most august serene Lord Iesus who was by the Spirit given to this woman and by whom is published Heaven to be at peace with men and women uniting these two together and both unto it self that peace might be on Earth and goodwil towards each other and both give glory by submission unto God ceasing from contention Salvation comeing by Iesus and Honour with Christ to men who are but dust and ashes WHEN the Almighty doth wonderously men should be surably affected here is a Prophet created a King anointed a Priest consecrated a Phisician born what more a Saviour encompassed let this be your tydings Christ is born in Bethlehem and leave your flocks ascending to him who came down in your heart and love for in your Salvation there is utility in his Vnction swavity in his INCARNATION Majesty for he hath bowed the heavens and is to be found in the swadling cloâ—ths of Precepts Sacraments and Promises of all which the Angels of the Church have told you because of which heavenly testimonies expect not a star in the air I mean a new miracle or a new good way of your own chuseing but draw near and behold this new thing proclaiming it to each other as the two cousings Mary and Eâ—izabeth that Jew and Gentile may both rejoice together in the birth of their common Saviour and that with hast our Saviours birth as his doctrinâ— being prolifick dischargeth oscitancy and slouth having a proper work which must industriously be gone about viz. Sanctiâ—y the digâ—ity of the Spirits working in thiâ— supernatural manner having morally a coercive power to suspend terâ—en matters and carry the soul to the hilly Country by affection in the sweetest Cell of the Souls complacency and thence again to issue orders unto all faculties to abstain from filthinesse to Love the Lord to speak good of his Name CHRIST being as at this time born as at this time the Angels sang the Heavenly host praised the Shepherds glorified which in our leading pious holy and Religious lives shal also satisfactory to God and Jesus our Lord be performâ—d for which this new thing was created the World being grown old exceeding old that is thin crazy and bare Adams disobedience the Angels fall Cain's slaughter Lamech's Murder Nimrod's oppression the Giants Impurity Babels Confusion c. had so marred the visage of this Earth that the heavens groaned to be delivered from its aspect from its scent as if Mezuntus Tyranny had been anticipated who tyed living men to stinking carcasses for their death and his own sport But at last God sent his Son in flesh with water that the Earth as the Garden of the Lord being well watered and as Pharao'hs Kine made fresh faire and well favoured or as David of a goodly countenance in imitation of this woman by humility for though she was Mother of our Lord she visited First in charity for she came to help the aged Elizabeth to assist the conceived and comfort her cousing now impregnat in her dolors burthens longings faintings and domestick affairs in her Modesty she was a teeming woman and at the time of her delivery Mary the Virgin returned home in her Oratory she spake so well that the Bab of grace leaped in the others womb And lastly in her Civility for she saluted Elizabeth no question but with civil honour and Religious reverence for the Mother salutes the cousing the cousing Mary and the Baptist both all with earnestnesse and serious holinesse mixed with joy or if you please in imitation of the MAN in Love for as the Son of our Mother he is come down that we may kiss him with the kisses of our mouth in comforting the shepherds when cloathed with darknesse and it may be with sadnesse were comforted with joyfull tydings in suffering he endured the worst a stable a manger for all his innate worth and former glory he fretted not at 〈◊〉 he cryed it was for mans sorrow in doing he went about doing good and so let us compasâ— each other with Religious delight celebratâ—ing this feast very near as old as the Gospel not now only but alwayes with the Church â— Virgin yet the Lambs wife by Faith hope and Charity that they being found with us 〈◊〉 Ioseph Mary and the Bab were by the shepâ—herds may live as they soberly righteously and godlily which perfected we shal not be cast out of the heaven of the Church with Lucifer nor out of the paradise of powerâ—full ordinances with Adam but enter into the new Ierusalem which is above by vertue of this new thing created in Ierusalem beâ—neath THE method of obtaining which 〈◊〉 included in the marrow and significancy 〈◊〉 such names whose bearers were more peculiarly grandiz'd in the history of Incarnation Ioseph by interpretation is addition Mary bitternesse Zacharias minding the Lord Elizabeth peace of my God Gabriel strength or man of God and Iohn gracious now a good Name is in Herauldry accounted an accomplishment gentilizing the vertuous And we find in godly saints accrewment of honour to be attended with change of names for the case in hand let this days solemnity add one cubit to the stature of your knowledge touching the pravity and bitternesse of natural self by reflecting upon what the Lord hath now done for our indwelling with him becomeing men of God inspirited with peace when the Spirit shall write on the table of the heart Grace Grace teaching us all our life long to celebrat on Christmas that is Christs-feast in the old Saxon the holy Eve of that Eternal yule or Iubile in the holy Hebrew where old Emanuel now Iesus shal be worshipped with everlasting Jubilation FROM this MANS encompassing the Holy Ghost pleads for Israels returning and 〈◊〉 this back-sliding age would suffer a word of Exhortation I should motive for Modesty now Pharaoch's physicians wold sense a childs â—onfinement in the womb a womans nourishing of her fruit or how the Egyptian midwives would retail the particulars couched in the expression I presume not to know but there is a MAN and a WOMAN in the text and the copula joining them together is chast and comely there is mention made of the attire of an Harlot Prov. 7. and we read of the solicitations of a whore Gen. 39. but the knowledge of Christ ought to instill sobriety in all our converse Men Woman Women Men at meeting or a part contriving the contexture of their discourse the Methods of their thoughts the sentiments of their soul to be spirited with that vertue A Father observes that Ioseph gave no assistance to Mary she swadling she laying him in a manger he not dareing to touch so holy a Bab whom he Knew to be none oâ— his It 's also and there from incumbent 〈◊〉 the mystical beholding of our Lord to returâ— from our irreverent behaviour and give hiâ— his just devoir how unseemingly wil soâ—â— touch Christ in the Supper as if the 〈◊〉 were their own bread and wine when it
mad and Heliodorus thought a witch but he call'd my Charmes my Art my Craft is Christ and demanding respite for three days to advise what to do he repaired to the Idols Temple and in fervent prayer obtained from heaven the falling of them all like Dagon for which being set upon a fresh he made ample confession of the truth of Christ yea his tongue being cut he preached heaven-ward with his hand untill he was slâ—in rejoyceing in hopes to see God in his flesh desireing also to depart and to be with Christ. BY the Resurrection the Believer hath a privative and a possessive good the first containeth an abolishment of hell and death that they be not the portion of his cup Christs appearing to be the Son of God by it haveing brought life and immortality to light is the substance of the other 2 Tim. 1. opening the gates of Death a typ of the resuscitation of our mortal bodies having made out peace by defraying as a surity or cautioner what we were endebted to justice whereby we are accounted just and righteous before God his egressâ— from the prison of the grave testifying a discharge and maâ—s assâ—ilment whence still to our being condemâ—d there is oppos'd his rising for who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is Christ that dyed yea rather who is risen again and in this righteousnesse it is wherein S. Paul desire to be found makeing it his own by faith and rejoyceing in his own security thereby blessing God for that victory which in Chrâ—st he himself obtained the day book of his sins being crossed and the head of his advâ—rsary bruised by the substance of the Crosse in the power of the Resurrection which so far virtuats his life that as raised in Christ he accounts not himself any more in this world haveing his conversation in heaven not regarding the knowledge even of Christ after the flesh as did not a latter Saint who seeming to behold his Saviour in bodily shape visionally cryed out Lord keep that sight from me here but let me behold it in thy own Kingdom in the other world RISE therefore from your vain conversation from your graves of lust your reward is slighting Christ or selling Christ being no other then what the Patriarchs had when they sold Ioseph or what Iudas got when he betray'd Iesus viz. shame and fear which whoso would avoid must follow him who is the way to young beginners the truth to such as affirm and life to those that persevere the way to them that ask the truth to such is have found the life to those who passe the way to them who travel the truth to them who rest and the life the righteous do enjoy all procured by the death Christ underwent IT is said the lyons whelps lying as dead three days after birth are awakned by the roaring of the Syre certain it is that after three days this lyon of Iudahs trib was raised by God the Faâ—her for thogh his rising be attributed to the Spirit of holinesse Rom. 1. as also to himself having a power to take up as well as to lay down his life John 10. yet it is also expressed to originat from the Father for God said Peter raised up Iesus Acts 2. scattering the least mist could arise from doubts temptations or surmise improving faith against all stumbling blocks the holy Trinity joining in one for Christs manumission from the grave all being reconcil'd to man in his Saviours actings upon that particular the Lord God who had sentenc'd Adam raising the Son who was God and by the Spirit who with the Father and the Son is one all equally willing equally appearing for and equally approveing what by the determinat counsel of the Father was under agitation in that affair SHEWING withall that as Christs manhood was raised by God through the Spirit of holinesse so the quickning of man against the deadnesse of sin ignorance and unbelief is the sole work of Omnipotency which alone can remand back the Spirit of sanctified illumination men possessed in the loins of their Father Adam and adapt them by a receive the holy Ghost to walk as Sons of God not of men yet as nothing quickens except it dy so neither can the sinfulnesse of sin be taken away untill man know he is sold under it and by it betrayd as by a Iudas into the hands of the Devil who hath the power of death that is of execuâ—ing not sentenceing which conviction of heart only maketh man to dy with Christ and necessarily must preceed a rising with him TO some it is true Christ is not yet born such are the lofty Spirits the touring souls behaving themselves not as Children weaned from the mothers breast but as so many Gyants begotten of some Goliah and born of some radiant Amazon which conceit maketh them conceive themselves some great body and being contrary to our Lord who was born a Child that is for humility and meeknesse debonaire and affable towards all soar in their carriage and Pea-cock like moutting in the sun-shine of their own vain glorious imagination as if with the Pea-hen all must then be in love with their mistaken transcendency and couch to the shadow of their greatnesse whereas quite contrary self denyal religious pensivenesse for the losse we have had for the things we want a reversing of the Escutcheon of that excellency which fortune or parts have bestowed because ensigns of our mysery and badges of our poverty tokens of the infamy because sinfulnesse of our birth are still in those true Children moraly and in their own esteem little ones to whom belongs the Kingdome of heaven TO others he is not yet dead these are the carnal the fearful the sensual minds who desireing to live in the affluence of flâ—shly pleasures flye from the Crosse as a bugbear and sailing in the Pleasure-boat of a bare profession in the least cloud gets into the coast snugging under the wind of alluring comforts hat 's nothing more then to ride out a storm with the warelik builded and storm prepared for Christian knowing he cannot weather out the tempest and judgeing himself no further in safety then that the next step lands him on the shore of ease delight and ticklish pleasure where loving this present world he embraceth it with both arms saying to tribulation at a more convenient time I will hear thee again in this matter and so with Peter denying any soul saveing knowledge of Iesus chuseth the warmth which the fire of the Mammon of this present world doth affoord accounting beloved Paul mad for because of the Gospel enduring a storm or abideing a night and a day in the deep judging the cargo of a soul not to be valued at so high a rate that the losse of the vessel of the body which is but the hâ—ll of man should be suffered to endure such hardship for it's security TO others he is not risen these are the
affirm that here they are breathed upon to dispose their minds already sanctified for the Spirits reception in a more solemn manner in the dayes of Pentecost MOREOVER a religious melancholy seazing on the vitals of their Spirits and belief of their Masters proceeding from or ascending to the Father in and for their behalf the Spirit being a pledge of Salvation the strength and life of the Soul is here given by an apt similitude of a breath foâ— as the visiâ—le body of Christ was not God so neither is the breath here felt to be estimate the spirit to confirm them that as the breath came from him so should or so did the Spirit proceed from him likewise which the Greek Church to this day denys affirming his procedure from the Father only which is seen say some in their punishment in looâ—ing their Imperiable Citty Constantinople their Emperour Crown and Kingdome being taken by the Turk upon this day in the Calendar An. Dom. 1237. wherein the nature gifts and proceeding of the Holy Ghost are taught explained and truly commemorat in the Orthodox and Latine Church MANY good things our Saviour had taught especialy about his Death and Resurrection which the Spirit was appointed to bring to their Remembrance the brain of man in it self being naturally dull hereby is cleared and as his birth purifieth ours as his life instructeth ours as his death destroyeth ours as his Resurrection preceedeth ours and as his Ascension prepareth ours so his sending down of the Holy Ghost helpeth us mightily in the reflecting upon these things against all infirmity whatso-ever oyling the wheels of the Soul makeing that lift up it self being otherwise bowed down and by this is said Woman or man thou art loosed from thy infirmity causing them still look forward oâ— like a religious pulley stil haleing or pulling the soul heaven-ward to a loveing of spiritual things contrary to the carnal mind spiritually hence the Sunday betwixt his Ascension and the Spirits descension is called from the entrance of the twenty eight Psalm Dominica exaudi as if from that time the Church of old and yet now had been still calling praying for and expecting a fuller portion of the Spirit this breath being but the first fruits untill the harvest a taste only of Canaeans grapes a warm breath a refreshing gale untill the mightier and rushing wind should blow when Iesus had been glorified THERE are two principal parts of the body viz. head and heart to which in the soul corresponds the understanding and the will it being led and moved by these as greater wheels and God in his Church hath to both of these in resemblance Christ and the Spirit the head and heart of his Congregation for understanding of and being guided unto the things concerning life and by these we know he loveth us and by that knowledge procureth in us Love and Ioy by divine illumination toward himself the Spirit being that Regius or great Divinity Professor teaching from within the mysteries of God for what ever David the Psalmist Amos the Prophet Daniel the Prince Peâ—er the fisher Samuel the Sâ—er or any other Priest Prophet or Patriarch taught were but lecturs of his composing words of his frameing sentences of his drawing up directing how to believe how to live how to walk and how to talk how to love and how to adore how to weep and how to pray all with admireable wisdom holy zeal and fervent charity THE Spirit was here given about the Resurrection before the Ascension after which the spâ—ce of ten dayes reckoning from the fortieâ—h that is from the Passeover for he was given again so that we are to observe the feast of Pentecost when the HOLY GHOST came from heaven whereby they as all good men are made to look up before which we must meet and assemble so receiveing it in the Word breathed upon us on Earth this doubling of the Spirit