all the Ten to signifie that Faith and a New Heart are necessary Antedecents for both Negative and Positive obedience to follow for a man must Be good before he can Do good Eight Note 8. Negatives include Positives Every Negative command includes a Positive command i e when God forbiddeth evil Expressely he biddeth good Implicitly e g Thou shalt have no other gods before me †Exo. 20.3 there is the evil of idolatry forbid Expressely thou shalt have Me for thy God there is the good of choosing God commanded Implicitly Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain * Ver. 7. this is the evil forbid thou shalt talk Vertuously and Graciously of thy God this is the good commanded Thou shalt not Kill commit Adultery Steal c †Ver. 13 14 15. these are evils expressely Forbid thou shalt Prevent murder adultery theft in Others by good counsel if thou canst this is good implicitly Commanded Positives include Negatives And Positive commands include Negative commands e g Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy * Ver. 8. there is good expressely Commanded remember it not to Prophane it with thy Own works words thoughts there is evil implicitly Forbid Honour thy father and thy mother †Ver. 12. is good Commanded dishonour them not is the evil Forbid Ninth Note 9. A negative includes negatives A Negative command includes Many negative commands The sin forbid is forbid in Act Word and Thought and the Occasion of it and whatsoever hath a Tendency to it And these Inclusive commands are Expressed as they are Branched out in the Bible e g Thou shalt have no other gods before me q d No National god imaginable no Personal or private god of wood to worship in thy House no god of Gold in thy Heart thy Self Wife Child House Land Friend Goods Gold shall not be thy gods as they will Be if loved more than Me. And see with what Caution the Occasion of idolatry is forbid in these Texts * Deu. 12.30 Thou shalt not Kill not with Hand Ch. 13.1 3. Mouth murder nor with Tongue to be a Mouth-murderer as some call a Slanderer and so we may call an evil Counceller Not with Heart to be a Heart-murderer he that hates his brother is a murderer †1 Joh. 3.15 Kill not by evil Counsel or bad Example neither Do nor Say any thing that may Tend to or Occasion thy neighbours death in Body or Soul Thou shalt not kill thy Self Not with violent Hands nor with Words spoken against thy own life nor by Carelesnesse of deaths and dangers nor by ill Diet not by Drunkennesse nor by Gluttony Plures periere Gula quam Gladio more die by the Board than by the Sword Thou shalt not commit adultery Not in Act nor in Heart whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his Heart * Mat. 5.28 Christ calleth a Thought an Act to signifie that Smal sin in Mans sight is Great sin in GOD's sight Thou shalt not occasion it by unclean Cogitations and Contemplations nor by adulterous Discourses with Delilahs Remove thy way F AR from her and come not nigh the door of her house †Pro. 5.8 Simile As he that carrieth Gun powder about him had need keep far from Fire so he that carrieth Corruption had need keep far from Temptation As when children meet a Horse Simile Cart or Cow they will if timerous run Ten times farther out of the way than need so let men learn to flee from Sin Keep thee Far from a false matter * Exo. 23.7 Avoid it passe not by it turn from it and passe away †Pro. 4.15 The law is Spiritual * Ro. 7.14 it forbids the Least evil motion and First carnal conception it commands our Spirits and Hearts to be holy it condemneth for the most Secret sin in the Soul It is called the Royal law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Kingly law †Jam. 2.8 it is the law of the King of Kings No earthly Kings law can condemn a man for a secret thought against the King Dissimile but this Divine Law of the King of Heaven can and doth it condemneth a man for the most Secret thought against the Law-giver Tenth Note 10. A positive includes positives A Positive command includes Many positive commands e g Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy q d Remember it to Prepare for it to begin it Early to spend it in holy duties in holy discourses in holy meditations to be in the Spirit to cause all under you to keep it holy Honour thy Father and thy Mother Honour them in Deed in Word in Thought in their Presence in their Absence in their Old Age when tempted by the Devil and by the disobedient to dishonour them when they Please thee when they Displease thee Rebuke and Correct thee N B A Negative command inclusively commands All lawfull means to avoid the evil forbid and a Positive command inclusively commands All lawfull means to perform the good commanded On these things I have but Harped and Touched for One of these Ten Words is a great Text and to shew what is contained in a Commandment would make a long Sermon for thy commandment is Exceeding Broad †Psal 119.96 ¶ This tenth Note having some respect to the Sabbath A lesson for the Lords day leads me to leave this Lesson with you viz Fail not to learn your children to Reverence the Sabbath day FAR be it from you to follow our English Heathens Hatefull Heathens who let their children Loose to serve Satan on the Sabbath day Tell them of the Sore judgments God hath sent upon Sabbath-breakers for which Search the Scriptures and See the Practice of Piety Practice of Piety preferred one of the Best Books but one that ever was written and is like to rise up in judgment against many N B God delivered no other commandment as he delivered this for the Sabbath e g. 1 It hath a Memento presixt viz Remember 2 It is amplified with Arguments more than all the rest except the Second 3 It is delivered Positively keep it holy and Negatively thou shalt not do any work and so is no other commandment delivered FAIL not in this for the Fear of God this Glorious and Fearfull name THE LORD THY GOD * Deu. 28.58 Eleventh Note 11. Heaven and Earth made in Six dayes The GREAT GOD that was but Six dayes in making Heaven and Earth was twice Forty dayes and Forty nights in writing and delivering these Ten Words †Ex. 24.18 to remain a Law and Rule for mans life And Moses was as long waiting Ch. 34.28 prostrate on his Face fasting to receive them * Deu. 9.9 10 11 18. he did neither eat bread nor drink water but did uncessantly attend this Heavenly
oblivion They bring their opinions to the Word not to be discovered but covered and maintained and Role them through the Bible to see what Mosse they can gather to cloath them with Scripture with Scripture they will Not compare but run away with a Piece of a Scripture as the Devil did †Ps 91.11 Mat. 4.6 If these persons were Indians they were objects of pity but if they will shut their eyes in a land of light let them go into the land of darknesse as persons to whom is referved the blacknesse of darknesse for ever * Jud. 13. ¶ 4 Because of their Impurity and wickednesse 4 R. This cursed Doctrine of disowning the Law comes from a corrupt Heart and by such it shall be drunk Up and swallowed Down with delight Such are glad of a gospel that gives them liberty from Piety to live in Iniquity They love to hear a smooth Sermon to day to see a Play to morrow to go to a Dancing-school the next day Chrysostom's saying of Dancing though Chrysostome sayes Where dancing is the Devil is And to go Gaudy in their Garments for the sake of a little cursed credit among the carnal and this at Such a time when God is calling so loud for Sackcloth and Ashes And to neglect their childrens Souls when Papists are coming to cut their Throats and send them to Hell to howl there against their Parents for their Lawlesse life To say the law is no rule of life is for the Devil to speak with a Tongue of flesh enough to horrifie a mans heart to hear it Such in effect say Idolatry swearing Sabbath-breaking killing stealing whoring are no sin No wonder if such fall foul and become vessels for the Devil to empty his Excrements into until they are full and flow over A Story too true I knew a person Anno 1666 then a Preacher who in opposition to the use of the law in preaching said I hate the law of God as Poyson after which this preacher turned adulterer even when he had an amiable wife of his own What wonder it may be the man did it to bear his testimony against the law of God which he used to complain of as the cause of the corruptions of his heart God will one day roar like a Lion against these Rebels and rend the caul of their heart †Ho 11.10 Chap. 13.8 when he assaults ehm q d Was I 40 dayes and 40 nights preparing a Law for you to loath slight snuffe at and spit out your venome against Let such expect the Antitype of the 40 dayes deluge for their portion to last as long as everlasting N B They that forsake God's Law forsake God himself Rehoboam forsook the law of the Lord * 2 Chro. 12.1 what then Thus saith the Lord Ye have forsaken Me †Ver. 5. To the same purpose is this saying Ye are gone from mine Ordinances return unto Me * Mal. 3.7 q d In going from mine Ordinances ye are gone from Me. Some wicked men own God in Words and deny him in Works †Tit. 1.16 Antinomians deny God in Words and overpasse the deeds of the wicked * Jer. 5.28 Religion I value it not with the dust of my Shoes which I shake off as a witnesse against them It is worse to make the Law void than to make Heaven and Earth void †Luk. 16.17 and he that had rather overturn heaven and earth than his own rotten opinion I fear will never find a place in Heaven nor on Earth long but in Hell ere long ¶ 5 Because of the Judgments of God which Antinomians are under 5 R. and they are two-fold 1 The judgment of Delusion for their transgression They have chosen their own wayes and their soul delighteth in their abominations I also will choose their Delusions * Isa 66.3 4. They received not the love of of the truth that they might be Saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they all might be Damned †2 Thess 2.10 11 12. If once persons are made drunk with the wine of the wrath of God in the cup of an imaginary gospel of liberty then the Law is spewed out and cast behind the back like a mad man Simile who cares not if he straw the street with Pearls 2 The judgment of Prophanation Sometimes God punisheth Sin with Sin i e one sin with another for sin he gives up to sin for the practice and Pleasure of sin God gives up to the Power of sin this is the way to prepare for the greatest plague in Hell Better be under all Job's boils and Pharoh's plagues and all the Tyrants in Turkey An unparallel'd plague than under this judgment of the Powr of sin though it be to the sinner a Pleasure ¶ To these judgments of Delusion and Prophanation is linked the judgment of eternal Destruction Man chooses his abomination God chooses his Delusion and God will choose his Destruction Let no man think to choose his work and his wages his sin and his sorrow if man will choose his Sin God will choose his Sword and sharpen it for the Slaughter to cut in pieces the Sinner * Ezek. 21.10 Fath. It 's a sad case to be in I told Mr A a piece of my mind one day and he was angry and said I had learned by Lesson of my Legal Preachers Min. Angry Silly folly what kind of angry folly is this for a man to shew me a piece of Pitch and be angry because I say it 's Black Legal Preacher They that call a Minister Legal Preacher because he uses the Law lawfully know neither Law nor Gospel and had need begin at great A. If a man be Practical he will seem to be Legal though he be indeed Evangelical Holy E Hunt That holy man at Hitchin E Hunt when I first knew him and observed how much he delighted in Gods law and did in heart and life adhere to holinesse I feared he did rest in his own righteousnesse But when he came to declare his Conversion and his Opinion in point of Justification he made it appear that he trusted in Christ only for That and that he was in Practice an excellent Person The Lord make Me and Mine and You and Yours like him And let Mr A say what he will I say a mans spirit thoughts words works are No more to be approved than they are Legal Legality a glory a mans legality is his glory which is to the Antinomian a Mystery Fath. Mr. A saith he hath fulfilled the law in Christ hath Justification and Sanctification alike in Christ and needs none in himself in heart or life which he saith is to Me a Mystery Min. A mystery of iniquity of which let me make a discovery Righteousnesse for Justification is resident in Christ Righteousnesse for Sanctification is resident in the Christian Mr A saith they are both
to fall into the belly of Hell ¶ 2) Mr L consuted Mr L who keeps Never a day Sabbath but slights the Sabbath as Ceremonial is to consider 1 The Sabbath was not given first to the Jews or seed of Abram as Ceremonies were Sabbath was made for Man but it was given to Adam as a Publick person for him and his posterity to be obeyed whether man stood or fell and this in Innocency before Ceremonies were in use And though Adam was not subject to wearinesse before sin yet a Sabbath was suitable for him as a Sacred cessation from his calling So God gave Adam a Sabbath and Blessed it i e to make it a blessing to him that kept it and Sanctified it †Gen. 2.3 i e he set it apart for holy use 2 The Sabbath was Certainly observed from Adam to the Law on Sinai though not much expressed in Genesis which is but a very short Epitomy of 2000 years Acts in which time many excellent acts were done which are omitted and not recorded Abrahams observation of the Sabbath day is without dispute because he is so commended for keeping Gods commandments * Ch. 26.5 And that the Sabbath was known to Israel before Sinai you may See †Exo. 16.23 the breach of which command is counted as the breach of all * Ver. 28. 