board LET the Zealous discover faith in his conversion preserve hope untill the consumation and a manifest love in his conversation Bethany his obedience shall so clear the eyes that this flight from Olivet shall be known in all its spirituall effects and steps for the hearts more ravishing because refined joy delight and satisfaction making the tongue to cry after him Set me as a seal upon thy heart as a seal upon thy Arm Cant 8.6 that is Lord remember me now thou art going to thy Kingdom IN the year of grace 1608 three Ships called the Ascension Vnion and Good hope sailing neere the Cape of good hope had the fate all to perish the Vnion first perished next Good-hope last of all the Ascension that aspiring minds having great hope and dangerous ploddings have perished in their hope when almost arrived at their wished-for-port and Cape of their contrived design iâ— notor to those who are not strangers in our Coast yea to our shame Strangers best know it Vnion we have already lost in our dangerous discords miserably increasing and â—candalously spreading Yet we pretend to Hope and makes a lively-hood from it for Faction and variance but having so oft been under water and it it self dashed and broken to pieces might be justly called Conceit and we Phrygian-like ought to be wise behind hand and weather it out no longer but take harbour least we lose that is forfeit the benefit of the ASCENSION having only a fancied presumption of felicity to come GOD avert the ominous application of â—his instance and unit us again by the Spirit to an holy Vnion in which only we can have â—rue hope secured and then our ASCENSION will be ascertian'd by which we shall â—e ever with the Lord in the Lord and afâ—er a troublesome sea deluge of a tumultuous â—urly-burly the Ark of our Soul will rest â—o that Arrarat those mountains of Spices above saving the Cargo of a good conscience by Anchoring in the Indian shoar of heavens rich and glorious enjoyment THE Emperour Sigismund having proâ—ed succesfull in severall battels against the â—arks dignified many of his martiall Worâ—hies with the Knight-hood of the Dragon their Device being a Dragon falling headlong RESEMBLE a Saints progress toward Ierusalem to a land-journey through a vast wast and howling Wildernesse comparatively thâ— whole Earth being no other yet no Misprision from within no false Information from without no Hellish Combination encompassing need cause a retreat for all of those in the Dâ—agon already cast from Heaven are overcome Revel 12. Their attempts against the Woman and the Remnant of her seed that is the Church her Sons and Daughters are but wrigglings of that old Serpents tail since his head was wounded be not precipitate be not afraid Lyonâ—nd â—nd Adder the young Lyon and the Dragon shall you tramplâ— under feet as speaks the old Testament Psal 91. That is shortly bruise Satan under your feet as prophesieth the new Rom 16. For Christ must sit that is he must Reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet A worthy saying of that great Apostle of the Gentiles 1 Cor. 15. MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE DESCENDING OF THE HOLY GHOST Unfolded and applied Pentecost-day-May 22. Tolbooth Church 1670. Whitsun-May 22. Tolbooth Church 1670. JOHN XX. XXII And when he had said this he breathed on them and saith unto them Receive ye the HOLY GHOST AMONG other promises given by our LORD unto his Disciples for their support in the tydings of his departure that of the Father is â—aid to be one which was their being baptized with the Holy Ghost Acts 1.4 5. and that from heaven which had been revealed to Ioel Chap. 2.28 by the Father and also to the the world by the Son who had given the Spiâ—it to his Followers but the Father having promised a more ample manifestation it is peculiarly fixed to him by the Son who as a preparative thereunto from above breaths here upon them beneath the Spirit being the Soul of the Church without it you must imagine it to be only a Carcase that Article of the holy Catholick Church being a depending one the holinesse thereof relying upon her Relation in and towards that of the Holy Ghost THOVGH as a bride she be betrothed to the Son yet it 's the Spirit maketh her the Lambs wife as believing she is Baptized unto Christ yet wanting the confirmation unction or blessing of the Spirit there is no inward sanctity which being ordained to be gradualy given it is recorded in one place to be lesse plentifully and in another to be more miraculously infused as before and after our Lords Ascension is evident in many places and particularly in this wherefore it is expedient to behold how the Apostles received here the Spirit and how afterward and how we may be said as Sanctified to receive the Spirit now that we may passe from the infancy and weak condition of meerly inâ—ant Baptism and to become adult in possessing the thing thereby signified even the sprinkling by or baptisms of the Holy-Ghost as by fire that as washed and heated we may become so enliven'd as the Lord may have pleasure in our beauty and delight to dwel in our very bodies as Temples for himself His altar our mind spiritualiz'd his Sacrifice our good works the fire devouring that Sacrifice being that of Compunction for sin and zeal for his glory THESE two words Holy Ghost expresse the holy Spirit the third Person of the Trinity when together for if separated the Father and the Son are holy and the Father and angels are Spirits but when united they respect a duplicated operation and double office of the third person performed upon them who are chosen vessels unto Glory in makeing them holy and in giveing them life breath or spirit by which they become living souls Ghost or Guest being a name synonymous to all Spirits but â—elly or holy to him by way of excellency who proceeding from the Father and the Son as breathed forth and being every wâ—y holy fitteth his name to his nature the sutablenesse whereof being eminent he is denominat in our new style thought more refined then the old the Holy Ghost receiving other Names from other properties as wind fire the finger of God the comforter the spirit of Truth the holy spirit which the Apostles are commanded to receive not as though they had formerly wanted him for they preached wrought wonders cast out Devils a power that flowed from his In-being and during Christs abode but he being upon his ascending qualifieth them now this second time for the work of the Ministry in remitting of sin in binding the obstinat for sin in inteâ—preting the Scripture for their greater assurance and fuller consolation because of his absence about Prophesies and typâ— as the election of Mathias in the place of Iudas from the mouth of David doth famously make evident YET it is no great cause of offence to
affirm that here they are breathed upon to dispose their minds already sanctified for the Spirits reception in a more solemn manner in the dayes of Pentecost MOREOVER a religious melancholy seazing on the vitals of their Spirits and belief of their Masters proceeding from or ascending to the Father in and for their behalf the Spirit being a pledge of Salvation the strength and life of the Soul is here given by an apt similitude of a breath foâ— as the visiâ—le body of Christ was not God so neither is the breath here felt to be estimate the spirit to confirm them that as the breath came from him so should or so did the Spirit proceed from him likewise which the Greek Church to this day denys affirming his procedure from the Father only which is seen say some in their punishment in looâ—ing their Imperiable Citty Constantinople their Emperour Crown and Kingdome being taken by the Turk upon this day in the Calendar An. Dom. 1237. wherein the nature gifts and proceeding of the Holy Ghost are taught explained and truly commemorat in the Orthodox and Latine Church MANY good things our Saviour had taught especialy about his Death and Resurrection which the Spirit was appointed to bring to their Remembrance the brain of man in it self being naturally dull hereby is cleared and as his birth purifieth ours as his life instructeth ours as his death destroyeth ours as his Resurrection preceedeth ours and as his Ascension prepareth ours so his sending down of the Holy Ghost helpeth us mightily in the reflecting upon these things against all infirmity whatso-ever oyling the wheels of the Soul makeing that lift up it self being otherwise bowed down and by this is said Woman or man thou art loosed from thy infirmity causing them still look forward oâ— like a religious pulley stil haleing or pulling the soul heaven-ward to a loveing of spiritual things contrary to the carnal mind spiritually hence the Sunday betwixt his Ascension and the Spirits descension is called from the entrance of the twenty eight Psalm Dominica exaudi as if from that time the Church of old and yet now had been still calling praying for and expecting a fuller portion of the Spirit this breath being but the first fruits untill the harvest a taste only of Canaeans grapes a warm breath a refreshing gale untill the mightier and rushing wind should blow when Iesus had been glorified THERE are two principal parts of the body viz. head and heart to which in the soul corresponds the understanding and the will it being led and moved by these as greater wheels and God in his Church hath to both of these in resemblance Christ and the Spirit the head and heart of his Congregation for understanding of and being guided unto the things concerning life and by these we know he loveth us and by that knowledge procureth in us Love and Ioy by divine illumination toward himself the Spirit being that Regius or great Divinity Professor teaching from within the mysteries of God for what ever David the Psalmist Amos the Prophet Daniel the Prince Peâ—er the fisher Samuel the Sâ—er or any other Priest Prophet or Patriarch taught were but lecturs of his composing words of his frameing sentences of his drawing up directing how to believe how to live how to walk and how to talk how to love and how to adore how to weep and how to pray all with admireable wisdom holy zeal and fervent charity THE Spirit was here given about the Resurrection before the Ascension after which the spâ—ce of ten dayes reckoning from the fortieâ—h that is from the Passeover for he was given again so that we are to observe the feast of Pentecost when the HOLY GHOST came from heaven whereby they as all good men are made to look up before which we must meet and assemble so receiveing it in the Word breathed upon us on Earth this doubling of the Spirit being like the two-fold Commandement of loveing God who is in heaven and loving man who abideth upon Earth yet it 's but one command acting on different objects so it s also one Spirit given and acting for differâ—nt things or for discovery of that one great thing the Trinity FOR the Son having been visibly known among men the Father also revealed by the things that are seen there remained one thing to enforce the certainty and existance of three Persons that was the appearance of the HOLY GHOST who had once come as unto Noahs ark like a dove in the evening of the world upon Christ the Lord expressing the meeknesse peaceablnesse harmlesnesse of them who are as houses inhabited by him this was at his baptisme the next as is thought was in a cloud strengthning his constancy glorifying his purity and heating his fervency this was at his transfiguration A third was by a breath for animating a perplexed little flock about the removeal of himself from them a few dayes before his Ascension A fourth was in fire in tongues and this was after his glorious Session at the right hand of the Majesty on high giving them a noon-day knowledge to understand all Scripture power over all Devils wisdom against all Philosophers Eloquence against all Orators Patience against all Torments Gifts to convert all Nations Confidence in the love of God for subduing of unruly lusts Grace for persevering in all good works Lastly Ioy in the peace of a good conscience through Christ and him crucified whence it is sayd they were al filled with the HOLY-GHOST in contradistinction to those portions or draughts they had received before so diminute that it s said the HOLY-GHOST was not yet given q. d. in that ample and miraculous measure because Iesus was not glorified John 7.19 WHICH when done they are quasi overcharged and Speaking were thought drunk that is intoxicated which in a trope they were but not as the Jews â—uppos'd with wine but with the new-wine of the Spirit wherewith the old bottles of corrupâ—ed self could not be brimmed the Vine whence it flowed being above the liquor whereof stupâ—fied not the braine but transmented the Soul noâ— causing staggering but confiâ—ming in faith and joy as in the Citty by that River which maketh glad the Citty of God which they renewed by wind fire and tongues were capacitate to drink of the one blowing away the chaff the other heating the Spirit giving light also to the dark chamber of vain Imagination the last promoting to speak refinedly perswadingly being cleansed from carnall sordidness and earthly selfishness delighting in no talk but of the wonderfull works of God IT is usuall with Expositors to shew the analogy between things themselves and that which is represented by those things In how many wayes the Paschall Lamb and Christ doth agree the Red-Sea and baptisme the Cross and the brazeâ— Serpent Iesus and Aaron David and Ioseph is not of our province but how aptly doth wind represent the operation of the HOLY GHOST in those upon whom he cometh
the incarnation to the Gentiles found in the Royal line and appears in the person of the the King of the Jews Iesus the Saviour of the whole Earth Whose Mothers Kinred is reckoned under Iosephs name as being one with Mary she being his wife Luke 3. and Heli's Daughter which Iâ—seph a Carpenter became a Foster Father a reputed or supposed Father to the worlds Master-builder and great Architecture of heaven and Earth his espoused having conceived in her womb about the age as is said of fifteen being fitted early for her Saviours intertainment by Sanctity and pudicity contrary to that Famous Helene upon whose eyes it s recorded none could look securely there being thence emitted rays destructive to purity enflameing the breast unto concopiscence but from this woman say they there was such emanations of beaming Continence as not only denyed such reflections but extinguished their being as the sun-beams do an ordinary fire I shal swear to none of these yet know that though Nebuchadnezars furnace be seaven times more heated then usually it no way impedeth Iesus the Son of God from making it his gallery but the least spark of natural lust indisposeth the soul for being a receptacle for that holy Child Iesus he being both separate from sinners and sin can have no Communion with Belial nor his imps yea if a David by entertaining of a lust lose the warmth or forfeit the sense of heavenly joy or Mary at a feast who hath ears to hear let him hear lose her Son and Saviour they must both regain their Consolation with sorrow and Care and acknowledge with Naomi that their Names are Mara that is Mary by interpretation also bitterness All our Saviours actions have in their womb instructions to the world concerning Converse and particularly his being BORN of a woman Virgin doctrinaâ—s to Virgin-like simplicity as some therefore abstaines from wickednesse for fear of pain others of shame or such like Carnal grounds let Believers make no provision for the flesh that Iesus may be formed in them more and more that his left hand may be under their head and his Right hand embrace them the former healing and justifying the other embraceing and felicitating the fiâ—st applying his merits the last assureiâ—g his reward the one offering food the other medicine yet behold the Phisician and his first cure for the Souls support is innocence attested in his Manlâ—sse conception that we shewing freedom from the deformity of brutal desires Manlike may be capaâ—le to convers with heavenly intelligâ—nces crying out in our acts with those in Theodoret who being ignorantly through Cunning made to offer incense unto Idols we are Christians we are Christians keeping fresh the Image of Holinesse becomeing Familiar as it were with Angels Outstripping that modest heathen Archytas who refuseing to utter an immodest word yet desireing to sense his discourse pouâ—traid upon the wall with a coal somewhat significative to his purpose which is but to trapan sanctity and shutting our Organ that is our ear against ribâ—uldry to offer it an inlet by the eye an orâ—an apt enough to smutt the soul and sufficiently politâ—ck to captivat the heaâ—t wiâ—h it s own consent and betray it to destructive conceptions DRAW near you that are Virgins and behold this Virgin you that are Mothers and behold this Mother you that give suck and behold this Nurse you that aâ—e with Child and behold this womb you that are widows and behold this woman no Maid no Wife you that are begotten of Men and born of woman and behold this MAN encompass'd by a woman born for all kinds of condition wherein woman can be found begotten of Man that all living as she in breeding in Châ—stity may be encompass'd by this MAN secur'd against shame and misery by imitating this