must not be reckoned among the faithfull but as uncircumcised be deny'd entrance into the holy temple the holy Citty holy IESVS being only King of the Iews that is of the Circumcision not of the letter but of the Spirit not of the Body but of the Inward-man and the precept being given to Ioshua intimats that as death and lust enter'd upon all by one MAN we are not free from either untill by his Antityp Iesus we be redeemed from our actual or original transgression by applying faithfully his life and bloud as expiatory for sin denying ungodliness and worldly lusts which is a deliverance from our vain conversation and in one sense a being crucified to the world and in another Ciâ—cumcised in our foreskin they being with some as it superfluous and no way necessary for felicitating soul or body THE Hebrews say Sem was born circumcis'd and he was happy but that the foreskin is not necessary is figured in the eight day seven being allowed in proportion and revolution of time to all in common but the right is that eternal day expected by the Elect and forestall'd already in those occult joys which emerge from liveing Soberly Righteously and Godlily in this present world and their names being written in heaven contemplats upon the felicity their Spirit shall possesse the week of this wearisome world being brought to its final period IT is said of Severus that no day passed wherein he did not something that was good and beneficial to others and without much arguing its evident how soon our Lord amply discovers earnestnesse passionatly to offer himself a Lamb indeed for the sins of the world in his yeelding so easily so suddenly to breath a vein as a wise Physician for the cure of his mystical body now in a Spiritual raveing and sinfull feaverish distemper Man go thou and do thou likewise do good and yet more good and by whom thou art accounted base of them at last thou shalt be had in honour God incarnat having here begun to lay down his life for thee be not ashamed to lay it down for another at least estimat what can be done for thy Brother and reckon that to be a debt due from thy Saviours stupendious humility WE mistake if we conclude our selves heavenly born untill as heaven we influence the Earth with benign aspects and Eight times or days or duties must passe over us before we ought to repute our selves of the seed of the faithfull or circumcis'd for in the opinion of Holy Bernard we must first be just in our dealings with men he who would raise high must build low and Iacobs ladder had its foot on the Earth another is the avoiding of Fellowship with evil men Christ was separate from sinners and his followers must hate the Congregation of wicked doers A third is watchfulnesse and observance of Enemies Our Saviour not being ignorant of Satans devices disappointed his stratagems he left him unresolved of his being the Son of God in the wilderness and of his wanting original sin by Circumcision in the Cradle and in both prevail'd Another is Sobriety as becometh men the Believers life is a warfare and if lust pleasure or cares of this world overcharge that day may come unawares upon us Luk. 21.34 Another is patience in all things we suffer among men for a few evill days we must neither with Cato put out our lives nor with Thrasillus run out of our wits but keeping a good heart we shall never want a place not to say a whole wherein to hide our head Another is Humility Our Lord humbled himself to the Death and that the soul with Mary be exalted Remember he visited her in her low estate Luk. 1.48 The seventh is Piety and Devotion in which by contemplation the Chilâ— of Grace celebrating a Sabbath by resting from works of sin and walking with God ought not to be reckon'd a Son of Belial but as on the eight day declared by the Angel of a good Conscience or rather is by the Priest of the new Testament called the Son of God and gets a new name which none knoweth but he that hath it Revel 2.17 THERE are who will have the eight day to imply the eight ages of the world reckoning the first from Adam to Noa the next from him to Abraham the third from him to Moses the fourth from him to David the fifth from David to Christ the sixâ—h from Christ to the end of the world the seventh to the Dead the eight represents the Resurrection at which time all the true soâ—s of the Faithfull shall receive their true name and true inheritance in being saved from their sins and approved for their Sanctity But the more sound and far more probable ground for fixing upon the eight-day was because of the infants strength being then more able to bear the sharpnesse and smart of the knife then when newly born and yet not after the eight day for they growing stronger and imagination more forcible the pain had been greater that time was therefore chosen when the skin as more tender could renew and repair it self but it is nice that to this day the Iews circumcise none but on the eight day that is to say never at night however it be it 's said that the pain is greatest on the third day nature tending then to a healing for which cause Simeon and Levi slew the Shechemits according to which its given out that the three offended in each sin viz. our selves our neighbour and our God the third and last is the forest and its remembrance most dejecting as appears from Davids confession in matter of Vriah and Iosephs admiration in the temptation of his Mistris THOVGH I conjecture not that the eâ—ght day was allowed for the body of the infant to be inflenc'd by the seven planets yet according to the Doctor of that Philosophy concluding the sun to operat upon the head and heart we may alludingly teach that the beams of the sun of Righteousness must shine and operaâ— upon the head heart of Adams Sons before they can have a living Soul or be brought forth in the second birth yet let none pin their abideing in pollution upon God for the Sun beams shine in the Ministry of the Gospel but many as the swine in a hot day tumbles the more in the pudle and what is vitiously observed of circumcised nations as Egyptians Saracens that no people is more lascivious may shamefully be applied to Christians none being more filthy more unclean then they who have been washed being the more defi'd thereby that they commend it yet mockingly rise not from forbidden pleasures from condemn'd delights Mahomet in a great measureâ— encourageing those passions allays the guilt of his Disciples but being discharged by Christ by Christians are to be the more abhorred THE Iews circumcised but in one part and that part by which the whole body is most defiled where lust and luxury tyranniz'd and
rising THE Iews craved a sign and those that mocked said come down and we will believe but that being the time of suffering he disdained the motion the sign of the Prophet Ionah which was of rising up and opposit to their coming down being appointed all other signs were rejected and because that of Ionah was fulfiled let 's believe and go before him unto Galile by interpretation transmigration or going over that going from infirmity to vertue from mortality to eternity from contumely to glory we may more fully participat of those sore-expected joys in being treated yea feasted in the company of our ever to be adored Saviour Worshiping our Lord begining to practise and celebrat our Sabbath when the Jew rendeth his acting not only contrary to him but spiritualizing his superstitious deportment thereon he will kindle no fire that day let us blow up that of the spirit in the hearth of our hearts for elevating our thoughts and raising our minds upward heavenward to this day they alleadge the destruction of Ierusalem solely to have flowed from the neglect of the Sabbath in putting no difference between the holy and prophane Ez. 22. Let us compute it's desolation to spring from â—he innocent blood shed on the preparation day for the Sabbath and in hiding their eyes from the Lord of the Sabbath they will not put so much as their finger to any serwill or country work let us not fear to exercise our selves about works of piety charity or necessary with both our hands our Lord giving â—s example whose servants I mean the Christians whom they keep being put by them in this day to their drudgery which yet and by the way might be rectified by Christiâ—â— laws and magistracy as they will not writ nor blot out what is written on that day let the errata's of our soul be reviewed and weekly 〈◊〉 be exactly corrected that the next weeks impression of our civil or spiritual conveâ—â—s may be both more clean clear and holy being emended from our former mistakes by religious watchfulnesse and future taking heed do they knock on the door when calling unto a preparing for the Synagogne it is 〈…〉 to provoke to love and to good works They will not on that day begin a journey and justly having killed him that was the Way yet let us walk and be undefiled in the way of the Law of the Lord keeping our feet from the filthinesse that is our affections from those lusts that are in the world through sin they crowned our Lord with thorns let us adorn both his holy Temples in exalting his two fold nature by a firm adhering to the truth thereof and laying out for him and his the best of our substance somewhat of our rich possessions entering by the gate of the Church into that of Paradise from which impenitent Iews as the Reprobated Theif are for ever excluded The sixth Psalm and the twelth are entitled pro octavo for the eight in the Vulgar translation from which some will have many mysteries to emerge particularly the change of the Sabbath for respecting our Lords entry into Jerusalem in our computation on Palm Sunday the day of his rising will be one of the seventh but not upon the seventh the prophesies therefore and conquests also of our Saviour to be by us celebrate in the Church the eight day after that account will be the Lords day in the new Testament beginning our holy day when the murtherers of our Lord endeth his Mosaical weakly feast it is nearer to affirm that as God had Circumcision Sabbaths and other rites to difference his people from the masse of the world it is fit to have now some difference to discriminat his Church and since there is a change of the Temple of the Sacrifice of the Circumcision of the Paschal supper of the Priest a necessity may easily be suggested of an alteration of the Sabbath heightned when we consider that Christ came to work a new creation Isa. 65. for which a celebration of an old Sabbath had been incongruous and his kingdome beginning from and his resting dated at the Resurrection how consonant is it to name this day the Lords day and in the proportion all it's followers HIS sleeping or resting on the seventh day in the grave typifying that the old Sabbath dyed with him as all other changeable ceremonies of the law which none ought to judge us in respect of a Sabbath or a holy day since Christ hath triumphed on the eight let us rejoice beholding as badges of his victory the scares of his wounds the print of the nails the wound in his side not only as probable tokens of his rising but as jems to adorn his royal body as a testimony of his victory and as some think to be seen yet in heaven that as in his Church militant he hath bread and wine continually as visible memorials of his bloudy agony and death for his peoples stronger confirmation so in the triumphant the scares of his wounds remain in his body before the glorified for more fervent and eternal Iubilation THESE same wounds when seen and felt besids his own faithful Testimony so strengthned the Apostles that the ghastly frownings of an incensed crew in this wicked world was but a whet-stone to edge their zeal for publishing this truth this glorious truth of the Resurrection for though it be said he was stole yet who durst rouz this young lyâ—n and a little more money would have made the Souldiers tell another tale he quickned in the grave by receiving in the second time his soul then rose from out of the grave astonishing death amazing the keepers yet so heartning and heating his Disciples that they spurn and disdain the threats of men accounting all the worlds wrath or fawning to that degree of naughtinesse as to comput it dung in comparison of the excellency in the knowledge of the rising from the dead all created beings in the power of man being but a cypher to the Resurrection Christ by it and in him themselves conquering and flying above all the pouder Crakers the ungodly should frame or fire to disturb the power of it's Doctrine or the progresse of it's publication the voice of all the Martyrs being like the call of Heliâ—dorus who refusing to sacrifice to Idols and being tormented for denyal cryed out aloud O Lord Iesus Christ assist me and when the crown of the Chuâ—ch is now beheld to have been but made the puâ—er by the fires of devouring persecutors and the ancient Stanza or holy Doxology of our Quires now heard in giving glory to the Father and thought upon who so dul as not to anticipate the rehearsal and suggest the fam'd answer given to the same Martyre is yet returned to all Saints witnesses and confessors be not affraid for I am with thee FORâ—s â—s unhurt with torture how have the heathen and Iews been braved and out-braved by Christians through the hope of the Resurrection Paul was thought
Ancestors bequeathed ample legacies one is that whatever savors of that Ancient Doctrine established in the Church who for her age and Religious hoarinesse ought to be accounted venerable Invidiously is by some foolishly is by many houted upon as Superstitious Idolatrous and Anomolous to verity and Truth atteesting yet without ground that whatever in Divinis cannot be found in express text as Fornication should not be named among Saints Obtruding this upon some Disciples it cannot be supposed but this smal treatise because an ofspring of Antiquity shall be deemed scandalous and as a misshappen birth in the Midwifery of their forestalled fancy be smother'd as soon as parted from the womb of the Press and not buried but cast forth through the dung-gate of Obloquie or into the Kidrone of disdain NOT considering that if the question should be put concerning some approved practises and strongly pleaded for Resolves the legitimating of many Acts should be found to emerge from Scripture Logically that is Rationally understood conform to that rule a Minore ad Majus The Iewes appointing feasts as that of Dedication one great Jew instituting a feast as that of Purim the Zealous separating dayes from civil use to commemorat mercy the devout Magistrate designing such and such hours oâ— dayes for publick preaching Colledges Halls Hospitalls Schools solemnizing dayes in memory of their pious Founders Religious Benefactors exempteth the Church from Censure in enacting festivitys for her Lords birth passion or Resurrection SINCE the world could not contain the books had all things been writen which were done or said concerning it by Christ the world I inferr is to rest satisfied when any thing is done not contrary to the things in that one Book taught and delivered by him or at least not to condemn it which so much the less â—s to be done that the Judges of these exercises seldome if ever were they exactly scann'd are found seriously to reflect upon any one day in the year the matter wherefore these dayes were set apart which they condemne because fixed principaly upon one day ANABAPTISTS infringe that liberty our Lord hath procured for us in denying infant-baptism as if they were without the Covenant in which more higher priveledges are tacitly granted to the Jew then Christian he wanting the other enjoying the comforts of admitting his Son into that promise made of old unto the people the Almighty styling himself Lord God of your Fathers whereas the Baptized by them stands in a particular or personall Relation to the Same Lord from which there doth not flow so eminent Consolation in case of Death in Infancy AND such who will not allow the Church in separating times of worship for dazeling that is singular acts of Grace ought to reflect how the vesture of the Christian under Gospel-dispensation is our-tail'd being made more short more bare more thinn that is the Churches freedom more impared by the Death of heâ— Saviour then amplified and enlarged we bâ—â—fore seeing the Phylactery of the Iew so extensively broad large honourably gracefull under Typicall oblations Synagogue and Temple-service the removeall of which discharging to the now Believer that piece of true devotion wherein the Faithfull of old appeared before God with joy haveing Roome that is liberty to make to keep Holy-day IT S granted that neither Jew nor Gentile men or Angel â—an dare or make offer to make a day holy now but to observe a day Holily or to separate a Civil day that is one of the six for a Holy use a Saint-like encompassing the throne of God for Celebrating praise or powring forth prayer as by many it is held good and performed in the week so ought it not to be judged supperstitious if done by others in the Return of the year IVDICIOUS Calvin expoundeth those places of St Paul Orthodoxly genuine Let no man judge you in meat or drinke or in respect of a holy day 2 Cal. 16. Ye observe dayâ—s and months and times and years Gal. 4.10 One man esteemeth one day above another Rom. 14.5 For quis nisi Furioso who saith he but Mad-men will here understand any observation condemned save what ritualy shadowed Christ to come neque Ecclesias damnavero neither shall I censure marke the words those Churches who have instituted other solemn dayes for the Congregations Conveening together they Keeping from superstition of which they shall be free when appointed purely for good order and Discipline not as shadows of the Law c. Institut lib. 2. c. 8. S. 33. Whence its deducible that feasts so observed are not to be accounted either Jewish or Popish they being purely to Commemorat Christ already come and appointed for that end before either Pope or Romish Antichrist that is to say before the usurpation of the Bishop of Rome above all called gods FOR when the Records of the Church shall be exactly viewed and when again more diligently inspected and a search made after that then for greater security if once more there be a tumbling over the monuments of Ancient times the Time the Place the Persons by whom the dayes here marked were distinguished and first instituted shall never be found never be heard of so that it was a puzling and thorny question and for ought we find an Unanswered one proposed by our Late Soveraign April â— 1647. of blessed memory in these words I desire to be resolved why the new Reformers discharge the keeping of Easter the Celebration wherof being of the same Authority which changed the Iewish Sabbath into the Lords-day Saturday being no where discharged wherefor it must be the Churches Authority that changed the one and instituted the other therefore my opinion is that those who will not keep this Feast may as well return to the observation of Saturday and refuse the weekly Sunday when any body can shew me that herein I am in an error I shall not be a shamed to confesse and amend it till when you Meaning the Comissioners and Ministers treating in the Isle of Wight Know my mind C. R. THERE is no foot-steps of Antiquity indeed declaring the rise either of the one or other and those Arguments from proportion touching the vndenyed one wants not their influence in approving the other controverted the old Church by her own power abolishing the Iewish Sabbath though expresse law and Divine sanction for its observance is scattered throughout Moses the Prophets the present Church abrogating by not using Apostolical constitutions though enjoyned by the holy Ghost in proper terms as not abstaining from blood not anointing the sick not tarrying one for another before the Sacrament of the Supper in St. Pauls sense not having Deaconesses to attend the poor Clinick sick and bed-rid Against which such as are not distracted foameth not nor at the Churches desuetude thereof being convinced at the Reasonablnesse of her omission and her Authority so to doe which in the case under debate is also to be acquiesed in and
Nativity The Synod smelling a Rat refused the motion Leo having been cited before them for Censure yet Censured not the request nor hissed at the purpose adjacent Ministers being easely obtained Synod Dordre sess 36. and 45. How would some of our Precisians have ranted dissented to let the world know them to be no small fools it is probable they had protested against such Actings VEIW these Churches in their severall precincts it shall be found Dayes of this fort are not condem'd as unholy or superstitious but honourably mentioned those of Suitzerland Decently observing the Incarnation the Circumcision c. The like is done by the Churches of Germany Hungaria Transilvania those of the great Dukedome of Lituania the greater and lesser Polonia the Fratres Bohemi those of Moravia Holland France in Genevah its true they are not observed yet it 's as true that she condemns not these that do approving and commending thereof as her subscription to the Helvetick Confession apparently evinceth Durells veiw p. 25.26 THE practices of the Reformed Kingdomes of Denmark Norway and Sweden is Known which appended to what hath been declared may strick an aw Creat a terror in the bosome of that Malapert whose rigid conceptions are wraping to a tendency of disrelishment disrespect or Censure THE Fairest Daughters of the Church Reformed being our own three Kingdomes are not to want their due respect the particular judgement of each one being equivalent to many extraneous or beyond Sea provinces as the Judicious among those will declare we begin with Ireland as farthest off whose Clergy in a numerous Convocation in Dublin Anno Dom. 1615. agreeth in their Confession that every particular Church hath Authority to institute Change put away Ceremonies and other Ecclesiasticall rites c. Constituting others making more to seemlinesse or edification Art of Irel. 77. Vpon which firme basis stands fixed her obedience in pleading for and standing to the observance of these dayes England in her Confession drawn up Anno Dom. 1562. speaketh the samething both agreeing to the Reformed Churches abroad saying Every particular or nationall Church hath Authority to ordaine change and abolish Ceremonys and rites of the Church so that all things be done to edifying adding that whosoever through his privat judgement willfully and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church not repugnant to the word ordained by Authority ought to be rebuked as he that offendeth against the Common ordor of the Church thus fare the Article Now though neither of these be so expresse as are the Confessions of the Helvetian Churches allowing the Celebration of the Lords Nativity Circumcision c. nor as that of Ausburgh the standart of the Reformed Churches abroad retaining the traditions of about holy dayes the Lords day the Nativity the Passeover c. Yet upon these pillars stood that Arch of her Law and Church constitution Anno Dom. 1630. viz. All manner of persons shall from henceforth Celebrate and Keep the Lords day and other holy dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure that is in hearing the word c. And where is that Church Rome excepted in the whole world Regularly constitute did ever presume to Censure England in this particular nay where is that Church except as above excepted but blesseth her as a Daughter and prays for her as a Mother SCOTLAND is behind none of the Reformed Churches in defence of the matter questioned for she in her Reformation which truly in this was according to the best Reformed Churches by the Lords of the Congregation after mature deliberation for raising bulwarks against Popery concluded that in all parishes the lessons of the Old new Testament should be read on Sundayes and other FESTIVAL DAYES Spots Hist. lib. 3. Ann. Dom. 1558. the sence of the word FESTIVAL determineth the Authors exemption from obloquy upon the account of this works were any of these noble Patriots alive to peruse his discourcess but least any suspend belief of the thing out of prejudice to that most Reverend Historian I hope Mr. Knox will have some influence upon the weak in faith who records the same thing to be done by the same persons whom he calls Lords and Barons professing Christ Jesus Reformed preachers rejoyceing and much encouraged thereby the Popish Clergy being on the other hand much Incensed Knox Hist. lib. 1. Was not our old League with England in our new dayes and Vniformity thereto in the mouths of many which was begun by subscription and consenting to the rites and service of that Church by which the French was here overthrown the Pope the most Christian and Catholick King being angry thereat Buchan Scot. Hist. lib. 19. All which put together with the legall procedure of Future times demonstrateth those bug-bare ordinances Votes and Resolves contrary to those proceedings which hath troubled our Lands were not Nationall decrees but Falacious opinions And beheld by the Churches abroad as could be proved by numerous instances not so much the Doctrine of our Reformed Churches as the Dodder of our Churches Reformed i. e. weeds growing about them excrescences of the Earth occasioned by showers and Tempests of popular commotion and in seren sky cast over the wall and Empalement of our Congregations BVT yet if any man be contentious and still hold this youngling as Popishly affected its Father the Author from these vndenyable records smiles at the expression pittys their mistake justifying himself against such selandarous taunts in St. Pauls words we have no such custome that is so to speak neither the Churches of God But for peace sake do wish the dissenter to cognosce before he condemn For as the Erecting of the Altar of Ed. Ios. 22.10 Occasion'd a surmise of Rubens Apostacy and Idolatry was upon search found otherwise so a right stateing of the Question and a seasonable distinction as with them may make us blesse pray for and part from each other to the laying aside contention and debate which the sense of the Reformed Church about these things when hearkned unto shall happily procure MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE INCARNATION OF THE SON of GOD Unfolded and applied Christmas Sunday Tolbooth Church 1670. YVLE Sunday Tolbooth Church 1670. JEREMIAH XXXI XXII How long wilt thou go about O thou back-sliding Daughter For the Lord hath created a new thing in the Earth A woman shal compass a man VICE and Folly are so congenit with the Essence and soul of man since his fall that Aristippus counted a good or temperate man to be the most admirable thing in the World and the Orator beholding the proclivity of most unto that which by the torch-light of Nature was to be condemned chused rather then be led by them to become a Victime or Sacrifice unto Reason and perish with good men wherefore GOD superadding to those un-audiable censures motives and documents suggested vigorously by the Spirit into the hearts of people as perswasives unto vertue hath
