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
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
Paul were of God and Christ how soon might the rude swaine the country lossel the clownish Boor the whistling plowman the earthy drudge find out a way for nobilitating his family and Gentilizeing of himself in observing the rules and orders belonging to the badge and profession of the Gospel Let those of Castile passe for born Gentleman the Bereans are far more honourable Alexander and Nimrod may do great strange and bloody feats while Paul and Cornelius keeping their bodies in subjection least they should be cast-aways more splendidly writs their name and with a greater flourish in the volumns of repute TAKEING heed to Gospel rules holy laws observing the outgoings of the King of Saints even of the paths walks and orders of Iesus the Soveraign and Heir of all things and Kingdoms being King eternal immortal invisible the only wise God 1 Timo. 1.17 maketh the clown a Gentleman the Gentleman a noblesse yea all men from the basest of Pesants Kings unto God the Father and younger brethren to our Lord that is partakers of the whole inheritance with the Son of which dignity if you be religiously ambitious or earnestly covet after you shal do well for Iesus then in all cases shall be a Iesus that is a Saviour in time of trouble MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE WISE MEN Unfolded and applied For Epiphany-Day Ian. 6. Tolbooth Ch. 1671 But preached Sunday-Ian 8. Tolbooth Ch. 1671 MATTH 11.1 Now when Iesus was born in Bethlehem of Iudea in the days of Herod the King behold there came wise-men from the East to Jerusalem Saying where is he that is born King of the Jews for we have seen his Star in the East and are come to worship him THOVGH it be said that God is no respecter of persons yet it s to be understood in his eternal decision and sentenceing men to happinesse or misery conform to the Regularity or extravagancy of their actions for otherwise he eminently signalizeth some above the masse of plebeian beauty by signs and wonders makeing their ingresse to or egresse from the world prodigious or auspicious by unusual occurrences not to speak of the three Suns which appeared when Nero entred upon government or that fearfull comet some months before his slaughter nor of that shining bright before many lights of the Germain Church were extinguished by death as being portentuous it is upon record that glorious worthies have been saluted at their births by visions from heaven auspicating the felicity of their government grandour of their lives and glory of their fame as his late Majesty to passe old and musty Registers of glorious memory journeyed from his Palace to Pauls Church to render thanks for the birth of a Son our present Soveraign about ten of the clock May 29. in bright-day a star was seen to shine predicting as some then said his out-shining and breaking forth at last though for a time he might be out-shined by another not to comment God doth not always speak by his Prophets only but by the meteors and elements likewise in persons especially born for government and if in persons meerly temporal this be what shal indicat to the world the birth of the King of Kings rather then a goodly star and that in the east by whose rayes the Religious Magi whether by Day or night could spel if not read the birth of the King of the Jews for as there were many new things about and at our Saviours birth on earth and all wonderfull as the Angels appearance Zacharias dumbnesse c. It was seemly that the Heavens should also lift up their voice and declair that wonderfull work of God which lay in Iury yet shined to Persia coming to them who were nigh that they might be saved and to them who were afar off that they might be redeemed Therefore there came Wise Men from the east c. HAVEING seen our Lord born for and circumcised by the Jew we should wrong our selves if we beheld him not worshipped by the Gentiles for though Salvation be of the Jews Iohn 4.22 yet it's effects are to the ends of the earth at first the Shepherds adored here Philosophers are come to adore they directed by an Angel these conducted by a star both from heaven to him who was to unite them in one unto himself and of them so united as living stones to build a Temple for the Holy Ghost that is a Tabernacle for himself IN a Mystery behold Araunah the Jebusit offering gifts and David the Jew doing service to our God for the health of both and salvation one of another the Gentile exceeding the Jewish spectators in his the Lord thy God accept thee he knowing the Israelite to have as he had untill the Gospel was revealed a more peculiar interest in God so Christ was King of the Jews that is eminently but not only for he was also the God and King of that King-like Araunah a Gentile ONE day viz. Ianuary the sixth hath been fam'd among the Ancients and it 's first appearance highly rever'd because of a four-fold miracle wrought thereon God even the Father proving as on a Theater the Divinity of Iesus his Son for when he began to be about thirty years of age and baptized in Iordan