found a respect in all their Notions and Speculations about the Pleiades and Triones in Heaven Lunar changes sounds of Instruments variations in the age of Man critical Days in bodily Distempers and transactions of Affairs private and publick I so far make use of this as to shew that if such Authors would but improve their own convictions and concessions they might be spirited and sublimated into an asserting of something of Honour inseparable from the Natural Being of the Seventh-day The order of which Day is not to be disturbed Another of them acknowledgeth that there have been some difference and variation in the account of Years and Months with people yet never was the Week counted to be more or less than seven Days with any people In all Ages among all Nations the Seventh-day has been venerable and sacred I might put more of such Testimonies together were there need But it is the Authority of holy Scripture and of created Nature that sways with me It is observable in prophetical Scripture by Daniel that the Weeks are there said to be cut off as the words do properly signifie The Verb of the singular Number being put to a word of the plural Number doth evidently shew that every one of the Weeks from the first to the last shall be precisely and absolutely complete It was a precise cutting off The first Week of the created World was the fittest time for the giving forth of the Law of the Seventh-day-Sabbath because the ground of the Institution of this weekly Sabbath was Aelohims manifesting by his Words and Works that in that same Week he perfected both the working Days and the resting Day he rested upon the self same Seventh-day when the memory of his great and glorious Works was so new and fresh So agreeable is this to created Nature in the Exercise of right Reason especially when enlightned by Scripture-Revelation within the compass of one and the â— same Week reckoning still forward according to Created Order it is impossible to find out any proper Seventh-day but only the last Day of the Week This boundary of the Week being unremoveable and commanded to be kept Holy And this Doctrine of the Weeks is every where preserved in the several Languages which have words for a Week Because it is that discovery which is of use and is not every where to be met withal by a common Reader and it having some tendency towards the clearing up of some subject matters in this Treatise and towards the perfection of a Reformation which is also much of my design let not the ingenuous Reader think it too long a diversion if I here detect somewhat of the idolatry and superstition which is still to this day continued in this Nation and in other Countries by publick and private retaining and using of the Heathenish names of Days as Sanday Monday c. as also of Months such as January February c. so that he that shall speak in the present Age according to Scripture though in his own and their Mother Tongue yet is scarcely understood by the most and what is shameful and lamentable by multitudes of a professing Ministery and people Whereas hath not Jehovah Aelohim strictly charged his people that in all that which he hath said unto them they shall be wary and the name of other gods they shall not mention it shall not be heard out of their Mouth O take we heed unto our selves that we do not transgress in this matter Hath he not foretold that he will take away the Names of Baalim out of the mouths of his Servants that he will cut off the names of the Idols out of the Land Did not God's Israel of Old when and whilst their hearts were right with him practice accordingly changing of the old idolatrous places and putting new names upon them Did not zealous Joshuah take order about his our LORD Jesus Christ after whom his Disciples must walk would not take up the names of after-Idol gods upon his lips Examine we now somewhat of the Original and occasion of the Pagan names of Days and of Months As for Days the beginning Day of the Week they call Sunday The Germans when they were Pagans Verstegan saith consecrated the first Day of the Week to the Sun as Prince of Planets whose Image they placed on a Pillar in the Temple fashioned like a man half naked his face as it were bright red with gleams of Fire and holding with his Arms bowing Archwise a burning wheel before his breast the Wheel being to signifie the course which he runneth round about the World and the fiery gleams and brightness the light and heat wherewith he warmeth and comforteth the things that live and grow The Sun was the chief God of the Persians That Adoration and religious Worship which some gave to the Sun is forbidden in the Scripture condemned in the Egyptians in other Nations and in the Jews themselves the LORDs people who herein imitated the Heathen worshipping with their faces turned towards the East The Heathens worshipped the Planets as Gods and some will tell us how the Seven Planets do give denomination to the seven Days of the Week and what Planet reigneth every hour in every Day unto each of the seven Planets they dedicated a Day and called it by the name of that Planet which had the first hour of that Day the Appellation from the Planets