rising THE Iews craved a sign and those that mocked said come down and we will believe but that being the time of suffering he disdained the motion the sign of the Prophet Ionah which was of rising up and opposit to their coming down being appointed all other signs were rejected and because that of Ionah was fulfiled let 's believe and go before him unto Galile by interpretation transmigration or going over that going from infirmity to vertue from mortality to eternity from contumely to glory we may more fully participat of those sore-expected joys in being treated yea feasted in the company of our ever to be adored Saviour Worshiping our Lord begining to practise and celebrat our Sabbath when the Jew rendeth his acting not only contrary to him but spiritualizing his superstitious deportment thereon he will kindle no fire that day let us blow up that of the spirit in the hearth of our hearts for elevating our thoughts and raising our minds upward heavenward to this day they alleadge the destruction of Ierusalem solely to have flowed from the neglect of the Sabbath in putting no difference between the holy and prophane Ez. 22. Let us compute it's desolation to spring from â—he innocent blood shed on the preparation day for the Sabbath and in hiding their eyes from the Lord of the Sabbath they will not put so much as their finger to any serwill or country work let us not fear to exercise our selves about works of piety charity or necessary with both our hands our Lord giving â—s example whose servants I mean the Christians whom they keep being put by them in this day to their drudgery which yet and by the way might be rectified by Christiâ—â— laws and magistracy as they will not writ nor blot out what is written on that day let the errata's of our soul be reviewed and weekly 〈◊〉 be exactly corrected that the next weeks impression of our civil or spiritual conveâ—â—s may be both more clean clear and holy being emended from our former mistakes by religious watchfulnesse and future taking heed do they knock on the door when calling unto a preparing for the Synagogne it is 〈…〉 to provoke to love and to good works They will not on that day begin a journey and justly having killed him that was the Way yet let us walk and be undefiled in the way of the Law of the Lord keeping our feet from the filthinesse that is our affections from those lusts that are in the world through sin they crowned our Lord with thorns let us adorn both his holy Temples in exalting his two fold nature by a firm adhering to the truth thereof and laying out for him and his the best of our substance somewhat of our rich possessions entering by the gate of the Church into that of Paradise from which impenitent Iews as the Reprobated Theif are for ever excluded The sixth Psalm and the twelth are entitled pro octavo for the eight in the Vulgar translation from which some will have many mysteries to emerge particularly the change of the Sabbath for respecting our Lords entry into Jerusalem in our computation on Palm Sunday the day of his rising will be one of the seventh but not upon the seventh the prophesies therefore and conquests also of our Saviour to be by us celebrate in the Church the eight day after that account will be the Lords day in the new Testament beginning our holy day when the murtherers of our Lord endeth his Mosaical weakly feast it is nearer to affirm that as God had Circumcision Sabbaths and other rites to difference his people from the masse of the world it is fit to have now some difference to discriminat his Church and since there is a change of the Temple of the Sacrifice of the Circumcision of the Paschal supper of the Priest a necessity may easily be suggested of an alteration of the Sabbath heightned when we consider that Christ came to work a new creation Isa. 65. for which a celebration of an old Sabbath had been incongruous and his kingdome beginning from and his resting dated at the Resurrection how consonant is it to name this day the Lords day and in the proportion all it's followers HIS sleeping or resting on the seventh day in the grave typifying that the old Sabbath dyed with him as all other changeable ceremonies of the law which none ought to judge us in respect of a Sabbath or a holy day since Christ hath triumphed on the eight let us rejoice beholding as badges of his victory the scares of his wounds the print of the nails the wound in his side not only as probable tokens of his rising but as jems to adorn his royal body as a testimony of his victory and as some think to be seen yet in heaven that as in his Church militant he hath bread and wine continually as visible memorials of his bloudy agony and death for his peoples stronger confirmation so in the triumphant the scares of his wounds remain in his body before the glorified for more fervent and eternal Iubilation THESE same wounds when seen and felt besids his own faithful Testimony so strengthned the Apostles that the ghastly frownings of an incensed crew in this wicked world was but a whet-stone to edge their zeal for publishing this truth this glorious truth of the Resurrection for though it be said he was stole yet who durst rouz this young lyâ—n and a little more money would have made the Souldiers tell another tale he quickned in the grave by receiving in the second time his soul then rose from out of the grave astonishing death amazing the keepers yet so heartning and heating his Disciples that they spurn and disdain the threats of men accounting all the worlds wrath or fawning to that degree of naughtinesse as to comput it dung in comparison of the excellency in the knowledge of the rising from the dead all created beings in the power of man being but a cypher to the Resurrection Christ by it and in him themselves conquering and flying above all the pouder Crakers the ungodly should frame or fire to disturb the power of it's Doctrine or the progresse of it's publication the voice of all the Martyrs being like the call of Heliâ—dorus who refusing to sacrifice to Idols and being tormented for denyal cryed out aloud O Lord Iesus Christ assist me and when the crown of the Chuâ—ch is now beheld to have been but made the puâ—er by the fires of devouring persecutors and the ancient Stanza or holy Doxology of our Quires now heard in giving glory to the Father and thought upon who so dul as not to anticipate the rehearsal and suggest the fam'd answer given to the same Martyre is yet returned to all Saints witnesses and confessors be not affraid for I am with thee FORâ—s â—s unhurt with torture how have the heathen and Iews been braved and out-braved by Christians through the hope of the Resurrection Paul was thought
