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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	day_n	feast_n	sabbath_n	2,770	5	10.7848	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96885	Christ-mas day, the old heathens feasting day, in honour to Saturn their idol-god. The Papists massing day. The prophane mans ranting day. The superstitious mans idol day. The multitudes idle day. Whereon, because they cannot do nothing: they do worse then nothing. Satans, that adversaries working-day. The true Christian mans fasting-day. Taking to heart, the heathenish customes, Popish superstitions, ranting fashions, fearful provocations, horrible abhominations committed against the Lord, and His Christ, on that day, and days following.	Woodward, Ezekias, 1590-1675.	1656 (1656)	Wing W3482; Thomason E868_3; ESTC R207652	24,177	32

walked in the Temple c. Now as we conceive here is the very Hinge ●● the Argument from our Lords example observing that novel Feast for that is the force of the word is of the Argument Our Lord and Saviour observed that Feast a novel thing and meerly of mans institution Therefore may we observe the Feast of his Nativity Well It is not a day for mirth but rather in some respects of signing with breaking of the Loyns yet we cannot pass over this without a smile at least though we are serious for the truth and ridentem dicere vere quis negat so we say on and enquire into this farther we mean this Feast of Dedication that so we may try the strength of this H●●e whereon this Argument holds We read the Temple was Dedicated three times First by Solomon in the seventh Moneth 2 Kings 8. that was in the midst of Autum Then after the Temple was restored and built again by Nehemiah and his fellow-workmen It was Dedicated again by him the third day of the twelfth Neh. 12. 27. Moneth which falls out in our twelfth and first Moneths commonly called February and March It was a Festival time with them as we read but it held but that time we mean it was not Anniversary it was not observed the Year after neither by King Solomon nor by that Prince-like Ruler Nehemiah The third time after it was renewed and purged Dedicated by Judas Machabaeus in the Moneth Chisten which answers our tenth Moneth December therefore it was said in the Text And it was Winter It was ordered also that ●he Mac. 4. 59. Feast of Dedication be kept in its season from Year to Year by the space of eight days from the five and twentieth day of that Moneth called with us December Indeed to speak our mind here in passage onely and then to go on This their Feast and th●s your Feast we make bold to call it yours because you seem to own it and to hold for the observation of it falling out pat upon one day would make a wise man after the flesh as surely it doth mad upon that Idol-day to observe it as an holy-day and with more strict and solemn observation then he will or possibly can that onely Holy-Day which hath the stamp of the Lord upon it but of this anon That which is now to be done is to vindicate our Lord going up to that Feast And that in so doing it will not justifie us in our observation of that Festival Day the Church observes all over the Nation or the National Church there First then to justifie our Lords practise 〈◊〉 it needed ou● justification Sect. 3. This we say That our Lord did not observe the Feast but the season or opportu●●●● 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 good As Paul who followed him obs 〈…〉 day of Prince at Jerusalem and afterward ●● Ephes●● Acts 20. 16 Co● 16. 8. See Calvin upon the place There he knew he should find a grea 〈…〉 of people very observant of their ow● days which are devised of their own heart as Jeroboams Feast was and have their own s●a 〈…〉 on them His heart was upon his work the doing 〈…〉 will He did it as chearfully as we eat and drink 〈…〉 the seasons and all advantages to do good the manner of all that walk as he walked He went up to the Feast though of mans institution and as the advise is spragit manum some good might be done some seeds might take as he well knew that knew all things And though i● was winter yet he went up Be it fair or foul Sun-shine or rain Summer or Winter it hinders not a true Christian from doing his duty for he doth in desire and endeavour as Christ did It is natural to the new Creature the divine Nature so to do But now if it be replyed here as we think it will That a Minister is never like to find such a Concourse of people at his meeting place as he may do on that day And therefore if all advantages of doing good may and ought to be taken why may not a Minister preach a good may and ought to be taken why may not a Minister preach a good Sermon on that day and take his Warrant from his Lords practise going up to Jerusalem on that Feast day To this we would briefly reply these things Sect. 4. ¶ 1. It is not always safe to do what we read the Lord did though we may urge him for our example Our Lord went over the Sea on foot he could that made the Sea make the sea solid like the land to bear him up we must not do so unlesse we have a more then his Example his word too as Peter had COME Again the Lord Christ went into a chiefe Pharisees house to dinner Mat. 14. 