Jam. 5.18 ¶ 5 hath fetched a Soul from Heaven †Act. 9.40 ¶ 6 hath fetched an ANGEL from Heaven * Jud. 13.8 ¶ 7 It hath fetched GOD from Heaven †Psal 18.6 9. ¶ 8 It hath fetched a Person out of Prison who was Guarded and Chained and shut in with an Iron Gate * Act. 12.4 5 6 10. ¶ 9 It hath helped a Soul out of a Hell upon earth even out of All trouble †Psal 116.3 4 8. ¶ 10 It hath held Gods Hands from destroying * Exo. 32.10 and hath prevailed with God for Special blessing †Gen. 32.28 As a Prince had Jacob power with God and prevailed He kneeled down Jacob and rose up Israel A Divine Dignity He took his brother by the heel in the Womb and by his strength he had power with GOD yea he had power over the ANGEL and prevailed Even the Lord God of Hosts the Lord is his Memorial * Ho. 12.3 4 5. Godlinesse is a Mystery there is no trade like Beggery Carnal beggery at Mans door is a Poor trade but spiritual beggery at GOD's gate is a Rich trade A rich Trade A praying Christian is like a Courtier who gets more by One suit in Season Simile than a toyling Trades man gets in 20 years A little of God's Gold got by prayer is worth more than a Great many Guinys ¶ PRAY then with All perseverance lest you play the Hypocrites part Of him Job gives you a Character in a Quaere viz Will he alwayes call upon God †Job 27.10 NOT He. God shall hear from him in Hell * Lu. 16.24 And it may be first in the hour of Death He will cry when God kills him †Ps 78.34 Simile like the Swine when the Knife is at his throat It was a sad Argument that Atheist used in his one prayer at Sea in a Tempest when he told God plainly He was no common begger Heylyn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 376. had never troubled him with prayer before if he would but hear him that time he would never trouble him again This argument which he thought to be two-fold For him he little thought to be ten thousand-fold Against him Fath. How oft in a day had I best to pray that I may persevere Min. As to your Time and Times in a Day for private prayer if you will take my Counsel follow David's Example viz Times for private prayer Three times a day Evening and Morning and at Noon will I pray †Ps 55.17 And Daniel's example he kneeled upon his knees Three times a Day and prayed * Dan. 6.10 And for a Type of our looking to Jesus in prayer his windows shall stand open towards Jerusalem though Death come in at them and carry him into the Lions Den. Daniel will Pray though he go into the Lions Den for it Some will not Pray Some do as Dives did Perish first and then Pray though they go into the Dungeon of Hell for it And though Daniel's prayer did not keep him Out of the lions den it kept him In the lions den which was to God a greater Glory and to Daniel a greater Mercy and to his enemies a greater Misery than if he had Never come there It was a Perilous time for Prayer Daniel's safety seems to lay in laying a Bed and laying prayer Down till the 30 Dog-dayes be out †Dan. 6.7 Daniels safe danger N B. In the most Perilous time for Prayer then it is most Safe to be in that Peril of prayer The danger layes in the Neglect of prayer take heed of That I have read of a Witch who much envied a godly man Of the Witch and sent her Imps oft times to destroy him But they usually returned with this answer We cannot come at him for he constantly prayes to God At length he being in Hast went out one morning without prayer And that day they did him a greater mischief than Daniel's Devils did him in the Lions Den viz brake some of his Bones This the Witch confessed when imprisoned Mr Hast Remember this that morning Mr Hast is so great a Husband as to call you out before you have been in your Closet First worship God he that forgets to Pray Bids not himself Good Morrow nor Good Day Fath. It would make a man afraid But I believe many go out in the morning without prayer and come Safe home at night too Min. NO wonder Them condemned Prisoners that lay at quiet in Fetters Allusion why should the Keeper of New-Gate hurt he knows they will be Hanged when it 's the Kings pleasure to appoint the Execution Day But if one to his great Damage do break away WO be to him if he can come at him God is not for speedy execution And what cares Satan for breaking mens Bones who are Subject to his Service No let them go whole-Footed and whole-Handed to Hell But if one break Prison for liberty to serve God OUT comes the roaring Lion with a Hue and Cry from Hell to devour Him if he may Second Pray With children Pray WITH them in your Family It 's to poor purpose for Parents to pray For children and not With them And for Masters to pray For servants and not With them Sir you are Master of a Family Set up the Worship of God in your Family or expect the Wrath of God to be rained down upon your Family †Jer. 10.25 Fire and Brimstone and an Horrible tempest * Psal 11.6 But what causes your Countenance to change Fath. I am frighted with fearfull words Min. This countenance is a Character of a guilty Conscience No wonder if you are Frighted It 's more Dreadfull to stand before the Drawn Sword of God's mouth without Shelter than to stand naked before Cannon Shot Fath. I desire direction for Family duty Min. First As to Time and Times Direct 1. Times for Family prayer when and how Oft. I affirm that you are to perform this duty of prayer In and With your family Twice in a day viz Morning and Evening And this without Fail except in a case of Necessity which hath no Law And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Command the children of Israel and say unto them MY offering and MY bread for MY sacrifices made by sire for a sweet savour unto ME shall ye observe to offer unto ME in their Due season †Nu. 28.1 Day by Day Morning and Even continally * Exo. 29.38 39. Though this be out of use as Ceremonial and so Practical it 's not out of use as Doctrinal and directive to Gospel duty Gospel duty contained in One of Gods Two Testaments Gospel duty Great New or Old is a greater Sum then many Gospelers imagine Masters give unto your Servants that which is Just and Equal knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven Continue in
English Reader The most Necessary of all which to know are These c et caetera and the rest or and so forth Sc scilicet to wit Viz Videlicet to wit or that is to say i e id est that is e g exempli gratiâ as for example q d quasi dicat as if he should say And the same q d serves for as if She should say as if You should say as if They should say as if I or We should say It is easily understood in Reading N B Nota Bene Mark this well O T Old Testament N T New Testament Q Question A Answer Ob Objection Sol Solution D Doctrine R Reason U Use For you to Learn these Lessons Three As easie is as A B C. Which you may Learn with little Leasure Then Read with Knowledge Profit Pleasure As for Hebrew Greek and Latine Words which I lay in your Way they will be no Stumbling-block except you will Make them so For you have it in English which you may Read on without Stumble or Stop And I desire you may So Read as to Reap much Good Fruit by the Labour of Your Loving Friend J W. London May 26. 1681. The General Contents of the First Dialogue A Salutation and Preambulation to the Education of Children Parents equally concern'd in Education Education reduced to two General Heads viz. Instruction and Correction First Instruction The word opened 1 Gen. Head Instruction by Doctrine and Example 1 By Doctrine The word Doctrine opened What D to instruct Children in Twenty Documents for Instruction by D. The Scripture to be Searched for more Any thing in the Bible Vseful even the words of wicked men Devils Proper Names 2 Instruction by Example Word opened Example by Works and Words Circumstances of Education Seven Direction if Children Will or Will not hear The Parent Corrected for Carnal Language The Second General Head viz. Correction 2 Gen. Head Correction twofold viz. with Word and Rod. 1 Correction with Word Six Directions for Word Correction 2 Correction with the Rod Scriptural Account of Rod fourfold The Parallel of Rod and Staff Seven Directions for Rod Correction Fourteen Ob against Rod Correction Answ Two ways great wasters of Time and many more wicked ways Witnessed against Advice of a Civil Secular Concern delivered in 12. Documents The danger of Riches discoursed Counsel concerning Childrens Children PRAYER for a Blessing on Education Prayer For and With Children 1 Prayer For them in Private Ten great effects of Prayer consider'd to encourage to Prayer Time and Times in a day for Private Prayers 2 Prayer With Children in Family Ten directions for Family Duty Objections against Family Duty Answ Parents to take their Children into their Closets and Pray with them there Parents to teach Children to Pray Objections against that Answer'd