Ancestors bequeathed ample legacies one is that whatever savors of that Ancient Doctrine established in the Church who for her age and Religious hoarinesse ought to be accounted venerable Invidiously is by some foolishly is by many houted upon as Superstitious Idolatrous and Anomolous to verity and Truth atteesting yet without ground that whatever in Divinis cannot be found in express text as Fornication should not be named among Saints Obtruding this upon some Disciples it cannot be supposed but this smal treatise because an ofspring of Antiquity shall be deemed scandalous and as a misshappen birth in the Midwifery of their forestalled fancy be smother'd as soon as parted from the womb of the Press and not buried but cast forth through the dung-gate of Obloquie or into the Kidrone of disdain NOT considering that if the question should be put concerning some approved practises and strongly pleaded for Resolves the legitimating of many Acts should be found to emerge from Scripture Logically that is Rationally understood conform to that rule a Minore ad Majus The Iewes appointing feasts as that of Dedication one great Jew instituting a feast as that of Purim the Zealous separating dayes from civil use to commemorat mercy the devout Magistrate designing such and such hours oâ— dayes for publick preaching Colledges Halls Hospitalls Schools solemnizing dayes in memory of their pious Founders Religious Benefactors exempteth the Church from Censure in enacting festivitys for her Lords birth passion or Resurrection SINCE the world could not contain the books had all things been writen which were done or said concerning it by Christ the world I inferr is to rest satisfied when any thing is done not contrary to the things in that one Book taught and delivered by him or at least not to condemn it which so much the less â—s to be done that the Judges of these exercises seldome if ever were they exactly scann'd are found seriously to reflect upon any one day in the year the matter wherefore these dayes were set apart which they condemne because fixed principaly upon one day ANABAPTISTS infringe that liberty our Lord hath procured for us in denying infant-baptism as if they were without the Covenant in which more higher priveledges are tacitly granted to the Jew then Christian he wanting the other enjoying the comforts of admitting his Son into that promise made of old unto the people the Almighty styling himself Lord God of your Fathers whereas the Baptized by them stands in a particular or personall Relation to the Same Lord from which there doth not flow so eminent Consolation in case of Death in Infancy AND such who will not allow the Church in separating times of worship for dazeling that is singular acts of Grace ought to reflect how the vesture of the Christian under Gospel-dispensation is our-tail'd being made more short more bare more thinn that is the Churches freedom more impared by the Death of heâ— Saviour then amplified and enlarged we bâ—â—fore seeing the Phylactery of the Iew so extensively broad large honourably gracefull under Typicall oblations Synagogue and Temple-service the removeall of which discharging to the now Believer that piece of true devotion wherein the Faithfull of old appeared before God with joy haveing Roome that is liberty to make to keep Holy-day IT S granted that neither Jew nor Gentile men or Angel â—an dare or make offer to make a day holy now but to observe a day Holily or to separate a Civil day that is one of the six for a Holy use a Saint-like encompassing the throne of God for Celebrating praise or powring forth prayer as by many it is held good and performed in the week so ought it not to be judged supperstitious if done by others in the Return of the year IVDICIOUS Calvin expoundeth those places of St Paul Orthodoxly genuine Let no man judge you in meat or drinke or in respect of a holy day 2 Cal. 16. Ye observe dayâ—s and months and times and years Gal. 4.10 One man esteemeth one day above another Rom. 14.5 For quis nisi Furioso who saith he but Mad-men will here understand any observation condemned save what ritualy shadowed Christ to come neque Ecclesias damnavero neither shall I censure marke the words those Churches who have instituted other solemn dayes for the Congregations Conveening together they Keeping from superstition of which they shall be free when appointed purely for good order and Discipline not as shadows of the Law c. Institut lib. 2. c. 8. S. 33. Whence its deducible that feasts so observed are not to be accounted either Jewish or Popish they being purely to Commemorat Christ already come and appointed for that end before either Pope or Romish Antichrist that is to say before the usurpation of the Bishop of Rome above all called gods FOR when the Records of the Church shall be exactly viewed and when again more diligently inspected and a search made after that then for greater security if once more there be a tumbling over the monuments of Ancient times the Time the Place the Persons by whom the dayes here marked were distinguished and first instituted shall never be found never be heard of so that it was a puzling and thorny question and for ought we find an Unanswered one proposed by our Late Soveraign April â— 1647. of blessed memory in these words I desire to be resolved why the new Reformers discharge the keeping of Easter the Celebration wherof being of the same Authority which changed the Iewish Sabbath into the Lords-day Saturday being no where discharged wherefor it must be the Churches Authority that changed the one and instituted the other therefore my opinion is that those who will not keep this Feast may as well return to the observation of Saturday and refuse the weekly Sunday when any body can shew me that herein I am in an error I shall not be a shamed to confesse and amend it till when you Meaning the Comissioners and Ministers treating in the Isle of Wight Know my mind C. R. THERE is no foot-steps of Antiquity indeed declaring the rise either of the one or other and those Arguments from proportion touching the vndenyed one wants not their influence in approving the other controverted the old Church by her own power abolishing the Iewish Sabbath though expresse law and Divine sanction for its observance is scattered throughout Moses the Prophets the present Church abrogating by not using Apostolical constitutions though enjoyned by the holy Ghost in proper terms as not abstaining from blood not anointing the sick not tarrying one for another before the Sacrament of the Supper in St. Pauls sense not having Deaconesses to attend the poor Clinick sick and bed-rid Against which such as are not distracted foameth not nor at the Churches desuetude thereof being convinced at the Reasonablnesse of her omission and her Authority so to doe which in the case under debate is also to be acquiesed in and
Nativity The Synod smelling a Rat refused the motion Leo having been cited before them for Censure yet Censured not the request nor hissed at the purpose adjacent Ministers being easely obtained Synod Dordre sess 36. and 45. How would some of our Precisians have ranted dissented to let the world know them to be no small fools it is probable they had protested against such Actings VEIW these Churches in their severall precincts it shall be found Dayes of this fort are not condem'd as unholy or superstitious but honourably mentioned those of Suitzerland Decently observing the Incarnation the Circumcision c. The like is done by the Churches of Germany Hungaria Transilvania those of the great Dukedome of Lituania the greater and lesser Polonia the Fratres Bohemi those of Moravia Holland France in Genevah its true they are not observed yet it 's as true that she condemns not these that do approving and commending thereof as her subscription to the Helvetick Confession apparently evinceth Durells veiw p. 25.26 THE practices of the Reformed Kingdomes of Denmark Norway and Sweden is Known which appended to what hath been declared may strick an aw Creat a terror in the bosome of that Malapert whose rigid conceptions are wraping to a tendency of disrelishment disrespect or Censure THE Fairest Daughters of the Church Reformed being our own three Kingdomes are not to want their due respect the particular judgement of each one being equivalent to many extraneous or beyond Sea provinces as the Judicious among those will declare we begin with Ireland as farthest off whose Clergy in a numerous Convocation in Dublin Anno Dom. 1615. agreeth in their Confession that every particular Church hath Authority to institute Change put away Ceremonies and other