the heaven and the earth the sea and all that is in them and rested the seventh day and hallowed it Thus injoyning both by his own Example and Command the perpetual Observation of that particular Seventh-day in order of Time in its successive course in every weekly revolution as the appointed day for holy Rest That day and that only and no other day of the Week Thou LORD art worthy to receive the Glory and the Honour and the Power For thou hast created all things and through thy Will they are and were created O that those who dwell on the Earth and every Nation and Kindred and Language and People would fear him and give Glory to him for the hour of his Judgement is coming And that they would worship him that made the Heaven and the Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters The Father Son and holy Spirit they are the Creators They the Aelohim who spake Creatures into their Existence and Being of which adored Almighties an account is given in that Historicall Narration which doth contain a Diary or Journal of the first seven days The Father Aelohim It is spoken of him in the forty fifth Psalm Aelohim the Aelohim of Christ anointed his Son by his Spirit which Son also is Aelohim expresly so called in the same Psalm Thy throne O Aelohim ever and perpetual the scepter of thy kingdom is righteonsness The Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews sheweth that this was spoken unto the Son of God by his Father And the holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Aelohim and the Spirit Jehovah by Isaiab In the second Book of Samuel this Spirit of Jehovah or this Spirit of Jehovah as Paul elsewhere is also called The Aelohim of Israel It is Aelohim who dwells in his people as in a Temple So saith Moses which Paul applyeth to the holy Spirit These three are the Creating one Thus Solomon the Preacher chargeth young men to remember their Creators in the days of their youth Where Aeloh my Makers those who making me that giveth the Psalms in the night So would Elibu have had Job to say The same hath Eliphaz in the same Book Should a man be more righteous than Aelohim Should a man be purer than his Makers Hence is Tzijon incouraged in the later days not to fear For saith Jehovah by his Prophet Isaiah to her Thy Makers is thy Husbands Thus doth the Psalmist call for an Hallelu-jab or praise ye Jab Sing ye to Jehovah a new Song his praise in the Church of gracious Saints let Israel rejoyce in his Makers in those who making him Let the Sons of Tzijon be glad in their King the whole Creation should joyn in this song of praise for this Reason which is common to the whole World of them for he commanded and they were Created I now propound it to serious examination according to the Word whether much of this glorious Mystery be not included in the first Words of the holy Scriptures Bereashith baraa Aelohim and in that word Jehovah mentioned a little after the short History of the Creation as the Creator and Maker which is to be left to further disquisition For I am inciting and encouraging of Religious Students and of Christian Disciples to deeper researches into the best Learning This Word has in it the signification of an Head so that this is not barely In the Beginning but it doth set out that first capital Beginning of all things In and By Christ the constituted Head of all Inquire whether it should therefore be rendred in the Head-captain or in the Head-captainship or in-by the Captain or the Chieftain or Head-commander or in him who is the Head-Captain or in the appointed Head or Captain the Preposition is properly In. And when it doth point out the immediate principal cause it is in by Let the diligent Inquirer about this collate some other Scriptures that doth relate unto this matter It was in-by Christ that the Father made these hidden ages For this is spoken of the Son of God whose Godhead is strongly proved by the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews in the beginning of it by divers â—itations out of the Old Testament brought into the New It was in by Wisdom that Jehovah did Found the Earth and prepared the Heavens and made All his Great Works All things were created by Jesus Christ which is a great honour put upon our LORD The Father created all things If you ask by whom It was by Jesus Christ All things were made by him Christ was the Head-Captain of all the Host of the Heavens and of the Earth and he is the chief Head of his Body the Church Both these are affirmed of Christ with an eye to this In and By In by him who is the Image of the Invisible God the first-born of every creature were all things created which are in Heaven and which are upon Earth which are Visible and which are Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions Governments or powers All things were created by him and to him and he is before all things and all things consist together by him and he is the head of the body There is one LORD Jesus Christ by whom are all things He is expresly called Reashith the appointed head of Jehovah's ways before his works from then speaking evidently of the creation As the words themselves in that place of the Proverbs do plainly declare He was anointed to this principate and is again and again called Roash the head Roashith is the name of one of the Types of Christ the First fruits are so called in the Old Testament And so is he in the New the First-fruits of them who sleeping It is not without great reasons and weighty considerations that this first written word should set out Christ as the Head Captain or constituted head or appointed Captain For all skillful Lexicographers agree that the original-propriety and root significancy of this word hath that of an head in it in its true first meaning to which the Scriptures do agree and divers Scriptures do speak of Troops of Bands of Hosts of Companies of Souldiers under an Head-Captain to this Honour and Office was Christ assigned and appointed by his Father which also this word doth remarkably set out If it be a composition of Roash an Head or Captain or Head-Captain and Shith to put or to place in martial order or in Battle-array For thus we may find the word used The LORD Christ doth put his Hosts or Armies into Rank and File in their Order with art and care Proper names are often compounded in the Hebrew wherein that Tongue doth delight though it doth not so easily admit of composition in appellatives The context favoureth the Interpretation with other Scriptures collated For in this History of the Creation we may read of the Hosts of this
to them that trust in him when those who have either added to or taken from his words shall be reproved and be found to have been lying ones And I do hope there will be a pure every way uncorrupt Autograph or Apograph of the Scriptures of Truth Neither am I without some Words of the LORD upon which to bottom Faith Expectation and Prayer concerning this matter a great and a glorious Work highly and fully worth the most serious and diligent search after by Christian Princes by Learned Men and by Eminent Believers Spiritual Discerners should know how to take and to improve this hint which I had rather they themselves would industriously pursue than at present put me upon any further opening of my thoughts with the grounds of those my apprehensions in such an Age of quarrelsome jangling of endless contentiousness and of lips of folly In the mean time till there be this glorious appearing of Christ and of his Book according to Prophetical Revelations I bless his Name for himself and for his Word and for any gracious Work of his Word upon my heart having felt a day of his Power there whereby he has made me willing to stand in some holy awe of him and of his Word and to dispense it in some growing measures as I have received it in uprightness as of God in the presence of God so speaking it in Christ If any will so sell this Word of God as to falâ—â—e it by corrupting it any ways by dealing deceitfully with it by playing the Hucksters with it adulterating and sophisticating of it by mingling of Philosophick Errors and Humane Inventions and Unwritten Traditions with it Thus to make the market of their own private gain upon some ignorant deluded soul by their crafty handling and covetous dispensing of it by false glosses and counterfeit garnishes giving forth wrong senses and making undue applications of it raising false Doctrines and inferring ill uses from thence let such consider in the fear of Jehovah how they will answer it at that last Great Day when they shall be judged to their Eternal Estate by that Word which they have so much wrested and wronged O how great cause have they to inlarge in Jehovah's praises who having in their younger years taken in much of the Philosophick taint were afterwards by his Spirit and Grace cured of its gross mistakes and dangerous errors that a Moses escaped from out of Egyptian Astrology Sorcery and such other superstitious diabolical Arts That a Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah got so well off from Chaldaick Books so full of vain Arts and of Idolatrous Sciences that Aelohim gave them Knowledge and Understanding to discern Truth from Falshood whereby to convince and to confute Ethnick Errors and Paganish Tenets and that they were so kept from prohibitell Magick and such black Arts That the new converted Christians were preserved and antidored by the Principles and Laws of their true pure Religion from and against the poysonous disputes of Epicureans Stoicks Libertines Gnosticks and such other Philosophers That a Paul so 〈◊〉 up in several corrupt 〈◊〉 was afterwards so savingly inlightned so