Parents to procure the Prayers of Praying Persons for their Children Ten Corollaries to quicken Parents to their Whole Duty contained in this Conference THE PARENTS PRIMER AND THE MOTHERS LOOKING-GLASSE In a Dialogue between A MINISTER and a FATHER Minister GOd Save you Sir with your good Wife Whither are you walking this way this morning Father To See Mr. C. What News Sir Min. News I said in my heart what I should have When will this Common Question be out of use Since the Popes Plot appeared the Protestants have spent more Time in Talking of it than All the Papists in England are worth And you living so near us are like our London Christians and they Too like the Athenians who spent their time in Nothing else but to Tell or to Hear some New Thing And if there be no New we talk over the Old without End And every Day is alike If this was the way to do our work viz Self-Examination Humiliation and Reformation for the Sins that provoke God to suffer this Bloody Beast thus to Push at us I would not Oppose it But it 's the way to Hinder Every good work in Heart and Life And to render us Ridiculous to the DEVIL and the POPE to see what a Talking Trade we drive and how we spend our Dayes while Death lies at our Doors Fath. I confess we spend Too much Time that way Min. Confession without Reformation Preambulation is to Poor Purpose Are these two little Lads which follow you Your Children Fath. Yes they are both mine Min. Can you tell me any Good News of Them Fath. They are Pretty good Boys when they Please Min. They had need be made Better to which end I pray what Good Discourse have you had with them by the way for you are now come a Mile from Home Fath. OH HO I have told them the name of yonder Church Steeple And of That I point at with my Cane And of yonder High Brick House with abundance of Chimneys Min. And is this the Best Discourse you have had Fath. The Best yes truly What Discourse should a man have with Children Min. What Discourse Godly Discourse Fath. What with Children Min. Yes with Children to Choose Fath. What Reason is there for That Min. There is Great Reason for it which I shall not Now Render but one thing I shall Render which is Greater than Reason Fath. What is that I pray Min. God's Solemn Command And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine Heart Deu. 6.6 7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine House and when thou walkest by the Way and when thou liest Down and when thou risest Vp Fath. I believe Few Fathers or Mothers do so Min. In that you believe Truth but it 's Sad Truth to believe yet Too True I may well say For of othis I have made Much Observation for Many Years in Many Countries in Professing Families without number After all which Observation I may say with Solomon There is an evil which I have seen under the Sun Ecl. 6.1 and it is Common among men Such men have Many a Day been to me an Amazing Consideration viz That ever Persons professing Faith in gods Word of Truth which testifieth the Misery of ALL Mankind that their Children are in a Sad Condition is one part of their Profession who have been Sensible of their Own Misery and Instruments to bring Poor Children into a Miserable World in a Miserable Condition and yet so Careless to bring them Out of this Condition And so little concerned for a Safe passage Out of this World over Hell to the desired Haven Ezek. 19.14 this is a Lamentation and Shall be for a Lamentation Fath. But some Count that this Command was given to the Jews only Min. Read and Compare these two Texts * Deut. 4.10 Ch. 6.7 and you will see it is the Moral Law or Ten Commandments that Parents are Commanded to teach their Children To say This Law belongs to the Jews only is plainly to say We Gentiles are Lawlesse And may
affinity with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To repeat which signifies the Word Cuts and Pierces by Frequent Repition An Edge-Tool is Whet by many Motions and Rubs upon the Whet-Stone and the Stone made Bright thereby So is the Word Sharpened Simile and the Heart Brighten'd and Quickned by Frequent Repition But this requires Discretion i e so to whet as to set an Edge On and not whet it Off again in which work wisdom is profitable to direct †Ecl. 10.10 She openeth her mouth with Wisdom and in her tongue is the Law of Kindnesse * Pro. 31.26 A law hath Force and Power to prevail So words spoken with Wisdome The words of the Wise are as Goads †Ecl. 12.11 they will Prick and as Nails fastened then is a Word well Driven when it Nails the Heart to God Do not Do and Undo as you will if you Overdo Children must not be over-Driven Let my Lord pass over before and I will lead on Softly as the Children be able to endure * Gen. 33.14 Then shall the Lambs feed after their Manner †Isa 5.17 N B. Children well educated have Two Titles in the Bible to teach Parents the Necessity of Frequent Instruction with Discretion 1 Arrows * Psal 127.4 Will a Knotty Crooked Stick be made a Straight Arrow with ease without Work and Art 2 Pollished Stones †Psa 144.12 Will Rough Rocky Cragged Stones become Smooth Pollished Stones sit for a Princes Palace without Pains and Skill in Paring and Hewing No nor some With it neither who after Hewn are Slain as fit for nothing but Slaughter * Ho. 6.5 It s sad when the sword comes to contemn the Rod †Ezrk. 22.13 The Rod is to Convert and Save The Sword to Kill and Damn When the sword does it's Work it contemns the Rod because that did not Do it's Work But Frequent Instructions are Frequently Effectual The waters wear the Stones * Job 14.19 How so If a Flood fall on a Flint at Once it wears it not but it's falling by a Drop at once Does it Gutta cavat lapidem The soft drop hollows the hard Stone i e by falling from the Eaves of an House off the End of a Straw Thus words Frequently falling from Parents Mouths upon Childrens Hearts Smal Acts continued will produce Great Effects Seventh Circum 7. The End to Which Children are Educated viz That Children may be Converted and Saved Soul and Body from Hell to Heaven That Parents may be Satisfied and Comforted in them in Life and Death That God may be Served and Glorified by them And They Glorified with GOD for Evermore So much of the Circumstances of Education Fath. If my Children be willing to hear and learn Instruction how shall I Carry it to them Min. If your Children deserve Praise Pray let them have it i e So much as will encourage them to Be and Do better Not too Much I pray Praise may soon Spoil Caution As the fining pot for Silver and the furnace for Gold so is a man to his Praise †Pro. 27.21 i e so is a mans Praise to Him The fining pot and furnace Try the silver and Gold Simile and discover the Drosse so a mans Praise will Try what mettal he is made of it will discover his drosse i e Pride Vanity Levity A man can neither be too Worthy nor too Wary of Praise Fath. How if All the good Instruction I can give them hath No good Operation upon them Min. If Words will not Work try what Tears will do Go King Edwards way to Work viz K. Edw. the 6th When he could not prevail against Cranmer and Ridley with Arguments he Wept he fell a Crying and then they were overcome Tears are Crying Words Crying Words heard as High as Heaven the Lord hath heard the voice of my Weeping * Psal 6.8 Tears have Piercing Tongues One would think the Tears of a Father should break a Heart of Flint Fath. How if Crying Words will not work on the Hearts of my Children Min. Then try what Dying Words will do when That Day Comes Dying Words Leave Dying Words behind you to work when You are Dead Dying Words may be Living Words by which you may speak when Dead as Abel Did †Heb. 11.4 Gather your Children about you Death-Bed as Jacob did Jacob called unto his Sons and said Gather your selves and hear ye sons of Jacob and hearken to Israel your Father * Gen 49.1 q d Come my Dear Children Hear the words of your Dying Father But Do not defer any one Dayes Duty till your Dying Day A Dying Dayes work is a Great Dayes work of it Self without any work that layes Behind It 's the Greatest Dayes work of All the Dayes of a mans Life Die a little word a great work The Word Die is but Small but the Work Die is Great Besides should you defer your Duty till you come to Die your Children will think you want Sleep and and are Light-Headed your talk being unusual and strange and so will not regard your words Do your Duty Daily while you Live that when you come to Die you may say to your Children as Mr. Bolton said to his when he was Dying viz None of you will Dare to meet me out of Christ in the Judgement Day Now let us come to the Second General Head viz Correction But Do you not See One of your Sons hath given us the Slip. Pray Recall him quickly Fath. HO Sirrah Whither go You Come again quick I charge you Come not near that Coach there You Jackanapes will you Offer it I would fain see that Ay Do I would you Durst Min. OH Good Lord have merey on these Poor Children Parent corrected What words are here from a Father to a Child Sirrah Jackanapes Atat Papae Apage OH Alas Out upon it I would fain see that Do I would you Durst What is the Childs Disobedience desirable to the Father Consequently the Childs Damnation in Hell is desirable Under the Law the disobedient Child was stoned to Death under the Gospel is Damned to Hell Now I come to Direct you to Correct your Children it appears you need Correction your Self Fath. Why does he Anger me then I use to speak so in my Anger I cannot Help it I mean him no Hurt Min. Why does he Anger me I thought I had been Speaking to a Man all this while Because your Son is a Child You will be So too Because He angers You You will anger GOD. I use to speak so OH How do you Accuse your self by this Excuse By this Reply when a man is Accused of a Sin he Accuses himself of a Thousand more to clear One and all that Aggravates that One. If I should ask such a man Friend why do you Swear I am used to it I cannot Help it it 's an old Custom from my Cradle This