Ecclesiasticall rites c. Constituting others making more to seemlinesse or edification Art of Irel. 77. Vpon which firme basis stands fixed her obedience in pleading for and standing to the observance of these dayes England in her Confession drawn up Anno Dom. 1562. speaketh the samething both agreeing to the Reformed Churches abroad saying Every particular or nationall Church hath Authority to ordaine change and abolish Ceremonys and rites of the Church so that all things be done to edifying adding that whosoever through his privat judgement willfully and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church not repugnant to the word ordained by Authority ought to be rebuked as he that offendeth against the Common ordor of the Church thus fare the Article Now though neither of these be so expresse as are the Confessions of the Helvetian Churches allowing the Celebration of the Lords Nativity Circumcision c. nor as that of Ausburgh the standart of the Reformed Churches abroad retaining the traditions of about holy dayes the Lords day the Nativity the Passeover c. Yet upon these pillars stood that Arch of her Law and Church constitution Anno Dom. 1630. viz. All manner of persons shall from henceforth Celebrate and Keep the Lords day and other holy dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure that is in hearing the word c. And where is that Church Rome excepted in the whole world Regularly constitute did ever presume to Censure England in this particular nay where is that Church except as above excepted but blesseth her as a Daughter and prays for her as a Mother SCOTLAND is behind none of the Reformed Churches in defence of the matter questioned for she in her Reformation which truly in this was according to the best Reformed Churches by the Lords of the Congregation after mature deliberation for raising bulwarks against Popery concluded that in all parishes the lessons of the Old new Testament should be read on Sundayes and other FESTIVAL DAYES Spots Hist. lib. 3. Ann. Dom. 1558. the sence of the word FESTIVAL determineth the Authors exemption from obloquy upon the account of this works were any of these noble Patriots alive to peruse his discourcess but least any suspend belief of the thing out of prejudice to that most Reverend Historian I hope Mr. Knox will have some influence upon the weak in faith who records the same thing to be done by the same persons whom he calls Lords and Barons professing Christ Jesus Reformed preachers rejoyceing and much encouraged thereby the Popish Clergy being on the other hand much Incensed Knox Hist. lib. 1. Was not our old League with England in our new dayes and Vniformity thereto in the mouths of many which was begun by subscription and consenting to the rites and service of that Church by which the French was here overthrown the Pope the most Christian and Catholick King being angry thereat Buchan Scot. Hist. lib. 19. All which put together with the legall procedure of Future times demonstrateth those bug-bare ordinances Votes and Resolves contrary to those proceedings which hath troubled our Lands were not Nationall decrees but Falacious opinions And beheld by the Churches abroad as could be proved by numerous instances not so much the Doctrine of our Reformed Churches as the Dodder of our Churches Reformed i. e. weeds growing about them excrescences of the Earth occasioned by showers and Tempests of popular commotion and in seren sky cast over the wall and Empalement of our Congregations BVT yet if any man be contentious and still hold this youngling as Popishly affected its Father the Author from these vndenyable records smiles at the expression pittys their mistake justifying himself against such selandarous taunts in St. Pauls words we have no such custome that is so to speak neither the Churches of God But for peace sake do wish the dissenter to cognosce before he condemn For as the Erecting of the Altar of Ed. Ios. 22.10 Occasion'd a surmise of Rubens Apostacy and Idolatry was upon search found otherwise so a right stateing of the Question and a seasonable distinction as with them may make us blesse pray for and part from each other to the laying aside contention and debate which the sense of the Reformed Church about these things when hearkned unto shall happily procure MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE INCARNATION OF THE SON of GOD Unfolded and applied Christmas Sunday Tolbooth Church 1670. YVLE Sunday Tolbooth Church 1670. JEREMIAH XXXI XXII How long wilt thou go about O thou back-sliding Daughter For the Lord hath created a new thing in the Earth A woman shal compass a man VICE and Folly are so congenit with the Essence and soul of man since his fall that Aristippus counted a good or temperate man to be the most admirable thing in the World and the Orator beholding the proclivity of most unto that which by the torch-light of Nature was to be condemned chused rather then be led by them to become a Victime or Sacrifice unto Reason and perish with good men wherefore GOD superadding to those un-audiable censures motives and documents suggested vigorously by the Spirit into the hearts of people as perswasives unto vertue hath
the Prophets For say they to us a Child is born to us a Son is given Child yet before his Mother was he was a Son a wise Phisician and tender Saviour the omnipotent God to us is given a Child a Son respecting his two natures the first viz. Child expressing him real MAN as he was and cleared to be from his Genoâ—ogy from his soul body eating wearinesse fasting sleeping weaping from his being called Man the son of Man besides such representatives as GOD made of him under the Law as the seed of the woman of Abraham a Prophet from among your Brethren and Davids righteous branch The other word SON expressing him real God which he was being called alwayes the Son of God after his Resurrection after which time that phrase the Son of man is never used He is the everlasting Son of the Father Creator of all things giver of eternal life from the beginning confessed by the Angels demonstrated by his fasting by his miracles and that in the Temple where never miracles were wrought by man that being the place wherein God significantly would have his Son to be noticed and he proved from his working therein to be the Lord who was suddenly to come thereto Malach. 3. It being the house of his Father IN short by his suffering dying riseing from the dead he declared himself to be the Son of God with power for never MAN neither Moses Samuel nor any that called upon his Name neither Priest nor Prophet wrought miracles at their Death but he thâ— exploit of Sampson was rather wonderfulâ— then miraculous and came far short of thosâ—â—â—upendious actings at our Saviours giving up of the Ghost but at his rising from the grave so far he declared himself to be God that these words the Son of MAN are noâ— mentioned he said it behoved the Son of maâ— to suffer but being raised it was ought noâ— Christ to have suffered HOW elegantly hath S. Paul Philip 2. differenceâ— I shou'd have said united these two in these words who being in the forâ— of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God herein is the truth of his Son-ship and first part of his nature but made himself of 〈◊〉 reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men here is the truth of his Child-hood the other part of his being the Apostle expounding the Prophet would have said He was given to us who was in the form of God and born for uâ— who made himself of no Reputation this is the beginning middle and end of his nativity even to adore reverence that Love of God we who after he had