seems much ancienter than that invention from the hours which I shall after a few lines write of so that these names of the Days of the Week were not by the Pagans first imposed from the Planetary hours but rather the superstition of this appellation of the Days was derived into the Hours The names of the seven Planets are these Sol Venus Mercury Luna Jupiter Marsâ— which seven Planets these men would have to govern twenty four hours in a Natural Day the first Planet hath the first Hour the second hath the second and so unto the seventh Again the first Planet hath the eighth Hour the second the ninth so unto the fourteenth afterwards the first Planet hath the fifteenth Hour the second the sixteenth and so forth to one and twentieth then yet again the first Planet hath the two and twentieth Hour the second the twenty third the third Planet the twenty fourth Hour and so the whole Natural Day of twenty four Hours is finished and ended the fourth Planet that followeth shall
have the first Hour of the following Day and so that Day shall take his name of that Planet As for Example suppose this day were their Sunday Sol Venus Mercury Luna Saturn Jupiter Mars S. V. M. L. Sat. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. J. M. S. V. M. L. S. J. M. S. V. M. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. Luna therefore followeth whence they call the second Day of the Week Monday Munday or rather Moon-day as if it were Moons day from this ancient Ethnick Custom of ascribing all the Days of the Week to some Idol God or Planet When the most Ancient Germans were Pagans they appropriated the next Day unto Sunday to the special adoration of the Moon who was the next Idol according to the course of the Days of the Week before mentioned Hence in Teutonick High Dutch or the German Tongue it is called Der Montag from Mon the Moon and Tag a Day and in Belgick or Low Dutch Maendach often Maendagh from Dagh a Day and Maene the Moon In French Lundy Lundi jour Lunaire In Italian Lunedi In Spanish El lunes In Latin Dies lunae and in English Monday The third Day is the Day of Mars as it is named in divers Languages as in Latin in Spanish in Italian in French in British or Welch and in Greek they make this Planet Mars to be the God of battel and of strife contention debate controversie whence the High Dutch and German Tongue now calls it Dinstag and the Belgick or Low Dutch Dijnsdagh Diissen dagh Drings dagh from Dring contention or strife and Dagh a Day because they dedicate this Day of the Week to contention and strife In English it is commonly called Tuesday of Tuisco who as they affirm was chief Leader and Ruler of the German Nation from the Tower of Babel who in honour of him after his death called this Day Tuistag that is Tuisco his Day And likewise after his name they do in their own Tongue call themselves Tuytcsh and their Contry of Germany Tuyteshland as also the Netherlands using herein the D for the T do make it Duytesh and Duytesh-landt Hence in Latin they are called Tuiscones and Teutones and their Tongue Lingua Teutonica and all of Tuisco or Tuisto as Tacitus calleth him In English it is commonly named Tuesday having retained the meaning of the German denomination The Fourth Day they call the Day of Mercury in Latin in British or Welch in Greek and in other Languages in English they name it Wedensday or Wensday in Belgick or Low Dutch Woensdagh or Wodensdagh or Godes-dagh for so they called Mercuries Day as if it were Gods Day Wodans or Godans Day or as Verstegan willeth that Woden was among the Ancient Germans and Saxous a most valiant and victorious Prince and Captain and his Idol or Image was after her death honoured praised and sacrificed unto that by his aid and furtherance they might also obtain Victory over his Enemies which when they had obtained they sacrificed such prisoners as in that battel they had taken and from his Name this word Woden in their Tongue signifieth fierce furious As in English when one is in a rage we sometims say he is Wood or he taketh on as if he were Wood so of this name Woden whom after his death they honoured as a God came this name Wednesday instead of Wodensday The fifth Day they name the Day of Jupiter or of Jove in Latin in British or Welch in Greek and some other Languages which Day they consecrated to their God Jupiter or Jove as that Planet which they supposed had dominion over this day In English it is commonly bur corruptly called Thursday of Thor a name of an Idol which the ancient Germans did worship and Day a Day by them dedicated to this Idol In Belgick or Low Dutch Donder-dagh the Day of the Thunderer from Donder Thunder and Dagh a Day to which agreeth the Teutonick High Dutch or German Tongue doth agree Donners tag that is the Day of the Thunderer for the Latins do call Jove the Thundring one This Idol Thor wore on his head a Crown of Gold and round about were set or fixed twelve bright burnished golden Stars for they were perswaded that being displeased he did cause Lightning and Thunder The sixth Day of the Week they called the Day of Venus in French Italian and Spanish from the Latin In English Friday so in the Saxon Tongue the High