being like the two-fold Commandement of loveing God who is in heaven and loving man who abideth upon Earth yet it 's but one command acting on different objects so it s also one Spirit given and acting for differâ—nt things or for discovery of that one great thing the Trinity FOR the Son having been visibly known among men the Father also revealed by the things that are seen there remained one thing to enforce the certainty and existance of three Persons that was the appearance of the HOLY GHOST who had once come as unto Noahs ark like a dove in the evening of the world upon Christ the Lord expressing the meeknesse peaceablnesse harmlesnesse of them who are as houses inhabited by him this was at his baptisme the next as is thought was in a cloud strengthning his constancy glorifying his purity and heating his fervency this was at his transfiguration A third was by a breath for animating a perplexed little flock about the removeal of himself from them a few dayes before his Ascension A fourth was in fire in tongues and this was after his glorious Session at the right hand of the Majesty on high giving them a noon-day knowledge to understand all Scripture power over all Devils wisdom against all Philosophers Eloquence against all Orators Patience against all Torments Gifts to convert all Nations Confidence in the love of God for subduing of unruly lusts Grace for persevering in all good works Lastly Ioy in the peace of a good conscience through Christ and him crucified whence it is sayd they were al filled with the HOLY-GHOST in contradistinction to those portions or draughts they had received before so diminute that it s said the HOLY-GHOST was not yet given q. d. in that ample and miraculous measure because Iesus was not glorified John 7.19 WHICH when done they are quasi overcharged and Speaking were thought drunk that is intoxicated which in a trope they were but not as the Jews â—uppos'd with wine but with the new-wine of the Spirit wherewith the old bottles of corrupâ—ed self could not be brimmed the Vine whence it flowed being above the liquor whereof stupâ—fied not the braine but transmented the Soul noâ— causing staggering but confiâ—ming in faith and joy as in the Citty by that River which maketh glad the Citty of God which they renewed by wind fire and tongues were capacitate to drink of the one blowing away the chaff the other heating the Spirit giving light also to the dark chamber of vain Imagination the last promoting to speak refinedly perswadingly being cleansed from carnall sordidness and earthly selfishness delighting in no talk but of the wonderfull works of God IT is usuall with Expositors to shew the analogy between things themselves and that which is represented by those things In how many wayes the Paschall Lamb and Christ doth agree the Red-Sea and baptisme the Cross and the brazeâ— Serpent Iesus and Aaron David and Ioseph is not of our province but how aptly doth wind represent the operation of the HOLY GHOST in those upon whom he cometh
blood the lowest bowing down of his Head there at the Pasover in sight of the Nations did his Soul fly upward into Paradise leaving a naked body in the hands of the Souldiers and there again was his greatest exaltation pouring forth his Spirit at the Feast of Pentecost upon his despised Associats the firstlings of whose conversion by his power whom the Rulers had slain but fifty days before in that same City not only reviveing his memory proveing his innocency but convincing their Auditors the inhabitants of bloodinesse and sinfulnesse they thereby becomming adorers of the Cross manageing the vertue and merits thereof in gratifying the Father that is glorifying and pleasing God by rejoycing because of and in the same and of its extension unto all the world the Iew rejoycing in his own pardon for crucifying the Lord of glory the Gentile being glad in partaking of that Salvation which was from the Iews Ioh. 4.22 both now understanding the Prophet in his Out of Zion shall go forth the Law Isa. 2.3 and whence can it come fitter since it s a Law making peace then from Ierusalem a vision of peace where Christ the Prince of peace said once peace be unto you and again peace be unto you Joh. 20.21 that is as I have found you in peace I leave you in peace and abiding in peace the spirit of peace shall abide with you for which receive ye the HOLY GHOST THE Trumpets of the Temple sounded every morning at the opening of the Gates for assembling the devout unto Divine service the Spirit being breathed upon the Apostles here keep'd them together untill the sound of a mighty winde alarâ—m'd them and prepared them for more ample manifestation of his appearance And surely what the Trumpet did our Bells doth now each ting and toll saying Gather your selves together Joel 2.2 and though gathering by many be not regarded and by severall reasoned and printed against yet our falling from the shadow of Religious deportment in shutting our ears against such solemne invitations to our Churches hath not had among us such alluring mercies such beamings of heavens acceptance such self-denying and sin-subduing characters such warme breathings of Ghostly consolations nor such examples impulses to purity and good works but that yet we should go up to the house of the Lord and call upon his Name with the remnant that are left OVR Fiery tongues against Assemblies and the Masters thereof being indeed such that is fiery rather then like as fire God by them being dishonoured and the multitude of the Nations enforced to conclude there from that mystically we be drunk with the wine of astonishment and spirit of giddinesse having a knack of cursing what ever we see contrary to our intentions though urgently sought by us or wishedly endeavoured for what ever Providence doth with us though it may be in the main conform to our prayers and fasts yet in the end we pray and fast yea curse and ly against it since it is so well known the Gall which now imbitters our lives even to separation is no other then that same Gall that hath disrelished our former enjoyments Our disquiet proceeding not so much from this or that object as from our heeding the devil who is come down yea invited down amongst us having great wrath so that in some meetings there is it may be a mighty rushing wind and the sound of that throughout the land but our sitting that is our abideing in that harmonious concord peace and love attested as a badge of the Spirits future coming not being seen its fallacious to inferre the possession of Holinesse though they should speak with Tongues and prophesie OFT did the HOLY GHOST appear but never in the shape of a ravening beast or bird of prey Oyle is soft a Dove is not invective and the fire that came down at Pentecost was without smoak for that hurts the eyes and likewise without natural heat for it sindged not a hair of the head neither did the smell of fire passe on the Apostles it being but like fire an Element in which God had oft appeared as to Moses to Elias the nature of it being adapt to signifie the operation of the Spirit within these men for their own good and benefiteing of others which ardently they pursued prudently instructing and by Grace infusing in others their own acquiâ—'d and infused perfections as by fire melting the hard heart inlightning the ignorant cleansing as from rust the idle and sluggish Soul heating all through the love of ascending towards Heaven which love as oyle keepeth always aloft and without mixing it self with the affecting of things here below they being cast out as by a sink and not to be heeded that is beloved for nauseating the Soul which by the pledge or troth here received as by a Ring hath betrothed it self purely unto God HENCE we may pronounce their piety but formality and shall be more confounding then flat Atheisme who obtruds upon the world their rough hands enflamed cheeks tearing nailes their pilfring humour their slandering tongue to be constituent parts of those multiplicated gifts effused and shed abroad upon their heart by that Spirit which descended in these dayes the pernicity whereof to discover would long detain us from our Port but that of our Saviour detects the insolence by their fruits ye shall know them Matth. â— 16 Rapaciousness and blood-thirstinesse being equally remote from the soul of Him in whom the HOLY GHOST dwells as are the contentions and blasphemies of Hell and the joyes concord and peace in the highest Heavens SVCH who expect visits from great men fits their houses for reception possibly by perfuming pots the Disciples prepared for the Spirit by Vnion Prayer and Love embrace the Pattern imitate the Coppy with repeated acts of incense-like mortification of lust prejudice animositie or whatsoever savours of such nastinesse Using in opposition to these the strowings with the sweet herbs of Brotherly kindnesse meeknesse patience charity and love to God the house I should say the Soul thus scented is disposed for his admission he loving purity and religious cleanlinesse being the only delectable property he pursueth and expecteth THE Church is said to have Doves eyes Cant. 4.1 and the Dove is both a sociable and harmlesse creature refusing to nest in that cote where rottennesse or stench breeds annoyance being delighted with that house most which is furnished with glasses the bird delighting in her own shadow and rejoycing to behold it even in water The Doves eyes indeed properly unsolds the chastity of the Church looking only upon her beloved as a true Turtle and her not following strange lovers but the other known properties of that fowle countercharms the witchcraft-like enchantments that are in this age men caressing that is hugging themselves in a whimsical solitude not desiring to have a discovery of themselves unto themselves least they should relinquish their imbib'd opinions falsely called a principle and say O! who
shall deliver us flying from contrived-for-disturbance or tenets of separation as from filth and ordure in which alone the unclean spirit keepeth because there only he findeth rest WHEN the World was souâ—ed or so to speak under the pickle of the deluge the Dove alone gave intelligence of the waters abatement not by a Bramble but by an Olive branch So untill the waters of Contrition flow for our former defilements unchristian-like temperaments which as raw blood putrifies yet the body of our Kingdoms it is not to be expected the Comforter from the FAâ—HER and the SON shall intimate unto us that our sins are forgiven or that in Christ we have got the Victory testifying the truth thereof by the Olive branch of refreshing comforts antedateing heavens felicity in the infallibility and certainty of its possession peace with God being certainly deduceible therefrom Whereas contrairily by our tearing and devouring one another its easie to prognosticate what the result of our lives shall be and whereunto the issues of our Death shall tend if we persevere in discord the Horoscope of the litigious discovering his being born in Satan the scheme manifests his rest pardon the irony shall be with him which even his spirit attests in the pangs of a tortured and disturbed breast so that within us we have either way a witnesse of our blesse or misery whereby our condemnation is the more intollerable if we do not our own businesse and study to be quiet living in love and peace that the God and Spirit of peace and love may be with us HOW oft in the History of the Ascension and of the HOLY GHOSTS descension to harp once more upon this string have we these words they met with one accord and no where besides shewing that in opposition to that quarrelsome life to those frequent disputeings among the Apostles and Disciples and censurings one of another they formerly had offended in Now they unanimously agree in a Brotherly harmony being united though numerous as one body by the Cement of the Spirit through the Gospel there being no intimation in the sacred History of any reflection of the Disciples to the Converts or of the Converts to them or of any one towards another about any miscarriage whereof aforetime they might be or had really been guilty of their life answering the Law for it was the Pentecost in ordinary fiftie days from the Pasch that these things were done and the fiftieth year also and so the year of Jubilee a time of releasment for servants lands debts of rest and proclaimed with great joy Levit. 25. figuring that delight Christianity hath obtained under the full deliverance Christ hath purchased for his people freeing them not only from the pedantry of the Law and burthensome rites thereof but restored them to their former priviledges with God the exceedingness whereof is figured in this that there passed twenty nine Jubilees betwixt Ioshua and Christ the Gospel abridging the Laws authority and hastning the acceptable time the year of great deliverance Luk. 4.18 THE Pasch by Christs death is antiquated and outdated it was expedient also to abolish both Pentecost and Jubilee for having procured a plenary remission from sin we as freed from its bondage are now to rejoyce in the LORD alway the Jubilee being proclaimed upon the day of Expiation which was a day of sadnesse grief and sorrow for the offences of the whole year that in the midst of trouble they might remember joy and we having liberty by the Resurrection who before were sold and gifts by his Ascention who before were poor presenting himself as the first fruits being first born from the dead before the Father for obtaining a blessing on the crop or race of mankind which the Jews did at Pentecost therefore let us pray for fulfilling of the Pentecost feast in having sin remitted the curse from the Earth removed and the Iubilee rite also in having the liberty of the Sons of God the legal ceremonies evanishing a clearer manifestation of things and mysteries are under Evangelical dispensation sprinkling with water being now repentance washing with water baptizeing with the HOLY GHOST and sacrificing of bullocks goats and lambs for expiating sin is that superlative sacrifice of Iesus death an offering for the sins of the whole world He being that Lamb of God which taketh them away by whose strips it is healed and by whose blood it is made white which the very garments of the Neophti or new Converts of old upon this day worn emblematically discover'd being cloathed in whit insinuating sanctity purity harmlesnesse and peâ—ceablenesse whence the day is called Whit-sunday or with the Saxon wied i. e. that is sacred or holy Sunday LET this Generation pretend to what degree of Sanctity it please to fear God to eschew evil to honour all men to do violence to no man to do good and in all these to persevere is the alone mean to be cloathed in White the proper habit of that Citizen which is of Ierusalem above unto which all his acts must quadrat of what kind soeever least the Spirit be blasphemed through his impertinencies FOLLOWING that Heroe Peter King of Aragon who gave a Glob representing the Earth a Crown surmounting that signifying Soveraignity that overlaid by a Scepter typifying the application of Law according to merit over all a Dove in a glory emblemating the HOLY GHOST circumscribed with this device TE GUBERNATORE i e. by thy Direction all things being done within the Empire of the Christians jurisdiction thus Religion shall not be used as Talque shining over glasse cases to hide the rottennesse worm-eating and mothinesse in the frame of many mens conversation neither shall their talk so amuse the Vulgar and undescerning as to cause a sigh a long prayer the nameing of God and conscience cover the â—ickednesse of practises as to let it passe without abhorrence of their Hypocrisies or censuring their â—ick-nam'd holy profession as too frequently they do to the defaming of that which our devout Ancestors called Zeal Piety and Religion accounting honesty in the second Table one genuine Character clearing mens observance of the first wanting the brazen-fore head now boasted of in some Professors where holinesse is divorced from peace no sacrifice Sermons or Prayer so pure as those which are mingled with the blood of men who gainsay the principles of a few by blood is not barely to be understood that physical thing so called but the curses lyes untrue reports slanders calumnies with which the services of Formalists and Pretenders are maliciously sinfully scandalously and madly interwoven THAT French King Henry the third having been upon this day by the Diet of Poland elected their King did in memory â—hereof institute an Order called Knights â—f the HOLY GHOST their Habit haâ—ing many black and white ornaments therein â—nd in a golden Collar within the center of â— Cross was the effigies of a Dove umbrageâ—ng that blessed Spirit It is lawful to attempt â—ea honourable to design high Atcheifmenâ—s if within the verge of our Capacity power or calling and to whet my weapon at this Philistines forge how strenuously hath the Ancient Saints endeavoured to cause the days and places whereon and wherein they have been honoured with mercies blessings or visions to be remarked as Abraham in Beersheba Gen. 21.33 or Iacob in Bethel and Mordecai at Purim This hath been a day of glad tydings wherein by Tongues the organ of Eloquence utterance and acclamation GOD hath testified mans endowment with the gifts of holynesse and given instances of gracious acceptance for humble Penitents possitively deduced without much scruple from the Apostles teaching and the Murtherers repenting sorrowing believing rejoycing Whence it is consequential that if we reflect upon the blacknesse of our tongues in our clamours bawlings against Christ his Word his Instituts his Servants as if they were not worthy to be or fit to live walking in God-like or Dove-like innocence invested with the white Robe of love and meeknesse adequat and cut out for the Elect of GOD Col. 3.12 We shall have the honour of all GODS Saints being elected Kings to reigne over lusts hell and Death by being from this day forward filled as was Stephen with the holy Spirit filled with all knowledge evidenced when with the Romans we are full of all goodness Rom. 15.14 Glory be to the FATHER and to the SON and to the HOLY GHOST FINIS Errata â—ie Corrige The China Printers having by their Art Exim'd themselves only from Possibility of Errour the best in Europe yet pleads guilty of mistakes Here are some Capitall ones marked others being Remitted to the Readers Charity and Correction Page 6. l. 7. Read holding p. 37. l. 6. r. be in time p. 40. l. 12. r. Enflame to p. 64. l. 25. r. That by that p. 69. l. 22. r. not gratified p. 70. l. 22. r. Quadrat p. 86. l. 24. r. leaning p. 89. l. 12. is not p. 204. l. 20. r. endeth p. 213. l. 12. r. moulting p. 240. l. 19. r. viants Mr. VVill. Annand His Mysterium Pietatis