womanâ— Genâ—us this Marys warrinesse this womanâ— temperance this Virgins holinesse this Maids retiredness for its probable the Virgin was alone when the Angel accosted her and it may be conjectur'd at some good exercise as appeareth by his salutation Thâ— Lord is with thee the Religion of the Hebrews teaching them to blesse in the Name of the Lord whom they found diligent and well imployed as Boaz did his Reapers and the Reapers again their master IMITAT also this Marys cleannesse for the Virgin was pure in heart that is in eye in ear in feet in tongue walk and apparel her compositum being cloathed crowned with the vertues as with so many robes and diadâ—ms of stares defending her by nature unfortified ear from the assaults of immodest utterance by bashfulnesse gravity and censure disdaining to soyle or smutt her purer soul with the reports of obscenity acted either on the Theatre or seen in the wardrop the habit but warping toward kindling of Concupisence in any being condemned in the solidity of her Judgment accounting it equally destructive to be casually an incentive of as studiously to become a pander to lust in any the Angels salutation her Royal stemme and pedigree cleareth all this and more As if her word had been like that of Heraclius the Emperour Insania lâ—ta voluptas estimating the usual trivial finical delights of the Daughters of men to be dangerous and their Gamboles to be very madnesse because either being or forming or bordering upon pollution yet according to the Accute Maxime in the Holy State of Virginity counted it Virginitie to be unspotted not unmarried encompassing her self with Resolves of piety industry and purity in all conditions therefore she Saw GOD and that with her eye the invisible being in her and of her and to her made visible the Father through the Spirit erâ—cting a mansion place in her womb for the Son she having had a repository for the Almighty his Law revealed to his Servants in her heart from which issued an aptitude and disposition inclining heâ— body rather to Kneel then Dance Ought not this to perswade future Ages for applauding and consenting to consciouâ— sanctimonious behaviour Christ being thâ—â— born for this cause or then his coming had been casting pearls before swine and the product of Christian profession little different from the frantick actings of the fableâ— Jewish Armillus with them the same thâ— Antichrist is with uâ— who before the comeing of the Messiah with them is to be boâ—â— by oâ— breathed from a Marble image of Virgin unto whom the wicked of the world shall be gathered for incestuous copulation And under him their Leader bandy against heaven HOW advantageously hath the Hoâ—â— Ghost baptized our Saviour so to speak with variety of names titles and comparisons and how comfortably doth he expatiat upon that subject that in all doubts fears or discouragements his Name is as oyntment poured forth Cant. 1.3 the word Messiah the expression Christ the phrase oyntment being all one holding up the tapestry shewing the devout the inside of his worth that the savour of his works merits and offices may bind up and restrain the deluding pleasures
mad and Heliodorus thought a witch but he call'd my Charmes my Art my Craft is Christ and demanding respite for three days to advise what to do he repaired to the Idols Temple and in fervent prayer obtained from heaven the falling of them all like Dagon for which being set upon a fresh he made ample confession of the truth of Christ yea his tongue being cut he preached heaven-ward with his hand untill he was slâ—in rejoyceing in hopes to see God in his flesh desireing also to depart and to be with Christ. BY the Resurrection the Believer hath a privative and a possessive good the first containeth an abolishment of hell and death that they be not the portion of his cup Christs appearing to be the Son of God by it haveing brought life and immortality to light is the substance of the other 2 Tim. 1. opening the gates of Death a typ of the resuscitation of our mortal bodies having made out peace by defraying as a surity or cautioner what we were endebted to justice whereby we are accounted just and righteous before God his egressâ— from the prison of the grave testifying a discharge and maâ—s assâ—ilment whence still to our being condemâ—d there is oppos'd his rising for who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is Christ that dyed yea rather who is risen again and in this righteousnesse it is wherein S. Paul desire to be found makeing it his own by faith and rejoyceing in his own security thereby blessing God for that victory which in Chrâ—st he himself obtained the day book of his sins being crossed and the head of his advâ—rsary bruised by the substance of the Crosse in the power of the Resurrection which so far virtuats his life that as raised in Christ he accounts not himself any more in this world haveing his conversation in heaven not regarding the knowledge even of Christ after the flesh as did not a latter Saint who seeming to behold his Saviour in bodily shape visionally cryed out Lord keep that sight from me here but let me behold it in thy own Kingdom in the other world RISE therefore from your vain conversation from your graves of lust your reward is slighting Christ or selling Christ being no other then what the Patriarchs had when they sold Ioseph or what Iudas got when he betray'd Iesus viz. shame and fear which whoso would avoid must follow him who is the way to young beginners the truth to such as affirm and life to those that persevere the way to them that ask the truth to such is have found the life to those who passe the way to them who travel the truth to them who rest and the life the righteous do enjoy all procured by the death Christ underwent IT is said the lyons whelps lying as dead three days after birth are awakned by the roaring of the Syre certain it is that after three days this lyon of Iudahs trib was raised by God the Faâ—her for thogh his rising be attributed to the Spirit of holinesse Rom. 1. as also to himself having a power to take up as well as to lay down his life John 10. yet it is also expressed to originat from the Father for God said Peter raised up Iesus Acts 2. scattering the least mist could arise from doubts temptations or surmise improving faith against all stumbling blocks the holy Trinity joining in one for Christs manumission from the grave all being reconcil'd to man in his Saviours actings upon that particular the Lord God who had sentenc'd Adam raising the Son who was God and by the Spirit who with the Father and the Son is one all equally willing equally appearing for and equally approveing what by the determinat counsel of the Father was under agitation in that affair SHEWING withall that as Christs manhood was raised by God through the Spirit of holinesse so the quickning of man against the deadnesse of sin ignorance and unbelief is the sole work of Omnipotency which alone can remand back the Spirit of sanctified illumination men possessed in the loins of their Father Adam and adapt them by a receive the holy Ghost to walk as Sons of God not of men yet as nothing quickens except it dy so neither can the sinfulnesse of sin be taken away untill man know he is sold under it and by it betrayd as by a Iudas into the hands of the Devil who hath the power of death that is of execuâ—ing not sentenceing which conviction of heart only maketh man to dy with Christ and necessarily must preceed a rising with him TO some it is true Christ is not yet born such are the lofty Spirits the touring souls behaving themselves not as Children weaned from the mothers breast but as so many Gyants begotten of some Goliah and born of some radiant Amazon which conceit maketh them conceive themselves some great body and being contrary to our Lord who was born a Child that is for humility and meeknesse debonaire and affable towards all soar in their carriage and Pea-cock like moutting in the sun-shine of their own vain glorious imagination as if with the Pea-hen all must then be in love with their mistaken transcendency and couch to the shadow of their greatnesse whereas quite contrary self denyal religious pensivenesse for the losse we have had for the things we want a reversing of the Escutcheon of that excellency which fortune or parts have bestowed because ensigns of our mysery and badges of our poverty tokens of the infamy because sinfulnesse of our birth are still in those true Children moraly and in their own esteem little ones to whom belongs the Kingdome of heaven TO others he is not yet dead these are the carnal the fearful the sensual minds who desireing to live in the affluence of flâ—shly pleasures flye from the Crosse as a bugbear and sailing in the Pleasure-boat of a bare profession in the least cloud gets into the coast snugging under the wind of alluring comforts hat 's nothing more then to ride out a storm with the warelik builded and storm prepared for Christian knowing he cannot weather out the tempest and judgeing himself no further in safety then that the next step lands him on the shore of ease delight and ticklish pleasure where loving this present world he embraceth it with both arms saying to tribulation at a more convenient time I will hear thee again in this matter and so with Peter denying any soul saveing knowledge of Iesus chuseth the warmth which the fire of the Mammon of this present world doth affoord accounting beloved Paul mad for because of the Gospel enduring a storm or abideing a night and a day in the deep judging the cargo of a soul not to be valued at so high a rate that the losse of the vessel of the body which is but the hâ—ll of man should be suffered to endure such hardship for it's security TO others he is not risen these are the
shall deliver us flying from contrived-for-disturbance or tenets of separation as from filth and ordure in which alone the unclean spirit keepeth because there only he findeth rest WHEN the World was souâ—ed or so to speak under the pickle of the deluge the Dove alone gave intelligence of the waters abatement not by a Bramble but by an Olive branch So untill the waters of Contrition flow for our former defilements unchristian-like temperaments which as raw blood putrifies yet the body of our Kingdoms it is not to be expected the Comforter from the FAâ—HER and the SON shall intimate unto us that our sins are forgiven or that in Christ we have got the Victory testifying the truth thereof by the Olive branch of refreshing comforts antedateing heavens felicity in the infallibility and certainty of its possession peace with God being certainly deduceible therefrom Whereas contrairily by our tearing and devouring one another its easie to prognosticate what the result of our lives shall be and whereunto the issues of our Death shall tend if we persevere in discord the Horoscope of the litigious discovering his being born in Satan the scheme manifests his rest pardon the irony shall be with him which even his spirit attests in the pangs of a tortured and disturbed breast so that within us we have either way a witnesse of our blesse or misery whereby our condemnation is the more intollerable if we do not our own businesse and study to be quiet living in love and peace that the God and Spirit of peace and love may be with us HOW oft in the History of the Ascension and of the HOLY GHOSTS descension to harp once more upon this string have we these words they met with one accord and no where besides shewing that in opposition to that quarrelsome life to those frequent disputeings among the Apostles and Disciples and censurings one of another they formerly had offended in Now they unanimously agree in a Brotherly harmony being united though numerous as one body by the Cement of the Spirit through the Gospel there being no intimation in the sacred History of any reflection of the Disciples to the Converts or of the Converts to them or of any one towards another about any miscarriage whereof aforetime they might be or had really been guilty of their life answering the Law for it was the Pentecost in ordinary fiftie days from the Pasch that these things were done and the fiftieth year also and so the year of Jubilee a time of releasment for servants lands debts of rest and proclaimed with great joy Levit. 25. figuring that delight Christianity hath obtained under the full deliverance Christ hath purchased for his people freeing them not only from the pedantry of the Law and burthensome rites thereof but restored them to their former priviledges with God the exceedingness whereof is figured in this that there passed twenty nine Jubilees betwixt Ioshua and Christ the Gospel abridging the Laws authority and hastning the acceptable time the year of great deliverance Luk. 4.18 THE Pasch by Christs death is antiquated and outdated it was expedient also to abolish both Pentecost and Jubilee for having procured a plenary remission from sin we as freed from its bondage are now to rejoyce in the LORD alway the Jubilee being proclaimed upon the day of Expiation which was a day of sadnesse grief and sorrow for the offences of the whole year that in the midst of trouble they might remember joy and we having liberty by the Resurrection who before were sold and gifts by his Ascention who before were poor presenting himself as the first fruits being first born from the dead before the Father for obtaining a blessing on the crop or race of mankind which the Jews did at Pentecost therefore let us pray for fulfilling of the Pentecost feast in having sin remitted the curse from the Earth removed and the Iubilee rite also in having the liberty of the Sons of God the legal ceremonies evanishing a clearer manifestation of things and mysteries are under Evangelical dispensation sprinkling with water being now repentance washing with water baptizeing with the HOLY GHOST and sacrificing of bullocks goats and lambs for expiating sin is that superlative sacrifice of Iesus death an offering for the sins of the whole world He being that Lamb of God which taketh them away by whose strips it is healed and by whose blood it is made white which the very garments of the Neophti or new Converts of old upon this day worn emblematically discover'd being cloathed in whit insinuating sanctity purity harmlesnesse and peâ—ceablenesse whence the day is called Whit-sunday or with the Saxon wied i. e. that is sacred or holy Sunday LET this Generation pretend to what degree of Sanctity it please to fear God to eschew evil to honour all men to do violence to no man to do good and in all these to persevere is the alone mean to be cloathed in White the proper habit of that Citizen which is of Ierusalem above unto which all his acts must quadrat of what kind soeever least the Spirit be blasphemed through his impertinencies FOLLOWING that Heroe Peter King of Aragon who gave a Glob representing the Earth a Crown surmounting that signifying Soveraignity that overlaid by a Scepter typifying the application of Law according to merit over all a Dove in a glory emblemating the HOLY GHOST circumscribed with this device TE GUBERNATORE i e. by thy Direction all things being done within the Empire of the Christians jurisdiction thus Religion shall not be used as Talque shining over glasse cases to hide the rottennesse worm-eating and mothinesse in the frame of many mens conversation neither shall their talk so amuse the Vulgar and undescerning as to cause a sigh a long prayer the nameing of God and conscience cover the â—ickednesse of practises as to let it passe without abhorrence of their Hypocrisies or censuring their â—ick-nam'd holy profession as too frequently they do to the defaming of that which our devout Ancestors called Zeal Piety and Religion accounting honesty in the second Table one genuine Character clearing mens observance of the first wanting the brazen-fore head now boasted of in some Professors where holinesse is divorced from peace no sacrifice Sermons or Prayer so pure as those which are mingled with the blood of men who gainsay the principles of a few by blood is not barely to be understood that physical thing so called but the curses lyes untrue reports slanders calumnies with which the services of Formalists and Pretenders are maliciously sinfully scandalously and madly interwoven THAT French King Henry the third having been upon this day by the Diet of Poland elected their King did in memory â—hereof institute an Order called Knights â—f the HOLY GHOST their Habit haâ—ing many black and white ornaments therein â—nd in a golden Collar within the center of â— Cross was the effigies of a Dove umbrageâ—ng that blessed Spirit It is lawful to attempt â—ea honourable to design high Atcheifmenâ—s if within the verge of our Capacity power or calling and to whet my weapon at this Philistines forge how strenuously hath the Ancient Saints endeavoured to cause the days and places whereon and wherein they have been honoured with mercies blessings or visions to be remarked as Abraham in Beersheba Gen. 21.33 or Iacob in Bethel and Mordecai at Purim This hath been a day of glad tydings wherein by Tongues the organ of Eloquence utterance and acclamation GOD hath testified mans endowment with the gifts of holynesse and given instances of gracious acceptance for humble Penitents possitively deduced without much scruple from the Apostles teaching and the Murtherers repenting sorrowing believing rejoycing Whence it is consequential that if we reflect upon the blacknesse of our tongues in our clamours bawlings against Christ his Word his Instituts his Servants as if they were not worthy to be or fit to live walking in God-like or Dove-like innocence invested with the white Robe of love and meeknesse adequat and cut out for the Elect of GOD Col. 3.12 We shall have the honour of all GODS Saints being elected Kings to reigne over lusts hell and Death by being from this day forward filled as was Stephen with the holy Spirit filled with all knowledge evidenced when with the Romans we are full of all goodness Rom. 15.14 Glory be to the FATHER and to the SON and to the HOLY GHOST FINIS Errata â—ie Corrige The China Printers having by their Art Exim'd themselves only from Possibility of Errour the best in Europe yet pleads guilty of mistakes Here are some Capitall ones marked others being Remitted to the Readers Charity and Correction Page 6. l. 7. Read holding p. 37. l. 6. r. be in time p. 40. l. 12. r. Enflame to p. 64. l. 25. r. That by that p. 69. l. 22. r. not gratified p. 70. l. 22. r. Quadrat p. 86. l. 24. r. leaning p. 89. l. 12. is not p. 204. l. 20. r. endeth p. 213. l. 12. r. moulting p. 240. l. 19. r. viants Mr. VVill. Annand His Mysterium Pietatis
