the Jews Carnal nor Spiritual could endure their Ceremonies should be suddenly forsaken Thou seest brother how many Thousands of Jews there are that believe and they are All zealous of the Law †Act. 21.20 i e the C L so the Christians counselled Paul to countenance them and he did so * Ver. 23 26. Not to uphold Ceremonies but to get an interest in their affections that by degrees as they could bare it he might bring them Off and had he not done so they had cast him off Thus to the Jews he became a Jew to gain the Jews †1 Cor. 9.20 Fath. But if Pentecost was not on the first day why did God countenance it by giving the Disciples the holy Ghost on that day Min. Because I would not onely Silence but also Satisfie you I have been willing to give you all the advantage I can by stating things fairly for you and will do so still Suppose then the Disciples met contrary to the mind of God and knew it yet for fear or favour of the magisterial Jews they conform to keep the Pentecost if God will be gracious what then I will not again curse the ground for mans sake for the imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth * Gen. 8.21 Let my Lord I pray thee go among us for it is a Stiff-necked people †Ex. 34.9 Strange Arguments Gods Word is mans rule but Gods Will is Gods rule and if God will be gracious to man when man walks contrary to his Will will man say Lord what doest thou mean to have mercy on me Will man call God to his Bar and bring him into judgement for his mercy Mercy or judgment if it be the will of God it is just Yea if God should command man contrary to his own command e g If God will forbid man to murder upon pain of Death and then command a man to kll his own Son * Gen. 22.2 who will say unto him What doest thou †Job 9.12 God did not make man to consult what promises God should make to man nor when he should fulfill them God gave the Disciples a promise of the Spirit and he took this time Pentecost to fulfill it ¶ 2 I would form a foundation for a Question for your consideration viz The 50 dayes bounded Harvest the first day was at Beginning of harvest begin to number the 7 weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the Sickle to the Corn * Deu. 16.9 The fiftieth day was at End of harvest Harvest was in the land of Canaan a Type of Heaven The 50 dayes contained 7 Sabbaths a number noting Perfection These dayes were all linked to the Passeover and all Typical of eternal life Jesus began to observe this time with the Passeover before his death It being so Quere I Quere whether this Pentecost was not to be kept that God might give the Disciples a little Heaven on Earth to signifie what an eternal Sabbath they should have in Heaven Typified by these preceeding Sabbaths which at this day Pentecost were consummated If you can Answer this Question in the Affirmative then your Question Why did God countenance the Pentecost is resolved Fath. I may take it into consideration another time But Suppose the Jews did not translate the Passeover Sabbath it fell on the 7 day Sabbath then they kept the 15 day and Jesus rose the 16 and Wave-day this proves Pentecost on the first day and Christs death on the 6 day too Min. Now I can follow you no farther I dare not Say the word suppose in this case nor dare I think such a wicked thought But though I dare not Follow you I dare Meet and withstand you to the Face If you say the Jews kept the right day you say Jesus kept the wrong day If you say the Jews did not Translate the Passeover to the day after the right day you say Jesus did Anticipate it the day before the right day viz Jesus died on the 14 day and killed the Passeover on the 13 day contrary to the Law In so saying you make Jesus a Transgressor Thus by justifying the Jews and condemning Jesus you hope to Hit it Monstrum Horrendum this proof comes from the bottomlesse Pit and there being no other way in the world to prove your opinion rather than fail you will make Jesus the Saviour and actual Sinner at which attempt what is that heart that will not tremble Should you Suppose You and I are now in the East-Indies or London stands on the Main Ocean or there is no difference between Heaven and Hell I would as soon consent Fath. But we may Reason and Question Christ was Lord of the Sabbath and had power to change the Sabbath might not he change the Passeover and be no transgressor Min. Though Jesus was Lord of the Sabbath he was made under the Law †Gal. 4.4 and Subject to it Though he was the Sabbaths Lord the Law was his Lord and had him at command on which account it was honourable * Isa 42.21 And though Jesus changed the Sabbath it was not while he was under the Law but at his Resurrection when he had fulfilled it Jesus stood in mans stead he was a debtor to the whole Law the payment of which debt the Law required ot the last mite Christs person is taken into custody imprisoned in the grave till the debt be discharged and justice satisfied at his resurrection being acquitted he was taken from prison and from judgment †Isa 53.8 alluding to a debtour who hath satisfied the creditour Then Jesus changed the Sabbath Fath. It seems Jesus justified his Disciples in an unlawfull deed on the Sabbath day for they eat Other mens Corn * Mat. 12.1 Min. Not in the Least the Law allowed that deed e g When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbours then thou mayst pluck the ears with thine hand †Deut. 23.25 As for Davids eating the Shew-bread and the Priests prosaning the Sabbath by killing their Sacrifices * Mat. 12.3 4 5. these according to the Letter of the Law were unlawful but not according to the Sense of the law which provided liberty for works of Charity and Necessity And Jesus in pleading these practices to excuse his Disciples doth q d You count David and the Priests blamelesse in these necessitous acts and yet condemn my Disciples in the same Case Fath. But Jesus refused to go up to the feast of Tabernacles †Job 7.8 which Law he was under as well as this of the Passeover and if he could dispense with That why not with This Min. Jesus refused to go up by way of vain Ostentation as his unbelieving brethren would needs have him go for say they Shew thy self to the World * Ver. 4. that Jesus resused saying Go ye up to this feast †Ver. 8. q d by way of Ostentation if you
them God can see as well in the Dark as in the Light When Dores and Windowes are shut and Curtains drawn Close at Midnight as well as at Noon Day on the House Top. Tell them God heareth what they say if they speak Never so Softly And knows what they Think if they think Never so Secretly And Tell them whatever they Think Speak and Act on Earth God writes in Heaven What is Good God looks upon with Love What is Evil God beholds with Hatred Thou art of Purer Eyes than to behold Evil †Hab. 2.13 God beholds NO Evil with an Eye of Approbation but ALL Evil with an eye of Observation in order to Damnation if speedy Repentance prevent it not How Dar'st thou Sin in Secret God doth See And Witnesse Jury Judge alone will Be. Fourteenth Doc 14. The uncertainty of Life Teach them to know the Brevity and Uncertainty of Life for Age and Youth Old and Insant Tell them in Golgotha are Sculls and in the Church Yard are Graves of All Sizes Solomon tells of a time to be Born and a time to Die but he tells us of no time to Live * Ecl. 3.2 Tell them Death is Most Certain and may be as Sudden as Certain One may be Alive Young Strong Well Sick Dead Damned and all in a Day or in an Hour 1 God the Donour and Preserver of Mans Life may Suddenly end it 2 The Devil the Envier of Mans Life may Suddenly end it as he did Job's Children †Job 1.10 3 The Wicked Satans Workmen may Suddenly end it he riseth up and No man is sure of his Life * Job 24.22 4 A mans own Relations may Suddenly end it as Cain who killed his Own Onely brother Abel †Gen. 4.8 5 A mans own Hand may Suddenly end his own Life Ahithophels councel to Others was as if a man had enquired at the Oracle of God * 2 Sa 16.23 but he could not councel Himself to keep from the Gallows It 's dangerous provoking GOD to displeasure God can make a man his Own Enemy his Worst Enemy his own Executioner here and his own Tormentor in Hell Fire for ever N B. Seeing Life is SO Uncertain and Short Preparation for Death is a Solemn Concern When men had Longer lives and Stronger limbs than Now men have they seemed to be more concerned with Death than Now men are The First purchase we read of in the Bible was a Burying Place not a Building Place viz Abraham for Sarah * Gen. 23.4 Lo I die in the Grave which I have Digged for me there thou shalt bury me said Jacob to Joseph †Ch. 50.5 Kings and Councellors built Desolate places for Themselves * Job 3.14 Joseph laid Jesus in his Own Tomb †Mat. 27.60 Few in our dayes dig their Graves before they are dead though the World it self be dying Fifteenth Doc 15. Teach them to know the Difference between Temporal Life and Eternal Life The Excellency of One above the Other e g. 1 Temporal Life is full of Corporal Labour * Eccl. 1.8 Eternal Life hath none of this There Remains a Rest †Heb. 4.9 it Ever Remains and Never Removes 2 Temporal Life is full of Mental Misery viz. Care Trouble Vexation Sorrow of Mind Man is Born to trouble * Job 5.7 He is of Few dayes and Full of trouble †Ch. 14.1 His dayes are Few and Evil * Gen. 47.9 Eternal Life is Full of Joy without Sorrow 3 Temporal Life is attended with the Misery of Penury Hunger Thirst Hunger without Bread Bread without Hunger are both Miseries Bread with Hunger is a Double Mercy which Many have and Few prize Eternal Life is free from both these Miseries of Hunger and Thirst They shall hunger NO more neither Thirst any more c †Rev. 7.16 4 Temporal Life is attended with many Diseases Eternal Life hath None All Diseases end at Death A Saints Funeral is the Funeral of All his Afflictions 5 Temporal Life is sometimes such that a man is Weary of it and wishes for Death Eternal Life will Never weary one to All Eternity 6 Temporal Life is but Temporal if it be the life of Methuselah it must Certainly end it may Suddenly end but Eternal Life is Eternal Not any thing in Heaven or Hell shall ever end it Sixteenth Doc 16. Of Heaven Teach them to know how Desireable Heaven is Tell them of its Titles viz The Kingdom of GOD The Kingdom of Heaven The Heaven of Heavens The Third Heaven A house Eternal in the Heavens That will never Decay or want Repair that the Inhabitant will never be Weary of or turned Out of Abrahams Rosom i e Sweet imbraces Eternal Glory Salvation with Eternal Glory An Eternal weight of Glory which will never weary to bear it but bare up above all weariness for ever A Crown of Life A Crown of Glory A City of pure Gold it's Streets pure Gold its Gates Pearl * Rev. 21.21 A City that hath NO need of Sun Moon or Candle †Ver. 23. For there shall be NO Night there * Ch. 22.5 Seventeenth Doc. 17. Of Hell Teach them to know how Dreadfull Hell is Tell them of it's Titles viz Destruction A Furnace Outer Darkness Damnation Everlasting Punishment Vnquenchable Fire A Place of Torment Wrath to Come A Prison Everlasting Chains Everlasting Burnings The Vengeance of Eternal Fire The Second Death A Lake of Fire The Bottomless Pit OH How do Persons Play with Scripture Thunder The Word Printed is like Fire Painted which they can See and Feel without Fear But could they Stand at the Gates of Hell and Hear the Damned Howl it would make their Hair stand an End and Fill their Hearts with Horrour But what shall we say of an Eternal BEING in that place of Torment The Damnation of Hell is beyond All Definition much harder to Define than the Spanish Inquisition Which a Painter despairing to do Did not picture One man with a Knife in his his Throat a Second with a Sword in his Heart a Third with his Arms Torn Off. But took a Table and Covered it all over with Blood crying out BLOOD BLOOD So may a Minister cry concerning Hell FIRE FIRE for a Definition of Damnation Eighteenth Doc. 18. Of temporal Judgements Teach them to know what Temporal Judgments God hath sent to Men Women and Children for Sin against God Tell them how God drowned the World with Water from Heaven * Gen. 7. And burned Sodom with Fire from Heaven †Ch. 19. And Drowned the Egyptians in the Red Sea And clave the Ground asunder to Swallow up Korah and his Company And slew a hundred fourscore and five Thousand in One Night by One Angel * 2 K. 19.35 And slew of Israel Five Hundred Thousand chosen men in One day †Ch. 13.17 Chap. 36.16 And gave All Israel into the
