knowledge of salvation to them that sit in darknesse and the shadow of death and too of good example to shine before men that they seeing our good works Why in fire may glorifie c. So that this holy Fire commendeth each of the Apostles to the world as Christ did Saint John Baptist both for a Burning and a shining Lamp and indeed He that hath knowledge or charity without zeale is but too like the Glow-worm hee hath some cold splendour without heat or efficacy whereas who so hath zeal without the rest as now a days too many such blind metled Horses They are so far like Hell fire that they burn and give no light but in whose brest soever they are united such are baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire Again Fire is a bright Hieroglyphick of Grace I those Septem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the seven chiefe Donatives of the Holy Spirit are not frigidly demonstrated by Fire grace 1 as first Purgat Fire you know purifieth the Gold from drosse so doth the Spirit by the gift of Love purge out the old Leaven of Malice and Hypocrisie turning all Injuries into a Golden Patience grace 2 2. Liquefacit Fire melteth most obdurate Mettals and mouldeth them into any Figurations The seven Graces of the Holy Spirit So doth the Spirit by the Gift of Poenitence dissolve our steely Hearts conforming them to Christ and the best Patterns making them flow through our eyes like a Coelestiall Spring grace 3 3. Consolidat Fire constipateth and hardneth the clay so that no Rain or storm can injure it and so doth the Spirit by the gift of Patience confirme and fortifie us against all Afflictions grace 4 4. Decorat Fire maketh new and burnisheth the Mines So doth the Spirit by the gift of Knowledge Adorn and Beautifie the Minds of men grace 5 5. Elevat Fire carrieth up vapours and things of lighter Nature with its ascending motion So doth the Spirit by the Gift of Faith raise our Desires and sublimate our Indeavours towards Heaven grace 6 6. Illuminat Fire imparteth light to all that are about it and so doth the Spirit by the Gift of Wisdome enlighten the Understanding and direct the Practice grace 7 Lastly Dulcorat Fire you know sweetneth and preserveth things from corruption So also doth the Spirit by the Gift of Prudent Innocence sweeten our whole life into a continuail Feast and keepeth Soules intire from spirituall Putrefaction In a word our great God himselfe is a Fire saith Scripture to the wicked 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 4. which Saint Paul translateth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 4.2.24 Heb. 12.29 Hebr. 12. i. e. an eating fire to Sodome and Gomorrha Nadab and Abihu to such Stubble a Consuming Fire but to the Faithfull to the Poenitent as here Ignis illuminans a Light unto their Feet and a Lanthorn to their Pathes to guide their steps into the way of Peace Peace temporall spirituall and Eternal And now the Question of this Fire is extinguished admit here a few words of Tongues that 's the second Why in Tongues the Holy Ghost was pleased formerly to Appear in the milde Emblem of a Dove viz. when he flew down on him who was as void of Guile as that same bird of gall but now pointing out the effect by the externall cause hee speaks his presence in the forme of Tongues But as before of Fire so neither must we here imagine reall Tongues but their Similitude non carneae linguae saith my Author these were no fleshy tongues Gorran in locum no those had been too grosse incongruous Representatives of the subtilest spirit these were of a rarer substance suppose of purest air condens'd into this shape and lightned from above so that as before the Spirit descended Sicus Columba Matth. 3. but in the likenesse of a Dove so here no more then tanquam linguae only in the similitude of tongues Why in Tongues and in them specially ut qui Intellectui Lucem Ardorem Affectui Ori verbum ministraret in Tongues above all Figures that he who had given light to their intellectuals and fervency to their affections might now also add a voice and expressive faculties to the tongue without which all abilities are but like the talent in the napkin the napkin hid in the earth Jewels lock'd up in a Cabinet whose key is lost Act. 24. Elocution being the Oratours primum secundum tertium expression the ornament of all here is therefore opened to them a dore of utterance Caeperunt loqui variis linguis Act. 2. They spake with divers tongues as c. these tongues then betokened the Gift of languages wherby they were inabled to perform that great taske Christ had set them Mat. 8.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 go forth and teach c. See God never giveth a burden but withall strength to bear it if he will have them teach He wil furnish them with Tongues else the Apostles themselves you see were not to go from Jerusalem and preach till they had received the Tongues yet how many in this daring Age praecipitate into the holy Function before any Receipt of the Holy Ghost in Tongues of as many languages as their Mother without ever waiting as the Apostles here or perhaps scarce once seeing the place where they are bestowed an Vniversity But on the other side no sooner have the Apostles here received the Gift but like good Stewards forthwith they imploy it Men ought to make a timely use of their endowments stil moving in the proper Sphere of their vocation And what have They to answer for that have received this Gift of Tongues and yet are dumb Psalm 39. I mean not that inforced silence which now many a David keepeth not without pain and griefe for it which Sin shall light on its Imposers but for voluntary Mutes I am sure Isai 56.10 the Prophet gives them but a biting Character Isai 56. and Saint Bernard as seriously as wittily on that 12th of Matth. ver 36. Of every idle word c. Etiam otiofi silentii reddenda Ratio Bernard in Mat. 12.36 as of idle words so of every idle silence saith he must an account be given here they immediately began to speak with tongues as c. Streight the whole multitude of strangers Parthians Medes and Elamites Romanes Jewes Mesopotamians Syrenians Cretes and Arabians all in a generall wonder acknowledge them speaking in their own tongues 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Magnalia Dei the Wonderfull things of God And it may passe for one of those Magnalia the sudden Rise and strange Growth of the Church immediately there upon how from that Embrio In Jury is God known it commenced as it were per Saltum into a full stature by Proselytes of all Nations and daily numberlesse Additions This brighter Moon doth wax may she know no wayne These Tongues speak the converlion of the Nations but still increase til she
be multiplied unto her Full of Glory the Spouse I say that until then like Jacob beyond Jordan was but obscure and of small Retinue able to plead but little visibility but here like Him again having once passed some bitter waters can challenge either Stars or Sands for Number singing now Laudate Dominum omnes Terrae Praise the Lord all ye Lands I. Quid Linguae Gentium nisi conversionem Gentium 1. What else do the Tongues of all Nations here import but the conversion of the Nations Again whereas at first all languages save one were as a curse for sin Gen. 11. Gen. 11. a punishment of pride none of them as yet by some thought holy unlesse the three inscribed on the Cross of Christ viz. Hebrew Greek and Latin why here were all the other sanctified by this appearance of the holy Ghost in Tongues for which Let all Tongues and Languages Kindreds and Nations especially that enjoy these Fountains open and not stopt up by envious Philistins ever sing prayses to the Lord and speak good of his Name for so affording them his word in their owne language as a Means and Message of their Salvation Lastly The Tongue too is an Instrument of Tast as well as Speech Distnguit sapores sapidum ab insipido dulce ab Amaro So doth the Holy Spirit rectifie the Palate of the soul hereby teaching her to relish Good and disgust Evil to prefer a bitter wholesom to a sugered venom 1 Cor. 2.22 to taste and see how gracious the Lord is Psal 34. whereby the natural man saith the Apostle as wanting this same holy Tongue Non sapit quae Dei sunt Discerneth not savoureth not the things that are of God But one may speak too much even of the Tongue it self and therefore now I will cleave off my discourse from the Linguae to the Dispertitae The third Querie Why the Holy Ghost was pleased to descend in cloven Tongues And this Dispertitae some take to be no more then Distributae Tongues divided not in themselves they mean but among their Receivers Ita ut Quisque suam habuit So as that a Peculiar Tongue sate upon each of them But there is more in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifieth such as were divided from the middest dimidiated as it were by-forked Tongues in specie Ignis saith Goran Gorran in locum These imitating Fire likewise in its pyramidall Figure may easily bee conceived to spread into a Bipartition And what did the two Branches hereof intimate but the equall mixing of the Law and Gospel for the conversion both of Jew and Gentile In the old Law you know the dividing of the hoof was an argument of cleanness Levit. 11.3 Lev. 11. and the Serpent also that embleme of wisdome to which Christ schooleth our Imitation Matth. 10. hath Linguam bifurcatā Matth. 10.16 a kind of a forked tongue Here therefore why may not the cleaving of the tongue be an apt Symboll of sincerity Sure that tongue which rends it selfe off from worldly and corrupt communication and setleth to Gods praises is one of the Holy Spirit 's cloven tongues For the Devill too playeth Gods Ape and hath his cloven tongues viz. those that love division flattery and dissimulation as well as his fiery tongues viz. such as love lying slanders oathes blasphemy and imprecations And these likewise I fear may all Nations hear I am sure our's may almost in every corner speaking in their own language Horribilia Diaboli the fearfull works of the Devilll But not to proportion my discourse of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Sin of Tongues lest I be infinite or rather uncessant but in stead thereof let us take a more necessary glance of the number here the Holy Ghost descended on For we read of 120. assembled Acts 1.15 But Beza and some others restrain this Advent of the Spirit Acts 1.15 to the Apostles onely because indeed the promise was made to them and He led them forth at his Ascension and the Grand Charge was laid on Them Go forth and preach c. yet for all this the stream runneth th' other way C. à Lapide with a cloud of witnesses affirmes the Holy Spirit shed on all that Company but not without Discrimination In locum Acts 1. cap. 10.47 and this argued first from that Question Acts 10. Who can forbid water that these should not bee baptized having received the Holy Ghost as well as wee besides we know more were to preach the Gospel then the Apostles Luke 10.1 He appointed other seventy Luke 10. and they then had need of tongues But then here may bee objected that there must be divers women in this Company besides the blessed Virgin Acts 1.14 Acts 1.14 and They not permitted to speak in the Church needed not this gift of tongues but we may thus salve the scruple The Holy Ghost here probably descended on them all Apostles and others men and women Joel 2.28 according to Saint Peters exposition of that place of Joel Effundam Spiritum I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh your sons and your daughters shall prophecy Acts 2.17 c. Acts 2.17 which he there appropriateth to that every businesse to take off the Enthusiasticall Pretenses of this Age yet all this not to the same end nor in the same degree as one that was present there Saint Paul will tell you 1 Cor. 12. 1 Cor. 12.8 To one was given by the Spirit the word of wisdome to another the word of knowledg by the same Spirit To others the gift of Faith to others Prophesie to others the Discerning of Spirits as was most necessary to their severall conditions but to the Apostles and to their Helpers the higest Degree of Illumination Diversitie of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues because they were to convert the Nations Serm. 69. de Temp. So that we may conclude it gratefully with St. Augustine Spiritum sanctum à Christo promissum duodecim Apostalis datum numero decuplato O the great Fidelity and Liberality of Christ that promised a Gift to 12 Apostles and performeth it to ten times twelve which is 120. teaching us to be spaing in protestations ample in performances not like Antigonus sirnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of whom it is said he never denied any thing was asked nor ever performed any thing he promised but like David to keep our word though it bee our losse it shall be our Gain a better way Psalm 15.4 it is a Qualification of a St an Imitation of Christ you see who here promised his Apostles only filleth all of them with the Holy Ghost And while they are thus filled with the Holy Ghost some mockers are so empty of him as to say the Apostles are filled with new wine Acts 2. Acts 2.15 If They did not sure enough their Successours shall never want Censures and Derisions
