nights and 6 dayes do I need to tell you what remains or if I say a Day remains is it not ridiculous for you to conclude it is a day without night I am ashamed of such Arguments if men will make Mists they deserve to dwell in the Dark Fath. What time in the Even does it begin Min. Not at Sun set as you may suppose The time of the Even but when its dark night which time is both Scriptural and Rational i e it agrees best with Gods Word and mans Work This last needs no more proof than mans experience That its Scriptural see Scripture When it began to be dark Nehemiah commanded the gates of Jerusalem should be shut * Neh. 13.19 i e that the Merchants might not come in to Sell and break the Sabbath The gate of the inner court shall be opened on the Sabbath i e at Even and shall not be shut till the Even †Ezck. 46.1 2. To begin the day at dark night is Consonant to its beginning at the Creation the Evening and the morning were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one day * Gen. 1.5 The Even or beginning of the night is put for the whole night Morning or the beginning of the day is put for the whole day N B The beginning of the day was thus Counted before the Sun was Created †Ver. 16. to signifie it s not Sun-set that begins the day but the beginning of darknesse when light is at an end Fath. In Summer it is day-light all night Object 3 Min. What then count the night to begin when it is as dark as it will be near two hours after Sun-set Those Northern people who have day-light a month together and they who have Sun-shine as long can count the dayes and tell when a day begins and ends by the Circular motion of the Sun Fath. To begin day at dark night is an unsettled Rule Object 4 for it is variable all the year long in December our Sabbath will beain soon after 5 a clock in June not till Ten. Min. It is by the Suns Ascension and Declension that night comes Sooner and Later with us on the North of the Line But thus hath God made the Sun to rule the day which we are to reckon as good a rule as if the Sun did rise and set all year at the same time And they that live East or West from us are to begin their Sabbath when it is Even with them though it be Morning or Noon with us that is nothing to them So we are to begin when it is Even with us though it be Morning or Noon with them that is nothing to us for the Sun rules the day round the world ¶ This leads me to a Lesson for your Lads A lesson for Lads who are apt to think it is Day and Night every where at once To cure this conceit consider When it is morning with us a quarter part of the Circumference of the world East it is Noon half way round it is Even three quarters round it is Midnight quite round we are at home Or when it is morning with us a quarter part West it is Midnight half way round it is Even three quarters round it is Noon And thus it is Morning Noon Even Midnight at once in 4 parts of the world any hour of the day Fath. That I perceive Object 5 but it seems unfit to begin a Sabbath with night and sleep Min. It does more than Seem unfit to oppose the order of the Almighty the God of order Why do not you argue thus It is fit to begin the Sabbath with night because it is a day of rest 2 Though it begin with Night it is not to begin with Sleep sure there is Prayer and some holy exercise in Gods service to preceed Sleep if there be any Christianity in a Family 3 The night is sanctified of God for us as well as the day and may be sanctified to God by us we are to Sleep to God as well as to Wake to God in so Sleeping God will be glorified and we may be comforted * Ps 63.5 6 4 Works of Charity and Necessity are lawfull on the Sabbath day and such are eating drinking and sleeping so much as is meet for us Fath. But the Sabbath must begin in the Morning because Jesus rose then Object 6 Min. He did not rise in the morning there is not a Text in the Bible tells you so Fath. You think I never search the Scripture Min. Yes perhaps with a Bible in one hand and a Pipe of Tabacco in the other in Pastime not in Pain under your ignorance Men may be Professors and Preachers and what they will but except they are pinched to death under their darknesse and both search and pray to God in good earnest they are never like to know the mind of God while they live Lay both hands and heart too to this work lest you come off with a Curse and a Blast for a blessing Fath. I hope you will not deny this Text †Mar. 16.9 Min. I hope so too God for bid I should but for your satisfaction we will see what all the Evangelists say Matthew tells us the two Mary's came to see the sepulchre as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week * Mat. 28.1 Mark saith they came at the rising of the Sun †Mar. 16.2 This cannot be the first coming These saw a young man Sitting * Mar. 16.5 Some saw 2 men Standing †Lu. 24.4 Mary saw 2 Angels Sitting * Jo. 20.12 It seems Several came at Several times It s probable Mary Magdalene who had most love to Christ and to whom he first appeared †Mar. 16.9 came first along * Job 20.1 Luke saith they came very early 