Synagogue it was common to read or teach Luk. 4.16 17. Acts 13.15 The ruler of the Synagogue I take to be none else but one designed in especial to take care of the well-ordering of all things to be done therein In the word is no priesthood after this administration but a scribe a writer of the law that knew how to read it well Hence the people are called a Kingdome of Priests every one being to be a law-priest for expounding the judicial law Exod. 19.6 Object What confusion would this bring forth in families Resp Is there more amongst us then was among Jews and Gentiles at the first erecting of Churches 2. Did not Christ foretell as much when he said there should in one house be three against two and two against three Luk. 12.52 3. Doth not the Apostle say the servant then to the heathen was the Lords freeman 1 Cor. 7. See how God plagued Pharaoh for keeping his people from serving him Object Rev. 18.4 God calls his people out of Babel or Rome the false Church onely Resp This is the first step from her to separate the world and Church 2. We are not to come out of Babels Church-practice onely but her state-practices also not in duties of the Gospel only but the law also A people in civil society cannot be without the law as in the Church-society they cannot be without the Gospel and be with and under God therein The first-day-Sabbath is of the covenant of grace the seventh of works Moses is taught the seventh Christ the first natural men observe one believers the other yet both sanctified and Sabbaths and to be kept holy Object This would be exceeding loss to the Nation Resp Never man did lose by serving God but gaine 2. The godly man must sell all If he will be a Christian and deny himself and be dead to all Note The heathens set apart some time to serve their Gods of wood and stone in though they had no warrant to do the same shall not those are the people of God much more have some day to serve him in and what day but that God in the laws instituted from which before the Son hath made them free they are not discharged from what service the law requires nor what penalty the law imposeth on them for disobedience apply Mat. 5.19 Hear what the law saith to those under the law James 2.10 Whosoever keepeth the whole law and yet offend in one point is guilty of all Rom. 3.19 that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God Gal. 3.10 Cursed be every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them Appl. This seems to me that men under the law are strictly bound to the observation of the seventh-day-Sabbath of which number all unbelievers are who are bound to serve God for the creature-comforts and mercies though they know not Christ but are in the state of the world Appl. The Lords-day-Sabbath is only to be observed in the Church by men made free by Christ from the law curse and condemnation thereof Heb. 4.9 There remaineth a Sabbatisme to the people of God called another day vers 8. from the 7. Note verse 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is of great concernment to be inquired into that whiles we strive to build up what we should not we pull down what we ought not I hope you would not for a world make a law to make void the law of God The Sabbath gave way to circumcision though it were not of Moses that is Moses law John 7.22 23. that the law of Moses concerning circumcision might not be broken It is very remarkable that in all the conflicts the Scribes and Pharisees had with Christ about the Sabbath he never spake of the abolishing of it nor condemned the right observance of it though the Jews were more oft offended at Christ for this then any thing he curing more on that day then any because looked on by the Lord as the work of the day and they the more troubled at it because done thereon which they judged to be a profanation thereof Note As the law was given by the found of Trumpet so the congregations of the Synagogues were to be called by trumpet and not by bells Numb 10.7 Exod. 19.16 which minded them of giving of the law and the covenant then made the believers by rising of the Sun that is the time and call of them for their worship Sabbath dayes journey some understand one some to be two miles which was no less to be observed under the Gospel then under the Law-day-Sabbath Joshua 3.4 Acts 1.12 The Scriptures rightly expounded will clear this Antichristian darkness O take the vaile from our eyes and hearts Mark 16.1 The Sabbath being end 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers 2. Early in the morn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the first of Sabbaths it being the first of the Lords-day-Sabbath or the first of the two Sabbaths the Lords day being the first the seventh day the last of the week according to the Scripture The first shall be last and last first And for the ceremonial Sabbath they are no more called Sabbaths but the seventh and first day are called Sabbaths alway in the word The Scriptures speaking of the Lords-day-Sabbath misinterpreted for the first day of the week and calls the seventh day a Sabbath also are these Mat. 28.1 Mark 16.2 Luk. 20.1 Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 That the Scriptures are misinterpreted when read the first day of the week is clear for when God speaks of the first day of the week Mark 16.9 he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the singular no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the plural and thus the Pharisees Luk. 18.12 fasted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. After Christ the Law-day-Sabbath was observed by the Jews men under the Law among whom the Apostles taught and never in one word reproved them Acts 18 2. Paul as his manner was went into the Synagogue to the Jews and three Sabbath dayes reasoned out of the Scriptures with them Note his manner was and thus in many other Scriptures 2. The Lords-day-Sabbath was observed among believers Act. 20.7 On the first or one of the Sabbaths when the Disciples came together to bread bread Paul preached to them c. and that 1 Cor. 16.2 On every first of Sabbaths a command to the Church of Corinth every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him 3. Having shewed you that both the first and the seventh day that under the covenant of the law and that under the covenant of grace Moses Sabbath day and Christs conjunctly are called Sabbaths and so of divine authority alike onely one is a command to men under the law the other to men under grace now I shall shew you how they are distinctly called Sabbaths Heb. 4.4 He speaks of the seventh