3 This command for a Sabbath is one of the Ten delivered on Sinai before Ceremonies Josephus's Sabbatical river that runs six dayes and rests one will rise up in judgement with Mr L and Mr A. and wrote on two tables of Stone and put into the Ark as no Ceremony ever was Mr L playes the Papist who takes away one and leaves but nine 4 Christs precept for Prayer to prevent flight on the Sabbath which flight was to be 40 years after Ceremonies ceased proves the Sabbath no Ceremony Pray that your flight be not in the Winter q d that will wrong your Bodies neither on the Sabbath †Mat. 24.20 q d that will wrong your Souls Mr A and Mr L are brethren both under a 7-fold deceit to undeceive them let us put them together again to consider viz God in wisdom did so order the change of the Day that though it occasioned two Sabbaths to come together yet there was not Two in a week nor a week without One to signifie there must be nor more nor lesse than One Sabbath in One Week Fath. What say you of Mr S and of the change of the Sabbath Day Min. As for Mr S who denies the change of the Day The chang of the Sabbath I say Though the Change of the Sabbath be not founded out with a Trumpet on Sinai as the Command of the Sabbath was yet have we so much in Scripture as may Satisfie concerning it They that say Give me a plain precept for a practice or I will not regard it may mean Honestly but they speak Ignorantly For if from a Text we can draw a direct sound Inference to prove a practice that being the Sense of Scripture is to be regarded as Scripture it self The sense of Scripture we are to seek as Silver and if this be not to be regarded its vain to use any Scriptural Reason or Argument in discourse as Paul used to do * Act. 17.2 Ch. 18.4 19. Ch. 24.25 or to Study and expound the Scripture by preaching Then put a Boy into a pulpit to read a Chapter for what other Sermon can an able Minister make if nothing but the very words of Scripture must be delivered But let us see some Scriptural proof for this practice ¶ 1 The stone the builders refused O T proof i e for a foundation for Faith and Practice is become the head †Ps 118.22 of the work of Redemption he hath laid the foundation and finished it by his Resurrection This is the day the Lord hath made i e the day of the week on which Jesus rose we will rejoyce and be glad in it * Ver. 24. i e to foresee it by Faith if we live not to see it by Sight Yet prayes pathetically and speedily for it Save now I beseech the O Lord †Ver. 25. God is the Lord which hath shewed us light * Ver. 27. i e to foresse this Day ¶ 2 Thus saith the Lord my salvation is near to come †Isa 56.1 i e Actually it was come before Virtually Blessed is the man that doth This and the son of man that layeth Hold on it that keepth the Sabbath * Ver. 2. i e a Sabbath in remembrance of Christ's Actual redemption ¶ 3 When these 7 dayes are expired i e Eight is a Sabbatical and Vital Number by the death and Resurrectiof Jesus it i e the Sabbath shall be upon the Eight day and so forward the first day added to seven is the eight day and I will accept you saith the Lord God †Ezek. 43.27 ¶ 1 After Jesus's resurrection he said to his Disciples All power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth * Mat. 28.18 which implies power to change the Sabbath And Christ gave them Commission to teach the Nations to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them †Ver. 19 20. i e nor more nor lesse N B If Jesus did not ordain the first day Sabbath the Disciples by their practice have taught England and other Nations to observe a New Sabbath of their Own invention ¶ 2 The Disciples assembled on the first day and shut the doors for fear of the Jews i e because it was in opposition to their seventh day Sabbath and Christ came and Sealed their New Sabbath with his sweet presence * Joh. 20.19 20. ¶ 2 Jesus was seen of the Apostles 40 dayes speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God †Act. 1.3 of which the Sabbath is One and none of the least ¶ 4 The Disciples came together to break bread upon the first day of the week * Chap. 20.7 in remembrance of Jesus for whose sake they observed that day ¶ 5 The congregation and Collection of the Churches of Galatia and Corinth upon the first day of the week was by the Apostles order †1 Cor. 16.1 2. to these at Corinth by writing and saith he the things which I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord * Ch. 14.37 ¶ 6 John being in Patmos said I was in the spirit on the Lords day †Rev. 1.10 A desert Island in the Aegean Sea He does not give the day this name but the day on which he was in the spirit he Signifies by its name so well know to the Churches to whom he wrote i e the Lords day so called upon the same account as the Supper is called the Lords Supper viz because Jesus who is Lord of all did institute both to be kept in remembrance of him ¶ 7. The first day is
an holy Convocation * Exo. 12.15 16. These were Ceremonial Sabbaths and commonly called Sabbaths But it s the first day of the 7 which falls under our consideration viz the 15 day of the month which you may see called a Sabbath †Lev. 23.11 15. N B THIS is the Sabbath which the Jews made to follow Jesus's Funeral and which you suppose to be the 7 day Sabbath Fath. Suppose Ay well let that passe at present Then it seems this Sabbath should have been that day on which Jesus died Min. It s well observed and by this I see you observe what I say The 15 day of the month on which Jesus died was the day but they deferred it to the day following and called the 15 day preparation day * Jo. 19.42 Fath. Why did they so Min. As when a fixt Fair falls on Sunday Jews Translation the Countrey keeps it on Munday so if this Passeover Sabbath fixed on the 15 day of the month fell on some certain dayes of the week the Jews had a Custome to Translate it to the next day by their Rule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Badu †Godwyn of which one Eleazar is said to be the Author who lived 350 years before Christs Birth * Hospinian de Orig fest P6 N B That this Sabbath was thus translated a man can no more deny than he can deny the Day to Spring or the Sun to Shine Fath. I cannot deny it but then I believe it was translated from the 6 day to the 7 day and so a double Sabbath Ceremonial and Moral and on that account called a high day †Joh. 19.31 Min. That I deny and this I affirm The high Sabbath no Sabbath that as to the Day it was no Sabbath at all Ceremonial nor Moral but one of their own invention Hence sometime it hath no Sabbatical Title e g John speaking of the day of Jesus's death saith It was the preparation of the Passeover * Joh. 19.14 it s no more but Passeover Matthew speaking of this high Sabbath calls it The next day that followed the day of Preparation †Mat. 27.62 Strange a Sabbath a Double Sabbath a High day and no other Title but the next day Thus God is pleased to drop words to see what notice men will take of them Fath. HOW no Sabbath why then is it called a High Day Min. The right day was a high day for on it Israel went out of Egypt with an high hand * Exo. 14.8 Why a High Sabbath And it was for a Monument of their miraculous deliverance e g This day shall be unto you for a Memorial †Ch. 12.14 Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt * Ch. 13.3 And thou shalt shew thy son c †Ver. 8. And it shall be for a Sign unto thee upon thine hand and for a Memorial between thine eyes * Ver. 9. And many such Solemn injunctions to remember this day with wonder viz That Pharoh who stood so many a Storm like a person Plague-Proof should rise up in the night †Ch. 12.30 and call for Moses and Aaron and say Go serve the Lord as Ye have said * Ver. 31. also take your Flocks and your Herds as Ye have said and be gone and blesse me also †Ver. 32. That six hundred thousand men besides women and children should be pulled out of Prison from two hundred years Tyranny and all in One night a night INDEED to be much observed to the Lord * Ver. 42. Upon this account that Sabbath day was an High day †Joh. 19.31 Good Josiah and some few Princely Persons spent at this Passeover oxen bullocks and small cattel forty one thousand 41400 cattel killed and four hundred * 2 Chro. 35.7 8 9. this was an High day And whether they kept the right day or the wrong it was all one in their esteem they pretended Reason for its Translation And in case of necessity Hezekiah translated this Passeover to the Second month †2 Chro. 30.2 and in such case there was an allowance * Num. 9.6 to 11. N B This temporal deliverance on the 15 day was a Type of Eternal deliverance by Christs death on the same day of the year And though this temporal deliverance was long before Christs death yet it was by Vertue of Christs death who was virtually slain before the First Passeover was killed This then should have been an High day on Christs account but him the carnal Jews laid Low they killed Christ on the Right day and kept the Passeover Sabbath on the Wrong Fath. Blesse us no Sabbath but the Scripture calls it a Sabbath Min. So does the Scripture call the Devil Samuel 5 times in few words †1 Sam. 28.12 to 20. Satan called Samuel and does not once tell us it was the Devil In calling the Devil Samuel God tells us what Saul and the Witch called him and leaves it with us to Judge whether a wicked Silly Witch had power to bring Samuel Soul and Body from Heaven and Earth So in calling that a Sabbath God tells us what the Jews called it and leaves it with us to Judge whether Jesus or the Jews were likest to break Gods Law If that was a C Sabbath not translated Jesus was a Sinner not a Saviour Fath. I know not what to say of the translation of the day But for Jesus's dying on the 6 day the Scripture is clear besides invincible Arguments I have yet to bring The Scripture saith Jesus rose on the first day you dare not deny it and though it does not say Jesus died on Fryday or the 6 day yet in saying he died the day before the Sabbath and rose in the end of the Sabbath * Mat. 28.1 I think it s as plain as if the 6 day had been named Min. Mistake not the State of our difference We differ not about the day of Jesus's Resurrection except the Time of the day viz you for the Morning the midst of the day I for the Even the beginning of the day But our difference is in the day of Jesus's Death you say it was on the 6 day I deny it and do plainly tell you your proof by Inference from Scripture is no better than a Blind Conjecture Let me hear your invincible Arguments also Fath. I have read in learned Authors The R d Bp of for One. that the two dayes which bounded the feast of 7 weeks viz the first day and the 50 day fell that year both on the first day of the week That the first day of the 50 followed the Passeover Sabbath is as clear as the Sun †Lev. 23.11 15. seeing Jesus rose on that first day and lay dead on the 7 day and died the day before it s also as clear as the Sun that he died on the 6 day Moreover saith my Author
The resurrection was Tipified to be on the first day of the 50 by the Wave-Sheaf of first fruits which was a pregnant Type of Christs resurrection on that day who was waved before the Lord by the Earthquake at his rising that morning and called the first fruits * 1 Cor. 15.20 And the 50 day that famous Pentecost was Sealed for a New Sabbath by the gift of the holy Ghost to the Apostles by vertue of which 3000 souls †Act 2.41 were converted as first fruits to God and the Lamb. And this Harmony hath been a Confirmation of this opinion viz Christs death on the Sixth day for many generations Min. If so its high time it was laid low I hope the best of that Bp he was no horned Beast but this his opinion I approve not If I had no better foundation for my opposite opinion I am not ashamed to tell you I should be ashamed to own it This is such another Proof as Adams fall was and to as much purpose as the Story in the Greek Epigram viz Two deaf men pleaded a Cause before a deaf Judge But let us look on these 50 dayes The 50 dayes discussed in the letter of the Law And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath from the day that ye brought the Sheaf of the Wave-offering 7 Sabbaths shall be complete even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number 50 dayes * Lev. 23.15 16. This morrow or Wave-day is the first of the 50 dayes 7 weeks is 49 dayes the morrow after the seventh Sabbath is the fiftieth day as the Greek word Pentecost signifies and when the day of Pentecost was Fully come †Act. 2.1 i e when the seventh Sabbath was past the 7 weeks were complete then the Pentecost was fully come N B The 50 day begins another week on the same day of the week that the first day of the 50 began the first week of the 7 so that the first day and 50 day fall both on the same day of the week This a Child can tell but I mind you of it though a man that you may see your 2 great dayes for confirmation of your opinion Stand and Fall together And now I tell you these 2 dayes did not fall on the first day of the week Your famous Pentecost fell Not on the first day But why do I talk let us to work That the Passeover was killed on the 14 day that the Passeover Sabbath was on the 15 day on which Jesus died and that the Sheaf was waved on the 16 of Nisan is as plain as A B C by your rule Jesus rose from the dead the next day after his death buried at Even and rose in the Morning But suppose Jesus had rose on this Shake-sheaf day †As your Author calls it yet what Type of Christs resurrection was this Sheaf there was an he-lamb without blemish * Lev. 23.12 offered on that day too which was as much a Type of Christs Death on that day as the Sheaf could be of his Resurrection by this rule Jesus both died and rose in a day into what a wildernesse will the wit of man lead us N B This wave-day on which you say Jesus rose was the first day he lay in the grave if your Author had said The lamb was a Type of Jesus's death Before that day and the wave-sheaf a Type of his resurrection After that day there had been some shadow of Reason in his assertion So you may see that your Pentecost proof is perished and your invincible Arguments are overcome Fath. You say the Jews translated the Passeover to the next day did they not also translate the Pentecost from their Sabbath to our Sabbath and so make it fall on the first day Min. If so that proves a false Pentecost to fall on the first day but it s no proof for Christs resurrection on the Wave-day nor is the Pentecost to be reckoned from Christs resurrection as our Calender men count but the 16 of Nisan is the Standing Rule to count the Pentecost from Calender count false 2 If the Pentecost fell on the 7 day Sabbath the Jews would translate it to the first day by their rule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gahaz Godwyn but that year the Pentecost did not fall on the 7 day nor on the first day not on their Sabbath nor on Ours neither Fath. If the Pentecost fell not on the first day why did the Disciples observe it and countenance Ceremonies which were to cease Min. The Disciples being few about 120 †Act. 1.15 were at Jerusalem because Christ had commanded them to continue there * Ver. 4. The Pentecost being an holy Convocation in which work was forbid †Lev. 23.21 the Disciples might meet on that day though the Pentecost was to cease as a Church may do now if work be forbid by Authority though they approve not the day 2 Suppose the Pentecost not to be observed yet the Disciples might not understand the cessation of Ceremonies so suddenly they were hardly brought off Ceremonies some years after 3 The Pentecost keeping the day of the month changed the day of the week every year and could not be on the first day 2 years together Paul's Pentecost practice yet it was Pauls yearly practice to be at Jerusalem at Pentecost e g I will tarry at Ephesus untill Pentecost for a great door and effectual is opened unto me * 1 Cor. 16.8 9. i e at Ephesus and yet q d I will tarry but till Pentecost and then I am for Jerusalem When they desired him to tarry longer with them he consented not but bad them farewell saying I must by All means keep this Feast that cometh in Jerusalem †Act. 18.20 21. Paul hasted if it were Possible for him to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost * Ch. 20.16 Not because it was the first day as your Authors imagine of this †Act. 2.1 for the first day was the unlikest day of All for Christians to regard the Pentecost after Christs resurrection because on that day they met in remembrance of That Nor to support the Pentecost though he went on the account of no other day but for advantagious opportunities of preaching Jesus to the Jews Paul could call the Gentiles together but he could not command the Jews therefore he would watch for such Prizes as Ceremonial Sabbaths pun into his hands by bringing the multitude together And sometime for his encouragement he had liberty of preaching in their Synagogue on a Sabbath freely offered the rulers of the Synagogue sent unto them saying Ye men and brethren if ye have any word of exhortation for the people say on then Paul stood up as in his Element and said Men of Israel give audience * Act. 13.15 16. And Paul thought good to smile on some Ceremonies for a season for