29. on the Sabbath day where there was great Company and answerably great Cheer probable it is it was a marriage feast Luk. 14. 1. He did not allow of the feast nor of the usage or manners of the guests there nor of our feastings on the Lords day but there he took the season to do good and to correct the ill and being Lord of time and Master of the means and end could remove as pleased him whatever hindered all this which the best Minister in the world is not able to doe which we take to be considerable at this point Secondly we should say granting this that all advantages are to be taken for doing good That as Master Burroughs an excellent preacher in his days saith A Sermon may be preached on that day and another on the following day it being a time of leisure a vacant idle time which no time should be the least minute whereof is too much to give to idleness or sin which is all one the one is the mother the other the daughter his meaning i● A good Minister should take all the advantages to doe good why then take the season give the people their expectation a Sermon on this day so we may do and do well too as he may choose his Text and handle it before the people which will be sure enough if he be a good Minister and a Godly man too to throw out the observation of this day their super●●itions her in and their heathenish customes all that time along which wil not be a good Sermon in the peopl●s eares But if this Sermon be for the holding up of that day the greater the concourse of people shall be the more hurt and mischiese he will do by his Sermon It is the word of institution from the Lord that makes the day holy And the words which the Minister speaks to the people must have a word from God for it else no word of blessing can be expected from the Lord upon it Gods word of blessing goeth along wi●h his word of institution So now we have done with the first undertaking to justifie our Lords pract●se

their writings And therefore you conclude That other matters are to be handled and that point of observation as to that day not to be dealt in before the people let them alone with their customes It is a controverted point holy men are for the observation of that day and holy men against it Let it be left in Medio speak neither for it nor against it medio tutissimus ibis this is your advice and we judge it not but thank you for it Your intentions may be holy your ends pure before your own eyes and the eyes of others And all that is nothing before God unto which Master you stand or fall It is not what our intentions are but what the word of institution is for that carries it against all the godly and learned men of the world suppose them to be all and every one for the keeping holy that day whereas we are verily perswaded you will not find two godly men now adays maintaining the Observation of that Feast either by their writing preaching or practise yet if you should spye out two we humbly conceive they are too many by two And we could wish that you had not spoken a word in favour of it for the least word whispered in favour of an Idol Day should be as much avoided by a true Christian we think as was the offering the least Grain of Incense to an Idol God by the faithful Antipasses Anti-papas in days of old whereof you have read so much that we will Brightman tell you nothing And we are perswaded we could hold this forth had you commanded us but you considered our strength and dealt with Sect. 3. us as with children in understanding as indeed we are yet able to cleer this from them uth of God That this name Christmas is not to be named unless with indignation by a godly man truly and indeed such an one godly in Christ Jesus Let 1 Cor. 5. 1. Hos 2. 17. 1 Tim. 6. 20. See Cartw. p. 576. 577. us say the Rhemists which is their councel also Keep to our fore-fathers words and we shall keep to our fore-fathers faith and be as Idolatrous still as they were Keep up the Name of Christmas ●hat is one of their old words and we shall keep up the superstitious Customes and Heathenish practises in use among us at that time Do not you if our advice may take We must do what possibly we can that the very names terms and phrases that Idolators have used might be utterly abolished and remembred no more Exod. 23. 13 Deut. 12. 3. place a low your people the Name for then they will allow themselves the thing those Idolatrous services customes and practises before spoken of If you will allow them an Inch here as we say indulgeban sibi latius they will take an El. Certainly Ministers should not suffer us to come nigh Popery they should bid us keep from the Verges of it to abstain from the least appearance of that great evil Ye must restrain us in our provoking ways ye must tell us we stand not fast while we stand neer to danger no more then we do standing neer those places where the Sea is bearing-in yet if we will do so for we are very wilful ye should frown upon us we think and restrain us what ye can assuring us nothing is little or small as not in Gods Law so nor in His Worship nor in any of those matters which lead on to the greatest and highest provocations And if ye shall not so do ye bid us upon the matter to speak and do as we have done Name the 25. of December as superstitiously as we commonly name the Lords day qui non velat cum potest jubet heathen●shly Ye must estrain us in these things else ye bid us do it Keep-on your Heathen●sh Names and Customes still Let us say the R●emists in the place ●ore mentioned take heed of the words of Hereticks they mean those truly godly all over Act. 24. 