made all things yet made himself MAN so mans good before this Child was born as a Son he governed all things but for nothing was he born save to serve that men might injoy all things and if the biâ—th of this Child this Son be accounted fabulous either by Iew or Greek because incredulous I passe the Vengeance shown on a lewd painter intending to draw our blessed Saviour in the form of Iupiter An. C. 436. whose hand by the Divinity of Christs power withering was again refreshed by Prayer Repentance and â—aith in the two natures though reason could not unfold the Union But let me know why the diseased lyon seeks out an ape by whose ugly tricks he as it were laughs himself into health how or what can cause an ovel ball of Virgin wax cast into the salt Sea fill it self with fresh water why should the Iew doubt of Marys Virginity since he believes the bush burned and was not consumed that Gideons fleece was wet and all the ground dry that Daniels stone was cut out of the Mountains without hands All these were antecedent to this the Spirit trolling us forward to believe the Mystery of the Incarnation from a Virgin overshadowed she being like the porch in Ezekiel 4.4 through which none was to pass because the Lord hath entred in by it he was the occult seâ—d which had we wanted we had been like to Sodom 1. Isa. he is the fruit of Davids body to sit upon Davidâ— throne other sons are the fruit of the Loins Psal. 132. but Christ was purely a fruit oâ— the belly for from Iosephs piety for Iesuâ— Dignity for the Honour of the Holy Ghost as we know Mary to have been a Virgin before her Conception so she is believed to have remained a Virgin ever after HIS Conception in the womb being the fund and bottom of all that followed in hiâ— Mediatory office in it resteth the inscrutablâ— Mystery of the two natures the possibility whereof in the Union of our capacious Souls with our finit infirm bodies is somewhaâ— cleared but admit this should not be reflected upon Heaven it seem'd resolves that thâ— A. B. C. of our profession should be wholâ—ly superstructed upon faith that the 〈◊〉 and Ground-sale might be conform to thâ— roof and both to stand upon his ipse 〈◊〉 the word of the Lord the Femal being 〈◊〉 only placed for the parent not a man to coâ—â—passe a woman whereby a man may be bâ—â—gotten but a woman a MAN by whicâ— Iesus was organiz'd AND if heathens beliâ—ved the possibility of Minervahs concepâ—ion in the brain of Iupiter without a woman may it not from truer gâ—ounds be trusted that Iesus was framed in the womb without a man it is certainly fabulous that Budda should have gendred in his side a Virgin buâ— for this truth what direful things have not been suffered and what consolation hath it not bred And the newnesse of the thing in the uniting God and man is said to have been registrat'd in the book of Heaven it self for all to see the Learned observing by their tables that upon the observed day of our Lords nativity viz. December 25. their fell the greatest conjunction of the eight and ninth speares in head of Aries that ever was and nature is not able to effect the like say they unlesse the world continue thirty or fourty thousand years a strange conjunction upon earth represented by another in heaven imports the Almighâ—y would have it wonder'd at HER name Mary imports a star and that of the Sea too designed in this particular to be eyed by such Mariners or rather questionists who in sailing through the Ocean of Divine Revelation Mysteries will needs be exerciseing the plummet and by the line of reason â—athâ—me in the depth of the wisdom of God or coast it by the shoar of their own interest opinion faction or concernment Mary in this being a better pilot by her own motion above her own reason in how can these things be steared towards the bay of Faith and of dependance in Be iâ— according to thy word and to her Honour cast anchor within the port of God's verity and omnipotency with God all things being possible and their striking sail saved her own Soul bringing him forth who is made to us of God
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
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
Natalitials of our Saviour Greg. Naz. Orat. 38. Whence the Golden-mouthed Father prefaceth a Sermon in upbraiding such whose zeal and fervour excited only to Communicat upon such dayes which yet might be often and not upon others pathetically shewing how each day might be made a Festival Chrys. in Fide Ane Hom. 5. Which themâ— by Origen who was Famous Anno Dom. 226. was closely followed in his writting in defence of the Gospel against the cavils of subtile Philosophers affirming that to Keep a feast was but to attend dutifully offering up Prayer and praise as unbloody sacrifices unto God and he who believed the death of Christ and lived by his word did Celebrate the Pasch such who went to an upper Chamber to pray with one accord Keeped the Pentecost c. Contra Cels. lib. 8. WHAT more for Paper would faile if exact rehearsal of the practise of the most fam'd most Ancient most edifying most Religiouâ— Sermons Orations Persons Churches and Nations touching these things were in Individuo Specified without boasting what hatâ— been said as light may Conjure those Spectrum Phantasmes Phasmes and Apparitions of pretended supperstition though walking in 〈◊〉 heavenly garb by a holy vogue to disappeare as Impostors airey vanitys possessing nothing of the substance of solid piety not having thâ— true body of Refined Reason Laws Edicts and Authority regulating Christianity in this exercise by uniting Churches for observing in the Circumstance of time that for the doing whereof they had Authority from Apostles or Apostolick men I say Circumstance of time there being a while disagreement among the Churches when but never about whether these dayes should be observed the difference in our own Churches about Easter after Austine the monks enstalment being removed by Theodorus Bishop of Canterbury a Citizen of no mean City born in Tarsus in Cilicia St Pauls Countrey who appointed the feast of Easter to Commence according to our present Computation Anno Dom. 662. Ful. Eccles. Hist. Cent 7. WHEREBY Vnity was beheld in the Churches of Palestine that Conforming with the Churches of Antioch of the greater and lesser Asia of Egypt Thessalonica Athens and Corinth the Churches of the Isle St. Thoms of Iberia the Mengrellians bordering on the black Sea those of Phrigia Galathia Bythinia Lydia Caria Paphlagonia Magnesia Lycia Alepo Damascus Tripoly Cyprus Candia Zant. those of Media Persia India those of the Abyssins Babylon Syria and those of the once great Kingdom of China For a learned Author shewing how all these Churches though under the Dominion of the Turk Rome or Pagans agree with us in the great matters agitat against our Romish adversaries as in the Supremacy Purgatory halfe Communion Transubstantation c. Discovers also their disagreement from us in severall points to Instance onely in the case in hand some beginne their Lent ten dayes before ours some fast nine dayes before the Ascension in regard of Christs absence from the Apostles which to them they reckon a time of sorrow Paget Christian ograph 146. and 150. Which exception from our observance evidenceth their agreement with us in the matter under proof according to that Known rule exceptio firmat in non exceptis SHOULD we say in all this they inclin'd to Popery waspishly they would sting and frettingly would they be angry having against that so great an aversness that the Patriarch or Archbishope of Constantinople when Elected by his Clergy and confirmed by the Barut or Patent of the Grand-Segnior in the