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the depth of the morning †Lu. 24.1 i e at Cock-crowing Depth signifies a thing did in the dark the morning was deep in the dark the Spring of day was coming but there was so much darknesse between they could not discern it John saith Mary came when it was yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 darknesse * Job 20.1 that is was be before Day ia as clear as the Sun THEN said the Angels Why seek ye the living among the dead he is not here but is risen †Luk. 24.5 6. q d Long ago Had Mary come at Midnight she had heard the same for all you know None of the Evangelists tell us when Jesus rose There had been a great eath-quake for the Angel descended and rolled back the stone * Mat. 28.2 and for fear of him the keepers did shake and became as dead men †Ver. 4. and were revived and gone for saifh Mary They have taken away the Lord * Job 20.2 These things had a time to be acted over but how long ended before Mary first came before day is
no New Heart Soul and Body will shortly be in Hell and Both Black in Everlasting Burnings Mans Sins are Debts of which God keeps account Sinner canst Tell to what thy Debts amount Thy Debts thou art encreasing Every hour Into his Vials God doth also pour Pain for thy Pleasure though thou wilt not Stop As certain as thy Death there 's Drop for Drop God's Cup is almost Full as well as Thine When both are Full OH then the Dreadfull Time Sixt. Doc. 6. Teach them to KInow and cause them to be Well acquainted with the Ten Commandments Of the Ten Commands for they are the Pure Precious Precepts of the Holy Lord God And with the rest Remember Well the Sabbath Day I hope I need not forbid You to convert the Commands into Prayers for your Children according to the Course of Carnal Ignorant People Learn them to know they are Gods Laws to Rule mans Life And that they are to be Obey'd in Deed Word and Thought And whatever is contrary to any one of these Commands that is Sin against GOD. Learn them to know the Necessity of these Laws being written in their Hearts according to the Promise And let your Tongue be the Pen in gods Hand to write them There if the Lord Please Seventh Doc 7. Of Mans Obedience Teach them to know the Utter IOnsufficiency of Mans Obedience to the Law to Save And that the most Excellent Moralist hath as Absolute a Necessity of Jesus Christs Righteousness to Justifie him and that without it he will as Certainly be Damned as the most Prophane Person that ever pissed against a wall in the Whole World Eight Doc 8. Of the Gospel Teach them to know the Gospel The knowledge of the Law is in Order to the Acceptation of the Gospel By the Law is the knowledge of Sin †Ro. 3.20 without which Who will regard the Gospel What cares a Person for a Pardon who knows not that he is Condemned In this Lesson eye three things ¶ 1 The Declaration of the Gospel viz That GOD hath chosen an innumerable company of Mankind And hath given them to CHRIST And sent him into the World to Redeem them from the Curse of the Law by fulfilling the Law N B. He was GOD and Man in One Person Man to Suffer and Die God cannot Die GOD to Satisfie in bearing Wrath Infinitely which Man could not do This GOD-man did Personate Man and in Mans Stead for Man did Actively and Passively obey the Law Perfectly And so hath procured Eternal Life And this is Freely offered to all Dead Sinners by the Declaration of the Gospel And Christs desire that Sinnersshould obtain this Eternal Life is expressed with Longing Sighing Sweating Weeping and Dying ¶ 2 The Condition of the Gospel on our part by which Eternal life is made Ours by which we have Right to the Tree of Life That is FAITH Men are Dead God hath made a Law viz He that Believes shall Live He that believes Not shall Never Live but Die for Ever A Condemned Sinner is to be Justified by Faith Without the deeds of the Law †Ro. 3.27 28. by the Law of a Just GOD who thus Justifies the Vngodly * Ch. 5.4 By which Law of Faith without Works boasting in Works is excluded Isa 55. Come buy Wine Christ is bought by Believing Buy without Money i e Part with Something worth Nothing i e Sin Self Righteousness Self and all Sin as to the Practice and Pleasure of it Self Righteousness as to any Confidence in it Self by giving up Body and Soul to Christ †1 Cor. 6.20 ¶ 3 The Duties of the Gospel viz Good Works as fruits of Faith Faith which alone Justifies before GOD accompanied with such a Holy Conversation as will Justifie before Men That is the Conversation which becomes the Gospel BUT let Justification by Faith without Works be kept Clear e g. Suppose a Man Famous for Wickednesse who never did any thing else but serve Satan by Whole Sale should come under a Sermon And be convinced of his Sin Sick of Sin Sick for a Saviour and Believe on Jesus Christ H E is Justified Christs Perfect Righteousness is Imputed And if he should drop down Dead where he Stands before he have any time to Pray or do any good Work He is Certainly Saved Now Sir A Caution for the Mother though your Wife does not Object but learn in Silence * 1 Tim. 2.11 as best becomes