sound in Scripture Learning so skilful so useful so successful a Preacher O what special matter of great thankfulness was there here Vain man would be wise above and besides and against what is written although Wo be threatried against those who are wise in then own eyes The wisdom of such shall perish There is a knowledge that is vain which a wise a man should not utter The worldly wise ones of Philosophers do irride the Christian Religion and of Polititians do hate it O the blessedness the happy goings on with a straight foot of them who are made Wise to Salvation It has been in all Ages of the Church the device and the attempts of Saran and of his Disciples to abuse men by paralogisms by such false reasonings as by a shew and colour of Truth do circumvent the unskilful and unexperienced in the Word of Righteousness And their assaults have been mainly made against the Churches and People of God under specious shews of Reason and of Religion to introduce somewhat that is quite contrary to the Nature Purity and Simplicity of the Christian undefiled Doctrine Hence have they endeavoured to thrust in the worshiping of Angels and of Saints departed by invocating of them by dedicating of Temples and of Altars to them by making vows to them with many other uninstituted Observations of humanely-invented Ceremonies and divers Philosophical trifles which are no authorized warranty nor legitimate argumentation from the Word of God nor from sound Reason judiciously informed thereby Oh how daring bold is humane curiosity that will adventure to be wise beyond due bounds of sober knowledge when men will presume to be Doctors not understanding what they speak nor of what they affirm The Schoolmen with the Papists and others who have trod in the steps of those Scholastick Doctors have generally greatly erred herein by obtruding upon others many Forgeries and falshoods for Articles of Christian Faith which were taught themselves only by the dark discoursings of their own blind minds such as are their Scientia media their free-will their inherent Righteousness their meritorious Works their creature-idolizings with such like dogmatical decrees and received opinions of proud men which they fetched out of the Metaphysicks of Philosophers and out of the Ethicks of Pagans from whose corrupt Principles they would deduce the great Truths and the saving Mystesteries of the Christian Religion bottoming their unsound conclusions upon their own sandy opinions thus subjecting Theology to Philosophy and Christianity to Sophistry Those Books which are commonly called Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy or the Book of Moses and of his Writings there have the approving Testimony of those true faithful Prophets that did follow after him as also of the LORD Jesus Christ himself and of his Apostles and the History of the Creation and of the Works thereof in the Beginning of the Bible is true in the literal sense and was intended and recorded so to be understood and all those Philosophical Allegorical and Mystical Senses which any do give thereof that are contrary unto this are to be avoided and rejected THis is the first revealed and written Word the most Ancient Book by which all Humane Treatises where they err must be corrected I exclude not any other part of Holy Scriptures but do own all through as a perfect Summary of all useful Learning and do bring them in for the confirmation of Truths only the Reader is to remember and consider that one great part of my present Design is to propound some such particular inquiries concerning the Works of Creation in the several Days of the first Week of the World and to give such a Scripture Judgement upon some special Cases as may restaur and advance true profitable Knowledges and Arts. Christ in his Word hath put his
Also whether Faith in the Creating Mashiach have not foundation in Created Nature 149 150 And whether clean Beasts and Cattel were not appointed and prepared as food for Adam at the beginning as well as Herbs and Fruits Page 150 151 That Prayer should â—egin and praise should end our Meals 151 That Adam Male and Female were the proper peculiar work of the Sixth Day 151 That Man should be much in self-examination 151 152 That it doth call for further and deeper inquiry yet what the distinct special Essences operations offices products and specifical differences of the Body Soul and Spirit in Man are with much more about this Subject-matter 152 to 158 That the knowledge of our selves as to our Humane Nature in our Natural Spirial and Eternal Estate is useful and necessary 152 to 158 That Man Science is a very spreading and fruitful and profitable Science 152 to 155 That the Medicional Art sought after in Ethnick Philosophy is but conjectural and very deficient 155 to 158 That the Medicinal Art cannot be promoted and perfected but only in Scripture way of which there are divers demonstrative evidence both as to diseases of the Body of the Soul of the Spirit and as to the conservation of Health and prolongation of Life 155 to 158 That there is an Emphatick Note of Demonstration prefixed to the Sixth Day to point out the immediately-next-succeding Day the Seventh which is the last Day of the Week as their weekly Sabbath-day 158 159 Inquiries for the promoting and improving of experimental Christianity are propounded unto the Ingeniosi and Virtuosi in Religion 160 to 171 The Ingenuous Reader is earnestly desired to correct the Errours in printing especially those that do much disturb the sense and quite alter the meaning Errours in the Margin are thus to be corrected FOr Mat. 11. 10. Page 9. Line 1. Read Mat. 11. 19. for Habak 3. p. 11. l. 4. r. Habak 2. f. 3 Tim 3. 15. p. 13. l. 1. r. 2 Tim. 3. 15. f. Jude 25. p. 13. l. 2. r. Jude v. 25. f. John 3. 3. p. 13. l. 3. r. John 3. 2. f. Acts 18. 20. p. 14. l. 24. r. Acts 18. 28. f. Luke 11. 19. p. 19. l. 3. r. Luke 11. 49. f. Tim. 3. 16 17. p. 19. l. 6. r. 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. f. Joel 2. 14. p. 19. l. 15. r. Joel 1. 14. f. Psal 18. 3. p. 19. l. 19. r. Psal 81. 3. f. 26. 21. p. 20. l. 18. r. 26. 22. f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 20. l. 36. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 21. l. 6. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f. Jerem. 44. 18. p. 21. l. 6 7. r. Isai 44. 6 8. f. Jerem. 22. 5 6. p. 22. l. 4. r. Jerem. 23. 5 6. f. Esai 24. 14 36. p. 25. l. 5. r. Esai 24. 14 16. f. Gen. 4. 4 21. p. 27. l. 4 5. r. Gen. 4. 21 f. Shusham-eduth p. 27. l. 29. r. Shusan-eduth f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 27. l. 38. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 27. l. 55. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 28. l. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f. 20. p. 28. l. 16. r. 28. f. permeiat p. 28. l. 29. r. permeat f. thiore p. 28. l. 31. r. altiore f. 13 18. p. 29. l. 9 10. r. 13 14 18. f. 12 13. p. 29. l. 18. r. 12. f. 1 Chron. 20. 19. p. 29. l. 55. r. 2 Chron. 20. 19. f. to Psal p. 30. l. 2. r. to Psal 134. f. to quiver p. 31. l. 5 6. r. to quaver f. Ezra 3. 11. p. 31. l. 58. r. Ezra 3. 10 11. f. The 1 6 Psalm p. 31. l. 62. r. The 136 Psalm f. Zakef cotoâ— p. 32. l. 12. r. Zakef katoâ— f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 32. l. 33. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f. Chron. 16. 33. p. 32. l. 53. r. 1 Chron. 16. 33. f. Ps 128. 4. p. 32. l. 77. r. Ps 218. 14. f. Job 10. p. 32. l. 77. r. Job 35. 10. f. Acts 13. 35. p. 33. l. 34. r. Acts 13. 33 35. f. 23. 35. p. 33. l. 37. r. 13. 35. f. compare p. 34 l. 37. r. compared f. 3. 13 14. p. 34. l. 57. r. 3. Luke 2. 13 14. f. 249. p. 34. l. 63. r. 149. f. Acts 14. 14. p. 35. l. 16. r. Acts 14. 14 15. f. Ps 119. p. 35. l. 18. r. Ps 119. 54. f. Title 17. p. 35. l. 48. r. 55. Title v. 17. f. Luke 1. p. 37. l. 1. r. Luk. 2. f. Jer. 32. 19. p. 38. l. 33. r. Jer. 31. 39. f. Jer. 31. 28. p. 39. l. 3. r. Jer. 31. 38 39. f. Ps 19 5. p. 39. l. 4. r. Ps 19. 4. f. 2. Kin. 21. 14. p. 39. l. 5. r. 2 Kin. 21. 13. f. Esa 10. 14. p. 39. l. 32. r. Esa 10. 15. f. 26. 18. p. 39. l. 41. r. 27. 17. f. Isa 22 25 24 25. p. 39. l. 49. r. Isa 22. 23 24 25. f. Ps 22. 17. p. 39. l. 51. r. Psal 22. 16. f. Eccles 12. 13. p. 39. l. 53. r. Eccles 12. 11. f. 20. p. 40. l. 2. r. 19. f. Jer. 27. 19 22. p. 40. l. 31 32. r. Jerem. 27. 19. f. Job 36. 6. p. 40. l. 33. r. Job 38. 6. f. 2 King 16. 8. p. 41. l. 39. r 2 King 16. 10. Exod. 25. 9 40. 1 Chron. 28. 11 12 18 19. Ezek. 43. 10. Heb. 8. 5. f. Gen. 1. 30. p. 42. l. 7. r. Gen. 10. 30. f. Mat. 22. 11 c. p. 47. l. 12. r. Mat. 22. 1 c. f. Ps 49. 5. p. 47. l. 24. r. Ps 49. 4. f. Ps 79. 3. p. 47. l. 34. r. Ps 89. 36 37. f. 2 Pet. 2. 8 11 13. p. 48. l. 3 4. r. 2 Pet. 3. 7 11 13 14. f. Ps 19 4. p. 50. l. 12. r. Ps 19. 9. f. Esai 15. 20. p. 52. l. 4. r. Esai 5. 20. f. Ps 106. p. 59. l. 2 3. r. Psal 106. 35. f. Jerem. 10. 23. p. 59. l. 3. r. Jerem. 10. 2 3. f. Mat. 12. 26. p. 62. l. 4. r. Mar. 12. 26. f. Exod. 2. chapters p. 63. l. 2 3. r. Exod 2 3. chapters f. Dan. 5. 17 8. p. 64. l. 8. r. Dan. 5. 7 8. f. 1. 10 11 15. p. 66. l. 5. r. 1 10 11 13 15. f. 85 17. p. 66. l. 8. r. 15 17. f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 67. l. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f. Jihejah p. 68. l. 10. r. Jihejeh f. 19. 30. p 6â— l. 21. r. 39. 30. f. Ps 95. 6 7 9. p. 69. l. 17. r. Ps 95. 6 7 8 9. f. Isai 43. 23. p. 70. l. 14. Esai 45. 23. f. Exod. 23. 29. 23. p. 70. l. 25 Exod. 23. 20 25 f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 73. l. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f. 9. 6. p. 75. l. 7. r. 9. 2 6. Ps 96. 10 13. John 17. 5. 24. f. John 5. 4.