do no good now Alas said he I therefore weep because weeping will do on good And with the woman who was so busied in saving her Stuffe that her child in the Cradle was forgot till the house on fire was Down and the child Dead and then she remembred it Roaring O my child my child And with Jacob when he supposed Joseph was torn in pieces I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning thus his father wept for him * Gen. 37.35 If Joseph had been torn in pieces with a wild beast as Jacob supposed what had that been to a childs being torn by Devils in Hell to all Eternity Ninth Coroll 9. Dooms-day Dolour Consider the Dolefull out-cries of Damned children in Dooms-day against their carnal carelesse prophane Parents who have Lamentably lost Themselves and their Children too When poor children with Pale faces yet as Flames and hearts full Horrour shall ROAR out O Father Mother what have You done I must Burn for ever in Hell for the Sins you learned me to live in by your Sinfull example The oaths I have Sworn will Cursing of men God will Curse me for ever You set me to Work and let me Play on the Sabbath day I had no rest from Sin and now I must have no rest from Sorrow but Roar for ever Now Gods wrath will be Poured out upon me because I did not Pray To pray you would Never learn me except to say the Creed the 10 Commands and the Lords Prayer by which you learned me to Lie for which I must Lay in the Lake †Rev. 21.8 You learned me to neglect Salvation now I have Lost it You learned me to Mock the godly now God Mocks at my misery You led me after our Blind Guide who called us Christians and Gods children now we are in the ditch of Damnation together * Mat. 15.14 You let me Game away my time by which I have lost Heaven and won Hell I would have heard good Sermons which I heard folks Commend and say Sinners were Saved by them but you would not Suffer me but Shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against me OH that Dreadfull Judge will presently passe the Sentence Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire †Mat. 25.41 and then we shall be a Hell in Hell to each other for Ever It will be a Hell to me to behold You in Hell you Cursed father and murderer And it will be a Hell to you to hear me Howl and Roar and Curse you to your Face for Ever And a Thousand such Dolorous ditties Ten thousand times more Terrible than tongue can tell Sir though it be not your Portion to perish with a child lost by your neglect yet is it nothing Now to think that when you are in Heaven you shall have a child to Howl in Hell and curse you there for Ever or will it be Nothing to you in the judgment Day seeing as the Scripture signifies some Saints shall then be subject to Shame Sorrow and saved so as by Fire * 1 Cor. 3.15 Last Coroll 10. Sweet fruit of good Successe Consider the comfortable joyfull effect and Sweet fruit of such godly Education as ends in Salvation and that both in Time and in Eternity It may be a comfort to you in Any condition on Earth to think your children are Heaven-born Pardoned Justified Sanctified and shall be Glorified If they should be Poor yet they are Rich and will be the Richer for their Poverty to all Eternity Whatsoever they Do or Suffer or Lose for God he will Richly reward them Whosoever is their Enemy God will be their Friend and will Never fail them If they be Sick or in any Adversity Still they are Happy If You be sick or in any trouble they will Pray for you If they Die while you live you may be more comforted in their Death than a man can be in a childs Birth or wicked Life If You die while they live you may Sweetly say with Jacob Behold I die but GOD shall be with you †Gen. 48.21 In the Judgment day how Sweet to stand at Jesus Right hand saying Behold I and the Children which God hath given me * Heb. 2.13 none Lost by my negligence all Saved by my diligence How sweet to be the Subjects of this Golden Sentence Come ye blessed of my Father O festus dies while others are the Subjects of that most Direfull Doom Depart ye Cursed How Sweet to be for Ever in Heaven to Trumpet out Eternal Praises and Sing Halelujahs for joy of Heart while others howl for Sorrow of Heart in Hell How Sweet for you and your children to be a Heaven in Heaven to each other while others shall be a Hell in Hell to each other for Ever Yea how Sweet may this dayes Dialogue under this tree be to you in Eternity if it may Issue in what I aim at And what shall I more Say shall I Yet plead with you for pity to your Own Children if I was pleading with you for some small kindnesse for my self methinks I should prevail If I was pleading with you to pity an Enemy who is ready to Perish for want of a Penny me thinks I should prevail And shall I not prevail with you to pity your own poor perishing Children what is your Reply Fath. What shall one do who hath long neglected his duty to his Children till they be hardened in Sin Min. Bewail it to GOD. Implore his Pardon Confesse it to your Children with Sorrow that you are so far in their Debt Set upon your work with Shame If they reject your Counsel bear it patiently Lay their Disobedience at your Own Door And follow God with Petition and your children with Instruction till if possible you Prevail for their Conversion Fath. I hope I shall set about this Solemn Work of so Great Concern God grant I may for I am much troubled at my long neglect Min. I perceive what I have said shakes your Head but GOD knowes whether it shakes your Heart However I hope you will not spend your time in talking to your children of Church-Steeples and Brick Chimneys by the way back Conclusive Caution But Take heed you do not deceive Me nor your Self nor your Children God is not Mocked If you do indeed perform your part Parent-like to the Purpose then may these children here Present and the children which are yet Unborn arise up and Call you Blessed To which more might be added but it 's Time to Retire for I see the Sun is walked far into the West And so Sir I shall take my Leave of You and Yours wishing you all Well for this World and for that which is to Come Fath. Sir we wish You and Yours the like Welfare And we do give GOD and You thanks for this Godly Advice ΤΕΛΟΣ POST-SCRIPT IN the Epistle I direct to know Emphatical words by Capital letters and speak of beginning them
Essence and Being from everlasting to everlasting thou art GOD †Psal 90.2 His Infinitenesse in his Attributes viz Wisdom Knowledge Power Mercy Justice That He is the Only Wise GOD Omniscient Omnipresent Omnipotent That God doth at Once and Alway Know all See all Hear all That he is in every Place and can doe whatever he Please in Heaven and Earth and Hell Second Doc 2. Of Crea tion Teach them to know God to be the Wonderfull Creatour of the Whole Creation viz Heaven Earth Sea Hell And of every creature in them And all for his Pleasure †Rev. 4.11 And that God upholds the Whole Creation by his Uncreated Power And provides for Men Beasts Birds Fishes Fouls Flies And learn your Children to remember GOD as a Creatour not as a Father in a State of Nature And themselves as Creatures not Children of God before they be Born of God Third Doc 3. Of Mans First State Teach them to know the Holy and Happy Condition God made Man in at First And the Covenant God made with man And how Man was to continue in that Condition by vertue of his Obedidience to that Covenant And how all Man-kind were to Stand and Fall In and With ADAM Fourth Doc 4. Mans Fall Teach them to know Mans Fall 1 INTO Original Sin by Satans Subtilty And his Fall 2 BY Original Sin From a Paradise a Palace a Pure State into a Dungeon and Deluge of Wo. The Principal Effects of which Fall are Filth Guilt The Filth of Sin hath spoiled Man of the Image of GOD Impressed the Image of the DEVILL upon him And deprived Man of his Interest in GOD. He was With God in Paradise but being Drove out he is Without God in the World * Eph. 2.12 It hath Debased him He was made but little lower than the ANGELS Sin hath debased Man to a Hog a Dog a DEVIL Sad effects of Sin Sin hath so Darkned mans Soul that GOD only who is light can Illuminate it It hath so Deadned and Killed him that none but the Living GOD can Quicken him It hath so Defiled him that neither Fire nor Water can Cleanse him The Flood of Water that washt away a World of Sinners washt not away One Sin The Fire that shall burn up a World of Sinners and burn them down to Hell and burn them there for Ever shall Never burn away One Sin 2 Guilt Adam's Guilt is imputed to All. All guilty of Eternal Death by One mans Sin Simile As when the Head of a mans body plots Treason the whole Body Hangs for it So of Adam the Head and his posterity the Body if Pardon prevent not Fift Teach them to know Actual Sin viz. To know what IS Sin Doc 5. Actual Sin And to know what Sin IS 1 The tranSgression of the Law that IS Sin †1 Jo. 3.4 Transgression is a going beyond the Bounds of the Law Or doing any thing Contrary to the Command in Deed Word or Thought This is Sin Here note the danger of Smal sins Little sins lead to Greater Smal Sin dangerous The thief Little thought his Thest would by degrees bring him to the Gallows when he began with a Pin a Point and a Peny As little do men think such Small Sins will bring them to Hell Not only the Measure of sin but the Nature of sin is Damnable if the Measure be Never so Small the Soul that sinneth shall Dic †Ezek. 18.4 If so what doe Thousands and Millions amount to A Fly is a Smal Creature yet Swarms destroyed Egypt * Ex. 8.24 A drop of Water is a Smal Matter but drops enough Drowned the World A threed is a Smal Thing yet enough twisted together will Bind the Strongest Giant or Hang the Heaviest man on Earth Quid levius penna What is Lighter than a Feather yet enough of these Packed up together will break the Porters Back 2. What Sin IS To the Law and to the Testimony for Titles for it Six Titles of Sin Sin hath Six Titles to make men Flee from it 1 A Mire †2 Pet. 2.22 that makes a Soul like a Swine so wallowing 2 A Fire that consumes to Destruction * Job 31.12 of Goods Good Name Body Soul and all 3 A Sepulchre full of dead mens Bones and All uncleanness †Mat. 23.27 4 The Dogs Vomit * 2 Pet. 2.22 i e stinking Carrion that the Stomach of a Dog cannot endure 5 The Poyson of Asps †Ro. 3.13 Tell your Children an Oath a Lie a Wicked Word in the Mouth is worse than a Toad under the Tongue And Sin in the Heart is worse than Poyson in the Heart for that can but kill the Body 6 The Plague of the Heart * 1 K. 8.38 a Dreadful Disease If the Plague be in London a Year we think it a Long Time for such a Dismal Disease to Last and Wast But this Plague of SIn hath been in the World between five and six Thousand years A strange disease Few are ever Sick of it yet SO many Die of it that all the World cannot Sum up one Weekly Bill of Mortality Sin is Worse than Sorrow Some sorrow Kills Sin but Sin if not killed Kills the Soul Sin is worse than the DEVIL Sin can destroy a Soul without SATAN but Satan cannot destroy a Soul without Sin Sin is worse than Hell Hell is an Affliction and Contradiction to the Will of Man but Sin is a Contradiction to the Will of GOD. And a Burden which God sigheth under saying AH I will ease me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will be comforted †Isa 1.24 implying a Grieving burden And a bitter burden Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with bitterness * Ho. 12.14 A pressing burden Behold I am Pressed under you †Am. 2.13 A breaking burden I am broken under your whorish heart * Ezek. 6.9 Which argues NO weakness in GOD but the Weight and Strength of Sin I know your Mighty Sins †Am. 5.12 Thus saith the Lord the Lord of Hosts the Mighty one of Israel AH I will ease me * Isa 1 24. N B. The Mighty One complains of the pressure of Sin Well may God say to Man Can Thy heart indure or can thy hands be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee †Ezek. 22.14 i e for Sin Seeing Sin is SO weighty Use and the Soul SO filthy Let noue be Proud of a beautiful Body Let not your Children be Proud if Pretty Take heed you doe not make their Hearts proud with proud Habits as some Professing Parents Prophanely doe lest God send the Smal Pocks or the Great Plague to pull Pride down to the Dust Beauty that is but Skin Deep will Soon be Blasted Fair Skins and Foul Souls are Frequently found together Many Hell black Souls dwell in Shining Shels but if
