they shall be a Sign between Me and You that ye may know that I am the Lord your God Ezek. 20.20 Blessed is the Man that doth this and the Son of man that layeth bold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it Isa 56.2 Also the sons of the Stranger that Joyn themselves to the Lord to serve him Every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it even them will I bring to my hold Mountain and make them joyfull in my House of Prayer Ver. 6 7. And he saw that Rest was Good and the Land that it was Pleasant and bowed his shoulder to bear and became a Servant unto tribute Gen. 49.15 LONDON Printed by J A for the Author 1681. The General Contents of the Third Dialogue THE Parents complaint of himselfe The Parents complaint of Mr S Mr A Mr L. Mr A with his Every day Sabbath confuted Mr L with his Never a day Sabbath confuted The change of the Sabbath for Mr S's conviction The beginning of the Sabbath the times contended for descoursed viz Morning Noon Even Midnight Six Objections against the true time Answered The time of Christs Resurrection occasionally discoursed The day of Adams fall occasionally discoursed Satans old enmity against the Sabbath Noted The month-day and week-day of Christs death discoursed The next day no Sabbath proved The Jews various division of the day into hours Of the Passeover Wave-day Seven-weeks Pentecost The Jews custom in Translating the Passeover The opinion of Pentecost on the first day disproved Of the Disciples meeting on the Pentecost Of Gods countenancing the Pentecost Of Jesus's exact observation of the Passeover and Sabbaths Moral and Ceremonial and the whole Law The day of Jesus's death declared and proved Divers Questions arising thereupon Answered An account of the Authors way in this work The Parent Cautioned and Counselled Ten Directions dropped for the Sabbath day Wherein we have an account Of The Day of Adams fall The day of Jesus's death Of The Sabbath ensuing the Wave-day the Pentecost Of The time of Jesus's burial The time Jesus lay dead Of The time of Jesus's Resurrection The beginning of the Sabbath All contrary to the Common Account A THIRD DIALOGUE Concerning the SABBATH-DAY Min. BEN BEN BEN Ben. Where what who calls me before I can see Min. O! Sleepy-head hear you not low hastily some one knocks at the door Pray rise and know the matter Ben. Sir I have been down to know his name and his businesse and he tells me it s he that sat so long with you under the Tree and he desires to speak with you Presently Min. Strike a light and let him in and tell him I will rise Fath. God Save you Sir I am compelled to come and visit you at an unseasonable time I hope you will hold me excused Min. Sir you are welcome to me but I wonder to see you in Town so Soon and am surprized to see you look so Sad. Pray what is the matter is all well at home Fath. All in health praised be God Parents complaint of Self but I am under Grief upon Grief It hath been a Sad time with me since we sat under the Tree though I concealed it from you in our last conference SAD I have Reason to be Sad indeed to think how sadly I have neglected my poor children Souls O to think how many times we have walked by the way and not a word of God! to think how many times they have been twatling about me in the house and not a word how many times they have been packed to bed and pulled out and not a Word of God have I spoken for their good O it hath cut me to the quick and put me upon prayer for pardon space and grace to do my duty And I did addict my self to it and began to find peace in it But yesterday after the afternoon Sermon as I was instructing my children about the Sabbath Parents complaint of Mr S Mr A Mr L. in came Mr S in anger and told me I kept the wrong day and said I should keep the Seventh day first appointed and never reprealed When he was gone Mr A came in and Laughed at me and my practice as a low thing viz to keep One day in a week and told me I should keep Every day as He did When he was gone Mr L came in and told me I should keep Never a day Sabbath for that command for a Sabbath was Ceremonial and long since ceased at Christ's death And my Children listened to this last with delight and now they slight the Sabbath and whatever I say for it and tell me Mr L is counted a wise man And under this Sorrow upon Sorrow I am so disquieted I am almost distracted In your last conference at end of the Tenth Note when you pressed it upon me to learn my Children to reverence the Sabbath I had a mind to ask you what Scripture proof we have for the change of the Day but I was loth to interrupt you but now being driven out in distresse I pray let me hear your reply to all these Opinions