their spirits are tender Truly-logical-Art is that which is really word-Art not a Disputative Knowledge or Syllogistical form of mens inventing generous Spirits those that are indeed such will conform their Reason to Faith and their Faith to Spirit-inspired Revelation This word-Declaration and written-discovery is perfect in its self and perfective in those who grow in it here the noble excellencies of rational Souls may be advanced to somewhat of their highest dignity in their utmost capacities here are the full Originals and the over-flowing Springs of useful Knowledge here the believing Trader with his spiritual Talents may increase his stock of sanctified Learning somewhat near in its approaching step to one of the Royal Priviledges of the Heavenly Glory which is unmixed clearness and perfect cooâ—mmateness of all profitable Sciences Philosophical Notions are idle stories and when they pass into vain janglings they are frothy talk and unâ—dâ—â—ying chat they fill the fancy with dreaming speculations and make the mind sick and weak whereas the Scriptures do afford such a kind of Learning as is sound and healthful in its own innate constitution and in its causal efficiencies here the intentive Reader is still held in a continued dependency on a spiritual Teacher of those necessary Lessons which are never well learn'd but in Christ's School and where he may get great skill with little cost in a short while This would make skilful Practitioners in ordinary Affairs and in the common Matters and Actions of Life which Philosophers do miscount to be beneath souly rationalists Students in Christianity when throughly seasoned with the in-working-knowledge of Holy Precepts and of practical Truths are more awed into an observance of what is taught in Scriptures Pew they are instructed in Duties and informed in Manners whilst they inquire into Arts and pursue Sciences Where the savingness of knowledge is suck'd in betimes all growing discoveries if they work kindly are improved towards the firm securing of a never-ending-felicity Faith and Fear and Love and other Graces as they widen the Understanding and compose the Mind and fix the Heart still to be taking of more so they also refine the Spirit and reform the Life The Eyes of the wisest men in the World can never see themselves truly represented so as that the direct beams may have a right incidence but in the Glass of God's Word and he is not as yet in a preparedness to take in other Learning who has not hitherto attained to the true knowledge of himself A growing Artfulness in Scripture-Science will commend it self where it is in any though the commender of this unto such court not their applause but seek their profit though I be forgotten who write this yet Christ and his Word will still have a living name in such for all Treasures of Learning there being here full instruction for all necessary Employments and complete Subsidaries for all practical Conversation Let not the judicious ingenuous Reader expect from me a System of Sciences or Platform of Arts with their proper Rules and Methods To handle these throughly in an exact tractate is too great and long a task for my little parts and short day it were an undertaking worthy of some Christian King to imploy the learnedest and holiest of mankind about that either love or promotion could procure or kindness or reward ingage or helps and materials incourage though in some few instances I may a little lead others the way with a Scripture Light in my hand I owed a great duty to the intellectual World of precious Souls and I had no other way to make such a publick payment of it the good of Communion must out balance any private concern of my own he that would consult his own reputation and quiet amongst men in this age would have concealed his apprehensions in such a day when many are so self-seeking and so angrily confident by strengthned preconceptions and fortified prejudices and radicated resolves against any discoveries that might convince and shake them What is done is subjected to Scripture-examination by spiritual discerners When received Opinions have got the Peoples Applause and Leaders Authority and Men's interest in this World he had need bring some clearness of demonstration who would have others to leave their former ways to which they have been so used that they may come into a Scripture-path It would be next to incredible in a mans self to perswade belief in others who are so far gone in prejudice and prepossession were there not a Prophesie and Promise that in the later days they who err in spirit shall know understanding and the murmurers shall learn instruction for the deaf shall hear the words of this Book of the Scriptures of Truth and the Eyes of the Blind shall see passing out of the obscurity and darkness when they will blush to consider how Truth had scarce any door to enter in at what by innate ignorances and attracted wilfulnesses and indulgent weaknesses I arrogate nothing to my self of being a first Inventer of Arts but do refer wholly unto that word which would illustrate and brighten adorn and amplifie Sciences The LORD may therefore have laid me low and left me despicable in the eyes of the reputed Learned that Christ and his Word 〈◊〉 be set the higher Careless neglects have given countenance to such 〈◊〉 errours as now by long prescription would pass into a common uncâ—â—â—ollable Law of Arts and of Sciences like the idle tales and fabulous stories and fictitious narrations which old wives filled our heads withal when we were little Chrildren and a traditionary credulity would still keep alive the memory of them till old age and so would transmit the frame of them to posterity Had I not Jehovah and his Word on my side there were little expectation of any considerable success in ingaging this Scholastick War where so many opposers are all up in arms against me and are so confident of Victory were it not for this the controversie would stare me in the face with so many frighting difficulties that my time about this that little of it which I can be master of to redeem it from the unavoidable intercurrences of other necessary work would scam to be mis-spent and my industry mis-employed and the powers and strength of my mind wasted I had else soon been dis-spirited whilst the chief scope of so many men's aims studies and indeavours is either to defend or execute other mens mistakes or to justifie and commend their own however if hereby the reputation of the Scriptures may revive after my death and if the just esteem and the good opinion of God's Word may be built up though on the ruines of my credit for the present I bless that Jehovah who has used me to trust him with hereafters wherein one of the greatest trials of our spirit and frame is and if this only means of improving so fertil a ground of knowledges be dislik'd
day of the week unalterably confirmed by an unchangeable Law this doth put holy Meditation upon the working and the resting of the Creator and Redeemer into a methodical profitable Spiritual way it would furnish an experienced Saint with proper matter every day for the feeding of his thoughts to the nourishing of his Soul the satisfaction of his Spirit the strengthing of his Heart and the inlightning of his Mind That Humane Invention of transferring the weekly Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week has wholly inverted this established order The Psalmists frame was then usually most raised and most refined most humble and most heavenly most serious and most savoury when he saw and imployed much of Christ in the Creatures which kept him up in the better and more continued preparedness to meet the LORD in his Sanctuary-goings in other solemn instituted Ordinances he will make but little of the Word of God who makes nothing of the Works of God one great end of the Creators giving a being to Creatures was to supply a man with continued matter of admiring and of adoring the wonderful Former of all this O how much and with what kindliness think ye was Adam's heart affected with the sight and contemplation of this goodly beautious Structure whilst he stood in uprightness with how great delight was his Tongue his Glory in trumpeting of that perfection that shined forth in all and in every of the works of the Creator much of Adam's wisdom appeared in his giving of apt and fit names to all the Beasts of the Field and to all the Fowls of the Air according as the Natures and the Powers of their created condition were In Authority many who have gotten a name as if they had been the first inventers of some profitable knowledges yet themselves went to School to some lower Creatures to learn skill of them which was one of the first abused occasions of the heathens making and setting up of the Forms of some Bruits of Beasts of Fowls of Fishes of Serpents of Herbs as their Idols which they worshipped The great Admirers Illustrators and Promoters of Humane Learning have acknowledged the Originals of the discoveries of many witty Inventions to proceed first from the observations which Learned men have made from those experiments that meaner beings than themselves have providentially set before them thus do they speak as to men for the true reasons and the proper causes and the real originals of the Virtues and Powers of created Existences have their first foundation and discovery in the Word and in Nature These Philosophick men give us some particular instances of rational knowledges directed to by natural perception and instinct in irrational beings owning these for being some of the prime Masters of Arts and Doctors of Sciences Who instructed the Surgeon how to cure wounds but the wild Goat by applying some Sanative Grasses and Herbs and Flowers which led him to the use of some things in Chirurgery Hence also have some been taught the cure of Impostumes such as are between the skin and the flesh for when there is a putrified matter which impostumiseth before it ripen of it self and come to break the wild Goat oppressed with the noxious pungency of the itching humour rubs himself against Stones and Shrubs until his Imposthume break and the whole filth from the bag do pour out it self and so the beast easeth himself Whence learn'd the Chyrurgeon the profirable use of the Herb Dittany for the extracting of Arrows or Splinters or whatsoever it is that gives a wound and leaveth some poyson behind if the hurt be not mortal but when Harts who when they were struck with a Dart or were otherways shot with an invenomed Arrow presently resorted to this Herb which has a specifick Virtue latent in it whereby this Plant when eaten by them both ejects the Weapon and expels the Poyson The cure of wounds with Dragon Briony and Comfrey some have learn'd from the Serpent as also the curing of Eyes when evil affected with Fennel Cats have found Valerian to comfort the sight and Swallows use Celendine as an Herb friendly to the sight with which they heal the eyes of the young Phlebotomy the cutting of a Vein to let out blood and the stopping of it again some were informed in by the Sea-horse which is skilful at Scarification and at cutting of a Vein for when he feels himself under a great and dangerous distemper by overmuch eating he rubs himself against Reeds or somewhat else that is hard until a Vein breaking he let out a sufficient quantity of his blood and then he hastneth to stop the aperture and to heal and close it up by applying of mud and of dirt to the orifice of the wound The Art of Building was somewhat taught by the industry and skill of Swallows and of Bees some Physicians were instructed in forming of Pills from Scarabes that do gather things round on an heap and then make Balls The Art of Spinning some have learned from Silk-worms of Weaving from Spiders of Vomiting from Dogs of Clysters from the Bird Ibis purging himself by putting up part of his crooked Bill into that part by which the Excrement is discharged also the Hern who with his Bill doth infuse Sea-water instead of a Clyster thus practising of it upon himself by his own beak Whence came the knowledge of Powder-Artillery for the Warriour but by a Potlids occasional flying open From these and such like have Philosophick Professors fetched their principles of knowledge which doth shew that the God of Nature hath put much into the Nature of created Beings which if improved by Scripturalized reason in a word-way would raise Arts to a wonderful height The LORD himself in his Word doth send his own people to be better informed in their Duties and Priviledges by other Creatures so blockish and stupid is fallen man who since he acted below Religion is fallen beneath Reason He preached unto them the Doctrine of observing Seasons of Grace and of improving of opportunities of Salvation from the wisdom of the Stork and the Turtle the Crane and the Swallow who do exactly keep to the due fit times of their going and coming they might learn from the Ox and from the Ass which are some of the dullest and stupidest of bruit Creatures to make other manner of acknowledgements of the LORD's kindness to care for them would they more seriously ponder and duly consider of this Has man some discerning in these lower things and should he not use his Religion and Reason about higher matters who has by his noble make a wisdom beyond so many other Creatures by his concreated endowments doth not Christ himself check and convince rebuke and confute the unbelief and distrust of such who are over carking and too sollicitous about Food and Rayment by putting them upon considering of his providential care for Fowls and for Lillies The LORD Jesus