will it being so Fashionable the world cannot hate you * Ver. 7. for it they will love their won 2 Jesus refused to go with Them because the Jews sought to kill him †Ver. 1. not at the feast for fear of an uprore * Mat. 26.5 but to Way-lay him q d He will come with his kindred as other people use to do and so we shall Snap him by the way Therefore said Jesus I go not up Yet to this feast q d till Ye are gone for my time is not yet fully come †Job 7.8 q d my Meet time to go or my time to be Taken when it is I shall not seek to Save my self But when his brethren were gone up then went he also up unto the feast not openly * Ver. 10. i e by the way for at Jerusalem about the Midst of the feast Jesus went up into the Temple and taught * Ver. 14. And in the last day that Great day of the feast Jesus stood and cryed saying If any man thirst let him come to me and drink * Ver. 37. So you see Jesus did not refuse to go up to this feast Fath. But you have said Hezekiah changed the Passeover in case of necessity †Pag 253. Min. Hezekiah's Salvation did not depend upon his perfect obedience to the Law if it had he had never been Saved but upon Christs perfect obedience without which He nor We shall never be Saved Fath. If Christ kept the Passeover a Day before the Right day he kept it Min. Suppose you say to a Servant Do such a work to Morrow No Sir faith he I will do it to day Nay say you I am resolved to have it done to Morrow Away goes he and does it to Day does this servant Obey or Disobey you Fath. I confesse he Disobeys me even in doing the work which I command him Min. How many times hath God plainly expressed his mind in this matter in the Law which Jesus was under viz That the Passeover should be killed the 14 day of the month by your Own confession Christ was disobedient if he changed the day N B Suppose you could prove Jesus did Anticipate the Passeover and not sin and that the Jews kept the 15 day yet except you prove the 15 day of the month to be the 7 day of the week you neither prove Jesus rose on the Wave-day nor Pentecost on the first day nor Jesus's death on the 6 day and so you are never the near But if Jesus had brake any Sabbath or Law of God in the Least he could not have been in the Least any Saviour †Ja. 2.10 And that Jesus failed in the least Jota Jod Point or Tittle is folly wickednesse madnesse in a man once to imagine Before Christ would have broken any Command he upholding the whole Creation would have let Heaven and Earth fall for had he failed a Tittle of fulfilling the whole Law Gods purpose of Salvation had fell ERGO this is an infallible Maxime A Maxime viz On the 14 day of the first month Nisan Christ killed the Passeover according to All the Rites of it * Nu. 9.3 and on the 15 day he was killed himself the 16 and Wave-day was the first day Jesus lay dead therefore he rose not That day nor could Pentecost fall on the first day So your Pentecost opinion is utterly overthrown and that for Jesus's death on the 6 day will follow and you shall never recover them again while the World stands Fath. I confesse I cannot at present tell what more to plead for One or Other But though you deny Jesus died on the 6 day you do not declare on what other day he died Min. Nor was it proper for me out of the place every thing beautifull in his time †Eccl. 3.11 I could easily have done that at first in few words but the work was to Answer your Objections against my Judgment and your Arguments for your Own Having done that I can shew my Opinion with pleasure but not with submission to better judgments as some finely phrase it When I speak my thoughts of what I am uncertain it shall be with such submission but when I am well assured of the truth of what I say I shall neither submit to better nor worse to Stand or Fall by this or that mans perswasion I desire a better foundation than mans Praise for my Opinion And what that is concerning the day of Christs death I will now declare and were it to the whole World with your Self I would declare it viz Week-day of Jesus's death declared The 15 day of the first month Nisan on which Christ was Crucified and Died fell that year on the Fourth day of the week i e Wednesday at end of which Day our Blessed Jesus was Buried from which time to the end of the 7 day Sabbath was 3 dayes and 3 nights N T proof the Term of time our Lord foretold he should lay in the grave * Mat. 12.40 So there was two dayes between the day of Jesus's death and the 7 day Sabbath And one day between that high Sabbath and the 7 day Sabbath had the Jews kept the right day there had been two dayes between their high Sabbath and the 7 day Sabbath which you say were both on a day The Reason of this Translation Reason of translation was because it fell on Wednesday for if this Sabbath fixt on the 15 day fell on Munday Wednesday or Fryday the Jews Custome was to translate it to the next day Godwyn by the Rule 172 Badu That year it fell on Wednesday they kept it on Thursday the 16 or Wave-day so now you may see your Wave-day and Pentecost were on Thrusday Fath. I begin to Stagger have you any more proof for the day of Jesus's death Min. What need of more proof than Christs Own words but this Old world being so full of Novelty I thought a New Opinion must have a New Proof too take one then out of the O T. O T proof And after 62 weeks shall Messiah be cut off but not for himself †Dan. 9.26 these are extraordinary weeks And he shall confirm the covenant with many for One week * Ver. 27. there is no Prefix in the Hebrew to render it for one week but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one week he shall confirm the covenant with or rather For many i e for all the Elect by being cut off according to the covenant †Zech. 9.11 And he shall cause the Sacrifice and Oblation to cease the Sacrifice was the yearly Passeover * Ex. 12.27 the Oblation was the daily Sacrifice †Num. 28.2 3 4. Dan. 9.21 these two viz the Yearly Type and the Daily Type of Christs death when he the Substantial Sacrifice was sacrificed for us then he caused them Shadows to cease But when in the Midst of
THE PARENTS PRIMER AND THE MOTHERS LOOKINGGLASSE OR Counsel for Parents in the Education of CHILDREN for their Temporal Spiritual and Eternal HAPPINESSE In a DIALOGUE between A MINISTER and a FATHER To which is added A Second Dialogue of the DECALOGUE And to that A Third DIALOGUE concerning The SABBATH-DAY By J WAITE Minister of Gods Word LONDON Train up a Child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Prov. 22.6 The Father to the Children SHALL Make known thy Truth Isa 38.19 Bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the LORD Eph. 6.4 London Printed by J. A. for the Author and are to be sold by N. Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultrey and R. Janeway in Queens-head-Alley in Pater-noster-row 1681. To the Unskilfull Reader WHether I speak with Tongue or Pen I respect Them most who want my Help If you do so and can own Unskilfull for a Fit Title they say I am the Person for whose sake this Epistle is written And for your sake Let us desire the Expert Reader to dispense with your Passage through this Porch In which I desire You will remain my Scholar one hour and learn these Three Lessons First To know the Points used in Print 1 Lesson which are these Seven 1 A Comma It 's a Point at end of a Short Part of a Sentence without Perfect Sense And it 's a note of some little Pause Stop or Breathing in Reading It 's marked Thus 2 A Semicolon It 's a Pause a little longer than a Comma It 's marked Thus 3 A Colon. It 's a longer Pause than the former and it s a part of a Sentence that makes Sense without the Full Sentence yet so as the rest is expected to compleat it It 's marked Thus 4 A Period It 's a full perfect Point put at end of a compleat Sentence It 's marked Thus. Observe the Sense contained in a Sentence or you Read Confusion 5 A note of Exclamation or Admiration It 's put at end of an Expression uttered by way of Out-cry or Wonder It 's marked Thus As O how lofty are their eyes Pro. 30.13 6 A note of Interrogation It 's put at end of a Question It 's marked Thus As Why should we die in thy presence Gen. 47.15 7 Parenthesis It 's a Clause included or shut in with two Semicircles or half Moons though it give some Strength to a Sentence yet if left out the Sense remains Sound It 's marked Thus As Let me I pray thee drink a little water of thy pitcher Gen. 24.17 Second To know where the Emphasis layeth in a Sentence Emphasis is an Expression of the Mind by a Word expressed with some Earnestness or Force This Word I begin with a Capital or Great Letter Here note words which must alway begin with Capitals 1 The first Word of every Sentence Pro. 9.10 As The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom So if the Sentence begin with a Single Letter Pro. 1.5 Joh. 10.11 As A wise man will hear I am the good Shepherd O that they were wise Deu. 32.29 c. 2 The first Word of the Saying of an Other Related though it do not begin a Sentence As Joh. 7.46 The officers answered Never man spake like this man And many of them said He hath a Devil Chap. 10.20 21. and is mad Others said These are not the words of him that hath a Devil 3 The first Word or Letter of every Verse or Line in Poety As A man without learning Cato doth say May be compared to an Image of Clay 4 Proper Names 1 Of God as Jehovah Of Christ as Jesus Of an Angel as Gabriel Of Men and Women as Adam Abel Daniel Dorcas Of Countries as Asia England Spain Of Cities as London Jerusalem Of Towns as Barnet Bethany Of Places or Hills as Eden Sinai Of Rivers as Thames Jordan Cedron Of Months as Jan Feb Abib Of the four Winds as East W N S. Proper Names I put in Italian Different Letters and so to put other Names is Improper 5 Appellatives or Common Names which are common to all of that Kind 1 Of People as Jew Hebrew Gentile Heathen Christian Protestant Papist Pagan Indian Names of Arts as Printer Painter Mercer Grocer Of Dignity as Emperour King Q Prince Pope Duke Of Offices as Ambassador Priest Prophet Pastour Apostle Elder Deacon Judge General Captain Of Dayes as Sabbath Of Spirits as Angel Cherub Seraphim Devil Satan Note god if a false god must begin with a small letter But the true God with a Capital And Father Son Spirit Lord Christ Ghost when they Signifie the True God or the Persons in the Holy Trinity To which I adde Names of Books so many as are not Proper Names of Men and Women as Gen Exod And of Tongues as Hebrew Greek Latine English Most of these Names Proper and Appellative stand Thin in this Book In all these Words which always begin with Capitals the Emphasis seldom layeth when it doth I put that Word all in Capitals that you know it at ease When an other Word is all in Capitals it signifies the Greater Emphasis Now for Emphatical Words The Emphasis is tied to no Word whatever It is sometime in a Substantial Word Sometime in two or three such words together Sometime in a small Word as be do so no to at of off on in out as I will No more have mercy on the house of Israel In other place no hath no Emphasis as Pro. 3.30 Strive not with a man if he have done thee no harm In other place it 's in the Substantial word Mercy Mat. 15 22 as Have Mercy on me O Lord As when Sea-men are Sinking with this cry Mercy Mercy There is the Emphasis In other place by reason of the Excellent Emphaticalness of the Expression you may put it in This or That Word as you Will as I Will surely have mercy I will Surely have mercy I will surely have Mercy upon him saith the Lord Sometime the Emphasis Jer. 31.20 Is and is Not in the Same Word Pro. 31.2 in the Same Sentence as What my Son and what the son of my Womb To misplace it makes it give an unpleasant senseless sound as what the Son of my womb It 's in Vain to put Force upon a Wrong Word it 's like a Stroke at a Wooden Bell. These Emphatical Words observed will help you to understand the Sense And if besides the Words which constantly begin with Capitals there Be ever a Capital that is not Emphatical yet it 's Substantial and serves to shew the Sense as all Emphatical Words do Emphatical Words begun with Capitals avoids that Hodge Podge they make who put Half their Words in Different Letters Third To understand Abbreviation 3 Lesson or Shortning of Words which for Brevity Sake is used in Books Some of them are the First Letters of Latine Words which many Authors use but Explain not for their
no New Heart Soul and Body will shortly be in Hell and Both Black in Everlasting Burnings Mans Sins are Debts of which God keeps account Sinner canst Tell to what thy Debts amount Thy Debts thou art encreasing Every hour Into his Vials God doth also pour Pain for thy Pleasure though thou wilt not Stop As certain as thy Death there 's Drop for Drop God's Cup is almost Full as well as Thine When both are Full OH then the Dreadfull Time Sixt. Doc. 6. Teach them to KInow and cause them to be Well acquainted with the Ten Commandments Of the Ten Commands for they are the Pure Precious Precepts of the Holy Lord God And with the rest Remember Well the Sabbath Day I hope I need not forbid You to convert the Commands into Prayers for your Children according to the Course of Carnal Ignorant People Learn them to know they are Gods Laws to Rule mans Life And that they are to be Obey'd in Deed Word and Thought And whatever is contrary to any one of these Commands that is Sin against GOD. Learn them to know the Necessity of these Laws being written in their Hearts according to the Promise And let your Tongue be the Pen in gods Hand to write them There if the Lord Please Seventh Doc 7. Of Mans Obedience Teach them to know the Utter IOnsufficiency of Mans Obedience to the Law to Save And that the most Excellent Moralist hath as Absolute a Necessity of Jesus Christs Righteousness to Justifie him and that without it he will as Certainly be Damned as the most Prophane Person that ever pissed against a wall in the Whole World Eight Doc 8. Of the Gospel Teach them to know the Gospel The knowledge of the Law is in Order to the Acceptation of the Gospel By the Law is the knowledge of Sin †Ro. 3.20 without which Who will regard the Gospel What cares a Person for a Pardon who knows not that he is Condemned In this Lesson eye three things ¶ 1 The Declaration of the Gospel viz That GOD hath chosen an innumerable company of Mankind And hath given them to CHRIST And sent him into the World to Redeem them from the Curse of the Law by fulfilling the Law N B. He was GOD and Man in One Person Man to Suffer and Die God cannot Die GOD to Satisfie in bearing Wrath Infinitely which Man could not do This GOD-man did Personate Man and in Mans Stead for Man did Actively and Passively obey the Law Perfectly And so hath procured Eternal Life And this is Freely offered to all Dead Sinners by the Declaration of the Gospel And Christs desire that Sinnersshould obtain this Eternal Life is expressed with Longing Sighing Sweating Weeping and Dying ¶ 2 The Condition of the Gospel on our part by which Eternal life is made Ours by which we have Right to the Tree of Life That is FAITH Men are Dead God hath made a Law viz He that Believes shall Live He that believes Not shall Never Live but Die for Ever A Condemned Sinner is to be Justified by Faith Without the deeds of the Law †Ro. 3.27 28. by the Law of a Just GOD who thus Justifies the Vngodly * Ch. 5.4 By which Law of Faith without Works boasting in Works is excluded Isa 55. Come buy Wine Christ is bought by Believing Buy without Money i e Part with Something worth Nothing i e Sin Self Righteousness Self and all Sin as to the Practice and Pleasure of it