with vivacity more particularly called Mary which is by Interpretation exalted and to the highest acclivities of acquir'd Honour was she manuducted when seperate by eternal Decree to be Mother to the Son of God and rais'd above the level of ordinary capacities in believing the Angels Revelation for which all Generations shall call her blessed both for Faith and Example her Faith and Chastity at first view inclining her Beholders her Admirers and Followers to that high way of the upright i. e. vertue Modesty with self denial which is above not dareing to tread in those so did and impure paths of Wantonness Conceitednesse or uncleannesse leading to Hel beneath She was indeed found with Child but it was by the Holie Ghost this woman removing the Curse due to man for Insobriety became by Samplar another Eva not for being beguil'd but for believing the Mother of all living or of all that would live by beautifying their lives with Angelick continence becoming Mothers to the Son of God conceiving by the Holie Ghost who again helpeth them to keep their vessels in Sanctification and Honour The thoughts as the shade of the Iuniper tree frighting and debarring the Serpents of Corrupt resolves from entrance and avoiding the deplorable issue of enflamed lost in the remotest imaginations tending thereunto subjugating every thought to the Captivity of Reason which by and by brings it under subjection unto Christ and perpetually deterreth unclean Spirits from nestling in the Soul or heart by remembring the wo due to them who neglect so great Salvation about this time as it were BORN by this Woman this Virgin unto whom the Angel was sent as unto a Virgin in body and mind being every whit holy not for one day but dayly which all ought to be and shal at last be acquir'd maugre all seeming difficulties by girding the Sword of Honour upon our thigh denying ungodliness and worldly lusts by which we not only conquer and Triumph but with our Virgin woman Magnifie the Lord for doing great things not only for us but in us ADAM is said not to be deceived but the woman she being beguiled by the Serpent brought forth Death Adam consenting to her Mary alone believes Ioseph consenting and aiding her in things requisit life is brought forth by them to destroy that Death conceived by the other two Eva Adam's wife became the mother of Death Adam yeelding Mary Iosephs espoused for which she is called woman brought forth life Ioseph attending therefore she 〈◊〉 called a Mother she conceived that life by Faith therefore a Virgin yet brought forth in sense wherefore she is also called woman How men are born all men know but not that way but on this wise was the birth of Iesus Mat. 2. that it might be strangely differenc'd from other products of the womb For when his Mother Mary was espoused to Ioseph she was found with Child having already conceived that Ioseph should not mistake him for his Son yet she was espoused so Josephs wife that the world should not charge her with whordome or her Son with Bastardy so zealous is God that the ugly stain of incontinency be avoyded pretiously esteemed among the very Heathen for a Laconian Lady being demanded of the Dowry she brought her Husband Answered I brought chastity to his bed Mary was found a Virgin Mary was made a Woman for her Honors defence for her lifes security Adulterers being stoned and that more honourably she might travel as in Iewrie or sojourn as in Egypt with a man and some will have her made a woman that is espoused that from the devil might be concealed Christs birth and conception for though from the prophesies before runing by the translation of the kingdom to the romans by the weeks in Daniel by the Angels Message he might have a conjectural knowledge of the Messiah near to be revealed but a certainty thereof might not be obtained for the foresaid reasons WAS not Evah when first took out of man a pure Virgin yet is she not called woman Christ is BORN on this wise that like the High Priest he miâ—ht not be defiled by his Father or his Mother for by his Father in Heaven in him is no darknesse and from his Mother on Earth he receives no guiltinesse being in her Virgin estate as the former though a Woman when a Virgin was tempted to distrust this Virgin in a womans estate not contradicting Truth but overcome by Faith and Admiration becometh pardon the allusion the Mother of Eternal Salvation to all that obey The Serpent encompas'd the woman the Angel encompas'd the Virgin and the Virgin woman without man encompas'd man Man thereby reaping the benefit of that he never sowed nay of that he never believed was in the Earth For notwithstanding of that which is Fabled of Periclio the Mother of Plato that she brought forth not devirginated yet the wise admiring at that peace in the days of Augustus Caesar enquiring at their gods its duration had no other Response then that peace should endure untill a Virgin brought forth a Child which so gladned the Spirit of the people that a Temple was builded called Peace and engrav'd on its front The eternal Temple but this their conceit miscarried for the same night Christ was BORN in Bethlehem that temple was ruined by an earthquake in Rome upon whose ruines in after ages was erected a Church called S. Marys I know there are who â—ighting against this Temple of peace triumphs as did Titus over Ierusalem at length leavâ— it as the temple of that City without one stone upon another in raseing the very being of it from Records alleadgeing with those circumstances it was never buâ—ded save in Authors brains But this being a day of joy and gladnesse of peace and Union we shal not enter the lists for combate accounting it easier to believe or misbelieve the story then travel to infringe the objectors Authority by digging up the foundations of that if so twice ruined structure THE first we read to have been named Mary was Miriam Sister of Moses a Prophetess the same with it but she keep'd among the Virgins and because of an Ethiopian woman murmured against the Goodman her Brother But our Mary because found with Child is numbred among women rejoiceing that Shiloh unto whom the gathering of all people was to be born of her betrothed providence cloathing Reputation by alloting her a supposed Husband discovering thereby her Genealogy for greater Fame both towards her self and Son he being reputed the Son of Ioseph which was the Son that is to omit dark and endlesse reckonings the son in Law to Heli Marys Kinred being Numbred Luke 3. the custome of the Jews not allowing Families to be computed by women yet this is clear from both that being of the house of David and reckoned by S. Matthew from Abraham Salvation by Jesus came to his Sons but S. Luke reckoning from Adam intimats Redemption by him also to be intended by
Chamber thereof least he fall upon thee and smite thee with more madnesse and astonishment of heart Deu. 28 28. THIS last expression minds me to caveat the Reader not to be angry at Helibore becâ—use it 's called Christmas-flowre for it poor thing hurts no body that lets it alone and Herbalists are to be sheâ—t not it spoyled for that Name as was the harmlesse Hawthorn tree near Glassenbury in Sommerset-shire in England which being alwayes observed to bloom so neare to this time that it was reported first to budde this day other Haw-thorns about it remaining dead and naked King Iames jestingly concluded therefâ—om our old style to be more Râ—gular then Romes new but others of latter years more seriously concluding the thorn guilty of old superstition grubbed it up by the roots and burned it to ashes which comeing to the ears of honest Christmas fearing her own fate from that of her Harbingers receiving notice by a publick order quietly retir'd and keep'd her self alive by the fireside of more Charitable Christians accounting it more honourable to ly by a flame then dy in one But this Bush hath almost put me from my path and hoping 〈◊〉 things we proceed to presse the Christian in all temptations to lift up his heart soul and all within him Râ—membring the of descent the Son of GOD I should have said of MAN approaching towards us in the Chariot of the Virgins womb moving upoâ— the wheels of Humilitie Charitie Mercy and holy Wisdom GOD uniting to MAN that maâ— might be reconcil'd to God through inscrutable actings by new things Heaven being opened as in the Revelation Angels ascending and descending as in Iacobs dream joining earth and Heaven as in the Ladder the Father saying fear not as in Israels going dowâ— to Egypt here is the Door this is the gatâ— of Heaven as in the Patriarch's dread Thâ—â— Lord shall be my God as in the pilgrims vow Gen. 20.21 BVT forget not as we ought to reverence and adore him as God in God so ought we to respect and benefit all meâ— since God in MAN became like one of us Our Lords Natalitials and birth being a mirrour representing divine Charity and bowels of compassion unto us and loves swavity or sweetnesse one with another his very swadling cloathes speaking patience and benevolence FROM the time of celebrating our Lords Advent in order of nature our days lengthen our nights shorten and was of old called Midwinter-day or Midwinter mass or feast The Solstice formerly being nearer to it then now however untill became Darknesse was upon the face of the earth and that so grosse that for eight hundreth years none had the gift of miracles for in working of them none proceeded our Saviour save Elisha only the Prophets taught the living neither cured the sick nor raised the dead that the world by his miracles might learn him to be the true Messiah the very sun of righteousnesse by whose beams the world being irradiated errours might vanish and Truth brake forth more and more for the conversion of men And that as the Cloud did Israel we by his manhood might move and be directed in our motions through the wildernesse in purenesse of behaviour and brightnesse of Doctrine that by his firy light we might have light and constantly walk as Children thereof old things passing away by the Spirits over shadowing and heart beleiving we might also become new in Christ Iesus who was once BORN and no more that the wo denounced against unbelieverâ— in all ages might deter the remiss and enforce a running into Bethlehem the house of breaâ— to see admiringly this great thing and neither complain nor deride nor scoâ—n or turn again to the Egypt of carnal pâ—ssâ—ssion buâ— vivaciâ—usly embrace this Man in their arms living by faith confesse that he is come iâ— the flesh which whoso denys is an Anâ—tichrist he as God giving so clear evidenâ—ces of his assuming flesh shewing even beâ—fore his greatest miracles infallible proofs oâ— his Man-hood cuâ—ing the deaf after sighing raising Lazarus after his weeping and shakeing of the Earth as he gave up the Ghost THE wedding then betwixt GOD and man in him being come let not the rooms be empty but the faster invite Iesus to the Marriage staying for your satisfaction in a stable untill your prepared hearts say as a Labaâ— Come in thou blessed of the Lord why tarriest thou without that darknesse of Soul and will being expelled thou mayst dwell yea encreass in light evangelical for ever as the earth receives increase of light for a time And as it puts one hence forward a new dress the fields cloathed with a fresh green the â—â—ees in the gardens sâ—ed or lopped the Vines â—n the Vineyard pruned for the grapes greaâ—er sweetnesse so he the Vine being planted â—n the earth may through our sincere prayâ—rs be engrafted and inoculated in us that â—s the Vine we may have wherewith to glad the heart of God and of this MAN causeing this days exercise to have a voice prepare â—â—e the way of the Lord lopping off all superfluity of naughtinesse and excâ—â—scencies of Vanity leaving the Drunkard to be drunk in the Night studying to be sober and vigilant as Children of Day avoiding somnolency or sleepinesse ebriety or drunkennesse the morning of temperance beginning with the Sun of rightâ—ousnesse inforceing a being wise unto sobriety remembring the very supposed Father of this MAN was Ioseph who was known to be truly a good and a just man BVT the word Encompass imports the enliving prodigious ineffable mystery the most in comprehensible conception and miraculous nativity of our Lord of which sufficiency of knowledge terminating the understanding is that which mortality can no ways be obliedged to expect yet to attract eyes for yeelding respect to this astonishing birth whereon the building of our happinesse depends more then upon his rising from thâ— dead for from the grave some have risen buâ— from a Virgins womb no man yet came anâ— affoords new yea strong consolation more over all his other actings are bottom'd upoâ— this of his birth therefore is it to be weighâ—ed THE word expresseth encircling enâ—closing by which pure word insinuating hiâ— confinement in the Virgins womb anâ— abideing there as in his proper Cell untiâ— the time of life at which this MAN apâ—peared in the world but the manner of hiâ— being compassed is concealed from us the Angels expression The Holy Ghost shalâ— overshaddow thee Remorats curiosity Goâ— thereby intending to conceal the manner proâ—â—seth wholly a belief of the matter a shadow being but the absence of light by the interposition of a body the darknesse of the womb confineth our eye-sight and the power of the Highest dischargeth prying TO shew that he was born not to be admired or gazed at were easie and to prove that he was born for us is that which we all believe to demonstrate he was not born for himself but given to us that hath been heard from
the Prophets For say they to us a Child is born to us a Son is given Child yet before his Mother was he was a Son a wise Phisician and tender Saviour the omnipotent God to us is given a Child a Son respecting his two natures the first viz. Child expressing him real MAN as he was and cleared to be from his Genoâ—ogy from his soul body eating wearinesse fasting sleeping weaping from his being called Man the son of Man besides such representatives as GOD made of him under the Law as the seed of the woman of Abraham a Prophet from among your Brethren and Davids righteous branch The other word SON expressing him real God which he was being called alwayes the Son of God after his Resurrection after which time that phrase the Son of man is never used He is the everlasting Son of the Father Creator of all things giver of eternal life from the beginning confessed by the Angels demonstrated by his fasting by his miracles and that in the Temple where never miracles were wrought by man that being the place wherein God significantly would have his Son to be noticed and he proved from his working therein to be the Lord who was suddenly to come thereto Malach. 3. It being the house of his Father IN short by his suffering dying riseing from the dead he declared himself to be the Son of God with power for never MAN neither Moses Samuel nor any that called upon his Name neither Priest nor Prophet wrought miracles at their Death but he thâ— exploit of Sampson was rather wonderfulâ— then miraculous and came far short of thosâ—â—â—upendious actings at our Saviours giving up of the Ghost but at his rising from the grave so far he declared himself to be God that these words the Son of MAN are noâ— mentioned he said it behoved the Son of maâ— to suffer but being raised it was ought noâ— Christ to have suffered HOW elegantly hath S. Paul Philip 2. differenceâ— I shou'd have said united these two in these words who being in the forâ— of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God herein is the truth of his Son-ship and first part of his nature but made himself of 〈◊〉 reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men here is the truth of his Child-hood the other part of his being the Apostle expounding the Prophet would have said He was given to us who was in the form of God and born for uâ— who made himself of no Reputation this is the beginning middle and end of his nativity even to adore reverence that Love of God we who after he had made all things yet made himself MAN so mans good before this Child was born as a Son he governed all things but for nothing was he born save to serve that men might injoy all things and if the biâ—th of this Child this Son be accounted fabulous either by Iew or Greek because incredulous I passe the Vengeance shown on a lewd painter intending to draw our blessed Saviour in the form of Iupiter An. C. 436. whose hand by the Divinity of Christs power withering was again refreshed by Prayer Repentance and â—aith in the two natures though reason could not unfold the Union But let me know why the diseased lyon seeks out an ape by whose ugly tricks he as it were laughs himself into health how or what can cause an ovel ball of Virgin wax cast into the salt Sea fill it self with fresh water why should the Iew doubt of Marys Virginity since he believes the bush burned and was not consumed that Gideons fleece was wet and all the ground dry that Daniels stone was cut out of the Mountains without hands All these were antecedent to this the Spirit trolling us forward to believe the Mystery of the Incarnation from a Virgin overshadowed she being like the porch in Ezekiel 4.4 through which none was to pass because the Lord hath entred in by it he was the occult seâ—d which had we wanted we had been like to Sodom 1. Isa. he is the fruit of Davids body to sit upon Davidâ— throne other sons are the fruit of the Loins Psal. 132. but Christ was purely a fruit oâ— the belly for from Iosephs piety for Iesuâ— Dignity for the Honour of the Holy Ghost as we know Mary to have been a Virgin before her Conception so she is believed to have remained a Virgin ever after HIS Conception in the womb being the fund and bottom of all that followed in hiâ— Mediatory office in it resteth the inscrutablâ— Mystery of the two natures the possibility whereof in the Union of our capacious Souls with our finit infirm bodies is somewhaâ— cleared but admit this should not be reflected upon Heaven it seem'd resolves that thâ— A. B. C. of our profession should be wholâ—ly superstructed upon faith that the 〈◊〉 and Ground-sale might be conform to thâ— roof and both to stand upon his ipse 〈◊〉 the word of the Lord the Femal being 〈◊〉 only placed for the parent not a man to coâ—â—passe a woman whereby a man may be bâ—â—gotten but a woman a MAN by whicâ— Iesus was organiz'd AND if heathens beliâ—ved the possibility of Minervahs concepâ—ion in the brain of Iupiter without a woman may it not from truer gâ—ounds be trusted that Iesus was framed in the womb without a man it is certainly fabulous that Budda should have gendred in his side a Virgin buâ— for this truth what direful things have not been suffered and what consolation hath it not bred And the newnesse of the thing in the uniting God and man is said to have been registrat'd in the book of Heaven it self for all to see the Learned observing by their tables that upon the observed day of our Lords nativity viz. December 25. their fell the greatest conjunction of the eight and ninth speares in head of Aries that ever was and nature is not able to effect the like say they unlesse the world continue thirty or fourty thousand years a strange conjunction upon earth represented by another in heaven imports the Almighâ—y would have it wonder'd at HER name Mary imports a star and that of the Sea too designed in this particular to be eyed by such Mariners or rather questionists who in sailing through the Ocean of Divine Revelation Mysteries will needs be exerciseing the plummet and by the line of reason â—athâ—me in the depth of the wisdom of God or coast it by the shoar of their own interest opinion faction or concernment Mary in this being a better pilot by her own motion above her own reason in how can these things be steared towards the bay of Faith and of dependance in Be iâ— according to thy word and to her Honour cast anchor within the port of God's verity and omnipotency with God all things being possible and their striking sail saved her own Soul bringing him forth who is made to us of God