Morning of every Day were a distinct Day and were distinct parts of every Day The one Day was before the second and the third Day was after the second the fourth followed the third and the fifth was after the fourth the sixth succeeded the fifth and the seventh which is the last Day of the Week was the Holy Close of that Week There is but one Seventh-day in the Week No other Day in this or in any following Week is properly the seventh-Seventh-day of the Week in the weekly revolution These Days have a priority and a posterioty in time in their successive parts and so were the Creatures distinct Works or distinct Days They had a separate Creation on separate Days that we might with the more staidness and distinctness of spirit consider of and meditate upon them in their created Order If all had been in one and the same moment of time then how could it be affirmed of Adam that he was first formed then Eve which yet is expresly affirmed in the Words The created Number and Order and Names of Days must therefore be well observed upon which there are so many weighty Truths and great things that do depend An Evening-Morning a Night-day is a large natural Day according to the Law of the first Creation in which the Evening and the Morning were constituted one Day The Evening being the foregoing part of the Day to which the after-Morning doth belong both together making up a complete Day So is the true account through the whole Scriptures where this is spoken of The Evening of the Day in the three first Days of the created World began at the first coming of the Darkness afterwards when the Sun was created on the fourth Day it was further pointed out by the going in of the Sun The Morning of the Day in the three first Days of the created World began when the Darkness went off and the Light came on which afterwards was fully compleated when the Sun did go forth What has man to do thus daringly to change the LORD's Time and Laws and to pervert his well his wisely-established Decrees and Appointments which are some of his Statutes and Ordinances which he will have to remain unalterable and by the unchangeable constancy whereof he has confirmed the Covenant of Grace There is the time of a Day in a Day There is a word of a Day in his Day The Night-part of a Natural large day so far as concerns the present matter in hand is measured from the coming to the going of Darkness from the going in of the Sun unto the going forth of the Sun There are parts of the Night a third part of it There is a beginning of the Night There is the mid of the Night The LORD forsaw how bold rebellious man would be in prescribing times of his own inventing and distributing unto himself to impose them upon others also and therefore he doth often in the Scriptures set the just Limits and the due bounds to set Times and Seasons that man might receive a determination from the Word There were certain Watches of the Night those Watches did point out a certain space of Night-time into which the Night was distributed There was a Watch of the Night which is called the first Watch of it There is a second Watch of the Night The third Watch of the Night and the fourth Watch of the Night And all and each of these are distinguished by several Names in the Word the Evening the Midnight Cock-crowing and Morning So that three hours were the measure of every one of the Quadrants or fourth parts We sometimes read of all Night and all Nights in other places of the Halfings or Dimidiatings or Half-cuttings off of the Night of the past Night and of that self same Night of a Night of Observations There is a Morning Light before the Sun doth go forth so as visibly to be seen by our eye The Day part of a natural large Day as to the present case is measured from the coming to the going away of the Light or from the going forth of the Sun unto the going in of the Sun This Day is divided into twelve hours so also is the Night into twelve equal parts so that at midnight the sixth hour of the Night is ended and seventh hour of the Night doth immediately after begin And at Noon or at Mid-day the sixth hour of the Day is fully ended and the beginning of the next minute after this is the beginning of the seventh hour of the Day as opposed to the Night and according to this Division were Dials and other Measures of Nights and Days drawn and made that were according to the Word So that all the Winter the hours of the Night were larger than those of the Day and all the Summer the hours of the Day were longer than the hours of the Night and when it was Equinoctial then the hours of the Night and Day were equal but at all other times of the year different There is express mention made in the Scriptures of some of these hours by which we are to judge and measure the rest of the other hours As the third hour the sixth hour the seventh hour the ninth hour the tenth hour and the eleventh hour It is also perticularly there spoken of the third hour of the Night At these Seasons of Evening and of Morning were the appointed Times for daily worship which daily worship was called the Tamid or the continual Whatever other instituted worship was occasionally performed This must never be neglected This daily Worship was to be carried on Every Evening and also every Morning I have been the longer upon this discovery that serious sensible Believers who do admire the holy Scriptures of truth to be the one and the only rule of judging and of determing of cases of Conscience might as they ought bring all times and seasons to Scripture measures to Christ's Institutions which he himself as also his Apostles kept unto under the New Testament dispensation of Grace That this as well as all things else may be brought with more exactness according to this straight Rule under this latter-day-glory when there will be a more thorow reforming and refining to purge out whatsoever is corrupt and of humane invention and imposition and to bring in whatsoever is pure that is as yet defective in the Churches which is of Christ's instituting and ordaining For this daily continual Worship Evening and Morning is prophesyed of to be renewed and restored in the latter age with a renewed promise of acceptance The day is Aelohim's the Night also is his and let the things of God be given unto God Let the Day-natural no longer be mis-reckoned from midnight to midnight or from Sun-rising to Sun-rising nor from mid day or noon tomid-day or noon neither of
which has any sound sooting either in Holy Scripture or in created Nature And yet how long and how far have these mis-countings prevailed Not only amongst Ethnick Philosophers but also amongst professing Christians and do so still unto this day There is a measure of our days and Jehovah is he who must make us for to know what it is There are divers phrases in Scripture note-worthy here As one day and days one a long one of days a day of constituted or of instituted Time a day-morrow or After To fill up the number of ones days Six days of the working days of this Earth yet the day great the day to be hot the day to descend greatly until the inclining or declining of the day until the firm preparing of the day to fill up a seventh of days to number days the strength of the day an Evening of a day the seasonable time of a day in a day the looking forth of this day days turning away or turning the faces or declining towards their end The blowing or breathing forth of that day at break or dawning of it a day of the East the days of Harvest The Spirit or wind or breathing of the day The remitting of a day to or towards the Evening The days of Heavens The days of years Days over or upon an year Also yesterday A day in a day From day unto night From the light until or unto the halfing or dimidiating of the day or the middle division of it into parts These with several other such like would have their use for the determining of divers practical cases That Wo should awaken conscience which is threatned against those who putting darkness to light and light to darkness as those do who make one half of a day from Midnight to Noon half dark and half light at Aequinox and the other half of the day from Noon to the next Midnight that light and that dark Contrary to the established order in the Law of the Creation This is the daily measure of time For we read of Time in the Scriptures Opportune time The Opportune time of the gift of the Evening the Opportune time of the going in of the Sun called the Opportune time of the Evening from the Morning and unto the Opportune time of the set season for instituted worship observe this The Sun knoweth his going in The constituted time of the days The constituted or instituted times of Jehovah a day of convention This daily time is made up of hours as hours are of minutes a minute or minute-time or moment we meet with in the Word one minute a moment in a day one a moment a minute quickly gone into a moment like as a moment like unto much even as a moment As a little of moment a moment little or a finall minute moments minutes of time An indivisible point of time a minute or moment is a very short space of time a moment one every moment That word which signifies a moment is derived from a root which is to cut off on to break asunder because it is one of the least particles and minute parts of time broken off as it were the most minute-fragment of time These minutes and moments do fill up an hour such a number of them And this kind of knowledge an ingenious enquirer doth know now to make some good improvement of is divers cases relating unto these parts of Time O how sweet and satisfactory would it be to understand even these little minute things in a Scripture-way For here we may meet with an hour an hour one That same hour The Chaldee word for an hour comes from an Hebrew root which doth signifie he looked he beheld Because Men in their actions do intend the hour as it passeth away The Teller or Nuntiatrix of Time An ascending Horologue which doth point out the degrees by which the Sun before Noon hath ascended and after Noon doth descend The ascensions of that Sun the goings up the goings in of it The measures of daily Time might in this Scripture-way much heighten there understandings O who will give that we may be Redeemers of Time The Doctrine of weeks is proved from primitive pure created nature in seven days as the Creator made them There were seven distinct days severally created in order of time and no more which being ended another week begins An whole full complete week doth consist of seven days not of six or fewer days not of eight or more days because Aelohim made all in these several distinct days He made no less and he added no more Hence those Scripture phrases of three weeks of days or three sevens of days a feast of weeks or of sevens of days a feast of weeks or of sevens of those weeks or sevens In your weeks or sevens A week or