and the Low Dutch from Friga an Idol of the Germans This Idol represented both Sexes as well men as woman and as an Hermaphrodite but more of the Female She was reputed the giver of peace and of plenty as also the causer and maker of Love and Amity out of which it appeareth that Friga was the Goddess which the Romans and other called Venus The Seventh day is named by the Ethnicks the Day of Saturn so in Latin because they supposed that the Planet Saturn did chalenge to himself the Dominion of this Day So in English Saterday or Saturday as if Saturns Day in Low Dutch Sater dagh from Seater an Idol of the Germans lean of Visage having long Hair and a long Beard and was bare headed and bare-footed In his left hand he had a Wheel and in his right he carried a Pail of Water wherein were Flowers and Fruits In Low Dutch this Seventh-day is called Rust-dagh from Rust Rest and Dag a Day the Day of Rest In English French Italian Spanish Portuguez Latin Greek and Hebrew it has its right Name Sabbath the Day of holy Rest and it would be one good means of reviving and of restoring the weekly Seventh-day-Sabbath if it had its true name still given it And it is observable that in one place of Scripture where the LORD hath expresly forbidden the mentioning of the names of other Gods there immediately before he doth direct and lead us to the proper name of this Day the Seventh-day and a Day of Rest a Sabbath Day and so should the other foregoing six Days of the Week be called by their own Scripture names When a Reformation is throughed according to the Word amongst other Idolatries and superstitions those of Ethnick Names of Days and of Months amongst others must and shall dawn This Heathenish Anti-christian defilement has also brought in polluted Names amongst the Months The Romans appointed the beginning of the year to be the Calends of January because on the first Day of this Month their Consuls were first created when that Government was set up amongst them and from thence from that time it was a solemn day for the New-years gifts c. then also they did sacrifice for luck or for fortunes sake as they Paganishly do phrase it what they were to do the whole year and they were wont to send some sweets as dry Figs and the like as a good omen to one another This Month is called from
Spirit When a gracious heart is exercised aright about this object of the upper Waters it may be raised to the Heavenliest frame and may mind the best things When the word doth assert the locality of the upper waters to be above the Heavens by those Heavens and Waters are not meant the Air and the Clouds For there is Air above these Clouds Did we more and better consider the place whence the Rain doth come and the efficient cause of it who it is that doth make it and send it we should find the matter profitable for our serious thoughts to be working upon The coming down of Rain from above this visible Expanse to us would be a call an help and means to fetch us up thither whence this did descend hither and fall down towards us So that it is not by the position of Luminaries that this Rain is drawn up They are the LORD 's hidden Treasuries which have this blessing issuing forth from them when they are sent in a gracious Covenant way then are they a blessing Those Treasuries are above this Expanse in some inner place and hidden Repository Such as cannot be come at by Men Neither does their eye here reach and see them there Whereas all is open between us and the Expanse and the eye can reach as far as the extended Firmament It is the Almighty who shakes out a Rain of liberalities He sheds and sprinkles it abroad as with the waving of the hand He divideth the spouts for it He doth appoint it its bounds that it shall not cover the Earth He hath these Waters in his hand they obey him He that is delighted with this kind of study may quickly be directed how to fill up a large Tractat upon this Subject-matter of the upper Waters out of the Scriptures concerning Rain the Rainbow Dew Hail Snow and what else that is watry which cometh down from above and how much is there of hidden secrets in these created beings in their natural essences causalities and productions which are practically useful One distinct work of the third Day with its peculiar blessing was that of Herbs The Inquiry therefore here shall be this Q. Whether the exact est fullest Herbal of Herbs Grass Trees and Plants be not treasured up in the Scriptures of Truth opening this great Secret of Created Nature best setting out the doctrine and use of them both for Feeding and for Healing Answ It is FRom the Herbal fruitfulness of this Earth may be drawn many a sweet Argument of Jehovahs praise Aelohim is the prime efficient Cause producing of Herbs They were not until he spake them into a Being he made them by his Word by his own immediate Power without second and ordinary Causes The Sun Moon and Stars were not created till the next Day after and therefore no influence of the Heavenly Luminaries could be the parent of their first Production To assert created Authors of Herbs is an Heathenish Fable The green Herbs had their Virtues in perfection at their first Creation and were not