of them 4 And they were all filled with the holy ghost And began to speake with other tongues etc The Plate here Whitsunday DISQUISITION 15. THis Day is worthily devoted to the Holy Ghost the third Person in the Blessed Trinity by whom all things times and persons that are such are sanctified and made holy Epist 118. ad Januarium and therefore so devoted over all the world saith Augustine in memoriall of that day Acts 2. wherein the Spirit after a Wonderful and mysterious manner descended for the propagating governing and preserving of Christs holy Catholick Church unto the end of the world 'T is sometime called Pentecost as being fifty days after our Christian Passeover Deut. 16. The Jewish Pentecost was a memoriall of the Law which was an hidden Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Fifty Acts 2.1 but our Pentecost a memoriall of the Gospel which is the revealed Law One delivered in Mount Sinai th' other in Mount Sion and somtimes called Whitsunday from the glorious light of heaven that was then shed upon the earth as also from a custome of some Christians Thence cloathing themselves in white Cyril Catech. in token of the joy and solemnity thereof as Saint Augustine speaks for whereas Christs Birth and other times we keep in Honour of his coming in the flesh now at Whitsuntide wee should rejoyce more for his coming in the Spirit Now we have a double joy Serm. 133. de Evang. saith he Quod abeuntem Christum non amisimus venientem Spiritum possidemus that we have not lost our Christ departed but yet enjoy the Spirit approached I the Sun of Glory being now in his height shines forth on his Apostles in a Light from Heaven and knowing the worlds charity would soone wax cold as he foretold them Matth. 24. He warmeth them with a shower of Heavens better fire and lest great sorrows for his Absence strike them dumb as ingentes stupent He sendeth each of them for a Token an inspired tongue Christs Promises O how worthy confidence that so in each point answered their necessities as not in any thing left them comfortlesse John 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereas without him Joh. 14.15 16. and his Comforts what forlorne Orphanes are the best of men very Apostles you see in the Metaphor here as fatherlesse children or widdowed mothers Orphanos In locum Hierom rendreth it Orbos so Beza One of the words speaking a neer Allegory to helplesse children The other to deprived parents both pregnantly expressing man's destitute condition without Christ Christs Fatherly affection towards man Man who left alone is the desolatest creature in the world especially for Spirituals how unable therein to help himselfe Rom. 1.19 so much as to a good thought Rom. 7. When thus the Apostles without Christ are very Orphanes as children Fatherlesse exposed to oppressions injuries and delusions Let Nature boast of nothing what are the rest of men without him but even wormes as it were and no men But on the other side How manifestly did Christ's Parentall care appear to them that while present gathered them as an Hen her chicken and now absent set so good a Guardian over them Earth could not afford a Comforter sufficient no alas her miserable ones and therefore Heaven shall nor is any Angel there thought good enough to be intrusted with so dear a charge but even God himselfe the Holy Ghost who from the sweet effects of his Illumination and Assistance is Emphatically stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of all the world the Comforter indeed sometimes he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 14.16 i. e. another Comforter yet not exclusively but relatively Christ still remaining one Abiit per id quod Homo est manet per id quod Deus 'T is Saint Augustines Christ though absent in body yet by spirituall protection Lo I am with you to the end of the world Matth. 28. Nay and so farre even literally it is made good by Him Matth. 28.20 being personally for ever with our humane Nature Lo I am with you c. or else another Comforter saith Calvin both for distinction of Persons In locum and difference of Gifts as it was proper to the Son to pacifie the wrath of God to ransome us from hell to purchase life by dying but peculiar to the Spirit to aply these Benefits to make us partakers of Christ and all his saving graces I we have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cor. 12.14 i. e. Diversities of gifts by that same Spirit or as the same Apostle else where calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the manifold wisdome of God Spiritus benignus Spiritus dulcis Spiritus fortis So St. Bernard He is a Spirit of Comfort as various as our Misery a Spirit of Love to unite the envious a Spirit of strength to support the weak a Spirit of truth to guide the ignorant a Spirit of Consolation to bind up the Afflicted Psal 68.18 So that David's prophesie is fulfilled here Psal 68. Ascendisti Dedisti Thou art gone up on high and hast given gifs unto men I Thou hast now given all good gifts by giving them the Giver of all the Holy Spirit The gifts bestowed as upon this day were of a double considerability viz. Officia Gratiae Abilities or Graces Either gifts of Edification for the Church which are legible Eph. 4.11 He gavesome Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and sme Pastors and Teachers Or gifts of Sanctification for the immediate Benefit of Soules whose Catalogue you have Gal. 5.22 The Fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse c. Psal 68.18 which St. Paul repeats Ephes 4.8 Davids word received and the Apostles Gave no opposition butshewing the Heavenly Derivation c. But what John 20.22 Dr. Hammon in locum had they not formerly received the Holy Ghost Joh. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet some say This signifies here not the actuall giving of the Holy Ghost for that came not on them till Acts 2. and they are appointed to abide at Jerusalem Luke 24.29 til they were endued with power from above which therfore now before his Ascension they had not received and when the Spirit came it would lead them into all truth and as yet it appears by their question Acts 1.6 Acts 1.6 they were not thus led but onely the confirming to them his former promise and by the ceremony of breathing on them to expresse the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The eternall Breath and Spirit of God sealing it as it were solemnly unto them The Holy Ghost not received til now and preparing and fitting them for the receiving of it So saith Theophylact 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The words Receive the Holy Ghost signifie Be ye ready to receive him and again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. He
breathed on them not now distributing the perfect gift of the Holy Ghost for that was to be done at Pentecost but fitting them for the receiving of it for though in the next words Whose sins c. the Power of the Keys or Stewardship of the Church were actually instated on them yet not to be exercised by them til the holy Ghost came down upon them as Ephes 4.8 It is first He gave gifts to men at the Descent of the Spirit and then gave some to be Apostles c. v. 11. yet this preparation of them amounts to what others assert of the Holy Ghost ver 11. formerly given though in remisse degrees Per Infusionem non per effusionem according to David's begged infusion not to Joel's effusion per Insufflationem non per Imissionem saith Ludolpus by Christs breathing on them accipite Spiritum sanctum The pattern of our Churches pious ordination Receive ye the Holy Ghost Spiritum ante hic plenitudinem The Apostles saith he had received the Spirit before but now the fulnesse of it they receive now not onely it but Him not onely the Grace of the Spirit but the Spirit of Grace himselfe by a more personall Immission Priùs Spiritum Fidei et Intelligentiae nunc Fervoris et Illuminationis Before they had a Spirit of Faith and understanding now One of zêal 2 King 2. and higher Illumination So that they had now what Elisha sometimes prayed for Duplicatum Spiritum the Spirit doubled on them 2 King 2. I They had already Baptismum Fluminis the watery Baptism of John but now Flaminis They receive this of the Holy Ghost and of fire here every of their tongues is touched with a Cole from the Heavenly Altar and as of old God showred upon I srael the Food of Angels Tertullian in Festum so here he seemeth to bestow on men the Tongues of Angels Thus Christ ascending up on high and leaving of the world that we might be the better assured of his coming again saith Tertullian Took our Pledg that is our flesh to Heaven and also left with us his Pawn to wit his Spirit which is therefore called Arrha or Arrabo 2 Cor. 1.22 2 Cor. 1.22 Who hath given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts And the earnest you know is a Relative to the rest of the Recompence The Jews you know had three more solemne Feasts which their Leviticall Law bound them to observe Deutr. 16. viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. first the Passeover so called and instituted for a Remembrance Deut. 16. how the destroying Angell smiting the Egyptians passed over the Houses of the Israelites 2. The Feast of Tabernacles being an humble Memoriall of their living in Tents in the wildernesse after their Deliverance from Egyptian bondage The third This of Pentecost or the Feast of weeks in Commemoration of the Law given in Mount Sinai fifty dayes after their coming out of Egypt and therefore named from the number and celebrated so many dayes after the Passeover Upon this later Festivall which now we solemnize in this later Reflection the Chorus Apostolicus or whole Company of the Apostles being assembled Acts 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in One Place Acts 2.1 so All with One Accord Unity is a Preparative for Sanctity and holy gifts seldom are bestowed on such as love Divisions the promised Comforter is performed to Them given some ten days after Christ's Ascension when Re-promised God often heareth prayers which He not answereth presently ten days after Vt Apostoli or ationibus se aptos Adventui praepararent that in mean time the Apostles might with prayer and other pious exercise prepare for so Divine a Guest render themselves fit Temples for the Holy Ghost Hodiè visibiliter apparuit Invisibilis as on this Festival the Invisible himself appeared visibly and now as one observes all the three Persons of the Sacred Trinity have as it were bodily manifested themselves to man God the Father to Adam to Moses and the Patriarcks God the Son exhibited himselfe in humane flesh to and for all the world and here the Apostles are so unanimously so devoutly met as that the Holy Ghost thinks good to be of the Company where but observe the Act and the Concomitants the Person and his Attendants Ludolphus in locum Spiritus Sanctus in variis figuris pro varietate operationum The Spirit to emblem forth his variety of operations cometh here accompanied with severall remarkables and first a sudden sound from Heaven beginneth the wonder Sonus hic symbolum Sonitus Evangelii and this found was but the Symboll of the Apostles Doctrine whose sound went into all lands Psalm 19. Psal 19. I say the Preaching of the Gospel through the world after this Receipt was but the eccho of that sound next there was Flatus vehemens a mighty wind and that was the wind that bloweth where it listeth à carnali Palea Corda purgare A wind that is and need be mighty to blow away the chaffe of all Carnality and teach an holy Impetuousnesse against the strong holds of Sin Then after these two Ushers cometh the Spirit himselfe in cloven Tongues like Fire Three grand Questions where I resolve all into these three Queries Why the Holy Ghost here pleased to descend in Fire why in tongues why in cloven tongues First Why in fire for to some it may seem strange to hear of a fiery Comforter Did not Sodom and Gomorrha 2 King 1. did not Elijah's Enemies finde that a Destroyer and were not some of the Disciples themselves chid by their Master for such fiery zeal 2 Pet. 3. And shall not that same angry Element make one day a bon-fire of the world Talk we then of such a Comforter yes When God is in the fire the veriest bush shall not consume and yet mistake not this as meant of reall fire such as is comburent it being but a Tanquam onely like it in appearance So the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Genitive Tongues like as they had been of Fire à Lapide Cajetan in locum and this Tanquam notat similitudinem non veritatem this word imports Resemblance not Reality of fire Speciem ignis habens having indeed a shew of fire for Colour Light and Motion but without combustion And He appeared like fire rather then ought else Propter Lumen pariter Ardorem To shew He gave both Light and Heat to his Apostles i. e. both zeal and knowledge Heat for God detesteth cold devotion nay but a lukewarm one Nauseam creat Rev. 16.3 maketh his stomack rise Rev. 3. He must have continuall fier burning on his Altar much more then Vesta ardent love and fervent zeal alwayes in the hearts of His Disciples 2dly Like Fire for light too and that a double one viz. of charity knowledg to give
but Saint Peter confuteth them from their own experience it being but the third hour of the day ver 15. Wine was not their mocker but the Jews yet Saint Bernard confesseth it with a qualification Verè Ebrii vino novo Saint Bernard in Festo They are drink indeed with new wine saith He but such a new wine as those old bottles the unbelieving Jews were neither worthy to receive nor able to contain being a wine powred out by the true Vine Himself by Him that trod the Wine-pesse alone Vinum Cor Laetificans non statum mentis evertens such a wine as made glad the Heart without any disturbing of the braine The Apostles had had a sowr Drawght on it by their Masters Absence now therefore they receive the wine of comfort and this me thinks may cheer our patince to see it is Christ's Method to keep the best wine till the last here then what if wee must taste of sorrows cup while we are sure hereafter to have our water turned into wine our tears into eternall joy for what I say unto you saith Christ I say unto all and that is Non relinquam John 14.18 I will not leave you comfortlesse To which end let us fervently and frequently say unto him againe in the Prayer of the Church O God make clean our hearts within us and take not thine Holy Spirit from us POEM 18. THe Sun of Glory being now in 's hight Shines forth on His in a Meridian Light And lest Griefs for his Absence strike Them mute An inspir'd Tongue doth each of Them salute And the World's Charity grown Cold and Dead With fire from Heaven is here Re-quickened Christ's Promise meets th' Apostles Vnion Which Those share not that love Division A Spirit of Comfort various as our Griefs Proportioning them all with fit Reliefs A Spirit of strength for to support the weak And bind up wounded hearts when like to break A Spirit of Amity and sacred love Uniting Lower envies from above A spirit of Aliment to hungry Souls Cheering with Manna and true Nectar bowles And now all Persons of the Trinity Have at times to man appear'd visibly Two Heraulds here usher the Spirits way A mighty wind and Sound fit to display The Gospel one whereof the world must Ring Mens carnall chaff the t'other winnowing Then doth Himself in fiery tongues dispence Heaven takes Some as some That by violence Hither a Question pertinent belongs Why he descends in Fire and cloven Tongues A fiery Comforter must needs seem strange shall not that angry Element once change The world to cinders True and yet presume While God's i' th Flame it sha'nt a Bush consume The Light and heat of fire best emblem forth Knowledg and zeal all true Apostles worth Science without zeal Ape 's the Glow-worm wel But zeal without that Heat without light 's Hell The seven chief Graces of the Spirits desire Not frigidly demonstrated by fire The fire doth Gold from its drosse purifie The Spirit doth by love purge enmity Fire melts the most obdurate Mines you know The Spirit by Remorse makes heard hearts flow Fire hardneth clay against the injurious storme The spirit by patience doth sad hearts confirme The fire makes new and burnisheth the Mine The Spirit by knowledg makes the Face to shine By fire to things ascending motion 's given The spirit by Faith too makes Souls tend to Heaven The fire to all about it light imparts The spirit by wisdome doth irradiat Hearts Fire too preserves things sweet not still consumes The spirit by Innocence our life persumes But why now was this fire shap'd into Tongues To speak those grand abilities that Throngs Converted unto Christ throughout all lands Drawn by such Eloquent and pious bands Without which Dore of utterance all Gifts Crost And like Gems in a casket whose key lost But hence all Nations sweetly woo'd do come T' hear News from heaven in their own Idiom But Satan too his fiery Tongues hath spred Whose fire by Fire shall be extinguished But cloven tongues these of th'Apostles were Mixing that is Law Gospel every where And by that double Fork'd Reflection Pointing out Gentiles Jews conversion The parting of the hoof did cleannesse shew The Serpent's too a cloven tongue we know Christs school of wisdom then the tongue that 's clean From putrid talk 's the cloven tongue we mean Thus Christs and Davids word both made good then When Christ gone up showr'd down these gifts on men The COLLECT The Epistle Act. 2. v. 1. to v. 12. The Gospel Joh. 14. from v. 15. to the end God which as upon this day hast taught the heart of thy faithfull people by the sending to them the light of thy holy Spirit grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things and evermore to rejoyce in his holy comfort through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit one God world without end Amen Vpon Trinity Sunday DISQUISITION 16. IMmediatly after that admirable Descent of the Holy Ghost forementioned as it were consequently ensued notice of the incomprehensible Trinity even thereby given to the Church of God But as the Apostle saith Great is the mystery of Godlinesse 1 Tim 3.16 1 Tim. 3. and This indeed one of rhe greatest parts of all that mystery viz. the Distinction and yet Union of those three glorious persons of the Deity Byssus Abyssum invocat Here one deep calleth upon another A Theam fitter for admiration then examination not visible in the Book of the Creature where the Deity is seen Vt per speculum as in a glasse onely by reflexion No nor presently legible in the Book of the Scripture where God is seen Vt per lucem by a kind of light more directly you know Moses could see but his back-parts Exod. 33.20 and scarce them neither they were so glorious but this Distinction of Persons is as it were His Face and accuratly to be discerned is scarce an adaequate object of this life Exod. 33. And albeit the Bible begin and run on still with his NAME in the plurall number 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Gen. 1.1 Gods created the Heaven and the Earth Yet this determineth not three Persons although it fairly contribute something toward it and more then intimateth Diversity of persons Gen. 1. Deut. 5. even when applied to God Himself Gen. 1. and Deut. 6. And some even out of the first Book of holy Writ do probably argue that triple personality from that first plurall word of Gods created that there are several persons hinted and you know the act of creation is generally externally attributed to the Father quod extra according to us for else to all the three indivisibly God created the c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in the second verse there is another person Particularized viz. the Spirit The Spirit