a sevenny A seven-night a seven-morn or Septiman two sevennies or weeks weeks or sevennies a week one the cut off half of the week to fill up a week this to number a seven of sevennies weeks seven and weeks sixty and two weeks seventy To compleat or fill up three weeks of days For Jehovah to keep to us weeks of Statutes of Harvest according to the Hebrew they are weeks of Ordinances relating to the feast of seven weeks or seven Sabbaths A sevenny of years and a seven sevenny of years The beginning day of the week is called one day because till a second day came there was only that one day and the last day of the week is called the seventh day because there is no further day in that week There is a great Remark and a special honour put upon this number of seven in the Scriptures as the number of perfection a complete number The seventh day pointing out the weekly Sabbath The seventh Moon was a peculiar dignified Moon the seventh year was a specially separated Sabbatical year The seven-times seventh year was a singularly honoured year for Jubilee Moons or Months took in these days and weeks Hence we read of a Moon or Month of days two days or a Month or days The Moony-Innovation of days One to the Month or one day a Month that fifth The Son of a Moon or of a Month From the sufficiency or fulness of the Innovated Moon in his Moon Behold an Innovated Moon the morrow The number of our Moons or Months is with Jehovah Aelohim three Innovated Moons or Months He or It shall touch that Moon or Month that seventh When will he pass over this Innovated Moon This an Ascension of an Innovated Moon or his Moon or Month to the Moons of the year The night-part of the day is a part of the Innovated Moon There are twelve Moons or Months these do make up a complete full year The first Moon the head of Moons There is a Moon in the year which has more of a full head for divers Evenings together then
Original Hebrew hath its great use and may be put to a more growing and profitable improvement only special heed must be taken that they be all drawn to side with the Hebrew but not to put the Hebrew violently by force to be of their party against its own natural meaning In whatsoever Author you meet this disconsonancy to the Scriptures that would bring an alien sense to the Scriptures and doth not receive a genuine meaning from the Scriptures look upon it as one great cause of error these appositions and additaments from men are detractions and substractions from the Word Let the Learned in all their studious artificial Expatiations and liberal scientifick walks in these Fields of Nature gather and bring in as much of choice created Excellencies as they can whereby to contribute to the augment of this Art and the perfecting of this Science only let this be learn'd by reading in Scriptures Book and in Natures School For the rectifying of some common Philosophical mistakes let us by an inquiring Spirit make a deeper research into the Scriptures about this question The creeping living Creatures were not formed out of the Waters as their Pre-existent matter for they were and are distinct Creatures from the Waters of a different make and kind This doth but set out the manner of after productions in the watery places They have been some of the generally received mistakes that â—here was a common pre-existent Matter of the whole Creation That Matter and Motion are the Essences of things That the four Elements are the Original causes of things which have a mixtion of Elements in them That beaten axiom of Ethnick Philosophy that of nothing it is impossible any thing should come as if therefore there were a necessity of fore-existent matter to work upon because the ordinary course of Nature is now so doth discover in the assertors thereof their ignorance of the Scriptures For although out of absolute Nothing Nothing can be extracted converted or made to be yet that doth not necessarily infer that therefore there must be a first Matter and a Potency thereof to be the common Principle of all material things for Almighty Power can create that unto a Being which had no Being before That Ethnick Rationalist who maintained and defended this corrupt Tenet did reject all matters of Faith not only Humane but Divine also and examined all things only by his own Reason whose Writings therefore can afford no true good Commentary upon Scripture which doth not at all speak of any such pre-existent Matter The Scriptures of Truth do not assert any such prime confused Chaos out of which afterwards all Created Beings should come forth distinct neither can any man's Reason evince this to him who doth stand in awe under the Authority of God's Word was it not altogether as easie to Omnipotency and more glorious to all Wisdom at the first to create the several kinds of all Created Beings distinct and perfect than to frame and to form them afterward of matter made before hand is it not against the dictates of Natural Reason and Light that such a pretended first Matter should subsist separate by it self and there rest a while under some common and general Form yet so as withal to have in it such a multitude of specifical Forms of Natural Beings and after-created Essences of all future Bodies not distinct but in a confused lump and mingled heap all jumbled together one with another God is not the author of confusion and how can a rational Intellect understand that any one common Form could make specifically distinct Forms out of such a fancied first matter of corporal things The internal Forms of created Beings is that primitive force and original Nature which Aelohim did speak into and fasten in the several kinds of created Beings on the several days of the first Weak according to the particular Essence and specifick Being and different condition of every thing whereby they are some ways disposed and fitted strengthned and enabled to put forth their proper vertues and their special operations by the exercise of which natural powers they were orderly to move towards the right end in subserviency under and conformity to the will of their Maker which was their goodness and their perfection The Creatures could not cause themselves to be from Not-being neither was natural Generation the first Original of these Creatures but Creation or creating Causality or primitive and proper Creation Neither were their created Potentialities latent in a first Chaos produced into their Actualities on the six days but all and every of the Creatures were immediate distinct Works of Aelohim's Power He created in every one of the six days Any created Original or primary Womb out of which other Creatures were extracted or the material stuff whereof all things were framed which one Ethnick Philosopher calleth the first Matter as the Potential Principle of all Another names it Hyle a darkness somewhat invisible and without Form A third intitles it a fearful Shadow A fourth makes it a symbolical Unity A fifth doth stile it a deformed Chaos or universal troubled Mass without form or shape These and such like fancied Images of Humane Invention have no firm footing in Scripture All and every of the Works of the foregoing six days of the Week are proper Creatures each of them were new Creatures of distinct Essence or Entities There were no former Phaenomena or appearance of them Had there been any such one universal Body of Matter or Corps of the World and an universal created spirit as the soul of the World then all had been perfected in one day both the whole Body and the whole Spirit of the Universal World of Creatures and all this had been one Individuum Physically Really Naturally Not only was the first Creation in one day by the supernatural Power of Aelohim as if the after productions were by the Power of instituted Nature or application of Art But also all the Created Beings on the second third fourth fifth and sixth days which were then Essences when they were Existences and not Essences in Potentiality on the one day and Existences in Actuality on the other days as if only productions out of a former Essence If the Reader do observe any Phrases or Lines in this Treatise word for word in other Authors let him know that these Collections were made some years go when the Author made use of some Books as he could then be suffered to come at them which Books he had not then by him when he first framed this Treatise neither doth he readily know whither to go for the finding out of those citations or transcribings now that he hath most of these Books by him Sometimes he useth their own words where he apprehendeth the writers mind and expressions to be according to the Word and in several places he confutes their mistakes by the Original Text. Let the grand design be promoted of advancing of useful
Knowledges and personal reflexions be laid aside The Creatures were of several kinds and being Heterogeneous one from another they must consequently all of them be also Heterogeneous from the pretended pure primary Matter For this Matter being supposed by the Asserters of it to be one Homogeneous Substance in it self can never produce so many Heterogeneous Substances If the very Matter of Creatures were one and the same substantial principle in all Creatures and not different how could it produce contrary Entities and Activities and exercise contrary Operations The Word of Truth doth expresly confirm that the things which we see were not made of such things as do appear And we have need and use of special Faith to believe and to improve this aright As that the Heavens and the Earth were not this first general confused matter out of which after Creatures were made the Expanse was not made of the more refined part of this the Herbs Plants and Trees were not made out of the Earthy Matter the Luminaries were not made of the former Light Fishes Fowls Beasts Worms were not made of the Waters or Earth the first Adams Male and Female were not made of former Earth These were after Generations and Productions in the ordinary way yet of the same kind and it is a new Prooem beginning a new Narration Aelohim did not need as men do Stuff or matter to work upon not Tools or other Instruments neither used he the aid or help of any assistant It is by Faith that we come to have right apprehensions of this it is not wrought and attained by the strength of our natural reason but it doth shine in upon the mind from that credibility which is in and from that credence which is given to the Word of God and from the holy Spirits perswading of the heart that this word is the Truth Thus were all manner of Creatures fully and perfectly finished without any want defect or imperfection in them so far as concerned that state and condition the Creator made them in The Author or Efficient was Jehovah Aelohim the means of creating them was by the word of his Power whereby he manifested his Mind and Will Though all these were created and made yet not out of any thing that did or could appear there was no pre-existent matter whereof they were made The Essences and formalities of all Vegetative and Sensitive Natures are not only matter and motion Aelohim gave primitive Natures and different Beings to his several Creatures Universal Nature is both an empty name and an atheistical conceit If only matter were created in the first instance of Time as is pretended and pleaded how could this Matter diversifie it self in the Beginning into Heaven and Earth For local Motion being from one place to another which are several distant Terms must necessarily be in several instants of Time if several Local Motions were the Formalities or formal beginnings of all Spirits and spiritual Qualities then they should not be before nor after nor any longer than that Local Motion doth continue For the Formality of any thing is the very Specifick Being thereof and nothing can be without the Specifical Being of its self otherwise it should not be what it is or be what it is not It was the Spirit of Aelohim and not the first Matter that moved more especially upon the waters Created Beings may and actually do exist without any actual Local Motion and therefore they must necessarily really be different from it The Beginning of all things was not Water as one Ethnick Philosopher mis judged neither was infinite