with vivacity more particularly called Mary which is by Interpretation exalted and to the highest acclivities of acquir'd Honour was she manuducted when seperate by eternal Decree to be Mother to the Son of God and rais'd above the level of ordinary capacities in believing the Angels Revelation for which all Generations shall call her blessed both for Faith and Example her Faith and Chastity at first view inclining her Beholders her Admirers and Followers to that high way of the upright i. e. vertue Modesty with self denial which is above not dareing to tread in those so did and impure paths of Wantonness Conceitednesse or uncleannesse leading to Hel beneath She was indeed found with Child but it was by the Holie Ghost this woman removing the Curse due to man for Insobriety became by Samplar another Eva not for being beguil'd but for believing the Mother of all living or of all that would live by beautifying their lives with Angelick continence becoming Mothers to the Son of God conceiving by the Holie Ghost who again helpeth them to keep their vessels in Sanctification and Honour The thoughts as the shade of the Iuniper tree frighting and debarring the Serpents of Corrupt resolves from entrance and avoiding the deplorable issue of enflamed lost in the remotest imaginations tending thereunto subjugating every thought to the Captivity of Reason which by and by brings it under subjection unto Christ and perpetually deterreth unclean Spirits from nestling in the Soul or heart by remembring the wo due to them who neglect so great Salvation about this time as it were BORN by this Woman this Virgin unto whom the Angel was sent as unto a Virgin in body and mind being every whit holy not for one day but dayly which all ought to be and shal at last be acquir'd maugre all seeming difficulties by girding the Sword of Honour upon our thigh denying ungodliness and worldly lusts by which we not only conquer and Triumph but with our Virgin woman Magnifie the Lord for doing great things not only for us but in us ADAM is said not to be deceived but the woman she being beguiled by the Serpent brought forth Death Adam consenting to her Mary alone believes Ioseph consenting and aiding her in things requisit life is brought forth by them to destroy that Death conceived by the other two Eva Adam's wife became the mother of Death Adam yeelding Mary Iosephs espoused for which she is called woman brought forth life Ioseph attending therefore she 〈◊〉 called a Mother she conceived that life by Faith therefore a Virgin yet brought forth in sense wherefore she is also called woman How men are born all men know but not that way but on this wise was the birth of Iesus Mat. 2. that it might be strangely differenc'd from other products of the womb For when his Mother Mary was espoused to Ioseph she was found with Child having already conceived that Ioseph should not mistake him for his Son yet she was espoused so Josephs wife that the world should not charge her with whordome or her Son with Bastardy so zealous is God that the ugly stain of incontinency be avoyded pretiously esteemed among the very Heathen for a Laconian Lady being demanded of the Dowry she brought her Husband Answered I brought chastity to his bed Mary was found a Virgin Mary was made a Woman for her Honors defence for her lifes security Adulterers being stoned and that more honourably she might travel as in Iewrie or sojourn as in Egypt with a man and some will have her made a woman that is espoused that from the devil might be concealed Christs birth and conception for though from the prophesies before runing by the translation of the kingdom to the romans by the weeks in Daniel by the Angels Message he might have a conjectural knowledge of the Messiah near to be revealed but a certainty thereof might not be obtained for the foresaid reasons WAS not Evah when first took out of man a pure Virgin yet is she not called woman Christ is BORN on this wise that like the High Priest he miâ—ht not be defiled by his Father or his Mother for by his Father in Heaven in him is no darknesse and from his Mother on Earth he receives no guiltinesse being in her Virgin estate as the former though a Woman when a Virgin was tempted to distrust this Virgin in a womans estate not contradicting Truth but overcome by Faith and Admiration becometh pardon the allusion the Mother of Eternal Salvation to all that obey The Serpent encompas'd the woman the Angel encompas'd the Virgin and the Virgin woman without man encompas'd man Man thereby reaping the benefit of that he never sowed nay of that he never believed was in the Earth For notwithstanding of that which is Fabled of Periclio the Mother of Plato that she brought forth not devirginated yet the wise admiring at that peace in the days of Augustus Caesar enquiring at their gods its duration had no other Response then that peace should endure untill a Virgin brought forth a Child which so gladned the Spirit of the people that a Temple was builded called Peace and engrav'd on its front The eternal Temple but this their conceit miscarried for the same night Christ was BORN in Bethlehem that temple was ruined by an earthquake in Rome upon whose ruines in after ages was erected a Church called S. Marys I know there are who â—ighting against this Temple of peace triumphs as did Titus over Ierusalem at length leavâ— it as the temple of that City without one stone upon another in raseing the very being of it from Records alleadgeing with those circumstances it was never buâ—ded save in Authors brains But this being a day of joy and gladnesse of peace and Union we shal not enter the lists for combate accounting it easier to believe or misbelieve the story then travel to infringe the objectors Authority by digging up the foundations of that if so twice ruined structure THE first we read to have been named Mary was Miriam Sister of Moses a Prophetess the same with it but she keep'd among the Virgins and because of an Ethiopian woman murmured against the Goodman her Brother But our Mary because found with Child is numbred among women rejoiceing that Shiloh unto whom the gathering of all people was to be born of her betrothed providence cloathing Reputation by alloting her a supposed Husband discovering thereby her Genealogy for greater Fame both towards her self and Son he being reputed the Son of Ioseph which was the Son that is to omit dark and endlesse reckonings the son in Law to Heli Marys Kinred being Numbred Luke 3. the custome of the Jews not allowing Families to be computed by women yet this is clear from both that being of the house of David and reckoned by S. Matthew from Abraham Salvation by Jesus came to his Sons but S. Luke reckoning from Adam intimats Redemption by him also to be intended by
rising THE Iews craved a sign and those that mocked said come down and we will believe but that being the time of suffering he disdained the motion the sign of the Prophet Ionah which was of rising up and opposit to their coming down being appointed all other signs were rejected and because that of Ionah was fulfiled let 's believe and go before him unto Galile by interpretation transmigration or going over that going from infirmity to vertue from mortality to eternity from contumely to glory we may more fully participat of those sore-expected joys in being treated yea feasted in the company of our ever to be adored Saviour Worshiping our Lord begining to practise and celebrat our Sabbath when the Jew rendeth his acting not only contrary to him but spiritualizing his superstitious deportment thereon he will kindle no fire that day let us blow up that of the spirit in the hearth of our hearts for elevating our thoughts and raising our minds upward heavenward to this day they alleadge the destruction of Ierusalem solely to have flowed from the neglect of the Sabbath in putting no difference between the holy and prophane Ez. 22. Let us compute it's desolation to spring from â—he innocent blood shed on the preparation day for the Sabbath and in hiding their eyes from the Lord of the Sabbath they will not put so much as their finger to any serwill or country work let us not fear to exercise our selves about works of piety charity or necessary with both our hands our Lord giving â—s example whose servants I mean the Christians whom they keep being put by them in this day to their drudgery which yet and by the way might be rectified by Christiâ—â— laws and magistracy as they will not writ nor blot out what is written on that day let the errata's of our soul be reviewed and weekly 〈◊〉 be exactly corrected that the next weeks impression of our civil or spiritual conveâ—â—s may be both more clean clear and holy being emended from our former mistakes by religious watchfulnesse and future taking heed do they knock on the door when calling unto a preparing for the Synagogne it is 〈…〉 to provoke to love and to good works They will not on that day begin a journey and justly having killed him that was the Way yet let us walk and be undefiled in the way of the Law of the Lord keeping our feet from the filthinesse that is our affections from those lusts that are in the world through sin they crowned our Lord with thorns let us adorn both his holy Temples in exalting his two fold nature by a firm adhering to the truth thereof and laying out for him and his the best of our substance somewhat of our rich possessions entering by the gate of the Church into that of Paradise from which impenitent Iews as the Reprobated Theif are for ever excluded The sixth Psalm and the twelth are entitled pro octavo for the eight in the Vulgar translation from which some will have many mysteries to emerge particularly the change of the Sabbath for respecting our Lords entry into Jerusalem in our computation on Palm Sunday the day of his rising will be one of the seventh but not upon the seventh the prophesies therefore and conquests also of our Saviour to be by us celebrate in the Church the eight day after that account will be the Lords day in the new Testament beginning our holy day when the murtherers of our Lord endeth his Mosaical weakly feast it is nearer to affirm that as God had Circumcision Sabbaths and other rites to difference his people from the masse of the world it is fit to have now some difference to discriminat his Church and since there is a change of the Temple of the Sacrifice of the Circumcision of the Paschal supper of the Priest a necessity may easily be suggested of an alteration of the Sabbath heightned when we consider that Christ came to work a new creation Isa. 65. for which a celebration of an old Sabbath had been incongruous and his kingdome beginning from and his resting dated at the Resurrection how consonant is it to name this day the Lords day and in the proportion all it's followers HIS sleeping or resting on the seventh day in the grave typifying that the old Sabbath dyed with him as all other changeable ceremonies of the law which none ought to judge us in respect of a Sabbath or a holy day since Christ hath triumphed on the eight let us rejoice beholding as badges of his victory the scares of his wounds the print of the nails the wound in his side not only as probable tokens of his rising but as jems to adorn his royal body as a testimony of his victory and as some think to be seen yet in heaven that as in his Church militant he hath bread and wine continually as visible memorials of his bloudy agony and death for his peoples stronger confirmation so in the triumphant the scares of his wounds remain in his body before the glorified for more fervent and eternal Iubilation THESE same wounds when seen and felt besids his own faithful Testimony so strengthned the Apostles that the ghastly frownings of an incensed crew in this wicked world was but a whet-stone to edge their zeal for publishing this truth this glorious truth of the Resurrection for though it be said he was stole yet who durst rouz this young lyâ—n and a little more money would have made the Souldiers tell another tale he quickned in the grave by receiving in the second time his soul then rose from out of the grave astonishing death amazing the keepers yet so heartning and heating his Disciples that they spurn and disdain the threats of men accounting all the worlds wrath or fawning to that degree of naughtinesse as to comput it dung in comparison of the excellency in the knowledge of the rising from the dead all created beings in the power of man being but a cypher to the Resurrection Christ by it and in him themselves conquering and flying above all the pouder Crakers the ungodly should frame or fire to disturb the power of it's Doctrine or the progresse of it's publication the voice of all the Martyrs being like the call of Heliâ—dorus who refusing to sacrifice to Idols and being tormented for denyal cryed out aloud O Lord Iesus Christ assist me and when the crown of the Chuâ—ch is now beheld to have been but made the puâ—er by the fires of devouring persecutors and the ancient Stanza or holy Doxology of our Quires now heard in giving glory to the Father and thought upon who so dul as not to anticipate the rehearsal and suggest the fam'd answer given to the same Martyre is yet returned to all Saints witnesses and confessors be not affraid for I am with thee FORâ—s â—s unhurt with torture how have the heathen and Iews been braved and out-braved by Christians through the hope of the Resurrection Paul was thought