Government of the Churches of Greece Macedon Epirus Thrace Mosina Maldavia Corsu in the Egean Seâ— c. having under him seventy four Archbishops I say this great Patriarch yearly upon the Sunday called Dominica Invocavit solemnly excommunicats the Pope and all his Clergy for Schismaticks its true of late his seat hath been oft at Musco where to this day if a Roman priest by chance should officiat upon any of their tables or Altars as polluted or accursed they break it into pieces Paget ut sup c 29. A Learned Critick and Antiquary viewing the severall Churches of the world finds that part of the Greek Church in Armenia Celebrating the Nativity not as wee but upon the sixth of January Breeâ—woods inquir 124. as if that had been his birth day which indeed is an old opinion being received by some but neither so universaly nor so rationaly believed Chrys. Hom. de Nat. led thereunto through a mistake of the word Epiphania signifying manifestation they concluded the time of his birth and baptisme to be one for which cause it may be yet the Ethiopicks sprinkle themselves in the Epiphany in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost yet not as essential unto Faith but as Historicall a remembrance of our Saviours baptisme Barrets travells p. 146. YET the received opinion by the Current Testimony of all Antiquity from the first and primitive times was the feast of Christmas that is with the old Saxon Christs feast computed and appointed to be observed as it is now being Inclyta solemnitas a Famous Festivity over all the world Cyp. de Nat. Ser. giving it as genuine Characters of true profession to observe the Lords-day and Festivals Tert. de Idol c. 15. TO make yet a doubting Thomas believe the existence of no Popry in this codicle let him thrust his hand into the side and looke upon the Prints of these things in the body of the Church Reformed he shall or may be ascertained of its Innocency in this matter or be forced to exalt himself above all in our Israel accounting none to be so wise so pure so knowing so holy as he in all our Congregations when put together BEHOLD Eminent Emissaries of those Churches chosen as messengers from Holland Gilderland Zealand Vtrech Frizland Transylvania Groning from the Palatinate Landgrave of Hesse Helvetia Genevah from the Republick of Brem and that of Embden and from the Kingdom of great Britaine met together at Dort to Censure Remove and Rebuke opposers of their peace and Corrupters of the Doctrine of the Reformed Church for preventing of Error Heresy and Division And see them all seated debating for this end yet unanimously agreeing in full Synod to Intermitt for a while untill the feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour which then approached was performed and over The foraigne Divines being desired not to remove from Towne for more convienency of meeting the solemnity being done This motion freely obeyed and by none disputed may put some stop to the grumbling Zelot not to say the Censorious Hypocrite whose Religion perhaps should altogether not only be questioned but his prophannesse attested had he not the salvo of twitting others in the teeth as Formalists to buoy up his Credit with the headless Vulgar And when the Magistrats of Bommel writ requesting that Henricus Leo their Minister might be allowed to repare to his congregation to preach Administer c. with his own people upon the feast of the
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
the Idolatry 1 Cor. 10.14 IN the Kingdom of France of old an order of Knighthood was institute called of the Star which in the days of Charles the seventh became contemptible the Honour becomeing dishonourable being given to pages yeoman of the guard and other attendants so that the Knights laid asside the badge and cognisance of the Star whereupon the order evanished the Magi in a holy and respectfull sence might be termed of the Star but Religion in Gospel preaching having descended unto the poor many great in their own esteem as the Iews repineing at the Gentile shifts off devotion to their Chaplain and servants menial and in a distinguishable sense is it not sadly visible that the poor have the Gospel preached unto them great men landed men Wise men or men for any thing of renown gilding their sword garnishing their board embroidering their apparel as if birth-right nobility and gallantry did ipso facto and of it self qualify for glory piety and religion in the mean while exposed to nakednesse and contempt bleeding and trod-underfoot as injurious unto because debasing greatnesse and suiting rather the Tenents then the Land-Lords habitation whose revenue provyding against course fair hard beds shifts off prayer reading holy living as inept guests or complemented with a dinner and then farewell VPON this score not many wise after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called 1 Cor. 1.26 yet because their are not many it would seem their are some mighty and some noble called wherefore freeing your souls from this abuse embrace holinesse as an honourable inmate as the Crown embellishing al your vertues the preservative of al your excellencies the engine mean or instrument to augment your fortunes enlarge dominions dignifie your issue protect your dwellings guard your persons secure your consciences and acquire gloâ—y for Godlinesse hath the promise and the sinner will dy accursed THE Natural Sons of the Kings of Spaâ—n by law are never to enter the gates of Madrid Don Iohn as we read was never nearer it then a league the court leaving the pallace that that mighty Austian might be capable to give a visit to his Catholick Majesty as if their were so black a stain or so thick a fibre somewhere in that great body that royal blood could not so encircle the person as to nobiliat and on all quarters in all parts properly make him his Highnesse his Serene Highnesse just so it is with wickednesse and unbelief no gold can beautify it no silver adorne it nor throne honour it nor greatness make it or the breast in which it lodgeth to be capable to see the face of God or admit it to his holy Habitation INDEED God condescends so far as to descend to sinners and by them may be visited and spoak withal in the acts of his worship and temple of his Son as Christ was beheld by the Magi but so as we find not first and second he as Death makeing no difference between Rich and poor High and low and if any it is to the poorest that is in Spirit all before and in comparison of him being but dust and ashes and he who is loosest upon the earth that is puft up is because such soonest and easiest blown away all epithets declairing greatnesse being unsuccesfull fading and evanishing as smoak from the tunnels of their own well furnish'd kitchins known it seems to Ioan Queen of Spain who gave on a glob a moulting peacock with Vanitas encircled as if all earthly glory without the coronet of Sanctity and piety were but like the splendor of that fowl and beauty of his train which a rainy day will cause to disappear and a warm spring a smal calamity shall make the prey of any baser born scattering them in the path of this world's contingencies to adorn the cap's of it may be their own Skip-Jacks followers and footmen MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF OUR LORDS CROSSE Unfolded and applied Passion-Friday April 1. High Church 1670. GOOD-Friday April 1. High Church 1670. PSAL. CX VII He shall drink of the Brook in the way therefore shall he lift up his head WE read of a Holy Man whose library being ill stored furnished himself richly with store of Literature by serious revolving upon the matter contained in three books whose leaves were