was not made with the Nation or people of the Jews by Moses Jer. 7.22 23 24. Josh 8. ult 2 Cor. 3.14.15 2. There was a new covenant in which not Moses but Christ is the Mediator which is a better covenant having not the law written in tables of stone but in the heart Heb. 8.10 which had better promises vers 6. and Christ said to be a Priest of good things to come which was only made with believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in whom the law is kept only and indeed in shadow of which God after covenanting with him in the Mosaical covenant he gave Aarons Priesthood from Exod. 25. to the end Note As a Nation cannot subsist without rule and government in any order nor be without food and raiment nor continue or remaine if God curse them and bless them not so it is necessary for these that a National Covenant be made with God by us for the binding our selves to God to keep his commandments Statutes and Judgements and is as necessary for us as ever it was for the Jews by which God becomes engagedly the God of a Nation and they again his people and not nationally as before for by the new covenant God is not the God of a nation but of believers onely in a nation joyned to Christ in the way of the Gospel Object The New covenant implyes God hath made the first Old and that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish Heb. 8.13 Resp As Christ and Moses destroyed not one another nor the Gospel destroyes not the law so nor doth one covenant destroy another nor is the first covenant old but to those only that are in the second in which the first is as it were swallowed up or received into But to those that are onely under the first To them the first is so as if there were not a second and those under the second are so under that as if the first were not Note Men are to be first under the first or Sinai and thence come to Sion Heb. 12.18 22. and so Moses is a Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ Gal. 4.24 Rom. 9.4 Heb. 9.15 12.18 24. Illust As in the beginning of the goverment of the Jews Commonweal there was a rule set up for Judgement among the people called judicial laws to govern them by in which was the Kingly goverment of God and the law called the Royal and there was likewise the Levitical Law which appertained to the service of the tabernal in which Christs Priesthood was set out in things appertaining to God for the people which distinct estates are in a kind reserved among us this day in the Church and State As in Moses and Aaron so now should it be Moses and Christ But the Romans conquering Judea according to the prophecie Gen. 49.10 they put down their rule and government that they could put no man to death Judgement was now altered into the customs of the heathens and there ever since it hath continued and no nation in the world ever since taking God or God taking them to be his people as of old though lately we in a wrong way seemed to do it for at the renewing of the covenant the law and the statutes and judgements were only read and the people ingaging themselves to keep them a never did any Gospel-Church do any such thing nor shall ever do it nor were they the Church-paterns Antichrists mark is set down to be 2 Thes 2.8 one that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 without law that is he exerciseth not the law of God 〈…〉 up the covenant of the law but brings all the world and 〈…〉 to one estate which if he had not done or if we do not do we shall finde the one is as necessary among men in the world as the other in the Church And hence Antichrists workings are called the mystery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of lawlesness by whom the laws administrations are destroyed Object If we have this covenant we must have circumcision Resp The Apostle clears it Gal. 3.17 The covenant that was confirmed in circumcision before of God in Christ the law which was four hundred and thirty yeers after cannot disannul Now this covenant I speak of is distinguished from that by Moses thus Deut. 5.3 The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers but with us in Horeb even us who are all of us alive this day John 7.22 Moses gave you you circumcision not because it is of Moses but of the fathers Quest If this covenant be not sufficient to make men capable of baptism and whether men were not circumcised by this Resp Men were not circumcised by this but that other covenant spoke of Deut. 5.3 and was long before this 2. Baptism belongs to the second not first covenant in which God becomes our God not by doing but believing not by works but grace not in Moses but Christ Object The Apostles required not this in their time Resp 2 Pet. 3.13 They looked for a New Earth that is a restoration of that administration of the law to be but not untill the fall of Antichrists rule and government being of the fourth Monarchy 2. The law was for the worlds government that that they did concerned the Church and the new covenant onely and not the world 2 Chron. 15.12 13 14 15 Nehem. 8.1 2 3 4. Note Both covenants are necessary when they may be had and without the covenants is no promise Eph. 2.12 the heathens were Aliens from the civil estate of Israel Beza and strangers from the covenant of promise speaking of them both And thus it is with us this day Of Judges Note The Lord hath promised he will restore Judges as at the first Isa 1.26 and in them judgement and it was the great wrath of God that they were taken away out of the middest of the people Amos 2.3 and would it not be a mercy if this people might have them that never had them as at the first The first were of Gods institution and best those of other forms since of men and far worse O let our Judges be as at the first Moses the first of Judges by Jethro's advice Exod. 18.16 dissolved Monarchy in rule laying it down for his own and the peoples ease God consenting thereunto gave the people laws to be governed and Judges to govern them by who are described to the people Exod. 18.22 that they chuse not amiss who in the beginning of the government and after were chosen of the people Deut. 1.13 16.18 for which service men may be easily fitted in that the law was daily read in the Synagogues which was expounded by the Prophets and wise men sent of God to them which cannot be done in our law it was the Sabbath-work and service of God to teach it daily in publike and private and shall this law be thus laid aside neglected and not studied for the bramble-rule of the world and was subverted 1