14. the world who can speak of that Heresie as Paul did And should not we say as much of those Hereticks indeed whose Religion or way of Worship is but meer error as their head 2 Thes 2. 3. merum s●●lus Bez. and body is but meer wickedness Let us take heed of the words of these Hereticks else we shall never come off cleerly from their works You teach your people we think we know it is your duty That it is not enough that they forb●a an Oath but that they must fear an Oath not onely not to commit sin but to hate yea to abominate so to do so i● this case not enough not to observe this Idol-day but to loath to do it We cannot choose or like that we do not love not leave or decline that we do not loath We must hate every false way because God hateth it And with that excellent R●ler contend against those that will walk therein stirring up our selves against superstious persons and practises as all that truly worship the Father must do so they cannot but shew how much they love him what zeal they have for him and with what indignation they are carried out against all that and onely that their Lord hath indignation against But we will take no more work into our hands but what you were pleased considering our Shoulder for which we thank you to impose upon us The maintaining the Negative That Christmas Day commonly so called by common and unclean tongues is not to be kept holy that the people are to be told so and beaten off from it and no delay to be used in these matters shall be we hope cleered as was said in its respective place CHAP. 2. HEere we must excuse you again you like not that ancient plea for the observation of the day old customes Sect. 1. our Grand-parents kept this day so did our parents and so have we done hitherto and so we are resolved to do while we live stubbornly enough This is too rotten to hold and as wil● and sawey reasonning it is as theirs was what our Fathers did we will do how abominable soever their doings were And yet the little you have said for the observation of the Day hath no little force in it being taken from Scripture if your Allegation be right that which you may borrow from the writings of holy men and from their practise also is of little or no account at all with us though something may be said to it in due place we would deliver our selves from your Scripture allegation First for that will bear you out if any will Scripture proof being sure proof Your Scripture we call it yours for possibly it may be mistaken Sect. 2. if not perverted male dum recitas incipit esse tuus is taken out of John 10. 22. And it was at Jerusalem the Feast Ioh. 10. 22. Vid. Bez. of Dedication and it was Winter and Jesus

2 The second is that the feast of Dedication cannot justifie Sect. 5. the observation of this imagenary feast devised of our own heart as Jeroboams was celebrated as a memorial of our Saviours Nativity Our Reason is but one and we a●e not careful to s●ek another for this place This Dedication feast was a known set and stated day returning every year in the return of such a month and of such a day of the month the Temple was reformed purged dedicated It cannot be so said of this day that it was the day on which our blessed Lord and Saviour was born into the world It is true many have been daring this way and one among the rest in some of our hearing from Luk. 2. 11. unto you is born this day the 25. of December But how hath God left them to their own seeking how bewildred have they been how benighted at noon day declaring to all whom the Lord hath instucted to disc●etion that there is no morning in them no light at all except it be that which is in the grave where the light is as darknesse and how great is that darkness we take leave to speak more to this And That it hath posed the best schollers in the world we mean Sect. 6. ¶ 2. best seen in the Records of antient times the two Scaligers the Father and the Son to search out our blessed Saviours birth day and after long search we speak it to our best remembrance as we are helped by one that read it thirty yeares agone and so some mistake may be we were saying after much search to little purpose they gave i● off as impossible to finde it out as to finde the Philosophers stone as Moses his grave whom the Lord God buried there Others not halfe so skilful have adventured on this Search as ever the more blind the more bold and have given us the set and stated day as you finde it in your Almanick mistaken as much in the day as in the weather So as the proverb may be verified of these Searchers as very lyars as the Alman●ck is which for one truth tells us ten lyes The wise Go● befooling the Star-g●zers still as once he did him in antient days so that noble Morneus tells us who foretold a goodly and pleasant year the very year when the flood came that Deluge of wrath which swallowed up ●ll Princes as one saith keep State in their works I● all a mans-actions be level to the lowest his person will be so too Much more the Prince of the Kings of the earth as he doth not love to let the Creature look to ●ha●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his designs but hideth himselfe and as we may say troubleth and muddeth his foot-steps these are as in the great waters not p●ssi●ly known to us the creature shall not ken them least he should say behold I know them So also this Isa 45. 