of different colours one whit wherein he was directed to walk talk and do conform to that favour patience long suffering God had exercis'd towards him another was black representing the formidable number and sad consequence of his infinit and multiplied transgressions the third was red which to his affections passionatly discovered the great secret of the wisdom of the Love of God towards and for his Soul in contriving the death of his Son whose blood as the Red Sea destroying the Egyptians of his lust made him both rejoice and weep IN which meditation holy men of old as they were moved by the holy Ghost nothing being more usâ—ful necessary comfortable mysterious then the knowledge of Christ and him Crucified were much conversant and among them David is eminent in many places particularly in this Psalm pointing both at Calvery and Olivet for he shall Drink and then he shall lift up the head which expresseth a triumâ—h a Trophe after a victory and fight he must for he shal strick through Kings and fill the places with dead bodies ver 5.6 which cannot be done without some losse of blood unto himself which eventually shall procure honour and that for ever the Lord saying to my Lord that is to David yet in the Mystery unto Davids Lord Christ sit thou on my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy foot-stool the Father giving him not only the right but the Act of dominion judging governing all things untill Devils Belialists Hereticks Shismaticks Antichrists every evil work be dashed in pieces the fathers grandor not being ecclipsed by this donation he reigning in the Son and remaining in that account stil Lord also by him for ever his sweating bleeding dying burying serving but as medicine to evacuat his holy body of humors and disposing him to rest after which as a Gyant refreshed with wine he shall rise out of sleep and smit his enemies in the hinder parts makeing them a shame unto themselves in uncovering their foâ—lies before the whole creation and in the sight of Angels of men contumeliously causing them smart for their heart enormities when he shall after his drinking lift up his head AFLICTION is in general compared to water and bearing of the CROSSE to drinking and the measure providentialy alloted for each creature may be pertinently expressed by a cup of which it 's decreed by heaven all must drink though not all alike the dregs of the cup of Tribulation being appointed for the wicked Psal. 75. Let the Jews therefore this day fret curse murmur in their carnal way 〈◊〉 a pompuous Messiah while the more spiritualiz'd exalt the name of Iesus who as another
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
self experience the brusing of the serpents head PROVIDED he come not as Iudas to betray him or his cause for love of this present world the poyson whereof infecting the heart of Iudas to mercilesse treacherie eating up the bowels of compassion made to retaliat his crime his own bowels to be cast into the earth yet not so low but they stand as a beacon that we may avoid an evill custome pilfring and stealing the consequence thereof an evill conscience and the perfection of that the place prepared for hypocrites and unbelievers but what Pilat said thy own nation have delivered thee unto me may both Turk and Pagan say of Christ the lives of Christians scandalizing the nations through avarice pride interest and malice contradicting that good confession My kingdom is not of this world securing Pilat from fear of rebellion or disturbance in his Government by stratagems of war or engines of State whereas by both we seek not only to invade the territories and dominions of those differing from us but maligâ—s corrupts deâ—ames enviously calling away away with them who in principles of Religion are one with our selves AS Iudas avarice one the on hand â—o Peter's Arrogance is to be avoided on the other ingoing over this brook he also went with Christ arrogating to himself what was not in him he seemed as the Pharisee to despise others and gave to his Master a flat contradictory speech in the vehemency of his supposed constancy a warning for the strongest to say I am weak since his fall from the occasion of it a Woman a Maid a Wench pricks the bladder of self confidence and causes the informed to bear a low sail least if by his example doctrine be not drawn of humility Pride become our ruine as we see in those days in which holinesse that is strictnesse getting an honourable name becomes a shelter a pent house for more subtile sinners their subtilty being only in this viz in a high ungrounded conceit of themselves from which if we this day arise it shall be good-friday forgetting the lâ—cks which by many of you is eat this day as a proper food as well as the onyons and garlike of earthly sensuality makeing the breath of our Spiritual converse too too ranky fâ—ast upon the sour herbs of lowly and repentant considerations being circumcis'd Israelits and proper for the Paschal Lamb of the Gospel compensing the dâ—shonour we have given the most high by sinfull because fleshly dainties by the sorrow and sighings bitter reflections from a mortified because converted soul for denying the Lord that bought us being first remembred by the Cock croâ—ing next by Iesus looking that is by the sound of the word next by meditation thereof remembring he said the Lord resisteth the proud but giveth Grace to the humble as the justifying the Publican in the paâ—able discovers THE ancients in their baptism did dip or sprinkle three times the baptized in remembrance of the holy Trinity or the three dayes lying in the grave of the Son of man that even in this demersion they might be conformed to the sufferings of their Lord and how hath S. Pa. boasted of his being crucifyed with Christ and presseth to the likenesse of his death for our being crucified by keeping from the filthinesse of the flesh and walking with Zacharias Righteously one hand being nailed that is bound up against the injustice of the world and with Elizabeth Blamlesly the other hand detained from the intemperance of the world making straight paths for our feet in a prudent heeding of our ways our hearts and sides pierced with the spear or sword of the word of God and thence as bloud and water to flow forth Love to God charity to man crowned with the sharp thorns of inward compunction for our folly and of outward compassion for our Brothers adversity beholding the solidity of this world to be but emptinesse of a Spunge and all it's delights as Vineger to the teeth forbearing to drink of that Myrhe of envy malice and all uncharitablenesse wherewith the world doth in extremity furnish her prisoners and captives as Christ knew THEN may the soul cry the prince of this world cometh and findeth nothing in me and again Father into thy hands I commit my Spirit which at the bowing down of the head in giving up the Ghost by dying to sin shall cause thy soul be cloathed with the fin linnen of the Saints and be admitted into the Paradise of joy the body being hid during the three days of suffering what God shall impose labouring to keep a good conscience and grieving for the abominations of the world after which in the morning of the Resurrection by the Ministry of the Angels meet the Lord in those mountains of Galile whereof he hath told us that is in the clouds IF any will be so charitable as who should not to heed and see where Christ is laid remember he hath been laid in three Sepulchers or places first in the Vnity of the two new Testaments which is as the Virgins womb next in the bosome of the Church which is as the manger the third is Iosephs rock which is the soul and heart of the