offered by sin Satan or the world to our deceiving senses WHAT deductions faith can make from those Names of the Rock the Lamb the Vine the Sun the Rose the Shepherd the way the door the Priest pertaineth not to our province but the appellation MAN in our theme is so soveraign so gravidat with blessing flowing from Fraternity and Brotherhood that the improver may observe a Magazine in point of war for all accommodation a store-house in matter of peace for all conveniency at first representing God in MAN and therefore in spiritual attaques hellish conflicts wrestlings of Conscience strugling with the world interceeding with God he is a MAN an accomplish'd Captain endowed with all requisits required anciently by the Law of Armes for accomplishing a Leader Gentryâ—he â—he battel ended and the Halcion days â—f peace being come the soul in sweet Communion holy Fellowship with God uninterrupted joys of the Spirit he is a MAN to advise with in the Management of all things INDEED the Angel appointed this MANS name to be Iesus that is a Saviour adapting his name to his office whence saâ—vation in its bulk as also in its parts is ascertain'd to him who makes this MAN his Iesus an appellation which none of the Prophets knowing or not revealing maketh evident that Almiâ—hty wisdome concluded it fittest for an Angel first to utter and next him the Christian that both the one and the other might eternally adore the impresse and signature thereof being capable to mâ—lt the soul by its heat but its worth proclaims a jubile to the most deâ—ponâ—ding sinner in enclining his ear to these 〈◊〉 that Iesus is born in Bethlehem whoâ—â— a Saviour Christ the Lord which so traâ—â—quillats the Conscience that it may disdaâ—â— the surmisings the whâ—sperings of Fear 〈◊〉 inviting the eye and attracting the ear thâ—â— except Iesus be seen and heard wise disâ—courseing is but babling A holy Man disrelisâ—ed the otherwise sweet fluency of Tullys eminent not to say admited Rhetorick and immitable because not bumbastick Oratory in regard that Jesus was not among all his tropes to be found that being the salt seasoning the highest expression of endearing Friendship or most allureing Eloquence THAT Signior like name the Prophet giveth him Isa. 9.6 exceeds all delectation that speaking him wonderful Counseller the Mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace the first â—epresenting all the rest miraculous being Wonderful yet amiable because a Counsellour yet that hinting subjection he is formidable in action understand to his foes he is Mighty and least that should be construed not to extend to omnipotence he is said to be the Mighty God yet to conciliate kindnesse he is a Father and to cause veneration he is the everlasting Father and that he might be known to be above all desirable he is the Prince of Peace made peace go before him brought peace with him there being either peace or Truce at his birth all the world over what can be reflected upon here wanting for the accomplishment of a MAN and what is not here evincing the rationality of his name wonderfull IN the beginning was this word John 1.1 there 's eternity this word was with God there 's equality the word was God there 's a Deity and the word was made flesh there 's Humanity and that word in flesh is called Jesus there 's Salvability the Grace of God by him appearing and bringing salvation unto all men and how happy should we be if we would so far act as MEN as make our symbole like that the Emperouâ— Jovianus scopus vitae Christus the end and perfection of my life is Iesus FOR this cause the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. hath as a Father observes the Name Iesus and again the Name Iesus in the first ten verses eleven times over as if he could not or would not compleat his triumphant wishes for the Corinthians establishment by other means then by tuneing their ears to this Appellative Jesus makeing it manifest to the most inadvertant that the word Master or MAN or any other nown had not in his judgement vertue competent to heal their sores remove their follies or siâ— their quick silver so much as Jesus Or as if he himself by a holy inebriation of the juice or wine pressed from the signification thereof had forgot the earthinesse of names and sounds but in heavenly Dialect could only pronounce the Elements of mans salvation view the stable therefore the manger the swadling-cloaths and behold they all cry See Jesus Behold the MAN who being eternally enjoying peace and splendidly ruling in heaven was as about this time born MAN a word also insinuating Misery vexation and wo encompass'd from the womb with Legions of Devils Princes Pharisees and people yea by his own Kinred and Disciples was he perplex'd being denied forsaken and rejected saying we have no pleasure in him because they saw him a MAN that is a compend of Sorrow yet because he is a MAN that is a compound of Excellency behold his worth with chearfulnesse and Zeal as Simeon Anna the Angel and the heavenly hoast who as they sang at the Creation Iob. 38.7 would also rejoice at the Redemption of the world worshipping him who was the first begotten HOW much more ought man for whom the Lord more peculiarly was made Christ as the shepherds will shew you who went to see and returned from Christ the Lord with great joy two words expressing fiâ—st his Humanâ— then his Divine nature The great Turk vanteth of his being Guardian of our Saviours Sepulchre let us exult in his Authority glory in his Holy Name Religiously improving the design of his comeing that we may be redeemed from this present evill World Gal. 1.4 that is from the practices thereof and designs therein the mischief whereof can easily be discern'd and from which no Angel could secure us therefore their maker Gods Son became MAN by consequence our Brother voluntarily divesting himself of his glorious Robes cloathed himself with the poor rayment of flesh and blood buckled on the coat-Armour oâ— bones and sinnews to fight against the god of this world who had projected maâ—â— thraldome to Eternity by the worlds gaiâ—â—ty whereas contrary our Iesus is before us in a stable Reprobating the worlds glory in his practise that others may abstract their souls from it in their Converse IT is said that the herb Christâ—â—woort or Christmas flower in plain English black Helebore so called for its springing about this time helpeth madnesse distraction puâ—geth melancholy and dulnesse sure we are that though Christ at this time did not speak yet the members of his bodie the face of his nativitie the indigence of his parent the surlinesse of his hoast says to the demented witless because prophane prodigal Love not the world cease from evill and do good subdue pride watch envy provoke not to wrath Love mercy do violence to no man he troubled none in the Inn by makeing intrusion into any
enforceth the same conclusion the word Child in other places not enervating the inferences that being used more effectually to demonstrate the verity of his INCARNATION THIS one word MAN proved a confounding Topick to the Iews in their pungent hopes of a Messiah foretold by a reaming Prophetissa of their own who being with child predicted of a deliverer in her womb her belly indeed grew yet their hopes grew bigger untill the Chast-Damosell was delivered of a lusty Girle which brought her Country-men to bed of a brown that is a shamefull and melancholy study But our Redeemer like the true Lamb of God Exod. 12. was taken from the flock of mankind a Male a MAN without blemish without sin In the evening born in the last age of the world and to be eaten whole believed wholly in as God Christ and Man Christ without which what can be thought of these Scriptures but forgeries as that he grew in wisdom and stature Math. 2. that is as MAN or that he knew not the Judgment day that is as MAN or that he made the worlds Heb. 1 or that he was in the beginning which is to be understood only as he was God so that our Iesus is canonically I should say Levitically fitted to be a sin offering by whose Masculine Vertue through grace the sins of the world are to receive expiation let none therefore in malice or in mirth henceforward maintain the Etymon of Woman to be wo to man but derive it rather from wonder of men all fixing and centering their eyes on this woman and this MAN as objects for samplars of joy and admiration SATAN at first by the Serpents craft abused the woman into credulity perswadiâ—g her too attentive ear to betray the heart into lust by which death triumph'd over all her Sons But here is a Daughter of Eva hearkning unto the words of an Angel of light baâ—â—ling Satan believing God rather yea bâ—foâ—e her self and becometh a great instrument of salvation wounding Satans head for her Son bruised it in which his craft and tongue are both destroyed and like David with the head of Goliath erects trophees and signs of eternal conquest over the legions of Death and Hell Conceiving by â—aith bearing by faith pondering in and storeing up in her heart â—hatever could corroborat her faith unâ—ill her Son had made both his and our enemies become his foot-stool By his horn FOR he is the horn of Salvation Luke 1 i. e. his power and beauty as by the horn of a Unicorn pushing yea breaking the Devils stem not only antidoting but annihilating any poyson he can or doth lay in our way to hurt us it is true that too great confidence made Eva talk with the Serpent she being without fear whence even in a Phisical sense for her punishment there yet is a pannick dread generally in her sex at the sight even of a dead snake but thogh Mary was terrified or put out of countenance at the Angels Salutation or first appearance conceiving him as is conjectured a man she solitary whence good in the accost might be suspected let in any case spiritual horrour in Serpentine discourses or Satanick blandishments or sinful appearances staining a good report contrary to Christian modesty to the fleshes satisfaction in any debauch be always rooted in us for avoiding the wages of either of these which is Death And if any put the evill day far off yet as the seed of the woman like things long look'd for came at last so the Veracity and truth of God shall at length display it self to the terrour of all adversaries and shall prosperously publish it self in accomplishing what ever it predicted for the believers consolation as after some thousand years by and in a woman was the promise of the seed in the person of our Saviour perfected A woman shall compasse a man is not this strength out of weaknesse and visibly evident at his birth she first bringing him forth we read of no Midwife next she wrapped him in swadling cloaths we find no assistance and she laid him in a manger BEHOLD a new thing cheefly in civiliz'd Nations in honest births Tulliola the Daughter of Cicero dyed in labour Iulia the Daughter of Caesar dyed in Child-bed and weaknesse generally is found in Travel and help called for in bringing forth but this Hebrew woman was strong and in History neither had nor demanded aid Joseph her spouse not dareing to touch what he begat not or it may be was exercised about some other employment while she swadled the Child and laid him in a manger THE ancients generally record it to be of a rock and histories registrat the truth of that to have been seen of many and what more pertinent for the rock upon whom the Church was to be builded then a rock for him the Mystical foundation to be laid in But of this cum Deo we shall speak elswhere and Ioseph standing by when the shepherds entered to shun the surmise of scandal and remove the beginnings of an ill bruit apt enough to kindle in the breasts of them whose hard heartednesse drove his great bellyed mother to a stable for though there was at the birth of Iohn great joy yet at Christs save in heaven and in shepherds we read of little but that world knew no better we have more full intelligence and understand though our hearts be rocky and our bosoms as the stable common filthy and unclean yet he is born a Saviour to deliver us from both as a Moses to break the one as a Hercules pardon the comparison to cleanse the other for which let the Holy bâ— glad because here is a rule let the honourable rejoice for here is a fountain the humble for here is a pattern the dying for here is life the sinner for here is a Redeemer born who purposeth to pay their Ransome and for that end more enriched then was that Silesian Child born A D. 1585 Decem. 22. In whose mouth afterwards was found a great jawtooth of gold approaching to the Carat of Hungary for he hath precious bloud without which there is no remission which as a priâ— from his holy body he shall deposit to procure us from slavish servitude and spirit of bondage and therefore in these days it is unlawfull to be surly out of spite and unholy to be sad except for sin touch taste and see that God is good and rejoice for to you is born a Saviour Christ the Lord. AVGVSTVS about this time this good time by proclamation order'd none to call him Lord prompted sure unto it by a spirit not of flesh and bloud so let no lust rule over you but bow the knee to him of whom it 's said And let all the Angels of God worship him pay tribute unto him who is over all the world evidencing that where ever you are as Ioseph in Galile that there is peace with you towards him having either yeelded or being subdued by the
must not be reckoned among the faithfull but as uncircumcised be deny'd entrance into the holy temple the holy Citty holy IESVS being only King of the Iews that is of the Circumcision not of the letter but of the Spirit not of the Body but of the Inward-man and the precept being given to Ioshua intimats that as death and lust enter'd upon all by one MAN we are not free from either untill by his Antityp Iesus we be redeemed from our actual or original transgression by applying faithfully his life and bloud as expiatory for sin denying ungodliness and worldly lusts which is a deliverance from our vain conversation and in one sense a being crucified to the world and in another Ciâ—cumcised in our foreskin they being with some as it superfluous and no way necessary for felicitating soul or body THE Hebrews say Sem was born circumcis'd and he was happy but that the foreskin is not necessary is figured in the eight day seven being allowed in proportion and revolution of time to all in common but the right is that eternal day expected by the Elect and forestall'd already in those occult joys which emerge from liveing Soberly Righteously and Godlily in this present world and their names being written in heaven contemplats upon the felicity their Spirit shall possesse the week of this wearisome world being brought to its final period IT is said of Severus that no day passed wherein he did not something that was good and beneficial to others and without much arguing its evident how soon our Lord amply discovers earnestnesse passionatly to offer himself a Lamb indeed for the sins of the world in his yeelding so easily so suddenly to breath a vein as a wise Physician for the cure of his mystical body now in a Spiritual raveing and sinfull feaverish distemper Man go thou and do thou likewise do good and yet more good and by whom thou art accounted base of them at last thou shalt be had in honour God incarnat having here begun to lay down his life for thee be not ashamed to lay it down for another at least estimat what can be done for thy Brother and reckon that to be a debt due from thy Saviours stupendious humility WE mistake if we conclude our selves heavenly born untill as heaven we influence the Earth with benign aspects and Eight times or days or duties must passe over us before we ought to repute our selves of the seed of the faithfull or circumcis'd for in the opinion of Holy Bernard we must first be just in our dealings with men he who would raise high must build low and Iacobs ladder had its foot on the Earth another is the avoiding of Fellowship with evil men Christ was separate from sinners and his followers must hate the Congregation of wicked doers A third is watchfulnesse and observance of Enemies Our Saviour not being ignorant of Satans devices disappointed his stratagems he left him unresolved of his being the Son of God in the wilderness and of his wanting original sin by Circumcision in the Cradle and in both prevail'd Another is Sobriety as becometh men the Believers life is a warfare and if lust pleasure or cares of this world overcharge that day may come unawares upon us Luk. 21.34 Another is patience in all things we suffer among men for a few evill days we must neither with Cato put out our lives nor with Thrasillus run out of our wits but keeping a good heart we shall never want a place not to say a whole wherein to hide our head Another is Humility Our Lord humbled himself to the Death and that the soul with Mary be exalted Remember he visited her in her low estate Luk. 1.48 The seventh is Piety and Devotion in which by contemplation the Chilâ— of Grace celebrating a Sabbath by resting from works of sin and walking with God ought not to be reckon'd a Son of Belial but as on the eight day declared by the Angel of a good Conscience or rather is by the Priest of the new Testament called the Son of God and gets a new name which none knoweth but he that hath it Revel 2.17 THERE are who will have the eight day to imply the eight ages of the world reckoning the first from Adam to Noa the next from him to Abraham the third from him to Moses the fourth from him to David the fifth from David to Christ the sixâ—h from Christ to the end of the world the seventh to the Dead the eight represents the Resurrection at which time all the true soâ—s of the Faithfull shall receive their true name and true inheritance in being saved from their sins and approved for their Sanctity But the more sound and far more probable ground for fixing upon the eight-day was because of the infants strength being then more able to bear the sharpnesse and smart of the knife then when newly born and yet not after the eight day for they growing stronger and imagination more forcible the pain had been greater that time was therefore chosen when the skin as more tender could renew and repair it self but it is nice that to this day the Iews circumcise none but on the eight day that is to say never at night however it be it 's said that the pain is greatest on the third day nature tending then to a healing for which cause Simeon and Levi slew the Shechemits according to which its given out that the three offended in each sin viz. our selves our neighbour and our God the third and last is the forest and its remembrance most dejecting as appears from Davids confession in matter of Vriah and Iosephs admiration in the temptation of his Mistris THOVGH I conjecture not that the eâ—ght day was allowed for the body of the infant to be inflenc'd by the seven planets yet according to the Doctor of that Philosophy concluding the sun to operat upon the head and heart we may alludingly teach that the beams of the sun of Righteousness must shine and operaâ— upon the head heart of Adams Sons before they can have a living Soul or be brought forth in the second birth yet let none pin their abideing in pollution upon God for the Sun beams shine in the Ministry of the Gospel but many as the swine in a hot day tumbles the more in the pudle and what is vitiously observed of circumcised nations as Egyptians Saracens that no people is more lascivious may shamefully be applied to Christians none being more filthy more unclean then they who have been washed being the more defi'd thereby that they commend it yet mockingly rise not from forbidden pleasures from condemn'd delights Mahomet in a great measureâ— encourageing those passions allays the guilt of his Disciples but being discharged by Christ by Christians are to be the more abhorred THE Iews circumcised but in one part and that part by which the whole body is most defiled where lust and luxury tyranniz'd and
and refractory this name is not publickly proclaimed from heaven but given to Mary and after that to Ioseph who gave it to his supposed Son at 's Circumcision and by that name which his parents gave him was he known in all the tract of his life God in this occult way preserving the order and honour of paternity disallowing such who assume the boldnesse to rebaptize themselves and write new names which their parents knew not HE is by the Holy Ghost yea by men sometimes called Iesus sometimes Iesus Christ often our Lord sometimes this and again that other name every one of which have some peculiar eye to some relation he beareth towards the Church and in all those glorious precepts for divine celebrating the Supper that is the holy communion of the Church by S. Paul he speaks of it in that style that would hardly make that phrase the cup of Iesus the death of Iesus to be proper speaking constantly of the Lord as the Lords Death the body and bloud of the Lord a word importing the founder of that communion and fellowship we have with the Father from which this may safely be drawn that men should discreetly expresse the tittles gâ—ven to their Saviour It is a truth that some have spoken of him under Epithets purely that is scripturally applicable to the Father to the Spirit to an Angel THE most celebrated tittles are Iesus Christ and the Son of God this last when Iews deny him mock raile reprobat laugh at him c. is proper to use Christ intimating his anointing hinting at the means whereby he saved us as preaching fighting conquering is pertinent for us the Son of God he is called being very God of very God the second as he is Man God by assuming humanity but his name Iesus represents him God joyned to humanity united to the humane nature and here wisely given yea before haveing three times been so named viz. at his conception to Mary next to Ioseph 〈◊〉 a dream and lastly at Circumcision for then they called his name Iesus a name majestick a name consolatory holding forth his Deity for besides this Lord there is no Saviour and his Humanity also for by it he maketh propitiation for our sin nay we find it iâ— other writtings not removing but preventing sin even that of robbery for a paddist or High-way-man attempting to spoil a preacher ordering him to stand and asking what he was was answer'd I am a the servant of the Lord Iesus the Paddist trembling at the answer said again what are you and had the same answer and so a third the Robber as amaz'd forgot both bloud-guiltinesse and covetousnesse and called to his unjustly detained Captain for the sake of Iesus depart in peace and ruminating to himself whose servant he had been in this debauch'd trade of life being cogitabund cryed out Iesus Iesus Iesus blessed be the name of Iesus who hath keeped me from sin and forsakeing that course of life walked after in the path of vertue LET none inquire touching the utmost extent of this name since it 's secret and wonderfull Iud. 13.18.19 above all mans conception and expression having not under it the name or shadow but the essence and verity of all Salvation yet know he is not called Iesus because he saves from war or sword for these may be good but from sin which can never be but ill therefore it comforteth the heart when opened delighteth the Ear when hearkned pleaseth the mouth when expressed intimating from sin freedom and predicts glory in place of misery But yet not by the aiery sound or letters thereoâ— whether utter'd or impress'd for the Devil spake it to Christ himself and had a finger in the py when it was writ upon the crosse but when applyed by faith and conforming to the Doctrine of him who bears it as he who learning and studying Iesus well proposed to himself for a Coppy a meek man â— humble man a sober man a chast man merciful man and finally a man endued with all honesty and full of all sanctity which is a sweet way to make him to every man Iesuâ— i. e. a Saviour that he as being Almightâ— God created them so as Iesus that is Goâ— and man may redeem them from this present evill world by his omnipotent unspeakeable goodness compassing strengthning by his mediatory office what ever is his own within the â—oul abolishing by his Royal power Christ-like vertue what ever besides that the heart hath contracted to prevent relapsing let the man Iesus be our example and Iesus God your chief support leaning upon him as your beloved and the name Iesus shall assure salvation secure heaven not otherwise THE name Iesus is admirable for by it all wonders have been wrought and because of it all Devils trembled it 's also amiable sinners having by it been justified righteous gladned the dejected raised and all that ever called as the blind-men Iesus thou son of David have mercy upon us have been relieved it's lastly laudable for it 's glorious it 's holy it 's new it 's exalted above every name and the name that is given to us for us whereby only we can be saved therefore glory ye in his holy Name REMEMBER you are his by purchase be having redeemed you not with corruptible things as with silver and gold but by his pretious blood of which summ he this day gave part in hand as earnest and payed the whole afterward in grosse upon the Cross and might there be not more then a common providence that upon the first of Ianuary there should be fewer Martyrs in the primitive persecution then on any other in the year each day produceing when laid together five thousand save that since the faithfull witnesse himself by whose bloud their's was accepted did as upon that day enstate us into the passage leading to the spiritual Paradice by applying his merits in Circumcision as the first fruits of the land â—or earnest of our forgivenesse makeing hell to tremble as being spoyled of its Dominion Earth to rejoice as being redeem'd to God and Angels to triumph as being confirmed in righteousnesse all which passionatly excits to a confession that Iesus is the Christ to the Glory of God the Father makeing his Regimen in our souls the more arbitrary when by way of reserve we reflect upon that purpose of the Father that every knee shall mark the word shall bow that is yeeld and submit to the name Iesus that is the power authority and Judgement of Iesus FROM the name Christ are we called Christians that implying both his and our Unction with the graces of the spirit whence also came that name of the Messiah i. e. one that is anointed viz above his fellows as Christ is said to be Isa. 61. with gifts not with material oyl which had been improper to him as a King for his Kingdom is not of this world or as Priest for he was not of
the order of Aaron nor as a Prophet for their unction shewed their lawfull successour whereas he succeeded none for all before him were thieves and robbers Iohn 10. insinuating that all the Prophets were either after him or came along with him art thou the Christ said the Messengers to Iohn is not this the Christ said the woman of Samaria that is he who was to be the Messiah the anointed one and this name of Christian from Vnction is most proper for men to use they if believing receiving some measure of that holy oyl the Spirit of God which was given to him without measure But some contrary to this name delight in the word Catholick and some of these Catholicks again glorie in the appellation Iesuits and both of these scandalously use some countries in particularly in Italy and in Rome it self to make the glorious and honourable name of Christian to signify an Idiot a Dolt a very fool which shews their impious arrogance in boasting of what is proper to Rome nor Romes Doctrine as now taught the word Catholick being of no worth unlesse Holy be added and their spiritualiz'd pride in stamping the name Iesus upon a few making him the head of a faction assuming a name so glorious so ineffable as if salvation were only to be found in their colledges and Christ himself to be only of their order GIVE us the name of Christian signifying out hops in his Authority and the sense of it also as heirs of his purchase together with the obligation of it as being bound to his doctrine chiefly first in reprobating the worlds vanity for Io. 6.15 perceiving that they would come and take him by force to make him a King he departed next strennously to exercise repentance for he was the lamb slain then fervidly to exercise Charity for he prayed for his enemies and lastly studying purity in the whole man for he taxed the Pharisees for cleaning the outside of the Cup. SO being Christians in truth let 's leave others to boast of being Catholicks and brag of their Iesuitism we shal exult in our Lord Iesus Christ honouring revering but not dareing to assume the name Iesus there being no other name under heaven by which we can be saved Christian including only our duty obedience and respect unto Christ whereas Iesus imploys his office and benifits towards us and therefore no project how devoutly so-ever carried on ought to appear under that notion in the world and truly the interpretation of the same being known the inapâ—nesse thereof as to Ignatius Disciples would as clearly appear as the incongruous name Cosmographers give to the Magelanican sea calling it Mare Pacificum that is peaceable whereas the Pilot finds it still rageing and stormy which they are to that degree that they are a burthen a curse and cursed by the generality of that Church wherein they so monstrously breed and if obedience Laws designs scops give names they are neither to be called Ignatians nor Iesuits but Popelings IESVS is his name and Salvation is his office and our profession proclaims our acceptance of him for a Saviour yet who will â—enter a cut or a bruise because he hath a salve or oyntment or break his arm upon confidence of a skilfull Chirurgeon So no lesse warrinesse against offending issueth from the knowledge of a born Redeemer whom we are to use not as Mountebanks for sale of their balsoms viz try his efficacy or skill by putting our selves upon spiritual hazards and run risks in eternal concerns but as wise men avoid both danger and infection and either happening consult him as we do a learned wise Phisician agaiâ—â—t the impurity of our birth unrulinesse of our lâ—â—es and horrour of our death against all which he is a Saviour and ready to help for he was called Iesus IT hath been an old complaint that the celebration of our Lords Nativity in these days hath been polluted by Pagan-like behaviour as if by it we had been liberate from God Sabbaths and Temptations and tyed to nothing but idleness gluttonness and wantonnesse not as God but as if the Devil had been incarnat and this is not of yesterday for we find the Ancients exprobating the case with Christians for their beholding observing some wanton rites of Ianus at this time celebrated yet their zeal was attended with greater knowledge then to raze these dayes out or expunge them from the Kalendar but rather their people from sin the observation of which time being accounted by them as it is yet with the Churches of the Saints at home or abroad reform'd a godly a goodly practice the protestants in Holland France Switzerland Germany c. joins in this practice with the Church of old and we as Brethren ought in charity not to condemn them though we withdraw our Amen In not consenting to that observance LET us abhorring the lasciviousnesse of the Gentile the scandalous practice of the irreligious equally avoiding the maliciousnesse of the Iew serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling Circumcising our selves in our flesh externally by seemlinesse in our apparel to be in our actings irreprehensible and in our speech that it be not contemptible and in the Spirit also internally which consists likewise in three as in our thoughts that they be holy in our affections that they be pure and in our purposes that they be honest all which is most necessary though they may be thought severe as was cutting off the prepuce of the foreskin under the Law by â— knife importing how fast sin stuck and how dear lust is BVT off it must or we shall be cut off râ—ther then which let it go and as about this time there was for our good a new birth a new mother a new Son a new Song a new Marriage a new Spouse a new Brid a new Testament a new Inheritance a new Sacrifice a new Sign a new Child a new Yâ—ar we ought to have new lives laying aside the old leaven of malice wrath envy and all uncharitablenesse going beyond that is exceeding the superstitiousness not to say the righteousness of those Pharisees the Iews who will not eat what is either sour or bitter on their new-years-day but sweet almonds figs rasins as also fish a type of that candor inoffensivenesse that they are to shew towards all the year after before whom their good works must abound and multiply as fish in the Sea that is numerously exercising our selves sincerely at all times in the things that may accompany Salvation and wherewith one may edifie another unto which Circumcion of old did morally enforce and Christs Baptism with ours also doctrinally proposeth IN the Kingdome of Portugal there hath been for above three hundreth years an order of Knight-hood entitled of Iesus Christ that King being Soveraign of the order and held in great esteem not to sensure the Acts of Princes if Cnicht or Knight in our old Saxon English be interpreted a servant as Iames and S.