enforceth the same conclusion the word Child in other places not enervating the inferences that being used more effectually to demonstrate the verity of his INCARNATION THIS one word MAN proved a confounding Topick to the Iews in their pungent hopes of a Messiah foretold by a reaming Prophetissa of their own who being with child predicted of a deliverer in her womb her belly indeed grew yet their hopes grew bigger untill the Chast-Damosell was delivered of a lusty Girle which brought her Country-men to bed of a brown that is a shamefull and melancholy study But our Redeemer like the true Lamb of God Exod. 12. was taken from the flock of mankind a Male a MAN without blemish without sin In the evening born in the last age of the world and to be eaten whole believed wholly in as God Christ and Man Christ without which what can be thought of these Scriptures but forgeries as that he grew in wisdom and stature Math. 2. that is as MAN or that he knew not the Judgment day that is as MAN or that he made the worlds Heb. 1 or that he was in the beginning which is to be understood only as he was God so that our Iesus is canonically I should say Levitically fitted to be a sin offering by whose Masculine Vertue through grace the sins of the world are to receive expiation let none therefore in malice or in mirth henceforward maintain the Etymon of Woman to be wo to man but derive it rather from wonder of men all fixing and centering their eyes on this woman and this MAN as objects for samplars of joy and admiration SATAN at first by the Serpents craft abused the woman into credulity perswadiâ—g her too attentive ear to betray the heart into lust by which death triumph'd over all her Sons But here is a Daughter of Eva hearkning unto the words of an Angel of light baâ—â—ling Satan believing God rather yea bâ—foâ—e her self and becometh a great instrument of salvation wounding Satans head for her Son bruised it in which his craft and tongue are both destroyed and like David with the head of Goliath erects trophees and signs of eternal conquest over the legions of Death and Hell Conceiving by â—aith bearing by faith pondering in and storeing up in her heart â—hatever could corroborat her faith unâ—ill her Son had made both his and our enemies become his foot-stool By his horn FOR he is the horn of Salvation Luke 1 i. e. his power and beauty as by the horn of a Unicorn pushing yea breaking the Devils stem not only antidoting but annihilating any poyson he can or doth lay in our way to hurt us it is true that too great confidence made Eva talk with the Serpent she being without fear whence even in a Phisical sense for her punishment there yet is a pannick dread generally in her sex at the sight even of a dead snake but thogh Mary was terrified or put out of countenance at the Angels Salutation or first appearance conceiving him as is conjectured a man she solitary whence good in the accost might be suspected let in any case spiritual horrour in Serpentine discourses or Satanick blandishments or sinful appearances staining a good report contrary to Christian modesty to the fleshes satisfaction in any debauch be always rooted in us for avoiding the wages of either of these which is Death And if any put the evill day far off yet as the seed of the woman like things long look'd for came at last so the Veracity and truth of God shall at length display it self to the terrour of all adversaries and shall prosperously publish it self in accomplishing what ever it predicted for the believers consolation as after some thousand years by and in a woman was the promise of the seed in the person of our Saviour perfected A woman shall compasse a man is not this strength out of weaknesse and visibly evident at his birth she first bringing him forth we read of no Midwife next she wrapped him in swadling cloaths we find no assistance and she laid him in a manger BEHOLD a new thing cheefly in civiliz'd Nations in honest births Tulliola the Daughter of Cicero dyed in labour Iulia the Daughter of Caesar dyed in Child-bed and weaknesse generally is found in Travel and help called for in bringing forth but this Hebrew woman was strong and in History neither had nor demanded aid Joseph her spouse not dareing to touch what he begat not or it may be was exercised about some other employment while she swadled the Child and laid him in a manger THE ancients generally record it to be of a rock and histories registrat the truth of that to have been seen of many and what more pertinent for the rock upon whom the Church was to be builded then a rock for him the Mystical foundation to be laid in But of this cum Deo we shall speak elswhere and Ioseph standing by when the shepherds entered to shun the surmise of scandal and remove the beginnings of an ill bruit apt enough to kindle in the breasts of them whose hard heartednesse drove his great bellyed mother to a stable for though there was at the birth of Iohn great joy yet at Christs save in heaven and in shepherds we read of little but that world knew no better we have more full intelligence and understand though our hearts be rocky and our bosoms as the stable common filthy and unclean yet he is born a Saviour to deliver us from both as a Moses to break the one as a Hercules pardon the comparison to cleanse the other for which let the Holy bâ— glad because here is a rule let the honourable rejoice for here is a fountain the humble for here is a pattern the dying for here is life the sinner for here is a Redeemer born who purposeth to pay their Ransome and for that end more enriched then was that Silesian Child born A D. 1585 Decem. 22. In whose mouth afterwards was found a great jawtooth of gold approaching to the Carat of Hungary for he hath precious bloud without which there is no remission which as a priâ— from his holy body he shall deposit to procure us from slavish servitude and spirit of bondage and therefore in these days it is unlawfull to be surly out of spite and unholy to be sad except for sin touch taste and see that God is good and rejoice for to you is born a Saviour Christ the Lord. AVGVSTVS about this time this good time by proclamation order'd none to call him Lord prompted sure unto it by a spirit not of flesh and bloud so let no lust rule over you but bow the knee to him of whom it 's said And let all the Angels of God worship him pay tribute unto him who is over all the world evidencing that where ever you are as Ioseph in Galile that there is peace with you towards him having either yeelded or being subdued by the
most august serene Lord Iesus who was by the Spirit given to this woman and by whom is published Heaven to be at peace with men and women uniting these two together and both unto it self that peace might be on Earth and goodwil towards each other and both give glory by submission unto God ceasing from contention Salvation comeing by Iesus and Honour with Christ to men who are but dust and ashes WHEN the Almighty doth wonderously men should be surably affected here is a Prophet created a King anointed a Priest consecrated a Phisician born what more a Saviour encompassed let this be your tydings Christ is born in Bethlehem and leave your flocks ascending to him who came down in your heart and love for in your Salvation there is utility in his Vnction swavity in his INCARNATION Majesty for he hath bowed the heavens and is to be found in the swadling cloâ—ths of Precepts Sacraments and Promises of all which the Angels of the Church have told you because of which heavenly testimonies expect not a star in the air I mean a new miracle or a new good way of your own chuseing but draw near and behold this new thing proclaiming it to each other as the two cousings Mary and Eâ—izabeth that Jew and Gentile may both rejoice together in the birth of their common Saviour and that with hast our Saviours birth as his doctrinâ— being prolifick dischargeth oscitancy and slouth having a proper work which must industriously be gone about viz. Sanctiâ—y the digâ—ity of the Spirits working in thiâ— supernatural manner having morally a coercive power to suspend terâ—en matters and carry the soul to the hilly Country by affection in the sweetest Cell of the Souls complacency and thence again to issue orders unto all faculties to abstain from filthinesse to Love the Lord to speak good of his Name CHRIST being as at this time born as at this time the Angels sang the Heavenly host praised the Shepherds glorified which in our leading pious holy and Religious lives shal also satisfactory to God and Jesus our Lord be performâ—d for which this new thing was created the World being grown old exceeding old that is thin crazy and bare Adams disobedience the Angels fall Cain's slaughter Lamech's Murder Nimrod's oppression the Giants Impurity Babels Confusion c. had so marred the visage of this Earth that the heavens groaned to be delivered from its aspect from its scent as if Mezuntus Tyranny had been anticipated who tyed living men to stinking carcasses for their death and his own sport But at last God sent his Son in flesh with water that the Earth as the Garden of the Lord being well watered and as Pharao'hs Kine made fresh faire and well favoured or as David of a goodly countenance in imitation of this woman by humility for though she was Mother of our Lord she visited First in charity for she came to help the aged Elizabeth to assist the conceived and comfort her cousing now impregnat in her dolors burthens longings faintings and domestick affairs in her Modesty she was a teeming woman and at the time of her delivery Mary the Virgin returned home in her Oratory she spake so well that the Bab of grace leaped in the others womb And lastly in her Civility for she saluted Elizabeth no question but with civil honour and Religious reverence for the Mother salutes the cousing the cousing Mary and the Baptist both all with earnestnesse and serious holinesse mixed with joy or if you please in imitation of the MAN in Love for as the Son of our Mother he is come down that we may kiss him with the kisses of our mouth in comforting the shepherds when cloathed with darknesse and it may be with sadnesse were comforted with joyfull tydings in suffering he endured the worst a stable a manger for all his innate worth and former glory he fretted not at 〈◊〉 he cryed it was for mans sorrow in doing he went about doing good and so let us compasâ— each other with Religious delight celebratâ—ing this feast very near as old as the Gospel not now only but alwayes with the Church â— Virgin yet the Lambs wife by Faith hope and Charity that they being found with us 〈◊〉 Ioseph Mary and the Bab were by the shepâ—herds may live as they soberly righteously and godlily which perfected we shal not be cast out of the heaven of the Church with Lucifer nor out of the paradise of powerâ—full ordinances with Adam but enter into the new Ierusalem which is above by vertue of this new thing created in Ierusalem beâ—neath THE method of obtaining which 〈◊〉 included in the marrow and significancy 〈◊〉 such names whose bearers were more peculiarly grandiz'd in the history of Incarnation Ioseph by interpretation is addition Mary bitternesse Zacharias minding the Lord Elizabeth peace of my God Gabriel strength or man of God and Iohn gracious now a good Name is in Herauldry accounted an accomplishment gentilizing the vertuous And we find in godly saints accrewment of honour to be attended with change of names for the case in hand let this days solemnity add one cubit to the stature of your knowledge touching the pravity and bitternesse of natural self by reflecting upon what the Lord hath now done for our indwelling with him becomeing men of God inspirited with peace when the Spirit shall write on the table of the heart Grace Grace teaching us all our life long to celebrat on Christmas that is Christs-feast in the old Saxon the holy Eve of that Eternal yule or Iubile in the holy Hebrew where old Emanuel now Iesus shal be worshipped with everlasting Jubilation FROM this MANS encompassing the Holy Ghost pleads for Israels returning and 〈◊〉 this back-sliding age would suffer a word of Exhortation I should motive for Modesty now Pharaoch's physicians wold sense a childs â—onfinement in the womb a womans nourishing of her fruit or how the Egyptian midwives would retail the particulars couched in the expression I presume not to know but there is a MAN and a WOMAN in the text and the copula joining them together is chast and comely there is mention made of the attire of an Harlot Prov. 7. and we read of the solicitations of a whore Gen. 39. but the knowledge of Christ ought to instill sobriety in all our converse Men Woman Women Men at meeting or a part contriving the contexture of their discourse the Methods of their thoughts the sentiments of their soul to be spirited with that vertue A Father observes that Ioseph gave no assistance to Mary she swadling she laying him in a manger he not dareing to touch so holy a Bab whom he Knew to be none oâ— his It 's also and there from incumbent 〈◊〉 the mystical beholding of our Lord to returâ— from our irreverent behaviour and give hiâ— his just devoir how unseemingly wil soâ—â— touch Christ in the Supper as if the 〈◊〉 were their own bread and wine when it
is his body How rudely will other skip tread walk and frisk upon 〈◊〉 ground as if it were their own furroâ— their own tale their own house their 〈◊〉 Romance Certainly the Gospel is scandaliz'd by the sordidnesse of some mens unclean fingering mouthing writing yea Printing of the person of Iesus so contumeliously that it would be Death in Turky to word it so of Mahomet I know intimacy and acquaintance is pretended yet that ought not to offer rudenesse to the serenity of his countenance the sanctity of his Laws the dignity of his person the excellency of his being which are infring'd to that degree of mockage that were he once again upon Earth he might say to such what a great yet affable Emperour said unto a Churle who confidently made invitation yet nigardly served up his meat which was I did not think there had been such Familiarity betwixt us BELIEVE it what in the state by policy in the Church by Simony in trade by defrauding in Religion by opinionating in faction by abetting in the road by stealing in the Sea by pyratting in common talk by filthy discourseing in print by unholy applying in the house by slandering in designs by oppressing in the counting house by tricking and in our hearing of the word with itching our holy and ever-glorious Lord is made and accounted as a common thing wash your hands therefore you sinners purifie your hearts you Hypocrites for how unprosperously all this is done is known long ago to the Jew and may in due time be evidenced to us Gentiles if so besotted as not already to have full instruction since this new thing hath been created on the Earth A woman shall compass a MAN This Generation old because so long lying in wickedness seemeth incapacitat for amendment But as when S. Paul was weak that is in himself then was he strong that is iâ— Grace and as when the impotent Man complained of his want of a man to assist him towards a cure Iohn 3. The MAN in the text said Rise take up thy bed and walk it is hoped there is an holy seed in the womb of our Mother Church springing toward and hastning forward the desire of the godly and truly Religions of the Nations some holy Simeon that is obedient hearer expecting the Lords salvation and some devout Anna's that is gracious and merciful waiting that is praying for the Redemption of our Israel from the division-ating hub-ubs wherewith she is entangled in practising and perswading for peace and Holiness which as from the womb of a Mary or Mara of all or any that is in bitternesse for our grosse back-slidings shall hasten the production of comfort and tranquility in the knowledge of a Iesus born to save us from our sins MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE CIRCUMCISION OF Our Lord and SAVIOUR Unfolded and applied Circumcision Day Tolbooth Church 1671. New Years Day Tolbooth Church 1671. LUKE II. XXI And when eight days were accomplished for the Circumcising of the Child his name was called Jesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the womb AS we find no nation the old Savages of Mount Atlas excepted but found a necessity and from natural as wel as politick causes gave proper and distinct names to things and persons so in civiliz'd nations ingenuity and law prompted them to pitch upon a time proper for designing their issue by them When Cain Abraham or Lot were so denominated is not so far as I know upon record but Christianity hath generally observed and followed near about the time of the Iews who were strictly tyed to the observance of the eight day from Isaac who was but eight days old when he felt the knife and afterward in all ages each Male was to have the sign of the Covenant in his foreskin under the penalty of being cut off a phrase among the Iews intimating a liablenesse to the wrath and vengeance of the Lord in the highest measure and was concluded to be the greatest most cursed of all threatnings in Scripture as a punishment not inflicted by man but an impending vengeance of God on earth imprinting say some the certainty of dying Childlesse and towards heaven say others importing the Gospel's Anathema Maranatha the offendour peculiarly being seperate for a curse when the Lord cometh as hateing his holy institution for which also his indignation may be felt in being cut off in the midst of their dayes as is evident in Moses tarrying in the Inn fearing to go down to Egypt wherefore that irregularity in no rite might be charged upon the Son of God now born of the seed of Abraham when eight dayes were accomplished they came to the Circumcision of the Child and called his Name Iesus Circumcision importeth bloud and since without that there is no remission withal being to speak of a Saviour I know no better object to present before you then a ruddy then a bloudy IESVS for because of the Circumcision he may say to the Church his wife a bloody spouse art thou to me and her name since Abel may be Aceldama a field of bloud as being bought with a price of bloud and still sprinkled with that bloud which bought it as that field was with his bloud who took that price as the text imports Acts 1. or she may be called Damascus a bag of bloud where and because our Brother the Lord as Abel was slain by his brethren Iewish Cainits out of envy and whose bloud at this time beginning to be shed crys loud to heaven speaking better things CIRCVMCISION is a short word yet of a large sense and as applied here maketh three miracles to be discovered First the eternal God who was before all worlds and made time dividing it between day and night is found to be eight days old next the impassible Lord of Glory unto whom there be no augmentation or increase nor diminution or lessening of parts is made lesse by the foreskin Lastly the ineffable Iehovah who is above all Names in heaven or earth is called IESVS IT was and is ordinary with God to ratifie his pretious promises to the Church by appending signs as seals reason it self being dim except the eye perceive something illustrious or takeing in things purely natural how much more in spiritual the bow in the cloud the dew in Gideons fleece the change of Abrahams name the whole pedagogy of Law and among others this sign of Circumâ—cision held in so great veneration as to be reckoned above that is greater then the Law for it was before the Tables preferred to the Sabbath for even on that day it was not to be omitted hence S. Paul wisely caveating the Philippians Philip. 3. against its use reflects not upon the word yer presseth its neglect and chargeth warrinesse under the notion of Concision Being then purely a pareing or cutting of the flesh not a sign of the Covenant which as such not only with Iews but with
the order of Aaron nor as a Prophet for their unction shewed their lawfull successour whereas he succeeded none for all before him were thieves and robbers Iohn 10. insinuating that all the Prophets were either after him or came along with him art thou the Christ said the Messengers to Iohn is not this the Christ said the woman of Samaria that is he who was to be the Messiah the anointed one and this name of Christian from Vnction is most proper for men to use they if believing receiving some measure of that holy oyl the Spirit of God which was given to him without measure But some contrary to this name delight in the word Catholick and some of these Catholicks again glorie in the appellation Iesuits and both of these scandalously use some countries in particularly in Italy and in Rome it self to make the glorious and honourable name of Christian to signify an Idiot a Dolt a very fool which shews their impious arrogance in boasting of what is proper to Rome nor Romes Doctrine as now taught the word Catholick being of no worth unlesse Holy be added and their spiritualiz'd pride in stamping the name Iesus upon a few making him the head of a faction assuming a name so glorious so ineffable as if salvation were only to be found in their colledges and Christ himself to be only of their order GIVE us the name of Christian signifying out hops in his Authority and the sense of it also as heirs of his purchase together with the obligation of it as being bound to his doctrine chiefly first in reprobating the worlds vanity for Io. 6.15 perceiving that they would come and take him by force to make him a King he departed next strennously to exercise repentance for he was the lamb slain then fervidly to exercise Charity for he prayed for his enemies and lastly studying purity in the whole man for he taxed the Pharisees for cleaning the outside of the Cup. SO being Christians in truth let 's leave others to boast of being Catholicks and brag of their Iesuitism we shal exult in our Lord Iesus Christ honouring revering but not dareing to assume the name Iesus there being no other name under heaven by which we can be saved Christian including only our duty obedience and respect unto Christ whereas Iesus imploys his office and benifits towards us and therefore no project how devoutly so-ever carried on ought to appear under that notion in the world and truly the interpretation of the same being known the inapâ—nesse thereof as to Ignatius Disciples would as clearly appear as the incongruous name Cosmographers give to the Magelanican sea calling it Mare Pacificum that is peaceable whereas the Pilot finds it still rageing and stormy which they are to that degree that they are a burthen a curse and cursed by the generality of that Church wherein they so monstrously breed and if obedience Laws designs scops give names they are neither to be called Ignatians nor Iesuits but Popelings IESVS is his name and Salvation is his office and our profession proclaims our acceptance of him for a Saviour yet who will â—enter a cut or a bruise because he hath a salve or oyntment or break his arm upon confidence of a skilfull Chirurgeon So no lesse warrinesse against offending issueth from the knowledge of a born Redeemer whom we are to use not as Mountebanks for sale of their balsoms viz try his efficacy or skill by putting our selves upon spiritual hazards and run risks in eternal concerns but as wise men avoid both danger and infection and either happening consult him as we do a learned wise Phisician agaiâ—â—t the impurity of our birth unrulinesse of our lâ—â—es and horrour of our death against all which he is a Saviour and ready to help for he was called Iesus IT hath been an old complaint that the celebration of our Lords Nativity in these days hath been polluted by Pagan-like behaviour as if by it we had been liberate from God Sabbaths and Temptations and tyed to nothing but idleness gluttonness and wantonnesse not as God but as if the Devil had been incarnat and this is not of yesterday for we find the Ancients exprobating the case with Christians for their beholding observing some wanton rites of Ianus at this time celebrated yet their zeal was attended with greater knowledge then to raze these dayes out or expunge them from the Kalendar but rather their people from sin the observation of which time being accounted by them as it is yet with the Churches of the Saints at home or abroad reform'd a godly a goodly practice the protestants in Holland France Switzerland Germany c. joins in this practice with the Church of old and we as Brethren ought in charity not to condemn them though we withdraw our Amen In not consenting to that observance LET us abhorring the lasciviousnesse of the Gentile the scandalous practice of the irreligious equally avoiding the maliciousnesse of the Iew serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling Circumcising our selves in our flesh externally by seemlinesse in our apparel to be in our actings irreprehensible and in our speech that it be not contemptible and in the Spirit also internally which consists likewise in three as in our thoughts that they be holy in our affections that they be pure and in our purposes that they be honest all which is most necessary though they may be thought severe as was cutting off the prepuce of the foreskin under the Law by â— knife importing how fast sin stuck and how dear lust is BVT off it must or we shall be cut off râ—ther then which let it go and as about this time there was for our good a new birth a new mother a new Son a new Song a new Marriage a new Spouse a new Brid a new Testament a new Inheritance a new Sacrifice a new Sign a new Child a new Yâ—ar we ought to have new lives laying aside the old leaven of malice wrath envy and all uncharitablenesse going beyond that is exceeding the superstitiousness not to say the righteousness of those Pharisees the Iews who will not eat what is either sour or bitter on their new-years-day but sweet almonds figs rasins as also fish a type of that candor inoffensivenesse that they are to shew towards all the year after before whom their good works must abound and multiply as fish in the Sea that is numerously exercising our selves sincerely at all times in the things that may accompany Salvation and wherewith one may edifie another unto which Circumcion of old did morally enforce and Christs Baptism with ours also doctrinally proposeth IN the Kingdome of Portugal there hath been for above three hundreth years an order of Knight-hood entitled of Iesus Christ that King being Soveraign of the order and held in great esteem not to sensure the Acts of Princes if Cnicht or Knight in our old Saxon English be interpreted a servant as Iames and S.