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
Double destruction Body and Soul both at once An evil Counseller As evil as the Devil will speak Death in at the Ear as the DEVIL at first did Evil Counsel is enough to bring the KING of a Nation to Confusion and Destruction I have read of a king A Kings Confession who confessed at his Execution that such Evil Instruments brought him to the Block Evil discourse Infects How oft is Death Blown into Souls by an Infectious Breath Seventh Docu 7. Restraint Take heed of allowing them too much Liberty to wander abroad upon Pleasure Dinah must go Gadding to see the daughters of the Land and she comes home Deslowed †Gen. 34.1 And much more mischief follows Simeon and Levi in their cursed anger Kill their Confederates whom they had Coozened into a Covenant * Ver. 25. And it was a wonder that Damsels walk did not end in the Destruction of Jacob and his House as he feared †Ver. 30. I may say to you as Paul bid the Colossians say to Archippus viz Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfill it * Col. 4.17 Every parent is an Archippus who hath received a Ministry of the Lord in Charge for children Archippus is a Greek word which signifies A governour of horses Children are Wild Colts †Job 11.12 who when grown Head-strong will not regard the crying of the driver * Job 39.7 ¶ Sir you should seriously consider what a Roaring Lyon the Devil is †1 Pet. 5.8 and how diligently he deviseth to Devour your children And that it 's not your Own conversion that will prove their preservation from Temporal or Eternal destruction but Their godly education God hath sworn that Noah Daniel and Job shall deliver neither Son nor Daughter by their Own righteousnesse * Ezek. 14.20 It 's not parents imputative righteousnesse for Justification nor inherent righteousnesse for Sanctification that will Save their children But it 's their righteousnesse in Conversation viz Godly Education by which they must become their Saviours It 's not the Conversion of a Father nor of an Emperour that can secure a poor child from Satan the Devourer And therefore a Child was he who cryed out for joy at the Emperours conversion O! the Emperour is a Christian q d Emperour Now we shall have Halcion dayes a Heaven upon Earth To whom a wiser person thus replyed But the DEVIL is not a Christian yet And so long as he is not Converted nor Confined to the bottomlesse pit Christians must look for No lesse mischief then he can do Them and Theirs too He will go to the End of his Bounds to a Hairs Breadth 〈◊〉 And here let me adde this Caution Caution 〈◊〉 â—hen your children are under Convictions enquire into Satans Temptations For if once the children be come to the Birth it will be on the Devils part a day of Rebuke and Blasphemy †2 Kin. 19.3 Rebuke to Conviction Convertion Faith Hope Prayer q d It 's too Soon thou art too Young or too Good to need such a Change Or it s too Late thou art too Old and too Wicked to be saved Blasphemy by such suggestions from SATAN against GOD CHRIST the Spirit of grace that the foul may think Unpardonable The Sum of all which is 1 to make a soul Secure and Presume on salvation Without conversion or 2 to drive a soul to Despair of salvation With conversion Eight Docu 8. Examination Take an Acount of your childrens Practices Purposes Pretences Even a Child is known by his Doings whether his work be pure and whether it be right * Pto. 20.11 The neglect of this Duty had like to lost David's Life Absalom intends Rebellion and he pretends Religion I pray thee let me go and pay my Vow which I Vowed to the Lord in Hebron †2 Sam. 15.7 And the King said Go in peace * Ver. 9. Poor David Ah pitifull reply David should have Sifted the businesse about q d How now what Vow a Vow to the Lord and defer to pay it for 40 Years †Ver. 7. what fiery Fit is this you are fallen into how comes it to passe you are Now so conscionable who have been So long carelesse Had David been Considerate Absaloms design had been Frusâ—â—â—â—â— But David makes No more to do Go in peace q d Absalom is in a Very good mind I hope he will Now be a Comfort to me A way goes Absalom to make War with his father This turns David's Tune his Harp into mourning * Job 30.31 Behold my Son which came forth of my bowels seeks my Life †2 Sam. 16 11. And besides Absalom's Death and David's Dolorous Grief this causes a Slaughter of Twenty Thousand men That Phrase hath Too much foundation In nomine Domini incipit omne malum Ninth Docu 9. Partiality Take heed of fond Partiality It 's of evil Consequence It sets that Root which bears Gall * Deu. 29.18 And sets children together by the Ears And makes them Murder one another e g Isaac loved Esau but Rebekah loved Jacob †Gen. 29.28 Isaac called Esau HIS son * Ch. 27.1 and Rebekah spake to Jacob HER son †Ver. 6. Esau was Isaacs boy Jacob was Rebekahs boy What is the fruit of this parental partiality even Esau's Partiality and Enmity to his Father Mother and Brother Esau hated Jacob q d He hath All my mothers heart she hath None for Me and I will have as little for Her The dayes of mourning for my father are at hand then will I Slay my brother Jacob * Ver. 41. q d Not while my loving Father lives to grieve him but when he is Dead and my mother under Dolour I will Double it by my brothers Murder She thinks Birth-right and Blessing and All too little for him but he shall not Long enjoy it nor She him At Esau's threat Jacob flees for his Life yet takes not Warning but loves Joseph more than All his children †Gen. 37.3 For which Love his brethren Hate him conspire to Slay him and Sell him into Egypt to his fathers Sorrow And Gods Providence in this will not justifie Jacobs inordinate Affection nor his sons evil Action N B. Children can quarrell Too soon of their own Heads though parents set them not together by the Ears e g. Two Brothers walked abroad in a Star-light night Said A A Sad Story Would I had a Pasture as large as this Element Said B. Would I had as many Oxen as there be Stars Said A Mr Jer Burroughs and Camerarius Where would you feed them all Said B In your Pasture A What whether I will or no B Yes whether you will or no. A What in Spight of me B Yes in Spight of you And thus from Words to Blows till they Sheathed their Swords in each others
prayer †Col. 4.1 2 i e For them and With them Note these Phrases Cornelius prayed to God alway * Act. 10.2 Pray without ceasing †1 Thes 5.17 Thou shalt eat bread at my table continually * 2 Sa. 9.7 Was Mephibosheth such a Cormorant as to eat bread at David's table Day and Night is a man to do Nothing but Pray as if he was an Angel who hath no earthly trade to follow No the Sense of these Sayings Alway Direct 2. without Ceasing Continually is Do it Daily at Set Times ¶ 2 Choose the Fittest and Best part of these times i e Early in the morning and Early in the evening Then are you like to be Best disposed and your Service Best accepted They that seek me early shall find me †Pro. 8.17 Direct 3. ¶ 3 Choose the fittest Place Christ commends a close Closet to a Christan as a fit place for private prayer * Mat. 6.6 Such a place is also fittest for a Family which is freest from noise Distracting thoughts will come in too Soon though they be not sent in by Sounds and caused by Clamours abroad Direct 4. ¶ 4 Be not hindered by Trifles that is hatefull to God He that will not go to Heaven till there be nothing in the Way is Never like to come there Direct 5. ¶ 5 Lay all businesse By during the Time of the duty Order your Fire to be freed from that evil kind of Fore-cast of placing some Vessel upon it to be Stirred or Tended upon and took Off in prayer