15. 58. 7. onely Lord of time liketh it not that we should presume to know any more of the times and seasons then he alloweth us to know which is neither more nor lesse then what he hath revealed to us in his word This sufficeth u● to know when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman Make we a full stop there But if we will search farther which is our duty to do search we this to the bottom● and h●re we may ●ai●e of the very day to Is he born in our hearts we mean is hee Gal. 4. 19. conceived is he formed in us as our godly Ministers are have we been in travel about it that the sa●ing knowl●dge of Christ may be formed in us till this be we are not forme● for Christians we may have a ●●me we live but we are d●ad And when we are upon this search it will take up so much of our time that we shall not have a minute to spare in s●a●ching out the day he was born in the world Nor shall we regard two straws what others say of it that dares say and do any thing but what they should say and do which should not be a word or a work more but by warrant from his Word and light there which must be the Standard whereat we 〈◊〉 all we say or do in the matters of God the neerest con●e●●●●●●t of his Glory and of our own Souls for you know non loquenaum est de Deo sine lumine We will close this quickly we have bene longer in it because here is something of the Scripture and from the practise of our blessed Saviour to bear out the observation of this day Therefore we would adde this to that before which indeed carrieth much with us 2. That this birth day of Christ in the world lyeth as hidden S●ct 7. ¶ 1. and as we may say buried to us as Moses body was and the same God hid the one who buried the other And wi●l he take it well if we search into that he hath hi● and is it not observable that none of the Evangelists tell us what shape or proportion our Lords body had that none might adventure to picture him sure for he that pictureth him a Man dishonoureth him as much as if he had pictured him a Worm as he that presumeth to shew us the likenesse of God by an Angel dishonoureth God as much as they who made him like a Calfe if we do make him like any thing we make him nothing And so of this day there is altum silentium ne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quidem not a syllable not a title sounding that way And hath the Lord God hid it from us among the secrets of his wisedom He hath Then it is folly and more it is màdnesse for a man to search into those secrets to pluck out that Day thence and shew it openly to the world this is the day The Sun will not be looked into nor gazed upon it is such a vehemens sensibile that it will make the eye stark blind which is ●●eadfastly fixed upon the ou●side of it You may see work and walk by it the light from it but if you wil see ●nto the body of this light you shall neither see it nor your work nor your walk for the Sun will put out the eye that dares so gaze upon it And will the Maker of the Sun the Father of lights suffer man wre●ched man to neglect things revealed for that is th● manner and search into things hidden the secrets of his Wisedome we leave this upon your inmost thoughts We will end with this plaine saying and so the better befitting us Where the Scripture hath no tongus we must have no ears The Scripture is silent here as to the day of Christ birth if we will be speaking to it it is not speaking but prating and talking like Children and foole● or if we shall think that something we Tim. 5 13. 3 Joh. 10. have done we have but magno nisu

su nugas thrown a Feather with strongth of arm And so we are come off from your Scripture Argument taken from the practise of our Lord Jesus Christ going up to Jerusalem at the feast of Dedication This proves no more as we conceive the observation of Christmas feast then mid-day proves it is mid night or mid night proves it is mid-day with us CHAP. III. HAving now don with your Scripture Proof such as it was Sect. 1. and proved it we think to be invalid of no fore and to prove nothing but what makes against you We doube not but we shall turn over that which followeth with a lighter hand which is your allegations from the writings and practise of men for be they in repute never so holy it is not much with ns what they say or do as to those matters the very best of them are but men at the best Yet we will hear what you say of them They have kept the Day holy and they have maintained their so doing by their writings This now we take upon your bare word as it is meet for us to do And we shall not here remind you what was spoken touching the Torrent of former times Tyranny of Custome practise of our fore-men or leaders c. bearing down like a spring-tide or Torrent all before it We do not doubt but the Day hath been observed by some with all observation and with an honest heart And possibly at