Paul were of God and Christ how soon might the rude swaine the country lossel the clownish Boor the whistling plowman the earthy drudge find out a way for nobilitating his family and Gentilizeing of himself in observing the rules and orders belonging to the badge and profession of the Gospel Let those of Castile passe for born Gentleman the Bereans are far more honourable Alexander and Nimrod may do great strange and bloody feats while Paul and Cornelius keeping their bodies in subjection least they should be cast-aways more splendidly writs their name and with a greater flourish in the volumns of repute TAKEING heed to Gospel rules holy laws observing the outgoings of the King of Saints even of the paths walks and orders of Iesus the Soveraign and Heir of all things and Kingdoms being King eternal immortal invisible the only wise God 1 Timo. 1.17 maketh the clown a Gentleman the Gentleman a noblesse yea all men from the basest of Pesants Kings unto God the Father and younger brethren to our Lord that is partakers of the whole inheritance with the Son of which dignity if you be religiously ambitious or earnestly covet after you shal do well for Iesus then in all cases shall be a Iesus that is a Saviour in time of trouble MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE WISE MEN Unfolded and applied For Epiphany-Day Ian. 6. Tolbooth Ch. 1671 But preached Sunday-Ian 8. Tolbooth Ch. 1671 MATTH 11.1 Now when Iesus was born in Bethlehem of Iudea in the days of Herod the King behold there came wise-men from the East to Jerusalem Saying where is he that is born King of the Jews for we have seen his Star in the East and are come to worship him THOVGH it be said that God is no respecter of persons yet it s to be understood in his eternal decision and sentenceing men to happinesse or misery conform to the Regularity or extravagancy of their actions for otherwise he eminently signalizeth some above the masse of plebeian beauty by signs and wonders makeing their ingresse to or egresse from the world prodigious or auspicious by unusual occurrences not to speak of the three Suns which appeared when Nero entred upon government or that fearfull comet some months before his slaughter nor of that shining bright before many lights of the Germain Church were extinguished by death as being portentuous it is upon record that glorious worthies have been saluted at their births by visions from heaven auspicating the felicity of their government grandour of their lives and glory of their fame as his late Majesty to passe old and musty Registers of glorious memory journeyed from his Palace to Pauls Church to render thanks for the birth of a Son our present Soveraign about ten of the clock May 29. in bright-day a star was seen to shine predicting as some then said his out-shining and breaking forth at last though for a time he might be out-shined by another not to comment God doth not always speak by his Prophets only but by the meteors and elements likewise in persons especially born for government and if in persons meerly temporal this be what shal indicat to the world the birth of the King of Kings rather then a goodly star and that in the east by whose rayes the Religious Magi whether by Day or night could spel if not read the birth of the King of the Jews for as there were many new things about and at our Saviours birth on earth and all wonderfull as the Angels appearance Zacharias dumbnesse c. It was seemly that the Heavens should also lift up their voice and declair that wonderfull work of God which lay in Iury yet shined to Persia coming to them who were nigh that they might be saved and to them who were afar off that they might be redeemed Therefore there came Wise Men from the east c. HAVEING seen our Lord born for and circumcised by the Jew we should wrong our selves if we beheld him not worshipped by the Gentiles for though Salvation be of the Jews Iohn 4.22 yet it's effects are to the ends of the earth at first the Shepherds adored here Philosophers are come to adore they directed by an Angel these conducted by a star both from heaven to him who was to unite them in one unto himself and of them so united as living stones to build a Temple for the Holy Ghost that is a Tabernacle for himself IN a Mystery behold Araunah the Jebusit offering gifts and David the Jew doing service to our God for the health of both and salvation one of another the Gentile exceeding the Jewish spectators in his the Lord thy God accept thee he knowing the Israelite to have as he had untill the Gospel was revealed a more peculiar interest in God so Christ was King of the Jews that is eminently but not only for he was also the God and King of that King-like Araunah a Gentile ONE day viz. Ianuary the sixth hath been fam'd among the Ancients and it 's first appearance highly rever'd because of a four-fold miracle wrought thereon God even the Father proving as on a Theater the Divinity of Iesus his Son for when he began to be about thirty years of age and baptized in Iordan the Trinity was discovered the Father being in the voice the Spirit in the liknesse of a dove the Son in the flesh and proclaimed to be the Son well-beloved whence by them that day was called Theophania the apparition of God viz from heaven that same day of the next year he at the Marriage of Cana of Galile turned water into wine because of which they called it Bethphania the appearance of God in the house On the same day next year he fed the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes wherefore they called it Phagiphania the appearance of God eating or in eating of this last there is some more scruple then of the other but let him be Anathema that denyes the appearance of a star unto these Wise-men which some will have to be shining when this King was thirteen dayes old others will have him two years old however the day from this was called Epiphania the apparition of God above or from the heavens and this as being more sacred more miraculous the Wise-men seeing believing journying searching adoreing and offering have in the Annals of the Church swallowed up almost all the other that is for the time he being adored now as God which we find not to be done in the other wonders by Jew or Gentile and the solemnity by the Ancients in all ages is especially observed upon that account unto whose venerable and gray-headed practice we shall in all humility conform this universal Lord and Sun of Righteousnesse having a morning star in the East giving intelligence of an approaching day for mans perfect Redemption and by it good tydings to these Magi or Wise-Men and by them to Ierusalem and thence to all the world
Solely knew or foresaw our Lords crosses temptations poverty slights melancholy so to speak since we read of his weeping not of his laughing torture death burial c. The probability of the contrary being so evident or apparent This is not spoken to disgrace that noble Art whether Astronomy or Astrology being perswaded that the stars are both for seasons and signs and works on this inferior world by natural qualities and operations as our herbs do growing in our garden known to the learned Phisician in their vertue upon man yet as this pours no honour on the head of cheating Mountebanks or Empericks so nor the other upon them whose covetousnesse ambition arrogance or other selfish interest hath made them pry into acts of Kings Counsels Armies and as they desired have made the heavens speak to the discredit of the Ingenious Artist and could they blush to their own confusion we are sure to their scorn and reproach we have seen this star-gazer so oft to erect Schemes for such different purposes with different tones unskilful prophesies that laying him aside let us worship GOD in love reverence and fear as the Magi. THIS King we have not the star of his birth that evanishing the sun of righteousnesse himself shining with meridian luster in ordinances and means yet no industry in the work of God among us but contemning Religion revileing piety scandalously by cleaving to the earth refusing to eye the heavens though the signs of the Son of Man be come wars and rumors of wars scarce faith on the Earth and the love of many waxing cold These men of the east shall rise up against us and condemn us who it may be repented at the preaching of this single Star and arising from their bed awakeing as men out of sleep came and worshipped WHAT more all here is Mysterious Christ being born in Bethlehem which is supposed to be the center or midle part of the earth that the vertue of the Son of Man might be more regularly diffused to the Circumference of the utmost bounds of the glob and he again to be their object as equally near as equally dear uniting in him who is called the desire of all nations the impulse or star leading to the house is that lively and heavenly gift of Faith by which the serious and industrious shal be led for embraceing of saveing truths the Air heavens or firmament in which that star was and the star it â—elf again speaking as it were with a tongue Christ to be born is the Church and the Prophets Apostles Ministers thereof created that is qualified for that end viz. edifying of the Church untill she come to the stature of Iesus Christ. The Ethnick Magi honouring Christ more then and far above the Iew tipifys the amplitude of the Gentiles conversion and prognosticks it shall be more then that of the Iew Herods slaughtering of the infants to the number of an hundreth fourty four thousand not to be thought incredible in so populous a place as Iudea though others shrink this full mouth'd number into fourteen thousand where of his own son was one manâ—festly shews the Devils rage his emissaries fury against the Church of God and of his Christ in all ages yet as Christ was preserved in Idolatrous Egypt in which by the by it 's said the Idols fell at his entry so shall his Gospel out live all heathen vanities Christianity at last enjoyning all Idolatry as holy Alexander in the Tripartit did the Pagan Philosopher at Constantinople who preparing to dispute was charged thus in the name of the Lord Iesus I command thee to be silent and the Philosopher immediatly was mute so great shall be the force of truth of Christian verity THE Magi were Wise Men Kings say some Ambassadors from Kings say others how ever good-men and who perceives not that not Manners with Wickams motto but Religion makes the man the prophane haveing but an external sign of Man hood a Fool a Mad-man as beside himself for though Reason make a man with the Philosopher Honour with the Herauld yet Religion is all in all with God and good men hence these are called Wise Men. WHEN the Magi entred the house they found saith the Holy Ghost the Child his Mother it cannot be granted to them who thinks there was a good providence here that Ioseph was absent least he should have been taken for the Childs Father since that same Spirit that revealed so great a matter and inspiring them in so high a way as to adore him did in likly-hood forestale any such surmise yea possibly every punctilio of the conception might not be reveal'd to them and so her Virginity not thought upon for the scruple about the Father might have come in their heads whether Ioseph was present or no the Mother may be only named here as in other places afterward she being indeed real mother to Christ Ioseph not named not from his absence but as haveing no relation to that Child before whom they fell and worshipped first next opening their Treasures presented unto him Gold Frankincense and Myrhe THAT which is here called worship is in our civil adoration called homage which in Scripture language is Kissing of the Son and unto Kings is a symbole of subjection acknowledged here above customary salutations exceeding all court-ceremony being a paying of homage to Divinity and respects both soul and body adoring the Word in flesh wisdom in infancy the truth of the Deity truly in humanity the blessed Lord hideing these things from the wise and prudent who at the birth of a King had looked for pompuous trains splendid attendance stately lodgings ravishing musick but these men had not so learned Christ falling down giveing as is the custom yet in Eastern countries head and knee hand eye and love zeal and true adoration preferring him to themselves their learning their possessions presenting with some of the fruits of their land as Gold and Frankincense and Myrhe THE two last being plentifully offered to God under the law which being now finished the reserve and store is returned to Christ there being no more offering for sin upon the altar but the Gold typifies their trampling upon secular or worlely wealth in comparison of those riches they had acquir'd by his advent which proceeded not from inspection into glasses books or maps but from heavens inspiration that giving the sign gave also the thing signified the Myrhe which preserves the dead from putrifaction offered to him is in the Mystery acknowledging both ours and their hoped for Resurrection to proceed from him alone Gold the price of our Redemption to be told down by his satisfaction and righteousnesse the incense a perfume used in sacrifice with both Jews and Heathens given to him shadoweth abolishment of all legal offerings and diabolical services that he viz. Christ may be all in all A King they asked for a King they found and like unto a King they offered Herod said seek not
Paschal lamb was on this day slain in the evening of the world before as another Moses he could deliver us from hels Pharoh and sins slavery Now the waters of Noah are falling and we are to enter into the wooden ark of his CROSSE the bloud of this our Abel slain by his brethren calling and inviting us to expect and enjoy better things from which though the Tribs run Let us run to seek him and know where he is laid to carry him into the more proper sepulâ—ure of hearts and consciences HE shall drink is prophetical and in the Gospel accomplishment it is that he gave up the Ghost that he was bruised in Genesis or that he washed his cloaths in the blood of the grap with Iacob is with the Evangelist his drops of blood Adams coat made him of the skin of those beasts killed for sacrifice is in the mystery robs of righteousnesse made by faith in the merits of his death for dy he must since Isaac was offered and upon a tree for Adam sayes if enquir'd he eat of the tree Abraham will testifie that he must bear his own CROSSE for Isaac bore the wood Iacob assures he must dy in the open field for there he saw the ladder and visions of God he must be nailed and then lifted up upon the CROSSE for Moses lifted up the Serpent upon a Pol he must be sold at a smal price for Zachary saw him vallued he must dy among thieves for he was numbred among transgressours he was also to ly in Iosephs tomb for he made his grave with the Rich Isa. 53. He shall shews futurity i. e. that it was to be done and let the mystery of the bloody Sacrifices be vewed this draught is foretold yea the rites of the heiser Numb 19. respects the sublime work of Christs death and if Mathew be enquir'd he saw all this done nay himself and Moses spake of what he should suffer at Ierusalem YET let none expound this shall as denoting compulsion or hinting coaction as though he did not consent for though by Fâ—ther let this cup passe from me he seem to savour himself and to plead from fear from infiâ—mity yet not my will but thine be done is from the spirit the first instructing what he was to suffer even terrible things in this red sea the other what we ought to do when encountering hazard even embrace them saying welcome be the will of God not repineing or starting back from the burthen so as with the Romans to have us goaded forward as unwilling of the CROSSE or pricked to march on as slaves were whence that phrase to kick against the pricks but chearfully to undergo what God thinks fit to lay upon us for though there was a necessity that Christ should dy in respect of the intended end for our redemption and of the Father in respect of Iustice against sin and as Christ before as man he could enter into glory yet still not my will but thine be done is a strong reserve against all objections proveing he was not dispirited in himself but teaching us his Disciples least raveings dispair in cups of adversity should cause a disrelishment of the sweetnesse kindnesse and good things of God THE Father sayes he shall the Son sayes I will for a mans consent was appended to his sin so must his Saviours assent be obtained for it's remission as it was not only in the garden but in the manger all the parts and changes of his life being but as so many little deaths or draughts before his large one upon the CROSSE a potion which he saw prepared and appointed in all it's ingredients and yet not withstanding drank of it giving his back to the smiter saying to the Traitor what thou doest die quickly the words not of a desperate but of a prepared man even so Father because it seemed good in thy sight THE Scripture speaks of his flying from place to place yet not fear of dying but care to dy at his hour is to be understood an unwillingnesse to work miracles at mans pleasure that is at mans lust and that precept arise take the young Child and his Mother and flee into Egypt to passe the application thereof unto that law thou shalt not seeth a Kid in his Mothers milk Exod. 23.18 if he were not to be killed young the charge insinuats a pilgrimage rather then a flight for out of Egypt was GOD to call his Son and that his escape from other place was not principled from fear is deducible from this that afterward he chused to dy more shamefully publickly and more tormentingly then any death formerly his enemies had forecasted he resolving to dy not by necessity debility or weaknesse these having no hand in his death as his loud cry at his yeelding up of the Spirit cleareth discovering such a degree of divine vertue that the Centurion impungs all proffers enervats all accusations in this one truth truly this was the Son of God WE read of some who could sleep when they pleased and wake at the same time as Henry the 4 of France but Christ can dy when he will and untill he will he will not passing through the midst of his haters and escapeing he having only power to lay down his life and at his own appointed time laid it down HENCE it 's not to be inferred that he was not killed by the Jews for it is a truth he was though not as other men in whom things natural are not subject to the will as the conjunction or separation of the soul with the body for then is a man said to be killed or murthered when that is done or suffered which in it self and in nature did or naturally doth produce that which is called death Now Christ had a will in spite of his enemies to cede or not to yeeld to death as he pleased but because they put upon him such apt means of destruction and tendencies to dissolution it pleased him to yeeld unto death having really suffered so much as in nature might have procured death in them who were purely natural and meeâ— men therefore dyed he before the thieves becausâ— he would therefore also before the thieves because he had suffered by watching fasting it's possible bleeding since we read not of their removeing the thorny crown his scorning also and reproach adding to his langour and in Pilat's wonder Hastning his death before their's so that with Stephen it is to be attested that they viz. the Iews were of him the just one the betrayers and the murtherers THE pronown He is personally to be understood He that is the Lord the second person shall drink therefore He that is again himself God shall lift up his head He that is the man shall drink therefore He that is the Father shall lift up his head and in this Mystery of Godliness of the passion we are not to separate what the Father and Spirit hath joyned together viz. God and