Cursed fore cast Some fore-cast is as good as Work but this is worse than Nought ¶ 6 Gather all your Family together Direct 6. to prayer Gather the people together Men and Women and Children and thy Stranger that is within thy gates that they may Hear and Learn and Fear the Lord †Deu. 31.12 All Judah stood before the Lord with their Little-ones their Wives and their Children * 2 Chro. 20.13 Both Young men and Maidens Old men and Children let them Praise the name of the Lord †Psal 148.12 13. Direct 7. ¶ 7 And Far be it from you for Ever to separate your children from Gods Service as some do who for a peaceable preparation for prayer Pack their children to Bed at 5 6 7 8 9 10 years of age with such a Salvo forsooth They will Cry or Sleep or Something and disquiet in duty Strange peace is This the way to train up a child in the way he should go is This the way to bring Up in the Nurture and admonition of the Lord If they Cry or Sleep it 's the Parents fault Late prayer or some disorder is the Matter Serve GOD and the Soul before you serve the Body Go to prayer before Supper And make a Law viz They that Cry shall be Whipt and they that Sleep shall go Supperlesse to Bed And do not drive your children away before the Duty Odious Order as if they were Dogs and leave your Dogs in their room as if they were Christians as some do Both which are abominations I have heard of a Youth who was Converted by an expression in prayer It was because he heard it If he had been Packed to Bed that night before Prayer to the prevention of his conversion doubtlesse it had pleased the Devil to Purpose Direct 8 ¶ 8 Take heed of praying To persons Cauttion instead of praying For them i e by affected Phrases and tinkling Tones Hatefull is that prayer to GOD which is devised formed and phrased to please Man And No better are the Prayers of some persons The Devil is such a Chymist he can extract evil out of Good and Poyson a person with his Own Prayers by puffing him up with Pride in them Direct 9 ¶ 9 Precede Prayer with the Word The word and prayer are put together * 1 Tim. 4.5 Read a Chapter before Prayer And speak something to your Family from what you read Direct 10 ¶ 10 And let me commend the Annual reading over the Bible in a Family for a good Custom which may be thus performed There is in the O T Chapters 779. Psalms 150. Chapters and Psalms 929. In the N T Chapters 260. In both O T and N T Chapters 1039. In both O T and N T Chapters and Psalms in all 1189. There is in a Year 365 Dayes In Bissextile A Rule to read the Bible or Leap-Year 366. Read 3 Chapters a Day and read so many Psalms a Day when you are at them as to read them all in 20 Dayes in Bissextile and in 19 Dayes in another Year this reads the Bible through in a Year except One Chapter which is easily added to the last dayes Task Or if you have Bentley's Bible it hath 375 Leaves If you read one leafe a Day this does it except 9 leaves in Bissextile and 10 leaves in another Year which is not one leaf a Month more than one a Day In a word one quarter of an hour in 24 hours with a ready Reader reads the Blessed Bible in a Year And which of us does not trifle away Ten Times more Time than so Unworthy is that Person of the Name and far from the Nature of a Christians who thinks SO little time too Much to spend in Reading God's Precious Pure Blessed Word Thus far of Family Duty Fath. But hear me before you proceed any farther I am unfit for Family Duty because of my weaknesse to perform it Min. If you know what you say and be as Willing as Weak it is well for then you will venture on your Duty and trust to Gods Stregth which will carry you through what Ever he calls you to Sufficient for satisfaction is that One Promise as thy Dayes So shall thy Strength be †Deu. 33.25 Let the weak believe and say I am Strong * Joel 3.10 But tell me true is there not somewhat else at bottom Fath. Truly there is I am ashamed to pray in my Family among my Servants Min. Now you say Something though worse than Nothing The former was Weaknesse this is Wickednesse Ashamed to speak to GOD to serve GOD to be like GOD what ashamed of GOD OH dreadfull read this Text and Tremble Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the Glory of his Father †Mar. 8.38 According to Christs glory will the shame of such be i e Infinite To see what a glorious Person is ashamed to Own them To see what a Master they have been ashamed to Serve To see shamefull Spewing upon their Glory * Hab. 2.16 Shame is the punishment prepared for Christs implacable enemies HIS enemies will I cloath with Shame †Psal 132.18 It s like clothes 1 They are Visible so is Shame Simile 2 Unseparable while the Person is visible Dissimile so
a father may be a Motive to duty The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A father comes of the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he willed desired of the fathers affection to his children which doth Naturally descend to them with desire after their welfare If not Thus a man deserves not the Name of a father They who have been instruments to bring children into a State of Condemnation and care not to bring them into a State of Salvation are these Parents shall Paul travail in birth till Christ be formed in Christians * Gal. 4.19 and be so concerned as to wish himself accursed from Christ for his Kindred †Rom. 9.3 shall Ministers do their utmost to Save children shall the Devil do his utmost to Damn them and shall their own father that Begat them and their mother that Bare them carry it as if they care not whether they are brought forth for a Saviour or a Murderer and are these Parents Monstrum Horrendum NB. Neglect of duty to a Child to humour an angry Wife had like to cost Moses his Life for the Lord sought to Kill him * Exo. 4.24 Let carelesse parents have a Care God do not kill them Quite And let Parents hear themselves spoken to in these Texts Keep this man if by any means he be missing then thy Life shall be for his Life †I K. 20.39 If he Die in his iniquity his Blood will I require at thy hand * Ezek. 3.18 They that are under Such words abroad without Shelter and do not hear it Thunder are very Dull of hearing Second The childs tears at it's Birth Coroll 2. Childs Tears may he a Motive for parents to Pity and Duty These tears seem to Presage its Sorrow The poor child seems to cry to see into what a Stormy Sea it is Lanched in danger to be Swallowed up Soul and Body at once Or to see upon what a Shore of trouble it's Landed to wander in a wildernesse of Wo among wild beasts of Prey Yea so Cruel are the Devils Creatures that poor children are in danger of their Death before their Birth Cruel cruelty The cruel Claws of these wild Beasts sometimes tare the Young out of the Womb before they are Born * Am. 1.13 and the Old out of the Tomb after they are Buried †Ch. 2.1 Third Coroll 3. Childs Dead state The dead condemned State children are Born in and are in till Born again It is a Dead Life between the first and second Birth One passing by the house of a Sinful Sluggard said Here lies not lives Such a One. A natural life is a kind of a Lifelesse Worthlesse life The old youngman A strange Epitaph An old man converted a little before his Death would have this Epitaph on his Tomb Here lies a very Old Man of 3 years old Barlaam being asked how old he was said 45. Said the other Thou seemest to be 70. Yea said Barlaam if you reckon ever since I was Born but I do not Count the time I spent in Sin Lay this Dead Life to Heart Suppose you had a child condemned to Die yet so as there remains a possibility to procure a Pardon The execution hour is concealed in the Kings own breast It may be the child hath Ten Dayes to live it may be not Two Hours How would you bestir you in Such Case how restlesse Night and Day till your poor childs Pardon is procured except Jehoram-like you were bereav'd of Bowels †2 Chron. 