this day some o●e or two may be found we know not where who can say as to the observation of this day as Abimelech in a different cause in the simplicity of my heart we have and do now observe this day But aliquid dicit nil probat This proves nothing though indeed had you not told us so we could not have beleeved it so to be Tha● many learned and godly hold for that day We verily thought that here one and there one learned and godly had be●n too many by two to hold the observation of that day as was hinted before You mentioned if we forget not Reverend Studder speaking something that way how long since we cannot tell but sure it was before some of us were born dark times then or not so light as these are now You remembred also for it makes for your purpose That Dr. Ham hath spoke● much that way after his manner and doth operosè contend for the holiness of that day He is as in charity may be judged a godly man as may be evidenced by his practical Catechisms and his answer to Dr. Cheniel taking as some may say some inconsiderable exceptions against it His good learning right understanding and sound judgment in the mystery of godliness may appear also in his Scripture Expositions or Anotations thereupon very well becoming in whole and in part an Admirer of Grotius But whatsoever he be how learned and godly soever it maketh no matter to us for Mans saying is but the saying of a man Grotius himself that Admired man had his failings some might add and very gross ones speaking very much without the Book some may say and very much against what he found writte● So possibly might his Admirer too But as to that matter now under dehate you can tell us what Answer hath been made to that said learned Man by one learned and go●ly also we think without exception We should not have mentioned all this or any of it had we not p●rc●ived you spo●king a little and a little might be too much in favour of this day enough of this We have a cloud of witnesses onely mind we it well that we follow the light side of the Cloud and so according to the Counsel Be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises We must remember here your wholesom counsel in reference Sect. 2. to this day and thanking you for it speak a word to it You would have out Minister deal in necessary things and not to pronounce or define matters of doubtful construction or things that neither help nor hinder whether they be so or no. You proposed also an example of a very excellent man the oldest Desciple the Lord Christ had in this N●tion and we beleeve made as many gaining them to Christ as any of his fellow workman there We shall take it in anon after in its order Truly we like this counsel the better because it savoure h●so much o● excellent Tindals spirit breathed forth in a L●tter to his dear Friend Jacob indeed called John Frith It is very good what he spake once to hear it twice with the sensible and inte●l Ctual ear both There is not a man in the warld in whom my heart rejoyceth as in you not the thousand part so much for your learning and what other gifts else you have as that you will creep alow with the ground and walk in those things that the conscience may feel and not the imaginations of the brain In fear and not in boldness In open necessary things but in things that may abide leisure you will defer In unity and not in seditiou● opinions We shall not willingly turn from our scope if we set down here the two heads of Doctrine which he would have ●i dear friend press upon his hearers expound the Law truly and open the Vail os Moses to condemn all flesh and prove all men sinners and all deeds under the Law before mercy hath taken away the condemnation thereof to be sin and d●mnable and then as a faithful Minister set abroach the mercy of onr Lord Jesus and let the wounded consciences drink of the water of him And all Doctrine that casteth a mist on these to shadow and hide them I mean the Law of God and Mercy of Christ that resist you with all your power and shew you Scriptures for what you speak and let Adversaries talk what they will stick you stifly and stubbornly in earnest and necessary things Sir Your savory words by way of good counsel to our Pastor put us in mind of those and we bless God for it that al Sect. 3. this fell in together with your good counsel Now it is a point of high discretion too high for us unless the most high God for ever more come into us where to take and where to leave But according to our measure thus we understand matters with reference as your words tended to the observation of that day That the taking an hours time at the fittest season for the throwing down that Idol day so highly exalted by brutishly ignorant persons is not against the mind of Christ or rule given us in his word or practise of his holy ones all along the Scriptures of God and ages of men None preacht Christ Crucified more feelingly then Paul did and none to our seeming doth so thunder and lighten as he doth against those false Teachers who preached up Circumcision and the observation of days so as he protested before