board LET the Zealous discover faith in his conversion preserve hope untill the consumation and a manifest love in his conversation Bethany his obedience shall so clear the eyes that this flight from Olivet shall be known in all its spirituall effects and steps for the hearts more ravishing because refined joy delight and satisfaction making the tongue to cry after him Set me as a seal upon thy heart as a seal upon thy Arm Cant 8.6 that is Lord remember me now thou art going to thy Kingdom IN the year of grace 1608 three Ships called the Ascension Vnion and Good hope sailing neere the Cape of good hope had the fate all to perish the Vnion first perished next Good-hope last of all the Ascension that aspiring minds having great hope and dangerous ploddings have perished in their hope when almost arrived at their wished-for-port and Cape of their contrived design iâ— notor to those who are not strangers in our Coast yea to our shame Strangers best know it Vnion we have already lost in our dangerous discords miserably increasing and â—candalously spreading Yet we pretend to Hope and makes a lively-hood from it for Faction and variance but having so oft been under water and it it self dashed and broken to pieces might be justly called Conceit and we Phrygian-like ought to be wise behind hand and weather it out no longer but take harbour least we lose that is forfeit the benefit of the ASCENSION having only a fancied presumption of felicity to come GOD avert the ominous application of â—his instance and unit us again by the Spirit to an holy Vnion in which only we can have â—rue hope secured and then our ASCENSION will be ascertian'd by which we shall â—e ever with the Lord in the Lord and afâ—er a troublesome sea deluge of a tumultuous â—urly-burly the Ark of our Soul will rest â—o that Arrarat those mountains of Spices above saving the Cargo of a good conscience by Anchoring in the Indian shoar of heavens rich and glorious enjoyment THE Emperour Sigismund having proâ—ed succesfull in severall battels against the â—arks dignified many of his martiall Worâ—hies with the Knight-hood of the Dragon their Device being a Dragon falling headlong RESEMBLE a Saints progress toward Ierusalem to a land-journey through a vast wast and howling Wildernesse comparatively thâ— whole Earth being no other yet no Misprision from within no false Information from without no Hellish Combination encompassing need cause a retreat for all of those in the Dâ—agon already cast from Heaven are overcome Revel 12. Their attempts against the Woman and the Remnant of her seed that is the Church her Sons and Daughters are but wrigglings of that old Serpents tail since his head was wounded be not precipitate be not afraid Lyonâ—nd â—nd Adder the young Lyon and the Dragon shall you tramplâ— under feet as speaks the old Testament Psal 91. That is shortly bruise Satan under your feet as prophesieth the new Rom 16. For Christ must sit that is he must Reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet A worthy saying of that great Apostle of the Gentiles 1 Cor. 15. MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE DESCENDING OF THE HOLY GHOST Unfolded and applied Pentecost-day-May 22. Tolbooth Church 1670. Whitsun-May 22. Tolbooth Church 1670. JOHN XX. XXII And when he had said this he breathed on them and saith unto them Receive ye the HOLY GHOST AMONG other promises given by our LORD unto his Disciples for their support in the tydings of his departure that of the Father is â—aid to be one which was their being baptized with the Holy Ghost Acts 1.4 5. and that from heaven which had been revealed to Ioel Chap. 2.28 by the Father and also to the the world by the Son who had given the Spiâ—it to his Followers but the Father having promised a more ample manifestation it is peculiarly fixed to him by the Son who as a preparative thereunto from above breaths here upon them beneath the Spirit being the Soul of the Church without it you must imagine it to be only a Carcase that Article of the holy Catholick Church being a depending one the holinesse thereof relying upon her Relation in and towards that of the Holy Ghost THOVGH as a bride she be betrothed to the Son yet it 's the Spirit maketh her the Lambs wife as believing she is Baptized unto Christ yet wanting the confirmation unction or blessing of the Spirit there is no inward sanctity which being ordained to be gradualy given it is recorded in one place to be lesse plentifully and in another to be more miraculously infused as before and after our Lords Ascension is evident in many places and particularly in this wherefore it is expedient to behold how the Apostles received here the Spirit and how afterward and how we may be said as Sanctified to receive the Spirit now that we may passe from the infancy and weak condition of meerly inâ—ant Baptism and to become adult in possessing the thing thereby signified even the sprinkling by or baptisms of the Holy-Ghost as by fire that as washed and heated we may become so enliven'd as the Lord may have pleasure in our beauty and delight to dwel in our very bodies as Temples for himself His altar our mind spiritualiz'd his Sacrifice our good works the fire devouring that Sacrifice being that of Compunction for sin and zeal for his glory THESE two words Holy Ghost expresse the holy Spirit the third Person of the Trinity when together for if separated the Father and the Son are holy and the Father and angels are Spirits but when united they respect a duplicated operation and double office of the third person performed upon them who are chosen vessels unto Glory in makeing them holy and in giveing them life breath or spirit by which they become living souls Ghost or Guest being a name synonymous to all Spirits but â—elly or holy to him by way of excellency who proceeding from the Father and the Son as breathed forth and being every wâ—y holy fitteth his name to his nature the sutablenesse whereof being eminent he is denominat in our new style thought more refined then the old the Holy Ghost receiving other Names from other properties as wind fire the finger of God the comforter the spirit of Truth the holy spirit which the Apostles are commanded to receive not as though they had formerly wanted him for they preached wrought wonders cast out Devils a power that flowed from his In-being and during Christs abode but he being upon his ascending qualifieth them now this second time for the work of the Ministry in remitting of sin in binding the obstinat for sin in inteâ—preting the Scripture for their greater assurance and fuller consolation because of his absence about Prophesies and typâ— as the election of Mathias in the place of Iudas from the mouth of David doth famously make evident YET it is no great cause of offence to
yet with this excellent and comfortable difference that as Moses yeelds to Christ so must Sinai to Sion here was fire only their fire and smoak there was clouds darknesse and earth-quakes accompanâ—'d with fear and trembling Sinai it self quaking But in Sion only a sound as of a mighty wind to prepare the receivers and cloven tongues uniting Iew and Gentile the boundiary of the wilderness being pulled up and variety of tongues perswaded the scattered abroad that God had given the Kingdoms of this world to his dear Son that in a spirituall sence not Israel only but the Earth might become the Lords and the fullnesse thereof typified by that multitude gathered and converted by the heat fireynesse yet harmlesnesse of the Saints charity and ardor having received the remission of sin and that from heaven the self same day their Fathers received the law against which they had transgressed for both was at the time oâ— Pentecost as may be demonstrated in computing the time thus THE people came from Egypt on the 14 day of the month there therefore remained 16 dayes for travell the Hebrews always reckoning 30 dayes for a month the first day of the third month they came to Sinai 30 dayes of the second month being accounted there will with this be found 47 dayes then the Peoples encamping Moses goeing up to God his returning again to the people for clear calculation is called one day which is 48 in which going up again to the Mount he is ordered by God to order the peoples being ready against the third day which will make the 50. â—n which God appeared for reckoniâ—g from the peoples want of bread or fall of Mannah is uncertain and may be erronious this is more clear and evidenceth the Anology better betwixt that fire from God by the Ministry of Angels and writting his law on tables of stone and that by fire in the descending of the Spirit that came one the 50 day after the slaying of the Passover Christ Iesus writting his law upon the tables of the hearts of men in a fuller fairer larger and more clear Character typ or impression but note this reckoning is inclusive the other not THE Persians and some other nations adored the fire for a god because of its excessive power and force in resolving matters combustible how great so-ever into it's own substance and being and usually it 's accounted the most noble among elements being as the heavens among bodies the sun among planets yea it 's purgeing operation made it of old to be the heirogliphick of purity as if they had known the world it self was to be cleansed thereby but how hath the fire of the Spirit from Ierusalem enlarged it self making the frosted heart of the unbelieving world even to glow while it talks of the Cross from heaven which is one of the three things by wise men admired in the earth looking upon the Resurrection and Ascension far short in comparison of that conquest the Holy Ghost hath made of the Grandees of the Nations in their honourable receiving of that doctrine from the mouths of plain men so contrary to the hair of natural inclination and mark it where ever the Spirit cometh it comes ordinarly by the sound of the Gospel and by it's heat we are assured of his reception a heart touched a heart pricked is but a heart heated a heart open'd when a man crys what shall I do with Peters converts Acts 2.37 or take away the iniquity of thy Servant with David 2 Sam. 24.10 surtiship may be offered that the Spirit hatâ— spoken in a saveing way but if it be a complaint of the punishment with Cain or a remove the â—râ—gs with Pharaoh be not rash in Cautoâ—ry this being a Legal not a Gospel expression far from that request of creating a clean heart which the Iews compareth to the Holy of Holies to Solomonâ— throne to Mosesâ—ables â—ables and truly displays that the wickednesse is done away by the Spiriâ—s inhabiting his resting therein and writting thereupon the doctrine of pardon and remission provyding the man seperate himself from an untoward generation Acts 2.40 IT 'S said the Spirit sat upon each of them in which it differs from that unclean Spirit that goeth about compassing the earth to and fro seeking rest but findeth none whereas holinesse is pacifique serene tranquilling consolidating the heart in which he dwels makeing it calm in it self and causing quietnesse towards all others condemning Ambition Covetousnesse Hatred Envy Vanity and what ever els tends to the Churches disturbance in which the Spirit rests sitting in it as upon a Throne purposing to reign as on a Tribunal resolving to judge as on a Chair purposing to instruct for all which in all ages to come he represented his undertakeing on this day establishing himself upon the Apostles heads as by fire clearing them from the rust of Errour the filth of Corruption that as Patterns as well as Preachers they might be exâ—mples of Sanctity to their own generation and give infallible rules for obtaining happinesse unto all posterity for ever COMPVNCTION of heart and remission of sin are both from the Spirit of God and is that new wine which shall only be put in the new bottles of a regenerated soul whereby they shal do and speak as the Spirit shall prompt them I had almost said as the Spirit give them utterance as here the Apostles for we find the whole house was filled with the rushing wind the Majesty of the Holy Ghost excluding all in-maets and though each Apostle had the sanctifyed operation of the Spirit filling every angle and corner of the soul as the understanding with Faith the will with Love and that sin or Devil might be exiled the hands with Promptitude the feet with Solicitude the eyes with Modesty the tongue with Eloquence the whole man with Prudence the Faculty Concupiscible being filled with good the Irascible with courage the Rational with verity though they had all gifts and were all filled yet they spake as the spirit gave them utterance some had five others had two talents and S. Paul abounded and spake with tongues more then they all whereby he who expects the gifts bestowed unto all ought not to caresse himself or hug and embrace himself in the deceiving hopes of a rich ample and perfect possession of the Spirit here but rest satisfied with his gift and with being one of the eleven not envying Peters singularity for he is particularly spoken of and eminency since a pinnace a small yaught shall land as wel as a great ship with full sail under the conduct and flag of the Admiral VPON the coast of the Whit-sea there is a cap called Pentecost and somewhat east of that there is another called Bonae Fortunae q d. good-luck let this day be any mans Pentecost a time of gathering in that is of heeding the law offering the first fruits of strength unto the Lord as the Jews did this day of their
corn it shall as Godlinesse hath the promise enrich both for heaven and earth doing good to him and not evill all the days of his life by pardon the alteration of the coast and similitude giving him a trade wind for the port of his desired rest IN this last age we are not to look for miracles by a sensible feeling of the rite or significant ceremony here used yet still Christ breaths on the Elect enlargeing to that degree their bowels of Love that they â—hew him always their faces being averse neither to his Doctrine nor to his Crosse yet forget not that he ascended before the mighty strong wind blew in upon them and that there may be no mistake there are some â—pon whom the Spirit comes never being â—eft in the ignorance of nature coldnesse of the Earth rawnesse of the flesh there are oâ—hers upon whom he comes but abides not â—lowing only upon them and no more heats â—hem indeed but as warm water they are â—older soon after he washeth them yet afterward they go to the puddle and are offensive â—s before to others he cometh and abideth â—itteth upon them liveth in them fills them outwardly with heavenly ardor celestial â—eat and by fire from above causes them seem â—peaking Seraphims and inwardly with wisâ—ome understanding knowledge in the â—eepnesse whereof they may be stiled Cheâ—ubims yea gods in the liknesse of men and â—hose fiery ones too this was for the Apostles BVT alas we see not those signs to passe â—he fiery tongues of too many in this age atâ—nded with smoak and brimstone the known fewel of Hel flames it is but one of a Citty and two of a Trib in whom we see the love of God an evidence of the Spirit which is known chiefly by the loveing of man who being ready for good works to both and patient in suffering and enduring evill from both and makeing progresse from one degree of vertue to another not falling back into perdition in the sight of either this is for us unto whom the Disciples are as lights after they received the promise of the Father as a gift from Iesus in his triumphant chariot the right hand of the Father the Captain of our Salvation haveing led Captivity captive giveing gifts to men to those then to us now more dureable treasures then those offered by the Roman conquerors of old as Sanctity in fire Purity in wind Eloqution in tongues that a Hebrew man might in Roman Oratory and with Attick Eloquence publish Salvation to the respective people and even perswade and reason them by the Spirit into everlasting blesse I say by the Spirit for unlesse he signifie unto the heart the preaching in the Air wil little avail neither shal ever he be Oraly instructed for laying aside the weight that so easely besets whose mind by the Spirit is not perfectly anointed for discovering the reward designed for observers of the Law he being the principale Master Clearing the memory Refining the Reason Inclining the will by the first alwayes minding us of God by the second directing how to apply him for our good because to him that knoweth his Masters will and doth it not there are appointed double strips by the third he sweetly willingly and powerfully draws us to the practise of the good we know for our souls sake and by the mercy of Iesus and by the fellowship of the Spirit and this alwayes for tongues being the organ of expressing words manifests the perpetuity of the things heard which as by fire are to be engraven and melted into their head and heart for their subsistance in them who are sanctified as is published in the Multitude of converts their joy their union their increase though under persecution AFTER the Disciples return from Olivet we find them enter into an upper roome continuing in prayer by some learned thought to be the place where our Saviour instituted the blessed Sacrament of his body confirmed Thomas in the faith of the Resurrection and where the HOLY GHOST came down in fire upon this day And was as antiquity records the Church and Synod-house of the Apostles in Ierusalem called Coenaculum Sion being first hallowed by our Lords supper and consecrate by other appearances for holy use and service a Church being builded thereupon called the Church of Sion on the top of the mount whereof there yet remaineth some reliques confirming the History and Tradition In this place the multitude of believers about an hundreth and twentie some of them possibly of our Saviours own kinred converts and acquaintance in Jerusalem mett prayed for the Election of Mathias at which time surely God loved the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings in Ierusalem his foundation being in this Holy mount 87. Psal. 1.2 Here was Mary the Mother of Jesus it may be Martha Mary Lazarus who ever they were they continued in one accord in prayer Acts 1.14 for if men give bread when their Children importunatly ask from them and afectionatly being at peace among themselves How much more shall our heavenly Father give the Spirit to such who call for him especially if in sound faith upright heart chast bosoms holy groanings innocent thinkings with unwearied solicitings Which unweariedness is intimated in the words they continued the fire of the Spirit burning up the stinging wither'd Nettles of contention the Thorns of worldly cares the Heath or Heather of â—â—ars and dejectments opening the ground of soul and Spirit for the seed of the good husband man that they might be inriched with â—nd bring forth fruit meet for repentance and â—mendment of life blowing away as with wind the sandy vanâ—ty of self-conceit and opinion hindring growth in grace and knowledge and all triviall trash sordidness being either burned or scattered while the world is Sataniz'd by lust continuing in Gluttony Drunkenness Excess Wantoness and Pride these continue in prayer peace and expecting the promise in high and â—ervent love for the Spirit came down and filled the house where they were sitting that is in quietness together iniquity passionatness talkativenesse itch of disputing about words which gender strif contention and debate the HOLY GHOST purposeng eternaly to be estranged from THAT being known to them and of us to be heeded the Spirit expresseth more then once after the Ascension that the multitude met together in one accord sueing for the acomplishment of the promise which in few dayes that is ten they received haveing asked with the mouth for they prayed with the heart for being heavenly endowed they wenâ— no more a fishing but about the fullfilling of the Scripture Judas being gone to his own place THEY were in Ierusalem likewise which is by interpretation a City of Peace being commanded not to depart thence untill they received the promise of the Father Acts 1.4 Christ purposing to glorifie his Ascension yea all his actings with the greater splendour for there was his greatest humiliation the greatest powring forth of his