born that is the promised Messiah in whom all the Kingdoms of the earth is and was to be blessed therefore in no Nation is there ground to despair AND though some degenerat from these their religious Gentile Ancestors either by loyttering at home in their carnal security purposing neither to take pains for nor travel after salvation or play at the door in their superstitious formal idolatry or Debauching within by their scandals and impure deportment yet having wise Preachers experienc'd in the study of heavenly Scriptures which as the star over the house shew where Christ is to be found let us unite in devotion and being faithful with the Saints part with whatever lust is dear and sweet knowing it is our wisdom so to do being Christ and his Gospel are above the price of all lusts though supposed Rubies LET Herod be troubled and great men moved against submission to the scepter of Christ for touch the Mountains they will smoak and Jerusalems inhabitants be in an uproar each one about his particular concern suggesting trouble and war by changeing of Kings and Governours upon which in all probability their fear was grounded for none went with the Magi from Ierusalem either fearing to appear despairing of successe or for such like cause yet this is but the course of wordly wisdom which being Earthly sensual is to be avoided by the Man of God whom neither Herodians of ambition nor Ierusalemits of pannick fear so far shal obscure wisdom or occasion defiling of conscience as to make him afraid of or tremble to hear of Christs approach but rather calleth why tarrieth the wheels of his Chariot having a desire to be with Christ obeys that sound of heaven the charge of Ierusalem his Mother the Church going forth to meet this King Cant. 3 11. now crowned in his cradle and having heard of this in Ephrata seeks and finds him in the wood of the Cratch and ark of the Church rejoyceing as they that find rich treasure and good reason for he is found in Bethlehem i. e. the house of bread and under that notion implys all happinesse to his visitants to his Receivers the tittle of life adding Eternity to his crums which when enjoyed the snars of death are avoided AS these Magi left Ierusalem a crafty Herod the skilfull Scribs who durst not deny what the Scripture recorded yet shuned to believe what the Wise revealed bringing damnation upon their souls the more speedily for their base ingratitude the more desparingly for their great knowledge the more inexcusably for dissembling with Herod so let us relinquish and turn our backs upon those Sirens stopping our ears against the songs and counsels devices secrets that by the wicked witty the demure in hypocrisy the knowing in disobedience are laid any way to debar us from the regular path of Gods revealed will in persuance of enjoying that blessed sight which is in the star light of a promise offered to us how difficult soever it may seem to flesh and bloud leaving the politick and carnal to their Interrogatories their Questions their fears their scruples what may be what shall be rather then what is to be done things which is to be feared in our days have made our Lord to go further from us then he was once dare I name that place to be in Egypt HERODS Hypocrisie made him promise adoration his timidity made him search and ask not where the King of the Iews but where Christ should be born the Question to the Iews is made in privat by the Gentiles it 's made in publick the reply represents and infers the Jews to have answered where our Saviour not where their's was to be born because they believed not in him nor rejoyced at his birth nor travel'd to his lodging and at this day for unbelief they are a scatter'd people through the earth still beholding that faith published and gloried in unto which they are enemies which no doubt adds to their torture shame despondency and grief having neither Temple Priest nor sacrifice of their own as other Nations yea hardly retaining their name but by a few absurd and ridiculous ceremonies for which being derided by all Nations and accounted murtherers Iesus being deemed innocent increaseth their astonishment and is reckoned by Travellers the formal cause of that pregnancy or rather subtility of wit which proverbialy is applied unto them their Religion putting them under a general odium they are driven to help them-selves by base shifts whereby bandyting themselves against the rest of mankind they are better studyed in malice and mischief then other men for which each Visier and Basha of state in Turky keeps a Iew of his privy Council by whose malice wit experience intelligence it 's thought most of that mischief is contrived which is executed upon Christendome yet at the same time that Iew is so hated that would I might die a Iew if this be so is one great curse in Turky and he dare not yea cannot become Turk unlesse first Christ be acknowledged a true Prophet which still must edge his envy and more ferment his spite IT is said one of these Magi was a Black Moor and master-painter limns accordingly but I shall not swear to the truth hereof yet there can be no danger to maintain to such who credite the report that in our addresses unto Christ the outward appearance the difference of or about things external the clearness of the souls knowledge or doubtings in the bosome blacknesse of the soul contracted by fear and horrour or dwelling in the torrid zone of persecution affliction or desertion as it ought not to deter from the embracements of our Lord in the house of the Church so neither in others should it represent any cause of interrupting their well intended progresse in those religious duties of prostration or adoration since the Saviour of the world is an Advocaâ— with the Father speaking peace and shal accept of their attendance before the throne in good and comfortable words as be of good chear thy sins are forgiven whereby they shal not only be cloathed in white but like David have a goodly and ruddy countenance that is be well favoured in the serenity of a good conscience marching forward toward their own because desired country with as large strids of zeal affection and discourse as amply how and which way their service was accepted prayers heard doubts cleared as any of them whose complexion i. e. whose soul at fiâ—st setting out was of a more amiable colour or allureing temper ARE there not persons who with the Scribs can readily inform where Christ should be born and that he is to be believed upon in faith working by Love can talk of the Kingdom of God tasting the powers of the world to come by many fathoms go deeper in the speculative parts of Divinity speaking as if they had seen the Trinity talked with God first take wing and then flee out of the sight of ordinary capacities
whole one is thought infallibly to do it yea some tarrying at home dreaming as Pilats wife waking give good directions thinking all as true Revelations what their fancy malice or prejudice can suggest as was that of the Wise Men to return to their own Country concludes their salvation to be sealed not considering that their wisdom made them travel onward embraceing difficulties chearfully and that they saw not the star untill they left Ierusalem and that they had no vision in their sleep untill they had sought out Christ diligently when they were awake so that in earnest that text which most of all grounds the Iew in his incredulity and what they stick most unto in their malice against the Gospel viz. neither did his brethren believe on him may be by them Atheistically urged but neither do his followers believe on him and to our shame may be a dead stroak to the point for which they presse the former WE read that Simeon had revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he shold not dy untill he saw the Lords Christ the occasion of which revelation we find to be this vi He doubting of the truth of that Prophesy A Virgin shall bring forth a Son an angel stood by assureing his not tasting of Death untill he saw the accomplishment of that truth whereof he scrupled not to comment upon the story it is sure that inadvertence idleness and sloath in things spiritual are not attended with the knowledge of sacred Mysteries Daniel saw the vision searching for the meaning Gabriel was sent to cause him understand when the Angel appeared to the Shepherds they were keeping their flocks and the star appeared to the Wise Men at first employing their gifts for advance in learning God deals oft with men in their own way God gave Hezekia a sign from the Sun it is given out he was a great student of the Mathematicks the second time the star was seen they were upon their journey in Ierusalem they saw it not there is time and place wherein Christ is enquir'd after and not found to seek consolation in things terrene is to seek the living among the dead or as Ioseph and Mary among their kinsmen and acquaintance some seek him as Herod to destroy him to many we may say ye ask and receive not because ye ask amisse to bestow it on your lusts there is place and time wherein Christ is to be sought and found Mary sought him and found him in the Temple yet she was at pains three days the woman found him in the garden yet they sought him with tears Zacheus sought to see and found him on the Sycamour yet he sought him with care and our Wise Men sought for him with care hazzard zeal love and cost and found him FIRST let 's know our selves to be Magi Wise Men own and know our selves to be but MEN that is flesh such as have separated from God worshipping stocks and stones and given over to direful lusts next let 's come from the east with Abraham Isai. 41 preferring Christ to country kinred despising gems riches and costly Jewels chiefly to be found in the east which as soft beds â—ull the Soul asleep makeing flesh contemn the invitations Christ maketh for entrance and do this betimes at the sun rising of our days Mary Magdalen came about the sun rising saw the sepulchre not her Lord and being there were several of these Wise Men let us learn the benefits of religious Associats for where two or three are gathered together to seek he will be found but our meeting must be in peace for they came and they came together and they came together to Ierusalem the vision of peace for only when we are in peace he will come and speak peace saying be not afraid I am Iesus whom ye seek OBSERVE there is not a state or condition wherein man can fall but Christ hath been discovered and in it found as in a married estate under which he was born though not by it in a Virgin estate in which he was born in a studious estate for he was found among the Doctors in an Artificer or handy-craft estate so he was oft found with Ioseph at an honourable treat so he was by Mary Magdalen in a croud or pent up in a throng so by Zacheus in a Garden so by the woman in poverty so by the Shepherds in any place in Iudea in Egypt among the Samaritans and lastly in the house the poor house the despised house as by the Magi yet still as condemning idlenesse and exciting to diligence he was found of them that sought after him WE have seen his star in the east say the Magi but whether they in the east saw it over Ierusalem or over themselves in the east or if it was an Angel as a star or a star and a Child in it is not worthy of search or refutation for it 's we have seen and are come exemplifying promptnesse that with Lot we should not linger when by some secret inspiration we are warned of removeal as Lot did when advised to leave Sodom but as Simeon when the spirit excits to enter the temple remembring also Lots wife seasoning our selves by her salt that corruption being exsicâ—at in our mortal bodys we may go forward in our spiritual progresse at the removing of the Ark or moving of the cloud it 's motion being not for satisfying of our sight but for putting forward our feet not to stand by but to follow after i. e. these Wise Men untill we see our Lord and who shall by the noise of the worlds confusion Jerusalems trouble or by the beauty of gâ—udy pictures of appearing benefits slight the powerfull documents of the Gospel despise the beautiful face of an amiable Iesus will be condemned by these Philosophers who in duty set their face as though they would go to Ierusalem not fearing the wrath of the King though enquiring after another then he or Augustus either though over the Iews they had made themselves Kings whereas he whom they seek was a King born and exceeding Sapores of Persia who yet was crowned in the belly the crown being set upon his Mothers womb for suppressing faction but this was a King and so conceived and therefore named before he was conceived in the womb had a star to indicat his regality which they call his star as being deputed for that office others being made for times and seasons yet this for this time to shine to move to stand according as our progresse toward him advanceth or is impeded and when that is done to withdraw it's shining NO ways giving countenance to these two-peny I mean Mercenary Astrologers who pretend from the stars to judge the futurity of events depending not so much upon natural causes as reasons and deliberat consultation seconded by providence assisting or marâ—ing the design it were no puzzeling question to demand if the Magi by this star ordained to signifie our Lords Nativity
or any thing relating to the death of Christ had been appointed for a curse so ineffable are the Mysteries of his CROSSE and horrours of his suffering and yet his drinking thereof that is the enduring and undergoing of them exceedingly pourtrays the vehemency of his desire for accomplishing mans happinesse which all his Sermons miracles actings watchings fastings evince saying still I thirst but at last conquered and triumphed over the Devils and men makeing us this day to blesse the Lord in the house of the Lord as did our elder Brethren in the day of Iehosophat when fighting againâ—t the Moabits and Ammonits in this same ground calling it Baracha that is blessing 2. Chro. 20. THE curses being removed due to fallen man for sin maketh no death to be though the sinner may dâ— accursed wherefore in death the tree is still and may be used though in honour to our Saviour the use of the crosse was abolished by Constantin the first Christian Emperour haveing seen before his famous battel with the Infidel Maxentius in the South a shining crosse in the air with this inscription in hoc vince he conquer'd by which the Church had peace round about Christ sent his Disciples two and two into every City where he was to come to prepare eyes ears and heart for his own reception that at his comeing they might receive the Holy Ghost so eminent was his thirst so longing his desire whether in eaâ—th or heaven for mans benefit for mans Salvation DAVID in many things was a typ of Christ and in this prefigured him also that as the Hart panted after the water brooks so panted his soul after God David in Christ was crucifâ—ed and Christ in David thirsted as the Hart which beast bearing naturally an antipathy to Serpents first sucks them out of their holes then rents them they again when not prevailing by force claspeth about his horns lyeth on his back to bit he for defence roulleth on his back and brusing them â—layeth them with which he is so heated that he is not at rest until he drink the applicablenesse of which to Christ is conspicuous who by the power of his breath commanded the Devils out of the possessed and by lying on his back a few hours in the grave overcame their greatest force before which how mightily he did glocitare pant and roare out that terrible cry My God my God why hast thou forsaken me an expostulation in death shewing the things he suffered and contents of what we are to do speaking this for his peoples instruction in taking inspection in calamitous times into the principal cause of their distressâ—s where faulty with the thief to say we indeed justly if otherwise sinceâ—ity appear in our tendencies to please him then to plead with him Remember Lord said Hezekiah I have walked before thee with a perfect heart why then should I dy Childlesse why should thy promise made to my Father David fail in me THOVGH with Iob for a while we suffer for secret causes yet with him let us hold fast our Faith as Christ not saying O God but My God my God why hast thou forsaken me words that discover so much of a man that but for to Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise we might demure upon his being God and in themselves hard to be understood yet this is perceptible that in strong temptations the truth of things being hid we judge of them and of our own state worse then they are the ingemination shews innocence to be enflamed because it suffered and the affluence of his sorrows so directed as to Ecclipse in him the wonted consolations in the Fathers fellowship which though wanting yet he endured his own zeal unexpressibly irritating him for â—ins removing his teeth on the CROSSE being set on edge because we in the field so greedily had eaten sour grapes CEDRON is also said to be black from it's shadinesse as being shadow'd by the mount of Olives over which David pâ—ssed bare-headed and weeping his Son our Lord was appointed for the same pilgrimage though not upon the same ground David weeping for his Son who had moved Rebellion Christ weep'd for sins committed by Rebellion David saw something in himself meriting that blacknesse and therefore cry'd Christ saw that nothing was in man that deserved clearnesse yet that his head might want no oyntment and that his garments might be always white he travelled towards this black brook under Olives the very place inspiring this observe that because of it's fruitfulnesse of oyl used in medâ—caments and one of the ingredients of the Samaritans recipe for the cure of the wounded traveller our Lords death is declared proper for cure of our spiritual wounds for strengthning our weaknesse in wrestling against principalities and powers Devils who may by permission embitter our waters yet as the horn of the Vnicorn is medicinal in healing infected fountains the plunging whereof by it causing other beasts to drink securely so application to his CROSSE as Moses to the tree Exod. 15. maketh our bitter waters to become sweet our afflictions to become easy our burthen to become light he having antidoted their evil by drinking that is by bearing of them before us yea by it our sins shall our very lusts shall have a tendency for good the remembring of Piters sin made him bitterly weep yet may we not say it made him diligently to watch he afterward not comparing himself with others attested his own Love not falling back again into the condemnation of the Devil by over-rating of himself FILTH or Earth may cause ones hands to scour the better and after washing to become the whiter this was designed in his blood viz. that we should be pure white and holy by washing our selves therein his bloud having that property to make our very garments white as in the vision Reve. â— hinting at that remission of sin which by blood was obtained in the Law As Herod therefore sought this Holy Childs life to take it and destroy it let us seek his death that is the benefit of it that we may live by it and in it with as great earnestnesse as he laid it down for he is said to drink of the brook in the way IN the way that is walking forward that is takeing no rest untill as Naomi he had setled his Church he being that Goel Ruth 3.9 the next kinsman appointed Redeemer of his Church and by right of inheritance to betroth the Gentile Church as Ruth unto himself he as Boaz being a Jew born in Bethlehem not by pulling of his shoe but by being stripped of his garments yea robbed of his life Judas lingred as did Lot but was â—oused with a what thou dost do quickly a charge not enjoyning diligence but evidencing impatience wishing for and suggesting sufferance of that which a treacherous heart had in dissimulation contrived and concealing from the other Apostles his treason by this declaration least a moments stay had been