21.19 and had not the least Pity left in you This is your childrens Case if unconverted As after the Sentence a malefactor is a Dead man so before the Second birth a child is a Dead child i e Sentenced and Condemned to be Hanged and Burned and Racked in Hell And peradventure you are driving on designs to procure Portions and not Pardons OH Miserable man to morrow may be thy Son or thy Daughters Damning day And if Once the secret set time be Out the poor child is Haled away into Endlesse Wo. Fourth Your condemned child Coroll 4. Supposed sad sense is also to be supposed under a Sad Sense of it's condemned condition Suppose you should Act as if as Insensible of it as a parent is of a childs Soul condemned state And at your Return in the evening after all the trifling Turns you take in a day your poor child should Quaere with a Sad Countenance Father where have you Been to day Here and There about This and That OH Father what have you not been with the King to day and do not know but I may be Hanged to morrow And as you sit Idleing Sleeping or Smoking in the house GOOD Lord father will you sit Thus and let me be Hanged What a Cutting consideration is This OH how Common is it for children to be in a Soul-condemned condition and will parents who professe to believe it Pipe and Pot and Prate away their time while their children stand on the brink of Everlasting Burnings will they take their Recreation while their children are under Condemnation near that execution and End to perish for Ever the Plague of Pharoh is upon such parents hearts WHAT Faith have such in Gods word what Life is in their faith the faith of DEVILS exceeds a Dead faith * Jam. 2.19 Fath. It is very Sad to consider a child in such Case Min. Very SAD in so saying you say Nothing It 's most Deplorable and Lamentable enough to make a mercifull man wish his head Waters and his eyes a fountain of Tears to weep Day and Night for children so Dismally miserable †Jer. 9.1 And its matter of mourning to think how Few Tears fall into Gods Bottle upon this account Fift Coroll 5. The inhumanity and cruelty of such carelesse parents Cruelty They are said to be more Savage than Sea-Monsters for even They draw out the breast and give such to their Young * Lam. 4.3 but these Men-Monsters are like the Ostriches in the wildernesse with a 7-fold Similitude 1 The Ostrich is between an unclean hatefull Bird and a Beast hath part of Both Ostrich defined but No part of Man as the Meraid hath A sad Character for a father 2 Faith outwardly with feathers †Job 39.13 So is a foul Pharisaical father 3 She is Proud What time she lifteth up her self on High she Scorneth the Horse and his Rider * Ver. 18. 4 She is Foolish because God hath deprived her of wisdom †Ver. 17. In danger she hides her Head and then thinks No body sees Her because She sees no body Man thinks he is Safe because he sees not God Man Cannot see he Will not see and then sayes God Shall not see * Psal 94.7 5 She is forgetfull of the great concern She leaveth her egges in the earth and forgetteth that the foot may Crush them or that the wild
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
ministry of God And these Ten words were written with the Finger of God upon two Tables of Stone †Ex. 31.18 and put into an Ark of Shittim-wood * Deu. 10.3 5. very Durable and counted incorruptible There was nothing in the Arksave the two Tables †2 Chro. 5.10 for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy Name * Ps 138.2 God will magnifie the Law and make it Honourable If the Ark set forward the enemy must Flee before it †Nu. 10.35 If the Ark go through Jordan the waters must make way * Jos 3.15 16 If the Ark be set up by Dagon then Dagon must Down †1 Sa. 5.2 3 If Dagon will try the other fall he shall lose his Head and Hands and have nothing left but his Stump * Ver. 4. which can neither Invent nor Act as head and hands do If the law of God be in the Heart the reproach of men is not to be feared for the Worm shall eat them like Wool †Isa 51.7 The Ark containing the two Tables was a Sacred Symbole of Gods presence God will be with his Law and with the Lovers of it God will keep them as the Apple of his Eye who keep his Law as the apple of Their eye as he hath commanded * Ps 17.8 Pro. 7.2 The ark a triple Type And the Ark was a type of Christ who is the End of the law 1 It was made for him to Keep 2 He was made to keep That 3 He keepeth it for Our use Ark-like N B As Jesus obeyed the law for our justification Perfectly in love to GOD and to the Law A sweet Simile and to Us so we are to obey the law in our conversation Sincerely in love to GOD and to the Law and to the Lord Jesus Was the onely wise God twice 40 dayes and 40 nights engraving Ten Words upon Two Tables of Stone and will vain man make them Void it is easier for Heaven and Earth to passe than One Tittle of the Law to fail †Lu. 16.17 Twelfth and Last Note 12. A deep Decalogue The ten commandments are a Vast Continent The M L is the fountain of all laws viz Moral Ceremonial Judicial and Evangelical They all belong to it it is the Root they are the Branches they are contained in it and may be reduced to it on these two commandments i e the ten hang all the Law and the Prophets * Mat. 22.40 Here if we consider man in his three-fold State viz of Innocency of Sin and of Grace we may see the M L containeth mans duty in every State ¶ First in Innocency Adam being capable of receiving it Ten in One. Break one break all God gave him the ten commandments in One commandment this is clearly implyed in Adam's breaking them All by breaking that One. As the Sanction of the law is Disjunctive viz Do or die and the Injunction of the law Copulative viz Do this and that and all so is the law it self Copulative i e so linked together that in breaking one he brake all This M L then contained Adam's duty in innocency e g in the first commandment thou shalt have no other gods before me that Negative implyeth this Positive thou shalt have me for thy God i e by thy obedience to my M L for no other was in use yet all other Laws were Conditionally contained in it ¶ Second Consider man in his Fallen State and there other laws fall in as usefull they being conditionally and providentially prepared thereunto 1 The judicial law cometh and killeth him Adam's Death Adam's Soul died i e he was as disable to recover his Fall by a C W or any other way as a Dead man is to live And death of Body followed and death of Soul and Body passed upon all men †Ro. 5.12 2 Man being fallen the law of faith falleth in for his Recovery for this implicit Positive precept is still in force viz thou shalt have me for thy God This must of Necessity imply thou shalt beleeve on my SON q d For having Lost me thou hast No other way left to Find me to be thy God Thus the law for Faith appears to be implyed in the first Commandment as I fore-told you 3 Man being fallen Ceremonial Sacrifices fall in as usefull from Adam's Fall to Christs Death at which time they ceased And since Christs death Moral Judicial and Evangelical laws are contained in the M L for mans use in a Fallen State ¶ Third Consider man in a State of Grace and the same laws are contained in the M L for his use viz Moral Judicial Evangelical laws The first commandment containeth many Evangelical laws this implicit Positive precept thou shalt have me for thy God implyeth thou shalt Beleeve in me and in my Son for faith in Christ is a Christians daily duty And Repentance Love Humility Hope Fear are implyed in this first precept thou shalt have me for thy God It is q d If I be thy God thou shalt Repent of thy Sins against me thou shalt Love me thou shalt walk Humbly with thy God and Hope in thy God and Fear thy God e g Beleeve in the Lord your God * 2 Chro. 20.20 Repent and turn from your Idols †Ezek. 14.6 thou shalt Love the Lord thy God * Deu. 6.5 Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord †Ja. 4.10 Let Israel Hope in the Lord * Ps 130.7 thou shalt Fear thy God †Lev. 25.17 these and the like are Branches of the first commandment The second commandment containeth Laws against Idolatry Will-worship of mans invention worshipping of Images Pictures the Sun Moon or Stars * Deu. 4.19 and laws for the True worship of God The third commandment containeth Laws for Prayer Praise giving of Thanks for godly Discourse in Private and Publick which includeth Preaching And laws against Swearing Cursing Blaspheming and Murmuring against God and speaking of God vainly idlely formally unprofitably proudly The fourth commandment containeth Laws for the Sanctification of the Sabbath day and Laws against the Prophaning of it This commandment is called Custos primae tabulae and this first Table containeth all mans duty to God The fift commandment containeth Laws for honouring of Parents and Ministers and Magistrats godly Governours and pious Princes called in Scripture Fathers †Isa 49.23 and Laws against dishonouring them and for Correction for disobedient children The sixt commandment containeth Laws against all kinds of Murder unjust Battels Quarrels Blows with hand or heart to hurt in any part The seventh commandment containeth Laws against Adultery of every degree Fornication Incest Sodomy Buggery all uncleannesse wantonnesse wearing of apparel contrary to the Sex whether Male or Female * Deut. 22.5 The eight commandment containeth Laws against all kinds of Thefts Robberies Rapines Sacriledge antiscriptural Usury †Ex. 22.25