thunder-struck the conscience-smitten sinners who with Iosuah ly all day before the Ark of the Lord complaining of flams kindled in their souls through wrath forâ—een being invaded by sudden incomes from above as by a troup before tâ—e Lord himâ—elf come to pul down and to destroy to sentence to condemn with Mary Magdalâ—n they cry who shall roul us away the stone of our sadness sloathfulnesse haâ—d-heartednesse and bitternesse wretched mâ—n that we are who shal roul away the stone from the Sepulchre of our hearts from the sight of our eyes and in pithy Harangues deâ—ats upon their own misery because of ransgression with broken pauses again feelingly sigh because of aggravated circumstances calling out with that convert Thais who having led a life unchast and purchas'd great riches by unlawfull embraces loathed her self and casting away her wealth not daring to name God her ordinary prayer was O thou that made me have mercy upon me BVT there are to whom he is risen making them to rejoyce with exceeding great joy becomeing rivals even to Angels in point of exhileration rising from the deadnesse of rottennesse and filthinesse darknesse and horror found in the vault or grave of polluted Adamsâ—ffâ—pring â—ffâ—pring having the lively colour of a sanctified countenance in the face of their conversation by being conform to the amiable aspect found in the behaviour of the old Saints which if denyed they answer as the blind man did the Pharisees one thing we know whereas we were dead now we live and behold the things that are above not bowed down as before but makeing straight paths for our feet towards the mysticall Galile to see our Lord avoiding the sâ—arch of these Finical Apish Trivial poor things in the valley of this world to enquire after 1. what is in that mount to which he hath ascended and 2. whereof he hath told us for remember to seek the things to affect the things that are above to be dead with Christ and then to live like him are the only four scriptural tokens of a spiritual Resurrection flowing from the power of our Lords rising from the dead OVR elder brethren the Jews keeped one passeover and their first at their comeing out of Egypt Exo. 12. another was observed in their journey through Sinai Numb 9. a third at their entry into the holy land that Christ is our passeover and that he is the lamb of God and that this is our Paschal feast in the truth verity and substance of the old rite of eating the passeover is clear and evident yea let the Mystery of that lamb be reviewed and both the Christians duty and the Christians Saviour are beautifully delineated a lamb pourtrays Christs meekness innocency and harmlesnesse that the lamb was to be of the Male kind respected his courage activity and Spirit it 's spotlesness his undefilednesse with guilt or sin it 's being a year old the perfectnesse of his age and ripenesse of understanding exactly qualifying him to preach it 's takeing in the first moneth shews our duty of consumeing the whole year in Gods service the first moneth whereof being consecrated unto him by this formal worship points out that he is enfeassed of the whole that it was to be in the fourteen day of the moneth sheweth Christs comeing in the darknesse of the soul and with full Moon clearnesse shins for secureing it against the darknesse of error and the evening doth so evidently publish his comeing in the last days or ages of the world that it needs no remark That it was to be eaten with unleavened bread banisheth malice and wickednesse this day from the houses of your hearts that it's blood was sprinkled upon the door is but the necessity we stand under of haveing our hearts purged from an evil conscience that it was to be rosted only not boyled is but the wholesomenesse of the Gospel of peace and implys it's good nourishment and that the Doctrine thereof is not pleasantly to be handled according to the soft or easy tempers of men that nothing was to be left of it enjoins nothing of Christ to be reprobated slighted or set by and that no bone of it was to be broke discovers that as Christ lost nothing by his passion so by nothing since is he to be overcome or hereafâ—er to be â—uperate COMMONLY we call this feast Easter from Eoaster an old Saxon goddesse whose feast was either in or about this time celebrated but the name Pasch i e a going over a marching away is more holy more divine more Scripâ—uâ—al and the Resurrection falling upon the Pasch raâ—her to be used for our instruction in keeping this feast which who so would keep with Christ who on it passed from the grave and his holy Church must keep it with the sour herbs of sorrowful contrition as nobly resolved to hold fast the profession of our Faith against all difficulties LET us with him eat our passeover standing and like religious pilgrims not leaning upon the staffe of our own understanding but upon that of the Spirit which may be obtained and preserved by girding our â—oyns abstain from fleshly lusts having the shoes of peace whereby in holy solidity and grave deportment we only make way and passe towards heaven in hast that is not being tepid dul or negligent in heavenly matters or soul-concerns leaving the spiritual Egypt or Pharaoh of Satans subtilty and earths gaiety going through Sinai or the thorny cares troubles vexations that are in this world still making progresse toward Iordan in the walks of sincere devotion untill we see the Captain of the Lords host in religious confidence and as Iosua stood so let us worship with the Disciples saying what saith my Lord unto his Servant not fearing but to feel the vertue of that expression all power is given me in heaven and in earth but Mark 16. ye shall cast out Devils which is done by the Ministry of the Gospel and when a Soul is converted from the error of his ways ye shall speak with tongues i. e. the prophane ribbauldry of fleshly communication shal be renounced the things that accompany Salvation being the substance of your future discourses ye shall take up Serpents in driving malice wrath rancour back-bitting whispering evil surmising from the ground caverns and hollow places of the heart and if you drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt you in not being drawn away by the enticements of the great deceiver but rather in zeal cry out depart you cursed or if by guile you transgresse redrâ—osse shal be obtained by a vomitting up the sinful potion in acknowledging thy sin by which you shall not dy for some shall lay hands on thee as sick recovering thee by the light of a good example and provoking hereafter to love and to good works to joy and comfort as Peter was when Mary according to her charge informed him of his Masters rising and of his place of meeting to him in particular giving him
Gradation and generally understands an Act flowing purely from the Power Vertue Ability alone of the Ascender and in Scripture is interpreted a motion to a Holy and Honourable Place it is a going down to Egypt but it s a going up to Canaan it s a going down to Iericho but it s a going up to Ierusalem to the house of the Lord and going up to God 1. Sam. 10.3 and Ascending here beareth both this latter and that former sense of His own power CHRIST not being translated as Enoch neither was He rapt as Paul nor carried as Elias nor ravished in the Spirit as Iohn the Divine but did Ascend climbing up the scale of the clouds untill He got above all Heavens its true His Birth is said to be an Ascending the humane nature being by it advanced and is called a rideing upon a cloud Isa. 19.1 His Death is called an Ascending for He was lifted up upon the Crosse that Palm-tree whereof the Church is said to speak Cant. 4.8 but these were Improper and Metaphorick ascendings this whereof we are to speak is proper corporal bodily and local THE Understanding as chief Governour and Regent of the Soul being first to be informed least ignorance marre our present design and that the Will with more opennesse be sooner allured to advance toward and chuse the projected good this day laboured for wherein our LORD happily yea gloriously finished and ended all His Travels We shall shew whence and then whether He ascended YOV must note He had lived in and trod upon the Earth and woe was He for abideing in that Mesech being hedged and entangled three and thirty years with the thorns and nets of calamities and trouble it being to Him a perpetuall Calvary a place of suffering so coupling him to sorrow that He was a man of sorrows Isa. 53.3 Once we find Him reading and once writing oft â—raying yea IESVS weep'd the shortest â—entence in the Bible Yet that IESVS should weep maketh infathomable compassion conspicuously discernable and we know He did it more then once but that He laughed we have not one Text that doth so much as smile that way His life being conâ—orme to His birth which was in tears sighing out His time and groaning in the Spirit for the falls follies and laughings of men THAT glory he had with the Father when he was not the Son of Man being revealed to his Man-hood by his Divinity brought down the sale and in his esteem the worth of those sights the world or the god of this world offered unto him the glory and Kingdomes thereof not abusing his refined understanding nor blinding his judgement to the defalcation of that real worth which was in the solidness of a future expected glory but left an impress more deep in his Heaven-born Soul to contemn those flourishes the Temple stones or a Herod or a Kingly Office in all its glory could represent to his uneâ—ring fancie which did frustrate in him and indeed does in all believing upon him the fairest perswasives or most prolifick enjoâ—ments sensuality can or could offer He and They because of him accounting all of these in their summe totall what Solomon did in deep knowledge and Gellimer King of Goths in high grief attested who being presented as Captive before Justinian in his glorious Throne rent his garments crying hideouslâ—y Vanitie of Vanities all is but Vanitie the Varnish whereof he beholding with reluctancy did endure its flattering promises and with constancie its eagerest and most stupifying menaces this day hasted to the Hils of Frankincense and calls upon you as upon His Spouse To come from Lebanon the tops of Amana from the top of Shenir and Hermon from the Lyons Den from the Mountains of Leopards Can. 4.8 From Pâ—aces and Hills seemingly beautifull yet Hazardous beyond expression Syrians Philistims as bâ—asts devourinâ— and destroying men for with me there is neither Iudas Iew Herod nor Devil that can attach WHICH invitation if lifted unto by Faith we may supperad that of the Church 1â— Can. 4. Draw me we will run after thee Shewing willingness but withall inability the imitation of his flight pardon the expression being the Period of the Souls desire detesting the Malignity of this world and contending against its Dignity the first embittering its greatest enjoyment as an iron brusing the bone the lâ—st founded as upon ice ready to be dissolved both to the eternall hazard of all good The Church wishâ—th and prayeth to be drawn after him in imitation to him by affection yea in him by Vnion and Impession AS the birds of the Air though Jesus by a compounded for or conseâ—ted unto necessity sometimes touched â—he Earth for his meat yet like thâ—m again his aspiring thoughts frequented the more holy and durable objects which were above the Sun food for man being not only brought from bread disdaining the admittance into his breast the dust heaps of earthly trash which the crafty foxes and wild beasts of avaricious and carnall oppressors worldly Muck-worms felicitat themselves in which was expressed in this expression A little while and ye shall not see me and again a little while and ye shall see me because I go to the Father John 16.16 As if his abode upon Earth in any kind was still to be short by which he gave assurance Mortality in the image of his flesh was shortly to be put off and the same flesh to be again invested with the robes of Majesty and glory which being heeded by his Followers causes support against the ruinous deceits this Mortality endeavours to entangle them in resolving to fight with him even to suffering of death concluding to be victors in his Resurrection and to triumph in the vertue of his Ascension OLIVET giving so much light and Calvary that knowledge to the sanctified head that all sufferings and glorious actings how different so ever they appear and how vast seems the discrepancie between Christ on the Cross and Christ in the Cloud when compared together yet center in this one thing mans Ascension unto glory unto which as weak yet though weak the Good-man shews earnestnesse and willingness to possess in saying Draw me promising not to be sloathfull in the acquisition of such dignity subjoyneth we will run after thee and truly as mercy began towards man at or in Christs birth and continued in his death published at his Resurrection so was it sealed ratified and confirmed in his Ascension henceforth no more to be doubted then whether Christs being there is to be scrupled that being the seal by which all is made sure which was Written in 〈◊〉 word subscribed by miracles supeâ—â—scribed by death directed in rising the third day but signed as by the Kings own signet by the seall of glorious verity this day wherein in our flesh heaven was entered and we being flesh Enfranchis'd or Incorporat into that Citie naturaliz'd into that Kingdome as natives as Citizens or if you please have got seasment of that
the pronouns force He the Son of Man on Earth was He who though now talking yet as God is in heaven the word IS is urged for as Man he was at the same instant on Earth and not yet ascended to that place where He as God was before THIS ariseth from the union of the two natures in him viz that of Man and and that of God where the properties of each other are attributed to the whole person which yet in examination must be only referred to one of these natures as in these words save the Son of Man which Is in heaven 〈◊〉 if then he had been there which to affirm of his Mâ—n-hood were erronious He speaking to them under the Sun but as God it is â—greable to Truth and therefore the Ascendâ—ng of the Son of Man must not be undersâ—ood of his Deity for as God he is uncapâ—ble of going to any place being in all places â—t once and filling all by the infinity of his nature His Ascending therefore is to be applyed to his humaâ—ne nature wherein only he can properly be said to shift places and change seats and where he was before to his God-head he being with the Father before all Worlds which Doctrine of Union puzzeling Nichodemus made him wonder but remember he came to Iesus by night and untill this Sun rose upon the face of the Church this Doctrine was hid from the wise and prudent Rabbies but now unto Babs and Children this light shineth comparing Scripture with Scripture words with deeds with the assistance of the holy Ghost it is known that when Christ was crucified the blood of God was shed and when the Son of Man rose the Son of God rose when the Son of Man ascended God also ascended the Personall Union of the two naturs allowing the expressions The Word which was made Flesh at this time havâ—ng never seen heaven the Word then Flesh was to ascend and sit in heaven where the flesh that was the Word had never been WHAT St. Paul mentioned of the severall members of the body which though having their own peculiar functions yet united make one body and applyes it saying so also is Christ that is the Church 1 Cor. 12.12 May be alluded unto here in these two natures of Christ of which we say so also hath the Church every member thereof being the Son of God as well as the Son of Man and their Ascending into heaven as Sons of Men with their flesh and bones ascends but where they were before in their Spirits and desires Enoch a typ of Christ ascending and also of the ASCENSâ—ON of all the elect at the end of the world was but coached up bodily into that place where Religiously he had oft in Soul been that precept of haveing our affections above where Christ is Col 3.2 By Faith in love carries the soul aloft giving it wings to behold and see feel and â—â—joy the joyes rapturs sweetness that is 〈◊〉 the Paradise of heaven the new Ierusalem â—hich is above while the flesh or fleshly part of man is represented in the Embleme as the â—ring at a birds feet in the hand of a boy or 〈◊〉 unto a stone hindring the full fruition â—f the Souls Ardency in ascending to the heavenly mansions its clogginess impeding the spirit through fervent desires to be upward 〈◊〉 that He as man in flesh when ascended but â—cends unto that place where He when man in â—pirit was before THE Ascension for mans Instruction is â—everall wayes expressed in holy Writ two whereof are most Celebrious it s called ascending up on high in the old and an ascending 〈◊〉 the Father in the new Testament Psal. 68.18 Iohn 20.17 In the first is insinuared the glorious blessednesse and Majesty he is endowed with and possessâ—d of all things being in his estimate as low as they are in their own site the other unfolds his exaltation above all Creatures whether Heaven Saints or Angels hinting at his equality with God all glorified Spirits shouting at his entry into the heaven of heavens called in the Prophesie God's going up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a Trumpet Psal. 47.5 And by the way if heaven rejoyce at the entry of the Son of Man what Jubilations ought to be on Earth at the ascending of the Son of God since he did it only to receive gifts for men Psal. 68.18 That is from God the Father that he being man might deliver them to men 4. Ephe. 8. And the Quire of Angels beholding his Kingly gate through the Clouds and manly steps upon heavens glorious and shining pavement Answered and questioned each other who is the King of glory and warning the porters yea the gates of heaven themselves to speak after the manner of men to be open'd to be lifted up for the King strong and mighty this Lord mighty in battel Psal. 24. That he had power and authority over Earth was eminently known in Lazarus come forth his dominion over the Sea was demonstrated by his walking on its proud waves that the Aire was at his controule was discover'd by his commanding of the winds that Hell was not exempted from his Soveraignity was made evident in casting out of Devils that Angels were made subject to him was not or in that they ministred unto him and served him Now there wanted one thing but one thing to shew that he was Lord of all things which was his ASCENSION up to heaven by which he proved himself Lord of the Vniverse and for creating this faiâ—h in the hearts of his own he did ascend in the sight of his Disciples not of the eleven only but probably of the hunder and twenty S. Luke Acts 1. Having mentioned both the women and brethren that were with Christ and in his Gospel having spoken of them who saw him after the Resâ—rrection hath so carried on the thread of his History that the eleven being expressed the other seemes not to be excluded this blessed sight of his Ascending being so recorded as indifferently to serve all the persons mentioned that as being by all men seen all should confess him to be Christ for the glory of God the Father THERE is in nature some secret pressure of Spirit when not vehemently by-assed with urgency of affairs vehemency of fear that maketh a man long for and longingly to labour after a sight of his Native Country Vlisses is said after ten years travel in and about the Hâ—lespont to desire a sight but of the smoak of his Country from the godds promising thereupon satisfâ—ction though he should dy at the same time yet was not that Rome head of an Empire nor Athens a University of Arts buâ— Ithaca a rocky poor fish town in the Ionian Sâ—a from heaven did the Son of Man come that was his Country his native soyl there it was where he had been before and towards it he had always a moneths mind as earnestnesse is expressed in the Proverb Lifting oft