the Fathers My Son hear the Instruction of thy Father and forsake not the Law of thy Mother * Pro. 1.8 My Son keep thy Fathers Commandments and forsake not the Low of thy Mother †Ch. 6.20 The Law of GOD is called the Law of the Mother And she commanding her Child according to that Law Her Law is the Law of GOD. Of the neglect of which Duty let the Mother take heed lest there come a time when torment makes her Tare the Hair off her Head Ninth Doc 9. Of Faith Teach them to know the Necessity of True Faith Learn them to know it is the Gift of GOD. And the Work of GOD. And that God makes Preparation for Faith by a threefold Conviction of Unbelief 1 Of the utter Deficiency of Faith 2 Of the absolute Necessity of Faith 3 Of the utter Impossibility of Faith in ones Own Power Acquaint them with a threefold Effect of Faith where it s wrought 1 It makes the Heart Pure †Act. 15.9 2 The Conscience Peaceable * Ro. 15.13 3 It makes Christ Precious †1 Pet. 2.7 This Faith is an One thing necessary For by a Fair Profession without Faith a Soul may seem to be Not Far from the Kingdom of Heaven and yet Never the near Civility gilds Fair sets Off a Man Grace only makes a Golden Chris-ti-an Tenth Doc 10. Of Repentance Teach them the necessity of Speedy Repentance That it s not a Work to be put Off for a Year a Month or a Day Let them know its the Gift of CHRIST †Act. 5.31 And that a Sinner can No more Repent himself than he can Pardon himselfe Putting off Repentance proves that the Sinner thinks he can Repent at his Pleasure Like him who put off Faith till Death And being reproved for his Loose Life replyed It 's but believing in Christ at Last But at Last when Dying he lay ROARING OH I have made a Plaister but I cannot make it Stick Shew your Children how the Devil Steals away a Sinners Dayes by a Day at once Should Satan suggest Thus Come Sinner serve me to the Death Live and Die in my sweet service Without Repentance At this a Sinner would Startle q d Satans Subtiltie So I may go to Hell No but Come serve me a Day more Next morning Away without Prayer to pleasure to Day it s but a Day This is easily granted And so on to the End And when the Last Day of life begins Come go on it s but a Day By and by Down drops the Soul into the Dungeon of Hell And then it will be Cold Comfort to hear Satan say Come be quiet thou hast but an Eternitie to spend in Repenting thy daily delay of Repentance in time N B. Without True and Timely Repentance For Sin and From Sin there is Nothing to be expected but a Certain Fearfull Intolerable and Eternal Damning for Sin Eleventh Doc 11. Of Truth Teach them the Excellency of Truth in Tongue i e Truth in Word that hath Truth in Heart for its Root and Truth in Deed for its Fruit. Though this Truth be not the Original Cause of Salvation yet such Shall be Saved And God hath left you Winning Words to entice them to Truth in Tongue Surely they are my People Children that will not Lie so he was their Saviour * Isa 63.8 The lip of Truth shall be established for Ever †Pro. 12.19 The rest read at leasure * Psal 34.12 N B. The good government of the Tongue is a Great Task And that you had need begin to Guide 1 Pet. 3.10 as soon as it begins to Go. 2 Jo. 4. For if long neglected you may more easily weild a Wild Horse or a Weighty Ship driven with Fierce Winds †Ja. 3.2 to 10. Augustus gave a Schollar this Lesson I said I would take heed to my wayes that I sin not with my Tongue * Ps 39.1 And bid him go and learn that Lesson and come again for another His Scholar goes A hard task and comes again 19 years after and Complains of his Lesson viz that it was So Hard he had not well learned it Yet There are Many Christians in Citie and Country of more than 19 years Standing who have this Lesson still to learn Twelth Doc 12. Of Early Piety Teach them the Excellency of Early Piety Of being Quickly Converted and made good Betimes The Lesse time between the First and Second Birth the Better 1 Tell them Such are under that Sweet Promise They that seek me early shall Find me †Pro. 8.17 2 Of Such God hath a Sweet Remembrance viz I remember Thee the kindnesse of thy Youth * Jer. 2.2 3 Such have not that Mountainous Temptation to clime which Old Converts hardly Ever get Over viz You come too Late 4 It s the way to be Eminent with God and Prevalent in Prayer eg The Child Samuel Ministred unto the Lord * 1 Sam. 3.1 MOSES and AARON and SAMUEL among them that call upon his name they called upon the Lord and he answered Them †Psal 99.6 Though MOSES and SAMVEL stood before me yet my mind could not be toward this People * Jer. 15.1 q d If any Persons in the World prevail with Me They are the Men. And how Lamentable is the Losse of Such When all the Congregation saw that Aaron was Dead they mourned for Aaron 30 dayes even ALL the house of Israel †Nu. 20.29 The Children of Israel wept for Moses 30 dayes * Deu. 34.8 They Murmur against them while they Live but Mourn for them when they are Dead Samuel died and All Israel gathered together and lamented him †1 Sa. 25.1 Jeremiah lamented for good young Josiah and All the Singing Men and Singing Women spake of Josiah in their Lamentations to this day * 2 Chro. 35.25 The First ripe Fruits were Precious to God †Exo. 22.29 And they were so to man * Micha 7.1 The Devil in his Old Enmity against Early Piety hath Tipt the Tongues of some with this Taunt A young Saint and an old Devil Which Satanical Saying and Pestilent Proverb I shall not ask Satan leave to turn thus A young Saint and an old ANGEL Let Satan say his Worst to be Good betimes is Best Mistake me not it 's Being good and not Knowing good only that I plead for One may Know good and Be evil One may Know evil and Be good It s not ones Knowing Good or Evil that makes one Good or Evil but it s ones Loving of Good or Evil which proves one Good or Evil. If a man would know what City he belongs to Zion or Babilon and whether he is going to Heaven or Hell let him ask his love Thirteenth Doc 13. Of Gods eye Teach them to Know that they are Alway under the Open Eye and Open Ear of God Tell
A Self righteous Rock that hath been building twenty or thirty years To pull all Down to Rase it to cast it Away as a Menstruous Cloth and say unto it Get thee Hence * Isa 30.22 this goes against the Hair To deny Sinful Self and Religious Self of So long standing are Mighty Works Once more I must say Begin Betime Your Lads seem to be seven or eight years Old You should have begun five or six years Ago N B. From a Child 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From an Infant thou hast Known the Holy Scriptures †2 Tim. 3.15 N B. Parents Expressions make Impressions upon Childrens Memories e g A Godly Woman being often in Trouble did for her comfort usually use these words The Lord liveth * Psal 18.46 At length she Sat Silent as one Swallowed up in Sorrow A Pretty speech which her child observing Said Mother is God Dead now And this Shamed her out of her Sorrow This Instance shews the Aptness of Children to remember what they hear from their Parents and the Usefulnesse of Children to their Parents if Well Educated Out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained Strength to Still her Enemy †Psal 8.2 By this Childs Words it seems Satan was Stilled from his busie buffeting of the Childs Mother ¶ 2 The Time of Day When thou sittest in thy house When thou walkest by the way When thou liest down When thou risest up * Deu. 6.7 Take Any opportunity any Seasonable Time and some Unseasonable Be instant In season Out of season †2 Tim. 4.2 Write Apelles Posie upon your Posts viz Let No Day passe without a Line Draw One Line a day at Least Do Duty Daily Fift The Place Where When Circum 5. expresses ' Time and implies Place q d Where thou sittest viz To Work To Rest To Eat 1 To Work Talk of Gods Work Men can talk of the World at their Work 2 To Rest Talk of Eternal Rest and Eternal Wrath. Men can talk of the World when they are Weary 3 To Eat Talk of the Bread of Life Turn Temporal Mercies into Spiritual Discourses Let Eternity be your Table-Talk This leads me to testifie against the Vain Table-Talk of Prophane and Professing People which profits not Soul Body Man Woman or Child yet as Common as the Day And which if a Stranger be at Table consists much of a Company of such common Silly Complements as I am ashamed to name viz Pray eat Table trash You are very wellcome I am Sorry I am no better provided I doubt I did not cut well Pray pick a bit where you like You do not think your self welcome And Finally I see I have but troubled you to sit down At which Trash I wonder people do not Blush and with Shame sweep it out at Door as Dirt. It 's Sad to consider what Superfluity of Vanity flows from the Mouths of Professors And it s a Marvel men have not Worded away All their Mercies N B. Moses Table talk Moses had a Great Stranger at His Table and with him Aaron and all the Elders of Israel and they came to eat bread before GOD * Exo. 18.12 As in his Presence with Reverence to feed with Fear lest their Table be made a Snare To feed without Fear is Fearful Such are called Clouds without Water Trees without Fruit Twice Dead to whom is reserved the Blacknesse of Darknesse for Ever †Jude 12 13. Jesus table talk See some of Jesus Christs Table-Talk who saith to YOU Learn of ME. Mat. 9.10 11 12 13. Lu. 7.36 40 to 50. Ch. 11.37 to 51. Ch. 14.7 to 25. Ch. 15.4 to 32. Ch. 22.14 to 39. But let us see where we are Where thou walkest by the Way Talk of the Way to Heaven and Hell Walk is frequently full of Empty Vain Talk let your Walk be full of Vertuous Talk Where thou liest Down i e in Bed an Embleme of the Grave In which Bed a man is as Buried Alive above ground all but the Head And that is an Embleme of Christ the Christians Head Embleme who keeps out of the Grave while his Body the Church is buried Death hath No more dominion over Him * Ro. 6.9 Where thou risest Vp i e out of thy Bed in the Morning an Embleme of the Resurrection of the Body out of the Grave by vertue of Christs Resurrection and Life By Reason of the Head being kept out of the Bed while the Body Sleeps the Body Rises in the Morning for if the Head was buried in Bed as the Body is the whole would be Smothered and Dead So by vertue of Christ the Head who is Above ground above Death Alive THE Resurrection and Life shall Saints be Raised out of their Sleep I instance these Emblems to shew you how Lying Down and Rising Up does minister occasion of Talking to your Children Sixt. The Manner How Circum 6. 1 Speak Plainly In all Points Study the most Plain Expression and Explication of Words imaginable What I speak not so Plain to you I leave with you to Explain to them I speak to a Man you to Children Simile That Key which will most easily open the Door though made of Iron or Wood is to be used rather than a Key of Gold that will not open it So such Plain Wooden Words which do open Truths rather than Fine Words which like Paint on a Window that lets not In but keeps Out the Light I have heard a Man a Teacher of Men speak to a Child in such a Pathetical Rhetorical Mystical Strain without Consideration of Condescension to the Childs Understanding that I have Utterly abhorred it And had much rather Such had sat Silent though it was to my Own which I Much Desire should hear the Words by which they may be SAVED ¶ 2 Talk Enticeingly speak Pleasantly Alluringly Affably Kindly Winningly Deliver things in words of Down Speak Roses and Hony into their Hearts Let your lips drop as an hony comb e g. Come my Sweet Child Thou must not do SO That is SIN SATANS Service He would have thee to Hell to pay thee with Eternal Pain But do Thus This is GODS Service Love GOD Serve Him Fear Him and it will be well with Thee for Ever I do SO love thee I Long to have thee Saved I cannot Endure thou shouldst be Damned Be Ruled without the Rod it grieves me to whip thee c. Thus Win them by working on the Will You know the Phrase John is a good Boy when Will is at Home an Up-hill way is a Down-hill way to a Willing Mind Let the Law of Kindnesse be in your Tongue and your Children will arise up and Call you Blessed †Pro. 31.26 28. ¶ 3 Talk frequently Thou sahlt teach them Diligently to thy Children Heb thou shalt Whet them to thy children * Deu. 6.7 The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To whet hath