conceeded unto THE Controversy so early started betwixt the Eastern Western Churches about the Celebretion of Easter Anno. Dom. 240. as whether on the 14 day of the Moon with the Iew or on the Lords-day as with us gives Testimony for the Seniority of this Festivall and by anology of all the other chiefly considering that the observance of either is recorded to arise from a custome long before delivered Assiatick Congregations Synods and Councels keeping it precisely with the Passeover those of Europ refusing in that punctilio of time to Celebrate their spiritual Pasch Christ being come observed the annual dominicall as we now both of them more wise then to put darts in the hands of unbelievers by affoording Israel Armour to fight against our weekly Sunday or any Heretick to strugle against the decrees of the Church because no expresse warrant for their publication having this in general that what conduceth to our Lords glory and mans salvation may by our Princes Churches and Elders be appointed provided the Church be not burthened thereby nor salvation held as subsisting thereupon or pressed as matters of Faith the present fault of the Church of Rome by the Reformed Church abroad eyed in separating from her Corrupted Doctrine yet retaining the celebration of Dayes which she as a Sister had derived unto her with the Gospel from the times of the Apostles and custome of all other Churches of God At which word let â—one stumble for though a naked custome or â—n only custome as such signifieth little yet when it cometh cloathed with Truth Reverence Sanctity and Antiquity Its hoary-head â—s to have all due veneration which Paulâ—voucheth â—voucheth in recurring to it in that case of womans being covered in the Church thereâ—rom surceasing to dispute 1 Cor. 11.26 BUT how is it to be observed when beâ—â—ds Tradition it cometh with Imperiall Edicts â—he division above mentioned being reconcil'd â—y the first and famous Councel of Nice determining the Celebration of Easter for ever to 〈◊〉 upon the Lords-day Euseb. in vit Conâ—ant lib. 3. ratified by imperiall proclamations â—mitted from that Holy and Royall Emperour Constantine sugaring such Laws with Kingly solicitation in Epistles perswading some Eâ—minent Churches to obedience and conformity that the Resurrection and Passion might be aliâ—â— Celebrated in the Churches being one scaâ—â—tered abroad Socrat. Eccles. Hist. lib. 1. uâ—â—ing that the Jewish observance might 〈◊〉 a repetition of that famous Feast by a two 〈◊〉 celebrating in one year which as a thing aboâ—â—nable here solved never to endure whereby themâ—â— it is to be adverted that the year 1664 made 〈◊〉 clamours Easter being lost one whole week that of 1655 caused a whole months Errour 〈◊〉 as fell almost this present year 1671 as to 〈◊〉 time of celebration which is the Sunday 〈◊〉 the first full Moon next after the Vernall 〈◊〉 by which account through the processiâ—â— of the Equinoctium Vernum it will often 〈◊〉 and worse untill at length it be quit lost 〈◊〉 unknown as is told us by skilfull Mathemaâ—â—â—cians it were generous if the new Stile 〈◊〉 made old Style and the Julian changed to 〈◊〉 Carolin account by Emendation of our Tabâ—â— But to go on THE Emperours Letters were secoâ—â— by others from the Councel to the Churchâ—â— Alexandria Lybia Pentapolis including joyfull newes of the Vnion of the Chriâ—â— Churches in the West South North and some parts of the East concurring to this Act and adhering to this statute about Easter those of Italy Affrick Egypt Spaine France Asia Pontus Cilicia and Britaine which last did punctually observe the Pasch according to the Asian Churches from which it is more then probable our Ancestors received not the Gospel from Rome nor any of Romes Emissaries and we find Joseph of Arimathea first to plant the Gospel here sent out of France by Philip the Evangelist whom Policrates Bishop of Ephesus attested to have taught those Esterns that way of Institution Euseb. Eccles. Hist. lib. 5. But afterward Britaine yeelded to the Law submitting to the determination of the Emperours and Councels Niceph. Hist. lib. 8. c. 25. YET before this Nicen Councel the solemnity of this as also of all other dayes is notour for under the reign of Valerian A. D. 257. Alexandria being almost desolate by Tumults Pestilence and Plague the unbelieving Inhabitants bevailing their disaster did the Christians with great joyfulnesse solemnize the Feast of Easter in fields Prisons and where not with gladness of heart Niceph. lib. 6.20 Yea the more Tyrants design'd the Gospels overthrow the more zealous were its Followers for its Lord and Masters splendour particularly in their exact heeding Church Festivalls among which that of the Nativity was respected Celebrated in December as now in the Church being so taught and received it from times of old Aug. in Psal. 132. The Archiues of Rome that is the Registers of the Citty being Authentick witnesses of his birth that happning in the dayes of the Universal Taxation by Augustus Cesar Tert. ad Mar. lib. 4. c. 7. Thâ— Church generally of old knowing no other day observed no other Chrys. de Nat. St. Ioh. Sermâ— The more solemnity being given alwayes to it 〈◊〉 regard that without it the feast of the Epiphany Pasch c. had never been these as rivers flowing from the Fountaine of the verity of the birth whereupon it was called the Metropolis that is the head the Foundation of all Festivities Ib. de Beat. Philog orat And what is saiâ— of one Feast maybe said of this and all other thaâ— by the Church were they instituted and annualy observed Aug. Epist. ad Jan. 119. â— 14. Even before statutes were made or before there were any Christian Emperour to honouâ— them with a Law LAMENTABLE was that slaughter made upon a Christian Assembly in the dayes oâ— Dioclesian at Nicomedia where on the Nativity day the Church-doors being shut by the Tyrants and life offered to all who would burne Incense to Jupiter from within the people testifying they were Christians believing in one God and in Christ for whom with the Father and Spirit they were ready to suffer a fire was Kindled which in few minuts redacted to ashes twenty thousand persons Niceph. Hist. lib. 7. c. 6. To which degree of Cruelty they are not many leagues distant who will Censure the service of these Martyrs as will-worship because Convocat on that day practising what long before had been taught by holy Ignatius the second Bishop of Antioch after Peter and said to be that little Child IESUS set in the midst to teach his Disciples Humility Matth. 18. He floriushed Ann. Dom. 71. And being sentenced to be devour'd by Lyons adviceth against disrespecting Festivities saluteth Polycarpus who is Known to have been Disciple to St. John the beloved Apostle Epist. ad Philip. the Reason of these precepts being for advancement of believers towards God or which is a more apt expression for returning to him this one said haranging upon the
offered by sin Satan or the world to our deceiving senses WHAT deductions faith can make from those Names of the Rock the Lamb the Vine the Sun the Rose the Shepherd the way the door the Priest pertaineth not to our province but the appellation MAN in our theme is so soveraign so gravidat with blessing flowing from Fraternity and Brotherhood that the improver may observe a Magazine in point of war for all accommodation a store-house in matter of peace for all conveniency at first representing God in MAN and therefore in spiritual attaques hellish conflicts wrestlings of Conscience strugling with the world interceeding with God he is a MAN an accomplish'd Captain endowed with all requisits required anciently by the Law of Armes for accomplishing a Leader Gentryâ—he â—he battel ended and the Halcion days â—f peace being come the soul in sweet Communion holy Fellowship with God uninterrupted joys of the Spirit he is a MAN to advise with in the Management of all things INDEED the Angel appointed this MANS name to be Iesus that is a Saviour adapting his name to his office whence saâ—vation in its bulk as also in its parts is ascertain'd to him who makes this MAN his Iesus an appellation which none of the Prophets knowing or not revealing maketh evident that Almiâ—hty wisdome concluded it fittest for an Angel first to utter and next him the Christian that both the one and the other might eternally adore the impresse and signature thereof being capable to mâ—lt the soul by its heat but its worth proclaims a jubile to the most deâ—ponâ—ding sinner in enclining his ear to these 〈◊〉 that Iesus is born in Bethlehem whoâ—â— a Saviour Christ the Lord which so traâ—â—quillats the Conscience that it may disdaâ—â— the surmisings the whâ—sperings of Fear 〈◊〉 inviting the eye and attracting the ear thâ—â— except Iesus be seen and heard wise disâ—courseing is but babling A holy Man disrelisâ—ed the otherwise sweet fluency of Tullys eminent not to say admited Rhetorick and immitable because not bumbastick Oratory in regard that Jesus was not among all his tropes to be found that being the salt seasoning the highest expression of endearing Friendship or most allureing Eloquence THAT Signior like name the Prophet giveth him Isa. 9.6 exceeds all delectation that speaking him wonderful Counseller the Mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace the first â—epresenting all the rest miraculous being Wonderful yet amiable because a Counsellour yet that hinting subjection he is formidable in action understand to his foes he is Mighty and least that should be construed not to extend to omnipotence he is said to be the Mighty God yet to conciliate kindnesse he is a Father and to cause veneration he is the everlasting Father and that he might be known to be above all desirable he is the Prince of Peace made peace go before him brought peace with him there being either peace or Truce at his birth all the world over what can be reflected upon here wanting for the accomplishment of a MAN and what is not here evincing the rationality of his name wonderfull IN the beginning was this word John 1.1 there 's eternity this word was with God there 's equality the word was God there 's a Deity and the word was made flesh there 's Humanity and that word in flesh is called Jesus there 's Salvability the Grace of God by him appearing and bringing salvation unto all men and how happy should we be if we would so far act as MEN as make our symbole like that the Emperouâ— Jovianus scopus vitae Christus the end and perfection of my life is Iesus FOR this cause the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. hath as a Father observes the Name Iesus and again the Name Iesus in the first ten verses eleven times over as if he could not or would not compleat his triumphant wishes for the Corinthians establishment by other means then by tuneing their ears to this Appellative Jesus makeing it manifest to the most inadvertant that the word Master or MAN or any other nown had not in his judgement vertue competent to heal their sores remove their follies or siâ— their quick silver so much as Jesus Or as if he himself by a holy inebriation of the juice or wine pressed from the signification thereof had forgot the earthinesse of names and sounds but in heavenly Dialect could only pronounce the Elements of mans salvation view the stable therefore the manger the swadling-cloaths and behold they all cry See Jesus Behold the MAN who being eternally enjoying peace and splendidly ruling in heaven was as about this time born MAN a word also insinuating Misery vexation and wo encompass'd from the womb with Legions of Devils Princes Pharisees and people yea by his own Kinred and Disciples was he perplex'd being denied forsaken and rejected saying we have no pleasure in him because they saw him a MAN that is a compend of Sorrow yet because he is a MAN that is a compound of Excellency behold his worth with chearfulnesse and Zeal as Simeon Anna the Angel and the heavenly hoast who as they sang at the Creation Iob. 38.7 would also rejoice at the Redemption of the world worshipping him who was the first begotten HOW much more ought man for whom the Lord more peculiarly was made Christ as the shepherds will shew you who went to see and returned from Christ the Lord with great joy two words expressing fiâ—st his Humanâ— then his Divine nature The great Turk vanteth of his being Guardian of our Saviours Sepulchre let us exult in his Authority glory in his Holy Name Religiously improving the design of his comeing that we may be redeemed from this present evill World Gal. 1.4 that is from the practices thereof and designs therein the mischief whereof can easily be discern'd and from which no Angel could secure us therefore their maker Gods Son became MAN by consequence our Brother voluntarily divesting himself of his glorious Robes cloathed himself with the poor rayment of flesh and blood buckled on the coat-Armour oâ— bones and sinnews to fight against the god of this world who had projected maâ—â— thraldome to Eternity by the worlds gaiâ—â—ty whereas contrary our Iesus is before us in a stable Reprobating the worlds glory in his practise that others may abstract their souls from it in their Converse IT is said that the herb Christâ—â—woort or Christmas flower in plain English black Helebore so called for its springing about this time helpeth madnesse distraction puâ—geth melancholy and dulnesse sure we are that though Christ at this time did not speak yet the members of his bodie the face of his nativitie the indigence of his parent the surlinesse of his hoast says to the demented witless because prophane prodigal Love not the world cease from evill and do good subdue pride watch envy provoke not to wrath Love mercy do violence to no man he troubled none in the Inn by makeing intrusion into any