them in some heat of spirit for as he had much light so h●d he much heat too much after the rate of those words That if they drank in those da●●nable Doctrines they would spew out Christ or cast their spewings upon him And for the observation of days he speaks much after the same rate They had indeed the stamp of God upon them so hath not this day whereof hereafter and were to be observed with all observatio● holding forth to the eye of faith the Day of Christ to come into the world But when that day came called by the Apostle the fulness of time and he was exhibited and manifest in the flesh then the observation of days must cease and the stamp or institution of God before upon them shall be taken off from them and a curse stampt upon those persons which without repentance shall cleave unto them that will be so daringly bold as to revive the memory of those days and give their observation to them And to all this which we may find through out the Epistle beginning at the first Chapter 8. 9. verses he addeth That if they did observe days they could not observe his words so all his pains was lost upon them he had bestowed upon them labor in vain I●deed Sir This Observation you wot of is not of doubtful construction nor in the number of those matters which may abide leisure for determination We thought it resolved long ago from the Word of God The Day is not to be observed which hath no word or command for it What the State hath done as to the observation of that Day is known to all that would know what the State will do more we know not but this you know for we suppose you have read Christ will not wait the leisure of the State and all true Christians have the mind of Christ so that is their mind too Yet as was said in another case and to allude to it what should the State do after the King of Kings hath so clearly resolved the case as to the observation onely of his Holy-Day returning to us once a Week qui deliberavit desivit He that makes question here is a superstitious person past all question But more necessary truths are to be preached first say you We grant you If there be a more necessary truth then this That what opposeth our Lord Christs his truths must be thrust away as an abomination Let that be preached first but then this must follow for we are peaswaded no one thing more hindreth the Gospel work all the year long then doth the observation of that Idol day once in a year having so many days of cursed observation with it It was smartly spoken by a Heathen man and as wittily for so Heathen Christians were reproved in ancient days rioting in December December mensis erat nune anuus est It was a Moneth returning once a yeer before those Christians came amongst us but now December is all the year long But we will not prevent our selves WHAT did Father Dod in a case very different from ours whose pretious name is like an oyn●ment poured out no sooner named but the place is filled with the savour thereof what did he Thus as we have heard onely a mistake there may be but not considerable betwix your relation and ours being to deal with a great Man that had an head of hair Absolom-like so we read with a Lady so if we mistake not garishly attired you read seeks in the first place to hide pride from his eyes and take down that Idol in the heart A sure way sure for if the Idol within falls it will not stand without This was the way that Luther took also he would not contend with the Popes Miter or the Monks Bellies neither the one nor the other had any cars and it were as if a man would buffet a way the darkness he would preach Christ Jesus the Lord unto them which is as the b●inging of light into a Principate crimen gener is humani summus siculi reasus tota causa judicii Idolatrie It is the principal hainous crime of mankind It is the chief guilt of the world and the onely or whole cause of judgment in the world Idolat Tert. dark place the darkness is gone for the light is come And yet he that shall read his Sermons will find that this was his practise as it was if we mistake not his counse omnis sermo adaptandus est contra Idolatriam every Sermon must be pointed against Idolatry And truly many a by-blow did he lay upon e●rors while he was holding out the truth As a Minister may strike down that day by holding up the Lords Day And yet sometimes he as a good Minister may do may take a Text purposely for the throwi●g down the Idol before the eye as of that in the heart wherefore else have we that choise in the Scriptures Luther had to deal as our Ministers now wi●h no● very intelligent and understanding people being enemies to the Cross of Christ making their Belly their God and their shame their glory Therefore the people at we now were very horn skinned they feel you not till you pierce them to the quick when is that when you strike at their Heathenish Customes and their Belly chear they feel no quick flesh till then And so having in desire and endeavour made the best use of your good counsel we come to make proof from the holy Scriptures That it is the duty of every good Minister to bend his speech when the season is against the observation of this Idol-day CHAP. IV. For the first how else shall he discharge a good conscience Sect. 1. or answer his matters to God The people go on holding fast to their Heathenish Customes and abominable Idolatries and think they do well They never heard their Minister reproving it or restraining them