Air the first cause or original of every existence as another affirmed neither was this pretended Catholick Air God as a third esteemed neither did all things take their beginning from Fire and Light as a fourth would have it nor as another says that there is one Universal Fire in and over all things in this World neither is the beginning of all things the substance of the Fire by the Air converted into Water as was the opinion of one neither are there such Radical Principles of all things whereof two are Agents and two Patients as he asserts the Elements which was the imagination of another Creating AElohim was before any created Beings He alone was the Creator All things were made essentially solely immediately by him there was no help of secondary causes They had their Original and Being from him and they have still their dependence upon him and therefore is AElohim in this short yet complete History of the Creation expresly named above thirty times in the seven days of this one Week No mere Creature has Power of Creating It is the sole Prerogative of Jehovah AEtohim If created Beings and their substantial Spirits and all their spiritual Activities and Operations were only various Motions of the Matter or only Matter moving variously then Local Motion one way or other or any way whatsoever should be not only an instrumental causality or effect of these Bodies and their Qualities but also the very Essence and Formality as hath been said or formal cause of them Whereas all created Beings are formal every one of them such as they were severally created in their different kinds and as they are naturally distinguished from other Creatures in themselves in their own proper Being The Creatures may and several of them do exist and they are such as they are created without any actual Motion being more for rest As the blew expanse and the Earth Tâ—hu and Bohu were not Matter and Form The Jews and the Christians have learn'd this wrong conceit in the Schools of Ethnick Philosophers and then afterwards laboured to defend it by this place of Scripture I have on the work of the one day shewn the meaning of those words and things The four Elements as some name them called the simple Bodies were not fetch'd one contrary out of another as out of former Matter as neither Light out of Darkness nor the Firmament out of Emptiness nor dry Earth out of Waters Neither were the compound Bodies out of the same Elements nor for the most part of all four unequally mingled together Not every one principally out of the same Element which they garnish or inhabit As not Herbs and Trees out of the Earth Not the Sun Moon and Stars wholly or specially out of the Expanse Not Fishes out of the Waters not Birds out of the Air not Beasts out of the Earth all and every of the created Beings are of distinct Natures and of several kinds We must put a difference between the first Creation and the after propagation Those four great Bodies Aether Air Earth and Water are still locally and essentially separate one from another and do exist Pure They each of them have their proper Bodies of Matter their peculiar subsistences pure and unmix'd in the beginning of the Creation The several Creatures were created an Whole
and Entire several Substance and Quality Matter and Form as they call them all and every of them on the several days of their being created at least this is very well worthy of a more through inquiry and deeper disquisition than hitherto hath been made I return now to the particular created Beings on the fifth day Fishes do breath in and out though Ethnick Philosophy do contradict For Fishes are some of the Reptils which have a living Soul a vital Spirit breathing to and fro The swimming of Fishes is one kind of creeping and sliding So an Eel swims in the Water as a Snake doth creep on the Land And though other Fishes in swimming do shoot forth more directly and do not altogether make such crooked in and out lines yet they only slide in a streighter manner having bodies of a direct and oblong Figure fitted for that purpose being born up and partly carried by an Equidans fulciment of transpassable Waters through which they move by a Breathing Vital Potenty The flying Fowl was not made of the pre-existent Matter of Waters as some learned Christians some whom they call the Fathers and others did misapprehend but were a distinct Creature both from Waters and Reptils from Fishes from what else doth live in the Waters This is a new production in a certain and different place The precedent Hebrew Accent did absolve the former Paragraph from which this is distinguished both grammatically in sense and distinction and also physically in being and in place The one word is as proper to Birds as the other is to Reptils They were neither of the same make with Fishes neither were Fishes created of Water nor Fowls of Earth but immediately of the adored Almighties severally put into their proper natural places the Fishes into swimming in the Sea the Fowls into the Air over the Earth flying there Some flying Fowls do more delight in watery places others of them are more for Earth as the place of their choice some others are Terraqueous being well pleased both with Earth and Water as a place either of them proper and fit enough for them So that this doth but set out their places not the first Matter of their being and how it would be in their after production distinguished into Land-fowls Sea-fowls and Sea land-fowls Amphibious Ones such as do live and generate in both The Creator doth assign his Creatures their proper localities and places of abode as before he had put the Luminaries in the Heavens and Expanse so here the Fishes to the Waters the Fowls to the Air and so afterwards other Creatures to the Earth The appointed places of Habitation of Motion and of Working are proper and natural and the Bodies of created Beings have a suitable conformity fitting them for their several abode The Creator first finished the Theatre or Habitacle of the World and then Creates the Inhabitants thereof and puts them into their several dwellings and mansions Time and Place were some of the first things created they are therefore to be accounted great things being the foundation of many after-institutions The Creature had a beginning when it was created Time then began This World was not from all Eternity for it had a beginning in Time One part of the Created World was after another part of it by temporary succession of nights and of days in a most direct line by established Order and immutable Law The first beginning of Time was not the moment or measure of the first Heavenly Motion They are mistakes the supposal of the first moveable Heaven or compassing Sphere that doth wheel about all the other pretended Spheres and that this first Mover was first created which have no foundation in Scripture but are the feigned inventions of men high in their own eyes and fond of their own conceits The first moment of the first created Evening was the beginning of Time as to the created World when the Darkness was first made to begin Time is not the measure of duration according to a pretended Motion of the Heavenly Luminous Bodies for three several days were past before the Creation of these Time Place and Number are of the Nature of indifferent things that may be or may not be but are necessarily things in their several circumstances These were concreated and did actually exist with other created beings in the beginning and without which no created Entity whatsoever can actually exist There was in the one day of the World successive Duration every Creature that was made on that day was durable temporary made and existed in time There was consistent extension one part beyond another there where another part was not All the created Beings of that day exist in some places They were where they were made and no where else at that same time and several Creatures were in several places then and afterwards There was then discrete numbring for every created Being whatsoever it be must always be numerable The several distinct days also in which the Creatures were made are distinct in Numeration Thus for Family or Church-worship once every day is not enough but twice a day is necessary Aelohim having instituted the Evening and Morning Seasons and not lest this to our liberty or appointment There is an aptitude in Nature for these fitting the time to the Work Thus for more publick Church-assemblies once in a Month or Quarter or Year is not enough it must be weekly on the seventh-day-Sabbath for so is the Doctrine of Weeks in the first Creation Those who are ingaged in the Controversie about Non-conformity unto national Plantations or establishments in the matters of publick Worship such as is of Humane Invention Institution and Imposition especially when exclusive of all other Worship that is according to the Word-Warrant and Scripture-Institution have greatly wronged and hurt their own cause by their concessions and assertions that the Civil Magistrate has the Power in the Nation to appoint humanely-invented Modes of Worship what forms to use The number in Worship how often it shall be what holy days as they call them and how many of them in an year the time of worship when his will and pleasure is and the place of worship where he will assign As if these were Adiaphorous matters left wholly to our Governours prudential consideration and determination which all subjects must comply with and conform to that there may be as they say Order Unity and Peace in the Church by a national uniformity in these things For under a colour of this all the Christian Religion almost is degenerated into indifferents and those who are most and best Christians most spiritual and heavenly in worship according to the Laws and Institutions of Christ's house and who have their conversation most adorning and becoming the Gospel are most hated and opposed this being the ground of persecution in all ages but more towards the latter days as the servants of and witnesses
example of Justice in this Island were more likely to terrifie the inhabitants thereof and to prevent any further guilt in principle or in practice about this foul sin than ten other arguments in such an age of monstrous bodily uncleannesses of speculative unbelief and of practical Atheism Whatever success upon the hearts of Readers this paper Testimony has or shall have is with him in whose hands the hearts of men are In this I rejoyce that the LORD hath not left me to be ashamed of Christ nor of his Words in this Adulterous and sinful Generation They are the Scripture-Rules and Precepts of our LORD Christ which we must walk by and whom we must obey if we would have him to be the Author of eternal Salvation and who will judge Whoremongers and Adulterers all whosoever they be who are profane corrupters of Holy Marriage Whether thorowout the Scriptures where ever Adam is found in the Original it should not be so rendred in the Translation into other Languages leaving it to the expounder in the help and supplies of the holy Spirit to shew when it is meant properly of the The Adam and when collectively of more This I judge greatly useful to be far inquired into and seriously to be considered of It is scarce imaginable till proof be made of this what variety of choice discoveries would shine forth from hence That all the Old Testament thorow we can find Adam but twenty times or about that small number in our English Translation Whereas it is expressed in the Original many scores of times let the vulgar Reader think and consider whether much of this useful Learning about Man's Nature and State have not been hereby hidden from him And let the Judicious and experienced in the Hebrew words and phrases say whether many controversies in Religion about Adam and his fall and his conveying of guilt and corruption to his Posterity with much more of profitable practical Doctrines and Duties Graces and Privileges would not be evidently demonstrated hereby Adam was not created at the first Androg ynous with two distinct several Faces and with a double body afterwards to be divided and pulled asunder one from another to become two Aelohim created them in the plural Male and Female severed ones sundred Personages