must not be reckoned among the faithfull but as uncircumcised be deny'd entrance into the holy temple the holy Citty holy IESVS being only King of the Iews that is of the Circumcision not of the letter but of the Spirit not of the Body but of the Inward-man and the precept being given to Ioshua intimats that as death and lust enter'd upon all by one MAN we are not free from either untill by his Antityp Iesus we be redeemed from our actual or original transgression by applying faithfully his life and bloud as expiatory for sin denying ungodliness and worldly lusts which is a deliverance from our vain conversation and in one sense a being crucified to the world and in another Ciâ—cumcised in our foreskin they being with some as it superfluous and no way necessary for felicitating soul or body THE Hebrews say Sem was born circumcis'd and he was happy but that the foreskin is not necessary is figured in the eight day seven being allowed in proportion and revolution of time to all in common but the right is that eternal day expected by the Elect and forestall'd already in those occult joys which emerge from liveing Soberly Righteously and Godlily in this present world and their names being written in heaven contemplats upon the felicity their Spirit shall possesse the week of this wearisome world being brought to its final period IT is said of Severus that no day passed wherein he did not something that was good and beneficial to others and without much arguing its evident how soon our Lord amply discovers earnestnesse passionatly to offer himself a Lamb indeed for the sins of the world in his yeelding so easily so suddenly to breath a vein as a wise Physician for the cure of his mystical body now in a Spiritual raveing and sinfull feaverish distemper Man go thou and do thou likewise do good and yet more good and by whom thou art accounted base of them at last thou shalt be had in honour God incarnat having here begun to lay down his life for thee be not ashamed to lay it down for another at least estimat what can be done for thy Brother and reckon that to be a debt due from thy Saviours stupendious humility WE mistake if we conclude our selves heavenly born untill as heaven we influence the Earth with benign aspects and Eight times or days or duties must passe over us before we ought to repute our selves of the seed of the faithfull or circumcis'd for in the opinion of Holy Bernard we must first be just in our dealings with men he who would raise high must build low and Iacobs ladder had its foot on the Earth another is the avoiding of Fellowship with evil men Christ was separate from sinners and his followers must hate the Congregation of wicked doers A third is watchfulnesse and observance of Enemies Our Saviour not being ignorant of Satans devices disappointed his stratagems he left him unresolved of his being the Son of God in the wilderness and of his wanting original sin by Circumcision in the Cradle and in both prevail'd Another is Sobriety as becometh men the Believers life is a warfare and if lust pleasure or cares of this world overcharge that day may come unawares upon us Luk. 21.34 Another is patience in all things we suffer among men for a few evill days we must neither with Cato put out our lives nor with Thrasillus run out of our wits but keeping a good heart we shall never want a place not to say a whole wherein to hide our head Another is Humility Our Lord humbled himself to the Death and that the soul with Mary be exalted Remember he visited her in her low estate Luk. 1.48 The seventh is Piety and Devotion in which by contemplation the Chilâ— of Grace celebrating a Sabbath by resting from works of sin and walking with God ought not to be reckon'd a Son of Belial but as on the eight day declared by the Angel of a good Conscience or rather is by the Priest of the new Testament called the Son of God and gets a new name which none knoweth but he that hath it Revel 2.17 THERE are who will have the eight day to imply the eight ages of the world reckoning the first from Adam to Noa the next from him to Abraham the third from him to Moses the fourth from him to David the fifth from David to Christ the sixâ—h from Christ to the end of the world the seventh to the Dead the eight represents the Resurrection at which time all the true soâ—s of the Faithfull shall receive their true name and true inheritance in being saved from their sins and approved for their Sanctity But the more sound and far more probable ground for fixing upon the eight-day was because of the infants strength being then more able to bear the sharpnesse and smart of the knife then when newly born and yet not after the eight day for they growing stronger and imagination more forcible the pain had been greater that time was therefore chosen when the skin as more tender could renew and repair it self but it is nice that to this day the Iews circumcise none but on the eight day that is to say never at night however it be it 's said that the pain is greatest on the third day nature tending then to a healing for which cause Simeon and Levi slew the Shechemits according to which its given out that the three offended in each sin viz. our selves our neighbour and our God the third and last is the forest and its remembrance most dejecting as appears from Davids confession in matter of Vriah and Iosephs admiration in the temptation of his Mistris THOVGH I conjecture not that the eâ—ght day was allowed for the body of the infant to be inflenc'd by the seven planets yet according to the Doctor of that Philosophy concluding the sun to operat upon the head and heart we may alludingly teach that the beams of the sun of Righteousness must shine and operaâ— upon the head heart of Adams Sons before they can have a living Soul or be brought forth in the second birth yet let none pin their abideing in pollution upon God for the Sun beams shine in the Ministry of the Gospel but many as the swine in a hot day tumbles the more in the pudle and what is vitiously observed of circumcised nations as Egyptians Saracens that no people is more lascivious may shamefully be applied to Christians none being more filthy more unclean then they who have been washed being the more defi'd thereby that they commend it yet mockingly rise not from forbidden pleasures from condemn'd delights Mahomet in a great measureâ— encourageing those passions allays the guilt of his Disciples but being discharged by Christ by Christians are to be the more abhorred THE Iews circumcised but in one part and that part by which the whole body is most defiled where lust and luxury tyranniz'd and
the order of Aaron nor as a Prophet for their unction shewed their lawfull successour whereas he succeeded none for all before him were thieves and robbers Iohn 10. insinuating that all the Prophets were either after him or came along with him art thou the Christ said the Messengers to Iohn is not this the Christ said the woman of Samaria that is he who was to be the Messiah the anointed one and this name of Christian from Vnction is most proper for men to use they if believing receiving some measure of that holy oyl the Spirit of God which was given to him without measure But some contrary to this name delight in the word Catholick and some of these Catholicks again glorie in the appellation Iesuits and both of these scandalously use some countries in particularly in Italy and in Rome it self to make the glorious and honourable name of Christian to signify an Idiot a Dolt a very fool which shews their impious arrogance in boasting of what is proper to Rome nor Romes Doctrine as now taught the word Catholick being of no worth unlesse Holy be added and their spiritualiz'd pride in stamping the name Iesus upon a few making him the head of a faction assuming a name so glorious so ineffable as if salvation were only to be found in their colledges and Christ himself to be only of their order GIVE us the name of Christian signifying out hops in his Authority and the sense of it also as heirs of his purchase together with the obligation of it as being bound to his doctrine chiefly first in reprobating the worlds vanity for Io. 6.15 perceiving that they would come and take him by force to make him a King he departed next strennously to exercise repentance for he was the lamb slain then fervidly to exercise Charity for he prayed for his enemies and lastly studying purity in the whole man for he taxed the Pharisees for cleaning the outside of the Cup. SO being Christians in truth let 's leave others to boast of being Catholicks and brag of their Iesuitism we shal exult in our Lord Iesus Christ honouring revering but not dareing to assume the name Iesus there being no other name under heaven by which we can be saved Christian including only our duty obedience and respect unto Christ whereas Iesus imploys his office and benifits towards us and therefore no project how devoutly so-ever carried on ought to appear under that notion in the world and truly the interpretation of the same being known the inapâ—nesse thereof as to Ignatius Disciples would as clearly appear as the incongruous name Cosmographers give to the Magelanican sea calling it Mare Pacificum that is peaceable whereas the Pilot finds it still rageing and stormy which they are to that degree that they are a burthen a curse and cursed by the generality of that Church wherein they so monstrously breed and if obedience Laws designs scops give names they are neither to be called Ignatians nor Iesuits but Popelings IESVS is his name and Salvation is his office and our profession proclaims our acceptance of him for a Saviour yet who will â—enter a cut or a bruise because he hath a salve or oyntment or break his arm upon confidence of a skilfull Chirurgeon So no lesse warrinesse against offending issueth from the knowledge of a born Redeemer whom we are to use not as Mountebanks for sale of their balsoms viz try his efficacy or skill by putting our selves upon spiritual hazards and run risks in eternal concerns but as wise men avoid both danger and infection and either happening consult him as we do a learned wise Phisician agaiâ—â—t the impurity of our birth unrulinesse of our lâ—â—es and horrour of our death against all which he is a Saviour and ready to help for he was called Iesus IT hath been an old complaint that the celebration of our Lords Nativity in these days hath been polluted by Pagan-like behaviour as if by it we had been liberate from God Sabbaths and Temptations and tyed to nothing but idleness gluttonness and wantonnesse not as God but as if the Devil had been incarnat and this is not of yesterday for we find the Ancients exprobating the case with Christians for their beholding observing some wanton rites of Ianus at this time celebrated yet their zeal was attended with greater knowledge then to raze these dayes out or expunge them from the Kalendar but rather their people from sin the observation of which time being accounted by them as it is yet with the Churches of the Saints at home or abroad reform'd a godly a goodly practice the protestants in Holland France Switzerland Germany c. joins in this practice with the Church of old and we as Brethren ought in charity not to condemn them though we withdraw our Amen In not consenting to that observance LET us abhorring the lasciviousnesse of the Gentile the scandalous practice of the irreligious equally avoiding the maliciousnesse of the Iew serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling Circumcising our selves in our flesh externally by seemlinesse in our apparel to be in our actings irreprehensible and in our speech that it be not contemptible and in the Spirit also internally which consists likewise in three as in our thoughts that they be holy in our affections that they be pure and in our purposes that they be honest all which is most necessary though they may be thought severe as was cutting off the prepuce of the foreskin under the Law by â— knife importing how fast sin stuck and how dear lust is BVT off it must or we shall be cut off râ—ther then which let it go and as about this time there was for our good a new birth a new mother a new Son a new Song a new Marriage a new Spouse a new Brid a new Testament a new Inheritance a new Sacrifice a new Sign a new Child a new Yâ—ar we ought to have new lives laying aside the old leaven of malice wrath envy and all uncharitablenesse going beyond that is exceeding the superstitiousness not to say the righteousness of those Pharisees the Iews who will not eat what is either sour or bitter on their new-years-day but sweet almonds figs rasins as also fish a type of that candor inoffensivenesse that they are to shew towards all the year after before whom their good works must abound and multiply as fish in the Sea that is numerously exercising our selves sincerely at all times in the things that may accompany Salvation and wherewith one may edifie another unto which Circumcion of old did morally enforce and Christs Baptism with ours also doctrinally proposeth IN the Kingdome of Portugal there hath been for above three hundreth years an order of Knight-hood entitled of Iesus Christ that King being Soveraign of the order and held in great esteem not to sensure the Acts of Princes if Cnicht or Knight in our old Saxon English be interpreted a servant as Iames and S.
thunder-struck the conscience-smitten sinners who with Iosuah ly all day before the Ark of the Lord complaining of flams kindled in their souls through wrath forâ—een being invaded by sudden incomes from above as by a troup before tâ—e Lord himâ—elf come to pul down and to destroy to sentence to condemn with Mary Magdalâ—n they cry who shall roul us away the stone of our sadness sloathfulnesse haâ—d-heartednesse and bitternesse wretched mâ—n that we are who shal roul away the stone from the Sepulchre of our hearts from the sight of our eyes and in pithy Harangues deâ—ats upon their own misery because of ransgression with broken pauses again feelingly sigh because of aggravated circumstances calling out with that convert Thais who having led a life unchast and purchas'd great riches by unlawfull embraces loathed her self and casting away her wealth not daring to name God her ordinary prayer was O thou that made me have mercy upon me BVT there are to whom he is risen making them to rejoyce with exceeding great joy becomeing rivals even to Angels in point of exhileration rising from the deadnesse of rottennesse and filthinesse darknesse and horror found in the vault or grave of polluted Adamsâ—ffâ—pring â—ffâ—pring having the lively colour of a sanctified countenance in the face of their conversation by being conform to the amiable aspect found in the behaviour of the old Saints which if denyed they answer as the blind man did the Pharisees one thing we know whereas we were dead now we live and behold the things that are above not bowed down as before but makeing straight paths for our feet towards the mysticall Galile to see our Lord avoiding the sâ—arch of these Finical Apish Trivial poor things in the valley of this world to enquire after 1. what is in that mount to which he hath ascended and 2. whereof he hath told us for remember to seek the things to affect the things that are above to be dead with Christ and then to live like him are the only four scriptural tokens of a spiritual Resurrection flowing from the power of our Lords rising from the dead OVR elder brethren the Jews keeped one passeover and their first at their comeing out of Egypt Exo. 12. another was observed in their journey through Sinai Numb 9. a third at their entry into the holy land that Christ is our passeover and that he is the lamb of God and that this is our Paschal feast in the truth verity and substance of the old rite of eating the passeover is clear and evident yea let the Mystery of that lamb be reviewed and both the Christians duty and the Christians Saviour are beautifully delineated a lamb pourtrays Christs meekness innocency and harmlesnesse that the lamb was to be of the Male kind respected his courage activity and Spirit it 's spotlesness his undefilednesse with guilt or sin it 's being a year old the perfectnesse of his age and ripenesse of understanding exactly qualifying him to preach it 's takeing in the first moneth shews our duty of consumeing the whole year in Gods service the first moneth whereof being consecrated unto him by this formal worship points out that he is enfeassed of the whole that it was to be in the fourteen day of the moneth sheweth Christs comeing in the darknesse of the soul and with full Moon clearnesse shins for secureing it against the darknesse of error and the evening doth so evidently publish his comeing in the last days or ages of the world that it needs no remark That it was to be eaten with unleavened bread banisheth malice and wickednesse this day from the houses of your hearts that it's blood was sprinkled upon the door is but the necessity we stand under of haveing our hearts purged from an evil conscience that it was to be rosted only not boyled is but the wholesomenesse of the Gospel of peace and implys it's good nourishment and that the Doctrine thereof is not pleasantly to be handled according to the soft or easy tempers of men that nothing was to be left of it enjoins nothing of Christ to be reprobated slighted or set by and that no bone of it was to be broke discovers that as Christ lost nothing by his passion so by nothing since is he to be overcome or hereafâ—er to be â—uperate COMMONLY we call this feast Easter from Eoaster an old Saxon goddesse whose feast was either in or about this time celebrated but the name Pasch i e a going over a marching away is more holy more divine more Scripâ—uâ—al and the Resurrection falling upon the Pasch raâ—her to be used for our instruction in keeping this feast which who so would keep with Christ who on it passed from the grave and his holy Church must keep it with the sour herbs of sorrowful contrition as nobly resolved to hold fast the profession of our Faith against all difficulties LET us with him eat our passeover standing and like religious pilgrims not leaning upon the staffe of our own understanding but upon that of the Spirit which may be obtained and preserved by girding our â—oyns abstain from fleshly lusts having the shoes of peace whereby in holy solidity and grave deportment we only make way and passe towards heaven in hast that is not being tepid dul or negligent in heavenly matters or soul-concerns leaving the spiritual Egypt or Pharaoh of Satans subtilty and earths gaiety going through Sinai or the thorny cares troubles vexations that are in this world still making progresse toward Iordan in the walks of sincere devotion untill we see the Captain of the Lords host in religious confidence and as Iosua stood so let us worship with the Disciples saying what saith my Lord unto his Servant not fearing but to feel the vertue of that expression all power is given me in heaven and in earth but Mark 16. ye shall cast out Devils which is done by the Ministry of the Gospel and when a Soul is converted from the error of his ways ye shall speak with tongues i. e. the prophane ribbauldry of fleshly communication shal be renounced the things that accompany Salvation being the substance of your future discourses ye shall take up Serpents in driving malice wrath rancour back-bitting whispering evil surmising from the ground caverns and hollow places of the heart and if you drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt you in not being drawn away by the enticements of the great deceiver but rather in zeal cry out depart you cursed or if by guile you transgresse redrâ—osse shal be obtained by a vomitting up the sinful potion in acknowledging thy sin by which you shall not dy for some shall lay hands on thee as sick recovering thee by the light of a good example and provoking hereafter to love and to good works to joy and comfort as Peter was when Mary according to her charge informed him of his Masters rising and of his place of meeting to him in particular giving him