Then will I set my face against that man and his family and will cut him off and all that go a whoring after him I will set my face against that soul c. II. Deut. 27.15 Cursed is that man that puts any graven or molten image in a secret place IV. On the idols Deut. 7.5 Destroy their altars and break down their images their groves shall ye cut down and burn their graven images with fire Numb 33.52 ye shall destroy all their pictures and molten images and pluck down their high places Numb 32.52 and quite pluck down all their high places V. Judgement is on the places of idol-worship Deut. 12.2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places wherein the nations ye shall possess served their gods upon the high mountains and hills and under every green tree Vers 3. Ye shall overthrow their altars break their pillars and burn their groves with fire ye shall throw down the graven images of their gods Judg. 6.25 2 King 32. 2 Chron. 23.17 VI. Judgements is one the names of the false gods Deut. 7.25 Ye shall destroy the names of them out of that place Zech. 13.2 the same shall be done in time to come VII Judgement is on the idols of gold and silver Deut. 7.25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire Then shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them nor take it to thee lest thou be snared therein for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God Vers 26. Thou shalt not bring in an abomination into thy house lest thou be an accursed thing like it but shalt utterly detest it and abhor it for it is an accursed thing Vide Joshua 6.18 and Chapter 7.1 15 21. to the end of the Chapter Observations 1. That metals were to be melted with fire stone glass and such-like fragil things were to be broken with the hammer to powder 2. What work hath God to do yet for us were we once joyned by covenant to the Lord names of moneths dayes of the week and those places we call Churches Altars the names of idols false gods c. are daily and hourely in our mouths as in our swearing by the Mass VIII Judgement It defiles a land 1. How this nation by worshipping of idols in the time of Antichrist hath profaned that Scripture is the covenant is clear and in regard he is a jealous God he is no less jealous of our apostatizing then of our fathers especially seeing we have done hitherto the work of the Lord negligently not making our covenant in a right way taking him to be our God but not in his laws to judge and rule over us 2. He visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children you may see without a speedy covenanting with God according to his will what provocation there remaines for God whose hand is yet stretched out to destroy us we having been as idolatrous superstitious and profane a people as any in the world O England remember the bloodshed for the idol of the Mass and its worship and that by Statutes and Acts of Parliament together with the other six bloody Articles made by King and Parliament in the time of Henry the eighth 3. It may be said as those in Jonah 3.9 Who can tell whether the Lord will turn and repent so if the King had made this covenant and set up this law this had been the way for to have restored him but it was hid from his eyes I beseech you O ye Parliament of England be admonished do this great thing that the Lord lay not you aside also and if ye hinder herein see what a command God hath given against all hinderances Esa 57.14 Cast ye up cast ye up prepare the way take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people God hath of late taken up many that were stumbling-b ocks among your selves since ye sate and will spare none that indeed is so this day to his peoples freedom and deliverance And that the judicial law ought to be set up among us as well as the Jews clearly was signified in this that the law was to be one as well to the stranger as to those home-born which should not have been if God had intended it only to have been a law to Jews and nor the Gentiles also there being the same ground for equity justice and for fellowship with God with one as with the other with God there being no respect of persons Levit. 24.10.22 Numb 15.29 33 31. Deut. 1.16 5.14 Objections made by Sir H. V. Object 1. To restore the rule of the law is to Judaize Resp 1. To rule by our own law is to heathenize 2. Having Gods law and yet to rule by that is much worse 3. We now Judaize by making void the law of God by our Traditions 4. To Judaize is properly to continue in Gods worship some ceremony Christ by his death hath put an end unto 1. The law judicial hath nothing ceremonial in it 2. Christ put not an end to it but established it 3. The Law was not made for the Jew only but All and said indefinitely to be made for transgressors thereof of all Nations 1 Tim 1 9 10. 2. Object We look for a better kinde of rule from Christ 1. Resp As there shall never be another Gospel so shall there never be another law God having shut up all 2. As there cannot be a Gospel more full of grace so nor can there be a law more full of justice and righteousness 3. How can we expect that from God which neither by himself his Son nor Prophets in all the book of God was never promised no not by one word 4. If it were supposed a better law for goverment of the republike might be given as can never be Quere 1. Whether we might receive it without warrant expresly given by God whiles we have that of Gods which he gave himself 2. If be that gave it be not accursed as he that should give another Gospel 1 Gal. 4.1 9. 5. Whether it be not exceedingly to derogate from God to esteem of any rule like or above his It s objected by some That the Jews had several Synedries viz. the sevnty and twenty three Resp From Isa 1.26 God will restore councellors as at the beginning not councels that is but one and the Synedrie is but one Mat. 5.22 and not Synedries so that the Jews in setting up more then one Synedrie did a postatize from the rule Command the Third Exod. 20.7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord the God in vaine c. Statute DEut. 6.13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and shalt swear by his name Levit. 19.12 Ye shall not swear by my name falsly nor profane the name of thy God Jer. 5.7 thy children swear by them are no gods Judgements I. Hosea 4. vers 2.3 on a land For oaths the land mourneth II. On a family Dan. 3.29 He