from it The Minister knows if he knows any thing in these matters whence our Feasts as the days of the week and moneths of the year commonly called had their first rise ground or original The first of November a memorial of all their Gods which sounded not well in the ears of those that were newly b●come Christians change therefore the name and for Gods say Saints and keep your Feasts still In December they had their Saturnalia and eight days to celebrate their Feast but being newly turned from Paganism they must not keep the Feast as they did before to the honour of Saturn but of Christ should we mention these things and not with indignation and to gratifie them further upon that score they should have four days added to the number before but eight now twelve very pleasing to the people then as now for who ever heard them say as of the Lords Day what a weariness It is not pleasing to us to proceed to tell you these matters which you must know much better then some of us though you

National Sect. 3. Church do serve the Devil on that day and the twelve dayes following Suppose it so we did pray to God and praise God all day long and night also oh how devout are we on the birth day of ou● bl●ssed Savion●● suppose it so as doub●less such devout persons men and women there may be not a few more devour that day then any day ●or it is a day devised of our own hearts we will be devout on that day how d●ssolu●e so●ver on the L●rds day the manner of these d●vout ones they will do no manner of work on this day as they say the Bird will no carry a straw to i●s nest on Ascension day it will on the Resurrection day though it mour● all good Friday But as we were saying suppose it so we were as devoue as devotion it selfe ou● that day o● on some of the twelved dayes following Hear what that excellently Learned Man D. Owen saith for it is not possible to find words more fit for our purpose The most stopendious endeavours of men the most laborious drudgery of their Souls in duties Pag. 230. not commanded are so far from obedience that they are as high rebellions against God as they can possibly engage themselves into CHAP. VI. WEe will now offer four things to your considerati●n hoping you will allow them some weight in your seriour thoughts God hath abolished his own d●yes Jewish we mean all those festivals that had his own stamp of institution upon them And Sect. 1. can we think and think like men that he will give liberty to man to set up other dayes as they did their Idols of old according to their own understauding If this could be imagined that upon Gods abolishing his own men should have liberty to set up theirs then the Christians were under a more heavy bondage and grievous paedagogue then ever the Jewes were ' for it is better to have an hundred days of Gods ' appointment Vpon Hos 2. 403. then one of mans it is more honourable said excellent Burroughs Consider whether the rising of this day in the heart as to the Sect. 2. observation of it be not the sinking of the Lords day we mean whether the observers of this day are not most notorious profaners of the Lords day and from both the horrible contempt Sect. 3. and prophanation of the Lords day and more then heathenish Bad joy strips God of all No evil carries the heart so totally from God as evil joy It carries away the heart and every heart string A man is very heartily very totally wicke● every faculty every sinnew stretch themselves to sin when sinrul injoys Mr. Lockr Col. 1. p. 234. observation of this day whether a deluge of damnable errors and pernicious opinions threatning a d●luge of wrath be not broken in upon us Be pleased to consider whether the Devil be served by us so affectedly so zealously so industriously so warrantably as the people think taking a command from men and their own lust for a law any season of the year as at this season Not to tell you the observation of the Heathen which was hinted before do men and women so exceed in the pleasures of sin in rioting and drunkenness in chambering and wontonnesse in all excesse of wickedness as they do at this time you call Christmass It is true the Lords day is fearfully profanned as if it had its name from the name Bacchus which was Plutarchs conceit that signifies to live jovially as we say and to speud the day riotously and in mad merriment Yet they onely so spend the Lords day making it the Devils day who are mad upon that Idol day making it as to their observation of it the Lords day So true is that saying we are marvelously pleased with our own inventions specially those that pleaseth flesh as seldom or never do we invent that which crosseth the flesh unlesse upon an after advantage which to our seeming shall reach as high as heaven and so may crosse the flesh at present in hope of after glory the meritorious product of that Crosse You may have read also what a Child in years but a Man in understanding hath written Mans idle time Mr. Ven●ing is the Devils working time he doth most when men do least For as holy Latimer said after his manner The Devil hath more service done him in one day we call holy then in many working dayes Therefore in the last place Consider what you may have read That a whole National Church how is ours declined now tantum non