of God moved upon the face of the waters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is by a cloud of witnesses the Holy Spirit and the first of John expoundding this same first of Genesis brings in the second person hither the Word and saith twice for failing in one verse All things were made by Him John 1.2 and without Him nothing But to make good my word in Gen. 32. the Angel wrastling there and blessing Jacob is universally interpreted of Christ to say nothing of those that came to Abraham and Lot Gen. 32. Gen. 19 And then you have all the three sacred Persons of the Godhead though not positively demonstrated for that would be a hard task yet emphatically intimated in the Book of Genesis And this is Effigiatio Ansarum as one calleth it as it were a framing or finding out of Handles which we dextrously lay hold of in so high a Mystery And others doe as much from that of Job 1.21 Job 1.21 Arguing the Trinity from his treble Benediction The Lord hath given The Lord hath taken away Job 1.21 Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Three Lords you see and yet but one disposer there 's Trinity Unity But this Germinatio Gemmarum This putting forth of Buds and Blossoms in the Old Testament proveth Protuberatio mammarum a fruitfull swelling of the Breasts in the New where there are frequent and pregnant attestations I shall need mention but some chiefe ones 1 John 5. 1 John 5. There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these Three are One What can be more manifestly expressed For which Saint Paul is one of them that returneth gratulations 2 Cor. 1. 2 Cor. 1.3 at once witnessing the Trinity and praising it Blessed be God saith he even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Mercy and the God of all comfort In which alone we discern the whole Trinity Here is the Father and Mercy which is his Sonne and the effect of this mercy the Spirit of Adoption and then all three comprised in the God of all Comfort But alas What is all this to your Rationall men as they call them the handsome Complement for our Modern Atheists who like Thomas live not by Faith but by Sense and Reason if they mistake not which is a way in some things quite to destroy the Faith That being an evidence of things not seen And therefore Saint Austin saith Rationem quaero Fidem abnego He that will admit of no Master but Reason sometime presents a Fool to be her Scholar though I know rectified Reason is the work of God and in it selfe not contrariant to Piety but being ordered and sanctified is very advantagious to it Yet not to be Relyed upon as any fit measure of the Principles of Religion Natural Reason how far usefull especially in such Mysteries and sublimer parts of it That too being so lapsed and depraved Yet even those Minions of Nature that is of second causes may find some paralels of this sacred Riddle even among the Creatures here below the Snow the Ice and Water and so above the Light and Heat and motion of the Sun have each of them a severality of existence and yet as 't were an Identity of Essence And if ought can be found such in Natures Inventory why should we so stagger at the like in our Creator Well saith holy Austine Tu ratiocinare Ego mirer Tu disputa Ego credam Criticall Naturalist that leavest the master and denominatest from the servant Doe thou argue on I will admire this Mystery Doe thou dispute I will believe it by his own help I doe both believe this Trinity and admire it St. August Confess l. Mira profunditas Deus meus mira profunditas To goe on with that sweet Fathers warble These Waters are of infinite depth O God unfathomable is their bottom The bottom is to professe and to feel the distinct working of the three distinct persons of the Trinity Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Rara Anima Quae sciat quid loquatur Not one man not one Christian of a thousand speaking of these mysteries knowes well what himselfe means and those that know the most saith he Contendunt dimicant dispute and wrangle assisting the common Enemies of Christianity by their uncharitablenesse while without love and mildnesse none ever come to know the Unity of this blessed Trinity or to see the visions of Peace in the presence of this God of mercy peace and love And therefore as we receive benefits by apprehending God under these distinct notions of power as a Father to protect us of wisdom as the Sonne to instruct us of goodnesse as the Holy Spirit to comfort us So now must we on the other side take the more care that we make answerable returns of Love Obedience Gratitude and sin not against these Persons in their severall Notions either by neglect of any of them in such as God sets over us or by abuse thereof imparted to our selves As David in that Complicated sinne Psalm 51. where he offended against all the Three First against the Father by abusing that powwer which he had given him Against the Sonne by depraving true Wisdom into Craft and Treachery Against the Holy Ghost by contemning the Goodnesse and Piety of Vriah's refusall But let us rather imitate both for their Contemplation and Devotion those Crowned four and twenty Elders Revel 4. that incessantly sung that sacred Treble Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty c. For first their Speculation proves the Trinity and then their Devotion worships and adoreth it Holy Holy Holy which Was and Is and is to Come Tenses and Persons both you see here speak the sacred Mystery of Trinity in Unity Hieron in Isa c. 6. and Unity in Trinity Per hoc quod ter sanctus Trinitatem significat per hoc quod subdit Dominus Deus Vnitatem In that they sing thrice Holy notes the Trinity in that they add the singular Lord God notes the Unity Respons ad object Arrian Or as Fulgentius Quid est quod ter Sanctus dicitur Cur semel Dominus Deus What is the meaning of this Hymne so trebled so singularized but three distinct persons and yet one onely Lord God according to the Athanasian Creed Athanasius contra totum mundum è contra composed against Arrius and appointed ever to be read This Day which Was without beginning which Art of thy selfe without means and shall be for ever without end Saint John in his Vision beheld one sitting on a Throne which is God the Father and at his right hand the Lamb which is God the Sonne Bullinger in locum and the seven-fold Spirit proceeding from both which is God the Holy Ghost Vnus potentialiter Trinus personaliter One in power and efficacy Three in personality c. Therefore after all Gods goodnesse celebrated in other Festivals now most
Whence springs a Grain which gather'd as it ripes Wil nourish Souls and heal them by those stripes Some trouble their own Heads to torture His For which a double Engine studied is A Crown his Kingly Office to delude And Thorns his sacred Temples to intrude Strange Coronation is' t not in mean while Where Briers are the Crown and Bloud the Oyle Thorns too that grew in our own Sluggards Field Yet planted There will us Grapes one day yeeld Others to answer such a Crown command A Reeden Scepter into that Right-hand Which made and could null all things with like speed But that He will not break the bruised Reed On still proceeds unsatiable Scorn Which woundeth more then either Scourge or Thorn They next a Mocking Purple him cast o're Fit Emblem of their Guilt and his Loves store Which like a Royall Robe Christ will cast over His naked Servants and all their sins cover Thus sadly dight He 's brought to publick view As Anthony did mangled Caesar shew Pilate presents him with Behold the Man Whether in scorn or pitty do you scan But what e're he did let us sympathize By and for whom all this Yet wipe your eyes A while once more Behold the man again Lest of this Spectacle you lose the main See willing Isaac beare his Funerall Pile That must requite him in a little while Loyall Vriah see here going on With th' Instruments of his destruction Such is the Burden to Christs shoulders ty'd That He 's with Sin Load Crosse thrice crucify'd Making good that ill-cry once Jews doubled And Christians by their sins have Ecchoed Thus panting swouning up a tyresome Hill Not out of Love but out of Hast to kil Another's forc'd to help but happy he O Christ that freely bears the Crosse for Thee Being come to Calvary that fatall Mount Where Adam was interr'd as some recount And Isaac t' have been sacrificed there His Crosse and Him together up they rear Fixing an envy'd Inscript that belongs To Him and at once consecrates three Tongues Hard-hearted Nails that Bore each Hand and Foot But what Chide you Alas you 're driven to 't Ah flinty Jew that yet remorslesse stands But why rate you our sins help'd arm your Hands Yet thus much good was done Thereby at last Sin Death and Hell's Hand-writings all naild fast They Checquey Taunts and Tortures He doth call Eli and they with Ignorance do all Conclude he Courts Elias to come help Sure that 's the Syre of Blind Devotions whelp How well confutes he their Contrary Brave Sav'd not Himself that he might others save He 's numbred with Transgressors yet one Thiefe Steals Heaven at the last by true Beliefe A good way ne're to be of Life bereft Is All to become conscious of such Theft Hence Christs dear Mother and Disciple He Bequeathes as a Rich mutuall Legacy And then that nought without a Prophesie Might happen to him by a Lottery They share his Garments and his Seamlesse Coat That figured his Church the Souldiers got Whose pristine Glory 't was Her to defend And for her Patrimony not so contend Thus was the Healing Serpent lifted up Who to our Health drank off this Bitter cup Bitter indeed as Gall and Vineger Which as last cordiall Jews administer In spight of custome which had wont propine To dying men some Draught of cheering wine As he did unawares that pierc'd Christs side To us broach'd a full vessell on t whose Tide Shall know no Ebb from whence two Fountains ran That glads in Life and Death the heart of man With which He takes his leave bowing the Head To kisse his Spouse saying then 'T is finished The Story 's finish'd too his outward woe But th' Inward to expresse what shall we doe Those sufferings though Methodicall to sense Nothing to these of his Intelligence The apprehensions of his Fathers wrath A Terra incognita no limits hath His Body's pain was but the corps of woe That of the Soule must for the Soule out-goe All those were Feathers to this heavy Load Which crusht out that strong cry My God! My God! Well then with the Greek Church may we pray thus By th' unknown sufferings Lord deliver us These may be guess'd by those strange Sympathies That then appeared both in Earth and Skies The Rocks did rend Tut'ring hard Hearts to mourn When Seas of Bloud this chiefe Rock did or'eturn The Graves did open either to present Each of themselves his willing Tenement Or else to Bury quick those murderous Jews Who so inhumanly their King did use The rending of the Temples veil in sunder Was both a Mysticall and Literall wonder The Earth shook with an Ague quak'd for fear Such cursed Burdens as the Jews to bear And Heaven hath view'd so long their cruelties 'T will look no more nor longer lend them Eyes Both Sun of Light and Glory at once Set And to the world a double Night beget Which so unnat'rall an Eclips did make Ner'e read nor reason'd for in Almanake The world 's in Black all things in sable weed Fit Servants mourn when as their Lord is dead These Prodigies made one o' th worlds wise men Say Nature or her Maker suffer'd then Nay clear Confession then extorted is From very Jews The Son of God was This This the worlds Altar then The Sacrifice For All unlesse through their own Nullities This kind of Death fell Scythians lent the Jewes Which they too once only for Slaves did use And Suidas saith a Crosse was set o' th Grave Of such as chanc'd some Fatall End to have And Cicero himselfe 's here at a losse Quid dicam being all he can say o' th Crosse Which of all Death 's the Scripture proves the worst If not for shame or pain yet ' cause accurst But as our Misery grew on a Tree So doth our fruitfull Comfort too we see Our bitter waters sweetned by this Wood Right Lignum vitae for all Nations good Then let 's not only with his Kin deplore But with good Joseph treasure up in store His Body Embalmd with Grace our Heart 's a stone And therefore me thinks fit to make his Tomb. And being there Buried let Faith set a Seale And Prayer watch that Him Thence nothing steale The COLLECT PRAYERS The Epistle Heb. 10. from verse 1. to 16. The Gospel John 18. v. 1. to the end of Chapter 19. ALmighty God we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy Family for which our Lord Jesus Christ was content to be betrayed and given up into the hands of wicked men to suffer death upon the Crosse who liveth and reigneth c. ALmighty and Everlasting God by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified receive our Supplications and Prayers which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Congregation that every Member of the same in his Vocation and Ministery may truly and Godly serve-thee through our Lord Jesus Christ who liveth and