but chiefly for the change of the Sabbath Day Min. Did they use to be thus Opposite Fath. A little by the By when other businesse brought us together but now they came on Purpose and assaulted me as Never before Min. Just now as soon as you are set upon a Solemn work when the good seed is sown then comes the Devil †Lu. 8.12 Indeed you are to be pitied and so are they but I fear some of them will be plagued As for your former Sorrow it s Alway better than laughter * Ecl. 7.3 Sometimes better than joy there is sorrow that Dries the spirit this will Water it and so I praise God for it and passe it But this Last is the Pest that carries the Poyson in it for which I must provide some Antidote to expell it As for my reply to these persons Mr A who keeps every day Sabbath and Mr L who keeps never a day Sabbath Every day Never a day you may put them together for he that keeps Every day keeps Never a day and so look on them as two persons possessed by Satan above the dominion of God and under the dominiof the Devil But let us take them asunder again and speak to them apart ¶ 1 This Every day Sabbath is none of God's ordinance Mr A consuted for God's command is Six dayes shalt thou labour †Exo. 20.9 it must therefore be the Devils ordinance and to him it s observed as the Priests which God did not appoint are said to be ordained for the Devils * 2 Chro. 11 15. Mr A is blown up into the Air with a blast from the bottomlesse pit and puft up with Pride a Sabbath day a week is a weak thing with him he is a 7-fold Saint or under a 7-fold Deceit in the border of Heaven whence he is like
words only with Capitals except such words as are alway so to begin and I did intend to do so But after the Epistle was composed by the Printer I was disposed to begin many Substantial words also with Capitals which are not Emphatical These are in the first 6 sheets containing Instruction and Correction and the An to Ob against Correction especially in the first 3 sheets to the end of Instruction by Doct. These words are begun with Capitals that Men Women and Children may take the more notice of such words and things which are to them of so great concern And whether you call it a Benefit or a Burden it is only for the first Edition for in the next Deo juvante I shall take them out reduce it to the order of the Epistle and so make it more Euphonical and Gratefull for the Readers pleasure A SECOND DIALOGUE OF THE DECALOGUE OR A DISCOURSE Concerning the Ten COMMANDMENTS The Second Part. I have written to him the Great things of my Law but they were counted as a Strange thing Hos 8.12 The Princes digged the well the Nobles of the People digged it by the direction of their Law-giver Nu. 21.18 The Lord is our Law-giver Isa 33.22 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul Ps 19.7 The Isles shall wait for his Law Isa 42.4 He will magnifie the Law and make it Honourable Isa 42.21 We have heard out of the Law that Christ abideth for Ever Joh. 12.34 Do we then make void the Law through Faith GOD forbid yea we establish the Law Rom. 3.31 LONDON Printed by J. A. for the Author 1681. The General Contents of the Second Dialogue TWelve Notes on the Ten Commandments Ten Ob against the Second Note Answ Of Thunder breaking new making the Tables The Law a rule of Life for all men How we are under the Law as the Jews were in Seven Particulars How we are Not under the Law as the Jews were in Seven Particulars An account of the C L. An account of the Judicial Law How the M L is abolished and how not How the C L is abolished and how not How the Judicial Law is abolished how not The whole duty of man in Ten Words Antinomian aversenesse to the Law Five Reasons of slighting the Law Of preaching the Doct of the gospel only Four Reasons of such preaching Sad effects of not preaching the Law Pride of some Preachers their Wives Children Pride or sin in such prodigiously perilous Six sorts of Simple Hearers Many in Profession like to be lost at London Conclusion by way of Exhortation Note these few abbreviations M L Moral Law C L Ceremonial Law C W Covenant of works C G Covenant of grace A SECOND DIALOGUE OF THE DECALOGUE Fath. GOd Save you Sir Since our Late Conference I have desired some Discourse from you of the Decalogue for I am much perswaded there is more in it than many Imagine When you delivered me the Sixt Document viz To acquaint my Children with the Decalogue I desired to hear that Lesson Enlarged yet was loth to interrupt you but now I come on purpose to desire you to give me some account of the Ten Commandments Min. Sir you are Welcome to me upon this account for I had also a mind to enlarge that Sixt Lesson upon the Law but was loth to be too tedious