that blasphemed God his house shall be destroyed and himself cut in pieces Zech. 5.4 The flying roul entred into the house of him that sweareth falsly by my name and it shall remaine in the midst of his house and it shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof Jezabel swore by her gods and is eaten by dogs and her familly cut off 1 Kin. 19. 2 Kin. 9. III. On a person Levit. 24.15 Whoever curseth his God and he blasphemeth the name of God shall surely dye as well the stranger as he that is born in the land all the Congregation shall stone him Levit. 24.11 The son of an Israelitish woman blasphemed the name of God and cursed and they brought him to Moses and put him in ward until the minde of the Lord were known Verse 14. He is brought out of the Camp and stoned Illustr Davids child dyed because he made the enemy blaspheme 2 Sam. 12. Statute Levit. 19.31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits neither seek after wizards to be defiled by them I am the Lord. Vers 26. Ye shall not use inchantments nor observe times Deut. 18.10 There shall not be found amongst you any that useth divination or any observer of times or an enchanter or a witch or a charmer or a consulter with familiar spirits a wizard or a Necromancer all these are an abomination before the Lord. Judgements Exod. 22.18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live Levit. 20.27 A man or woman that hath a familiar spirit or is a wizard shall surely be put to death they shall stone them with stones their blood shall be upon them Vers 6. The soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits and after wizards to go a whoring after them I will even set my face against that soul and will cut him off from among his people Note God will cut him off by some judgement this was not to be done by the Magistrate but left to God himself 1 Sam. 28.31 in Saul Statute Levit. 20.22 Ye shall keep all my Statutes and my judgements to do them Verse 23. Ye shall not walk in the manners of the Nations Levit. 18.3 After the doings of the land of Egypt shall ye not do after the doings of the land of Canaan where I bring you shall ye not do neither shall ye walk in their ordinances Verse 4. Ye shall do my judgements and keep mine ordinances Levit. 19.27 Thou shalt not round the corners of thy head nor war the corners of thy beard nor make cuttings in thy flesh for the dead nor print any markes on you Deut. 18.9 Ye shall not do after the abominations of the heathen Observation The Lord bindes the people that have his Statutes to make use of his and not any other ordinances laws or manners Statute Numb 15.30 31. The soul that doth ought presumptuously whether he be born in the land or a stranger the same reproacheth the Lord and that soul shall be cut off from among his people because he hath despised the word of the Lord and hath broken his commandment that soul shall utterly be cut off his iniquity shall be upon him O ye Princes and Judges of the people if men judge by other judgements then Gods and have Gods judgements by them to judge by judge ye if they do not presumptuously what they do in so doing that they were to dye for it Note The Jews mixed first heathenish customes in sacrifices in the law the Jews believers in the time of the Gospel mixed Jewish rites and the Gospel-adminstrations together the heathens their rites and the Gospel we now Antichristian superstitions and the way of Gods worship in the Gospel whose manners and customs we ought to abstaine from as the Jews from the heathens Rev. 14.9.10 11. 18.4.8 They being a like abomination before the Lord. 1. The excellency of setting up of the commands and statutes and the government of God by making a covenant with God doth appear most eminently in the national preservation of the Jews from the witchcraft of Balaam who cryeth out to Balack and saith There is no divination against Israel nor enchantment against Jacob Numb 23.23 and the reason is the Lord is his God by covenant and he is with him and vers 8. How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed Chap. 24.9 Blessed is he that blesseth thee and cursed is he that curseth thee which shews had not God been his God witchcrafts inchantments and curses had consumed them 2. Balaam farther saith Numb 23.9 The people shall dwell alone and not be reckoned among the Nations When a people make a covenant with God they are then a people which before were not O that in England might be fulfilled that of Rom. 10.19 2. They shall dwell alone being a peculiar people to God 3. Not reckoned among the Nations but separated from them in their laws goverment worship of God c. God blessing them when other nations are accursed 3. Then when we covenant rightly into the Lord he sets his name upon us and we called the people of God and not before And to these and not others is the name of God a strong tower the righteous fly unto it and are safe they coming unto the Lord as to their God and refuge God being their refuge and hiding place which he is not to any other nation but these Treason called crimen laesae majestatis against God is contained in these three commands and many traitors there are amongst us 1 Sam. 2.25 Concerning the Treatise of the Sabbath 1. From Adam to Moses the authority was by tradition and the first-born was priest 2. By tradition Christ was discovered in the promise to Adam to many nations 2. The authority was from Scripture in the ten commands and other judicial precepts 1. Under it the traditional authority ceased 2. The priesthood of the first-born ceased and was given Aaron 3. Now sacrifices of other were offered to devils 4. This was only for the seventh-day-Sabbath 5. This Sabbath was a part of and sign to the first covenant 3. Christ comming was the Angel of and Mediator to a better covenant 1. The sign whereof is the first-day-Sabbath 2. As this is of the second covenant so it cannot be mixt with the first but are to be reserved distinct and not confounded for as the two covenants cannot be one so nor can the Sabbaths Appl. Hence then to force obedience of one on all is to destroy the other 2. To force the world to observe the first-day-Sabbath is to destroy the use of the day and make void the grace of God 3. In destroying any of the Sabbaths is to destroy the covenant and to take away the very signe thereof as at this day it is done by and amongst us Command the Fourth Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Statute EXod 23.12 Thou shalt rest the seventh day that thy Ox and Ass may rest