Oppose them with Gods Commands which are contrary to their Sin by which their Sin is Forbid And with the Threats of Gods Judgments against Such Sin as they are Guilty of Gods Word is called the Sword of the Spirit * Eph. 6.17 Handle it Well toward the Spirits of your Children And then the Word of Correction may be a Sword to Kill their Corruption Thus far of Corection with the Word Fath. How am I to Correct my Children with the Rod Min. First let me give you some Scriptural Account of the word Rod Rod fourfold In doing of which I shall take notice of a fourfold Rod. ¶ 1 A Civil Rod in the hand of the Magistrate e g Moses Rod. It was called the Rod of God †Ex. 4.20 And it may be called a Miraculous Rod by it Waters were turned into Blood * Ch. 7.20 Dust turned into Lice †Ch. 8.16 Thunder and Hail fetched from Heaven * Ch. 9.23 Locusts brought such as Never the like before nor since †Ch. 10.14 The Red Sea divided The Rock made to run Water * Nu. 20.10 And yet this was but the Staff with which Moses had kept Jethro's Flock †Exo. 3.1 Ch. 4.2 now set apart for other Service And when Kingly Government was set up God took David with his Sheep-Staff from following the Sheep to Feed and rule Israel * Psal 78.70 And Kings did formerly use such Staves as grew out of the Ground but afterward for their Glory they were made of Gold The King held out the Golden Scepter to Esther †Est 5.2 The Heb is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sherbet Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sceptron Hence the word Scepter The Scepter shall not depart from Judah * Gen. 49.10 Here the Heb is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shebet this word is frequently translated Rod Scepter or Rod it signifies Rule It hath been the custom of a Person in Authority to have a Staff or Rod in his hand as a sign of Dignity It was a custom to carry a Rod before a Roman Ruler Some such custom is to this Day in use as with our Lord Major to carry a Scepter Sword or Mace as a Token of Authority This Civil Rod was Uncivilly used and Horribly abused when with it the Jews smote Jesus the Judge of Israel upon the Cheek †Mic. 5.1 for which the Scepter departed from Judah Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum ¶ 2 An Ecclesiastical Rod in the hand of the Minister Saith Paul to Christs Church at Corinth Shall I come unto you with a Rod †1 Cor. 4.21 viz To rebuke the proud Spirits of such as were puffed up with such Reproofs and Censures as the Case of the Offender called for ¶ 3 A Divine Rod in the hand of God This signifies Gods Soveraignty over All to Rule as he please the Godly in Mercy the Wicked in Judgment God would Rule the Godly by his Word As he Saves by the Grace of the Gospel he would Rule by the Government of the Gospel i e his Holy Laws But if the Word will not Rule the Rod shall If for our Rule we would make More use of Gods Word God would make Lesse use of his Rod. Gods Rod with which he whips his children for Sin many times is Men I will be his Father and be shall be my Son if he commit iniquity I will chasten him with the Rod of Men * 2 Sam. 7. Solomon sinned And the Lord stirred up an adversary Hadad †1 King 11.14 And God stirred him up another adversary Rezon * Ver. 23. And Jeroboam lift up his hand against the King †Ver. 26. Thus God gathers a Rod Ties these twigs together Whips his Son Does his work upon Mount Zion Then throws the Assyrian the Rod of his Anger into the Fire * Isa 10.5 12. And Sicknesse is Gods Rod Hear the Rod and him that hath appointed it †Mic. 6.9 I will make thee sick in smiting thee because of thy sins * Ver. 13. The wicked are spared The Rod of God is not upon them †Job 21.9 but when it comes it is to Ruine them Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron * Psal 2.9 N B If the Godly be not Ruled by the Word they shall be Ruled by the Rod God will Rule or Ruin but if the Wicked be not Ruled by the Word they shall be Ruined by the Rod or by the Sword ¶ 4 A Paternal Rod in the hand of the Father with which he is to Rule the Child when the Word will not Do. The Parents Rod may bare all the Former Titles A Civil Rod as it respects the Faners toward Men. An Ecclesiastical Rod as it respects the Childs Obedience to God A Divine Rod as it is by the Divine Appointment of God Now N B In all these the Original Word signifies a Staff to Stay or Lean upon e g 1 The Civil Rod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matteh A Staff †Exo. 4.20 2 The Ecclesiastical Rod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 1 Cor. 4. 21. Provide no Staff 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Mat. 10.10 Jacob worshipped leaning upon the top of his Staff 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Heb. 11.21 In these 3 Texts the Greek word is the same 3 The Divine Rod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matteh Baculus A staff †Mic. 6.9 4 The Fathers Rod for the Child 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shebet A staff to Stay upon * Pro. 23.14 Faith What are we to learn by this Min. The Parallel of the Rod and Staff If a Staff be laid By it s no Stay but if it be Handled and well Used it s a good Stay to the Body So 1 If the Magistrate handle his Rod i e So officiate as to perfom his part Well So act as to exercise a Good Conscience it will be a Good Stay to his Mind In that Rebellion of Korah against Moses the great Magistrate which made his Body fall Flat * Num. 16.4 what supported his Spirit I have not taken One Asse from them nor hurt One of them †ver 15. 2 The Apostles were pressed out of Measure above Strength despaired of Life * 2 Cor. 1.8 what was their Stay Our rejoycing is This the Testimony of our Conscience †ver 12. 3 If God's Rod hang at our Back If we believe it 's in Love if we take it in the hand of Faith for a token of Eternal Love if we Thus handle it it 's to us a Staff Thy Rod and thy Staff they comfort me * Psal 23.4 David was in a Fearlesse Faithfull frame and then though in the valley of the shadow of Death he would fear no Evil. God's Rod is sometimes Terrible as Moses Rod when turned to a Serpent Simile Fear makes him Flee from it
Children or else you do nothing Some parents think if they whip a way their Own Anger though not the Childs Humour the work is Done There is a little Pleasure for the parents Passion performed Read and the poor child Put into a Passion †Eph. 6.4 in both which some Service for SATAN is done and That is all So much for this Rank of Directions Now If you have any Objections against Rod Correction bring them Forth Fath. I perceive by these two Last Directions Object 1 against Rod Correction if my Children commit Great Faults they must be Sorely Whipt But I have such a tender Love and Pitie to my Children that I cannot sind in my heart so to whip them I know not what miserie they may endure when I am Dead and I do not intend to Torment them while I Live Min. I like not such Love I am not pleased with such Pitie Love Pitie do you call it Fath. Yes What else should I call it Min. Hatred and Cruelty Fath. That is Very Strange Min. And it is Very True Fath. I believe not Such Truth Min. Will you refer it to the GOD of Truth and believe Him Fath. God forbid I should refuse that Min. Then hear the Answer of GOD. Jehovah He that spareth the Rod Hateth his Son but he that Loveth him chasteneth him Betimes †Pro. 13.24 Min. So now I hope you will believe it's Truth Fath. I dare not deny it but I understand not how it's hatred and Cruetly Min. The Proverb will partly prove it viz Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child Foolish Pitie spoils the Citie By sparing the Rod you choose rather to have your Child howl for ever in Hell under Gods Wrath than to cry a little under a mans Rod. This pitiful Pity to the Body is Cruelty both to Body and Soul And it makes a Man rather a Paricide than a Parent Fath. But may not I forbear when my child cryes Grievously Object 2 and Grieves me Min. No no Let not thy soul spare for his Crying * Pro. 19.19 The Rod signifies Nothing without Smart Your love is such that you would fain deal ill with your Child and ill requite your Father also N B God did not spare his Only Son for his Strong Crying and Tears viz O my Father if it be Possible let this cup passe from me †Mat. 26.39 Father Save me from this hour * Joh. 12.27 From which he delivered him Not but delivered him Up to the Crused Death of the Crosse for your sake And you will not Whip Your Son with a Rod that cuts not Skin Deep for his sake They that will not Correct a son at Gods Command are very unlike to Kill a son at Gods Command †Gen. 22. as Abraham offer'd to do his Son his Only Son Isaac whom he loved Fath. When I go to whip my child for a fault he Cries and Begs Object 3 and Promises to do so no More and then I think I do well to spare him Min. And does he keep his promises Fath. I consesse he fails me in that Min. Why do you trust him then Fath. Because I hope he will be better next Time Min. Now you turn Child This is a very Cheat. And what a Shame is it for a Man to be Cheated by a Child and by his Own whom he Knows hath Deceived him This will encourage a child to do Any thing for he will think it's but Crying a little when the Rod comes and promising to do so no More and my Father will Spare me and I shall come off Clear And this will learn a Child to set Light by his Father and So will he come under that Curse †Deu. 27.16 Faith If I whip my Children Object 4 it makes them take Gods name in Vain by crying O Lord Lord O God so I think I had better let them alone Min. That Cry is an Accident and not your Intent And you leave Off because they give you cause to go On for they are to be whipt for that Cry And it is a sign they want good government But take heed you do not pretend Piety when you intend foolish Pity or pretend Conscience when you intend Negligence Faith But one of my children hath such Passions Object 5 and Fits when Crossed or Whipt that I fear it will die Quite away Min. Fear not its Dying in doing your Duty But let us hear the Answer of GOD to this Critical Case Jehovah Withhold not Correction from the Child for if thou beat him with the Rod he shall not Die * Pro. 23.13 Min. So I hope That fear is removed Fath. But how may I understand this he shall not die Min. Thus. 1 He shall not die under the Rod Correction shall not Kill 2 He shall not die as a Malefactor by the hand of the Magistrate For want of the Parents Rod some come to the Magistrates Sword i e the Gallows 3 He shall not die an Eternal Death Thou shalt beat him with the Rod and shalt deliver his Soul from Hell †Pro. 23.14 Through Gods blessing Correction shall Issue in the Childs Conversion Fath. A man cannot Convert a child by all the Instruction Object 6 and Correction in the World Min. By the same Argument all Ministers Living may leave Preaching But who would be thus deceive by SATAN To make men Proud he will suggest great matters by Doing To make men neglect their Duty Satans deceit he will suggest their Doing will come All to Nothing All the Education in the World cannot Save a child But when by Neglect a child is Lost the same Satan will suggest if the Parents Duty had been Performed the Child had been Savewd 2 Though You cannot Convert your children GOD can Convert them By you And make you Instruments in their Regeneration as well as in their Generation In their Second Birth as well as in the First If you Will not be Instruments in Gods hand Tell him so If you Will Do your Part and leave God to do His. The endeavour and Care belongs to You the Cure belongs to GOD. 3 Though you cannot Convert vert them you can Restrain them For want of This god threatned to Judge Eli's house for Ever 4 this Restraint will prevent much Trouble if God convert them by Other means Trouble for Sin at Conversion from it accords with the Measure of-Sin in the Commission of it The Greater sin Before conversion the Greater sorrow At and After conversion the Parent blames the Preacher for the Childs Terrour when the fault is in the Father and Mother 5 If your Children should Never be Converted but for Ever Damned this Restraint will prevent much Torment 6 And God will be Glorified by your Service You will be Instruments of his glory And shall be Rewarded though Israel be not Gathered * Isa 49.3 4 5. Fath. But I see no good Object 7 whipping and
Bowels Let Parents N B. The first murder in the World recorded in Scripture was between two Brothers because One was respected not the Other Because God countenances Abel Cain kills him * Gen. 4. God may Love one brother and Hate another but this is no Rule for Father or Mother And these are Ancient Things †1 Ch. 4.22 Docu 10. To take heed of Smooth Tongues Tenth Teach them to take heed of being Deceived Learn them to be Very Wary of fair false Pretences and Promises and Satanical Subtilties of Smooth Tongues e g Your Servant Sir at your Command and a Thousand Gingles When your Servant seeks to serve Himself and to Swallow up Him Cursed Complements and his Substance whom he thus Cursedly complements Caution your children to be Very Wary of the Wicked Wits of the world What sayth the Scripture of these Subtil Serpents Their belly Prepareth deceit * Job 15.35 The man's mind is a Shop of deceit where it 's Framed as by an Artificer and Tools It 's a Work-house and a Store-house for he he Layeth up deceit within him †Pro. 26.24 He hath it Ready for an Opportunity and then what the Mind hath prepared the Tongue utters and the Hands act His mouth is Full of deceit * Psal 10.7 If one pretence will not take he hath another And if Specious Pretences and Audacious Promises will not prevail he will shew Sorrow that there is so much Deceit in the world and Fear that it will fare the worse with Honest men for Knaves He will tell you he would not have you Trust him if you do at All suspect him For though your Goods or Money be Never so safe in his hand it may cause Fear and Disquiet which he would by No means occasion And this is Very Effectual Bread of deceit is Sweet †Pro. 20.17 Secret sin is the Devil's Inn. this entices him to his Trade But when he eats the Sweet in Secret the Devil is at Inn in his Heart And let him not think to Dine with the DEVIL and Sup with a Saint and an Angel for afterward his mouth shall be Filled with gravel to trouble the Teeth till they Gnash and torment the Conscience to Eternity David deprecates a deceitfull tongue prayes for deliverance From it and is at a losse for a Plague Bad enough For it What shall be given to thee or what shall be done to thee thou false tongue Sharp arrows of the mighty Deeply piercing and wounding Coals of Juniper * Psal 120.2 3 4. i e Fierce and long lasting Fire In the mean time True Men suffer by False Tongues viz in Goods Good-name Life and all for Death and Life are in the power of the Tongue †Pro. 18.21 Death by pleading Against a man as them two sons of Belial against Naboth * 1 K. 21.13 Life by pleading For a man as Israel for Jonathan †1 Sa. 14.45 Death in a mans Own Tongue as Adonijah who spake against his Own Life * 1 K. 2.23 And sometime by words drawn out by an Enemy in Policy Take heed say some thy Own Tongue do not cut thy Own Throat In a word Arabick Proverb there is World of deceit in the world Sir it concerns you Seriously to consider it and to teach them to be as wise as Serpents who must have to do with Devils Such a one was one Squire a Papist sent from Spain to Poyson Q Elizabeth who when to that End he was secretly poysoning the Pummel of her Sadle A white Devil prayed Aloud saying GOD SAVE THE QUEEN Eleventh Get good Trades Docu 11. Good Trades or wayes of Lively-hood for your children that they may be Substantial and not need to be Supported by others Friends are apt to Fail trust not in them †Mica 7.5 Brittle mettal Use them as Venice-glasses i e Very warily and lean on them Very lightly Nothing costs Dearer then Some mens Gifts The donours Geese are such Swan he knows not When he is Satisfied Free-hearted Hiram who was ever a lover of David * 1 K. 5.1 supplies Solomon with Wood for Building †ver 10. for which Solomon gives him 20 Cities * Chap. 9.11 and who would have thought of a word of Discord between them two Hiram comes to see them he is Displeased †Ver. 12. What Cities are these thou hast given me my brother * Ver. 13. q d Here be Cities indeed and he called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cabul Displeasing of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fetters They were too Straight to fill his Heart it would hold 20 more His heart was so much Larger than his Liberty that he was as Fettered and Prisoned in his Palaces And so they were Displeasing Cabul to this Day they Never pleased him Fath. What Trades do you commend to me for my children Min. I have not skill to choose Trades for children but I will give you a Caution Caution Take heed how you judge of the Goodnesse of a Trade by the Greatnesse or Gain of a Trade To make the Greatnesse or Gain of a trade an argument for the Goodnesse of a trade may be Antiscriptural and Heathenish Demetrius the Silver-smith had a Trade of No smal Gain it was not therefore Good †Act. 19.24 The godly must eye Gods Glory more than their own Gain And the Publick good of Church and State A good Trade That is a Good Trade by which the body Lives and with which the soul Thrives and grows Rich and by which the Times are in some measure Mended and the Devil Troubled His servants Sanbalat and Tobiah were Grieved that there was a man come to seek the Welfare of Israel * Neh. 2.10 A good ground of Bad grief It 's better to be a grief to such Sanbalats because we do Good and grow Good than to be a grief to them because we grow Great Tell your children they are not the Richest who have most of the World in their Possessions Purses and Houses but they who have most of the Word Spirit and Golden Grace of God in their Hearts And they are not the Wisest who are Ever seeking that which will Never satisfie if Never so much be obtained but they who seek that which will Sweetly Satisfie and Eternally Content Fath. But I hope there is no Hurt in Riches though they be not a Heaven upon Earth to afford full satisfaction Min. No HURT wise Solomon was not of your opinion There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun viz Riches kept For the owners thereof to their Hurt †Ecl. 5.13 It 's a Wonder if the worldling charge not the wise man with Folly or the Printer with Error saying Surely it is to be read kept From them to their Hurt For this is all his Fear to have them kept For him is all his Care though it be
beast may Break them †Job 39.14 15. 6 She is without natural affection She is hardened against her young ones as though they were not hers * Ver. 16. 7 She is of strange strong Digestion eats Old Iron So such Savage men can Swallow such sayings of God as would Tare the very Heart-strings of a tender Heart in sunder These are 7 Sad Cursed Characters of carelesse parents King Herods cruelty to the children in Bethlehem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the males †Mat. 2.16 Augustus Caesar's saying founded this phrase Better be Herods Swine than his Son for some say his Own was slain in that Storm The cruelty of our Ostrich-like fathers may found this phrase Better be such a mans Swine than his Son who cares no more for this sons Soul than if he was a Swine Crates wish Crates wished himself on the top of the highest Mountain in All the World to cry out against Parents who are carelesse of their childrens Souls The beasts of the field that manifest love to their Young and mourn if they are Lost may rise up in judgment and Condemn these men Sixt. Coroll 6. Prodigious effect of neglect The monstrous prodigious fruit and effect of Parental neglect and Omission of Education viz The universal vanity of Youth and base brutishnesse of Boys Their epidemical disobedience to GOD by Cursing Swearing Lying Stealing prophaning the Sabbath the Day designed by them for Satans Service Their disrespect to Superiours Their disobedience to Parents And to Mr Mrs and Dame of which there is such an universal Out-cry in the Kingdom as of some pestilent Plague and Judgment ALL layes Principally at Parents doors For if they would exercise that Authority over them which God hath Given them and perform their Part according to Gods Precept it would work a great Cure among the contagious Scabs Wounds Bruises Sores which have over spread the Body of Great Britain from the Sole of the Foot to the Head * Isa 1.6 But this neglect of parental duty is like the Setting open of Sluces and Flood-gates to overflow the Land with a flood of Filthinesse and Prophanenesse And to make children Famous for nothing but Wickednesse To be children of Belial †1 Kin. 21.13 Cursed children * 2 Pet. 2.14 children of Perdition †Joh. 17.12 children of the DEVIL * Act. 13.10 and children of Hell as the Scripture calls them †Mat. 23.15 And parents do not only Lay the reins in their necks to let them run Headlong to Hell but also do Lead them on to that Lake by learning them to Sin by their example viz To Swear Lie Curse Scoffe at the godly It 's probable the parents taught the children to Mock which Bares tare for mocking as an Embleme of the Torment of Hell for mockers N B. Wicked parents will teach their children to do good men Hurt rather than to do themselves Good Herodias would teach her Dancing-daughter to ask Herod for John Baptists Head rather than for Half the Kingdom * Mar. 6.23 24. N B. For parents to bring Forth in sin and to bring Up in sin is a Sure way to bring Down into sorrow both themselves and their children together for Ever and Ever Seventh Coroll 7. Deaths small distance Consider what a Small distance Death may be from or how near to your childrens Heart or your Own By reason of the uncertainty and shortnesse of Life and certainty and sometime suddennesse of Death a Man or Child may be within a Step of death and not have a Thought of death Or else think it as far Off as the East is from the West 1 God may smite with a Secret Sudden Stroke 2 One may die a Natural and Sudden death of which no Reason can be Rendered 3 One may die Casually and Suddenly in Any place in the land of the Living e g. If one be at Sea or on the Thames in a Boat there is but a Board between him and Death Life within and Death without and but a Thin Board between If at Land but a Shoe-Sole between the Bottom of the Foot and the Top of the Grave If in any Street or Lane in London a Tile or Brick may Fall and Kill If in the Field or Countrey in a journey a Thief may murder If in a Wood the same Death or a wild Beast may Devour That which hath Life may take away Life That which is Dead may be a mans Death The fall of Earth or Stone or Timber or a mans fall into Water or off his Horse or House a Hundred ways to fall Out of the world What is your Life it is even a Vapour that appeareth for a Little time and then vanisheth away †Jam. 4.14 What is Man * Psal 8.4 q d A little bit of breathing Clay a little bit of creeping Clay a little bit of living Clay a little bit of dying Clay And yet what a Do will a Proud Painting Jezebel make with a bit of Dirt which the Dogs are about to eat up for an Excrement †2 Kin. 9.30 36. O Earth earth earth hear the word of the Lord * Jer. 22.29 What is that DVST thou art and unto Dust shalt thou return †Gen. 3.19 Brave Madam Silk-worm O thou Clod of clay Mayest be to Morrow for the Worms a Prey Eight Coroll 8. Dolorous Death Your childs condemned State spoken of in the third Corollary peradventure is by this time forgot Suppose by your neglect your child Dies in this condemned condition And in Dying to sting your Conscience hath its eyes Opened to see the mouth of the bottomlesse pit stand Open to swallow it Down into the Dungeon of Hell At which sight it Shrikes out O Father Mother did you Know me to be in this condition and not Tell me of it and labour to get me Out of it did you Know me to be born in Sin to live Cursed unconverted and Condemned and not Acquaint me with it did you professe to beleeve the Necessity of a new Birth a new Heart a new Life and let me Live and Die without it was you Willing I should go to Hell that you would not Tell me of it except in such a Sleighty way as begot disbeliefe of the Truth of it and of the Verity of my misery Cursed be the Day that Ever such a father Begat me and that Ever such a mother Bare me And then dies Roaring as if already in Hell Can you give no guesse at This what This will be to you when it 's your Case none need to Tell you what it is Then you may weep with Rachel who refused to be comforted for her children because they Were not * Jer. 31.15 And with Isaiah who said Look away from me I will weep Bitterly labour Not to comfort me †Isa 22.4 Solon's Sorrow And with Solon to whom said one Why do you weep it will