and am glad of an opportunity to do it now By the Title pages of old Books which lay open in Moor Fields I perceive there are some Tracts on the Ten Commandments by way of Exposition and so I shall not go that way to work but shall give you 12 Usefull Notes upon the whole to shew you in part what is contained in them Between which Notes you may put in and after them all adde what Question you please First 1 Note The M L on Adam's Heart The Moral Law Decalogue or Ten Commandments was engraven on Adam's heart as a Primitive Perfect Law of Nature Adam being created in God's Image which consisteth in Holinesse and Righteousnesse had the Law written in his Heart the Sum of which is Holinesse and Righteousnesse And Adam being capable of it God entred into a C W with him which contained 1 A peremptory precept Do this 2 A conditional promise If thou Do thou shalt Live 3 A conditional threat If thou Do not thou shalt Die. To keep this C W for Life no man was ever able except 1 Adam who brake it and ruined All mankind and 2 Jesus the Second Adam who by his obedience to it hath recovered all the Elect. But though no man can keep it yet Every unbeleever is under it and to Them it is a ministry of Condemnation †2 Cor. 3.9 ¶ By the way N B. A new State After the Fall there was a New Church State set up Ceremonial Sacrifices for God's service Instituted And man accepted with God upon a New account viz on Christ's account who Substituted himself in mans stead to Die for him by vertue of which Death beleeving man hath Life and Favour with God And that for 2000 years and more from the Fall to the delivery of the Law on Mount Sinai the Substance of their Religion was the Same as after the Publick promulgation of the Law 1 Instances of the use of Ceremonial Sacrifice we have in Abel * Gen. 4.4 Noah †Ch. 8.20 Abram * Ch. 15.9 and Job also †Job 1.5 who was before the Law on Sinai as is easily proved THEN the master of a family was King to rule Prophet to teach Priest to offer sacrifices cut in pieces for the Sins of his family * Gen. 15.10 so Now should masters Rule Teach and offer the Sacrifices of a broken cut Exo. 29.17 contrite Heart in prayer for the Sins of their families †Psal 51.17 2 And the M L of Nature did in part remain in the heart of man after the Fall and God made a Farther manifestation of it to man else the world was in a wofull wild posture for One 2000 years at least A sottish conceit To think the world was without Law till they had it from Sinai is a ridiculous conceit if So for what was the world Drowned and Sodom Burned for where no Law is there is no Transgression †Rom. 4.15 If no Law in the world no Sin in the world but untill the law Sin was in the world * Ch. 5.13 q d untill the law the Law was in the world for Sin is not imputed when there is no Law i e such Acts are not counted Sin if no Law to forbid them I doubt Religious Persons knew the law Then better than they do Now since the promulgation both of Law and Gospel too Second 2 Note The M L given to a people in a C G. The Law delivered on Mount Sinai with an audible voice as a Sermon from God himself was given to a
Deu. 23.19 detaining of wages pledges fraud deceit false weights and measures * Chap. 25.13 14. The ninth commandment containeth Laws against false witnesse back-biting tale-bearing giving or taking of Bribes to blind the eyes to ill ends †Ex. 23.8 Deu. 16.19 The tenth commandment containeth Laws against evil thoughts and is very direct against desires after whatsoever is our neighbours and as a Sword should cut the cords of covetousnesse in Sunder This Second Table containeth all mans Duty to man Thus far of the M L. Fath. What say you of the C L Min. The C L respected Typical worship Of the C L. of which Sacred Ceremonies there were 4 Sorts 1 Holy Persons viz High priests Priests Levites Nazarites 2 Holy Places viz the Tabernacle the Temple and other places of Divine appointment where God recorded his Name * Exo. 20.24 3 Holy Things viz the Ark Oyl Fire holy-Water First-fruits Incense Burnt-offerings Meat-offerings Peace-offerings Sin-offerings Silver trumpets 4 Holy Times viz Holy dayes as New moons Ceremonial Sabbaths Feasts viz feast of Passe-over and unleavened bread feast of Pentecost feast of Tabernacles feast of Trumpets feast of Attonement Holy years viz the Sabbatical or Seventh year †Lev. 25.2 3 4. the year of Jubile or the Fiftieth year * Ver. 8.10 Fath. What of the Judicial Law Min. The Judicial Law was made to provide punishments for Offenders against the M L Of the Judicial Law and the C L for a Rule to punish by according to Equity and Justice For Capital offences the Jews had 4 kinds of death viz Stoning Strangling