more appetite then digestion Be not like the Corimandi a kind of people whose Ear covereth their whole body as now-a-dayes all for hearing little for meditation nothing for practice having as 't were the Rickets of Religion their heads sweld with knowledge or pretensions but their feet not walking accordingly And therefore hear but with Christs caution Matth. 4. What and How Take heed what you hear Try the spirits Matth. 4. Luke 8. 1 Joh 4.2 as those noble Beraeans did even by Paul himself Act. 17.11 And all this practise wil make it Otium sanctum as St. Austin calls the Sabboth an holy rest and so effect that Sabbatum pectoris that double Sabboth of the soul whereas that of Time is but a figure viz. the internall rest of conscience here in grace and that eternall rest of soul and body hereafter in full glory So be it Amen POEM 20. SHall we sing of the Streams and not the Fount This Holy of holy Dayes which doth surmount The rest according to their Objects nature As the Creator doth excell the Creature This Day unyoaks the world and ease bestows Suspending of the Curse on sweating Brows A Day of unbought Indulgence and Rest Of Gods in-acting both for Man and Beast Nor yet must This Brute-acquiescence be But the Souls Travell while the Body free Though Jews o' th' Sabboth might not yet We may Best gather Manna Now two showers a day Oh let not Plenty and such Choyce of Fare Make us like Wanton Israel appear Loath not this Heavenly Dew but come and tast Let not such Holy water run at wast With your old Raining Banquet rest content Lust for New Quails tempts but new Punishment Long not for Bethlem Waters there 's no good Nutrition in the juyce that 's price of Blood Sweet Festivall of Heaven's Beneficence Which now keeps Open House and do'st dispence The bounteous Doles of Mercy unto All That Piously approach and for them call Great Market-day of Souls Divinity On thee as 't were holds a Monopoly Come Buyers God himselfe turns Merchant now Leave Trades of Sin your selves his Chapmen vow For though his Wares are yet his Price not high Pardon for asking Heaven for Piety For Patience Conquest for Confession A gracious Act of Heaven's Oblivion This is the Souls good Clymacterick Day Boding her weal as to'ther her Decay If Number have its Vertue sure This seaven Wil most inchant a good Soul toward Heaven The Lords Dayes me thinks make up Jacobs Scale The weeks the Empty spaces whereon all Gods Right and Left-hand Blessings do descend And by which Pious Souls to him ascend Make then the Sabboth here so the Lords Day That endlesse Rest with him we once enjoy THE COLLECT PRAYER The Epistle Rom. 15. v. 4. to the 14. The Gospel Luke 21. v. 35. to 34. BLessed Lord which hast caused all holy Scriptures to bee written for our learning Grant us that me may in such wise hear them read mark learn and inwardly digest them that by Patience and comfort of thy holy word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given us in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen ALmighty God which hast promised to hear the Petitions of them that ask in thy Sons Name we beseech thee mercifully incline thine ears to us that have made now our Prayers and Supplications unto thee and grant that those things which we have faithfully asked according to thy will may effectually be obtained to the relief of our necessity and to the setting forth of thy glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Rogation Week DISQUISITION 18. THis was the Week immediatly preceding Holy Thursday or indeed but the foure dayes next before it denominated à Rogationibus from the extraordinary Prayers and Supplications then used by good Christians the better to prepare their souls at that time to attend our Saviour by a spirituall Ascension as God made the Day of Ascension a day of Giving Psal 68.18 so the Church made the time a week of Asking as in the Gospel appointed And therefore this is no spurious issue of Novell Superstition but a venerable Institution of pious Antiquity and sincere Religion it being more then probable that this holy custome was practised in the Church in if not before St. Augustines dayes Serm. 173. de Temp. tom 80. Witnesse his Sermon preached on Ascension Eve and his Titles on some other Sermons Magdeburg cent 5. fol 693. and 741. De Dominicâ in Orationibus c. concerning Rogation Sunday and of the second and third day thereof it is unanimously acknowledged by Authors of both perswasions that this ancient Order was either invented or restored rather by Mamercus Bishop of Vienna Baron Animal fol. 309. long before the time of Gregory the Great Anno 450. the Reasons of which Holy Custome I find to be of two sorts viz. from Occasions Naturall and Accidentall Those of accident were the great Afflictions and Calamities that befell those times which made them happly convert their superstitious Processions to the Tombs of Martyrs into a better use of Prayer and strong Supplications for removing Judgements as things invented for one purpose by use are easily converted into more Socrates lib. 6. c. 8. And so it was by the People of Vienna when such Earthquakes of terrors befell them as amazed the hearts of all men who then began to forsake the Citie as a place which Heaven seemed to have destined to ruine for then their Bishop before mentioned as it became a Christian Prelate Hooker Ec. P. l. 5. neither void of councell as yet nor secure in himself alone under such common perplexity earnestly exhorted the remainder of the people to prevent portended Calamities by those vertuous and holy means whereby others in like case have prevailed with God To that purpose perfecting and adapting the Rogations Reasons of Rogation week or Letanies formerly in use to their present Necessities and sad occasions whose good successe therewith afterward moved Sidonius Bishop of Averna to use the same so corrected Rogations at such time as he and his people were afflicted with Famine and besieged with potent adversaries till at length it was thought convenient by Gregory the first and best of that name to contract the Flower of all the said Rogations into one And however this Iron have since got some rust yet hath it been scoured off too as I shall shew anon And this I may call as to us-ward at least the Accidentall cause of these Rogations The generall Troubles and Calamities of Nations But besides these there are some Naturall Occasions of them I mean from Gods blessings on increasing Nature and as the first tremble before God as an angry Judge so these kneel to him as a Father and a Benefactor As now you see Natures Carpet spread enameled with rare variety of flowers and hopefull blossoms Jam prata rident
the high way to Italy Ubi Graecèscripsit Evangelium Marcus Aposteli Peiri Disc pulus where He was so highly valued that They still Retaine Him as the Tutelar Saint of Venice At Rome He Pen'd his Gospel in the Greeke Tongue Ludolphus loca Citato and most probably from the Mouth of St Peter his Uncle Anno Christi 67. though Eusebius and some others write Him the Disciple of Saint Luke and from Him to have wrote his Gospel not without the improbability of writing at the third hand while St Luke himselfe wrote but at the second viz. from St Paul's Dictation his Episcopall See was at Alexandria whence He manured all the Neighbouring Places with divine Cultivation even from Aegypt to Pentapolis from whence at Length Returning Home some say He died in Prison while Others mention other kinds of Death yet all agree that he wore the Crown of Martyrdome being slaine at Alexandria Anno Christi 63. according to Eusebius Euseb l. 2. c. 14. but five or sixe yeares after according to Alstaedius and others POEM 28. THe foure Evangelists were Figur'd on Ezechiels Vision which on wheeles did run And as those Wheeles were mutually inroul'd So Christ These foure harmoniously unfold That with the Face of Man St Mathew shews By whom the world Christs Humane Descent knows That with the Face o' th' Oxe St Luke descries Dissecting Christ as the worlds Sacrifice That like an Eagle Typ'd St Iohns high Pen Which his Eternall Birth describes to Men. But 't is the Lion's stately Countenance Which doth our St Mark 's Emblem here advance As who above the rest exactly Sings Christs Regall Office Monarch of all Kings Iudah's Triumphing Lion whose sole Power Subdues that Lion seeking to Devoure The world 's a Forrest and This Lion King Whose Power Heaven Earth and Hell do Rue or Sing Grant Lord we Loyall Subjects to Thee Prove Rul'd by the Golden Scepter of thy Love Lest else Thou bruise us with thine Iron-Rod For Rising against Thee our King and God! But yielding to thy Legislative Power Owning Thee Lord may find Thee Saviour The COLLECT The Epistle Ephes 4. v. 7. to 17. The Gospel John 15. v. 1. to 12. ALmighty God which hast instructed thy holy Church with the heavenly doctrine of thy Evangelist St Marke give us grace that we be not like children carried away with every blast of vaine doctrine but firmely to be established in the truth of thy holy Gospell through Iesus Christ our Lord. Philip and the Eunuche Act 8. 38 Then he Commaunded the Charet to stand still and they went downe both into the water both Philip the Eunuche he baptized him 39 And assoone as they were come vp out of the water the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip etc S. IACOBVS MINOR Here the Plate Vpon the Feast of PHILIP and IAMES DISQUISITION 26. THe Modesty of the Church Reformed is herein Conspicuous that to avoid Excesse of Dedications wherein Others are so burthensom She sometimes uniteth as in their Love and Labours two of the Apostles at once in the same Festivity as in that of St Simon and Jude and This also of St Philip and James hinting from hence among other Graces Concord Amity from this Conjunction of St Philip and St James Yet for Methods sake Yours Give me leave a while to part them And to begin with St Philip as supposed the Eldest of them and to his Lott fell the Northren Circuii saith Alsted in that Apostolicall Designation Acts 15. Chron. c. 27. So that He preached in Scythia say Historians 20. years Afterwards visiting the lesser Asia and some parts of Ethiopia his Zeale warming the cold Climates and his Patience contemperating the Hot where He wrought the Conversion of that grand Ennuch named Candaules one of great Authority under Candace Queen of the Aethiopians Alsted Chron. Conv. Pop. c. 27. as you may read the Famous Story Acts 8.10 c. Acts 8. Where he receiveth Commission from an Angel of the Lord to goe toward the South to Gaza v. 26. which he obeying readily meets with the happy opportunity of this Conversion Divine Providence and Humane Obedience ever Conspire the successe of a businesse and And he arose and went and behold a man of Ethiopia Verse 26. an Eunuch c. for such we know were the chiefe Attendants of those Southern Princes as of the Eastern at this day and Him St Philip finds prepared ground before-hand Subactum Solum v. 27. making his Chariot his Closet a singular Example Reading there the Prophet Isaias Evangelizans Propheta that Evangel call Prophet and Propheticall Evangelist acknowledging his Ignorance ver 31. Understandest Thou c. how can I except some guide me And importuning St Philips Society and Information ver 31. Such Humility and Diligence is the best way to Instruction and all saving knowledge the Remarkable Place He Read was that of Isa 53.7 Isa 53.7 He was Led as a Sheep to the Slaughter c. A Text a Preacher and an Auditor so suitable that St Philip so plyed and applied it to the Passion of Christ and that unto the Eunuch that He grew impatient of his irreligion Ambitious only of Present Christianity Verse 36. ver 36. See here is water what can hinder me to be c. why nothing but Infidelity ver 37. and that he first washeth off with true Confession ver 37. I beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Son of God Verse 37. and then St Philip washed this Black-moore yet did not labour in vaine ver 38. And He commanded the Chariot to stand still Verse 38. c. and when They were come up out of the water the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip c. though They parted without a Complement yet a Courtier was mended into a Christian the Eunuch went on his way Rejoycing while St Philip had a better Chariot to Azotus where he was found Preaching in all the Cities till he came to Caesarea In a word Verse 40. This St Philip was a Deacon and Evangelist Act. 21.9 and is said by some to have sent twelve Disciples into Britain Iackson Chronolog for the Conversion of This Island so much are we beholding to him that we cannot but Lament the sad Castatrophe of all his Industry and Travells but that 't was the same Fate with his Lord and Brethren For in the raigne of Vespasian at Hierapolis Euseb l. 3. c. 25 Isidor Reus He was stoned and then Crucified together with two of his own Daughters about Anno Christi 53 Alstaed Chron. c. 27. His Colleague here was St James and this Iames was not the Sonne of Ioseph as Eusebius l. 2. c. 1. but as eminent Matth. 10.3 was the Sonne of Alphaeus for there was an other Apostle of that Name as you may Reade in his peculiar Festivall This was surnamed Iames the lesse perhaps from his Humility