that the son of thy handmaid and stranger be refreshed Numb 28.25 Jer. 17.21 Carry no burden Levit. 23.3 It is the Sabbath of the Lord in all their dwellings Exod. 16.29 Let no man go out of his place on the Sabbath Vers 26. Ye shall finde no manna thereon Deut. 31.16 The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations for a perpetual continue untill Christ came and carnal ceremonies were put to an end Rom. 4.11 3. God in Horeb makes a covenant with all the people Deut. 5.2 3. and in Exod. 31.16 The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath to observe the Sabbath throughout all their congregations for a perpetual covenant it is a signe between me and the children of Israel for ever Exod. 34.27 Objected This seems to hold out three covenants and the Scripture holds out but two Answ That Abraham had is the same with ours and hence is Abraham called the father of the faithful onely the administrations thereof differs now from what it had then 1. This covenant of the Law continuing the signe thereof must also continue Ezek. 20.20 My Sabbath as distinct from the Lords day 2. The Scriptures call after Christs resurrection the seventh-dayes-Sabbath Sabbath as well as the first if rightly translated 3. The Apostles met with the Jews and taught them that day usually 4. No Scripture shews the abolishing thereof 5. It is necessary those under that covenant should have a day and time to serve God in as those under the new 6. The Sabbath of the new must not be to those under the old covenant nor the Sabbath of the old to those under the new Mat. 9.17 Men put not new wine into old bottles nor peece an old garment with a new peece of cloth 7. In the estate of the Church all things are become new but then it is only with such as are of the Church with others not of the Church they are so under the old covenant as if there had never been any new Mark saith the Apostle what the law saith it saith to them that are under the law Rom. 3.13 so that those under the Law are commanded to work six dayes and rest the seventh only 8. Thus not an iota or tittle of the law perisheth the morality of the seventh-day-Sabbath is continued and yet no Judaizing in the thing for this was no part of the ceremonial law the ground of the seventh day being from the creation but of the ceremonies from the redemption of Christ 9. Thus Christ destroyes not the law but establisheth it Jesus Christ not taking unbelievers from being under the law in which estate they were and subjection thereunto 10. God will judge them by the law that are under the law Now the law requires them that are under it to keep the seventh day Sabbath Rom. 2.12 and those that are risen with Christ and marryed to him are under the Gospel and Gospel-day this truth shines forth clearly Rom. 7.1 2 3 4. where untill the woman is married to Christ shee is under her first husband Moses 11. The one hath a rest with God and beast and creatures by Moses the other hath a rest with God and Christ and angels souls of just men made perfect on mount Sion Heb. 12. Note Moses and Christ are two and do not destroy each other Christ onely perfects Moses the covenants are two the Sabbaths two the states two one of the world the other of the Church one under the law the other under the Gospel which estates are not to be confounded or made one Hence Col. 2.16 Let no man judge you in respect of the Sabbath dayes 1. Keeping the seventh day Sabbath while unbelievers 2. Being received by the Church and now observe the first and work on the seventh whereas before he wrought on the first and sanctified the seventh justly brings men to be judged and questioned for so doing among men not knowing the truth and the will of God therein A strange confusion in the world for some time there was if we may believe Socrates who saith the Church of Rome observed onely the first day Sabbath and all other Churches the seventh See into what division the loss of truth had brought the then world into and ever since in this darkness arose out of the bottomless-pit Rev. 9.3 hath the world been shut up 3. He that is under the law-day Sabbath is to be punished according to its law if he observe it not and he that is under the Gospel-Sabbath is to be proceeded against according to the way of the Gospel by those several powers set up of God in them Object God requires but one day of seven this is two Resp One day is but observed for those observe the first are not bound to observe the seventh and those bound to observe the seventh are not bound to observe the first Object Some would then be buying selling merchandizing on both dayes and no day observed which would be very gross confusion Resp This confusion in the Apostles dayes if you call it so and the Apostle never tearmed it such at all but saith Let no man judge you much more let no man condemne you in respect of Sabbath dayes Col. 2. 2. By this means the Apostles gathered the Jews and Judaizing Gentiles teaching in the Synagogues on the seventh and after in the Churches on the first 3. By this as the Jews held a preparation to their Sabbath so now is the seventh dayes Sabbath a preparation to the first 4. There is no sin where is no law Moses gave no command to those under the law to observe the first day Christ gave no command to those under grace to observe the seventh day Sabbath 5. Anrichrist could never have made the Church and the world one but by destroying those ordinances that separated them and making them one in Church-ordinances it was easie to perswade the world to be one with the Church but not the Church with the world Quest is If the law-estate can be restored and not the seventh dayes Sabbath 2. Whether men untill they are Evangelically called thence are not of and under that estate in respect of their visible estate and condition in the world Gal. 4.1 Object The Apostles gathered many from Paganisme and never were under the law at all Resp The legal external administration was in a manner abolished 2. Those were gathered were under it spiritually and inwardly before they were gathered 4. If God effectually called them to be under the second the first was waxen old to them then only and not before Object Who shall be Ministers of this administration seeing Aarons priesthood dyeth Resp Aaron was not the Minister of this this was ministred in the Synagogues Aaron ministred in the temple onely 2. The Scribes or Lawyers which were not Levites or Priests they read the law in Synagogues and are said to sit in Moses not Aarons chaire Mat. 23.2 3. In the