Self Righteousness as to any Confidence in it Self by giving up Body and Soul to Christ †1 Cor. 6.20 ¶ 3 The Duties of the Gospel viz Good Works as fruits of Faith Faith which alone Justifies before GOD accompanied with such a Holy Conversation as will Justifie before Men That is the Conversation which becomes the Gospel BUT let Justification by Faith without Works be kept Clear e g. Suppose a Man Famous for Wickednesse who never did any thing else but serve Satan by Whole Sale should come under a Sermon And be convinced of his Sin Sick of Sin Sick for a Saviour and Believe on Jesus Christ H E is Justified Christs Perfect Righteousness is Imputed And if he should drop down Dead where he Stands before he have any time to Pray or do any good Work He is Certainly Saved Now Sir A Caution for the Mother though your Wife does not Object but learn in Silence * 1 Tim. 2.11 as best becomes her with an intent to ask her Husband at home †1 cor 14.35 Yet least she say in her Heart What is it the part of a Mother to play the Preacher I will give her an Instance of one who taught her Son both Law and Gospel The words of King Lemuel * Pro. 31.1 Lemuels Lesson Bathsheba's Catechism Lemuel she calls him because God owned him I will be his Father and he shall be my Son †2 Sa. 7.14 Lemuel God with him The Prophesie that his Mother taught him The word Prophesie in the Hebrew is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A burden of the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To bear the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Englished A burden * Na 1.1 This shews what a heavy charge lyes upon Mothers which she Thus discharges What my SON and what the Son of my WOMB and what the Son of my VOWS †Ver. 2. Give not thy strength to Women * Ver. 3. Here she teaches him Law viz Thou shalt not commit Adultery It is not for KINGS O Lemuel it is not for KINGS to drink Wine †Ver. 4. Lest they drink and forget the LAW * Ver. 5. See how she Schools him N B. The King of Israel was to keep the Law †Deu. 17.19 King Solomon who was in twenty things a Type of Christ was in his Obedience to the Law a Type of Christs Fulfilling the Law to free us from the Curse from whence comes the Comfort of the Gospel Give strong drink to him that is ready to Perish * ver 6. Parallel The great Trumpet shall be blown and they which are ready to Perish shall come †Isa 27.13 And Wine to those that be of heavy Heart Parallel Come buy wine without Mony * Isa 55. Open thy mouth for the Dumb †Ver. 8. This Phrase respects Solomon as a Type of Christ in his Intercession who is to Pray for Them that cannot Pray for Themselves Who are swallowed up in Silence and Shame under a Sight and Sence of Sin At or After convertion Or can say Nothing For but All Against themselves Christ Will speak a Good Word for such which Shall be answer'd with Good and Comfortable Words †Zech. 1.13 Thus as Bathsheba teaches her Son Solomon to officiate as a Type of Christ she teaches him both Law and Gospel And see how Solomon approves of the Mothers Ministry as well as
it for My Self †Ezek. 29. Fath. I Pray God I may practise this Advice and Learn my Children these Lessons and do my Part to Others Min. I Pray so too or better you had Never heard them He that knows his Masters Will and does it not shall be beaten with many stripes N B. My words which I commanded did they not take Hold of your Fathers * Zec. 1.6 In Gods Command incumbent upon you for Education of Children there is a Preceptive Part and a Penal Part. If you take not Hold of the Preceptive Part to Do it the Penal Part will take Hold of you to Undo you Fath. Gods Command is almost forgotten by Me. And I perceive some Professing Parents carry it as if they had Quite forgotten Gods Command Min. How if God should quite forget Them or Theirs Fath. They hope he will not do So. Min. Let them take heed of Vain hopes And hear what God will speak in such case Jehovah Seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of thy God I will also forget thy Children †Ho. 4.6 Min. What think you by this Is it a light thing to forget the Law of God Shortly in some Peril or other the Child of such a Parent may as Certainly and Suddenly Perish as if God had Quite forgot to preserve it Jehovah I will make it as the mourning of an Only Son and the end thereof as a Bitter Day * Am. 8.10 Fath. The Lord have mercy on me and mine Let me hear how I am to Instruct my Children by Example Min. You shall (2) By Example The Word Example is from Exemplum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Pattern a Copy an Example for one to follow Look that thou make them after their Pattern †Exo. 25.40 Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Pattern of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To build Good Example added to Good Doctrine builds upon a Good Foundation He shall write him a Copy * Deu. 17.18 Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Copy or Example of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To repeat Good Example must be Frequent I have given you an Example †Joh. 13.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An Example of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To shew q d. Let men See your Good Works * Mat. 5.16 Example by good Works As Good Doctrine must be Audible So Good Example must be Visible Good Doctrine and Good Example must be Both linked together as Unseparable If Doctrin be Good and Example Bad you Do and Undo and do Nothing except what is Worse than Nothing As the foolish woman plucks down her House with her Hands †Pro. 14.1 So will you with Bad Deeds pull down what you set up with Good Words The Moral of that Fable of the crooked Crab is to our purpose viz The Crab. The Old said to the Young Go forward The Young said to the Old Shew me the way then The Old went Backward and Side long The Young followed saying See Mother I go Just as you do By Reason of your Childrens Corruptions they will Sooner follow your Bad Example than your Good Doctrin Let parents Doings or Sayings be Bad their posterity Will approve them Heb they will delight in their mouth * Psal 49.13 N B. The Snuffers to Clear or Mend the Light in the Tabernacle were of Pure Gold †Exo. 37.23 So must your Life be a Holy Godly Golden Life if you will Mend the Life of others With what Indignation does Christ speak to them that will mend Others and will not mend Themselves THOV Hypocrite first cast the beam out of thine Own Eye * Mat. 7.5 This following is a Fearful Reflection out of the Mouth of the Almighty Thou which teachest Another teachest thou not thy Self Thou that preachest a man should not Steal doest THOV Steal †Ro. 2.21 Thou that sayest a man should not Commit Adultery doest THOV Commit Adultery What will God say of such a man Why is not here some Black Brand put upon this Person No This is that King Ahaz * 2 Chr. 28.22 A fearful favour Why not that Wicked King Ahaz NO that is too great a Favour for him then he goes among the Herd of swine and hath a great many Fellows O Generation †Jer. 2.31 Why not of Vipers for God bids the Heavens be astonished at their Sins NO that is too Little and God seems to be at a Losse for a Title or a Brand Black enough for Such Sinners ¶ By good words Let Good Example be both in Works and Words Some when they have given Good Doctrin by Words give Bad Example by Words viz by Idle Unprofitable Prattle And by Back-biting and Clamouring against Christians in their Childrens hearing When Parents Tongues are set on Fire of Hell A pastime for Satan then they make a Pleassant Ditty for the Devil i e To hear and see them Sow the Seeds of Indignation against Professors and Religion at once into the Hearts of their Own Children A wholesome Tongue is a tree of Life * Pro. 15.4 but some Parents Tongues will be their Childrens DEATH Fath. That is Very Sad indeed But are there not some Considerable Circumstances belonging to this Substantial Work of Education of Children Min. Yes Very Considerable The Circumstances of an Action are usually these seven Thus Versified Quis quid quibus ubi cur quomodo quando The Person who The Thing what The Means by which The Time when The Place where The Manner how The End to which As to this Action of Education of Children Here is First The Person Acting viz Circum 1. The Parent who hath Begot or brought Forth for a Saviour or a Destroyer Who is under God's Solemn Charge of which he must give Account to GOD. And without whom the Child had Never been Miserable neither Here nor in Hell Second The Thing Acted viz Circum 2. The Education of the Child Third The Means Circum 3. by Which the Child is Educated viz Instruction by doctrin and Example Passed and by Correction to Come Fourth The Time When. Circum 4. 1 The Time of Life Begin in the Morning of this Day i e as soon as Ever a child is Capable of any instruction Mane Early is Gods Adverb and Hodie To day But Mane Stay Defer till to Morrow is the Devils Verb Imperative But NOW is a Monosyllable that will puzle a Philosopher to divide Begin Betime The sooner the Safer and the Easier A Child is not hardened in Sin and settled on Sands as a Man is N B. Sin and Self are the Principles and Ends of All carnal mens Actions If one be a long time Rooted and Setled in Sin he is as hardly changed as the Ethiopians Skin or Leopards Spots †Jer. 13.23 and So if one be long Setled on the Sands OH this same Religious Self Self Adorned with Duties Excellent Painted Performances
Oppose them with Gods Commands which are contrary to their Sin by which their Sin is Forbid And with the Threats of Gods Judgments against Such Sin as they are Guilty of Gods Word is called the Sword of the Spirit * Eph. 6.17 Handle it Well toward the Spirits of your Children And then the Word of Correction may be a Sword to Kill their Corruption Thus far of Corection with the Word Fath. How am I to Correct my Children with the Rod Min. First let me give you some Scriptural Account of the word Rod Rod fourfold In doing of which I shall take notice of a fourfold Rod. ¶ 1 A Civil Rod in the hand of the Magistrate e g Moses Rod. It was called the Rod of God †Ex. 4.20 And it may be called a Miraculous Rod by it Waters were turned into Blood * Ch. 7.20 Dust turned into Lice †Ch. 8.16 Thunder and Hail fetched from Heaven * Ch. 9.23 Locusts brought such as Never the like before nor since †Ch. 10.14 The Red Sea divided The Rock made to run Water * Nu. 20.10 And yet this was but the Staff with which Moses had kept Jethro's Flock †Exo. 3.1 Ch. 4.2 now set apart for other Service And when Kingly Government was set up God took David with his Sheep-Staff from following the Sheep to Feed and rule Israel * Psal 78.70 And Kings did formerly use such Staves as grew out of the Ground but afterward for their Glory they were made of Gold The King held out the Golden Scepter to Esther †Est 5.2 The Heb is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sherbet Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sceptron Hence the word Scepter The Scepter shall not depart from Judah * Gen. 49.10 Here the Heb is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shebet this word is frequently translated Rod Scepter or Rod it signifies Rule It hath been the custom of a Person in Authority to have a Staff or Rod in his hand as a sign of Dignity It was a custom to carry a Rod before a Roman Ruler Some such custom is to this Day in use as with our Lord Major to carry a Scepter Sword or Mace as a Token of Authority This Civil Rod was Uncivilly used and Horribly abused when with it the Jews smote Jesus the Judge of Israel upon the Cheek †Mic. 5.1 for which the Scepter departed from Judah Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum ¶ 2 An Ecclesiastical Rod in the hand of the Minister Saith Paul to Christs Church at Corinth Shall I come unto you with a Rod †1 Cor. 4.21 viz To rebuke the proud Spirits of such as were puffed up with such Reproofs and Censures as the Case of the Offender called for ¶ 3 A Divine Rod in the hand of God This signifies Gods Soveraignty over All to Rule as he please the Godly in Mercy the Wicked in Judgment God would Rule the Godly by his Word As he Saves by the Grace of the Gospel he would Rule by the Government of the Gospel i e his Holy Laws But if the Word will not Rule the Rod shall If for our Rule we would make More use of Gods Word God would make Lesse use of his Rod. Gods Rod with which he whips his children for Sin many times is Men I will be his Father and be shall be my Son if he commit iniquity I will chasten him with the Rod of Men * 2 Sam. 7. Solomon sinned And the Lord stirred up an adversary Hadad †1 King 11.14 And God stirred him up another adversary Rezon * Ver. 23. And Jeroboam lift up his hand against the King †Ver. 26. Thus God gathers a Rod Ties these twigs together Whips his Son Does his work upon Mount Zion Then throws the Assyrian the Rod of his Anger into the Fire * Isa 10.5 12. And Sicknesse is Gods Rod Hear the Rod and him that hath appointed it †Mic. 6.9 I will make thee sick in smiting thee because of thy sins * Ver. 13. The wicked are spared The Rod of God is not upon them †Job 21.9 but when it comes it is to Ruine them Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron * Psal 2.9 N B If the Godly be not Ruled by the Word they shall be Ruled by the Rod God will Rule or Ruin but if the Wicked be not Ruled by the Word they shall be Ruined by the Rod or by the Sword ¶ 4 A Paternal Rod in the hand of the Father with which he is to Rule the Child when the Word will not Do. The Parents Rod may bare all the Former Titles A Civil Rod as it respects the Faners toward Men. An Ecclesiastical Rod as it respects the Childs Obedience to God A Divine Rod as it is by the Divine Appointment of God Now N B In all these the Original Word signifies a Staff to Stay or Lean upon e g 1 The Civil Rod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matteh A Staff †Exo. 4.20 2 The Ecclesiastical Rod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 1 Cor. 4. 21. Provide no Staff 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Mat. 10.10 Jacob worshipped leaning upon the top of his Staff 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Heb. 11.21 In these 3 Texts the Greek word is the same 3 The Divine Rod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matteh Baculus A staff †Mic. 6.9 4 The Fathers Rod for the Child 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shebet A staff to Stay upon * Pro. 23.14 Faith What are we to learn by this Min. The Parallel of the Rod and Staff If a Staff be laid By it s no Stay but if it be Handled and well Used it s a good Stay to the Body So 1 If the Magistrate handle his Rod i e So officiate as to perfom his part Well So act as to exercise a Good Conscience it will be a Good Stay to his Mind In that Rebellion of Korah against Moses the great Magistrate which made his Body fall Flat * Num. 16.4 what supported his Spirit I have not taken One Asse from them nor hurt One of them †ver 15. 2 The Apostles were pressed out of Measure above Strength despaired of Life * 2 Cor. 1.8 what was their Stay Our rejoycing is This the Testimony of our Conscience †ver 12. 3 If God's Rod hang at our Back If we believe it 's in Love if we take it in the hand of Faith for a token of Eternal Love if we Thus handle it it 's to us a Staff Thy Rod and thy Staff they comfort me * Psal 23.4 David was in a Fearlesse Faithfull frame and then though in the valley of the shadow of Death he would fear no Evil. God's Rod is sometimes Terrible as Moses Rod when turned to a Serpent Simile Fear makes him Flee from it