Beheading and Burning Crucifying was not by their law but by Pilate's the Roman Deputy †Mat. 20.19 Jo. 18.32 For offences not Capital they had Scourging Imprisonment Restitution Retaliation ¶ By these three Sorts of Laws the Jews were governed By the M L as they were Men and a Humane Society by the C L as they were a Church so constituted and a Sacred Society by the Judicial Law as they were a Common-wealth and a Civil Society Fath. How is the M L abolished and how is it not abolished Min. The M L as a C W Abolition of the M L. or the Curse and Rigour of the law which separateth man from God is abolished and made void for true Believers but as to the Doctrine Discipline Government of it for rule of life it is as Permanent as Heaven and Earth Fath. How is the C L abolished Min. The Practice of the C L which separated man from man viz Jew and Gentile Abolition of the C L. is abolished for he is our Peace who hath made Both One and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us * Eph. 2.14 But though it is out of use as it was Practical yet it is in use as it is Doctrinall Fath. How is the Judicial Law abolished Abolition of Ju Law Min. The Judicial Law is abolished as it provided punishment for Sin against the C L. Like as Flowers or Plants are fenced to keep them from being broken down while they are to Stand Simile so was the C L fenced with the Judicial Law but when these Plants are plucked up to what end shall the fence Stand e g The 10 day of the 7 month was a Ceremonial holy day he that did any work was to be destroyed by the Judicial Law †Lev. 23.27 30. but now this C L is abolished this Plant plucked up the Judicial Law the fence is gone too But Judicial Laws to punish Offenders against the M L are not abrogate but Permanent and are to be used with discretion by the godly Civil Magistrate who is to administer Justice and execute them on Offenders e g If a man kill a man and so break the Sixth commandment he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword * Rev. 13.10 whoso sheddeth mans blood the Judicial Law is in full force by man Shall his blood be shed †Gen. 9.6 ¶ Thus God who foreknew mans Fall Wonderfull wisdom and made a C G with Christ before he made a C W with Adam hath in wisdom So delivered this Sacred Divine Law of the Decalogue that it should contain in Ten Words the whole Duty of man to GOD and Man in his threefold State 1 In a State of Innocency 2 In a Fallen State 3 In a State of Grace by Jesus Christ I conclude these 12 Notes on the Ten Commandments with Davids prayer LORD Open thou mine eyes that I may behold Wonderous things out of thy LAW * Psal 119.18 Fath. I see now my perswasion of the Decalogue was no delusion but O how little do I see I and others had need use David's prayer for light in God's law but I fear our Antinomians who do so slight it will never pray for light in it Min. They that see by the light of Strange Fire and are so deep-learned in the Doctrine of Devils as to deny Gods law to be a rule of life are never like to use David's prayer for light in God's law for their light being darknesse they see not so much as their own ignorance nor the danger of self-conceitednesse and so are like to go into the land of outer darknesse Fath. God be mercifull to me and deliver me from Antinomian delusion sometimes when I talk with Mr A I am ready to Q whether the law be any rule of life or no. Min. You pray well but look a little dull if it may recreate and not corrupt you let me tell you a Story viz A German woman desiring to rid the house of her husband German woman cast him into a deep sleep and then Dresses Shaves Cuts and Clips him into the fashion of a Fryar A godly Minister is my Author When he wakes she Stares and Storms q d What does this Fryar here in my house Fryar q d Wife art mad doest not know thy husband Still she storms bawls and fumes against the Fryar The man being amazed looks in the glass to see if he can know himself but seeing himself in such a Shape he almost believed he was a Fryar as his wife affirmed Thus the Antinomians use the law e g 1 They paddle with the Preface viz I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt that belongs to the Jews only and so is rejected Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to cut off that they bring this as a Sword every one shall die for his own iniquity †Jer. 31.30 Remember the Sabbath day forsooth that is Ceremonial and so Snipt off That thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee that belongs to the Jews and so is clipt off Having thus maimed and dismembred the Decalogue they wholly reject it that with the German woman they may be at liberty to go a whoring from God They