her with an intent to ask her Husband at home †1 cor 14.35 Yet least she say in her Heart What is it the part of a Mother to play the Preacher I will give her an Instance of one who taught her Son both Law and Gospel The words of King Lemuel * Pro. 31.1 Lemuels Lesson Bathsheba's Catechism Lemuel she calls him because God owned him I will be his Father and he shall be my Son †2 Sa. 7.14 Lemuel God with him The Prophesie that his Mother taught him The word Prophesie in the Hebrew is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A burden of the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To bear the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Englished A burden * Na 1.1 This shews what a heavy charge lyes upon Mothers which she Thus discharges What my SON and what the Son of my WOMB and what the Son of my VOWS †Ver. 2. Give not thy strength to Women * Ver. 3. Here she teaches him Law viz Thou shalt not commit Adultery It is not for KINGS O Lemuel it is not for KINGS to drink Wine †Ver. 4. Lest they drink and forget the LAW * Ver. 5. See how she Schools him N B. The King of Israel was to keep the Law †Deu. 17.19 King Solomon who was in twenty things a Type of Christ was in his Obedience to the Law a Type of Christs Fulfilling the Law to free us from the Curse from whence comes the Comfort of the Gospel Give strong drink to him that is ready to Perish * ver 6. Parallel The great Trumpet shall be blown and they which are ready to Perish shall come †Isa 27.13 And Wine to those that be of heavy Heart Parallel Come buy wine without Mony * Isa 55. Open thy mouth for the Dumb †Ver. 8. This Phrase respects Solomon as a Type of Christ in his Intercession who is to Pray for Them that cannot Pray for Themselves Who are swallowed up in Silence and Shame under a Sight and Sence of Sin At or After convertion Or can say Nothing For but All Against themselves Christ Will speak a Good Word for such which Shall be answer'd with Good and Comfortable Words †Zech. 1.13 Thus as Bathsheba teaches her Son Solomon to officiate as a Type of Christ she teaches him both Law and Gospel And see how Solomon approves of the Mothers Ministry as well as
many t to say no more he knows the way I take * Job 23.10 Prayer and Professors are Strangers Prayer is another thing than many imagine and many times I think I never prayed yet but if ever I prayed it was for this And praised be his holy name he hath heard me and helped me through this intricate work which was the hardest knot to untie that ever I took in hand in my Time I gave up my self to the Conduct of God As I was never for on work by any mans Word Letter or Print or ever had the least hint of this Opinion from man so I never asked any creature any one Question concerning it in all the time I have been upon the search of it This I tell you to this end viz If you think I erre you may blame no man but my self and if you think I am right you may give God and not man the praise ¶ Sir Parent Cautioned here is a Providence which you may not lightly passe over viz This concern of the Sabbath falling on me so soon after our Conference under the Tree which seems to be for your Sake I thought not of it in our First Dialogue I was concerned with it in our Second Dialogue though not being ready for it I did not tell you of it but I am no sooner prepared for this Third Dialogue but you are driven out by Yesterdayes opposition to draw me to it And let me tell you In all this labour I have had you in my eye much desiring your Sound settlement for the Sabbath Here is a voice of God speaking to you which I desire you may hear And I pray consider seriously with your self what account you will give at the Great Day if you will not hear Gods voice so Audible nor see his word so Visible but will bottom your Sabbatical opinion on mans Tradition which hath no ground in Gods word Fath. I am shattered and unsettled like a troubled Sea after a Storm by this New sudden assault of my Old opinion but when there comes a Calm and my mind Quiet I suppose I shall settle upon your foundation so you may freely speak what you have farther to say as if I was already of your mind Min. I counsel you to pray God to settle you on a sure foundation Parent Counselled as day and night I have done and by which means I am at length come to the desired Haven towards which I have been long rowing And though by the way I have had many a fall down into the deep yet I ever rose upon this Text * MAT. XII XL And my Antagonists being Answered upon this even firm sound ground I Stand * MAT. XII XL and from this Opinion I shall Never depart while I Live except Christ comes from Heaven and declares me deceived ¶ Having set the Sabbath upon its own Base or rather shewed you where GOD hath set it Praest at pauca avidè discere quam multa cum taedio devorare Erasmus and on what Foundation he hath Bottomed its Beginning and as I hope settled you upon that Foundation I shall for your profitable practice Drop a few Directions for the Sabbath Day and so dismisse you ¶ 1 Remember the Sabbath day before it comes to Prepare for it 1 Direct Memento and let none of yours remember it to Prophane it If you forget or neglect the Sabbath you lose it and let it fall If the Sabbath falls Sin and Satan too rises to your Ruine REMEMBEâ— is a word of THUNDER Remember the Sabbath is Never to be forgot while the World stands A Popish Opinion Popish writers say There was no Sabbath before Sinai but the Sabbath came in with the First man and must go out with the Last man REMEMBER Prepare Simile If a great man was to come to your House you would make great preparation REMEMBER the Great GOD is to come this day to your Heart Lift up your heads O ye Gates c. and the King of Glory shall come in †Ps 24.