Jam. 5.18 ¶ 5 hath fetched a Soul from Heaven †Act. 9.40 ¶ 6 hath fetched an ANGEL from Heaven * Jud. 13.8 ¶ 7 It hath fetched GOD from Heaven †Psal 18.6 9. ¶ 8 It hath fetched a Person out of Prison who was Guarded and Chained and shut in with an Iron Gate * Act. 12.4 5 6 10. ¶ 9 It hath helped a Soul out of a Hell upon earth even out of All trouble †Psal 116.3 4 8. ¶ 10 It hath held Gods Hands from destroying * Exo. 32.10 and hath prevailed with God for Special blessing †Gen. 32.28 As a Prince had Jacob power with God and prevailed He kneeled down Jacob and rose up Israel A Divine Dignity He took his brother by the heel in the Womb and by his strength he had power with GOD yea he had power over the ANGEL and prevailed Even the Lord God of Hosts the Lord is his Memorial * Ho. 12.3 4 5. Godlinesse is a Mystery there is no trade like Beggery Carnal beggery at Mans door is a Poor trade but spiritual beggery at GOD's gate is a Rich trade A rich Trade A praying Christian is like a Courtier who gets more by One suit in Season Simile than a toyling Trades man gets in 20 years A little of God's Gold got by prayer is worth more than a Great many Guinys ¶ PRAY then with All perseverance lest you play the Hypocrites part Of him Job gives you a Character in a Quaere viz Will he alwayes call upon God †Job 27.10 NOT He. God shall hear from him in Hell * Lu. 16.24 And it may be first in the hour of Death He will cry when God kills him †Ps 78.34 Simile like the Swine when the Knife is at his throat It was a sad Argument that Atheist used in his one prayer at Sea in a Tempest when he told God plainly He was no common begger Heylyn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 376. had never troubled him with prayer before if he would but hear him that time he would never trouble him again This argument which he thought to be two-fold For him he little thought to be ten thousand-fold Against him Fath. How oft in a day had I best to pray that I may persevere Min. As to your Time and Times in a Day for private prayer if you will take my Counsel follow David's Example viz Times for private prayer Three times a day Evening and Morning and at Noon will I pray †Ps 55.17 And Daniel's example he kneeled upon his knees Three times a Day and prayed * Dan. 6.10 And for a Type of our looking to Jesus in prayer his windows shall stand open towards Jerusalem though Death come in at them and carry him into the Lions Den. Daniel will Pray though he go into the Lions Den for it Some will not Pray Some do as Dives did Perish first and then Pray though they go into the Dungeon of Hell for it And though Daniel's prayer did not keep him Out of the lions den it kept him In the lions den which was to God a greater Glory and to Daniel a greater Mercy and to his enemies a greater Misery than if he had Never come there It was a Perilous time for Prayer Daniel's safety seems to lay in laying a Bed and laying prayer Down till the 30 Dog-dayes be out †Dan. 6.7 Daniels safe danger N B. In the most Perilous time for Prayer then it is most Safe to be in that Peril of prayer The danger layes in the Neglect of prayer take heed of That I have read of a Witch who much envied a godly man Of the Witch and sent her Imps oft times to destroy him But they usually returned with this answer We cannot come at him for he constantly prayes to God At length he being in Hast went out one morning without prayer And that day they did him a greater mischief than Daniel's Devils did him in the Lions Den viz brake some of his Bones This the Witch confessed when imprisoned Mr Hast Remember this that morning Mr Hast is so great a Husband as to call you out before you have been in your Closet First worship God he that forgets to Pray Bids not himself Good Morrow nor Good Day Fath. It would make a man afraid But I believe many go out in the morning without prayer and come Safe home at night too Min. NO wonder Them condemned Prisoners that lay at quiet in Fetters Allusion why should the Keeper of New-Gate hurt he knows they will be Hanged when it 's the Kings pleasure to appoint the Execution Day But if one to his great Damage do break away WO be to him if he can come at him God is not for speedy execution And what cares Satan for breaking mens Bones who are Subject to his Service No let them go whole-Footed and whole-Handed to Hell But if one break Prison for liberty to serve God OUT comes the roaring Lion with a Hue and Cry from Hell to devour Him if he may Second Pray With children Pray WITH them in your Family It 's to poor purpose for Parents to pray For children and not With them And for Masters to pray For servants and not With them Sir you are Master of a Family Set up the Worship of God in your Family or expect the Wrath of God to be rained down upon your Family †Jer. 10.25 Fire and Brimstone and an Horrible tempest * Psal 11.6 But what causes your Countenance to change Fath. I am frighted with fearfull words Min. This countenance is a Character of a guilty Conscience No wonder if you are Frighted It 's more Dreadfull to stand before the Drawn Sword of God's mouth without Shelter than to stand naked before Cannon Shot Fath. I desire direction for Family duty Min. First As to Time and Times Direct 1. Times for Family prayer when and how Oft. I affirm that you are to perform this duty of prayer In and With your family Twice in a day viz Morning and Evening And this without Fail except in a case of Necessity which hath no Law And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Command the children of Israel and say unto them MY offering and MY bread for MY sacrifices made by sire for a sweet savour unto ME shall ye observe to offer unto ME in their Due season †Nu. 28.1 Day by Day Morning and Even continally * Exo. 29.38 39. Though this be out of use as Ceremonial and so Practical it 's not out of use as Doctrinal and directive to Gospel duty Gospel duty contained in One of Gods Two Testaments Gospel duty Great New or Old is a greater Sum then many Gospelers imagine Masters give unto your Servants that which is Just and Equal knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven Continue in
a father may be a Motive to duty The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A father comes of the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he willed desired of the fathers affection to his children which doth Naturally descend to them with desire after their welfare If not Thus a man deserves not the Name of a father They who have been instruments to bring children into a State of Condemnation and care not to bring them into a State of Salvation are these Parents shall Paul travail in birth till Christ be formed in Christians * Gal. 4.19 and be so concerned as to wish himself accursed from Christ for his Kindred †Rom. 9.3 shall Ministers do their utmost to Save children shall the Devil do his utmost to Damn them and shall their own father that Begat them and their mother that Bare them carry it as if they care not whether they are brought forth for a Saviour or a Murderer and are these Parents Monstrum Horrendum NB. Neglect of duty to a Child to humour an angry Wife had like to cost Moses his Life for the Lord sought to Kill him * Exo. 4.24 Let carelesse parents have a Care God do not kill them Quite And let Parents hear themselves spoken to in these Texts Keep this man if by any means he be missing then thy Life shall be for his Life †I K. 20.39 If he Die in his iniquity his Blood will I require at thy hand * Ezek. 3.18 They that are under Such words abroad without Shelter and do not hear it Thunder are very Dull of hearing Second The childs tears at it's Birth Coroll 2. Childs Tears may he a Motive for parents to Pity and Duty These tears seem to Presage its Sorrow The poor child seems to cry to see into what a Stormy Sea it is Lanched in danger to be Swallowed up Soul and Body at once Or to see upon what a Shore of trouble it's Landed to wander in a wildernesse of Wo among wild beasts of Prey Yea so Cruel are the Devils Creatures that poor children are in danger of their Death before their Birth Cruel cruelty The cruel Claws of these wild Beasts sometimes tare the Young out of the Womb before they are Born * Am. 1.13 and the Old out of the Tomb after they are Buried †Ch. 2.1 Third Coroll 3. Childs Dead state The dead condemned State children are Born in and are in till Born again It is a Dead Life between the first and second Birth One passing by the house of a Sinful Sluggard said Here lies not lives Such a One. A natural life is a kind of a Lifelesse Worthlesse life The old youngman A strange Epitaph An old man converted a little before his Death would have this Epitaph on his Tomb Here lies a very Old Man of 3 years old Barlaam being asked how old he was said 45. Said the other Thou seemest to be 70. Yea said Barlaam if you reckon ever since I was Born but I do not Count the time I spent in Sin Lay this Dead Life to Heart Suppose you had a child condemned to Die yet so as there remains a possibility to procure a Pardon The execution hour is concealed in the Kings own breast It may be the child hath Ten Dayes to live it may be not Two Hours How would you bestir you in Such Case how restlesse Night and Day till your poor childs Pardon is procured except Jehoram-like you were bereav'd of Bowels †2 Chron. 21.19 and had not the least Pity left in you This is your childrens Case if unconverted As after the Sentence a malefactor is a Dead man so before the Second birth a child is a Dead child i e Sentenced and Condemned to be Hanged and Burned and Racked in Hell And peradventure you are driving on designs to procure Portions and not Pardons OH Miserable man to morrow may be thy Son or thy Daughters Damning day And if Once the secret set time be Out the poor child is Haled away into Endlesse Wo. Fourth Your condemned child Coroll 4. Supposed sad sense is also to be supposed under a Sad Sense of it's condemned condition Suppose you should Act as if as Insensible of it as a parent is of a childs Soul condemned state And at your Return in the evening after all the trifling Turns you take in a day your poor child should Quaere with a Sad Countenance Father where have you Been to day Here and There about This and That OH Father what have you not been with the King to day and do not know but I may be Hanged to morrow And as you sit Idleing Sleeping or Smoking in the house GOOD Lord father will you sit Thus and let me be Hanged What a Cutting consideration is This OH how Common is it for children to be in a Soul-condemned condition and will parents who professe to believe it Pipe and Pot and Prate away their time while their children stand on the brink of Everlasting Burnings will they take their Recreation while their children are under Condemnation near that execution and End to perish for Ever the Plague of Pharoh is upon such parents hearts WHAT Faith have such in Gods word what Life is in their faith the faith of DEVILS exceeds a Dead faith * Jam. 2.19 Fath. It is very Sad to consider a child in such Case Min. Very SAD in so saying you say Nothing It 's most Deplorable and Lamentable enough to make a mercifull man wish his head Waters and his eyes a fountain of Tears to weep Day and Night for children so Dismally miserable †Jer. 9.1 And its matter of mourning to think how Few Tears fall into Gods Bottle upon this account Fift Coroll 5. The inhumanity and cruelty of such carelesse parents Cruelty They are said to be more Savage than Sea-Monsters for even They draw out the breast and give such to their Young * Lam. 4.3 but these Men-Monsters are like the Ostriches in the wildernesse with a 7-fold Similitude 1 The Ostrich is between an unclean hatefull Bird and a Beast hath part of Both Ostrich defined but No part of Man as the Meraid hath A sad Character for a father 2 Faith outwardly with feathers †Job 39.13 So is a foul Pharisaical father 3 She is Proud What time she lifteth up her self on High she Scorneth the Horse and his Rider * Ver. 18. 4 She is Foolish because God hath deprived her of wisdom †Ver. 17. In danger she hides her Head and then thinks No body sees Her because She sees no body Man thinks he is Safe because he sees not God Man Cannot see he Will not see and then sayes God Shall not see * Psal 94.7 5 She is forgetfull of the great concern She leaveth her egges in the earth and forgetteth that the foot may Crush them or that the wild
do no good now Alas said he I therefore weep because weeping will do on good And with the woman who was so busied in saving her Stuffe that her child in the Cradle was forgot till the house on fire was Down and the child Dead and then she remembred it Roaring O my child my child And with Jacob when he supposed Joseph was torn in pieces I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning thus his father wept for him * Gen. 37.35 If Joseph had been torn in pieces with a wild beast as Jacob supposed what had that been to a childs being torn by Devils in Hell to all Eternity Ninth Coroll 9. Dooms-day Dolour Consider the Dolefull out-cries of Damned children in Dooms-day against their carnal carelesse prophane Parents who have Lamentably lost Themselves and their Children too When poor children with Pale faces yet as Flames and hearts full Horrour shall ROAR out O Father Mother what have You done I must Burn for ever in Hell for the Sins you learned me to live in by your Sinfull example The oaths I have Sworn will Cursing of men God will Curse me for ever You set me to Work and let me Play on the Sabbath day I had no rest from Sin and now I must have no rest from Sorrow but Roar for ever Now Gods wrath will be Poured out upon me because I did not Pray To pray you would Never learn me except to say the Creed the 10 Commands and the Lords Prayer by which you learned me to Lie for which I must Lay in the Lake †Rev. 21.8 You learned me to neglect Salvation now I have Lost it You learned me to Mock the godly now God Mocks at my misery You led me after our Blind Guide who called us Christians and Gods children now we are in the ditch of Damnation together * Mat. 15.14 You let me Game away my time by which I have lost Heaven and won Hell I would have heard good Sermons which I heard folks Commend and say Sinners were Saved by them but you would not Suffer me but Shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against me OH that Dreadfull Judge will presently passe the Sentence Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire †Mat. 25.41 and then we shall be a Hell in Hell to each other for Ever It will be a Hell to me to behold You in Hell you Cursed father and murderer And it will be a Hell to you to hear me Howl and Roar and Curse you to your Face for Ever And a Thousand such Dolorous ditties Ten thousand times more Terrible than tongue can tell Sir though it be not your Portion to perish with a child lost by your neglect yet is it nothing Now to think that when you are in Heaven you shall have a child to Howl in Hell and curse you there for Ever or will it be Nothing to you in the judgment Day seeing as the Scripture signifies some Saints shall then be subject to Shame Sorrow and saved so as by Fire * 1 Cor. 3.15 Last Coroll 10. Sweet fruit of good Successe Consider the comfortable joyfull effect and Sweet fruit of such godly Education as ends in Salvation and that both in Time and in Eternity It may be a comfort to you in Any condition on Earth to think your children are