long after Acts 6. And therefore doubtless Acts 6.14 they raged more against Saint John at first and somewhat was in it That he Preached in the Wilderness their Cities and Towns not enduring him witness their conspirasous Assemblies more frequent now then ever the Sanedrim or High Councel of the Jews daily sending their Sophisters to John John 1.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who art thou and why Baptizest thou c. Here Saint Johns holiest Reformation meets with furious opposition the best of asiions must expect affronts and yet not take them for discouragements St. John bates nothing here of resolution no Jonas he he waves not his Commission but maugre all difficulties prosecutes his Sacred Innovation Acts 6.10 as it was said of Saint Stephen all their disputants were not able to resist the Spirit by which he spake He that sent him gave success answerable unto his holy courage his Ministry wanted not the encouragement of company Converts or Disciples Matth. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 3.4 There went out to him all Jerusalem and all Judea and all the Region about Jordan c. A treble all as if there were one for each of City Court and Country the Grandees were not fuller of Indignation then the people of Love and Admiration all the Region round about nor went they out for novelty onely as now adays to see fine Reeds Reeds shaken with the wind with every wind of Doctrine But in the next Verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verse 5. Caught by the Voice of his Doctrine and Eccho of his Life happy Allurements They were baptized of him confessing their sins So that it was well the Wilderness was his Church and the mighty River Jordan his Font lest else he should have wanted room or Water for his Baptized Auditors One of which to honor him and his office was our Lord himself Verse 13. and came far to him also Then came Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to be Baptized of John Whose modesty would fain have then resigned his Office Verse 13. but for that Nunc permittas Suffer it to be so now I now was a fit opportunity before all Jerusalem c. for Christ to Miracle himself The Son of God the Holy Dove descending with a voice from Heaven c. Yet was it not any Nunc of Ostentation but of Righteousness c. Christs Baptism For Ecce Dominus ad Servum Magister ad Discipulum Verifying that I am meek and lowly Learn of me c. Beloved the Lord here comes unto his Servant the Master to his Disciple to be Baptized and that among the People But we may here ask as Bernard of his Circumcision Quid facitis Baptizantes Christum What do you washing of him in whom nothing was unclean Go wash your spotted Lambs and spare not 1 Pet. 2.22 but this Lamb is without blemish So far from having any that he knew no sin Saint Johns modest Answer might have been an Assertion Thou needest not to be Baptized at all c. Nay one might well with David Ask Jordan why it fled not c. And indeed Consider Christ abstractly as Totum integrale i. e. In his own single Purity a Body by himself as severed from us and he needed then no Baptism Jordan had more need of him Lavit aquas non aquae ipsum The Waters were as it were Baptized by him not he by them Vt aquae nos purgaturae prius ipsae purgarentur That the Waters which were to cleanse us by him might first be purified themselves He received no vertue but gave the waters cleanness and efficacy to the Sacrament But on the other side take him with his Reference to us this second as the first Adam Pars Communitatis as the Head of the People and then to fulfil all Righteousness he must needs be Baptized He will need that for thee and me which for himself he needed not for in his Baptism he put on us as we do or ought to put on him in ours Verbum clamat in voce i. e. Christus in Johanne in glossâ Ordin Gagnaeus in locum And therefore he came to John the Baptist who was indeed but the Instrument Christ himself the Institutor of holy Baptism Saint Johns was a Baptism unto Repentance Non peccata tollens sed eorum commonefaciens Not taking away sins but onely admonishing of sinners but Christs was a Baptism of Remission through his blood which is our Jordan For as many as are Baptized effectually are Baptized into his death Rom. 6.3 else all the Rivers of Damascus and Judah too withal the Fullers Soap in the World cannot fetch out the least stain no He by himself hath purged our sins Heb. 1.3 Heb. 1. And this is a sensible Demonstration of Christs yoke being easie and his burden light so changing Circumcision into Baptism freeing us from bloody Ceremonies from costly Sacrifices and painful Sacraments It is worth our thankful Meditation this and no doubt but many of the Jews were won by this same freedom from their burdens which easie change John 1.21 they did somewhat expect John 1. A blessing quite opposite to that worst curse of Egypt wherein God turned their water into blood But here indulgently our blood to water what was their Shambles is with us a Laver 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Laver of Regeneration Tit. 3. Tit. 3.5 The gentler the Mandate the heavier the Punishment that waits on the neglect of it But of this I have spoke before in the Feast of Circumcision and shall close it with that of Naamans servant which such Refractories may consult at their leisure 2 King 5.13 2 King 5. while we among the thronging Jews go forth a little into the Wilderness to see the Baptist What maner of Person for Habitation Habit Food and Rayment for that 's the scaene of his abode and Doctrine The Wilderness as Mount Olivet was said to be our Saviours Pulpit Regio vasta sed paucis habitata colonis Luke 1.39 What Saint Matthew here calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Wilderness St. Luke calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The Hill-Countrey being the more barren the less frequented places of Judea yet not disinhabited for there was Joabs house 1 King 2. Nay Beza saith 1 King 2.39 That there were seven Towns whereof Joshua mentions fix at his dividing out the Country and the seventh was Hebron John 15.61 wherein was Zacharies house Luke 1.40 Where the childe grew saith the Text waxed strong in spirit and dwelt till the time of his publique Appearing So that the Fratres in Eremo have hence but little cause to challenge Saint Johns Brotherhood muchless his Patronage unless also when a very Infant as above declared Maldonat in Matth. 3. But here Maldonat is very angry at the Truth and will prove Saint John an Hermit by many Arguments and first from the Prophesie of him Isai
Redemptions Mystery Pardon our Contemplations if so bold A little your bright Natures to behold All Spirit without clog of Body yee Move as the Wind or Light or Lightning free And yet each of your Millions Scripture tells The strongest human force in strength excells Of Distinct Orders and yet for the most All styl'd in Holy Writ The Heavenly Host The Horse and Chariots of the Mighty Lord Ready for March and Motion at his Word So that in Heaven sometime we read of War No marvell then poor Mortals live in jar But how got Foes in there Sure as in Flowers Serpents do breed so There degenerate Powers There Michael fought with his Traind-bands of Light And beat the Dragon down to Endlesse night Yet in the Praecipiece his knotted Tayl Against some of those Splendors did prevail And so puld many thence of that bright Train One day from us to be supply'd again Your joy then at our penitence we pay With joy for Christs confirming of your stay Then since we both but one Church constitute Let us be neither Actionlesse nor mute Sith ' Angels need not our Good Offices Let us to Men what those to us expresse Joyning above i' th Song of Victory Still singing Triple-Holy to 'th most High For if to this words Root we stoop our Mind Who 's like the Lord in Michael we find To pray to Angels then if you mark well Is a Mistake for Christ is Michael He the Arch-Angell is that conquereth Sin Satan in us for us Hell and Death Or if another Angel they withstand All Adoration by severe command Our gratefull love is Theirs but to dispence Worship on Them 's a Double vlolence THE COLLECT PRAYER The Epistle Rev. 12. v. 7. to 13. The Gospel Matth. 18.1 to 11. EVerlasting God which hast ordained and constituted the services of all Angels and Menin a wonderfull order mercifully grant that they which alwayes doe thee service in Heaven may by thy appoyntment succour and defend us in Earth through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen S. LVCAS He whome the world containes not and whose court shines with his glorious presence to confort with beasts and in a manager lodge wee see excepts vs not without Humilitie The Plate here Vpon Saint Lukes Day DISQâ—ISITION 34. THis Evangelist was by Nation of Syria by Birth of Antioch Ecccles Hist l. 3. c. 4. as Eusebius and * In vita Lucae Hierom report by Profession a Physician saith St. Paul Col. 4.14 Luke the beloved Physiciau greets you A Physician and therefore the more admirable for his Devotion being not onely a Courtier of Nature lost in second Causes but per scalas Creaturarum ascending to the first by the Ladder of the Creatures Corpus humanum objectum Medicinae and teaching others so to climb to Heaven The Human Body not being the adaequate object of his study and practice Medicus totius compositi being first cured himselfe by him that was so farre more eminently he became a Physician of the whole Man of Soul as well as Body and that both for the Therapeutick and Phylactick part of Physick first curing their Infidelity and Impenitence with the Soveraign Precepts and prescripts of his Gospel and then preserving that same spirituall temper with the wholsome Examples and good Acts of the Apostles And this Religio Medici although none can equall yet for the honour of God and that Profession I wish more would imitate To take off all vulgar imputations and just occasions of those Ironick Apologues viz. How once such an one knocking at Heaven-Gates Saint Peter demanding who he was and that by an enumeration of almost all Religions art thou a Jew No replieth he A Christian Neither c. till being asked in generall Of what Religion hewas He answered That he was a Physician and so at length was denied for his Denials But God forbid so honorable and needfull a Profession should suffer for the Delirations of some of the worst pieces of it Perhaps some few Philosophicall Humorists that are but as the Warts and Wens meer excrescenses of that same Noble Science whose brains being over-heated by their Chymicall Experiments may as easily mistake the Truth as the Philosophers Stone Quod ad ab omnibus amatur tamen virgo est which though wooed of so many yet still remains a Virgin But for the Profession Ecclus 38.1.2 't is the Wise mans counsell Honour the Physitian c. And our blessed Lord himself at once commends and recommends him Matth. 