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag The Septuagint Title of this Psalm shews it to be A psalm for a Sabbath ¶ 2 Begin the Sabbath when the Sabbath begins i e at Even 2 Direct End the work of the precèdent day when the day ends i e at Even If you care not when you Begin the Sabbath peradventure God will not care when you End it nor how unprofitably you Spend it ¶ 3 Rise early in the morning 3 Direct Sleep not away the Sabbath so you may sleep away Salvation and the Soul Be not Sleeping when you should be Praying Pray him to give Blessing to the Sabbath who gave Being to the Sabbath Let the body be early Up and the heart early Ope. Before you rise count Christ is calling as to Zacheus viz Make hast and come down UP for to day I must abdie at thy house * Lu. 19.5 ¶ 4 Be not slothfull in duty on the Sabbath day 4 Direct The sluggard is Satans Cushen Simile Come not to a Sermon to be a Seat for Satan to sit on Satan entered Jâ—â—â—s Simile at Supper-time into idle souls at Sermon time The Sabbath is a day of Merchandise for the Soul †Better than of Silver and Gold Idlenesse is Never good nor Ever so had as on Sabbath-dayes Some had rather sweat their browes Six dayes for the Body than their brains One day for the Soul Do your duty on this day or you do nothing and do every duty in Season You cry O the Times we must hear comfortable Doctrine to strengthen our Faith In vain is comfortable Doctrine without conformable Life A Christian weakens his Faith more by a Sin than a Minister can strengthen it by a Sermon ¶ 5 Be spiritual in every duty on the Sabbath day 5 Direct In order to This be spiritual on Other dayes He that is carnal Six dayes is not like to be spiritual One day Be not content with outward expressions and actions without inward affections not with the Body of duty without the Soul of duty not with the Gift without the Grace of duty ¶ 6 Beware of your own Works 6 Direct Do nothing but of necessity viz what you cannot do the day before nor forbear till the day following e g To quench Fire To stop Water †Sea-bank breaches To save the life of Man or Beast To move Malt To gather and save Saffron In such case we break the Sabbath except we break it But do these Spiritually and with Speedy dispatch ¶ 7 Beware of your own Words 7 Direct What may not be Done may not be Said or talked of Talk not of News except necessary This discourse eats as a Canker Simile and hath eat out the Life of Religion long ago We talk much of the Papal Plot as if we were well acquainted with it but this Part of the Plot we are ignorant of viz Satans design to make us talk away our Time till we talk our selves down the Stream Simlie like the Fool whose lips swallow up himself †Eccless 10.12 If men were acquainted with their ignorance of God they would think all their time too little to talk of God ¶ 8 Take heed of your own Thoughts 8 Direct By them many break the Sabbath and few know it What men do Openly or speak Audibly is seen and heard by men but a man may think Ang thing Every thing and all men know Nothing but God knows all The body tongue or hand may be bound up from sin and the heart Bent for it against God Such secret Sabbath breakers are reserved in Store for the day of Wrath. ¶ 9 Be sorry for the sins of Sabbath dayes Sigh and Cry 9 Direct for all the abominations that abound on Sabbath dayes God groans under them if you are at ease while God is pressed God will take no pleasure in your Rest ¶ 10 Be acquainted with the emptinesse of Religion 10 Direct without a due observation of the Sabbath day The 4. command for a Sabbath is called Gustos primae tabulae keeper of the first table the 5 command for honour of Parents is called Custos secundae tabulae keeper of the second table He that keeps not the 4 command is locked out of the First table and is like to do GOD no Service he that keeps not the 5 command is shut out of the Second table and is like to do Man none well but to be Abominable and Disobedient and to Every good work Reprobate * Tit. 1.16 That these Drops may Water Epilogue c make Better LORD put Life to every Line and Letter Fath. That his may be as you do Say I will go hasten home and Pray 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ERRATA Pag 13 lin 25 for bitternesse read bitternesses Pag 19 lin 22 for Low read Law Pag 37 lin 24 for plentitudinem read plenitudinem Pag 136 lin 17 for full Horrour read full of Horrour