Heaven-born Pardoned Justified Sanctified and shall be Glorified If they should be Poor yet they are Rich and will be the Richer for their Poverty to all Eternity Whatsoever they Do or Suffer or Lose for God he will Richly reward them Whosoever is their Enemy God will be their Friend and will Never fail them If they be Sick or in any Adversity Still they are Happy If You be sick or in any trouble they will Pray for you If they Die while you live you may be more comforted in their Death than a man can be in a childs Birth or wicked Life If You die while they live you may Sweetly say with Jacob Behold I die but GOD shall be with you †Gen. 48.21 In the Judgment day how Sweet to stand at Jesus Right hand saying Behold I and the Children which God hath given me * Heb. 2.13 none Lost by my negligence all Saved by my diligence How sweet to be the Subjects of this Golden Sentence Come ye blessed of my Father O festus dies while others are the Subjects of that most Direfull Doom Depart ye Cursed How Sweet to be for Ever in Heaven to Trumpet out Eternal Praises and Sing Halelujahs for joy of Heart while others howl for Sorrow of Heart in Hell How Sweet for you and your children to be a Heaven in Heaven to each other while others shall be a Hell in Hell to each other for Ever Yea how Sweet may this dayes Dialogue under this tree be to you in Eternity if it may Issue in what I aim at And what shall I more Say shall I Yet plead with you for pity to your Own Children if I was pleading with you for some small kindnesse for my self methinks I should prevail If I was pleading with you to pity an Enemy who is ready to Perish for want of a Penny me thinks I should prevail And shall I not prevail with you to pity your own poor perishing Children what is your Reply Fath. What shall one do who hath long neglected his duty to his Children till they be hardened in Sin Min. Bewail it to GOD. Implore his Pardon Confesse it to your Children with Sorrow that you are so far in their Debt Set upon your work with Shame If they reject your Counsel bear it patiently Lay their Disobedience at your Own Door And follow God with Petition and your children with Instruction till if possible you Prevail for their Conversion Fath. I hope I shall set about this Solemn Work of so Great Concern God grant I may for I am much troubled at my long neglect Min. I perceive what I have said shakes your Head but GOD knowes whether it shakes your Heart However I hope you will not spend your time in talking to your children of Church-Steeples and Brick Chimneys by the way back Conclusive Caution But Take heed you do not deceive Me nor your Self nor your Children God is not Mocked If you do indeed perform your part Parent-like to the Purpose then may these children here Present and the children which are yet Unborn arise up and Call you Blessed To which more might be added but it 's Time to Retire for I see the Sun is walked far into the West And so Sir I shall take my Leave of You and Yours wishing you all Well for this World and for that which is to Come Fath. Sir we wish You and Yours the like Welfare And we do give GOD and You thanks for this Godly Advice ΤΕΛΟΣ POST-SCRIPT IN the Epistle I direct to know Emphatical words by Capital letters and speak of beginning them
ready at his Back to try his work So let a Christian have the Law not only in his Heart and Head but also under his Eye in the Bible that standing Rule that Sure word more to be regarded than what is spoken with an audible voice out of Heaven †2 Pet. 2.18 19. The commandment is a Lamp and the law is Light * Pro. 6.23 Simile the Sun is not more necessary by Day nor the Moon by Night nor a Candle in a Coal-pit or dark Dungeon than the Law without which the world would be a Hell Dr Luther 2 They are ruled by the law written in their hearts How shall we know whether these Persons pretences are pure To the Law if they speak not according to this WORD be they men or Devils or Angels there is no Light in them Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no morning Junius nulla lucis scintilla not a spark of light †Isa 8.20 N B. There is an Outward law written in the Bible and an Inward law written in a true Christians Heart the Outward law is the rule of Life not the Inward for the outward is Perfect the inward Imperfect The outward law is to Rule the inward and the inward is to be Ruled by the outward That the law is written in the Heart that loves it not as written in the Bible I utterly Deny Apage if the heart be not on the Law the law is not on the Heart 3 They are acted by a principle of love As if a Person should professe to love his Prince beyond him who in All points punctually obeys his Princes laws yet will not this person regard his Princes laws for his Love forsooth must be his Supream Law Whether this person have any love to his Prince or no I will not determine but this is certain his Prince hath one Singular Self-conceited Subject A piece of Pride to whom he may say Love me and love my law They that love God love his law as saith the man after Gods own heart O how love I thy law * Psal 119.97 there is NO more Lord-lovers than law-lovers Some professe love who have none some deny it who have it how shall we know who loves Christ this critical Question Christ himself resolves He that hath my commandments and keepeth them He it is that loveth me †Joh. 14.21 4 They are led by the Spirit of God How shall a man know he is led by the Spirit of God but by the Word of God i e as it leads him according to the Word Beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God * 1 Joh. 4.1 We must try the spirits by the Word and not the word by the spirits 5 They delight to do the will of God How shall a man know the Will of God but by the Word of God and how shall a man delight in the Will of God without delight in the Word of God if a man delight not in the will of God in his word for Direction how shall he delight in the will of God in his rod for Correction e g Suppose God WILL take away Health Wealth Wife Child If once persons are puffed up with Pride they are soon filled with Swelling words of vanity †2 Pet. 2.18 Fath. It is clear to me that the law as written in the Bible is a Christians rule of life Q. is it a rule of life for a Carnal man too Min. The law is for a rule of Life to all men Living who have it A Rule for All. Jesus himself was not excepted when under it * Gal. 4.4 N B Man is to be considered in a twofold State precedent to a State of Grace 1 In innocency In this State the law as a C W was mans rule Of life and For life so long as he Obeyed he lived 2 In a Fallen state The condition of the C W was such that the Least sin Brake it and brought man under the Curse of it Before sin man was under the Blessing of the covenant after sin man was under the Curse of the C W and this is the Case of all Carnal men In this State the M L is a rule of Moral Life And the more exactly to his light a Moral man is ruled by it the more he is to be Commended though thereby he is not Justified And it is in a Sense a rule To life eternal i e as it is a School-master to direct to Christ to be Justified by Faith And this it doth Occasionally by shewing Sin and Wrath without a sight of which what cares a Sinner for a Saviour God likeneth his Law to a Looking-glasse †Jam. 1.23 Simile A glasse by shewing the Spots in the Face Occasionally directs to water to cleanse though water be not seen in the glasse A sense of a Disease directs to the Doctour for Cure Simile though the Doctour be not seen in the disease So the Law though it do not Verbally bid one go to Christ or shew the way of Salvation by it's light yet the law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul * Psal 19.7 But if this should never be for some men were never made to be saved †2 Pet. 2.12 yet the Law is to be their rule of life and by shewing what is Good and Evil it is to restrain them from Evil and to constrain them to Good and the more a man is thus ruled by the Law the more Mercy may he expect here and the lesse Misery here and hereafter Fath. How was the M L a rule of life to the Jews before Christs death Q how were they under it as we are Since his death Min. The Jews were like Rebekahs Twins two manner of people * Gen. 25.23 viz Carnal and Spiritual The carnal and wicked though Externally and by Profession under a C G were under the Curse of the Law and for the Future it was to Fare with them as with those that never were under that C G. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised Egypt and Judah and Ammon c for these nations i e Egypt and Ammon are uncircumcised i e in Flesh and the house of Israel is uncircumcised in Heart †Jer. 9.25 26. So we in our Congregational Reformed Gentile Church some Wise some Foolish virgins * Mat. 25.2 The wise are under the Law for rule of life the Foolish for all their Church member-ship are under the Curse of the Law ¶ 2 The Jews were under the law to Terrifie and Humble them to prepare them for Christ and So are we Not that the work of the law in humiliation of Heart and reformation of Life makes a Sinner acceptable to Christ as if Worthy because of this Humility But it makes Christ acceptable to a Sinner Simile as a Physitian
Deu. 23.19 detaining of wages pledges fraud deceit false weights and measures * Chap. 25.13 14. The ninth commandment containeth Laws against false witnesse back-biting tale-bearing giving or taking of Bribes to blind the eyes to ill ends †Ex. 23.8 Deu. 16.19 The tenth commandment containeth Laws against evil thoughts and is very direct against desires after whatsoever is our neighbours and as a Sword should cut the cords of covetousnesse in Sunder This Second Table containeth all mans Duty to man Thus far of the M L. Fath. What say you of the C L Min. The C L respected Typical worship Of the C L. of which Sacred Ceremonies there were 4 Sorts 1 Holy Persons viz High priests Priests Levites Nazarites 2 Holy Places viz the Tabernacle the Temple and other places of Divine appointment where God recorded his Name * Exo. 20.24 3 Holy Things viz the Ark Oyl Fire holy-Water First-fruits Incense Burnt-offerings Meat-offerings Peace-offerings Sin-offerings Silver trumpets 4 Holy Times viz Holy dayes as New moons Ceremonial Sabbaths Feasts viz feast of Passe-over and unleavened bread feast of Pentecost feast of Tabernacles feast of Trumpets feast of Attonement Holy years viz the Sabbatical or Seventh year †Lev. 25.2 3 4. the year of Jubile or the Fiftieth year * Ver. 8.10 Fath. What of the Judicial Law Min. The Judicial Law was made to provide punishments for Offenders against the M L Of the Judicial Law and the C L for a Rule to punish by according to Equity and Justice For Capital offences the Jews had 4 kinds of death viz Stoning Strangling Beheading and Burning Crucifying was not by their law but by Pilate's the Roman Deputy †Mat. 20.19 Jo. 18.32 For offences not Capital they had Scourging Imprisonment Restitution Retaliation ¶ By these three Sorts of Laws the Jews were governed By the M L as they were Men and a Humane Society by the C L as they were a Church so constituted and a Sacred Society by the Judicial Law as they were a Common-wealth and a Civil Society Fath. How is the M L abolished and how is it not abolished Min. The M L as a C W Abolition of the M L. or the Curse and Rigour of the law which separateth man from God is abolished and made void for true Believers but as to the Doctrine Discipline Government of it for rule of life it is as Permanent as Heaven and Earth Fath. How is the C L abolished Min. The Practice of the C L which separated man from man viz Jew and Gentile Abolition of the C L. is abolished for he is our Peace who hath made Both One and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us * Eph. 2.14 But though it is out of use as it was Practical yet it is in use as it is Doctrinall Fath. How is the Judicial Law abolished Abolition of Ju Law Min. The Judicial Law is abolished as it provided punishment for Sin against the C L. Like as Flowers or Plants are fenced to keep them from being broken down while they are to Stand Simile so was the C L fenced with the Judicial Law but when these Plants are plucked up to what end shall the fence Stand e g The 10 day of the 7 month was a Ceremonial holy day he that did any work was to be destroyed by the Judicial Law †Lev. 23.27 30. but now this C L is abolished this Plant plucked up the Judicial Law the fence is gone too But Judicial Laws to punish Offenders against the M L are not abrogate but Permanent and are to be used with discretion by the godly Civil Magistrate who is to administer Justice and execute them on Offenders e g If a man kill a man and so break the Sixth commandment he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword * Rev. 13.10 whoso sheddeth mans blood the Judicial Law is in full force by man Shall his blood be shed †Gen. 9.6 ¶ Thus God who foreknew mans Fall Wonderfull wisdom and made a C G with Christ before he made a C W with Adam hath in wisdom So delivered this Sacred Divine Law of the Decalogue that it should contain in Ten Words the whole Duty of man to GOD and Man in his threefold State 1 In a State of Innocency 2 In a Fallen State 3 In a State of Grace by Jesus Christ I conclude these 12 Notes on the Ten Commandments with Davids prayer LORD Open thou mine eyes that I may behold Wonderous things out of thy LAW * Psal 119.18 Fath. I see now my perswasion of the Decalogue was no delusion but O how little do I see I and others had need use David's prayer for light in God's law but I fear our Antinomians who do so slight it will never pray for light in it Min. They that see by the light of Strange Fire and are so deep-learned in the Doctrine of Devils as to deny Gods law to be a rule of life are never like to use David's prayer for light in God's law for their light being darknesse they see not so much as their own ignorance nor the danger of self-conceitednesse and so are like to go into the land of outer darknesse Fath. God be mercifull to me and deliver me from Antinomian delusion sometimes when I talk with Mr A I am ready to Q whether the law be any rule of life or no. Min. You pray well but look a little dull if it may recreate and not corrupt you let me tell you a Story viz A German woman desiring to rid the house of her husband German woman cast him into a deep sleep and then Dresses Shaves Cuts and Clips him into the fashion of a Fryar A godly Minister is my Author When he wakes she Stares and Storms q d What does this Fryar here in my house Fryar q d Wife art mad doest not know thy husband Still she storms bawls and fumes against the Fryar The man being amazed looks in the glass to see if he can know himself but seeing himself in such a Shape he almost believed he was a Fryar as his wife affirmed Thus the Antinomians use the law e g 1 They paddle with the Preface viz I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt that belongs to the Jews only and so is rejected Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to cut off that they bring this as a Sword every one shall die for his own iniquity †Jer. 31.30 Remember the Sabbath day forsooth that is Ceremonial and so Snipt off That thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee that belongs to the Jews and so is clipt off Having thus maimed and dismembred the Decalogue they wholly reject it that with the German woman they may be at liberty to go a whoring from God They