elect watch this last and make it as sure as you can but wake him not by the noise tumult or rumbling of unruly and unholy because unruly cogitations which are not pleasing to him but rather provide oyntments with Nicodemus of Myrhe in continence and chastity of spiritual sorrow for all delinquencies of Aloes in withdrawing from such as are disorderly and cleansing your selves from the sin that so easily besets makeing a mixture of both these by eyeing the doctrine of the Law which requires inoffensivenesse towards God and man and working them into an oyntment wherewith to enbalm the poor members of the body of Christ refreshing them that their loines may blesse you THE Paschal lamb was slain in the evening so was Christ which it prefigured giveing up the Ghost about the ninth hour that is three in the afternoon he came to give light unto the world which by his life doctrine and miracles he did effectuat and none hateth him but they who hate the light least he should detect their evil deeds he came in the evening of the world to enlighten the Gentiles and be the glory of his people Israel he crossed the bâ—ook Cedron in the evening before he suffered still endeavoring to have the end of things good Iudas leaveth him in the evening Peter boasted of himself in the evening he enlightned both because he forwarned both favoring neither the one nor regarding the other looking still to the close of things a policy yet Christianity mantaiâ—s allowing good beginings but approveth only continuance in good Indâ—â— had a fair morning and began well ended miserably selling his Master and buying his own damnation for three pound fifteen shilling sterling his rendition of it not abating one farthing of the guilt his confession at it not assoiling
the soul for in ordinary law the money was neither his nor their's to whom he gave it being the price of the highest sacriledge and of which as of the censures of Dathan and Abiram God was to have been heir and by consequence the poor which the consciences of the Scribs knew and therefore laid it out upon and for strangers as their own charity he makeing no confession of his former theifts discovered not the manner of his apprehension hâ—â—ged himself a sad ending a fearful close a dismal evening of such a fair day as the Apostleship presented to him IT is much to purchase but a greater mercy to secure goodnesse and grace if therefore there be any good thoughts this day for Christ saying if it be so why am I thus with Peter sink not for fear with him is love and forgivenesse with Iudas sell him not for greed let not the cares pelf or trash of this world chock that good seed remembring that Peter and Iohn was only sent to prepare the passeover before he suffered the first signifieth a rock the other grace and such as are established by grace in their heart are only they with whom Christ the truth of the passeover shall be found for because with the cup of remission of sin which shall in the evening of their days as the bloudy mark secure them from the destroying Angel FRIENDSHIP of old was effiged bodily with an open side discovering the very frame figure and position of the heart without which it was concluded true amity and fellowship could not be secured and is not true kindnesse represented on the CROSSE where bodily our Lord hung with a peirced side not only shewing but the heart emptying it self unto us pouring forth bloud and water not blood only for justification as by beasts slain under the Law but water also for purifying the vessels of the young men that they be holy and this visibly from the heart being sub dio of the Brook that is of the field not the wells of a house dying that is drinking at Ierusalem a publick City at a passeover a holy feast not in the town but on a mount not privatly massacred but publickly adjudged by Pontius Pilat not in the Temple by Tumults least Jews should plead a priveledge but in the open Air by the hands of the Gentiles for purifying of the air from the defilments of both Nations clearing it also that he dyed for both and is as clear as the parting of his garments which yet being divided in four equal parts projects his merits to be open to be applied by many in the four quarters of the world that in the self same day wherein there passed four glorious occurences eminent passages in relation to the Church the day of his death though at long distance being the selfsame day in which Abraham was called from Vr of the Caldeans in which the Israelits were called out of Egypt with whom went a mixed multitude and in which the decree went forth to build the holy City to which the Gentiles contributed these three meeting with this according to the time of the passeover and the best computation denoteth the general influence his Death the last of the famous four hath upon all the world and in evidence whereof he would not dy a privat death chusing rather to drink of the brook in the sight of the Nations that is in the way IT is said he was crucified with his back to the citty as if his prophannesse had been so great that his face was not worthy to behold their holy Temple but was it not if true a shrewd sign of the fulfilling of that prophesy I will shew them the back and not the face in the day of their calamity Je. 18 â— hath so long taken his countenance from them that that wherwith they apbraided Iesus of his being a Friend to publicans to sinners is now their greatest and most ordinary employment in point of trust among the Turks they being under that disgrace that in no Nation are they martial'd or embodyed in an army for the field and as they alwayes resisted the Holy Ghost and became the murtherers of the just one still they persist in that obduration seeking the bloud of his followers and Disciples polluting in their desperate malice the pure annual celebration of this our Lords death with crucifying to death Christian children in derision of our Saviour and oft to their own destruction in the shedding of their own bloud as murtherers and banishing their posterity as the vilest of miscreants as from England France and many other places IT is stupendious what is recorded touching that mystery of iniquity the necessity the Jews are in of haveing Christian blood a secret not known to many Rabbies discovered but An Dom. 1500. by a converted Rabbi of Ratisbon avouching that they at point of death annoint the sick with Christian blood in these words If he who is promised in the Law and Prophets be already come and Jesus who was erucifi'd be the true Messiah let the blood of this innocent man who dyed with faith in him wash thee from all thy sins and also conduct thee to Eternal life So that his blood upon them among them and by them triumphs AND of old after the destruction of Jerusalem those of Tiberias would whisper into the ears of their dying relations believe in Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified whom our Princes slew upon the CROSSE for he is come and will judge thee at the last day SO that yet he lives his drinking being but in the way Everlastingnesse or Eternity having no power upon his sufferings for by this phrase Way understand the brevity of his passion being but to taste of death which as a sleepy drench a potion of popy water had a while dominion over him and then he awaked to their shame sorrow and astonishment as the wisest of them at this day declare observing since his death their desolation finding no term of their captivity as in the other two nor promise of a third return to Canaan which either from policy or conscience made those Iews who of late An. Dom. 1666. had the eyes of the world upon them pretending to a restauration give out that they were the posterity of the ten Tribs carried away into Babylon who never returned and not of the two who did and therefore not the successors of such who put Iesus the Son of Mary to death which yet did not hold him for wanting sin whereby the dead are fettered in their graves he first stouped drank dyed and then lift up his head it being impossible for death to retain him because of innocence BVT as at his death his very disciples were offended that is in a Scripture sense stumbled at the Crosse and it 's not to be questioned but something of doubting entered into Maries soul as if all her hopes memorials relations revelations about her Sons kingship Government