dayes rest Vers 5. In this againe of an other rest which is a dayes rest as the seventh day was is clear from vers 7. and the 8. Verse 9. This other day is called Sabbatismos a sabbatisme which is proper onely to the Church or people of God Vers 10. This Sabbath-rest men must strive to enter into in the other all men are compelled in this none but believers in the Kingdome of God injoy into which men are bid to strive to enter Object Here they are said to enter into this sabbatisme which is proper to the state of heaven to be entred into Resp Believers in Christ are said to enter into or be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the law to Christ or one in law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Christ 1 Cor. 9.21 Object Mark 2.28 Luke 6.5 Christ is said to be Lord of the Sabbath and in what was he so but in putting an end to it Resp That Scripture saith not so and is contrary to many express Scriptures where Christ saith A tittle of the law shall not perish and the Scripture is falsly rendered the word is The Lord is Son of man and of the Sabbath because made of woman and made under the law Gal. 4.4 Command the Fifth Exod. 20.12 Honour thy father and thy mother c. Statute LEvit 19.3 Ye shall fear every man his father and mother Vers 32. Ye shall rise up before the hoary head and honor the face of the old man Mark 7.10 Gen. 22.6 Isaac submitteth to his father to dye Luke 2.51 and thus Jesus Christ the Rechabites obedience Jer. 35. and Gods blessing them Judgements Gen. 9.25 26. Noah curseth Cham with bondage and blesseth Japhet Deut. 27.16 Cursed be he setteth lightly by his father or mother Levit. 20.9 Every one that curseth his father or mother shall surely be put to death his blood shall be upon him Exod. 21.17 Exod. 21.15 He that smiteth his father or mother shall surely be put to death Numb 12.14 If her father had spit in her face should she not have been ashamed seven dayes which was a thing of contempt as in Deut. 25.9 and it may be either for disobeying or contemning of him Mark 7.10 The Gospel confirms it Who curseth father or mother let him dye the death Prov. 30.17 The eye that mocketh at his father and despiseth to obey his mother the ravens of the valley shall pick it out Statute Deut. 4.9 Forget not the things thine eyes have seen c. but teach them thy sons and thy sons sons Vers 10. Especially the day thou stoodest before the Lord in Horeb Vers 13. and he declared to you his covenant which he commanded you to performe even the ten commandments Deut. 6.7 Thou shalt teach them diligently thy children and shalt talk of them when thon sittest in thy house when thou walkest by the way when thou lyest down and when thou risest up Judgement Deut. 21.18 If a man have a stubborn and a rebellious son that will not obey the voice of his father or his mother and that when they have chastened him he will not hearken unto them Vers 19. Then shall his father and mother lay hold of him and bring him out to the Elders of his City and the gate of his place Vers 20. They shall say to the Elders of his City This our son is stubborn and rebellious and will not hear our voice he is a drunkard and a glutton Verse 21. All the men of his City shall stone him with stones that he dye so shalt thou put away evil from amongst you Appl. Why is so much rebellion against parents is not because the law of God is silent this being executed all England would hear and fear 2. Is there another way besides this to put away evil from among us appointed of God Note God saith So shalt thou put away evil and no other way 3. Or is not the Law of God just the judgement true and righteous that it is not set up amongst us or will it ever be well with us or ours until it be set up Statute Parents marriage of their children It was to be confined to such as were in convenant Deut. 7.6 Exod. 34.16 Thou shalt not take of their daughters to thy sons and their daughters go a whoring after their Gods and make thy sons go a whoring after their Gods Deut. 7.3 Thou shalt not make marriages with those nations God will destroy thy daughter shalt thou not give his son nor his daughter shalt thou take to thy son The reason whereof is rendred vers 4. Appl. As men under the law were not to match with those nations were not under the law so men under grace were not at liberty to match with any but such as were in Christ 1 Cor. 7.39 2. Were we under the law this would condemne all marriage with idolaters more strongly then the work of the law in us hath done Numb 25.6 1 Kings 21.25 1 Kings 11. from 1. to verse 9. 3. See here the authority God hath given to men under the law over their childrens marriage they are said to give and take Esau took a daughter of Canaan Jacob obeyed his mother and married Labans daughter Exod. 21.9 If a man betroth his maid-servant to his son he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters Note Betrothing was the fathers work in which he gave his daughter or took the daughter of some other to his son to wife 2. The Magistrate or Elders are not to approve of marriage made with any out of covenant It is to be considered that God under this word Father doth comprehend the Magistrate and obedience and honour hence due to him 1. Because all authority and rule was first in the father Gen. 38.24 2. It came from him to the one Judge Moses 3. To Judges in every City who had laws from God to judge the people by in which administration only 1 Sam. 12.12 the Lord God was said to be their King And now againe when this law is the rule of judgement to the nation then is the Lord Christ said to raigne which shall be a thousand yeers God having committed all judgement and authority to the Son Mat. 28.18 Rev. 20.6 and who would not strive to set up Christs rule Note As Judges were of God before Kings so if Kings be put down ye must return to Judges again God setting up but these two wayes of rule and God himself ruling in that of Judges and therefore best nor doth God rule by Judges as distinct from Kings unless they be set up as in the beginning to rule by the laws of God 4. The government came from Judges to Kings in which the people were said in their asking for a King to have committed great wickedness in the sight of the Lord 1 Sam. 12.17 yea and God himself said herein they had rejected him and not Samuel that he should not raigne over them I beseech you what the