words only with Capitals except such words as are alway so to begin and I did intend to do so But after the Epistle was composed by the Printer I was disposed to begin many Substantial words also with Capitals which are not Emphatical These are in the first 6 sheets containing Instruction and Correction and the An to Ob against Correction especially in the first 3 sheets to the end of Instruction by Doct. These words are begun with Capitals that Men Women and Children may take the more notice of such words and things which are to them of so great concern And whether you call it a Benefit or a Burden it is only for the first Edition for in the next Deo juvante I shall take them out reduce it to the order of the Epistle and so make it more Euphonical and Gratefull for the Readers pleasure A SECOND DIALOGUE OF THE DECALOGUE OR A DISCOURSE Concerning the Ten COMMANDMENTS The Second Part. I have written to him the Great things of my Law but they were counted as a Strange thing Hos 8.12 The Princes digged the well the Nobles of the People digged it by the direction of their Law-giver Nu. 21.18 The Lord is our Law-giver Isa 33.22 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul Ps 19.7 The Isles shall wait for his Law Isa 42.4 He will magnifie the Law and make it Honourable Isa 42.21 We have heard out of the Law that Christ abideth for Ever Joh. 12.34 Do we then make void the Law through Faith GOD forbid yea we establish the Law Rom. 3.31 LONDON Printed by J. A. for the Author 1681. The General Contents of the Second Dialogue TWelve Notes on the Ten Commandments Ten Ob against the Second Note Answ Of Thunder breaking new making the Tables The Law a rule of Life for all men How we are under the Law as the Jews were in Seven Particulars How we are Not under the Law as the Jews were in Seven Particulars An account of the C L. An account of the Judicial Law How the M L is abolished and how not How the C L is abolished and how not How the Judicial Law is abolished how not The whole duty of man in Ten Words Antinomian aversenesse to the Law Five Reasons of slighting the Law Of preaching the Doct of the gospel only Four Reasons of such preaching Sad effects of not preaching the Law Pride of some Preachers their Wives Children Pride or sin in such prodigiously perilous Six sorts of Simple Hearers Many in Profession like to be lost at London Conclusion by way of Exhortation Note these few abbreviations M L Moral Law C L Ceremonial Law C W Covenant of works C G Covenant of grace A SECOND DIALOGUE OF THE DECALOGUE Fath. GOd Save you Sir Since our Late Conference I have desired some Discourse from you of the Decalogue for I am much perswaded there is more in it than many Imagine When you delivered me the Sixt Document viz To acquaint my Children with the Decalogue I desired to hear that Lesson Enlarged yet was loth to interrupt you but now I come on purpose to desire you to give me some account of the Ten Commandments Min. Sir you are Welcome to me upon this account for I had also a mind to enlarge that Sixt Lesson upon the Law but was loth to be too tedious and am glad of an opportunity to do it now By the Title pages of old Books which lay open in Moor Fields I perceive there are some Tracts on the Ten Commandments by way of Exposition and so I shall not go that way to work but shall give you 12 Usefull Notes upon the whole to shew you in part what is contained in them Between which Notes you may put in and after them all adde what Question you please First 1 Note The M L on Adam's Heart The Moral Law Decalogue or Ten Commandments was engraven on Adam's heart as a Primitive Perfect Law of Nature Adam being created in God's Image which consisteth in Holinesse and Righteousnesse had the Law written in his Heart the Sum of which is Holinesse and Righteousnesse And Adam being capable of it God entred into a C W with him which contained 1 A peremptory precept Do this 2 A conditional promise If thou Do thou shalt Live 3 A conditional threat If thou Do not thou shalt Die. To keep this C W for Life no man was ever able except 1 Adam who brake it and ruined All mankind and 2 Jesus the Second Adam who by his obedience to it hath recovered all the Elect. But though no man can keep it yet Every unbeleever is under it and to Them it is a ministry of Condemnation †2 Cor. 3.9 ¶ By the way N B. A new State After the Fall there was a New Church State set up Ceremonial Sacrifices for God's service Instituted And man accepted with God upon a New account viz on Christ's account who Substituted himself in mans stead to Die for him by vertue of which Death beleeving man hath Life and Favour with God And that for 2000 years and more from the Fall to the delivery of the Law on Mount Sinai the Substance of their Religion was the Same as after the Publick promulgation of the Law 1 Instances of the use of Ceremonial Sacrifice we have in Abel * Gen. 4.4 Noah †Ch. 8.20 Abram * Ch. 15.9 and Job also †Job 1.5 who was before the Law on Sinai as is easily proved THEN the master of a family was King to rule Prophet to teach Priest to offer sacrifices cut in pieces for the Sins of his family * Gen. 15.10 so Now should masters Rule Teach and offer the Sacrifices of a broken cut Exo. 29.17 contrite Heart in prayer for the Sins of their families †Psal 51.17 2 And the M L of Nature did in part remain in the heart of man after the Fall and God made a Farther manifestation of it to man else the world was in a wofull wild posture for One 2000 years at least A sottish conceit To think the world was without Law till they had it from Sinai is a ridiculous conceit if So for what was the world Drowned and Sodom Burned for where no Law is there is no Transgression †Rom. 4.15 If no Law in the world no Sin in the world but untill the law Sin was in the world * Ch. 5.13 q d untill the law the Law was in the world for Sin is not imputed when there is no Law i e such Acts are not counted Sin if no Law to forbid them I doubt Religious Persons knew the law Then better than they do Now since the promulgation both of Law and Gospel too Second 2 Note The M L given to a people in a C G. The Law delivered on Mount Sinai with an audible voice as a Sermon from God himself was given to a
People under a C G. This covenant God made with Abraham viz To be a God to Him and his Seed †Gen. 17.7 And renewed it with Them Behold the Blood of the Covenant which the Lord hath made with YOV * EXO 24.8 The blood of the C W is a saying of a Strange Sound except you mean the blood of the Breach of that covenant i e the blood of the Offender which is Execution not Salvation I will commune with thee from above the Mercy Seat from between the two Cherubims of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel †Exo. 25.22 The faces of the Cherubims looked toward the Mercy Seat * Ver. 20. to signifie the desire of Angels to look into this mystery of Grace and Life for man †1 Pet. 1.12 after God that cannot Lie had said Man must die 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This covenant Verbally was made with all Abraham's seed Indefinitely but Virtually and Efficaciously so as to secure life Eternally it respected a Secret Distinction and Vein of Election for they are not all Israel which are of Israel * Rom. 9.6 but the children of the Promise are counted for the Seed †Ver. 8. God is LORD of ALL * Mat. 11.25 but to These he is a GOD God is not the GOD of the Dead but of the Living †Ch. 22.32 They that did Beleeve were not under a C W and Cured but under a C G and Blessed with faithfull Abraham * Gal. 3.9 And the Covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ the Law which was 430 years after cannot disanull †Ver. 17. To our purpose is the Preface to the Ten commandments viz I am the Lord thy God which cannot Be by a C W. It is not Do this and I will be thy God but I am thy God therefore Do this * Deu. 5.15 Fath. God saith If ye keep my Covenant Object 1 then ye shall be a Peculiar treasure unto me †Exo. 19.5 Min. So Jesus saith He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father * Joh. 14.21 In such sayings God speaks as a Father to children to draw to Duty q d Do So and I will Love thee The childs love is not the Cause but the Effect not the Root but the Fruit of the fathers love to the child we love Him because he first loved Vs †1 Joh. 4.19 To a people under a C G the Law on Mount Sinai was delivered as on Mount Sion in the hand of a Mediatour * Gal. 3.19 without whom God had nothing to speak to man but Death N B. From his Right hand i e where Christ sitteth and Then virtually sat went a fiery law Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A fire of law For them not Against them and how Formidable and Fiery soever yet it was a fruit of Gods love yea he Loved the people †Deu. 33.2 3. Fath. Not against them say you Object 2 Paul saith it was against them and so took out of the way by Christ * Col. 2.14 Min. He speaks of the C L which to disobey was death †Lev. 23.29 30. The M L as a C W is against all men under it as well since Christ's death as before And as a C W it was taken away Before Christ's death as well as Since for them that beleeve And as a rule of life it never was against any man since nor before It was and is against Sin but it 's For man if God be for him Fath. You say the law on Mount Sinai was delivered as on Mount Sion Object 3 Paul opposeth them one to the other and speaketh of one as Dreadfull of the other as Comfortable * Heb. 12.18 22. Min. Paul sheweth what you See not viz that the ministry of the Gospel on Mount Sion is attended with more terrour than the Law on Mount Sinai was e g. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God 〈◊〉 * Ver. 15. lest there be any fornicatour or prophane person as Esau c †Ver. 16. why so for ye are not come to the mount that might be touched c * Ver. 18. which was very terrible but ye are come to Mount Sion c †Ver. 22. what then See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him who speaketh from Heaven * Ver. 25. Whose voice then shook the Earth but now he hath promised saying Yet once more I shake not the Earth onely but also Heaven †Ver. 26. He that despised Moses law died without mercy of how much Sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under foot the Son of God * Heb. 10.28 29. The Gospel is glad tidings it 's Season is a day of Salvation but yet attended with a day of Vengeance for disobedience †Isa 61.2 without which what dread is in the Law Fath. Surely the Law was delivered to the Jews Object 4 as a C W. Min. The Ten Commandments contain the Matter and Words of the C W. And they were to acquaint Them and are to acquaint Us with the C W that All by Nature are Under that men may know what it is and not trust to Death for Life The Jews had been so long in Egyptian darknesse that Religion was almost rooted out of Heart and Life †Jos 24.14 and so needed to have a Rowsing Lecture read in their Ears But that ever God did since mans fall deliver the Law as a C W for man to be Saved by it is Quite besides the Book contrary to the Gospel a Weaknesse and a Shame for a man who hath a Bible in his house once to Imagine Fath. God saith Object 5 Keep my Statutes which if a man Do he shall live in them * Lev. 18.5 Min. For one to think from any such Text that Ever man was saved by Works savours of Grosse ignorance of the C W. This covenant requires a man to be as perfectly Righteous as Jesus himself was and if a man Once sin though he Never sin more there is no More to be said he can Never be saved by that covenant If then Eternal life be in this Text intended †Lev. 18.5 the law of Faith is included by which a person must be justified to live Eternally And then by Evangelical obedience to the Law he shall live 1 Temporally for Godlinesse hath the promise of the life that now is * 1 Tim. 4.8 2 Spiritually for the Righteous shall flourish †Psal 92.12 as the Body by it's Food for God deals out his Heavenly bread in a way of Duty But by defect in Duty some die Temporally in Body * 1 Cor. 11.30 and many