The Male and the Female Adam were both blessed together and therefore at that time they had both of them a created distinct being Aelohim's benediction which he gave to Adam the Male and the Female is more large and ample in expressions and in things than those words of blessing which before he uttered to other Creatures they had propagation as other living creatures made on the fifth day though not so numerous as the most of them and further they were endowed and enriched with many a good perfect gift of Spirit Soul and Body beyond them We must learn and know mind and consider That the Creation in the whole and in every part thereof together with all the Honour and Glory of that Power and Wisdom and other glorious Excellencies which did so manifest themselves therin is wholly and only to be ascribed and attributed to Aelohim whose name is so often as hath been observed used in this History Adam was bound actually to believe in Aelohim and in his Word as soon as he was created For he had a Word and a Promise from Christ in this History of the Creation Adam was to believe Aelohim's sanctifying of appointed Meats created for his Food to be received of them who being believing ones and acknowledging ones of the Truth to mention no more particulars now So that Faith in the creating Messias has a Foundation in created Nature Adam had a power in created Nature to believe in Christ and his Holiness and his Righteousness were a perfection suitable and con-natural to him Thus the sum of the Decalogue was imprinted in Adam's heart Faith in Jehovan Aelohim is the substance of the first word or command which was enjoyned to all the World of Mankind in Adam and so Faith in Father Son and Holy Spirit It was always a Truth from the very first creating and forming of Man and was actually a Law and command upon Man and Mankind that without Faith it is impossible to please God whom to please as well as to believe in was a plain duty accordingly Abraham believed in God who accounted it to him for righteousness and all the Children of Abraham must be of the same Faith and Practice For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him The eleventh Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews in several instances doth relate that the Saints and people of God under the Old Testament-administration did actually rely upon Christ by Faith for which Faith they are there commended This original concreated Holiness and Righteousness in Adam being such a Law of Nature as whereof the ten Words are a perfect Transcript and an exact Summary it were a matter well worth a further re-search and a deeper Inquiry whether the Doctrinal-part as well as the Duty-part of true pure Religion be not to be found in the Decalogue Thorah is one of the Names of this Law often used in the Old Testament The Native signification of which word is Doctrine It is a Doctrinal Law cast before the Disciples of the LORD teaching and instructing us concerning his will towards us and about our Office towards him and our Neighbour in what we are to believe as to the credends and to do as to the Agends of Religion informing us in the Truth of the premises as well as directing us in the practice of the conclusions Faith and obedience in their large comprehensive notation do take in the whole of Religion they are all Adam as to this For Adam was under a Law under this Law The Articles of our Belief are within the bounds of the Laws of the Decalogue He that would be regular in his obedience must also be found in the Faith These are the Essential constitutive parts of an entire perfect Holiness and Righteousness The LORD Jesus Christ confirmed the Truth of his Doctrine from the Authority of his own Law and in asserting the Doctrine of the Resurrection which is one great particular instance he fetcheth the force of his Argument from the first Word saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob God is not the God of the Dead but of the Living To assent unto revealed Truth is as necessary a part of our Duty as to perform commanded service And if it be narrowly looked into and duly pondered it will be manifest that all the Acts of our obedience do as naturally result from some Act of Faith as all the Acts of Faith do naturally resolve into some Act of obedience as a general subjection of our whole Man to the will of
at once and in a moment but there were distinct several days of their being created which Order should not be confounded but well observed as one good help to profitable Meditation on Aelohim's Works Particularly the sixth day must not be forgoten as the day of Man's creation and as preparatory to his remembring and sanctifying of the seventh day as the weekly sabbath-Sabbath-day There was a separate Creation of things on several days that man might with more stayedness of Spirit and prosperingness of Soul consider of them distinctly And now Jehovah Aelohim declares that this shall be the absolute perfecting in the whole and in every part of them of those Heavens and of this Earth and of all the congregated Military Host of them in their Order Place and Function Thus do all the Creatures both in the Heavens and in the Earth stand as an Army in Order or an Host in Battle array ready to serve their Makers their Creators who is their Commander in chief he is the LORD of Hosts and the Empire over them is his They go forth or come in at the word of their Head-Captain Jehovah Christ as he will arm and commission them for his Friends or against his Enemies In the order of my pursuit after the refining and raising of useful Arts and profitable Knowledges I am now led to that day the seventh which is the last Day in the first created Week which first Week is the just standing measure of all after Weeks in their successive courses by the established Law of the Creation on which seventh Day Aelohim the Creator himself did Sabbatize on this Day he rested to contemplate his own Works For having now framed and disposed the glorious Fabrick and the goodly Structure of the whole Universe and having put it into its beautious oeconomy and regular Government he closeth the whole of his Work with a Day Blessed above all the other foregoing Days of the Week The Great Design of this Treatise being the Advancement and Augment of useful Arts and of profitable Sciences in a Scripture-way I shall propound some serious Inquiries to ingenious studious Believers to ingenuous diligent Saints Especially to such faithful humble Ones as have through Mercy and Grace attained to larger growing measures of holy Skill in the Original Languages and of excelling eminence in Inner Religion about the improvement of Experimental Christianity Inquiries concerning Jehovah Aelohim in Father Son and Holy Spirt Q. WHat is the true proper significancy of this great and glorious Name Jehovah And whether ought it not to be used And what is there in those Prophesies and Promises that do speak of the freer acknowledgement of this Name in the later days And how may a discerning Believer improve this Name as for many other holy uses and ends so particularly to make his presence more real and sensible for continuedness to the Believer Q. What is the true import of all the other Names of God in the Scriptures particularly of Aelohim And how may those be particularly improved Q. What are some of the most clear Testimonies and convincing proofs of the Doctrine of Father Son and holy Spirit and the Old Testament which is so fully and frequently taught in the New Q. What are the visional appearances and manifestations of Jehovah Aelohim in Father Son and holy Spirit in Heaven And how may these be improved by a Believer Q. Whether may the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit be distinctly prayed unto And if so how should a Believer suitably make his application to each of them distinctly and to all of them joyntly Q. What are the several Offices of the Father as Father of the Son as Son of the holy Spirit as holy Spirit with relation to the Covenant-people of Jehovah Aelohim and whether is a Believers Union and Communion to and with the Father and the holy Spirit as well as to and with the Son and how is this and which way may it be better improved Q. VVhat is the holy Spirits indwelling in a Believer and what are the Believers Dwelling in God and how are these more improveable Concerning the LORD Jesus Christ Jehovah-man the Mediator Q. WHen was it that Christ did first pass into his Mediatoral Office and after what manner was it and of what good use is it to find out and improve this Q. How may a Believer so injoy Christ's Jehovah-presence here on Earth as withal at the same time to injoy his Man-presence above in Heaven Q. Whether may a Believer actually resort in his spirit unto Christ's humane glorified Nature in any certain definite circumscribed local Place in the highest Heavens Q. How is the humane glorified Nature of Christ a fitted Instrument when quickned by the Power and Life of the Eternal Spirit for the actual conveyance of all suitable good to Believers according as their cases and capacities are And how may Believers apply what is in Christ's Spirit Soul and Body to their own spirit soul and body for proper supplies Q. How may a Believer so walk with God in Christ here as if Christ were visibly corporally present on Earth with the Believer and how may a Believer clear up and improve a mutual in-being in-living in-dwelling and in-abiding between Christ and him Q. How is a Believers Life hid with Christ in God and how may the Believer injoy and improve this for his natural spiritual and eternal Life Q. What are all Christ's Names as Mediator in the Old Testament as well as in the New And how may this be improved Q. How was Christ the first born of every Creature or of the whole Creation and the beginning of the Creation of God Q. What is there improveable by a Believer in the order and connexion of those four things when Christ is of God made to a Believer Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption Q. Whether this be not one great truth of the present Age that Jesus Christ is the one and the only LORD and Lawgiver over and to the Spirits Souls and Bodies of his people Q. Whether are not these amongst others some of Christ's Royal Prerogatives by his Mediatoral Authority to grant and to pass acts of Grace to seal and to deliver particular Pardons to speak Peace and to give Comfort and how may this be practically improved Concerning the Word of God the Word of Christ. Q. VVHere is the true Authograph or the Divine own first Writings of the Original Scriptures and where is the exact Apographs or transcribed Copies of this And what Scriptures are there that do foretel and promise the restoring of this wholly uncorrupted And whether were not this a noble Work well becoming the greatest holiest Prince to search out this that he may write him out a complete Copy of its Law Q. In what Language was the New Testament originally spoken and written Q. How may the Original Scripture-Language be made the Universal Character all the inhabited Earth