they shall be a Sign between Me and You that ye may know that I am the Lord your God Ezek. 20.20 Blessed is the Man that doth this and the Son of man that layeth bold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it Isa 56.2 Also the sons of the Stranger that Joyn themselves to the Lord to serve him Every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it even them will I bring to my hold Mountain and make them joyfull in my House of Prayer Ver. 6 7. And he saw that Rest was Good and the Land that it was Pleasant and bowed his shoulder to bear and became a Servant unto tribute Gen. 49.15 LONDON Printed by J A for the Author 1681. The General Contents of the Third Dialogue THE Parents complaint of himselfe The Parents complaint of Mr S Mr A Mr L. Mr A with his Every day Sabbath confuted Mr L with his Never a day Sabbath confuted The change of the Sabbath for Mr S's conviction The beginning of the Sabbath the times contended for descoursed viz Morning Noon Even Midnight Six Objections against the true time Answered The time of Christs Resurrection occasionally discoursed The day of Adams fall occasionally discoursed Satans old enmity against the Sabbath Noted The month-day and week-day of Christs death discoursed The next day no Sabbath proved The Jews various division of the day into hours Of the Passeover Wave-day Seven-weeks Pentecost The Jews custom in Translating the Passeover The opinion of Pentecost on the first day disproved Of the Disciples meeting on the Pentecost Of Gods countenancing the Pentecost Of Jesus's exact observation of the Passeover and Sabbaths Moral and Ceremonial and the whole Law The day of Jesus's death declared and proved Divers Questions arising thereupon Answered An account of the Authors way in this work The Parent Cautioned and Counselled Ten Directions dropped for the Sabbath day Wherein we have an account Of The Day of Adams fall The day of Jesus's death Of The Sabbath ensuing the Wave-day the Pentecost Of The time of Jesus's burial The time Jesus lay dead Of The time of Jesus's Resurrection The beginning of the Sabbath All contrary to the Common Account A THIRD DIALOGUE Concerning the SABBATH-DAY Min. BEN BEN BEN Ben. Where what who calls me before I can see Min. O! Sleepy-head hear you not low hastily some one knocks at the door Pray rise and know the matter Ben. Sir I have been down to know his name and his businesse and he tells me it s he that sat so long with you under the Tree and he desires to speak with you Presently Min. Strike a light and let him in and tell him I will rise Fath. God Save you Sir I am compelled to come and visit you at an unseasonable time I hope you will hold me excused Min. Sir you are welcome to me but I wonder to see you in Town so Soon and am surprized to see you look so Sad. Pray what is the matter is all well at home Fath. All in health praised be God Parents complaint of Self but I am under Grief upon Grief It hath been a Sad time with me since we sat under the Tree though I concealed it from you in our last conference SAD I have Reason to be Sad indeed to think how sadly I have neglected my poor children Souls O to think how many times we have walked by the way and not a word of God! to think how many times they have been twatling about me in the house and not a word how many times they have been packed to bed and pulled out and not a Word of God have I spoken for their good O it hath cut me to the quick and put me upon prayer for pardon space and grace to do my duty And I did addict my self to it and began to find peace in it But yesterday after the afternoon Sermon as I was instructing my children about the Sabbath Parents complaint of Mr S Mr A Mr L. in came Mr S in anger and told me I kept the wrong day and said I should keep the Seventh day first appointed and never reprealed When he was gone Mr A came in and Laughed at me and my practice as a low thing viz to keep One day in a week and told me I should keep Every day as He did When he was gone Mr L came in and told me I should keep Never a day Sabbath for that command for a Sabbath was Ceremonial and long since ceased at Christ's death And my Children listened to this last with delight and now they slight the Sabbath and whatever I say for it and tell me Mr L is counted a wise man And under this Sorrow upon Sorrow I am so disquieted I am almost distracted In your last conference at end of the Tenth Note when you pressed it upon me to learn my Children to reverence the Sabbath I had a mind to ask you what Scripture proof we have for the change of the Day but I was loth to interrupt you but now being driven out in distresse I pray let me hear your reply to all these Opinions but chiefly for the change of the Sabbath Day Min. Did they use to be thus Opposite Fath. A little by the By when other businesse brought us together but now they came on Purpose and assaulted me as Never before Min. Just now as soon as you are set upon a Solemn work when the good seed is sown then comes the Devil †Lu. 8.12 Indeed you are to be pitied and so are they but I fear some of them will be plagued As for your former Sorrow it s Alway better than laughter * Ecl. 7.3 Sometimes better than joy there is sorrow that Dries the spirit this will Water it and so I praise God for it and passe it But this Last is the Pest that carries the Poyson in it for which I must provide some Antidote to expell it As for my reply to these persons Mr A who keeps every day Sabbath and Mr L who keeps never a day Sabbath Every day Never a day you may put them together for he that keeps Every day keeps Never a day and so look on them as two persons possessed by Satan above the dominion of God and under the dominiof the Devil But let us take them asunder again and speak to them apart ¶ 1 This Every day Sabbath is none of God's ordinance Mr A consuted for God's command is Six dayes shalt thou labour †Exo. 20.9 it must therefore be the Devils ordinance and to him it s observed as the Priests which God did not appoint are said to be ordained for the Devils * 2 Chro. 11 15. Mr A is blown up into the Air with a blast from the bottomlesse pit and puft up with Pride a Sabbath day a week is a weak thing with him he is a 7-fold Saint or under a 7-fold Deceit in the border of Heaven whence he is like
for his Author I leave it with you to look That Jesus was virtually slain as soon as Adam sinned Ideny not no doubt he undertook for man before man was †Pro. 8.23 Rev. 3.14 but that Jesus's death which was 4000 years after mans fall must needs be on that day and hour of the week on which man fell I reject as ridiculous If such had said Jesus Rose on the week day and hour that Adam Fell it had carried a fairer colour If men must search as far as the foundation of the world for a foundation to falsifie the day of Christs death it is pity they are not better busied But if Adam's fall on the Sixth day be a proof for Christs death on the Sixth day let us lay aside the day of Christs death a little and begin with Adams fall ¶ 1 Adam was a glorious piece of Gods creation Adam's Fall his Soul and Body was an Epitomy of Heaven and Earth and an house for God to inhabit To say Adam fell on the Sixth day is to liken God his Maker to a foolish Builder who lets the house fall under his hand before he can finish it ¶ 2 It seems by Sacred Scripture that neither Adam nor Angels fell on the Sixth day for in the conclusion of the Creation at the Close of the Sixth day God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good and the evening and the morning were the Sixth day * Gen. 1.31 There is the Close up of the whole Creation complete ¶ 3 As it seems by Scripture Adam fell not on the Sixth day so it seems by Scripture he fell on the Seventh day and that is my perswasion And I will produce no other proof for it than the same Scripture your Author brings to prove Adam fell on the Sixth day viz that Hebrew Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adam in honour did not abide a night †Ps 49.12 It seems he fell that first night which was on the first Sabbath day natural which began at Even ¶ Note Satans old enmity against the Sabbath Satans enmity at the Sabbath 1 He mystically murdered Adam and all his posterity on the first Sabbath that ever was 2 The first Bodily murder we know of in the world Satan acted by the hand of his servant Cain on the Sabbath day and for a Sabbath dayes service as I suppose by this Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the end of dayes * Gen. 4.3 the Seventh day was the end of dayes for there never was more than 7 dayes 3 Satan sets his Servants a work many wayes to break the Sabbath And this enmity is not onely against Gods Sabbath but also against mans Soul In indignation against both this great governour drives on as if he would drive all before him into Hell fire At his command they curse swear whore pot pipe prate sport work play walk at pleasure all which paths lead to the Lake of fire The Sabbath is spent as if it was the Devils day and not Gods day It is the Devils great Trading day for Hell and the wickeds great Treasuring day for Wrath for sin on Other dayes does not fill the Vials of Gods wrath so fast as it doth on This day Adde to all Satans provoking his servants to persecute Saints on Sabbath dayes for the Service of God disturbing them in their meetings haling them to Prisions for using the liberty Christ hath given them 4 Satan is very busie with Saints on Sabbath dayes He tempts them to work and buy and sell when the Sabbath is begun in the Evening To lay in Bed in the morning To trifle away time when they are Up. To talk of controversies Saints both sleep and wake to Satan and impertineneies to absent from Sermons to Sleep to him at Sermons to Wake to him at Sermons by wandring thoughts a thousands wayes Here you may see by what spirit they are acted that are opposite to the Sabbath day Mr A and Mr L did not tell you they came with a message from the Devil yesterday to disturb you in your duty But let us proceed to the day of Christs death ¶ Here let me premise a few Cautions Cautions premised 1 Do not reflect on any thing that seems improbable for it may be True though at first it seem false Nor any thing that seems impertinent q d to what purpose is this prove the Point for it may be to some purpose though it presently appear not 2 This being an intricate point for its clearing some Scriptures must be opened and some reconciled which cannot be done with few words in which I must crosse my Self for I affect to contract things in few words 3 It being new and contrary to the commmon Creed you will Object your All against it your Objections you must hear orderly answered or it will be in vain to offer them 4 Be very punctual in observing the day of the month I shall have occasion to speak of with its beginning and ending else I speak into the Air. If I digresse or go forward or back ward from any Day or Thing before I have done with it care not to carry it in your head for I shall bring you to it again In a word before I proceed resolve to hear all or none at all Fath. I will hear what you have to say Min. To introduce the day of Christs death Of the day of Christs Death I must begin with its lively Type viz The Lords Passe-over This from its first institution was on the 14 day of the first month Abib or Nisan according to that Sacred account from the time of Israel's deliverance out of Egypt †Ex. 12.2 The Paschal lamb was to be taken up on the 10 day * Ver. 3. and kept till the 14 day †Ver. 6. probably that the sight of it might occasion Soul preparation And it was to be killed in the Evening * Ver. 6. Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 between the two Evenings i e say some Sun-set and Dark night Short work though they eat it in hast I do not think they prepared it in Post-hast Fath. What 2 Evens else had they Min. The division of the day by hours was not used when the Passeover was commanded the word hour except in Daniel is not in the O T. But they divided the day into 3 parts called Morning Noon Even †Ps 55.17 from 6 to 10 was Morning from 10 to 2 was Noon from 2 to 6 at night was Even The beginning and end of this last part were the two Evens between which the Lamb was killed and it was eat at night * Ex. 12.8 Our Lord Jesus who came to fulfill the Law kept this Passeover according to Law he commanded his Disciples to kill and prepare it upon the 14 day and he eat it with them at Night when the 15 day began †Mat. 26.17
the Jews Carnal nor Spiritual could endure their Ceremonies should be suddenly forsaken Thou seest brother how many Thousands of Jews there are that believe and they are All zealous of the Law †Act. 21.20 i e the C L so the Christians counselled Paul to countenance them and he did so * Ver. 23 26. Not to uphold Ceremonies but to get an interest in their affections that by degrees as they could bare it he might bring them Off and had he not done so they had cast him off Thus to the Jews he became a Jew to gain the Jews †1 Cor. 9.20 Fath. But if Pentecost was not on the first day why did God countenance it by giving the Disciples the holy Ghost on that day Min. Because I would not onely Silence but also Satisfie you I have been willing to give you all the advantage I can by stating things fairly for you and will do so still Suppose then the Disciples met contrary to the mind of God and knew it yet for fear or favour of the magisterial Jews they conform to keep the Pentecost if God will be gracious what then I will not again curse the ground for mans sake for the imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth * Gen. 8.21 Let my Lord I pray thee go among us for it is a Stiff-necked people †Ex. 34.9 Strange Arguments Gods Word is mans rule but Gods Will is Gods rule and if God will be gracious to man when man walks contrary to his Will will man say Lord what doest thou mean to have mercy on me Will man call God to his Bar and bring him into judgement for his mercy Mercy or judgment if it be the will of God it is just Yea if God should command man contrary to his own command e g If God will forbid man to murder upon pain of Death and then command a man to kll his own Son * Gen. 22.2 who will say unto him What doest thou †Job 9.12 God did not make man to consult what promises God should make to man nor when he should fulfill them God gave the Disciples a promise of the Spirit and he took this time Pentecost to fulfill it ¶ 2 I would form a foundation for a Question for your consideration viz The 50 dayes bounded Harvest the first day was at Beginning of harvest begin to number the 7 weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the Sickle to the Corn * Deu. 16.9 The fiftieth day was at End of harvest Harvest was in the land of Canaan a Type of Heaven The 50 dayes contained 7 Sabbaths a number noting Perfection These dayes were all linked to the Passeover and all Typical of eternal life Jesus began to observe this time with the Passeover before his death It being so Quere I Quere whether this Pentecost was not to be kept that God might give the Disciples a little Heaven on Earth to signifie what an eternal Sabbath they should have in Heaven Typified by these preceeding Sabbaths which at this day Pentecost were consummated If you can Answer this Question in the Affirmative then your Question Why did God countenance the Pentecost is resolved Fath. I may take it into consideration another time But Suppose the Jews did not translate the Passeover Sabbath it fell on the 7 day Sabbath then they kept the 15 day and Jesus rose the 16 and Wave-day this proves Pentecost on the