the Trinity was discovered the Father being in the voice the Spirit in the liknesse of a dove the Son in the flesh and proclaimed to be the Son well-beloved whence by them that day was called Theophania the apparition of God viz from heaven that same day of the next year he at the Marriage of Cana of Galile turned water into wine because of which they called it Bethphania the appearance of God in the house On the same day next year he fed the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes wherefore they called it Phagiphania the appearance of God eating or in eating of this last there is some more scruple then of the other but let him be Anathema that denyes the appearance of a star unto these Wise-men which some will have to be shining when this King was thirteen dayes old others will have him two years old however the day from this was called Epiphania the apparition of God above or from the heavens and this as being more sacred more miraculous the Wise-men seeing believing journying searching adoreing and offering have in the Annals of the Church swallowed up almost all the other that is for the time he being adored now as God which we find not to be done in the other wonders by Jew or Gentile and the solemnity by the Ancients in all ages is especially observed upon that account unto whose venerable and gray-headed practice we shall in all humility conform this universal Lord and Sun of Righteousnesse having a morning star in the East giving intelligence of an approaching day for mans perfect Redemption and by it good tydings to these Magi or Wise-Men and by them to Ierusalem and thence to all the world
the Idolatry 1 Cor. 10.14 IN the Kingdom of France of old an order of Knighthood was institute called of the Star which in the days of Charles the seventh became contemptible the Honour becomeing dishonourable being given to pages yeoman of the guard and other attendants so that the Knights laid asside the badge and cognisance of the Star whereupon the order evanished the Magi in a holy and respectfull sence might be termed of the Star but Religion in Gospel preaching having descended unto the poor many great in their own esteem as the Iews repineing at the Gentile shifts off devotion to their Chaplain and servants menial and in a distinguishable sense is it not sadly visible that the poor have the Gospel preached unto them great men landed men Wise men or men for any thing of renown gilding their sword garnishing their board embroidering their apparel as if birth-right nobility and gallantry did ipso facto and of it self qualify for glory piety and religion in the mean while exposed to nakednesse and contempt bleeding and trod-underfoot as injurious unto because debasing greatnesse and suiting rather the Tenents then the Land-Lords habitation whose revenue provyding against course fair hard beds shifts off prayer reading holy living as inept guests or complemented with a dinner and then farewell VPON this score not many wise after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called 1 Cor. 1.26 yet because their are not many it would seem their are some mighty and some noble called wherefore freeing your souls from this abuse embrace holinesse as an honourable inmate as the Crown embellishing al your vertues the preservative of al your excellencies the engine mean or instrument to augment your fortunes enlarge dominions dignifie your issue protect your dwellings guard your persons secure your consciences and acquire gloâ—y for Godlinesse hath the promise and the sinner will dy accursed THE Natural Sons of the Kings of Spaâ—n by law are never to enter the gates of Madrid Don Iohn as we read was never nearer it then a league the court leaving the pallace that that mighty Austian might be capable to give a visit to his Catholick Majesty as if their were so black a stain or so thick a fibre somewhere in that great body that royal blood could not so encircle the person as to nobiliat and on all quarters in all parts properly make him his Highnesse his Serene Highnesse just so it is with wickednesse and unbelief no gold can beautify it no silver adorne it nor throne honour it nor greatness make it or the breast in which it lodgeth to be capable to see the face of God or admit it to his holy Habitation INDEED God condescends so far as to descend to sinners and by them may be visited and spoak withal in the acts of his worship and temple of his Son as Christ was beheld by the Magi but so as we find not first and second he as Death makeing no difference between Rich and poor High and low and if any it is to the poorest that is in Spirit all before and in comparison of him being but dust and ashes and he who is loosest upon the earth that is puft up is because such soonest and easiest blown away all epithets declairing greatnesse being unsuccesfull fading and evanishing as smoak from the tunnels of their own well furnish'd kitchins known it seems to Ioan Queen of Spain who gave on a glob a moulting peacock with Vanitas encircled as if all earthly glory without the coronet of Sanctity and piety were but like the splendor of that fowl and