self experience the brusing of the serpents head PROVIDED he come not as Iudas to betray him or his cause for love of this present world the poyson whereof infecting the heart of Iudas to mercilesse treacherie eating up the bowels of compassion made to retaliat his crime his own bowels to be cast into the earth yet not so low but they stand as a beacon that we may avoid an evill custome pilfring and stealing the consequence thereof an evill conscience and the perfection of that the place prepared for hypocrites and unbelievers but what Pilat said thy own nation have delivered thee unto me may both Turk and Pagan say of Christ the lives of Christians scandalizing the nations through avarice pride interest and malice contradicting that good confession My kingdom is not of this world securing Pilat from fear of rebellion or disturbance in his Government by stratagems of war or engines of State whereas by both we seek not only to invade the territories and dominions of those differing from us but maligâ—s corrupts deâ—ames enviously calling away away with them who in principles of Religion are one with our selves AS Iudas avarice one the on hand â—o Peter's Arrogance is to be avoided on the other ingoing over this brook he also went with Christ arrogating to himself what was not in him he seemed as the Pharisee to despise others and gave to his Master a flat contradictory speech in the vehemency of his supposed constancy a warning for the strongest to say I am weak since his fall from the occasion of it a Woman a Maid a Wench pricks the bladder of self confidence and causes the informed to bear a low sail least if by his example doctrine be not drawn of humility Pride become our ruine as we see in those days in which holinesse that is strictnesse getting an honourable name becomes a shelter a pent house for more subtile sinners their subtilty being only in this viz in a high ungrounded conceit of themselves from which if we this day arise it shall be good-friday forgetting the lâ—cks which by many of you is eat this day as a proper food as well as the onyons and garlike of earthly sensuality makeing the breath of our Spiritual converse too too ranky fâ—ast upon the sour herbs of lowly and repentant considerations being circumcis'd Israelits and proper for the Paschal Lamb of the Gospel compensing the dâ—shonour we have given the most high by sinfull because fleshly dainties by the sorrow and sighings bitter reflections from a mortified because converted soul for denying the Lord that bought us being first remembred by the Cock croâ—ing next by Iesus looking that is by the sound of the word next by meditation thereof remembring he said the Lord resisteth the proud but giveth Grace to the humble as the justifying the Publican in the paâ—able discovers THE ancients in their baptism did dip or sprinkle three times the baptized in remembrance of the holy Trinity or the three dayes lying in the grave of the Son of man that even in this demersion they might be conformed to the sufferings of their Lord and how hath S. Pa. boasted of his being crucifyed with Christ and presseth to the likenesse of his death for our being crucified by keeping from the filthinesse of the flesh and walking with Zacharias Righteously one hand being nailed that is bound up against the injustice of the world and with Elizabeth Blamlesly the other hand detained from the intemperance of the world making straight paths for our feet in a prudent heeding of our ways our hearts and sides pierced with the spear or sword of the word of God and thence as bloud and water to flow forth Love to God charity to man crowned with the sharp thorns of inward compunction for our folly and of outward compassion for our Brothers adversity beholding the solidity of this world to be but emptinesse of a Spunge and all it's delights as Vineger to the teeth forbearing to drink of that Myrhe of envy malice and all uncharitablenesse wherewith the world doth in extremity furnish her prisoners and captives as Christ knew THEN may the soul cry the prince of this world cometh and findeth nothing in me and again Father into thy hands I commit my Spirit which at the bowing down of the head in giving up the Ghost by dying to sin shall cause thy soul be cloathed with the fin linnen of the Saints and be admitted into the Paradise of joy the body being hid during the three days of suffering what God shall impose labouring to keep a good conscience and grieving for the abominations of the world after which in the morning of the Resurrection by the Ministry of the Angels meet the Lord in those mountains of Galile whereof he hath told us that is in the clouds IF any will be so charitable as who should not to heed and see where Christ is laid remember he hath been laid in three Sepulchers or places first in the Vnity of the two new Testaments which is as the Virgins womb next in the bosome of the Church which is as the manger the third is Iosephs rock which is the soul and heart of the elect watch this last and make it as sure as you can but wake him not by the noise tumult or rumbling of unruly and unholy because unruly cogitations which are not pleasing to him but rather provide oyntments with Nicodemus of Myrhe in continence and chastity of spiritual sorrow for all delinquencies of Aloes in withdrawing from such as are disorderly and cleansing your selves from the sin that so easily besets makeing a mixture of both these by eyeing the doctrine of the Law which requires inoffensivenesse towards God and man and working them into an oyntment wherewith to enbalm the poor members of the body of Christ refreshing them that their loines may blesse you THE Paschal lamb was slain in the evening so was Christ which it prefigured giveing up the Ghost about the ninth hour that is three in the afternoon he came to give light unto the world which by his life doctrine and miracles he did effectuat and none hateth him but they who hate the light least he should detect their evil deeds he came in the evening of the world to enlighten the Gentiles and be the glory of his people Israel he crossed the bâ—ook Cedron in the evening before he suffered still endeavoring to have the end of things good Iudas leaveth him in the evening Peter boasted of himself in the evening he enlightned both because he forwarned both favoring neither the one nor regarding the other looking still to the close of things a policy yet Christianity mantaiâ—s allowing good beginings but approveth only continuance in good Indâ—â— had a fair morning and began well ended miserably selling his Master and buying his own damnation for three pound fifteen shilling sterling his rendition of it not abating one farthing of the guilt his confession at it not assoiling
Godhead had been so many gracious mistakes in her of the Angels Anunciation so it may be some are now offended and those even good at this memorial of our Lords passion accounting it Idolatry to speak so particularly of his death at this time and indeed as Mary so the Church of Christ which is his Mother is yet wounded by slanders and misreports and made to drink of the brook and taste of those black waters some of her Children offer to her But know that as Christ was innocenâ— for all his dâ—inking and harmlesse though crucifiâ—d to death as Iudas will proclaim him though not yet judged by Pilat who found no fault in him and his wife who accounted him a Just man as he was Ceremonialy being circumcis'd Moraly being subject to his parents politically paying tribute religiously for he gave eyes to the blind knowledge to the ignorant IN summe the reid heifer was to be without spot and he was found without sin though put to death as seditious and with seditious persons executed as most guilty whence that word King is affixed on the Cross in scorn to the Iews for except for one crime two dyed not in one day among them therefore the three dyed as troublers of the peace thou art said the other thief in the same condemnation viz. with our Saviour as dying for the same cause with them and they suffering all for one thing viz. Sedition Luk. 23. yet as Christ If I have done evill bear witnesse of the evill if not why smytest thou me so me thinks this day speaks to our Opinionators I say this day in which he was lifted up and though innocent accounting it superstition to behold him on it or it to mind us of him his white robâ—s this day worn darkly shews his non-guiltinesse and the voice of our Brothers bloud calling to heaven it is strange if the sound may not be observed we find Pilat to have been a Bastard and in sober sadnesse there is none will condemn Christ nor Christs Disciples that are legitimatly begotten of the Church whether ancient or modern in this holy service of attending to behold the man for know THE Church reformed keepeth this day and others relating to the mysteries of our redemption expressed in sacred Writ as Germany Helvetia Hungaria Transylvania Suitzerland France Holland haveing printed Sermons in and upon those days preached and were the least of these three memorable things said to be in the death of Christ observed we should not account them Children of the Church who would condemn these there brethren one is Patience be not therefore offended that the Church primitive observed such days holily though they could not as they did not attempt to make them holy or that the Church Reformed estimats them worthy of celebration being anual catechisms for edification the other is Humility and none here ought to be so unsober in their talk or so haughty in their own conceit as to account the Church of God for so many ages not so wise nor the present Church not pure nor so holy as themselves the last is Charity and therefore let none condemn them in this their practice noâ— us their brethren in our conformity to which if they assent not they may withdraw but not judge for the Lord cometh the judge is even at the door IF this will not stop some mens mouths but will still call crucifie it crucifie it I shall â—ay more then Father forgive them for they know not what they do for as the brazen serpent was lifted up when the Isralites were stinged with serpents though as Naturalists observe looking upon brasse is hurtful to those so affected who knoweth but as the Centuâ—ion such who may come to crucifie this service or with the rabble to behold Christ dy in a discourse may go with Augustine somewhat affected and smitting their breasts and though nothing of this be yet to the patient Humble and Charitable Soul it is a lifting of him up for imitation and let no man trouble these for in those they bear about the marks of the Lord Iesus FOR fear of disturbing the good-man of the house or troubling his family wherein our Lord eat the passeover and wherein it was made ready for him among other mysteries he retired into a garden there to be taken by the Iews it being a matter of greater moment to scandalize to trouble the soul to disturb the peace of the Church even in this particular in repeating the story of the passion then some of our pretended Zelots do imagine the Church in all it's vicissituds having accounted this a good-good-day indeed bearing about and holding up the instruments and fruits of her Lords death as trophies of that victory which he had and she expects to have over all her enemies IN it dehorting from sin particularly from reproaching or tempting to reproach the observers of it least either the curse of the serpent or the reprobation of the thief be their portions for as there were three about the tree of life one condemned for ever and two pardoned so about the CROSSE an Embleme of life and Hierogliphick of eternity among the Egyptians and figured upon the breast of their filthy Idol Sâ—rapis though not figured as the Crux Immissa thus ✚ whereon it is thought our Saviour dyed but of that Commissa after the form of a Roman T. whereon also it 's given Moses lifted up the brazen Serpent I say about the CROSSE there were also three two carried to paradise and one left in his sin from whose punishment reasons against taunts upon known sobriety might be multiplied and drawn unto that leangth as to cause the diâ—cerner glory in the CROSSE professing their belief in him who was crucified and slain burying him boldly in the new sepulcher of a new because broken heart this day AND if any yet say the bloud that is the guilt of the contempt of this service be on us and our Children I say again fear â—he issue for the affixing of a Iewish taunt upon a Christian exercise may have a Iewish that is a cursed end the CROSSE it self teaching better things the height thereof typifying our aspiring to things above the breadth of it to the works of charity below the length of it perseverance in that good untill the end the depth of it that good will of God in his own bosome yet now revealed for our beholding of his Son finishing the work of our redemption ACCORDING therefore to the custome of the Jews let one be released from death by judgement it was done as some say in remembrance of their delivery from Egypt at the passeover of Isaac's with others from being sacrificed of Ionathans from Saul however let it be our duty in those days of judgement to let the Church Reformed escape and then we trust to stand not fall in judgement And as Annas and Caiphas Herod and Pilat at Christs death were ruleing together pointing at the division and contention
of the people yet united and agreed against him let us for his sake not fal out with one another but agree to crucifie those lusts of envy whispering uncleannesse back-biting which war against the Church WE are not graduaâ—s in all Arts knowing but in part and ought not to be positive in our determining Christ is dead leaving us an example of humility seldom found in the Chambers of the Censorious this day we preach of our freedome from the curse of the â—aw and I charge by the Lord Iesus judge of quick and dead and who before Pontius Pilat witnessed a good confession curse not the day for us nor us for the day cry out rather with Tremel that famous Iew when demanded at his death if he continued Christian Jewish converts though to the degree of Priest-hood being to be suspected answered in detestation of his cursed country-men let Christ live and Barâ—abas be crucified AS Kings judge not their Crowns sufficiently honourable without the CROSSE shewing it's victory and conquest be on the top thereof judge your worth to be of no worth if not virâ—uated by the doctrine thereof whereby as Friends or Sons we shal have happinesse in receiving or understanding the nature and wealth of these legacies he left his relations Leaving on the CROSSE Persecution to his Apostles Peace to his disciples his body to the Iudge his Garment to the souldiers if they were such which is doubted being rather servants to the executioners and called souldiers in a general way as armed and guarding him for death the number four makeing it probable his Mother to his beloved Paradise to the thâ—ef and his Spirit to his Father which last shall not be received if not attended with Marâ—s tears Iohns respect Theifs confession Ioseph of Arimathea's a Jew his justice Simon of Cyrene a gentile his asistance when Christ in his poor flock is at a pinch with Christs own Purity Humility and Love which alone and together shall cause thy conclamatum est or consummatumest thy end to be happy for then it s finished i. e. the Law and Prophets in thy obedience and the desire of the holy Angels in thy conversion BVT whereas some think Romes doctrine is here asserted alleadging we symbolize with Papists know it is not Romish though taught at Rome but the doctrine of the Church taught in the purest times that were and of the Greek Church that is enemies to Rome more then we and as the Iews made Christs death the medium or mean to keep the Romans from them and it proved the very cause that brought them it 's evident the Reformed Church might say to such concluders for this and several other positions and inferences verily verily one of you shall betray me c. THANKFVLNES for our mercies in enjoying the truths of the Gospel might be more becomeing that our eyes might be towards him for Grace Mercy and peace from his merits blood and wounds and what ever properly may be produced and effected by them walking after that light shewn us by oyl from him the olive in the religious performance of Borgius Duke of Gant who seven times a day presented himself before God praying for seven gifts conform to that seven times our Saviour shed blood desireing for the honour of the Circumcision to attain wisdom and chastity for what he shed in the garden knowledge and abstinence for what he shed in being scourged tendernesse and charity for what he shed when crowned with thorns humility and fear what he shed when his hands were nailed counsel and compassion for what he shed when his fâ—et were pierced courage and perseverance and for the blood which issuâ—d from his side godâ—inesse and patience that being therewith sprinkled seven times as the leaper under the Law he might be pronounced clean that as Christ himself said when I am lifted up I will draw all men unto me he might do that all in men that is all spirits souls and bodies being raised that as sinners we may detest our follies as penitents receive hope as Iust prepare for the Crosse apprehending with all Saints the extent of the love of God revealed by it answering in carriage and manners to our Saviours triumvirat the three beheld him in the garden having Peters confession owning him for the Son of God Iohns affection in standing by him to the last Iames devotion in fervent calling upon him for it 's said his knees were hard as a camels by frequent kneeling in prayer by which despair being closed up there shall never be cause finally to say my God my God why hast thou forsaken me FORSAKEN may be Ierusalems proper name as it was once her nick-or by-name Isa. 62.4 once the Ioy now the scorn of the whole earth formerly for her inhabitants delight and to Forrengers admiration her coasts furnished her with abundance of necessaries of delights her meadows storing her with milk her woods sweetning that milk with honey her vallies storing her with wheat and barley her mountains as high in charity as in height though brassy bowelld out of compassion heated themselves and in case of reluctancy did beat and knock one another that she might have plenty of mettal for her strengthning 8. Deut. 9. And she her self thinking it dishonourable always to take gâ—ve them again gold silver pretious gums spices and honour in such plenty that Israel became the glory of all the Lands Eze. 20.6 Yet now hath not where withall to buy her self bread save what relats to our glorious Saviour his sepulchre and it's temple being the greatest ornament within or without her walls besides which so insignificant is her poâ—t that when Selymus the Turkish Emperour came on purpose to behold so fam'd a place he almost disdained to take on nights logding within her avenues and quarters her pristine and Jewish glory lying contemptibly in the dust the very ground where Solomons temple stood being covered with a Mahomeâ—an Mosk into which if any Iew enter he is certain to meet with death at his comeing out AT such a distance hath her Lord husband put her for multiplyed adulteries and so tarâ—ly hath he drawn up her bill of divorce that neither the Art power reason indulgence graets priviledges Heathens Egyptians Iews Christians Turks could ever cause her have a good coat a clear face much lesse a fair one Christianity was at much pains for pitys sake to have her restored to her Lords bed and for fourscore years was their Kings and Patriarchs of Jerusalem in Jerusalem fighting for and preaching up our Lord Jesus but in the most perswasive entreatings and more earnest solicitations I mean their bloodiest and most chargeable encounters to preserve her there were seen and heard almost as many hundreths of terrible visions astonishing cracks and sights in the Heaven Earth and Air evidenceing heavens dissent from such amicable proposals God resolving in probability to make her a-cast-away from Royalty since she crucified her King having only