over Q. Whether would not an exact literal version of the holy Scripture word for word as they are in their order into the several Mother-tongues without any the least adding to or substracting from it open much of many useful Truths and necessary Duties and of experimental Christianity as well as many other ways be very profitable for the promoting of peace and purity in the Churches of Christ Q. Whether is it not a Duty for the people especially such of them as have more opportunities and advantages for this to be able to read and to understand the Word in its Original-tongue And whether it would not be of singular use to have the young capable Children in all places to be taught this Q. How may such an Hebrew Lexicon be so composed for words and for phrases as to make Scripture knowledge to be much more easier and familiar to out common people in which they may find out all sorts of little Bibles well fitted to all particular cases where they may quickly see over what the whole scripture doth speak to any subject matter carrying Truth through all the Word Q. In what order of time in exact Chronology are the several Books of Scripture and the several passages in every such Book And how may such Geographical Tables of all the places of the inhabited Earth mentioned in the Scriptures be so suited as that time and place and inhabitants may be made obvious to every plain understanding Q. What is the New Testament spiritual signified part of all and every of the shadowy Figures Ceremonial signs and Typical patterns through the Old Testament Q. What is the Urim and Thummim And whether is there any Prophesie or Promise of either restoring of that or of setting up any thing else in the room of that How may we have such an Oracle revived as to have a certain visible audibles sensible answer from the LORD in weighty cases Q. Whether it be not one evidence of the fulness and perfection of the Word of Truth that even there where its speeches seem to be somewhat broken and abrupt it carries with it a secret supplement in experience directed to all practical cases concerned therein which nothing else of man's word can fill up And whether would it not be very profitable and acceptable to put together some of the more eminent remarkable Scriptures for the better evidencing of the Truth and usefulness of this discovery Q. How may a Believer get and keep life and power in the Word continued upon his heart Q. What Scripture grounds are here upon which to bottom Faith and Prayer that if there were a spirit of believing the LORD would still give miraculous access from Heaven whereby to give sensible demonstrations of the Truth and Goodness of his Word And how may the Doctrine and Practice of Miracles be revived Q. What is the method whereby to evidence the oneness and sameness the well agreeing consentingness and uniform harmoniousness of the Christian Religion throughout the whole Scripture for Truth for Laws and for Priviledges For Doctrines for Duties and for Graces Q. How may the plainest Scripture-Truths be raised to a greater height of spiritual advancement Q. Whether now that Scripture-knowledge is so abounding any one be so competently well gifted for and called to the Ministerial Office who doth not understand the Scriptures in their Original Language And how may hopeful growing young men be so bred up in the Scripture Arts and Sciences as thereby to be fitted for the Ministerial Office And what Scripture grounds are there to expect a more able faithful successful Ministery than is yet at this day Q. VVhether it be not one great Truth of this age that the holy Scriptures are the one and the only Rule to judge by in all cases And whether there be any other boundary to be set to mens pretended liberty of conscience Q. VVhat is there of the Doctrine-part as well as of the Duty-part contained in the Law of the ten VVords Q. In what Method and Order may the Holy Scriptures be best read to most spiritual profit Concerning present Providences and Works of Jehovah Aelohim Q. WHat may the Reasons and Ends be why the LORD in the present day doth seem so much to with hold his Spirit and the gifts and graces of that Spirit now that the longings and petitionings of his Churches and people are so much heightned and drawn out with expectations of his larger pourings out of his Spirit and Blessing upon his new Covenant people Q. What is more especially that Work which the LORD hath been and is still carrying on upon the Wheels of his providence in this Age Q. What is there of Prophetical Scripture fulfilled in the present day which doth make way for the further accomplishment of what Propheties are yet behind And what are those after Prophesies And in what order of Time are all these Prophesies Q. Whether though there have been some partial fulfillings of the Revelation in all Ages of the Church since John's time yet will not the whole of that Book of the Revelation be gone over in the latter days visibly and sensibly fulfilled what John had in Vision and by Voice And whether are there any beginnings of this in our Day and Time At least whether Christ's Calls and Counsels from his Father by his Spirit in that Word of the three first Chapters of that Book be not more especially and particularly to those gathered separate Churches who have someways withdrawn from the corruptions of the Romish Way more thorowly to Reform and to Refine and to be at perfecting Work As that which must lead the way to the bringing about of all the rest which doth follow after Q. What and how doth the LORD Christ in the way of his present Providential Acting reveal of the pattern and platform of his new spiritual House of the latter day-glory and of the Laws and Orders of that House And how is he now with his golden measuring reed and rod and line in his hand to try whether particular Churches and Disciples of his do square well and exactly to his Word-rule And how would he have such societies to be rightly constituted gathered admitted disciplin'd and orderly walking in all things that such Churches may be able to evidence to all the World that they are the true owned and approved Churches of Christ Q. How is Christ at work under this Providence to bring every Institution and Ordinance of his unto its Scripture purity and perfection that they may be felt and enjoyed more in the lively efficacy and saving power of them Q. How is Christ at work in this day to frame his Churches and people to be more of one heart and mind and lip and way in the Truths and things of God and to set them righter in the way of Sisterly association of such purer Churches And how may a Believer see full home to this thorow so much as is quite
contrary unto it namely the Heresies Errours Schisms Divisions Apostasies scandals of the present Age Q. Whether is not Christ manifestly at refining perfecting Work under this Providence in regard that he doth ingage some of his servants in the same Work according to the Word as their Generation work to be purging out whatsoever is corrupt and to be bringing in whatsoever is pure that is yet defective in principles or practice among the Churches more particularly to be perfecting those six principles spoken of in the two first Verses of the sixth Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews And whether this work have not been too much hindred by some of Note and of Name in their expressing and interpreting of perfecting perfect perfection by sincere and sincerity whereas sincerity is but one Work of one of the ten Words Q. How would Christ under this Providence have Nations Cities Parishes Villages Families and Persons to be modelled as to the Rule of governing Concerning Duties and Priviledges Q. HOw may a Believer now have every duty and priviledge to grow up into the spirituality and heavenliness of the duties and priviledges of the latter-day glory Q. How may a Believer improve some special passage or other in that Prayer of Christ recorded in the seventeenth Chapter of John in order to the attaining and promoting of the ends of every duty Q. How should a duty be well filled up Q. How should Bills or Papers of Cases be wisely and edifyingly managed that are brought into our Congregations And what is there in the Old Testament of bringing suitable sacrifices to the Priest according to particular cases which may give light to this matter that it may be spiritually managed under this new dispensation of Grace Q. Whether may and must a Believer pray rejoyce and give thanks not only in all Cases in all Places amongst all Persons but also at all Times and not only this in state and in frame but in acting also And if so how is this attainable practicable and improveable So to meditate upon Jehovah's Word all the day How is this with such like expressions concerning other duties reconcilable with the finite Spirit of Man who seems unto many to be able to do but one Work at one time Or has Man a capacity of doing several things at once And if so how may this be proved and improved Whilst the Spirit may enquire the Soul may desire the Body may act and work at the same instant Q. How is the Truth in Jesus and how should a Believer so learn the Truth as it is in Jesus Q. What are the gradual differences in the matters of duties and of priviledges between the several Ages of Saints Some being little Children and others young Men some others old Fathers in Christ and in Grace Q. What is the proper season of every duty And how may we discern and improve it Q. Whether is not Scripture Prophecying in a publick Congregation still a duty And if so by whom And what are the Laws and Rules by which it is to be carried on in Preaching in Praying in Singing and in other holy Services Q. How may Tzijons Blessings and Priviledges Joys and Comforts Peace and Purity be antedated by a Believer so as actually to injoy them before they are fulfilled Q. How may a Believer improve Mystical Membership with respect To Christ as the Head To blessed Angels To the Spirits of just men perfectly sanctified To sound Believers and excelling Saints that now are and that shall hereafter be as the Fellow-members Concerning other practical experimental Christanity Q. HOw may a Believer know distinctly when it is that it is his Spirit or his Soul or his Body which doth long after Jehoâ—ah Aelohim And of what use would this knowledge be And how may a Believer speak distinctly and severally to his Spirit to his Soul to his Body And which way is this improveable Q. How may Convictions be kept alive and improved Q. How may Christ in his Life Suffering Death Resurrection and Ascension and in all his Offices as also his Word in the whole of it and in all its parts commanding prohibiting prophesying promising threatning and the rest of it how may these he used and improved For the more through mortification of corruptions in all their secret deceitful â—lie motions For the more triumphing overcoming of Temptations in all their Methods and Devices and Assaults Q. How may a Believer carry pure Religion and practical Christianity through the whole of the conversation in the particular as well as the general Calling And how may all the Acts of our particular Functions be performed as acts of Worship in obedience to a command in faith on a promise so as to expect and to have assistance acceptance and a blessing Q. What is a Night-Religion And how may that be improved in the void spaces of the Night and even in Dreams Q. What is the right method of governing the Thoughts of ruling the Tongue and of ordering the Actions Q. How may a Believer make inward spiriritual Meals upon outward and common Meats and Drinks Q. How should Christian-visits be improved Q. How should Journeys and Travels in the way be improved Q. How should time be redeemed Q. How may the Christian Religion be made easie familiar delightful and spiritually natural Q. How are slanderous reproaches persecutions banishments confiscations and other crosses to be born and improved that when we suffer for Christ it may be a suffering with Christ and as Christ suffered And how may we in all other things so walk as Christ walked and so be in this World as he was in this World Q. How may we both give full time to our worldly imployments and necessary business and yet spiritualize it too Q. How may we get cut of deep-plunging distresses of spirit Q. How are we to treat our selves and to converse with our selves night and day And whether a translating of Hebrew Verbs of the self reflexive conjugation would not promote these self reâ—lecting meditations and acts Q. What are the Rules and Laws of Writing especially in matter of controversie Q. What may be the cause or causes of so much darkness and deadness doubting and distress and of the holy Spirits with-holding and withdrawing in Professors of Religion generally in this day that when they are discovered they may be removed Q. How may we know when we have audience and acceptance in the Court of Heaven And when a receit of Mercy is in answer to Prayer Q. What is the Art of Holy Silence in its proper seasons And how may it be improved Q. How may man's working out his own Salvation and God's in working of it be reconciled and improved Q. How may spiritual objects be made as evident to spiritual senses as outward objects are to outward senses And how should these spiritual senses be exercised And how should spiritual truths and things be made real and future ones present Q. What is