9.12 Jer. 8.21 Matth. 9. The sick have need of the Physician God Himself owning the Compellation Ier. 8.22 Is there no Physician there Christ also imitating their practice in the Good Samaritan But here expressly honoring the Profession with the Office of an Evangelist sc in St. Luke the Physician Some think him to have been one of the 70. Disciples from his 24 Chapt. v. 13. Lib 4 contra Marci But Tertullian and other Ancients say That he was none of Christs immediate Disciples but onely Sectator Discipulus Apostolorum A Companion and Disciple of the Apostles as indeed himselfe intimates in the very beginning of his Gospel Chap. 1.2 Luke 1.2 Sicut tradiderunt As they have delivered them unto us which from the beginning saw themselves Insinuating that he wrot his Gospel by Dictation but the Acts of the Apostles by his own observation But that he writ both he attestates Acts 1.1 In the former Treatise O Theophilus Acts 1.1 c. Which former Treatise being his Gospell he wrot Anno Christi 51. Lib. 1. saith Eusebius Others say Anno 54. from the mouth of Saint Paul who thence is thought to use that phrase Rom. 16. According to my Gospel Rom. 16. And Saint Luke indeed being the constant companion of Saint Paul in his double Travels Acts 16. so he became both the Masters the Apostles Register His being but a deserved Emblem viz. The Ox strong to labour his Pen as unwearied as his Person and both proportionable to his excellent Subject He becomss an Evangelist before Peter and James Gal. 2.9 those Pillars of the Church Ten of the Apostles are past by and his Quill chosen God sometimes is pleased to effect great Designes by obscure means and even by unthought of Instruments Amos an Heardsman made a Prophet Amos 1.1 Many Fishermen Fishers of many men an easier transition then may make St. Luke here an Evangelist of a Physician And 't is worth while to take notice of his Dedication Most excellent Theophilus Acts 1.1 c. which some doubt whether it be a common or a proper Name And Baronius though he hath tried cannot unty the knot If we take it for a common Appellative Ad annum 58. it hints the Gospel written to such as are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. lovers of God as being a Pearl not to be cast to Swine Matth. 7.6 But every
to distinguish himself from Judas the Traytor though Iscariotes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Vir Marsupii The man of the purse c. help well yet both of a Name shadoweth out unto us that in the visible Church there will be alwaies some bad as well as good Professors Judas a Devil John 6. aswell as Judas the Saint the Church in an Ark and that had a Raven aswel as a Dove 'T is a Flock like Jacob's all Ring-streaked c 'T is a Net there will be Fish in it of all sorts A Garden will have Weeds aswel as Herbs and Flowers And 't is an Army wherin are spirits of all tempers 't is a Field wherin are Tares as well as Wheat and so shall grow together till the Harvest So that good men may distinguish themselves from ill and again may own their best Alliance for the more credit and advantage of the Truth and Gospel as S. Jude doth his brother James being a man of such repute as that he was surnamed the Just c. as is expressed in his commemoration The substance of St. Epistle of Jue 1. Judes Epistle consisting of a Salutation v. 2. an Exhortation v. 3. and a Caution Vers 2. v. 4. The first is mercy unto you and Peace and love be multiplied i.e. Mercy from God the father in pardoning your sins peace frō God the Son that Prince of peace applying it and Love from God the H. Ghost being the Spirit of love Or Mercy in pardoning your sins Peace in calming your Consciences and Love joyning you to God and one another The Exhortation is Vers 3. to continue stedfast in the Faith once given to the Saints Nay 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. earnestly to contend for it pro aris focis with might and main with all the wisdom of the Serpent that may consist with the Doves innocence to act like naturall agents ex extremum virium to the utmost of ability all little enough to countervail the malice and subtilty of the Supplanter as the caution intimates Vers 4. v. 4. Because certain ungodly men are craftily crept in c. of whose both fin punishment you may read in the sequell of that Epistle Against all which we must as S. Jude did give all diligence v. 3. to write of the common salvation Indeed giving all diligence not only in his writing but in his Travels and preaching the common salvation viz. first in Greece Pontus and Mesopotamia and afterward say Writers with his brother Simon into Persia where besides spiritual cures having restored Abgarus King of the Edesseni Unto whom he was sent Ambassad our saith Alstaed infra unto health is ill requited by the Heathenish Priests of that same Countrey being put to death and sacrificed anno Christi 51. propagating the Gospel both by Life and Death Now for his brother Simon Alstaed in Chronol c. 27. he was surnamed Zelotes from his pious heat and prudent zeal also from his Countrey the Canaanite Simon the Cananite Mat 10.3 who like a showring cloud one of those compassionate Bottels of heaven watered with the Gospel many dry and Desart places sc Aegypt Libya Persia Cyrene many parts of scorching Africa and divers other Regions towards the Western Ocean Simon the last Martyr of the Apostles besides his visiting of some Islands and among others if Historians deceive us not this of our Britain also though others attribute that to Joseph of Arimathaea Anno Christi 63. at length returning home unto Jerusalem Vide Alsted in loc cit that Carnificina Prophetarnm that Shambles of the Prophets having a while succeeded his brother James the Just in that See Episcopall is fastned to the Crosse in the 120 year of his age and so made the last Sacrifice of all the Apostles POEM 38. IN Holy Writ 't is a Divine command That by two witnesses each word should stand And here they are to make the Gospel good This pair of Martyrs seal'd it with their Blood These stood in first relation each to other Yet neerer kin by their Spiritual Mother St. Jude with golden Pencil doth indite A Catholick Epistle and doth write Unto the Jewes dispers'd and Gentilss both To weed up Errors in their early growth And were his Cautions fixed in Each Breast Nor Sin nor Faction would be in request That Love-Letter to Christ's Spouse his Heart mus'd His Hand wrot his Blood seal'd the Church perus'd And as he sent his brother Simon ran Bearing Christ's Name to th' Remote Ocean Adventuring to savage Affricans ' Mongst whom the worst of Monsters Sin he tames Turning their Black Religion to pure Grace Till Sin and Turk rebarbariz'd the place Thence sprinkling Lybian Deserts Egypt's Plains Cyrene and Persia tasting of his pains Nay on our British Isles too story some This Cananite bestowed first Christendom And after all this return'd home and dy'd Last Martyr of th' Apostlee crucify'd Well then is Simon here Zelotes term'd Whose Zealous life and death Christ's word confirm'd And that nor Sin nor Heresy obtrude ' Gainst Christian Faith both wrot and dy'd St. Jude THE COLECT PRAYER The Epistle of St. Jude v. 1 to v. 9. The Gospel Jo. 15. v. 17. to the end ALmighty God which hast builded thy Congregation upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the Head corner stone grant us so to be joyned together in unity of Spirit by their Doctrine that we may be made an holy Temple acceptable unto thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. Vpon the Festivall of all SAINTS DISQUISITION 36. THe former Festivals presented us with Singularities but this is Festum Catholicum 'T is or should be an universall Holy-Day Whereas Each of the former like a Jacobs-staff gave us the Hight But of particular Stars This like a fair naturall Day shews us the whole Heavens rich varieties Those as Contracted Perspectives Measuring Them one by one but This like a large Glass Ptesenting as 't were a Land-skip of All-Saints together Each of them a Flower this a Posie or if they Posies this a Garden Somtimes those shew'd the Leader somtime the Wings or Officers or peculiar Regiments of the Churches Army but This presents us here with her Camp-Royall her Generall Muster the Maine Battalia of that Noble Army the Army both of Saints and Martyrs I say This is the Catholick Solemnity and not a little mistaken by Some who mistake Themselves to bee the only Catholicks for the most part conceiving this Feast instituted in Contemplation onely of the Saints Triumphant so carrying on their manner of devotion Dr. Donne S 45. in Festum in consideration of them onely this misprision being grounded saith a learned Gamaliel of ours upon Boniface his dedicating that Pantheon given by Phocas to the Honour of Saints and Martyrs but of that kind only yet was there a better consecration afterward both of that Temple and
either Pliny tels us Nat. Hist that the Eagle knowes her young ones by their eyes their perspicacy and unlesse they can outface the Sun that she rejects them as a Bastard brood but I must tell you God knowes his children by their hands their liberality and will own no withered Jeroboams God requires no costly sacrifice as of the Jews Pauper est Altare Dei the calves of our lips Oblations of our hearts and hands is all He looks for and therefore to do good and to distribute or communicate forget not Heb. 13.16 Heb. 6.10 for c. Hebr. 13.16 And God will not forget c. Sola misericordia comes defunctorum Mercy is the sole companion of the dead and God hath given men wealth non tanquam Dominis sed Dispensatoribus not as unto Treasurers Enthymius but as to Stewards Imitate then the wise one in the Gospel Luke 16. For to every one shortly shall bee said Redde rationem Give an account of thy Stewardship And believe it none shall make a more comfortable reckoning at the Day of Judgement then the charitable man if you will believe the Judge Himselfe Matth. 25.35 Matth. 25. who there takes notice onely of such Actions as Feeding Clothing Visiting Ministring and those He sets upon his own Account Mihi fecistis Ye have done it unto me and therefore Himselfe rewards it with a Venite Benedicti Come yee Blessed c. And who thus practise the Communion of Saints here need no whit doubt his Eternall fellowship with them hereafter POEM 40. PArticular Accounts you have had hither Now take the Totall of All Saints together And that 's Communion Union with the Head And all the Members mutually shed Both the Saints Militant and Those above All knit together with the Bond of Love So that strong Sympathies thence rise in All So far as suits Each State reciprocall Yet not as though we Prayers might addresse To our Related Saints in Blessednesse Or as their joyes had leisure to look down On our poor Accidents of Smile or Frown But that in Generall both joyntly Pray Stil for the Churches Consummation Day The Number of th' Elect might be suppli'd And All together shortly Glorifi'd Thus Earth's Hosannah onely not so long And Heavens Halleluiah's the same song Thus Love 's the Cement of the World the Chain Links Heaven to Earth and Earth to Heaven again Where Strife is Hel's begun but where This Love There 's Heaven i th' bud below full blown above No Article of Faith Cures more complaints Then This Communion of All Blessed Saints The COLLECT The Epistle Revel 7. v. 1. to 10. The Gospel Matth. 