Christ was preached to them not only Ceremonially but also Doctrinally but yet Mystically He was called a Rod a Branch †Isa 11.1 Water Wine Milk * Ch. 55.1 a Fountain †Zec. 13.1 this was mystical Doctrine their ignorance of which is sometime bewailed Ah Lord God! they say of me Doth he not speak Parables * Ezek. 20.49 N B The Gospel to the Jews was like an inestimable treasure in a dark gay Glasse Simile overlaid with fair Flowers painted with Pictures to signifie the Substance within but they like children were apter to eye the Out-side than the Inside The Gospel to Us is like the same treasure in a Clear glasse Simile plain without gays and pictures so that we can see the inside Simile Or it 's like the same treasure in an open earthen vessel or Shell as the word signifies †2 Cor. 4.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Testa A Shell Moses put a vail over his Face and when Moses is read the vail is upon their Heart i e their minds were blinded * Ch. 3.13 Hence little Faith much Fear darknesse and dread dwell together Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me †Isa 49.14 they would conclude it from a crosse Providence e g The Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valour and Gideon said Oh my Lord if the Lord be with us why then is all This befallen us but now the Lord hath forsaken us * Judg. 6.12 13. Thus subject were they to slavish fear and a spirit of bondage But we being under a clear Gospel have much light light and joy are joyned together †Ps 97.11 peace cometh by the knowledge of God * 2 Pet. 1.2 If a fearful child meets his father in the Dark Simile he dreads him as Death for thinks he that man will Kill me but if he meet him in the Light he runs into his Arms. Hence Christians under clear Gospel light are said to have the Spirit of Adoption crying Abba Father †Rom. 8.15 i e Father Father child-like with much freedom from fear This is called the Spirit of the Son God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father * Gal. 4.6 The excellency of which Spirit appears in this viz it acts a Soul to own God as a Father under the most Dismal dispensation like the Spirit of the Son under the Fathers wrath crying My God my God though as forsaken in that dismal Dooms-day of his Death which made the air Dark and the earth Quake Howbeit some Persons at Times did Act faith very Nobly under the Law also e g When death is at the Door if Esther the Queen will not speak a word to the King for life Noble Acts. yet Mordecai will beleeve Deliverance shall arise for the Jews from another place †Est 4.14 David will not fear when his Sins compasse him about * Ps 49.5 nor when all Nations compasse him about like Bees †Psal 118.10 nor if the Earth be removed and the Mountains into the midst of the Sea * Ps 46.2 If Gods Zeal Strength Bowels Mercies and all are restrained yet Evangelical Isaiah will say to God Doubtlesse thou art our Father †Isa 63.15 16. Shadrach Meshach and Abed-nego will believe in their God in the very Face of the furious King and at the Mouth of the Seven-fold fiery furnace * Dan. 3.16 And Daniel will do the like in the lions den †Ch. 6. And some did Noble acts by faith a Catalogue of which we have upon record * Heb. 11. ¶ 6 The Jews were under the M L as pointing at Christ to Come to justifie by blood not then in Being e g If a man sin against any of the ten commandments of the Lord and his sin come to his knowledge by the law is this knowledge of sin and by it is the Conscience troubled he shall bring his Sin-offering a Kid of the goats a Male without blemish and kill it and his sin shall be forgiven him †Lev. 4. Thus the M L by its Scourge sent the Sinner to the C L the Sacrifice and Type of Christ and the Type pointed to Christ himself then to come for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them †1 Cor. 10.4 Before faith came i e faith in Christ actually crucified we were kept under the Law shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed * Gal. 3.23 i e when Christ the Object of faith should be revealed as manifest in the Flesh and So believed on in the world †1 Tim. 3.16 faith in Christ actually crucified Christ was Virtually crucified from the foundation of the World And under the Law they were Virtually redeemed from the Curse of the Law but not Actually redeemed but when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the law Actually to redeem them that were under the law * Gal. 4.4 5 ¶ 7 The Jews were under many and great Promises of temporal Blessings annexed to their obedience to the Law even a full land flowing with Milk and Honey the glory of all Lands †Ezek. 20 6. Thus we are not under the Law as the Jews were Of the great judgments they were under the execution of for their Disobedience to the M L I say nothing but they happened to them for Ensamples or Types and they are written for OVR admonition upon whom the Ends of the world are Come * 1 Cor. 10.11 ¶ N B A threefold Affirmation Under the Ministry of the Gospel the C W requires as perfect obedience of them that are under it as it did under the ministry of the Law 2 Under the ministry of the Gospel there is as high a degree of Holiness required of justified Persons as there was under the ministry of the Law It 's a Mad mistake to think the Law requires obedience to the law A mad mistake but the Gospel requires no obedience to the law 3 Under the Ministry of the Gospel the Law is to be preached to prick the Heart and prepare for Christ as Peter did by charging the Jews with the Murder of Jesus †Act. 2.36 37. They that say Nay in effect say Peter Paul Jesus himself James and John whom he Surnamed the sons of Thunder * Mar. 3.17 were all a company of Dunces in their Doctrine Therefore to say Before Christs death the Jews were all by nature under the law as a C W A 3 fold Folly but we are all freed from it since Christs death under the Gospel Or 2 They in a State of nature or in a justified State were under the law for a rule of life but not we Or 3 They were under the law to humble and prepare them for Christ but not we these are false foolish
Fopperies to be fanned away and Burned as not deserving to be otherwise Answered Yea such sottish doltish Deep Dreams damnable Dreams that I could hazard my heart Blood to bear witnesse against them Fath. You say Peter and Paul preached the law Object 10 Paul saith they were Ministers of the N T not of the Letter i e the Law which saith he killeth and he calls it a Ministration of death †2 Cor. 3.6 7. Min. There is a threefold killing by the law 1 By applying the Curse to a Prophane person and leaving him under it in despair 2 By condemning a Precise person for his imperfect obedience Thus many are killed and yet secure but they will find themselves killed at Last let them do their Best Thus the Law is a Ministry of death 3 To kill self-confidence in self-righteousnesse To make a Sinner sensible of the sentence of Condemnation he is under as one dead in Law Simile at stake to be Burned at pits brink to be damned so as to be set a seeking life by Free Grace Thus the law is a Ministry of death too but this is the way to life Thus Paul was killed saith he I was alive i e I thought so I seemed so without the law i e without the knowledge of the law or killing condition of the C W but when the commandment came i e the knowledge of it sin revived and I died * Ro. 7.9 For without the law sin was dead †Ver. 8. Simile i e Seemingly as a Ban-dog in a deep sleep but wake him and he will fly in your face to pull out your throat Simile So sin when the commandment comes as a messenger to tell a Prisoner he is condemned at Court to die Obedience to the law for life is in no wise to be preached up so Paul was not a Minister of the law But to preach the law to convince Sinners and counsel Saints is the part of a Minister of the N T and he that refuses so to preach the law is no Minister for me nor do I value him above them Popish Priests who having heard the letter killeth cast off the law and all good literature Mr T. lest they should be killed with the letter Fath. I will no longer hinder you in your Twelve Notes promised as yet there is but Two delivered I pray proceed and let me hear the Rest Min. That is well if our strife be at an end and will you also attend Fath. Yes I desire to hear the end Min. Third As a Minister when he hath preached a Sermon gives it in writing to one of a weak Memory Note 3. Simile The M L given as a Sermon or puts it in Print for Publick profit so when God had preached this Sermon on Mount Sinai he gave it to Moses for the use of Israel on two Tables of Stone written with the Finger of God * Exo. 31.18 The first Table containeth the First four commandments which declare mans duty to GOD obedience to which is properly called Piety The second Table containeth the Last six commandments which declare mans duty to Man obedience to which is properly called Equity Christ is pleased to contract these Ten into Two Christ's contraction viz 1 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart c †Mat. 22.37 2 Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy Self This contraction of ten into two is to teach us these Lessons 1 That God is to be loved Before and More than all men thou shalt love the Lord c this is the First and Great commandment †Ver. 38. 2 That the main Spring of mans obedience to both Tables must be LOVE viz Love to God Love to man 3 A summary account of the large Extent of both Tables on these two hang All the law and the Prophets * Ver. 40. 4 The impossibility of such perfect obedience as the law requires considered as a C W that consequently it may become our School master to Christ to be justified by his obedience to the law and not rest in our Own to our Ruine Fourth Note 4. A Second Edition The law thus written on Tables of Stone was a Second Edition and Impression of the primitive perfect law written on the Table of Adam's heart in Innocency By his Fall he brake this Table in pieces And man having but a poor imperfect knowledge of God's law left God did graciously make known his law by making it audible to the Ear at Mount Sinai and visible to the Eye on Tables of Stone Since which God hath by his good Providence put it upon Paper and written a Book responsible to Job's wish †Job 31.35 The Book of Books viz the Blessed Bible The O T in Hebrew the language of Gods people of Old The N T in Greek which when written was more generally known among the Nations Since both are Translated into the Native language of the Nations who do enjoy them and Happy are they that Well use them Fist The M L which is an Epitomy Note 5. The M L given in few words or Breviary and the Sum of the Will of God and Whole duty of man God hath delivered in few Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ten words * Exo. 34.28 a Command for it's Concisenesse called a Word No more Commands than a man hath fingers on his Hands that he may easily carry them in his Head and get acquainted with them and not plead Largeness to excuse Ignorance which probably would be his Plea if God had delivered his mind in a multiplicity of Precepts A Plea prevented and Words Sixt. God hath by his Servants the Prophets Apostles and by the Son himself Expounded and Branched out in the Bible Note 6. The M L branched by 10000. words these Ten words with more than Ten thousand words to prevent this Pretence also for Ignorance viz This Brevity is Obscurity this Shortnesse is Darknesse a Word is for the Wise we are Weak if God would have Us understand his Mind he should have explained it with more Words It is Done God hath SO spake as to speak all men Speechlesse Prudence prevents pretences So as to stop every mouth and make All the world guilty before God †Ro. 3.19 Seventh Note 7. Eight Negatives in Ten. All the ten commandments but two i e the fourth and fift are delivered Negatively i e by way of Denying and Forbidding of sin to signifie that the Right way to be Religious or Practically obedient is to be first Negatively so e g Depart from Evil and do Good †Psal 34.14 cease to do Evil learn to do Well * Isa 1.16 17. If a man flee not Sinfull Vices it is in vain to follow Religious Courses N B A precept for Faith is included in the First Commandment which will appear before we part And it is in the Preface to