Deu. 23.19 detaining of wages pledges fraud deceit false weights and measures * Chap. 25.13 14. The ninth commandment containeth Laws against false witnesse back-biting tale-bearing giving or taking of Bribes to blind the eyes to ill ends †Ex. 23.8 Deu. 16.19 The tenth commandment containeth Laws against evil thoughts and is very direct against desires after whatsoever is our neighbours and as a Sword should cut the cords of covetousnesse in Sunder This Second Table containeth all mans Duty to man Thus far of the M L. Fath. What say you of the C L Min. The C L respected Typical worship Of the C L. of which Sacred Ceremonies there were 4 Sorts 1 Holy Persons viz High priests Priests Levites Nazarites 2 Holy Places viz the Tabernacle the Temple and other places of Divine appointment where God recorded his Name * Exo. 20.24 3 Holy Things viz the Ark Oyl Fire holy-Water First-fruits Incense Burnt-offerings Meat-offerings Peace-offerings Sin-offerings Silver trumpets 4 Holy Times viz Holy dayes as New moons Ceremonial Sabbaths Feasts viz feast of Passe-over and unleavened bread feast of Pentecost feast of Tabernacles feast of Trumpets feast of Attonement Holy years viz the Sabbatical or Seventh year †Lev. 25.2 3 4. the year of Jubile or the Fiftieth year * Ver. 8.10 Fath. What of the Judicial Law Min. The Judicial Law was made to provide punishments for Offenders against the M L Of the Judicial Law and the C L for a Rule to punish by according to Equity and Justice For Capital offences the Jews had 4 kinds of death viz Stoning Strangling Beheading and Burning Crucifying was not by their law but by Pilate's the Roman Deputy †Mat. 20.19 Jo. 18.32 For offences not Capital they had Scourging Imprisonment Restitution Retaliation ¶ By these three Sorts of Laws the Jews were governed By the M L as they were Men and a Humane Society by the C L as they were a Church so constituted and a Sacred Society by the Judicial Law as they were a Common-wealth and a Civil Society Fath. How is the M L abolished and how is it not abolished Min. The M L as a C W Abolition of the M L. or the Curse and Rigour of the law which separateth man from God is abolished and made void for true Believers but as to the Doctrine Discipline Government of it for rule of life it is as Permanent as Heaven and Earth Fath. How is the C L abolished Min. The Practice of the C L which separated man from man viz Jew and Gentile Abolition of the C L. is abolished for he is our Peace who hath made Both One and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us * Eph. 2.14 But though it is out of use as it was Practical yet it is in use as it is Doctrinall Fath. How is the Judicial Law abolished Abolition of Ju Law Min. The Judicial Law is abolished as it provided punishment for Sin against the C L. Like as Flowers or Plants are fenced to keep them from being broken down while they are to Stand Simile so was the C L fenced with the Judicial Law but when these Plants are plucked up to what end shall the fence Stand e g The 10 day of the 7 month was a Ceremonial holy day he that did any work was to be destroyed by the Judicial Law †Lev. 23.27 30. but now this C L is abolished this Plant plucked up the Judicial Law the fence is gone too But Judicial Laws to punish Offenders against the M L are not abrogate but Permanent and are to be used with discretion by the godly Civil Magistrate who is to administer Justice and execute them on Offenders e g If a man kill a man and so break the Sixth commandment he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword * Rev. 13.10 whoso sheddeth mans blood the Judicial Law is in full force by man Shall his blood be shed †Gen. 9.6 ¶ Thus God who foreknew mans Fall Wonderfull wisdom and made a C G with Christ before he made a C W with Adam hath in wisdom So delivered this Sacred Divine Law of the Decalogue that it should contain in Ten Words the whole Duty of man to GOD and Man in his threefold State 1 In a State of Innocency 2 In a Fallen State 3 In a State of Grace by Jesus Christ I conclude these 12 Notes on the Ten Commandments with Davids prayer LORD Open thou mine eyes that I may behold Wonderous things out of thy LAW * Psal 119.18 Fath. I see now my perswasion of the Decalogue was no delusion but O how little do I see I and others had need use David's prayer for light in God's law but I fear our Antinomians who do so slight it will never pray for light in it Min. They that see by the light of Strange Fire and are so deep-learned in the Doctrine of Devils as to deny Gods law to be a rule of life are never like to use David's prayer for light in God's law for their light being darknesse they see not so much as their own ignorance nor the danger of self-conceitednesse and so are like to go into the land of outer darknesse Fath. God be mercifull to me and deliver me from Antinomian delusion sometimes when I talk with Mr A I am ready to Q whether the law be any rule of life or no. Min. You pray well but look a little dull if it may recreate and not corrupt you let me tell you a Story viz A German woman desiring to rid the house of her husband German woman cast him into a deep sleep and then Dresses Shaves Cuts and Clips him into the fashion of a Fryar A godly Minister is my Author When he wakes she Stares and Storms q d What does this Fryar here in my house Fryar q d Wife art mad doest not know thy husband Still she storms bawls and fumes against the Fryar The man being amazed looks in the glass to see if he can know himself but seeing himself in such a Shape he almost believed he was a Fryar as his wife affirmed Thus the Antinomians use the law e g 1 They paddle with the Preface viz I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt that belongs to the Jews only and so is rejected Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to cut off that they bring this as a Sword every one shall die for his own iniquity †Jer. 31.30 Remember the Sabbath day forsooth that is Ceremonial and so Snipt off That thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee that belongs to the Jews and so is clipt off Having thus maimed and dismembred the Decalogue they wholly reject it that with the German woman they may be at liberty to go a whoring from God They
without Tone or Read to them it s not worth a Rush ¶ 4 Other admire a Minister 4 Sort. who hath a strange kind of confidence with God though his boldnesse be a fruit of his ignorance And admire his out cryes against the enemy and the broad sides he give them out of his pulpit prophetically pulling them down before their time though this be a fruit of a 3-fold ignorance 1 Of the enemies power and policy rather than knowledge of Gods power and wisdom to oppose them 2 Ignorance of Englands Sins for which God may justly suffer Antichrist to make the Nations Shake at the sound of our fall before he comes down 3 Ignorance of their own duty to stay God's time wait ye upon Me saith the Lord untill the day that I rise up to the pray †Zepb. 3.8 Yet is this kind of confidence admired and if a preacher be Sober and do not Hector and Vapour his Sermon is snuffed at as a Cypher ¶ 5 Other are in love with a loud noise 5 Sort. they like him best who speaks Loudest though he desreve to be told as one told the Nightingale in eating its little carkase Vox tu es preterea nihil thou art nothing but noise It is not the Sermon but the Sound that is Significant to such If the same Sermon or a much better be delivered with a low voice though a substantial sound suitable Sermon and preached in Print it s not worth a Pin. I do not know but a Drum in a Pulpit is as good for them as good Doctrine Call them to an account of their Canorous preachers proceeding they reply O he is a Thundering preacher he hath a Rousing voice so it seems if a man have but bare Brains and strong Lungs it s enough though that be all Simile Such hearers are like the Servant who came home crying up the Sermon to the Clouds to whom said his Mr What was the Text Sir it was taken out before I came in What of the application of the Sermon I came out before he had done What of the middle of the Sermon Sir I was asleep then I will trouble you but with one sort more and they are ¶ 6 A company of Children 6 Sort. who choose to hear Youths preach These you will say are Young hearers before you hear that some of them have been hearers near half a hundred years Excellent Elihu was otherwise minded viz I said Dayes should speak †Job 32.7 Surely such never read this Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not a novice * 1 Tim. 3.6 Paul dehorts from despising Timothy's youth †Ch. 4.12 but he was no Upstart nor new plant * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he had know the Holy Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from an infant †2 Tim. 3.15 It seems he was sanctified from the cradle for that Sacred Service He was not prepared with a little humane learning and some notions of Divinity scraped up together into a Paper to read over in a Pulpit as some of our Youths are whose grace I doubt is not a Dram. If I was to hear a