a voiding so dreadfull an arrow as sentence to eternall flames or formidable mischief from so omnipotent â—n arm who can even cloathed in flesh make us feel the sting of his displeasure in first blowing and then kindling the very first streams of hell within us as he did in desparing Iudas and vagabonding Cain IT is true we pretend much to the Spirit and braves out reproof yea censure upon that score anticipating in conceit Heavens joy by the assurances we brag already to have possessed from especiall evidence above as if the mighty wind had already blown upon us whereas we are yet carnal and sold under sin having not that noted nimblenesse to perform all Religious exercise clearly observed to be in them who answer the Spirits call for though with the Publican we may come down from the tree of some conceited excellencies possibly our due and birth-right by washing the Saints feet visiting the sick feeding the hungry binding up the wounded yet really we sadly behold that through some opinion or nice punctilio we adjourn attendance upon God in expresse duty either altogether or approach with reluctancy untill with him in the Gospel We first bury our father Matth. 8.21 which equally with him maketh us unfit for the Kingdome of God for no sooner did the wind blow then the Apostles were inspired immediately not about the restoring of the Kingdome to Israel but of Israels enjoyment of the Kingome the promise vâ—z of Heaven not of the Earth being to them and to their children the Spirit hateing dull delay wherefore it was also a sudden sound from Heaven making them straight heavenly the sound being before the spirit for gathering in of their Spirits causing intense attendance upon that which was to be revealed the sound from Heaven making them heavenly minded the sound from Heaven coming suddenly confirmes the Doctrine of the spirits aversnesse from sloath the sound from Heaven that came suddenly was of a rushing mighty wind the wind rushing causing spirituall awe mighty to excit their depressed and it may be desponding souls and wind to purge their hearts from filth and blow away what in them was lurking to detard from that employment which by the Spirit they were intended for and for which like full vessels they were filled so as no earthly thing could enter there wanting room no temptation make them rail sound or roar as empty they being filled WHICH deliberatly consider'd deplorable inferences must be inferred touching the sad mistake of too â—oo many whose opinion only is the alone significant thing before others causing them to be accounted Saints or some conceit in themselves which groundâ— only to themselves the certainty of their future glory which errour shall be to it's possessors I might say Admirers what the voluptuous life of the Sophist Isaeus was to him which how delightful soever at first yet at last bâ—moned his being Tantaliz'd that is supposed to find good and rejoyced in its proximity yet still went without and was at last frustrate of all hopes thereby being but dreams and shadows for as all is not gold that gâ—â—sters so neither is every thing that ravishes by and by to be termed Divine Nor whaâ— affects yea comforts the heart to be presently surnamed types of Heaven yet where Dexterity Agility in the things of God are accompanied with Purity Peace Ioy and Heavenly mindednesse as in the Apostles here its a pâ—â—gnant proof of the in-being of the Spirit and coming down of the HOLY-GHOST whence comforts truly originat and flâ—w c. TWO thousand and odd years had mans Ambition exposed him to infamy Lewdnesse and Idolatry by Gods confounding languages at Babel stopping then from perfecting that joyntly intended Tower by dividing their speech which at this day again was transferred by plurality of tongues unto a blessing the Spirit diverssifying the Apostles tongues not to disturb the world bâ—t advance the Church in propagating Faith the readier that there needed no Interpreter every Preacher being furnished with the gift of every tongue to speak to the multitude of the devout that Iesus was the Christ Uniting them again to be of one mind and one accord for edifying themselves in love and one another in the holy Faith which is a strong Tower of defence as the Name of the LORD Prov. 18.10 and whose top indeed reacheth up to Heaven each Convert being as a stone to the building and united by the Cement of the Blood of the Eternall Covenant laid on by the hand of the Spirit who can as here turn ill to good by drawing good from it whether for mans profit or his Makers honour as Levi's curse in being scattered occasionally through grace made the Lord to be his portion and be sanctified for Priest unto the Tribes Numb 3.12 CONFOVNDING of Languages made the whole Earth to be peopled each company flocking planting building together according to that understanding they had of their neighbours speach which now brought great things to passe for the Almighties praise all Nations beholding these unletter'd men from Heaven in an instant promptly uttering the good things of Peace and Reconciliation with Him who first confounded them and of Reconciliation and Peace with all who were confounded with them all tongues expressing this one thing Love the Brethren 1 Pet 3.8 As Christ hath loved you and given himself for you THE tongue is a purifying mundifying member it can lick out viscuous matter can suck out putrid and infections corruption from the body as did that of the Lady Ellenor wife to that Prince of Chivalry Edward Prince afterward Edward the first of England her Lord being engâ—gâ—d and fortunate in the Holy war was almost assassiâ—nate by a Turk being wounded with a poysoned kniffe with which the Prince slew the Attemper but Physicians despairing of his own recovery the noble Lady her Lord sleeping is said to suck and draw the venome forth recovering her Husband she her self not being endangered thereby The tongue is a tasting member by iâ— we know the white of an egg to be unsavory it is a speaking member the Hierogliphick of a word among the Egyptians was a tongue and by it we blesse God at this day and alasse by it also we curse men setting it on fire as from hell to reform which and virtuate the doctrine of the Gospel for drawing forth of the Soul the deadly poyson of Atheism and Prophannesse by pravity and exemple thrust upon us and put in us by those watchful lusts and vigilant adversaries of our Lord and of our souls because we would regain that Ierusalem that Royal City of pure and Holy peace with God which hath been wrested out of our hands by Turk-like force Tyrrany and Cunning FOR draining us of such putrid filthiness and the whole world is the Spirit represented in that shape the first fruits whereof appeared in that first and Famous Sermon of S. Peter whose tongue had been but a few weeks before so glib for
lying and cursing now fluently detects the monstruous deformity of the Jews bloody Zeal and bridles their passion yea from convinced guilt oblidgeth them so fare to renounce there former impietys against Christ honoured and blessed of his brethren as to rejoyce in the knowledge of him Crucified craving remission of sin thereupon to the Churches ineffable glory the accession of Multitudes to her banner upon that score dispiriting her opposers and creating fear upon every soul beholding the stupendious wonders wrought by the Power Hands and Tongues of such whom the wise of the world though not worthy of veneration BEFORE Christ dyed his Apostles feet were washed John 1â— 5 For exact circumspect and clean walking and after he ascended he cleanseth their tongue for Prudent Holy and Pure talking consulting in all their converse with truth verity and love That as it is naturaly placed between the heart and head so its motion should be regular by there consent being seasoned with salt Colos. 4.6 That is gracefullness and discretion flowing from mature deliberation and wise for-thinking not hurried to the violation of precepts by the winds of passion but consult and compleat what from duty and charity upon holy and sober inspection we shall find incumbent for our place and calling Not swelling in rancor but alwayes remembring the proverb of the Arabs being wary least our tongues cut our throats For can it be questioned but that Dives was the more tormented in his tongue that he had scandelously offended in that member which walking in uvo i. e. lying in moysture is the more prone to glid glib fiery in colour edged as a sword therefore by nature sheathed in lips and teeth quenched with water God seting more guards and closer Centurys about it then other parts of the body arguing its ferity and unrulyness TONGVES resting upon the first preachers of the Gospel and probably upon others also the contexture of the History Acts 1.15 being grounded from the hundreth and twenty and not reading how Stephen Philip and the other Deacons received the HOLY GHOST a more conjecturall time is hardly to be found then the Pentecost I say tongues resting at first upon those Holy Teachers indicats how the Spirit tryeth and designeth their willing condiscending to those generous rules of refined language and what he sayes to them he sayes unto all Take heed unto your wayes that ye sin not with your tongue Psal 39.1 The image whereof as it were growing from because rooted in a serpents tail with the inscription quo tendis whether goest thou was of old an Embleme of those unhappy issues men were brought into whose tongues were not poysed with premeditation and wise government which yet must not be thought identical with carnall subtilty or that selfish principle of fawneing flattering and caressing any in unjust practises for sensuall and proper advantages there being a time of and for speaking as well as a time of silence and restraining of the tongue which cannot be more pertinently said though more properly to be set on fire of hell then when it is employed by the Divel or brib'd by his emissarys to stand mute and not defend the truth under pressure or to utter words of slander Calumny Atheism and Blasphemy lyingly or wickedly engaging men into Hellish broyls dangerous garboyls glorying in the bravery and finness of Satanical Rhetorick boasting because we have outrail'd and it may be silenced our Brother not convinced not converted but heated by our words as by coals of Iuniper which kindled once burneth even some months after Devil like leaves off speaking in not answering again for a season purposeing afterward in fiery rage to work revenge even unto blood IF the tongue be the glory of a man how shamefully do some abuse their glory and tread there honour in the dust Let thy talk Reader hereafter and thy silence also be such as is fit for Saints and worthy of God symbolizing with Crucigerious of the Last age who spake oft to his Friends about Christian Doctrine of the wounderfull preservation of the Church of immortality and the â—ope of glory which and the like thereto shall evidence the Spirit to have sat upon thy head as the tongues rested on the Apostles ignorance evanishing and the Mutinees that so oft hath risen in Societies formerly about questions of honour and preferment of sitting at the right hand and who should be the greatest one great cause of our late calamity shall be dashed quieted and repented for all agreeing to talk of the wonderfull works of God! following Iesus our Captain and our Master whom we have oft mistook and misinterpreted but now having a true light and purchas'd a perfect Idea of things Mystical by ouâ— zealous yet sober behaviour by our holy yet peaceable deportment clear to the Multitude that in truth we have been with Iesus and received the earnest Spirit THE tongues are said to be cloven Acts 2.3 Not divided for that were Babel but dimidiated as it were double pointed since there was Heresies to confute sin to detect Exhortations to be given reproofs to be made reason would have them to be gifted for this work and needfull it waâ— to shew there invisible endowments different gifts inwardly possessed by this outward and visible appearance the multiplicated number whereof discovering the variety of those languages which by the spirit they were to instruct in whether to Iew or Gentile implyed in the Mystery from the dimidiatness of the same tongues forkednesse or clift in them these two nations thereby to be united and Law and Gospel though seemingly different to be joyned into one root as proceeding from one cause viz. our Lord Iesus Christ. THIS was known to the multitude of believers out of all nations dwelling at Ierusalem much about the time Christ was expected by the studious Jews themselves and by those now truly gifted brethren who having the true sence or marrow of the law which is nothing but the pith of the Gospel could work the hearts of the observers of either to know and imbrace both yea properly to inferr each others duty and there own requisit practise from what they heard imposed upon the one or known formerly revealed to the other as Davids sepulchre with Peters Exposition doth excellently make offer and convinceingly prove YET not in this only but in the circumstance of time did the Law and Gospel harmoniously unit for these things happned in the dayes of Pentecost one of the three solemn feasts of the Jews so called as being the fiftieth day from the Passeover in which day the law was given from Mount Sina in fire God speaking out of the cloud But that law being broke fiftieth dayes after the rising of our Saviour at the Passeover who then as a Lamb did take away the sins of the world God the HOLY-GHOST came down in fire that is in fiery tongues to imprint a new education of his law in the hearts of the true Israelite
yet with this excellent and comfortable difference that as Moses yeelds to Christ so must Sinai to Sion here was fire only their fire and smoak there was clouds darknesse and earth-quakes accompanâ—'d with fear and trembling Sinai it self quaking But in Sion only a sound as of a mighty wind to prepare the receivers and cloven tongues uniting Iew and Gentile the boundiary of the wilderness being pulled up and variety of tongues perswaded the scattered abroad that God had given the Kingdoms of this world to his dear Son that in a spirituall sence not Israel only but the Earth might become the Lords and the fullnesse thereof typified by that multitude gathered and converted by the heat fireynesse yet harmlesnesse of the Saints charity and ardor having received the remission of sin and that from heaven the self same day their Fathers received the law against which they had transgressed for both was at the time oâ— Pentecost as may be demonstrated in computing the time thus THE people came from Egypt on the 14 day of the month there therefore remained 16 dayes for travell the Hebrews always reckoning 30 dayes for a month the first day of the third month they came to Sinai 30 dayes of the second month being accounted there will with this be found 47 dayes then the Peoples encamping Moses goeing up to God his returning again to the people for clear calculation is called one day which is 48 in which going up again to the Mount he is ordered by God to order the peoples being ready against the third day which will make the 50. â—n which God appeared for reckoniâ—g from the peoples want of bread or fall of Mannah is uncertain and may be erronious this is more clear and evidenceth the Anology better betwixt that fire from God by the Ministry of Angels and writting his law on tables of stone and that by fire in the descending of the Spirit that came one the 50 day after the slaying of the Passover Christ Iesus writting his law upon the tables of the hearts of men in a fuller fairer larger and more clear Character typ or impression but note this reckoning is inclusive the other not THE Persians and some other nations adored the fire for a god because of its excessive power and force in resolving matters combustible how great so-ever into it's own substance and being and usually it 's accounted the most noble among elements being as the heavens among bodies the sun among planets yea it 's purgeing operation made it of old to be the heirogliphick of purity as if they had known the world it self was to be cleansed thereby but how hath the fire of the Spirit from Ierusalem enlarged it self making the frosted heart of the unbelieving world even to glow while it talks of the Cross from heaven which is one of the three things by wise men admired in the earth looking upon the Resurrection and Ascension far short in comparison of that conquest the Holy Ghost hath made of the Grandees of the Nations in their honourable receiving of that doctrine from the mouths of plain men so contrary to the hair of natural inclination and mark it where ever the Spirit cometh it comes ordinarly by the sound of the Gospel and by it's heat we are assured of his reception a heart touched a heart pricked is but a heart heated a heart open'd when a man crys what shall I do with Peters converts Acts 2.37 or take away the iniquity of thy Servant with David 2 Sam. 24.10 surtiship may be offered that the Spirit hatâ— spoken in a saveing way but if it be a complaint of the punishment with Cain or a remove the â—râ—gs with Pharaoh be not rash in Cautoâ—ry this being a Legal not a Gospel expression far from that request of creating a clean heart which the Iews compareth to the Holy of Holies to Solomonâ— throne to Mosesâ—ables â—ables and truly displays that the wickednesse is done away by the Spiriâ—s inhabiting his resting therein and writting thereupon the doctrine of pardon and remission provyding the man seperate himself from an untoward generation Acts 2.40 IT 'S said the Spirit sat upon each of them in which it differs from that unclean Spirit that goeth about compassing the earth to and fro seeking rest but findeth none whereas holinesse is pacifique serene tranquilling consolidating the heart in which he dwels makeing it calm in it self and causing quietnesse towards all others condemning Ambition Covetousnesse Hatred Envy Vanity and what ever els tends to the Churches disturbance in which the Spirit rests sitting in it as upon a Throne purposing to reign as on a Tribunal resolving to judge as on a Chair purposing to instruct for all which in all ages to come he represented his undertakeing on this day establishing himself upon the Apostles heads as by fire clearing them from the rust of Errour the filth of Corruption that as Patterns as well as Preachers they might be exâ—mples of Sanctity to their own generation and give infallible rules for obtaining happinesse unto all posterity for ever COMPVNCTION of heart and remission of sin are both from the Spirit of God and is that new wine which shall only be put in the new bottles of a regenerated soul whereby they shal do and speak as the Spirit shall prompt them I had almost said as the Spirit give them utterance as here the Apostles for we find the whole house was filled with the rushing wind the Majesty of the Holy Ghost excluding all in-maets and though each Apostle had the sanctifyed operation of the Spirit filling every angle and corner of the soul as the understanding with Faith the will with Love and that sin or Devil might be exiled the hands with Promptitude the feet with Solicitude the eyes with Modesty the tongue with Eloquence the whole man with Prudence the Faculty Concupiscible being filled with good the Irascible with courage the Rational with verity though they had all gifts and were all filled yet they spake as the spirit gave them utterance some had five others had two talents and S. Paul abounded and spake with tongues more then they all whereby he who expects the gifts bestowed unto all ought not to caresse himself or hug and embrace himself in the deceiving hopes of a rich ample and perfect possession of the Spirit here but rest satisfied with his gift and with being one of the eleven not envying Peters singularity for he is particularly spoken of and eminency since a pinnace a small yaught shall land as wel as a great ship with full sail under the conduct and flag of the Admiral VPON the coast of the Whit-sea there is a cap called Pentecost and somewhat east of that there is another called Bonae Fortunae q d. good-luck let this day be any mans Pentecost a time of gathering in that is of heeding the law offering the first fruits of strength unto the Lord as the Jews did this day of their