unchurched Sect. 4. her self● some hundred years ago appointed a solemn Fast upon those very dayes we foolishly without a Scripture warrant call the birth and circumcision day of Christ because of the notorious abuses heathenish customes and dam●●ble usages wont to be upon those days we strange that they saw more clearly in their mid-night then we do in our mid-day Are we not dark with light we proceed to tell you our hope and so to an end of this matter CHAP. VII WE believe Sir by this time you see cause enough to improve all your Rhetorick among your people for the throwing down of this Idol day Y●t if you have not enough we will make bold to remember you one thing more and so draw to a close we read the Jewes some of them put this question to themselves What should that sin be which provokes God more against us then ever he was provoked surely said they there is some greater sin then we yet have committed but we cannot finde any offence beside the killing of Christ to be a greater offence then Idolatry surely then the great sin is the rejecting and crucifying the Son of God If we should put this Question to our selves what is the sin which provokes God more against us then ever he was provoked Judge you whether this must not be the answer We reject Christ in the offers and tenders of the Gospel yet pretend to receive him at the Lords Table We have no appetite no desire after him at the hearing place but a Dogs appetite we have to the bread on his Table representing his sacred body there Again we worship him according to our own understanding we for the most part all the National Church over and in every parochial Church there put all the dishonours upon the Lord Christ and his onely holy day such a Church are we so notorious for our brutishness while yet we give honour to this day of his Birth as we call it and serve him all the day long after our own manner Shall not God be avenged of such Idolaters as we are shall not he send a curse upon us will he not curse our blessings yea hath he not cursed them already because we lay it not to heart Hath he not punished us with the sorest punishment what is that A punishment made of sin The Lord hath delivered us up even the greatest part of that bulky body the National Church into a reprobate mind void of judgement we are abominable Idolaters we Idolize days and places and duties and the graces those we have we idolize too we lean to any thing to every thing but him whom onely we should make our ●ean to A just judgement upon such Idolaters as are we and now our eares are seated against instruction Thunder in the eare of an Idolater a strict observer of this day and other dayes of mans institution and he hears no more then doth the deaf stone nor doth he move any more then a Mill-Post A sore judgment upon Idolaters a superstitious Christian a ceremonial Hypocrite he observes a day devised of his own heart he is more hard and Rocky then a Turk is Jews or Pagans are and he is as cruel too as cruelty it self A bloody man if he be a super●●itious man so saith Luther as bloody as Paul while he was in his Cell though my shoulders are weak with fasting yet had he lived in those times he would have carried some Faggots to make the fire wherein John Husse and Hirron of Prague were burnt more burning Idolaters all and every one of them men and women and all are hard-hearted and bloody ones all as Edom was he did pursue his brother with the sword and did cast off all piety his anger did tear perpetually and kept his w●ath for ever So true is that which that excellent man hath upon Jer. 15. 19. Superstition and persecu●ion will-worship and tyranny are inseparable concomitants Therefore Sir bend your Tongue against these superstitious persons else it may be feared you will bend your Tongue the other way and speak to your self in Pauls Language your labour is in vain with your people if you prevail not with them in this thing mind well that learned mans words Docter Owen of Tol. p. 78. in a case not very differing Your not opposing here is providing you allow that you oppose not there being no middle thing betwixt those two Lift up Christ Jesus the Lord and you lift up his day too and throw down man and you throw down his Idol day also where Christ is lifted up self is abased and the rising of his day will be the falling of the other The spirit that stoopeth lowest you have hea●d and we hope you know is best prepared to become a thrown for Christ And to shut up if you know those as sure enough you do that lift up this day which every good man we think will throw down till him or them they have no morning in them their light is like that in the grave where the light is darkness and how great is that darknesse But here is a double comfort 1 The folly of these is now manifest to all m●n they shall not proceed much farther 2 the Devils are Christs prisoners and should not be suffered to walk up and down in the world but that there is need of them And for your sel●e Sir we hope you know your duty and are learning it every day more perfectly and to do what you know looking up to him and calling for his spirit which leadeth us by the light of his word into all necessary truths Amen ERRATA Page 1. line 1 for promised read premised FINIS