Sermon before I would go over a threshold to hear a youth surely I would walk 7 miles to hear some grave solid Senior for with the Ancient is wisdom and in length of dayes understanding * Job 12.12 Sir if I was informing some Ignoramus it would be necessary to say I despise not any proper comely Accent or audible voice in preaching but you are past a Child to whom I speak Fath. I have observed some of these Simple things I fear we have a pack of pitifull professors here in London Min. Do you but Fear it as for our Congregational to say nothing of National professors in London I am satisfied in this to my Sorrow viz that the Religion of abundance of them is like the heart of the wicked little worth †Pro. 10.20 And though they learn the language of Canaan yet their end will be destruction * Isa 19.18 and they the people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever †Mal. 1.4 I reflect upon none truely gracious or that carry it Christian-like As for others never tell me They are Church-members and belong to this Minister and that Dr let them leave off worldly-love and others Vaities part with their Pride and practice Piety or never professe it more And to all Libertines and Antinomians at once I say Its obedience to the Law of God in Love to God as a fruit of this root the Grace of God done to this end the Glory of God that I plead for and if this will not Down let them throw their gospel after the Law and be so honest as to turn profest Atheists and deceive the world no more with the Name of Christ and not depart from iniquity †2 Tim. 2.19 Fath. You seem to of an implacalbe spirit against the Antinomians Min. I am so every Inch of me my spirit is like the Northern Iron and the Steel * Jer. 15.12 to Stab their rotten religion to Death for to reconcile Right Religion and the Antinomian is to bring God and Baal together Fath. I am of your mind but I must desire you to dismisse me for my occasions call me Min. If you be in hast Conclusion I will make a hasty Conclusion with this Exhortation viz Love the pure precious Laws of the God of Love Be grieved because they are Slighted †Ps 119.158 The more other slight them the more od you delight in them Keep them as the apple of thine eye * Pro. 7.2 Bind them upon thy fingers write them upon the table of thine heart †Ver. 3. Keep them in the midst of thine heart * Ch. 4.21 Esteem them more than your necessary food †Job 23.12 Let them be sweeter than hony and the hony comb * Ps 19.10 Be legal in all your Life Glory in legality Never think well of what is not done according to Law †Ezra 10.3 Labour for life work as if you were to win Heaven by working * Joh. 6.27 Phil. 2.12 Heb. 4.11 and when you have done all count all nothing in point of Justification Rest upon Christ onely for That as if you had done nothing at all And follow not a man living a Step farther than he follows Jesus Christ †1 Cor. 11.1 and so Sir I bid you Farewell Fath. Farewell Sir the Lord reward you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A THIRD DIALOGUE Concerning the SABBATH-DAY The Third Part. Then I contended with the Nobles of Judah and said unto them What evil thing is this that ye do and prophane the Sabbath-Day Did not your fathers thus and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this City yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by prophaning the Sabbath Neh. 13.17 18. Hallow my Sabbaths and
for his Author I leave it with you to look That Jesus was virtually slain as soon as Adam sinned Ideny not no doubt he undertook for man before man was †Pro. 8.23 Rev. 3.14 but that Jesus's death which was 4000 years after mans fall must needs be on that day and hour of the week on which man fell I reject as ridiculous If such had said Jesus Rose on the week day and hour that Adam Fell it had carried a fairer colour If men must search as far as the foundation of the world for a foundation to falsifie the day of Christs death it is pity they are not better busied But if Adam's fall on the Sixth day be a proof for Christs death on the Sixth day let us lay aside the day of Christs death a little and begin with Adams fall ¶ 1 Adam was a glorious piece of Gods creation Adam's Fall his Soul and Body was an Epitomy of Heaven and Earth and an house for God to inhabit To say Adam fell on the Sixth day is to liken God his Maker to a foolish Builder who lets the house fall under his hand before he can finish it ¶ 2 It seems by Sacred Scripture that neither Adam nor Angels fell on the Sixth day for in the conclusion of the Creation at the Close of the Sixth day God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good and the evening and the morning were the Sixth day * Gen. 1.31 There is the Close up of the whole Creation complete ¶ 3 As it seems by Scripture Adam fell not on the Sixth day so it seems by Scripture he fell on the Seventh day and that is my perswasion And I will produce no other proof for it than the same Scripture your Author brings to prove Adam fell on the Sixth day viz that Hebrew Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adam in honour did not abide a night †Ps 49.12 It seems he fell that first night which was on the first Sabbath day natural which began at Even ¶ Note Satans old enmity against the Sabbath Satans enmity at the Sabbath 1 He mystically murdered Adam and all his posterity on the first Sabbath that ever was 2 The first Bodily murder we know of in the world Satan acted by the hand of his servant Cain on the Sabbath day and for a Sabbath dayes service as I suppose by this Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the end of dayes * Gen. 4.3 the Seventh day was the end of dayes for there never was more than 7 dayes 3 Satan sets his Servants a work many wayes to break the Sabbath And this enmity is not onely against Gods Sabbath but also against mans Soul In indignation against both this great governour drives on as if he would drive all before him into Hell fire At his command they curse swear whore pot pipe prate sport work play walk at pleasure all which paths lead to the Lake of fire The Sabbath is spent as if it was the Devils day and not Gods day It is the Devils great Trading day for Hell and the wickeds great Treasuring day for Wrath for sin on Other dayes does not fill the Vials of Gods wrath so fast as it doth on This day Adde to all Satans provoking his servants to persecute Saints on Sabbath dayes for the Service of God disturbing them in their meetings haling them to Prisions for using the liberty Christ hath given them 4 Satan is very busie with Saints on Sabbath dayes He tempts them to work and buy and sell when the Sabbath is begun in the Evening To lay in Bed in the morning To trifle away time when they are Up. To talk of controversies Saints both sleep and wake to Satan and impertineneies to absent from Sermons to Sleep to him at Sermons to Wake to him at Sermons by wandring thoughts a thousands wayes Here you may see by what spirit they are acted that are opposite to the Sabbath day Mr A and Mr L did not tell you they came with a message from the Devil yesterday to disturb you in your duty But let us proceed to the day of Christs death ¶ Here let me premise a few Cautions Cautions premised 1 Do not reflect on any thing that seems improbable for it may be True though at first it seem false Nor any thing that seems impertinent q d to what purpose is this prove the Point for it may be to some purpose though it presently appear not 2 This being an intricate point for its clearing some Scriptures must be opened and some reconciled which cannot be done with few words in which I must crosse my Self for I affect to contract things in few words 3 It being new and contrary to the commmon Creed you will Object your All against it your Objections you must hear orderly answered or it will be in vain to offer them 4 Be very punctual in observing the day of the month I shall have occasion to speak of with its beginning and ending else I speak into the Air. If I digresse or go forward or back ward from any Day or Thing before I have done with it care not to carry it in your head for I shall bring you to it again In a word before I proceed resolve to hear all or none at all Fath. I will hear what you have to say Min. To introduce the day of Christs death Of the day of Christs Death I must begin with its lively Type viz The Lords Passe-over This from its first institution was on the 14 day of the first month Abib or Nisan according to that Sacred account from the time of Israel's deliverance out of Egypt †Ex. 12.2 The Paschal lamb was to be taken up on the 10 day * Ver. 3. and kept till the 14 day †Ver. 6. probably that the sight of it might occasion Soul preparation And it was to be killed in the Evening * Ver. 6. Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 between the two Evenings i e say some Sun-set and Dark night Short work though they eat it in hast I do not think they prepared it in Post-hast Fath. What 2 Evens else had they Min. The division of the day by hours was not used when the Passeover was commanded the word hour except in Daniel is not in the O T. But they divided the day into 3 parts called Morning Noon Even †Ps 55.17 from 6 to 10 was Morning from 10 to 2 was Noon from 2 to 6 at night was Even The beginning and end of this last part were the two Evens between which the Lamb was killed and it was eat at night * Ex. 12.8 Our Lord Jesus who came to fulfill the Law kept this Passeover according to Law he commanded his Disciples to kill and prepare it upon the 14 day and he eat it with them at Night when the 15 day began †Mat. 26.17