bound hand and foot with grave cloaths being afterward to wear the same robes not so Christ death having no more dominion over him Rom. 6. being swallowed up in victory as Moses rod swallowed up those of the Magicians as the wide Ocean doth the smal drop in which it is to be more seen as the Sun the dark cloud which it either scatters or illuminats THIS Lyon of the tribe of Iudah overcomeing that devourer of men even in the grave his deepest den resolving from first to last for conquest in the Manger in the Hall on the Crosse in the rock their mocks their blasphemy their swords their guards for had he been possessed by the tomb or his holy body seen corruption after his Viniger and Gal what benefit had men accrew'd by his death It was therefore a religious error of Mary Magdalen and the other Mary to come early to the sepulchre with oyntments being grounded upon their thoughts of finding death whereas he was up before to take possession of his new purchase having so punctualy payed the contracted for sum for sin unto the Father thereby becomeing Lord of heaven and heir of the utmost coasts of the earth MAKE his Resurrection a question and for once put it to probation Davids seed in whom the Kingdom was to be established 2. Sam. 7. Adams sleep and his awaking out of that after Eva his spouse had been forming the promise of ransoming from the grave Hâ—s 13. Isaac's delivery from being sacrific'd in the old Testament an Angel from heaven Christs own prophesy Peters testimony Thomas believing in the New doth almost overstock us with sufficient proofs his eating drinking walking talking priviledging the expression yea the simplicity of the arguments brought against us by the Jews evidenceth it's reality for if he were stole why was he not resceu'd If by his Disciples why were they not questioned and if either of these be true how is it known to them since the watchers declare they were asleep what more the order and neatnesse in disposing of the grave cloaths the confident declarations of the pious women and the calamities the Apostles chearfully underwent evinceth the Resurrection to be no fallacy IT was attended with that power that the watchers became as dead men when they came to apprehend him or to eat up his flesh they stumbled and fell amazed at some discovery of unexpected Majesty but here beholding an Angel from heaven preparing to liberat the innocent it was just on the other hand to strick as if not altogether dead the guilty and give check to unbelief especialy when heaven is at pains to refute impertinencies as their keeping was since it flowed from cruelty not piety earth also labouring by an earth-quake to invalidat their strength shaking their greatest confident that is their armes causing them unfit to handle the weapon their ground disableing them to stand their authority to keep him in the grave being recalled by a stronger then either was Pilat or the Councill FOR yet once more was the earth to be shaken and the desire of the Nations then to come which was the Messiah that is Christ sent to all Nations for as at the giving of the Law their were Earthquaks and shakeings even in heaven by the thunder and smoak shakeings of the Sea at the makeing way for his people so once more he will as in Christs suffering the sun was darkned the rocks rent here at his rising there was a shakeing of hearts upon earth and moveing of Angels of heaven some being shaken out of their dumps doubt fears and sinful carnal condition others not desireing him being shaken out of their wits out of their lives out of their armes and justly having refused him whose face was lovely and society desired by all Nations by Angels and Men unto whom they should run as the camp to the standarâ— as the eagles to the carcaâ—e bringing as subjects to their Prince all their desireable things offering unto him not only of the best of the fruits of the land as gold frankincense and Myrbe but the choisest of their hearts as love fear joy obedience which all Nations ow unto him and the elect have payd being shaken with the wonder of so great a mystery as his death and rising again from the dead which the unbelieving Iews denying and mercenary Souldiers striving to obstruct he that sitteth in heavens did laugh at the confederacy and said in spite of them in the morning of the Resurrection thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee THE mountains skipping like Rams and the little hills like lambs to respect him in his exite from the grave and prepare his people to admire believing his heroick atchiefment of subduing Hel and Death curbing by it and shakeing their insolence who cry'd we have no King but Cesar and said crucifie him crucifie him but on the other hand comforting his followers with a fear not ye for I know that ye seek Iesus he is not here for he is risen so that the Church may salute Iesus as the Angel Gideon the Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valour Judg. 12. for hath it ever been heard since the beginning of the world that any wrought wonders in their death or that wonderfully raised himself again to life Iesus excepted whose Resurrection is the sine qua non of the joy in all believers the living having no hope no comfort save in it and by it IT was refreshing news to the eleven and unto these two unto whom he was seen in breaking of bread and so much the more cordial was his perception that he was at first concealed from them having wrapped up the face of his Humanity in a skreen by the power of his Divinity which no sooner drawn aside then they behold the Lord that bought them which brought new life and vigour to the heart-broken and doubting Disciples breaking that silence which for grief had been more then half an hour in the heaven of their society where sorrow had caused mutenesse about fourty hours for so long it is reckoned he lay dead Adam after the ejectment from paradise is never recorded to have spoak and after the second had admittance we can find among the Apostles little mirth but now all preach and teach Angels descend women walk Peter and Iohn run the two talk whence the Church of old this day sung the Psalms of Invitation inviting all creatures to praise the Lord because Iesus who was crucified is not here viz. in the grave but risen come said the Angel see the place where the Lord lay affoording matter for deep contemplation Iesus discovering the truth of his being Saviour who was crucified a holy abridgement and true repetition of his passion He is not here discovering the truth of his being dead and his once being there come see the place where the Lord lay by Lord acknowledging the soveraignity of Iesâ—â— and by the word lay enforceing a belief of his
thunder-struck the conscience-smitten sinners who with Iosuah ly all day before the Ark of the Lord complaining of flams kindled in their souls through wrath forâ—een being invaded by sudden incomes from above as by a troup before tâ—e Lord himâ—elf come to pul down and to destroy to sentence to condemn with Mary Magdalâ—n they cry who shall roul us away the stone of our sadness sloathfulnesse haâ—d-heartednesse and bitternesse wretched mâ—n that we are who shal roul away the stone from the Sepulchre of our hearts from the sight of our eyes and in pithy Harangues deâ—ats upon their own misery because of ransgression with broken pauses again feelingly sigh because of aggravated circumstances calling out with that convert Thais who having led a life unchast and purchas'd great riches by unlawfull embraces loathed her self and casting away her wealth not daring to name God her ordinary prayer was O thou that made me have mercy upon me BVT there are to whom he is risen making them to rejoyce with exceeding great joy becomeing rivals even to Angels in point of exhileration rising from the deadnesse of rottennesse and filthinesse darknesse and horror found in the vault or grave of polluted Adamsâ—ffâ—pring â—ffâ—pring having the lively colour of a sanctified countenance in the face of their conversation by being conform to the amiable aspect found in the behaviour of the old Saints which if denyed they answer as the blind man did the Pharisees one thing we know whereas we were dead now we live and behold the things that are above not bowed down as before but makeing straight paths for our feet towards the mysticall Galile to see our Lord avoiding the sâ—arch of these Finical Apish Trivial poor things in the valley of this world to enquire after 1. what is in that mount to which he hath ascended and 2. whereof he hath told us for remember to seek the things to affect the things that are above to be dead with Christ and then to live like him are the only four scriptural tokens of a spiritual Resurrection flowing from the power of our Lords rising from the dead OVR elder brethren the Jews keeped one passeover and their first at their comeing out of Egypt Exo. 12. another was observed in their journey through Sinai Numb 9. a third at their entry into the holy land that Christ is our passeover and that he is the lamb of God and that this is our Paschal feast in the truth verity and substance of the old rite of eating the passeover is clear and evident yea let the Mystery of that lamb be reviewed and both the Christians duty and the Christians Saviour are beautifully delineated a lamb pourtrays Christs meekness innocency and harmlesnesse that the lamb was to be of the Male kind respected his courage activity and Spirit it 's spotlesness his undefilednesse with guilt or sin it 's being a year old the perfectnesse of his age and ripenesse of understanding exactly qualifying him to preach it 's takeing in the first moneth shews our duty of consumeing the whole year in Gods service the first moneth whereof being consecrated unto him by this formal worship points out that he is enfeassed of the whole that it was to be in the fourteen day of the moneth sheweth Christs comeing in the darknesse of the soul and with full Moon clearnesse shins for secureing it against the darknesse of error and the evening doth so evidently publish his comeing in the last days or ages of the world that it needs no remark That it was to be eaten with unleavened bread banisheth malice and wickednesse this day from the houses of your hearts that it's blood was sprinkled upon the door is but the necessity we stand under of haveing our hearts purged from an evil conscience that it was to be rosted only not boyled is but the wholesomenesse of the Gospel of peace and implys it's good nourishment and that the Doctrine thereof is not pleasantly to be handled according to the soft or easy tempers of men that nothing was to be left of it enjoins nothing of Christ to be reprobated slighted or set by and that no bone of it was to be broke discovers that as Christ lost nothing by his passion so by nothing since is he to be overcome or hereafâ—er to be â—uperate COMMONLY we call this feast Easter from Eoaster an old Saxon goddesse whose feast was either in or about this time celebrated but the name Pasch i e a going over a marching away is more holy more divine more Scripâ—uâ—al and the Resurrection falling upon the Pasch raâ—her to be used for our instruction in keeping this feast which who so would keep with Christ who on it passed from the grave and his holy Church must keep it with the sour herbs of sorrowful contrition as nobly resolved to hold fast the profession of our Faith against all difficulties LET us with him eat our passeover standing and like religious pilgrims not leaning upon the staffe of our own understanding but upon that of the Spirit which may be obtained and preserved by girding our â—oyns abstain from fleshly lusts having the shoes of peace whereby in holy solidity and grave deportment we only make way and passe towards heaven in hast that is not being tepid dul or negligent in heavenly matters or soul-concerns leaving the spiritual Egypt or Pharaoh of Satans subtilty and earths gaiety going through Sinai or the thorny cares troubles vexations that are in this world still making progresse toward Iordan in the walks of sincere devotion untill we see the Captain of the Lords host in religious confidence and as Iosua stood so let us worship with the Disciples saying what saith my Lord unto his Servant not fearing but to feel the vertue of that expression all power is given me in heaven and in earth but Mark 16. ye shall cast out Devils which is done by the Ministry of the Gospel and when a Soul is converted from the error of his ways ye shall speak with tongues i. e. the prophane ribbauldry of fleshly communication shal be renounced the things that accompany Salvation being the substance of your future discourses ye shall take up Serpents in driving malice wrath rancour back-bitting whispering evil surmising from the ground caverns and hollow places of the heart and if you drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt you in not being drawn away by the enticements of the great deceiver but rather in zeal cry out depart you cursed or if by guile you transgresse redrâ—osse shal be obtained by a vomitting up the sinful potion in acknowledging thy sin by which you shall not dy for some shall lay hands on thee as sick recovering thee by the light of a good example and provoking hereafter to love and to good works to joy and comfort as Peter was when Mary according to her charge informed him of his Masters rising and of his place of meeting to him in particular giving him
the sweet relish of reconcilement to his Lordâ— after the sour and bitter herbs of his tears and undissembled sorrow WHICH yet the tydings of the Resurrâ—ction communicats to all who remember and genuinely confesse their fearful falls from a fair profession their frequenting the company of ungodly scorners biasphemers without a check oâ— abhorrence of their crime lastly who by the crowing or rather sounding of the Gospel minde the errour of their ways and accordingly renounce forbidden pleasuâ—es for if by that the sentence of death be past upon the Soul the Resurrection like the Prophets lump of sigs cureth the boyl and by signs from heaven assuâ—es the prolonging of his days his going up unto the Temple of the Lord dâ—scovering the line of his years hereafter shal run pararel to eternity of which the promise of Canaan was buâ— a sign and the certainty the dying fruitlesse or childlesse mad had of having seed raised up unto himself by his brother or next kinsman in Israel was a dark representation NAMAN was perfectly cured by his washing seven times in Iordan and likewise was the leper cleansed by being sprinkled seven times with blood by the same number in appearing unto his Disciples did Christ cure heal and remove the diseases wherewith sin and his passion being misconstructed had infected their minds and perplexed their souls about thoughts of him creating in them and by that shewing his purpose towards all converts for the future such graces by seven times manifesting himself as must be had of the Spirit for more fixing of the Soul in it's doubts and spiritual attendance as first of the fear of the Lord in appearing to the woman for they were affraid next of the love of himself for he appeared to Simon whom he knew as he knew all things loved him next the Spirit of knowledge when he opened the Scriptures unto the two going to Emmans of Might next in his opening the door when he appeared to the eleven next that of Counsel when he advised to cast the net from the right side of the Ship and of understanding while he opened unto them once more the Scriptures and then of wisdom when they saw him taken up where he was before THOVGH there are who subdividing some of these again will have him to represent the mode of that assurance he yet bequeaths to believers in the vertue of his Resurrection makeing his first appearance to Mary Magdalen to be the comforts he principally intends to the most noted if mouthful and penitent offender his being seen of those women returning from the sepulchre who held him by the feet mystically to discover his acceptance of the meek and lowly his beeing seen of Peter either as he returned from or entred his grave or in the place where he did weep manifests his intentions to the willing and obedient for Simon by interpretation is obedience Again he appeared when they were gathered together for fear of the Jews shewing the happinesse design'd for those who unite in one and his zeal to be found of them who sought him ON different daves and times he appeared also aâ— when Thomas was present hinting that the unbeliever at last shal increase in faith and afterward as they were fishing typifying that abundance of converts should by their ministry be gathered to the Church yet not by their labours or studies for they had toyled all night and got nothing but by his blessing accompanying their pains through obedience HIS Disciples saw him on a mâ—unt it 's thought Tabor where he was transfigured and how have comforts been multiplied upon retirednesse for religious contemplation his upbraiding the eleven as they sat at meat is but a lesson construing his call to sinners at the eleventh hour for though such be suffered to dwell in sin they shall in mercy be reclaimed and their wisest acts not being done in love and fear to God shall be by themselves deemed foolish and unwise HIS last appeaâ—ance or being seen on mount Olivet shadoweth that the oâ—le of mâ—rcy given to the merciful shal as a scale be a means to ascend up or as lâ—mp light shew them how to work the work of God burning in or carried unto them by the conduits of earthy vessels that iâ— earthy enjoyments which as a ladder shal more fit them for easy accesse unto heaven godlinesse haveing the promise of this life and that which is to come and giveth more Grace BY the way observe that Christ first of all appeared to women blameing such who rant and curse at that sex as being Mother to sin whereas had they been in Evah's happinesse their felicity may be had been sooner forfeted for a cup then hers was for a bite but such ought to understand that God is wiser then Satan and stronger too and hath now made that sex to intimate the world to be redeemed and that unto men moving them to tendernesse thereby our lapsed estate being wholly restored by a woman by women out of a garden through the report of an Angel Christ and believe acting together making our Salvation more sure and better grounded then when it stood either upon Adams or Evah's behaviour MARY Magdalen a notorious sinner saw him first why then should attrocious crimes in Male or Female deter the affected from accosting that throne where mercy sits and benevolence invits to crave a remission in her saying unto all be not affraid not resting there ordering them to proclaim his rising to their and to his Brethren that the womans blot of the fall might eternally be obliterat FOR though first in the transgression she is again and first also at the Resurrection the history whereof when read we shall find that women as most deserving were first comforted and employed for when men thought it good to sleep in a whole skin were they laying out their money watching from sleep hazarding their persons to anoint his body not fearing but undervaluing the sword of the keepers these women saw two Angels yet it 's thought he on the right side cloathed in a long white garment the same it may be who rolleâ— away the stone said be not afraid I know whom you seek c. aâ—d the right is the hand by which the Church is embraced the hand of nimblenesse and action without which support the present whitenesse or seeming comforts of this petishing earth might fascinat and bewitch the heart into flaunting purposes were it not told that the comfort we seek is not here to be found or deject it into desponding and fearfull meditations were it not informed by the power of the Resurrection where Iesus a Saviour might be spoke unto and treated withall A Doctâ—ine never capable of infirmity or old age which is darkly seen in the Angels appearing as young men still enlivning with fresh supplys of grace and ordering a retreat to whatsoever thought amuseth or amazeth the inquisitive or self-sâ—arching heart causing it still to be cloathed in white by
the vivifying robes of celestial purity and contrivances of real and forestalled heavenly joy the prospect whereof in these womens diligence dischargeth wallowing in carnal ease pressing to a speedy rising even in the dawning of the day from the soft bed of sensuality to that more soul comforting exercise of searching after our Lord Iesus enstating our selves in his favour by unguenting the body of his poor crucified and traduced members since he himself now as wel as then needs neither our Spices nor oyntments that is our alms charity and beneficence YET let heaven behold us at some cost in preparing spices and oyntments at the charge of self denyal with discretion zeal and rais'd devotion for unto those is oyl compared and if Demosthenes thought men were likest the gods when they did good sure we may affirm they are very unlike Saints but excâ—edingly resemble the Devil who will not do good to Gods poor nor pardon the expression to Christ their God when he seemeth poor as here he did to the holy women wise Ioseph and holy Nicodemus who teacheth to râ—fresh and to preserve in vigour to keep from decay and to comfort the soul now of Christ by the oyntments and embalming Spices of sins mortification for as he dyed by so he also dyed for our sin and by Ointments of praise gratulation and thanksgiving we prepare for him the rather that he rose again or was raised for our justification which if not accomplished you are yet in your sins the discharge not being procured from God the true and just creditor then are we under the power of the Devil and heirs of hel and damnation being children of wrath but if Christ be risen nothing of all these to discover which an Angel was sent to roul away the stone from the sepulchre as the Iudge ordereth the prison doors to be opened signifying to spectators to believers heaven to be reconciled and the work of the Resurrection to be perfectly wrought without the power of Negromancy which might have been objected had he immediatly with the witch of Endor's gods rose from the earth HENCE that inference is good the Spirit shall convince the world of righteousnesse because I go to the Father i. e. I go to the Father therefore I am righteous for in his face might not I look having had by him sin impured if I had not compleately satisfied for the same and done every thing to perfection which I came into the world for which was to take away the sins of the world which being done I am righteousnesse in my self and the Spirit shal prove me to be right unto all because I am gone to the Father wherefore he rose in the dawning of the day the clouds and darknesse about himself the darknesse and clouds about the souls of men being scattered and gone the Sun of Righteousnesse with healing under his wings a metaphoâ—ick expression from the spreading of his beams and stretching forth his rays as wings covering us and brooding over by his warmth ouâ— young graces for their strength and healing our old sores and festred boils that we might not be darknesse but light in the Lord noâ— as lepers secluded his congregation but as his symbol had been like that of Maximilian of Bavaria he brought visible testimonies of everlasting reconcilment from all in heaven towards all on earth that Duke gave in a field two Turtles standing on the brim of a cup on each side of a lance which was adorned with a Crown suâ—mounted by a Cross illuminated from a glory out of hâ—aven all upheld by two right hands complicated or joyned together issuiâ—g out of the clouds with this motto Concordiae aeâ—ernae as if by the support and Union and of the two natures there were a cup of Salvation offered now to dove like innocents shining from heaven by the Crosse offering a crown of glory in laying a side Hawk-like ferity and uniting like kind mates one to another since amnestia or oblivion like acts are passed in heaven towards us all which is made out beyond demonstration by our Saviours going to the Father by his rising from the dead DOTHâ—ot â—ot the Holy Ghost presse in divine writ a life Godly Holy and prepared always for heaven in forsakeing the unfruitful works of daâ—knesse upon and from the doctrine of the Resurrection as if those who looked towards it should not look behind them least they be concluded not fit for the Kingdome of God but loveâ—s of this present world and catereâ—s for the flesh seeking to fulfill the lusts thereof to mortifie which how incredibly rigid hath been the abstinence and how strangely fervent hath been the prayers of the Ancients in their Quadragesimal or Lent-devotions in them â— menting their own and their brethren's excesse in their voluptuous embraces studying to live unto piety not luxury refusing oft to pay Nature her just debt of aâ—iment and food for her too oft debaurds makeing this feast a spiritual Pasch truly passing from darknesse and it's works the deeds of the flesh to the operations of the Spirit the renuing of the Spirit by putting on the new man after God created in righteousnesse and true holinesse perswading by the sanctimony of â—heir carriage others to receive impresses of the beauty of holinesse beholders admiring their love which wrought them unto an imitation of their deportment THOSE that rose with Christ appeared unto many giveing infallible tokens of their leaving the Society of the dead whether Adam or Iob were among them as some saâ— I know not yet his is certain that their Resurrection mystical is to be questioned whose acts do not quadrat with those ruâ—es of blameless and spoâ—lesse behaviour by law expected and in conâ—cience also resolved upon by such who really are influenced with and by the power of the Resurrection animated to things above We hear of the perverse surly morose lives of many but such as are risen with Christ are doing good and walk charitably with all men thaâ— such who are without that is out of the Church as Pagans Turks â—ewâ— may be won by their good conversation We see many puffed up with impudence and arrogance but they are cloathed with humility multitudes say come let us eat and drink for to morrow we dy these are temperate in all things and not knowing what a day may bring forth dye dayly a number grumbleth muâ—muâ—eth repineth at this and the other Crosse at this and the other fancied calamity these posesse their souls in patience too many assemble in Troups to Harlots houses are whoremongers Adulterers these â—bstain from the very garments spotted with the flesh How numberlesse are such who curse rail backbite snarle at their Brethren like dogs swear that is snarle grin at passers by these honour all men pray for all men love the brethren giving Religion a lustre and really beautifying the cause of Christ. AS the Iews fondly teach that only the Godly shall rise at the last