by bearing Gods more then by bearing our own Gods law will make an 〈◊〉 among men 4. This objection agrees with that of God Ephraim is an heifer unaccustomed to the yoke and so would for a while kick against the pricks 5. That our evil nation will best bear our own laws â—â—â—â—es not that the laws therefore are Gods but against them that they are therefore evil 6. We are not to consider what our Nation will bear but what they should bear which is the law and yoak of God and not men Object Others say Something may be diminished from the sentence of the Law but nothing may be added Resolv The one is expresly forbid as well the other by the word and Law of God Deut. 4.2 Josua 23.6 Others will say This is to be under Moses not Jesus Christ and to revive the Law again 1. The Law was never destroyed that is the Judicial and Moral though the Ceremonial be for Christ came not to destroy the Law but to establish it which thou wouldst have destroyed 2. As in in the time of Moses there was Moses rule in the Jews Commonweal and Aarons in the Temple and these were distinct so now 2. The like form we still retain in our Church and State-government the State-government ought to be that of Moses and that because God he gave no other and Christ saith he destroyed not that the Church government now is changed from that of Aarons in Priesthood Ministry Administrations and Rule so that now it is Moses and Christ before Moses and Aaron ruled 3. Those under Christ are so far from being without law as that the law is more excellently opened and taught in a more spiritual way then Moses taught or the people under Moses could bear This is cleared Mat. 5.27 Ye have heard it hath been said to those of old That is those first in Moses time covenanted with God in the law by Moses Thou shalt not commit Adultery vers 28. But I that is Christ say unto you He that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her in his heart 1. Hence under Christ in the Gospel-estate God is said to Judge the secrets of men according to the Gospel Rom. 2.16 2. God by the law under Moses judgeth the acts of the outward man done in the flesh against the law and sets downe the judgement and punishment thereof 3. Heace Paul 1 Tim. 5.27 The sins of some are open before-hand and go before to Judgement under Moses others follow after under the judgement of Christ Question is Whether law of God be not as absolutely necessary to rule and govern men in the civil Estate as in the other of the Ecclesiastick 2. Whether it be not as unlawful to set up a law contrary to God in the one as in the other 3. Whether it be not the proper authority of God to give laws to men in the one as well as the other Moses and the law set men on doing Christ on doing and because we cannot do the law therefore to believe assuring us that in that we shall receive the promise and be freed from the curse of the law likewise 1. Note This Christ manifests that Judgement of external acts against the law of Moses was left to Moses Luk. 12 13 14. the man that came to have the inheritance divided to Christ had this answer Who made me a Judge or a Divider 2 In the woman taken in the act of Adultery Ioh. 8.3 4 56. Christ he would not accuse nor condemne her for now when Shilo was come the Scepter was departed Again the woman was dismissed not absolved because there was no accnsers Object Some say there is not the like severity used under the Gospel as under the law in judgement against sin Resp This was the first ground of the Manichean Heresie for in making difference between the proceedings of Justice under the Law and the Gospel against sin you lay a foundation for the setting forth of two Gods one severe the other merciful 2. The Gospel doth not mitigate but aggravate sin and consequently punishment 3. Christ did not destroy the law nor mitigate the punishment to any unbeliever of what is set down in the law nay if a believer fall into these sins and he suffer in the body it is that his soul may be saved in the day of the Lord. The incestuous person was not put to death the Church having not that power Note The preventing grace of God keeps the believer from the sin that is unto death Joh. 15.17 4. If it be mitigated men should do well to shew from the mouth of God in what it was mitigated to whom and whether to all or some sinne onely and why not to all as well as some and whether it be in the command or in the statute or the punishment or in all and how it can be in any one of these and not in all and each of them or how this can be under the Gospel and not be by Christ and how he 1. establisheth the law 2. and doth not destroy it in part more then many Iota's or tittles though not in whole 5. If it be strictly examined there is more severity then Gods law alloweth of in some of our now laws and in some less in which both there is injustice committed according to the measure we deâ—â—â—â— from the law of God either to the right hand or to the left 6. It is to be observed that the Judges designed to hear difficult causes which were not clear to the other Judges were not to give senteace of their owne they were to do it according to the sentence of the law Deut. 17.11 which shews clearly this that where the law is not expresly declared concerning a case in hand that it may be is unusal among men there 1. That case is to be referred to these Judges 2. These Judges must judge according to the sentence of the law though not in some yet in facts of the like nature with that 3. They were to shew the sentence out of the law and to teach it them if they understood it not 4. Then and not untill then they were to put the sentence in execution 5. If upon all this the man should presumptuously refuse to hearken and obey and say he was not to do it the man was to be put to death 6. This course was not to be taken but onely then and in that case when it was not clearly resolved in the word to all Applic. Is this To those which say many cases are not set downe in the word nor can it be a rule to judge by Resp It is granted yet is there provision made to remedy that by the Judges aforesaid Object How is the law perfect then Resp The Judges shall find the thing sentenced in the law though not under that name in some sin of the same kinde from which they must not decline the law like the Vrim