beauty of his train which a rainy day will cause to disappear and a warm spring a smal calamity shall make the prey of any baser born scattering them in the path of this world's contingencies to adorn the cap's of it may be their own Skip-Jacks followers and footmen MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF OUR LORDS CROSSE Unfolded and applied Passion-Friday April 1. High Church 1670. GOOD-Friday April 1. High Church 1670. PSAL. CX VII He shall drink of the Brook in the way therefore shall he lift up his head WE read of a Holy Man whose library being ill stored furnished himself richly with store of Literature by serious revolving upon the matter contained in three books whose leaves were of different colours one whit wherein he was directed to walk talk and do conform to that favour patience long suffering God had exercis'd towards him another was black representing the formidable number and sad consequence of his infinit and multiplied transgressions the third was red which to his affections passionatly discovered the great secret of the wisdom of the Love of God towards and for his Soul in contriving the death of his Son whose blood as the Red Sea destroying the Egyptians of his lust made him both rejoice and weep IN which meditation holy men of old as they were moved by the holy Ghost nothing being more usâ—ful necessary comfortable mysterious then the knowledge of Christ and him Crucified were much conversant and among them David is eminent in many places particularly in this Psalm pointing both at Calvery and Olivet for he shall Drink and then he shall lift up the head which expresseth a triumâ—h a Trophe after a victory and fight he must for he shal strick through Kings and fill the places with dead bodies ver 5.6 which cannot be done without some losse of blood unto himself which eventually shall procure honour and that for ever the Lord saying to my Lord that is to David yet in the Mystery unto Davids Lord Christ sit thou on my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy foot-stool the Father giving him not only the right but the Act of dominion judging governing all things untill Devils Belialists Hereticks Shismaticks Antichrists every evil work be dashed in pieces the fathers grandor not being ecclipsed by this donation he reigning in the Son and remaining in that account stil Lord also by him for ever his sweating bleeding dying burying serving but as medicine to evacuat his holy body of humors and disposing him to rest after which as a Gyant refreshed with wine he shall rise out of sleep and smit his enemies in the hinder parts makeing them a shame unto themselves in uncovering their foâ—lies before the whole creation and in the sight of Angels of men contumeliously causing them smart for their heart enormities when he shall after his drinking lift up his head AFLICTION is in general compared to water and bearing of the CROSSE to drinking and the measure providentialy alloted for each creature may be pertinently expressed by a cup of which it 's decreed by heaven all must drink though not all alike the dregs of the cup of Tribulation being appointed for the wicked Psal. 75. Let the Jews therefore this day fret curse murmur in their carnal way 〈◊〉 a pompuous Messiah while the more spiritualiz'd exalt the name of Iesus who as another
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
blood the lowest bowing down of his Head there at the Pasover in sight of the Nations did his Soul fly upward into Paradise leaving a naked body in the hands of the Souldiers and there again was his greatest exaltation pouring forth his Spirit at the Feast of Pentecost upon his despised Associats the firstlings of whose conversion by his power whom the Rulers had slain but fifty days before in that same City not only reviveing his memory proveing his innocency but convincing their Auditors the inhabitants of bloodinesse and sinfulnesse they thereby becomming adorers of the Cross manageing the vertue and merits thereof in gratifying the Father that is glorifying and pleasing God by rejoycing because of and in the same and of its extension unto all the world the Iew rejoycing in his own pardon for crucifying the Lord of glory the Gentile being glad in partaking of that Salvation which was from the Iews Ioh. 4.22 both now understanding the Prophet in his Out of Zion shall go forth the Law Isa. 2.3 and whence can it come fitter since it s a Law making peace then from Ierusalem a vision of peace where Christ the Prince of peace said once peace be unto you and again peace be unto you Joh. 20.21 that is as I have found you in peace I leave you in peace and abiding in peace the spirit of peace shall abide with you for which receive ye the HOLY GHOST THE Trumpets of the Temple sounded every morning at the opening of the Gates for assembling the devout unto Divine service the Spirit being breathed upon the Apostles here keep'd them together untill the sound of a mighty winde alarâ—m'd them and prepared them for more ample manifestation of his appearance And surely what the Trumpet did our Bells doth now each ting and toll saying Gather