many t to say no more he knows the way I take * Job 23.10 Prayer and Professors are Strangers Prayer is another thing than many imagine and many times I think I never prayed yet but if ever I prayed it was for this And praised be his holy name he hath heard me and helped me through this intricate work which was the hardest knot to untie that ever I took in hand in my Time I gave up my self to the Conduct of God As I was never for on work by any mans Word Letter or Print or ever had the least hint of this Opinion from man so I never asked any creature any one Question concerning it in all the time I have been upon the search of it This I tell you to this end viz If you think I erre you may blame no man but my self and if you think I am right you may give God and not man the praise ¶ Sir Parent Cautioned here is a Providence which you may not lightly passe over viz This concern of the Sabbath falling on me so soon after our Conference under the Tree which seems to be for your Sake I thought not of it in our First Dialogue I was concerned with it in our Second Dialogue though not being ready for it I did not tell you of it but I am no sooner prepared for this Third Dialogue but you are driven out by Yesterdayes opposition to draw me to it And let me tell you In all this labour I have had you in my eye much desiring your Sound settlement for the Sabbath Here is a voice of God speaking to you which I desire you may hear And I pray consider seriously with your self what account you will give at the Great Day if you will not hear Gods voice so Audible nor see his word so Visible but will bottom your Sabbatical opinion on mans Tradition which hath no ground in Gods word Fath. I am shattered and unsettled like a troubled Sea after a Storm by this New sudden assault of my Old opinion but when there comes a Calm and my mind Quiet I suppose I shall settle upon your foundation so you may freely speak what you have farther to say as if I was already of your mind Min. I counsel you to pray God to settle you on a sure foundation Parent Counselled as day and night I have done and by which means I am at length come to the desired Haven towards which I have been long rowing And though by the way I have had many a fall down into the deep yet I ever rose upon this Text * MAT. XII XL And my Antagonists being Answered upon this even firm sound ground I Stand * MAT. XII XL and from this Opinion I shall Never depart while I Live except Christ comes from Heaven and declares me deceived ¶ Having set the Sabbath upon its own Base or rather shewed you where GOD hath set it Praest at pauca avidè discere quam multa cum taedio devorare Erasmus and on what Foundation he hath Bottomed its Beginning and as I hope settled you upon that Foundation I shall for your profitable practice Drop a few Directions for the Sabbath Day and so dismisse you ¶ 1 Remember the Sabbath day before it comes to Prepare for it 1 Direct Memento and let none of yours remember it to Prophane it If you forget or neglect the Sabbath you lose it and let it fall If the Sabbath falls Sin and Satan too rises to your Ruine REMEMBEâ— is a word of THUNDER Remember the Sabbath is Never to be forgot while the World stands A Popish Opinion Popish writers say There was no Sabbath before Sinai but the Sabbath came in with the First man and must go out with the Last man REMEMBER Prepare Simile If a great man was to come to your House you would make great preparation REMEMBER the Great GOD is to come this day to your Heart Lift up your heads O ye Gates c. and the King of Glory shall come in †Ps 24.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag The Septuagint Title of this Psalm shews it to be A psalm for a Sabbath ¶ 2 Begin the Sabbath when the Sabbath begins i e at Even 2 Direct End the work of the precèdent day when the day ends i e at Even If you care not when you Begin the Sabbath peradventure God will not care when you End it nor how unprofitably you Spend it ¶ 3 Rise early in the morning 3 Direct Sleep not away the Sabbath so you may sleep away Salvation and the Soul Be not Sleeping when you should be Praying Pray him to give Blessing to the Sabbath who gave Being to the Sabbath Let the body be early Up and the heart early Ope. Before you rise count Christ is calling as to Zacheus viz Make hast and come down UP for to day I must abdie at thy house * Lu. 19.5 ¶ 4 Be not slothfull in duty on the Sabbath day 4 Direct The sluggard is Satans Cushen Simile Come not to a Sermon to be a Seat for Satan to sit on Satan entered Jâ—â—â—s Simile at Supper-time into idle souls at Sermon time The Sabbath is a day of Merchandise for the Soul †Better than of Silver and Gold Idlenesse is Never good nor Ever so had as on Sabbath-dayes Some had rather sweat their browes Six dayes for the Body than their brains One day for the Soul Do your duty on this day or you do nothing and do every duty in Season You cry O the Times we must hear comfortable Doctrine to strengthen our Faith In vain is comfortable Doctrine without conformable Life A Christian weakens his Faith more by a Sin than a Minister can strengthen it by a Sermon ¶ 5 Be spiritual in every duty on the Sabbath day 5 Direct In order to This be spiritual on Other dayes He that is carnal Six dayes is not like to be spiritual One day Be not content with outward expressions and actions without inward affections not with the Body of duty without the Soul of duty not with the Gift without the Grace of duty ¶ 6 Beware of your own Works 6 Direct Do nothing but of necessity viz what you cannot do the day before nor forbear till the day following e g To quench Fire To stop Water †Sea-bank breaches To save the life of Man or Beast To move Malt To gather and save Saffron In such case we break the Sabbath except we break it But do these Spiritually and with Speedy dispatch ¶ 7 Beware of your own Words 7 Direct What may not be Done may not be Said or talked of Talk not of News except necessary This discourse eats as a Canker Simile and hath eat out the Life of Religion long ago We talk much of the Papal Plot as if we were well acquainted with it but this Part of the Plot we are ignorant of viz Satans design to make us talk away our Time till we talk our selves down the Stream Simlie like the Fool whose lips swallow up himself †Eccless 10.12 If men were acquainted with their ignorance of God they would think all their time too little to talk of God ¶ 8 Take heed of your own Thoughts 8 Direct By them many break the Sabbath and few know it What men do Openly or speak Audibly is seen and heard by men but a man may think Ang thing Every thing and all men know Nothing but God knows all The body tongue or hand may be bound up from sin and the heart Bent for it against God Such secret Sabbath breakers are reserved in Store for the day of Wrath. ¶ 9 Be sorry for the sins of Sabbath dayes Sigh and Cry 9 Direct for all the abominations that abound on Sabbath dayes God groans under them if you are at ease while God is pressed God will take no pleasure in your Rest ¶ 10 Be acquainted with the emptinesse of Religion 10 Direct without a due observation of the Sabbath day The 4. command for a Sabbath is called Gustos primae tabulae keeper of the first table the 5 command for honour of Parents is called Custos secundae tabulae keeper of the second table He that keeps not the 4 command is locked out of the First table and is like to do GOD no Service he that keeps not the 5 command is shut out of the Second table and is like to do Man none well but to be Abominable and Disobedient and to Every good work Reprobate * Tit. 1.16 That these Drops may Water Epilogue c make Better LORD put Life to every Line and Letter Fath. That his may be as you do Say I will go hasten home and Pray 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ERRATA Pag 13 lin 25 for bitternesse read bitternesses Pag 19 lin 22 for Low read Law Pag 37 lin 24 for plentitudinem read plenitudinem Pag 136 lin 17 for full Horrour read full of Horrour