Astrologically distributed according to that pretended Dominion which some do over credulously fancy that the Heavenly Luminaries do exercise over them whereby much of the Ethnick Idolatry and superstition has slily crept in and is still infinuating of it self into the minds of many After the first Creation-Herbs the LORD did put a Virtue into second and ordinary Causes under him to forward those choice Virtues which he put into Herbs which Herbs do still retain This Earth from the blessing of God is said to bring forth Herb accommodate to them by whom it is dressed The Sun by its light and heat doth communicate some vital warmth in the Virtue whereof the Seed of Herbs is cherished and prepared for Generation till the Herb be thence brought forth The Moon also has its usefulness this way by its cooling moistening to protrude thrust forth or eject them The Waters Rainy and dewy have also some refreshing nourishing efficacy this way These fellow Creatures are pleasant and healthful unto Herbs so that sometimes the Dew is put for the Herb which with the Dew from Heaven is moistened and cherished and made to vegetate and grow The want whereof doth leave the Earth to be barren But the Earth when thus well watered is friendly to the Herb by its native heat cherishing the Seed until the Herb be born and brought forth and when it is brought forth the Earth by its moisture doth nourish and nurse chear and conserve it The labour of man by Culture and and dressing has also a special serviceableness for this end The place in which the Herbs do come forth and grow is the superfice of this Earth and of the Field and hence it is that an Herb is called an Herb of the Earth the Herb of the Field of the Fieids the Herb of the Mountains Were all the Scriptures in the Margin with divers others that might help to bring in an answer to this inquiry well studied in the large significancy of the Original Words and Phrases relating to the knowledge of Herbs O how much light would it bring in for the advance and augment of the Alimental and Medicinal Arts Herbs are the Fruit and the Revenue of the Earth It is called our Revenue or Fruit speaking of those who are in Covenant with Jehovah Aelohim But how little of this is as yet injoyed in a Scripture way because this wonderful secret in created Nature is so little digged after in the Word-Mine which alone doth fully discover it Whilst it makes for the gainful purpose of some to hold vulgar capacities in ignorance that themselves might be admired and resorted to whereas were we well skilled in that Scriptural Herbal which the LORD Christ hath given us the poorest only for a little pains in gathering by a discrete choice and meet application might have that wholesome food and that recovering Medicine which the richer sort with all their large fees and discharged long Bills are never likely to attain unto Those Scriptures would teach us much of the Natural Virtue and efficacy of Herbs some whereof are of a Marshy kind such as do grow in miry wet and softned places The Herbage doth spring up and sprout that is near the Waters a well moystened soyâ— doth make it green and flourishing He that hath made all other things for himself had also glorious ends in his eye in his third Days Work For the LORD did create and bring forth the Herb for his own Honour and for the service use and good of man It is serviceable to man for many purposes for the Oven or Furnace to heat it wherein to make corn ready It is helpful for mens eye-sight by the greenness of it which is refreshing and strengthening to the Eye and cheering to his Spirit by its virid freshness How useful is the green Grass to
according to those Scriptures Let the principle be admitted and pursued and then much more would be discovered As for the conservation of health the Learned in the Medicinal Art should search the Scriptures about the use of some and about the forbearing of other creatures for Food about the kinds of bodily exercises about the choice of Aromaticks of Spices of Olys of Wines and many more about the Regiment of passions and of affections with more directions that might be given Such as the actings of suitable graces the enjoying of proper comforts the improving of Holy Fellowship with Jehovah in Father Son and Holy Spirit and more might be added if advice from so mean a one be received in the Colledge of Physitians There is a further part of the Medicinal Art which doth respect the prolongation of days and the lengthning along of Life of which there is much in the Scriptures both by way of direction and of promise He that will industriously seek out where and how often in the Word that expression of length of days or prolongation of days or long of days and such like phrases that do set out this is used and will wisely observe to whom and in what way this is covenanted may find much to this purpose and end Then how should we be under Christ beholden unto such wise and faithful Physicians as would direct their patients for a cure to word prescriptions where we might pursue and follow their counsels in obedience and saith expecting Aelohim's blessing thereunto and therefore for the augment and