corn it shall as Godlinesse hath the promise enrich both for heaven and earth doing good to him and not evill all the days of his life by pardon the alteration of the coast and similitude giving him a trade wind for the port of his desired rest IN this last age we are not to look for miracles by a sensible feeling of the rite or significant ceremony here used yet still Christ breaths on the Elect enlargeing to that degree their bowels of Love that they â—hew him always their faces being averse neither to his Doctrine nor to his Crosse yet forget not that he ascended before the mighty strong wind blew in upon them and that there may be no mistake there are some â—pon whom the Spirit comes never being â—eft in the ignorance of nature coldnesse of the Earth rawnesse of the flesh there are oâ—hers upon whom he comes but abides not â—lowing only upon them and no more heats â—hem indeed but as warm water they are â—older soon after he washeth them yet afterward they go to the puddle and are offensive â—s before to others he cometh and abideth â—itteth upon them liveth in them fills them outwardly with heavenly ardor celestial â—eat and by fire from above causes them seem â—peaking Seraphims and inwardly with wisâ—ome understanding knowledge in the â—eepnesse whereof they may be stiled Cheâ—ubims yea gods in the liknesse of men and â—hose fiery ones too this was for the Apostles BVT alas we see not those signs to passe â—he fiery tongues of too many in this age atâ—nded with smoak and brimstone the known fewel of Hel flames it is but one of a Citty and two of a Trib in whom we see the love of God an evidence of the Spirit which is known chiefly by the loveing of man who being ready for good works to both and patient in suffering and enduring evill from both and makeing progresse from one degree of vertue to another not falling back into perdition in the sight of either this is for us unto whom the Disciples are as lights after they received the promise of the Father as a gift from Iesus in his triumphant chariot the right hand of the Father the Captain of our Salvation haveing led Captivity captive giveing gifts to men to those then to us now more dureable treasures then those offered by the Roman conquerors of old as Sanctity in fire Purity in wind Eloqution in tongues that a Hebrew man might in Roman Oratory and with Attick Eloquence publish Salvation to the respective people and even perswade and reason them by the Spirit into everlasting blesse I say by the Spirit for unlesse he signifie unto the heart the preaching in the Air wil little avail neither shal ever he be Oraly instructed for laying aside the weight that so easely besets whose mind by the Spirit is not perfectly anointed for discovering the reward designed for observers of the Law he being the principale Master Clearing the memory Refining the Reason Inclining the will by the first alwayes minding us of God by the second directing how to apply him for our good because to him that knoweth his Masters will and doth it not there are appointed double strips by the third he sweetly willingly and powerfully draws us to the practise of the good we know for our souls sake and by the mercy of Iesus and by the fellowship of the Spirit and this alwayes for tongues being the organ of expressing words manifests the perpetuity of the things heard which as by fire are to be engraven and melted into their head and heart for their subsistance in them who are sanctified as is published in the Multitude of converts their joy their union their increase though under persecution AFTER the Disciples return from Olivet we find them enter into an upper roome continuing in prayer by some learned thought to be the place where our Saviour instituted the blessed Sacrament of his body confirmed Thomas in the faith of the Resurrection and where the HOLY GHOST came down in fire upon this day And was as antiquity records the Church and Synod-house of the Apostles in Ierusalem called Coenaculum Sion being first hallowed by our Lords supper and consecrate by other appearances for holy use and service a Church being builded thereupon called the Church of Sion on the top of the mount whereof there yet remaineth some reliques confirming the History and Tradition In this place the multitude of believers about an hundreth and twentie some of them possibly of our Saviours own kinred converts and acquaintance in Jerusalem mett prayed for the Election of Mathias at which time surely God loved the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings in Ierusalem his foundation being in this Holy mount 87. Psal. 1.2 Here was Mary the Mother of Jesus it may be Martha Mary Lazarus who ever they were they continued in one accord in prayer Acts 1.14 for if men give bread when their Children importunatly ask from them and afectionatly being at peace among themselves How much more shall our heavenly Father give the Spirit to such who call for him especially if in sound faith upright heart chast bosoms holy groanings innocent thinkings with unwearied solicitings Which unweariedness is intimated in the words they continued the fire of the Spirit burning up the stinging wither'd Nettles of contention the Thorns of worldly cares the Heath or Heather of â—â—ars and dejectments opening the ground of soul and Spirit for the seed of the good husband man that they might be inriched with â—nd bring forth fruit meet for repentance and â—mendment of life blowing away as with wind the sandy vanâ—ty of self-conceit and opinion hindring growth in grace and knowledge and all triviall trash sordidness being either burned or scattered while the world is Sataniz'd by lust continuing in Gluttony Drunkenness Excess Wantoness and Pride these continue in prayer peace and expecting the promise in high and â—ervent love for the Spirit came down and filled the house where they were sitting that is in quietness together iniquity passionatness talkativenesse itch of disputing about words which gender strif contention and debate the HOLY GHOST purposeng eternaly to be estranged from THAT being known to them and of us to be heeded the Spirit expresseth more then once after the Ascension that the multitude met together in one accord sueing for the acomplishment of the promise which in few dayes that is ten they received haveing asked with the mouth for they prayed with the heart for being heavenly endowed they wenâ— no more a fishing but about the fullfilling of the Scripture Judas being gone to his own place THEY were in Ierusalem likewise which is by interpretation a City of Peace being commanded not to depart thence untill they received the promise of the Father Acts 1.4 Christ purposing to glorifie his Ascension yea all his actings with the greater splendour for there was his greatest humiliation the greatest powring forth of his
blood the lowest bowing down of his Head there at the Pasover in sight of the Nations did his Soul fly upward into Paradise leaving a naked body in the hands of the Souldiers and there again was his greatest exaltation pouring forth his Spirit at the Feast of Pentecost upon his despised Associats the firstlings of whose conversion by his power whom the Rulers had slain but fifty days before in that same City not only reviveing his memory proveing his innocency but convincing their Auditors the inhabitants of bloodinesse and sinfulnesse they thereby becomming adorers of the Cross manageing the vertue and merits thereof in gratifying the Father that is glorifying and pleasing God by rejoycing because of and in the same and of its extension unto all the world the Iew rejoycing in his own pardon for crucifying the Lord of glory the Gentile being glad in partaking of that Salvation which was from the Iews Ioh. 4.22 both now understanding the Prophet in his Out of Zion shall go forth the Law Isa. 2.3 and whence can it come fitter since it s a Law making peace then from Ierusalem a vision of peace where Christ the Prince of peace said once peace be unto you and again peace be unto you Joh. 20.21 that is as I have found you in peace I leave you in peace and abiding in peace the spirit of peace shall abide with you for which receive ye the HOLY GHOST THE Trumpets of the Temple sounded every morning at the opening of the Gates for assembling the devout unto Divine service the Spirit being breathed upon the Apostles here keep'd them together untill the sound of a mighty winde alarâ—m'd them and prepared them for more ample manifestation of his appearance And surely what the Trumpet did our Bells doth now each ting and toll saying Gather your selves together Joel 2.2 and though gathering by many be not regarded and by severall reasoned and printed against yet our falling from the shadow of Religious deportment in shutting our ears against such solemne invitations to our Churches hath not had among us such alluring mercies such beamings of heavens acceptance such self-denying and sin-subduing characters such warme breathings of Ghostly consolations nor such examples impulses to purity and good works but that yet we should go up to the house of the Lord and call upon his Name with the remnant that are left OVR Fiery tongues against Assemblies and the Masters thereof being indeed such that is fiery rather then like as fire God by them being dishonoured and the multitude of the Nations enforced to conclude there from that mystically we be drunk with the wine of astonishment and spirit of giddinesse having a knack of cursing what ever we see contrary to our intentions though urgently sought by us or wishedly endeavoured for what ever Providence doth with us though it may be in the main conform to our prayers and fasts yet in the end we pray and fast yea curse and ly against it since it is so well known the Gall which now imbitters our lives even to separation is no other then that same Gall that hath disrelished our former enjoyments Our disquiet proceeding not so much from this or that object as from our heeding the devil who is come down yea invited down amongst us having great wrath so that in some meetings there is it may be a mighty rushing wind and the sound of that throughout the land but our sitting that is our abideing in that harmonious concord peace and love attested as a badge of the Spirits future coming not being seen its fallacious to inferre the possession of Holinesse though they should speak with Tongues and prophesie OFT did the HOLY GHOST appear but never in the shape of a ravening beast or bird of prey Oyle is soft a Dove is not invective and the fire that came down at Pentecost was without smoak for that hurts the eyes and likewise without natural heat for it sindged not a hair of the head neither did the smell of fire passe on the Apostles it being but like fire an Element in which God had oft appeared as to Moses to Elias the nature of it being adapt to signifie the operation of the Spirit within these men for their own good and benefiteing of others which ardently they pursued prudently instructing and by Grace infusing in others their own acquiâ—'d and infused perfections as by fire melting the hard heart inlightning the ignorant cleansing as from rust the idle and sluggish Soul heating all through the love of ascending towards Heaven which love as oyle keepeth always aloft and without mixing it self with the affecting of things here below they being cast out as by a sink and not to be heeded that is beloved for nauseating the Soul which by the pledge or troth here received as by a Ring hath betrothed it self purely unto God HENCE we may pronounce their piety but formality and shall be more confounding then flat Atheisme who obtruds upon the world their rough hands enflamed cheeks tearing nailes their pilfring humour their slandering tongue to be constituent parts of those multiplicated gifts effused and shed abroad upon their heart by that Spirit which descended in these dayes the pernicity whereof to discover would long detain us from our Port but that of our Saviour detects the insolence by their fruits ye shall know them Matth. â— 16 Rapaciousness and blood-thirstinesse being equally remote from the soul of Him in whom the HOLY GHOST dwells as are the contentions and blasphemies of Hell and the joyes concord and peace in the highest Heavens SVCH who expect visits from great men fits their houses for reception possibly by perfuming pots the Disciples prepared for the Spirit by Vnion Prayer and Love embrace the Pattern imitate the Coppy with repeated acts of incense-like mortification of lust prejudice animositie or whatsoever savours of such nastinesse Using in opposition to these the strowings with the sweet herbs of Brotherly kindnesse meeknesse patience charity and love to God the house I should say the Soul thus scented is disposed for his admission he loving purity and religious cleanlinesse being the only delectable property he pursueth and expecteth THE Church is said to have Doves eyes Cant. 4.1 and the Dove is both a sociable and harmlesse creature refusing to nest in that cote where rottennesse or stench breeds annoyance being delighted with that house most which is furnished with glasses the bird delighting in her own shadow and rejoycing to behold it even in water The Doves eyes indeed properly unsolds the chastity of the Church looking only upon her beloved as a true Turtle and her not following strange lovers but the other known properties of that fowle countercharms the witchcraft-like enchantments that are in this age men caressing that is hugging themselves in a whimsical solitude not desiring to have a discovery of themselves unto themselves least they should relinquish their imbib'd opinions falsely called a principle and say O! who
Man confirmed by two witnesses not called but compelled he is the Son of God said the Centurion A just man said Pilats wife which under the pain of damnation is never to be really separat from our creed both being received and both to be believed PILATS wife his own disciples were against his drinking both of them haveing pitty of him but yet he would drink haveing compassion for them and not for them only but for the whole world for which he was sent to lay down his life and as at Lazarus death when observed to weep it was said behold how he loveth him see him drinking all may say behold how he loveth it mark how he loveth men of which the inscription over the CROSSE or tittle on which the Romans declaired the crime for which the party dyed doth amply discover being in it called Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iews in Hebrew Greek and Latine shewing the vehemency of his affâ—ction for as all nations had heard of his works Pilat resolved that each nation should know the cause of his death and these three languages answering to the three fam'd parts of the woâ—ld viz the Romans the most powerful because martial the Greek the wisest because most learned the Iews the holyest because of the Law and the Devil prompting to this Iesus of Nazareth for nourishing a grosse errour that Iesus was of Nazareth whence the Messiah was not to be but of Bethlehem that none in this respect should behold him as that Prophet which was to come and though sometimes that expression is used yet it 's ever unto the Iews whoso supposed and expressed him that way for all this contrivance of men Gods intendment was that all of all nations should on the CROSSE behold their Saviour and that Iesus was to be their peace-maker by his blood and this to be reported in the three quarters of the world then all the world that Jesus of Nazareth King of the Iews was crucified at Ierusalem according to the Scriptures THIS riddle to unfold veiw the sense of each word Iesus that is a Saviour for sin a Redeemer of captives the hopes of the exiled the Strength of the labourer Enlarger of a straiâ—ned soul the Cooler of a heated and Comforter of a galled conscience behold him Of Nazareth this name was given for fulfilling of that Scripture He shall be called a Nazaren Mat. 2. by interpretation it signifyeth a branch one of his names in the old Testament and who was to build the temple of the Lord by joyning as living stones the elect of all nations kinred and tongues â—s also crowned sanctified and seperat before for that holy use shewing the authority and commission he had to save to unite from the Father which was fit since he was King a word of old pronounced Conning expressing his wisdom and skill to govern his subject by known and established Laws and therefore not a tyrant deserving not so much as a censure of that people who were Iews Gods people glorious in David and to be blessed with the whole Earth in the posterity of Abraham they remaining faithful as Abraham who believed in God who now had accomplished his promise in sending that people a Prophet like unto Moses and caused them to behold Davids Son by which they are the more culpable in importuning his death from a Gentile AT last that cursed Nation for their cursing shall come under the Scepter of this despised King and worship at his holy foot-stool mourning for his wounds for which though himself did not yet the sun laid aside his robes of day cloathing himself in mourning night like darknesse rocks broke and rent assunder because no Iew did rent his garment at crucifying their King Mary weep'd not he what the Son of my womb the Son of my desires while he boasted and would not come down from the CROSS but suffered from the Gentile by means of the Iew what both could inflict for the salvation of both Iew and Gentile then and at aftertimes the voice of their Brothers blood crying still what he did at first Father forgive them i. e. for my sake for I am thy Son for thy own compassion sake they being my Brethren for according to the flesh he was the Son of Abraham the Hebrew as flowing from the loyns of Heber the Son of elected Sem he was also the Son of David the King and so a Iew who was the grandson of Ruth a gentile a Moabitess and so in fraternity to both by Father and Mother to Gentile and Jew was he a Brother PRY into his holy zeal which for Gods house did eat him up and how was he straitned and with desire desired to eat his passover his viaticum his last-food unlesse the Angel even that way strengthned him sweating untill every thing that stood in the way of mans happinesse was removed he not laying down but drinking of the brook in the way swallowing up hels kingdom hasting runing to destroy the works of the Devil his redoubts and entrenchments yea all that both his hands in drawing to sin and halling to punishment could effâ—ctuat weakning the one destroying the other that he should no more lead captive at his pleasure into labour and dolour which Iesus here not only beheld but made entrance into because of the first he cryed in David I am poor and needy and because of the second in Ieremiah he sighed Is it nothing to you all ye that passe by behold and see if there be any sorrow like â—nto my sorrow which is done unto me YET as the Ichneumon an Indian Rat enemy to the Crocodile will watch untill he sleep and leaping into his throat descends inâ—o his entrails and eats out it's way through and side of that his terrible and great foe and so destroys him our Iesus did enter into the jaws and through the bowels of this Devourer liberateth himself and all believers allowing perfect freedome in the rest peace and continual feast of a good conscience in joy unspeakable that they triumph with S. Paul over Hell over Death over the grave with an O Death I will be thy Death O Grave I will be thy Destruction A work of great and excellent contrivance of laborious difficulties if the number strength fury policy of adversaries be respected and the torrent which flow'd from heaven more imbittering the cup be considered the impetuousnesse of all these together towards Christ in the word brook shewing how plentifull his sufferings were and what store there is yet behind for others that come after THERE is a cup of red wine which the ungodly must drink up Iesus drank much but not all the Son of God drank deep of but not the brook dry yet largly of it for it was a brook which some will have to be a rivulet flowing more or lesse with water as the clouds more or lesse shal empty themselves therein which though not granted yet it may be pertinently inferred that