a name among the many empty and flaunting tittles of the great Turk and the Catholick King both as relateing to Christ the last without honour the other with much profit arising from the customs and imposts exacted of pilgrims whom câ—riosity or superstition shall conduct unto that soyl where if any will engadge to avoid dishonest gain reconcile differences shun the company of infamous persons refrain from swearing perjury blasphemy drunkennesse and pay some money undergoing some ceremonies he may by the Pater Guardian of the Franciscan Convent be ordained a Knight of the holy sepulchre of our Lord Iesus Christ in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost of which order as most seemly the most Christian King is or was Soveraign HOW should our Christian Cities flourish in the fight of the Nations and the Theaters whereon our Lord coâ—quered and triumphed over all his adversaries I mean not the places whereon as Bethlehem Gethsemane Mount olivet and the rest but the Registers wherein these things are recorded as S. Mathew S. Luke S. Paul and the other Apostles if all that Travelled through the Holy Land of the Christian Dominions were qualifi'd for this Honour But to our shame as Turks in Ierusalem we make advantage our scope in designing honour to the Gospel so far crossing it's true intent of Godlinesse as it's crosse th'warts the projects of our self seeking lucre gain betraying in kissing Christ a-fresh in our covetous enterprizings and crucifying him while we Crown him as a King in the blaspheming and villany of our actings BY the Mapps of Ierusalem in Christs turnings and returnings from Annas to Caiphas from him to Pilat from him to Herod to Pilat back again from Gabbatha to Golgotha that he travel'd the best greatest part of the Citty over is visible to be seen he rendring thereby his passion more publick and offering the fruits thereof unto as many as would or will by faith come forth to behold him hath he not travelled through our lands and Kingdoms and as cursed Jews have we not scorned mocked compelled him to bear his CROSSE in our charging him with deplorable actings the most inhumane butcheries pretendedly said to proceed from the zeal of his Spirit Is he not dayly in his members persecuted by our uncharitable talking of and walking before one another whereby ruine may easily be predicted and a divorce suggested ready for sealing that we may abuse Gospel-priviledges no more as is seen in that Babylon where our Lord was crucifi'd wone once from the Turks by the slaughter of twenty thousand of them by the sword of Christians upon a Friday about three in the afternoon as if for once God would beautify Christian verity in that Unbelieving City by putting it in their hands who professed the Gospel and who wore the CROSSE on their cloathes the same day and hour his Son dyed upon the CROSSE FROM which let us fear least Mahomets growing greatnesse occasioned by our Unchristian broils provoke God to make him become a scourge and a CROSSE to our Cities and Nations pretending adherence to the Gospel but not receiving the same in the love thereof by bowing down our heads giving up the Ghost in walking with all lowlinesse of mind and dying unto sin MYSTERIUM PIETATIS OR THE MYSTERIE OF THE RESURRECTION of Iesus Christ unfolded and applied Pasch-Sunday April 3. Tolbooth Church 1670. Easter-Sunday April 3. Tolbooth Church 1670. PHILIP III.X. That I may know him and the power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings being made conformable unto His death THE holy men of God in Scripture mentioning the death of Christ seem oft as posters to haâ—t from and briskly to exped that subject intending to lodge that is to insist upon and rest in the doctrine of the Resurrection not slighting his passion as if not comfortable but because not satisfactory for Gods justice or mans happinesse unlesse the rising from the dead be a consequent thereof he stiled himself the first and the last I am said he he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for ever more Revel 1. SO our Creed as fearing to damp belief goeth forward in haste omitting many glorious passages in being crucified under Pontious Pilat unto the rising again the third day It is Christ that dyed saith S. Paul yea rather who is risen again Rom. 8. and verily it is usual to see his dying and rising handed together they being the cementing matter whereby God and Man the Soul and Happinesse Ioy and the Consâ—ience perfectly inseparably knit and united in one for what ever felicity can be concluded from the vertue of the latter depends upon those promises which evinceth the truth of the former seeing him dy that is perswasions of his Death the knowledge of which death and the fellowship of his sufferings that is being made conformable to his death being only the proper and effectual mediums of knowing the power of His Resurrection HERE the Apostle discovers his desire of knowledge and next to benefit thereby meaning the righteousnesse of Faith that is of Christ in point of doctrine about his Resurrestion and his imitation of the other referring to practise in being made conformable to his death so that we are enforced to speak first with Peter and before him with David of the Resurrection which is not rightly known untill the vertue efficary and energy of his death be understood consisting in the expiation of sin liberation of guilt acquisition of righteousnesse and the hope of â—mmortality the scope and tendency of the Resurrection being perfectly and inwardly for the applying of these things as from it towards our selves he being delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification CONCEIVE him dead sealed watched writ upon his Tombstone here lyeth Iesus Christ of Nazareth who was crucified An. M. 3982 Aetatis suae 33. yet by power did make a spoil of death his grave cloathes those ensigns of mortality laid by baffling the envy of the Scribs the fury of the people the force of Herod and in one morning confounded all the adversaries of his life HE dyed about the ninth hour about three in the afternoon order so requiring for about that time viz. in the coole of the day Adam was cast out of Paradise about which time also it was congruous for the second Adam to make his entry therein both in the evening enjoyning all in the Mystery to dy unto the worlds pleasures before night that is the eleventh hour which was to the master of the Vineyard the time of payment not of calling unto work BVT least we speak of as the woman sought the living among the dead see him raised for he is risen and thaâ— while it is yet dawning at break of day directing us to infer that he was no more to dy the linnen napkin within the sepulchre giving caveats to us against the surmise of his after using such apparel Lazarus indeed came forth
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
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
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