advancement of this kind of Learning let it be yet farther inquired by men skilful in the Original and acquainted with the Giver of his Word how that knowledge may be perfected by a Scripture-discovery which doth respect the body of Man For hereby many other useful Arts would receive a great increase as the Art of Medicine for the prolongâ—ng of the days of man and for continuing on of his life in the conserving of his health and in the preventing or curing of Diseases the Art of Chirurgery the Art of the Apothecary and Compounder the Art of Opticks and Perspectives the Art of Sounds the Art of Gust the art of Odors the art of Tangibles to mention no more which a discerning eye may look somewhat deep into at the very naming of them Let a more narrow research also be made into the Soul of man Its Essence and Nature Its Substance and Operations Its Offices and Products How great its specifick difference from the Soul of Beasts Let the Spirit of Man be more studied in the Word of Truth What its proper Existence is what its specifick Difference what its Faculties what the Objects of those Faculties wherein differenced from the Soul whether separable from the Soul for some time yet so as the Body still lives what its work is what are the peculiat seats in Man for all the Faculties of the Soul and Spirit How many those Faculties are what their Original what their connaturalness what all the inward parts of Man are what their league of amity and friendly commerce is one with another and all together with the whole compositum and a multitude of other rare parts of this great Knowledge I wait if the LORD give me to live to see this glorious design to be received promoted and improved by others If so I expect that he will give men an heart willing to contribute what this way may be judged useful by such abler undertakers who would severally labour in a distinct handling of some particular Art and Science O how rare is the skill how choice the Priviledge so to improve this part of Experimental Christianity as even here to pass more into growing beginnings of that blessed State of the heavenly Glory by a more holy and healthful transforming likeness to the Humane Nature of Christ in Spirit in Soul and in Body In every one of these to feel a suitable conformity in Holiness unto Christ as our great Exempar It is a great thing to believe aright that the Humane Nature of Christ is then and not till then actually profiting when quickened by the Spirit making Christ's Words to be Spirit and Life How great an Honour hâ—th he put upon Man and how highly hath he advanced the Nature of Man who has laid hold on the Seed of Abraham and taken that to his Godhead He is one in Nature as to his Humanity with Believers he has had experience of all the Cases of Believers sin only excepted There is that in him that is suited to all the parts of Believers in his Spirit in his Soul in his Body in his Nature in his Life for their Regeneration Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification Redemption Acceptation Strength Joy Comfort and every other Good and his Humane Nature is a fitted Instrument of conveyance of this spiritual suitable good to Believers when so quickned by the Spirit There was a proper a peculiar Testimony given by the Creator to the Work of the sixth day a special owning and commendation of that excelling Master-piece Adam Therefore there is a significant word added to Good here whereby is set out the singular Good of this Part of the Creation If this particular approbation were given to all the Works of the Creation in common to all the six days put together then the formation of Man will want its distinguishing Honour and its signal Remark This special note of singular observation here doth affirm and confirm it as spoken of that which is well known and evidently manifest As in all the Creatures both singly and apart collected and put together there was an excellency of Perfection in them according to the capacity of their Natures and for the usefulness of their ends so more particularly and especially in man There is an emphatick Note of Demonstration prefix'd to this Sixth day pointing out the Work of that Sixth day to be somewhat more remarkable and that the adored Almighties had perfected all his Works which he propounded and purposed to create in the foregoing six days of this one Week of the created World It doth shew a thing known and signally illustrious and commendable and that that day only was the sixth day in the weekly Revolution and no other day of the Week And that the weekly Sabbath must be reckoned in order of created Time the immediately next succeeding day after that sixth which weekly Sabbath day was when created the seventh the last day of the week that and no other day of the same week which note of demonstration is remarkable in other Scriptures to point out the certian weekly Sabbath-day in all the following Weeks of the World in the successive courses of Weeks even the seventh which is the last for there is but only one seventh day in one Week progressively going on in the due order and according to the established Law of the Creation All the Creatures were not made