thy self the Son of God and for making sedition among the people Ordereth according to the Laws of the Roman Empire thy fastning to the Cross and to be lifted vp unâ—ill thou die waveâ—â—g thâ—s every sin pretending to have rule and command hath forced us to deporable actings and by usurped Authority countermanded God harressing the soul by Sedition having seduced it from orderly and peaceably walking Pride Ambition Lust or Envy having been made King by the wills content ordering obedience to our Makerâ— dishonour and our own disquiet Redness of eyes Deadness of heart Fury in face wounds in the side Death in the fiâ—ld moving on uproar wandring thoughts as posts runing to and fro abbetting every lust almost to uâ—pardonable transgression in that sinfull stayedness as if because of Impudence Corruption had bâ—en of God for which it is to be adjudgâ—d to the 〈◊〉 by man who is established under God over the Common-wealth of his own Soul having Common-Laws and rules for discerning of matters which if not hearkned unto by passion fear or otherwise may cause deposition which Pilat feared who when called to Rome to answer for tirany fearing contumely and receiving affronts slâ—w himself as Herod also did who is thought to be aimed at in the parable of the unjust Steward and like him when layed aside for male-administration being banished by Caesar proved fellon de se a self Murtherer AND hark is it not perspicuous how that all the persecutors of our Lords body which is his Church or the instruments and abbettors of his Death as Judas in himself or the Patriarchs in his Tipe Ioseph in selling him have bought sorrow for twentie pieces of silver in common sickles the other for thirty of the Sanctuary they for their Brother had twentie five shillings sterling he for his Master three pound fifteen shillings and for a Courtezan a Draught a piece of silver a morsel of Bread a Madrigall a Song how oft is he betrayed into the hands of sinners men selling their Saviour to hugg their lust THEERFORE such as design profit by the Resurrection must conclude the additament of worldly pelf or carnall pleasure so basely purchased to be sordid and unhappy studying rather the particulars wherein Christ can be advanced that estimation may be made according to reall worth and the account of truth he being the Truth the way and the Life the first of Religious verity the next of holy Conversation the third of happiness eternall which are infinitly in true reckoning preferable above and beyond the deceitfull appearances of temporall possessions for appearances they only are as is to be seen in the agents of our Saviours Passion First of the Patriarchs who sold him in Ioseph for a bond-man next in Iudas who delivered him to them who condemn'd him as a Malefactor HE was slain by Cain in Abel and for that Cain is to be censured that is sin must be charged with his blood In Isaac after but he escaped and the Ram in the thicket served for a burn'd offering we as that Son of Laughter escape the hand of justice he is the other's seized upon found in the thorns of his Passion which were planted by our hands and made to tear his holy Body by our folly and since he hath also escaped let his endurance dash the lust of the Eye the lust â—f the Flesh and the Pride of Life which were the thorns that pricked him the nails that pierced him and the Envy that caused him to be persu'd for which Crown him with Roses and vailing our face as did Rebecca being ashamed for former delinquences let us as chast Virgins espouse him unto our selves returning into our houses dead in sin and crucified unto the World which is seemly Christ having suffered for it before us for that end having promised â—n the third day to raise us up we bearing our Cross in sincere sorrow not comming down from it by consuâ—ing with Flesh and Blood or keeping any one sin back through prophane Custome rive ed in us but bow down our heads in humility and give up the Ghost in constancie sleâ—pâ—â—g â—hat is resting in the seâ—enity of a good Conscience lookiâ—g for that hopefull assurance of the Resurrâ—ction and blessed hope of the fruâ—tion of the Spirit of holinesse with Hâ—avenly mindedness in which as by Aâ—gles we shall be comforted assured and solaced Untill we meet the Lord in the holy Mountain where he shall be seen as he is and we know as we arâ— Known WE are said in our Carnal-capacity to be dead in sin though alive by nature as having neither Life Breath nor Motion for things Heavenly the greatest vants of Heaven though set before us in Word and Sacraments or any other nourishing spirituall aliment benefiting us no more then the choicest Bâ—â—que savour or reâ—lâ—sh of the most delicious or 〈…〉 from the most artificial cook câ—uâ—d replenish saâ—isfie or fill the empâ—y because no 〈◊〉 entralls of one Deceas'd Buâ— tâ—at Spirit of Holiness which aiâ—â—d up IESVS shall uicken this mortal body and giving iâ— a living breath cause it become a living soul hungring and thirsting after righteousâ—esse groaning that so industriously it should have pulled misery upon it self which can only be compensed by being naked as all Crucified malefactors were in an Ingenuousâ—cknowledgment not putting on the Fig-leaf of an excuse as Adam but rather when reproved answer as CHRIST did Herod in silence which indeed may put flesh and blood into a heat a sweat pleasure and reâ—enge saying Let this be far from thee pitty by self and me who hath been ever with thee yet it must be endured For because of this thou cam'st into the World and Angels shall then comfort and strengthen in that â—avishing sentence the Father hath forgiven thee thy iniquity is taken away thou shalt 〈◊〉 die ONE Thief must be Crucified that is thy deceiâ—full Heart another must be peniâ—ent and beg mercy that is thine own Soul for delinquencie offending yet let it not be desperate as those without Hope but urging pressing as earnest for Salvation anâ— infallible note of prepared Paradise and then of all thy sinful courses cry they are finished Hanging still upon the Crosse by outstretched hands in Obedience securing thy Soul in all service within the Rock of thy Saviours merits fitting us for a Resurrection upon the third day First from the plague of the heart the boile of putrid Corruption as from the bed of Hezekia next from the belly of Hell in dismal frightnings and starrings of Conscience as from the Whale in Ionah and from the sentence of death passed in the breast of the Law as did Isaac from the Altar of his Father the third day being figured in that Patriarch that Saint that Prophet and a Day in which there was never one raised from the Dead HE excepted the third Day being keeped for him in Honour and therefore He is said to rise the third Day according to the
Scripture A Sabbath also interveening in which it is observed therâ— was never Man raised either in Old or New Testament and CHRIST being the Heaâ— of the RESURRECTION shewed in this a purpose not to disjoyn Himself from those before risen but to continue Communion chused another time which was the third Day Leaving the Sabbath I might say Saturday-Sabbath to rest with His Grave-cloathes as never more to be used and aâ— we learn from the Current of Antiquity from the Vniversal practice of the Church in times in and so near the Apostles that the head of the Institution is not found making it the more venerable though some factiously in our â—â—yes rant at the observance designed the Day of the RESURRECTION for solemn â—ppearance before the Throne of GOD â—hich was so rever'd both weekly and annually that the Precepts 1. Cor. 5. Let â— keep the feast and that other expression â—â— I. I was in the Spirit on the Lords day â— by many understood to belong to the â—early Feast of the RESURRECTION 〈◊〉 observed REMAIN not therefore with Lazarus the Grave-cloaths of sinful custome four â—yes by thinking upon likeing of by doing 〈◊〉 then continuing in the acts of concupisence or such no doubt stinke in the nostirles of 〈◊〉 and shall be killed by Death but rise 〈◊〉 third day that is this Morning with â—ur LORD and appear unto them that â—ow you talking of the Kingdom of GOD 〈◊〉 walking in the Holy City and be more â—â—rious more sublime more majestick 〈◊〉 before as Ioseph was when he was taken 〈◊〉 prison and as IESVS was when He 〈◊〉 from the Grave that Christian being Christian who is not conform to the 〈◊〉 suitable to the RESURRECTION CHRIST which we shall be if we rise and talking saluâ—ing our Brethren with Peace and again peace be unto you that they mâ—y perceive we intend for Galile forsakeing terren desirâ—s there abiding now Faith Hope and Charity Faith in the RESURRECTION of the flesh Hope in the expectation of eternal life and Charity in the holy catholick Church expressed in our Creed by the Communion of Saints IAMES of Aragon upon his Conquest of the Mâ—jorca Islands fancied and created an Order of Knight-hood called of Redemption their service peculiarly respecting â— liberation of Prisoners and Captives theiâ— habit was alwayes to be white Is not ouâ— IESVS appointed for deliverances anâ— did He not by entring into the Prison of thâ— Sepulchre say to each of us detained under igâ—norance force and fraud what the Angeâ— said to Peter Arise up quickly cast thy garment about thee and follow me Actâ— 12.18 Abiding no longer with the possessed amonâ— the Tombs of the Dead Graves of lust noâ— Iayls of sinful custome let us go forth witâ— Him who is so to speak Soveraigne of thaâ— Order other Redeemers in comparison 〈◊〉 Him delivering from a flea-bit he shielâ—ding from a thunder-bolt a sword a poyson 〈◊〉 arrow a burning fire a â—aging Sea a â—inging Serpent a roaring Lyon and a â—â—wing heart-worm assaulting all at once without hopes of rescue except from His Almightinesse alone BVT how justly doomed are they who â—eing once freed will run the second time to 〈◊〉 stocks who being washed and shaved with Ioseph will return to their former â—ench polluting themselves afresh with â—he noysomnesse of dung-like-corruptions â—allowing in the myre of ungodly chambering and wantonness drunkenness and excess â—aining thâ—se Vestuâ—es they have put on in embracing Gospel-Truths Swine-like lying down in the pond pool and puddle of filâ—hy conversation WRITE rather after the Coppy of the â—â—imitive Christians who in this Feast of the RESURRECTION and many dayes after refused to or did not kneel in Prayâ—r judging that a more sorrowful posture then was adâ—quat or fit for so joyful a season is their frequent Allelujahs expressed this to be but stood the LORD being risen as though their joy chearfulnesse and zeal had perfectly assured them their next motion should be toward Heaven It was Christs Pasch for He left the Dead they expected their Pasch and being ready for the Father stood as alive frequenting the Holy Communion the pledge of Eternal Salvation Young Converts appearing in Church cloathed in white Raiment the badge of that purity acquir'd in their Baptisme of which Sacrament we partaking let us keep this Feast with holy Innocence batâ—ing the Garment that is but spotted with the flesh our news and tydings our salutes and complements being as theirs was The Lord is risen THE Answer in our Lives like theirs also in Words The LORD is risen indeed MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE ASCENSION OF THE SON of GOD Unfolded and applied Holy-Thursday May 20. High-Church 1669. Ascension-Thursday May 20. High-Church 1669. JOHN VI. LXII What and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before IN the History of the holy Gospel that express exactnesse of method and dependence in answering and questioning in other Arts studied and required is not alwayes to be found Our Saviour who knew the heart to detect the deceits therein answering oft according to them for confutation and discovering raâ—her then conforme unto or observe contexture of words and purposes Among which these words are evidently to be seen where speaking of and proving Himself to be the true Bread which came down from Heaven inferreth thence a necessity of the Jews eating that is of believing upon Him and from Himself perceiving their murmuring at the impossibility or absurdity of that matter demandeth What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before Whereas of his ascending up there was no preceding controversie YET as there is a secret digested Art by the wisdom of the Spirit in the compileing of that sacred Record in general so there may be avowed a hidden connexion even of these words to the former for His assertion of His coming down from Heaven implieth evidently His being there and that He was there He proves by His Descending thence which words when the Jews were offended at to enstall their admiration and heighten their wondering He proposeth His What and if c. A QVESTION which proposeth ground for yet expecteth no answer prophesying of though but supposing His ASCENSION and both by way of Question the speech being suspensive and seemingly defective q. d. surely ye will wonder much more then that I whom you see a man like unto your selves shall ascend up where He that is the Son of God was before that is I before I was the Son of man and this being a greater matter then my coming down you will if you see it certainly be more offended at me or believe the other was true Offering it as conditionall by putting an if to it yet would have it positively to be understood and expounded that He shall go up and it may be some of you may see it which will creat a greater certainty or breed a greater indignation ASCENSION supposeth
Land as the Bride the Lambs wife for which Praise the Lord all ye nations praise him all ye people For his merciefull kindness is great towards us and the Truth of the Lord endureth for ever Psal. 117. All things being fulfilled which were fore-prophesied IT were not seemly to wave the particular place whence he took his rise which was from Mount Olivet by Interpretation a Mountain of lights either from the Suns shining thereon at its first rising or the lights of the Temple Splendor thereon at its setting or it may be because the lamps of the Temple were furnished with oyl from the fruit thereof or as others from the shining smoothness which is on the skin of the olive-berrie But from what part of that Mount he made his exit is unknown it may be for the same cause why the grave of Moses is obscure viz. to prevent superstition which offence and sin is evidently seen in those ignorant and scandalous Idolaâ—ers about a rock in that mount where by Mounks is shewen the the Image of a foot which they say was impressed in the rock by that foot which was last on the rock as our Saviour moved therefrom to be seen yet in that beautifull structure the Chappel of the Ascension builded by the Famous Helena just over the place where our Lord took his â—rise reverenced both by Turks and Christians as fitted upon that score for Devotion joyntly performed by both Religions the last officiating at the Toleration of the other the house being in the possession of the Mahometans Curiosity and Supperstition drains the purses of many for beholding this and other supposed Foollerys but that all might not be lost from this Impresse Travellers take some quantity of loose sand as a Religous relick yet the mischief is what quantitie soever be taken there from it is still supplyed by new so that the continuance of that miracle may be one ground to prove it no wonder but a cheat AT the foot of this mount Gethsemane was to be seen where the oyl presses stood for pressing of the olives and within the compasse of that mount as far as Bethania did he travel towards his ascending the same way â—e had rod into the City about fourty seven â—yes before and where his Friends Lazaâ—us Martha and Mary dwelt as if he had â—id there is but one way unto glory that is â—he way of the Crosse except in that rode â—here is no glory except in that path there â—s no victory and unlesse you strive no enâ—ring into the strait gate for as Oliveâ— is so â—ermed from light so Bethany is termed obediâ—nce of which grace his Ascension is a fruit â—nd who can pretend friendship unto him or â—is as did Lazarus whose soul sets not his 〈◊〉 unto Gods verity and truth in yeelding submission unto that law given the Church of avoiding ungodliness and worldly lusts beâ—ng sober righteous and Godly in this present world ADAM through disobedience forfeited