first day and Christs death on the 6 day too Min. Now I can follow you no farther I dare not Say the word suppose in this case nor dare I think such a wicked thought But though I dare not Follow you I dare Meet and withstand you to the Face If you say the Jews kept the right day you say Jesus kept the wrong day If you say the Jews did not Translate the Passeover to the day after the right day you say Jesus did Anticipate it the day before the right day viz Jesus died on the 14 day and killed the Passeover on the 13 day contrary to the Law In so saying you make Jesus a Transgressor Thus by justifying the Jews and condemning Jesus you hope to Hit it Monstrum Horrendum this proof comes from the bottomlesse Pit and there being no other way in the world to prove your opinion rather than fail you will make Jesus the Saviour and actual Sinner at which attempt what is that heart that will not tremble Should you Suppose You and I are now in the East-Indies or London stands on the Main Ocean or there is no difference between Heaven and Hell I would as soon consent Fath. But we may Reason and Question Christ was Lord of the Sabbath and had power to change the Sabbath might not he change the Passeover and be no transgressor Min. Though Jesus was Lord of the Sabbath he was made under the Law †Gal. 4.4 and Subject to it Though he was the Sabbaths Lord the Law was his Lord and had him at command on which account it was honourable * Isa 42.21 And though Jesus changed the Sabbath it was not while he was under the Law but at his Resurrection when he had fulfilled it Jesus stood in mans stead he was a debtor to the whole Law the payment of which debt the Law required ot the last mite Christs person is taken into custody imprisoned in the grave till the debt be discharged and justice satisfied at his resurrection being acquitted he was taken from prison and from judgment †Isa 53.8 alluding to a debtour who hath satisfied the creditour Then Jesus changed the Sabbath Fath. It seems Jesus justified his Disciples in an unlawfull deed on the Sabbath day for they eat Other mens Corn * Mat. 12.1 Min. Not in the Least the Law allowed that deed e g When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbours then thou mayst pluck the ears with thine hand †Deut. 23.25 As for Davids eating the Shew-bread and the Priests prosaning the Sabbath by killing their Sacrifices * Mat. 12.3 4 5. these according to the Letter of the Law were unlawful but not according to the Sense of the law which provided liberty for works of Charity and Necessity And Jesus in pleading these practices to excuse his Disciples doth q d You count David and the Priests blamelesse in these necessitous acts and yet condemn my Disciples in the same Case Fath. But Jesus refused to go up to the feast of Tabernacles †Job 7.8 which Law he was under as well as this of the Passeover and if he could dispense with That why not with This Min. Jesus refused to go up by way of vain Ostentation as his unbelieving brethren would needs have him go for say they Shew thy self to the World * Ver. 4. that Jesus resused saying Go ye up to this feast †Ver. 8. q d by way of Ostentation if you
the week he shall cause the Sacrifice and Oblation to cease * Ver. 27. this One Week was an Ordinary week of 7 dayes the Midst of which is the Fourth day or Middle day The time Jesus lay Dead having 3 dayes before it and 3 dayes after it all which of these 3 last Jesus lay dead So you may see though the Week-day of Jesus's death so long since be not known to this Day yet this day was foretold before Christs Birth by the Scriptures of Truth in which God drops words in the Dark to see if men will feel after him †Act. 17.26 27. Thus I have given you the Testimony of Gods two Testaments to prove my Opinion Fath. I confesse this is more than I looked for but if Christ lay so long dead it will occasion some more Questions Min. Bring out them Questions and let nothing remain to broile at bottom Fath. If there was a day between the 2 Sabbaths why did the Jews go to Pilate for an Order to secure the Sepulchre on a high Sabbath * Mat. 27.62 and not stay till next day Min. As necessity hath no Law so necessity hath no Holy-dayes Necessitas non habet Ferias What cannot be done Before nor deferred till After may be done on the Sabbath It could not be done Before their crowns were so full of concern to get Christ crucified there wanted room for that consideration And they had been Up the night before that day Too but having Slept upon it and settled their wicked wits now Sir we remember that that deceiver said After 3 dayes I will rise again †Mat. 27.63 And it cannot be omitted till to morrow q d So he may be stole away to night by his deceitfull Disciples * Ver. 64. Fath. If there was a day for work between the Sabbaths why did not them zealous women bring their Spices on that day but stay till after the 7 day Min. Why lay the Popish Lords in the Tower why the Prisoners in Newgate Fath. Because they cannot get out Min. No more could they get in The Jews made the sepulchre Sure sealing the Stone and setting a Watch †Ver. 66. It was made fast for 3 dayes to prove Christ an Impostor Fath. Why did they stay till morning and not come at Even at the 3 dayes end Min. Why do not fearfull folk who are scared at their own Shadows go into Church-yards among graves at midnight Fath. Indeed because they dare not Min. No more durst they go into a Tomb at night to the Dead Frights make folks fearfull it had been a Terrible time with them When they came in the Morning they feared to go in Mary stooped down and looked in * Joh. 20.11 and the Disciple whom Jesus loved came Running to the Sepulchre yet went not He in †V. 2 4 5. Fath. How does your Opinion accord with this expression he rose again the third day * 1 Cor. 15.4 Min. This phrase the third day is most miserably mistaken if thus taken A miserable mistake viz Friday 1 Saturday 2 Sunday 3 as if the day of Christs Death and the day of his Resurrection were 2 of the 3 dayes for neither is the One or the Other any of that number But the third day must be understood by these Standing Rules viz the Son of man shall be 3 dayes and 3 nights in the heart of the earth †Mat. 12.40 The Son of man must be killed and After 3 dayes rise again * Mar. 8.31 Christ's enemies could remember his words though his friends forget them viz We remember that deceiver said After 3 dayes I will rise again †Mat. 27.63 The Angel said to the women He is risen as He said * Chap. 28.5 6. i e when the dayes and nights were ended which he prefixed On the first day said Cleopas to Christ To day is the third day since these things were done †Lu. 24.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is a dark Text and thus to be translated To day the third day is Gone since these things were done * PAS LEX pag 43. Esther fasted 3 dayes night and day †Est 4.16 yet she is said to put on her Royal apparell to approach to the King on the third day * chap. 5.1 completo die tertio Junius i e at end of the third day Thus my Opinion does accord with the Word but how does Gods word and You agree from the beginning of your count viz Friday at Even to the time when Jesus rose is but a Night and a Day and from the beginning to the end i e the next morning is but 2 Nights and a Day how did Jesus fulfill his word Fath. Synechdochically I suppose Jesus was buried a little bit before the Sixth day ended and I count That for a day and that he lay a moment on the first day morning and I count That for a day Min. Yet here is but 3 dayes and 2 nights here is not a Bit of a third night Fath. Then the night preceeding the Sixth day must make it up Min. And can you imagine this to be Christs meaning In all this you do little better than say Jesus the man of Sorrow Jested Joqued and Juggled with his death I wonder in what Darknesse we over-look this word NIGHT If Jesus had said The Son of man shall lay 3 Dayes dead you had some Plea for your Opinion for Day sometime signifies Day without Night and so Part of a day natural but it is 3 dayes and 3 nights And I would know where in all the Bible this phrase day night does once signifie Day without Night or Night without Day except in Heaven or Hell But your First day as you call a Bit is without Night and your Last day as you call a Night is without Day By your Synechdochical rule you may argue that Jesus lay 3 Years or 3 Ages dead for Day figuratively signifies a Year or an Age. A Hellhinge A most miserable mistake This taking Scriptures Figuratively which should be taken Literally is the Hinge on which them poor deceived people called Quakers turn all into confusion and overturn all the Fundamental truths of the Gospel viz The birth life death burial resurrection ascension intercession second coming of Christ the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment yea Heaven and Hell and all Figurative and Within †O! Great Gulf Monstrum Horrendum This is a piece of the Pride of that Humble people who count the Common literal sense of Texts too Low for them Fath. How may we know when a Scripture is to be taken in a Figurative Sense Min. When a Literal sense is absurd or contrary to the Analogie of Faith or good morality of Life e g To eat the flesh of Jesus to drink his blood to cut off a right hand to pluck out a right eye To take such
called Sabbath in several Scriptures e g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beginning of the Sabbath * Mar. 16.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the First of the Sabbaths †Joh. 20.1 Cardinal for the Ordinal i e the New Sabbaths Paul went into the Synagogue on the Jews Sabbath day * Act. 13.14 and preached Jesus and when the Jews were gone out of the Synagogue the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sabbath between †Ver. 42. See his Sermon from Ver 15 to Ver 42. i e between two Jewish Sabbaths which Sabbath was the first day and that was the Reason the Gentiles durst not name it till the Jews were gone out Thus far for Scripture Proof now for some Scripture Paralle ¶ 1 The seventh-day was kept in remembrance of God's Creation Scripture Parallel the first day is kept in remembrance of a New Creation by Christs Redemption As soon as man sinned there was Virtually a dissolution he and the world was at an end with him So as Christ was Virtually slain from the foundation of the world there was Virtually a New creation by prevention of a dissolution of the Old for by him all things consist * Col. 1.17 This new creation was called the world to come †Heb. 2.5 2 Paral. ¶ 2 The seventh day was kept in remembrance of Gods rest from his work of Creation the first day in remembrance of Christ's rest from his work of Redemption that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father * Joh. 5.23 As from the conclusion of the Creation men were to honour the Father with a day in remembrance of That so from the conclusion of Redemption are men to honour the Son with a day in remembrance of That When God had actually finished his work of Creation at end of the Sixth day he instituted a Sabbath the Seventh day so when Jesus had actually finished his work of Redemption at end of the Seventh day he instituted a Sabbath on the First day ¶ 3 The seventh day was kept in remembrance of a Delivery from Slavery †Deu. 5.15 3 Paral. so is the first day to be kept And though all men are not free indeed by Christs redemption so as to obtain Salvation yet is he in a sense the Saviour of all men * 1 Tim. 4.10 and may command all men to keep this day in remembrance of him N B When the seventh day Sabbath was in use it was said the government Shall be upon his shoulder †Isa 9.6 the government is not Now in the hand of God as Creatour but in the hand of Jesus as Redeemer for the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand * Joh. 3.35 which he will deliver to the Father at last day †1 Cor. 15.24 Judgments of God ¶ The Judgments of God which on the first day have befallen the prophaners of it will One day be a Witnesse for it though at present the plague of Pharoh be so upon the hearts of prophane and professing people that they are not moved at them viz 1 Gods judgments on mens houses and goods by fire e g Teverton Chesterton London though in this last Hell-born bloody Sinners were the Instrumental cause yet the inhabitants Sin was the Meritorious cause 2 On Sabbath-breakers Bodies who by the formidable hand of God have been struck Dead on this day in the very Act. 3 On Sabbath-breakers Souls who have proudly pretended to keep every day such have been and are commonly Cursed and Blasted and with all their Blaze brought to nought To which 1 adde 2 Queries for consideration and one Assertion for full satisfaction ¶ 1 Was not the Fourth command for a Sabbath Day placed among and one of the Ten 1 Q. to signifie it is Originally and Essentially Moral and Perpetual and sometimes put among Ceremonial Sabbaths * Lev. 23.2 3 4 5 6 7. to signifie that in respect of that circumstance of Time it was Typical and subject to change viz with respect to the Day ¶ 2 Did not Adam fall on the Sabbath Day 2 Q. and so break the first Sabbath that ever was made and if so did not that signifie the day was mutable as the fall and breach of the Tables containing the C W with Adam signified the mutation of that Covenant and the making of a New C from the beginning ¶ A first day Sabbath is in a Sense of as great Antiquity Assertion as the first Sabbath ordained for Adam in Innocency Though that was at the end of Gods Works it was at the beginning of mans Life God Ended his week with a Sabbath but man Began his week with a Sabbath It seems he was made at end of the Sixth day to begin his life on the Seventh day which was his First day though he was made a moment before the day began Adam was a Type of Jesus who began his New Life at his Resurrection with a Sabbath the first day of the week And so must we begin our week with a Sabbath a day for God First which is Certainly more acceptable to God than to serve our selves Six dayes first and then put off God blessed for ever with an Od day at last So much for the change of the Sabbath Day Fath. I am satisfied in the change of the Sabbath but I am at a losse to know when the Sabbath begins but I think it s not much matter for that so that a man keeps a day Min. HOW keep a Sabbath and not know when it begins nor ends nor Care to know consequently you will not care to know when Christ rose from the dead for his resurrection gives beginning to the Sabbath Nor will you care to know how long he lay dead What grown like Gallio †Act. 18.17 Simile Sir I am sorry to hear such an ungracious speech fall from your lips Suppose your self taken by cruel Turks a most loving friend to rescue you falls into their hands himselfe in which Skirmish you escape But for your sake he is cruelly used wounded mangled imprisoned in a dismal dungeon So many dayes Then escapes acquaints you with it and desires you for his sake to keep a day in remembrance of his deliverance beginning at the time when it was What would you not care to know when to begin nor End nor how long your friend lay bound truely you deserve to be retaken by the Turks without remedy Fath. I perceive by this you hold Jesus went to Hell but that many Divines deny and so do I for its contrary to Christs words upon the Crosse viz To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise * Lu. 23.43 If Christ went to Heaven how could he go to Hell Min. If he went to Both it s not so great a mystery as the Trinity God is