Scripture A Sabbath also interveening in which it is observed therâ— was never Man raised either in Old or New Testament and CHRIST being the Heaâ— of the RESURRECTION shewed in this a purpose not to disjoyn Himself from those before risen but to continue Communion chused another time which was the third Day Leaving the Sabbath I might say Saturday-Sabbath to rest with His Grave-cloathes as never more to be used and aâ— we learn from the Current of Antiquity from the Vniversal practice of the Church in times in and so near the Apostles that the head of the Institution is not found making it the more venerable though some factiously in our â—â—yes rant at the observance designed the Day of the RESURRECTION for solemn â—ppearance before the Throne of GOD â—hich was so rever'd both weekly and annually that the Precepts 1. Cor. 5. Let â— keep the feast and that other expression â—â— I. I was in the Spirit on the Lords day â— by many understood to belong to the â—early Feast of the RESURRECTION 〈◊〉 observed REMAIN not therefore with Lazarus the Grave-cloaths of sinful custome four â—yes by thinking upon likeing of by doing 〈◊〉 then continuing in the acts of concupisence or such no doubt stinke in the nostirles of 〈◊〉 and shall be killed by Death but rise 〈◊〉 third day that is this Morning with â—ur LORD and appear unto them that â—ow you talking of the Kingdom of GOD 〈◊〉 walking in the Holy City and be more â—â—rious more sublime more majestick 〈◊〉 before as Ioseph was when he was taken 〈◊〉 prison and as IESVS was when He 〈◊〉 from the Grave that Christian being Christian who is not conform to the 〈◊〉 suitable to the RESURRECTION CHRIST which we shall be if we rise and talking saluâ—ing our Brethren with Peace and again peace be unto you that they mâ—y perceive we intend for Galile forsakeing terren desirâ—s there abiding now Faith Hope and Charity Faith in the RESURRECTION of the flesh Hope in the expectation of eternal life and Charity in the holy catholick Church expressed in our Creed by the Communion of Saints IAMES of Aragon upon his Conquest of the Mâ—jorca Islands fancied and created an Order of Knight-hood called of Redemption their service peculiarly respecting â— liberation of Prisoners and Captives theiâ— habit was alwayes to be white Is not ouâ— IESVS appointed for deliverances anâ— did He not by entring into the Prison of thâ— Sepulchre say to each of us detained under igâ—norance force and fraud what the Angeâ— said to Peter Arise up quickly cast thy garment about thee and follow me Actâ— 12.18 Abiding no longer with the possessed amonâ— the Tombs of the Dead Graves of lust noâ— Iayls of sinful custome let us go forth witâ— Him who is so to speak Soveraigne of thaâ— Order other Redeemers in comparison 〈◊〉 Him delivering from a flea-bit he shielâ—ding from a thunder-bolt a sword a poyson 〈◊〉 arrow a burning fire a â—aging Sea a â—inging Serpent a roaring Lyon and a â—â—wing heart-worm assaulting all at once without hopes of rescue except from His Almightinesse alone BVT how justly doomed are they who â—eing once freed will run the second time to 〈◊〉 stocks who being washed and shaved with Ioseph will return to their former â—ench polluting themselves afresh with â—he noysomnesse of dung-like-corruptions â—allowing in the myre of ungodly chambering and wantonness drunkenness and excess â—aining thâ—se Vestuâ—es they have put on in embracing Gospel-Truths Swine-like lying down in the pond pool and puddle of filâ—hy conversation WRITE rather after the Coppy of the â—â—imitive Christians who in this Feast of the RESURRECTION and many dayes after refused to or did not kneel in Prayâ—r judging that a more sorrowful posture then was adâ—quat or fit for so joyful a season is their frequent Allelujahs expressed this to be but stood the LORD being risen as though their joy chearfulnesse and zeal had perfectly assured them their next motion should be toward Heaven It was Christs Pasch for He left the Dead they expected their Pasch and being ready for the Father stood as alive frequenting the Holy Communion the pledge of Eternal Salvation Young Converts appearing in Church cloathed in white Raiment the badge of that purity acquir'd in their Baptisme of which Sacrament we partaking let us keep this Feast with holy Innocence batâ—ing the Garment that is but spotted with the flesh our news and tydings our salutes and complements being as theirs was The Lord is risen THE Answer in our Lives like theirs also in Words The LORD is risen indeed MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE ASCENSION OF THE SON of GOD Unfolded and applied Holy-Thursday May 20. High-Church 1669. Ascension-Thursday May 20. High-Church 1669. JOHN VI. LXII What and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before IN the History of the holy Gospel that express exactnesse of method and dependence in answering and questioning in other Arts studied and required is not alwayes to be found Our Saviour who knew the heart to detect the deceits therein answering oft according to them for confutation and discovering raâ—her then conforme unto or observe contexture of words and purposes Among which these words are evidently to be seen where speaking of and proving Himself to be the true Bread which came down from Heaven inferreth thence a necessity of the Jews eating that is of believing upon Him and from Himself perceiving their murmuring at the impossibility or absurdity of that matter demandeth What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before Whereas of his ascending up there was no preceding controversie YET as there is a secret digested Art by the wisdom of the Spirit in the compileing of that sacred Record in general so there may be avowed a hidden connexion even of these words to the former for His assertion of His coming down from Heaven implieth evidently His being there and that He was there He proves by His Descending thence which words when the Jews were offended at to enstall their admiration and heighten their wondering He proposeth His What and if c. A QVESTION which proposeth ground for yet expecteth no answer prophesying of though but supposing His ASCENSION and both by way of Question the speech being suspensive and seemingly defective q. d. surely ye will wonder much more then that I whom you see a man like unto your selves shall ascend up where He that is the Son of God was before that is I before I was the Son of man and this being a greater matter then my coming down you will if you see it certainly be more offended at me or believe the other was true Offering it as conditionall by putting an if to it yet would have it positively to be understood and expounded that He shall go up and it may be some of you may see it which will creat a greater certainty or breed a greater indignation ASCENSION supposeth
Gradation and generally understands an Act flowing purely from the Power Vertue Ability alone of the Ascender and in Scripture is interpreted a motion to a Holy and Honourable Place it is a going down to Egypt but it s a going up to Canaan it s a going down to Iericho but it s a going up to Ierusalem to the house of the Lord and going up to God 1. Sam. 10.3 and Ascending here beareth both this latter and that former sense of His own power CHRIST not being translated as Enoch neither was He rapt as Paul nor carried as Elias nor ravished in the Spirit as Iohn the Divine but did Ascend climbing up the scale of the clouds untill He got above all Heavens its true His Birth is said to be an Ascending the humane nature being by it advanced and is called a rideing upon a cloud Isa. 19.1 His Death is called an Ascending for He was lifted up upon the Crosse that Palm-tree whereof the Church is said to speak Cant. 4.8 but these were Improper and Metaphorick ascendings this whereof we are to speak is proper corporal bodily and local THE Understanding as chief Governour and Regent of the Soul being first to be informed least ignorance marre our present design and that the Will with more opennesse be sooner allured to advance toward and chuse the projected good this day laboured for wherein our LORD happily yea gloriously finished and ended all His Travels We shall shew whence and then whether He ascended YOV must note He had lived in and trod upon the Earth and woe was He for abideing in that Mesech being hedged and entangled three and thirty years with the thorns and nets of calamities and trouble it being to Him a perpetuall Calvary a place of suffering so coupling him to sorrow that He was a man of sorrows Isa. 53.3 Once we find Him reading and once writing oft â—raying yea IESVS weep'd the shortest â—entence in the Bible Yet that IESVS should weep maketh infathomable compassion conspicuously discernable and we know He did it more then once but that He laughed we have not one Text that doth so much as smile that way His life being conâ—orme to His birth which was in tears sighing out His time and groaning in the Spirit for the falls follies and laughings of men THAT glory he had with the Father when he was not the Son of Man being revealed to his Man-hood by his Divinity brought down the sale and in his esteem the worth of those sights the world or the god of this world offered unto him the glory and Kingdomes thereof not abusing his refined understanding nor blinding his judgement to the defalcation of that real worth which was in the solidness of a future expected glory but left an impress more deep in his Heaven-born Soul to contemn those flourishes the Temple stones or a Herod or a Kingly Office in all its glory could represent to his uneâ—ring fancie which did frustrate in him and indeed does in all believing upon him the fairest perswasives or most prolifick enjoâ—ments sensuality can or could offer He and They because of him accounting all of these in their summe totall what Solomon did in deep knowledge and Gellimer King of Goths in high grief attested who being presented as Captive before Justinian in his glorious Throne rent his garments crying hideouslâ—y Vanitie of Vanities all is but Vanitie the Varnish whereof he beholding with reluctancy did endure its flattering promises and with constancie its eagerest and most stupifying menaces this day hasted to the Hils of Frankincense and calls upon you as upon His Spouse To come from Lebanon the tops of Amana from the top of Shenir and Hermon from the Lyons Den from the Mountains of Leopards Can. 4.8 From Pâ—aces and Hills seemingly beautifull yet Hazardous beyond expression Syrians Philistims as bâ—asts devourinâ— and destroying men for with me there is neither Iudas Iew Herod nor Devil that can attach WHICH invitation if lifted unto by Faith we may supperad that of the Church 1â— Can. 4. Draw me we will run after thee Shewing willingness but withall inability the imitation of his flight pardon the expression being the Period of the Souls desire detesting the Malignity of this world and contending against its Dignity the first embittering its greatest enjoyment as an iron brusing the bone the lâ—st founded as upon ice ready to be dissolved both to the eternall hazard of all good The Church wishâ—th and prayeth to be drawn after him in imitation to him by affection yea in him by Vnion and Impession AS the birds of the Air though Jesus by a compounded for or conseâ—ted unto necessity sometimes touched â—he Earth for his meat yet like thâ—m again his aspiring thoughts frequented the more holy and durable objects which were above the Sun food for man being not only brought from bread disdaining the admittance into his breast the dust heaps of earthly trash which the crafty foxes and wild beasts of avaricious and carnall oppressors worldly Muck-worms felicitat themselves in which was expressed in this expression A little while and ye shall not see me and again a little while and ye shall see me because I go to the Father John 16.16 As if his abode upon Earth in any kind was still to be short by which he gave assurance Mortality in the image of his flesh was shortly to be put off and the same flesh to be again invested with the robes of Majesty and glory which being heeded by his Followers causes support against the ruinous deceits this Mortality endeavours to entangle them in resolving to fight with him even to suffering of death concluding to be victors in his Resurrection and to triumph in the vertue of his Ascension OLIVET giving so much light and Calvary that knowledge to the sanctified head that all sufferings and glorious actings how different so ever they appear and how vast seems the discrepancie between Christ on the Cross and Christ in the Cloud when compared together yet center in this one thing mans Ascension unto glory unto which as weak yet though weak the Good-man shews earnestnesse and willingness to possess in saying Draw me promising not to be sloathfull in the acquisition of such dignity subjoyneth we will run after thee and truly as mercy began towards man at or in Christs birth and continued in his death published at his Resurrection so was it sealed ratified and confirmed in his Ascension henceforth no more to be doubted then whether Christs being there is to be scrupled that being the seal by which all is made sure which was Written in 〈◊〉 word subscribed by miracles supeâ—â—scribed by death directed in rising the third day but signed as by the Kings own signet by the seall of glorious verity this day wherein in our flesh heaven was entered and we being flesh Enfranchis'd or Incorporat into that Citie naturaliz'd into that Kingdome as natives as Citizens or if you please have got seasment of that
Arethuse in his Martyrdome is adequate and fitted to the Christians sublimated Spirit for he when hung up in Air exposed to Bâ—es Waspes and Flies being annointed not to say daubea with honey â—yeing his persecutors with a kind of conâ—umely said How am I advanced despising 〈◊〉 that are below me on earth the Soul life the designs acts of the Believer being but a Comment upon Evangelick Precepts and Christs like graces I might say Ascendings ADAM is known to be put from Paradise in the cool of the day that is about the evening admit it to be the ninâ—h hour or three in the afternoon Then it followeth that the second Adam enter'd the Heavenly Paradise when the first Adam was exil'd the Earthy And about that time too did the Dove bring the Olive Branch to Noah It cannot therefore be blame worthy to conjecture that the fourtieth day after the Resurrection about the same time our LORD both in Soul and Body enter'd in a manly pace and majestick walk upon Heavens street and passing through the throng of Angels took that place at the right hand of the Father resting there as in an Ark haveing got no rest for the sole of his foot since his comeing thence I mean about the ninth hour for it is said He appeared to the eleventh as they sate at meat yeild that to be the sixth hour or high noon after which he talked and went before them unto Bethania Luk. 24.50 or to Olivet upon which Mount Bethania stood from Ierusalem a Sabbath days journey the distance of the peoples march from the Tabernacle in the wildernesse that is two thousand Cubits or above half a mile from the City a convenient walk for the Citizens contemplation in fair weather and for pleasure after which journey discoursing and blessing He ascended to his Father the Olive-branch of Reconciliation in his mouth saying I have finished the work thou gav'st me to do Father glorifie thy Name and ME with that glory which I had before the beginning of the world For of them whom thou hast given me have I lost none but the Son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled AS on the ninth hour of the day some will have his Ascension there wants not them who affirm it was on the fifth of May â—he fifth day from the Sabbath even Thursâ—ay the day in which he was presented in â—he Temple the fourtieth day after his Birth â—s holy to the Lord being the first-born So the fourtieth day after his appearing from the belly of the grave about the same time or hour He presented himself in the Temple of the Ierusalem above as holy harmlesse and the first-born from the dead having after his Resurrection never enter'd into the Temple below that Type being dissannull'd â—nd haveing câ—nsumate all Temple-service Heaven he made his Throne Angels receaving thereby the product of their wishes the Archangels the ultimate of their desire Man being restored and enstated in the person of the Son of God whose Tutors and Ministers they had been for that end into that pâ—istin glory which by a Saâ—anicall trick had been cheated from them even from Union with God and dominion over the Creature which now in Christ he hath made sure unto him in heaven and though the wicked may reckon this security poor because distant and invisible being in a far Countrey yet let them not send the messengers of Lust Ambition or Rebellion after him discovering a dislike as if thaâ— man should not reign over them for there He is and there He will sit untill such and all other his enemies be made his footstool and thence shall he come to judge in the clouds both the obedient and refractory whether Angels or men the fear of which ought to beget in us that reverentiall awe it did in one Elias not the Prophet who is said to have been most timerous alwayes dreading the approach of death the comeing of the Iudge the pronouncing of that sentence Go ye cursed BE rather induced to ascend after him to be with him by going up in such duties as are thought to be enjoyned in the Psalms called of degrees being humble in prayer as Psal. 120. delineats next stedfast in hope then ardent in desire then fervent in meditation and because of many remora's and difficulties we meet withall in these be invincible in patience then strong in confidence holy in chearfulnesse observers of providence fearfull of offences thankfull for victories serious in supplications meeke in converse particular in pleadings charitable in families and encouragers unto all good the performance whereof in a holy sense will make each of you Adam hamahalah or a man of degrees for as these Psalms were of old sung by the Levits upon the steps in their ascent unto the Court of the Women at the feast of Tabernacles for their excellency form shortnesse and sweetnesse of the matter by these vertues as by stairs we shall ascend being men in this for it is a reasonable service into Heavens great Court rejoycing with exceeding great joy in tasting those pleasures which are at Gods right hand therein for ever THE Priest under the Law was to bless the people at dismissing or finishing of the Temple-service one form whereof is to be found Numb 6.23 and others were institute by the authority of Rulers it was pronounced standing with hands stretch'd abroad and with a raised voice as if he would have forced into or put upon the people the mercies in those formes expressed which is promised in these words And I will blesse them Grace ratifying the Priestly benediction when bottom'd upon Divin law for the Congregaâ—ions obtainment of the desired good which ordinarily in Religious-zeal was tarried for by the people who are said to wait for Zacharias Luk. 1.21 the Lords Priest which with that of the parent poor and dying Christian are known to be signally efficacious which made our Lord the Priest of the New Testament when leaving his little flock to put his blessing upon them and with stretched out hands also Luke 24.50 evincing the removeal of the curse of the Law in his bearing of the curse for them in his own body upon the tree and that he was going to pray for them and for their sin that security might be purchas'd knowledge of the truth obtained and eternall life the summe of all mans salvation assured unto them and alwayes to be intreated for by him which being done while he was with them in the world should likewise be done at his abode with the Father before whom as with open armes He was continually to interceed for mercy to the Elect in general and to his Disciples in particular as Friends who could not who did not part with this their Master no more then Elisha would from Elijah and though with that Servant they had not the spirit of their Master duplicated or doubled upon them yet greater works then he did they do because He is gone to the