Paradise and was cast into the valley of death darknesse his Successors must infer the only mean to review that whereof it was but a â—â—pe nay which is more to taste of the tree of life and ascend to the mount of God is to forsake the way of Cain and not aid the conspiracy of Corah but run that race of obedience Christ hath run before us causing every step that is every act of our life tend to the perfecting of us in those graces above mentioned whose light endoctrinating to the splendor and rayes of beaming good works made bright by the oyl of the Spirit conveyed into the soul by the branches of Sacraments and all other ordinances are abstâ—acted from earth or earthâ— mindednesse ascending to the hill of the Lord and standing in his holy place foreseeing and palpably discovering the direfull issue of abideing in a tumultuous City and bloody World where in place of Friends Marthas or Marys holy and friendly treatment worthies of whom the world is not worthy flagiâ—iously are assaulted with Lanterns torches swords and staves and by fond flattery villaneously betrayed into the hands of those who hate them by a Iudas Kisse a Ioahs fair word and a Tamars embrace BVT behold the order for that he ascended what is it but that he also descended first Eph. 4.9 and in spirituall regiment he who would leap high and far must stoup and press his body lower and lower He ascended its true far above all heavens but He first descended into the lower parts of the earth i. e. abhorred not the Virgins womb it being expedient for him who desiderates heavens joy the Seat of God blessed for ever to descend first into the deep places dark cells of his vain imagination the matrix or womb wherein is conceived all malice wrath blasphemy and all lasciviousnesse and then when perfecting the will of God in crucifying the old man walking with Abraham to the Mount of contemplation and then as Christ at Bethany lifted up his hands towards Heaven arguing His affections being there before his personal aryvall let us point at the permanency of these Heavenly pleasures accounting them more preferable then such which this earthly Glob presents to her admirers which being but in pitchers of her own mould are brittel though fair yet will the fascination be uncharmed for Hell which is a hole shal resolve that all promised enlargements were but a bewitching not a refreshing of the Soul And Canaans way being upward made Elias to be carried up and why should I be any longer here cryed Religious Monica the hopes that I have of things above making me to delight in nothing that is beneath why am I here beholding the flowry mead of this visible world to be full of stinging and poysoning serpents noysome weeds whereby it became despiâ—able in her eyes and accounted her self miserable untill elevated above it A proper work a significant fruit of Christs ASCENSION which as relating to man hath a four-fold degree First to the heart next in the heart next by the heart and lastly above the heart The first provoking the fear of God the second receiving Counsell from him the third espouses Christ unto it self and the fourth makes a discovery of God and beholding him as a fight delectable as a sight beautifull a disappearance is made of earth a neglect yea a hatred of its pretended only and seeming delicious enjoyments BVT What means this where he was before or that other like it No man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven even the Son of Man which is in heaven John 3.13 One He viz the Son of Man and another He viz. the Son of God the pronoun the same in both yet making a vast discrepancie in the two He 's He The Son of Man ascending where He not the Son of Man but He the Son of God was before and that for ever that is in heaven where He the Son of Man had never been Behold
the pronouns force He the Son of Man on Earth was He who though now talking yet as God is in heaven the word IS is urged for as Man he was at the same instant on Earth and not yet ascended to that place where He as God was before THIS ariseth from the union of the two natures in him viz that of Man and and that of God where the properties of each other are attributed to the whole person which yet in examination must be only referred to one of these natures as in these words save the Son of Man which Is in heaven 〈◊〉 if then he had been there which to affirm of his Mâ—n-hood were erronious He speaking to them under the Sun but as God it is â—greable to Truth and therefore the Ascendâ—ng of the Son of Man must not be undersâ—ood of his Deity for as God he is uncapâ—ble of going to any place being in all places â—t once and filling all by the infinity of his nature His Ascending therefore is to be applyed to his humaâ—ne nature wherein only he can properly be said to shift places and change seats and where he was before to his God-head he being with the Father before all Worlds which Doctrine of Union puzzeling Nichodemus made him wonder but remember he came to Iesus by night and untill this Sun rose upon the face of the Church this Doctrine was hid from the wise and prudent Rabbies but now unto Babs and Children this light shineth comparing Scripture with Scripture words with deeds with the assistance of the holy Ghost it is known that when Christ was crucified the blood of God was shed and when the Son of Man rose the Son of God rose when the Son of Man ascended God also ascended the Personall Union of the two naturs allowing the expressions The Word which was made Flesh at this time havâ—ng never seen heaven the Word then Flesh was to ascend and sit in heaven where the flesh that was the Word had never been WHAT St. Paul mentioned of the severall members of the body which though having their own peculiar functions yet united make one body and applyes it saying so also is Christ that is the Church 1 Cor. 12.12 May be alluded unto here in these two natures of Christ of which we say so also hath the Church every member thereof being the Son of God as well as the Son of Man and their Ascending into heaven as Sons of Men with their flesh and bones ascends but where they were before in their Spirits and desires Enoch a typ of Christ ascending and also of the ASCENSâ—ON of all the elect at the end of the world was but coached up bodily into that place where Religiously he had oft in Soul been that precept of haveing our affections above where Christ is Col 3.2 By Faith in love carries the soul aloft giving it wings to behold and see feel and â—â—joy the joyes rapturs sweetness that is 〈◊〉 the Paradise of heaven the new Ierusalem â—hich is above while the flesh or fleshly part of man is represented in the Embleme as the â—ring at a birds feet in the hand of a boy or 〈◊〉 unto a stone hindring the full fruition â—f the Souls Ardency in ascending to the heavenly mansions its clogginess impeding the spirit through fervent desires to be upward 〈◊〉 that He as man in flesh when ascended but â—cends unto that place where He when man in â—pirit was before THE Ascension for mans Instruction is â—everall wayes expressed in holy Writ two whereof are most Celebrious it s called ascending up on high in the old and an ascending 〈◊〉 the Father in the new Testament Psal. 68.18 Iohn 20.17 In the first is insinuared the glorious blessednesse and Majesty he is endowed with and possessâ—d of all things being in his estimate as low as they are in their own site the other unfolds his exaltation above all Creatures whether Heaven Saints or Angels hinting at his equality with God all glorified Spirits shouting at his entry into the heaven of heavens called in the Prophesie God's going up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a Trumpet Psal. 47.5 And by the way if heaven rejoyce at the entry of the Son of Man what Jubilations ought to be on Earth at the ascending of the Son of God since he did it only to receive gifts for men Psal. 68.18 That is from God the Father that he being man might deliver them to men 4. Ephe. 8. And the Quire of Angels beholding his Kingly gate through the Clouds and manly steps upon heavens glorious and shining pavement Answered and questioned each other who is the King of glory and warning the porters yea the gates of heaven themselves to speak after the manner of men to be open'd to be lifted up for the King strong and mighty this Lord mighty in battel Psal. 24. That he had power and authority over Earth was eminently known in Lazarus come forth his dominion over the Sea was demonstrated by his walking on its proud waves that the Aire was at his controule was discover'd by his commanding of the winds that Hell was not exempted from his Soveraignity was made evident in casting out of Devils that Angels were made subject to him was not or in that they ministred unto him and served him Now there wanted one thing but one thing to shew that he was Lord of all things which was his ASCENSION up to heaven by which he proved himself Lord of the Vniverse and for creating this faiâ—h in the hearts of his own he did ascend in the sight of his Disciples not of the eleven only but probably of the hunder and twenty S. Luke Acts 1. Having mentioned both the women and brethren that were with Christ and in his Gospel having spoken of them who saw him after the Resâ—rrection hath so carried on the thread of his History that the eleven being expressed the other seemes not to be excluded this blessed sight of his Ascending being so recorded as indifferently to serve all the persons mentioned that as being by all men seen all should confess him to be Christ for the glory of God the Father THERE is in nature some secret pressure of Spirit when not vehemently by-assed with urgency of affairs vehemency of fear that maketh a man long for and longingly to labour after a sight of his Native Country Vlisses is said after ten years travel in and about the Hâ—lespont to desire a sight but of the smoak of his Country from the godds promising thereupon satisfâ—ction though he should dy at the same time yet was not that Rome head of an Empire nor Athens a University of Arts buâ— Ithaca a rocky poor fish town in the Ionian Sâ—a from heaven did the Son of Man come that was his Country his native soyl there it was where he had been before and towards it he had always a moneths mind as earnestnesse is expressed in the Proverb Lifting oft
a voiding so dreadfull an arrow as sentence to eternall flames or formidable mischief from so omnipotent â—n arm who can even cloathed in flesh make us feel the sting of his displeasure in first blowing and then kindling the very first streams of hell within us as he did in desparing Iudas and vagabonding Cain IT is true we pretend much to the Spirit and braves out reproof yea censure upon that score anticipating in conceit Heavens joy by the assurances we brag already to have possessed from especiall evidence above as if the mighty wind had already blown upon us whereas we are yet carnal and sold under sin having not that noted nimblenesse to perform all Religious exercise clearly observed to be in them who answer the Spirits call for though with the Publican we may come down from the tree of some conceited excellencies possibly our due and birth-right by washing the Saints feet visiting the sick feeding the hungry binding up the wounded yet really we sadly behold that through some opinion or nice punctilio we adjourn attendance upon God in expresse duty either altogether or approach with reluctancy untill with him in the Gospel We first bury our father Matth. 8.21 which equally with him maketh us unfit for the Kingdome of God for no sooner did the wind blow then the Apostles were inspired immediately not about the restoring of the Kingdome to Israel but of Israels enjoyment of the Kingome the promise vâ—z of Heaven not of the Earth being to them and to their children the Spirit hateing dull delay wherefore it was also a sudden sound from Heaven making them straight heavenly the sound being before the spirit for gathering in of their Spirits causing intense attendance upon that which was to be revealed the sound from Heaven making them heavenly minded the sound from Heaven coming suddenly confirmes the Doctrine of the spirits aversnesse from sloath the sound from Heaven that came suddenly was of a rushing mighty wind the wind rushing causing spirituall awe mighty to excit their depressed and it may be desponding souls and wind to purge their hearts from filth and blow away what in them was lurking to detard from that employment which by the Spirit they were intended for and for which like full vessels they were filled so as no earthly thing could enter there wanting room no temptation make them rail sound or roar as empty they being filled WHICH deliberatly consider'd deplorable inferences must be inferred touching the sad mistake of too â—oo many whose opinion only is the alone significant thing before others causing them to be accounted Saints or some conceit in themselves which groundâ— only to themselves the certainty of their future glory which errour shall be to it's possessors I might say Admirers what the voluptuous life of the Sophist Isaeus was to him which how delightful soever at first yet at last bâ—moned his being Tantaliz'd that is supposed to find good and rejoyced in its proximity yet still went without and was at last frustrate of all hopes thereby being but dreams and shadows for as all is not gold that gâ—â—sters so neither is every thing that ravishes by and by to be termed Divine Nor whaâ— affects yea comforts the heart to be presently surnamed types of Heaven yet where Dexterity Agility in the things of God are accompanied with Purity Peace Ioy and Heavenly mindednesse as in the Apostles here its a pâ—â—gnant proof of the in-being of the Spirit and coming down of the HOLY-GHOST whence comforts truly originat and flâ—w c. TWO thousand and odd years had mans Ambition exposed him to infamy Lewdnesse and Idolatry by Gods confounding languages at Babel stopping then from perfecting that joyntly intended Tower by dividing their speech which at this day again was transferred by plurality of tongues unto a blessing the Spirit diverssifying the Apostles tongues not to disturb the world bâ—t advance the Church in propagating Faith the readier that there needed no Interpreter every Preacher being furnished with the gift of every tongue to speak to the multitude of the devout that Iesus was the Christ Uniting them again to be of one mind and one accord for edifying themselves in love and one another in the holy Faith which is a strong Tower of defence as the Name of the LORD Prov. 18.10 and whose top indeed reacheth up to Heaven each Convert being as a stone to the building and united by the Cement of the Blood of the Eternall Covenant laid on by the hand of the Spirit who can as here turn ill to good by drawing good from it whether for mans profit or his Makers honour as Levi's curse in being scattered occasionally through grace made the Lord to be his portion and be sanctified for Priest unto the Tribes Numb 3.12 CONFOVNDING of Languages made the whole Earth to be peopled each company flocking planting building together according to that understanding they had of their neighbours speach which now brought great things to passe for the Almighties praise all Nations beholding these unletter'd men from Heaven in an instant promptly uttering the good things of Peace and Reconciliation with Him who first confounded them and of Reconciliation and Peace with all who were confounded with them all tongues expressing this one thing Love the Brethren 1 Pet 3.8 As Christ hath loved you and given himself for you THE tongue is a purifying mundifying member it can lick out viscuous matter can suck out putrid and infections corruption from the body as did that of the Lady Ellenor wife to that Prince of Chivalry Edward Prince afterward Edward the first of England her Lord being engâ—gâ—d and fortunate in the Holy war was almost assassiâ—nate by a Turk being wounded with a poysoned kniffe with which the Prince slew the Attemper but Physicians despairing of his own recovery the noble Lady her Lord sleeping is said to suck and draw the venome forth recovering her Husband she her self not being endangered thereby The tongue is a tasting member by iâ— we know the white of an egg to be unsavory it is a speaking member the Hierogliphick of a word among the Egyptians was a tongue and by it we blesse God at this day and alasse by it also we curse men setting it on fire as from hell to reform which and virtuate the doctrine of the Gospel for drawing forth of the Soul the deadly poyson of Atheism and Prophannesse by pravity and exemple thrust upon us and put in us by those watchful lusts and vigilant adversaries of our Lord and of our souls because we would regain that Ierusalem that Royal City of pure and Holy peace with God which hath been wrested out of our hands by Turk-like force Tyrrany and Cunning FOR draining us of such putrid filthiness and the whole world is the Spirit represented in that shape the first fruits whereof appeared in that first and Famous Sermon of S. Peter whose tongue had been but a few weeks before so glib for