all the Ten to signifie that Faith and a New Heart are necessary Antedecents for both Negative and Positive obedience to follow for a man must Be good before he can Do good Eight Note 8. Negatives include Positives Every Negative command includes a Positive command i e when God forbiddeth evil Expressely he biddeth good Implicitly e g Thou shalt have no other gods before me †Exo. 20.3 there is the evil of idolatry forbid Expressely thou shalt have Me for thy God there is the good of choosing God commanded Implicitly Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain * Ver. 7. this is the evil forbid thou shalt talk Vertuously and Graciously of thy God this is the good commanded Thou shalt not Kill commit Adultery Steal c †Ver. 13 14 15. these are evils expressely Forbid thou shalt Prevent murder adultery theft in Others by good counsel if thou canst this is good implicitly Commanded Positives include Negatives And Positive commands include Negative commands e g Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy * Ver. 8. there is good expressely Commanded remember it not to Prophane it with thy Own works words thoughts there is evil implicitly Forbid Honour thy father and thy mother †Ver. 12. is good Commanded dishonour them not is the evil Forbid Ninth Note 9. A negative includes negatives A Negative command includes Many negative commands The sin forbid is forbid in Act Word and Thought and the Occasion of it and whatsoever hath a Tendency to it And these Inclusive commands are Expressed as they are Branched out in the Bible e g Thou shalt have no other gods before me q d No National god imaginable no Personal or private god of wood to worship in thy House no god of Gold in thy Heart thy Self Wife Child House Land Friend Goods Gold shall not be thy gods as they will Be if loved more than Me. And see with what Caution the Occasion of idolatry is forbid in these Texts * Deu. 12.30 Thou shalt not Kill not with Hand Ch. 13.1 3. Mouth murder nor with Tongue to be a Mouth-murderer as some call a Slanderer and so we may call an evil Counceller Not with Heart to be a Heart-murderer he that hates his brother is a murderer †1 Joh. 3.15 Kill not by evil Counsel or bad Example neither Do nor Say any thing that may Tend to or Occasion thy neighbours death in Body or Soul Thou shalt not kill thy Self Not with violent Hands nor with Words spoken against thy own life nor by Carelesnesse of deaths and dangers nor by ill Diet not by Drunkennesse nor by Gluttony Plures periere Gula quam Gladio more die by the Board than by the Sword Thou shalt not commit adultery Not in Act nor in Heart whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his Heart * Mat. 5.28 Christ calleth a Thought an Act to signifie that Smal sin in Mans sight is Great sin in GOD's sight Thou shalt not occasion it by unclean Cogitations and Contemplations nor by adulterous Discourses with Delilahs Remove thy way F AR from her and come not nigh the door of her house †Pro. 5.8 Simile As he that carrieth Gun powder about him had need keep far from Fire so he that carrieth Corruption had need keep far from Temptation As when children meet a Horse Simile Cart or Cow they will if timerous run Ten times farther out of the way than need so let men learn to flee from Sin Keep thee Far from a false matter * Exo. 23.7 Avoid it passe not by it turn from it and passe away †Pro. 4.15 The law is Spiritual * Ro. 7.14 it forbids the Least evil motion and First carnal conception it commands our Spirits and Hearts to be holy it condemneth for the most Secret sin in the Soul It is called the Royal law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Kingly law †Jam. 2.8 it is the law of the King of Kings No earthly Kings law can condemn a man for a secret thought against the King Dissimile but this Divine Law of the King of Heaven can and doth it condemneth a man for the most Secret thought against the Law-giver Tenth Note 10. A positive includes positives A Positive command includes Many positive commands e g Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy q d Remember it to Prepare for it to begin it Early to spend it in holy duties in holy discourses in holy meditations to be in the Spirit to cause all under you to keep it holy Honour thy Father and thy Mother Honour them in Deed in Word in Thought in their Presence in their Absence in their Old Age when tempted by the Devil and by the disobedient to dishonour them when they Please thee when they Displease thee Rebuke and Correct thee N B A Negative command inclusively commands All lawfull means to avoid the evil forbid and a Positive command inclusively commands All lawfull means to perform the good commanded On these things I have but Harped and Touched for One of these Ten Words is a great Text and to shew what is contained in a Commandment would make a long Sermon for thy commandment is Exceeding Broad †Psal 119.96 ¶ This tenth Note having some respect to the Sabbath A lesson for the Lords day leads me to leave this Lesson with you viz Fail not to learn your children to Reverence the Sabbath day FAR be it from you to follow our English Heathens Hatefull Heathens who let their children Loose to serve Satan on the Sabbath day Tell them of the Sore judgments God hath sent upon Sabbath-breakers for which Search the Scriptures and See the Practice of Piety Practice of Piety preferred one of the Best Books but one that ever was written and is like to rise up in judgment against many N B God delivered no other commandment as he delivered this for the Sabbath e g. 1 It hath a Memento presixt viz Remember 2 It is amplified with Arguments more than all the rest except the Second 3 It is delivered Positively keep it holy and Negatively thou shalt not do any work and so is no other commandment delivered FAIL not in this for the Fear of God this Glorious and Fearfull name THE LORD THY GOD * Deu. 28.58 Eleventh Note 11. Heaven and Earth made in Six dayes The GREAT GOD that was but Six dayes in making Heaven and Earth was twice Forty dayes and Forty nights in writing and delivering these Ten Words †Ex. 24.18 to remain a Law and Rule for mans life And Moses was as long waiting Ch. 34.28 prostrate on his Face fasting to receive them * Deu. 9.9 10 11 18. he did neither eat bread nor drink water but did uncessantly attend this Heavenly
an holy Convocation * Exo. 12.15 16. These were Ceremonial Sabbaths and commonly called Sabbaths But it s the first day of the 7 which falls under our consideration viz the 15 day of the month which you may see called a Sabbath †Lev. 23.11 15. N B THIS is the Sabbath which the Jews made to follow Jesus's Funeral and which you suppose to be the 7 day Sabbath Fath. Suppose Ay well let that passe at present Then it seems this Sabbath should have been that day on which Jesus died Min. It s well observed and by this I see you observe what I say The 15 day of the month on which Jesus died was the day but they deferred it to the day following and called the 15 day preparation day * Jo. 19.42 Fath. Why did they so Min. As when a fixt Fair falls on Sunday Jews Translation the Countrey keeps it on Munday so if this Passeover Sabbath fixed on the 15 day of the month fell on some certain dayes of the week the Jews had a Custome to Translate it to the next day by their Rule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Badu †Godwyn of which one Eleazar is said to be the Author who lived 350 years before Christs Birth * Hospinian de Orig fest P6 N B That this Sabbath was thus translated a man can no more deny than he can deny the Day to Spring or the Sun to Shine Fath. I cannot deny it but then I believe it was translated from the 6 day to the 7 day and so a double Sabbath Ceremonial and Moral and on that account called a high day †Joh. 19.31 Min. That I deny and this I affirm The high Sabbath no Sabbath that as to the Day it was no Sabbath at all Ceremonial nor Moral but one of their own invention Hence sometime it hath no Sabbatical Title e g John speaking of the day of Jesus's death saith It was the preparation of the Passeover * Joh. 19.14 it s no more but Passeover Matthew speaking of this high Sabbath calls it The next day that followed the day of Preparation †Mat. 27.62 Strange a Sabbath a Double Sabbath a High day and no other Title but the next day Thus God is pleased to drop words to see what notice men will take of them Fath. HOW no Sabbath why then is it called a High Day Min. The right day was a high day for on it Israel went out of Egypt with an high hand * Exo. 14.8 Why a High Sabbath And it was for a Monument of their miraculous deliverance e g This day shall be unto you for a Memorial †Ch. 12.14 Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt * Ch. 13.3 And thou shalt shew thy son c †Ver. 8. And it shall be for a Sign unto thee upon thine hand and for a Memorial between thine eyes * Ver. 9. And many such Solemn injunctions to remember this day with wonder viz That Pharoh who stood so many a Storm like a person Plague-Proof should rise up in the night †Ch. 12.30 and call for Moses and Aaron and say Go serve the Lord as Ye have said * Ver. 31. also take your Flocks and your Herds as Ye have said and be gone and blesse me also †Ver. 32. That six hundred thousand men besides women and children should be pulled out of Prison from two hundred years Tyranny and all in One night a night INDEED to be much observed to the Lord * Ver. 42. Upon this account that Sabbath day was an High day †Joh. 19.31 Good Josiah and some few Princely Persons spent at this Passeover oxen bullocks and small cattel forty one thousand 41400 cattel killed and four hundred * 2 Chro. 35.7 8 9. this was an High day And whether they kept the right day or the wrong it was all one in their esteem they pretended Reason for its Translation And in case of necessity Hezekiah translated this Passeover to the Second month †2 Chro. 30.2 and in such case there was an allowance * Num. 9.6 to 11. N B This temporal deliverance on the 15 day was a Type of Eternal deliverance by Christs death on the same day of the year And though this temporal deliverance was long before Christs death yet it was by Vertue of Christs death who was virtually slain before the First Passeover was killed This then should have been an High day on Christs account but him the carnal Jews laid Low they killed Christ on the Right day and kept the Passeover Sabbath on the Wrong Fath. Blesse us no Sabbath but the Scripture calls it a Sabbath Min. So does the Scripture call the Devil Samuel 5 times in few words †1 Sam. 28.12 to 20. Satan called Samuel and does not once tell us it was the Devil In calling the Devil Samuel God tells us what Saul and the Witch called him and leaves it with us to Judge whether a wicked Silly Witch had power to bring Samuel Soul and Body from Heaven and Earth So in calling that a Sabbath God tells us what the Jews called it and leaves it with us to Judge whether Jesus or the Jews were likest to break Gods Law If that was a C Sabbath not translated Jesus was a Sinner not a Saviour Fath. I know not what to say of the translation of the day But for Jesus's dying on the 6 day the Scripture is clear besides invincible Arguments I have yet to bring The Scripture saith Jesus rose on the first day you dare not deny it and though it does not say Jesus died on Fryday or the 6 day yet in saying he died the day before the Sabbath and rose in the end of the Sabbath * Mat. 28.1 I think it s as plain as if the 6 day had been named Min. Mistake not the State of our difference We differ not about the day of Jesus's Resurrection except the Time of the day viz you for the Morning the midst of the day I for the Even the beginning of the day But our difference is in the day of Jesus's Death you say it was on the 6 day I deny it and do plainly tell you your proof by Inference from Scripture is no better than a Blind Conjecture Let me hear your invincible Arguments also Fath. I have read in learned Authors The R d Bp of for One. that the two dayes which bounded the feast of 7 weeks viz the first day and the 50 day fell that year both on the first day of the week That the first day of the 50 followed the Passeover Sabbath is as clear as the Sun †Lev. 23.11 15. seeing Jesus rose on that first day and lay dead on the 7 day and died the day before it s also as clear as the Sun that he died on the 6 day Moreover saith my Author