yet with this excellent and comfortable difference that as Moses yeelds to Christ so must Sinai to Sion here was fire only their fire and smoak there was clouds darknesse and earth-quakes accompanâ—'d with fear and trembling Sinai it self quaking But in Sion only a sound as of a mighty wind to prepare the receivers and cloven tongues uniting Iew and Gentile the boundiary of the wilderness being pulled up and variety of tongues perswaded the scattered abroad that God had given the Kingdoms of this world to his dear Son that in a spirituall sence not Israel only but the Earth might become the Lords and the fullnesse thereof typified by that multitude gathered and converted by the heat fireynesse yet harmlesnesse of the Saints charity and ardor having received the remission of sin and that from heaven the self same day their Fathers received the law against which they had transgressed for both was at the time oâ— Pentecost as may be demonstrated in computing the time thus THE people came from Egypt on the 14 day of the month there therefore remained 16 dayes for travell the Hebrews always reckoning 30 dayes for a month the first day of the third month they came to Sinai 30 dayes of the second month being accounted there will with this be found 47 dayes then the Peoples encamping Moses goeing up to God his returning again to the people for clear calculation is called one day which is 48 in which going up again to the Mount he is ordered by God to order the peoples being ready against the third day which will make the 50. â—n which God appeared for reckoniâ—g from the peoples want of bread or fall of Mannah is uncertain and may be erronious this is more clear and evidenceth the Anology better betwixt that fire from God by the Ministry of Angels and writting his law on tables of stone and that by fire in the descending of the Spirit that came one the 50 day after the slaying of the Passover Christ Iesus writting his law upon the tables of the hearts of men in a fuller fairer larger and more clear Character typ or impression but note this reckoning is inclusive the other not THE Persians and some other nations adored the fire for a god because of its excessive power and force in resolving matters combustible how great so-ever into it's own substance and being and usually it 's accounted the most noble among elements being as the heavens among bodies the sun among planets yea it 's purgeing operation made it of old to be the heirogliphick of purity as if they had known the world it self was to be cleansed thereby but how hath the fire of the Spirit from Ierusalem enlarged it self making the frosted heart of the unbelieving world even to glow while it talks of the Cross from heaven which is one of the three things by wise men admired in the earth looking upon the Resurrection and Ascension far short in comparison of that conquest the Holy Ghost hath made of the Grandees of the Nations in their honourable receiving of that doctrine from the mouths of plain men so contrary to the hair of natural inclination and mark it where ever the Spirit cometh it comes ordinarly by the sound of the Gospel and by it's heat we are assured of his reception a heart touched a heart pricked is but a heart heated a heart open'd when a man crys what shall I do with Peters converts Acts 2.37 or take away the iniquity of thy Servant with David 2 Sam. 24.10 surtiship may be offered that the Spirit hatâ— spoken in a saveing way but if it be a complaint of the punishment with Cain or a remove the â—râ—gs with Pharaoh be not rash in Cautoâ—ry this being a Legal not a Gospel expression far from that request of creating a clean heart which the Iews compareth to the Holy of Holies to Solomonâ— throne to Mosesâ—ables â—ables and truly displays that the wickednesse is done away by the Spiriâ—s inhabiting his resting therein and writting thereupon the doctrine of pardon and remission provyding the man seperate himself from an untoward generation Acts 2.40 IT 'S said the Spirit sat upon each of them in which it differs from that unclean Spirit that goeth about compassing the earth to and fro seeking rest but findeth none whereas holinesse is pacifique serene tranquilling consolidating the heart in which he dwels makeing it calm in it self and causing quietnesse towards all others condemning Ambition Covetousnesse Hatred Envy Vanity and what ever els tends to the Churches disturbance in which the Spirit rests sitting in it as upon a Throne purposing to reign as on a Tribunal resolving to judge as on a Chair purposing to instruct for all which in all ages to come he represented his undertakeing on this day establishing himself upon the Apostles heads as by fire clearing them from the rust of Errour the filth of Corruption that as Patterns as well as Preachers they might be exâ—mples of Sanctity to their own generation and give infallible rules for obtaining happinesse unto all posterity for ever COMPVNCTION of heart and remission of sin are both from the Spirit of God and is that new wine which shall only be put in the new bottles of a regenerated soul whereby they shal do and speak as the Spirit shall prompt them I had almost said as the Spirit give them utterance as here the Apostles for we find the whole house was filled with the rushing wind the Majesty of the Holy Ghost excluding all in-maets and though each Apostle had the sanctifyed operation of the Spirit filling every angle and corner of the soul as the understanding with Faith the will with Love and that sin or Devil might be exiled the hands with Promptitude the feet with Solicitude the eyes with Modesty the tongue with Eloquence the whole man with Prudence the Faculty Concupiscible being filled with good the Irascible with courage the Rational with verity though they had all gifts and were all filled yet they spake as the spirit gave them utterance some had five others had two talents and S. Paul abounded and spake with tongues more then they all whereby he who expects the gifts bestowed unto all ought not to caresse himself or hug and embrace himself in the deceiving hopes of a rich ample and perfect possession of the Spirit here but rest satisfied with his gift and with being one of the eleven not envying Peters singularity for he is particularly spoken of and eminency since a pinnace a small yaught shall land as wel as a great ship with full sail under the conduct and flag of the Admiral VPON the coast of the Whit-sea there is a cap called Pentecost and somewhat east of that there is another called Bonae Fortunae q d. good-luck let this day be any mans Pentecost a time of gathering in that is of heeding the law offering the first fruits of strength unto the Lord as the Jews did this day of their
corn it shall as Godlinesse hath the promise enrich both for heaven and earth doing good to him and not evill all the days of his life by pardon the alteration of the coast and similitude giving him a trade wind for the port of his desired rest IN this last age we are not to look for miracles by a sensible feeling of the rite or significant ceremony here used yet still Christ breaths on the Elect enlargeing to that degree their bowels of Love that they â—hew him always their faces being averse neither to his Doctrine nor to his Crosse yet forget not that he ascended before the mighty strong wind blew in upon them and that there may be no mistake there are some â—pon whom the Spirit comes never being â—eft in the ignorance of nature coldnesse of the Earth rawnesse of the flesh there are oâ—hers upon whom he comes but abides not â—lowing only upon them and no more heats â—hem indeed but as warm water they are â—older soon after he washeth them yet afterward they go to the puddle and are offensive â—s before to others he cometh and abideth â—itteth upon them liveth in them fills them outwardly with heavenly ardor celestial â—eat and by fire from above causes them seem â—peaking Seraphims and inwardly with wisâ—ome understanding knowledge in the â—eepnesse whereof they may be stiled Cheâ—ubims yea gods in the liknesse of men and â—hose fiery ones too this was for the Apostles BVT alas we see not those signs to passe â—he fiery tongues of too many in this age atâ—nded with smoak and brimstone the known fewel of Hel flames it is but one of a Citty and two of a Trib in whom we see the love of God an evidence of the Spirit which is known chiefly by the loveing of man who being ready for good works to both and patient in suffering and enduring evill from both and makeing progresse from one degree of vertue to another not falling back into perdition in the sight of either this is for us unto whom the Disciples are as lights after they received the promise of the Father as a gift from Iesus in his triumphant chariot the right hand of the Father the Captain of our Salvation haveing led Captivity captive giveing gifts to men to those then to us now more dureable treasures then those offered by the Roman conquerors of old as Sanctity in fire Purity in wind Eloqution in tongues that a Hebrew man might in Roman Oratory and with Attick Eloquence publish Salvation to the respective people and even perswade and reason them by the Spirit into everlasting blesse I say by the Spirit for unlesse he signifie unto the heart the preaching in the Air wil little avail neither shal ever he be Oraly instructed for laying aside the weight that so easely besets whose mind by the Spirit is not perfectly anointed for discovering the reward designed for observers of the Law he being the principale Master Clearing the memory Refining the Reason Inclining the will by the first alwayes minding us of God by the second directing how to apply him for our good because to him that knoweth his Masters will and doth it not there are appointed double strips by the third he sweetly willingly and powerfully draws us to the practise of the good we know for our souls sake and by the mercy of Iesus and by the fellowship of the Spirit and this alwayes for tongues being the organ of expressing words manifests the perpetuity of the things heard which as by fire are to be engraven and melted into their head and heart for their subsistance in them who are sanctified as is published in the Multitude of converts their joy their union their increase though under persecution AFTER the Disciples return from Olivet we find them enter into an upper roome continuing in prayer by some learned thought to be the place where our Saviour instituted the blessed Sacrament of his body confirmed Thomas in the faith of the Resurrection and where the HOLY GHOST came down in fire upon this day And was as antiquity records the Church and Synod-house of the Apostles in Ierusalem called Coenaculum Sion being first hallowed by our Lords supper and consecrate by other appearances for holy use and service a Church being builded thereupon called the Church of Sion on the top of the mount whereof there yet remaineth some reliques confirming the History and Tradition In this place the multitude of believers about an hundreth and twentie some of them possibly of our Saviours own kinred converts and acquaintance in Jerusalem mett prayed for the Election of Mathias at which time surely God loved the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings in Ierusalem his foundation being in this Holy mount 87. Psal. 1.2 Here was Mary the Mother of Jesus it may be Martha Mary Lazarus who ever they were they continued in one accord in prayer Acts 1.14 for if men give bread when their Children importunatly ask from them and afectionatly being at peace among themselves How much more shall our heavenly Father give the Spirit to such who call for him especially if in sound faith upright heart chast bosoms holy groanings innocent thinkings with unwearied solicitings Which unweariedness is intimated in the words they continued the fire of the Spirit burning up the stinging wither'd Nettles of contention the Thorns of worldly cares the Heath or Heather of â—â—ars and dejectments opening the ground of soul and Spirit for the seed of the good husband man that they might be inriched with â—nd bring forth fruit meet for repentance and â—mendment of life blowing away as with wind the sandy vanâ—ty of self-conceit and opinion hindring growth in grace and knowledge and all triviall trash sordidness being either burned or scattered while the world is Sataniz'd by lust continuing in Gluttony Drunkenness Excess Wantoness and Pride these continue in prayer peace and expecting the promise in high and â—ervent love for the Spirit came down and filled the house where they were sitting that is in quietness together iniquity passionatness talkativenesse itch of disputing about words which gender strif contention and debate the HOLY GHOST purposeng eternaly to be estranged from THAT being known to them and of us to be heeded the Spirit expresseth more then once after the Ascension that the multitude met together in one accord sueing for the acomplishment of the promise which in few dayes that is ten they received haveing asked with the mouth for they prayed with the heart for being heavenly endowed they wenâ— no more a fishing but about the fullfilling of the Scripture Judas being gone to his own place THEY were in Ierusalem likewise which is by interpretation a City of Peace being commanded not to depart thence untill they received the promise of the Father Acts 1.4 Christ purposing to glorifie his Ascension yea all his actings with the greater splendour for there was his greatest humiliation the greatest powring forth of his
Land as the Bride the Lambs wife for which Praise the Lord all ye nations praise him all ye people For his merciefull kindness is great towards us and the Truth of the Lord endureth for ever Psal. 117. All things being fulfilled which were fore-prophesied IT were not seemly to wave the particular place whence he took his rise which was from Mount Olivet by Interpretation a Mountain of lights either from the Suns shining thereon at its first rising or the lights of the Temple Splendor thereon at its setting or it may be because the lamps of the Temple were furnished with oyl from the fruit thereof or as others from the shining smoothness which is on the skin of the olive-berrie But from what part of that Mount he made his exit is unknown it may be for the same cause why the grave of Moses is obscure viz. to prevent superstition which offence and sin is evidently seen in those ignorant and scandalous Idolaâ—ers about a rock in that mount where by Mounks is shewen the the Image of a foot which they say was impressed in the rock by that foot which was last on the rock as our Saviour moved therefrom to be seen yet in that beautifull structure the Chappel of the Ascension builded by the Famous Helena just over the place where our Lord took his â—rise reverenced both by Turks and Christians as fitted upon that score for Devotion joyntly performed by both Religions the last officiating at the Toleration of the other the house being in the possession of the Mahometans Curiosity and Supperstition drains the purses of many for beholding this and other supposed Foollerys but that all might not be lost from this Impresse Travellers take some quantity of loose sand as a Religous relick yet the mischief is what quantitie soever be taken there from it is still supplyed by new so that the continuance of that miracle may be one ground to prove it no wonder but a cheat AT the foot of this mount Gethsemane was to be seen where the oyl presses stood for pressing of the olives and within the compasse of that mount as far as Bethania did he travel towards his ascending the same way â—e had rod into the City about fourty seven â—yes before and where his Friends Lazaâ—us Martha and Mary dwelt as if he had â—id there is but one way unto glory that is â—he way of the Crosse except in that rode â—here is no glory except in that path there â—s no victory and unlesse you strive no enâ—ring into the strait gate for as Oliveâ— is so â—ermed from light so Bethany is termed obediâ—nce of which grace his Ascension is a fruit â—nd who can pretend friendship unto him or â—is as did Lazarus whose soul sets not his 〈◊〉 unto Gods verity and truth in yeelding submission unto that law given the Church of avoiding ungodliness and worldly lusts beâ—ng sober righteous and Godly in this present world ADAM through disobedience forfeited Paradise and was cast into the valley of death darknesse his Successors must infer the only mean to review that whereof it was but a â—â—pe nay which is more to taste of the tree of life and ascend to the mount of God is to forsake the way of Cain and not aid the conspiracy of Corah but run that race of obedience Christ hath run before us causing every step that is every act of our life tend to the perfecting of us in those graces above mentioned whose light endoctrinating to the splendor and rayes of beaming good works made bright by the oyl of the Spirit conveyed into the soul by the branches of Sacraments and all other ordinances are abstâ—acted from earth or earthâ— mindednesse ascending to the hill of the Lord and standing in his holy place foreseeing and palpably discovering the direfull issue of abideing in a tumultuous City and bloody World where in place of Friends Marthas or Marys holy and friendly treatment worthies of whom the world is not worthy flagiâ—iously are assaulted with Lanterns torches swords and staves and by fond flattery villaneously betrayed into the hands of those who hate them by a Iudas Kisse a Ioahs fair word and a Tamars embrace BVT behold the order for that he ascended what is it but that he also descended first Eph. 4.9 and in spirituall regiment he who would leap high and far must stoup and press his body lower and lower He ascended its true far above all heavens but He first descended into the lower parts of the earth i. e. abhorred not the Virgins womb it being expedient for him who desiderates heavens joy the Seat of God blessed for ever to descend first into the deep places dark cells of his vain imagination the matrix or womb wherein is conceived all malice wrath blasphemy and all lasciviousnesse and then when perfecting the will of God in crucifying the old man walking with Abraham to the Mount of contemplation and then as Christ at Bethany lifted up his hands towards Heaven arguing His affections being there before his personal aryvall let us point at the permanency of these Heavenly pleasures accounting them more preferable then such which this earthly Glob presents to her admirers which being but in pitchers of her own mould are brittel though fair yet will the fascination be uncharmed for Hell which is a hole shal resolve that all promised enlargements were but a bewitching not a refreshing of the Soul And Canaans way being upward made Elias to be carried up and why should I be any longer here cryed Religious Monica the hopes that I have of things above making me to delight in nothing that is beneath why am I here beholding the flowry mead of this visible world to be full of stinging and poysoning serpents noysome weeds whereby it became despiâ—able in her eyes and accounted her self miserable untill elevated above it A proper work a significant fruit of Christs ASCENSION which as relating to man hath a four-fold degree First to the heart next in the heart next by the heart and lastly above the heart The first provoking the fear of God the second receiving Counsell from him the third espouses Christ unto it self and the fourth makes a discovery of God and beholding him as a fight delectable as a sight beautifull a disappearance is made of earth a neglect yea a hatred of its pretended only and seeming delicious enjoyments BVT What means this where he was before or that other like it No man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven even the Son of Man which is in heaven John 3.13 One He viz the Son of Man and another He viz. the Son of God the pronoun the same in both yet making a vast discrepancie in the two He 's He The Son of Man ascending where He not the Son of Man but He the Son of God was before and that for ever that is in heaven where He the Son of Man had never been Behold