your selves together Joel 2.2 and though gathering by many be not regarded and by severall reasoned and printed against yet our falling from the shadow of Religious deportment in shutting our ears against such solemne invitations to our Churches hath not had among us such alluring mercies such beamings of heavens acceptance such self-denying and sin-subduing characters such warme breathings of Ghostly consolations nor such examples impulses to purity and good works but that yet we should go up to the house of the Lord and call upon his Name with the remnant that are left OVR Fiery tongues against Assemblies and the Masters thereof being indeed such that is fiery rather then like as fire God by them being dishonoured and the multitude of the Nations enforced to conclude there from that mystically we be drunk with the wine of astonishment and spirit of giddinesse having a knack of cursing what ever we see contrary to our intentions though urgently sought by us or wishedly endeavoured for what ever Providence doth with us though it may be in the main conform to our prayers and fasts yet in the end we pray and fast yea curse and ly against it since it is so well known the Gall which now imbitters our lives even to separation is no other then that same Gall that hath disrelished our former enjoyments Our disquiet proceeding not so much from this or that object as from our heeding the devil who is come down yea invited down amongst us having great wrath so that in some meetings there is it may be a mighty rushing wind and the sound of that throughout the land but our sitting that is our abideing in that harmonious concord peace and love attested as a badge of the Spirits future coming not being seen its fallacious to inferre the possession of Holinesse though they should speak with Tongues and prophesie OFT did the HOLY GHOST appear but never in the shape of a ravening beast or bird of prey Oyle is soft a Dove is not invective and the fire that came down at Pentecost was without smoak for that hurts the eyes and likewise without natural heat for it sindged not a hair of the head neither did the smell of fire passe on the Apostles it being but like fire an Element in which God had oft appeared as to Moses to Elias the nature of it being adapt to signifie the operation of the Spirit within these men for their own good and benefiteing of others which ardently they pursued prudently instructing and by Grace infusing in others their own acquiâ—'d and infused perfections as by fire melting the hard heart inlightning the ignorant cleansing as from rust the idle and sluggish Soul heating all through the love of ascending towards Heaven which love as oyle keepeth always aloft and without mixing it self with the affecting of things here below they being cast out as by a sink and not to be heeded that is beloved for nauseating the Soul which by the pledge or troth here received as by a Ring hath betrothed it self purely unto God HENCE we may pronounce their piety but formality and shall be more confounding then flat Atheisme who obtruds upon the world their rough hands enflamed cheeks tearing nailes their pilfring humour their slandering tongue to be constituent parts of those multiplicated gifts effused and shed abroad upon their heart by that Spirit which descended in these dayes the pernicity whereof to discover would long detain us from our Port but that of our Saviour detects the insolence by their fruits ye shall know them Matth. â— 16 Rapaciousness and blood-thirstinesse being equally remote from the soul of Him in whom the HOLY GHOST dwells as are the contentions and blasphemies of Hell and the joyes concord and peace in the highest Heavens SVCH who expect visits from great men fits their houses for reception possibly by perfuming pots the Disciples prepared for the Spirit by Vnion Prayer and Love embrace the Pattern imitate the Coppy with repeated acts of incense-like mortification of lust prejudice animositie or whatsoever savours of such nastinesse Using in opposition to these the strowings with the sweet herbs of Brotherly kindnesse meeknesse patience charity and love to God the house I should say the Soul thus scented is disposed for his admission he loving purity and religious cleanlinesse being the only delectable property he pursueth and expecteth THE Church is said to have Doves eyes Cant. 4.1 and the Dove is both a sociable and harmlesse creature refusing to nest in that cote where rottennesse or stench breeds annoyance being delighted with that house most which is furnished with glasses the bird delighting in her own shadow and rejoycing to behold it even in water The Doves eyes indeed properly unsolds the chastity of the Church looking only upon her beloved as a true Turtle and her not following strange lovers but the other known properties of that fowle countercharms the witchcraft-like enchantments that are in this age men caressing that is hugging themselves in a whimsical solitude not desiring to have a discovery of themselves unto themselves least they should relinquish their imbib'd opinions falsely called a principle and say O! who