and Thummim will tell them and shew the judgement to them when they have a cause to require thereat Object The Law saith men must not turn from the right hand or left thereof Resp True Those that know the law in the known causes thereof are not to decline from that nor are the Judges concerning the obscure cases to decline that sentence of the law that doth accord therewith in the book of God though it be not particularly set downe and nominally expressed and added to that iniquity particular Object David committed Adultery and Murther and was not slain which was a type of more mercy to be ministred under the Gospel then under the Law Resp 1. Some will say David being King and supream Magistrate there was none under that government then would judge him but God did judge him in his house his wife his children as in the Story is set forth abundantly after 2. And more truly Davids Adultery and Murther was so hid that there were no witnesses appeared to accuse him and though God knew it few in the world else did 2 Sam. 12.12 but these consented thereunto 3. David marryed Bathsheba after which indeed did seem to be according to the law but being a Whore it was not 2 Sam. 12.9 10. 4. David was a type of Christ in many things 5. God might dispence with his law for wonderful sweet ends and good for us though by such wayes as we understand not the justness of them 1. If men writing the Scriptures had not had our fallings and been subject to our temptations we could not have had that comfort now we may have in the Scriptures 2. God suffering them to fall would not with their fall take them away that had not been a support but terror 3. By this God would shew that though the bodies of those for such like sins suffer yet they believing and repenting their souls may be saved in the day of the Lord. So that the use hereof is good exceeding good to those that do suffer 4. Many of the Saints as David are guilty secretly of these fins and were it not for David would have sorrow without hope as it were 5. By Nathan God having discovered his sin and he repenting God is said to put away his sin that he should not dye 2 Sam. 12.13 1. Here is the putting away of his sin which upon repentance many others may do and yet not be freed from death 2. Here expresly is not onely one but the other also by the Prophet from God revealed that it should be made good to him 3. God punished him in his house his wives his children as before Object Gen. 49.10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor the Law-giver from between his feet c. so there was a Law-giver Resp 1. This was spoken before the Law was given where men made Laws 2. The word for Law-giver signifies a Scribe If any should give the Law he had the Scepter and not him between his feet 3. This he between the Kings Feet was but an assistant to him to shew him what the Law was in cases brought before him out of the Law of God which was to be alwaies by the King Conclusion O that when the Covenant was sent to the Nation it had been done according to the minde of God! that is as Covenants were when nationally by Kings and People made with God viz. by taking the law the Statutes and Judgements of God to be our law and to be ruled and judged by it onely and take God with the law to be our God and all other law to be laid aside and known no more of us so had we done the work of God and a heavenly blessing would have followed it Since which the effects of that ignorant blinde Covenant have been nothing but confusion division war and trouble to our selves and others O ye Princes and People though ye are in all these yet if you will obey and receive the Lord and his law this day ye shall be healed of all your confused distempers and be saved 1 King 8.57 The Lord our God be with us as he was with our Fathers let him not leave us nor forsake us vers 58. That he may incline our hearts unto him to walk in all his ways and to keep his Commandments and his Statutes and his judgements which he commanded our Fathers Deut. 5.29 That it may be well with us and our children after us for ever Amen And ye O ye Universities of Oxford and Cambridge a visitation from above is drawing near to visit you and the most just God the visitor who will judge you according to the judgement of the great Where Ye can now no longer delude nor captivate men with specious pretences for God will take you away and set up wayes of learning of his own 1. Your rise was from the Pope even Celestine the Emperour Theodosious twelve Cardinals and multitudes of Arch-Bishops Bishops c. about the year 423. 2. You by being governed and advanced and educated by his adherents and set up to accomplish his ends came to be the onely means to make void the order of the Church who first chose her Ministry out of her owne societies and members but now are taken out of the University be they what they will and put on them whether they will or not to the utter extirpation of the Churches priviledge by which encourgement to learning and knowledge in all the Church-members was taken away to encourage such as made a trade of it in the University the Church-members resting on their teaching onely and never respected any power of teaching to be obtained by themselves in the now Church-way the Church being robbed of it 3. You plead for your practice the Scripture as if it were your pattern 2 King 2.3 there were sons of the Prophets at Bethel and ver 4. there were more at Iericho 1 Sam. 19.20 a company of Prophets are standing and Samuel standing as appointed over them 1. These Sons of the Prophets were such as were educated in the writings of the Prophets and read them and did more eactly discuss the Mystereis thereof then in the Synagogues Those bred in these houses were immediately fitted for the Synagouge-xe hortation and reading 2. The first of their education was reading and well understanding of the word as writing and this fitted him as a Scribe 3. After this they were taught the sence and meaning of the word either in the literal or historical the prophetical or typical part of it and then they came to be disputers of the law or Pharisees in which order Paul was 4. God usually raysed up of these that faithfully gave themselves to the study of the Law and taught it Prophets to foretell things to come as Elias and Samuel And those other hundred Prophets mentioned 1 Kings 18.13 in which places those that were Prophets for confirmation of their prophesies and call did usually teach as appears