5. v. 1. to 13. Almighty God which hast knit together thy Elect in one communion and fellowship in the mysticall Body of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord grant us grace so to follow thy holy Saints in all vertuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable joyes which thou hast prepared for them that unfainedly love thee through Jesus Christ c. Vpon The four Ember weeks at the four seasons of the year The ARGUMMNT OF all the solemn Fasts as Lent holds the first so these the second place times of Dovotion anciently observed at the four seasons of the year viz. the first being Wednesday Friday and Saturday after Saint Lucys Day Decemb. 13. the second being those dayes aforesaid after the first Sunday in Lent the third being the said days next following Pentecost Which are the Ember weeks the fourth the same days next after that called Holy Crosse Sept. 14. and they were then observed among other chiefly for these * Leo de Jejunio decim Mensis S. 4. Hierom in Zach. 8. And why then observed Reasons 1. That Christians might not come short of the Jews Devotion but improve the same opportunities to better ends that so consecrating the first Fruits of each season unto God the Remainder of the year might all be Holy 2. That such Devout abstinence might at once chastise the exorbitancies of the ending Quarter and caution That beginning 3. That the Devotions of them might both Apprecate the Almighties Blessing to the Fruits of the Earth then either sown sprung up Ripening or gathered and deprecate the dangers and distempers commonly most incident to those Seasons Lastly with ferventest devotion to Assist the Churches sacred Ordinations which were of old Solemnized the next Lords day following Each of These and which ought as by CHRIST and his Apostles so ever by their successours to bee performed with Prayer and Fasting Luke 6. ver 12. Acts 1. verse 24. and ch 13.3 POEM 42. WHo strictly Primitive Devotion seeks Must Rake out of Times Ashes Emberweeks And blow them too into an holy Flame Of Prayer and Fasting sinfull Lusts to tame Next to the soul Feast Lent these Fasts of old The Church did every Quarter solemn hold That Christians zealous might as Jews appear And Consecrate Each season of the year For if first Fruits grow ripe in Piety Of Things or Times the rest will holy be Then let our Janus zeal at once lament The Sins forepast the following prevent The First in Advent First sacred Abstinence makes Preparation To entertain the Author of Salvation Cleansing the Stable garnishing the Heart That he may There reside and never part Such vessels as are full can hold no more The Rich go empty while Christ Feasts the poor This true Mortification vices kils And 't is the the Hungry soul our Saviour fils The second in Lent And now conformity to Christ bids Fast And Pray for he did both and more did taste That bitter cup of Divine wrath for us Shall we do nothing when He suffred thus Fasting and Prayer was ever prescrib'd good Before a Medicine and such Christs blood Whom Satan tempting had so foyld a Pull That where he tempts one Fasting Thousands full The third after Pentecost Now doth Religious Abstinence attend That Sacred Spirit which did of late descend On the Apostles and them all inspire Requiting Holy zeal with heavenly fire Those then that Blessings from above expect Must not these Duties in their times neglect But if they look for the descending Dove Must wait with Prayer and Fasting Faith and Love The fourth Sept. 14. And now our Crops are Ripe we going to Reap Hath God no Harvest no part of our Heap That gave it all shall he fill every place And our Hearts only empty be of Grace No Prayer and Fasting now wil quench excesse Both sin and sicknesse of the time suppresse Let these Devotions then bring up the Reare And mak 't an holy and an happy year The Churches last and not the least good sense Was this being sacred Orders to dispense On the Lords day succeeding each of these Sought God by Prayer and Fasting to appease That so by joynt Devotion might be gain'd Choice Blessings on her work and those ordein'd That thence the outward ecchoing inward call
worthily doth the Church honor the holy Trinity the whole Trinity of Persons together as else-where in severals Declaring the wonders that he doth for the children of men Blessing and praising that same sacred Triad with Saint Paul and other Churches out of him Rom. 11.36 Of him and through him and for him are all things unto him be glory for ever Amen Lib. Sent. distinct c. 36. Ex Augustin de Trinit l. 6. c. 10 Where Lombard out of Augustine for as one was the Master so the other was the Founder of the Schools saith ingeniously that these Prepopositions Of Through For are not to be confounded For Ex doth denote the Father of whom are all things Per the Sonne by Whom are all things And In the Holy Ghost in whom are all things God the Father is the Fountain of all goodnesse God the Son as the Conduit and God the Holy Ghost as t were the Cistern And therefore Remeent in Flumina Fontes Let all our streams comfortable Blessings return in Thankfulnesse unto our Fountain As all our Fresh Springs are in thee O GOD so we desire they should also flow back unto thee And therefore turning Contemplation to Devotion Let us with the four and twenty Elders here fall down before him that sits on the Throne saying Thou onely O blessed Trinity art worthy to receive Glory and Honour and Power for thou hast created all things for thy wills sake they are and were created Amen POEM 19. Mysterious Blest and Sacred Trinity Inspire thy Worm that it aspire to Thee AETernall Father whence all Beings spring Deservedly thy Power they doe all sing Thy Providence too ecchoing that power Supporting guiding all things made each hour How strong and sweet through all How bright do st shine That while all take their own wills none but Thine While All things else then keep their first due Station Let not Man fail the End of his Creation Since Essence Life and Motion flows from Thee Le ts ' gratefully Return back all the Three Blest Lamb that dumb before the Shearers wer't Give and Accept a vocall gratefull Heart And let the Golden Fleece of thy rich Merit Purchase us Heavens Kingdom to inherit And loyall to it make us own thy Power As Soveraigne Lord as well as Saviour And thou O sacred sanctifying Dove Descend into our Hearts with wings of love Hatching thy Graces there that once fleg'd wee May back again to Heaven mount with thee To nestle in that Rock those Clifts of Spice And ever chaunt with Birds of Paradice Mean time what gift so fits this Three in One As our Triangled Hearts Rendition The COLLECT PRAYER The Epistle Rev. 4. v. 1. to the end The Gospel John 3. v. 1. to 16. ALmighty and Everlasting God which hast given unto us thy Servants Grace by the confession of a true Faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternall Trinity and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Vnity we beseech thee that through the stedfastnesse of this Faith we may evermore be defended from all adversity which livest and reignest c. Vpon the LORDS DAY in generall DISQUISITION 17. ALmighty God as his mercies are not only private and particular but publick also and Vniversall so will he not be contented only with Family Devotions though those he seasonably expecteth and accepteth but also he will be honored in the visible Congregation of his Saints and Servants and that too not alone in those solemne Anniversaries which are as Constellations of our Gratitude for blessings of the first magnitude But also for his Continuall Mercies which are as the Multiplied Starres renewed every moment And therefore doth justly challenge although he need it not our weekly returns of publick Piety and Gratulation And albeit His Glory be capable of no Accession by us or Diminution according to that of Job Job 9.15 Psal 16.2 and David yet his Revealed will which is our Rule and Conduct and his outward Name and Honour claimeth our best publick Worship and Devotion and that with a speciall Memento in his fourth Commandement Remember thou keep holy c. Where I shall not enter the Lists with the Sabbatarians and their Antagonists which undiscreet Combatants have rather wounded one another then rescued the Sanctimony of the Day Indeed by their Polemicall Discourses making more knots then they have untied The Doctrine of the Christian Sabbath being like a Skein of curious Silk which with affected Hands they have so sullied and be-ruffled Athanas Homil 1. that many well-meaning people know not how to make a right use of it and it may well be feared that Charity hath lost more by them then Truth hath gained And therefore waving the fruitlesse Controversie I shall herein keep the Scope of my Whole Book and endeavour briefly to vindicate the Piety of the Christian Sabbath The Jewish Term is Sabboth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Saxon appellation Sunday and the Christian from Christs Resurrection the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. The LORD changed the Sabbath into his own day for a Seminary of the Gospel Lords Day nor need either Denomination inject a scruple to wise men so long as All retain agreement in the sanctification of it And indeed as Saint Austine well though in another case Desiderant auditorem potius quam expositorem The Commandements are so well known and so often expounded this especially that we rather want Hearts to practise them then heads to understand them And this you know designeth both the Time and Place of Gods holy publick Worship Levit. 19.30 Not as there were any inherent holinesse in either or any thing below but onely relative i. e. as chalenged by GOD Athanas Homil. and by Man devoted And so both are the Time and Place Holy Day and Holy Place Holy Sanctuary holy Ordinances both equally sacred Levit. 26.2 You shall keep my Sabboths and reverence my Sanctuary c. Now one that assisted the Reformation of Religion with as much Learning and Modesty as any defines this Commandement well to be Morale praeceptum de Ceremoniali A morall precept wrapped up in * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. The Lord changed the Sabboth into his own day for a Seminary of his Gospel Tract 50. in Johan Ceremonials For sure there was somewhat of both in it the Ceremoniall part not now in force is first the Precise seventh day from the Creation Which in cases of Travell and remote distances is impossible to be retained the same universally Secondly the strictness according to the rigid Letter Thirdly the Mode of hollowing it with Oblations and Ablutions c. The Morality of it chiefly consisteth in these First the fixing of a Time for Divine publick Worship Secondly That Time to be at least one day of Seven Thirdly that day to be hallowed by corporall rest and spirituall Devotion so that it is Morale quoad genus Ceremoniale quoad speciem